Photo Post: Yelm

Final Mission Report

Mega Picture Post: End of February to June

Letter #51: 6.3.14

Howzit!

Okay mommy, so that is the big part of my final report.  If you think of any thing else I should put in it or some other stories go right a head.  So some reason I can’t copy it so I can change the fonts and stuff.  I can only print it.  so if you want you can make it more me and fun but a nice report.  And I can send you some pic on my email to put on it.  I just might add next transfer if something happens my last transfer.  But I do have the cover page I drew it out.  it  is my Hawaiian girl and I’m working on my transfer/area/companion/and memorize page too.  That goes at the end.  And also at the end I will have to add my personal info like email, phone #, facebook, and address etc.

But thank you so much mommy for helping me with it.  I’m trying to get as much as possible done before my last transfer.  I have been with and seen too many missionaries on their last transfer busy and putting it off to the last week or so to get it done then they get too trunky cause they have to be thinking about it.  So right now for me I’m mostly finished with it and all this does not feel real that I only have 7 weeks just about.  so my last transfer I can stay with the work.

Love you my best friend mommy

Letter #50: 6.2.14

Dear Ohana,

So today is an awesome day.  it’s a beautiful and sunny Monday.  So for P-Day we are at Zion’s Camp watching 17 miracles.  The faith that they had to get to Zion to have all the temple blessings.  To see that they gave up everything.  I am more so greatful to all of them.  I’m now seeing all the miracles and blessing that I have from my family.  Thank you so much!!!  So I wanted to tell you about something that have just happened right after I finished emailing.  So I went to print out the mission newsletter and calender.  It’s 10 cents a page so had a total of 30 cents to pay.  Well right when I put 30 cents into the printer as my papers were printing there was about $20 in coins that came flowing out.  Two hands full of money.  The thought that was going through my mind was to just take it...But then, I know it was the spirit telling me to give it to the front desk and tell them that I printed my paper and all this money came out.  She asked me are you sure it’s not your change.  I told her no I only had to pay 30 cents and that’s what I put in.  Then all of this came out as it’s printing.  I did not think much about what I did.  I just knew it was the right thing to do.  But then there was this lady who I met right when I was emailing.  She is not a memeber but some sister missionaries helped her move last transfer.  So she was checking out a book at the time.  I gave all the money to the worker.  As I was sitting down waiting for my companion she came up to tell me, “It’s nice to see young honest people.  If it was anyone else they would have just taken the money.”  Then she thanked me for that and that she saw it.  I did not realize that anyone was payng attention to me when I gave all the money back.  And the lady also said that she needed to see the good in the people now a days.  I do hope it changed her and more so that she will be more honest.  I am so happy and more so because they can see I was a missionary with my name tag.  To represent Jesus Christ.  All of us missionaries are so nice to the lady library worker.  It’s funny cause we are always the first one’s there right waiting outside when they open up on Monday mornings at 11:00.  We always come in and always have a smile and say good morning and ask them how is their day going so far and as we leave we always thank them.  All of them are also not members too.  Well I just got to say that I am so very greatful to that lady who was watching me.  I would not even have noticed what I had done.  I would have just gone on my day.  There must be so many things that we do everyday and we don’t even recognize it.  Watching the movie is so sad to see all what they went through.  The pain, their faith is so strong trying to go to zion.  It will all be worth it.  Man!  I love this gospel.

Love always with love and aloha Sis Casey

PS just wanted to have fun with my letter, I hope you guys had fun reading it too.

Okay, sorry more being added from my studys in D-comp.  Well to start off will be in (Exodus 20:19) it’s talking about the Ten Commandments.  Well vs. 19 sounds like the people could have talked to God face to face, but they tell Moses to go talk to God.  We could have gotten more commandments.  So I was thinking about who would ever turn down an opportunity to talk to God face to face or why?  Well because those who would be uncomfortable... so unworthy.  My PB talks about being or having confidence in the the presence of God.  And tells me what I have to do, to get to that point.  So I asked myself if I was able to talk to God right now face to face, could I?  I think yes.  Yes, I have to work on so much more also.  I always want to be ready.  So I will not miss the opportunity or turn it down.

So I’m reading all the conference talks and every week the mission is told a talk to read and then we share it on conf call every Sunday.  Well this week one is Elder L. Tom Perry’s “Obedience through our faithfulness.”  I love the stories about or from his grandfather about obedience and the horses.  I love how he said “:doing the right thing is to be obedient and follow the drivers lead.”  And about the gentle tug.  (the small voice)  As I am reading I’m thinking back into my life.  How for YW obedience to my parents was so hard to do and took the longest too.  And then I was thinking about if I had a gentle tug....And many stories came to my mind.  One was when I was in the movies with Hannah and how they wanted to leave to go to an R movie and I just stayed.  Or that time when I was sleeping over Hannah’s and I called for you guys to pick me up cause her dad and grandpa was all drinking with these friends.  I know I have had that gentle tug all in my life.  Then the faith...how important faith is.  When I went to the temple I’ve been studying the law of the gospel.  And I just love how every thing I read talks about the law of the gospel.  And now sacrifice and to have your faith tested.  Just like Abrahanm.  I know that I still have a very big sacrifice to do.  I do know everything I went through was a sacrifice getting me ready for my big one.  I see the house fire as one.  It was a very big testing of  my faith and sacrifice to have nothing.  It just made me stronger.  And all what Helam had to go through growing up as he had and was sick all the time...but I got to see the power of the priesthood on earth and gained a testimony of it.  I do know all what Helam had to go through was to make me stronger together with my ohana and with the gospel to help me when the house burned up.  I am very greatful for my family.  Thank you for all your examples on helping me to be a stronger daughter of my Heavenly Father and what he wants me to be.  I love you all so very much, Well it’sbed time.  Got to go

MAHALO!  Always your missionary

“I pray because I can’t help myself...I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping.  It doesn’t change God.  It changes ME”  C.S. Lewis

Letter #49: 4.28.14

Aloha Ohana!

Thank you mommy I did get the box on Monday.  and thank you for the awesome pants and the socks... they work perfectly.  And I never had mochi in a long time and thank you for everything else.

So I have no idea if I have told you about this past week.  We went to a memorial service for Terry Hyatt.  He was this less active in our ward and he was very sick.  He passed young at 51.  Our ward did a wonderful service for the family.  We put it on.  Bishop asked us to go because there would be about 60 non members.  Most of the family are less-active.  And it’s been a long time since they been in the church.  Bishop shared a wonderful lesson of the plan of happiness.  I cried off and on within the service when the brother shared a beautiful eulogy.  The spirit was so strong any way the whole church smelt like smoke.... it was so sad to see all of them thinking they would never see him again and how thy don’t know the plan that Heavenly Father has for everyone of us.  This memorial service was a wake-up call to me and the spirit touched me on why I am out here on my mission.  I was so trunky that day.  I love the gospel and to see people who I was able to share the gospel and our father’s plan to see them make that change in their life... and when they take that first step into the waters of baptism.  Just to even have one baptism on my mission is so worth the 18 months.  By helping one will helping many later on in life because of that one.  I am so lucky to have that opportunity to have 10 baptisms so far.  And to help 4 of them get the priesthood.  This is the most joy I ever had.  This Saturday May 3rd at 7:30 Jeffrey Bishop is going to be baptized.  I am the longest sister that taught him.  I taught him every lesson.  I am so happy that I never got transferred because I would have missed it by 5 days.  But I get to be here.  I am so grateful for the loving and willingness of Christ’s atonement.  I know of his love for me.... It’s all because of Him.  I am so grateful for my rich heritage.  I am so proud of being a Casey.  I’m trying my very best to live up to my name and most of all the name on my tag.  I am the luckiest daughter in the world.

Mahalo for teaching and living the gospel and for the wonderful examples in my whole life.  And for the great support everyone of you give me in helping me to be out here to have this great opportunity to serve my Lord to give a small part of my life.

You guys will be amazed at how much I know now from my studies.  I love all and miss you lots.  I have a challenge or will say a commitment for this week for all of you to do.  Talk to one non member about the gospel.  It could be anything.  People at work, school, friends, in stores.  It is a very simple commitment.  Just start with talking about it to one person.  I will follow up next week.  Missionary work is the greatest.  The work is going forth.  I’m not asking you to go and invite to baptism.  I’m just asking to open your mouth.  It can be short and simple.  Even the kids can do it to.  They can just say how they know they are a child of God.  You would be surprised how much just telling that  they are a child of God to someone....it will make their day.  Pray everyday for help so you will know who to talk to.  I’m just asking one person this week, 7 days.  (D&C 100:10)  I’m not asking you to teach the WOW or LOC...that’s what missionaries are for.

“We have a mission in the world:  each man, each woman, each child who has grown to understanding age to  the years of accountability, aught...to be qualified to preach the truth, to bear testimony of the truth”  Pres. Joseph F. Smith

I love you all, but help God’s Kingdom.  I know you are doing good, but be great!

Love always Sis Casey

PS.  The Jesus pic.  Sis Weaver one day gave all the missionaries one and told us to always keep him close to you.  So I’m going to add it because of Him.  I always have one close to me.  I will soon send everyone their own in a few weeks.

Letter #48: 4.21.14

Aloha family,

It’s been good and hard this past week.  My baby Sister Boone is truly great.  Belfair is a very hard and slow area.  There is so much to learn here, grow, and never give up.  Great and wonderful things are ahead.  I truly can say I love it here.  In the beginning of this week just for a second I thought I was failing my Heavenly Father.  Well then I got sick... I came to realize that I was working so hard and so into the work trying to find new people that I did not take care of myself that He had me rest for 2 days.  I know I did not fail and that my loving Heavenly Father is so proud of me.  This week has been a great eye opener for me.

BECAUSE OF HIM...I’m here, I have this wonderful family who loves me and for support.  It’s all because of Him.  My older beloved brother Jesus Christ.  He made it possible for me, you, and we.  I came to know this this week.  I could have never done it without Him.  I am so greatful for His sacrifice.  What an older brother to show His love and being willing to take that assignment, diligently, obediently to make it possible for me to come down....having this great opportunity.  My whole life of 20 years I have learned so much.  Even more within the last 15 months.  I am so greatful to have everyone of you as great teachers.  “But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.” Alma 34:41.  I came to know what life is all about.  I can’t even explain that great love I have for Him.  The video said it all perfectly.  It’s because of Him.  I am trying to do and learn all I can.  I’m hoping this little sacrifice of my mission will help me know and come closer to my Savior.  I am looking forward to many more sacrifices I need to do or what He asks of me that I will be willingly to accept.  My testimony is strong as a rock or stone, that it will be recorded for all.  I love you so much and miss you lots.  To the heavens and back.  He lives!

Love Sis Casey

Faith is awesome!  Ether 12:13-15

“Behold, it was the faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the prison to tumble to the earth.  Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and witht the Holy Ghost.  Behold, it was the faith of Ammon and his bretheren which wrought so great a miralce among the Lamanites.”  We must walk by faith rather than by sight.

Letter #47: 4.10.14

Aloha,

We went to the Mission Creek Prison tonight with bro and sis Stone.  It was a way cool opportunity.  This was their FHE night.  Nine of them came and it was an awesome turn out.  We talked about service, sang hymns, had prayer and played bingo.  We talked about why we came out on a mission.  The spirit was so strong.  Then we watched two Mormon messages about special missionaries.  It really touched the girls.  The girls know that they did wrong.  This is not like the prisons on TV.  There are no bars, but there are a lot of doors we go in and all the girls respect us as we walk in.  They all know who we are by the way we dress.  I really got to know the girls.  It was wonderful that I got to share my scriptures and about how Heavenly Father knows us. (3 Nephi 18:31, Mtt 10:30, D&C 6:36, John 17:3).  I got to share this with them and helped them feel that they are daughters of God.  They all thanked me so much.  And at the end I told them a history on the hula and taught them some hula.  It is very hard cause one of the rules is that you can’t have any physical contact with them.  So no hugs, or even hand shakes.  I love these girls.  One of them, Rebecca, is a RC I know her elders (Steed and Butterfield).  She is getting out on Monday.  She is getting out early for good behavior.  (Camp Cupcake)

Letter to President Weaver: 4.1.14

Aloha President Weaver,

Okay so you are going to get two letters from me this week.  I wanted to share my 7:55 Monday Night Miracles.  I do know that the Lord, “He will lead you to them or He will lead them to you” is so true.  This past transfer and this transfer I’ve been very focused on that one liner from PMG#155.  Belfair is a very hard place.  It is very slow and yet so big.  I’ve been trying my very best in being diligent in the work.  I do strongly believe Heavenly Father was testing my faith in Him here in Belfair.  My comp always ask me how am I not frustrated here?  I know this is His work, not my work.  He knows who and He will lead.  I have studied D&C 101:7 I need to come unto Him fast.

So Monday we did not know where to do 6-7’s.  Well I told her turn here and lets find parking.  So we parked right in front of this guy’s house.  We get out and I got the BOM from the back and the guy was just looking at us creepy.  I just say to sister Boone get in and let’s just park down the hill.  Now we are knocking on the doors and we have no luck.  We are coming up to 7 soon and we saw some people outside.  They saw us coming so they walked inside.  So I got this feeling to look back and there is this Spanish mom, daughter and son who just got home.  They were walking down when I do the whole who we are and why we are here intro.  She tells us to follow her to the back of their trailer.  The daughter is speaking to us of what the mom wants to say.  Their story is sad.  Their father, a few weeks ago, just went to prison.  They are by themselves and trying to come closer to God now.  The spirit was so strong and He put words in my mouth of what to say.  The mom was so happy to see us.  So I tell her about the Spanish elders and if they would like them to come back.  She remembered them knocking on their door but the dad was home then and he did not want anything to do with them.  From the time the father has been in prison she has been praying for God’s help.  We talked about prayer and I bore my testimony about how Heavenly Father knows us and loves us.  We set up a time to come back to do some service and got their info for the Spanish elders.  We asked the mom to say a prayer from her heart.  I could not understand it at all but it was so powerful it made me cry a little.  She kept on  saying how greatful she was for us to stop by.  I know they were not ready before but now they are.  I hope all goes well for the Spanish Elders.  So yeah, we called the elders that night to give them that referral and they planned to be in Belfair the next day already.  That was a testimony to me that the Lord has it all planned and to not lose faith.  It was a wonderful opportunity to have.  It’s days like this that keeps me going.  We needed to be there at that time.  I just love missionary work.  I am so happy for the Spanish Elders and I hope they can get a family to baptize.

This is so sweet!  Got to love the WA-TAC.  I just wanted to share my 7:55 Monday Miracle.  Thank you for everything!

Always with love and Aloha,  Sister Casey

Journal Excerpt: 3.31.14

Aloha journal,

So today is p-day.  It ended up being a very beautiful day.  The sun was out.  We finished our shopping by 11:00 then went down to Key Center to go email.  Winter Creek Elders...Sparks and Peck.  We did not really to talk to them today.  We did not get to meet with the other sisters today.  So we came back to Belfair and stopped by the wood carving place in Allen but they all were too big to get so then we just came back home to the North Shore.  I put on the Legacy and wrote a lot of letters the rest of p-day.  We had dinner at the Landakers and sis Alop was there too.  So we tracted right by there.  We did a few houses and no luck.  Then we went to Skipper Ct.  We see these people and they see us and then walk away.  I get a feeling to turn around and there is this Spanish mom, daughter and son.  I just start to talk to them.  The daughter has to translate for us.  They take us to the back of their trailer to talk.  They start telling us how much they need God.  Then she tells us their story.  Their father just went to prison a few weeks ago.  They are by themselves.  They’ve been trying to get closer to God for help and here we walk in right at 7:55.  The spirit was so strong the whole time.  Just telling us what to say to this family.  We end up giving our number to them and I got their info.  Juana Castaneda.  I seen them all in white as a family.  Crazy thing they remember the Spanish elders when they knocked last trasfer but their dad was home and did not want anything to do with religion.  Now the mom is sending her kids to any church to get them closer to God.  Now they are prepared and want to listen.  We talked for a long time.  The mom said a beautiful prayer just pouring out her heart.  The spirit was so strong I started to cry anyway I did not understand it all.  She kept on saying how greatful she is for us to come by.  I just love the way the spirit works cause we had no idea where to tract.  I just said turn here.  Park here.  But funny cause we parked further up the hill, but a guy was looking at us a creepy way and I said lets drive.  Then we parked closer to Skipper Ctr.  In the middle of the prayer I got the feeling to give the daughter a Book of Mormon to read and promised her the book will help her come closer to God.  I told her to read it it will make everything better.  This is my 7:55 Monday miracle.  So right away we got in contact with the Spanish Elders.  Elder Clifford.  I told them everyting.  I hope it all works out for them so they can baptise this family.  ANd it turned out that the Spanish Elders planned to be in Belfair tomorrow.  And we needed them to come as soon as they could.  Cause they are planning to move by Friday.  The Lord knows.  This is his work.  And I am so greatful to be a part of it.  That was just a small experience.  The spirit guides you.

Then we were going to try to see Krysta Porter again.  She is a true LARC.  She is les-active and a recent convert too.  We are trying over and over to meet her.  I left notes.  This was going to be our last try.  We knocked and knocked...no one came.  Then we started to walk away and then her husband came out and told us she is coming down.  We had an awesome talk with Krysta and we are going back next week.  She is way funny.  I know we are going to get along so well.

This has been so great for a p-day.  This past transer and few weeks I feel that the Lord was testing me out here to see how I will work.  My comp asked me yesterday how do I not get frustrated here.  The work is so slow and the area is just so big.  I told her this is the Lord’s work he knows and I need faith that he will lead me to them or them to me.  I just got to keep on working hard and to be happy with what I get.  Now all the hard work I did last transfer is being payed off just from this wonderful day.  I have grown here so much from Belfair.  I love it so much.  I am so happy I can help my fellow missionaries (Spanish).  This is the time and work.  It is coming.  What a day.  I love being a missionary.

Love sis Casey

Letter #47: 3.31.14

Dear Mommy & Papa,

Thank you so much for the box.  Good thing about my mail here in Belfair.  It comes right to the door.  I love you and miss you lots.  The Belfair ward is wonderful.  There is a spirit that is so different in Sacrament.  The Bishop worked on the ward to have the right mind set when you enter the chaple doors.  As soon as you walk in you can feel the spirit.  Its way cool to serve here in this ward.  Well I am almost done reading D&C and New Testament.  I am still working on the Old Testament.  My goal is to finish all the books before I get home.  I have grown to love all the books so much.  My study scriptures are just filled with notes and quotes.  They are way bigger now.  I have no idea how I did not enjoy them when I was back at home.  They are all so good.  I’m trying to think of what else to talk about...it is a beautiful day here in Belfair.  So for the month of March our mission had a goal of 100 baptisms.... well we got 85 the month of March.  It is way cool.  So yes I am very excited to be going to the temple soon.  The temple is an awesome place.  Okay so from knocking 5-7s this week we knocked into an old 80 yr old lady who told us to call her grandma cause we are far from our families serving the Lord.  Her name is Eileen.  Grandma Eileen is a sweet old Christian lady.  The first word she said to us when we knocked on her door was, “what do you put first your church or Jesus Christ?”  We right away told her with power, “Jesus Christ”. Then she said, “okay then, now you can come in.”  We did service there 2 times.  Thats one of my fun stories that happened this week.  The missionaries in my distric are putting on a Book of Mormon study class every Thursday at 7:30.  Its going to be great to get them to just start reading.  Jeffrey Bishop is on date for May 3rd.  Angel and Lily we had an amazing lesson with the.  Angel is 8, Lily is 11 so it is hard to do lessons with them.  They always just wants to play with us.  But after fasting, this lesson they wanted to learn and listen.  Lily finished reading the Book of Mormon Stories book.  So I guess Belfair is a place were Im teaching kids.... haha.

I came to love every area I serve in and every comp I serve with.  Every area and comp I had are all different.  I love them all in different ways.  I know this is a once in a life time for me,,, to be here.  I have come to know the fullness of the gospel in my life.  I kn ow I toldthe Lord, “Lord here am I send me@!”  I know I am nothing witht Him, my Savior to help and toi be my light to shine the way in whatever darkness comes my way.  I am so greatful to all the fellow prophets who took their lives for the Book of Mormon so I can have it now.  It is so true the church is.  Many blessings comes thany you for all you do for me.  Love yeah lots.

Love your sister missionary.

Letter #46: 3.24.14

Aloha mommy and papa.

So today has been a week of me training... man it’s been a long time.  I do feel so bad for my trainee... everytime I train I think that but this one is a little harder then all the others.  First off she is 19, who graduated at 16.  She only has one semester left of school and she is going into law.  Oh did I mention she is an only child!  She is getting too trunky, but she is green!  I’m training her very good and she is loving it out here.  I do get very irritated with her... I guess it is the haole in her... ha ha.  Well she never knows when I am irritated.  

Okay, cool story.  So we only tracted for one hour on Monday cause of P-day.  so on our last door...well when it turned 7:00 there were 2 more doors.  I had a feeling to finish them, so we did.  The last door this old old man came out and talked to us.  He started to bash with us.  My baby girl started to bash back.  I prayed very hard cause I wanted to show her that we don’t bash.  So I said something and the tone was with the spirit.  We stayed out of deep doctrine as much as possible with his questions.  He asked us about everyone being Gods and etc.  By the time we finished talking to him I testified and invited him to pray about what we talked about.  He said yes he would and he would talk to his wife.  He told us many missionaries come by and they never could answer the questions like we did.  The spirit was so there and it was him we needed to talk to that night.  That’s why we had to keep knocking on doors.  I’ve been reading the talk by Elder Alvin R. Dyer “The Challenging and testifying Missionary”  This talk is amazing!  I know from me just ending our talk with this guy in my testimony was amazing.  And wonderful things happen when we testify.  This past transfer I been reading and listening to many talks.  The Church is so true!  Just love it!  Being a missionary is the best.  I know that was a seed that we just planted with this guy.  Then after I talked to my baby girl about bashing.  And how the spirit is never there when you bash.  And it is the spirit that touches them not us.  If Heavenly Father really wanted to he could do this all by himself.  It is not us....

Well I love you all.  I can’t think of that much more that happened.  Oh transfers were so much fun.  Well that’s a whole nother time.  Well just keep on praying for me and my comps driving.

Love Sis Casey

Letter #45: 3.10.14

Aloha Ohana,

I am so grateful for all you guys do for me and for most of all always supporting me in whatever I do and for always loving me.  Today is our P-Day.  It is so beautiful here today.  My view...is so great.  The water, blue sky (you never see that here), the silver lining in the clouds, the GREEN trees everywhere, eagles in the trees.  How great and lucky am I?  This past week been raining all day and night but today is beautiful:)  Oh man, then out of nowhere it started to hail.  It was so big...crazy.  That’s Washington for you.

Well, from our perfect day it ended up not so perfect.  Our investigater, Brad, dropped us today:(  We are very sad.  His mom is 83 yrs old and he told her he was going to get baptized and she got very mad at him.  He is a sweet 56 yr old man.  It is just so sad cause you grow to love who you teach and you just want what’s best for them.  Satan is working on him so much.  He was progressing so much.  Not much we can do now.  He knows we are here for him and he is always invited to church.  He loves the ward so much.  This is when missionary work is so hard.  I know the next time missionaries knock on his door he will be ready.  I do know we have helped him so much.  He cried when he dropped us.  Right now it’s so hard.  So thank you for always loving me and I know you are always going to be here for me.

I’m coming to know my King, My Heavenly Father.  I am His daughter.  He has a plan.  I just have to follow.  “Every day is a good day.”  This is teaching me that it’s Heavenly Father’s way, it’s His work.  I just have the oppoortunity to be here right now.  I just need to trust it will be alright.  I always ask why?  I taught Brad everyting!  But it’s our loving Heavenly Father’s Gospel.  It’s His way.  He has something all planned out for Brad.  The gospel of Jesus Christ is true!!!  All the way.  I am so greatful for the gospel in my life.  This is His work.  I love you all very much and thank you so much for all you do for me and helping me grow up to be the daughter Heavenly Father wants me to be.  He does know...every hair on my head are all numbered (Matt 10:30) and I do know that!  

Love Sister Casey

Letter #44: 2.17.14

Aloha Ohana

So today is P-Day and I just wanted to write you a card of love.  Any day is perfect for that.  I love you and miss you lots.  Belfair is good to me and a whole lot safer than Parkland... haha.  It’s so funny my comp always tells me in tracting that this area is too sketchy...but I always say no this is nothing compared to Parkland.

Its so different.  You know how I always told you how I will never live in the city.  Well God is too funny... pretty much all of my mission I have been right in the city....haha.  Now I can’t believe President Weaver trusted me right by water!  haha:)  I live right on the water.

So we went over to a member’s house to make cards.  It was so much fun.  She had all kinds of stuff and just learning how to make cards.  So I showed her how to make a few cards.  I did the roses on the card.  It’s cool right.  So we were there for 35 minutes.  I got  20 cards done.  My comp did 5 and the lady did just 3.  I just loved it.  I do not know what to write;)  Well its getting a lot lighter now.  It stays light till 4:45pm now.  soon we will be tracting in full light at 5 -7.

Okay so we are living with a member for about a week because our apartment needed some work done on it.  My first day here, my comp tells me we need to find a place to stay.  I been thinking that she’s playing a joke on me.  Then like a week later our bishop ask us if we found a place for us.  Then I was like so this is for real....haha.  Well this member has a very, very, very nice house.

We had stake conference this past week.  Gig Harbor, our stake, has a new stake center.  It’s very nice and big.  Elder Resamay and Elder Snow of the 70’s came cause we got a new stake pres.  I think they are going to make a temple here is Gig Harbor cause the church owns a very nice big property that has nothing on it and it’s right behind the church.  That’s my guess for in a few years.

I love you so very much and thank you for all you and papa do for me.  I love you both very much ....Love your missionary, sister Casey

P.S.  it rains so much

Letter #43: 2.8.14

Aloha Mommy & Papa

So I’m in Belfair now...and it’s in the sticks.  It’s so big!  It takes almost 2 hours from the top of our area to the bottom.  But it is so pretty here.  I like live right by the water!  This like the first time I never been in the city.  Evey day for study I look out my window and I see green and water.  It’s very cold still.  Guess what, when we were tracting it was snowing.  It got pretty bad.  But it was so much fun and I get to say that I tracted in the snow!

I just wanted to thank you for all you do for me.  Thank you for teachng me every thing I know mommy and papa.  You both are the best thing I can ever ask for.  Thank you for being patient... with me.  I now I was a hard one for you guys.  But thank you for never giving up on me.  Thank you for the best childhood ever.  I would not change anything.  Thank you for the gospel in my life.

I got to bear my testimony to an investigator here about why I came out on my mish.  The spirit spoke and it was all Him.  It got them all to cry and thanked me for being out here.  I’m coming closer to my Heavenly Father and Bro. Jesus.  I love them and I know I am nothing without them.  I been always wondering if they are proud of me and what I am doing.  I always had that question.  When I got a blessing a few weeks ago or a month ago....I was told how proud Heavenly Father was of me.  I so needed it that day.  With everything that was going on.  I truly know I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father.  Man!!!  It’s snowing a lot right now.  I love you guys so much.  It was funny about I did not know or realized how much I love and need this gospel.  

“Even in a darkening world.  We as Latter-Day Saints may sing with joy knowing that the powers of heaven are with God’s church and people.  We may rejoice in the knowledge that a beautiful morning lies ahead .....the dawn of the millennial day.  When the son of God shall rise in the east and reign again on the earth.”  Bruce D. Porter

I Know this is true... Joseph Smith’s first prayer   hymn  #2      I love this song

Love you baby girl

Photo Post: February in Belfair

Photo Post: Holiday Season

Letter #42: 1.23.14

Dear Family,

Okay crazy story...it could not wait until next week.  So reasons why I love Parkland.  So yesterday ...well I’ll start 2 months ago. We got a referral from Spanish to see Armondo Gonzalez.  So me and Smith go to see him.  First time he is sick.  So we come back it’s his birthday.  His mom is Laverna.  She is not all there and is a little crazy I would say.  She has some hurt feelings about the church.  She had a hard life.  She is like 56 yr old and turns out that both are members but this time she gets into telling us her story and is yelling at us and tells us to not come back.  Armondo tells us sorry about his mom he is 30 yrs old.  He tells us he wants to come back and learn more about  baptism...but he will call us.  So we never went back.  Well 2 weeks ago with me and Davis she calls us and apologizes and say sorry and that Armondo wants to change and come back to church and wants to meet with us.  So we set up an appointment with her.  One half hour before the appontment on Friday she calls us and cancels it.  So now it’s been one week.  So yesterday she calls us. 
        We don’t answer because we are about to go into a meeting.  So we did not answer and we were like... she’s crazy.  So she left a message.  Our meeting was done one hour later.  So we listened to the message right away as we got out from our meeting.  It starts off with her saying thank you to us for being supportive of her children and also her unborn...I’m PREGNANT!  She’s 56 yrs old.  We cannot understand most of it.  She is slurring her words and says, “I wanted to kill myself and the baby.  It’s too hard.  I’m alone.  I am trying to stay up”...then she mumbles something and it hang up.  So we are freaking out and don’t know what to do.  We go to the Summet Elders and have them listen to it.  And ask what should we do.  Elder Lupton and Elder Goodwine tell us to call the police.  We never called before so we are just thinking of what to do.  Maybe stop by the fire station and let them listen to it and then we did not know what to say... so elder Lupton called for us.  Then handed the phone to us to explain the story to them.  They sent the chief of police.  And then they are supposed to call us to let us know what is going on.  They say it sounded like she over dosed.  They never called us... so we feel very bad if she died cause we never answered.  So we are going crazy.  Cause if she is dead we will feel so bad and down.

Then the day before we met a RLDS...they have a lot of the same as us.

Sabba, the crazy lady that thinks she is pregnant and a member....we can not find her records.  So we head to tell her that she is not a member.  So we may be baptizing her.  Daniel was her babies daddy’s nephew.  He was charged with firearms and assault....but he moved back to Bermington.  Then we found that out.  So in a good way... I think that was good he moved back.  He was on date for this month to be baptised. But we did not know about all the charges on him.

I don’t know what’s up with all these ladies in their 50’s....thinking they are pregnant!!!

Make sure our ward is a missionary ward...missionaries cannot do it alone.  We are working hard out here.  We love it here in Parkland.  Oh I just remembered, what’s up with old men on bikes...lol..

On the good news...on Feb 1st we have a baptism for Lehi my Samoan girl.  Oh ya can’t wear red or blue cause you will get shot.  lol :(   lucky thing I don’t have red or blue.

I love my mission so much.....and it’s going by too fast.  I love you all and I want to go to Vegas with you mommy.

love your missionary

Letter #41: 12.30.13

Howzit Mommy and papa,

Okay you are like getting 2 letters from me sorry...but I just had to tell you about what happened tonight.  So ya I already finished sending your other letter.  So it is Monday p-day.  We do shopping and things like that but we tract from 6 - 7.  So we found a somewhat nicer street in our area.  It’s still middle class.... but yeah at the 4th door  this lady in her 60’s open the door ... not interested....She goes to some other church.  So we ask if there is anything we can help them with tonight.... no... then a man came and talks to us and ask us questions about how we believed in Jesus and Satan being brothers.  We said yes.  They don’t believe in that...Well, short story...he tells me and sis Davis is going to HELL cause we believe that Jesus and Satan are brothers.  Well it went much longer and I could feel the spirit gone every time he talked.  We tried so hard not to bash him.  So for all his questions we told him go to mormon.org then he said you don’t believe in the bible.  We told him we do and I am reading it right now.  He said, “No you don’t read it...” lol.  We were nice to him and ask again if there is anything we can do and wished him a happy New Years... so we left him in a nice way.

I was so mad at him but I felt my loving Heavenly Father’s love with me tonight telling me that His gospel is true.  I am so happy to have this gospel in my life.  And to be serving Him.  The last door we knocked on we did a lesson of the Resto and gave him a BOM.  I know cause we did not let that one man get us down and we kept on going we got to teach a lesson at the door.

That just shows me how hard satan is working.  That was the first time to my face straight up that someone told me in this words that you are going to hell.  Heavenly Father testified the truth to me right after.

I love you all very much...

love Sister Casey your baby going strong...

ps.  just had to tell you of this experience that made me stronger in the Lord’s army.  I felt grandpa Kaonohi right beside me to make me strong so I could bear my testimony.

I love my ohana and kupunas

Letter #40: 12.28.13

Howzit mommy & papa,

Okay I got this very cool paper today...I just had to show or well write you a letter.  ha ;)  So did you like my last letter that I sent?  Well before I forget “HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!” it was so nice to talk and to see the family.

Okay, so me and my comp sister Davis is like crazy the same in so many ways.  So right now we are burning her letters...cuz she got a dear jane a few months ago and well we are going to burn her letters from him.  He got married....She’s a hard one...Most of her comps she never liked but we are becoming to be great friends.  I think that’s why Pres put us together.  This transfer is longer than normal....it’s 7 weeks.  Just cause of Christmas.  I can feel it’s going to be a great transfer.  Anyway, the ward sucks....but we are going to change that.  Even Pres told us that this ward needs to repent...ha ha.  It’s very hard here....our ward mission leader is less active.  So yeah...the baptisms that I had here “I” had to plan the whole thing.  So me and Davis is trying very hard to change this ward.  The missionaries that was here before I came here was not the greatest missionaries.  So I have a lot of work to do.  But it is so worth it.  I know Heavenly Father needs me here with sister Davis.  Pres told us he prayed and that we need to be together here in Parkland Lakewood.

I love T-TOWN 253 = GHETTO  ;)  this new year is going to be a great and amazing year.  I’m working hard on being health and only thinkging of the Lord’s work to change this ward.  I love my mission so much.

How is everyone doing?  tell them all I love them, I love them too.  I love them more.  I love them to the Heavens and back ....lots of love from Tacoma.

Oh yeah I forgot to tell you what we did on Christmas day .. . so at 10:30 am ... oh, oh, oh  we got to sleep in to 7:30  ;) ha.  Okay...so at 10:30 am we went over to Bishop Thompsons house so sister Davis can skype... we did Christmas with them ... ate ... so I had to talk to our Bishops’s family... okay,  so sister Thompson is weard and anti social...but it was all good and fun.  Bishop is very funny.  Man, then we came home and took a nap and visited some members.  and then we did not have to tract.....yes!....so at 5pm our zone went over to our stake President’s house.  It was so much fun and a lot of food ;)  We got to act out the Nativity  and he read it.  It was so cool to do that.

So yeah....I don’t know if I told you about Christmas eve...so when we got home after I skyped yhou guys...we cleaned our house a little.  So our tub did not drain so we had to work on it and let’s just say there was a lot to make 3 wigs...lol.  Have fun watching the video.

So right now is D-Comp time.  We are watching old church movies.  We are bored...the Lord’s work is the best thing.  I don’t want to leave my mission yet.

Love your baby girl

This is the WA_TAC we baptize on and on...

“at 6:55 ask anything alive to take the dive” - ZL’s

The Lord is the way....

ps...ok so I got Omni’s pixie gift back...I must have sent it to the wrong address....it says “return to sender”.  I’m sending it to you guys and can you please send it to the right address.  Thank you

Letter #39: 12.25.13

Aloha, 

ok this letter is just another fun way to write -u guys.  So yeah we found this paper in our apt so ya, I miss and love you all so very much.  It was so good to skype you all.  Man my kids are all grown up so much.  So yeah, forgot to tell you guys a way funny story.  So ya next time I’ll write it all for mother’s day talk.  but ya my story...all missionaries apt have a pic of Jesus on the door.  Right, so someone keeps on taking our Jesus pic.  So far it’s been 3 times.  At least they are taking a pic of Jesus.  ha ha.  So Christmas eve we cleaned our apt so now on the plus side the tub drains now....Let’s just say there was enought to make a wig!....lol...It’s all on video.  You’ll see it soon.  So yeah it’s Christmas right now.  I wish you all the very best.  Man the time is going by so fast.  Well I hope you had fun reading this letter.  I just came up with this fun way.  I just needed to and tell all my brothers I am focused on the work.  Mostly now as I am going down hill of my mission.  I just have a lot of fun stories to tell you all when I come back..  Thank you for all you do for me and helping me get out here but I have no idea what I want to do when I come back.  R you guys feeding the missionaries there?  Man life keeps on ging on when I left... ha ha .  and time is so short.  There is so much I learned out here that I can’t wait to tell you.  

Love Sister Casey  

ps.  I hope you found out how to read this

Letter #38: 12.2.13

ALOHA MY OHANA,

I just really love this area so much.  It is among the most humble of places I have been.  I am really learning to not judge anybody by their appearances.  So many of these people have the best hearts, but have next to nothing.  At first, It was a little hard here cause it was not Silverdale, but I knew the Lord knows why I am here and I keep on asking for help.  And I keep on telling myself I love it here.  And now it is so very true.  I found the joy in the work here.  It is way harder here.  I even trust in God even more.  I have seen the Lord keep me safe so many times since I have been here only for 4 weeks.

Okay, so Thanksgiving we started our day with our studies and it’s Thursday so that means weekly planning.  We weekly plan every Thursday so that takes us to about 1:00.  So it did not feel like Thanksgiving cause I never have to help cook and clean.  Then we went to the Shotes home and 5 other families from the ward were there too.  That started at 2:30...Oh ya I forgot we had the turkey bowl too.  So we went to support cause we can’t play with the boys but the Elders can.  Then we went to the Shotes.  Then a lady from Brokdel ward invited us over too.  Well that’s a whole different story but not important.  So we went there at 3:00 from there we went to Mark and Judy’s, who we knocked on during the week before and he invited us back on Thanksgiving.  He is also the one with 42 plus people over.  So they were at 4:00.  That went so good and it turned out to be his cousin there who played me and my comp very good.  LOL...He just talked to us and then we soon found out that he was going to Idaho.  We asked why? And he told us, “oh a job and to see the temple grounds”...we are like okay...ya we love the temple.... so clueless...ha, ha...We still thought he was not a member...Sorry I’m writing with my left hand....well, then he said he is going to take out his endowments.  Then we said , “You’re a member?”  and he said yes almost a year.  He is the only member in his family.  Then Mark and Judy ask us about missionary work and the temple.  Then they told us that the cousin was a ward missionary.  It was a wonderful time.  Then at 6:30 we went to the Weavers home....our mission home.  President only invited the Tacomna west and East and Lakewood zones for Thanksgiving cause we are the closest ones to them.  So it’s not a long drive.  We all got to put up the Weaver’s Christmas tree and talk then we played “Coach Frase” with 70 people ...well missionaries.  Then we all went around saying one thing we are thankful for.  Then we sang Christmas songs and dancing.  So much fun.  Sister Weaver made homemade sherbert ice cream.  then got home at 9:00.  Oh yeah...every home we went to we ate.....but I am so proud of myself cause I did not eat that much and did not have any deserts but only that sherbert ice cream.  That was mission Thanksgiving.

Okay, this paper is the lesson from RS this past Sunday.  It is so good.  It is even better with the CD of their voices.  I know it is on-line you should look it up and do it for FHE.  I was just so touched. Oh ya, so hula class was very good.

Okay, so with our reading as a mission I am in Ether.  I just wanted to share something funny.....(Ether 1:2) Lord said “And a man highly favored of the Lord, Jared”  Ether 1:34.  He had favorites...lol.  Jared prays for his and his brother’s language to stay  (tower of Babel) Well like the favorite...the Lord says yes then the next chapter 2:14, “the space of three hours did the Lord talk with the brother of Jared and chastened him...” then so he repented of his sin of not praying to the Lord.  Then cause you know the brother of Jared is the favorite he is forgiven.  I just thought that was funny even the Lord has His favorites....jk.jk. 

Right now I am watching the Resto movie.  I am so greatful to be living at this time and I am so greatful for Joseph Smith and Emma for all what they did for us to have the BOM that I can read and learn everyday.  My testimony is so much stronger then ever now.  I love this gospel with all my heart.

Oh ya we are teaching this 80 yr old black couple who are 7 Day Adventist.  We found them knocking.  They are so sweet.  So this past week it’s getting colder and colder.  Yesterday, Sunday the 1st of Dec we tracted in the rain and I just have a strong desire to do the work.  But my socks was soaked and I just had it on all day so my feet were cold and it kept my body cold all day so I have the chills.  But that was the best knocking ever...when I showed my love for the work and the Lord he keeps me safe and we were blessed for that to work and bearing our testimony in the cold rain....well I know my husband is getting handsomer every time I tracted in the rain...lol...that’s what the missionaries say and another fun one is every time you drop a BOM your husband or wife is getting uglier. (Blue BOM...ha ha) And for the WA-TAC when it rains every day.  Oh yeah my husband will be the most handsome one out there...lol.

Okay so Satan is working so hard on me.  Our apartment is just filled with sweets...lol.   but Ive been strong and not eating any of them :(  I am so excited for the mission Christmas party.  It’s going to be a lot of fun.  Oh yeah, I had L&L’s again but it’s the last time.  I had a loco moco....ONO!  I love you and miss you till the heavens and back.  Thank you for all you do for me to help me get where I am right now on my mission.  I am so happy to be 8 of 8 and to have such amazing examples in my life.  Now I need to be a great example to many,  There is just so much that I want to share with you.

Always with much love and aloha

Your missionary   Sister Casey

Oh yeah, how do you like all the pic on the SD card.  Just sent it back when pau with it xoxo  Mahalo  ;)

Letter #37: 11.18.13

My Dear Ohana,

Okay I just love my new area so much....Parkland Lakewood.  To start off, I am safe here, so mommy don’t worry at all.  Only if you like you could look it up on the web...LOL.  The people here are so humble... I think that’s why the Lord has me here to teach me.  I never found that person yet.  This is the perfect time to be here for Thanksgiving.  Everyone is just so greatful for what they have.  It’s only been 6 days and I have met 48 members so far.  It’s very sad cause some homes feed us but they barely even have enough for themselves.  And they want to serve the missionaries.  Our numbers been so good this week.  There is a lot of polys and a lot from Hawaii here.  So they all just love me to death.  We have visited one member and an investigator in a nursing home and we also visited a member also in a sister nursing home.  So right now, mommy and papa, my best friends, I promise I will never let you be in a nursing home at all.  I will take care of you both.  Every time we go there... it is just so sad.  And I went 4 times so far.  There are a lot of people there dying.  There is one man named Clod and he always called out “Help Me...Help me...”  It is just so sad and they don’t get visits that much.  And we go over and it makes their day and they are so happy when they get a visit.  But it’s just sad to see them like that and here is the ghetto...so it is not that nice and it always smells.  All the nurses just love us when we come over to visit them.  So I do feel good after.  Some times we see them in their wheelchairs in the hall so we push them and walk around and talk to them cause they just look so bored.  And it’s the same everyday.  There is one man named Edward in a wheelchair and he has only one arm and he follows me around and says “you’re so pretty”.  So I do walk with him and talk to him sometimes.  It’s just really sad there and I will not let you be there when you get old.

Well on a good note we have 3 on date...yes :)  My ward mission leader is less active.  It’s hard for me because coming from Silverdale 6th Ward with Brother Barney.  He is the best ward mission leader ever.  And my ward mission leader is less active so I’m going to work on my ward mission leader and missionaries.

Oh man, so also a member of the 12 is coming to talk to us missionaries in the Wa-Tac on Saturday and then he has a leadership meeting with the Bishops Saturday noon and on Sunday the member of the 12 is speaking in our Stake here in Lakewood so I get to hear the member of the 12 2 times.  That’s awesome!

Okay funny story... for this happens like everyday and night...So I look outside of my porch and next building...there’s always police at the door and they are going in and coming out with someone handcuffed.  Or at nights we hear loud knocking and it’s always the popos (police) getting someone or a prostitute.  Ya there is a lot of prostitutes here.  Oh man our parking is so bad here.  We can never find parking at our apartments.  When we come home at 9.  So some times we drive around our parking 3 times, never find parking so we will have to park at a member’s and she will drive us back.  Oh man it’s cold!  And funny we live out of our area so we are in some of our elders area so some times we see them at our apartment complex at lunch time.

Man, I never been this excited to clean my apartment ever.  So elders used to live here forever until they change it to a sisters area now.  It’s only been sisters for 3 transfers.  so elders apartments are so bad.  But on the good side there are a lot of weights and it’s upgraded from the other ones I had in Silverdale.  It’s much heavier.  I’m excited on that.  Okay, so Parkland is a bad place for me to be on a diet.  I been trying but the holidays are coming up....LOL

Man I just love my comp so much.  We have so much fun :) because last transfer for her and well 2 transfers ago was very hard with our comps.  Well let me tell you.  I do love my old comp very much but it was hard to get to know her.  It is so different not serving in the same ward as elders any more.  I don’t have to share.  But I do miss serving with elders cause it’s a whole different way of serving.  The work is wonderful.  I love Jesus Christ and know I am nothing without him.  I love my mission.  It has already changed myt life.  My testimony has grown so much.  Thank you for having us my family in the church.   I love you, I love you too, I love you more, I love you to the Heavens and back to Hawaii.  I love you from the WA-TAC.

Always with love and Aloha,  your baby girl, Sister Casey