Sunday, April 29, 2018

April 9, 2018

1. New Areas
2. My Week
3. Investigators
4. Praying for you
1. Well due to a lack of time I am writing fast.  I am worried because I have been divided between three areas and I don't know any of them really well.  One of the first things I need to learn is the area and so I don't get lost!  I worry about this a lot!
2. My week was hectic.  I have so much to do and so much more to study.  I am learning the ropes of three areas and working practically day and night to live.  But it is all great!  I also caught the flu.  it is very weird being sick here because everyone thinks that you are going to die but trust me, I am fine.  I was way sicker in my last area.
3. We have some amazing investigators in all three areas...
Armando - He needs help with chastity and with going to church but has a very strong testimony.
Lupita - She likes drugs and has been clean once she started the lessons and if she continues to stay clean and learn more she will get her children back.
Efrine - He wants to understand everything but is a little harder to teach.  He is trying to listen but he doesn't understand much.  He feels the spirit and wants more but he doesn't know how.  All he knows is when he has us around he feels more.
4. I know life can be stressful and crazy.  Mom, I am keeping you in my prayers.  Know that the best thing you can do is relax and just remember the things that you have learned.  It is harder if you overwork yourself! 
I love you all and keeping you in my prayers!  -  Elder Cazier

April 2, 2018 - Pictures 2 of 2












April 2, 2018 - Pictures 1 of 2

















April 2, 2018

1. A Broken Foot
2. Work
3. General Conference



1. So in the photos I sent you there is one of a broken foot, and well, it is Elder Bolmon's little toe.  He got a fracture and it is not that great.  He is here to see if it will heal in 2 or 3 weeks.  If nothing happens he will be going home.  Please keep him in your prayers.  From what I know I have been and will be taking care of him.
2. We have stopped the work for the last 4 days in my area because of this emergency.  We need companions to teach and he needs a companion.  I have stayed with him and my companion went to his area with his companion.  I am so ready to get back to work!  I have felt so lazy the last couple of days even though I have helped take care of him.  I have cleaned all of the ZLs houses twice and well, I am so ready to just hit the grind.
4. I was able to watch General Conference in English.  it was amazing and I loved every minute of it!  It will be good to get some things moving in the church and I think that this is good and it will help the church a lot!
Love and miss everyone!!! - Elder Cazier

Monday, April 16, 2018

March 26, 2018

1. My Area
2. My Companion
3. I Love Life



1. My area is a lot like Idaho Falls but with Mexican Style.  Our city is really kinda amazing, it is hard for me to learn the streets and know where I am going.  It is also hard to talk.  I was born in a rancho and people use different slang and different words here.  It is hard in different ways and it is, in all honesty, easier to live here.  Juan Eugelio was harder to do basic needs of life and not to be sick and not die (Just Kidding ;).  Here we have stores nearby and life is a blast!
2. Me and my new companion don't have a lot in common like Fuentes and I did.  But we are making things great and we get along good.  We aren't quiet so close but that comes with time and we have got that.  We are getting used to each other.  He knows a lot of stuff that I don't know and he has a ton of time in the mission and so I am following his words.  I am trying to learn how to be a district leader, how to dance Columbian, and how to cook... all things that he knows and does.  That is just the stuff I am doing on the side to get closer to my companion.  It is crazy but it's getting there.
3. My area has two things I love, #1 Boiler - BOOO YAAAHHHH #2 Gym - HOOOO YAAAHHH!  We do about an hour and a half of workouts every morning and then shower cold and in the night shower HOT. I am living the dream!  -  Elder Cazier

March 19, 2018

1. Baptism
2. Cambio (Elder Sandoval)
3. Goals for this Cambio
4. A Thought of Home
5. A Story and a Lesson
1. The baptism was amazing!  It was perfect!  I am so happy and it is the first of many!  Hannia and Herson are super happy!  The mother was not so much, we got her permission but she still doesn't like the church much.  The father was not able to baptize them so I baptized Herson and Fuentes baptized Hannia.  It turned out really well and we had Tonuvasa sing and play the ukulele and now everyone wants one.  It was amazing and it was kinda rare.  Every missionary tried to baptize them and we were the ones able to do it.  It was amazing and the Spirit was so strong!
2. So I had camibios, I am now in Nuevo Lenres.  Everyone told me it was a Rancho but it really isn't.  It is a Pueblo, 2 or 3 steps bigger than a Rancho.  It is very different and I am so ready to get started!  My new companion is Elder Sandoval from Colombia.  We are going to get along nicely.  We have a boiler but I don't think I will use it very often (you will see why).  We will have a lot of success and I know this because we both want to baptize this cambio and we are going to be working extra hard to do that!  I know that things will be hard but that is why I am here.  I was put in a hard area to start and now it is time to help others!  I have been trained and now it is time to start training others and working to be a better missionary!  It is not going to be easy but HOOYAH let's do it!!!  I know nothing of this area and so it will be fun meeting people.  I have already met 3 members, Luis and Rosalinda, times two, mother and daughter.  It's great getting to know new people!
3. So I have a lot of goals for this cambio.  For example, I want to workout every day and we will have two baptisms minimum and read the Book of Mormon, I figured out that if I read 7 chapters of the Book of Mormon a day that I can finish it by the end of this cambio in a month and a half!  I have also decided to grow my hair out to protect my head from the sun a little and see if I can have a better haircut.  I want to be more grateful and work harder.  I also want to be more outgoing and fight for my chance in the lessons and start taking the lead.  I am tired of people saying we can't do something I want to do because they are comp. major.  So, yeah, it is time I push past my limits.  I am also studying conference a lot more and taking a lot more notes and praying more.
4. I thought of home the other day and of my baptism and it brought tears to my eyes.  I force myself not to think of home often because I am a baby about it and I don't want to cry.  But I allowed myself and I just wanted to thank everyone for helping me make good choices and be a better person.  I am missing you!
5. I have found and have been taught the importance of having lists.  I am starting to use lists and do more.  I have found I am cleaner when I use them and I get more done.  It's amazing seeing the difference in my day when I use them and what happens when I do!
I love you all and miss you!  Sorry that I don't have photos, in the craziness I left my cord at my new house and so I will have photos next week.  - Elder Cazier

March 12, 2018

1. A Story
2. Mosiah 24:13
3. Much Love
4. Put Forth all your Heart
5. Prayers
1. So, I kinda told you about Hannia and Herson a while back.  Well, I have great news.  Their mother is super catholic and when her mom (their grandmother) passed away she had said: "I don't want any of my descendants to join the church of the devil." so the mom was following this and not letting her children join the church.  We were working with her to how her that we are not devils and that we believe in Christ.  These teachings shouldn't have been hard because she had gone to church and she has a lot of family who are members, but she followed the teachings of her mother.  Then this Tuesday we had a 'noche de hogar' with them and we watched the old restoration and then asked Hannia to share her testimony.  Then, Abigail, a young woman, shared her testimony.  We ten shared ours and we testified of the blessings that would come.  We asked the father (a member) if he gave us his permission to baptize them and then we asked the mom....... Literally, a miracle happened!  She nodded her head, having had her heart softened by the spirit!  I give all credit to God, for it really was him using us, not us trying to invite Him.  We had them sign papers saying that they are ready.  So this Saturday we have a baptism!  Thank you so much for your prayers, they have helped so much!  I feel how much they have helped!  After that Hannia said 'I have waited so long for this!'  She is 15 and she has wanted this since she could remember.  She waited until she turned 8 but it didn't happen.  Now it is going to happen!  I have heard that others tried to help her but to no avail and now thanks to the mighty power of prayer and of miracles in this world they are being baptized by their father.  After she said that I was looking around and everyone and I mean everyone was crying and I was like 'What the heck?' and then I felt the tears on my cheeks also.  The Spirit was really there!
2. (Preface, read the chapter and pay attention to the verse, then read this.)  I only have one more week in this area most likely.  I feel like after all my working God has given me a blessing and lifted me up to the happiness I now feel!  Not for my own work but for them and how God has blessed them.  This also applies to them a lot!  Then there is one more thing this applies to and it is my family and all those having a hard time!  Read this and take comfort and know we will rise up and be blessed.
3. I have always felt a lot of love for my area but this week it is indescribable!  There is so much and even more for those in need.
4. I know I have put all of my heart into this area.  I have always liked the saying 'Wear your heart on your sleeves,' and I see it in a new light now!  Wear it on your sleeves because it is better to work with and work harder!  It is way better, I testify that as you put love in your actions blessings will follow, it may take time, but they will come!
5. Please pray for Victor, he has not been wanting lessons.  He wants to be a member but he doesn't want to be baptized.  He knows that baptism is our job, we are to bring souls to Christ through faith and repentance and baptism!  He now fears us and is hiding from us, so if we could pray for him to have courage and for his heart to be softened that would be great!
We don't have a lot of investigators right now, so this is it.
I love and miss everyone and long to hear your voices! - Elder Cazier

Thursday, April 12, 2018

March 5, 2018

1. Worry
2. Work
3. Love
1.  I heard about your car accident.  Please, tell me everything!
2. We are working really hard right now and this will continue until I succeed!
3. Cambios are coming up in 2 weeks and I believe that I will be going to Durango.  I am trying to save money for the trip.  It is going to be weird going somewhere else because I have a lot of love for the people here.  It is getting weird though because they have had a new missionary for so long.  So it will be strange for the area and for me.
I don't have a lot to write about this week, sorry. 
Know I love and miss you all, Stay safe! - Elder Cazier

February 26, 2018

1. A Story
2. Gracias
3. Family
4. Prayers
1. So we went to Navora's house this week and had a shock, the father of her sisters had returned.  I learned something very important, something that I have taken for granted all of my life and something that I didn't even think existed.  We went there and we were invited to sit down and immediately something was wrong.  Every time we have gone there the Spirit was waiting for us and as soon as we were in their house the Spirit flooded in, but with this man there, there was nothing.  We started to talk and invite the spirit like missionaries do, but when we said anything that invited the spirit he would do something to counteract it.  For example, we asked, "Navora, How's your day?" Then her 'kinda' father (father of Navora's youngest sister, *Not married, just living there) said "Her day has been perfect. I entered her life again!"  "OK, well, what is your name, sir?"  "Carlos, gringo!!!"  Whenever he talked my anger would rise and I felt my blood boil, in other words, I felt the Spirit of Contention.  Eventually, after about an hour, we were able to hit the topic of the church.  It is hard to dodge the topic of the church for an hour with missionaries!  We found out he is apart of AA and well, I don't know what it's like in the states but here it is crazy!  They have their own Bible and everything!  It is different than anyone else's!  We were able to start with a lesson.  once we said the prayer my companion, Elder Fuentes started to 'planch' (get after) the father.  This was necessary because in that hour we found out that he is using this family to get the things he wants like money, drugs, alcohol, and more.  I followed with an outpouring of love, something we have found that works really well when we have to 'planch'.  It went well and we had a good reception with the family even with him.  then we moved on and started teaching Navora about the restoration, but something was still wrong.  I had not understood some things and I was not feeling the Spirit so I decided to testify of Christ, a sure way to bring the spirit to a house!  When I finished I asked Navora a question about how she felt about the church and about prayer.  She started to answer and the father interrupted her and she got up and left the room for a little bit, when she came back she started to cry.  I was concerned because our last visit she could not feel the Spirit because she believed that God did not love her.  We taught her that she was a loved daughter of God and that he loves her.  We ended with a priesthood blessing given by me.  But this time it was different.  I still didn't feel the Spirit.  This is kinda where it ends.  We had to leave because our Bishop was getting mad at my companion.  They were yelling at each other and I was sitting in between them thinking "What is happening?" (I rely on the Spirit right not to understand what is going on when a plan derails).  When we left I tried to ask my companion what happened and he wouldn't say.  So I waited an hour and a half for us to drive back to Juan Eugelio in silence, which is so weird!  After we got to the church building we got our and I told my companion to tell me what happened.  It turns out the father was calling Navora the mean things people call me because she spent time in America, and even worse things, things that people are scared to call a messenger of God.  So, yeah, things went south fast and we found out why she doesn't feel loved.  Near the end, even I felt like yelling and almost wanted to attack the father.  That is because the whole family started to talk this way to Navora.
Guys, the whole time I thought they were talking to me that way.  I have to share with you what the nametag means to me.  It is a Shield of Faith, when people are in need of protection they can come to use and find shelter from the shafts and whirlwind of the devil and of the world (Helaman 5:12).  I failed my job, I can't begin to say how mad I still am and we are kinda waiting to go back because both of us still really want to condem that father.
Now time for a 'planch'.  All those fathers who read this and don't take care of your family the way God says, beware.  Especially those with daughters.  I felt the sadness God had for that man and I felt and still feel that his evilness for hurting a beloved daughter of God is beyond sadness and dwells in the depths of hell!  The way I felt is like nothing I have ever felt before!  I know missionaries are more in tune with feelings and feel more than normal and that is a gift of the Spirit.  I feel the love God has for people and for the world, not in its fullness because I believe that would break me in cases like this.  Because I felt...  I can't describe it but I beg you and the ward to pray for her because her life right now is very, very hard and I think the only way to help is to get rid of that father figure.  He is doing so much harm to this family!  It's hard to sit and hear people talk bad about a daughter of God.  As matter of fact, before my mission, I would have thrown down with this guy.  I fear to act and I fear not acting.
2. Following that, I have to thank my family for showing me so much love and support in everything I have decided to do in my life and being kind to me all my days.  I remember feeling picked on but that was nothing compared to this!  Oh, and thanks for the packages.
3. The importance of a family is to grow together closer to God and to become better children of our Heavenly Father!  Those families that counteract this by putting down their children with whatever it may be, through abuse, words and actions destroy the Plan of Salvation and hinder the progression towards God!  This is an issue I have not known and don't know how to face!  All I know is with prayer and God anything is possible.  In my blessing, I promised she would feel loved.  I believe it is up to us to make that happen.  I don't know how to help her but if anyone has an idea please share it with me.
4. Navora and her family (I hate to say this, but her father too) needs help.
Lupita - Navora's mother, said that we could not baptize her family.
Garcia - A family who wants to be better but never seems to have the time to try.
Charis - A mother who wants to go to church but is helping her sister out every Sunday and is still trying to come.
I love everyone!  I know this was a little bit of a downer e-mail but she really does need help and needs to know that she is loved by us and by our Heavenly Father and by Jesus, our Savior!  If we can get her to church one more time then to baptism I know the gift of the Holy Ghost will help her feel loved!
I love and miss everyone! - Elder Cazier