THEY GOT BAPTIZED!!!!--17 May 2016

Waiting was so worth it because Jonathan and Adrian got baptized and they are soooooo happy. They are so cute. I love them so much and I know that they will keep going in the church with Manuel and it will be the best thing ever. Love them way too much. The funniest thing is that they saw the jumpsuits and then they started to run around and we had to chase them to get them to put the jumpsuits on. they did not want to do that. (mostly they just love to play around :) haha so funny. it was so special.

one of the miracles of that was we had the baptism planned for 6 that night, but then we had to switch it so the mom could come. At first I didn't want to switch because it threw the ward off, but it was such a blessing! because that very night at about 5 o'clock it started to rain and it flooded (again!!) not as bad as last time, but we were stuck in a house for a while. What a miracle. God really knows when we need to do things. 

TEMPLE TRIP today!!!!!! I love the temple. I wish I could live there. 

We have such an amazing family. They now have dates and they are going to do so wonderfully!!! They keep their commitments, which is phenomenal. That's what we need!!!!! Why are we so blessed!?!??!?!?!

Sorry this email is a little crazy, we have like zero time. :) but funny story. We were biking around after the crazy rain and I tried to go through a huge long mud strip and (i'm sure you can guess) I completely fell in a mud pile. Like movie style. I was so dirty. and then as I was getting up, I was tidal waved by a car. yup. that happened. I wish I had that on camera. One day I will see it again. :)

Love you all!! Remember to pray, read, and go to church!!! CPR!!!! That's how you stay alive :) BYEEEEE!

9 May 2016

So we had a great week this last one!!! But first it was so good to talk to you all. The dance was awesome :) I'm pumped for next year!!!!! Also tell Leslie that I'm excited to talk to her again and that she will be able to acclimate me :) hahah

We had a week of miracles!!!! Okay, to start out, yesterday we were biking to an investigators house and all of a sudden I heard just someone say hola. which happens all the time because Hispanics just call us out because we're gueras, so we waved, but just kept going, but all of a sudden I knew I had to go back. (The spirit!!!!!) and we went back. He was so excited to see us. He said he hoped in his mind that we would come back because he was a member who had just moved from Guatemala, who wanted to find the church, his wife wants to learn about the church, and they want their kids to grow up in it!!!! How amazing is that?? They are coming to church next week and they want us to come by to teach them!!!!!! MIRACLES ARE EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!! :)

We have been so blessed finding people. There are so many people who are ready to hear the gospel. Going to church is a huge problem though. It's like not their culture to go to church. Ever. like Easter and Christmas and that's it. It's so different to see that because you know that Sunday is a day where you go to church and you live the dia de reposo. I really want to have strong converts who never fall away. So I'll do whatever I can, but I know it's their decision. Agency is real, folks. 

but Jonathan and Adrian should be getting baptized this Saturday!!! We still need to confirm it one more time because Manuel went out of town and we have to make sure the kids are going to be there next weekend because they kind of need to be. Pray a lot for them please!!! They're all set, it just depends on if the mom will take them over this weekend. (That is so complicated by the way!)

Now for a funny story. We were trying an old investigator, but he wasn't there, so we decided to try the door next to it. We knocked and this guy let us share a quick message. I almost died of laughter. I could not handle it. There was this guy drunk passed out on the couch. Another guy has a mullet, who just said si, si, si quiero ir a la iglesia and another man just eating cereal in the corner. I don't know why it was so funny, but we were all having a problem keeping a straight face. We got out of there pretty quick haha :)#

Also I'm working with the primary again!!!!!!! That is my favorite thing on the planet. I decided that I will always work with the primary :) but it's that I got to work with them before the mission (even though I was only the pianist, but I saw the difference and what you all did) They definitely need some help with it, and now I am doing the music and helping them do it all :) whoooooo. I love it. #primaryforlife :) yep. I just used a hashtag, look how hip I am..... 

I have been reading Jesus the Christ and it is phenomenal. I have read parts of it, but my goal is before this transfer ends, to finish it in its entirety. It's soooooooooooooooooooooo deep. I love it. You should all read it.  

(also picture of an exchangeish thing we went on. It was awesome. I went on splits with an english sister and I got to translate everything the investigator was saying and then what she wanted to say back. IT WAS SO FUN!!!! I didn't realize how much I loved it :) 

WE HAVE A DISTRICT TEMPLE TRIP AGAIN NEXT P-DAY!!!!! I'm pumped!!!!!!! So I'll write you on Tuesday :)

Love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You're the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :):):):):):):):):):):):)::)) 

2 May 2016

TONO got baptized!!!!!! I can't even tell you how happy I am about that!!!!!! :) He was so happy and you can tell there is such a difference in his life!!!! The gospel is true and he is going to be so strong in the church. I'm a little bit happy if you can't tell. 

He also received the gift of the Holy Ghost because, like Elder Bednar said, it's just like baptizing a bag of sand if they don't receive that gift because that's how they truly stay clean. Love that talk. And Karla got the gift of the Holy Ghost as well. So basically it's been one of the best weeks ever. 

Also the kids baptism (Jonathan y Adrian) will be on the 14th. CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!! They can have an eternal family!!! and that is our goal!!!!!! 

We found the CUTEST family ever!!!!!!! They have so much potential and they are going to get baptized!!! Lilia, the mom, really needs the gospel. It will help her so much with everything that is going on in her life. Also we are now teaching the granddaughter of one of our members and she should be getting baptized on the 21st!!! She's super shy but super cute:) love her a lot!!!

Love you all!! Let me know if there is anything I can do for you!!!! (also still don't have the photos of Carlos, but I will send them a little later today!!!)

YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED!!!!!!!!!!!--April 26, 2016

So yesterday I was freaking out allllllllllllll day because the best thing ever happened!!!!!!!!!!!! Jonathan and Adrian's mom SIGNED THE PAPERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY CAN GET BAPTIZED NOW AND WE ARE PLANNING ON HAVING IT THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):) HOW AMAZING IS THAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? I love them so much. I am ecstatic that can finally be baptized!!!! They're my favorite kids on the planets!!! Grey I think you all are going to be really good friends :):):):) but how cool right?????? (They're Manuel's kids by the way) and they are going to be an eternal family!!!!! There is nothing better than that :) but yeah, I am so excited!!!!!! I had so much energy yesterday after Manuel told me. WOOOOOOO!!!!

I would take my whole entire email about that, but this week has been one of the craziest, most wonderful weeks ever!!!!!!!!! 

So the flood!!!!!!!!! There were a lot of houses affected. So we are missionaries, we grab our yellow shirts and then we go out and serve all week!!!! It was amazing!!!! I loved it and the people were so nice. I just want them all to be members, but we know that service can help bring people unto God and eventually they will find the true gospel. I learned how to demolish a house pretty much, so if we ever need to do that, I can help out:) haha, but thankfully it wasn't as bad as last year. It covered more area, but it wasn't as severe. Thank goodness. But it was rough because the people who got hit bad last year, got hit again. But God has a plan and maybe it will help them find the gospel!!! Our entire district (7 people) had 175 hours of service. YES!

also TONO IS ALL READY FOR HIS BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOODNESS@!!! It's so amazing when you get to be with someone from start to finish because you see the progress and how their testimony grows. He's been going to church and learning for about 5 months and now, HE IS GETTING BAPTIZED THIS WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!! :):):):):):):):):):):):) how absolutely fantastic!!!!! He's going to be such a strong member because he knows it's true and that he needs this gospel. I am so excited. WHY ARE WE SO BLESSED IN THIS AREA???????? God is really preparing his work here :)

My finger is good. It's basically healed, I can use it and everything, so don't worry about that :) I didn't think it was bad at all, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Also I got hit by a car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahaha, well not totally. We were just crossing the street and the car was stopped and so we crossed on the crosswalk like normal, but all of a sudden when I was right in front of it, he decided to move. It wasn't hard or anything, but now I can say that I was hit by a car. yep, good times :)

It is still pouring rain here!! We went to church and it was like perfect weather, but when we left..... it was pouring. So fun, but we didn't realize that it would happen, so we got SOAKED! that's what the picture is, you can't really tell, but it is super strong rain. 

Hmmmm que mas.... my companions are the best. We have so much fun.

Oh I do have something!!!! So I've really been trying to improve my prayers because that's so important and we can't live with God if we don't pray (because how can we live with God if we've never talked with Him?? food for thought:) ) but anyway, I've noticed such a huge difference in  my life just starting to pray a little more sincerely. I've found a lot of comfort and we've seen more miracles than I ever imagined!!!!! God truly answers prayers. All we have to do it knock, and ask and it shall be granted unto you. What a blessing is that? and so many people don't take advantage of that! God is always waiting to give us what He's promised us, but if we don't ask or act, we will never get anything. I've grown to love prayer and during times when you feel like there's nothing else to do or no one to talk to, God is always there just waiting for us to turn to Him. 

Prayer will just bring a huge spiritual burst into your life if you really focus on them and you really talk to God. You be yourself and you thank Him for everything and then just talk. He is there and He knows what you need. What more can we ask for?:)

Random fact for y'all: Elder Seal finally beat me in what are the odds, so he smashed a cake in my face. That was fun.

I believe that's all for right now!!! Let me know if I can do anything for you!!!!!!!!! Just remember God is there. All you have to do is start today and you will notice the difference in your life :) LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!

FLOOOOOOOD!!!!!! and broken finger--19 April 2016

This email probably won't be the best because I am typing with a cast on my hand..... anyway. no worries, just a little broken finger. I'm going to the doctor this friday to get a better cast or something.:)

but GUESS WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE GOT FLOODED!!!!! We didn't lose anything, but we did have to use an air mattress to go places. that was so fun:) lots of service coming up and we probably are going to flood some more. The bayou is suuuuuuuper high and more rain is coming:) but don't worry!!! We are just going to be helping out. We will be fine.

Carlos got baptized!!!! They are soooooo cute. Love them tons.

sorry this is the worst email ever especially after such a fun week. Next time will be better!! Love you all:)

Kasey Is Extending--13 April 2016

You will never guess what happened...... first of all, I'm still staying here in H2. I'm probably going to die here!! Wooooot. Really excited. Also extremely surprised because I told everyone I was leaving and that I for sure was heading out. Manuel and Iris and Antonio will be happy I suppose :) also Hermana Hofheins and I are training together!!!! That will be awesome!!! She's adorable and I know she'll help the new hermana a ton. 

Also officially extending until July 19th. I mean it's only two weeks, but president said that family comes first, so I should go on the trip with you all. I'm excited for that and I think that will be the best thing :) I AM SO EXCITED TO EXTEND!!!!! I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOT!!!!!

Now for even better things........ RAQUEL AND KARLA GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!! this baptism was actually really surprising. So this is what happened. Raquel and Carlos were going to get baptized today. Karla was going to wait, but then Carlos couldn't come because he had to watch his brother. So Raquel was just going to get baptized. So we had the extra baptismal suit and I joked to Karla that she could change her mind and get baptized right now if she wanted, but she didn't say anything. I didn't think she would since it was a joke. But they went into change and then all of a sudden Karla came out and she said, I'm ready to be baptized!!!!! so instead of Raquel and Carlos getting baptized, Raquel and Karla did. I felt like a chicken with my head cut off. It was a little interesting because we had done the program and everything and everything was set for them, but Carlos is getting baptized tomorrow, so it's all good. But yes. I was super happy but taken aback :)

also TONO HAS OFFICIALLY DECIDED ON HIS DATE AND HE IS 100% SET ON IT!!!!!! He wants to get baptized on his birthday!!!!!!!!!! April 27.Que chevere sera???? :):):):):):) I have been working with him forever and I will be able to be here for his baptism. 

WE ARE SO BLESSED IN THIS AREA!!!!!! Heavenly Father definitely is getting his work rolling even more :) 

Funny story: so I did not want to take my shoes off to cross the baptismal font, so Hermana Hofheins carried me:) we were laughing so hard, I'm surprised no one came into see what was going on!! 

Hermana Calvert was talking the other day about choices and what President Monson said in his talk. What she said really stood out to me. Basically she said, now are the days that people really will be joining the church, but then they will need to choose for themselves. we as leaders just need to keep going on and do our best, but realize that now are the last days. The people who choose to follow are few. It's really our own individual salvation---I've always known that's true, but now it's even more prevalent. There are very few that will choose God's way and His gospel, so let's be that few. 

Life is wonderful!!! I'm excited to extend and I'm excited to be able to go on the trip still :) I hope I'm not changing too many things up, but I know it's what God wants me to do!!! I love you all so much!!!!! Hasta luego!!!

CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :):):):):):) 4 April 2016

CONFERENCE WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I learned sooooooooooooo much. Sorry I don't know if you can tell how excited I am because it was phenomenal. I love conference on the mission and I'll keep loving it after :)

To start out I'll let you know some of the things i learned because I'm a missionary and for some weird reason, I can't think of anything else :) hahah

I loved what Donald L. Hallstrom said "You can have what you want or you can have something better" so many people don't realize that we think we know better, and we do want things, but God will give us something so much better than we can even come up with. So we when we are trying to make a decision, let's think first of what God wants and then He can make of us what only He can. "You can only make yourself a man, but only He can make you into a god" Let's put ourselves in the Master's hands and achieve our full potential :)

I also loved Kevin R. Duncan's talk about forgiveness. It's the way to escape from the misdeeds of others. Honestly, that can be one of the hardest things to do, but with God it is possible. and every tear that we shed, we will be rewarded with a 100 fold of joy. That's a huge promise right there. As we try to forgive, God will forgive us and we will be filled with peace.

Anderson's talk was beautiful and I've heard it hit home for a couple people :) haha It's a beautiful thing to know that even though some families aren't perfect, you can still have an eternal family. Such a blessing to know that and feel the strength from that knowledge :)

NOW MY FAVORITE!!!!! Elder's Bednar's talk was AMAZING!!!! I can't even handle it. Baptism and the Holy Ghost and the sacrament. I can't even explain it. You just have to read it and read it again to fully grasp the brilliance and power of his words. Wow. Perfect for my investigators!!! It is so essential for us to be baptized and then receive the Holy Ghost. Not only that, but keep going forever to renew those covenants and have the Holy Ghost which cleanses us. Through the Holy Ghost, we can become like God. Those steps are the ONLY way to be saved and eventually be exalted, which is greater than we can imagine.

Monson: "May we ever choose the harder right, instead of the easier wrong"

and of course, Holland's talk to end it astounding. great end to a conference.

I'll stop talking about conference now. It was amazing though :)

Also something super funny: so i cut my hair. Like a lot and now we have a joke that everyone's lives revaround my hair because even random people in the street were coming up to us and saying, what happened? Where is your hair?? haha, super funny. I think the funniest thing would be if I didn't send you a picture, so you never knew how much I actually cut.... haha

Raquel, Carlos, and Karla are doing so good!!! If you could all pray that Raquel doesn't drink coffee, so she can get baptized this week, that would be awesome. They're so excited though and they're so cute!!

We've also seen so many miracles. There was this one lady who would always go to English class, but then she stopped going and yesterday we found her!!! She says she wants us to teach her the gospel and go to church and wow!! Such a miracle!!! She's so cute and we are going to help her have an eternal family!!!!!

Also funny story: We had a wedding gig. Legit. I played piano and Hermana Hofheins the violin. Super cool. 

and now for the best thing: WE TRICKED THE ELDERS INTO THINKING THEY WERE GETTING EVICTED!!!!!! hahahaha hilarious. it was rather ingenious not going to lie. I kind of want that for my journal :) you have to do something fun for April fool's day even if you're on your mission. Like the elders in Kemah tricked one of their companions that they got robbed. Good times :)

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!! :):):)