You Must Choose

December 18, 2017
1. Thanks for Sharing my Love
2. A Gift
3. Words to Continue
1. I love seeing pictures of the family! It is a huge blessing to have met together once again!  I longed to be there all week.  I am glad that you shared my love with our family and with those I love and care for!
2. The month of December is hard yet amazing. We have to look for opportunities to work and grow, yet, it is also relaxing and fun.  The reverse is also true, I miss just being able to go work and not have to struggle with it and not worry about relaxing.  It is a gift and a curse but I am loving it!  It's the first real kinda amazing time I have had.  Most of the time I have been working but this week and the upcoming week have almost been given to take a step back and relax and prepare to work hard again.  In times like this it is hard to forget yourself and go to work, yet, I have found times where I do not care about my own well being and just long for the truth to touch another's heart.  I love that feeling and have been wanting to feel it more often!
3. I am trying to get ready for Christmas.  I need your information on Skype and I need to create an account.  I am working on that right now but I need to get your information ASAP so I can call you on the 24th.  I do want to talk to you and see your smiling faces!  I love and miss you all! - Elder Cazier
To Dad,
1. You Must Choose
2. Love
3. Fear
4. The Bolder Vs. The Mountain
1. I was looking for an idea to talk about in this letter and it came to me in the form of a movie quote.  I have been thinking that I, as a person and as a missionary, look like Indiana Jones.  This is his quote, "You must Choose, but choose wisely, for as the true Grail will bring you life, the false Grail will take it from you."  I can't help but look at this and see that this is truer than I thought before.  As we go through our lives we struggle and often lose track of who we are and what we stand for.  I have noticed that in this week, that just because it is hard I tend to avoid work, but I have found that as I  just put my 'Shoulder to the Wheel' and push life becomes easier.  This is applied in this quote as we choose wisely what we do for there are no second chances, you can make a different choice later and change your path, but you can't go back and change the past!  I believe very strongly that I am destined for greatness, as a matter of fact, I know I am.
2. I want you to know that I love you and respect how hard you are working.  I want you to know that I stand ready at a words notice with anything you need!  Our Heavenly Father has called me to be away, in this your time of need, and it is a challenge for me.  I long to be there to help.  You and our family have been on my mind a lot as of late and it has been hard staying out but I know that I am where I am meant to be.
3. My fear for the outcome of our family is the greatest fear in my mind now.  Yet, I fear not for I love you and it's dumb to say but love conquers all.  I miss you and want nothing but the best for you!
4. Before I came on my mission you shared a story of a man pushing a boulder up a mountain.  I urge you to remember that sometimes the boulder rolls back and crushes us.  We have to get up and restart.  This week I have had that happen two or three times.  It has happened so many times on my mission, I can't even count.  But don't worry, it always works out for the best.  Don't let yourself stay down!  -  Elder Cazier

Shining a Soul

This Part of Mexico is seeing Snow for the First time in 20 Years!

James 1:12
1. Photos
2. My Love and Support
3. Mission Stuff

2. I wish to send my love and my sorrow for the loss of Grandma Haircut.  I am grieved for not being able to be there for this trying time!  Please, pass my love around!
3. Christmas is a little different here.  It's less a time of celebration and more a time to go out and get drunk or party.  So we have spent some extra time in our casa due to the parties.  It makes our life a little harder and it's harder to teach.  I have recently gotten a cold that is clinging to me, it's not bad. Always be glad for everything you have. This is a time for gratitude.  Don't ever lose heart and always stay strong!!!  I miss and love everyone.  -  Elder Cazier
To Dad,
My Mission changed a bit.  It's more like contacting anyone who won't throw a beer or anything at us.  This month is a month of parties and drinking here.  We have to be more careful.
There was a saying in the CCM (MTC), "If you have time to do it wrong, you have time to do it twice".  I find myself asking the same question.  Is it better to get it down right or better just to get through it?  I have found you do it as close to perfect as fast as you can.  Do it fast but well!  Cover all the needs and, if you have a little time, cover the extras, but only if you have time.  I have been giving more and more of my time to studies and learning as to better learn the language and better get a grip on my mission.  My companion said this week, "I have never seen someone work so hard in the wrong way."  I was not really working in the right direction.  It was hard but now I have some backtracking to do.  I am enjoying the work and I love doing it!  That is a huge part of life, you have to love what you do or you will give up.  It's just human nature.
To Grandma,
The last little bit I have been doing a lot of polishing my shoes and so I thought of this one day...
Shining a Soul
We are like a pair of shoes.  We go through our life trying not to get scuffs or scrapes but we are not perfect.  So we always get a little or a lot dirty.  But instead of suffering God has given us a way to be clean once again!  He gave His Son, our Brother, Jesus.  In His hands, we can be cleaned, but first, we have to give up our sins.  This is like wiping the dirt away from our shoes or our bodies.  Then Christ can get to work cleaning or polishing us.  It is not easy for either of us.  It is work and we both have to do our best.  We see this when Christ was in the Garden.  We always strive to be our best.  This is not the end though because once the polish is applied we have to wipe it away and be shined.  Many times this process continues for a long time to better remove our scuffs and scrapes.  But fear not, Christ never gets tired.  As we keep working He will keep blessing and cleaning.  When we come to an end there is one last thing we have to do, this is applying a parade shine.  This is like becoming perfect and letting our light shine or reflecting the light of God and Christ through us.  This is our ultimate goal!  I hope this message blesses your life, I love and miss you! - Elder Cazier

Let's Show our Strength

John 4:7-8
1. How I am.
2. Where I am and What I am doing.
3. Spanish.
4. My Family.
5. A Message of love, hope, inspiration, and dedication.
1. I am doing fine.  I pulled money out of my account because I found out that we are to have a reserve fund of cash just in case because ATMs are few and far between.  I have no needs and no wants.  Thank you for your packages.  I got both. The chances of me getting the Christmas one before Christmas is low so I will open it when I get it.  Speaking of Christmas, we are about to get a phone call home.  I think it will be on the 24th or 25th but I am not sure yet.  I expect that I will know soon.
2. I don't know what to expect about transfers.  I will probably stay here but I may get a new companion.  Who knows what is going to happen?  It is a nice cold 70-80 degrees down here and so I send my Merry Christmas from a better place it sounds like ;).
3. Spanish is still hard for me.  I find I am understanding the large details now but I miss the fine ones.  Often the fine details are the important ones.  But 'Poco e Poco', a saying here that means you will get there, for now, take the little steps and be proud!
4. To those who are having a hard time I send my words of encouragement.  These times do not last forever.  They are short and after God sends an outpouring of love and blessings!  I urge you to continue to do what you know to be right and never falter!  Be strong, for if we act strong one day we will become strong!  Fake it til you make it idea, don't mix this up with not changing.  Changing is good and needed, but know where you stand and never change your footing.
5. Love, hope, and dedication.  This goes to my family in particular. I wish to send my love and faith to you.  We have made it through harder times. At least we are together (well, sort of, but you get my point).  I am reminded of a saying I just read...
"Love the crap you got, hope for less crap, and be dedicated enough to turn the crap into diamonds. Get past this crap!"
We are strong and that is why we are challenged.  Now let's show our strength and band together to get over this hard time. Never give up!  Molon Labe.
Love and miss everyone!  -  Elder Cazier
To Dad,
... I was feeling down. We had been knocking doors for the last 3 or 4 hours.  We were having little to no success.  We had been spit at, cussed out, doors were slammed, the suck was real.  I was hurting and I could tell that my companion was somewhat as well.  We walked up to a store and saw that the owner was reading the Bible.  I took this as a sign.  I started to say the words that I knew, but I did not get far, I looked to my companion for help but he was not ready to give another approach and was just shaking his head at me.  I was then chewed out in Spanish by the store the owner.  I was at a low and when I said this my companion responded very strangely, I said "I'm a failure right now." he said, "Self-pity is going to do you no good, if you want to quit, go home".  I was so mad when he said this.  I expressed myself later when I had cooled down.  "I am a CAZIER, I never back down and I never quit!"
I ask, who are we?  I ask, what do we stand for?  And I ask, is this as bad as it gets?
I know we have been through hard times.  Now we need to buck up and get through this.  Let's do it!  I am away right now, but I am still pushing myself beyond what I am capable of.  Let's all make this the best time we can.  Enjoy the crap and work to get beyond this time.
Bring on the Suck!  This is a phrase that you once said to me, dad.  I say it back.  We know pain, now we can rise above it.  Don't let the world get the better of us.  We can stand against the world if we have to.  Don't let yourself get broken.  If I can learn Spanish, we can get over this!  It's hard but that doesn't matter. We can do it!
I  love you and miss you.  I want nothing but the best for you.  I am hanging in there.  I am not going to falter.  I am here and I am here for good.  There is no way I will give up now.  Go hit the grind.  Once again, I love you, I miss you, I am praying and fasting for you.  Know that I will always love you and support your decisions.

Life, a Few Experiences, Love, and Work

Elder Squire and Elder Cazier

1. Life
2. A Few Experiences
3. Love and What it Plays in my Life
4. Work
1. Life is really good!  We have 6 amazing investigators.  They are all loving the gospel and they all have a testimony of how true it is.  They do not like going to church because it is 30 minutes away.  Soooo, yeah, we are trying really hard to get them to develop the want to go.  They say that they will go but never show up.  I find it hard because I am used to people doing what they say.  Right now I have to adapt my actions to help them feel welcome in the church and feel loved enough to want to come every week or even come at all.  I know that once they come they will want to continue to come.  I know this because our ward is amazing!  It is just like any other ward but just with less people.  The people here are so full of love.  We had a meeting yesterday explaining how hard this month is going to be.  I guess December is a month of drinking and parties.  The members have all offered everything they have to us.  It is humbling because I have not met many people who would give all they had to two people, one of whom they don't even know yet and can't understand and who can't understand them.  It is an amazing area!  I have been told how hard this area is, but to me it is not work, it is fun to teach and learn.  This area is not hard but a pleasure to be in.  To go along the lines of how crazy this area is, I am the first person to be born (come into the mission) here in as long as any members can remember.  I have a name among the missionaries, they won't tell me but my companion has told me it is because I was born here, so I am infamous???  I have no idea, but yeah.  Oh, the member doing arm wrestling with me has never lost one match.  I almost beat him.  He wants to try it again in three weeks, when I may leave this area.

2. This week is the first week that I have eaten with a fork in a while.  The funny part is, it was in a Chinese Food Resturant.  I am dying over that :)  I never thought in a million years... I don't know why, but yeah, it kills me :)  We went to Koria the other day, it is a city here.  The only way to get to it (well, the only practical way) is to walk for about 40 minutes in an old dried up river bed.

Elder Cazier

Elder Squire

Elder Squire

Elder Squire

 3. I find that loving the people is hard but easy.  The people want me to speak and they are kinda upset with me right now because I can't.  It upsets me too.  I want to talk to them as much as they want me to.  But when I do talk to them they just look at me weird and then ignore what I said.  I love them to death though because they all love me to death.  It's hard to explain but I am working really hard to learn Spanish good enough to communicate.
4. As I said earlier, I am loving what I am doing.  There are times that I feel discouraged, but it never lasts long.  I have found that as I love what I am doing and who I am teaching it is not work but more of a want.  Not even that, it is more of a longing to teach and help them to know what I know.  We have seen so many blessings in our lives that I can't even number them.

I love and miss everyone and want everyone to know that they are loved!  -  Elder Cazier

It Doesn't Matter How Hard You Hit...

James 1:5
1. Life Here in a Rancho.
2. My Companion
3. The Area
4. Shipping Things
5. Esperitu Penser
1. Where do I start?  Well, first, I guess, is 'What's a Rancho?'.  A Rancho is a border town, so a town that is outside the borders of a city.  My city and area are called Juan Eugelio, good luck pronouncing it ;).  It is 3rd World for sure.  It has some 1st World things, like a microwave.  Which is currently the only way we cook.  We have an icebox to keep things cool.  Um, we only have running water like 8 hours a day and no boiler or anything for the heating of the water for showers, outside of the microwave.  So, I take cold showers.  It is roughly the size of Bloomington here, but with a lot more houses and no farmland.  The roads are dust, not dirt, but dust.  Every step I take I sink like an inch or two (Should have brought boots).  The dust is waterproof, I swear.  It's weird to say but to wash our shoes we have to use a stick pad to get off the dust.  So this place is kinda just like the cities you hear about but really small.

Mi Casa

The Kitchen

The Study

The Bedroom

The Bathroom with NO Hot Water

Juan Eugelio

2. Elder Squire is a boss!  He is reteaching me Spanish because I really know nothing.  He is showing me the ropes.  Um, I don't know what else to say... He is a Missionary.

Elder Squire and Elder Cazier

3.  The area is large but we are only allowed to go to a few parts and only on the days that they don't party.  It sounds weird but they will just randomly decide to have a huge party.  We call them partys for partys.  There is not much else to do but party or work.  Soooo, yeah, party is what they do.  The National Drink is Alcohol.  It is most of what the people drink, that and Coke.  It's a really nice area and I love it!  There are about 100 members but not all of them can do a lot.  It is a really poor area and so we really help provide help.  We clean the church and mow the lawn.  That is our weekly service.

4.  I do not have an address.  I live in Juan Eugelio, that's all they have.  So, yeah, just keep doing what you are doing (Sending letters and packages to the Mission Home).  But put my name on the package and so no one else claims it as theirs.
5.  Remember, whatever the devil throws at you, you can overcome it!  He has no power over you if you don't give him any power over you.
Love and Miss You All!  -  Elder Cazier

To: Dad
1. What's Keeping me Grounded
2. Time Spent and Time Wasted
3. Ponder the Effects of the Lords Hand
1. I have heeded your words to the annoyance of my companion.  He hears my alarm and freaks out every morning a little.  I continue to push forward.  He is a good guy!  I find that my workouts, with a prayer before and after, push my body and have aided in cutting time down and increasing the pace.  I also try to incorporate working out into everything I do.  The roads in my city (Juan Eugelio) are just dust so to minimize dust getting on my shoes I march everywhere, it also helps with the uneven roads and terrain.  But my body is weaker than my mind.  I continue but my body says 'No More'.  For instance, my knees are sore enough from the marching to make kneeling painful, and my shoulders die under the weight of my bag from the pushups I do.  But I am recognizing that the Lord keeps my head grounded as I do this and then take my cold shower (there is no hot water but I am starting to like it).  Along with this, I have taken up drawing once again to give my brain a break in time I cannot work out.  I am lacking back exercises because, kid you not, there is no way I can do pull-ups anywhere.
2. I have found that as I get balance in my life, I gain more and more.  But I have been told that the Lord's time is what I am wasting.  That hurts my heart!  I find that I complain about much but follow in faith knowing that all will be ok.  I have drawn a line in the sand and people are starting to get used to it.  I have had my first Coke in over 6 weeks and it was so worth it! (It's not allowed but ok because it is used by missionaries as a water supplement.)  I love that stuff!  I also have found that as I walk around I cannot see.  This is due to how bright the sun is at times and how weak my eyes are.  I brought sunglasses but have been banned from wearing them due to the fact that the risks are too high if I do.  Sunglasses are a symbol of wealth here and we do NOT want to get mugged here.  If you are, chances are not good.  We are allowed to wear hats though and that's my only saving grace.  when I wear a large hat I can semi-see, so I have always worn a hat outside.
3. This week I have seen miracles in my life, similar to the Brother of Jared (well, at least to me).  I kinda locked us out of our casa.  To get back in we speared our broken house key with an old tree branch (Its name is now 'The Staff of Moses', due to Elder Squire).  After we speared the key we pulled it out of the house lock on the inside, we moved it over to a piece of paper, and then put that paper in a bag and lifted it up to the window that we were standing at.  All of this was done with a stick that is about 6 feet long and we could not see anything until we got a hold of the bag.  I have found that this was hard, but it was a miracle that we got it!I know that the Lord's hand is in my life!  My goal this week is to try and see it and thank the Lord for all He has done!  I urge you to do the same with the whole family.  I love you and miss you.  I also thank you for all of the knowledge you have given me over my life and hope you continue to give me more.  -  Elder Cazier

I'm Here at Last

Nov. 13, 2017  @ 9:53 a.m.
I have arrived safely at my new area and I am not dead.  At this moment I am on my P-Day.  I can write e-mails but I am letting others write first so I may write back later today.  I don't know much and have just been in meetings so far.  I love you and can't wait to tell you more.
Nov. 13, 2017  @ 4:34 p.m.
As far as it goes, I am safe.  I have a companaro, I have a casa, and the mission is not what I thought.  I am in one of the more poverty-stricken areas.  It is Hot!!!  I have no idea what to say about it but it is kinda weird.  I have yet to see my real area but I am just going off what mi companaro has said.  I am in a crazy area and it gets crazier!  I love you and miss you!  -  Elder Cazier

The Most Important Work is Within Your Own Walls

1. How I'm happy to hear of what's happening back at the home front
2. What's happening here
3. My fears and concerns
1. As I hear of Hinckley and K.J., I feel that the Lord is blessing you as I'm out here, which means He's doing what he promised.  I also feel an overwhelming sense of love and pride for how strong my family is and how we never falter to love one another even though we are miles apart.  I know that right now is tough with time, I have felt that way a lot in the past and I know that it's rough and at times all you want to do is sleep the worries away. But I know that this is not right, we can't run from issues.  We can only face them with courage and love. I share this with you for reasons, but I am glad to hear that you are doing just that. It is also amazing to hear what you're up to. I'm going to miss Thanksgiving and chilling with my family and friends. It's strange not having good potatoes and missing out of the home cooked meals I took for granted. As for missing me, DONT! I know that it is better to think of what you have and not what you don't have. It has made a world of difference in my life as of late and I want you to try it. (K.J., and Hinckley, don't take life too seriously.  Just lay back and enjoy the time you got there.  As for missing me, K.J. I hope you know I'm missing the short you as well.  I hear you grew a lot just after I left. I guess I can't beat you up any more ;).  And Hank, you are giving it your all, and for that I'm proud.  But I don't want you to work yourself to death, remember that relaxing is sometimes the best thing to do.  Try playing a video game with K.J. it'll be fun! Mom, I'm missing the hugs I used to give you. Here, hugs are a huge no-no, not even your companion or anyone, and I get in a lot of trouble for doing side hugs in public.  Please, don't be afraid to hug my brothers whenever you get the chance. 
2. This week we have had the honor of gettting two more people in our roma.  They both have issues and had to stay another week.  We now have Elder Christofferson - he has high blood pressure and a stutter.  The stutter hasn't ever held him back but the high blood pressure is (Please, keep him in your prayers).  His companion is Elder Fisher, he's had trouble following all the rules.  He has a really strong spirit and we all love how out-going he is and how much he loves the work.  As for me, all the lessons, now, are taught in complete Spanish.  It's fun learning Spanish. The addition to our roma has been hard on everyone.  The CCM president came to us to see if it was ok, we all said yes, and we love having them, but it has put a power struggle in play. We just got over it a few nights ago.  Our old roma leader became our zone leader and our new roma leader has a plan that will help these two, but our zone leader does not like the plan much and was acting against it. We all had to sit down and talk about what was going on and what was happening.  I'm really glad I fought with K.J. all the time because it was the chew out sessions I got all the time that helped solve the issue.  So thanks Dad for those lessons. I also have gotten two nicknames the last week and I'm not sure they fit. One is Crazy CAZIER- they heard I did some rock climbing and they all asked me if I could climb a wall here in the CCM.  I managed to get up and down before anyone noticed and so I guess that I am crazy???  I assume that's where it's from but that happened in week three and It just wasn't a big deal.  My other nickname is Doc.  I happen to be a bad luck charm because when I'm around people get hurt.  I don't hurt people, but I am there.  So I have been making A LOT of trips to the infirmary.  I also am getting really good at cleaning wounds and applying the right kind of bandages and then passing them on to a doctor to prescribe drugs.  The last couple of weeks I've been told I need a haircut but the people who cut hair here have messed up every haircut of the people around me... so yaaaa, I'm waiting for the Field. I have gotten over this little mound and am working on another.  It's strange but once I get one thing done I have a harder one waiting for me.
3. Because I am leaving and traveling on Monday, November 13th at 2:30 in the morning, I need some money on my card.  The church is not paying for my bags to fly so I need quite a bit of money.  The laws for luggage are different in Mexico.  It costs a bit more for luggage so the church reimburses us once in the Field but won't pay beforehand. They also have a limit on how much your carry-on can weigh, 20 lbs.  Because of all my study material and stuff my carry on is resting around 40-50 lbs.  I was not expecting to have this rule and so I am leaving most of the stuff the church has given me behind, my only other option is to leave clothing.  I'm not happy about this at all and am really upset.  I guess my mission president can give me the stuff again, or that's the hope anyway.  As of late, we have been told a lot about how we are loved but how we do not do a good job.  Or how we need to improve but then they say but remember General Conference (as in the talk Uchtdorf gave about not being too hard on yourself).  It really feels like a just kidding type thing (ex. you're dumb... just kidding).  It hits me hard because when I work harder I tend to break rules, like the go to bed by 10:30pm or the don't wake up till 6:30am.  Those rules have almost disappeared for me, but I get in so much trouble because I read from 9:30 (when I get home) to about 11, and get up at 5 to study and work out. I have been called out multiple times and I say it's the only way to fit in personal study and to be healthy and the subject is dropped. I feel like they want us to work but are not willing to drop anything.... it confuses me.  I know it's different in the Field and that's what I'm waiting for, and what I'm craving now. I love hearing from you and worry about not hearing from you.  Please continue writing. I love and miss you all!!!  -  Elder Cazier

To Dad,  Know that your e-mail was a call to action for me.  I have accepted that call.  I am in the process of doing what you have said.  I wish and hope to become better.  I feel that I am doing ok now but I refuse to stop.  My goal is to come out of the night that covers me and face the enemies I have with courage and never give up!  I also know that my agency is something that will die when God destroys me if he so chooses.  No man will ever destroy it.  I am the Master of my Fate and the Captain of my Soul!  I want you to know that I am doing my best and I long to do better.  With Love, Elder Cazier

More Alive Than Ever

2nd Nephi 31:20   There's not much to say for this week.  Everything is the same.  The days have been melding together into one day.  Yes, we sleep and stuff but it just doesn't seem real.  There is nothing we can do about it, though.  It just seems like it's flying by.  As far as it goes, the last four days have felt like the time between breakfast and lunch.  I enjoy this because that means the next 12 days in the CCM will fly by and that is exactly what I want.  I can't wait to get out in the Field!  If the rest of my mission feels like this then it'll be like I don't have to survive but it will be like a one-day thing.  I can now see what the other missionaries are talking about when it comes to serving but not working.  It makes no sense but it makes sense once you are out here!?!?  I am not sure what to think about it but right now it is a blessing.  I am missing home but it's also like this is my home for the time being.  It's a little strange!  I have no idea what to think about that.  The impeachment of time and resources is wearing on me now.  The other day I wanted to look up some dumb thing like 'who created soccer'.  Once I said it, the rest of our class wanted to know, but we can't use the Internet unless we are in our computer lab or the classroom.  So we all walked over there and sat down to find the answer, but we found out that Google is banned from all computers.  It's now like someone just deleted all forms of history besides church history.  When we have questions now about the outside world we write them down and wait because we can't get the answers here.  Hard but not hard at the same time.  This is what I imagine purgatory like.  Everything takes so long but it flies by.  I hate it but I love it.  Connected to the outside world but disconnected from all the knowledge of the outside world.  If you think this is strange try living it.  All of us in our roma are now kinda zombie-like in our movements.  But we also are all more alive than ever.  We feel more joy now in talking to investigators and study than before because it brings back the concept of time.  We have almost lost that concept, the only thing keeping that intact is the sun and the moon.  I have not described this well but know that I love it here still!  I just can't wait to get out to the Field and start real work!  Let me know what is happening in the outside world (yes, I have adopted the idea that I live in a bubble now).  I think only people who have been to the CCM or an MTC know this feeling.  Let me know how you are feeling.  I want you all to know that I love you and miss you!  All of you are in my prayers!
To: Mom,  I have gotten everything you have sent me.  I got the stamps last night, and I got the box, and everything.  I bribed the cashier in the tienda to let me keep my soda in the fridge for 5 hours.  It was like 5 bucks, but so worth it just to have an ice cold soda!  It sends shivers down my spine, even now.
My zone leader is really sick.  His stomach is not handling the food well.  His mission is in St. George.  They are debating sending him early because of the food thing.  The other day I helped him to the CCM hospital for bad chest pain and a sore stomach.  I have been nominated as one of 5 missionaries who help there.  I am the only one with on-the-job training.  They have me working for our zone and roma, which they transfer sick people in and out of regularly.  Some of the teachers are doctors and then there is me.  We often help those not feeling well.  I love you and miss you!  - Elder Cazier   P.S. You need to go to Compass and tell my CNA teacher thank you! It's because of her that a person is alive.  The medical system in Mexico is strange.  -  Elder Cazier

Listen to the Spirit

Mexico City Temple

Ephesians 6:10-18    Hola mi familia,
It's crazy here!  Me and my companions just had what I consider the most spiritual moment I've ever had in my life, and also one of the hardest.  I won't go into details on that but it was amazing!  I have so much left to learn and do.  The real investigators they pulled in were really nice.  Some of them were members but for the most part they were real.  I got another companion, kinda.  He's Hispanic and we are only companions every once and a while.  It is his first week and he knows no English and so it was fun talking about how to teach.  During the lesson we both said some funny things in Spanish that made no sense but the investigator was nice and put up with us.  We had him commit to read the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith History.  We will see later on if he did but I know he did, just from the spirit that was in that room.
It's amazing to hear from everyone!  I love getting e-mails!  It's the only real thing that slows my mind down.  The Spanish has my mind running so fast that it is hard to actually think normally now.  As far as it goes, it is literally the same thing every day.  At this point, the lessons have plateaued for the moment.  My whole class can now carry a conversation and we almost always speak in Spanish around the dinner table now.  And we only speak Spanish in the afternoon.  But don't confuse this with ease, we are speaking in a kinda crappy way.  We all make little to no sense to the investigators.  I know for a fact that I speak it and they get my point but it is like talking to a toddler who has a Spanish to English dictionary.  We are always looking up new words.
My Companion, Elder Tanuvasa has gotten better.  But I got sick and Elder Fie eiki got sick, as well.  It was just a small cold and we are almost over it now.  The cough is just clinging to life.  We are going to the temple again today.  I love it!  I encourage you to look up a picture of it.  We have stopped working out for a little bit as to get feeling better but will soon start again.
This week has been rough because I crave music that is not church related, like Eye of the Tiger, We will Rock You, All you need is Love, or anything Queen.  And I long for an ice cold Coke (the CCM/MTC does not have ice or Coke) it kills me!  So, if you get the chance, drink one in memory of me.
The walls have seemed to shrink.  We are all starting to go stir crazy.  We long for some real walking and talking.  We know we have so much left to learn and practice but we also just want to see something and feel free.  It's ironic because we are a bunch of Americans trying to get over a wall and go into Mexico, when in America some are thinking we are building a wall to stop people from Mexico from coming into the U.S.  We always joke with the Hispanics that that's the case.  The Hispanics are so funny!  Now that I can kinda understand the jokes, they just crack me up!  It's just like sitting through a whole comedy show, but it never ends.  They all could be great comedians one day.

My casa.  I don't have a picture of the inside but just imagine
one big room with 2 bunk beds and a table.  The bathroom is
just a regular bathroom.

The district is family & audit is for devices.  Wake up at 6:30 at
the latest.  Our goals, I challenge you to do them as well.

It's so weird.  This was next to the nicest mall that I have ever seen.
It is a 'homeless home' (translated).  It goes without saying that the
concept of money is weird here.  I don't understand it.
It is different than America.

My CCM familia.  Everyone is amazing and I think they are the
reason why I am not getting super homesick.

I love and miss everyone!  Don't kill my dog as I am gone, I want to see him again.  I miss you and am praying for you.  Please take my messages to heart.  Listen to the spirit!  If there is one thing I wish I did more of when I was home, it would be to get used to listening to the spirit.  I love you! -  Elder Cazier

To Dad,  I am fine and the wall around me is 2 feet of thick concrete, 15 feet high, and it has about 5 feet of barbed wire, plus I have God on my side!  Outside of this, it's really nice and almost like a haven from all things.  I have no idea what is going on in the outside world except for the sounds I hear come over the wall.  Those sounds are slim to none, we barely hear the trains that are only one block away.  It's crazy what a wall will do, but enough about that.  How's life going?  I hear you are working hard.  Is it going ok?  How is K.J.?  I worry that he's having a harder time without me than I think.  How's Grandma Cazier?  I just know nothing.  It is kinda weird.  I can't wait for Christmas when I can call you!  I just can't wait!  The CCM is kinda weird, it's like school but as a job.  That's really just what it is.  Love you and miss you!  -  Elder Cazier

To Hinckley,  Hey, Bud.  How's it going?  I hear you are doing well in physical therapy.  I miss going with you and chilling with you!  I just wanted to let you know that you are in my prayers and that you are so much stronger than you think you are!  I know that the best way to receive help is by helping others.  I just barely learned that.  I have no idea why.  If you look for a way to help those around you, I know that they will open back up to you.  It is happening to me.  I was the only one to not speak Spanish here.  The feeling I got was to help those in the class with anything no matter how small.  Now I still am the lowest level of Spanish speaker known to ban, but I help everyone and it makes me happy.  And they end up helpoing me in the end.  I know that you are special!  I also chalenge you to read your blessing, it tells you tings God wants you to know.  That's all I can say about that.  I love you bud, and care for you deeply, and want nothing more than for you to be happy!!!  So go out and be happy and don't let anything stop that!  Learn to laught, tell jokes, and live the life that God wants you to live!  It's you that matters and it's you that God loves.  Hank, I don't want to hear that you are fiving up, EVER!  You are too strong for that!  you are a Cazier, which means even more!  So don't even think about it.  Love you, Bud!  -  Elder Cazier

Share the Love and Joy of the Gospel

The MTC used to be a School.

Here I am with some Art that is here.

1 Nephi 15:11   I am missing everyone so much!  It is hard to look around and think where I would be right now if I wasn't on my mission.  It's super Crazy!  Sorry for the late response, they moved my P-day to today this week and so I could get my Visa extended.  It's so Crazy, the CCM (MTC) is kinda in the bad part of Mexico City.  Today we went to the good part to get our Visas extended.  It was almost like home except with skyscrapers and stuff and returning was even more crazy because we were able to see how sad it really is just outside the walls surrounding us.  

These are the Neighborhoods here in Mexico.

It is crazy because you will see this and then

right across the street there will be a super 

nice, modern shopping center.

My Companion Elder Tanuvasa has gotten really sick with Walking Pneumonia.  It has been going around the CCM because we are all super packed in together here, it's kinda crazy, but he is doing a little better as of now, but it may come back, we don't really know.  

I received the package you sent me.  Thank you so much!  Most of the candy was amazing, just like everything else.  But the suckers were like the Cinnamon Challenge with Jalapeno.  They were very interesting, I'll have to send some home when I'm out in the Field.

The game is over... My mom guessed what the Wooden Picture from last week was.  It was the Tree of Life.  I will send it home, as well, when I get out into the Field.

It is still really hard work out here.  We are teaching our first real investigators next Saturday.  They bring in members and investigators to learn.  We are all freaking out!  But we all know that we will be blessed and that we will do all we can to share the love and joy of the Gospel.

As for what we are doing right now... It's the same as last week but just more challenging.  I am able to read Spanish and understand 90% of what the real Latinos are saying.  Well, I get what they mean. I don't necessarily understand what they say, per say, but I know what they mean.  They are so funny!  I don't know how they get anything done at all.  They are always making jokes and teasing people.  It is so funny to watch them play a sport or hear them talk to you.  I am always laughing here!  It is amazing!

Tell Kai (our dog) that I miss him.  I dropped a chip and walked away thinking he would come and eat it but later I stepped on it and made a mess.  I feel bad that I am not there to spoil him.

Love you and miss you all so much!!!!!!  -  Elder Cazier

Mexico City Temple Trip

Mexico City Temple Trip - October 12, 2017.

I am Loving it here!

3rd Nephi 5:13   Como es mi familia, I am loving it here! The work is hard but I am learning fast.  As far as it goes, I am having full conversations with my companions.  I got another companion right after I sent the last e-mail.  His name is Elder Tanuvasa, he is from Utah but his mom is from the Islands and Elder Fie'eiki is Samoan.  They came in knowing Spanish and are fluent.  We have been talking only in Spanish for the last couple of days.  It is amazing, the gift of tongues is amazing!
I hear it's getting cold up there.  I've had like 70s and 80s down here.  It's really nice, but we just had our first freak rainstorm.  It was insane!  We were walking and out of nowhere, just a heck ton of rain just poured down on us.  It was only like 10 minutes long but it dropped like 5 inches of water.
My companions are getting gifts from a site called 'Missionary Package Mx', I believe.  They only get food, but it's all amazing. *For K.J.... They literally have the best chips down here!  It's crazy!  I can't send any home right now but once I'm in the Field I will.  The candy is amazing, they all have huge amounts of REAL sugar.  The chocolate does not have much wax, it's like they took all the crap out of candy and left the good stuff.
I am the richest Missionary here because I came with $200 American, which transferred into about 5000 pesos.  Which means I'm the big man here.  I love going into the store *tienda... and just getting someone something, it makes them so happy.
We have a casa *house which is nice.  We share it with a group of Hispanic Elders and throw a party every Saturday and Wednesday night to relax. It's Amazing!
We are about to go to the Mexico City Temple and do a session.  I love it here and just can't wait to go out of the walls and see what the real Mexico is like.  This is like a slice of America dropped into Mexico.  It has a lot of Hispanic cultures though, which is amazing.  Some Elders are getting sick because of the food they are serving.  They just get the runs, but that hasn't happened to me yet.  I love the food!  It is like better Mexican food than the stuff back at home.  I can't even describe it, it's that good.  They love the fruit flavored stuff so I had strawberry syrup this morning, it's really good, REALLY GOOD!  They serve salad every day and have veggies and fruits everywhere.  It is amazing!
I've gained 10 pounds but it is in muscle.  My companions are... Fie'eiki - Bodybuilder and Tanuvasa - Runner.  We have been doing a 4 mile run each morning and then hitting the weights.  I thought that I worked out a lot, but, oh my, we do almost a 2-hour workout a day plus gym for an hour and a half.  It's Crazy!  We're waking up at 5:30 and going to bed by 10:30. Just Real Fun!
I love you and miss you.  Everyone but me has a working Ipad to read e-mails and send e-mails to their family.  Mine is broke and won't let me read e-mails so I just have P-day.  But I love sneaking in an e-mail during some free time and study time.  It keeps me motivated.  As far as it goes, I have Spanish study from 8am to 4pm then Spanish Lesson giving from 4pm to 9 pm, then bed.  We get 30-minute breaks for food, sometimes more.  Where my casa is, is in the very back on the farthest place away from our classes so we do a lot of walking back and forth to get things and go home.  In all honesty, I am doing a ton of physical activity.  It's nice and I love it!
I forgot one thing.  That is the cord to hook my camera up to the computers.  It's an A/V out... no clue what that means but my companion has one and is letting me borrow it.
It's so colorful here, the shades of green, oh my, there is so many on just one tree.  We have a bunch of green birds that live here as well.  We all love them because they squawk and distract the teachers, and they give us a break. I just want to say I love you!

Me and my Companeros.

Elder Capson * He's from Idaho Falls.

Can you guess what this is?  The answer will come next week.

When I am in the field I'll send it to you.

I'll check my e-mail when I'm back from the temple if I have time.  The traffic is super scary here.  there are laws but no one obeys them.  We had a car drive in-between us and another bus on a 2 lane road when we got off the airplane because the busses move slower than the cars.  It's Crazy! -  Elder Cazier

To Dad,  There is a church just outside the CCM and it fires fireworks every time someone is baptized.  So far we have heard so many fireworks.  It is insane!  It is also a driving force.  It makes me want to work harder every time I hear one.  I want to share the gospel with that many people as well. We hear at least 15 a day :)

Everything you taught me is coming to good use now.  I have people from around the CCM asking me to shine their shoes for them and to iron their shirts.  I have to thank you for that skill.  I love you, papa!  -  Elder Cazier