Transfers! 12/2/19

 Hello everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, we definitely enjoyed ours!

Short email today, so sorry in advance, but it has been a crazy day. There are transfers this week and Sister Snelgrove is going to be training again! She is an incredible trainer so it is no surprise. We aren't sure where she is going, but I am guessing Mesa or Chandler. My new companion will be Sister Haji! She is from Romania and is actually already in my district so I know her really well! We talked today and are both so excited for this new adventure together! 

This week for the talk is "The Immediate Goodness of God" by Elder McKay. God is so good immediately in our moments of grief and trial. He is always there, He loves us so much. I know that with all my heart.

Here are a few pictures of this week, an AMAZING sunset and my district! 

Love you all!

Sister Callister

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Hello Family,

I wanted to write a specific email just to you all especially with the news of Aunt Carin this week. 

I received the call from my mission president around 3pm yesterday. We had finished with our Sunday meetings and were doing a companion study. We were laughing and talking about our studies when the phone rang. We have transfers this week so we panicked a little when President Goaslind popped up on the screen. When we answered, he asked for me to make sure I was listening and told me the news. Tears immediately flooded into my eyes. 

But, in that same moment that I began to cry, an indescribable and overwhelming feeling of peace rushed through my body. My heart didn't ache, but oddly enough I was filled with joy knowing where she is. Elder McKay two conferences ago gave a talk on "The Immediate Goodness of God". I absolutely loved that talk but didn't personally understand what he was referring to until yesterday. In that moment of complete sadness, I was immediately blessed with peace. In his talk, he says: "I realize that sometimes life’s experiences create confusion and turbulence that can make it difficult to receive or recognize or retain the kind of relief that came to Emilie and Alicia. I have been through such times. I testify that, during such times, our mere preservation is a tender and powerful manifestation of the immediate goodness of God. Remember, ancient Israel was ultimately delivered “by that same God who had preserved them” day to day."

Late last night my district leader and his companion came over to give me a blessing. My district leader listened as I explained how I was feeling. Before he gave the blessing, he tenderly explained how he understood what I was feeling as he lost his Dad just this last May in a freak accident while he was on the mission. He found strength in the scriptures and has remained devoted to his calling as a representative of Jesus Christ. While he still was overcome with grief and still has moments of sadness, the gospel of Jesus Christ is what gave him hope and still gives him hope to finish the mission strong. The words he used during the blessing I knew were from his heart and what God needed me to know. His example of strength was immediate goodness from God and I knew it would all be okay. 

I love you all so much and am praying for each one of you. The Plan of Salvation is real! I take so much comfort in that knowledge. God loves you all so much. Jesus Christ knows what you are feeling and is supporting you moment to moment. ❤

Sister Callister