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What’s peepin dogs--
Well wow what a week! I feel
like it went by so quickly it is not even funny but I love hearing from all of
you. Like last week I am going to print them and write back letters-- I hope
you enjoy the letters because I always look forward to writing them!! and I
loved all the pics-- Clay keep me posted. PS--Mom I can see the pics you are
taking on my phone so I saw the ones of Chantz and the girls at the movies and
you all look beautiful! I miss you all!!
Chloe dem boots be lookin fly!!
hahah Well this week-- where to begin-- ok
well first did you see Elder Cardon's talk in the Ensign? It was great!
I bet he is a great General
Authority! Oh and this week we are having two members from the Quorum of the 70
speak to us and then next month Elder Baxter from the 70 is touring our
mission!! Yay-- we are super excited! He spoke to us in the MTC as well! As for
my blanket I still haven’t gotten it but it is all right I can buy one out here
if our order didn’t go through or something. I will just wait-- I might be here in Pembroke
for 7 months so we have time. hahah Yes, you can send to the po box--we pick it up in
the mail room so send whatever to that address! Ok so as for the work-- this
week has been amazing! Half of our investigators showed up to church and I
literally started crying because I was so happy! The worst part was I was on the stage to sing--
yes we are in the choir and it is us, the Elders and about two other members so
it is like we are singing a solo every week!
I didn’t want anyone to see I was
crying so luckily it was during the sacrament prayer but anyways that was such
a tender mercy! Round here church is the hardest commitment. Let me just give you some background-- we
have a ward list of about 20 pages and only 100 people show up to church every
week so lets just say everyone has been baptized but no one is active. So yes-- that is a huge goal for us. We spend
a lot of time with less actives and their families because it usually is one of
the parents that doesn’t attend and if they were to attend their family of
about 20 would come as well and their children and grandchildren would be
baptized! So that is kinda what we focus on. But anyways, we visited with this
sister named Sister Gertha and to give you a picture she looks like she could
be on Thumbelina. She is three weeks off
smoking so she has a very raspy voice and loves to feed us fudge and
chocolate! She is really great and she
came to church for the first time in about 20 yrs yesterday! Then there is Tamara who isn’t a member and
she is one of my favorites-- they are all my favorites but limiting our lessons
to only an hour is one of our struggles in being exactly obedient! She is the
sweetest and she has the strongest testimony already. She knows it is true but she knows that when she is baptized it is like
she is entering into war so our job is to prepare her for that war! Her family
is very very Baptist and they fight with her all the time about how she is
meeting with us. It doesn’t help that her whole family lives on the same street
she lives on! She knows what her answer
is about the church she just wants the
answers for them when they question her so that is kinda what we are working on. She is in the choir and is singing a solo in
two weeks in sacrament!! She has an amazing voice! Well as for Seneca and Mineka--
I think I told you all about them. They are one of my other favorites! This
week was super rough for them because they have a family and they got their
power turned off which isn’t unusual around here. They have three kids and it is starting to
get cold. Seneca works till 3 or 4 in
the morning and she goes to school and Mineka is trying to get a job driving
trucks which everyone around here thinks that is one of the best paying jobs so
they all try to do it! But anyways-- we meet with them as much as we can and
they are really progressing!! The work out here is just amazing! I love
teaching it and learning more about it everyday!! Clay I am so excited for you
and all you girls as well. Missions are honestly so fun--and you will love it! Sometimes
I feel like the guy on “The Best Two Years” because I just get so excited
meeting new people especially at church because everyone is so nice and they
just all give you hugs! I am so excited to spend Christmas and the holidays
over here!! One because everyone is family so there are about two houses that
everyone will be at-- the Locklears and the Chavises. The grandparents of both those families are
also the two doctors in the town and pretty much the only ones with homes and
not trailers! hahaha I love it out here! We eat so well-- oh and let me tell
you they have this tradition where everyone makes 30-layered cakes literally 30
layers!!! Crazy I love it!! My favorite thing that I have eaten was--Sister Teresa
made sweet potatoes like we make at Thanksgiving except they probably had more sugar
and 5 more sticks of butter!! They were
soooo good--she actually sent us home with the whole pan! Now Sister Teresa is
a Locklear and she is married to the new bishop who is Bishop Ferris Locklar
but we just call him Bishop Ferris because the previous bishop was Bishop
locklear and so it would be pretty confusing.
We just got a new bishop yesterday because Bishop Locklears memory is
pretty bad. It gets pretty funny when
sacrament meeting consists of everything but sacrament because he forgot to
announce it... (We still had sacrament it is just an example) but yeah I truly
love it out here! There is so much to do
and I feel so busy all the time--just the way I like it!! On Saturday nights I
also get to go to this sister’s house, her name is Sister Cathy Locklears. She is in a wheel chair and I braid her hair
for Sunday! It is one of my favorite things to do because she is amazing! She
crawls around on her knees most of the time because she loves to garden and she
doesn’t like to sit around so she bought army pads and goes on her knees! One thing that is super sad out here is
almost half the families in the ward have had someone murdered from there
direct family whether it is a son or a husband.
There is just a lot of crime out here so it is super sad because that is
where they gain their faith. My
testimony has also grown about eternal marriage! It is one of my most cherished
blessings because no one out here is sealed and that is why it is so hard to
hear about their families so we set a
lot of goals for them to go to the temple. The sealing power is
amazing because I get to be with you guys forever!!! You are my most cherished
blessings! I love you all so much I hope you have the greatest week and expect
letters soon!
Love always and forever
Sister Oliver
ps
sorry if this totally doesn’t make sense I tried hahahaha
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Tuesday, November 19, 2013
October 21, 2013
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
October 14. 2013
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Hey ya'll-- What’s up!
OK--well where to begin we have an hour and a half to write and be
on the computer but I just want you all to know that since I am a girl there is
not much around here to do on pday other than nap and letter write so I am printing
all your letters off and I will write back to each of you in letters every week.
I just feel like this will be the best way because I am slow on the computer
but I really love hearing about all of you and telling you my opinion so yes I
promise you will each get a letter and then you can just email me every Monday
okkkkk?? Well wow I love it! I just have so much to tell you! Well lets start by saying I am in Pembroke
and Pembroke is pretty much as far south as you can get. I am in this tiny little town and it is
really ghetto-- lets just say we spend a lot of time in the projects and
everyone around here is Lumbi?sp. Lumbi
is the type of Indian that they all are and they call themselves the lamenites!
hahaha They are truly amazing around here!
Let me tell you it is like it is in all the shows. There are swamps everywhere-- everyone is
family and there are really only like three last names around here so we call
pretty much everyone by brother/sister and then their first names hahah pretty
weird but they are the nicest people you will ever meet. Ok so we live with a sister her name is Sister
Angela and she is like a mama to us missionaries. She takes great care of us-- she is 45 and has
never been married but she is the Relief Society Pres and she is a saint!!! (to
say the least!) Everyone is really good
friends around here and her best friend is Sister Janise. Sister Janise is a year sober from drugs and
6 months sober from smoking! She is amazing-- she has three kids and isn’t
married. No one is really married out here but they all have kids with people
in the ward... you can imagine there is a lot of drama to try to sort out but
it is super fun. There is only one ward
for about.. well the whole city and most of it is inactive. They struggle with
visiting teaching and home teaching and I believe that is why there are so many
people that have fallen away! We have visited a lot of people that are inactive
and then they will show up to church they just need a friend and someone to
talk to! haha ok so PS everyone talks crazy around here!! Oh and we as missionaries can’t say cool or sweet so I say
wonderful and amazing a lot and neat!!! haha
We also can’t say you guys or guys so we have to say yall! Our president
is very very very strict but it is great! There are many blessings that come
from being obedient to him and we see it all the time! Ok well everyone is some
type of religion around here and there are a few churches that we call holiness
churches and those are the kinds where they jump around and yell and are SAVED!
haha We talk to a lot of people from those churches. But
this week we talked to Sister Faye Smith... she was nuts she wasn’t wearing
anything under a silk robe that wasn’t tied in the middle so yes we saw
everything that night! She was baptized
but then started going to the holy church and she told us she has special
powers where she sees people that have died and they come to her at night. She had about a good hour worth of stories
that she told us oh also a lot of people out here have Alzheimer’s? sp but my
comp told me when we visit those people they come to church so that is why we
visited her and she promised she would read the Book of Mormon! Ok well anyways I forgot to tell you about my
comp. She is amazing!!!!!! I love her so much! She is albino but she doesn’t
call it that but yes she has super white hair and red eyes and she can’t really
see so it is like I have a blind person with me but she is great she can see
things in front of her but if it is five feet away everything is blurry she
said she has 20/400 vision-- so yes she is truly amazing and she is
super nice and positive and everyone loves her round here! But I drive everywhere
and read a lot and have to tell her when people are waving but it works great!
She is the best! Ok so anyways we taught a lot of people this week but it was
rough at first. Trust me when it is
rough that is what brings you closer to the Savior and we just kept our faith
high and miracles truly happened!! Ok well first we taught this nine year old
and she was baptized on Saturday I wouldn’t count it as the first baptism for
me because I only taught her once but she is a sweet heart! Ok and then we taught
this lady named Tamara and she is great she has such a strong spirit and we
invited her to be baptized. She is so funny because she said she wants to know
more which is fine but she says stuff like "well when I go to the
temple" so we know she is on the right path it is super funny. Her family will shun her when she joins so
she is just getting her argument which happens to pretty much everyone around
here when they take the lessons from us we are suiting them up for battle. It
is amazing because you see the strongest testimonies being built! I love it!
But yes so she will have to choose family or the gospel. Ok so we also taught
Seneca-- he is a boy and Mineka who is a girl. They have the cutest kids in all the land and they are black. They are so prepared and we had the most amazing lesson
with them last night. They committed to being baptized but we have to wait
because they are not married so we will have to see how it all works out! I
love it out here! I love the Book of
Mormon-- it is like I am reading Harry Potter I honestly do it on my free time
during lunch. It is really funny but I just love it so much!!! I love teaching
and inviting! It is the best feeling in the world! Ok so I will send home my
camera card so you guys can see some stuff but it is not full. I miss you all a
lot but I honestly wish you were out here you would all love it!!! The people
feed us like crazy! It is southern cooking
where everything is fried and soaked in lard haha jk but sometimes that is the
truth! We are eating rabbit tomorrow and we got chased by dogs this morning
when we were working out but most of that is normal stuff. I don’t think I
would really ever live here but the people make everything worth it! They treat
me like their daughter and they are always giving us referrals no joke!!! We
don’t ride bikes too often because we usually will be chased by a bunch of dogs
but we have a car. Sister Angela has our room all decorated and
she has sheets and a bed spread so everything matches it is super nice but
everyone out here lives in trailers and so what we have been given is more than
what most people have! Sister Angela is always cooking too and hanging out with
her is one of my favorite things. She is
sooo funny and she knows everything about everyone! Talking to everyone out
here just makes you love them so much. They all make you feel like family even
though me and my comp are just about the only white people around! Oh and there
are elders in our ward too. When we find people who are really crazy we pass
them off to them... I have seen more drug deals in this last week then ever in
my life! hahah but I promise you we are safe. There is a hog pen right next to
where our trailer is and if anyone comes back by us whoooooweee do they get
noisy! So we are safe don’t worry! We had dinner at our bishops last night and
he is super funny but he has alzheimers too (or the early stages of it) Ok well I promise
I will write you all today I miss you a lot and hope you have a great family
night and week! Wow wasn’t conference amazing.
Elder Dube says "never look back, look at what we still have to
do." There is so much for us to do!!! So I have to get to work! I love
this gospel and I love our Savior... funny thing for you all-- in the Book of
Mormon it talks so much about missionary work... that is one of the biggest
things... it is like a guide book for us out here, and yes this is me telling
yall to share the gospel. Ok-- if you don’t want to do that just give the
missionaries referrals! It is the best way to do it! I love you all and I know
you guys are the best family. It is my greatest blessing
that I get to be with you all forever! Heavenly Father knew I would need each
of you! I miss you and love you
Love forever and always
Cassie
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Saturday, October 26, 2013
October 3, 2013
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| Cassie with Lincoln her cousin who is serving a mission in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Family—
Wow—ok well this week
has literally been one of the best weeks of my life—but lets not forget how
hard it has been. I honestly feel like I
have learned so much and just don’t want to leave the MTC! Every morning we have scripture
study/personal study and I feel like they don’t give us enough time for
it! I just never want to stop!haha Did I ever think I would say that –No but
there it is. I have the most amazing
teachers here and I learn so much from them.
My zone is so great too! I am sad
I will leave them soon but I have made some pretty amazing friends that have
helped me through so much! Where to
begin—well…Thank-you so much for the packages!
Honestly, missionary mail is the best thing in the whole world! Plus—my district is super close and when we
get packages everyone gets super interested in it! So—we love it! Thank you!!
You guys are honestly the best family and everyone loves hearing
stories. I miss you a lot but I wish you
all could come on a mission with me! It
honestly is so much fun! Sorry—if this
doesn’t make complete sense. I have been
writing it over a couple of days that I have been here. I promise I am not
breaking any rules but as for your questions….I do really like
studying—surprise! I have never stayed
awake in class for as long as I have here!
I surprise myself each day! I
never really got a headache from the lack of Diet Coke! I think the Lord might have had a hand in
that….either that or someone spiked the caffeine-free crap they have here! Haha! (Just kidding!) But anyways…so a little bit about a day at
the MTC. We wake up and get breakfast,
study, study, workout, study, teach, feel the Spirit, eat, talk with my
comp/district (which I love them all so much!)
but then we all have our moments where we break down from stress or
sadness and then we feel the Spirit some more and go to bed….I missed eating
somewhere in there but pretty much I go to bed excited for the next day! About my district—OK well, I am in a room
with 6 girls and I am on a top bunk.
Sister Hamilton is super sweet and really outgoing. Sister Stewart is from Australia and she
hates when people impersonate her accent but she is seriously so sweet so you
would never know! Sister Stewart also
has Rapunzel hair! Sister Merrill is
super funny! Sister Shannon has
red hair and she is a sweetheart but her family always sends her the weirdest
packages, oh—and she is deaf and she honestly is super
sweet! Then there is my comp, Sister
Hansen. I have learned so much from her and have
really gotten close with her. I know her testimony is
strong! Plus—her first name is Carli anyways—I like her.
For the guys in our district—they are all really great Elders! There is Elder Powers who is from Raleigh He use to have long hair but he is just a sweetheart
kinda guy. Then he is with Elder Ivy who
has made me cry a few times because when he bears his testimony you
automatically feel the Spirit so strong. Then there is Elder Hilton who is from Texas and he is a big kid but he
has had to stick up for the gospel his whole life so he is super good at
knowing the doctrine. Then there is
Elder Ah-Puck and he is our district leader.
He is from Hawaii and he is honestly one of the most humble people I
know! He just has a way of making you
happy when you are around him. We see
these elders cry all the time and it is such a change from their personalities. I can’t even explain it, I just love it! But anyways—on to you guys… I am so grateful I have you
guys! I will write you more tomorrow or
if you get this after Friday then all of this might be confusing, but just know
I love you all! I hope everything goes
well!
Always and forever,
Cassie
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Thursday, October 17, 2013
September 27, 2013
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Hey family!
Wow-- this is kinda weird writing you but I am excited and ps mom
get your editing skills on because I am the worst at typing haha! Well I miss
you all a lot but let me just tell you it is so fun here! I love it so much! The
spirit is so strong every day-- it is like I am living in the temple! So my
p-day is on Fridays and I sent you a letter yesterday! But lets see the first
day I got here we had lots of classes and we did this big group role play thing
which was super cool. My zone and district is super cool and my companion is a
character! She is really smart and I am
learning that she is a super good friend! At first I became good friends with
all the girls in my district and then I learned that Heavenly Father really
knew what He was doing when He paired me up with Sister Hansen. She has a super
strong testimony and she is a really good missionary! She makes me want to obey
the rules more and she is really good at finding scriptures fast! The other
girls are all really cool too. One is from Australia and she literally says “I
need to go to the luu” haha I love it but it is really hard not to mimic her
accent when she talks. Plus, she calls cookies biscuits and it is really funny!
Another one that I really like is from Utah her name is Sister Shannon and she
is going to my same mission! She is deaf and has hearing aids that help her
but if she takes them out she can’t hear a word I am saying! haha There is one
named Sister Hamilton and she is literally the most positive person around and
then the last one is Sister Merrill and she is pretty nice too but she has a
really funny personality! Well for what else I have learned is that -- I don’t
know what anyone is really going through. I have learned that we all have such
different lives and we can learn so much from others experiences! It is crazy
how different all of our lives are but we all live in the same room and I learn
something from each of them everyday! I love it I hope all is going well back
at home. I loves all your letters-- they made me cry
because I know I am the luckiest girl in the world to have a family that is
that amazing! I am so glad I get to be with you guys for eternity! ps Boys--
everyone who sees your pics think you are cute and girls-- they all want your
hair! I love you all so much! Thanks for being there for me!
Love forever and always
Sister Oliver
ps It is really funny because I don’t know anyone’s first names but
I feel like I have known them my whole life!
ps I will try to get you my pics but they aren’t working right now
so I am having issues I might just have to send them!
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