Reason for the Season

Heyo family!!

The Missionary Training Center is now reverting to 3 weeks of training rather than 2 due to the influx of missionaries when the age change happened in 2012! My release date has been pushed back to March 23, 2017!! WOOOO sounds like forever far away, but based on how the first three months have been, it's gonna flyyyyyy.

As it is Christmas time, I've been thinking a lot about the Savior and all He has done for each one of us. It is imaginable. Keep Him in every thought, word, and action. HE IS the foundation of everything we have in this gospel and should be our foundation too. The gospel is perfect because EVERY portion of it is centered on the Savior Himself.

My ponderize scripture is Mosiah 7:33!! I will be more diligent in keeping Him in every part of this work because I know this is God's work!!

Sorry today is another short one! Check out Mormon.org/Christmas to see what we will be focusing on this season! Discover why we needed a Savior, as an individual and as an entire society.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

XOXO
Sister Boyce

Cassandra's Zone

Temples and Discipleship

HI FAMILY AND FRIENDS:)

It has been a really tough week teaching. But we continue to work diligently. Yes, we face trying times on our mission. Everyone does. That's just part of life. I've never before doubted so much or felt so much pain for these people that I barely know. But the pure joy outweighs it all. I love being able to bear Christ's name every single day. I work on becoming consecrated and more Christ like every day through repentance. I've got a long way to go, but I am trying and learning all along the way.

I think something that has been really hard for everyone recently is the Handbook policy change. It has been everywhere. The doctrine is the same; always has been, always will be. If you are still confused, look up the interview with D. Todd Christoffersen. He explains it simply and beautifully. The change is for the benefit and protection of the children.

Attending the Temple was the highlight of the week. While inside, I read Proverbs 3.Proverbs 3:27 states, "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." I cannot hold back the good word of God! I cannot withhold any of the truths that I know from everyone I meet. It is everyone's great privilege to choose for themselves, but I cannot keep them from the opportunity to hear it! I am and forever will be a disciple of the Savior. What a great calling! There is more love and joy in this work than I ever thought possible.

(Be ready: Pictures to come next week:))

XOXO
Sister Boyce

God has a Plan

HEYOO!!

Sorry I couldn't write yesterday, and I have about 20 minutes this week because we are in Twin Falls! We had to switch our Pday to Tuesday this week so that we could attend the temple here in Twin!! We will be there in about two hours! I am so excited to be in the House of The Lord and feel of the peace that are within those walls! I have missed attending the temple!!

This week has been a whirlwind. Every week is. We had Zone Conference on Friday in Jerome and it was absolutely amazing. We talked about the Plan of Salvation and how every person fits into that Plan, created by God our Father, for the sole purpose of being happy. I realized as we were there that even though we all fit into the same general plan consisting of where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going, God also has a specific plan for each one of us. We still have our agency, the privilege to choose for ourselves right from wrong, but God knows us perfectly. He wants us to use our agency to learn and grow so that we can understand how to return back to His presence. As a missionary, I have to respect other people's agency, and trust that God will take care of them. He can see the whole picture, even when we can't.

Tough week teaching. All of our investigators (those that aren't already members, but want to learn) cancelled our appointments but one. We had a lesson with him and his family (who are members) and the Spirit was strong as we talked about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith. I know that God and Jesus appeared to Joseph. Every time I tell someone the story, I feel the Holy Ghost testify to me that it is true!! I love that feeling and would do anything for someone so that they can feel it too because it brings so much peace and joy. Sadly, it doesn't work like that. They have to have an open heart- humble enough to receive it.

Through all of those cancellations, Sister Merrell and I continue to work hard. So we find people to teach. We taught a lot of less actives and contacted former investigators. Through our persistence and faith that God will help us, He put two new investigators in our path. We also had two of our investigators call us out of the blue and tell us to come over right after an appointment cancelled, otherwise we would have not been able to. I feel so blessed because I know God cares and blessed us for our diligent efforts. Even though it can be frustrating having all of your appointments cancel, with an attitude of gratitude, we can truly see how blessed we really are. Gratitude helps us stay focused on why we are really here- to do God's work. So we have to respect His timing.

I love you all so much and pray for you everyday!! Sorry it was short today! I promise pictures next week!!

XOXO
Sister Boyce

God's Love is Infinite

Hi FamJam and friends:)

What a wonderful week. My new companion, Sister Merrell, is so cool. We are so similar in so many ways. I swear if we were any more alike we'd be the same person hahaa :)

I have SO MUCH I want to talk about this week so I'll give you a run down on the people here we are teaching and the highlights:

Buck is still old and still having a hard time praying. But he's getting it. We taught him ALL about prayer on Thursday and even wrote a little outline of things he could say. He struggles because he just says that the words don't come to him so he resorts to his memorized prayers. We asked what he was thankful for and what concerns he had. Hopefully he uses that paper to really pray from his HEART and not his MIND.

Rebecca was baptized on October 24th and she's already helping out in missionary work!! She's so golden. She came to a lesson with Kyleigh and it was awesome because they have a lot of similar anxiety issues.

Kyleigh's Baptismal date is set for the 21st!! We just finished all of the discussions with her and she is READY!! Best moment came with her this week (keep reading:))

FUNNEST moment: there was a lady walking down the street with her ALPACA. I REPEAT. SHE WAS WALKING AN ALPACA!! hahahahhahahahahahaaa

MOST AWKWARD moment: we tried to help these two old guys that were moving wood into a truck by offering service. when we asked them how they were doing one of them just looked at us and then kept working. it was the worst. missionary life is just awkward sometimes. but you get over it this week...

HAPPIEST moment: WE GOT A NEW INVESTIGATOR!! He had the most brilliant blue eyes and one of the kindest people we've ever met.

BEST moment: Kyleigh told us in one of our lessons that while she thought she knew what it was, she had never really felt of God's love for her before she met us. THIS is why I am a missionary!! There were tears in my eyes because I KNOW that God loves all of His children. THAT is why I AM HERE! I love God and want everyone to feel His love!! And I know she was able to feel that love because she sincerely prays and reads the Book of Mormon. In Preach My Gospel (PMG), our missionary teaching manual, it states that, "The Book of Mormon is evidence of the love of God for His children." It is so cool to see how God's love is manifest among these people! He loves all of us as His children, but we won't be able to feel or recognize it until we understand that we are His children. I don't understand all things, but I do know that one truth. (1 Nephi 11:17, 22-23 go read it:) )

I love you all so much!! Hope your week is absolutely ahhhhmazing :) rock on, friends.

God Speed!
Sister Boyce

Pictures from the MTC

**NOTE from Cassandra's sister, Carly: There was no letter this week :(. BUT she did email a few pictures from her time at the MTC! We love seeing pictures of her!! Hopefully more next week!

^^"IDAHO TWIN FALLS MISSION HOMIES:
Elder Crosby, Elder Udall, me, Sister Miller!!

^^This Sisters in Cassandra's MTC district

^^Cassandra's MTC district

^^Cassandra's MTC district