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| Our Casey strikes a pose under a waterfall. |
So my
companion and I were invited to attend an Alcoholics Anonymous
Picnic/BBQ with a member. It was fun, and the scenery was beautiful;
I'll send some pictures! We met alot of people, gave out some pass-along
cards, got a few names, and got to eat some delicious food as we
listened to a motivational speaker who has been sober for more than 20
years. We talked to the speaker afterwards; he said he was given a Book
of Mormon once, but hasn't really read it. We invited him to do so, that
the book has changed and influenced our lives more than we could
describe. It was pretty cool.
How are ya'll doing? How's school, Devin and Shelby? How's sports? How's work, Mom and Dad? Let me know how your lives are!
I had an awesome week this week; the best part
being that a family we found last week wants to get baptized! Hooray!
They are so legit; they are fun and funny and love church and everything
about it! We got the kids going to all the activities, and the mom went
to the relief society conference, and loved it! We are on the 3rd
lesson now; we taught them the Restoration using the Joseph Smith video
(the shorter one), and also watched Finding Faith in Christ to talk
about faith. They love all of it! They only qualm is that the mom is
still praying about being baptized; her kids have all said yes, so we
are just waiting on her. I'm so excited for them! They are "golden", as
they say.
Regardless of finding "goldens" or not, I know
that faith, hope, and charity, with and eye single to the glory of God,
will qualify me for the work.
Happy Birthday, Devin! 17, Holy Cow! I hope
you have an awesome birthday, best bud! Sorry I don't know where my
phone is. Say hi to Darren and our cousins and Grandpa and Sheila for
me! Have a blast and a half!
Transfers have come and gone; it looks like I
get to stay in Conyers for another 6 weeks at least; yay! Elder King is
going home; he is a great missionary and friend, a fun guy to have
around, and a fantastic person. We will all miss him. Also, Elder
Kartcher, one of the funniest kids I've met, is getting transfered to a
different spanish branch. While we will miss our friends, new ones will
come, and the old ones have left a lasting impact on my mission. I wish
them all the best of luck.
We also had a great lesson with the couple
previously mentioned (see last week's letter); we are still trying to
get in with them again. They had the cutest black puppy, I wanted to
take him home. But that is stealing, and I'm pretty sure stealing is
mentioned in the Scriptures a few times as a bad thing to do.
We met a Buddist this week; it's the first
time we have met someone without a faith in Christ that was not
agnostic. It was an interesting experience to teach someone with no
Christian background; I hope we get to see her again.
I've met some wonderful people here; they all
have diverse backgrounds and unique stories that brought them to
Georgia, and how Jesus has influenced their lives. Down here, most
people don't have a problem with Jesus Christ; they all already have
faith in him. However, most people have a problem with the Book of
Mormon; they love and revere and memorize the Bible, and won't accept
anything else. We try to show them how we love and revere the Bible as
well, and we believe the Book of Mormon to be the Word of God as well;
it is another Testament of Jesus Christ. It does not add nor take away
from the Bible, anymore than the New Testament adds to the Old. God is a
God of miracles and revelation; if He is unchanging (the same
yesterday, today, and forever), why would he cease being a God of those
things? Why would he stop caring?
I bear my testimony that God is our Loving Heavenly Father, and that
because He loves us, He sent His Son to atone for the sins and sorrows
of the world, so that we too may have eternal life. I know the Book of
Mormon to be the Word of God, and that the answers to life's all
important questions of where we come from, why we are here, where are we
going, and how do we get there are found in His scriptures. I know that
Joseph Smith was the Prophet of the Restoration, and that he was a tool
in the Lord's hands to bring back the fullness of the gospel and the
authority to act in God's name required to make and keep sacred
ordinances and covenants essential for salvation. I know that Thomas S.
Monson is the prophet, seer, and revelator of this day and age, and that
He is the Lord's mouthpiece. I know all this is true because I did what
we invite all men everywhere to do: to read the Book of Mormon,
pondered in my heart the message in contains, and asked God, the Eternal
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, if it was true. I know that the
Lord answers prayers, and my answer was yes, it is true. Feast upon the words of Christ, for they will tell you all things which ye should do. This
is the one and only true church, and I have been called of God to bring
all those I meet unto the path that leads to everlasting salvation and
eternal life. Not my glory, but Thine; I only hope that I can be a tool
in the Lord's hands to bring to pass this great and marvelous work. I
say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Tell me what's up with ya'll, I love ya and miss ya tons!
Love,
Elder Casey Guy Dickson
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| Some friends at the local General Store. |
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| Casey shows off some of Georgia's lovely scenery. |
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