Thank you so much for the packages and the birthday wishes!
Grandma Cook sent me a letter as well! I’ll write her, but tell her thank you
as well!
It was a great week and a crazy week for sure! Monday, we
got to work together in the trio (Elder Rodriguez, Petersen, & I) for one
last time and it was great! We had so much fun together! Tuesday I woke up
early and went with 4 other elders (including Elders Marble & Barrionuevo
the ones we live with) down to McAllen! Elder Marble got pulled over on the way
down but only got a warning! It was a good 2 1/2 hr. drive down and we got
there just in time! The trainings were full of lots of practicing real
situations or role playing and it was so refreshing to teach in Spanish again!
On the first day the Hidalgo Ward (from Las Milpas) fed us so it was fun to see
some familiar faces (1...especially being Elizabeth Lugo, the member who was
the friend of Jorge Casa the 22 year old we baptized! She was there for every
lesson and did so much to help!). The first night I stayed over with some Elders
on the west part of McAllen and it was so good to go back and be outside
speaking Spanish and having so many people to talk to! In the Valley anyone and
everyone will talk to you! The second night after the training I got to go back
with Elder Rodriguez to Las Milpas and visit a family we taught! It was good to
see them and the dad had been baptized just a few weeks earlier! The sister (in
her 30's) kept hinting about how the next time we came back she’ll probably be
baptized too! It was so great to see that they are still progressing! Thursday
was the last day of the training and it was the best day for me! President
Trayner gave a really good presentation on the Book of Mormon and how we can
use it more effectively in missionary work! One thing I’ve learned from Pres. Trayner
as I've been out is that really all the questions someone can have about the
church, about its practices, beliefs, or doctrine rest on the singular question
of if the Book of Mormon is true or not! The ultimate test of faith will always
be if someone is willing to read it honestly seeking truth, willing to ponder
its message that centers in Jesus Christ, and then to pray and seek that
knowledge about its truthfulness from God. I love how simple it is. No matter
what questions we have...(and we as people can come up with millions!)....that
God wants each of us to ask Him in prayer is "Is the Book of Mormon
true?". Saturday we visited a less active sister who had fallen away
because she did not understand why for a time polygamy was practiced. We had a
great opportunity to help her understand how it all depends on whether or not
God speaks to man today, and the evidence of that is the Book of Mormon!
I’m again reading it in both languages and I’m grateful for
the Spirit it brings into our lives! I know the Book of Mormon is true. I have
read it, studied it, and prayed about and received an answer from my Heavenly
Father! Im so grateful Mom & Dad for all the time we spent as a family
reading the scriptures, and especially the Book of Mormon, each night growing
up! That has made such a huge difference in my life and brought me so much
peace and happiness and the ability and desire to share it with others! To end
I'll share a great couple verses I found reading this morning!
Alma 12: 33 But God did call on men, in the name of his Son,
(this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying: If ye will repent,
and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only
Begotten Son;
34 Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart,
he shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission
of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest.
I know this is true! our Heavenly Father calls each one of
us and as a missionary it is such a powerful experience to see the Lord working
personally in the lives of His children. I know that Christ loves us personally
and specifically and its through His Sacrifice that we receive our Heavenly
Fathers mercy. I testify that the mercy
he offers us is such a beautiful and wonderful opportunity to grow closer to
Him. I'm grateful we can repent and that through baptism, the gift of the holy
ghost and being faithful to those promises we can be with Him again in His rest
and find the peace and happiness we seek in this life!
Con amor,
Elder Cook!
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