If I could come up with an analogy for the progression of my
mission, I think I’d have to compare it to a regular summer day in the Valley!
You wake up in the mornings and see a beautiful sunrise with palm trees and big
fast moving clouds and it’s humid but not too hot. You've made plans and you
try to envision just exactly how everything you've planned is going to work
out! There are goals, dreams, needs, and wants that all need to be taken care
of! By mid’ day its hot hot hot but there are toy story shaped clouds all
across the sky. Its lots of work and sweat but if you’re diligent then miracles
happen. Problems come up, plans change, but small tender mercies make it all
fun and exciting! As the evening hits it
slowly cools down and then you get to see a beautiful Texas sunset and the wind
picks up to cool you down! All the work and sweat and stress of the day are
erased by a calm still peace as whole world seems to prepare for the night. It’s
the most beautiful part of the day! You have time to reflect on the day’s
events, the people you knew, and the things the Lord has done to help you be
happy!
Here in the sunset phase of my mission I feel the same way!
The "morning" of my mission seems miles away, the heat of the day
doesn't seem quite as rough as I thought it was when it occurred and I'm blessed
to have the help of the Lord as I look back in hindsight of everything that's
happened. Each day this week something amazing happened and it’s humbling to
see how good the Lord is at loving us personally!
This week:
People:
Paulina was confirmed this past Sunday and their family is
fully active again in the church! We use Oreos about as often as the scriptures
when we teach her haha (she’s like me!) and we had a cool lesson where we
shared the video from Pres. Faust about the voice of the spirit!
Marvin!: He's a 15 year old we taught back in April who’s
recently just began coming to church! He reads the Book of Mormon everyday and
he came and played soccer at the church with some of the other youth! He's a
super cool kid and has a really good heart! He always tries to do what’s right
regardless of what his family members do.
Zoraya!: She’s getting reading for her baptism soon and she
is being a missionary in her own family! Her older sister wanted to take her
down to Brownsville for the zoo but she told her sister that she had to go to
church! It’s been fun helping her to make friends with the other girls in
Primary.
Priscilla & Valeria: We have a lot of fun visiting them!
We teach them at their cousins’ house and it’s always a party! Valeria (who’s
8) helps her mom remember to read and pray and she is so responsive to the
spirit! Last night we went over for dinner and Elder Munoz taught the moms how
to make Arepas (algo colombiano! Son muy ricos!) and I taught an impromptu primary
class using Mormon messages, hang man, and thumb wars to the kids: in total
there are 8 kids ranging from 6-14! haha it’s a fun group! Blanca!: Her friend got baptized last week and she has been coming each week and told us this week that she knows the book of Mormon is true! she has a young little daughter who has the same hair style as my companion! (see the attached picture!) haha.
Fun Experiences:
Wednesday we decided to go on bikes for the day and as we
visited Blanca it started to sprinkle. A few minutes later it was a full blown
thunderstorm! After trying to wait it out for about an hour under a neighbor’s
garage overhang we decided to try and ride to our next appointment (some
members) which was about 2 miles away! it was awesome! The streets were flooded
and after about 10 sec. we were soaked. At one point we had to get off our
bikes and walk on the side walk to avoid some mud. A bus came by at the perfect
time and I got snowplowed by a wall of
water! haha. I miss being a bike missionary! Better yet...as we kept riding I
missed the turn and so we literally went the "extra' mile that day! But we
made it to our destination and things turned out well!
Sat- As we finished
teaching Priscilla and Valeria a nearby drive thru started blasting really
loud music...the family told us that that evening there was going to be a Lucha
libre...(ha think Nacho libre!). We drove by later and caught a glimpse of the
masked Mexican wrestlers ....yes...even dressed up in their "stretchy
pants'". It kind of underscored the culture differences between Ohio and
South Texas ...the Ohio State fair or corn festival would've been the
equivalent for the Lucha Libres in Alamo Texas. I love it all!
Lastly, my testimony really has grown this week about the
power of the family! I know that Heavenly Father really is our Father in heaven
and that He loves each of us as His children! As we visit and teach families
the gospel of Jesus Christ, it all just comes back down to the simple story of
a family. A Father who loves His Children sent His oldest Son to show us the
example and to help us out so that some day we can all go back home and be
happily together forever! I know this is true!
Just as the primary song says:
How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?He sent his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.
How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?
He sent his Son to walk with men on earth, that we may know.
How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?
He sent his Son to die for us and rise with living breath.
What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?
Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way.
What does he ask? Live like his Son.
Con amor animo y agredecimiento,
Elder Cook!
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