Who am I? WHAT?!? I haven't changed that much. It's a mask, to make me look like I'm being a good, obedient missionary. Actually, it's true. I have changed a lot in these past few months. What scares me most is the idea that I will continue changing. I still love movies and it's a pain to ask people to turn off the t.v. and when people play video games...it makes me want to cry. But yes, I am working on being the best missionary I can.

I'm glad you don't mind if I don't hand write a letter to you. In fact...ha, ha, ha. I wrote a letter for you just a few hours ago, and then I left it in a member's house in Key Center. I may never get them back...so, too bad. It was a good letter too. So much has happened. Elder Brown is driving me insane. But I found out some awesome news. So, on Saturday, we had R&R's (Return and Report) and along with that, interviews with our mission president! This was actually my last interview with President Bowen. He's finishing his three year mission and has been called back home. He is such an amazing guy, and has changed my outlook of the word "Sacred."

Anyways, I was waiting outside for my interview when President Bowen walks out with Sister Oehler. He stops her and points to me and says: "Do you know this Elder? Well, you should really get to know him. He is a magnificent missionary. You may not see it, but he WILL go leadership. Maybe next temple trip, he might even be Zone Leader." Wow! We went in for my interview and he just praised me. It was great. But I can't let it get to my head. During the interview, he told me his plans for transfers...which are next week. I was surprised he would tell me but this is what he said. "We have some wonderful changes going on in the Olalla area. Don't tell Elder Brown this (that has been difficult), but we are sending in a new missionary and you will be the senior companion to train him." Mom! Can you believe that? I've not even passed my greenie mark (six months) and I'm already going to be a senior companion. I'm follow-up training a greenie! I mean, what an honor. It was hard to say good bye, mainly because I may not get another chance but I will still love and give President Weaver my "unswerving loyalty."

So, the work here has been going great. We set up a church tour (the first one set up in over eleven weeks) and are working on getting a friend of the missionaries on a church tour also. Shawn (our church tour on Wednesday) works at Fred Meyer, which is why I think I got him to go on a tour. I could relate to him. We talked about the stupidity of the shoppers and how much they bug us. He agreed to go on a tour and I even got fellowship. Leanne is a friend of the missionaries. She loves them and they'd go over there and watch t.v. and such. But strangely enough, no one ever invited her on a church tour. Seriously. I asked her and she said she would love to, and now we're just working on setting a date.

Rick's baptism date is set. He's getting baptized on the 30th of July. Holy cow, I still don't believe that miracle. A man has been investigating the church for over twenty years, and finally, after all that time, decided he wasn't to get baptized. It's an honor to be the one part of that. Yolanda, and the kids missed church last week. She came in yesterday, sick as a horse and barfing up a lung. She said that she prayed, because she didn't want to go to church, and she felt like she should go. She came and felt better. I told her that it was the Spirit testifying to her that what she did was right. We got in a long conversation about the Restoration movie and discussed issues she had, the Book of Mormon, prayer, church, the Holy Spirit, and the commandments. She said that she is getting closer to baptism and the only thing holding her back is her smoking and coffee habits. Ah, but Brown and I came up with a way to get past that.

What we were thinking of doing was have Yolanda stop smoking and drinking coffee for three days. During that time, when she gets a craving, she should pull our her Book of Mormon, Bible, or Gospel Principles book and read it. Then pray about what she read. We will testify to her that since those substances are not in her body, she will be much more susceptible to the Spirit, and be able to here the answers to her questions. Will you pray for her? Pray that she will be able to receive an undeniable witness that Jesus is the Christ, that the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith is a true prophet, and that the Church of Jesus Christ is Christ's kingdom once again established on the Earth.

Her kids are pretty hard to help though. Tianna has been very sick and the doctors don't know what to do to help her. She is even missing out on girls camp. Bah, she now won't be able to feel the spirit there. I pray that when she prays, that her prayers are answered, even though she fully doesn't understand it. Stetson and Tianna didn't come to church this week, they wanted to stay home, and although it was bad that they didn't show, Yolanda is now going to force Greg and the kids to all go to church. Besides the Llamas, the Wilson's are the best and most prepared and ready investigators yet. They just don't know it yet.

Well, I've got to run, Brown is getting impatient. Ooh, I have a question. Since Brown is leaving, I need a GPS...I was wondering if maybe I could get my birthday present early. What I was thinking is that you could stick enough money for a Garmin into my account, and then I will go and buy it with my card. That way I don't have to wait for shipping and all that jazz. Would that be all right? Sweet. I will get it probably Saturday, so, don't be surprised when you see a $100 drop in my account.

Anyways, I love you all...oh so very much. I wish the best for you and and pray for you all every night. Peace, love, live long and prosper. Hugs and handshakes to you all!
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Elder Courtney Casselman


Still Alive