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