January 29th Letter

Dear Family,

I love you! How was the cabin?? Please don't tell me that was the last year we are doing it! Oh and I have bronchitis, so that's fun? Here are the highlights . . . 

Tuesday we went bowling and it was way fun! I also discovered a Firehouse Subs and a Yogurtland! My two favorites :) We had a lesson with Tanya about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Keri came and it was cool to have her there and testify especially since she just recently got baptized, she could relate so well. Tanya is really, really shy and so she won't come to the singles ward . . . we are still working on it, but President said we could just have her baptized into the family ward in her area and still teach her. She is so humble and always keeps her commitments which helps us know that she is serious about this! After we had a lesson with Jackson a less-active. He lives at a really sweet place! He had his friend there who knows nothing about Mormons so that was cool, except that he wanted us to focus on her and not him. He doesn't really have any desire to become active again, but we are hoping that through teaching his friend about the restoration, he could be reminded of his testimony.

Wednesday we went to see a potential who lives by these way cute beach houses! We had a lesson with Deggy. She didn't seem as willing to learn as before, but she said she wanted us to come back, so hopefully her heart can be a little more softened. After we went to lunch with Rodney, Keri, and Kaite at corner bakery. It was delicious! And we had a great talk with them about service. We covered at the mobat from 3-6 for some sisters. Next we had dinner with Hugh. He made us really good food! We were all surprised, haha but we were really grateful for a delicious meal. We had a lesson with David after and a couple members came which always helps. We taught him about following the prophet and the ten commandments and keeping the Sabbath day holy. We asked if he knew we had a prophet today and he said yes and then we asked how he knew and he said he just knows and has this feeling! Ah. He is still unreal. I feel so honored and grateful to have the opportunity to teach him. He's so humble and prepared! I think I say that every time.

Thursday we had MoBat in the morning. I met Bryan Grover's aunt! She is Esther's (his mom's) sister and she looks just like her! Sis Pagel and I got a blessing today from some of the elders to help us get better. We have the same sickness. We had coordination and then had a lesson with a referral named Laurel and added her. She is way cool and straight up about everything. She wants a relationship with God, but because of bad past experiences, she doens't want to talk about Jesus Christ because it reminds her of those bad experiences which is really sad, so we are going to start small. My voice sounds like a boy. . . hahaha.

Friday we had a special training with a guy named Sherman Fleek who is a member and used to be in the military and now dedicates his life to the story of the Mormon Battalion basically. He has written a lot of books about it. He came and taught us some of the history and then we got to talk to him after for a bit. We had district meeting which I always love and then we had MoBat. It was pouring rain all day today! David came to the MoBat with some of the members and we took him on tour and then had a lesson after. I love our ward!

Saturday was Mormon Battalion commemoration day! There was a parade at the park that we got to be in and then there were lots of booths with activities and such at the square all day. The MoBat was wayyyy busy! So busy that we handed out tickets of when people could take tours. It was a busy and crazy day, but fun! We had a lesson with David after and answered some of his BofM reading questions. We taught him the Word of Wisdom and then we had a lesson with our Ghana friends after! Hanifa, Pizaro, and Andrew were the only ones there at first. We brought a member with us. We taught them about the restoration. Hanifa was really into it and said he understood that the only way he'll know if what we are teaching is true is if he reads and prays! Andrew was a little harder though because he said all he needs is the Bible . . . so we are trying to figure out what to do with that. Oh and I saw a bunch of Sadler cousins today at the commemoration.

Sunday MoBat was pretty slow. Church was great! Elder & Sister Cash who are over the La Jolla Institute, talked about the Plan of Salvation and it was so good! David came to church :) in Sunday School we were introducing him to everyone and then we were like he's getting baptized on Feb 9th! And he was like no you said Feb 2! And we were like uhh, no pretty sure we said the 9th . . . and so we were like we'll talk after and then after Sunday School we were like we are pretty sure we said the 9th, but you can surely get baptized on the 2nd if that's what you want! And he was like well, I want to get the baptized this weekend!!!! So surprise for us! Haha we have a baptism this weekend! Seriously, he is unreal. After church we talked to the bishop and got everything organized and the word out for his baptism. We had a meeting with all the ward missionaries which was good! We brainstormed ideas of how to get the whole ward more involved in missionary work. We went to dinner at a members and she made us salmon! It was so good! We tried visiting a referral, but he moved and we got to talk to this cool kid named Phil. After we had a lesson at the mobat with a member named Daniel. He is unusually shy! He's also so tender.. ahh we came to find out that he just got baptized a little over a year ago and he just went through the temple! After the lesson we asked who his friends are in the ward and he said 'no one, it's kinda sad.' Poor guy! We gotta find him some friends! He's just so shy. I thought I was shy!

Monday we studied and then had to get an oil change. We got some things organized for our area and then we went to the doctor . . .  Sis Pagel and I have the same symptoms and everything, but I didn't want to go to the doctor (haha I think I'm like you mom!) and she did so we went for her! They confirmed it as bronchitis and she got some medicine. We had a lesson with Tanya. She is still excited to get baptized! She finally told her mom and her mom is so excited for her! After we talked with Brother Mackay for a bit (he's the institute director/teacher). He's so awesome! Then we went on splits! Sis Pagel went with a member, Carli, to visit some less-actives and then Sis Riggs and I went and visited a less-active. After we had a lesson with David and taught him the law of chastity . . . his facial expressions during that lesson were pretty funny, haha. He said he's going to make a promise to his future wife though! We went and had another lesson with Laurel, it was good! She is just struggling with the fact of why do bad things have to happen to good people? We hope she will open up more soon and let us know what exactly is scaring her.

Missionary work is still wonderful! It's hard, it's fun, it's tiring, it's worth it!! Also Happy Anniversary this week, Mom and Dad! I love you two so much and I am so grateful to have parents like you two :) This gospel is REAL.

I love you all!!

Love,

Sister Cassie Chea Rasmussen

January 22nd Letter

Dear Family!

Wowwwww what a weeeeek!! Okay here are the highlights . . .

Wednesday was like one of the coolest days ever. I had MoBat in the morning and it was slower. On my second tour Sister Day came and got me out of outfitting and said she needed me for a second and I came out and guess who was there!?!? Meg, Spence, Noah, Gaby, Benson, Makai, and Charlie!!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhh. Haha, I was sooo super duper surprised and it was a great surprise! I was SO happy :) I gave them all huge hugs and loves and I was like shaking, haha. All the kids are getting so big! Especially Charlie!! I loved being able to hold him :) I miss holding babies! Sister Pagel and I took them on tour and it was so fun! I am glad they got to see me in my element, haha. I hope you liked the tour Meg & Spence! We panned for gold and chatted for a bit and then I had to go . . . It went by sooo soo fast! But it was amazing to see them! They brought me some presents :) thank you thank you! We said goodbyes and gave hugs. I was so incredibly happy! Thanks for stopping by!! After MoBat we had an appointment with Tanya. We finally got to see her again! We taught the restoration and how she can pray to know for herself all the things her parents have learned for themselves. We invited her to be baptized on February 2 and she said yes!! She is really shy though so she doesn't want to come to the YSA ward :/ but we are going to try to get people at her lessons so she will feel more comfortable. After we met with Stanley, a less active. He was in much higher spirits today! We talked to him about making a thankful journal so he could see all that God has blessed him with. Next we had an appointment with David, our new investigator from Hong Kong. He is so wonderful! He came with questions he had from his BofM reading and they were good questions! We taught him the first half of the plan of salvation and invited him to be baptized on February 9 and he said yes!!!! After he was like, "So how do I prepare for my baptism?" Oh my goodness he is so humble and prepared! And in his closing prayer he thanked Heavenly Father for the opportunity he has to be baptized. Next we had dinner with a member and then a lesson with Hugh. It was a day full of miracles and feeling God's love abundantly!! I am so grateful to be a missionary :)

Spencer & Meg and family visiting Cassie at the Mormon Battalion Visitors Center

Thursday we weekly planned and had district meeting. MoBat was good! I took this adorable family on tour and found out that they adopted their 2 sons and they were in San Diego because they are getting sealed on Saturday. So cool!

Friday I felt a lot of weight on my shoulders with this whole trio situation . . . just because I seem to be the middle person and I am not sure how to fix that. I think the Seegmillers could tell because they asked me to come talk with them and we had such a great talk! After Elder Seegmiller gave me a blessing and it just made me so deeply grateful for the priesthood and for the fact that God knows the details of our lives and has other people be answers to our prayers. MoBat was great. We had a lesson with a less-active named Tanner after. He says he has a desire to come back, but that it's going to be really hard for him because he's been one for about 10 years. We committed him to pray and read from the Book of Mormon. We had dinner with some members which was great and then we had another lesson with David. Ah, he's so solid! At the beginning of the lesson he was like I need to talk to you about my baptism . . . and we were kind of like uh-oh . . . but then he went on to tell us how he's been talking to his friend in Georgia who is also seeing missionaries and they were discussing why they want to get baptized and if they were really doing it for themselves of if they were doing it for the missionaries and he said he's come to find out in his heart that he wnats to get baptized!!! And then he was like, "Will you ask me the question again??" So we said, "David, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the proper authority of God?" and he just got this HUGE smile on his face and said YES!!! It was awesome.

Goo family on a tour led by Sister Rasmussen

Saturday we had the temple from 10-3. It was busy!! Lots of weddings. I got to see the family who I took on tour who got sealed. We got some solid referrals today of people who had just been driving by and saw the amazing building and wanted to learn more! After we had a lesson with Patrick, a less-active. It went well! He said he really wants to come back to church. Next we had a lesson with Tanya and we taught the plan of salvation. Cailtin came and we noticed that Tanya was a lot quieter because of it, but she seemed to like Caitlin. We also found out that she will be gone February 2 so we moved her date to February 9. She said she is going to surprise her parents (because they are members) and tell them like 2 days before, so sweet! We stopped by Cliffords after and he wasn't home, but Hanifa and Bright were there (they are all from Ghana). We ended up teaching Hanifa and Bright the plan of salvation and then right when we were wrapping up Clifford, Pizaro, and Andrew all showed up and wanted a run down of what we talked about so we taught them and then commited them all and got a return appointment which means we added 4 new investigators! And now we are teaching 5 out of the 7 roommates. Miracle! They are all so passionate about Jesus Christ and God.

Sunday we had stake conference which was focused on the basic principles of the gospel, so it was great! David came and our ward was very welcoming to him. We had a lesson with Emerald after and then with Wilson and then we finished weekly planning. We had MoBat and it was pretty busy tonight! Sister Pagel & I took this lady on tour named Bethie. First of all, she FREAKED when the pictures started talking . . .  Like I have never seen people react that way and it even scared me! Hahaha, it was so funny! But poor lady was kinda freaked out the whole rest of the tour. It was just her on the tour and she wouldn't even sit down because she was scared something was going to pop out of somewhere. At the end though she started asking all these questions about mormons and said she came here because she wanted to learn more. She had Mormon friends in high school and they took her to seminary and church and she always liked the way she felt. She said that in the campfire room when Zemira is singing the last verse of "How Firm a Foundation" that it really touched her heart. We had her watch God's Plan and then I asked Sister Riggs to sing for her. It was beautiful and she said she had such a wonderful experience and just wanted to learn more! She is going to get baptized some day. It was a sweet experience.

Monday MoBat was pretty busy with the holiday. After we had a lesson with David and found out he is only 18!! We for sure thought he was like mid 20s. He's super mature. He also told us how he wants to serve a mission!!! What the what?? Haha it was SO cool! He is unreal. We taught him the gospel of Jesus Christ. He had really great questions from his reading again. We had a member named Tyler there and he was able to help out with a lot of the questions which was awesome. After Keri took us out to dinner at Soup Plantation. I love that place! It was delicious. She brought her roommate who is slowly warming up to us :) Also I have gotten a fun cough/cold. Sis Pagel has it too. Hopefully it won't last long.

Today we are going bowling!! I am so excited :) This week I was reminded that God knows us each individually, also that He loves us each SO much. So whenever you feel alone or are going through a hard time, remember that the Savior knows EXACTLY what you are going through and that Heavenly Father loves you. Talk to HIM. It's one of the greatest tools we have :)

I love you all so much!!

Love,

Sister Cassie Chea Rasmussen

January 15th Letter

Dear Family, 

Sorry if this email isn't as detailed as usual . . . I forgot my journal dang it! Haha it's hard to remember with out my journal because they days all mush together, but I will do my best :) Tuesday we played sports with our zone and it was way fun! After we had a lesson with our new investigator Tanner. We are starting to question his accountablity... We know he's had a past of drugs and so a lot of times he just contradicts himself.. at one point he says he believes in God and wants to be mormon and the next point he says he doesn't believe in God and has no desire to change, so we are trying to figure that out. We had a lesson with a recent convert, Hugh. He is great! He is always excited about life. I don't know if I have said this before, but he totally has an Alma the Younger story. 

Cassie with Elder Villalobos from the Sharon 5th Ward. Both serving in the San Diego Mission 

Wednesday we had MoBat and then we weekly planned and then Sister Pagel received her patriarchal blessing! I fasted with her in hopes that it would be a great experience for her and it was indeed :) she said all of her questions were answered and it just made me think about my patriarchal blessing and how grateful I am to have that guidance. I love reading it! I try to as often as possible and I love that just like the scriptures, something different can stand out to me and help me with whatever is going on in the moment. After we attempted to visit some potentials. They lived in some really cute beach houses! They weren't home unfortunately though. 

Thursday we had training at the MoBat. They took us through a tour and related it to us and it was a really cool experience! They were helping us see that we must make every tour special for whoever will be there. We had zone meeting after which was great and always gets me excited about trying harder to be better! We had coordination after with Matt and then one of our appointments fell through so we went to visit our investigator Clifford. He was home and so we taught him a lesson and it was really cool because 2 of his roommates, who are also from Ghana, joined us. They were all super receptive to what we had to say and then at the very end another one came and joined us and they said they have 3 other roommates and we were like well you should invite them next time!! Haha we got all excited because we are going to teach 7 people from Ghana! I hope all of them will have the desire to learn more :)

Friday we stopped by a referrals. His name is Jared and we took him soup because we heard he was sick. He was super nice and we just talked with him about his beliefs and shared with him why we are on our missions sharing this remarkable message and we taught him to pray. At the end we asked him if he would pray and he was like yeah! And he did it without any questions and after he told us how he felt really good and he just really wanted to make a change in his life and it was so sweet! And then we had a meeting with a less active and it was really sad because she said she has an addiction and that she has already done too much bad that no one can help her. We just kept saying how with the Savior's help she can be healed and she would believe us for a second, but then say well I enjoy how I feel in the moment and so I think I might just stick with it even though I know it will lead me to destruction . . . it was so sad!! We are still working with her though because we want her to know that she is not alone and that she can be healed, because I KNOW she can. We had interviews with President after and they were really good. He gave me some great guidance. We had MoBat next and it was great! I honestly cant' remember any of the MoBat without my journal . . . ha sad!  <

Cassie and Sister Pagel with some elders at the Christmas party 

Saturday morning we met with Stanley. He finally opened up to us about why he doens't really come to church anymore and it is because he said he lost trust with some of the members. He said he believes the gospel is true, but members of the church bother him. It was sad to hear that, but we tried to help him see the importance of church and challenged him to become the person that other's can trust. We had choir practice after and then MoBat. 

Sunday we had MoBat and then church. Church was wonderful as always and then after we met with Keri and then Tyler and then had dinner with a group of our members. It was delicious! We talked with all of them about their roles as member missionary's. We went to the Spanish fireside after. We sang in the choir and Sister Riggs played a trumpet duet. It was great!

Monday we had MoBat and then we went and saw a recent convert, James. He seemed in much higher spirits today and we read with him in the Book of Mormon. Next we had a lesson with a referral. So this is a great story . . . Elder Sprague (he is a missionary in this mission, serving in Poway) called us over the weekend and said that his friend in Utah had met this Asian guy over the break and talked with him about the gospel and found out he lived in San Diego (in the La Jolla area), so she got his contact information so she could send it to Elder Sprague so he called us. We called him on like Saturday and set up an appointment and he was really excited! And then right before we hung up he said "oh wait do you want me to read in the Book of Mormon before we meet?" And we were like haha yes! That'd be great! And so we met with him tonight and he is from Hong Kong, but is here at UCSD studying biochemistry. He lived with a host family a couple years ago who were LDS so that is how he intitally came in contact with the church. We taught him about the restoration and he was so open and humble and prepared! He was soaking it all in!! We taught him how to pray and invited him to pray at the end and he did! After the prayer we asked him how he felt and he said "he felt good and that he felt like he feels every time he reads the Book of Mormon!!" Then when we were setting up a return appointment he was like well "can we meet every day?? I just really want to learn all that I can!" Bahhh!! We were overjoyed :) He is our miracle! Seriously, it was awesome and got us so pumped up! Which was good because our next interaction was not so good.. We had an appointment with our new investigator Jared but he didnt' show up and he wasn't responding to our calls or texts so we finally decided to just go show up at his house. The minute he opened the door I could tell something was wrong.. He wasn't as happy and spirited as before and he was closed off to us and he wouldn't let us pray with him or anything. We asked him if something happened between the last time we saw him and he said he just had things to figure out and wasn't sure if religion was for him and that he would contact us when he's ready... It was so sad! All we could do was testify of what we know to be true and how it could help him in every aspect of his life . . . We hope that in the next few days his heart can soften and he will remember the feelings he had and really call us. 

Well in my studies I was studying 2 Nephi 4. I LOVE that chapter. Nephi's psalm. Through everything he always has his trust in God. I am also trying to study more in depth the Christlike attributes and I was on patience this week and as I read Alma 17:10-11 it just really stood out to me that we must be patient in long-suffering and in our afflictions because that is what can help us become the example and the instrument in God's hand that He needs us to be. It's all about becoming. If we become who He needs us to be, then we can help other's in their process of becoming. And our ulitmate goal is to become like HIM. I know that is my goal! And I am really grateful that I have this time on my mission to further that progression.

I love this gospel :) and I love you all so mucho!

Love,

Sister Cassie Rasmussen

January 8th Letter

Dear Family,

So our new companion is . . . da da da duhhhhh Sister Riggs!!! Woohooo! I love Sister Riggs. We are now a trio, and let me tell you, trios definitely have their challenges. It's only been a week and I am already learning a lot of how to try to work with not just one but 2 other people. It's a work in progress, but I love both these sisters and I know we are together for a reason so I am excited to learn from this and to grow with them! Here are the highlights from the week . . .

The trio: Sister Riggs, Sister Rasmussen, Sister Pagel

Wednesday was transfers. We had MoBat in the morning and then we spent the afternoon and night moving apartments and getting things organized in our apartment and in our area. I am excited for this transfer!

Thursday we had district meeting. They combined 2 wards in our district so now our district is a little smaller, but it's great! We have one new elder and a new district leader - Elder Mackay. After we had district lunch and got to know each other better. MoBat was unreal tonight! We got 16 referrals. Sis Pagel and I took the best mandarin tour ever. They spoke barely any English, but they were hilarious and wanted to know more. I practiced my chinese with them and they practiced their English with me, haha spencer I can't tell you how many times I say the few phrases you taught me to people around here, it's awesome! So thanks :) You are the best brother-in-law ever!! They told us after the tour that they felt happy and we gave them a book of mormon in English and in Chinese because he wanted to use both to help him learn English.

Friday Sis. Pagel had the flu :( Sis Riggs and I studied and weekly planned while Sis Pagel slept. We got super organized so that was good! I helped take down the Christmas tree at the Battalion. It's so empty without it! Sis Johnson and Tawny Christensen came to visit!

Saturday we had an appointment with a less-active. The first thing he asked us was why did we contact him now? And we told him we just are trying to get to know the ward better and his name stood out to us first and he said that a few days ago he had a huge breakdown and that we texted him the next day and we were like well that is because God is so aware of you and He loves you and He knew you needed us. It was a cool experience! We talked to him about how to better develop his relationship with the Savior. After when he said the closing prayer he thanked Heavenly Father for the interaction and said his heart was touched. I love the Spirit and the gospel! Next we were trying to contact a referral and ended up talking to this kid name Joseph who is Muslim. He had some great questions, but said he was firm in his religion. We still left him with our number and some stuff to read. Next we tried another referral who wasn't there and instead talked to a lady named Gretta who was super nice and said she admired what we do, but that she's believes in personal religion. Our next appointment cancelled so we stopped by a potential named Maggie. She wasn't home but her mom and cousin let us in. They are from China! We talked to her cousin about how she is a daughter of God and said a simple prayer with her. At the end of the prayer she was crying and she said she felt really happy! It was so cute and awesome! She said she wants to learn more with Maggie. We had MoBat next which was great! A member brought us some delicious dinner so that was a plus!

Sunday morning MoBat was a little slower. I took the craziest tour with Sister Patterson! The guy was like 50 and just said the weirdest things . . . Definitely the top of my most interesting tours list. Next we had church which was wonderful! There weren' too many people. We had a lesson with Keri after about the priesthood. She is amazing. Then we had a lesson with Wilson, he is a ward missionary. We talked about his role and also his testimony. Next we had dinner with a member and his family! Haha it was great to be with a family! Next we stopped at a referral and he was super sick, but we shared a little message wth him and are seeing him again this week. Our last lesson was with Brittany. She is in the Relief Society presidency so we talked to her about missionary work and then asked who she thought we should focus on in the ward. She is hilarious! And a great member missioary.

Monday morning was a little rough, but the day definitely got better! MoBat was good! Sister Jarrett and I designed a banner for the commemoration day that's happening in a few weeks. We tried visited an investigator, but he wasn't home. We got to talk to his roommate though! And invited him to come to our next lesson with Clifford. Next we tried visiting a less active but she apparently moved so we ended up talking to this super sweet indian lady. She doesn't know who Jesus Christ is, so we talked to her about that and then exchanged information so we can go back. We visited a less-active after that. She was baptized about 6 years ago and she said she loves the faith and all that she learned, but that she won't be coming back to church anytime soon just because it tore her family apart because they don't like Mormons and she doesn't want to do that again :( it was really sad! We asked if we could come visit her every so often so she could at least get that spiritual boost if she doesn't feel like she can go to church right now and she said she would like that very much. We went to FHE and had food and then met with David. He has so much faith, it is awesome!

I had a really good study this morning about faith and just how it's important that first of all, our faith is in Jesus Christ because that is what leads to salvation. A lot of people have faith, but it's in man or in other things. And second of all, how strong faith comes from obedience. I guess I'd never really connected it that way, but really if we want more faith, we need to be more obedient! And also we all know that action is a big part of faith, but I read today that it is our actions physically AND mentally. Our thoughts are powerful! We need to make sure that they match-up with our actions. I just love studying the gospel :)

I hope you all have a great week and I hope you know that I love you a lot!!

Love,

Sister Cassie Chea Rasmussen

January 1st, 2013 Letter

Dear Family,

2013??? Wow!! I hope you all had a wonderful new years eve last night! I thought of you all banging those pots and pans while I was sleeping, haha. All the Battalion sisters had a countdown to 10:00 hahah, that was our New Year's Eve. Here are the highlights . . . Oh actually first of all tomorrow is transfer date! We got word that Sister Pagel and I are staying together in La Jolla!! Woohoo! But it was also said that we possibly are getting another companion so we will be in a trio . . . crazy! I have never had a trio before. It will be an adventure!

Sister R & Sister Pagel at Sunset Cliffs

Wednesday we went to Sunset Cliffs with our zone. It was so pretty and fun! Then we visited some referrals and then we had a going away thing for the sisters leaving. One of the sisters leaving has been a huge example to me and I look up to her a lot. I am so grateful for her example!

Last visit with Wenchao

Thursday I finished the Book of Mormon! I wanted to finish it before the end of the year and it was a cool experience to read it again while serving in the mission field. We had temple all day and it was cold and busyyyy!!! It was cool though we got to talk to a lot of wonderful people. Oh and I saw this kid named Brad Chase from my freshmen ward! He just got back from his mission. It was fun to see him! We weekly planned after and tried to get everything organized for this next transfer.

Friday we had district service. We helped one of our formers move some stuff in her storage and then after we had district lunch. We ate Five Guys! I haven't had Five Guys in the longest time. It was definitely delicious. After we had district meeting. Elder Belt's last district meeting as our district leader! It was so great! We watched a talk that Elder Holland gave in the MTC called "Feed My Sheep" and it was SO good!! Just what I needed to hear. One of the biggest things that stood out to me was he said, "you tell me how your obedience is and I'll tell you how your mission is going to be." Obedience is crucial! It just motivated me to be even more exactly obedient, and also to really reflect and remember my purpose as a missionary. I am grateful for Elder Belt and all his effort he has put into our district meetings. After we had a lesson with Wenchao. He's leaving back to China tomorrow :( it was a really great lesson and he told us he wants us to keep in contact with him through email so hopefully we can still teach him over chat and email. He is awesome! Next we had temple shift. It was cold and busy again! But fun :) We said bye to Elder Belt! He goes home tomorrow.

Last district meeting with Elder Belt

Saturday MoBat was CRAZY! it was great! So many people came through. After we went to help the zone leaders and then we went to dinner with our recent convert. She took us to True Food Kitchen. Eden, you would have LOVED it. Everything was organic and healthy and gluten-free! Haha, it was awesome and it really was delicious. We said goodbye to our sisters :(

Sunday there weren't very many people at church. People aren't back yet from the break. We had a lesson with Keri after about temples. She is so excited to be able to get married there someday. After that we had dinner with Kristy and Amelia, two of our members. It was wonderful! We talked about President Uchtdorf's talk "Of Regrets and Resolutions" (I love that talk!) and we invited them to make some resolutions for this next year that will bring them closer to the Savior. We had a lesson with a less active after and then a member and then we dropped our stoplight charts off to the zone leaders.

Monday we had a lesson with a guy we street contacted a couple weeks prior. His name is Black Ant. It was a very interesting lesson . . . He said he would never be converted. He did bring a friend though who seemed to really listen to what we had to say. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a cellphone though or email so we told him to come to the Battalion if he ever gets a chance. We met with James after who is a recent convert and we read with him in the Book of Mormon. We had MoBat and it was pretty busy again. We only worked until 6:30pm though because we had to be in our apartments by 6:30pm and we were assigned to create visions and goals for ourselves and our areas for this next year and to study the atonement. First of all, our senior couples are so nice and bought us all Subway!! Second of all it was cool to have that time to think about the missioary I want to become this next year. Also when we were studying the atonement I had this overwhelming feeling of gratitude and love for my Savior. I would not be the person I am today without the Savior and His atonement. I don't think I can ever comprehend what he did or even fully understand the atonement, but I am trying to learn more each day and use this beyond amazing gift that He has given us.

Well it's the new year! I hope you all have had a great holiday and that you have a wonderful week! And I challenge all of you to make some resolutions for this year that can bring you closer to the Savior and to utilize His atonement.

I love you all so much :)

Love,

Sister Cassie Chea Rasmussen