Oh, It's Such a Small World

Heyyyy ya'll!

August in Georgia...is HOT!

Georgia

This has been a pretty cool/crazy week for me I suppose. My companion, Elder Zundel, is District Leader so I get to go on exchanges often to different areas! This week after district meeting I went down with one of the Zone Leaders, Elder Prisbey, to the Winder area. Mostly I just followed him around as he did administrative duties haha. Anyway, the next morning we woke up bright and early to go to Zone Conference in Athens! 

Fun Fact: The stake center in Athens is brand new (it hasn't even been dedicated yet) and apparently it will be the last stake center ever to be built. The church has found that it will be easier and less expensive to build small churches and broadcast events such as stake conference over satellite to each of the different buildings-- crazy, huh?!?

Zone Conference was amazing. President King is such an inspired man, you can't not respect him. I learned so much from the all-day meeting. We watched The District 2, the missionary department's documentary sort of thing about missionary work, and talked about our purpose as missionaries. The spirit was so strong there, I took like 4 pages of notes or something like that. After zone conference I had a greater desire to obey the rules, be led by the spirit, become a better missionary, and ask inspired questions. We did lots of role playing, practicing how to invite someone to be baptized. Preach My Gospel says that unless the spirit directs otherwise we should invite investigators to baptism on the first lesson.

Before Zone Conference and during the lunch break I watched a defensive driving video and filled out a booklet, so I will soon be certified to drive mission cars! Oh and it's such a small world, at zone conference I met Sister Eversole, who graduated from Payson High and was in the same group of friends as Riley Fitzgerald's older sister. Also, Elder Koopman, from the Volksen's ward, introduced himself to me and it turns out that we both had the same trainer, Elder Zundel! It's funny, in the mission field if you train someone they are called your 'son'. So that makes me and Elder Koopman 'brothers' haha.

Well, I met another crazy Georgian this week. His name is Eli. He is about 58 years old and has a big long gray beard and long gray hair. He met us, asked us if we were Mormons, and then started telling us about how many deaths he has witnessed in Habersham county. He also told us that he once practiced Islam. I don't know if I believed much of what he had to say haha.

We have been working with the same investigators this week, no new ones, just trying to move things along with the ones that we have.Things are going well, I enjoy being a missionary and feel privileged to serve the Lord and help bring others unto Christ.

I love you all so much.

Take care!

Love,

Elder Mikey Caplin

"Bless Their Heart!"

Boy oh boy. I just don't even know what to write about. Life is so good. I wish I could remember and tell you every little detail from the week, but I just can't. Oh well, here I go with what seems pressing at the moment.

 

This week I have just felt really content. I was able to read and study a whole lot this week and as a result I have learned and felt the spirit tons. I finished Our Heritage, A Short History of the LDS Church, and loved it. It is incredible to read about the trials that the early saints went through, and I know that their perseverance was possible because they were truly converted to the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and felt of God's love for them on a regular basis. Their whole lives were devoted to God and as a result they saw many miracles and felt the power of the Holy Ghost on a very high level. That level is available to us today-- I just think that we sometimes are complacent and are content with simply living our lives and not striving to always grow closer to God.

 

Many times this week my companion and I have testified to people of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and the importance of participating in the saving ordinance of baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, but the people reply that they have already done both of those. I can tell that this will be a recurring challenge on my mission. We explain to them the Apostasy and they still don't understand that their baptism wasn't legitimate. They do not understand that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is simple but specific--that things must be done by those who are worthy and have authority from God. 

 

I am finding out how much I truly love teaching. I wish that I could teach all of the time. The times that I am most full of energy and adrenaline and whatnot are right after we leave someone's house where we taught a good lesson with the spirit present. One thing that I really worried about when I left the MTC is that I wouldn't be ready. They prepared us quite well there however. Also, I have been prepared since an early age by going to church and learning over and over again the basic principles of the gospel, hearing the scripture stories, and reading the scriptures for myself to gain my own personal testimony. My testimony has grown a lot this week as I have felt the spirit from truly studying the scriptures and being prompted by the Holy Ghost. The scriptures are so amazing. I love so much looking at the footnotes, connecting the Book of Mormon to the Bible, and trying to apply what I learn to investigators.

 

One cool experience happened to me yesterday while we were teaching a really good guy named Larry about the restoration. He is in his 30s, is married, has 3 daughters, grew up Pentecostal, and really enjoys learning from the Bible. I was explaining to him how we must be baptized by someone who has authority given to him by Jesus Christ, someone who has been called of God, and he said, "Well this line of authority thing sounds like it's very select, like only certain people can get the priesthood." I told him that because these are the last days it is quite the opposite. Every worthy male has been called to receive the priesthood and all members of Christ's restored church have been called to preach of it. I said that it is different than in the days where the Levites were the ones with the priesthood and they traveled around administering to people. I told him that he could be ordained and receive the priesthood to bless his family even though he is not a preacher or pastor. He immediately pointed straight at me and said, "That is exactly what I was looking for. I was thinking about the Levites and how it doesn't seem right that only some people can have the power of God." 

It's just cool to know that God uses me personally as a tool to bring others unto Christ.

 

It's difficult down here because people are Southern, which means they don't like change and accepting new things is hard for them. It's difficult for them to understand why they need to be baptized again. They feel the spirit when we teach, they like what the Book of Mormon teaches, but they don't understand why their church doesn't have the authority of God, or why Joseph Smith was important. I guess that's why they give us two years. Two years to constantly learn and grow. Two years to get to know the scriptures so that we can use those scriptures to help address investigators' concerns.

 

Ok, now to talk about some other stuff. Something that people down here say that is super funny is "Bless their heart". Whenever they want to gossip about someone or say something mean about them they say it and then they end with "Bless their heart." It's so funny. Or sometimes you will be talking to someone and to sympathize with you they will say, "Oh myyyy, bless your heart." It's so funny. 

 

Bruce (an investigator we are trying to commit to baptism) has promised to slowly but surely teach me all of the Southern sayings. I love sayings. They are fantastic. People out here don't need much. There aren't many big houses at all. They love their gardens and their front porches and they don't really need anything else--it's pretty cool.

 

On Thursday I went to Cleveland, GA, which is in our area but quite a few miles away, so we don't go there very often, and I love it. It is my new favorite place. Why? Because it has mountains. It's so pretty driving up the GA hills and then realizing you are on top of a mountain. You look out and everything is so green and pretty. Mount Yonah is nearby Cleveland and it is this sweet little mountain with a granite face towards the top. On Sunday my companion took me to the top of some Indian mountain in Cornelia and it was great. I took pictures and just loved feeling more at home on the top there.

 

Ok family, get ready. The greatest game in the world is Monopoly Deal. I went on an exchange with Elder Mastaler to the Hartwell area because my companion Elder Zundel is the District Leader and wanted to work with Elder Mastaler's companion. Elder Mastaler showed me Monopoly Deal and we played it every single meal break. It is a card game version of Monopoly and is just as fun, but each game goes by way quicker. You will love it. If you don't buy it soon I will give it to you for Christmas because I am just that generous. :)

 

Okay, well love you long time! Byeeeee!

 

Elder Caplin

Cornelia Ward, Athens Stake

[Note from Mikey's Mom]

I am so grateful for kind ward members who take care of our missionaries. In Elder Caplin's first area, I immediately received emails from the Elders Quorum President and Public Affairs Specialist who both told me how happy they are to have him serving there (Cornelia Ward, Athens Stake). I am grateful that they are taking such good care of him. His EQ President had the missionaries over for dinner and served them Cran-Grape, which is Elder Caplin's favorite beverage. And the Public Affairs Specialist sent this photo of their building with a nice note.

"Hello, This is a pic of your son that I took today at church.

We are so excited to have him with us in our ward. I took this

picture for the local newspaper. I am the Public Affairs Specialist

for our stake.  Hope you will see that he is OK. Have a nice evening."--T. Potts

8-15-10

Cornelia, Georgia Ward Building

"This is the beautiful new building where Michael is presently serving. I took this

picture for the open-house.  Please feel free to contact me at anytime for whatever reason. We

have been feeding the Missionaries, in our home, for the past 17 or so years. I also cut their hair. (Smile). We love the Elders." --T. Potts

Yaknowwhaimsaying?

Heyyyyy family!

How are you???? I hope things are going so great at home! Well as you heard I am in GA and have been assigned to labor in the Cornelia Ward of the Athens Stake! It is in the NE corner of the state and it is pretty awesome.

The first thing that happened as we met the mission president at baggage claim was a proselyting activity on the ATL public transit. President and Sister King and the senior couple and the assistants that picked us up took our bags, and then gave each of us two copies of the Book of Mormon and some church pamphlets. They bought us a subway ticket on MARTA and sent us on the train with an older missionary.

I was excited by this and wanted to go to work right away, but got a surprise when I started. I went up to talk to the first person I saw and boy did she give me a treat. I started talking to her and she loved that and started talking right back to me. She was probably about 58 years old, black, had 4 teeth, smelled like dog food, and I couldn't understand a word that she said. She kept me there for 15 whole minutes and I couldn't understand anything so I just nodded my head and said "Yes." The only thing I could understand was "yaknowwhaimsayin?" and she said that like a billion times.

I finally escaped by saying that my companion needed me and to have a nice day. Hahaaha--it scared me a bit and I became a bit discouraged, but the next person I talked to was fantastic. His name was Francior and we talked about prayer a lot and I told him the blessings of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. It went really well and I got his contact info for the Atlanta missionaries to talk to him.

The Kings are sooooo so so nice, they fed us two delicious meals, we had two great firesides, and they were very hospitable. I found out my area and companion (Elder Jordan Zundel, 21, from Portland) Tuesday night and then Transfers meeting was Wednesday morning. President King is a very inspired man. He spoke to us a lot about the Vision of the South (look it up online) by President Spencer W. Kimball, and how well the work is going down here. I feel very lucky to be assigned to such a great mission where the people are so good and kind, and I also feel great about not having to learn a language.

One of the missionaries' favorite investigators is named Bruce. He reminds me of a southern version of Bilbo Baggins from Lord of the Rings. He is kinda weird, but super nice and funny. We love going over to visit him. After he asked me questions and got to meet me he said, "Well Mr. Caplin, welcome to the hills of Habersham."

I indeed love the hills of Habersham. I live in Cornelia, which is a part of Habersham County. The counties here are very small; about 5 towns in them each. It's the kind of place where you are born, raised, and die without ever leaving the area. Everyone is very Christian and very southern. There are mostly white people out here whose families have lived here for generations and generations. I like it. The ward is much smaller compared to a Utah ward, young--lots of converts--but very nice. They like me, which is good.

Short-sleeved white dress shirts and white pocket handkerchiefs are my best friends because it is so hot and humid here. Since my area is large, my companion and I have a nice 2009 Toyota Corolla to drive with fantastic air conditioning, but the AC in our apartment is broken which sucks hardcore. We sleep in an apartment across the street that is vacant until the real estate company or whoever fixes our AC. I'm so so so glad that we have a car though. haha.

My companion is great. We get along well. He has been out for a year and 5 months and is the district leader for our district and has been a trainer once before. Surprisingly I am doing quite well out here. Teaching is easy enough, but I am always trying to learn more. I need to get better at initial contacting and whatnot; that first part I am terrible at. Elder Zundel is way chill and we have plenty of good times, which is good.

Missionary work is slower than I thought it would be. It is a difficult process finding those who are prepared to hear the good word. Haha-- I hate the finding part. I wish we could just be teaching all the time. If we got more referrals from the members and whatnot we could be. It is hard, but very rewarding when the spirit is there and you get to teach someone an eternal truth that they do not know.

Well I am running out of time, but I will update as often as I can. My address is still and always will be 1150 Cole Dr. SW Lilburn GA 30047. I like writing emails, but receiving mail. haha. I love you all so much. You are always in my prayers.

Love, Elder Mikey Caplin

Finally in Georgia!!!

I just received this photo and email from Elder Caplin's Mission President's wife:

New Missionaries--August 3, 2010, Georgia Atlanta North Mission

"Hello, parents of these wonderful new missionaries!  Don't they look fantastic?  Thought you'd like to see for yourselves!

Just wanted you to know they arrived safely this afternoon... This great group began proselyting immediately and had a great experience on the MARTA trains...talking to everyone they saw and handing out copies of the Book of Mormon, "Truth Restored"/mormon.org cards and Church pamphlets.   We took photos then had dinner (they were starving!), a testimony meeting and introductions to the mission and each other.  Each one also had an interview with President King...and, tonight, they also found out where they'll be serving and who their trainers/companions will be.  We had a wonderful evening.  You'll be receiving two letters shortly--one from your missionary and another from us with a printed picture for their scrapbooks.

 
Thank you for training up such wonderful young people.  They come to us well-prepared, happy and optimistic...with deep testimonies.  Please be sure to write them an encouraging letter every week...and they will also write you.  There will be many marvelous experiences to share.

Any questions or concerns...please let us know!

Best wishes,

President and Sister King, Collin (21) and Connor (17)

Georgia Atlanta North Mission

P.S.—Preparation Day here is on Mondays.  It’s best to write prior to this at his MyLDSMail.net address so he has something to read and can respond.  Please send all surface mail and packages to 1150 Cole Drive, Lilburn, GA  30047.

Last Day at the MTC

Today is my last P-day and last day day here at the MTC! I can't believe it! It has been a great experience, lots of ups and downs, but I have learned a lot. Some of the major things that I have learned are: 1. God loves each and everyone of us. He wants us to be happy more than we even know. 2. We can all come to know Jesus by using the atonement to either repent or by simply trying to become like Him. 3. Everyone in the world is different and has their own set of worries and concerns. In order for them to accept the gospel we have to get to know them and then apply it to them. 4. Everyone wants to talk about their life, we just have to pull it out of them.--haha--I've learned the importance of asking questions and it is hard to do. 5. Fast sundays in the MTC are extremely difficult. I now have a newfound appreciation for our 9 AM church--haha.


I've learned how to study the scriptures and stuff quite well. One of my favorite things to do during the lessons is try to find a really good scripture to apply to the investigator. Also strangely enough I'm getting excited to speak in churches. I've written two talks already.


The MTC was good to me. I had lots of friends there. We had a lot of fun and learned a lot too. Like I said before, I have learned tons of languages. I have also learned origami, which is awesome. We quote Harry Potter a lot. haha--It's just fun. The rest of my district leaves tonight at 8:30 for Washington DC. We leave at 3 am to go to Georgia! I'm soooo excited! Not really scared too much, but I do wish I had more time here at the MTC. There are so many resources here for us to learn from. My zone is a part of this pilot learning program so in our class we have a computer and a 60-inch HDTV. We watch conference talks and MTC devotionals and church videos and stuff all the time. Ooh, seriously look up mormon.org, it's pretty cool. I like it. Kinda like a mormon facebook. Also, we looked up Georgia on google earth and it's awesome, soooo green! The mission home is in the same lot as a church building and it's like the largest chapel I've ever seen.

I miss you guys a lot! I hope everything is going well at home, it sounds like you've just been partying non-stop which is what I like to hear!

Well I'm running out of email time so I gotta go, but I will call you tomorrow at the airport! Get ready for an early phone call! haha and I will also call you around 8 ish from the Denver airport.
We wake up at 2 am, dress, eat breakfast, and have to be out front of the MTC by 3 am. Our flight leaves SLC at 630 and then we land in Denver at 8:30. We land in ATL at 2 and then go straight to the mission home, about an hour away! We have a fireside planned, interviews, and dinner. Then the next day is transfers Wednesday so the whole mission will be there and I will get my companion!
I'm all packed and ready to go!

Love you!!!!!!!
Love, Elder Mikey Caplin