#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

Meet THIS MORMON

October 14, 2014

 

 Howwwddeeeeeee. How are y'all? I am just swell. I want to hear all about musical auditions and all that other jazz. Has the house been fixed yet or is it still a tornado? Good golly miss molly. But it will be neat to see it all snazzyed up!

 Can I just tell you of a miracle real quick?! Okay so at the Trail Center we do chat as well usually about once a week--so instead of giving tours, we're on mormon.org and talk to people and answer any questions for them about really ANYTHING. Sometimes we have trolls and creepers, but usually it's just someone that has heard something about our religion and wants to clear things up or someone that just wants to talk to someone about their problems. It's really neat and people can get baptized from it too. Like we follow up with people we've taught and have emailing lessons and it's really just great. Actually, someone from Price was baptized because a sister here at the TC taught him the lessons online. I'll have to look it up again. Anywho--so we just click on the next person that's on and this guy is SO tender. He just spills to us that he's worked his whole life to be in the military and then last week all his dreams were shattered and he doesn't know what to do. We talked to him about the Lord's timing and how all the traits and things he learned to prepare himself for the military will not be wasted. Heavenly Father will use these skills to help him progress in what God wants of him. He didn't really understand prayer and never thought to ask God for things for himself. Just to pray for others. But we sent a mormon message: sooo good! watch it!

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=1839005837001

We talked about it and that just led right into the Book of Mormon and how through the scriptures we can gain answers to our questions and understand our purpose. We're going to keep in touch and he said he would start reading the Book of Mormon. I'm excited for Alex!

I just love how you can tie the gospel back to anything! This women got on and asked us how in the world do you raise a child?--hahaha ummmm we have no idea....--but we started talking about raising your family in righteousness and having your home centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. We sent her a link to the Family Proclamation and had her watch a Mormon Message. It's all high tecky from what I'm used to, but it's grand! She loved it! And then she logged off--but just knowing that we were able to plant a little seed...wherever in the world these people are, is a really tender feeling. I love being a missionary!

So I had a thought--any questions that you have--write them alllllll down for me and in my next letter to y'all I'll sit down and answer all of them. Sorry I have not been that great at answering all of them.

MEET THE MORMONS. Oh my HEART. I am in lovveee!!! President has let us go see it as long as we have some less actives or investigators with us! I saw it Friday and okay--being at a theater was WEIRD. Like even parts in the movie I just couldn't watch hahaha like the previews when someone kissed...I immediately shut my eyes. And all the guys during football practice. Eye contact the whole time. hahahahaha just even walking into the theater I looked down when I saw the big screen...and then I remembered that I'm allowed to watch it. Missionary proobbbblleemsss. We saw it with Angelica and 2 members and they all became best friends and it was so tender! And then last night we saw it for FHE (Family Home Evening) and our less active came with us and he started crying! A lot of the stories really hit home to him.--miracle even finding him. Ahh I have so many stories, I wish I had time to share! And then we're going again on Wednesday with our less active Kayla who has 0% hope in life. (like she told us that she's the ant and God is the little kid with the magnifying glass that's trying to burn her....) BUT SHE AGREED TO COME LIKE 3 MINUTES AFTER WE CALLED AND PUT HER NAME ON PRAYER ROLL AT THE TEMPLE. GOD HEARS AND ANSWERS PRAYERS. I love this work!

Meet the Mormons with Angelica

 

If you haven't seen Meet the Mormons: GO SEE IT. It's such an inspirational movie, no matter your beliefs.

 

We get to go to UNO and talk to people on campus. so weird. yet so fun. ohhh the college life. and we had break the fast with the 2 YSA wards in our stake. I'm just loving life. obviously.

Something neat that I'm beginning to notice is how often the Book of Mormon talks about Heavenly Father hearing and answering people's prayers. Tender mercy b/c I was struggling with some stuff after interviews with president so I said a fatty prayer...and nada. No tingly feeling. No whispers. Absolutely nothing. but while reading the Book of Mormon it helped me to see that He heard me. And He knows my concerns and He's willing and lovingly going to help.

 That's something else I'm learning about myself. Heavenly Father normally doesn't answer me in the moment--but He does eventually and he always will. Like when I'm ACTING and doing something about it. He can't just snap His fingers and fix everything for me--it's when I literally GO AND DO, will He see that I'm trying, and bless me for my efforts.

I love love LOVE this work! It's rough at times, but that's what makes the great times even sweeter. Keep being positive! It can change your life. It's changed mine.

I love y'all! xoxoxo

Sister Case

EMPTY NESTERS

October 6, 2014

 

Howdy fambam! OH MY HEART I LOVE CONFERENCE AND I NEVER WANT IT TO END. Golly, was that great or was that great? I love lists and I'm so thankful for the guidance and direction that was given to us to be better disciples of Jesus Christ. And I loved that they kept quoting my favorite scripture! Helaman 5:12.---

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

It is SO important that we keep our foundations strong and sturdy. Family prayer and scripture study is ESSENTIAL. Family Home Evening every week! Attending the temple regularly. And how we need to constantly be feasting on the words of Christ. So what are y'alls plans to create a stronger foundation? Baby steps are still steps in the right direction :) As long as we try--in the best way we know how--Heavenly Father will accept our efforts. I KNOW that to be true. Start out small and great things will come to pass. I love y'all!

Soooo I'm sick. Like I feel like a zombie! But it's my 1st time in over a year on the mission of getting sick...so I guess I'll take one for the team. But Heavenly Father is blessing me and I love Him! Like all morning I'll just want to crawl in a ball and play dead...but the second we walk out the door I'm alive and awake and have the same pep in my step. But once it turns 9 pm I turn into a pumpkin and I feel like crawling to the front door. So He is saving my little bottom. Sister Cragun and I are both down for the count. So aka we're going insane we feel like.....hahaha we are literally losing our minds....but it's fine. We love sharing the gospel so chin up! (but....if you could pray for us that would be great....because we are living off of Kleenex, airborne, and Nyquil.)

MY BABY GIRL LEFT FOR BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS. She is officially in Taiwan. So sad but she's going to rock it out there. Love that gem!

Hahahaha so I'm officially a missionary....this new sister was asking me get to know you questions and her face the entire time...priceless.

1. If you could have anyone play you in the movie of your life, who would it be?

-literally I couldn't think of anyone. Like I felt bad for trying to even think of a single actress. I know nothing of this world now. Ohhh wellll

2. If you could live in any time period, which would it be?

-THE PIONEER'S.

3. Who is someone that you admire and look up to?--and it can't be anyone in your family--

-President Weston or Thomas S. Monson.

yepppp she loved those hahahaha YAY FOR BEING A MISSIONARY! YEEEHAWWWW.

We saw Angelica again this week! I lovvveee herrrrr! She is pumped for her baptism! Pray for her please! And she's coming to fhe tonight! (have I told you about that? we get to go every week with our ysa ward and the other one in a different stake. SO fun! Last week was capture the flag and this week we are doing glow in the dark ultimate Frisbee! Like is a missionary supposed to be having this much fun and playing with people all the time? YSA! YSA!)

We have this other guy named Isaac that we're teaching and he really wants to get baptized too. The ward is totally up for coming on team ups so it's oh so lovely. The only hard part is when we're teaching a guy and we need a guy fellowshipper--but then we need a public place because we can't go into his house without another girl and then there are just toooo many people. But all is well. We're working on it :)

And JAKE. I love Jake. He likes to wear cowboy boots. And when he talks, he sounds like Hunter Hayes. I'm a fan. haha but he really wants to strengthen his testimony in Christ and knows he could be doing more and wants to be a better person. We have 3 gems that we're teaching and I love them!

Missions are hard but they are SO WORTH IT. I love it. And even when things go wrong, I know that as I'm just inviting and doing what I can, that Heavenly Father will work His perfect magic timing for everything else to fall into place. I know this church is true. I know that the Book of Mormon is true without a doubt!

"Oh how praying rests the weary...don't forget to pray." I love prayer and through it, I am strengthened.

I love y'all!

Sister Case

                             See ya laters to the old district!

 

     This man was hitting on us and gave us these masks b/c Ebola is apparently coming...