Photo Post: October 2013

Letter #32: 10.29.13

KIAORA Ohana,

Howzit!  So now I was thinking what I would need for Christmas.  I only can think of a sweat-shirt (Like a Cool Kahuku one or a poly cool one) and then boots.  Cause I still need boots.  I keep on looking for one I like but they are just too expensive that will never get them.  So you can ask Amy to help look for nice ones and I trust you.  You also can look at the LDS Missionaries sisters boots for what’s approved.  But I love the ones Amy got me last year.  Just make sure that it’s like 9 or 9 1/2 with wide calfs.  Then it should be all good but I can’t think of anything.  I would just love any thing.

Okay, I have a pretty cool story to tell ....Okay.  Once upon a time in cold Silverdale, Washington, a sister missionary from Hawaii looks in the area book and 6 names stand out to her.  And one of the names is Mary @ Central Valley.  I remember this name from my first transfer here and she had the first 2 lessons.  It did not have an address.  It only had her name and Central Valley on the paper.  Central Valley Rd. is about 3 miles so what we did the sisters was on one side of the street and the Elders were on the other side of the street and we did 5 hours of tracting trying to find Mary.  And we did not find her.  I even wrote that on the teaching records.... So that’s from 4 transfers ago.  Well, recently I checked our teaching record and an address for Mary appeared in pencil, not my handwriting or any of my comps.  The Elders never met her either.  So I have no idea how the address got on the teaching record.  So we went to the house and I remembered that I knocked on that house before but no one was home and there is a sign outside with a different name on it.  So we still knocked because we think we were led there.  Well it ended up to be Mary.  We talked and prayed with her.  Right now she’s not interested.  I think we were led there so that we would have to pray with her. Oh ya, whew, when I got out of the car a snake slithered right by my feet so I jumped back into the car and climbed into the driver’s side to get out... ha, ha, ha.  Ya, I am a baby when it come to snakes.  And then all the other names we visited them and every one of them were home and we were able to talk to them and pray with them.  I still do not know how the address got on the paper... its still a ?  

Wow, it’s colder and darker faster.  So we are tracting when its black outside.  Not fun.  But the work still goes on.  Today was a wonderful day of talking to people.  The only bad news is that one of my investigators moved.  He was someone I tracted.  Rob, he is so cool.  I taught him all 3 lessons.  He is one that has a lot to work on.  He is in the Navy, who drinks, smokes, every thing!  Talks bad.  But very smart.  He loves worldy things.  But trying to find the truth.  He’s one as soon as he finds out for himself that this is the one and true gospel he would get baptized right away.  Since I’ve been teaching him he gave up smoking cigarettes.  He is working on one thing at a time.  We did not ever talk about WOW yet.  I’m sad that he moved.  It’s the next town over so not too far.  He said he will drive back so we can give him a church tour.  I asked him if he wanted the other missionaries number there.  He said yes.  But he wanted to say bye and he did promise us that we could give him a church tour.  So that’s why he brought it up and said he will drive back.  That’s awesome.  He is one I seen in white.  But I never know I might get to serve there too.  That would be cool if I find Rob again.  So this is what’s up with me.  I’m so excited for Thursday...it’s our Hallooween party.  Well it’s like a lock-down day.  Cause we can not be out on Halloween from 3 - 9:30pm.  so we play games, eat, and watch a movie that Pres. picks out.  Halloween is the missionaries most favorite holiday on a mission.  I love you all

Always with love and aloha,  sister Casey

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”  John 17:3

My mission pres has us memorize scriptures from the PMG.  He gives us a page and we choose what scripture on that page.  Last week I memorized this scripture then we pass it off to our DLs.  I just love it how it said know God and Jesus Christ.  Know is so different from believing in.  I believe in them. but do I know them?  I have been trying to know them now.  I want to know them.  I ask you all to know them.  That’s my commitment to you all.

Letter #31: 10.21.13

TALOFA Ohana.

thank you mommy for the pic and for my patriarchal blessing.  Now I have many copies.  I love the pics.  All the Elders and friends love to look at my friends and they all want to write them...lol.  Thank you for all the addresses to my uncles.  But I am missing one uncle.  And he is the one I am most prompted to write.  I remember when I went with Melissa to invite him to your 60 birthday party....but I was in the car with Lili.  I don’t know why I have a very strong feeling to just write him.  Maybe it will open to some things.  I love you and miss you all so much very much.  This is going to be short cause not much happened this week, but I will have a lot to write after Saturday.  

Sister Casey

Letter #30: 10.7.13

This letter was written from the bottom of the page going up. She must have been bored. :)

Dear Mommy,

So I wanted to have some fun with this letter.  :)

Well my birthday was wonderful I got a lot of calls and text wishing me happy birthday.  and my comp and the Elders I serve with took me out to dinner to a teriyaki place and then we went to the playground by our apartment and went on the swings and took pictures.  The Elders got me Twix, Cookies’n’creme chocolate, sobe drink and a little cupcake with a candle.  Funny thing they did not have a birthday candle so they went to bro. Jai’s, he is a recent convert that lives at our apartment to see if he had any birthday candles, but he did not he only had a small house candle.  So I had a house candle that smells wonderful on my birthday cupcake.  ha, ha. :) Too funny...well I loved it cause the Elders thought all of it on their own.  So for young men that’s very good planning :)  I am serving with the best missionaries.  And Friday is my most busy day out of the week here in Silverdale.  So we had 3 lessons, took our time at the mall for the family history booth.  It’s funny cause everyone else that has a booth all know me.  Cause I have still been here.  So when I go to help set-up everyone says “Hi” to me.  I’m just always very nice to everyone there and I get to know them.  And I always help them put up their things too and when it comes to clean up.  Frank is one of my new friends there.  He is set up right next to us.  He is native American and sells dream catchers and metal petals.  He is a very nice old man.  He always gives me something and always shows me his newest art pieces.  And I always talk to him about the gospel.  Man!  So many of them always give me something.  I never noticed how nice I am to all of them till today cause my comp said, “Wow! you know everyone and it’s personally.”  I told her I have been here for a long time and every Friday since my 2nd transfer here.  You see the same people.  It would be sad if I did not know their name by the time I finish here in Silverdale.  Every one of them I talked about the gospel to every Friday.  And it’s them who ask me the questions.  Wow I am so different now.  I can just go up to anyone and talk.  Back at home I never did that.  Hey mommy do you remember Kini from school?  Well if you can look at my Iphotos for a pic of me and him.  Thank you.  I’m trying to get one of the sisters here to write him so I need a picture of him.  Thank you.

Wow so this transfer we are helping a lot of people move.  So far we helped 3 families and we have 3 more in our planner.  Yesterday we had interviews with president and sister Weaver.  Oh, ya I forgot to send the letter so it’s now 10/10/13.  Tell Helam Happy Birthday.  So interviews was wonderful.  It’s funny cause president....the first thing he talked about to me was safety cause it’s getting darker faster.  Cause last time when I first came into the mission it was the end of winter but the darkest time in the year and we stayed out doing missionary work till curfew.  So he told me to be safe and listen to the Holy Spirit.  And he only told me this ... too funny:)  I just love my area.  And I know I most likely going to leave next transfer cause you like never stay in the same area more then 3 transfers and this is my 4th!  So I’m working so hard cause I want to make sure that I leave this area better then when I came here.  It looks like Irene Parker is getting baptised next week.  She is my old lady.  And I talked to Pres and he told me to baptize her tomorrow... ha, ha.  So I am going to have an oldtism!  Yes;)  We are teaching so much this transfer.  So it’s passed my half way mark now!  What?  Time goes by so fast.  I just love it and don’t want my mission to0 stop!!!  So ya... I’m making 5 planners this transfer for elders that asked me to make them for them.  I do make the best planners...lol.  I just love my rings so much ...THANK YOU.  So is there a pigeon book?  If so, I want one.  Man the world is crazy now.  The Government shut down is hurting a lot of people and families here.  A lot do not have jobs.  Every now and then a member will tell us what’s going on in the world.  But I just love it as a missionary....I do not even think about what’s going on other than the gospel.  Oh ya,  that’s crazy about the women outside of the Priesthood session.  The women that want the Priesthood.  Tell you the truth.... I do not want it.  The 2nd comming is coming fast!!!  

Do you remember the locket that Omni gave me when he was on his mission?  Well, I have it and I just want to send him a picture of it on me to remind him about that time and how he was feeling.  I still remember the card.  It said, “Your two favorite brothers.”  and it had a picture of Omni and a picture of Jesus in my locket.

Most of my mission I have been here in Silverdale...but not just only Silverdale.  Silverdale 6th.  6 months here in this one area... What! ya a long time I hope I used my time wisely here.  Conference was wonderfuul.  I have so much notes.  I love watching conference as a missionary.  It’s the best.  Oh ya, I love the pic papa sent to me of Ira :)  well I don’t know what else to write so till next time.  I love you, I love you, too.  I love you more.  I love you to the heavens and back.  xoxo  

Always with love and Aloha   

Sister Casey

P.S.  I love my mission and everyone that is now in my life.

Letter #29: 10.2.13

Dear mommy,

My best friend....thank you so much for the birthday box.  I just love the rings so much.  I never knew you were going to get me also a CTR ring.... I love it.  Thank you.  also thank you for the birthday news letter.  I just love it so much.  And it made me cry a little.  So ya, now some missionaries and members know what I looked like as a baby.  lol.  Wonderful times.  I had a good life.  Thank you mommy.  Looking at the pic and seeing were I am now in my life on a mission all that got me here.

I remember one year ago on my birthday.  You and me went to grandma and gradpa Kaonohi’s grave and we talked and you said if I was my brothers I will be going on my mission.  Funny how the Lord works.  Wow! it’s been a year from conference.  so I guess I am my brothers...lol :)

I don’t know why but I thought about my uncles...to write them.  But more most I have the feeling to write your brother I never met or I did but don’t remember.  I don’t know why but I thinnk I need to send him a letter so if you send or email me all of their addresses.  Then I can write them.  Thank you.  Well you should write all my uncles and Aunties names too.  So I don’t leave them out too.  ha ha ha.  But ya, I would love to write them all.

I like to look for rainbows...whenever there is rain.  And ponder on the beauty of the earth made clean again.  I want my life to be as clean as earth right after rain.  I want to be the best I can and live with God again.

Well the book I’m reading this trasfer is “The Continuous Conversion” by Brad Wilcox.  It is also a very good book too.  Mommy, you should read all of these books.

Well okay I should tell you mommy, I’ve fallen totally in love.  Don’t worry....it is not with a boy.  It is with the work.  I love missionary work.  I just can’t stop.  I can’t get my brain to think about anything else.  I’ve fallen hopelessly and helplessly in love.  It’s the best thing ever.

I love you and miss you so much.  ha ha ha  my comp got a mail paper so we went and I also got the box with Aubrie’s wedding announcement and all the goodies.  so I did get the boxes you sent to me.  Thank you.  I have a lot of ono goodies now.  Thank you... so much mommy.  I still can’t believe Aubrie and Matthew are married.

Love you with all my heart

Sister Casey