Still Kickin'

November 10, 2014

Howdy fambam! CONGRATS TO MY SUPER STAR SISTER FOR WINNING STATE. OH MY HEART. That is the best news evvveerrrr! Rock star status for sure. The weather has been oh so wonderful....and it shouldn't be this nice around this time....so I am prepared to freeze now....it can come....woof.

 

The YSA is great! Sister Lelle and I had to give big girl talks yesterday...we were the only ones to speak....20ish minutes each on missionary work. And we were called up like 2 weeks ago to bear our testimonies on missionary work. Haha I'm sure everyone is so sick of us now!

 

 

With being a sister training leader, we get to go on exchanges! And that was a really neat experience. I love working with the sisters and relying on the Lord to help me be an instrument in His hands. We also have Missionary Leadership Council once a month! So all the STLs, Zone Leaders, APs, and President and Sister Weston get together to discuss the mission and how to help it. I love it! And President really isn't as scary as he seems. He's actually hilarious.

Love seeing Sister Dumont at Leadership Training

Leadership Training Luncheon

 

KAYLA CAME TO CHURCH. Hahaha she says we play dirty because we pulled the "friend card" on her to come and hear us speak. But hey, it worked so whatever it takes! She bolted out of there before the prayer was even finished. The sneaky Pete. But she came and brought a friend. She is progressing so fast! Even though she is still fighting every step of the way. Her text about church--ya I'll come to the talky one...but remember I'M NOT COMING BACK TO CHURCH. She's such a silly goose! :) She has opened up to us so much and we now understand all of where her pain and anger comes from. She's a trooper. She even broke down crying at one of our lessons...and then tried to play tough. She is so cute. It breaks my heart the way she yells at God and swears at Him...but she just doesn't understand HOW much He loves her. Please keep praying for her.

 

We had a pizza/movie night with Angie and her friend Marisol with 3 girls from the ward. We watched the Restoration and it was really fun. Angie is not set for baptism anymore. She committed to continue to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it's true--but she also said she's going to continue to research our church and others until she knows which one is right for her. She says she just wants to make God proud of her. She's really trying and I know that when she gains her testimony, she will be rock solid! So there's a minor set back right now--but I have complete faith that she will come around soon :) we're still meeting and having lessons with her. And Marisol wants to join a church a feel included and promised to read and pray about the Book of Mormon! She's set for December 13th. Pray for these 2 gems please!

 

Neat Trail Center moment! I was able to give a 17 yr old girl named Ally, a tour on Saturday morning. She's a beauty pageant person. (S/O to Hailey Crocket! miss and love youuu) She came into the TC after doing baptisms at the temple and was waiting for her parents to finish their session. I LOVE the youth and I feel like I'm always able to connect with them. We talked about temples and how to prepare for a temple marriage and begin now to work on becoming your potential. For Ally's talent that she does at her competitions, she sings. I really felt like she needed to have the opportunity to sing in the memorial room. We get in there eventually and as I begin to bear my testimony  of this room, a large group of women just come in--not on a tour and just sit down and begin to talk very loudly as if this sacred room is just some sort of lobby/waiting area. That has NEVER happened to me before. I'll be honest--I was annoyed. So we leave and continue on our tour. By the end, I felt again that she should sing in the memorial room! We walk into the lobby and there are her parents, patiently waiting for her. I ask if they had time and if Ally would like to sing in there. She agreed and while heading to the memorial room I prayed that no one would be in there for this moment. Payers were answered  and Ally sang "Nearer My God to Thee" and it was a really tender experience. The temple was behind her, the sun was at the perfect setting, and the light of Christ was shining in her eyes. It really strengthened my testimony in God's timing. He wanted her to share her talents as well and to have that experience--but He wanted her parents to be there too. Their oldest son is super less active and being able to see their daughter shine and share her testimony meant a lot to them. I know  that Heavenly Father knows and loves each and every one of us!

 

The more I learn and teach others, the more Heavenly Father helps me see how important a mission is and why I needed to go on one. When I first came out, I thought I was just out here to help others come unto Christ. But I've recently learned how much I needed the mission to change me. To truly SAVE me. Compared to most everyone I have ever met, my life has been all sunshine and roses. I am so grateful for all that I have learned thus far, and the testimony I have gained. And I know that through Christ we can be perfect. I love this gospel! Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know me. I know that. They know my weaknesses and know how to help me overcome them. They know me better than I know myself! The atonement is real and it can help each and every one of us. I know that our prayers are heard and answered in God's timing and His own way and will. I know that if we keep holding on, that everything will always be okay. When we have faith, we never need to fear.

 

I love y'all!!

 

Sister Case

 

Love giving little kid tours

Doba Date

 

 

#favoritemonth

November 3, 2014

HOWWDDYYY. Oh my heart! I can't believe it's already November! Like stop the clock!! HBD to Shelby Bohlman :)

 

I LOVE Halloween. Just love it. Sister Cragun and I were Alice in Wonderland and the white rabbit! Golly I just love that sister. All the sisters and the senior couples had a party at the TC.

Alice in Wonderland and the White Rabbit.

Deer John :)

Freaky Children of the Corn

Halloween Fun at the Trail Center

Love working with the Senior Couples

 

Big news. Ready? I'M STILL IN COLD SPRINGS. YEEHAWW. But it's all crazy! So Sister Cragun is now the Trail Center Leader...and not my companion. BUT I'M STILL AT THE TRAIL CENTER. Oh and now I'm a Sister Training Leader. Like WHAT. I thought I was getting kicked out! (but when 15 sisters go home and only 3 new ones are called....poor President. LADIES. WHERE YOU AT? YOU NEED TO COME OUT ON A MISSON. So many areas are having to get shut down :( Hastings for sisters did. So sad of all sads.) It's kinda like the zone leader...for the sisters? And now I'm with Sister Lelle!!

She is such a gem! And this is her last transfer...so another new companion for the 100th time haha. I love it though! and I am so excited to learn and grown and just love the sisters. Sister Whipple came out with me and we became best friends the instant we saw each other--and now she's at the Trail Center too!

Yay for Sister  Whipple.

President wants there to be positivity at the Trail Center and have everyone be more unified so this is going to be SO fun. I am just so happy! We go on exchanges with the sisters in our stewardship and constantly talk to them. It's so interesting b/c before, it was just me and my companion and it's like newly wed status with no kids. But Now Sister Lelle and I have to really talk things out and be on the same page--as parents--so we can help and unify our cute baby girls. And then we're like in some relationship with our Zone Leaders its seems like b/c we all have to be on the same page together to help the zone and talk things out. and then the Assistants are like our fathers--they call and check up on us every so often. Madness. But I'm so excited for it all! I love learning and growing opportunities! Lots of prayers PLEASE.

 

Life in the YSA life is swell. I was talking to a less active in the parking lot at a fireside b/c he didn't want to stay any longer so we went to go chat...we invited him to the CES devotional after break the fast and he said NO. Well next thing I know, I'm challenging him to a race, and if I won--he had to stay for the devotional, and if he won, he obviously didn't. So there we are....racing...for a commitment to stay to be spiritually  uplifted...UGH AND I LOST. I was so ticked! I blame the pencil skirt. Not enough movement for me.....but yep. That's my life at the moment. The members are great and I love spending time with them!

Love working with the Senior Missionaries

Remember Kayla? Ya well she is doing great! She pretends to be too cool....but she's changing! :) She actually came to the Mafia to Mormon fireside at the Trail Center with all the sister missionaries for our Halloween party! (His name is Mario Fasioni....ya i'm totally spelling that wrong. But he is a gem! Highly recommend reading his book...I hear it's great!) and then she came to break the fast AND BROUGHT HER 2 FRIENDS and they all stayed for the CES devotional. MIRACLES.

With Mario Facione

I love all these incredible opportunities Heavenly Father is giving me to mold and shape me into what He wants. I have lots to learn and it's going to be hard...but I can't wait! I love my Savior, and I am so grateful for the atonement. The Book of Mormon is what brings peace to our lives when all else is falling apart. Even just a verse a day can do wonders! I know that Heavenly Father is always there for us and He is only a prayer away. I love y'all so much! I am so grateful to be a missionary.

 

Love always,

 

Sister Case

Enjoying the Quilt Show at the Trail Center

 

A Heart Full of Love

October 27, 2014

Howdy fambam! I am so happy that y'all are back home! And can I just say how much I love Elder Weston? hahaha what a gem! AND OMH CARLY HUNTER. CONGRATS. Ummmm but please wait until I get home to get all married? K thanks. (and some lady named Sister Gold found me at the Trail Center. She knows you.)

 

This week has been incredible. So many miracles and I am in awe at it all. I love this work! I never want it to end. I am so happy!

 

So lets start off from the beginning--last Monday the zone played chubby bunny. HAHAHAHA BEST THING OF MY LIFE.

 

 *oh and I don't think I ever told you? But Tyler Woodfield's roomie--Elder Sadler--is my zone leader! He's a gem. I'll snag a picture with him one of these days.*

Elder Sadler

   All the sisters at the trail center did this work out program for this women here that wants to take it to Salt Lake for all missionaries to use for working out. Lets just say that this week was deattthhhh. Almost all of us sisters were limping around and walking all funny while giving tours because we were SO sore. Highly embarrassing....

Post Workout

 

 We have Trail Center Training every Saturday morning--and I made a promise with Heavenly Father that if he let me stay here for another transfer that I would sing the musical number one of these weeks--and I finally did on Saturday! And Sister Cragun played the piano. It was oh so wonderful. I'll send you my flash drive soon so y'all can hear it.

I love YSA. Why? Because we got to help our member with her wedding decorations on Saturday. BEST SERVICE PROJECT. Hahaha and she was so excited to show us her flowers and shoes and engagement pictures and tell us all of her cute stories. Just loving life over here in Omaha.

Angelica is doing incredible! She came to church yesterday and loved it! And we had 2 great lessons with her. We gave her a tour around the Trail Center and she was just teaching us the whole time! She loves God and can't wait to be baptized! She was like "a sacrifice is really just a blessing because she get closer to God." Who is she?! Then later on in the week we taught her the Plan of Salvation...it was a rough lesson. Her roommate was really distracting (who is a guy...woof.) and Sister Cragun and I were just constantly struggling for the spirit and testifying constantly. And the questions she was asking! Good golly. But she said the closing prayer and actually thanked God for her questions because it was helping her see that she was putting forth an effort to understand more and that she had the faith to know that this plan was true.

 

KAYLA. I love her. We had a lesson with her on Wednesday and her dad actually was there! (Kayla tries to have lessons when her parents aren't home because she says they will try to "run us out.")He basically kidnapped us. He despises Mormons and he answered the door and goes "we're catholic." "Okay :) well is Kayla here? We brought her some cupcakes." He gets all confused and takes the cupcakes...and says she's asleep...so basically go away. Well we were not taking that for an answer and smiled our way into his house. *cupcakes soften hearts haha* So remember--Kayla refuses to ever come back to church, but she for some reason is still fine with meeting with us. We talk with her and then her dad starts hounding us with questions and being super rude but we were able to hold it together and THEN OUT OF NO WHERE KAYLA STARTS TESTIFYING TO HIM AND TURNING TO US FOR HELP EVERY SO OFTEN BUT SHE BASICALLY TAUGHT HIM THE RESTORATION. Sister Cragun and I were just picking our jaws up off the ground. Then on Saturday we took her out for ice-cream. Again, she's never coming back to church the second we sit down. Okayyy Kayla, we just want to be your friend. She still doesn't understand that. I want to testify that the spirit was there in that lesson outside of Dairy Queen. So strong. Probably one of the most spiritual lessons I've had on my mission. She is so sad. And she's trying so hard to push us away...but God loves her and He always will. I can hardly remember anything that I said...but I know it's what needed to be said because it was all the spirit. There were even times when I would say something and then just look over at Sister Cragun because I just realized what I just said and sometimes I thought it was way to bold and Kayla was going to be ticked-but she wasn't. Because she needed it. At the end, I was about to give her a promised blessing and she goes "God doesn't keep promises. He never has and he never will." So I told her to give me a minute and I just sat there and prayed my life away...asking him for something that I could promise Kayla if she just read the introduction to the Book of Mormon. We probably sat there for 5 minutes in silence...but I finally just said, "Kayla, I can promise you with everything in my heart, that if you will read the introduction to the Book of Mormon, you will have a good day." So simple. It was so....weird? to me. But she just looked into my eyes and asked when that would happen...because she hasn't had a good day in over 15 years. We testified to her more...and I know she left with a pinch of hope in her heart. Sister Cragun and I walked out of that lesson with so much peace and assurance that the spirit was there. That the atonement was working on her. And that God knew her.

Sister Case and Sister Cragen

I love this work. I love my Heavenly Father. I've really been opening up to him more and I finally told him that I'm ready. I'm ready to grow and become all that He wants me to become. I only have 3 transfers left--and I want Him to stretch me. I'm willing to accept whatever it is that I need to be better. I essentially gave Him my heart. I probably won't be at the trail center next transfer and I'm going to have a new companion and I don't know the area because it's the whole stake and I'm terrible at directions and I'm going back out to full proselyting...but I know everything will be okay. In the Book of Mormon, the words "look forward" keep sticking out to me. "Now let us be wise and look forward..." and it "will make for the peace of this people." Peace comes to those who are patient, and humble, and willing. And there is nothing I want more than peace in my life. I know God will take care of everything as I continue to tread through the mud and never stop pushing my own handcart. I'm confident that I'll make it to "Zion" as I turn to Him and allow him to mold me. I can't have fear--only faith. The atonement is real. The Book of Mormon is true. And I am so happy.

 

I love y'all! 

 

Sister Case

It's been a little over a year.  So happy to have Chick-fil-a!

 

 

Hangin' with my Homies

October 20, 2014

Howwddeeeee. How are y'all?! Anything neat happen this week? How is the house haha I'm dying to see what this new gem looks like.

So as you can tell from the 2 million pictures I sent--I got to go to Vala's pumpkin patch and it was so good! (so good. so good.) I do love pumpkins and fall and leaves and CORN. All the trail center sisters went together and then a few other gems came up for a little surprise. I love my life. And all the incredible examples and friends I've met here in NOM. Like forever grateful.

 

We met this less active named Joe last night and he is so cool! He just has gotten out of the habit of coming to church once he went off to college but I'm so pumped to be working with him. I swear, I am SO awkward! This whole YSA thing....woof. A lot of the people in the ward are more in their upper 20s...but we still have some who are more our age. (I only have one more month of being 20. Like who said I was allowed to grow up and be all really legal and stuff? gross.) And when he said he was 21 I just awkwardly started laughing....I have no clue why. And then I had to explain I'm still not all used to this teaching people our age thing and golly....but I mean by the end of it he thought we were normal and he's coming to fhe tonight so all is well. Like I said...I'm so weird. I'm sure I'll   be shunned when I'm in the real world. But pray for Joe! I'm a fan. He's great. And we're going to really try to help him prepare for a mission!

And then there are the older people in the ward.....and I swear I feel like we're giving marriage counsel or something. AHHH. We went do dinner with a less active member who was baptized  only a few years ago. He's from India and he's a gem! and he starts talking to us about eternal families and how to get there and what to do and oh my heart. Sister Cragun and I walked out of there in a daze. Our lives!

 

Bishop Biggs. I'm obsessed. He's the new bishop and he is just a gem! Like I don't even know what to say other than he makes me so happy! He is just so excited to serve and get everyone unified and make missionary work move forward. And he totally reminds me of Corwin! It's the best. We met with him for dinner last week and I can't wait for what's in store for the Cold Springs ward.

When we do shifts in the morning, we get to finish our studies afterwards and so Sister Cragun and I like to go to the pioneer cemetery right across the street. It is so beautiful and the Spirit is so strong there! I can't wait for y'all to visit this place and learn more about the pioneers and their sacrifices for this gospel. I am so blessed for the testimony I've gained while serving at the Trail Center.

Kayla will never admit it--but I really think she liked Meet the Mormons. And she is so funny! She texted us saying that she was never going to come back to church so why do we even bother coming back over when she's never going to change--and we just tell her we really like her and want to be her friend. She's never really had a friend...so this whole concept is so weird to her. She has always thought that if you're not going to accept things then the missionaries are going to just move on, but nope! She's stuck with us! :) And she totally doesn't see it, but just from our few meetings with her, the spirit is truly changing her. It's nothing huge, but Sister Cragun and I can definitely see the little things. The atonement is REAL and it's shaping Kayla. Her heart is softening even though she's trying SO hard to keep it cold. I just love her.

I think it's incredible how this cute little name tag has SO much power. People open up and share their souls with us. They are so vulnerable because they let into their hearts. They let Christ in. Sometimes it overwhelms me that we, as full time missionaries, are REPRESENTATIVES of Jesus Christ. Am I doing all that I can? Do I act as he would act? Be? Say? Do? During sacrament I was looking into the little lake of all these incredible YSA-ers. Some of them, I know their deepest and darkest fears and secrets. I've seen the tears that come from true honesty. I've seen them look into my eyes for answers that they have the faith that I can bring through the Spirit--and only if I'm worthy of it and to wear HIS name. I love being a missionary and being able to reach out to people. The trust the Lord has in each of us can sometimes be terrifying--but it's so special and incredible. I love the Lord. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that anything and everything is possible because of him. It is the greatest honor and privilege to represent him and his great work.

We all came out to NOM together

 

I love y'all! Keep smiling and being an example!

love always,

Sister Case