Week 38---Coming home :(

First off, what is this thing called Corona? Isn't that the beer in the commercials with a lime???

But ya, pretty depressing that I am coming home. We got a text yesterday afternoon that all foreign missionaries had to pack our bags because we are getting sent home due to COVID-19 or whatever it is called. As of right now, all of us missionaries are in the blind. We know that we are in lockdown/quarantine here at the temple complex and we will be leaving Saturday back to the states. That is literally all I know...

All of us have been very sad and we have heard that our missions in the Philippines are over. We might be quarantined for 14 days in the states and then be reassigned stateside. But sayang (What a waste)

But I just want to talk a bit about my feelings about all of this. Although I am sad, I know that this is all a plan. God knows what is best for all of us and I am so glad I have a testimony in him because if I didn't, this would all be sooo rough. And isn't it great that we have a living Prophet called of God!?!?! I have been reading and studying a lot of general conference talks and one thing that I've noticed is that all of our leaders are calm and happy. They know that all is well and that our Heavenly Father will help us. It seems as if everyone is thinking that the end of world is nigh, but in reality, the second coming is nigh. The Book of Mormon testifies of all of this so it just strengthens my testimony more and more!!!

Just remember this sacred hymn and know that, THE CHURCH IS TRUE

Fear not, though the enemy deride
Courage, for the Lord is on our side
We will heed not what the wicked may say,
But the Lord alone we will obey. 

Love you all, see you guys Saturday

Love, Elder Grasse

Week 37

Hi.

Sorry for this email. I have had no time to write this email and now it's already past the time we should be sleeping! But we just had a super fun Zone wide FHE so that was lit. But ya, transfers are next week and I have zero clue what will happen. I'm having a great time and the language, Cebuano, is getting better and better!!! Boo yaa(g). Anyways... that's basically it.

Feel free to email anytime and I'll try my best to get back to you. But siempre, I love you all and I hope you're all doing maayo gyud<3

Love, GrassyKaz

Friendship goals

Gordon and Kiara

Service Project

Service Project

Service Project

Service Project

Service Project

Dinner date

Friday Fun Night

Friday Fun Night

Week 36

Hi:)

Well yesterday was my 8th month mark on the mission (1/3 of the way done). Crazy crazy crazy!!! It really feels like I got on the plane to Utah like last week. But looking back on my journals and just looking where I am at now is insane. I really have grown a lot out here and I am having a blast at the same time. Only 16 more months to go hahaha.

Other than that, Elder Kapele and I have been trying our best to continue to find more people and help others come unto Christ. We have gotten a less active family to start coming to church again and they have an 8 year old boy who we are going to baptize next Saturday which is awesome.

That's it for this week! I'll see(email) you all next week!!!

I love you all and I hope you all are doing maayo gyud <3

Mga dong

Twinsies with Sister Platon

District

Avengers...

Friday Fun Night

Friday Fun Night

Week 35

Hello all of you gorgeous people. No life threatening experiences this week so this email will probably be a bit more boring than last weeks, shucks. But I'll make sure to attach lots of photos;)

This past Friday we had Zone Conference and those are always a ton of fun because we are able to see tons of missionaries, old comps, and our buddies. The cool part was that this Zone Con, President Pajaro had my kabalay (housemates) make a video about FTE'ing and so Elder Kapele and I were the actors. The video got lots of good laughs but also taught us all how to be better missionaries.

Sorry for this email being short, not a lot of time today. But we went on a nice hike today so make sure to check out the photos.

As always, nahigugma ko kaninyo ug nagalaum ko nga maayo gyud mo:)

Love, Elder Kasden Grasse

Do you ever think that there is more to life than just being really, really, ridiculously good-looking?" Name the movie, and that's the caption hahaha

Tarzan?

Always balling with the Filipinos

Me and a cow

View

View 2

Dad and Son

...?

Week 34

Well, I almost got stabbed this week so that might have been the scariest moment of my life. We were walking back from an FHE at about 9:00pm. It was me, Elder Kapele, Elder Batuhan, and Elder Sustal. Elder Kapele and I were walking a bit ahead of the other 2 when we hear a loud commotion and someone yelling "Ayaw!! Ayay!!! Dari!!!"(Stop!!! Stop!! Come back!!!) I then hear Elder Sustal say, "Uhhh elders, come back here." Elder Kapele turned around but I just thought he was joking or it was gonna be nothing. I heard loud footsteps behind me and so I turn around and there is a 16(?) year old boy 5 feet behind with two butcher knives in either hand. Then some other boy runs over and grabs hold of the knife holder and pushes him to the side. My companions shouted "Grasse watch out!" We got out there in a hurry and Elder Sustal was telling everyone we passed that there was a man with a knife on the path. No joke, I had adrenaline rushing through me for a good 5min. Good times huh :)

On the bright side, I was able to go on exchanges with a newbie, Elder Leavitt! That was really fun because it really showed how far I've come in the language, teaching, and being a missionary because I had to lead everything. It was really fun being "the man" haha.

Other than that, nothing else. I've gotten burned a few times in the past month and guess what!?!?!?! I go back to being white :( walay tan. Sayang kaayo no?

I love you all and I hope you are all doing maayo gyud!!!

Love, Elder Kasden Grasse

Elder Grasse and Elder Leavitt

FHE

Lawa-an Elders

Pinaka gwapo mga elder

I promise, the Book is TRUE!

No idea what to title this...

Week 33

Hello. I have zero time. Here are some pictures for you all

I <3 u all ;) hehe charrr

Love, Elder Kasden Grasse

Dinner before transfer day

First day of work with the new comps

First day of work with the new comps

Basa ang sagbut

Elder Kapele and I

Swain and I last day together

Cute picture

First dinner together

Week 32

Well, I am NOT transferring. It was big news for me as well because everyone in my zone thought that Elder Swain would train here which would mean I'd get transferred. Instead, Elder Swain is transferring and becoming a follow-up trainer. My new companion is Elder Kapele (Kuh-Pay-Lay). He is transferring down from Toledo. He has only 2 transfers left so I am pretty excited to work with him because I'm sure he can teach me a lot and help me in the language!

This week we had a serious miracle. Elder Swain and I had been struggling with getting people to attend church and sacrament but this past Sunday, God hit us up big time. Right before we entered the church building, we got a call. The man who called is Herman. He told us that he wanted to come to church but he didn't know where it was at. Swain and I were like what the heck but we quickly told him all the directions and that it started at 8:30. Sadly, the time was already 8:15 so he said he would try to make it. He wasn't able to attend our sacrament meeting but he came to the next one which started at 10:30. So we quickly contacted the Sister missionaries in that ward and asked them to talk to him for us. By the time we had come back to the church they were all gone but the Sisters said Herman and FIVE other came!!! They also said that they were going to come to our Friday Fun Night activity this Friday and that they were super interested in hearing our message. Oh my golly was that music to my ears. So now we are getting in contact with them and are trying to set up a time and day to visit them.

Thanks for all the support everyone! I love you all and I hope you are all doing maayo gyud!!!

Love, Elder Kasden Grasse

Photo bomb

Kaeheon si Elder Flake

My friend

Squad