Week 37- Unseen Work

Aloha Ohana and Haoaloha,

 

Ok to start I feel like this week flew by and I can't even remember what really happened. We were able to see a good amount of less-active people and help them start to come back. We helped one lady start working on her coffee addiction. Little by little she is allowing Heavenly Father to help her with her goal. 

 

Also, this week we found out that we would be doing service for Pearl Harbor. So we get there and all we did was sweep a little bit and then they fed us lunch. I felt like we didn't really do much to deserve food but we gratefully accepted. Speaking of food... I am almost back to the same weight that I came out at! Yay serving on Oahu where its less local. My companion was sick for a few days but she is back to healthy! While she was sick I was able to go on exchanges with one of the other sisters that lives with us. We covered both hers and my area for a few hours. We went and visited some of her families and then we went and knocked doors and were able to find a super nice lady, Paula, who loved the prayer we left with her and wants to know more about the church... so I'll let you know more later of what happens. This Sunday, a lot of our investigators didn't come to church after they said that they would. The Spirit though made up the difference, yes I was sad that not too many people came but it was a really good day because I just kept feeling the Spirit. And we were able to see some people that we don't usually have time to see. 

 

As you can see not too much visible work was done this week. I learned that sometimes the work and success out here cannot be measured. Do I wish that we had taught more lessons, seen more people? Yes but sometimes it's not about all the numbers but about helping the one. This week I was able to help one. And that one makes all the difference. Like the saying goes, "One drop raises the ocean." 

This week I am blessed to see miracles. To be a part of miracles. To know that I am here for a purpose. I know that Heavenly Father knows me and loves me. Because I know this I will always have a reason to be happy. As Thomas S. Monson (our prophet today) said, "Heavenly Father simply loves us!" There is nothing we can do to have His love cease. Because I was first loved, I too love. I love you all! Aishitiru! Ofa atu! Mahal kita! Te amo! Nga lungse kom! Saleng he o! Ai eong ngonuk! Poku poku! Yokwe yuk! Alofa ia te oe! Aloha wau ia te oe!

 

Love Always, 

     Sister Cassidy Lang

 

P.S. by next week we will know transfer news. 

Week 36- His Work

Aloha Ohana and Haoaloha,

      Once again last week started off good because we ate at a family's house that has recently started coming back to church and then their nephew who has been living with them told us that he wants to get baptized!!! SO... Joe is getting baptized on October 5!!! We are so excited for him :) Their family dynamic is a bit different with 3 high school aged boys and then 4 kids (3 boys and 1 girl) all under the age of 6. Well we were teaching about the Restoration and one of the little boys was being a bit rambunctious so I just grabbed him and held him while my companion was bearing her testimony and once I grabbed him, he immediately calmed down. Yep, I miss little kids! Plus, it was nice because I have never been the magical one with kids in my family- I hand that talent off to Katie or Jamie, but I'm slowly gaining that talent too... who would have thought that it would be on my mission. Well, after having dinner with them we went over to another member's house so we could teach a guy named, Ace. It was super good, he loves church and has been going to the Samoan ward for awhile now and is alreayd thinking about baptism! Hopefully we can keep teaching him... his grandma is not super supportive of him, which makes it tough :/ 

 

      Tuesday, we had zone conference which ended up taking the whole day. It was good to be able to learn from our Mission President and then the Assistant to the Presidents. They have us write talks about "Recognizing the Lord's Hand in Our Work". After writing my talk I realized that we cannot even attempt to do this work without His help. The successes of my mission are not earned but are blessings from Heavenly Father. It was a good spiritually uplifting day! It was also good to be able to see some old Elders and Sisters from the neighboring zone that we were combined with. 

 

    Later that week my companion got sick :( She is better now thankfully- I played doctor and gave her medicine, made her sleep lots, and had her drink lots of vitamin C, just like my mommy taught me ;) Thankfully, I was able to switch with the other Sister who wasn't feeling the best. We went and saw people in both of our areas and I can testify that Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways. Somehow, our stomachs were enlarged and we were able to eat 3 dinners back to back to back! It was crazy! We ate with investigators, then a family that is coming back to church with a nonmember boyfriend (potential... yes!), and then a family that has just moved here. All the food was good and somehow I managed to not feel too sick. What has Hawaii done to me? haha Then after our 3 dinners we went and saw one of Sister Clayson's investigators and was able to teach them about the Atonement. It was so good- this investigator is so good- he knows he is going to get baptized- he is just waiting to get married which he knows is going to happen too. White Baptism! It was really nice to be able to get out and plus, I love Sister Clayson. We aren't companions because we would have way too much fun together, but we would work super hard too... maybe before she goes home. 

 

      Then experience of the week... ELDER HOLLAND came to our mission and spoke to all the missionaries that are on Oahu! You can feel the Spirit so much just in his presence. He talked a lot on obedience and how we can all be better. This is His work and His glory and we must do it His way. Anyone that has the desire is called to the work. We are called to preach His gospel to all the world and invite every one to learn more. Yes people still have their agency to choose to learn more but if they are never asked they can never say yes. It was such a good experience to actually be in the same room as Elder Holland but still at times I felt like I was watching a tv and that this wasn't real. I realized that I have grown a lot on my mission but I still have so much further to go. Sometimes we need that extra little kick in the butt to realize it. Not that my enthusiasm for the work ever went out but this definately revamped it. 

 

      Sunday, was good/ interesting for me. We had the twins and Kaytlyn come to church with us this week but unfortuately, they were running late so we came after the sacrament. I was surprised because I was about to cry that I had not been able to partake of the sacrament this week. Yes, I know that the sacrament is important but I was taken off guard at how close it has come to my heart and how much I need it EVERY week. Also, a misconception that I would like to clear up: just because we are missionaries does not mean that we can teach at any moment and have it be good. We found out about an hour before church that we would be teaching and their comment, "You're missionaries you can do it." Uh... yes we can teach it but I would have prefered to actually know a bit before and be more prepared. Once again, the Lord blessed us and I think we did a pretty good job at teaching.

 

    I have learned so much. I can't go back and ever be the same. I only hope that others can see that I have changed for the better. This work is amazing; it is hard but rewarding. I am called to do His work and it is such a great opprotunity. I love the people here and the more people I meet the more people I love. It is amazing how much I can love. God is good always and sometimes we need a little push to do more. I love you all. Te amo (Spanish) Noka muna quiki (Quetchua) Alofa ia te oe (Samoan) Ofa atu (Tongan) Aloha wau ia oe (Hawaiian). 

Love Always,

    Sister Cassidy Lang

Week 35- God is Coincidence

Aloha Ohana and Haoaloha,

 

Well we started off the week super great- we had a Family Home Evening at a member's house who then invited a less-active family and a part-member family to come and have dinner and then we were able to share a lesson with all of them. We were able to teach them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how no matter at what stage of our life we always need to be building our faith and taking steps to be closer to Jesus Christ. It went really well and then the less-active family was able to share their conversion story and then talk about how since they have started coming back they can feel the difference in their life again.

 

We are still working with a less-active family and this week we were able to help them out through service. They were selling lunch plates and we went over and helped put them together. Then while we were walitng for people to pick them up we were able to talk to the girls and find out that some times they feel left out of church because they don't know the stories so we were able to read a chapter of the Book of Mormon with them which was really good and now when we go over througout the week we are going to read with them and hopefully they will start coming to church more regurlarly.

 

Highlight of this week... Raymond was baptized on Saturday September 14! It was such a beautiful baptism. There wasn't a ton of people but there was enough and the ones who came were the ones that needed to be there. My heart broke when we went to pick him up and he told us that his parents didn't want to come. We went up and talked with them and they once again declined our invitation to come to their own son's baptism. They are fine with him being baptized but they didn't want to come support him. But Raymond was amazing and still wanted to get baptized. It was a spirit-filled program. A talk on baptism where she demonstrated our sins being washed away with food coloring and then bleach and then a young man that is friends with Raymond baptized him and then all 4 of us sisters sang a medley of 'Baptism' and 'When I am Baptized' and it was beautiful. Raymond felt the spirit and so did everyone else that came. There were so many leis, smiles, and hugs. Yes I am sad that Raymond's family did not come to his baptism but I also realized that he has a whole ward family who loves him and will take car of him when my time comes and I have to leave. I feel so blessed to have the example of a young man's strength in doing what is right even if it means doing it on your own. I truly have come to love Raymond and see him as a younger brother.

 

Then Sunday, I woke up to balloons being thrown at me and the sisters climbing on me to sing me happy birthday! It was the best birthday ever. We had a good missionary meeting and then we come home for lunch. Then the twins (Sierra and Shayanee) and Kaytlyn come up to our door and ask if they can have a lesson. We were able to teach them about the finding faith in Jesus Christ, repenting, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. Then after we were able to take all 3 of them to church with us and it was so good. They love coming to church. After church the twins told us that their family is looking for a church to all join and they said that they hope their family comes to our church. They are going to invite their parents to learn more about the church. Also, Church was great because Raymond was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and received the Holy Ghost and given an amazing blessing by the Young Men's president. For Raymond everything is perfect he has so many people looking out for him and taking him under their wings. After church, one of my favorite families had us over for a birthday dinner. Prior to the dinner we were able to have a lesson with Renuma- she is still doing good but she is wavering a little. She loves church but chores come first. We are trying to figure out what she needs. But it was good for her because then she came to dinner with us with the Toilolo family which was a good way for her to get to know and become friends with members of the church. We ate dinner, had a little lesson with everyone and then had the best homemade cake ever with this super good peanut butter frosting! Yummy- I think I could have eaten the whole cake by myself but I refrained haha. After we played a few games that were super fun. I can't imagine a better day- being able to do the Lord's work, eat great food, play games, laugh, smile, and be surrounded by my families away from home. I just looked around the room and wanted to cry because I was so happy. Did I miss my family- of course! Did I wish they were there- of course! But if I can't have them then I'll make my own families where ever I go.

 

I love the Lord. I am a year older and wiser now. Weird 21... I'm so blessed to be on a mission and to see miracles every day. God is good always. And this week God gave me a family to be mine. I was able to see Raymond, another one of God's children come unto Him through baptism. I was humbled as I saw others love me in return. I know I am not perfect, but for some reason He continues to bless all of my efforts whether they are successful or not. I am nothing without my God. 2 Nephi 22:2 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation." I pray for you all! I love this work. There is nowhere else I would rather be. God is good always. God is the coincidences in life. He makes all the pieces fit together and blesses me so much. I lived a charmed life. I love you! Ofa atu! Alofa ia te oe! Mahal kita! Aishitiru! Aloha ia te oe!

 

Love Always,

    Sister Cassidy Jean Lang

Week 34- The Best Birthday Present Ever!

Aloha Ohana and Haoaloha,

 

Hopefully this week will make up for last week because we had some amazing stuff happen!

 

First, Raymond is getting baptized this Saturday! We stopped by his house and were able to teach him and read about the Stripling Warriors and then told him that he could be like these Warriors. Then we asked if he wanted to be baptized and he said yes and then we proposed this Saturday and he said yes! So now we are pulling it all together and he is telling all of his friends and the ward is super excited for him and so are we :) He is so good! Then, his school is on a track system so he is off right now. So, the next day he told us to come over in the morning so we could have a lesson and then play basketball... I think that is a fair trade. We read 3 Nephi 11 and then played basketball till it started raining and then we ended up playing soccer with the wet basketball. Also, Raymond has become really good friends with one of our recent converts that is his age, so they are always together and going to church activities with eachother, AND this recent convert is going to share his testimony at Raymond's baptism. Plus, we might start teaching his parents... we have a lesson with them tomorrow! I'm super excited for that because I already love his family and it would be so good for them to all support eachother in this decision to be baptized! I can't wait til Saturday... PLUS this is the BEST Birthday Present ever!

 

We are still working with Renuma. We were able to teach her on Sunday after church but she wasn't able to come to church :( She is going to 2 churches right now and is finding good in both, and doesn't know which to join because she feels like she will lose something by letting one go. We taught her again about how we can know Heavenly Father's will for us. When we are physcally sick we go to the hospital and see a doctor. When our spirits are sick we go to church to feel Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ's healing power. Just like we do CPR to revive someone to do CPR to spiritually revive ourselves. C- church P- pray everyday R- read the scriptures everyday.

 

We taught the twins and Kaytlynn again this week. We taught them about the Plan of Salvation and it was super good. Sierra and Shayanne are so good and have so many questions and want to share a story about everything. After we played soccer for about 15 minutes. Gotta get my exercise in. They still want to get baptized but the only hold up is the mom is kind of backtracking. We went to get them for church on Sunday and they want to come and so I ask if they need a ride or if their mom will take them. They go back and ask and then they come back and say that their mom already has stuff planned... We were really sad that they weren't able to come especially because they really wanted to come; they love church.

 

We are working with some less-active families, and part-member families and it is all going really well. I don't know if it is being a missionary or not but it is so easy to love people here even if they aren't exactly living the way they should be. Yes, I want them to be better but I love them either way. It is amazing being a missionary and like my sister, Hermana Lang, told me: being obedient brings blessings but being Perfectly Obedient brings miracles. In the mission field we need miracles and that is what we search for. Sometimes we don't realize the miracles we are given until later. Sometimes they aren't the miracles that we were expecting but they are there. it could be a person deciding to get baptized or it is the ability to continue to find patience and love in a trying situation. Either way, both are miracles where divine help was given. I love being a missionary. Yes it is hard work but it is the best work too. There is no greater work than the work of salvation. Jesus Christ is my Savior and I have this amazing time to be His representative and do the things that He would do. That means I talk to strangers, and love them instantly. I help wherever I can. I wave at everyone. And I help people find the hope that only Jesus Christ can provide. I love you. Alofa ia te oe! Ofa atu! Aishiteru! Mahal kita! Saranghae! (Korean) Aloha wau ia oe!

 

Love Always,

    Sister Cassidy Lang

Week 33

Aloha Ohana and Haoaloha,

 

Not too much happened this week sadly :( We missed a lot of people and had a lot of people not be home for appointments and such. None of our keikis could come to church this week :( It was the first time that we sat by ourselves in a while and it made me really sad but at the same time, I was able to just go to church for me. 

We were able to teach Sierra, Shayanne, and Kaytlynn this week! We were able to teach them about the Restoration. They are the cutest because they ask so many questions, love everything, and get off topic so much. They love learning about Jesus Christ. It is hard because we have to be super basic but they are catching on. They all want to be baptized which is Amazing! We just have to keep working with them. 

Miracle of the week though: we had a family move into the ward and it is a part member family. So the sister's boyfriend is not a member but has been looking into the church and liking it and so we got a new investigator this week! We have a meeting with him this week! 

 

Hopefully, this week will better! I am growing so much and constantly learning. God is good always and sometimes He gives us trials so we can grow. I love you all! Alofa ia te oe! Ofa atu! Aisitiru! Aloha wau ia oe! 

 

Love Always, 

      Sister Cassidy Lang