Sister Amber Callister - Arizona Tempe Mission

Hi everyone! December is TOMORROW. I swear November didn't even happen that is so insane. I am so excited for Christmas though. I am in the best ward with the greatest members teaching some amazing people. Really what more could you ask for?? This week was crazy. We had Thanksgiving all planned out... then our roommates started showing symptoms and we, being exposed had to go get COVID tested on Wednesday. That put us into quarantine until we got our results back Friday morning. So Thanksgiving was spent inside but we ended up having a total blast! We played a ton of games, got a plate of food, went on a walk, and enjoyed wearing sweatpants ALL DAY. It was so good! But on an even better note our results came back negative so we got out of quarantine and ended up finding 3 new people to teach, got in contact with some recent converts, made pies with the Goaslinds, and got someone to church! This week was SO GOOD!  This Sunday one of our members spoke on our mission Sunday service an...

  Hello everyone!!  Oh my gosh this week was seriously so so amazing! I know that I said that last week, but there were so many miracles. There were definitely a lot of hard things too, but I've said it before, there is so much beauty in opposition.  First, did you all see President Nelson's message on Friday? If you haven't watched it, PLEASE do! I love our Prophet so much. It has been so amazing to see Facebook blow up with gratitude. There truly is so much to be grateful for. I have had so much fun picking out pictures for a post each day to follow the counsel of our Prophet and make my Facebook a gratitude journal. Watch it!! Then, sadly our zone got hit HARD with COVID. Our Assistants and zone leaders for sure tested positive and because of that our zone (minus the Sisters) are quarantined. It was super sad for the Elders, but the work continues. One companionship put someone on date for baptism, new people to teach were found, and we were able to represent...

Holy cow... I don't think I can even put this week into words! It. Was. So. Good. By far the most miracle filled week ever! Ok here's a list of things that happened: •We had a mission tour with Elder Alliaud of the 70 and he was so great! We had 3 meetings as a mission, 1 as a leadership, he joined our district council, then he joined our lesson with Julie! It was so intimidating to teach with him but it was so powerful. Julie is on date for the beginning of January and is doing great! •A member we're teaching owns a gallery in Scottsdale where he sells his art for $8000+ a piece and he offered to paint each of us pictures of Christ! So excited! •Just found out this week someone in my old area is getting baptized on Sunday and I get to speak at their baptism! Seriously the happiest I've ever been on my mission getting that phone call. Pray that Bill can be strengthened this week!  Honestly I cant put into words this week. I wish I could say everything that happened but ...

Hi everyone! Well its been a week since being back in Tempe and OH MY GOSH I love it!! Honestly I was so sad to leave Yuma. I loved the people there! But God is so good and sent me to such an amazing place with two incredible companions. I have had an awesome couple days. Here are some of the highlights...: Met my companions on Wednesday and they're seriously the cutest humans ever. Sister Layton goes home this transfer and Sister Packer just got out of training but the dynamic is awesome. We teach so well together!  We had mission leadership conference this Thursday and learned some incredible principles from our mission President. He emphasized the power of love and helping our stewardships aim high and reach their potential. <- He cried as he was talking about this, it was so spiritual.  We met with Julie this week (someone we're teaching) and.... PUT HER ON DATE FOR BAPTISM!! Whoooooo!! It was so powerful! Best day ever.  We teach an ARP program and man that was a ...

Hello everyone! Well transfer news first, I am going back to Tempe!! Crazy I am going in a full circle. I started in Tempe, went to Phoenix, then to Yuma and now I'm going back to Tempe! This time I'll be in the single adult ward (ages 31-45) and the area is POPPING with work. There is so much potential I am so excited!  I have loved every minute of Yuma. This place seriously is a place of healing. Honestly I didn't fully understand how it would be healing, but looking back it is honestly starting to make sense. Even though I feel like I've been through the Refiners fire in some ways it has been the absolute best thing for me. Sometimes, in a literal sense, it's better to open wounds and dig through them before they start to heal. Figuratively I feel like my wounds were opened but I've started healing, and I am so excited to take what I've learned to my next area.  I know that sometimes we don't understand why we go through what we do. Sometimes we go th...

Hi everyone!! Alright to preface, I know all y'all in Idaho/Utah wherever will laugh... but it is SO COLD here! Overnight Yuma dropped 40 degrees. Yesterday it was a nice 95 degrees, today its 54 and I'm not going to lie I'm freezing. It was just 120 like a month and a half ago, I do not feel prepared, haha!  Outside of that it has been a PACKED week of service. We had a competition for the most service opportunities and we capped out planning for 10 hours of service and ended up hitting 15! All but 2 with people were teaching.(: We pulled weeds, to making cookies, to serving at the foodbank with the National Guard, to leveling out some dirt, to hauling concrete bricks, to raking a goat pen. It was awesome!  This week I read some incredible talks that really impacted me and how I view the work I do now. One if the talks is called "Keep Walking, and Give Time a Chance". In the beginning she talks about the story of the pioneers. Here's a few  quotes, "as I...

Good morning everyone! Happy Monday😊 It has been such an awesome week. Seriously so many miracles, service opportunities, and decently cooler weather what more could I ask for really?! Sister Corn and I began volunteering last week and a therapeutic horse ranch called Saddles of Joy. It is SO cool! We are mostly feeding and cleaning stalls but it has been a blast to be around animals so often. We also helped a lady were teaching this week set up her Halloween decorations which led into putting on a music concert for her and her other mom friends with their kiddos! I played the ukulele and another Sister played the violin. It was such a blast. We also were able to do our regular service at the foodbank which is always fun. The National Guard serves there too so we interact with them quite a bit and a few of the guys started taking the lessons from the YSA missionaries! Miracles!  Another super awesome opportunity we have is our Stake is piloting a new self reliance program called ...