Hermana Casper 3/24/2008

HEY YA´LL!

I LOVE YOU SO DARN MUCH! It´s so fun for me to get your emails and to know that you are all doing very very well. GREAT, in fact! That makes me so darn happy! And before I forget this week…HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG RASH! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! HOW OLD ARE YOU AGAIN? I´M PRETTY SURE THAT IT´S 24 AND THAT´S CREEPY! But…I hope that you have a great birthday…we´ll have to celebrate when I get home! Holla!

Mommy and Daddy…I´m working on the whole temple thing. It´ll all work out…I trust that the Lord will help us. I'm in the process of talking with the family.

Mommy…I got those pictures of Meg and Steve today. He´s not at all what I had expected, but very cute! And they are very cute together! It´s one of the first times I´ve looked at Meg with a guy and thought, "he's for reals." Just let her know that I feel good about him! He looks like he adores her. I´ve got a strange feeling that things might be getting serious between them…he could be the one. We´ll see! Just let her know that she looks great and I love her.

As for your question about hearing from boys or anyone lately…nope! My life will pretty much be a mystery when I get home. But, I trust that the Lord has much for me to do. It was way fun to hear from Mumford…I love her and can´t wait to live with her! Send her my love and let her know that she better be there, in the SLC airport waiting for me! Since Meg and Kell are taken, she´ll be my comp! (AND YOU TOO MOMMY, AND GRAMS!)

The work went well this week and we are just pushing along! With fuerza! There´s way too much to do! We have so many people to find and the work must keep going strong. As for baptisms, we'll have a few this week. WE´RE STOKED! Have I told you guys that I love this work? It´s my life and will be forever and ever. My one and only desire is to keep serving and never stop. There´s way too much to learn and so many different ways that I want to progress. It overwhelms me at times, but it should. The Lord always wants us to keep growing and changing.

Take care of yourselves and be really safe and healthy! And tell Coley that I love him and can´t wait to give him a big hug and kiss. As for Harry…I´m gonna squeeze him to death! And each one of you! THAT´S FOR SURE!

Don´t forget to go to the temple, read, pray and do all that you can to assure yourselves that the Lord is pleased with what you´re doing and how you´re living your lives. THANK YOU for your examples. YOU´RE THE VERY BEST AND I THANK THE LORD DAILY FOR YOU. NEVER FORGET IT!

1434 and more than the millions of ounces of love that I have in my heart for you!

Lars

Elder Casper 3/22/2008

Beloved family-

Hey, how is everyone doing? Its sounds like you all are having fun down in St. George. Cole's team didn’t have too much success but its early in the year and they will start to play better as they continue to practice.

Well it has been a crazy week. On Tuesday we had zone leader counsel at the mission home and it was awesome, the leaders were participating so much and last week was the missions best week in over 4 years. We found 311 new investigators, that's over 300, three weeks in a row now and we have 150 baptismal dates which is the highest in over 6 months. We are growing and maturing a lot as a mission and President Resek is very happy but not content. President teaches me so much, it is such a blessing to be able to work with him and see how he lives the gospel. He is a true disciple of Christ. On Wednesday we had pre-interviews again and also on Thursday. On Thursday night Juan and Carla got married and last night Juan had his baptismal interview and will be getting baptized on Sunday. The wedding was great and was really special to see the two of them married. Today we went to a place in the country called Bambi. It’s a members house, but behind her house she has like 300 acres of land and she has two big ponds and a mini water park and also a soccer field. We went there with the office elders and 2 sisters that are in our district. It was way fun and over the ponds there are zip lines. It was a blast and you will see pictures.

Well it was good to hear that Ashton qualified to play in their event this coming week, and what a great opportunity that he has to play Pebble Beach. Some day I hope to play there. Ash play well, do what you do best, just play golf. Mom and Dad, it's crazy to me that you will be heading to Paraguay here in 3 weeks. Elder Adams parents are going to pick up his sister in Brazil in 2 weeks. They are way pumped as well and in 8 weeks Elder Adams leaves and they are coming to pick him up so I will get to meet them. Its so weird to see all of my good friends from the mission leaving and knowing that Sissy will be home in 3 weeks because that honestly makes it feel like my time is running out.

On Monday I had my interview with President and we talked about a lot of stuff. About golf after the mission, school, and when I might be coming home. It is always great to get his council and I will fill you in when I have more time.

Well this coming week will be another tiring one. We don’t have any meetings for the mission but we do have pre-interviews 4 days this week. But that just means 4 lunches with president, and they are always legit lunches. We ate BBQ 2 days last week, so it will be another fun week. Elder Garcia is doing really well, but he wants one thing, could you please send he and president an autograph picture from papa, with a little dedication to each of them. They would love it if you could do it.

Something that I want for you to get me while you are in Paraguay is a leather Matte holder. They are awesome and Sister Resek has one from Argentina but they say the ones from Paraguay are better. Elder Garcia lived in Paraguay for 11 years with his dad and knows a good place in the center of Asuncion that makes really cool ones, and they do leather drawings on them as well. I will get you the directions so if you are anywhere near there you can go get one. They are sweet because they have a place for the matte, the herb and the thermos.

The family Campos was very grateful that Kelly went to dinner last Sunday with you guys. She said that you all were really nice and great people. I hope it was good for you and that you can have her over for dinner more often. She is really lonely from what they tell me.

Mom to answer your question, I haven’t heard from very many people lately. I heard from Scotty and Kirk two weeks ago. I also heard from Josh Hutchens and Elder Martinez and also from the Pickering family. But I haven’t received much lately.

Tell everyone that I love them, and that I think of and pray for them daily. Tell Nana and Papa I love them, Grams, Ashton and Lacey, Cole and Harrison, Jim and Jewlz, Tommy, Sarah, Jack and Judi, Kim and Linda, Billy and Karen, Julia, Kory and Chritian, and everyone else. Just know that I love you all.

Well to finish I will tell you all a little about my studies this week. I have set the goal to follow what it tells me in the patriarchal blessing to "Feast daily upon the words of Christ." It also says the words of our living prophets and leaders in the church, so I set the goal to read a talk from the ensign each day. In doing so I have gained a stronger testimony of many things:

1. Jesus Christ
2. God the father
3. Living Prophets and Apostles
4. Joseph Smith
5. And all topics upon which I read

It has been a great experience and will defiantly be something I continue to do. The new ensign is amazing and what greater topic than our Savior Jesus Christ. We have used it with a few investigators and it has helped them a lot in obtaining a testimony.

Mom your talk last week was awesome and I know you are helping out those girls so much in your calling. Thank you all for your examples of love and support and for all that you do for me. Keep doing what the Lord expects of you and he will always bless you. As it says in D&C 82:10, he is obligated to do so. I love you so very much and can't wait to hear from you next week. I love you, I love you, I love you.

1-4-3-4...Love,

Elder Mason Casper

Hermana Casper 3/17/2008

HEY YOU GUYS!

Wow...I can honestly say that this week fffllllleeeeeeewwwww by! No lies at all. It was a quick one! But…how are you all doing? You guys sure look great…that´s for sure! I HAVE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FAMILY IN THE WHOLE, WIDE WORLD!

Well…it truly was an awesome week! We were very blessed…I know that´s not a big surprise! The Lord is with us every step of the way…I can honestly say that. He carries us and gives us strength when things seem hard to complete. HE IS 100% IN CHARGE OF WHAT WE ARE DOING….OF THAT, I KNOW AND HAVE A STRONG TESTIMONY!

Pretty much…it was also a weird week! We, better said, I had my last zone conference with the president. I HAD TO GIVE MY GOODBYE TESTIMONY! Don´t you even worry, it didn´t, in the least bit, seem real. I HAVE WAY TOO MUCH TIME LEFT! It´s too weird for me. It´s easier to just work and I know that right now, I shouldn´t even be thinking about it. SO I WON´T! THANKS FOR MAKING IT EASIER FOR ME AS WELL…YOU ARE NOT A TRUNKY FAMILY!

We had a cool experience this week….we met an artist and his student! THEY ARE COOLER THAN COOL! We were doing contacts and ran into them. They invited us back the next day and told us that they´d be anxiously waiting. So we went…and The younger kid David had 2 little paintings for the Hermana and I, and were so excited to spend time with us. We taught them, and it was amazing to see that they had the same beliefs and ways of thinking as we do. THEY ACCEPTED A BAPTISMAL WITH MORE EXCITEMENT THEN I HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE! It was way cool. Then, we showed up to church yesterday and Numa (the art teacher) was already sitting in Priesthood with all of the men. IT WAS A MIRACLE! We found out that Numa has some drinking problems, but we are so excited to help and strengthen them. THIS GOSPEL IS AMAZING!

About the dress mom…you never know how happy that made me! I instantly thought of you when I saw it, and how we could share it! YOU´LL LOVE IT SO DARN MUCH! Thank you. I am trying to get last minute things, and I also want to buy some scripture covers. It´s about $40 to get it for my bible, book of mormon and hymn book. And just little things here and there. THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME OUT!

Daddy…i´m really trying to get the temple date all figured out. It´s hard cause the bishop and stake president have to interview them and they won´t do it til closer to their date for entering. But…i´ll call them today to see what day will be best for them. I´M SO EXCITED TO GO TO IGUAZU AND BE WITH YOU GUYS! BUT PLEASE…KNOW THAT I´M STILL WORKING HARD AND DOING ALL THAT I CAN TO SERVE THE LORD. THERE´S NO TIME TO BE TRUNKY!

Well…please know that I love you guys so stinkin´much! YOU´RE THE MOST AMAZING FAMILY THAT ANYONE COULD ASK FOR! Tell everyone that I love them and send my love to all. MEG, KELL, GRAMMS, ASH AND LACE, NANA AND PAPA, SARAH, THE KIDS, BRINNER AND BERGIE, KORY…AND EVERYONE! ALSO, CALL HERMANA MUMFORD AND HERMANA ALLRED FOR ME AND SEND MY LOVE! Hermana allred is getting married on the 26th of april and i´ll be there! Holla! Tell mumford to be single and available…for me!

1434 AND MORE THAN THE BUTTERFLIES I HAVE ABOUT SEEING YOU SILLIES! I LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH!

Lars

Elder Casper 3/16/2008

Dear Family-

Hey guys how are things going? I hope that all is well and from what it sounds, things are going great back home. I can't believe that my Sissy goes home in 4 weeks. I know you guys are getting anxious because I am getting anxious for you. Honestly it has been a huge blessing being able to serve at the same time as my best friend and sister. She strengthens me and gives me desires to become a better person and servant of God.

Well its been a really crazy week. We finished the zone conferences this week and they both went really well. The missionaries are really excited for the growth of the mission but we all know that its not good enough. We have to keep getting better and being more diligent and efficient in the work. We are doing really well as a mission and we have matured a lot, but, we have a long ways to go. On the days we didn’t have zone conferences we had pre-interviews with president where we talk to the missionaries about their sectors and see how things are going. We also look over their agendas and their area books. It has been fun but for the most part we all need to do better on our planning in our sectors and recording information in the area book. It has been a really tiring week. This coming week will also be pretty tiring, we have interviews tomorrow and Tuesday we have zone leader counsel and pre-interviews and on Wednesday and Thursday we also have pre-interviews. Elder Garcia and I are getting along really well and enjoying everything together.

Hey thanks for sending me that box, I'm really excited to get it. I love you so much and I am so grateful for you love and support. This week will be a great week. On Thursday Juan and Carla get married and then on Sunday Juan is going to get baptized. They are really excited and Juan has been waiting quite some time for his wedding and baptism. Carla is already a member, and we have been sharing with them for about 2 months, it should be a really cool experience and the first where I have actually seen my investigators get married so they can get baptised. Isn't it cool how people change for the gospel and how the gospel changes people.

Wow what a blessing it is to have the restored gospel in our lives. It has been good writing you again this week, I always love writing and letting you all know how things are going here in Chile. It sounds like the fairwell and homecoming went well. How are Mark and Wendy? Tell them I love them. Well it was too bad hearing about Nathan not being able to get back into the states, hopefully he will be able to get things figured out so that he can get back for soccer. I received an email from Elder Martinez thay went home like 3 weeks ago and he is doing really good and is already engaged for the 24th of June. Wow that’s even faster than Ashton and Lacey. Crazy huh?

Tell Nana and Papa hi for me and that I love them, they are awesome and a true inspiration to me. Tell Grams thanks for the letters and the email and that I love her so much. Thanks for everything to everyone. I got an email from Aunt Judi and it was really good hearing from her and Jack. Tell everyone thanks for their support and love. I love you all so very much. I miss you, I pray for you and I hope that the Lord continues to bless you due to your faithfulness. Keep me informed on everything that’s going on in your daily lives and know that your in my every thought and prayer.

Dad one more thing, I found a guy that does even better work on the scripture cases. They are so nice and I am going to get some ordered for you here soon. If you could let me know once again what you want on them I will get it done ASAP. Have a great week all, and know that I love you more than words can possibly express. I love you I love you I love you.

1-4-3-4....Love,

Elder Mason N. Casper

Hermana Casper 3/10/2008

HEY YOU GUYS!

WOW...I LOVE YOU SO DARN STINKIN´MUCH! YOU SOUND GREAT THIS WEEK AND THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY! You have really no clue how much you all mean to me. It´s amazing…my love has grown immensely for each one of you guys. I knew I loved you before…and I thought my love couldn´t get any bigger. I WAS WRONG! THAT´S FOR SURE! I love testifying of this each and every day because I know with all of my heart that it´s the truth…Our family is the greatest thing that our Heavenly Father has given us. All that he wants for us is to be able to be with him again someday, together as a great and eternally happy family. There´s no doubt about that. THANK YOU for being my examples…and for aiming for the same goal that our Heavenly Father wants us to achieve. We´re on our way, aren´t we?! HOLLA!

Well…it was a great week again! We are truly being blessed. We will have another baptism this week and that makes me and the Lord very happy. BUT WE CAN STILL DO A WHOLE LOT MORE! AND WE´LL CONTINUE TO DO IT! The Lord just loves to show us our weaknesses and the things we can do better…I love it! It helps me grow so very much. As applies to everyone…the Lord blesses us infinitely when we do all that we possibly can. It makes me so happy because I know and feel that each of you are doing all that you can to serve the Lord. You are magnifying your callings and serving with all of your hearts…you wouldn´t be seeing such great blessings if you weren´t! Just keep going and do EVEN MORE. There´s always MORE to do!

As for your question Mommy…AS FOR CLOTHES….WE CAN SHARE! Actually, they´ll probably be too small for me! But…we´ll try! Just bring lots of cute tops and maybe some pants for the days that we´ll be at Iguazu. And also…some cute skirts that are a bit longer. I TRUST YOU MOMMY! WE ARE GOING TO GO CRAZY SHOPPING TOGETHER AGAIN! AAAAHHHHH! More than that…I just want to give you big hugs and chat! We have so stinkin´much to catch up on! YOU KNOW IT! Get ready!!!!

I´M SO PROUD OF MY MASE…I KNOW THAT HE´S SUCH AN AMAZING LEADER FOR THE MISSIONARIES IN HIS MISSION. Mommy and Daddy…don´t you remember all the talks we used to have…saying that he´d be the most amazing missionary! They surely were right! HE´S INCREDIBLE. I can´t wait to get together, all of us, and talk about our missions. TOGETHER! So many miracles in one family, and many more to come. Little Coley Boley and Harsey Schmarsey will be going here pretty darn soon! Really, BEFORE WE know it! But really…whoever gets that Mase will be a lucky gal! INCREDIBLY LUCKY! Any one of my brothers are top notch, class A guys! I´ve gotsta find someone just like them! HOLLA! P.s. tell Ash and Lacey that I love them so very much. It was great to hear from them…they are such amazing examples for me. WOW! I love seeing them and knowing that they love eachother unconditionally. Give them big hugs and kisses for me…and that Rascal flats song came out before…and I LOVE IT! What a fun concert it was when we went to Rascal before. Remember how I sat by myself?! Oh yeah…that was way fun! No really, I loved it just the same!

I´m so glad that Kell and her CUTE BOY Joe came to visit you guys! They look so darn happy and that makes me so glad! She deserves it! I love her with all of my heart and she is my BFF. You better keep me updated and keep sending lots of pics…her day is coming so soon! How´s Meg with her guy?! I have yet to see him…that´d be nice! Tell her that I love her and i´m so grateful for her as well.

As for being able to come get you guys…I´m not sure if i´ll be able to yet. It´s actually not my release date yet! But…we´ll see. You know that I´d love to, but the President still has to let me know. Either way…we´ll for sure see eachother the 16th! YAYAYAYAYAYA!

Well…we´re still working harder than ever and truly seeing the Lord´s hand each and everyday. I can´t sufficiently thank him for all that he does for us in this glorious work. I PROMISE and I have promised the Lord that I will give my all until the very last moment! That´s the only way that it will all be worth it! That´s the only way I will know i´ve done all that I can to help and love these people. Thanks for always encouraging me 100% in this amazing, life-changing experience that i´m having. IT´S SURE NOT OVER YET!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK, KEEP WRITING AND KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU GUYS MORE THAN I CAN EVEN MERELY BEGIN TO EXPRESS!

1434 and more than the aches that my body experiences cada dìa…I swear i´m an old woman!

Lars.

p.s...get your yellow fever shot! IT´S ALL OVER HERE! people are dying. Also...i´m glad about your visa! I was seriously stressing! YOU´RE GOING TO LOVE PARAGUAY! I LOVE IT SO MUCH! these pics are just of me and my cute comp, and our baptism of Kati this past week. PRAY FOR THE FAM. RUFFINELLI! I DON´T KNOW THEIR DATE FOR THE TEMPLE YET...BUT I´M WORKING ON IT! 1434!

Elder Casper 3/08/2008

Dear family-

Hey guys how are things going? It sounds like you had a great week with all that has happened with work and with the fun family activities that you had. It was great to see the pictures from the Rascal Flatts concert and it also brought back great memories of the concerts that I went to. But the great thing is, is that for six months more I don’t have to worry about doing any of that. All I have to do is preach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, there is nothing greater than that. Thanks for you emails and for your support, you are the greatest.

Well this week was another great week, went by way quick. We had two zone conferences this week and the mission has increased and progressed so much. This past week was our highest week in almost every category of dats as a mission. We are starting to find a ton of people and that is allowing us to teach and invite people to be baptized. We found 306 new investigators as a mission last week and that is the highest that this mission has ever had. We are teaching over 11 lessons per sector and the Lord is blessing us a ton. President Resek has truly done a great job in helping us to progress and become better and more effective missionaries.

I am truly enjoying everything about the mission, yes, at times its hard but nothing is too hard or overwhelming. The Lord stretches us in so many ways as missionaries. Do you remember when I was terrified to get up in sacrament meeting and bare my testimony, just like you mamma. Well, Heavenly Father has helped me overcome that weakness, I love speaking in public now and especially when I can just share my testimony and what I know to be true. I have grown so much even though at times I don’t feel like it.

The baptisms of Maria Isabel and Carolina were amazing, and when they got up to bare their testimonies at the end, they both said something that impressed me a lot. Maria Isabel said: "I know that the book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith is a prophet of god" and Carolina said: "Every time a elder talks I know that god lives". I was so overcome by the spirit and I felt the assurance in knowing that I did my part in their conversion. I am so privileged to be here, and I feel so blessed to have the confidence of a loving Heavenly Father.

I received a bunch of letters from Grams this week and it was great to hear from her and all of her funny experiences. I am so grateful for her and for her love for our Savior and Father in Heaven. Thanks Grams for everything and know that I love you infinity and beyond. I also received a letter from Sissy, it will probably be the last one that I receive from her as a missionary and that makes be sad, but, I know that she has served faithfully and given her all to the Lord. The spirit testified to me that she has done what the Lord has asked of her. Thanks Sissy for your love for this wonderful gospel and example to all.

I got a email from Scott, Kirk and Lauren Y. Thanks everyone for you support, I will be getting letters sent off ASAP. Know that I love you all and miss you more than you will ever know. Well Scott and Kirk, I know that you know what I mean. Congrats on your missions and thanks for you examples to me. I can't wait to see you all once again. Ashton and Lacey, thanks a ton for your email, it was great to hear how you are doing and it is good to know that you are still alive. Please keep in touch, it’s a great blessing to hear from you, and thanks for thinking of me and good luck with everything.

Mom about school, yes I do plan on going to UVSC for at least one semester and I plan on applying to BYU for the winter semester. I hope it turns out that way. I still am not sure if I am going to come home in August or in September but I am going to talk to president this week and I will let you know. And depending on when I go home we will figure things out for you all coming down to get me. Quite a few parents have to come to get their children, but not to many. I want you all to come get me but it all depends on if we will have time or not. I need to talk to president to see if I can go home on the 6th of August because he told me I can go on the 26th. But the change ends on the 6th and I think he wants to send me in the middle of the change on the 26th. If the case were that I left on the 26th I will just stay until the 20th of September and you can come pick me up then. But if I can come on the 6th I will do so, so that I can get into school and you can still come to pick me up just 6 weeks earlier. So either way YES I want you to come get me. WOOHOO, that will be sweet. But what are you plans on coming, how many would come. Let me know what your thoughts are and then I will let you know what I feel.

I love you with all of my heart. Thanks for everything and if you could please start getting me registered for school at UVSC I would be very grateful. Let everyone know that I love them, Nana and Papa and the rest of the family. You truly are my pride and joy. Until next week, work hard, study hard and do what is right and the lord will bless you beyond measure.

1-4-3-4...Love,

Elder Mason N. Casper

Hermana Casper 3/03/2008

HEY YOU GUYS!

WHAT´S UP? WELL…LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL HERE IN PARAGUAY! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! The more and more I think about it, I THINK I´M PARAGUAYAN! Don´t you worry…it´ll be amazing to see each of you again, but it will be very difficult to leave these beautiful people that I have grown to love so very much. THE LORD SURELY SENDS US WHERE we ARE MEANT TO BE.

Well…it has been another great week! We had a couple of baptisms and they went over well. WE ARE BEING SO VERY BLESSED! We have another baptism this week and it´s a fun one…her name´s Kati and I feel like she´s my little sister! She´s 13, but so very smart, intelligent and absolutely stoked to get baptized. I LOVE THE GOSPEL! IT BRINGS SUCH LIGHT, HOPE AND A TRUE CHANGE TO EVERY PERSON´S LIFE! IT´S SO AMAZING. We had an investigador go to church on Sunday and she loved it. We were standing in the chapel afterwards and I asked her how she like it…she started to tear up and get emocional…and she told me that she loved it and never imagined that she would have felt that way there. IT WAS SO GREAT FOR ME…I TRULY FELT THE SPIRIT AS SHE EXPLAINED TO ME EXACTLY WHAT I FEEL WHEN I WALK INTO CHURCH. Peace, tranquility and most of all, the Lord´s love. It was awesome. Just what I needed after an interesting week. A member died in our ward…an old guy that we practically see and teach everyday. It was hard, and sad to know that we won´t see him anymore. BUT BEAUTIFUL AND WONDERFUL TO KNOW THAT HE WAS PREPARED TO GO! The gospel prepares us for great things to come afterwards.

Well…send my love to all and know that i´m still working hard as ever! We had changes today, without a single change! I´M DYING IN MORONI AND COULDN´T BE HAPPIER TO DO SO! IT´S SO DARN CRAZY FOR ME! IT´S NOT EVEN TRUE! But…the Lord has blessed me to be here and i´ve got to fulfill my purpose in doing so. P.S…remember that cute pair of couple missionaries that sent you pictures and an email?! Well…they´re going home now this month…CAUSE THEY WERE CALLED TO BE MISSION PRESIDENTS! HOLLA! We were so stoked to find that out. They will be in Ventura, CA…spanish speaking. CONGRATULATE THEM IN AN EMAIL PLEASE! THEY ARE SUCH GREAT EXAMPLES FOR ME!

Keep me in your prayers…please. And my comp and all missionaries. Let Meg know that I love her idea of living with Mumford…THAT WOULD BE A DREAM COME TRUE! As for that guy of hers…I WANT PICS. IT´S NOT HARD TO ATTACH SOME! PLEASE! Tell kell that I love her lots and lots as well. The boys, Gramms, Nana and Pops, and everyone! Lots and lots and lots of love is coming your way from PARAGUAY!

1434 AND MORE THAN THE EXCITEMENT I HAVE RIGHT NOW CAUSE I´M IN MY OLD AREA, LUQUE! WE CAME TO GO SHOPPING FOR A FEW NECESSITIES!

Lars

Elder Casper 3/01/2008

Dear family,

Hey guys how are things going? It sounds like its been a crazy week, but as always the Lord is blessing you beyond measure. MOM HAPPY BIRTHDAY…woohoo congrats on another year. Mom you're awesome and I can't even express how very proud I am of you and for all you do. You truly are the greatest mamma in the whole wide world.

Well this week has been good. It was change week and it was really hectic. On Monday we did all the sisters changes where we pick them up and take them to their new sector, and Elder Adams and I did it together for his last day. It was good to be with him and to be able to talk about this past change that we had together. Monday night we had a family night farewell for Elder Adams and Elder Thorson and it was great. The members here in this branch are awesome and love the missionaries so much. On Tuesday we picked up all the new missionaries from the airport and had a full day with them. I went with Elder Adams to pick up all of the American missionaries and Elder Garcia and Elder Thorson went to pick up the Latin missionaries. It is a really good group of missionaries, only ten but really good missionaries. Next change 21 new missionaries are coming and 16 are American.

The mission has been doing well and we are at a point in the mission where we aren’t really progressing, we are just staying the same and not really continuing what we had going for awhile. This coming week is zone conference and it will be really good. President wants us to push the missionaries to take another step and take the work to the next level. Our main focus will be on chapter 5 of preach my gospel...The Book of Mormon. I am really excited to be able to talk about the most correct book upon the face of the earth and bare testimony of its power.

Tomorrow we will have two baptisms, Maria Isabel and Carolina. They are so ready and they are both so excited to be baptized and to be members of the church. Maria has been begging us to baptize her and now she has finally prepared herself and will be able to do it worthily. Carolina is just so smart and understands everything so well and she has gone with us to a couple of lessons and actually taught principles of the lessons to other investigators. She and Maria Isabel have become great friends and will it will be special for them to be baptized together.

Elder Garcia is great, we get along really well and he makes me laugh so hard. You don’t even understand, he is the Latin version of Adam Sandler, absolutely hilarious. I will defiantly get some pictures sent off so you can compare just by his face how much he and Adam Sandler are alike. Also last Sunday that family of ten that we found came to church and we set a baptismal date with the dad and 4 of his kids. The mom is a member and her name is Ana, the dads name is Alejandro and they are doing well. They are really poor, they live in a very ghetto area and the kids have no education. We set the date with them for the 23rd of March but it looks like it is going to take more time than we think for them to be prepared for baptism. All in all it has been a good week. We haven’t had much time in the sector, but this upcoming week we will have some more time.

It was a shock to hear about Char and Earls son. It breaks my heart that they have to go through what they are going though, but one thing I do know is that Christ has gone through it all. He is the only one that has suffered everything. At times we may not think its possible but it’s a fact that he shed his blood and did it for our sake, so that we may be happy, clean and return to the presence of our Father in Heaven. Also, it's too bad that Nathan has taken that decision to go back to Scotland right now and that he has acted the way he has. He´s young, he needs love and support. I know he has it well at Nana and Papa´s and there is no justification for what he did, but his Dad needs to be a better example for him. How is Nate with church, is he going and doing what he should be? I sure hope so.

Mom and Dad thanks for your emails, it was great to hear from you and about the blessings that you are receiving. I am very happy for you Mom and Kory and for your birthday. Have a great time and enjoy your birthday weekend together. It was good to hear that Toad is doing well and that he is enjoying the mission, he is awesome and I miss him a ton. Tell him to keep up the good work and that I sent a letter off to him today. Also I cant believe that Scotty is home. That is so crazy and it sounds like it has been a little hard for him to adjust. Tell him hi for me and to write me ASAP.

Well not too long before you will be down here in South America picking up Sissy. Sorry for mentioning it in all my letters but I too am very anxious for you to see and feel of her spirit. I know she is an absolutely valiant servant of Jesus Christ.

As I said last week if you could please get me enrolled at BYU it would be great, I will have to write an essay but just let me know when so I can get it written for enrollment. Ashton is thinking about law school? Well it looks like that makes two of us. That’s my plan also, now I just need to find out what I am going to major in.

This week I had a great experience in a personal study from preach my gospel. Well I was studying in chapter 6 about Christ-like attributes. I do it at the start of every change to set a goal of which attribute I will work on during the 6 weeks of the change. I have felt the need of working on virtue, but when I did the activity the spirit directed me to another attribute that I need to develop more fully. As I was adding up the totals at the end of the activity I noticed that I was the lowest in patience. I didn’t want to work on patience this change, I wanted to work on virtue, but the spirit indicated very strongly otherwise. It was a great experience that helped me understand the importance of following the spirit. Although I didn’t want to do what the spirit indicated to me, I knew it was necessary. And now thinking of the past couple of weeks it has become so clear of why I need to work on patience over the next few weeks. It's such a great blessing that we all have the gift of the Holy Ghost that teaches us, guides us, instructs us, and helps us understand what we need to in our lives. It was a great experience and I learned a lot from it.

Elder Garcia and I have set the goal to read the Book of Mormon as a companionship this change and we are in 1 Nephi 17 right now. We read together whenever we are in the car and it has been a wonderful experience to be able to do it with my companion.

Lauren sounds like she is doing well and that she is loving Paraguay. She is also having two baptisms this Sunday. That’s awesome. She continues to amaze me with the faith and endurance that she has. She truly does love the Lord.

The family Resek is doing really well. We had dinner with them the other night and we ate some really good Argentine food. Mom if you could talk with Sarah and get some of the Mexican food recipe´s from her, it would be awesome. The sister that is the nanny in the mission home will cook us Mexican food. Her name is Hermana Pino and she is awesome.

Mom once again happy birthday, next year I will be right there with you. Just feel a big birthday hug and kiss from me and know that I love you and am forever grateful for you example to me. Dad keep up the good work, thanks for your letters, example and love for the Lord and our family. Thanks guys for magnifying your callings and Dad for magnifying your priesthood. We truly are a blessed family. Thanks to everyone for your love, support, example and inspiring letters. I love you all with all of my heart.

Until next week, work hard, study hard and do what is right and the Lord will bless you.

1-4-3-4,

Elder Mason N. Casper