Hello!

Ha, ha, ha. You finally got a new lawn mower. I'm so happy for you. So, how's it been here in Olalla with a junior companion. Stressful. Just difficult. It's easy to sit in the passenger seat, bear your testimony once and a while, be obedient of your companion, and rely on him for planning. Now, suddenly, all of this is on me. I have to teach the lessons. I have to drive everywhere. I have to know where everything is. I have to be obedient. I have to plan to stay under miles (We get 50 a day! 50!). I have to do everything and it's driving me nuts. Today, the Zone wanted to meet in Gig Harbor to play volleyball. Well, at least I had an idea where it was. Then the Elders said: "Hey! Let's go play football." I told them I had no idea where it was and that I needed someone to show me how to get there. Did anyone wait...NO! I drove around, called one of the Zone Leaders, who told me to call one of the District Leaders, who told me the wrong address and I ended up driving several miles south of where I was supposed to be. I finally decided to pick up my dry cleaning (which I accidentally dropped off in Bremerton) and drove past the park. Seriously. Now, we're already at 50 miles and I've been freakin' out. I'm stressed out of my mind and I offended an Elder. Mom, I'm just having a hard time. I don't know why God made me a senior companion, or what he's trying to teach me, but when I figure it out, it'll probably be the end of the transfer. Great. I'm trying to obey the rules with exactness (not perfection) but I don't feel like I'm doing a good job. I don't feel like I'm being a good example for Elder Kerr.

On a happier note, the area is on fire. Elder Kerr is great. He and I, by the way, get along great. We work well together, we teach well, and I really feel like we are doing a good job. The Wilson's have hit a plateau, Rick is still on date, a lady named Leanne won't come on a church tour even though she says she wants too (she doesn't believe in the Book of Mormon, or Joseph Smith's first vision), and Shawn isn't interested in learning more. But we had some amazing miracles! We had a former show up to church. He's been waiting on the road to Damascus, and someone gave a talk on how testimonies do not come from massive angels and such. He talked about Alma's conversion story. When Alma bears his testimony, he never once contributes his conversion to the angel and such. But rather, it came from many days of fasting and praying. Afterwards, we showed Timothy "Finding Faith in Christ" which he loved. He told me he doesn't believe in Joseph Smith, which means there is a barrier we have to pass.

The other miracle was unexpected. A man by the name of Jeff walked into church. Afterwards, we talked to him and he told us about how he was baptized into the church when he was twelve, but was excommunicated when he was caught breaking the LoC with the bishop's daughter (there is most likely more to that story than he let on). He didn't like the church and became Anti. He married a Mormon, but remained Anti, and hated the church. That drove a wedge between them. She now wants a divorce. He's gone to dozens and dozens of churches and never felt comfortable at any of them. Well, he finally decided to humble himself and come to church. He said that when he walked in, he felt a feeling of peace. He felt like he was home. He's wanting to take the lessons and get baptized as soon as possible. He asked us: "When can I get baptized?" "In three weeks." "What?!? I thought it was going to be something like a year." "Nope. That's the Jehovah's Witnesses." We are meeting with him on Tuesday. I'm super psyched.

Another former, Stacy, is dating a member and living with him. He's less active and went off the deep end. She was originally being taught but she broke up with him and no one ever saw her again. That is until Brown and I dropped by to see the boyfriend, and she was there. It was great! We asked her if she'd like to keep learning and she said: "Yes." We've taught her the Restoration and the Gospel, although she feels like we are being to pushy for baptism. So, we're going to back off a little, let her cool off, then go back to teaching her.

Anyways, lots of miracles going on in the Olalla ward, and lots of baptisms will come from them. I love you all. Thank you so much for your support. Good luck, hugs, handshakes and loves to you all.


Elder Courtney Casselman