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
Monday, November 23, 2015
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
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
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
Monday, November 9, 2015
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
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
Monday, November 2, 2015
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!!
Elder Crosby, Elder Udall, me, Sister Miller!!
^^This Sisters in Cassandra's MTC district
^^Cassandra's MTC district
^^Cassandra's MTC district
Monday, October 26, 2015
Miracles and Transfers
HEYO EVERYONE!!
I first just wanted to thank you all for sending your love and birthday wishes to Idaho:) I have been so blessed to have THE BEST friends and family!! Thank you for all your support!
Mission life is a rollercoaster. You have so many ups and downs and nothing is ever steady hahaaa This week we probably had the lowest of lows but also the highest point of my time out here so far. And it all happened in the same day. Sister Anderson and I were so discouraged. Like we weren't matching up to everything we needed to be. Teaching appointments were cancelling and no one was home because its harvest season. We were having such a rough time.
And when we had enough of it all, we pulled over to the side of the road and called some of the members for some information we needed. We hung up the phone with one member, and the phone rang with an unknown number. Sister Anderson picked it up and introduced us as the Sister Missionaries. The lady said she had been trying out different faiths, and she wanted to come to church. She was looking for someone to help her know what to expect. She said she thought she would never make this call because she had been fed anti-Mormon material her whole life. She has been searching for the truth and hasn't been able to find it. She read part of the Book of Mormon and sincerely prayed to know if it was true because she said she previously had just been praying for a confirmation that the Mormon faith was false. She received her answer from God and had enough faith and courage to call us. SHE IS SO COOL!! In less than a week, we taught her three lessons, she attended our baptism for another lady we've been teaching, came to the ward Halloween party, and to church! She's so golden. :)
We ask people all day to pray so they can know for themselves if what we teach is true. We don't want people to believe us because that won't strengthen their own faith. They have to find out for themselves! And she did that without even being asked! I know that if you read and sincerely pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true, you will receive an answer by the Spirit.
Every six weeks we have transfers, which is when the missionaries in the mission can be reassigned to work in a different area within our mission boundaries. Transfers are on Wednesday. My companion will serve in Jerome and I will stay in MoHo to train a new missionary! I still feel like I have no idea what I'm doing!!! But that's okay because I know God does and this is His work! Everything happens for a reason. We just have to trust God and know that He can see the whole picture even when we can't. He is the artist, and He has a plan for each of us!
You are all amazing!! Thank you for your support and prayers and letters:)
Have another amazing week!
LOVE YOU!
Sister Boyce
I first just wanted to thank you all for sending your love and birthday wishes to Idaho:) I have been so blessed to have THE BEST friends and family!! Thank you for all your support!
Mission life is a rollercoaster. You have so many ups and downs and nothing is ever steady hahaaa This week we probably had the lowest of lows but also the highest point of my time out here so far. And it all happened in the same day. Sister Anderson and I were so discouraged. Like we weren't matching up to everything we needed to be. Teaching appointments were cancelling and no one was home because its harvest season. We were having such a rough time.
And when we had enough of it all, we pulled over to the side of the road and called some of the members for some information we needed. We hung up the phone with one member, and the phone rang with an unknown number. Sister Anderson picked it up and introduced us as the Sister Missionaries. The lady said she had been trying out different faiths, and she wanted to come to church. She was looking for someone to help her know what to expect. She said she thought she would never make this call because she had been fed anti-Mormon material her whole life. She has been searching for the truth and hasn't been able to find it. She read part of the Book of Mormon and sincerely prayed to know if it was true because she said she previously had just been praying for a confirmation that the Mormon faith was false. She received her answer from God and had enough faith and courage to call us. SHE IS SO COOL!! In less than a week, we taught her three lessons, she attended our baptism for another lady we've been teaching, came to the ward Halloween party, and to church! She's so golden. :)
We ask people all day to pray so they can know for themselves if what we teach is true. We don't want people to believe us because that won't strengthen their own faith. They have to find out for themselves! And she did that without even being asked! I know that if you read and sincerely pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true, you will receive an answer by the Spirit.
Every six weeks we have transfers, which is when the missionaries in the mission can be reassigned to work in a different area within our mission boundaries. Transfers are on Wednesday. My companion will serve in Jerome and I will stay in MoHo to train a new missionary! I still feel like I have no idea what I'm doing!!! But that's okay because I know God does and this is His work! Everything happens for a reason. We just have to trust God and know that He can see the whole picture even when we can't. He is the artist, and He has a plan for each of us!
You are all amazing!! Thank you for your support and prayers and letters:)
Have another amazing week!
LOVE YOU!
Sister Boyce
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
What a week.
HI FAMILY!!
What a week it has been here in MoHo. Two days of training, one day in Grand View, and one crazy district. We are all burnt because the weather is still so warm here and we spent our Pday outside playing soccer and sand volleyball! Sorry we couldn't write yesterday, the library was closed!
We have a platinum investigator. People that are ready to hear the gospel and accept it readily are called "golden investigators" but ours is platinum. The Sisters that were here before me were teaching her but she is going to be baptized on the 24th of this month!! She would have already been baptized, but she is waiting for her husband to get back from deployment. One of our wards covers the Air Force Base here in Mountain Home. BUT SHE ROCKS! Her name is Rebecca and I swear she probably knows more about the church than I do at this point. Everything we challenge her to do that week to come closer to the Savior, she already does. She reads the Gospel Principles book and Preach My Gospel (the manual for missionaries) before we come over to teach the lesson. Honestly that is what we want for everyone. We don't ask people to believe us or to be baptized for us. They have to have the desire and have to be the ones to learn for themselves what we are teaching is true. And that comes through living the gospel- faith, repentance, baptism by immersion, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.
AND WE GOT A NEW INVESTIGATOR THIS WEEK!!! His name is Buck and he is the husband of a lady we've been teaching. He has always been in the same room while we give the lesson, but pretends he's not listening. Buck and Jean are SO old. Like ancient. When we give the lessons to Jean, he will pitch in his two cents but hasn't wanted anything to do with what we believe because he wants to follow the Bible and nothing else. UNTIL THIS WEEK!! We were talking about faith and prayer and he got really interested. He said he didn't like the way he prayed because they were all set prayers that he just recited. That isn't the way that we pray, so he said he would like to learn how. We gave him a pamphlet and asked him if he would try to pray from his heart this week. I cant wait to hear how it went!!
Between the lesson with Buck and so many other things that have happened this week, I have developed a stronger testimony of the power of prayer. I know that God lives and that He is our Father in Heaven. He wants to hear from us and He has given us a way to communicate with Him through prayer. What a great blessing and opportunity! We can actually talk to God! Just imagine how your own father would feel if you decided to never talk to him again. Heavenly Father feels the same way because he created our spirits. He loves us and knows us perfectly, so we don't have to tell Him through prayer. But when we pray, we are showing Him that we need Him, that we are taking that step of faith into the dark and allowing Him to work in our lives. When we pray with all energy of our hearts, I know He will hear us and he will answer our prayers. I love the power of prayer and know it is real!
Have a great week!! Don't forget to pray!
xoxo
Sister Boyce
What a week it has been here in MoHo. Two days of training, one day in Grand View, and one crazy district. We are all burnt because the weather is still so warm here and we spent our Pday outside playing soccer and sand volleyball! Sorry we couldn't write yesterday, the library was closed!
We have a platinum investigator. People that are ready to hear the gospel and accept it readily are called "golden investigators" but ours is platinum. The Sisters that were here before me were teaching her but she is going to be baptized on the 24th of this month!! She would have already been baptized, but she is waiting for her husband to get back from deployment. One of our wards covers the Air Force Base here in Mountain Home. BUT SHE ROCKS! Her name is Rebecca and I swear she probably knows more about the church than I do at this point. Everything we challenge her to do that week to come closer to the Savior, she already does. She reads the Gospel Principles book and Preach My Gospel (the manual for missionaries) before we come over to teach the lesson. Honestly that is what we want for everyone. We don't ask people to believe us or to be baptized for us. They have to have the desire and have to be the ones to learn for themselves what we are teaching is true. And that comes through living the gospel- faith, repentance, baptism by immersion, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.
AND WE GOT A NEW INVESTIGATOR THIS WEEK!!! His name is Buck and he is the husband of a lady we've been teaching. He has always been in the same room while we give the lesson, but pretends he's not listening. Buck and Jean are SO old. Like ancient. When we give the lessons to Jean, he will pitch in his two cents but hasn't wanted anything to do with what we believe because he wants to follow the Bible and nothing else. UNTIL THIS WEEK!! We were talking about faith and prayer and he got really interested. He said he didn't like the way he prayed because they were all set prayers that he just recited. That isn't the way that we pray, so he said he would like to learn how. We gave him a pamphlet and asked him if he would try to pray from his heart this week. I cant wait to hear how it went!!
Between the lesson with Buck and so many other things that have happened this week, I have developed a stronger testimony of the power of prayer. I know that God lives and that He is our Father in Heaven. He wants to hear from us and He has given us a way to communicate with Him through prayer. What a great blessing and opportunity! We can actually talk to God! Just imagine how your own father would feel if you decided to never talk to him again. Heavenly Father feels the same way because he created our spirits. He loves us and knows us perfectly, so we don't have to tell Him through prayer. But when we pray, we are showing Him that we need Him, that we are taking that step of faith into the dark and allowing Him to work in our lives. When we pray with all energy of our hearts, I know He will hear us and he will answer our prayers. I love the power of prayer and know it is real!
Have a great week!! Don't forget to pray!
xoxo
Sister Boyce
Monday, October 5, 2015
Week 3 in Mountain Home
HI FRIENDS!
Conference weekend was AMAZING!! I have such a great love for the Prophet and for all of the Apostles. One of my favorites talks was President Uchtdorf. Just remember to start where you are and offer a willing heart to God. He will direct your paths and make so much more out of your life than you could possibly imagine. Because we are His. We are all children of God.
I LOVE YOU ALL!! Thanks for your letters:)
xoxo
Conference weekend was AMAZING!! I have such a great love for the Prophet and for all of the Apostles. One of my favorites talks was President Uchtdorf. Just remember to start where you are and offer a willing heart to God. He will direct your paths and make so much more out of your life than you could possibly imagine. Because we are His. We are all children of God.
I LOVE YOU ALL!! Thanks for your letters:)
xoxo
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