Happy 20th Birthday- Elder Calvert

Thank you very much for the emails and Happy Birthday wishes. I was looking forward to reading the emails a lot this day, and hearing your kind words. Thank you- I really appreciate all of the emails.

Well this last week was really good. Tuesday was an awesome day. I enjoyed my interview with the President so much. I talked to Sister Cooley a lot too and really emotionally connected with them. President Cooley was giving me counsel and it was so very apparent to me that he is called of God and “my” mission president. I have supported him since I entered the mission, but I feel it so strongly now. He gave me lots of counsel and expressed love and confidence in me. It was a wonderful interview.

This week we have been working a lot with this man named Arlindo. He is the man that will be baptized this weekend. He is such a tender man. We were sitting in church quietly and he leaned over to me and said "I'll go to your wedding." He calls us his children and "his angels." Yesterday we told him about removing images from his house, and as we were leaving I was shaking his hands and I was reaffirming with my testimony that God wants us to pray to Him. He took both of my hands and said, "If you tell me to do it, I will do it because I know you're a man of God." It was a little memory that I will remember for a long time. He is a sweet man, and old, so along with that goes a little lack of understanding but his heart is so pure. I will be praying to know if it really is the right time for him to be baptized and talk to the missionary who will do the interview.

This week I learned a lot about the Spirit, patience and love. President Cooley talked to me about always staying in control of situations. Before we would leave the house this week, I have been praying with all the strength I can muster to ask for patience and love for my companion and those we teach. I have been filled and taught by the Holy Ghost. I have noticed behaviors and my own behaviors and solutions to what seemed impossible, were given to me by quiet whisperings of the Holy Ghost Changing ourselves a little bit to work better with those around us is difficult, but it's a decision we can make right now. It has helped me so very much this week. I have felt lots of joy this week.

On Wednesday, I was feeling like I did in the beginning of my mission with missing all of you at home. I was upset and thought there was seriously something wrong with me because after 8 months I still have moments where my heart hurts so bad. I looked at the quote that Mom gave me last week that says, "We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day" and decided that today (last Wednesday) I was going to be happy until I was happy. It worked! I started by saying out loud "today is going to be a good day!" It took me right back to leaving for school in 2nd grade and saying it out loud to dad before I would lean in and give him a hug in that brown leather jacket. Attitude is so important! I'm so grateful for that experience I had of not liking school when I was young, and learning about the power of positive thinking as a 7 year old boy. That will never leave me, and that little technique I learned as a boy is working for me now as a MAN. I'm smiling as I'm typing this, I don't feel like a man, but it seems appropriate because of my birthday- 20 years old. But really our attitude is so important. Happiness is a choice. We control our thoughts. If we are sad, choose right this moment, to be happy, because eventually we will become happy. We are who we are because this is who we want to be. If we wanted something different, we will start the process to change right now.

One funny story I forgot to tell you last week. We were walking back from a lesson with 2 other elders, and my companion said he wanted pizza. It was already late so we wouldn't have time to order it, but a few seconds later this pizza man went flying by on the motorcycle, so fast that he lost his hat, and many menus flew out of his huge delivery pouch. 2 police cars flew past us, chasing the pizza man. We kind of laughed at the funny situation, and when we rounded the next corner, we saw a pizza box that had fallen out, with most of the pizza on the ground but one still in the box! My companion ate it, it was awesome!

Well that is all for now. Next p-day I will email the 9th not the 7th because we are going to the Temple!! I am so excited!! I love you all. I know with all of my heart that Jesus is the Christ. Heavenly Father answers prayers. This last year was a year of my life I think I will always hold very dear. I am so grateful for my wonderful family and friends. I truly love you. I can't wait to talk with you and hug you all, but for now, know how much love I feel for you in my heart.