Elder Kasey Lightheart

  Riding home from our mission conference! Hey everybody! Yet another wonderful week has passed by as a full time missionary of the Lord, and boy was it an amazing week. Early on Tuesday morning, we received the news that Elder Parrella of the Seventy would be visiting our mission, and that we would be having a conference the next day with him, and another zone as well. We ended up having to wake up super early, at around 4 in the morning to make it there on time, and so after a tiring morning, and a 3 hour drive in a big van with our whole zone, we finally arrived and had a wonderful conference. It seriously always amazes me the powerful spirit members of the Seventy have with them. Despite my exhaustion, I couldn't help myself enjoying every minute, hearing the counsel of Elder Parrella.  We also were able to visit our friend Desiree in person for the first time! She is a really sweet woman, who has decided to be baptized this Sunday, August 29th. Although, we have had to te...

  Our last lunch in Brás Cubas! We officially transferred safe and sound to Cidade Morumbi!! On our last day in the area, we were able to have one final lunch with a family of the Vila Lavina ward, who were one of our favorite families in the ward. The couple is actually expecting their son to return from his mission this month, so we are very excited for them! We said our goodbyes, and then waited for the new elders to arrived, and waited, and waited... they ended up arriving about 2 and a half hours later than we expected, but that's okay! After about an hour drive, through Eucalyptus tree farms and fields, we arrived in Morumbi, at our new house!  Lucky us, this area belonged to sisters for many years, until about 6 months ago, so it's a really nice house and area! Unfortunately, the previous elders didn't clean at all, so we arrived to a dusty and filthy home. But after about 3 hours of scrubbing, sweeping and mopping (and a little bit of extra work throughout the week)...

  Saying goodbye to Patricia and her family. "And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions." I just love the story of the people of Alma, who completely turned around their lives, and became disciples of Jesus Christ. Even in righteousness, they suffered for a time, being held captive by another people, the Lamanites. But the Lord heard the prayers of their hearts, and lightened the burdens upon their shoulders, until the day that they were freed. And all this was possible because of their faith and trust in Christ. I would invite you all to study Mosiah 24 in the Book of Mormon, and ponder how God has performed miracles in your own lives.  This week, in and of itself, was a week of miracles! Earlier in the week we ...

  Zone Conference shenanigans "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors." (Alma 34:32). This life is a time to work hard, not only exercising our faith, but also laboring physically to provide for our families and loved ones, and multiply the blessings and talents God has given us. Labor is defined as work that is hard that is accomplished by great effort, meaning that life won't always be easy, in fact many times difficult and tiring, but I take comfort in the promise from the Lord that all things will work together for our good so long as we trust in Him.  This Sunday, our wonderful friend Eduardo surprised us by exclaiming after our Sacrament meeting, "Elder, I'd like to be baptized, how can I go about doing so?". These are the kinds of words you dream to hear as a missionary, but let me tell you, this man is certainly prepared and ready to enter the water...