Buennnnos dias!
Es un gran dia de estar aqui en Brownsville! We had a couple
cold fronts this last week which made the work even more fun than usual! By
cold fronts I mean it got down to 75 and so I wore my blue Livestrong hoodie in
the mornings and didn’t take my suit jacket off in the car as we drove to and
from church. ha-ha. I don't think my body will be able to handle cold weather
ever again!
Ok! So lots of changes the past few weeks but we're settling
into the routine for this transfer and things are going great! We have a lot of
really great elders and sisters here in our zone! Last week for p-day we went
and played flag football at the stadium where all the high schools played and
then had a cookout at a house nearby. The following Wednesday President
Maluenda came down and we had interviews with him! It was a really good
experience! I’m grateful for the friendship that I’ve been able to develop with
him and he always teaches me so much! One of the things he helped me focus on
and raise my vision is enjoying my mission! A lot of times I’ll take things too
seriously or be harder on myself when things don't go the way I intended. I’m
grateful that this is the Lord's work and that He only expects us to give our
best effort and that the results then rely entirely upon Him!
This week for our exchanges I got to go back to the
Southmost apartment and work the bike area! I got to work with an Elder Hutchinson
from West Valley Utah, we had a really fun day! My favorite part was when we
went to one side of the area looking for a family we were supposed to be
teaching (Dad-right over by the airport!) and couldn't seem to find the appt.
complex. We called his companion and found out that the appt. complex was on
the other side of the area where we had came from! Elder Hutchinson had been so
sure that we had been going the right direction! I told him that I knew he
hadn't just been mistaken and we were about to find out why he had been
impressed to come this way! We walked over to the nearest appt. complex and
started talking to a family outside! They were very interested and accepted an
appointment to return! As we left them a car pulled up and a woman in super
tall boots and sunglasses got out! She didn’t seem to appear to be very
friendly but we went to talk to her anyway! After a few minutes of talking to
her she opened up and talked about some trials in her life and how she felt
like God had been "reaching out to her lately" and that she needed to
make some changes! It was such a strong testimony to me that the way the Lord
works is not the same way we work! He knows where His children are and all
their needs and exactly when they need help! I know that He put us there at
that exact spot and at that exact moment to help that lady!
Lately my testimony has also grown a lot about the Savior’s
willingness to forgive us! Often times we carry burdens in our heart that make
us irritable, impatient or just not able to be fully happy! The only way we can
get rid of them is to go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to take them off our
shoulders...sometimes the burdens are bigger and require help from priesthood
leaders. But when we are good about taking notice about the burdens that begin
to accumulate in our hearts and quickly repent and ask the Lord to forgive and
heal us, He will do it! He looks at our hearts, the light we’ve received, and
our works and when we sincerely and honestly seek forgiveness, He forgives us!
I’m so grateful for this lesson! I’m so grateful for the joy
my mission brings me! It makes me so happy to know that I can spend every
minute of my day serving others and serving the Lord! I’m so grateful for all
the companions I’ve had, for the great missionaries who surround me and teach
me so much and for the righteous examples of the members who live here!
Right now we're working a lot of couples! There’s a family
of 4 sisters (ages16-22) and 3 are married with husbands as well as a 16 year
old couple with a baby (the husband’s a LA member) and then a couple in their
20's with a 22 year old nephew! Its great! The Lord is blessing us a lot! I
love taking our 2 bike days a week (got another flat tire this week
though)....I really do love doing missionary work on a bike! It’s so easy to
talk and meet with people!
I hope all is well in Ohio and Utah! Enjoy the Fall colors
(...here nothing changes! It’s still just one eternal summer!)
Con amor,
Elder Cook
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