Elder Cade Casper:

April 5, 2010
Hey, so it was a good week. I can't believe this transfer is over already. I'm staying, and training.... again haha. It will be good. Elder Lee is going to a more Spanish area so I am really excited for him.

The baptism didn't happen. I really am not sure if Ryan is prepared or qualifies for baptism. I read or recite D&C 20:37 and I really don't know if he is humble. He is the one that postponed it, and he postponed it for next weekend. It was good/bad. They haven't called us back or anything for a while, so we are meeting with them tonight so Elder Lee can say goodbye. I have prayed a lot to know if we should continue with the baptism. He was humbled on Thursday night when he told us that he didn't feel worthy for baptism, that he felt overwhelmed. The craziest thing happened though. We were teaching about the 10 Command. So I went to Exodus 20 to teach them, a sticky note from seminary popped out from another scripture in the O.T. It was a quote from Richard G. Scott talking about the things Satan puts into our minds when we want to repent or do something the Lord wants us to do. Things like: "You can't do it, you're not worthy, it's too late now" etc. He read it and it really hit him home. He said that was exactly how he was feeling. It was cool to see that little miracle. So I am writing President to see what he has to say of course.

We had an awesome invest. come to both sessions of Saturday Conference. His name is Matt and he loved it. He is in a wheel chair and we talked to him on the street, he is a nice kid. Some less active members came and it was awesome to see. A man named Bro. Witgen came and that was a shock, he enjoyed it. The Clark's are starting to come back. It is so cool to see them come and they also have the goal of getting to the temple. I am so happy for them.

It was a really good weekend, and things are really picking up here in Millcreek. Since I'm training, I may be here another 3 months but no guarantees. The city is really changing now that it's warming up. People are coming out of obscurity on the streets haha. I guess the violence downtown gets bad in the summer, but don't worry, our area doesn't have any of downtown in it. Oh, and everyone but me (& the Lindblom's) are going this transfer. The Zone Leaders in the district are getting doubled out, so everyone will be new.

Anyway, I love ya and I will hear from you next week!

April 12, 2010
Hola Madre.

So this week was good. It was nice to go to Pittsburgh, it was way warm, like low 80's. Even when we got back it was like 75 in Erie. But, it's pretty much like Rexburg, it snowed this week as well.

My new companion, my "son" as we call them, is Elder Davis. He is from Taylorsville, UT. He is a good kid. Soft spoken, and quite a bit different than I am, but he is hard working and very willing to talk to people. He is kinda scared about it all, and struggles to speak of course, but he is very willing and it's awesome to make progress each time he opens his mouth.

So the new missionaries in the district are Elder Tranter (my trainer) and Elder Zaleski (my MTC comp). I was way pumped to hear they were coming to Erie, I will be learning a lot from them.

So the Kasbee's didn't get baptized. They have really thrown me for a loop. We taught them on Wednesday with Bro. Bittner and it went ok, the Kasbee's brought out the concern that they didn't want Blake to be baptized because he has a mother who isn't setting the example and isn't willing to change, she is pretty hard hearted. So we lost contact with them after that, and they still haven't returned phone calls or anything at all. I don't know what else to do.

Matt, the one to come to conference, can't come to church for a while as far as we know now. Since he is in a wheelchair, he got some bad pressure sores that make him have to sit outside his wheelchair, keeping him from leaving his house. It's a sad thing, because we set him with a baptismal date of May 1, but if he can't come to church we aren't sure if he can come. We are praying for a miracle that they heal so he can be baptized. Outside of that there isn't a whole lot going on. It was sort of a slow week. New transfers are bittersweet, because I like the change but it's almost overwhelming.

There was a good lesson in Elder's quorum. First off the brother teaching talked about how Elder Scott (I think) was down in Mexico in a lesson and could tell that the brother teaching was really struggling to find his words and teach the class, but he kept trying, and taught what he knew to be true. Then he attended his home ward back in Utah and a brother who was very knowledgeable was teaching, and saw teaching as an opportunity to sort of rise above and impress a few people, and Elder Scott immediately noticed the difference in the two lessons, the first was more heartfelt and sincere, bringing in the Spirit, the latter, not so much. It doesn't matter how much we know, just how much we know what he teach to be true and if we have been converted to the gospel.

Not much to really say besides the new companion, the new district, and the Kasbee's and others. Things are going well and I am enjoying each day, some more than others. There is never a reason to hang our heads. Oh, Elder Lee is in Harrisburg.

I love ya and am thankful for the prayers you offer. Love Cade

April 19, 2010
Hello Madre.

It was a good week, but wow am I glad it's finally p-day....

We had quite the week. It was really cold and rainy, but it was ok. We had a good week with working with the ward, I am starting to really love them and get close to them, and I have had many say that they wouldn't mind me dating their little sisters when I get home, so I guess that's a good thing right? The ward is good, and we are hoping to find some new solid members for the ward here, Erie needs it.

So yes, Elder Tranter and Elder Zaleski are our Zone Leaders, it's great to have them in the district too. We learn a lot from them, and it's fun because we all know each other, today we are going to the beach to mess around and go swimming (wink wink). Speaking of the lake: Last night it was about 8:35 and we didn't have much to do, and I was so ready for p-day. We were down by the lake and I thought, well, let's just go sit out at the lake for 15 or so minutes. So we parked and were walking out on the docks when I was taking pictures with my camera (which I will send this week I promise) and I wasn't really watching where I was walking. As I was walking along, I heard this loud hiss, it about made me jump in the water. Ha, it was mother goose sitting on some chicks that I thought she was going to come snapping at us! Ha I know how mean they can get. Anyway, that was some fun from yesterday.

Matt came to church again, and the ward did awesome with fellow shipping him. He doesn't question anything we teach. He is still working with his pressure sores, but he was able to come so that was good. He can't come to Stake Conference next week because he will be down in Pittsburgh, so we may push his baptism back a few weeks. He is doing well. We are teaching a young couple named Samantha and Chris. They are really cool. Samantha questions everything and is very skeptical about Joseph Smith, and especially that there are living prophets and apostles. They are looking for the truth and want a church to take their family to. They get a lot of flack from fam and friends about meeting with us but they are pretty good about asking us about it.

The Clark's are coming back to church and they are doing awesome. They fed us on Saturday and we just sat down and talked with them. The Bittner's are doing well, Bro. Bittner is going to be ordained a High Priest next weekend. There will be a member of the 70 at stake conf. so that will be cool, and I think President will be there too.

My comp is a pretty weird kid, but way nice and humble. Ha we aren't way good friends or anything, but we get a long. He has struggled a couple of times and it's taking him a while to get used to missionary work, but I assure him that I'm still getting used to it. And I play the piano at every district meeting but not much besides that.

I can't believe Andrew gets home this week, he was such a good missionary, take notes at his report and let me know how he did. I have gotten some letters from Adam and still haven't responded, but I will do that today. He is doing well and I love hearing from him. He is in a branch where about 8 people came one Sunday haha.

Well even though it's been a little cold, it's getting a little more green. Things are going well and I am still trying to stay motivated and keep pushing. The Lord is on my side, even when I don't do what I should or am as diligent as He expects me to be. I am thankful for his patience and mercy that He has for me. It's been hard to get through to people that this isn't just another religion or another church, but THE way, THE truth, THE only way to salvation. I love ya Mom and Dad and Dad I enjoy your letters each week.

Oh and I am trying to fight off baseball fever, I think I ask about it with the ward members too much, dang it. Love CADE