Dear Mother and Father,
It's a holiday today, which is Monday, which is our P-day, so, unfortunately, the library is closed, which in turn, in this run-on sentence, means I can't email. So, this is all you get this week, sorry.
So, Lacey is fantastic. But there some things that are different, that are everywhere! The first are trees. We've all heard there are trees everywhere, but you have no idea. There are, no joke, blocks of forest, where no buildings are built. Second, Asians. There are tons of them walking around, and the problem is that they are all Buddhist. So, they are impossible to teach.
The third things are apartment buildings. Washington is a very poor state, and so most people don't have a lot of money. This is great. It's awesome, because rich people refuse to even talk to you, while poor people are much more willing to hear the gospel. Rain is another thing. It sprinkles all day, everyday. Before I came to Washington, I considered living here, but, not anymore.
My first day in the field, it rained harder than it has while my trainers were on their missions. There was one day, though, where there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The sky was so blue and....it was freezing. Clouds apparently keep in the heat, so when there aren't any, it is not fun.
The last thing is coffee shops. They are everywhere. On every street, sometimes multiple on a street, and all different types of vendors. My favorite is "Blendy Bikini Girls". Yes, it exists. Creepy people get coffee there.
So, let's discuss our investigators. First is Liz Lewis. She is an older black lady who was so excited on our church tour. When we told her about the Book of Mormon, her mind was "literally blown". She didn't come to church yesterday, but we are teaching her later.
Jamie and Oscar are great people. I wasn't there for her church tour, but she is totally ready to get baptized. Oscar, though, wants to make sure. He's awesome, though, and is in the army working in artillery. We've taught the first and second lesson, which they both loved! Their three kids LOVE church and will be great for getting Oscar baptized.
Javier and Melissa are a little more difficult. We took them on a church tour and taught the first lesson. They are very, very analytical, and so it will take a while to work with them to follow with faith and not facts.
We had a baptism on Saturday. Jackie Phan, who is eleven, and the only one who is a member in her family, had an incredible baptism. I gave a talk on the Restoration which went well.
There is also a slightly young black family, but I didn't get to meet them. Tom O'Sullivan loves Mormons and we took him on a church tour. The Spirit wasn't really there but, if we keep working on it, he could get baptized.
So, now the mission. Lacey is the highest baptism zone last year and this year. We have so many investigators, and take so many people on church tours. We are so freakin' busy, which is great because there are four of us in the companionship.
I'm not as stressed as I was on the first day, but this mission is stressful. We go tracting everyday from five to seven. I love it. My problem is that I can't just talk to people. We have to introduce who we are, get to know the person, find a need and invite them to take a church tour. It's hard for me. But it will get to the point where I am comfortable.
So, I am doing well. I am off to go clean the bathroom. Love and handshakes to you all.
Elder Courtney Casselman
p.s. Remember what I said about food? Um, ha ha, I regret that. We have little food, and my trainers won't go shopping. Food would be great, but healthy foods.
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