Monday, December 13, 2010

Happy Day at the Temple


Hey everyone,

I hope y'all are doing well. I am doing great! It's pretty cold here, but it's still all good.

"We had an appointment to teach Bro. and Sis. M this week. Sis. M wasn't able to be there, but we did teach Bro. M. We read 3 Nephi 18 and talked about the importance of him becoming worthy to partake of the sacrament. They were at church on Sunday too! Hallelujah, it's the first investigator we've had at church for a little while. I think they really loved it too.

We haven't been able to get up with some of our other investigators. Seems to be impossible to get W to keep a teaching appointment. M has some work going on in her home, so she wants to hold off for a couple weeks. W is in the hospital, we don't have any details besides that. So we're just continuing to try and find new people to teach."

So yeah, we've been doing a lot of finding this week. It's been a lot of fun. Haven't got any new investigators from it yet, but we're trying.

This week we had interviews with President Cotterell. It was good, like always. I'm going to try to do better on keeping the area book updated. President taught us about helping members to do missionary work, which was good and helpful too...

Saturday was a very good day. We were in Raleigh at the temple pretty much all day. Bro. Lucas, our ward mission leader, took us. It was quite an experience to be there when the Piners went through the temple. I was Bro. Piner's escort as he received his endowment, and I was a witness at the sealing. There's no way I could have imagined things turning out like this when I stepped a little out of my comfort zone 15 months ago and called Sis. Piner to see if we could come by and start teaching Bro. Piner. I'm grateful that I was able to witness the Piners become a forever family. It was truly awesome...

Well, I'm really looking forward to getting the family Christmas newsletter this week. That's pretty much all I've got. I hope you all are having a wonderful Christmas season and enjoying life. Until next week!

Love,
Elder Casper

Monday, December 6, 2010

Brand-new Elder Rigamoto


I hope all is going well. I can't believe it's December already! Let me tell you about my week.

"This week we taught Bro. and Sis. M. They were married a few months ago at the church and love the church. Sis. M isn't a member. We taught them and had a good lesson with them. They committed to come to church, but they didn't come. It was disappointing, but they do seem to have some potential. So we'll keep trying.

We got up with M this week. Bro. Wilkins is continuing to talk to her. She has a lot of potential, and I'm excited for her. We were able to set a return appointment with her. We're going to teach her the plan of salvation. She's a good lady.

We've been focusing on trying to talk with everyone. It's helped us to share the gospel more. It puts us into awkward situations sometimes, but I do have the faith that we will find someone that gets baptized because we were talking to everyone.

We also spent some time this week on UNCP campus, contacting the students that go there. They all seem to be pretty open to talking with us, and it's so close to our apartment. It's also good practice for Elder Rigamoto."

My new companion is Colin Rigamoto (pronounced ring-a-moe-toe). He is Rotuman (from a Polynesian island north of Fiji), grew up in Fiji and Hawaii, and moved to Provo when he was 17. He played rugby and football in high school, and took a few classes at UVU. He's a really good guy, and I know we're going to have a blast together. He's going to be an awesome missionary. How to describe his personality? He's just a normal, good, fun Mormon guy who decided to serve a mission. I'm glad that I'm training him!

So, I got the package that went to the mission home already. They did the same thing that they did last year - I think they were supposed to hold them and give them to me at Zone Conference, but they messed up again. I got the Michael McLean CD. I hope that wasn't one of the packages from Michael that I wasn't supposed to open, because I already opened it. If I get any packages that are from "Michael Casper", then I'll be sure not to open them.

And by the way, I did get the newsletter. It was huge! I loved reading it, even more than last year. I was especially impressed by Daniel's testimony and experiences. I went all through Junior High and High School without having the faintest idea that he might be interested in the church. I just hope that at least I was a good example and influence. I guess that just goes to show how you need to open your eyes and look at the people in your life. Just because you think that they might not be interested, doesn't mean that they aren't!

That's too bad that they lost state. I know from previous experience that it's a bummer. Hopefully they can at least count their blessings and appreciate the good experience the whole trip was.

Mom, I know that it you keep praying and searching for missionary experiences, you can have them! You should carry some pass-along cards with you in your purse. Just don't give up!

Holy smokes, the clock is ticking for Michael! 5 weeks until the MTC. I can't believe it! Michael, if I were you I would study chapter 4 of Preach My Gospel and study it hard. It will help you in all areas of your life.

Well, this week should be good and eventful. We have interviews with President Cotterell on Friday, and I'll be going to the sealing for the Piners on Saturday. I'm excited!

I love you all. I have a testimony of the gospel. The gospel is true. I can't wait to talk to y'all on the Christmas call in a few weeks! Take care, and have a good week!

Love,
Elder Casper