Alma Academy, Stake Conference and Baptism

Hello to everyone! This week has been crazy fun!

So while we were planning on Thursday the Zone leaders come into the
room we were planning in. They tell us that we are going to the city
this Saturday for Alma Academy which is a day in the life of a
missionary. The youth from this stake got to go on splits with us down
near the temple. So on Saturday we woke up at 4, drove to Stamford at
5 and got to the Stamford chapel at 6. We were driven to Manhattan by
the office elders and it was such a great ride. We did some street
contacting with a 16 year old youth and we gave some copies of the
Book of Mormon. It was a good experience for me, I realized that I
need to talk more and open my mouth to everyone. It was such a great
experience and I felt the spirit guiding my words to everyone I opened
my mouth to. I was definitely blessed to be a part of that and
Heavenly Father wanted me to have that experience. I sweated so much,
and we had to wear our suits and it was a pretty hot but luckily
windy. We also met so many members while doing the Book of Mormon approach.
We have this huge piece of plywood with Book of Mormon written on it,
so people got pictures with it. I got pictures with it, so I will send
that.

We had stake conference this weekend, and the adult session was
amazing and so spiritual. It was one of the last times president
Morgan would speak as a mission president. Our stake president and
area 70 spoke. I love stake conference so much, and I took so many
notes and it made me want to be better and to have faith. I am so
happy I am a missionary and that I am apart of this mission. Sunday is
where the miracle happened, we were doing our companionship study and
we get a phone call from some guy from Utah. The guy tells us that
they are working with someone over there who wants to be baptized and
he is moving to Bethel Connecticut. So that is our area, and yesterday
they met with this guy on a split and they extended a baptismal date
of June 27th, and it turns out he wants to be baptized on the 20th. So
we have a baptism on the 20th and I am super excited. We meet with him
tonight and introduce him to members and figure out what we need to
teach him. He has been investigating the church for a while and he is
super ready to be baptized. We think he has already been taught
everything but we are excited! My first Baptism on the mission! It's
not often that people fall out of heaven and want to be baptized! I
love it so much and I'm so excited.

We have been giving out a lot of copies of the Book of Mormon. This
area is starting to see progress, we are hoping we have some more
people to teach. We have been tracking so much, and it's great.. Oh
and there are 2 more weeks left of this transfer so that is crazy!

We had a split yesterday, I went with Elder Hofheins to his area. I
got to be in the Spanish program for a day and teach people and be
part of that. Elder Hofheins told me that he looks up to Elder Ross
and I because he knows we hit it hard and tract our brains out. That
made me feel good but I look up to him a lot. Anyways it was good, we
got hit with a huge rain storm where there was so much water coming
down we couldn't even see. Even with our windshield wipers on full.

Anyways that's about it for this week, I love all of you so much and
sorry this email is random and yeah. I can't remember much to that
happened haha, love you!

Newtown Never Gets Old

Hello dear people who want to read my email,

This week has been random and fun and crazy and yeah. So last Thursday
the Assistants to the President came down and tracted in our area
because they want to see how all areas of the mission are doing. We
found someone who may be interested and told us they would call us so
that's pretty cool. Later that day we were walking down this street
and this lady slowed down next to us and said "don't knock on my
door", and then told us the number... She pulled into her driveway and
we realized that we already did.. So yeah. People aren't super
receptive to this message here but we try! It rained so hard as well,
like we were going to a gas station to go use the restroom and as soon
as we got there it was pouring and we ran inside and we were already
super wet. Then by the time we were done there were huge puddles and
we got soaked. Rain over here is random and intense.

This weekend has been down in the 50s because of a cold spike. Also a
lot more rain, and this time we were pretty far away from our car so
we sprinted to our car and yeah there was no out running that rain. We
were soaked by the time we got in our car, dripping wet. I can
honestly say I don't like random rain storms.. But I definitely love
the people here!

We decided to tract the other day after we visited a less active (it
poured that day as well). Knocked on the first door, no one answered
and on the second one, this guy was playing guitar, and I told Elder
Ross I played guitar. The guy opens the door and elder Ross says
"Elder Casper plays guitar" and the guy says "well come on in". I
guess he was a former investigator, and he was dropped a year ago and
he let us in. He let me play his guitar a bit and then we had a really
sweet discussion about how the callings are chosen in our church. He
told us to drop by whenever and he would make us brownies and we could
teach him! He was really cool!

About 14+ Families are moving out of this Ward this summer, so about
50 people are leaving to the west coast! (Yay for west coast, a lot of
them to California!) a lot of missionary work needs to be done here to
keep the ward growing.

We found this guy who is training to be an episcopalian minister, and
some of his family are a members, he has read the Book of Mormon and he
had a testimony of it. He is way enthusiastic and he loves scriptures.
He prayed us out of our lesson and we all held hands and the spirit
was with us in that meeting and I hope him and his family will like
what they are hearing and feel good. While he was praying he was
praying for us to have wonderful missions. He is amazing and would
make a strong member in this Ward.

We had dinner at a members house last night and he showed us a really
cool way to tract. You say your missionaries and you want to talk
about the Book of Mormon. The pictures in the front explain what the
book is about, it's all about Jesus Christ, it's about Lehi and his
family being commanded by God to leave to the Americas, the build a
ship and head to the Americas, there are baptisms and crazy things
going on! Then Jesus Christ appears to the people of America, and
performs miracles and ministers unto them. Then you show them chapter
11 of 3rd Nephi and invite them to read it and ask if you can come
back and talk about it. You follow the spirit of course. And it works,
we did it to a potential investigator and she let us in to their home
and we used the Book of Mormon and invited her to read chapter 11 and
she was excited! It was way cool to see that work and I could feel the
spirit working through me and I was so grateful for that moment.

He also told us that we should always be praying, especially at every
door. But missionaries who have a prayer in their heart always asking
for help as you teach are successful. I tried it yesterday and I felt
the spirit stronger than I've ever felt it. I love this gospel, I love
being able to "flood the earth" with the Book of Mormon and to be a
representative of Jesus Christ. This Gospel brings me so much joy and
I love sharing it with everyone!

Thanks for everything you do for me, and thanks for all of your
prayers! Love you all and hope you have a great week!

Dad,

I have been super good, missionary work has its ups and downs but I'm
on the uphill climb of it all. Im feeling a lot better and now I have
just been super sore from all the tracting we do. We have been working
as hard as we can and we try not to waste any time! We have been
finding new people that were interested, and people have been
generally pretty receptive. There are some cool stories I'll tell in
my weekly email.

Brandi doesn't ever write me, but tell her congrats on graduating! I'm
excited for her! I'm also excited that you all will see grandparents.
Sounds like a lot of fun. I'm the lowest I've weighed in a long time!
My new weight is 222.4 lbs! I'm not sure how it all goes down.
Anyways. Yeah life is good here and I'm feeling like I'm leaving this
area after this Transfer. I am definitely excited to see where I will
go next. But of course I don't know, only the Lord knows! I have 20 or
less pages left in my journal, so 20 days!

Are you excited to have your last kid be done with high
school and leave? You will soon be empty nesters! Time will fly by and
then I will be home before you know it! Everyday flies by and it's
becoming faster and faster each day. Sometimes I do miss home but I am
trying my hardest to be as consecrated as possible. Hopefully we will
find some sweet people soon, other than the people we have already
found. I don't know what else to say but I hope you're doing good!
Keep reading and praying and studying preach my gospel and the
prophets and apostles. Especially as a family. Make that a priority. I
wish we did that more when I was younger.. Anyways!

I love you and mom so much, you have taught me to do so many great
things and with out you guys, I wouldn't be here. I'm grateful for
what you have taught me, you have raised me to be so much more than I
could ever do by myself. I wish I was better than I was before my
mission, I wish I did the things I had to and was a more obedient
child. Truth of it all is that I am changing and it's what the Lord
needs me to become. Thanks for everything! 

Love,
Elder Casper

Interview President Morgan

Hello to everyone who loves missions,

It has been getting hot and humid, definitely not my 2 favorite things
that's for sure. This last weekend was incredible, there was a cold
breeze coming in so tracting was fun. That's what we have been doing
with a majority of our time. We don't have any investigators so we've
been trying to do more finding so we can teach people in this area.
Our finding has been kind of successful, we found this girl in
Brookfield who was interested, she is a senior in high school and she
loved the message we shared so hopefully we can teach her, and
possibly some families but there isn't much teaching going on in this
area, one thing we are really trying to work on.

Last Thursday we got a call from the zone leaders and the Assistants
to the president are coming on a split with the zone leaders in our
area, the AP's want to see how all of our areas are doing and we
really need help in Newtown. I have been praying for miracles and
asking for guidance and I feel that we will find someone soon! 

Sunday we had interviews with President Morgan and he hinted to me
that I'm probably going to be transferred next transfer (Which I'm
fine with). It would be good to see other parts of the mission.
President is an amazing man and it's sad that he is leaving is in
July... I'm excited for president Smith!

Monday was Memorial Day, so happy Memorial Day to everyone, we went to
a ward picnic and ate a lot of food and socialized with the members
and all that fun stuff. Ate some Ice cream, oh then tracted aha. We
ran into a veteran who cussed us out on Saturday... But then we found
an extremely nice guy who was pretty interested afterwards.

Tuesday was fun, we have Zone conference coming up and we will be
getting Facebook back around June 12th and everyone in the mission has
to prepare a 5 minute talk on obedience which is a piece of cake. When
you are obedient to the rules you are more successful, you are
blessed. I'm excited to write the talk and receive wonderful training!
There is a lot going on in the mission right now.. But that's pretty
much it! I love our members, they like sending pictures to our
families, and I love that! 

Life is great, missions are great and I'm having fun and sweating a
lot. I now weigh 222.4lbs. I love this work and I have been studying
preach my gospel a lot and chapter 2 where it talks about the role of
the Holy Ghost in studying and when you study you should pray to have
the Holy Ghost teach you while you read. I've noticed when I pray for
the Holy Ghost my studies are amazing and I learn so much!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week and stays cool! Sorry there are
no pictures this week.

Love,
Elder Casper

Mom,

Hello! My week has been great, and we have been doing a lot of
tracting ha. Memorial Day was good, we went to a ward picnic and
walked around and talked with members. I have been sick but now it's
just allergies so that's fine. 

Our investigator is doing pretty swell, we haven't been able to meet
with him for awhile, hopefully soon. We found some other cool people
that hopefully will be interested. I really don't feel like I'm
growing all that much but thank you so much mom!

I have probably 25 pages left in my journal, not too much left but
hopefully you can get me one soon! I remember I used the tall font!
Haha. I can't believe Brandi will be working at dads office. Will she
be answering phones and things like that?

I love you!

Love,
Elder Casper

Working Hard in Connecticut

Hello all,

What's all going on? Everything is going great here in Newtown. For
anyone who doesn't know I now have a new companion whose name is Elder
Ross. He is from Green River Wyoming and he was trained by the same
missionary as I was. He is a hard working missionary and he is very
obedient so that is good. He is a good influence on me after having 2
companions who went home aha.

I've been sick for this whole past week and I'm slowly recovering! We
have still been getting our tracting in and finding people who weren't
interested in learning anything but they were super nice to us. One
guy we ran into was on the grass with his dog and we came up and
introduced ourselves. He immediately asks us where we are from and
talks to us and he knows members who live outside of our mission and
we gave him the gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlet and our number if he
was ever interested. We haven't seen too many miracles happen this
week but I can list out what happened this week! 

Wednesday we looked up a potential investigator and she told us to
come back later. I wasn't feeling to great so we went in early to
rest, oh and we made a bunk bed in our apartment and settled in. And
it was the start of a wonderful companionship!

Thursday was Weekly Planning and a cool little lesson with a member
and 2 non members. So this guy from Yuma Arizona has his sister who
lives in Ridgefield Connecticut. The non members are both a little
older and the man has bladder cancer and the women broke her leg bone
or something but they both work at Keller Williams. We talked a lot
about what we do as missionaries and just answered the questions they
had. We will be calling them soon to set up a time to come back.

Friday we went to see some of the less active older people and just to
be there for them and read with them! I love being around old people
because they are super nice to us and love us and always thankful for
us being there! Did a lot of finding as well and weren't too
successful.

Saturday we did some service for a non member who knows a member from
our Ward and we were in the forest pretty much, cutting vines from the
ground and ripping them out and all that fun stuff. Yeah it was a good
opportunity to talk to him about what we do and we left a good
impression with him. We went up to sandy hook to do some finding and
we decided to knock this entire street and we did that. At the bottom
of the hill this weird guy said to us "is that it?" " why don't you
keep going, go up there." So we decided to listen to this guy and we
went up to this street, knocked on some houses and at the fourth house
this guy comes out of this side garden and says hello. Soon his wife
and kid come out as well. They were way friendly to us and we talked
to them for 25 minutes. Turns out this lady knows someone from our
Ward! It was such a blessing from the lord, we have put in time to
find his children and he finally blessed us with a family. Preach my
gospel tells us to strive to teach families so they can be sealed to
their family forever. I can't wait to teach them! We invited them to
church and they said that they would come sometime!

Sunday morning we had an Aaronic priesthood meeting with the bishop
because Elder Ross hasn't met bishop and he really wanted too. We were
in with the priests and they set up some splits we will go on with the
priests coming soon. We told them that we would tract their brains out
and that it would be fun. I am scared to not be with an experienced
companion because I am not good with door approaches or talking to
people, but I know the Lord will bless me when I open my mouth. Before
and after we had dinner we went and did finding and again no one
interested. One thing I've noticed is that the Lord doesn't bless us
all the time, we have to put in work and have the faith that we will
find someone. Something I struggle with is having the faith that I
will find someone. And lately I have felt as if Heavenly Father
abandoned me and I wasn't having any help but if I think back I see
that he has blessed me a lot. I may not be the best missionary but
over time I will be better.

We have just had a lot of finding time and that has been good but
nothing to crazy happened over these past couple weeks other than just
trying to find people and work hard and have no regrets.

I know that this is the true church of Christ, and that Joseph smith
was a prophet and the Book of Mormon is true. I know that what I am
doing is the lords work and he is guiding me to the people who need to
hear this message of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I
love you and I hope you have a great week!

Study Lehis dream in 1 Nephi 8, 11. Also preach my gospel from the
very beginning will help us as members of the church!

Elder Casper

New Companion

Hello everyone who is interested in what I have to say!

How's it going? So I now have a new companion whose name is Elder Ross

and he is so hard working and diligent and an amazing kid. He actually

has a similar personality as mine and we are getting along super great

so far. He is my brother, the kid who was also trained by my trainer.

This cycle will be amazing and this area will blow up with how

dedicated Elder Ross is, and he will teach me things that will help me

be a better missionary.

So elder Neuerburg has been dying so we haven't had a crazy amount of

time to do much of anything. He has needed a lot of time to do his

mission experience and get ready to go home.

Friday was great because we were lucky to do some service for some

people in the Danbury Ward, that elder Neuerburg knows. We made a big

bond fire with everything in the yard and roasted hot dogs and made

s'mores. It was very fun and we had a great dinner appointment and I

found out that I only have 17.5% body fat! We also ate pizza that

night so I'm not sure how much that helped towards losing weight.. But

everything was awesome. We learned more about physical fitness and

things to help us be more healthy especially if there is no gym. We

learned exercises that we can do just in our apartment if no gym is

available.

Saturday we went to the Lincoln square chapel to hear from Elder

Quentin L Cook, and I could  just feel of his spirit, and that he

truly was an apostle of the lord Jesus Christ. On thing that was

really cool is after we all shook his hand he told us this "thank you

for shaking my hand and allowing me to personally interview each one

of you". He looked into our eyes and could tell if something was off

or how we are living our lives. He knows, he is so in tune with the

spirit. Also his testimony was so inspiring. He told us that he knows

that Jesus Christ lives and that he knows what he looks and sounds

like. I know that Jesus Christ has called apostles and that Quentin L

Cook is one of them. Saturday night a member took us to outback steak

house and that was a good steak, and coconut shrimp oh and a blooming

onion.. I can't forget that! The bread as well.

I got another hair cut and pretty much that's the sum up of what

happened this week. I really can't wait to go out and do the Lords

work and tract and find and do all things that we have to do in order

to be successful. It has been hard killing 2 missionaries and sending

them home and it has made me die a little inside but that won't stop

me from doing the Lords work! I can't wait for Elder Ross and I to do

what we need to, and be so tired every night that we just collapse

after we hit our beds. I love this work and I know that the gospel is

true, I know that Jesus Christ is the only begotten son of God and

that through Christ we can be saved. All I do as a missionary is to

invite others to come to Christ, I can't force anyone. It all depends

on how bad the person wants their life to improve and everything to be

so perfect. I love it and I could do this without all the experiences

I've had in my life.

The Mother's Day call was great and I really loved to talk to you

guys. I hope all is well and I loved sharing my testimony with you and

I hope it touched you in some way! Love you and hope you have a great

week!

Elder Casper.

Surprising Announcement

Hey to everyone,

 

This past week has had some difficulties, when you kill a missionary

the work starts to slow down because they have so much to do in such

little time. Elder Neuerburg has been writing his mission experience a

lot and hasn't really had that desire to go out and do work. He is a

great missionary and really loves missionary work but he isn't too

focused. We are trying to do as much work as possible but we will see

how this week goes.

 

On Saturday we did so much service, we helped the Danbury elders do

some service for one of their investigators. We have been doing a lot

of things outside and I've been starting to burn. I love the feeling

of being outside and doing service and sweating. It was a great day

and we were really blessed with some nice weather in the morning. Then

we went to one of our less actives Johnny. We helped him for 2 hours

to move boxes and help him re organize his huge wear house full of

diaper bags. After we finished he told us to go home and shower and

change and then we met him at the Cheesecake Factory. I had some

delicious steak and mashed potatoes and a chocolate peanut butter

cheese cake which was amazing and made me feel sick to my stomach

later that night. Johnny offered to take us to cold stone creamery

right after we finished our cheesecake and we were considering it but

we were full and didn't feel like eating more sweets so we declined

but Johnny said he would take us out again before elder Neuerburg

leaves.

 

We are getting a new Ward mission leader on Sunday and I am super

excited to finally have a structure in our ward mission work. It will

be super nice to be able to get everything rolling and all that fun

stuff. This last Sunday night we had dinner with the Jones and I'm not

sure if you got that picture that sister Jones sent to you but we had

such a fun time.

 

Monday there was some really exciting announcements. As you know I am

going to a Yankees game on July 3rd and that's not even our P-day so

we have such a privilege to do that. It's also an evening game so we

will leave by either 9 o clock or 7th inning, whichever comes first.

We are getting home so late that night but we will still get up at

6:30 like normal. We are forced to go to the game, they will take the

money out and everyone has to be there.  I am planning on buying a

Yankees hat to wear to the game because we are allowed to! Watch the

Yankees game that day and you might see me on the big screen, and I

know you will see missionaries because we stand out but that will be

good especially because Mormon tabernacle choir will be there so it

will be a great missionary opportunity. We will be meeting our new

mission president on June 30th and get acquainted with him and become

a friend to him.

 

The biggest announcement that I've received on my mission. This

Saturday at the Lincoln Center Chapel (Temple), we are having a

general authority come speak to our mission. Elder Quentin L Cook of

the quorum of the twelve. He wants to shake each of our hands and

speak to our mission. He is only speaking to our mission and we are

not sure if that's a bad thing or a good thing. President Morgan

doesn't even know why he is coming or what he will speak about but we

are all pretty nervous for this opportunity. It's a mission wide

conference and there will be so many great things said to us. I am

excited for this chance that I have to be spoken to by an apostle of

the Lord Jesus Christ. I have been praying for guidance and to have

the spirit with me so I will get something out of that. It's rare to

have someone from the quorum of the twelve come speak to us.

 

Our only investigator that is somewhat progressing is Darwin and he

doesn't know for himself that the Book of Mormon is true but he will

find out soon enough. We haven't been able to get in touch with all

the other potential investigators. Hopefully we will soon so we can

teach them . That's it with this area.

 

Yesterday was all service and dinner. We had tacos last night. Brother

Lake told us some amazing things last night and he blew our minds with

some of the things he spoke about. He started out by asking us "what

is the purpose of life?" We told him "to be tested and to end up with

our father in heaven." He asked us more questions. Then he told us to

open up to 2 Nephi 32:1-6 and that really blows my mind. I've never

noticed this scripture before: "6 Behold, this is the doctrine of

Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall

manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest

himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you

shall ye observe to do." It really makes me think about the doctrine

of Christ and all the doctrine we have now isn't the end, that when

Jesus Christ manifests himself to us he will give us more doctrine and

he will teach us more. In verse 7 it states: "And now I, Nephi, cannot

say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance." And brother lake

pointed out that everything the prophets write about the doctrine of

Christ the spirit always stops them and they won't be able to tell

more. And as members of the church we need to be studying our own

doctrine because there is so much behind every singe scripture and

every dot of our gospel connects. To endure to the end doesn't mean to

just go to church and keep the commandments. It means to study the

scriptures and to find the meaning behind it. We are entitled to the

ministering of angels and we need to allow revelation flow. The spirit

will tell us things we ask for. If you don't understand something,

it's because you didn't ask. Bring all your questions you have to God,

the answer may not come immediately but as you study and ask you will

receive the answer to the question and that feeling will be worth it.

I know that this is the true church, and the Book of Mormon answers

those questions that we have. Through revelation from God we will

receive the things in which we ask. I love being a missionary and I

love teaching, doing service and loving everyone.

 

Read 2 Nephi 31-32, Jacob 4, 3 Nephi 11, 3 Nephi 27. Everything

prophets talk about the doctrine of Christ, the spirit always stops

them and they can't say anything else. That's the pattern. When Christ

comes to this earth he will teach us the rest of the doctrine.

 

I love each one of you and hope you had a great time this past week!

 

Love,

Elder Casper

Fun Days

Hello to the world!

 

Sorry this email is going out so late, I've had a long day in

Manhattan but a really fun one! I'll get to that later though!

 

This last Thursday we went to a members house for dinner and we got to

hear a lot of funny mission stories, and it made me think about some

of the funny experiences I've had. We really love eating at members

houses. One of the Kids he had was talking about his older brother. He

said "Tyler likes Care Bears... That's a baby show". Keep in mind the

oldest kid is 9 and the second oldest is 8. It made us laugh for a

good while, one of the funny experiences I've had.

 

I also got a hair cut recently, I got a 2 on sides and she cut the top

of my head and members keep complimenting me, but I think it looks

nice. Even if it doesn't. We did service on Saturday with the Danbury

Elders and it was fun, we got to work in the outdoors and get a nice

little tan... More like a burn.  Anyways a tick landed on my arm, but

I saw it and flicked it away. I don't have time to deal with a tick.

 

We have been getting opportunities to do service lately, from

missionaries in our district and I've been excited. The weather has

been nice lately and we have been able to render service to anyone we

see. I love doing service, it's one of my favorite things about being

a missionary, teaching is still one of those things that I'm not super

good at and its something that I want to improve.

 

Yesterday we were able to teach a group of 11 people at a local

community church, we were able to share what we believe and they

pretty much bible bashed us. A couple of the people were interested,

so that will hopefully be promising.

 

Today has been a good day and a long one. I made one mistake today by

not bringing any water. We were supposed to leave at 6 this morning

and get to South Ferry at 8 but we ended up getting there around 11.

It was so fun to be on Liberty Island and see the Statue and get

beautiful pictures of Manhattan and of the surrounding areas like

Brooklyn and New Jersey. We went to liberty island and I got a lot of

pictures, and there was a huge spider on my shirt collar and I didn't

see it but someone came up to me and flicked it off, and it was super

close to my neck. That freaked me out. Anyways we decided to not go to

Ellis island because we were starving and thirsty and we didn't feel

like walking around a museum. We got back to shore and walked for a

good 45 minutes to the Brooklyn bridge and went to the halfway point

(where the north and south missions boundaries are). Got pictures,

went to china town for some Chinatown buns, for like .90 cents a

piece. Then to century 21 and we got a unity tie. We met this guy

named Matthew who is from queens who just got off his mission from

Bakersfield California. He talked to us for a bit and then asked if we

have eaten yet, and we told him we have a dinner tonight. He was

totally going to offer to take us out. People in our mission are so

dope. I have some pictures to send, well a lot but I will only be able

to send you some today! I want to send them all!