April 7, 2014

Family!!

Thank you all for writing me! I really do feel that I have the greatest family! I am so lucky to have y’all! As for Conference... how amazing!! Wow I don’t even know what to say was my favorite because they were all so amazing!! I guess I could say that the one that stuck out to me the most was President Uctdorf's talk about gratitude.  I always love President Ucthdorf’s talks and since I have been on my mission I feel that I always need to be more grateful for what I have been given. I have learned so much about enjoying today instead of looking for tomorrow. I feel that this life is too short to forget about what is in front of us and I love trying to see things from Heavenly Father’s view.  The life we live here is so short we can not let any time go to waste.  You know me and quotes-- I just loved "The saddest line of tongue and pen are the words it might have been." I hope that each of you realize how great today is and don’t let a minute pass by! Clay especially you as so much change is about to happen in your life. Don’t forget to have fun in high school- enjoy it!! Enjoy the time you have with the family and remember that you have prepared for 18 years to go on a mission and you will have eternity to look back on it.   So for the two years you are on your mission--just live it up!! I think that so many times I forget this, I forget to see what I have when it is right in front of me! Well anyways-- enough of my ranting!! I just love all of you and I really do miss you! I miss eating Mike and Ikes during conference while acting like I am playing bingo. haha! Well as for everything else... Chapel Hill is great! I really do love it here! It is a HUGE adjustment from Pembroke but I am finding my way. Like I said-- it is kind of like living down Mill Ave.   We have a Mill but it is called Frankolin and Sister Wilde’s favorite restaurant is down that street so we have been there a few times. One thing that a lot of people say about it around here, is it is a little piece of the North in the South and they aren’t lying!! The people are very liberal and they are all getting their PhD degrees or their Masters. Most of the people in our ward are very educated.  We have 3 former Mission Presidents in our ward and many Bishops.  Most of the classes teach deep doctrine and most things fly over my head let alone our investigators but somehow everything always turns out and the Spirit brings it to their hearts! It is a lot different here though because most of the couples are working, studying, and newly married so we don’t see much of our ward too often, which is understandable! They are all really smart! We do cook for ourselves a lot but that is one of my favorite parts because I am learning how to make stuff! Sister Wilde is going into nutrition so she teaches me but lets just say I am really good at scrambling eggs!! haha We do live in an apartment and it is huge!! So much room! We have our own Gym downstairs too... a bit of a change from walking down the street every morning for exercise and calling it good when the neighborhood dog chases you for 5 minutes. Haha! I do miss Pembroke and Sister Angela but it was time for a change and the Lord knows where I need to be! There is a lot of work to be done here but we have lots of restrictions as well because we are in a college town and everyone is our age.  We have to be very careful what we say and do. Sister Wilde and I get along great! I feel like I have known her for so long we just click easily! She makes fun of me for being dramatic all the time but yet in the same sentence she catches herself saying the same things-- it is pretty funny! We have two other sisters super close to us as well that we hang out with on preparation days.   One is from Hong Kong and she is teaching me Cantonese! It is super interesting!! We also take the bus a lot out here-- they are free, so we walk and talk and take the bus to save miles! We meet some pretty great people that way and learn to appreciate the heat and our ability to walk!! I feel like a real missionary!! As for all my friends on missions--they are all doing great!!  Clay I know that it will be just the same for you and all of your friends and I am so excited for you.  I feel like we all grow from one another’s experiences and it really is amazing!! As for what has happened this week-- we have had just an amazing week with conference!  We are meeting with a lady named Vernetta who lives a few doors down from us. She is great!  We met with her and invited her to write down some questions she had about the Church and her hesitations.  We promised her they would be answered in Conference if she had an open heart. She came to the first session on Sunday and we saw some of the questions, let me tell you each talk hit one of the questions she had.  She turned to us at the end and said I will be back for the next session I have to go home and write more questions. It’s like magic!! The greatest part was it wasn’t magic at all it was Heavenly Father! I am so grateful that He has a hand in this work!! I am so grateful to have an opportunity to play a part in the hastening and I know it is what brings me the most happiness! It truly is amazing to see miracles happen!

As for everything else... It is pouring outside right now-- it literally looks like a hurricane!! The thunder has been so loud all day and it is exciting!! As for you all I truly love and miss you so much! Everyday I promise myself I will never take for granted the time that we have together.  I have the best family in the world and sometimes I feel that I should be more humble about how great you all are!  Sister Wilde laughs because she will find herself talking about y’all like you are her family and she says I just feel like I know them! haha  I talk a lot... but I guess that is how you can know that I miss you! Thanks for being my greatest blessing I hope you all have the best week!   Oh by the way the deer are like dogs out here-- they are everywhere!   In the streets, in the yards, you name it they are there!  Well I am off to give Sister Wilde a weave-- So fun!!! I miss doing hair!! Well, I love you!!

Love forever and always

Cass/ Sister Oliver

March 31, 2014

Family!!!! Oh how I have missed you!! Well let me just start by telling you that I am serving in Chapel Hill!!!! GO TAR HEELS!! hahaha I love it here it is completely city!  It is almost like serving down Mill in Tempe and there are millions of college students everywhere and everyone is super smart around here and there are actual stores!!! Like a Target!!! I just about died and I think my companion Sister Wilde is getting a little annoyed of me freaking out at the fact that there are street lights and stores and restaurants everywhere!! It just kills me but I truly love it here! This week I feel like it has just been crazy there are so many things that I have to tell you but I will start with your questions... well one when Clay gets his call I am allowed to talk for ten minutes I think so send me more information when you get it! I am so excited for you Clay!! Ok and Happy belated Chantz!  Oh and I am in Charisse Standage’s stake.  She is one ward over from me so we meet in the same building--small world! But other than that-- yes mom we go to the Temple in a couple weeks and it will be the best!! I am so excited! As for the dog chasing me... yeah, I don’t know if that will happen here and the bee sting was just funny.  I think the stinger is still in my leg because I still have a bump! But anyways-- leaving Pembroke was so hard and I still feel that my heart is torn some days but I have realized that I don’t ever have to take them out of my heart.  I feel that I somehow just have more room for this new ward and area and new companion! She is great!  We both are a little scared that we are going to become too close of friends because we are so alike and everyone asks if we are sisters wherever we go-- even though we look nothing alike!  I feel that it is going to be great! Well this week we have had meeting after meeting but they are great!! We are having Gladys Knight come to Chapel Hill in a couple of weeks and it is suppose to be a huge missionary opportunity!! Our mission President has been waiting for 2 years for her to be able to come to our area so it is pretty exciting!  I am just so lucky and blessed to have been transferred right to Chapel Hill the month that she is coming and to be a Sister Leader here!! Only 12 missionaries get to host it and out of the twelve there are four sisters so they chose the two sets of Sister Leaders in the stake and I just happen to be in the right place at the right time!! So we have been with President all week figuring things out.  He told us the other day that we were chosen first by the Lord but second because we always smile! I guess that part of my blessing is coming to pass as well! But anyways we are so excited!  Then we had MLC which is where all the leaders meet and learn and I had to teach a little bit! That is always stressful but I think I am getting more used to it. It is crazy because I don’t even feel like I am the one teaching, I feel like I am not even in my body but it is a pretty amazing experience! I guess it is just normal missionary life!  Other than that-- we live in a huge apartment and it is amazing! We even have a private gym!! We also are teaching a lot of people from Rwanda! It is kind of crazy but they are all refuges with crazy stories.  The language barrier can be confusing sometimes but somehow the Spirit helps the message to go through! I just feel so blessed being a missionary! It is honestly the best experience! Some days I feel that I am just on vacation here but then I realize that I am even luckier because I get to feel the Spirit here and grow so much! I have felt so much love for the people in Pembroke and I know that when we grow together spiritually that is the best way to build a friendship.  It was hard leaving Elsee and Summer but I know that they are in good hands! They sent their favorite dream catcher to me and I love it!! I will have to send you a picture of it!  It will always remind me of them!! I don’t know how I am going to bring things home though! It is crazy!! Clay I can’t believe you had to talk I bet it was great! And dad I am sure yours was amazing as well!! Mom you know that your music is always spiritually uplifting! I am sad I missed it!  I am always so proud to call y’all my family! It is weird being in a ward with families again and with kids crying. It is the greatest blessing to see how even though I have been in two completely different situations the gospel message is still the same and the Spirit is still here! It is the same all over and I am so grateful to be able to hear from our Prophet next week! Girls wasn't that conference amazing!! I loved all the music! Sister Wilde and I just noticed how often they are starting to use media! It is a huge tool and we all need to hop on!! But anyways I hope y’all have the best week and know how much I love you! You are the greatest blessing to me and I always look forward to hearing from you!! You are the greatest!  This is my new address! 101 Hwy 54 G6 Carrboro NC 27510 

Love forever and always 

Cass/sister Oliver

ps mom I wish they had a pill for patience as well! I have really come to love Mosiah 24:14-16.  It always reminds me to be patient!!

Also I can’t believe Tyler and Jenny have a baby I am jealous!!  Oh and pps I am in the medical triangle!! It is pretty crazy!

Well anyways I love you thanks for always being the best! 

Oh family I forgot to tell you we talked to this man who told us that he was Jesus and that he wrote a language called Babolonix! It is crazy nuts!! I just can’t even believe it! He started talking in it... nuts!! But whatever it’s normal! Happy General Conference weekend!! One of the best weeks of the year!! Enjoy! 

March 24, 2014

(I know she has a Christmas hat on--hopefully she will send more pics soon! haha!)

Well hello family!!! 

It sounds like you all had an amazing week!! Just so you all know-- I leave tomorrow so that will answer a lot of questions but I will let you know next week!! Clay please tell me about your blessing I would love to hear about it!!   Chlobo-- congrats on winning the hand stand contest!!! You da you da best!! I will try to do my best to answer you all on this email because I have to go home and pack all afternoon... What was I thinking bringing so much stuff!!! Honestly I can’t even use half of it so it is like I have a whole suitcase that just sits unused!! haha  Besides the point-- what is this about Chantz having a motorcycle????(ps his gift should come, it will just be a little late-- sorry) but Happy Birthday Chantz! I love you and hope you have a great day!! 

Well as for this week, where to even begin... what a crazy week!! Everyone has fed us their best meals since they all found out I was leaving!  I am very grateful-- but whooo we have eaten all week!! Well at the beginning of the week Sister Cowley and I planned for the best week ever! We said it would be the best week Pembroke would ever have... well what a roller coaster it has been.  We went to the first appointment this week with Summer who was suppose to be baptized last week and she told us she had had some sweet tea. Well, she will be baptized next week don’t worry but then after that just about every appointment for 5 days straight cancelled! Switch that-- EVERY appointment cancelled this week and I got stung by a bee.  Also two of our investigators told us that they didn't want to meet anymore--but yet it was still the best week! I don’t know how it happens but somehow Heavenly Father always has a bigger plan. This week we had the most lessons since I have been in this area!  We found 4 new investigators and the Dyers received their temple recommends. What an amazing experience it has been to work with them.  They are the ones that yelled at me the first week that the church isn’t perfect!! If you don’t remember... All I can say to you is that I know this church is true.  I know that Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and that He restored the Priesthood to the earth. I know that he translated the Book of Mormon so that we could find our way back to our Heavenly Father and I know that Heavenly Father’s plan is perfect. There is no other way to happiness than the gospel. I know that no matter what happens our Heavenly Father always has opened arms for us and that He wants each of us to make it back to live with Him. It is my life and I will live it forever! I am so grateful to have you as my family and know that I am so excited to be back with yall!! Yesterday was a bit of a hard day because they announced in Sacrament meeting that I was leaving so everyone knew and let’s just say-- they all saw my bare eyelashes by the end of church. I just have come to love this ward so much and they are truly like a family. There are so many things that I am going to miss about Pembroke and I feel like I have to leave all over again. The  worse part is I will probably never come back. The people here are so humble and I love them with all my heart but I know that the Lord has a job for me to do and wherever it is he wants me to go I am happy to go there!   After that Sister Connie and everyone made Mexican food because I always make fun of the one Mexican food place here called San Joses... it is nasty but they all just made me feel so loved! Tamara and Mrs. Hilda were over as well and I just hope that one day you all get to meet Tamara!! She is such a great friend to me and I am so grateful that I was able to meet her! Well other than that, like I said-- Sister Ang has been putting 24 cookies on a pan and cooking it each night and making pazookies for us three to eat every night till I leave... I guess go big or go home!! But seriously our diet starts tomorrow!! hahahaha  Well other than that, this week we got yelled at by 2 preachers.  They were a little scary but it is interesting to see what they have to say.  One of them worshipped Paul and just kept yelling the same bible verses at us.  It was hard because we were just trying to leave and he would keep asking us questions as we rode away on our bikes. He said “I hope you get to read 1 Corinthians 13” and I said back “We hope you get to read the Book of Mormon too!!” haha It is sad to see people like that. They really just won’t even let you say a word-- I just hope one day that he will "hear the song of redeeming love" as the scriptures say!  Anyways I just feel bad that the pioneers had to go through so much persecution. It hurts when people say things about what you believe when they don’t even know for sure, they just know what their preacher tells them. But then again-- I know that what I believe is true.  I know it with all my heart and I know that my testimony has become stronger because of it! Well I better go but I just wanted you to all know I love you! I am so grateful for you and all that you do for me!! I hope you have the best week! 
Love always,
Cass

March 17, 2014

Mom, well first off-- Happy Birthday!! I can't believe it is already March! It is crazy!  Oh my goodness Clay looks smokin!! I love the hair even if I did love the locks! I still think you look really good! Tell Kaylyn she did a great job! It is kind of funny because since people have been finding out I am leaving everyone is trying to squeeze in their last hair cut or color haha!! I am happy to do the service I just feel bad because we are always so booked! I guess that is really just a blessing in disguise because let me tell you I am so grateful to be busy!! This work is so much more fun when you actually just go out and do the work! This week Sister Cowley and I have really been working on talking with everyone, which is one of our usual focuses, but we have been switching our Facebook time with tracting! We just choose an area and start knocking.  We have been going going going but what is the real amazing part is even when they don’t want to hear-- they still tell us to go see someone else they know. So we go to the next person and they tell us someone to go to and pretty soon we will find the elect!  It becomes like a scavenger hunt! Also we get into a lot of interesting situations--but I love it! Wow!! California sounds so fun!! I am jealous!  As for transfers-- I am so sad that I have to leave Pembroke. If we ever come back out here we will be stopping but luckily Sister Teresa and Sister Angela want to take me to them so that will be fun! Plus on Saturday, we had Stake Conference in Fayetteville so Tamara and Adrienne took us to dinner at Carraba’s! It was fun to get one last dinner out with them! They said that after Tamara goes through the Temple here (which should be next November so I can go with her) then she will be coming to Salt Lake when I get home so hopefully I can go with her then as well! haha I love being around Tamara because it is the best to see how different her family and life is now because she has converted! I am telling you the gospel is everything and without it we are so lost in this life!! Also Ms. Hilda, Tamara’s mom came to Stake Conference and she loved it! She has been one of Tamara’s biggest struggles because she was so hurt when Tamara joined and she didn’t make it a secret! haha  Anyways, The Lord softens hearts in His time we are just waiting to step in when it is time! Also I have no idea where I am going but I know that I am still a Sister leader, that is how I know so early. He usually doesn’t tell us until like a few days before but I was given a little time so that is nice! I do know one thing, wherever I go there will not be food like this!! Everyone has been trying to feed us their best meals this week, I still feel a little stuffed from yesterday but I am so grateful that they always want to feed us and they always try to make it so nice for us! I kind of have a feeling I am going to a military ward! Since half our mission is all-military I have quite a few choices! Also I have the best banana pudding recipe in the world that I will make when I get home!! Honestly you think the ice cream is good wait till you try this!! The best!! Well as we are sitting here Sister Cowley reminded me to tell y’all-- we were chased by dogs this week... it was the scariest yet the funniest think I think I have ever had happen.  We went to a house that someone referred us to and we see they have wire between the wood in their front yard. Well-- we look around and notice that there is a dog on a chain so we go to the porch and go up the steps and knock. Well no one is there but as we turn around there are four feisty looking dogs surrounding the porch!! Sister Cowley and I just look so scared and we just always say don’t get scared...  We start walking towards the exit and they start biting at our ankles so I start running and they all come after me and I got so frustrated and scared that I stopped and turned around and yelled NO!! Like that will help... so I keep running and as we are on the verge of tears we get to the gate!!!  Well about an hour later we can’t find our phone and guess who has it-- the dog owners!!  At this point, our member drives us to the house and we get the phone. The owners hand it to me and say, “We saw you running away. We were inside... but we were laughing so hard that we didn’t answer”-- all I could do was laugh!! Well anyways, it turned out to be a great day later on because Adriana and Summer are getting baptized! We are so excited for them!!  Other than that, this week has been great! I was in Sanford this week and it is beautiful up there. We had an amazing Stake Conference!! Kids get ready to serve! This is the best time to be a missionary and I am so excited for you!! Honestly-- missions are hard sometimes but for the most part it is the greatest work ever! When someone’s life starts changing and you get to watch them become closer with Heavenly Father-- there is no greater joy!! I love being out here and serving! Plus I also know how to cook eggs and grilled cheese now! I am telling you whatever you are worried you don’t know-- you will learn when you are on a mission!! hahah  Anyways I love you all so much! 

Love always and forever

Cass

March 10, 2013

Oh My goodness familia!!!

I cannot believe Chantz is married! Sister Angela called dad on Friday night and left a message for y’all.  I don’t know if you got it but you all looked so beautiful in the pictures and yes I am so sad that I wasn’t there!  Personally I thought it was going to be a really hard day out here in the mission but luckily I just felt such peace! Please know that I wanted to be there so badly and I thought about it all day but luckily it was such a busy day out here that I was reminded so strongly of why I am here!! I am so excited for Chantz and Kenzi! Sealed for eternity! Wow what an amazing blessing we have each been given!! I am so excited to go to the temple! We have our trip next month! I feel like it has been so long! But anyways--Wow what a crazy weekend! You all deserve to get a whole day worth of sleep! I am sure the wedding was perfect!  I am so grateful that we have always been so blessed!  !! It just seems so different from what happens out here! The kids have never been out of Robison County and they usually don't even know what the beach is like. I feel like I am in a foreign country sometimes just because their way of life is so different from ours. I really am just so grateful to have been sent to our family! This week was great!! We have really been working on just finding finding finding! We try to talk to every person we see and Sister Cowley and I personally compete with each other when it comes to talking with everyone. We always race to get to people first because then we make sure that no one walks past us without getting the opportunity to hear the restored gospel! It is funny because you can usually predict what they are going to say to each question. We have gotten really good at our role-plays!  As for the funny experiences--let me see where to start... well on Saturday we were with Sister Angela all day... She said she had the whole day to spend with us so she went to all our appointments and drove us where we needed to go. We were in Rowland aka as far south as our mission goes and Sister Ang knew that the gas was cheaper in South Carolina so she dropped us off at a hotel right before the border and we started to make a few phone calls while we waited. Well-- this man started walking up to us and Sister Cowley and I both thought to ourselves do we talk to him?  We didn’t have to move he came right up to us and said are y’all the Mormons and we were like yeah! We are missionaries for the church! Well what we thought was going to be a great experience turned out to be an FLDS  member who told us he wanted us to come to his hotel room to meet his 3 wives and son. He also said he wrote the Book of Mormon and that his name was James because he wrote James as well. We just started praying that Sister Ang would come back soon and when she did we left him with the Elders number so that if he wanted lessons they could come by. He ended up calling them right then and they said it was probably the weirdest phone call they had ever gotten. Anyways other than that, everything was perfect this week! We have still been meeting with Adriana and she is the best! We had interviews with President this week and they are great but also a little scary... as Sister leaders we have to account for all the other sisters in the area, but it is always a good experience and I have really had to learn a lot! This week the weather has been crazy some days it is freezing some days it is so hot but today it is perfect and let me tell you it is so amazing to see the sun! There are so many things that I miss about the West that I just don’t think I could ever move to the East! It is funny because a lot of the members out here are from the reservations in Arizona so that is something that we all have in common is that we all love AZ!! We also had ward conferences this week they were really inspiring! In Doctrine and Covenants it talks about how the Lord will hasten His work in His own time and I know that it is right now! The work is hastening and it is the greatest time to be a missionary! Elder Perry says that anything that is not focused on missionary work that is done in the church should be done away with! Everything is centered on missionary work and it is so exciting! I am also so excited for the younger missionaries like Clay and Carlee because now that you already teach in your classes you will already have that down by the time you get out here. You will have more time to focus on what the Lord needs you to do and you will have more experience with asking inspired questions when you teach! We always talk about how questions are a higher way to teach and it is so true because when you asked questions from the Spirit you are able to help people see that they already know the answers. Our teachings become easier to believe because they thought of the answer for themselves instead of us telling them! It is always said that the hastening has been prophesied about since the beginning and now it is here! It is the most important event since Joseph Smith restored the Church and we get to be a part of it!! I love being a missionary it is the greatest calling! I know that there are so many blessings that can come from missionary work. I love you all so much you are the best family!! I hope you all have the best spring break!!

 Love always and forever

Sister Oliver

ps transfers are in 2 weeks

pps my bike is great, I can’t think of anything that I need right now I am just so grateful for all that you do for me! 

ppps I CANT BELIEVE CLAY IS CUTTING HIS HAIR!!!!!! Pictures please!