Week 50: Christmas Day

December 25, 2017

Christmas Message From Kyle

Week 49: So Transfers happened

December 19, 2017

Hey guys!

So transfers were yesterday. I am no longer in Cumbernauld. I'm now in Sligo with Elder Derry. Sligo is on the west coast of the Republic of Ireland. It seems really nice here. Elder Derry is awesome as well. He's from Texas and has been on his mission for about 6 months. I haven't seen too much of the area yet but I'm sure I'll be able to tell you more about it next week. It is much warmer over here than in Cumbernauld. There was a lot of ice there when I left. 

So the rest of my week was great. Elder Hoaldridge and I continued to visit with John. Him and the rest of the ward were pretty sad to see us leave right before Christmas but he was doing good when I left. Still reading the Book of Mormon every night and praying. We also had a ward Christmas party on Sunday night. There was a nice live nativity, some games, and some food at the end. John was there and he really enjoyed being able to talk to everyone in the ward. 

Speaking about Christmas, I did get your guys package, a day before I found out I was leaving Cumbernauld. I might have had to open it, sorry, because I couldn't take the box with me but I haven't read the letters yet. I'll save them till Christmas day. We also have a place to skype in Sligo so I'll probably be skyping around 3 to 3:30 pm my time. We've been instructed to keep them pretty short. President Donaldson wants us to keep them no longer than 45 minutes. 

Here's a couple pictures of me and Elder Derry. Elder Derry is bigger than what the photos show.

Well I love you guys. I hope you have a very merry Christmas up at the Hadley's. I'm looking forward to skyping you guys in a week!

Love,

Elder Calley

So as far as how I got there. I took a bus to Glasgow from Cumbernauld. Then  a bus from Glasgow to Stranraer. Then a ferry from Stranraer to Belfast. Then a bus from Belfast to Dublin and then we drove from Dublin to Sligo.We have a car here so that is really neat. Not many areas do in the mission. I also got to drive this morning. It was sweet but was really weird to drive on the left side of the road.  Elder Derry and I can both drive. I can only drive for about a month though because after one year your driving elegibility expires. So for question number one, I see President Donaldson at least once a transfer. We see him at each zone conference and at interviews each six weeks.

So in Scotland, one tradition is that they have a Christmas service on Christmas Day of just carols and being able to share the Christmas spirit with others. So the ward in Cumbernauld was having theirs on 11 to 12 on Christmas day.

Week 48: Transfers in a week...

December 11, 2017

Hey ya!

This week was great and cold! It's been about 10-15 degrees farenheit here for the past couple of days. It reminds me of the weather back home. We had an all-Scotland conference on Tuesday, went on exchanges with the zone leaders on Wednesday, and found and taught Niamh on Friday. She's really cool. She goes to a catholic church in Cumbernauld but is interested to learn more about the church. We taught her the restoration and she wanted to learn more. We're planning to see her on Wednesday.

So I find out Saturday if I am staying or leaving. Even though I've been in Cumbernauld for about 5 months, I've heard President Donaldson doesn't move many missionaries right before Christmas, so I'll let you guys know next week where I am. 

So a Scottish word I learned this week was lowse. It means to be finished with something like work. Everyone here is lowsing up with work and school next week. For the past few days though everyone has just been keeping warm indoors. There are not too many people out doing outside activities because it hasn't snowed yet, but everything just freezes over with a layer of ice. During this Christmas time of year although the weather is cold most people are warming up to taking a few minutes to talk to us. We usually tell people we have a brief Christmas message to share with them. Even if they are busy or not interested it's wonderful to be able to share about the true meaning of Christmas. It's so easy this time of year to be caught up in the hustle and bustle of getting everything done but really Christmas is about what we can give and how we can share the gift of Jesus Christ with others.

Here's a picture of the motorway that runs through Cumbernauld from one of the main blue cross walk bridges.

Hope you guys have a great week!

Love you a bunch,

Elder Calley

I forget who's statue this is but it's in Glasgow and they put cones on it.

Week 47: Christmas is coming…

December 4, 2017

Hey guys!

This week has been good. The Christmas buzz is already starting in Cumbernauld. It does feel like I have been here a long time and I have seen most of the neighborhoods here. We're still seeing John and Gordon. John is coming closer to baptism. We're helping him solve some concerns about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. 

So we had a weird kind of random story yesterday. We were doing some chapping and we were talking to this one guy and his dog ran out and we had to run through half of the neighborhood to catch it. I just thought it was kind of ironic because sometimes the dogs chase the missionaries instead of vice versa. (Don't worry though there haven't been any dogs chasing us in Cumbernauld. It was good though because we were able to talk to him some more. 

Anyways this week while I was studying about prophets this week and came across a scripture in Num 12:6 which says, And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream." So if someone is a prophet then they will receive revelation from God. I am grateful for prophets and other church leaders in my life to guide me to continue on the strait and narrow path back to my Heavenly Father. I know that our prophet on the earth today receives revelation from God for the church.

So I'm not sure if I've shared this Scottish word with you yet but it's “fit”. Up north especially near Aberdeen they use fit instead of what. So they'll say something like, "fit ya doing?" instead of what are you doing.

I hope you guys have a great week. 

Love,

Elder Calley

As far as living in Cumbernauld goes, it is more of like living in a suburb because just about everyone here goes to Glasgow on a regular basis. I've gotten asked to speak twice in Sacrament meeting since I've been here but each of my companions have had to speak once as well. So they ask the missionaries to speak about once every six weeks. We help out with the Sacrament quite a bit though and we teach gospel principles sometimes too.

I''ll try to send some more pictures next week. 

Week 46: Thanksgiving week

Nov 27, 2017

Hey everyone!

Sounds like you had a fun time out in Utah. This week was good. It seemed to fly by. We've continued to meet with John and Gordon. They are both doing good and are making baby steps. Elder Hoaldridge is doing good as well. He is getting adjusted to the mission and we get a long just great. As we were finding this week we came across a guy named Justin. He has some issues with drinking and smoking but wants to know how God can help him in his life. We're meeting with him later this evening.

I'm glad that you guys had really nice weather last week. Over here it got pretty cold and it actually snowed which I've heard doesn't happen very much over here.

So I learned a new Scottish word this week from John. It's called "gittering". It means to be messing about or goofing off. 

It's funny that you guys went to Angels Landing because John went over to Utah this time last year and he hiked Angels Landing with the family he was staying with and he told us this week about the chain that was at the top and how it seemed a little bit sketchy hiking to the top. He didn't go to the top either but it made me think about the iron rod as well. When we hold onto the iron rod we are a lot more safer and less likely to fall. However, when we just stand close to the rod we aren't entitled to the same safety.

I know this is kind of random but I'm not sure if they have all the lights for Christmas put up back home but they have a lot of lights in Scotland.  

Here's a picture of Buchanan Street all lit up with lights.

Hey well I hope you guys are getting adjusted back to the cold alright. I love you guys! Hope you have a good rest of your week.

Love,

Elder Calley

Week 45: Hmmm... Cumbernauldians probably would work

Nov. 20, 2017

Hey guys!   

This week has been great! So my companion is Elder Hoaldridge from Provo, Utah. He's a really good missionary for only have been out for a week. Scotland was one of the places he really wanted to go on his mission. He has an aunt that lives in Glasgow. He is a good worker, 19, straight out of high school, he loves basketball, we try to exercise every morning, doing push-ups, sit-ups, planks, etc. He is loving it here in Cumbernauld but he is a little bit homesick. He couldn't wait to email this week.

So as far as training goes. It's fun. Elder Hoaldridge is amazing! He is ready to work and loves to talk with people. Trainers are generally with their greenie for two transfers but sometimes they only half train. It's about a fifty fifty chance.

So I know you guys probably want a picture of me and Elder Hoaldridge so here's one of us waiting at the bus station.

Anyways, we have been doing a lot of finding this week but we chapped into a guy named Kieran. He's 17, goes to the college here in Cumbernauld, and was willing to meet up with us. We were able to walk with him to the church and give him a church tour and teach him more about the Restoration. We invited him to baptism and he said if he comes to know it's true he would. He said he was going to come to church yesterday but wasn't able to make it. It was really really cold yesterday morning though. The frost was thick enough that it looked like it had snowed. It was also very icy. We had to go and put grit out in the parking lot so that no one would slip. 

So one Scottish word I learned this week is braw. It means fine or pleasant. So for example if it is a braw day out today then the sun would be shining and it would be warm out. Today is not a braw day though. It's gotten colder lately but there are definitely a lot of Christmas lights that are going up in Cumbernauld. I haven't seen anyone put Christmas lights on their house but they have quite a few in the shopping centre here. 

I am so grateful to be able to be out here in Cumbernauld to share the gospel with others. I have been able to see the changes that it has made in me and am grateful for what the gospel of Jesus Christ can do to help others. 

I love you guys a lot,

Elder Calley

So long story short. They had gummies at the mission home in a jar for missionaries to take and knowing me I took a pack but I guess they call them fruit jellies here.

Here's a picture of the shopping mall and town centre in Cumbernauld.

We were walking back to our flat one night and we came across a YMCA. I didn't know they had them over here but I guess so. It reminded me of all the fun activities we had there with the young men.

Week 44: Staying in Cumbernauld

November 13, 2017

Kyle's Mailing Address:

Elder Kyle Calley

Scotland/Ireland Mission

51 Spylaw Road

Edinburgh

Scotland EH10 5BP

United Kingdom

Hey guys, 

This weekend has been kinda busy so far. So sorry but this email will probably be short. So as far as transfers go I am getting a greenie. I don't know anything about him but I go to Edinbrugh tomorrow to pick him up. Elder Orchard is leaving for Galway in Ireland. I'm really excited to get to train a new missonary though so I will let you know more about him next week.

We have been seeing John this week. He really enjoyed his time in Boston and New York. He went to church there and Mitt Romney's son was the Bishop in the ward he went to in Boston I think. John continues to pray and read everyday so we're just helping him make the next step to baptism. He just wants to be 100 percent sure of everything before he gets baptised. He does a lot of research on the church. He really just needs to take a step of faith because he keeps all of the commandments and comes to church every week. However, don't get me wrong, he is making little steps and will get baptised in his own time.

So they are beginning to advertise Christmas in Cumbernauld. Christmas is big in Scotland just like back home. We have some of the Christmas pass along cards already and will start using those with the 25 days of Christmas theme in December. I haven't heard any more news about us getting smart phones so we'll see what happens with that. I am a little nervous to train but I think it will be great. I remember when I was a greenie. I had no idea what I was doing as a missionary. I'm sure my companion will be in the same boat. 

It's good to hear from you guys. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

Love you guys,

Elder Calley

By the way here is a photo of me, Elder Foster middle, and Elder Cosmas on the left. They are both in my MTC group and so we took a picture together at district meeting before transfers. Everyone in the Glasgow zone meets in Glasgow for district meeting.

Week 43: Do you guys know who Guy Fox is?

Nov. 6, 2017

Hey guys!

This week was good. We haven't been able to visit John because he is still on holiday but he should be coming back this Saturday. However, we got a chance to meet with Gordon and he is doing better. He came with us to church yesterday. Speaking of yesterday, Remembrance Sunday is a Sunday where they celebrate all of the veterans who have died and fought in the wars. Remembrance Day is on November 11 because that is when WWI ended. In Cumbernauld they didn't celebrate it this week but they will next Sunday. So church will start a bit later so everyone can attend a Remembrance day gathering where they place wreaths and have a moment of silence. Also yesterday was Guy Fawkes Day. You guys probably don't know who Guy Fawkes is but he is was a guy who tried to blow up parliament and so everyone celebrates him not blowing up parliament by shooting off fireworks and lighting bonfires.

We did a lot of finding the rest of the week. Last Monday while we were chapping we knocked on this house and this lady opens it up and says, "It isn't Halloween yet! What do you want?". Elder Orchard and I told her we are missionaries but she wasn't interested. We thought that that was a pretty funny way to answer the door. We also saw a group of people building a bonfire for Guy Fawkes yesterday. Apparently they get pretty big.

Well sorry this email is short but there hasn't really been anything new this week. Cumbernauld is great and I am grateful to be able to serve the people here. I know the gospel brings happiness into our lives and I am grateful that I have an opportunity to share more about my Savior and His gospel with the people of Cumbernauld.

Love,

Elder Calley

Week 42: Sounds Like a busy weekend

Oct 30, 2017

Hey guys!

So this week was good. We had Elder Renlund at the All-Scotland Conference in Dundee. It was amazing to see him there. All the missionaries there got to shake Elder and Sister Renlund's hands and they wanted to know our names and where we are from. When I told him I was from Minnesota he asked me isn't that where they have big mosquitoes and three seasons, June, July, and winter. I just chuckled and told him yep that sounds about right. He gave some really good instruction. He gave us three mini messages. He told us first as an Apostle, thank you for the work you do as missionaries. Second he told us that each of us is called by prophecy and called of God as missionaries to a specific place and to serve with a certain mission president. Third he told us that each mission president is called by prophecy and called of God. He told us that each mission president is prayerfully chosen by the Quorum of the Twelve who prayerfully council in the temple and unanimously choose who should serve as mission president. Further interviewing is done and then they go back to the temple and pray about where this mission president should serve. Then the mission president is interviewed by a member of the First Presidency and the call to serve as a mission president in a particular mission is extended. Elder Renlund also told us that when it comes to missionary work our success depends on us. Success is only measured by things that we can do.

So it's hard to believe that halloween is coming up this Tuesday. Apparently for halloween here they like to shoot off fireworks because we have heard several go off in the evening everyday for the past week and a half. We also have to stay in our flat by five because that is when it gets dark here. We had daylights saving time yesterday and it is nice to see the sun in the morning but it sets at about 4:30. So the days are definitely getting darker, shorter, and colder. Kind of reminds me of back home in the winter. Haha

Well speaking of exercise we are probably going to go play some kind of sport with the Airdrie Elders today but Elder Orchard and I could run in the morning if we wanted to. 

Here's a picture of the sun rising in Dundee at about 7:30.

Hope you guys have a great week! Thank you for your emails!

Love,

Elder Calley

Week 41: Ophelia in Cumbernauld?

Oct 23, 2017

So the "hurricane" that was supposed to come across Scotland was basically half a day of really rainy weather with some wind. It didn't do much over here in Scotland but I heard in Ireland that it ripped the roofs off of some of the houses and caused some power outages as well. All of the missionaries in Ireland had to stay indoors on that day last week. I also heard the prime minister in Ireland had everyone staying in doors and everything was basically shut down. I also heard that the storm made the sun red in England. We didn't really have much service to do over here in Scotland because it wasn't much more than the typical weather over here. I'm sure they got some service opportunities over in Ireland though. 

Well that's good to heard you guys had a good week. Here in Cumbernauld it has been pretty good. We have been meeting with John this week. He apparently is going on a two week holiday to New York and Boston with a friend. But he has continued to read the scriptures and pray and he was at church yesterday so that was good. 

We were also on exchanges last Friday with the zone leaders in Glasgow. It was interesting to see the difference between a big city like Glasgow and a town like Cumbernauld. 

So I'm not sure if I have told you this word before but its one that I've heard quite a bit lately. (I don't think its been directed at me though). It's called skiving. It basically means talking all the time instead of working. Usually they will just say "stop your skiving" instead of start working. 

This week we also have a zone conference in Dundee with Elder Renlund. We also had interviews with President Donaldson and I heard Sister Donaldson say that they had ten minutes each to speak and then the rest of the meeting will be handed over to Elder Renlund. Zone conferences are several hours long so I wonder what he will speak about? Elder Renlund also gave all of us missionaries a few general conference talks to read. One of them was President Uchtdorf's talk "Fourth Floor Last Door" and in it he talks about faith and prayers. He talks about how prayers require faith but no matter how hard we pray or exercise faith there are two things that faith can't do. The first one is take away someones agency and the second one is force our will upon God. I thought that was really interesting because sometimes it can seem like there are a lot of things that we want and we are wondering why Heavenly Father isn't giving us what we are asking for. Sometimes I wonder if our prayers fall into one of those categories. However, I know that Heavenly Father answers prayers even though it may not be the answer we want here.

So I'm not sure if I have told you this word before but its one that I've heard quite a bit lately. (I don't think its been directed at me though). It's called skiving. It basically means talking all the time instead of working. Usually they will just say "stop your skiving" instead of start working. 

So I know the date on this one says it is July but I haven't been the best at taking pictures lately but here is one of Buchanan Street in Glasgow. It's pretty much the main street of the city.

Well I hope you guys have a great week! I'm doing grand here in Cumbernauld

Love,

Elder Calley

Week 40: Week 2 of Transfer 7?

Oct 16, 2017

Hey guys! It's great to hear from you! I didn't know that there was a storm supposed to hit Ireland. (Tropical Storm Ophelia — previously a hurricane, was to make landfall today) Over here in Cumbernauld it has just been really rainy, so not much different than the usual. Haha. I haven't heard anything about it but it sounds like we'll just have typical Scottish weather for another week. 

So this week, we did a lot of chapping. John and Gordon have both been going through a rough patch with things. John has had some negative comments from friends and family about meeting with us and Gordon has been struggling with feeling comfortable about coming back to church on a regular basis. 

Yesterday, however, was Stake Conference in Glasgow. It was very good! There was a General Authority from the Seventy there. I forget his name but it might have been Elder Boon? He gave a really good talk and he touched on missionary work and how great members are in helping the full-time missionaries. President and Sister Donaldson were also there. President Donaldson gave a really great analogy in his talk about the sacrament prayers that I thought was brilliant. He said, "The sacrament prayers have to be given word-perfect. Everyone knows that. But when the priest messes it up, what happens? Even though the expectation of perfection cannot be lowered, the person giving the prayer gets a second chance, and a third, and a fourth, if he needs them. No matter how many mistakes he makes along the way, when he does finally get it right, the outcome is counted as perfect and acceptable. God, like the bishop, cannot lower the standard that we ultimately become perfect, but He can give us many opportunities to start again." I really thought that analogy really helps us understand God's Plan for us and how essential the Atonement is in that Plan. 

So in two weeks time we are having a zone conference and Elder and Sister Renlund are going to be there. It should be really amazing to have an Apostle come and visit and instruct us. 

So I did learn another Scottish word this week while we were doing service at the garden right by our flat on Saturday. It's bowfing. Apparently bowfing means that you are smelly. We certainly were bowfing after service in the rain that day. 

Hope you guys have a great week!

Love,

Elder Calley

Thank you guys for the package! It was great!  I was really chuffed from all those letter. I loved all the candy especially the powerade and hichews. The candy here is not as good as back home. The French chocolate was really good as well!

 from the Mcgregor Family  

Week 39: Well 9 months... It's gone by pretty fast

Oct 9, 2017

Hey guys!

This week has been rainy every day. Scotland must be taking all the rain next week. Haha. We met with John more this week. He is still taking small steps but progressing. We also went to the McGregor's last night. They are a very funny family. Brother McGregor is a diehard Rangers fan but his youngest son who is about five always says he likes Celtics whenever Brother McGregor mentions the Rangers. We did a lot of chapping the rest of the week. The ward here is nice, friendly, and willing to help us out where they can. 

So one thing I have been studying this week is charity. I came across a scripture this week in 1 Nephi 26:30-31 that I think really explains charity, "Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish. But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish." I really like how if we have charity we understand why we are being serviceable. We shouldn't be doing service or showing love towards others because of the things that we will gain but for the sake of others. 

Here is a picture of Elder Orchard and I in typical Scottish weather. It's starting to get pretty dark in the evening. 

 So I have mainly seen men wearing a kilt in Glasgow in the city centre playing the bagpipes. They sell kilts for about £85 in the tourist shops but they are usually made out of cheaper material. The wool kilts are more around £600 (really expensive) and can be found in a kiltmaker shop. There are a few of those around Glasgow. 

So I do most of the cooking between the two of us. We buy food together and cook together. I think that is what most elders do. They have some good food here but a lot of the American sweets such as twizzlers they don't have over here. 

Wow, I can't believe Halloween is at the end of the month. They do celebrate halloween in Scotland but not as much back home. From what I've heard, only a few of the little kids go tricker treating and most people use it as an excuse to go to the pub. We have to be in our flat by 6pm on Halloween. 

Today we will probably just go to Glasgow for p-day. Usually we go to Glasgow but sometimes we do something with the other elders in our district in Airdrie. Wow, stake presidency is getting changed! President Foote has left some big shoes to fill. This next week for Cumbernauld is Stake Conference which is in Glasgow.

Well, sorry this email is short. I'll try to make the next one longer.  Hope you guys have a great week! Thank you for your emails. They make my p-day!

Love you guys a lot,

Elder Calley

Week 38: Well Transfers happened

Oct. 2, 2017

Sounds like you guys had an amazing trip in France. Thanks for the pictures. So transfers happened this weekend. I am still in Cumbernauld but Elder Bain swapped places with Elder Orchard in Livingston. Elder Orchard is from St. Louis has been out for three months. He just moved from Livingston to Cumbernauld this morning so I am sure that I will be able to get to know him a bit better as the transfer moves on. ( I'll make sure to send a picture next week)

Conference was awesome! We got John to come with us to see the first three sessions in Glasgow. Elder Uchtdorf's talk in the Saturday Morning Session was one of my favorites.  We didn't get to see the Sunday Afternoon Session yesterday due to the time difference and so I didn't know that Elder Hales died until I read your emails. That is sad to hear.

Well, John is doing good. He continues to meet with us and keeps thinking about baptism. He takes really good care of us here in Cumbernauld. He had us over for dinner quite a few times this week. He said his favorite speaker from conference was Elder David F. Evans who spoke a lot on building a personal testimony and how we can through things such as scripture study and prayer.

By the way, I'm not sure if I told you this but John used to be a Free Mason and told us where the masonic lodge is in Cumbernauld so we took pictures in front of it.

We also rode bikes to a loch last p-day in Airdrie with the other Elders in our district. 

Elder Baklan is on the left and Elder Bain is on the right

So the closest soccer stadium I know of is in Glasgow. I think that is where the Celtics and Rangers play. Hot cereal is a thing here in Scotland and Ireland but its called porridge over here and is not as popular as back home I think.

I love you guys. Hope you have a good week of recuperation.

Love,

Elder Calley