Elder Casper 6/01/2008

Dear family-

What a week it has been, we had our first two zone conferences and this up coming week we will have our last two of the change. It was interesting to read Toads email and see that the topic for zone conference for them is the same as ours this change. We are focusing on chapter 8 of preach my gospel. In the mission we have made a big jump and stepped up to another level, but, we are forgetting about the administration part of the Lords work. We aren’t planning as we should, we aren’t completing as preach my gospel says with the area books and district meetings. The first two conferences went well this week, and I know that if we continue to apply these things week after week our success in the mission will continue increasing. In the month of May we had 54 baptisms and it was the best month so far of the year. Over the last three months we have had 45, 47 and now 54 baptisms and it is a big accomplishment for our mission, but, we need more. L. Tom Perry came to Chile last year and invited each, companionship to have a baptism per change that equals 72 in our mission. We are coming up on that mark and if we can learn to use our time wisely as chapter 8 Teaches we will accomplish that goal before the end of the year.

Well its also been a really busy week. Elder Ollerton is now having anxiety attacks and on Friday afternoon I went on divisions with him and he called his parents. It was good to be able to go with him to try and help him out a little bit. He feels that it all started when the taxi driver brought him from the airport his first day in Chile. He is also in a very dangerous area of Santiago and doesn’t feel comfortable especially when he comes from a very rich part of northern California. It went really well for us and he has the desire to be here and serve the Lord. After he talked to his parents, we went back to the house to talk, he felt much better and tomorrow we will be moving him to a new area where it is much more tranquil and a prettier area of the mission. He will also be with an American missionary when before he was with a Latin that doesn’t speak English.

We are working with a family, they are named Pedro, Roxana, Francisco and Esteban. They are great, and today they didn’t make it to church because they had to go to visit their family in a city called Talca which is about 3 hours from Rancagua. They had a baptismal date but we realized that they might take a little longer. It all depends on them though, all they have to do is ask God sincerely if the book of Mormon is true and if Joseph Smith was the prophet of the restoration. That’s one of the biggest challenges for the people through out the world, they might pray but its they lack doing it as Moroni promised in (Moroni 10:4). Also we are working with an older women that also had a baptismal date named Teresa. She is good, she goes to church and everything but she is hiding it from her husband. He works 10 days in the northern part of Chile and is home for 5 days. When ever he is home she doest allow us to go to her house, she is way funny but also may take a little longer than we thought.

Elder Oakes is doing well, and our other companion Elder Arévalos which is the commissary of the mission is also doing well. Elder Oakes and Elder Arévalos work in their sector and I work in my sector and on top of that we have all the office work to do, so it´s been really hard finding time in the sector and taking care of the investigators as we should. Hopefully we can complete with our part so that Pedro and Roxana can come unto Christ and be baptized with their children.

Yesterday and today we had stake conference and it went really well, Elder Amado was presiding because they called a new stake president in the stake today. I learned a lot of things that have helped me a lot. Today Elder Amado spoke on a subject that we al need to learn and do better at, which was: "The attitude that we should have as we face the challenges of this life". He came to the conclusion that the attitude that should have facing all of the challenges of this life is: "TO BE HAPPY" and for that Adam fell. "Adam fell that men might be and men are so that they might have joy". Its interesting that our father Adam fell for one reason, and that reason is, that WE might have joy. We are here on earth to be happy, there is no need to be sad, because we are children of a loving heavenly father. And no matter what the situation, we should always be happy, that is the attitude, "TO BE HAPPY. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity that the Lord has given me to serve with President and Sister Resek, I have never seen them sad, they are always happy and are such a great example to me in so many ways.

On Thursday I was reading the talk from the general conference of April, I love the talk discourse by elder Russell M. Nelson about salvation and exaltation. I love this talk because it explains our personal and family roles here on earth. As he said: "salvation is a personal matter, exaltation is a family matter". We are so blessed to be an eternal family. We have been sealed by the power of God, that which Toad talked about in his letter, and we WILL be and eternal family if WE keep our covenants and live worthily until the end. Towards the end of the talk he said something that really touched me. It his home and helped me to see how very blessed I am to have such amazing parents. It reads: "Do not try to control your children. Instead, listen to them, help them to learn the gospel, inspire them, and lead them toward eternal life. You are Gods agents in the care of children he has entrusted to you. Let his divine influence remain in your hearts as you teach and persuade". While reading that I couldn’t help but think of your loving guidance mom and dad. This is exactly what you have done with your children. Your haven’t controlled us, but YES you have listened and taught us the principles of the gospel. You inspire us daily and you are leading us towards eternal life. You are wonderful agents of God, and he trusts in you and in return, you trust in him. And I have been able to feel his divine influence come from your heart many times as you taught me and persuaded me. Ponder this mom and dad, this is the exact classification of the parents you are. I love you and I am eternally grateful for the blessing it is to be taught, inspired and guided by the two of you in this life.

Once again, I love you with all of my heart. I love and miss you and I feel privileged to have 4 months remaining to serve with all of my heart, might, mind and strength and to brings my beloved brothers and sisters unto the Savior. Have a great week, and know that by serving, studying, praying and worshiping our faith will be nurtured and strengthened. I love you I love you I love you. Send my love to all.

1-4-3-4,

Elder Mason N. Casper