No mas guajolote!

Hola familia!

We had another great week down here in the valley! Thanksgiving was a lot of fun! We had two meal appointments, one with a family in Mercedes and one with all the missionaries and a family over in Weslaco! It was strange to walk outside afterward into the near-80 degree weather...it still feels like we're just stuck in September now! We made some visits to our recent converts and it was great to spend some time with them!

Thanks so much mom for the package of sweaters! Hopefully I'll need them here soon! I also received a letter from the Kauffman family this week and it was really good to hear from them! Christmas decorations are up in downtown Mercedes and boy does it look funny to see a wreath on a palm tree. HEB plays Christmas music nonstop now and it’s just overall a really strange experience! Whenever we talk with people they can't believe we like Christmas with snow! 

On Saturday we went to a ward activity that was held in memory of Elder Walker and Elder Strong. We had a memorial bike ride from the church down the road where the accident happened and back to the church. It gave me a lot to think about and certainly a lot to be grateful for. The road they were biking on was narrower than any of the roads we have here in Mercedes and gets pretty busy! We had a police escort and all in all there were about 30 or so on bikes (11 were missionaries). At the crash site there was a bike with some flowers and it all reminded me a lot of the way we mourned when Rico Butler passed away. I've gained a much stronger testimony of the plan our Heavenly Father has for each of us. Knowing where we come from, why we're here on earth, and what will come after, gives such a different perspective. I've found that applying those 3 big questions to the specific instances of my life help me find greater purpose, direction, and motivation, as well gratitude to my heavenly father.

I am so grateful to come from a family that loves me and a family that taught me the gospel and gave me a strong legacy of faith. I am grateful as well to be here in Mercedes to help people come unto Christ, to find peace and happiness in this life and joy in the next, to enter the waters of baptism and to have their sins washed away. I'm grateful to be headed towards the remainder of a wonderful 2 years serving the people in South Texas wherever the Lord decides to send me!

I love you all!!!

Con amor,

 

Elder Cook