Valentines Day

Hello everyone, this week has been a super cool week.

I did get your package, thanks for all of that!  Compared to

Harlem this area is a lot better, it's just different being upstate

than in the city. My shoes are already losing traction just because of

how much I walk. The church building is similar to ours, just

different. It's a big building too. The people are just very friendly

and open to having us over and love us. It is similar to our ward,

there are a lot of kids here and a lot of people.

Last Wednesday we went to the mall they have here and walked through

the stores that appealed to us. Got a district unity beanie, and it

fits super well and feels nice and keeps me warm. Took pictures and

had a good time, just we always need to remember that we are

representatives of Jesus Christ so we can't be messing around, we need

to be mature in our conduct.

Thursday was our weekly planning day and Elder Tancayo and I were

freaking out because we could see the transfers day coming up and we

had so much to do the next week. Friday we had a lesson with a new

investigator and we got to teach him already and he is really open to

learning more so hopefully we have a possibility of teaching him more

and then watching him progress in the Gospel. Alot of missionaries

have told me that one of the greatest blessings you see on a mission

is watching people progress in the Gospel and seeing how the Gospel

blesses their lives. That is one thing I am looking forward to.

Saturday we went to the Cheesecake Factory with a member and 8

missionaries in total, there are 2 missionaries going home this

transfer so he wanted to take us out and feed us. That was the first

time I've ever been to the Cheesecake Factory! We were lucky to be fed

there, because it's more expensive than other places but so good. I

had an Oreo deluxe extreme cheesecake, ooooh so good! And that night

we went to the church to have a district dinner for Valentine's Day

and got some pictures together, which I will send in a bit.

That night we got a text letting us know that our church was supposed

to be canceled. We didn't know exactly what to think, so we texted a

counselor in the Bishopric and I guess it was true. Woke up to snow

and ice. We wouldn't of been able to make it up the

hill to the church, so they canceled ours Ward's Church. We went to the 1:00 pm

o'clock session because it (the snow and ice) was melted by then, I got asked to bear my

testimony in our ward, and to teach elders quorum but it was cancelled

so I didn't get to. Every time they ask us to do something, church

cancels. Maybe they should stop asking us to do stuff? I've never had

church cancel in my life until my mission.

Monday we had our district meetings and our "funeral" for the

missionaries that are "dying" (going home) so we had delicious food, got

them to sign our "bye bye" books and had a testimony from each of them.

Elder Kroff (who started where I am, and finished in Yorktown, which is

in our zone) bore his testimony about the gift of charity, and how we

need to pray for that in order to see that in our lives. The last

verse in Moroni 7 talks about that, so that is something that I've been

trying to do. Elder hunt (who started in Danbury, and ended in Danbury)

bore his testimony on keeping a journal throughout our missions. We

can keep thoughts and impressions and what happened in our day so when

we look back on our experiences we can remember what happened. I have

really grown in a testimony of that and I've been able to fill about

half of my journal.

And Tuesday was the coolest experience I've had on my mission so far,

I was able to give a blessing, the first blessing on my mission. The

spirit is strong. After our closing prayer with the family, the wife

asked us if we could give a blessing to her husband because he has

been not feeling too well. So I was happy to give that blessing, and I

had no clue what to say but the spirit directed me. You can feel the

power of the priesthood in your hands and you can feel the spirit

working through us. That is one of the coolest experiences I've been

able to have on my mission. The funny thing is that on Tuesday morning I was

thinking that I haven't performed any ordinances yet, and turns out

that night I was able to do it.

I truly love this church, I know that it is the true church of Christ

and people need to know that. The Book of Mormon is truth. Read and

pray to know for yourself. As a missionary I can't force you to do

anything, I can just invite and testify to you that I know everything

that I say about the gospel is true. And promise blessings.

Anyways I hope you all have a great week, and keep safe!

Love,

Elder Casper