Jan 25, 2010
It has been a good week. I hate how many ups and downs there are as a missionary, at least for me. But it has been good.
The weather was still great until yesterday and it has been raining since. We have tracted a lot and this has gone ok. Zone Conference went really well. There was freezing rain on the way down to Butler (1.5 hour drive) and I drove across this way way slick part where there was like 3 cars off the road. Elders that are in New York were coming down and slid off at that spot, it wasn't as bad when we went across it I'm sure.
But we found two new investigators this week. Elder Morales, who serves in the other Erie area, was on exchanges with me and we knocked 3 doors in the afternoon. The first- Mira. She spoke Spanish so Elder Morales and her just went at it, I picked up a few words here and there. She accepted a B of M and he and Elder Lee are going over today. The second door- not interested. The third- Jackie. She soaked up every word we had to say. She kept realizing how we went out door to door to tell people of all these things they don't know about. She is reading and praying. She accepted a baptism date of Feb. 27! She is awesome. She has told her brother about us and he is reading and praying as well. So cool. But, she didn't come to church so that was a real bummer. She told us she would. We are meeting with her on Wednesday with a member. We are also starting to teach other people like Sue Hays and Joe and Carlee, who are hardcore Catholic. They took us through a scripture chain that of course led to Matt. 16, about Peter being the rock (and first Pope) of the church. Lame.
But it's crazy to have things like that then to have such disappointment in the exact same week. I have felt like a failure as I train Elder Lee. He has gotten upset a couple times and said that this isn't what he signed up for. He gets mad at himself and at me when people don't accept us. District Leader is still interesting, and I hate it. I am trying to figure out a way for me to learn the best as I study, but I always have to study for District Meeting. I would love to just be a normal missionary. The Bishop hasn't been to open to us, and I don't think he thinks we are working hard. I think we are working hard, I just hope it's effective. I have no clue what I'm doing sometimes, and I hate that. But I know I am selfish when I think and ponder about things like that when I should be rejoicing at the fact of Jackie and Dakota and the people we meet with. Something I am still trying to do.
Thank you for the package. I am so excited about this DVD. Did you buy the book? You should for yourselves, it's powerful. We will probably play it at Dakota's baptism. I was way excited to see Mike's picture. He will do awesome for those people. I got an email from Cody and I am glad he is doing good. He said it's awesome to have Scott and B home.
I am thankful for your prayers and that you are serving in the temple. Thanks for everything. It will be something else to see my emails when I get home, and realize that I have gotten through the difficult times of my mission, not because of anything I did, but because the Lord will never leave me. That is a fact I have to always hold on to no matter what. I hope and pray that I am learning for the benefit of others, and not myself. Hope you have another good week and I'm glad you are doing so well. I love you and am thankful for you. Love CADE
Feb 6, 2010
Wow, it's been soooo cold here. It hasn't gotten below zero, but being in the weather as a missionary is ten times worse than back in Rexburg. Wow, my face was taken through the ice ringer this week. Nonetheless, it was a good week the Lord blessed us with.
But this week was good. Dakota's baptism went well, it was interesting however. But it was funny, after he was baptized he yelled: "THAT WAS NOT COOL!!" Ha so we hurried and shut the curtains on him. So when I started to confirm him, I said his name, and as I was beginning the ordinance he liked crouched so our hands weren't on his head so I stopped, then a guy in the circle told him that he had to sit up, ha just little stuff like that he is a crack up. And after he was confirmed he said that it was not cool. It was an awesome experience to confirm him though, what special gifts the Holy Ghost and the Priesthood are.
We had a good week with finding, however, Jackie has ignored us. But, we got a call from a less active's husband named Ryan, and he left a message asking us why we hadn't been over in a while. We stopped going over because he wasn't willing to change yet, he didn't want to make commitments. But we went over there last night and he said that he sees a difference when we do come over, and when we don't. And he knows something is missing in his life. Sis. Kasbee, his wife, is very standoffish about church. She has had her feelings hurt and she said that she doesn't like how she feels when she comes, they both have W of W issues. But we taught/testified about the Atonement, and eternal families, and he and the kids are coming to church, and Sis. Kasbee is just lacking faith. We are going over there tonight and teaching them as a family. The Lord has obviously blessed us a lot this week. We are also teaching an awesome Catholic family named Carlee and Joe Yochim. They aren't just Easter/Christmas Catholics, they know their religion and they say that the Great Apostasy is their greatest stumbling block. So I said that instead of praying about the Apostasy, they need to pray about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, and so we knelt and prayed. We are fasting with them next week so they get an answer. We have awesome people to teach, but they need to come to church and meet the members. I am thankful that every single event that happens out here as been nothing like I thought it would, if I just trust in the Lord. Every decision I try to have a prayer in my heart for guidance, and every time, the Spirit guides me.
Anyway, we are about to go eat. We had a sleepover last night with the zone Leaders, they are good elders. I am loving this district more and more each week. However, the Assistants are going to be at D.M. this week, ha great. Love ya! CADE
Monday, February 8, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Adam Walker:
Jan 19, 2010
Everything is working out real well here. This last week has been pretty crazy. We had a little show down at church this last week. The Branch President was teaching in Sunday School that little children who die before the age of accountability have to accept the gospel in the spirit world and they are not automatically saved into the celestial kingdom. I corrected him and made the point clear that they are saved into the Celestial Kingdom, I showed him a few scriptures, 1 in Moroni 8 saying that it is an solemn mockery to baptize a child. and also in D&C 136 where it says straight up that Little Children who die before the age of accountability are saved in the Celestial Kingdom. The Branch President is a very arrogant man and very prideful. and he didn't like to be shown wrong and he wouldn't accept that he was wrong. Now he doesn't like me to well and 3/4 of the branch are related to him so now they don't like me to well either because I told them something that was true but against what their grandpa or dad said. Its a mess. Some of these small branches are interesting. Its kind of like their own little break off sometimes. Its funny in some cases but when it comes down to teaching correct principles, that's not something to mess with. Luckily there were some members of the High council there as well and they were speaking in sacrament, and one of them spoke exactly on that point, teaching correct principles from the scriptures and other church materials, and not from your own opinion. that made the branch president even more embarrassed and he still just wont say sorry haha. its a mess, something so small, yet so big. Just accept that your wrong and move on with life. The High Councilors wife told me that that was needed to be done, she wanted to say something but didn't know how to put it into words. other people who are not related to him were glad I cleared it up as well, but anyone that has the last name Mann, they are all mad at me now, thank goodness the people who are not related to him are the ones that feed us so that wont hurt us. :)
Yesterday we had a great experience, right after I hung up from talking to mom on the phone in fact; We had a member that was preparing dinner at the church for a family that we are teaching. They have 8 in their family and so we had a ton of food ready and prepared. Well about and hour before dinner we get a call, "we are not going to be able to make it." The member that had slaved all day for this was just depressed, and actually a little angry at the same time. Because I guess this happened the last time that he had prepared dinner for a family that the missionaries were teaching. So here we are, 4 people with a huge crock pot of chili, enough to feed probably 15 people, and they all could probably have seconds. What to do? We call every member that we have numbers to to see if they wanted a free dinner. No one was able to come because they were all doing other things or had already had dinner. So that failed and nothing was going right, the member that had prepared it was even a little more disappointed at this point and I could see that he was just depressed. This whole time I am playing the piano on and off while my companion is calling people and praying in my mind, "please just make something good happen for this man." Soon after, his wife yelled from upstairs where the kitchen is in this church and said, "Tom...Tom, someone is at the door out side. So he goes and opens the door and the first thing he asks him, do you want some chili?! haha the guy was just like sure, why not I just was looking for some water. He needed like 5 gallons or something. He had just moved into a home right across from the church and the water had not been turned on yet. So we gave him access to the water at the church and told him to use as much as he needed. Then when he had got the water he said he would go try to get someone else to come to because someone had moved with him. He brought over a lady named Rhonda, She is pretty much a full time house sitter for this one mans mother. The guy who needed the water ended up getting a call into work for something so he couldn't stay but Rhonda stayed and had a big bowl of chili with corn bread. The members invited her to church, and then we asked her if it would be alright if we came over and taught her about our church. She said she would love that! In the end the members walked her back to her house and on the way out they stopped at the table in the church with church materials and introduced the book of Mormon to her. She said she would love to read it.
Our night turned out to be a success, it was a great night. A prayer answered and some members able to see some success come from their hard work and a great opportunity to share the gospel with someone new. God answers prayers. This was just yet another one of those times. He love us all, He is there.
Hope you all travel safely and everything goes well.
I love you all, always remember to pray.
Have a great week, talk to you next week
-Elder Walker
Everything is working out real well here. This last week has been pretty crazy. We had a little show down at church this last week. The Branch President was teaching in Sunday School that little children who die before the age of accountability have to accept the gospel in the spirit world and they are not automatically saved into the celestial kingdom. I corrected him and made the point clear that they are saved into the Celestial Kingdom, I showed him a few scriptures, 1 in Moroni 8 saying that it is an solemn mockery to baptize a child. and also in D&C 136 where it says straight up that Little Children who die before the age of accountability are saved in the Celestial Kingdom. The Branch President is a very arrogant man and very prideful. and he didn't like to be shown wrong and he wouldn't accept that he was wrong. Now he doesn't like me to well and 3/4 of the branch are related to him so now they don't like me to well either because I told them something that was true but against what their grandpa or dad said. Its a mess. Some of these small branches are interesting. Its kind of like their own little break off sometimes. Its funny in some cases but when it comes down to teaching correct principles, that's not something to mess with. Luckily there were some members of the High council there as well and they were speaking in sacrament, and one of them spoke exactly on that point, teaching correct principles from the scriptures and other church materials, and not from your own opinion. that made the branch president even more embarrassed and he still just wont say sorry haha. its a mess, something so small, yet so big. Just accept that your wrong and move on with life. The High Councilors wife told me that that was needed to be done, she wanted to say something but didn't know how to put it into words. other people who are not related to him were glad I cleared it up as well, but anyone that has the last name Mann, they are all mad at me now, thank goodness the people who are not related to him are the ones that feed us so that wont hurt us. :)
Yesterday we had a great experience, right after I hung up from talking to mom on the phone in fact; We had a member that was preparing dinner at the church for a family that we are teaching. They have 8 in their family and so we had a ton of food ready and prepared. Well about and hour before dinner we get a call, "we are not going to be able to make it." The member that had slaved all day for this was just depressed, and actually a little angry at the same time. Because I guess this happened the last time that he had prepared dinner for a family that the missionaries were teaching. So here we are, 4 people with a huge crock pot of chili, enough to feed probably 15 people, and they all could probably have seconds. What to do? We call every member that we have numbers to to see if they wanted a free dinner. No one was able to come because they were all doing other things or had already had dinner. So that failed and nothing was going right, the member that had prepared it was even a little more disappointed at this point and I could see that he was just depressed. This whole time I am playing the piano on and off while my companion is calling people and praying in my mind, "please just make something good happen for this man." Soon after, his wife yelled from upstairs where the kitchen is in this church and said, "Tom...Tom, someone is at the door out side. So he goes and opens the door and the first thing he asks him, do you want some chili?! haha the guy was just like sure, why not I just was looking for some water. He needed like 5 gallons or something. He had just moved into a home right across from the church and the water had not been turned on yet. So we gave him access to the water at the church and told him to use as much as he needed. Then when he had got the water he said he would go try to get someone else to come to because someone had moved with him. He brought over a lady named Rhonda, She is pretty much a full time house sitter for this one mans mother. The guy who needed the water ended up getting a call into work for something so he couldn't stay but Rhonda stayed and had a big bowl of chili with corn bread. The members invited her to church, and then we asked her if it would be alright if we came over and taught her about our church. She said she would love that! In the end the members walked her back to her house and on the way out they stopped at the table in the church with church materials and introduced the book of Mormon to her. She said she would love to read it.
Our night turned out to be a success, it was a great night. A prayer answered and some members able to see some success come from their hard work and a great opportunity to share the gospel with someone new. God answers prayers. This was just yet another one of those times. He love us all, He is there.
Hope you all travel safely and everything goes well.
I love you all, always remember to pray.
Have a great week, talk to you next week
-Elder Walker
Elder Cade Casper:
Jan 4, 2010
So, as I have taken a gander out at the multiple feet of snow, I have thought of you guys a couple of times. We had a bad snowstorm last night and Saturday night- church was cancelled. Ha yes, cancelled. So, it's pretty nuts. I don't know exactly how much it has snowed, but it's a lot. We have to shovel a trench around our car each morning so we can get in, now we have learned to just take shovels in the trunk. In case we don't have anything to do, we can go shovel people's driveways.
But the week went well. It was a fast week. I have been in Erie for 5 full weeks, crazy! We had some good days and some decent days. On Saturday it was really cool- we were working in an area called Lake City, which is 20 minutes from Erie, and we met with a ton of less- active members. We were pretty tired when we got to the apartment for dinner. I got two letters, one from Michele in State College, and some random letter from someone in Utah. It was cool- Michele is doing really well. She is still attending church weekly, and her son, who claimed to be agnostic before we left, is going with her every week and their home teacher, Dale Murphy's son, is getting Mason (the son) hooked on mutual night. So that was awesome to get that letter from her, I was very thankful to hear from her. The other letter was way random, but cool. There was no name or anything, but this person just bore testimony and talked about missionary work and stuff, it was something that I needed at the time. But things are going well, we are doing better at waking up early ha because we both struggle with that, and we have had some success. It's good to see good things happen because it's our work. Next week we should know if we are getting transferred or not, and I'm quite positive I won't be. Not sure about Elder Juarez, I wouldn't mind if we stayed together.
We are still trying to get Dakota, the 10 year old boy, to be baptized this month. We have not talked to them since before Christmas so we are trying to meet with them again. Kelly and her two sons were going to come to church, we had a ride for them and everything. But, this week we are trying to meet in a member's home because her home situation isn't a good place for the spirit. Her husband is nice, but he likes to bring out the fact that he smokes and drinks.
Your picture or attachment thing for the email didn't work. So I don't know if Cort could help you out with that. I hope you get a chance to look at the email today, but you will probably be busy packing and everything.
Well that's about it from Erie. Things are going well amidst all of the snow. I'm ok with it, just trying to stay warm. Oh before I forget- remember that "Reflections of Christ" thing by Mark Mabry, the pictures and the DVD? He came out with another book from the Book of Mormon. A less- active member showed it to us, the missionary that baptized her sent it to her for Christmas. It would be awesome if you would sometime check out either the Reflections DVD or the Book of Mormon one called "Another Testament", that would be awesome to play at baptisms, so we will be using it a lot :).
But it's good here. I know there are people in Erie waiting for the gospel. I love ya and pray you travel safe. Tell everyone hello. CADE
Jan 11, 2010
Man, I couldn't help but to laugh when you said you came home to a -22, I'm sorry. I'm glad you had a good time, and I'm sure it lifted Cort and Mel's spirits as well, something they definitely need. I will try to be short today so I can write everyone and see how they are all doing.
But the transfer is over, transfer meeting is tomorrow down in Pittsburgh. I found out yesterday that Elder Juarez is leaving, and I am going to be training and be a district leader! Over the Zone Leaders! Great, I am excited about training, and I will reflect a lot on how I was trained because I was blessed with a great trainer. But I am quite nervous about being a district leader. I can't imagine what it will be like to instruct other missionaries (especially the zone leaders) and the Lindblom's. It will be a trying experience. But I know things will work out, and the Lord will help me. I know that training will be good for me. It is 1000 times more important that I am exactly obedient and diligent as I bring this new missionary into the field. I think it's funny that he is coming here in the middle of the winter- sorry greenie!!
But things are going ok as far as the work is concerned. Dakota French is getting baptized on Jan. 30, and it is a struggle to try and teach him simply all the things he needs to know and he doesn't focus well at all. But, he is a good kid. Then after that, not many investigators that are progressing. We will be finding a lot over the next few months which will stink considering the weather.
But the DVD's? "Another Testament" DVD would be awesome. "The Reflections of Christ" is really good, but I looked through the book of the other one and it looks really good. So, if you could, send out "Another Testament". That will be real cool.
Things are going well, a very exciting time in my mission right now. I have been out 6 months- crazy. I love ya Mom and Dad and am thankful for your prayers.
So, as I have taken a gander out at the multiple feet of snow, I have thought of you guys a couple of times. We had a bad snowstorm last night and Saturday night- church was cancelled. Ha yes, cancelled. So, it's pretty nuts. I don't know exactly how much it has snowed, but it's a lot. We have to shovel a trench around our car each morning so we can get in, now we have learned to just take shovels in the trunk. In case we don't have anything to do, we can go shovel people's driveways.
But the week went well. It was a fast week. I have been in Erie for 5 full weeks, crazy! We had some good days and some decent days. On Saturday it was really cool- we were working in an area called Lake City, which is 20 minutes from Erie, and we met with a ton of less- active members. We were pretty tired when we got to the apartment for dinner. I got two letters, one from Michele in State College, and some random letter from someone in Utah. It was cool- Michele is doing really well. She is still attending church weekly, and her son, who claimed to be agnostic before we left, is going with her every week and their home teacher, Dale Murphy's son, is getting Mason (the son) hooked on mutual night. So that was awesome to get that letter from her, I was very thankful to hear from her. The other letter was way random, but cool. There was no name or anything, but this person just bore testimony and talked about missionary work and stuff, it was something that I needed at the time. But things are going well, we are doing better at waking up early ha because we both struggle with that, and we have had some success. It's good to see good things happen because it's our work. Next week we should know if we are getting transferred or not, and I'm quite positive I won't be. Not sure about Elder Juarez, I wouldn't mind if we stayed together.
We are still trying to get Dakota, the 10 year old boy, to be baptized this month. We have not talked to them since before Christmas so we are trying to meet with them again. Kelly and her two sons were going to come to church, we had a ride for them and everything. But, this week we are trying to meet in a member's home because her home situation isn't a good place for the spirit. Her husband is nice, but he likes to bring out the fact that he smokes and drinks.
Your picture or attachment thing for the email didn't work. So I don't know if Cort could help you out with that. I hope you get a chance to look at the email today, but you will probably be busy packing and everything.
Well that's about it from Erie. Things are going well amidst all of the snow. I'm ok with it, just trying to stay warm. Oh before I forget- remember that "Reflections of Christ" thing by Mark Mabry, the pictures and the DVD? He came out with another book from the Book of Mormon. A less- active member showed it to us, the missionary that baptized her sent it to her for Christmas. It would be awesome if you would sometime check out either the Reflections DVD or the Book of Mormon one called "Another Testament", that would be awesome to play at baptisms, so we will be using it a lot :).
But it's good here. I know there are people in Erie waiting for the gospel. I love ya and pray you travel safe. Tell everyone hello. CADE
Jan 11, 2010
Man, I couldn't help but to laugh when you said you came home to a -22, I'm sorry. I'm glad you had a good time, and I'm sure it lifted Cort and Mel's spirits as well, something they definitely need. I will try to be short today so I can write everyone and see how they are all doing.
But the transfer is over, transfer meeting is tomorrow down in Pittsburgh. I found out yesterday that Elder Juarez is leaving, and I am going to be training and be a district leader! Over the Zone Leaders! Great, I am excited about training, and I will reflect a lot on how I was trained because I was blessed with a great trainer. But I am quite nervous about being a district leader. I can't imagine what it will be like to instruct other missionaries (especially the zone leaders) and the Lindblom's. It will be a trying experience. But I know things will work out, and the Lord will help me. I know that training will be good for me. It is 1000 times more important that I am exactly obedient and diligent as I bring this new missionary into the field. I think it's funny that he is coming here in the middle of the winter- sorry greenie!!
But things are going ok as far as the work is concerned. Dakota French is getting baptized on Jan. 30, and it is a struggle to try and teach him simply all the things he needs to know and he doesn't focus well at all. But, he is a good kid. Then after that, not many investigators that are progressing. We will be finding a lot over the next few months which will stink considering the weather.
But the DVD's? "Another Testament" DVD would be awesome. "The Reflections of Christ" is really good, but I looked through the book of the other one and it looks really good. So, if you could, send out "Another Testament". That will be real cool.
Things are going well, a very exciting time in my mission right now. I have been out 6 months- crazy. I love ya Mom and Dad and am thankful for your prayers.
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