Hello Everyone!
This last week has been a pretty good week. I really enjoy being back here in Harrison. It's been good getting to meet more of the people in the Branch here and getting to know them better. Things aren't always easy, but the Lord has been helping me to grow here and I've been learning a lot. I've learned a lot about exercising faith to push through discouragement, and I'm learning how to rely on the Lord. I know I can't do all of this on my own. I'm gaining a deeper understanding of the "whys" of the gospel and why I make the choices I do. Some days are more discouraging that others, and some days I feel depressed, but I keep going. The Lord is continuing to teach me through all of this, and though I'm not perfect, I feel greatly blessed. It's good to be out here on a mission.
The missionary work is going well here. We have two people - Sister Winters and David Broniman - who are going to be baptized on the 14th, and the 7th of April, respectively. They are doing great. It is such a great blessing to be able to be here to teach them and be a part of it. Sister Winters is doing great. The Winters are probably in their 40's, and have two young girls that are two and four (I think), Ashlynn and Alivia. They are a very likable family. Brother Winters also has a 22 year-old daughter from a previous marriage who lives there too. All we have left to teach Sister Winters before she is baptized is the Law of Tithing and the Law of the Fast.
David is doing really well too! He's going to be baptized the weekend after General Conference. We're going to have to meet with him a few times during this next week to be able to teach all the commandments, but he should be fine. He really enjoys coming to church, which is so great to see. It's a highlight of his week, and he is being well accepted there. This last Sunday was Fast and Testimony Meeting, and he went up and talked about what a blessing the church is in his life and how he loves coming and appreciates everything we've done for him. He is a really good guy. I'm excited for his baptism.
I mentioned last time about the balloon we sent up with a pass along card on it. We wrote a message on the card and our names and numbers and everything. The balloon was a little low on helium, and so it didn't float upwards very fast, but it could still carry the weight of the card we tied to it. It was a little breezy when we took it outside, and as soon as we let go, it instantly blew straight over into a nearby tree. Undaunted, Elder Porter started climbing, and about 15 feet up the tree he was able to shake the branch enough to free the balloon. It then blew a different direction, just barely grazing the tops of a few nearby trees and started to float away. We thought we were all set until the wind changed, blew it back down, and lodged in the very top of the highest tree next to our apartment. Elder Porter (because he was lighter, we decided [I had eaten too much Sweetie-licious last transfer]) spent the next 15 minutes climbing about 35 feet up the tree to a place where he was finally able to shake the balloon loose. It blew away, and we hope that someone will find it and visit mormon.org. If someone get's baptized because of that, that would probably be one of the highlights of my mission. I don't think that's how the Lord works though. But it would still be pretty cool, wouldn't it?
Update on the squirrel pelt in our living room- Elder Porter finished treating it and softening it, and even shampooed it. We then gave it to one of our investigators, who lives in house that sort of has a log cabin look on the inside. She and her husband have a few other furs as decoration, so we thought it would be perfect. She thought it was hilarious that we brought her a native squirrel pelt that was actually from Harrison, Michigan. She thought it was really nice and got a kick out of it, so it worked out well.
By the way, in case anyone was wondering, that squirrel was killed as humanely as possible, I saw it. And the squirrel will be eaten too; it is sitting in the freezer right now. It'll be interesting to try squirrel. At least I'll get to say I tried some interesting food on my mission! And to anyone (you know who) who thinks that the fact that Elder Porter killed the squirrel is a sign that he is emotionally unbalanced and is an early serial killer.... Hunting and fishing is something that's right up his alley and that he's done for years and years. We're actually going to go fishing later today, hopefully that goes well.
I'm really looking forward to General Conference this weekend. The more I read the scriptures and teach people about the scriptures and prophets, the more exciting the idea becomes of getting to hear living scripture, the words from living prophets for right now! What a blessing that is.
I found something interesting in my personal study this morning. I was reading 2 Nephi 8:9, which is in one of the Isaiah chapters in 2 Nephi:
"Awake, awake! Put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake as in the ancient days. Art thou not he that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?"
I didn't understand it very well at first, especially the parts about Rahab and the dragon. One thing that I've really come to appreciate on my mission though is the footnotes and the Bible Dictionary and Topical Guide. After researching Rahab in the Bible Dictionary; Hebrews 11:31; and Joshua 2:1,3; 6:17, 23, 25; I determined that the reference to Rahab is probably a reference to Israel's victory over Jericho. After reading Ezekiel 29:3, I realized that "dragon" was probably a reference to Egypt, and perhaps Israel's miraculous deliverance from bondage there. So another way to write that verse might be "Art thou not he that hath caused the walls of the great city Jericho to crumble, and delivered Israel from the bondage of her powerful captor Egypt? This Isaiah scripture took on such a powerful and new meaning when I took the time to look study it and look deeper. What has the Lord done for us in our day? We know that he has delivered this nation from the hands of all other nations (1 Nephi 13:19). We also know that he has brought forth truth from the earth (Moses 7:62) in the form of the Book of Mormon, and has done a marvelous work and a wonder in restoring the fullness of the gospel (2 Nephi 27:26) (which has been prophesied of and looked forward to since the beginning of the world), led His people over a thousand miles across the plains, and endowed the members of His church with power from on high (D&C 38:32). How great is our God! I think this is the message that Isaiah wanted to convey. Why should we sin or fear man when we know of the great promises the Lord has made us, the great things he has done for us, and the great things that he has in store for us if we are faithful. What a powerful chapter for Nephi to quote in 2 Nephi 8!
I shared this because I hope that it helps everyone back home to be a little more excited about Isaiah, and know how to glean gems of truth and light from it's rich veins. It's something that I'm working on myself. I know that through prayer and study, the scriptures can become a gold mine of light to us. I love the scriptures, and know they are true. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. The Lord has shown me time and time again that it is.
2 Nephi 17:1-14 is also a powerful section of the Isaiah chapters that I love. Perhaps you all could read it when you get the chance, and use the footnotes, Bible Dictionary, and maps to get an understanding of all the people and places.
I love you all, have a great week,
Love,
Elder Trevor Casper
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
03.19.2012 "Harrison"
Hello Everyone!
Phew, there is a lot to talk about. And so little time! I'll try to hit the highlights.
I love being back here! There are a lot a lot of good people here, and I like serving with Elder Porter. He's a good guy. He's from Queen Creek, AZ, and came out the transfer after me so we have about the same experience. He just hit his year mark last Friday.
We have two people here that are going to be baptized in the next month. Sister Winters has been taught since the last time I was here (Elder Poulsen and I were the ones who started teaching her a year ago). And now she is getting baptized on April 14th! We are really excited for her. I can see a difference in her since the last time I was here. As she's learned about the gospel, she's changed. Their family is pretty nice.
The other person who is going to be baptized is David Broniman. He will be baptized on April 7th. He has really been prepared by the Lord to accept the gospel. He's had a lot of experiences that have brought him to the point where he is at now, and he knows that the needs the restored gospel in his life. He loves the Plan of Salvation, and he loves coming to church.
I'll have to explain more about the people we're teaching later.
A few fun things that Elder Porter and I have done lately-
Elder Porter killed a squirrel, and he is currently working on the pelt and the treatment process involved in preserving it. He wants to get into taxidermy a little as a hobby. He's going to get me a squirrel pelt sometime, which I think is pretty cool. right now the pelt is spread out over a piece of cardboard in our living room with salt all over it to help it dry out.
We had a balloon left over from a relief society dinner last friday, and we tied a note to it on a pass along card and threw it up into the sky. We called it a "finding activity". It was way fun. I'll have to tell the whole story later.
Have a great week, everyone!
Love,
Elder Trevor Casper
Phew, there is a lot to talk about. And so little time! I'll try to hit the highlights.
I love being back here! There are a lot a lot of good people here, and I like serving with Elder Porter. He's a good guy. He's from Queen Creek, AZ, and came out the transfer after me so we have about the same experience. He just hit his year mark last Friday.
We have two people here that are going to be baptized in the next month. Sister Winters has been taught since the last time I was here (Elder Poulsen and I were the ones who started teaching her a year ago). And now she is getting baptized on April 14th! We are really excited for her. I can see a difference in her since the last time I was here. As she's learned about the gospel, she's changed. Their family is pretty nice.
The other person who is going to be baptized is David Broniman. He will be baptized on April 7th. He has really been prepared by the Lord to accept the gospel. He's had a lot of experiences that have brought him to the point where he is at now, and he knows that the needs the restored gospel in his life. He loves the Plan of Salvation, and he loves coming to church.
I'll have to explain more about the people we're teaching later.
A few fun things that Elder Porter and I have done lately-
Elder Porter killed a squirrel, and he is currently working on the pelt and the treatment process involved in preserving it. He wants to get into taxidermy a little as a hobby. He's going to get me a squirrel pelt sometime, which I think is pretty cool. right now the pelt is spread out over a piece of cardboard in our living room with salt all over it to help it dry out.
We had a balloon left over from a relief society dinner last friday, and we tied a note to it on a pass along card and threw it up into the sky. We called it a "finding activity". It was way fun. I'll have to tell the whole story later.
Have a great week, everyone!
Love,
Elder Trevor Casper
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
03.12.2012 "Back in Harrison"
Hello Everyone,
So I'm back in Harrison. I was pretty surprised when I got transfer calls and found out I was coming back here. That doesn't happen too often where missionaries get sent back to an area they have served in before. We usually serve in 5-8 areas or so, and there are probably 40 or so areas in the mission. It's great to be back here again though. I really like it here.
Well, I only have a few minutes so I'll try to explain all I can. I'm a little behind too because of a computer problem at the St. Johns Library last week and me not getting to send out this email to everyone. First of all, I'll talk about what happened in St. Johns before I left.
Remember that I mentioned that there was a baptism last Sunday in St. Johns? That didn't end up working out. He got into the water, and then panicked a little and had a problem being submerged. We had to postpone the baptism for a week. That should have taken place yesterday, I hope it went well. Brother Fifield is a good guy.
Before I left, one of our investigators bought a huge pizza and we all had some for lunch. He's a really interesting guy, and actually pretty cool when he's sober, we recently realized. It was sad leaving everyone there that I was teaching behind, but at least I know they're in good hands.
Out of time,but I'll finish the updates later. Have a good week everyone!
Love,
Elder Trevor Casper
So I'm back in Harrison. I was pretty surprised when I got transfer calls and found out I was coming back here. That doesn't happen too often where missionaries get sent back to an area they have served in before. We usually serve in 5-8 areas or so, and there are probably 40 or so areas in the mission. It's great to be back here again though. I really like it here.
Our address is:
801 Westlawn Apt. #6
Harrison, MI 48625
Well, I only have a few minutes so I'll try to explain all I can. I'm a little behind too because of a computer problem at the St. Johns Library last week and me not getting to send out this email to everyone. First of all, I'll talk about what happened in St. Johns before I left.
Remember that I mentioned that there was a baptism last Sunday in St. Johns? That didn't end up working out. He got into the water, and then panicked a little and had a problem being submerged. We had to postpone the baptism for a week. That should have taken place yesterday, I hope it went well. Brother Fifield is a good guy.
Before I left, one of our investigators bought a huge pizza and we all had some for lunch. He's a really interesting guy, and actually pretty cool when he's sober, we recently realized. It was sad leaving everyone there that I was teaching behind, but at least I know they're in good hands.
Out of time,but I'll finish the updates later. Have a good week everyone!
Love,
Elder Trevor Casper
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