Elder Carston Mark Calder

Once a week we go to volunteer at at a thrift store in Goodyear called Hope's Closet. The proceeds from the store go to helping victims of abuse and human trafficking. It's a very noble goal... of course, more interesting to me than the cause is all of the weird stuff in the store that people donate.  Although I've been going for a few months, I'd thus far kept myself aloof from the items in the store. All the people who volunteer there get a 50% volunteer discount, so most missionaries buy things when they go. Not me, I'd never dream of mispending all my carefully-saved coins and $1 bills.  That all changed last week when the store owner found a luxurious silver wig in one of the donation bags. He put it on and sauntered through the store, much to the acclaim of the other volunteers. Elder Smith mildly suggested that perhaps I could use the wig more than the owner (I'm not sure why) so I tried it on. I attached some pictures, everyone was really impressed by my...

This last week has been wonderful. When Elder Smith first arrived from Ohio he told me about a Finding technique endemic to missionaries in the eastern United States. It's common practice for missionaries to travel to markets and shopping centers and simply invite everybody that they can to come to church with them. No sales techniques, no effort to build trust, just a simple invitation. It was first pioneered in the New York NYC Mission and is quite successful there. When I first heard about this method I hated it a lot and felt like it was lazy and ineffective. But I've observed that with simply inviting people to church those we talk to seem less put upon and dismissive. They are more flattered at the invitation and smile at us more.  Simply inviting them rather than sharing a scripture or asking for their time (asking to "teach them") is more natural and normal. Even if they aren't interested, we leave them with a more positive lasting impression. It feels mor...

  Elder Calder, attempting to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, unto the friends, relations and associates scattered abroad, to them that seek sanctification and peace in Christ Jesus, and to those who aren't so sure about that at the moment, Grace, and peace be multiplied, greeting.  If anybody has tried messaging me over Facebook messenger, the reason I have not responded is because I deleted Facebook messenger. Please convey your many praises and compliments towards me through email. We were in a trio for two weeks because my current companion, Elder Timothy Smith, came back to Arizona after a year back home in Ohio. He continued his mission as a service missionary (and YSA Branch Mission Leader) while he was waiting for a surgery but he made a triumphant return for his last transfer and a half back here. It's fun to hear from him about the old Phoenix Mission that stopped existing right before I got here ~18 months ago, back then Scottsdale (to the east of us) was its own mis...