Elder Casper 9/14/2008

Dear family and friends-

Well guys to be honest I cannot believe that we are down to 7 days, as you said Mom in your email I am full of mixed emotions, emotions of happiness and joy and I have felt the spirit very strong over the past week. My companions are doing great and I am learning a lot from them, it will be good for me to leave so that they can start doing everything together and learn a lot of new things on their own. They are studs and they will do a great job helping the missionaries and president. The office elders are great and it will be good for Elder Latimer and I to get leave so that they all can start organizing themselves as the new office that will be together for a few more months. The Mason´s are great, they are so fun and it sounds like sister Mason wrote you. She is so fun and I love listening to her talk because she is so expressive when she talks, she reminds me of Grams in so many ways.

I thought you would like this picture...this is The Casper family in the mission, my son Elder Rubio, my grandson Elder Bradshaw and my great grandson Elder Canaan. Or in other words, I trained Elder Rubio, he trained Elder Bradshaw, and Elder Bradshaw trained Elder Canaan.

Honestly I can’t even begin to express how much the Lord has blessed us this week in our sector. On Tuesday we had Zone Leader counsel and afterwards I went on divisions with Elder Skinner. He is doing great and I have missed him over the past few months. We had a great day and we found a less active couple, and their 4 children aren’t members. Their oldest son is named Alejandro and he is 16 years old, they have a 14 year old son named Marcelo, a 5 year old named Camila and Martina that is 1 year old. The parents are inactive members that were baptized 10 years ago and after two years as members they had a bad experience and chose to be offended and haven’t returned since. Also the father is completely against the church but he gave his wife and children permission to receive the lessons in the church building. On Friday we had a lesson with Marcelo at the church and he brought his older brother Alejandro and it was the first time that we had met him, we taught them about the restoration of the Gospel and they loved it, they accepted to be baptized on the 5th of October. They are both really mature and very intelligent young men. Also Luz María and Matías have a baptismal date for the 11th of October along with another young man named Richard that is friends with Pablo the member. We have been really blessed over the past week and I have really been able to feel the joy of the mission work.

This coming week are the "Fiestas Patrias" or in other words their celebration of independence day here in Chile. Independence day is on the 18th of September but they start celebrating a week early and its pure celebration and fun for the Chilean people. It’s a really neat culture and very fun in many ways. You will be arriving Mom, Dad and Lauren just after the celebration so you will just miss it.

About the family Facondi, I spoke with them on Friday and Christian the father told me that tomorrow, Monday, they will be calling me to let me know if they are going to go this week or what is going to happen. I would love to go with them to the temple, it would be such a wonderful experience and a great way to finish my time here in Chile. Please keep them in your prayers because tomorrow we will know the final conclusion.

It has been a great week and I can’t believe that there is only one week left in this unforgettable and priceless journey!

The weather here is starting to warm up, the past few days it has been really warm but I can't promise you that it will be warm. Bring jeans, short sleeve shirts, long sleeve shirts, sweaters and when you arrive on Sunday morning you are going to be going to the church for our reunion. Along with Elder Hall we will prepare a map for you so that you can go straight to the church. I don’t know how you will want to be dressed, I know you will be really tired and after the church meetings we will be eating lunch with my two of my converts from Villa Teniente. It will be a splendid time and I will be anxiously awaiting your arrival.

Please send all my love, also I will be checking my email daily so if you have any questions for me just write me and I will respond. Make sure that you have the car rented and that everything is okay in that aspect. I love you so very much, I cant wait to see you, it will be soon. Have a great week, study hard, work hard and do what our Lord and Savior would do and we all will be blessed.

1-4-3-4,

Elder Mason Neill Casper

From Sister Mason

Brother & Sister Mason are a missionary couple serving in the office with Mason.

Dear Brother and Sister Casper,

I want you to know that we are anxiously awaiting your visit. Your little bedroom is ready. There are clean sheets on both the top and bottom bunk. We have excess blankets and a little floor space in one of three rooms for a bed roll. We might even be able to round up a mattress. (I'll talk to the assistants. They pretty much take care of our every need.) We also have extra towels and we provide soap, shampoo and toothpaste. You won't need anything. Our little apartment has housed Elder Thorson and his dad and Elder Oakes' folks. We look forward to meeting you and getting acquainted with you.

We love meeting the parents of amazing young missionaries that we have met and worked with here in the office. We LOVE your son! His kindness, his leadership, his commitment to serve and his desire to learn and become more like the Savior are so amazing. You will thrill when you see him interacting with the missionaries and saints that he loves. There is no sweeter "joy" than that of being reunited with a son or daughter after he/she has honorably served Heavenly Father with full purpose of heart. The tears you shed with be happy ones and I'm excited to share in your reunion. Be prepared to give lots of hugs to people that you don't know but who already love you for having sent your son here to teach and preach the Gospel to them.

I have told Elder Casper that I feel we are family. He is a Mason and we are Masons. We have loved living across the hall from the Elders and working closely with them in the office. They truly have filled a big void in our lives. We miss our kids a lot but we feel their love and support while we are serving here in Chile. Our oldest daughter Ann, is an R.N. and works at Utah Valley Hospital. This weekend she's in Idaho but has to be back to work on Wednesday. She's going to gather a few things and prepare a little (or not so little) care package for you to tuck in your suitcase to bring to us. Elder Casper assured us that you would be happy to "special delivery" a little something from home. She said she would call and get your address and deliver it to you before you leave.

I know how excited you must be to come and pick up your boy. We want you to feel comfortable in our little missionary abode. It's small but the location from the office is perfect. We so enjoy our association with the Elders. We've had some great times together. Oh, how we will miss your son but we know that it is time for him to move on in his life. You are in for a wonderful experience here in Chile. See you in a week!

Love,

Hermana Mason

Elder Casper 9/07/2008

Dear family-

Well it has been another great week, we finished up with the zone conferences and we have been truly blessed this week in the sector and in the whole mission. In August we finished the month with 53 baptisms and it was a huge progress for us.

One thing before I forget; President Jimenez received his implants yesterday, please be sure to let Elder Oakes, Elder Thorson, and all of the others who collaborated with this wonderful project know that he received the screw in implants. Yesterday they operated on him and put the screws into his bone, in 3 weeks they will screw in the permanent implants and they will never be removed again. It has been a remarkable blessing for President Jimenez and the Lord will pour blessings upon all those that collaborated. President is so grateful and always says: "I don’t know how to thank you." I cant wait for you guys to meet him and feel of the tender spirit that surrounds him.

This week we were able to teach Luz María and Matías and they accepted a baptismal date for the 11th of October. We don’t have any baptismal dates planned for when you guys come, although I would love for you to be here to see a baptism, but it didn’t turn out that way. I am still not sure about the Facondi Family and the last I heard is that they weren’t going to make it for the 15th of September, maybe it will be a week later and we will be able to go as a family with their family, please keep them in your prayers.

Yesterday we played soccer and basketball at one of the chapels here in Rancagua. At 5:30 Elder Latimer and I took Sister Resek up to Santiago for a stake conference yesterday and on the way up she said: "Elder Casper you need to write down in your agenda, the first week of October of 2010 we need one free day so that when President and I go to Salt Lake for General Conference." It made me so happy and I cant wait to be able to spend time with them after not seeing them for a couple of years. I cannot express how blessed I am for the wonderful experience that I have had to work along side them in this marvelous work of the Lord.

Tell Grams thanks for the e-mail that she wrote, it was great to hear from her and to feel of the warm Spirit that she carries. When she told the story about Harrison doing gymnastics the other night I couldn’t help but laugh and just picture it in my mind. I cannot wait to see those little stinkers and to spend time with them.

We received some heartbreaking news yesterday from Elder Hudsons family, I lived with him in the MTC and we are going home together. His sister was in a car accident and is in critical condition, they don’t know if she is going to live. She is on respiration machines and they had to crack her skull because of the swelling that is taking place. She has been in a coma for 2 days and it is a really sad story especially with him out here with only 14 days left. It also broke my heart to hear about Tammy Richardson, I was shocked to receive that information and what surprised me is that it was a stroke at such a young age. It made me happy that you went to visit her and that Dad gave her a silent blessing. One thing that I love about dad is his confidence in the authority which he holds, he has always been such a powerful priesthood holder and an absolute example in all ways.

Today in Elders quorum we were talking about blessings and one of the brethren mentioned that as fathers we are allowed to give Fathers blessings. It was interesting to see the reaction from some of the brethren in not even knowing that a Fathers blessing existed. I leaned to one of the brethren and said: "My dad gave me Fathers blessing all the time, at the start of each school year and in any situation necessary." I can truly testify that the fathers blessings that you have given me dad have been a constant guide and protection for me, I know that through your worthiness to the priesthood you have given each and every one of us as your children many fathers blessings that have blessed our lives and helped us to make good decisions.

Also today in the sacrament meeting one of the sisters that recently had her second child about 4 months ago, asked me to bless her daughter. The father isn’t a member of the church and it caught me off guard when she asked if I could please give her daughter her baby´s blessing. It was a neat experience, I felt very strongly the spirit and his guidance. I cant even imagine giving my own children their baby blessing, wow, what a privilege it will be. Well that’s about it for the week, it has been a wonderful week and it was great to finish it with fast and testimony meeting. Tammy is in my prayers, send my love to the family.

I also ordered the suit from the bishop and it will turn out great, I went and picked out a really pretty fabric with him on Friday, there were a lot of really gorgeous fabrics but the majority of them were really expensive, I found one that I really like and if will be ready on the 17th of September. Well have another great week, work hard, study hard and do what is right and you will be blessed. I am stoked to see you all and to be able to GO TO THE FATHER/SON CHALLENGE in December. That will be so fun as a family.

Well guys until next week, I love you with all of my heart. You are the greatest. I love you. I love you, I love you.

Love,

Elder Mason Neill Casper

Elder Casper 8/31/2008

My dearest family-

As you all have said, I am also shocked by how fast the time is going. Things are going great and the Lord is blessing us here in the mission. How are thing back at home? Before I forget please make sure to tell little harry HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I can’t believe that he is ten years old now, wow doesn´t the time just fly? Harrison, I love you so much and I am so excited to see you in a month and to be able to hang out and play with you. Thanks for everything you do buddy and I hope you had a great birthday.

Yesterday we had a fun p-day activity… we went paint balling and it was a blast, we only played for about 20 minutes and we all had 100 paint balls. The teams were Elder Latimer, Hall and I against Elder Rosales, Del Güercio and Pallas. Our team won and the last two standing were Elder Hall and I. I started the final round with 5 paint balls and finished with one left and I shot Elder Hall with my fourth paint ball. I had so much fun and make sure to tell Tommy that once I get home we are going to go play.

On Wednesday we started the zone conferences and the other one this week was on Friday. They went great and there was a lot of interaction and practices. We focused on Chapter 11 of Preach My Gospel about the commitments and our responsibility as missionaries to invite people to come unto Christ. The area presidency has invited us under the direction of Elder Scott to as 4 words to our purpose as missionaries, they are "FOLLOW THE LORD AND...invite all people to come unto Christ through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end." It is a great addition and it’s only to use in our district meeting, personal and companionship studies and zone conferences. It is only to remind us that first we need to become more like Christ through his atonement and in addition and naturally we receive desires to invite people to come unto Christ because we understand the Atonement and we recognize the change of heart that we have had. I have reflected these four words over the past few days and it has helped me to try and invite others to come unto Christ and it has become clearer to me, the importance of first understanding the Gospel and having a testimony and then sharing it with others. Just as President Monson said: "Concerning ones testimony, that which is willing shared is kept, while that which is selfishly kept is lost, teach and testify there is no better combination." I remember sharing that quote in my farewell talk and it has always stuck with me.

Elder Pallas was very grateful for the email that he received, thanks a lot for your love and support and he also sends his love and gratitude. It was weird having to say goodbye to a lot of the missionaries this week at zone conferences, knowing that I probably won’t ever see them again. Each and every one of them has had a special impact on my life, they have all been great examples to me and I love them all so much. Elder Del Güercio and Elder Rosales are great and continue to teach me so much, I will surely miss having companions to be with 24/7 but I will have my friends and family at all times which is a wonderful assurance. Also I would love if you could send my companions a letter. Mom and Dad you can write Elder Rosales (elderchile@myldsmail.net) in English because he is from the United States but his parents are from Costa Rica, and for Elder Del Güercio (edelguercio@myldsmail.net) Lauren will have to write him in Spanish, he is also from Uruguay. They are great companions and I feel very blessed to have them as my companions. If you could express to them how much they mean to me and the wonderful examples and faithful leaders they are I would surely be grateful.

Well that’s about it for the week, other than that I still don’t know if the Family Facondi is going to the temple on the 15th. But the reason they want to go before you get here and it wouldn’t be just to ask them to postpone their date is because my companion Elder Roman that was with me at the time they were baptized goes home with me and flies out on the 21st of September. He wouldn’t be able to go, but who knows maybe they will have to postpone and we would have the opportunity to see them sealed together, wow, I can’t even imagine. I would love that so much, please keep them in your prayers.

Here are a few things about your visit here to Chile:
1. Its not a problem if we stay with the Masons

2. I won´t be able to pick you up at the air port because that is one of presidents restrictions
3. There is a bishop in the mission that makes handmade suites and whenever general authorities come to Chile they always call him and order suites, so YES I am going to have him make me a suit
4. If you could also bring one of the scripture marking pencils that have various colors, Maria Isabel´s daughter would love one.

I have already asked for the copper art and the scripture covers. Is there anything that you would like me to look for?

This week will be another good week, we have the last two zone conferences and also we have pre-interviews. Could you please let me know at what time you will be arriving on Sunday the 21st and what day we will be leaving and at what time? I love you guys so much and I am so very grateful for the love and support you show for me, thanks for helping me have the desire to preach this marvelous Gospel and help others to come unto Christ. It's what I love to do and I will always do it. Until next week, have faith, study hard, work hard and do what the Lord expects and you will be blessed.

1-4-3-4,

Elder Mason Neill Casper

Elder Casper 8/25/2008

Dear Family-

Well it has been another wonderful week, we have been extremely blessed in the sector and the Lord has blessed us with many new people to teach. Aileen is doing great and she is now the president of the principles of the Gospel class. Her older brother Pablo received his mission papers this week and now the branch president just has to talk to his parents who aren´t members to inform them on the financial part of the mission. Yesterday he gave a talk on the subject of how we as member of the church must be, he shared the scripture in D & C 38:25-27, I really enjoyed listening to his testimony of how the Gospel has blessed his life and how faithful members have befriended him and loved him; he is an absolute crack up. He started his talk by saying, "when ever I walk into this chapel I feel warmth, and it’s not from the heating system…it’s because of the spirit of unity felt in this branch." It was a wonderful experience him speak and to see the progress he and his sisters have made over the past few months.

This week President Resek had his mission president seminar with Elder Scott and Elder Gonzalez. Today we had our weekly meeting with him and he told us all about what they did. It was really interesting because he said that they during the four day seminar they did a lot of practicing and that all of the situations that they used are the situations that we have been planning on using for zone conference this change. They are the basic commitments but as a mission we are starting to forget about the small and simple things and that is what is impeding us from progressing more. This week was the best week of the year as far as statistical progress, we are finding more people that we ever have and as a mission last week we almost accomplished the 10 contacts per day per missionary or in other words we did 9,560 contacts as a mission and to reach Elder Ballard´s goal we have to reach 10,250. We are teaching a ton and the Lord is blessing is so much I am jealous of Elder Del Güercio and Elder Rosales because they are going to be here for the rest of year to see the progress in the mission. I feel so blessed to be a part of the Lords work and to feel of his hand pressing things forward on a daily basis.

How is the family doing? How is your health Mamma? How is Laur doing with preparing for school? How are Ash and Lace? How are the boys? How are Grams, Nana and Papa and the rest of the clan doing? Please send my love to all and let them know how very excited I am to see them.

So Kaid is now married!!! Wow, that’s crazy. I am so happy for him and It makes me happy to know that he has found his eternal companion, he such an amazing person and will just continue to grow as he takes this next step in his life. Mamma it sounds like you had fun at the wedding reception and that you saw a few of my friends, how are they? I´ll be honest, I am really excited to see all of my friends again and to see the progress that they have made in their lives, I know they won´t be much different but I am excited to see the personal progress of each and every one of them. It continues to amaze me how blessed we are as 19 year old young men to be able to go out into the world and preach the restored and everlasting Gospel. The other day I was reading in D&C 34:5-6 and I really liked what it says, the Lord was speaking to Orson Pratt and He told him that he had been called to preach the Gospel, preaching repentance to a corrupt and perverse generation in order to prepare to way of the Lord for his second coming. One thing I love about Doctrine and Covenants is that it´s modern day revelation and also in many of the revelations I can replace my own name with the name of those in the script and I fell more a part of what truly happened and it applies more to me or anyone who reads it. And after the Lord told Orson that he was called to preach the Gospel he gave him a promise at the end of verse 10, and it reads: "Preach, and it will be given to you by the power of the Holy Ghost." I have felt that over the past two years, that as I have declared this message the Holy Ghost has been my constant guide and has helped me discern and to know where to go, what to do and what to say. What a treasure it is to preach the Gospel. Thank you so much family for your wonderful examples of faithfulness, obedience and for the priceless principles that you have taught me throughout my life. You all are a testimony in itself of the love that my Heavenly Father has for me.

It makes me happy to know that the boys are doing well and that they are having fun with their sports teams and all. Mamma as I was reading over the talk that you invited me to read I found a few things very interesting. One thing that impressed me while reading it was the Spirit I felt in knowing that you were directed to read that talk that specific day, it is exactly what you needed and our Heavenly Father new it, it made me happy to know that you followed that subtle impression that the Spirit offered you, thanks Mom for being so awesome. The talk is neat because it tells many stories and many metaphors. I really like the metaphor of the rope and the colt, as it says in the talk: "Inappropriate attempts to force obedience, like, yanking the rope, create difficulty in fostering companionable relationships with young children and teens." It´s important not to force children, at least as a child when I was forced to do things or punished in certain ways I did not like it and then I felt that the urge to be disobedient. Also I really liked in the talk about limits, and I just want to thank you two for the limits and rules that you set in our family while Ashton, Lauren and I were growing up together. We have been very blessed to have those limits in our lives because they have guided us and helped us realize when we have crossed those limits. Thanks for being the greatest parents ever and for loving us so much.

Just know that I love you more than you could possibly know, I am grateful for all of the wonderful teachings you have given me and for the way you have raised me and helped me to make correct decisions in my life. Send all my love, I cant wait to hear from you soon. In two week Andrew Adams will be down in Provo for school, he is working at the MTC and it would be cool if you guys invited him over for Sunday dinner.

I love you guys and I cant wait to hear from you next week. Until then, work hard, study hard and do what is right and the Lord will bless you. Know that you are in my prayers. I love you, I love you, I love you.

1-4-3-4,

Elder Mason Casper

Elder Casper 8/17/2008

Dear precious family-

Hey people, how are you doing? Just to let you know Dad I called Umberto Montero today and talked to him about everything. The missionaries from Rengo are going to his house tomorrow at 7:30 P.M. to help him out with the instructions of his machine. He sounds like a nice person and he was very grateful for the help.

Is Mom okay? I understand why you hadn´t told me before, but please inform me on such things. Thanks for letting me know and I will surely have you in my prayers Mamma. How is everybody´s health?

To start things off, it has been a great week, all of the new missionaries arrived and it was a big group of 14. They all are great and it will be fun to translate for president again for the Zone Conferences. As I always say and as it continues to surprise me that each new transfer the missionaries arrive better prepared especially in the language aspect. The Lord truly does bless us with the gift of tongues and I am so very grateful for the gift that my Father in Heaven has given me and allowed me to develop as I have served him here in Chile. There is a scripture that has always helped me understand how blessed I truly am to have these wonderful gifts and it´s found in (Alma 9:21) which reads the following: " Having been visited by the Spirit of God; having conversed with angels, and having been spoken unto by the voice of the Lord; and having the Spirit of prophecy, and the Spirit of revelation, and also many gifts, the gift of speaking with tongues, and the gift of preaching, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the gift of translation;" I remember once while reading this scripture I was overwhelmed by the Holy Ghost and I felt the confirmation from the Lord that He truly has given me such wonderful spiritual gifts and in only two years He has permitted me to develop these gifts.

It has been a good week with my new companions, they are awesome and we are having a great time. We have been really busy because of all the sick missionaries and having to take them to their doctor´s appointments. Elder Del Guercio and Elder Rosales are two great missionaries, they work hard and they are great companions. This week we have found six new investigators and today in church we had 2 investigators, Luz Maria and Matías. They are great and Matias is 10 years old and loves church, and he has gone two straight weeks and absolutely loves it. Aileen was confirmed today, Pablo her brother confirmed her and I had the privilege to stand in the circle. Aren´t the words "Receive the Holy Ghost so powerful"? I always love being present when someone is confirmed because when those words are pronounced the Spirit is truly felt. I am so grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost that God has given me, He is my constant companion and I feel so blessed to be able to recognize his presence and guidance.

Yesterday we had a welcome party for all of the new office elders at the mission home and it was a blast. As usual an Argentine BBQ and a killer ping pong tournament. It wasn´t my day for ping pong and everybody was walking all over me. Last night at 6:30 we headed up to Santiago to my old sector and the sector where Elder Del Guercio recently came from for the baptisms of two families. Five people were baptize and there was a great spirit in the midst. I also got to see the Facondi family that Elder Roman and I baptized. I think I told you a few weeks ago that Cristian the father is now the Elders quorum president and their son is the Deacons quorum president. Well, I got to see them and they told me that this week they will find out if all of the adoption papers went through and if it is final. Last week they went to the Temple to do baptisms for the dead and Joanna told me that they are planning on the 15th of September as their sealing date. I can't even express in words how excited I was to hear that and even more thrilled to know that it´s probable that will still be here in chile. Please keep them in your prayers so that all will go well so that they may be sealed as an eternal family. The Facondi family…it will be highly appreciated.

Well just two quick things about when you come down here to Chile. I need to know something ASAP about what your thoughts are on staying with the Mason´s in their apartment? Sister Mason offered on Tuesday that we could stay in their apartment while you are here in Chile. Elder Thorson and his father did when he came to pick him up and also the Oakes family did while they were here. They would love to have us and it would be a great experience. Just let me know what you thoughts are. Also about my school schedule, I just want to know if there is any way that you could sign me up for a political science class? It´s a general class but I think it would be really neat to have that class and to learn more about everything that is taking place as of now in the United States.

The mission is doing great. This week we are planning to have 25 baptisms and from what it looks like we will be having at least 20 of those, which is another great week for the mission. This month will be the highest baptizing month of the year currently for our mission. We are progressing and I am blessed to be a part of the Lord marvelous work. President and Sister Resek go out of town to a mission presidents seminar on Tuesday and they will return on Saturday. Starting the 27th of August we begin the zone conferences and we will be talking a lot about the Doctrine of baptism which will be very interesting.

Over that past week we have found a lot of time in the sector and the Lord has blessed us for doing so. I love working in the sector and doing my part in sharing this marvelous message with these wonderful people here in Chile. It should be another great week for us in the mission and in the sector. Our branch is doing great and we have branch conference in two weeks. We are going to do a fireside with President Resek. The branch president is going to speak on the Apostasy and President Resek is going to speak on the Restoration. It will be great and we hope to have a good turnout.

Well Thanks for everything. I am so grateful for your examples and I cannot express the amount of love I have for each and everyone of you. Thanks for everything and make sure to tell everybody that I love them. Have a great week and always remember that when we obey we are blessed and that is why obedience is the first law in heaven. I love you, I love you, I love you.

1-4-3-4,

Elder Mason Neill Casper

Elder Casper 8/10/2008

Dear Family-

Hey guys how are you doing? How are Nana and Papa, Grams, Ash and Lace, Lauren and Cole and Harrison? How was your trip at the PGA championship Dad? How is the show and work going? I hope that all is well.

It’s been another crazy week and it has gone by faster than any other week in the mission. Saturday arrived rapidly and Elder Oakes parents arrived safely. They are great and it’s not too difficult to see where Elder Oakes comes from, his Mom is very spiritual and very emotional, she reminds me of you Mamma. His Dad is the most relaxed, laid back person I have ever met and Elder Oakes has always told me how meek he is.

On Wednesday one of my new companions arrived, Elder Rosales from Costa Rica. He left on his mission from the United States, from Tennessee. It has been fun to spend time with him and I have learned many wonderful things in such a short span of time. He also speaks fluently in English and is a great missionary. Last night we let our other companion Elder Del Guercio know that he will be with us next change. He is actually the missionary that trained Elder Rosales and he was 100% shocked that they are going to be companions again. It will be a really fun change. The new secretary arrived also on Wednesday and the new commissary arrived on Monday, it’s going to be a really fun group of guys to be around.

We had a great week last week with 14 baptisms in the mission and it looks like we are going to have a really good month as a mission here in August. Over that last 7 days we have had 4 missionaries and one sister missionary get really sick and they have had to be in the hospital and mission home so that has affected many of the sectors. It’s shocking to me to see how Satan works, when things are going well he always does his part to make them bad. President mentioned the other day that August could be the best month of the year up until now and that Satan is going to do everything in his power so that those children of God don’t get baptized. It is very true and it’s something we have noticed that whenever we are working well in the mission and when we have a lot of scheduled baptisms there is always opposition that tries to hold us back and for the most part it is through the health of the missionaries, very interesting.

We had a big surprise this week. On Friday, Pablo, Aileen´s brother had another interview with the branch president. Pablo wanted to set a goal for when he would be ready to baptize his little sister. It was a great interview and at the end of the interview President Ahumada called Elder Oakes into his office becasuse we were doing splits. The branch president said: "Elder Oakes, Pablo has something to tell you" then Pablo responded, "Elder, I am going to be able to baptize my sister on Sunday." On Saturday we had the baptismal interview at 10 a.m. and it went great. Then last night we had a family night with their family and the Oakes family, it was awesome and we shared about how the gospel blesses families. The Spirit was really strong and the dad even sat in on the lesson. The father of the family is named Milton, he is very closed to all religions because he is catholic. He always tells us we are welcome in his home but last night was the first time we were able to share our message with him. It was great because we asked him what his family meant to him and he responded, "My family is everything, everything I do is to make my family happy." We then talked a little bit about the plan of salvation and how our families can be eternal. He was impressed and the most important thing was that he had a very spiritual experience.

Today the baptism was great, Aileen invited a lot of friends and family, we were able to receive a few references from her. We have a couple of lessons this week that she is going to come with us to. Pablo baptized her and it was the ideal brother/sister baptism and at the end of the meeting Pablo stood up and bore his testimony and expressed his love to all of his family and how he hopes one day that they will be an eternal family. He and his two little sisters are the only members in his family and their biggest desire is that their mother, father and older sister can also become members of the church and one day be sealed as an eternal family. Pablo will also be receiving his mission papers next week, he made the decesion to serve a mission and he feels that now is the time that the Lord needs him. Over the past 6 weeks with that family I have developed a very special love and it has helped me to grow closer to the Lord. They have progressed as a family so much, even though the mother and father weren't baptized they have still come a long way and have made many great changes in their lives. What a blessing it is to be a missionary and representative of Jesus Christ.

It's change week and things have gone well so far. We have been really busy this past week, the busiest I have ever seen things in the office because of all the sick missionaries. One of the sick missionaries name is Hermana Sharps who Cami Slade trained, and she had surgery yesterday. She is doing well and will be going home on Tuesday from the hospital. Things are great other than that. I am so grateful to be here and to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have no doubt that this is Christ´s church and that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.

Thanks for you emails, I also received one from Lauren Young. I was great to hear from you all, thanks for you support, love and examples to me. Please send Toad my love and congratulate him for his faithful service. I love him so much and I truly treasure the friendship that we have. I love you all so dearly and I am so grateful to have such an amazing family, a family of love and righteousness. Thanks for everything, I love you with all of my heart and I can’t wait to hear from you all next week. Until then, work hard, study hard and do what is right and God will bless you beyond belief. I love you, I love you, I love you.

1-4-3-4,

Elder Mason Neill Casper

Elder Casper 8/03/2008

Dear Family-

Hey guys how are ya´ll doing? How are summer and the blistering heat? It´s still cold here and I cannot wait for it to warm up just a little bit. The only problem with the cold climate here is that it never snows, its always rain so its just not the same as Utah. But all is well here in Chile and the mission is doing well.

Last month wasn´t a good baptizing month for the mission, we only had 34 which is the least amount of the year. But the good this is that last year a good month for us was 34-40 and a bad month was 20 but now a bad month is 34-40 and a good month up around 55-60. We have come a long way and I feel so very blessed to be a part of this mission and to learn from all things here in Chile, both the good and the bad. I have learned so much over the past two years and I am so grateful for the privilege that I have had to be here and serve with these wonderful people. I feel focused on my mission and I still don’t see the end of the tunnel. It's all just normal even with Elder Oakes going home. He continues to work hard and has been a true example of dedication and love for the Lords work. Just so you know he has served in the office for a year as Secretary, Historian and Assistant, he is amazing.

Our sector is growing and this week it was hard to get to the sector due to a few meetings and special divisions that we have had. The Reyes Saavedra family isn´t doing too well and unfortunately I think we are going to have to leave them because they aren´t willing to make the changes necessary. Aileen is great and continues to grow and progress in the Gospel, she goes to seminary and mutual and she has become great friends with a few of the teenage girls in the branch. Her brother Pablo had a interview with President Ahumada on Wednesday because he has been wanting to have one and also because she wants him to baptize her. He needs to clear up a few things so we had to postpone her baptismal date and it will not be next Saturday. We still do not know what day it will be because Pablo is trying to do his part to be worthy and he is also getting his papers for the mission. I honestly love their family so much and I feel like they are part of our family. I will inform you when she will be baptized.

It sounds like Sissy & Grams are doing well, and that they are going to be working in the same office. Tell grams congratulations for her job, and that I love her dearly. Also, fill me in on the tryout with Sissy for American Idol, or if she even got the chance to tryout. I am sure she is getting really excited to move in to her new apartment and to start school, that’s awesome that she received that new internship from that graphic arts company and that will be a huge blessing while she is studying that in school. I was shocked by all the wedding announcements that you received this past week, it’s amazing how fast time goes and to think that a few more of my friends will be married in August. Elder Martínez my companion from Argentina got married on the 24th of July and he sent me his invitation, he is happy and his wife waited two years for him to return home. It is a little weird to think, that is the next step in life, studies and marriage.

On Monday, we had our weekly meeting with President Resek and it went really well, we are almost finished with all of the changes. It has been a trial trying to figure out who will be my next companion and president said on Monday that usually it is very clear in his mind who will be the next assistant, but this time no. We talked a lot about the missionaries and my future companions will both be Latin, which will be awesome for me. One of them is from Puerto Rico and the other from Uruguay. The funny thing is that Elder Del Guercio from Uruguay trained Elder Rosales from Puerto Rico and they are going to be companions again, that will be fun and I am stoked. Elder Rosales lived in Tennessee for 12 years and speaks English fluently. They are both amazing missionaries and it will be great to be with them for my last change. Elder Rosales will be coming to the office on Wednesday night and Elder Del Guercio will be coming on Monday in the normal change. We are also going to have a new Secretary and a new commissary so there will be four new office elders along with Elder Latimer and I. It will be a great change and we will be very busy this last change.

Mom it sounds like you had a blast over the past week with the boys and all of the activities that you did. Timpanogas cave...I totally understand where Cole is coming from, it is a long hike. Tell Cole and Harrison that I love them and congratulate them for that achievement. Its crazy that school is only 3 weeks away, I swear that summer goes by faster and faster each year, especially when you aren’t there. Dad it sounds like San Diego was a good trip, that Taylormade has come out with a few new clubs, and attire, that is neat and it will be fun to see it all. How is the show doing? Please let me know, and always remember that God will bless you due to our obedience as a family to his commandments and I know that is true.

President and the Resek family are doing great, we had Zone Leader counsel on Friday and it was good to get together and see how we are doing as a mission. Last month wasn´t that great of a month, and for that reason we have council meetings, to learn, teach and reach a conclusion of what we need to do in order to better the Lords work. It was a good meeting.

Sister Resek wrote me a really nice letter on Friday and it helped me a lot. I feel so blessed to be able to work with them and to learn so much about how I want to be in the future. I will miss them so much but I will always remember the valuable teachings I have received from them.

This week is going to be another crazy one with all of the ending missionaries going home and also with 3 of the 4 new office elders coming to the office. Please keep us in your prayers and pray for us to be able to find new people to teach. We will do our part by searching to find them. Also don’t only pray for the missionaries, but also do as Elder Bednar taught in Aprils conference by being "full time finders." While we as missionaries are full time teachers, share your testimonies with those you come into contact with, especially you dad, you deal with non members all of the time, share your testimony and invite them to listen to the missionaries. I will be doing the same thing within 8 weeks and I know how it is to be a missionary and to not have the cooperation of the members, help them out and I promise that you will be blessed. I love you guys with all of my heart and I can't wait to hear from you next week. Have a great week, work hard, study hard and do what is right and you will be blessed.

1-4-3-4,

Elder Mason Casper

Elder Casper 7/26/2008

Dear Family-

How are things going? First off I would just like to thank you all for your letters. I can’t believe that i am 21. Thanks for your emails and the wonderful joy that you all bring to my life. It has been a great day thus far, we cleaned the house this morning, it was a disaster, and we left the house spotless. After that we went to lunch at a place called "Misión Santa Fe" which is a Mexican food restaurant. It was good and I got chicken and beef fajitas, I’ll tell you what its nothing like ole La Casita. I cannot wait to get my hands on a number 12 from La Casita. Then we did our grocery shopping and went bowling once again, we are the bowling alleys number one customer.

Thanks Mamma, Dad, Ash and Lace, Lauren and Grams for your emails, your words of kindness mean so much to me, thanks for loving me and being such righteous examples. Mamma I received your birthday card yesterday and I couldn’t help but shed a few tears, thanks for always being the best mom every and touching my heart in times of need. It’s been a great day and the Masons gave me a wonderful card with such kind words and a British chocolate bar. They also bought my lunch and that was sure sweet of them. It was good to hear that all is well back at home, and Mamma I bet you just love the time you are having with the boys before they go back to school. It sounds like they are doing well; please send them my love and tell them that I am so excited to see them. Also send my love to the rest of the family, I won’t have time to write everybody but let them know how dearly they are to me.

It has been a great week in our sector. We have finally helped the family Reyes Saavedra to accept a baptismal date and also we set a date with Aislin who is the little sister of that teenager that recently moved from the southern part of Chile. The Lord has blessed us so much, we have been working our hardest to try and help the Reyes Saavedra family to progress and now they will be getting baptized along with Aislin on the 9th of August. Aislin wants her older brother to baptize her so that will be an awesome experience to see. He has never baptized anyone and when we told he that she wants him to baptize her he was a little bit nervous. I remember when Harrison was getting ready for his baptism and I was going to baptize him. I was also nervous because I had never done it before but also because it is such a sacred ordinance. What a wonderful experience and privilege it was to baptize my little brother who has been a wonderful example of pure love in my life. Please give Harry a big hug and kiss from me.

Things are going well with President Jimenez, we started his dentures on Tuesday and we took him to the dentist and they pulled out his 6 remaining teeth. The dentist said that they were infected and that there was no use in having them in his mouth. On Thursday morning I went with President Jimenez to take the measures on his impressions and on Monday they will size his dentures and on Tuesday he will have the actual dentures in to be able to eat real food once again. They are only going to be the removable dentures that pop in and out but we are trying to receive enough donations to be able to get him the best there are, which are called "All in 4." Mom, I'm sure that you know what they are.

On Tuesday we went on divisions and I had the opportunity to go back to one of my old sectors. I got to see a lot the members and it was fun to see them again. Remember my sector called Poeta Neruda? That’s where we baptized the family Facondi with Elder Roman. I wasn’t able to see them and I didn’t want to because we will visit them when you guys come down to get me, but I heard good news from them. Christian the father is now the Elders Quorum President and they are preparing for the temple, but they are waiting for one thing. Their son Matías is from another father who left them when they were really little. His is now 11 and his dad left them about 9 years ago but Christian is in the process of adopting him and once that is finalized they will be going to the temple. I don’t know if it will be in time for me to join them in their sealing but either way I am overwhelmed with joy to know that they will be an eternal family. They are such amazing people and they are such great examples to me of faith, righteousness, diligence, obedience, etc.

I honestly cannot express how grateful I am for the mission, I have literally been able to see people change their lives completely by giving up addictions, habits, family traditions; and truly come unto Christ to be baptized in his name and to receive the promised blessings from our heavenly father. Not only have I seen them change but they have helped me to change and to want to become a better person, to strive day by day to be a better son of God. Words cannot expressed my love and appreciation for my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ.

On Thursday we went on divisions with a companionship and I blessed enough to go out with a newer missionary that has been out about 8 months. Normally we only do divisions with the Zone Leaders but we decided to do something a little different. I went with Elder Terry and we had a blast. He taught me many things, he is so innocent and sincere. Whenever he would talk I felt the spirit testifying of what he was teaching. On Friday morning we were driving up to San Bernardo to hook up with our companions and I asked him what his favorite part about the mission was? He responded: "I love being away from all of the worldly things and not having to worry about anything other than our investigators and the Lords work. I also love to be able to wake up each morning, sit down, read the scriptures and just feel of the spirit, then go out and teach what I have learned." I loved what he said about not having to worry about anything else and that is something that I will defiantly miss after the mission. And his response about the scriptures overwhelmed me and helped me to recognize how blessed we really are to be able to study the scriptures daily and feel of the spirits guidance. He then went on to say: "The language is so hard for me, I wake up every morning at 6 o´clock, I study and I try my hardest. I am so grateful for what I know because when I look back to when I started I have learned so much. I am really struggling with Spanish but the most important part is that the people I talk to feel the spirit testify of what I am saying." Once again I was blown away by his response, and he once again helped me to recognize how blessed I have to been to learn the Spanish language and to be able to get the message of the restored Gospel across to these wonderful people and to have the spirit testify of the words that come out of my mouth.

President and the family Resek are doing well, they are so awesome and such fun people. I can’t wait for you to meet them. Elder Latimer received my flight plans from Sis. Braithwaite and as you said things are all squared away. Dad have a great trip in California; fill me in on how it goes. Elder Oakes is doing great, working like a race horse and continues to be a great example in my life. I can tell that he is excited for his parents to arrive but he doesn’t really express it much. Please send my love to all. Thanks for all you do, for your examples, love and support. Until next week, study the scriptures, pray hard and do what is right and the Lord will continue to bless you...I can promise you that. I love you, I love you, l love you.

1-4-3-4,

Elder Mason Neill Casper

Elder Casper 7/22/2008

Dear Family-

Well it has been a crazy two weeks, we finished up zone conferences and they all went really well. President focused on Christlike attributes, Elder Oakes, and I on Chapter 10, Teaching Skills. It has been awesome the past few weeks because we have been getting to the sector early each day and teaching a lot. The best part of it is that we have been able to put into practice everything we are sharing with the mission. Yesterday was Elder Oakes birthday, we had an original Argentine BBQ, and it was delicious. On Friday night, President Henriquez called me and inviting me to go play in a golf tournament on Saturday, it was a scramble and he wanted me to play as his partner, it was funny but I had to turn it down.

I want to say that I am sorry for not writing you last week, the time just flew by and before we knew it, it was Saturday. This week was great and yesterday we had 3 investigators in church and they are all progressing. The Reyes Saavedra family is doing well especially the two daughters that are 18 and 12, they are attending all of the mutual activities and they are really enjoying everything about the church. We are working with a part member family named the Mora family. The son that is 19 is a member of the church and his name is Pablo, he just moved back up here to Rancagua from Concepción and he is great, really funny and a true light to all that know him. He and his younger sister Nicole are the only members in his family, his mom, sister and dad aren´t members so the other day at church he asked us to go visit them. He said, "My sister is inactive so let’s start with her and then we´ll get the rest of my family." Well we started with his sister and now she has gone two weeks in a row along with his other sister Aileen. The other night we taught Aileen, Nicole and their mom Sara lesson one, it went really well and Aileen is really getting close to accepting to be baptized. She was not baptized with her brother and sister when they were baptized about five years ago and she said the following: "I think that when Pablo and Nicole were baptized I didn’t understand what the missionaries taught so it wasn’t important to me…but now I understand and I think that’s why I feel the need to listen." The cool thing was that Pablo her brother was not even there for that lesson so it shows that she is taking little steps on her own.

We are excited and we are being blessed in the sector once again. It is amazing to me that when we make time for the sector the Lord always blesses us beyond measure. This week we plan to work hard on finding new investigators and teaching many new people. We have been doing two divisions a week now because our schedule is a little easier and it has gone well. The mission is starting to drop a little in the sense of our focus on inviting people to come unto Christ and it will be the first time in 4 months that we have not reached over 40 baptisms. In the past 3 weeks we have only had a total of 18 baptisms so we are doing all we can to help the missionaries to refocus and continue finding, teaching and baptizing. This week we will have a pair of divisions so that should be fun.

Thanks for your emails this week, it was great to hear that you are doing well and know that you continue to receive the blessings that God has prepared for you. I received a email from Kirk this week and it was great to hear that he is doing well; who is this chick he is dating? Fill me in because he did not mention much. It sounds like the boys are doing great and that they had a great year with baseball, tell them both great job in the UBBA tourney. Tell them that I love them and to keep up the good work, to enjoy summer and to be good boys. It made me happy to know that the shows are going well, It’s amazing to me how far you guys have come in that dad, and I know it will continue to grow and develop.

It will be good for Lauren to move out and live with Sharlee and maybe Emily, which should be fun for her. How is her work going? When does she start school? Tell her to write me if she get the chance. I know I don’t have much room to talk because I haven’t written her but she knows how it is. It sounds like Grams and Nana and Papa and doing well, send them my love and tell Grams thanks for all of the cards that she sent me, I still haven’t read them because I just received them today but please tell her thanks for that. Also send my love to Nana and Papa and let them know that I am very grateful for all that they do. Thanks so much for getting everything ready for school, just get my classes and stuff ready and inform me as soon as possible on what my schedule will be.

We started the dental work with President Jimenez this week and he will have just normal dentures next Tuesday. Elder Oakes and I took him up to the dentist today in Santiago and the dentist pulled all of his teeth and left him with nothing until next Tuesday when he gets his dentures. We were talking with the dentist and seeing a few other options of further work that can be done. He needs better work done so we are looking into some "ball abutment" dentures which have an actual support and something to stabilize in his mouth. As for now they are just going to be dentures that he just will put in his mouth to eat and stuff but there will be nothing to hold them in at all. The prices will be a little more for the " ball abutment" so if you could continue looking for ways of support we would be deeply grateful.

Well to finish I would like to share a story that I read this week from June´s Ensign that really impressed me and helped me to understand more about following the spiritual impressions that we receive. This is a story that President Monson had while serving as a young bishop: "When he was a young bishop, one night he received a phone call advising him that they had taken senior brother from his ward to a veterans hospital, in Salt Lake City, and he was asked if he could go to the hospital to give him a blessing. Bishop Monson explained that he was on his way to a stake meeting, but that he would pass by the hospital as soon as it was finished. During the meeting he felt antsy, in tranquil and received a strong impression, one that told him to leave the meeting and go directly to the hospital. But it seemed disrespectful to walk out while the stake president was talking, so he decided to wait until he finished and just before the closing prayer he got up and walked out the door. When he got to the hospital, he ran down the hallway. He recognized that there was a lot of movement near the room of the elderly brother and a nurse came out and stopped him. "Are you Bishop Monson?" she asked, warn out and he responded , yes. "I´m sorry" said the nurse. "The patient was calling you just before he passed away". When he left from the hospital that night, the young bishop made a promise that he would never again wait to do what the Lord asks when he received a spiritual impression from the Lord".

When I read this story during the week, tears came to my eyes, I can’t imagine how the Prophet must have felt but I know that is must have been a feeling of disappointment. It helped me understand a little more the importance of following the "still small voice" even if it seems to be something of very little importance. What will we lose if you follow every little impression? Nothing, but yes we will gain our heavenly fathers confidence and he will know that we are willing to follow even the slightest whisper and we will become powerful instruments in God’s hands. I have felt those whisperings of the spirit my whole life, I know how it feels to not follow them and I also know how it feels when we follow those impressions and do what the Lord wills. May we all give a greater effort day after day to follow the enticing of the spirit and do as the Lord wills. I pray that we may continue to recognize the spirit in our lives and the importance of the divine gift that we as members of the church have been given through the confirmation and the receiving of the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Thanks for all you do, I love you so very much and I am so grateful for your examples in my life. Continue in obedience daily, by studying the scriptures, praying and following the enticing of the Spirit. I love you and until next week, work hard, study hard and to what is right and the Lord will bless you.

1-4-3-4,

Elder Mason Casper

Elder Casper 7/06/2008

Dear family-

Well it has been another great week. Changes are over now and we had a great week in the sector. The Reyes Saavedra family now has a baptismal date for the 27th of July; it’s a birthday present for me. Hopefully we can do our part in helping them prepare for that wonderful day. It´s been nice because now Elder Oakes and I are just working in Villa Teniente and not in the two sectors with Elder Arévalos like last change. Elder Oakes is down to 5 weeks left and we are working really hard.

Something sad for the week, my convert Carolina is now pregnant with twins; the only problem is that she isn’t married. Obviously she didn’t understand the law of Chastity too well. We warned her numerous times that her boyfriend wasn’t a good influence; she didn’t listen and look at the results. Now all we have to do is get her married with him so that the children are born in the bonds of marriage. The children deserve at least that, it will be tough because she doesn’t want to get married but we will see what happens.

It sounds like Island Park was a blast for the family, kayaks, fishing, golf…does it get any better? That’s sweet and it made me happy to know that you are happy and having a great 4th of July weekend. By the way, happy 4th of July. It is good to know that Ashton is preparing for the State Am, he will do really well, make sure to keep me updated on how he plays. Yesterday we went bowling and at the bowling alley the last week’s golf tournament was on, I only saw two groups playing, one was with Tim Herron and the other was Tom Pernice Jr and Jeff Overton. I didn’t watch much but it was the first time in 2 years that I have seen an actual event.

Elder Thorsons dad came to get him and was here over the past week, they took us out to lunch yesterday at an all you can eat buffet, it was fun and really nice to meet his dad. It’s so fun meeting parents of all the missionaries because they all are exactly how the missionaries explain them to be. His dad was hilarious and made me laugh every time I saw him.

How was church up in Yellowstone? Which meeting did you go to? How many from the family went to church? I´m sure that was a neat experience to go to church up there especially after feeling the spirit so strong from seeing all of Gods beautiful creations. Just as Alma taught in chapter 30:44-all things testify that there is a God.

So Lauren got a new car, a Subaru Impreza? Laur, ¿Por qué no abres tu propia IMPREZA? (Impresa). That’s awesome Lauren, and congrats for buying it alone, that’s honestly a great accomplishment.

I´m sure it was fun for ya´ll to have all of the young men and young women over the other night for a movie night, I am sure it reminded you of the old days when all of our friends would go to the house. Mom I know you are such a wonderful leader for them and that they look up to you so much for all you do for them. Thanks for magnifying your calling and serving the Lord. Thanks Grams for sending me your emails, the forwarded ones with the pictures and quotes were so funny, I couldn’t stop laughing and It made me really excited to reminisce with you. Thanks for your example, love and support. Also Nana and Papa, thanks for everything, I love hearing that you are doing well, I can´t explain how happy that makes me. Just know that I love and miss you and I am so anxious to see you.

It sounds like the show is doing well, Dad your efforts continue to impress me. Keep up the hard work and just as the Savior taught in John 5:17- up until now my father works, and I work. I will continue to follow your great example, your efforts will continue to pay off due to your obedience and diligence to the Lords commandments. Also Mamma thanks so much for your example of strength and valiance. I love you guys so darn much.

Well about the twins, their father did come on Wednesday and they met up for a few hours. He arrived here to Chile at about 8:30 in the morning; they got together at 10:00 a.m. They talked until 12:00 ate lunch and at 1:00 p.m he headed to the airport to catch his flight. He didn’t come to mess around, they had a good conversation and He made the decision that he needed to go home. On Friday night he took his flight home. Sad but definitely a scary and traumatizing experience.

Thanks for informing me that Asher has a girlfriend, Emily, that’s awesome and please remind him that he promised me he would be married by the time I get home. Send him my love. Mom you also mentioned that you are getting into hiking a little more, that’s awesome and we will have to go on a few hikes when I get home. The last couple of days Elder Oakes and I have had to run for a few emergencies that occurred where we had to run to the car which was a ways away. It killed me and I am definitely out of shape. This week I received letters from Jan Heriford and it was so good to hear from her, Please contact here ASAP and let her know how grateful I am. I love and miss them so much. I also received an email from Sister Cami Slade, it is always good to hear from her and how she is doing. She always writes such inspiring emails, the next time you see her tell her thanks and that I will write her soon.

Well I finished Alma this week and it was great to learn from that book once again. I learned so much this time but the main thing I learned was how to strengthen a stewardship. I love the story of Alma and the sons of Mosiah and how in every city where they entered they left each place stronger than the way they found it. What a blessing it has been to learn such a marvelous principle. I was also reading this week from the Ensign, I love all of the talks from our living prophets and leaders in the church. As Elder Cooks topic sadi, we must "Give heed unto the Prophet’s words." One of the discourses that I really enjoyed and that really stuck out to me was by Dean R. Burgess. It´s called "do you know who you are?" As I have thought about who I am, many times it has come to my mind that I am a son of God. We have a loving Heavenly Father that cares for us, he desires that we be as he is and he has given us the tools necessary to do so. One of the tools necessary is the FAMILY. Just as he mentioned that he was the son of Reid Burgess, I am the son of Bob and Kelly Casper, I am the brother of Ashton, Lauren, Cole and Harrison and as each day goes by you all give me the desired to honor my family and priesthood which I hold. I feel blessed to be a part of such a family.

I am overwhelmed daily by the amount of love that my Father in Heaven has for me. He truly loves each and every one of us and the most important part of knowing who we are is that we must share that knowledge with other people so that they might understand the same about themselves. Brother Burgess mentioned something very important in this talk, he said: "Knowing, believing, and understanding the mission of the Savior helps us know who we are." What an amazing love that our Father in Heaven has for us that He gave His only begotten Son so that if we believe in Him we may have everlasting life. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior; He loves us and is always there to help us. He knows who we are and what we can become. May we all allow others to know who we are by the way we live our lives.

I love you all so very much and I am so grateful for your examples, not only to me but to all those that come into contact with you. Work hard, study hard and continue to be great examples by living the Gospel. I love you and until next week...

1-4-3-4,

Elder Mason Casper

Elder Casper 6/29/2008

Dear Family-

I can’t believe that another week has gone by so fast, I swear we say that every week but it's the reality. It has been a great week and there was a crazy and scary experience that happened. How are you all doing? It sounds like you are well and that you will have a blast up in Island Park with everyone. The Mason´s have a time share up there and I told them that you were going up there on Thursday and they were way trunky.

Well first off, we got all of the changes done and we advised the zone leaders last night and today all of the missionaries know their changes and will be saying goodbye in all of their sectors. I officially am going to finish here in the office with president. I can't even express how excited I am to finish here and to be able to learn and grow so much from president and all of the missionaries. It will be a great experience and I feel that it is what I need.

On Monday morning I received a phone call from the assistants from the Santiago East Mission asking me about one of our missionaries named Elder Urrutia who got here 3 months ago and is from California. Elder Urrutias twin brother is in the East mission and they arrived here in Chile the same day. His brother has had a few problems and has been wanting to see him but on Monday morning his companion woke up and he was gone. So they called us to ask what our Elder Urrutia was doing. Well, he was fine and in the house studying. His brother didn’t show up for the rest of that day and on Tuesday he still didn’t appear. On Monday night at about 3:00a we went up to Santiago to help them look in all hotels, hospitals, and bus and train stations but he was no where to be found. All of the police and american embassy are on the look out as well but he wasn’t found. On Tuesday night the Area Presidency, Temple Presidency and all Stake Presidents of the mission did a special temple session and fast for him. On Wednesday morning I was with president on our way to pre-interviews and the Assistant from the East mission called and said that he showed up at the house at about 6:00a. He was fine and wasn’t beat up or anything.

It turns out that on Monday night at about 4:00a they were sleeping and he heard noise on the first floor of their house; they live in a little 2 story house. He went down stairs and there were a few robbers in their house. When they saw him they grabbed him, blind folded him, took him outside and threw him in their trunk. He was in that trunk from Monday morning at 4:00a until Wednesday morning at 6:00a when the kidnappers returned and dropped him off. When they dropped him off they taped his mouth shut and tied his hands behind his back and said: "If you look back we´ll shoot you." He never saw their faces but it was definatly a terrifying experience for he and his twin brother and best friend. On top of that his parents were on a cruise and they couldn’t get in touch with them so they had to talk with their sister that was watching over the house. Yesterday he and his brother got together and talked for awhile and now their father is coming down to Chile and his brother is going to make the decision with him weather or not he is going to stay in the mission.

The part that I found most miraculous is the special temple session and fast by all of the presidencies and the faith that they had to go to the actual house of the Lord and turn to him in fast and prayer. What a wonderful and testimony building experience it was for me to see how fast our fFather responds when we trust His holy hand. Just as King Benjamin teaches in the Book of Mormon, (Mosiah 2:22-24). It was a testimony builder and the blessing came immediately following the test of faith and obedience. I truly love this gospel and how our Father in Heaven works.

Yesterday I was invited to play golf with a Stake President from Rancagua. It was my first time in 2 years and for the first 2 holes I was a little rusty. I started off with a 6, followed by an 8 and from there is got better. I made two birdies which made me happy and I was hitting the ball fairly well. It was such a blessing and President Henriquez told them that Papa was my grandpa and they let us play free, haha. He is a member of the course and when he tried paying for me they said: "no, he plays free." I couldn’t believe it and at the end President introduced me to the Pro and we are set for when you guys come down, Dad. We are going to go play up there and it will be really fun, they said at the end of September the course is in the best shape, i'm stoked. Elder Oakes and Elder Arévalos came with us and caddied, it was really fun and I was trying to help them all out with their swings. President Henriquez has only played a year but for a beginner he hits it fairly well. He is really excited to play with you when you come down Dad. The funniest part of all this is that President Resek set it all up, he sent President Henriquez an email and told him to take me out and that I would teach him, way funny and Pte said that when he goes back to Argentina he is going to start golfing.

With the families that we are teaching...they are doing well, but they didn’t make it to church today but they have made a lot of changes and are progressing in many different ways. The mission is doing great and we finished off the month with 53 baptisms, one less than last month but 3 straight months with more than 50 baptisms which is a very good thing and a huge progress for our mission. Sister Resek was very grateful for your birthday letter and told me to tell you thanks. She got a MUD OVEN for her birthday and on Friday she had a BBQ and cooked way to much so we went by the mission home in the night and she gave us all of the meat and potatos that she had made and it was delicious.

I was reading a talk from last general conference by Elder Carlos Amado, he is the Area President of Chile and his talk is on service. I really like what he mentioned by saying: "Service makes us strong in our faith and useful in His Kingdom. Service gives us purpose and courage in life. It brings us closer to God and helps us to refine our divine nature". Isn´t it true, service is such a powerful source of personal progression and everytime I think about service I remember the unforgetable experiences with Gramms in Salt Lake City each year around Christmas when we would take socks, gloves and food to the homeless. Many times I didn’t want to go but while serving those precious children of God I felt the warm company of the Holy Spirit. When we serve others we truly find purpose and courage in our lives and we grow closer to our Father in Heaven and our Savior. I hope and pray that we may serve in all times, all things and in all places.

I love you all so very much and I continue to pray fervently for each and everyone of you, that you may be blessed not only temporally but also spiritually. Until next week, serve others and I promise you will feel the Holy Ghost in your lives. I love you, I love you, I love you.

1-4-3-4,

Elder Mason N. Casper

Elder Casper 6/22/2008

Dear family-

Hey guys how are things going? This week has gone by fast and I continually feel blessed to be here as a missionary in Chile. As a mission we continue to grow and to receive more and more blessings. This week we had 17 baptisms which is a really good amount for our mission. We have the possibility of baptizing more this month than last month which was the highest month of the year. Over the past four months we have been baptizing much more than usual. In February 45, March 47, April 50, May 54 and June we are looking at the possibility of 60. It is amazing how much we have progressed and it impresses me that when the mission acts upon what the mission president asks the Lord blesses us.

It was a true answer to my prayers to know that Dad and Papa played so well in the Champions Challenge. It was a true testimony builder for me and I know that God loves us and wants to bless us due to our obedience to his commandments. May we strive to obey him more each and every day of our lives. Tell Ashton congrats on his qualifying for the State Am, that made me really happy and the way he is playing continues to impress me. Thanks for filling me in on Tiger, president told me on Monday that he had won in a sudden death and then on Friday when the Mason´s got here they told me that he is done for the year. He has won 9 events and 2 majors with a torn ACL? Are you kidding me, at least he does not know how to play golf!

The Mason´s got here on Friday morning, they are from Wellsville, Utah that is up near Logan and they are so awesome. He is a diehard fly angler and her whole families are fanatics about golf. They brought up the topic on golf, president told them her papa was, and they were surprised. She said: "when I tell my brothers that they are going to go nuts." They are really fun to be around and they live in the apartment in front of ours. It’s neat because it’s kind of like having a parental influence again. They are really going to be of great help here in the office and within a year, they will be the only ones working in the office other than the assistants. Yesterday we ate lunch at the mission home and we made about 70 empanadas. They are so good and I can’t wait to make them with ya´ll.

This week we taught a couple of families in Villa Teniente and also in Tupahue, we are sharing with a that family named The family Reyes Saavedra and they have a ton of problems, we have been sharing with them for 3 weeks now and they have made a lot of changes. The daughter went to church last week and this week the two daughters and the son that is 27. The parents still haven’t gone but they committed to going next Sunday. We had a family home evening on Monday with their family in the mission leaders house. The mom Sira and the daughter Carolina went and it was great, they felt really comfortable and they told us all of the problems that they have in their family. Their son Fabian has a drinking problem and when he gets drunk he is very violent and aggressive. He has gone so far as to punch his mom when she has been with him alone. Satan is trying his hardest to destroy their family and they truly need our help. It was neat because we went last night to their house and before we started the lesson the father of the family said: "I just want to let ya´ll know that since you have started coming to teach us our family has progressed and we are doing a lot better, as far as the financial part goes we aren’t doing well but we are more united and we don’t fight as much, hopefully you can keep coming to share with us". It was awesome because they are actually noticing the difference that Gospel is making in their lives.

Its been a good week for me as far as my personal progression because I have noticed a few of my weaknesses that I can fortify. Its always humbling to recognize such weaknesses and I feel blessed and privileged to have the opportunity to change and become more like Jesus. Today was great at church, our mission leader Hermano Inchiostro was released and called as young men´s president and his wife as young women´s president and now we have a new mission leader name Hermano Rodriguez who was a member of the stake presidency over the past 3 years and was just released. Fabian, Carolina and Ninoska Reyes Saavedra went to church today and it was a really special spirit that was felt. I love the Chilean people.

President and his family are doing great, they are so awesome and I appreciate all that they do for me and for all of us as missionaries. Mom I think it would be cool if you could make some bracelets, necklaces and earrings for the women that we will visit, Sister Resek uses a lot of jewelry and she would love the stuff you make. Well it was good to hear from you all, Lauren thanks for writing me and being so supportive and loving. Send my love to all friends and family. Please keep us in your prayers and if you could pray daily for the family Reyes Saavedra and if possible when you go to the temple this week put their names on the prayer role. Their names are Cenon, Sira, Carolina, Fabian, and Ninoska. I would appreciate that and I know that your prayers will help them to progress as a family. I love you and I am so grateful for your examples of love and righteousness in my life, you are the greatest family on earth. Please know that you are in my prayers, I am 100% happy and I know that this is the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Until next week, work hard, study hard and choose the right and the Lord will bless you.

1-4-3-4,

Elder Mason N. Casper

Elder Casper 6/15/2008

Dear family-

Hey guys how are things going? How was your week and weekend? Dad how was the U.S. Open and did Tiger pull it off? How is the rest of the family doing? Dad are you and Papa prepared for Tuesday? I hope all continues to go well and that you guys can play well on Tuesday. Oh and one more thing…DAD HAPPY FATHERS DAY, you’re the bomb and I love you so very much. Thanks for all of your example to me and the amazing infulence you are in my life and in our families life.

Its been another great week. We have found a lot more time in the sector this week and we have been blessed. As usual the first three weeks of the change are always crazy and then in week four and five we have time in the sector to prepare it for the first three weeks of next change. We had some really neat experiences this week. One of them was on Tuesday morning when we went to teach a family named Shezzare and Natalia. They are a young couple with three kids. He is from Peru and she is from Chile. We had planned to teach them about how they can find more happiness in their family. When we were getting ready to go teach Elder Arévalos said: "Elder we could take our parents testimonies that they wrote us and share it with them." After all it was the perfect idea because you precisely had written about how the gospel has blessed our family. Immediately following that we went to the office and just changed the names from Pedro and Roxana to Shezzare and Natalia. After we had shared a few parts from the proclamation to the world we gave the a copy of your testimonies and asked them to read. Natalia started crying and was so emotional for the amount of preocupation that we had given them. They were taken back by your testimonies and they wanted me to thank you and tell you that it helped them a lot. She asked me for your email addresses so she can write you a thank you letter. I also want to thank you for you powerful testimonies and compassion for our Lord and Savior. It was a huge blessing for me to receive your testimonies and we feel that it was very inspired to ask you to send them to us because we never ended up teaching Pedro and Roxana this week but your testimonies were needed for another family.

It was really funny because on Friday night when we got back to the office and when we printed off our emails, I opened my account and I had an email from President Resek which read: "Elder Casper, Cabrera missed the cut in the U.S. Open which is sad and Tiger is in the run for first, love Pte. Resek". Cabrera is from Argentina and that’s why he said that. Its way funny because he always updates me on Golf. He has been really sick this whole week and he had a trip planned to go to Santa Cruz with his family for the weekend but they had to cancel it because he has been sick, but he is feeling better now.

It was good to hear that you had gone up to Andrew´s homecoming, that made me happy and to see the picture of all you guys together. He wrote me yesterday and said that it was really nice meeting you. I miss him here but it will be fun to see him again in 3 months. It sounds like he is doing really well, he sent me his talk and it was really good and it was on a very important subject that one truly comes to understand much better in the mission. Send him my love and tell him that all from Villa Teniente send their love.

It sounds like the boys are busy and enjoying the summer break. Tell them to keep up the hard work with baseball and take them out golfing when you get the chance. Tell Laur that I love and miss her and that, "yu godda probem wif me I godda probem wif yu yu yu". Laurs I love you and cant wait to hear from you again. Tell Ash and Lace I love and miss them and that I would love you hear from them when they get a chance. Send my love to all family and friends.

On Friday night we had a really neat experience when we found a new young couple named Juna and Vanesa. They have a young buy named Benjamin and they are going through some pretty rough financial problems. They have come to the point where they don’t even believe in God anymore. When we entered the house she told us right off the bat what their problems were and that gave us a sense of direction to what we ought to teach. We taught lesson 2 about the plan of salvationa and it was precisely what they needed. Without knowing they had a baby girl that died just before birth. She had a still-born and they had no idea what had happened with their daughter. At the end of the lesson they told us that the believe in God but they just feel that he has abandoned them. They have a lot of problems at this moment but they were very grateful and mentioned that they need help and to become closer to God. Juan is a truck driver and over that past month he as received 3 speeding tickets and a speeding ticket here in Chile is really expensive for most people. He owes like 6 hundred dollars to the government and they don’t have the money. She sales vegitables out of here garage and that doesn’t cover their necesities. We invited them to church and Juan said: "We will do everything that you invite us to do but for now we can´t go to church on Sunday, we have to work so that we can pay off our debt". At least they have desires and little by little we will help them to understand that the key to receiving blessings is Obedience.

Today we had one investigator in church and as of now we don’t have anybody that is progressing towards baptism. We are working with three complete families right now and it is such a blessing to work with families, because after all is said and done the gospel blesses families. I received emails from The Pickering family and Mike and Devron. Please send them my love and let them know that I will send letters off tomorrow. Its been another great week and I have learned so much from my companions. Elder Oakes and Arévalos are doing great, we are enjoying our time together and on Friday the new missionary couple gets here. Their names are the Mason family. Hmmm what a coincidence. It will be nice having them here and it will reduce a lot of the office work for us as missionaries and we will have a lot more time in the sector.

I love you all and thanks for everything, it is such a blessing to know that you all are doing well and that the Lord continues to bless our family daily. Send all my love and know that you all are in my thoughts and prayers. Until next week, work hard, study hard and do what is right and the Lord will bless you in marvelous ways. I love you, I love you, I love you.

1-4-3-4,

Elder Mason Neill Casper

Elder Casper 6/08/2008

Dear family-

Hey how are things going for you all this week? It made me happy that you were all going up to Andrews homecoming and i'm sure it was fun for you to meet him and visa versa. It sounds like all is well and that the family is doing well. Its always such a blessing to know that all is well back home.

Mommy how are you doing? How is it with Sissy home? Dad how is work? Are you getting your new show up and going? I´m sure all is well and I know that the Lord will always bless us due to our obedience.

Its been a very spiritual week. I have been blessed in so many ways and I grow to love the mission more and more each day. We finished up the zone conferences for the change and it went better than ever. Last week we shared about the new standards of excelence with all the missionaries and they all were really excited about them. But on Sunday we were with president and he told us that he felt that we needed to change one of the standards again. So in last weeks zone conferences we had the new standard for new investigadors as 5 new investigadors per week per companionship. On Tuesday in zone leader counsil president shared the new standard which is now 10 new investigadors per week per companionship. All of the zone leaders were really excited and on Wednesday and Friday all of the missionaries were really excited and feel that it´s what the mission needs to be able to keep progressing. As preach my gospel teaches us "Nothing happens in missionary work if we don’t have someone to teach". Its what we need as a mission and ever since president Resek got here we started working with standards of excelence in the mission as chapter 8 of P.M.G. teaches and it has been such an inspired thing.

On Thursday I was with president all day from 8:00 a.m until 10:30 p.m for pre interviews and stake president meetings. It was a great day and it is always such a blessing to watch president and the way he works and thinks. He is so wise and inspired. In each of the conferences I learned many things and I find it so neat how when we listen to people speak we can be inspired and touched by the spirit to know how we can change and do better. I love listening to the final testimonies of the missionaries that are going home each change because they always mention something that I need to hear in order to change and become a better missionary and person. I also studied this week on (how the gospel blesses families). I was so impressed by how simple it is to receive blessings as a family. All we have to do is live the principles of the gospel and by doing so the Lord promises blessing. The home is the best place to teach, learn and to put into practice those precious principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And most of all the gospel blesses families because it is Gods great plan of happiness. Because of the restored gospel we know without a doubt that we can live eternally as families and return to the presence of he that created us. Wow arent we blessed to have the gospel?

Well Mom I gave Elder Garcia his cd´s this week and he told me to tell you thanks and that he is grateful for your love and service. We haven't had much time in the sector this week and none of our investigadors went to church today. They are all doing well but its been really hard to visit them and I hope that this week we can do better at finding more time in the sector.

President and Hermana are doing great and they were very grateful for the shirts that you sent him. Elder oakes and Elder Arévalos are doing well, we are having a lot of fun as companions and I feel very blessed to be with them at this time in my life and mission. They are great missionaries and examples to me and it’s a privilege to work with them.

One more thing that I want to share with you from what I learned in (Alma 37) this past week. In th is chapter Alma was talking to his son Helaman who was a very faithful son and servant of god. Alma was teaching him about the sacred scriptures and how important they are in our lives. Towards the end of the chapter in the last 4 or five verses he explains to Helaman that the words of Christ are simbolic. He told him about the liahona which was as a compass for our forefathers. He explained that it was simple to follow the compass and by so doing it would take them to the promised land. And then he explains that it is the same with the scriptures for us, they are our compass back to the presence of our father in heaven. As the scriptures and hymn say: "The iron rod is the word of god, it will safely guide us through". Alma expressed the importance of the scriptures to his son and helped him to understand that they are the compass to our lives, that if we follow them as our forefathers followed the liahona we may reach a promised land, which is, our heavenly fathers presence. I know that these things are true and I am so grateful to have the words of Christ in my life to guide and direct me through THIS life as does a compass through the wilderness. Family, please hold tight to the iron rod, study the scriptures daily as the lord has commanded us (3 nephi 23:1) and they truly will guide us back to Gods presence.

Its been a great week and each week seems to get better. I love you all and I can't wait to hear how you all are doing next week. Dad, practice up for the Champions Challenge and show me what you´ve got. Tell everyone to write me, I miss not hearing from very many people. I love you more that youll ever know, thanks for everything and until next week, study hard, pray hard and do what is right and the Lord will bless you beyond measure.

1-4-3-4,

Elder Mason Casper