Week 20- Patience Donkey Patience

Aloha Ohana and Haoaloha,

Transfers are this week and I am staying! I am both happy and sad. Sister Duke is leaving to go to Honolulu to train for her remaining 9 weeks. I will truly miss her, we have become so close and have so many jokes that are the kind that aren't really funny unless you were there and realize how ridiculous the things a missionary laughs at. I am not training, yet, my new companion is Sister Bonrostro and she came out with me, I have met her a few times but don't know too much about her besides she can speak some sort of Filipino dialect which will be SO helpful with all of the Filipinos that live here. She is a Visitor Center sister and all the proselyting Sisters are going to be super jealous of her getting to come to Lanai. I realized the other day that after this next transfer I will have been out for 6 months, a third of my mission! That is crazy!! As of right now I would say that I'll stay here on Lanai for one more transfer and then leave. So far no one has stayed on Lanai for over 6 months so I will hit that and if I stay that will be another first for the area. I'm excited to stay because I truly love the people and for a selfish reason Pineapple Days are coming up and I want to be there for that! So that is me for now.

 

We did a lot of service this week. We cleaned the Avegalios house and they moved this week. I'm sad to see them go but I know they will be okay and this move will provide them with new opportunities. 

 Teaching Briel and Brynlie how to play softball

We have started to teach a lady named Virginia. She is the grandma to a member who has been baptized for a little over a year. He is the only member in his family and comes to church every week by himself and is so smart. He received the priesthood a few months ago and is so good. He invites his grandma every week to church and finally she came last week and she loved it. We asked if we could come over and she told us to come back later that week at 6. So we did and we taught her about the Restoration. Her grandson, Christian, (the member) was there and he was so helpful with bearing testimony of the gospel. He is already such a good missionary and he is only 12! Virginia likes the idea of baptism but is still thinking about it. She understands the role of the Priesthood and loves church. 

 

A few months past a member told us a joke that I didn't really find funny but I did get a moral out of the story. Short version:Ch.1- There was a master and a donkey and they start out on a journey. They walk and walk and walk. Over hills and through valleys. Ch. 2- They continue to walk and walk and walk on through valleys and over hills. The donkey begins to tire and asks, "Master, I'm thirsty may I have some water?" To which the Master replies, "Patience Donkey, patience." So they carry on walking. Ch3.- The Master and the donkey keep walking over more hills and valleys into desserts and again the donkey cries out, "Master, I'm thirsty. May I have some water?" To which the Master replies, "Patience Donkey, patience." so they carry on walking. Ch. 5- The donkey has slowed his pace and is sweating, his tongue is dry and sandpapery and in a croaked voice cries, "Master, I'm thirsty. May I have some water?" To which the Master replies, "Patience Donkey, patience." So they carry on walking. Ch.6 - Donkey is barely able to keep his hooves moving but keeps on walking, every fly feels like another brick on his back. In a hoarse, faint cry, "Master, I'm thirsty. May I have some water?" To which the Master replies, "Patience Donkey, patience." So they both kept on walking. Ch. 7- The donkey has collapsed, beginning to see hallucinations from heat exhaustion. With his final breath, the donkey gasps, "Master, I am thirsty. May I have some water?" To which the Master replies, "Patience Donkey, patience." And the donkey dies. 

So the joke was that we skipped Ch. 4. I didn't think it was funny because this poor donkey just died because of his dumb master. Well, ever since they told us this joke I have taken the phrase Patience donkey patience to remind me to be patient. No I have not died, but I have been taught patience. 

 

From my first week here Sister Duke and I have been doing service with a lady named Alberta. (Yes the one we farm for every week). Well to refresh your memories. Our first week here we were talking to her and she asked about when church was and what we did. We told her and she says, "Okay, you have committed me to come to church." I remember thinking, "Wow! that is great we didn't even invite you but you are welcome to come and we are thrilled to have you." The next week we asked how she liked church and she loved it and asked what that coming week was going to be like, it was fast and testimony meeting and once again she committed herself to come to church. Since then, Alberta has rarely missed a Sunday. After a few weeks of coming we received 3 miracle phone calls. 1. Brandon Avegalio, "Hi, Sister I want to get on a pathway to baptism" Brandon was baptized on March 16. 2. Alberta, "Hi, Sisters I want to learn about the Book of Mormon" 3. Cody "Hi Sisters, I walk into work today and Shaun says that he wants to get baptized so you should call him at ..." Shaun was baptized on April 12. Since Alberta's call we have taught her twice because she is always SO busy all the time. Then this past Sunday was Testimony meeting and she got up and expressed her gratitude for all the work Sister Duke and I have helped her out with. Then she closes by saying, "I know this is the true church of God." Blew me out of the water! Then during 2nd hour of church our member comes up to us and tells us that Alberta had asked him how she could become a member of the church! We are meeting with her tomorrow and we are going to set up a time when she can be baptized. 4 months of Patience, Cassie, patience. Sister Duke and I have spent countless hours studying for her, praying for her, and giving up plenty of meals fasting for her. So, unlike the donkey, at the end of my patience when giving up sounds so good the Lord provides the miracle. The water has been given and I am revived. My heart is so full with gratitude for how much the Lord does and how little I do in this work. 

 

Yep, it was cool and I definitely was trying to compare the
deer's anatomy to a human's. There are a lot of similarities.

Adventures of the Week: Sister Duke and I were out knocking on doors and we come to a house and hear voices so I say, "Aloha." Response, "Um you might not want to come around the corner." I use my detective skills and see drops of blood on the steps and ask, "Are you skinning a deer?" Response, "Yes." Sister Duke and I, "Can we watch?!" Taken aback response, "Sure. You are the craziest girls I have ever met." So we watched Bob and Albert skin a deer and man were they good at it. They made it look like art. Bob, Albert and Lori were so funny and I love them. Lots of foul language, marijuana joints and beer to be had but they have met missionaries before and so only offered water which I was grateful for. If the deer hadn't been shot by a super rich guy I would have asked if I could try and skin the deer and butcher it. But since it was my first time I didn't want to ruin some guys hide that he wanted to have stuffed. Next time though :)

 

At the Imu banana stump phase with the leaves to your right!

The second adventure is I witnessed my first imu! A less active family invited us over to see it and it was super cool. It is a huge bit and they have a fire going and then lava rocks and then they throw banana stumps over the fire, banana leaves, the meat (there was tons of meat!), tea leaves next, two layers of tarps, and dirt on the side to keep all the heat and moisture in. Then you let it basically slow cook over night. The next morning you take all of it and put everything inside and the imu is done! Next we shredded the pork and put Hawaiian salt on it. Of course we ate some and it was darn good. Then we saved most of it for a wedding this coming week. It was really cool to watch the whole imu experience. Hopefully next time I will get to see a whole pig be put inside. 

 

Well my life continues on Lanai and I am happy about it. The work is good and hard. I love being a missionary. I'm sad to say goodbye to Sister Duke. The only constant thing in life is Change. I know that with a new companion I will grow and learn something new from her. I will be grateful that she will be able to help with the language barrier with so many of the Filipinos. I'm grateful for fresh vegetables and sunsets (Sunrises are growing on me now that I have to be up earlier than I was used to). I love the Lord and I only wish I could learn quicker but He continues to teach me little lessons. He keeps telling me, "Patience Cassie, patience." Sometimes we have to work through the hard, keep enduring, and then make it a little bit farther to the water that awaits us but we just cant see it yet. The Lord loves me and He loves you. Elohim Tov taneem. God is good Always, Aloha uwau ia oe. 

 



Yes the eyeballs are still attached.  Cool, right?

Love Always, 

    Sister Cassidy Jean Lang

P.S. I would love to hear how all of you are doing! So email me at cassidy.lang@myldsmail.net

More deer pictures:

The perfectly cut hide

 

Week 19- Paint Spots

Aloha Ohana and Haoaloha,

 

This week seems like it was forever ago but I guess that it all happened since the last time that I wrote. On Monday we had exchanges. In a normal mission one person from a companionship switches with another person in a different companionship. Well the Hawaii mission is a bit different and the Maui zone is even more different because our zone covers 3 islands. So we had 2 Sisters come to Lanai on Monday night. It was a bit interesting because 2 people barely fit in our pad and so the other companionship slept in the cultural hall. 

 



We took some pictures when we were done painting.  As you
can see, Sister Duke and I are the cool Sisters with funny faces
and the other ones are too cute to make funny faces. :-P

The next day was full of service. We started by helping a guy build a green house- we started making the foundation by digging cinder blocks into the ground. (Not how I would make a green house but then again I would never care to make one in the first place...) Then after that we got a call from a member who needed our help painting. Aka we painted a room that her husband had built onto the house. It was pretty well built and it looked good when we were done. I'm pretty sure that all of my basketball shorts now have paint spots on them. Though I think the principle is the same as having scarred and calloused hands. Those hands show that your life has been full of helping and serving others. Dirt-stained, paint-splattered shorts show the same that I have been out in the service of others. After our sweaty hours of service we cleaned up really quickly and went out to see a few people. Miracle of the day. Sister Willis (from Maui) and I went to go see Flora. Usually if we don't catch her coming home she wont come to the door but today her door was open and she came outside to talk to us. We had a really good talk with her about baptism and asked her to pray and really think about being baptized. I just don't understand why she has been coming all of these 20 years and wont get baptized. She honestly is the only person who is making herself so unhappy, and she refuses to see that she is a good person and a daughter of God.

 

Adventure of the week: Sister Duke and I discovered Haole camp, meaning white-persons' camp. Aka the really rich part of the island. Shoot those houses are nice! Unfortunately no one wanted to pray with us so I couldn't ask my really awkward question of, "Can I just look at your house?" We told some of our members that we just discovered Haole camp and they were amazed that it took us this long but in our defense there are only 2 roads that go up there. We were just knocking on doors and then we found a road that just kept going up and so of course we had to follow it up and it took us to the infamous Haole camp. 

 

Saturday was full of more service: we have a family that is moving :( and so they were having a garage sale so we went over early morning to help set up and bring stuff out to sell and then we had a branch clean up. So back to the church we helped clean the building for the Branch Conference that was happening the following day. After a few hours cleaning up we went back to Avegalios to help finish up their garage sale. We helped move a few heavier objects. (Sisters are often underestimated for how much weight we can actually lift. I'm not that strong... this just isn't that heavy...) Everything that didn't sell went over to the thrift shops that Alberta runs (one of the bazillion things that she runs). Then we went over to President Fernandez's house to help him clean fish because Sister Duke and I are pros now ;) After that we went over to the Purple Church ( I have no idea what denomination they actually were but the building foreclosed and was recently bought by someone else and the church was painted purple- hence the nickname Purple Church). The new owner said that Alberta could have all of the stuff inside to sell at her thrift shop (it's called "Where the Cats Meow" its a great name). We helped move out all of the stuff inside the church and I swear they must have loved peanut butter because we found like 10 jars of it! Boxes of Bibles and I was glad to find a Mormon pass along card! We left it there :) That night we made banana bread for our Branch Conference Potluck. 

Making pankeke

Sunday: Branch Confernece and of course potluck! It wouldnt be Lanai without a potluck big enough to feed the whole island! And yes my banana bread is as big of a hit here in Lanai as it is back home and in Provo. Later that day we met an awesome guy named Charlie. He is 75, Japanese and so funny. I think we stood talking for 2 hours at least! I LOVED TALKING TO HIM! He said he likes banana bread so the next time we make some we will take him some. For moms out there he loves you. Being a mom is the hardest job in the world. To my mom he said that you raised me right and you did. A mom's job never stops- she is working all day long- spending her nights rocking her fussy child back to sleep. He pointed out that at minimum wage in Hawaii at $9.25 an hour they would bring more money than most husband out there. After my sore legs walked themselves out we went to Elaines for dinner. Elaine is 18 and is the only active member here and her family is all back in Samoa. She is an amazing girl and we went over and made a mismatch of food but it was so yummy. I learned how to make pankeke (basically go to Dennys and get their Hush Puppies and thats what I learned how to make Samoan style) My first attempt of getting it into a perfect sphere was a mess - batter kinda flew a few different directions haha. But I got it down towards the end. 

Now its back to monday and we have already been out serving again helping move boxes! "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17). I love to serve others. I love others and when you love others you just want to help. Loving others has come easy and Im sure there are so many more that I will just come to love. My heart keeps growing so I can keep loving more and wanting to love more. God is good ALWAYS! Love keeps this world worth living in. Serving others show others there is love, when there is love there is hope. Hold to the hope and we can make it through anything! Aloha uwau ia oe! 

Love Always, 

Sister Cassidy Jean Lang

 

Week 18

Aloha Ohana and haoaloha,



Lanai has 2 of the most beautiful golf courses

Well, another week has flown by! I feel like it was just yesterday Sister Duke and I were starting another transfer together and talking about how this transfer would seem long because it would take us all the way to June. Um... June is almost here. Oh my why does time have to fly by so quick! 

 

We were able to have a few lessons this week which was good because it is graduation week and graduating from high school is a big deal here.  Not many people go to college here. Everyone has parties and so much food- there are parties happening every single night until the middle of July. It also doesn't help that it is a small town so everyone is invited to everyone else's parties and if you have more than 2 at a time then no one would go to the third. Anyways, back to the lessons: We taught Alberta! It took some compromising. We helped her address a bunch of letters for her newspaper and then after we were able to teach her a lesson. We read 2 Nephi 31 with her and she really liked it. At the end she said that she wanted to do this every week! Finally! That is what we have been trying to do this whole time :) I just love her though she is always doing something and adding things to her plate even though she really doesn't have the time to do them all. I like teaching Alberta because she always asks questions and really wants to understand. Like always she loves coming to church but hasn't quite understood that what we are trying to tell her is that she can have those same feelings that she feels at church all the time if she would read the Book of Mormon, pray, and be baptized.

 

Tracking deer

The 2nd lesson was with Lucky. We saw him throughout the week and asked when we could come over and he said Friday at 1. So we went over and read 2 Nephi 32 from the Book of Mormon and it was really good. We watched a video about a family that starts to learn about the gospel and then they get baptized and go through the temple and are sealed as a family and it is really good. We talked about our purpose here on Earth: to prepare ourselves to live with Heavenly Father again. How we need to become spiritual sons and daughters of God. Jesus Christ is the center to this plan because we make mistakes or face trials that we cant get over ourselves; Jesus Christ is there to make us whole and forgive us of our mistakes and He is the one that lifts us up and strengthens us to be able to make it through the hard times. The lesson was really good and the Spirit was there! We invited him to be baptized and he said that he wasn't ready but that he would think about it. We also asked him to continue to pray every morning and night and then asked him to ask for Sundays off so he could come to church. He said he would and I handed him a Book of Mormon and he said that he would read it, I didn't even have to ask him if he would. Wow, it continues to amaze me how the Spirit does so much and I do so little. 

 

We continue to see Elaine and Kealohi and we had a really cool experience with the Book of Mormon. We have started to play this game where one person comes up with a question and then another person opens up to a random place in the Book of Mormon and then we start reading that chapter and keep reading until we find the answer to the question. Well Kealohi thought she had an unanswerable question, "Will Elaine serve a mission?" Elaine opened the Book of Mormon to 2 Nephi 11 and we started to read. Then in chapter 16:8 we found our answer, "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said: Here am I; send me." Kealohi's head shot up (she had kinda gotten bored of the game) and said that's it we found the answer! I learned that any and every question we have can and will be found in the scriptures; sometimes it wont be in the first verse we read but we will have to keep reading until we find it. We have to put in effort to find what we are searching for. 

 

Sister Duke and I are trying really hard to find new people to teach but it is always really hard to find people at home because everyone works so much in order to live here. It is so important to both find and teach so that we always have a teaching pool; but it is a lot harder said than done. 

 

Hawaiian Word of the week: apulekako means pray

 

Success of the Week: walking away from a pot luck without any food! Key to this miracle is hiding when they start dividing up the food. 

 

So beautiful- this is where we stopped to study

Adventure of the Week: Sister Duke and I went hiking this morning to Koloiki Ridge and it was beautiful! We had companionship study and wow I wish we could study there everyday because it was so peaceful. You could hear the stream down in the gulch and occasional birds chirping. Everything is so green then you look out on the ocean and can see Maui and Molokai. God is Good Always! 

 

I love this work, and that is what it is work. It is hard but worth it. Lives change, hope is found, and a better tomorrow is made. Aloha uwao ia oe! 

 

Love Always, 

     Sister Cassidy Lang

Week 17- It's the Little Things That Count

Another of God's love.  I spy with my little eye Jackson.  We
found a Jackson chameleon and named him Jackson.
Can you find him?

Aloha, Ohana and haoaloha,

 

Happy Mother's Day. I hope that everyone was extra nice to their moms yesterday! For me, I got to call my mom and it was wonderful. About 4 months of not talking to her has been hard. A week was hard when I studied abroad in Jerusalem, then in college I would call at least every other day and if I missed I could feel it. If you couldn't guess I'm super close to my family, especially my mom so being able to talk to them was the best. Saying goodbye sucked and I had already been crying when Carly had to say bye first- dumb time difference between Peru and Hawaii!

 

Well, this week was really great even though a lot of missionary work didn't end up happening. Not many people were home when we knocked on their doors. We taught 2 lessons, both were unscheduled; all of our scheduled appointments were canceled (aka- no one was home when we went by or they said they forgot and were busy at the moment and to come back next week... :/ ) But with all that I saw God's hand a lot:

 

My first time eating a pig off of a pig cooked in an imu.

Lesson with Shaun (Big Easy)- we just went over to his house on Tuesday and talked with him and he got a new roommate who is an inactive member (Pinky) who stayed and talked with us too. We talked a lot about God's love and how it fills us up and fills in all the holes that life takes out of us. I said that there is nothing we can do to make God stop loving us because His love is unconditional and perfect. Pinky was taken off guard and really didn't understand that and asked if God loved Hitler. Yes, God loves Hitler- is He happy with his decisions- No - But God still loves him because he is His son. Then Shaun was telling us how sometimes he just wants to take the easy road and not work so hard at everything. Pinky chimes in and says, "You don't want to do that because if it is easy it ain't worth it." Words of wisdom from the Cowboys. Took the words right out of my mouth- this life is hard- yes- but the reward is worth it. Everything good in this life takes work and fighting for! 

 

Miracle of the week: One of our members brought his friend to church. And his friend loved coming to church and said that he wants to come again. He said that out of all the churches he has been to, this church has felt the best. Church was awesome. He took a pamphlet about the Restoration and a Book of Mormon. So basically awesome!!!

 

Moments where I knew that God was showing His love for me: A honk and a whistle from good ole Cody Bradford in his big, green, flat bed truck, cowboy hat and all pulls up and talks to us for a sec and leaves with the same words my cowboy friend Courtney told me before I left, "Keep your chin up." 

A rainy day and the only song that is stuck in my head is "There is Sunshine in My Soul."

You can't really tell that it is a triple rainbow but it was.

Seeing an eclipse and doing what every doctor tells you not to do. Stare straight into the sun for more than 3 seconds. Yep, after that the light blue truck across the street was now a light green truck. Whoops. As Ashley Holt would say, "YOLO"

I saw my first ever triple rainbow.

Haula- a one year old throwing her apple in the dirt so it was no longer good to eat. Next minute Elaine wanting to see what happens when you take a golf club to an apple. Expecting it to soar really far. She takes her pre swing- swings- blooshf- the apple doesn't go soaring. Instead, it explodes into applesauce. Oh my we were laughing so hard. And we might have done it 3 more times just for fun! Don't worry all the apples were old and not good to eat anymore. 

Receiving a letter from my sister, Hermana Carly Lang, in Peru and her quoting the scripture my mom and I always quote, "Be still, and know that I am God," Psalms 46:10. I needed that scripture this week. And it was another crying moment for me.



Left to right: Elaine, me, Kealohi, Sister Duke.
I just keep thinking of more ways that God told me
He loves me- a member made those flower crowns for us! 

Well, that pretty much sums up my week. God is Good Always. Elohem Tov Taneem! The gospel is true. And the Lord can strengthen us to be able to endure any trial we have. I pray for you all. I love you! Aloha uwao ia oe! Otay alofa ia oe! Te quiero! Naleing shecolm! 

Love Always, 

    Sister Cassidy Lang




I learned how to make a flower crown myself.  I think it's good
for my first one. So by the time I get married I will be pro!

 

Week 16- I Believe in Miracles, It's a Gospel Thing!

Aloha Ohana and hoaloha,

 

Wow, this week has just been filled with so many miracles! The work is great and I love it. I'm not sure how to say this right so you will understand; but, ever since I have been out on my mission I have been struggling to find the balance between being a missionary and still being myself. Well... I think I have finally found it and guess what? It was still me- maybe a little more focused me but still me who loves to play sports, laugh, be a klutz and (on more occasions than I would prefer) make a fool of myself. I still know that the gospel is true and my testimony in it is continually growing, I am constantly learning how the gospel has affected my life and how it will help others. I know that I have so much more to learn and that I still have time but I also realize that time is already flying by! I have been out 3 months and that is crazy! I only have 15 more and that freaks me out, I am close to only having a year left. AHHH!!!!

 

Ok, now for the good stuff! I don't even know where to start. We have been reading with Elaine almost everyday and it has been really helping her. Kealohi background: she was baptized a few months before Sister Duke and I came here, hasn't really been coming to church and dodges our appointments, and lives above Elaine.  One day she was hanging out with Elaine when we came to read the Book of Mormon, we asked her if she wanted to read with us. At first I thought she was going to say no but she said sure and read a chapter with us. When we finished we talked about what had happened and what we had liked or how the chapter could apply to us. Kealohi loved it- we started helping Elaine cook and then I look over and Kealohi is still reading. She stops and asks, "Do you guys read everyday?" I tell her, "Ya, most everyday. Do you want to read with us?" Yep she did! It is awesome how when people are just willing to try reading the Book of Mormon with an open mind it will change them and bring them closer to Jesus Christ just as the introduction promises! What a great miracle? Heck ya! 

Sister Duke and I

Wednesday, everything was going really well. People were actually home! It is usually a hit or miss, some days everyone is out and others this town is like a ghost town. We were able to pray with so many people and we were on schedule which doesn't always happen. Well, we had an appointment with Raven- so we walk over there and someone is outside, so we ask him if Raven is home. He goes to the window looks and says, "No she isn't home" then proceeds to ask, " What are you guys doing with her anyway?" We tell him that we are teaching her about Jesus Christ and the gospel that He has set up. I pipe up and ask, "Do you want to learn about Jesus?" "Oh, no. I'm sorry I'm busy" bummed expressions from Sister Duke and I "How about Friday?" brighter taken aback expressions now! His name is Lucky he lives at the same house as Raven. Well we go back Friday and he comes out and says I cant meet right now, I just got called into work but asks if we can meet later. We never say no to meeting later. Later came and he never called... Saturday we just decide to go visit. Lucky was home and came out and stopped watching the Nets and the Bulls so we could talk with him. We got to know him and what he already believes and knows, his expectations and ours, basically, Lucky is awesome. His son is a member and was baptized sometime last year. Lucky has never really believed in God but doesn't disbelieve it. He is open to learning and wants to know what his son knows. He really is open to trying out the gospel and allowing it to bless his life. We have another appointment and he is awesome! But wait it gets better... Sunday one of our members went to the gas station and saw Lucky there buying some cigarettes. When Lucky saw our member he tells the cashier, "Hey, I actually wont be buying those cigarettes." WHAT THE WHAT!!!! We haven't even taught him about the Word of Wisdom, where it says we don't smoke etc. Wow, the Lord is so good, Lucky is so good, this work is so good. There are so many miracles everywhere!!!

 

This weekend everyone in our already small branch was gone! Plus it was fast Sunday. It was Youth Conference and they stay till Sunday here. So that knocked out half our youth (2), 2 Young Mens leaders, 2 Young Women leaders. Then one family went to Maui to get their monthly supply of food (its cheaper there and there are more options), another couple went to Oahu for a funeral, then others were sick or just didn't come. To be honest I was worried when there were only about 15 people at church. We were all going to bear our testimonies and still have plenty of time to spare. Well, let me say, "God, provides!" That sacrament meeting with all the testimonies that were shared was one of the best that I have ever been to. Testimonies start and a moment of crickets... who is going to start... Sister Duke! After her, Alberta (our investigator that has her mind running 500 different ways so she never has time to really focus on the gospel). She gets up there and talks about how her first time in the church was at a funeral and the congregation sang Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy (hymn 335). She talked about how the line, "Let the lower lights be burning; Send a gleam across the wave. Some poor fainting, struggling seaman you may rescue, you may save." had touched her so much when the choir had sang it. She remembered that when she was growing up in Hana she remembers driving her car down to the beach to add her headlights to a growing beacon to help a poor seaman who had been caught in the storm find his way home. She then said, "I believe that this gospel is the guiding light in my life." She thanked the congregation for being so kind and welcoming to her and then sat down. Her simple testimony brought the Spirit so strongly. Tears were being wiped from many eyes, not just mine. Thank you mom for always teaching me to have a tissue handy. The meeting proceeded with many other great testimonies. I cannot explain the miracle that I witnessed in my little branch here on Lanai; but, I can say that at that moment we were in very holy ground, we were in the presence of heavenly beings and I'm pretty sure angles were there adding to the Spirit that was there. No, I didn't see them there but we could feel God's love and He had witnessed and heard those testimonies that were shared. God's presence = miracle. Alberta and her simple but truthful testimony is a miracle!

 

After sacrament Flora went out of her way to talk to me. She said thanks for all of the notes and scriptures that we have left her. I told her we love her, because we do, and that God loves her so much. She finally allowed us to get her number. Slowly, her heart is being softened. Slowly, she is realizing that she is a daughter of God, she is a heavenly Princess with Divine Parents. Flora is a miracle!

 

Shaun Langsi was able to come to church. He had told us the night before that he was going to have to work. A few minutes late and he walks in! He asked where the tithing slips were so he could pay his tithing. He told us it would hurt because he wasn't sure if he would make it through the month without that money, but he knows that the Lord will provide and he needs the Lord's blessings more than the money. Shaun is a miracle because his faith is increasing and the Lord is doing it! 

 

It rained a lot!  And thanks for the skirts Mom-
they are super cute!!!  I love them :)




The rest of Sunday rained and I had left my umbrella at a members house and when we had left the house it wasn't raining so Sister Duke didn't have hers either. We got very wet- because Hawaii rain doesn't apply in Lanai. It rained the whole rest of the day and night and a little bit today. It was hard rain then softer then back to hard downpours to little showers. Not many people were home but we were able to meet with Raven and Ryan and talk to them about faith and repentance. And of course this is leading to a miracle- Raven has a baptismal date for June 12!!!! She is so amazing and so beautiful and so willing to have the gospel be apart of her life and her baby-to-come's life. 

 

 

 

 

Our dump

Fun things of the week: Monday was the Pinewood Derby. Those kids are the best! Victor Seiuli (5 years old) prayer, "I'm grateful we could eat the Sisters".  York Peppermint Patties- thank you Jackson Hart for teaching me about how the elves whisper every time that you break a peppermint pattie! Sister Duke and I definitely laughed. I learned that geckos bark. Dogs are of the devil especially when you want to pray with someone. Sometimes it is really nice to just sit down and stick some grass in your mouth. Baseball is harder to play with golf balls and a broken bat. Lanai has the world's prettiest dump! 

 

 

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Dont worry Sister Duke and I celebrated by making homemade maracas with coins and water bottles. We made guacamole. And we sang, "La Cucaracha". It may or may not be recorded- I guess you will just have to remember this email and remind me to show you the video after my mission. Oh and don't forget about Boys Day! May 5 in Japanese culture is Boys Day! I have no clue what they do to celebrate, everyone I asked just said that they eat traditional Japanese food. Don't they do that everyday? Some of them did have fish flags hung up outside their houses. There is a flag for each boy in the family and the fish get bigger depending on if there is a grandpa, dad, sons, and

grandkids. Last thing that is big in Hawaii is Mayday. Its the 1st of May and the schools put on a performance of cultural dances. We just had a small one here on Lanai but I have heard that it is huge in Laie. 

Week 15- Oversized Pants!

Aloha Ohana and hoaloha,

Katie's fishy face up at Koele (a really nice hotel)

 

Thank you Mom for finding out the Hawaiian word for friend for me. 

 

The past few weeks Sister Duke and I have been helping Brandon (he was baptized a month or so ago) clear out his bamboo forest. He basically takes his machete and chops down the bamboo, whacks off the branches and then makes a pile for Sister Duke and I to load into the truck to take to the dump. He told us to wear pants and long sleeve shirts because bamboo is really pokey and also there are centipedes here and they will bite and I have heard that the bite is not an enjoyable experience. Well, I'm in Hawaii- I didn't bring any pants with me - all year round it is warm. I started looking around my pad (apartment) and I see a laundry basket that has a ton of clothes from the Elders that had previously lived here. I find a pair of pants and they are a few sizes too big; but they were going to have to do. So I grab my belt (thanks again mom for sending it to me), cuff the legs a few times and start to his house. As we work they catch dirt and leaves in the cuffs but protect from all the pokey branches and do their job because I haven't been bit yet. 

 

This week I feel as if a lot has happened but not much missionary stuff. We are working with a lot of members who do not come to church and then members who just need extra strengthening because sometimes life just sucks. I don't know how people manage sometimes because as my dad says, "I have lived a charmed life." I have never had to face some of the trials that I witness and this is in this country; I know there are worse things out of the country. Life is hard and we are all given our share of problems to face; the only thing that we can do about it is our attitude of how we look at things (thanks Rachel for your email last week about this). I have come to realize that my knowledge of my Savior and His role in my life has really helped me form a positive perspective that helps me get through the hard times. 

We are still working with Raven and Ryan. We can tell that Ryan is feeling the Holy Ghost when we come over and Raven is doing great. She is understanding what we are saying but I'm not sure if she is seeing what that actually means to her and her future life. Then with Flora, we are praying and fasting for a miracle because we really don't know how else to help her. We left her "Forget Me Not" talk by President Uchtdorf. I just feel so bad that she really doesn't think she is of any worth- that there is nothing good about her. She doesn't understand that she is a special, unique, and loved daughter of our Heavenly Father. 

 

We have started reading the Book of Mormon with Shaun (Big Easy) to help him get in the habit of reading everyday. Every time we go over I swear I see something new and I have read these chapters so many times! Then we have also started reading with a member, Elaine, who is trying to go on a mission. She is awesome and realizes that she has kinda let herself slack with her reading so she asked if we could help her get back into reading. She loves it and is really good at pulling out meaning from scriptures she needs. 

Mormon Helping Hands

 


On Saturday we participated in Mormon Helping Hands, we cleaned up trash on a road that leads down to the beach and then had a barbeque down there. It was beautiful. Really hard not to go in the water when everyone is telling you to get in and that they wont tell anyone.  We did witness Tuma, a member, swim out to some rocks and pick them up. To my surprise they were not rocks- turtles who had been completely asleep so when Tuma picked them up they were not happy to say the least. They were flailing their arms and as soon as they squirmed their way back into the water they took off swimming. I resisted, I am happy to say, all the invitations to get in the water. Instead, we played volleyball and it was really fun. We were down there for awhile then back up to town, got ready and back to knocking on doors and seeing people. 

 



Trying Opihi

Adventures of the week: I tried opihi with a less active family. we were walking by and they were outside so we stopped to talk and ended up staying for awhile. Opihi are little animals in shells that stick to rocks (kinda like the snails of the ocean. Well they were eating them and asked if we wanted some. I said I would try. Description that should have been saved until after eaten. They take one out of the shell to show us what it looks like and tell us that the orange part is the stomach and that is peoples favorite part to eat... I didn't really want to know that before I stuck this thing in my mouth. Well they throw a few on the fire to cook it. I start looking at a bigger one and it starts moving. Sister Duke and I just kinda look at each other and tell the dad, "Um... this one is still alive." He grabs it and throws it on the fire live. What an awful way to go. You know they are done when 1. they stop moving and 2. the water that collects in the shell starts to boil. We add some sweet and sour sauce and here goes nothing. It was surprisingly good. Kinda chewy and a bit weird when you bit the stomach and it pops. I ate a few more and I like them. I couldn't eat them as a whole meal but as a starter I could :)

 



Ice Cream night with the Bradfords

Tender Mercy: I got to play a sport I am actually good at. The other day we were at the Bradfords' and Brooklynn had missed softball practice for a school assignment she had to go to. Cody, her dad, told her that she would be getting up at 6 the next day to make up the practice. I smiled and he noticed and asked what I was smiling about. I couldn't hold it back, "Can we come?" He said we would have to shag the balls. Done deal! The next morning we did shag a lot of balls but we also got to hit and run drills and it was so much fun for me to do something familiar. At the end we were cleaning up and I asked if I could just pitch a few to see if I still could. (It's been about 6 years since I have actually pitched a ball) The first rolled across the plate. The second was good. Then Cody was like, "Ok, I'm gonna hit these." Next few right down the middle or outside but looking good enough to swing. I struck him out and it felt really good to kinda know I could still pitch. I hope we get to play again!

This made me think of Carly

 

Well I think that is it! I love you all. I hope God is blessing you as much as he is me. Even if our pants are oversized we can allow God to fill up where we lack. Let Him do what we
 cannot. All He asks of us is that we try our best and leave the rest to Him. "Take my yoke upon you for it is light and easy to bear." Email or write me! Aloha uwao ia oe!

Love Always,

    Sister Cassidy Lang

Week 14

Aloha Ohana and Friends,

    I am still trying to learn what the Hawaiian word for friend is.
    This week I have been thinking a lot about miracles. I have come to learn that we find what we are looking for. Miracles are all around us, both big and small, we just have to look for them and recognize that they are miracles. The Lord is always showing us that He loves us with small tender mercies everyday. I remember in Provo walking home on my birthday this past year... I had nothing planned- my big day was just another day- I felt a little bummed and was kicking a rock just thinking about who knows what- then the story about President Monson telling the man to look up came to mind- so instead of kicking the rock and trying to step on every leaf I looked up. There was a beautiful sunset. And as dumb as it may sound I started to cry- here I was getting ready to throw myself a pity party and I look up and God is there telling me Happy Birthday! There is no greater miracle than that- knowing that God, my Heavenly Father, the Omnipotent thought of me and just wanted to tell me He loved me and knew it was my birthday.
     Why I told that story- I am not sure. I know that life gets hard and sometimes we feel lost in all the commotion of the world but there are a few people who will never forget us. They are Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. They are always telling us that they love us and are thinking of us- all we have to do is look.

Sarona is one of the cutest kids here.  We are really close with
the Seiuli family.  We watch the local basketball
league with them every Monday for FHE.

      We have started doing service for an older lady who lives at the hospital- she cannot walk or control her hands- once a week we will read to her. She has a cheery attitude and it is a miracle to me that she can stay happy even though she cannot move on her own. We have started teaching a young girl, Raven, who is 18 and pregnant. Her boyfriend is starting to come back to church. Raven wants to be baptized but we have to set a date with her. It is a miracle that she has so much courage to be living away from home, learning about the gospel of Jesus Christ, is preparing to get married, and has a child on the way. She is a miracle to me that she is not just breaking down from everything that is happening ( I would be freaking out ! ) People are miracles- how they handle all the different trials that come their way. They never give up but keep fighting because that is what has to be done. The other day we met with a less active - we found him on the old man's bench. There are 2 pavilions at the park, one for the old men and the other is for the old ladies but anyone sits there. Well we were told that John is always on the old man's bench and he was. We chatted with him and then the 2 other guys there. One a chain smoker, John hates questions and has the best laugh, Conner loves to swear and drink but is nice ( I think I would prefer a little less of the f word ) Basically all they do everyday is sit and watch the ladies walk by... One girl walks by and Conner says, "Wow, she's hott!" looks at us "Is it wrong to notice her beauty?" We tell him no but you have to respect her for the daughter of God that she is. We then tell him about how we are missionaries and we tell him about how we read the Book of Mormon everyday. He asks to see it because he already knows what it says. I hand him mine and he starts flipping to random pages and reading random verses. Well, this is what he reads: 1) "the same that looketh at a women to lust after her hath committed adultery" 2) mind your mouth 3) Alma 32 the part about the seed and if the seed be good then we need to continue to nourish it. He hands the Book of Mormon back and I am astonished. The Book of Mormon is a miracle- Connor randomly opened to scriptures that will help him more closely follow Jesus Christ and I had nothing to do with it. The Lord did it all.

     Along with miracles- I have been thinking of all the miracles I have seen so far on my mission. Brandon Avegalio was baptized on March 16, Shaun Langsi was baptized on April 12. A little over a week ago, Sister Duke and I went to Maui for the day for District Meeting. Well, we ended up being dropped off at the ferry 2 hours early. We started doing the tourist thing and looked at all the shops. Sister Duke started to go into a boutique and I thought, "I think this is a little out of our price range," but followed her inside. The lady working started talking to us and we found out that she has a lot of friends that are Mormons. Kaili (the worker) has a really good friend out on a mission and writes him every so often. I asked Kaili if she would allow the Sister missionaries that are over her area to come and visit with her and teach her about the gospel so she can know what her friend does everyday. She said that she would love that. Well about 5 days later we get a call from the Sisters who met with Kaili. Kaili will be baptized on April 29th. A miracle that I got to help make. A bigger kind of miracle.
     Yesterday, we were out tracting and knocked into a man's house. We asked him, Jim, if we could pray with him- he didn't know how to pray but said that it would be fine with him. We ask if there is anything or anyone specific that he would like us to include in the prayer- immediately he mentions a friend who is struggling. We pray for him, say amen, and Jim is crying. The Spirit was there and no he is not getting baptized yet. He thanked us and told us that he wasn't sure if we could come back but that he would call us. At first, I was so upset, wondering if I had asked the wrong question after the prayer that had made him give us the Spirit back, or what I had done wrong. Then, the Spirit came to me and just placed the thought, "Did you do everything by the Spirit" "Yes" "Then you did your part". At this time I don't know what the outcome with Jim will be- whether he will allow baptism to help change his life and bring him the greatest peace and happiness or if he will never want to know more. But, I do know that that prayer that we said with Jim was a miracle to me. It was God once again telling me that He knows me, He cares, and He is accepting my efforts as small as they may be.
    I love this work! It is the best! It is hard but great! We are all called to the work to be missionaries- whether in the field or as a member missionary we are called. There is always someone that we can help and lift. Maybe being a parent is the only thing that can compare to being a missionary. You see those you love grow and make changes, sometimes there are times that you want to quit or scream but then a moment of pure sweetness comes and all the moments of frustration are washed away and you are ready to start again! That is how missionary work is. I know there have already been frustrating moments but those are not the ones that I remember it is the times when I noticed the miracles around me. The moments that I saw God's love for me. Miracles are there just open your eyes and look. Aloha ovua ia oe!
Love Always,
    Sister Cassidy Lang