tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71556582120495920362024-03-12T16:38:57.622-07:00Elder Cook Orlando Florida Mission and then Argentina CordobaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-23580320885365114872015-03-02T21:37:00.002-08:002015-03-02T21:41:11.635-08:00Well this will be the last time in a while were i will have the opportunity to email as a missionary<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
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Well this will be the last time in a while were i will have the opportunity to email as a missionary. </div>
So i was thinking of what i would be putting in this last email and i have had a real big difficulty of what i could write. The good thing is that this last week has been one of the most interesting weeks that i have had here on my mission.</div>
So i think i have told all of you that it seems to rain a lot here, well this week it has sure passed all the norms of usual rain storms. San Francisco flooded! YAY! well not really i don't think we should be celebrating that but we have had some real big problems due to flooding this last week. Some of the small town close to us are still under about 3 feet of water and some towns are evacuated because the town is completely under water. This part of Argentina is not really well planned so when they have problems with flooding they just send it to other small towns. So not only do the small towns get there own rain but the rain of everywhere else. San Francisco was only flooded for about a day and a half. The rain started coming down on Tuesday night and didn't stop until Wednesday in the afternoon. We were officially not able to leave that day but we had a lunch so we were able to go out and trudge through the flooded streets to get to the lunch. I have a few videos that i will be sharign when i get home. The few pictures i do have ill send.</div>
Anyways what i think that i could do now and what i think i would like to do so that those who may ever read this email may know of the testimony that i have received while serving the lord for the last two years.</div>
Two years may seem like a long time for a lot of people. They can do a lot of things. A lot of opportunities have slipped away because of the decision that i took two years ago. Not only that i decided to leave to a foreign country where i would have to learn a completely new language and just hope that i would be able to communicate with them. But something that i do know is that the opportunity that i took at this moment in my life was the best two years that i have experienced as of now.</div>
I have seen a lot of things during these two years. And for those who have been reading the blog maybe you have read a lot of what i have seen. But the things that i have seen of a lot further than just material belongings and experiences that are funny or maybe fin interesting, but go a lot deeper to a spiritual conversion that has made me the better man and missionary that i needed to become. I am more of a man who trusts in God instead of trusting in his own abilities. I have become a man who rarely before doing anything turns to his knees and to his god before he does any sort of decision. I have become a man who knows what true sacrifice is. I have become a man who now knows what it meant for our father in heaven to sacrifice his only son so that i may have to opportunity to be happy. And not only that i have now become a man who knows how to truly apply the atonement of Jesus Christ in my life.</div>
These things that i have listed are a few of the things that maybe i have become, but truly i think the thing that i learned the most was just the fact the i truly learned how to forget myself and just serve those around me. I stopped thinking about what maybe i would want or need but just to look at my companion and the people around me and thinking to myself "how i can i serve this person today" This change of thought has made me a true disciple of Jesus Christ. I will follow him until i die.</div>
At this moment in my life i have made a covenant with my god and savior to never leave behind the things that i learned these last 2 years. It has been a lot and to put it all into this letter would probably make it a lot longer than it would need to be. But what i know is true and i know that these 2 years have been the best two years. I loved the mission and i'm hoping that the day i get home i will be able to put my shoulder to the wheel again and continue to work in this great work of my father that is in heaven. I know that i can be just as Nephi was in the days of old and respond to whatever call of service and say "i will go and do the things the lord commanded" i know that i have been called to serve and now that the time is over i will have to continue in the service in a different form. I know that my savior lives and i know he has helped me in every possible way. I love you all and until <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_167128325" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">next Wednesday</span></span>!</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> Elder Cameron Jay Cook</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-79669689286012534842015-02-23T20:32:00.000-08:002015-03-01T20:33:36.592-08:00we just had a load of surprises thrown at us in the blink of an eye<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
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well this week had to be a very interesting one because we just had a load of surprises thrown at us in the blink of an eye. Monday morning we were told that we would have to do informes this week which just means that i have to do my job as district leader and tell presidente about the district. Well i couldn't do that because i hadn't done an exchange with one of the elders so we had to do a quick exchange there from Tuesday to Wednesday so that i would be able to complete my job. </div>
Exchanges for me are really fun because i get to take a nice bus ride to a little town called Arroyito. The bus we take is like taking a plane. Nice seats a movie that usually is going on and a nice quite rumble of the engines. It makes for a fun ride. But it was a super cool exchange because on of the elders has quick make root beer extract. and lets just say 3 Americans that have all desires to remember something from home we made root beer floats that night to celebrate the exchange.</div>
After the exchange we had to travel to Cordoba to have a conference with Elder Gonzalez. He is the area president for south america south area. it was super cool to hear from a general authority. We are very blessed in this mission to hear from sooo many people. The weirdest part was to see every single one of my companions. It was hardest to say goodbye to my Latin comps. Thye are the ones that i probably will never be able to see again. Or at least the hardest people to speak to after but we still hope and i am going to try my hardest to keep in contact.</div>
This week we also had a baptism in the ward of a young mother who truly was converted to the gospel. She had left a lot of things behind and i know that with all my heart i was very blessed to have seen the big changes. I may not have been the biggest part of her conversion but i know that i was blessed to see faith in action and a true change in the heart of a woman who has gone through so much. I love the gospel for that. we see so many things.</div>
I love you all!</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> Elder Cook</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-4968797084883711312015-02-16T22:32:00.000-08:002015-02-22T22:33:01.185-08:00FELIZ CARNAVAL<div style="background-color: white;">
<span style="color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> well alright so carnaval isn't as near as big here as in other places. TO be honest we think Carnaval is just a place where people party and just live as it says in 2 Nephi "Eat Drink and be Merry for Tomorrow we Die" but here it is just a day to be absolutely lazy and have another reason to not go to work. IT is amazing how a whole city will shut down just because of a national holiday. Not even super markets stay open for these type of things. I miss my 24 hr open stores....</span></span></div>
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This week has been one of the most rewarding and happier moments of my mission. These last couple of weeks we have been trying to prepare some things to make our last couple weeks be really worth it. We set up a branch mission plan and it has sure had its results. We have been recevieng member refereneces like crazy. People are creating lists of 5 to 10 people that we didn't even ask for. They just already have them thought of and are ready to help the missionaries find. </div>
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Another thing that has happened this week was that I was calling one of my old areas this last week and it came up to the topic of a less active family that i was teaching while i was over there. They had a 22 year old son that i became really good freinds with. To be honest the whole family were good friends of mine, but when i talked about the family they told me that the eldest son is now preparing to go on a mission. I shot up inot the air and i think i almost hit my head on our ceiling. We had been trying so hard with that family and to hear that they are now going to send a missionary out into the field just makes me the happiest guy on earth. I truly felt the promise which reads in DnC 18 "<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px 1px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">15 </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">if </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">it </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">so </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">be </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">that </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">yo<wbr></wbr>u </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">should </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">labor </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">all </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">your </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">days </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i<wbr></wbr>n </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">crying </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">repentance </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">unto </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">this </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">p<wbr></wbr>eople, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">bring, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">save </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">it </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">be </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">o<wbr></wbr>ne </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">soul</span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> unto </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">me, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">how </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">great </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">shal<wbr></wbr>l </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">be </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">your </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">joy </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">with </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">him </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">in </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><wbr></wbr>kingdom </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">my </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 25px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Father!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="14b95f90d7bbb38f_14b93e6c52b6fc69_16" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0091bc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </a><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 1px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">16 </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">now, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">if </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">your </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">joy </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">will </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><wbr></wbr>be </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">great </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">with </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">one </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">soul </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">that </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">yo<wbr></wbr>u </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">have </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">brought </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">unto </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">me </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">into </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the<wbr></wbr> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">kingdom</span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">my </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Father, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">how </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">gre<wbr></wbr>at </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">will </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">be </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">your </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">joy</span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> if </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">you </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">shou<wbr></wbr>ld </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">bring </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">many </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">souls</span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> unto </span><span style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">me!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: 25px;">I have truly felt the joy that is promised of </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: 25px;">sharing</span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: 25px;"> the gospel with others and </span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: 25px;">seeing</span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: 25px;"> the work of the lord progressing as it is brought to every nation and people. I love this work and at times liek these i cant imagine being anywhere else. At times like these i wish i could be a missionary my whole life, but the lord as his time and he has his ways. His thought are not my thoughts and his ways not my ways. I love this work and i am going to take advantage of every moment that i have here as a missionary. I love you all and i hope that you have a wonderful week!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> Elder Cook</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-57029514396839449852015-02-09T00:00:00.000-08:002015-02-16T00:01:28.505-08:00 A week of things to do and probably could have done a lot more<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
A week of things to do and probably could have done a lot more.</div>
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First off, A week of more rain. Tuesday and Sunday we were swarmed in by the rain. Tuesday was the worst because it wasn't like the usual rain that we have here in San Francisco. So the pattern of the rain here is usually like 1 or 2 hours of rain and then the sun comes out and we all die because of the heat and the humidity. But Tuesday the rain was just going on all day long. Which was a blessing but at the same time a terrible thing. I have come to learn that Argentina does not have any sort of draining system that isn't just moving the water to other places of the city. Everyone here is just willing to tell you that we live in a gigantic hole. The water just flows right in to San Francisco and there is no way for it to leave. We have ended up walking through a few rivers on our way through the streets.</div>
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It was funny because on Tuesday we had planned to work in the ares that is absolutely horrible on rainy days because the main street seriously becomes a river and it is all just pure mud as you fight through the streets. As we got to the street we were thinking of how we were going to cross. We then had a gigantic blessing because a man showed up on his motorcycle and took us across the river. It was super cool. First time being on a motorcycle for a bit and also just cool to be ferried across a river on a motorcycle was an interesting idea.</div>
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Another thing that happened this week was for sure the amount of meetings that we ended up having. It was amazing that almost every night we had some sort of meeting that took our night away from working out on the streets. With the new year we have a lot of meetings that talk about what they are going to do different this year and the hope is to see a stake by the end of the year, or at least a branch that is strong enough to be a ward by the end of the year. We have the people and we have the will power but the only thing now is that we stick to our guns and we start what we have finished.</div>
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I am super excited for this next week. We have some good plans and some really good lessons set up with the people that matter. I love you all and i hope that everything goes well for the week!</div>
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Elder Cook</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-39049410678980560102015-02-03T23:57:00.000-08:002015-02-15T23:58:19.529-08:00One week leads more to the other<div>
So one week leads more to the other i think would be a good title for this last week. The first week of the transfer we have been trying to apply a lot of things from the one before and we went to a lot of members houses to get some references and maybe have the opportunity to get new investigators. Through that we finally were able to get to know our Elders Quorum president who has been super busy these last 3 months. When we finally got to meet with him he told us how much he has on his plate and he asked us for help in visiting members as well as getting our own list of families to visit. He asked us as well to act as counselors to help with the activities and specifically the family history side of his responsibilities. It has made things super interesting because for the next two weeks we have nothing but pure reunions for the next 2 weeks. It makes me realize how much i have learned about how the church runs here on the mission.</div>
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Talking about family history, the district and the mission have put a huge focus on family history and has made sure that we can help others get theirs started and just through exploring i have learned a ton and i have also realized how much i should have learned this a long time ago. Maybe i just wasn't listening but i feel bad that i don't know as much as i probably should. I have a huge bloodline of pioneers in my blood, but some people i would have never guessed were converts when i thought they were members their whole life. I know now the importance of that and i hope to do a little bit of repenting when i get home.</div>
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Well i really don't know what to write. I am running out of more and more ideas and my desire to share the small little things just comes to a close as i think that a lot of this could be shared in a later day. But anyways i love you all and i hope that everyone has just an amazing week!</div>
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Elder Cook</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-62208528047428407632015-01-26T00:04:00.000-08:002015-02-16T00:04:31.792-08:00I have started my last transfer as of today<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
So it is official...i have started my last transfer as of today. The last six weeks of the mission has started and i dont feel any different. I was walkign aroudn today and jsut filling out my planner and as i got to the end i reaized that this would be the last one i woudl have to prepare. It was weird because through out this week we have been mentally preparing one of the people that we were living with to go home this week. You could tell that it was on his mind a lot and that the mission is just an amazing experience and something hard to leave behind, the people and place that you have grown to love especially. Finally it came down to last night and you just finally come to realize how much you love the mission and that i want these next 6 weeks to be some of the best weeks that i have had on my mission and from what it seems like we as a companionship we might do it. </div>
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i am stll with Elder Chuquipoma. We are getting more and mroe open with eachother and more and more liek firends. I have dfenitly been privileged to have him as a companion, especially to be his first compaion here on the misison. I feel bad that he will be my last companion but i feel like we are both learning a lot from this experience. </div>
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Somethign that was cool this week though is that my companion adn i became official bakers again this week and we ended up doing a service for some investigators cooking home made bread and a doughnut like sweet called bolas de frayle. We were there cooking with them for the whole morning and they then left right after to go out adn sell it. These people are super nice to us and tonight they are offering us a asado because they feel like we are cool people and that we have already become friends so he invited us over. </div>
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So i am sorry that i don't have too much time this week but i just know that my mind is still a little fired from not getting a ton load of sleep just because i stayed up helping the other elder get his stuff done and making sure he had cleaned out everything that he was going to leave behind. I may have only slept a good solid 2 hours but i know what i was able to feel and see in that missionary is what exactly i needed to make sure that these last couple weeks for me are going to be the best! </div>
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I love you all and i hope for the best!</div>
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Elder Cook</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-72835592350544793712015-01-19T19:31:00.000-08:002015-01-21T19:31:31.299-08:00Another Tuesday email<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Another Tuesday email! yeah i know it seems bad that i have sent sooo many Tuesday emails here in San Fran, but it isn't my fault. With the parties and all that stuff in December but yesterday we had a storm that knocked out all the power in San Fran for the majority of the day. It went off at about 2 in the afternoon until 10 at night so there was no way we were all able to get our emails out this week.</div>
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Talking about the weather this week, lets just say it has been one of the hardest weeks of my life. This week we have had hot weather. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1647447537" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">On Sunday</span></span> it rained which means we always have a ton of humidity, the worst part is that sometimes after a rain storm we only have to wait a few more days and we will have another storm or maybe just a cold wind to wipe out all of the humidity, but this week we didn't have anything. It seems that we were swimming more than anything else. It made somethings just super hard, especially for my comp who cant really stand anything of just hot weather. It has been affecting alot the speed he walks and jsut the ammount of time he talks in a lesson, the hotter it is the less he talks.</div>
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So there was a major miracle that we had this week that i wanted to tell you guys about. So about a week ago my comp went out on exchanges with one of the Zone Leaders and they found a person buying some sweets on the streets and they invited us over to their house. We went over and it is a family of about 10 people all of which are super interested. This week we will be helping them with a service to cook some of their sweets <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1647447538" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Saturday</span></span> and then <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1647447539" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">on Monday</span></span> they are going to be "paying us back" with a barbecue. My comp went to go see them again last night and they said that they feel that there is something different about us and he feels like we are already his friends even though we have passed by twice. It is amazing how sometimes there are just certain people who you need to find at a certain time.</div>
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Another miracle, WE HAD SOMEONE SHOW UP TO CHURCH! It has been a long time since we as a companionship have had someone had church.<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1647447540" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">This Saturday</span></span> we had a lesson with a family that we had found that live out in the boonies of our area. We hardly work over there jsut because the peopel are a little more humble and usually cant get to church without a lot of help. But We had a very strong spiritual lesson and the dad came. We ahd a future preisthood holder come. It is amazing how the lord blesses us with hrad work. IT has been rough but we see the fruits. I love the mission.</div>
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I love you all and i just love the mission. I truly enjoy every day and every minute, even though i come home just drenching wet from the sweat and the humidity in the air, i don't care because i come home satisfied and feel the approval of God in my life.</div>
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Until Next Week!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Elder Cook</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-7983697254357068722015-01-12T19:34:00.000-08:002015-01-21T19:35:02.862-08:00I was in Arroyito the first half of the week<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
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Well lets start with the beginning of the week, I was in Arroyito the first half of the week. As a district leader i have the opportunities to have exchanges with the elders and i always love that part of the calling because you see a lot of miracles. While i was their we found a Colombian family and they ended up giving us lunch only after a door contact. It was super cool and they ended up being super nice and that was only one miracle of the day. The second one was somethign that i realized after a lesson. I was walking away from a lesson feeling as normal as ever. My companion for the day looked to me and said, "I really liked the promise that you made at the end of the lesson." I thought about what i had said the whole lesson and i couldn't remember a single word of what i had said.´I just realized the truth of a promise that is made in the scriptures. The words will be placed in your mouth by the spirit in the moment that you need them. I haven't noticed it my whole mission but sometimes i just blame it on a train of thought, but really with learning a new language and trying to actually teach people about the gospel sometimes not a single word of a lesson has been mine but just the spirit speaking through me. I am the vessel and the spirit is the voice. I was very humbled and was very thankful for the two years that i have had to be that vessel after that day.</div>
Other than that this week has been pretty much a normal week. We keep finding people but it has been super hard to bring people to church these last couple of weeks. Mainly because it seems to me that Argentine people have a huge difficulty to get out of bed and walk to church when storms are on the horizon. And it hasn't helped that we have had a rain storm almost every Saturday or Sunday for the last 4 weeks. GRRR but yeah know part of the mission.</div>
So i already talked about how i like exchanges but another thing that i do like about being a district leader are baptismal interviews. I was able to do one this week for a girl that wants to get baptized. I cant tell too much about it but i can tell you what i felt during the time. It is a privilage to see the people truly bare their testimonies and how they feel. This girl had been through a lot and she had found that baptism is the only option that she seeks. and to share with me what it meant to her was amazing. I talked about Repentance with my district this week and it helped me realize what grand part of the work that we have to do when we call people to repentance. We are the call, we have to do it. It sucks sometimes but then you truly do see the blessings when they know that it is from God and that he is doing it because he loves us.</div>
Anyways i love the mission. I wouldn't trade this experience for the world. I love it</div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Elder Cook</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-20787874233473039202015-01-05T21:16:00.000-08:002015-01-11T21:17:22.239-08:00HAPPY NEW YEAR!<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
HAPPY NEW YEAR!</div>
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Yeah 2015 is here...that means a lot of things....that the mission is truly coming to an end....that scares me sometimes....i love the mission too much...i don't want to leave....</div>
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The good thing about the new year is that you truly go into an introspection mode where you think of who you are and where you want to go in this life right. And as missionaries we truly think more about the spiritual side and how we are spiritually. IT was really interesting this week because what i truly felt was that i was figuring out how i could keep my spiritual goals but involve them to fit my goals that here in a bit will be more of what missionaries call Worldly goals. Our president is very good about us keeping our visions set forward so that we never are lost. I feel very good and i feel like what i am learning now is going to be worth more than anything else that i could ask for.</div>
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Well we passed the new year with some very good friends of ours in the ward the Acosta Family. They are very kidn to the missionaries. One of their daughters especially just is so grateful for the missionaries. They were less active as of a year ago-but the missionaries have found them and started getting the whole family active again. They have become super excited and were even more excited to have us all four over at their house for New Years. They treated us like kings they had a us sit down as they finished up the food and then gave us some of the best food i have tried here in Argentina. They had an asado with what they call here a Picada which is just basically a buffet of appetizers. It was sooo good. i love the food here. I am absolutely surprised i haven't gained more weight than i have now.</div>
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Anyway i am so grateful for this new year because it is just another year full of miracles and just hard work. I have a lot of goals to just finish out as strong as i possibly can and i am so excited that i can share it with the people i am right now. I love my companion. I love seeing a new missionary and how he has the faith to do pretty much everything. We have been working so hard and i am getting just so tired, but i continue on.</div>
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I love you all and i hope that everyone had an amazing new year.</div>
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Elder Cook<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-79426076655201545562014-12-29T22:33:00.000-08:002015-01-04T22:33:31.788-08:00A week of partying and a week of just absolutely hard work<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
A week of partying and a week of just absolutely hard work.</div>
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So Christmas week is always an interesting but always rewarding week. ANd that is for two reasons. You always do have families getting together so you have more opportunities of finding new people that may have never heard the gospel before, and two the fact is that when families are together usually they don't want two strangers knocking their door and asking if they can come in and share a Christ filled message with them. Yes a few may let you in but the majority of those people not so much. But the few people that doo answer are very elect peopel and we know that they will most likely progress.</div>
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So to start of the week, it has been a very interesting experience to train. First off sometimes you just realize that the guy sitting next to you sometimes just doesn't understand why you do the things you do. I may do something or say something and he then asks me why i do what i do and i realize that it isn't something that he does on a regular basis. For example today he asked me why i was getting in proselyting clothes if it was a p-day, then i realized he doesn't know what we do on a p-day. This was his first p-day that actually didn't have something weird like a Christmas conference or traveling so he was able to experience something normal and he doesn't know what to do.</div>
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Also part of the week was a great filled Argentine Christmas eve dinner. We ate with a family here that i have grown quite close with (the Martinez Family) as well as they invited me to come have dinner with them. Brother Martinez cooked us up a barbeque with half of a pig, a goat, and a good rack of ribs. It filled me up fast. he let me help with the barbecue as well but it was more just a watch and learn experience because he cooks his asado a little differently than i have seen before but it sure saves money but it takes a golden eye to make sure you don't over cook your meat.</div>
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Also this last week though we had a Christmas conference with the whole mission there. It was so interesting because i saw companions from the first part of my mission and realized how old i am because the majority of them are now past their year mark and making fun of me because i will be going home soon. I thought it was quite an interesting experience and kind of out of body thing where i just couldn't help but think to myself on how tired i was as i went around talking to people.</div>
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Well finally it has come to the new year and i am getting pretty excited to start the new year. Start a new part of my life and see what life actually has in store for me. The new year is all about resolutions, and i have made a few, and i know that i will keep adding to the list as time goes on. But anyways i love you all and i hope that life just keeps giving out the blessings. I love you all!</div>
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Elder Cook</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-4324298147086966712014-12-23T05:54:00.000-08:002014-12-29T06:00:12.895-08:00...my companion is Elder Chuquipoma. He is an Elder from Peru<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Well i am guessing that you are all now trying to figure out who my new companion is.Well my companion is Elder Chuquipoma. He is an Elder from Peru. I am already in love with the guy. He is an awesome elder and i am super excited to be his first companion here in the feild. He has the fire like none other i always feel bad when we really have soemtiems nothing to do but we get a lot of thigns done. This week we put 2 dates with peopel to get baptized. It was amazing the miracles that we found when we just put ourselves to work with the blind faith that we were going to find the miracles that are waiting for us.</div>
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Yesterday was the christmas confrence for the mission and ti is oen of only very few oportunities where the mission gets together. And this is the whole mission all 246 of us get together and we just have a blast. This Christmas they had a talent show and i was actually able to sing in it with one of my good friends here on the mission named Elder Toledo. It was super cool we sang Mary did you Know with a mixture of Spanish and English lyrics. It was super cool and though it may not have been the perfect performance i was super happy about it and it was fun.</div>
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Well i am super excited about Christams. This year we will be celebrating it with a member family and the man of the house invited me to come learn how to cook the asado (barbeque) we will be cooking a full pig and a goat instead of the traditional cow. i am super excited because i have never cooked something so big before so i am quite excited to learn. </div>
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I love Christmas on the mission because it just give me time to think about Christ and just read the story and think about what opportunities and moments that i have as a missionary to share the good news that is Jesus Christ and that he was born so that we could actually be saved from damnation. From eternal suffering. From Death itself, And he opened up a door so that my family can be together forever and that i could go around for these short 2 years and tell people that they can receive the blessings.</div>
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I love you all and i hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas!</div>
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FELIZ NAVIDAD</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Elder Cook</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-71280546344446501212014-12-15T06:03:00.000-08:002014-12-29T06:04:27.538-08:00i officially have been called as a trainer for the mission<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
What a week!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
transfers have ended and i officially have been called as a trainer for the mission. I will be receiving a newbie straight from the MTC. I will be taking a long bus ride into the city on Tuesday to make sure that i can be there Wednesday morning. I cant wait to get my new companion. I am super excited i get to have the opportunity to train a new elder. To be honest i am super anxious to receive him though because i will forever be his first impression of a missionary and that can create a bit of pressure but you know what i am super excited the same and i just hope that whoever my companion is that i can just have an awesome transfer with him.</div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Something about this week that i have learned though is that it is sometimes just the best to find the best part of life and just keep working your butt off until you just cant work no more. We kind of hit a dry spell this last week and just couldn't find anybody who wanted to receive our message or even wanting to talk to us and all the people that usually talk to us for some odd reason just weren't home or we just never caught them at a right time. It made things very difficult to work but as always when you work you find miracles.</div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>The miracle for this week has to for sure be a less active woman that my companion and i started teaching about 3 weeks ago. We were told by the ward to start passing by her because she had expressed feelings to come back. SO what happened Her visiting teachers passed by and then a week later we did pass by and we had amazing spiritual lessons focused on the sacrament and its cleansing powers. Next thing you know we see her at church. She had come by herself and she was welcomed into the ward with open arms. It was absolutely awesome to see her there, and even she looked even happier to just be able to have us there with her to congratulate her on coming back to church. Sometimes you just feel so cool to be part of these stories that you just know God has more plans for the people than the things that sometime we have planned for them.</div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>But more than that this week was just a week to kind of get to know my companion a little more. Elder Weller and i probably got a lot closer in this last week than we got any other week. We just kind of let our feelings about some things out and it made the week as hard as it was better. I don't know what it is but i think that the companion is made for more than just a testimony and a teaching companion, but more for somebody that can just help you through a hard a difficult time, someone that can just be at your side when you tell him i am having a hard day. And the greatest thing is that i didn't just have him, i had my zone leaders, i had the other 2 elders in the pension, and then i had the best of all God and Jesus Christ right next to me telling me to just keep moving forward. They are all their to help me to succeed not to fail. Never do they do something to see us fail. Friends would never do that, and just to think God gave us Jesus so that we could have the opportunity to bounce back when we fall. The gift was his to give and ours to receive. This is the time of gifts but he gave something to us that we can hardly give back in return. But we can sure think about it. Christmas is a week from now and i just have been focused so much on Christ and what he did for me. I love the mission and i love the offering that i could give my loving savior after what he did.</div>
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I love all of you and i hope to talk to you all and maybe even see some of you in a week!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Elder Cook</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-31427305050595128272014-12-08T21:45:00.000-08:002014-12-12T21:48:52.153-08:00Every week here in San Francisco is becoming more amazingWell another week has flown by and every week here in San Francisco is becoming more amazing. This week marks the end of another transfer which as i approach people are not afraid to point at me and help em recognize that i only have 2 transfers left after it.....The mission has flown by and we have someone going home from our pension so it just kind of freaks me out to see it happening. Just keep the focus and the goals still set to work as hard as i can!<br />
This week was somewhat slow. We have been trying to work hard and focused but the hot spring afternoons just make it seem like the longest day of my life. The sun and humid air of the area is not as fun. We have been having heavy storms blow through the area and we were caught in them on more than one occasion. But as wet as we get the day of the storm isn't the problem it is the day after when the blazing hot sun comes out. I have come home to the pension a little darker every day.<br />
Good thing about weeks like this is that as hard as you work you may not see as much success but you see a lot more bigger miracles than just the small graces that you get from the lord. This last week we were able to focus on the Christmas message with some of the members and they all were super excited about it and have been sharing it everywhere they can. We are holding a Christmas night on Friday night to watch a few Christmas things and then next week we have the Christmas activity for the branch. CHRISTMAS IS HERE!<br />
but finally i would like to put something that God has shown me every week since i have started the mission. He loves us. When we show our love for him, he shows it even more. So as always we had fast Sunday this last week. We as missionaries here start Saturday after lunch and then goes till Sunday for lunch. Well lets just say that was a trial. Hottest day yet of the spring, hunger wrenching my stomach, and no one wanted to listen to us that day. We had very little success. But we continued on with the faith that we would see something. Sunday comes around and no one. Very little people because of another storm that hit us right after Church. Worst news was that our lunch for that day canceled on us because their fridge broke so they lost all they food that they were going to make for us. It was rough, but something that we did end up seeing was that after Sunday right at the end of the night, we go to a new investigators house and we teach her the Restoration and she ends up in tears telling us it was the message that she has been looking for to unite her family. We have a lesson with her today and we are super excited to see what continues out of it. But it was just a testimony builder that God loves every single one of us and though he may try my faith i know he does a lot more for me than i could ever imagine, especially since he already did something for me which i can never pay back which was send Jesus to all of us right?<br />
Anyways i love you all and i will talk to you all next week!<br />
Elder CookAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-52164013984592885882014-12-01T21:05:00.000-08:002014-12-07T21:08:32.046-08:00Bikes again...and more rain storms...<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> Bikes again...and more rain storms...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> Yes the title is so true. This last weekend was filled with a cold front, a huge rain storm, and us being on bikes. So i </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">didn't</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> tell you guys in my last couple of emails but this area actually has bikes to ride on for proselyting. The two bikes </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">we have</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> are not in the greatest shape but it helps us from not getting robbed while we are not looking. But anyways this weekend we decided to take the bikes for a good spin to make our </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">long</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> distance travel to the Province of Santa Fe an easier trip.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> Let's </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">just</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> say that Saturday reminded me a lot of how florida felt </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">like</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> on a weekly basis. We had recently got out of lunch when we look to one side and see a gigantic front of gray and stormy clouds coming straight towards us. I knew from past experiences that in about an hour from when we left we </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">would</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> be hit with a gigantic rain and thunder storm. Well we decided that it </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">would</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> be best to go look for a </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">house</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> that we may be able to take shelter in. All the members we looked for in the area were already asleep for the Siesta and the regular people that we talk to as well. So we took the chance and went to go look for somebody. Right before the storm hit we found a house of a </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">potential</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">investigator</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> that we </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">have</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> been trying to find for the last 3 weeks and we finally found her. She let us in and she </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">told</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> us to take cover in her </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">house</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> until the rain calmed down.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> First off, that </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">visit</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> was amazing. She told us her faithful story of her family and how she lost her son to a tumor in his liver. We were able to share the whole plan of salvation </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">and</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> as well as share </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">some</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> scriptures from the Book </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">of</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> Mormon with her in the hour and a half that we were there during the hardest part of the storm. It was super cool and showed me that the lord truly has his ways of realizing his work.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> Through out the whole day we had moments </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">just</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">like</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> that were </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">just</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> as it started to rain hard we were able to get into a house before the rain started pouring down. That is until the end of the night when we finally had to make it home. The rain came </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">pouring</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> down the worst it had the whole day and ti showed no sign of stopping. I had no jacket and </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">nothing</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> to really cover myself. So what did i do, i took my bike saddled up and took it like a man and tried getting to our house as fast as i could. Lets </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">just</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> say the puddles that i splashed </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">through</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> may have covered about half my calfs. By the end of the trip my shoes were filled with water and i was absolutely soaked. We all just took our </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">time</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> to take off our clothes and dry off a bit. it was a fun little moment. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> Anyways i know that as much as we all love the cool mission stories i would </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">just</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> like to share with you all a video that really has changed my thoughts on this season. It may not be in the states, and i may not be seeing a white </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">christmas</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">, but what i am able to see is a Christ Centered Christmas. I am really able to focus on the true meaning of christmas and the true gift that we have </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">received</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> this season. I am going </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">to</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> leave you all </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">with</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> a video of what the true gift was for all of us and </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">then</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> invite you to think what this gift has given you! i love you all and i hope that you all have a great miracle filled week!</span></span><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzjFEMmM0Xs">He is the Gift</a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> Elder Cook</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-4906409240591377992014-11-24T21:05:00.000-08:002014-12-12T21:49:02.938-08:00Receiving instruction from President AlliaudWhat a week!<br />
First off to start. I went back to the city! well not permanently<br />
but we had a conference this last tuesday so we spent all of tuesday<br />
between travel and receiving instruction from President Alliaud. It is<br />
really cool to listen to our president. As you listen to him you<br />
really just feel that he has the vision in mind and that he has the<br />
keys to guide this mission. As well he announced something that will<br />
be starting this week. Sneak peek of something that you all probably<br />
wont hear about until after Thanksgiving, but there is going to be a<br />
huge push on the missionary front with a christmas focus. The<br />
initiative is called "He is the Gift" it is super cool and we will be<br />
passing along the missionary spirit with everybody trying to get<br />
people to just listen to a message about the birth of jesus christ. I<br />
am super excited.<br />
Also something of the week is that it flew by fast. We have been<br />
working super hard this last week and it shows when you leave and the<br />
next thing you know you look up into the sky and the sun is already<br />
setting. My comp and i are really just starting to get into the swing<br />
of each other. We are getting along really well and we are working<br />
like a really well oiled machine. It has taken some getting used to<br />
just because he himself is still getting used to the language and me<br />
to a comp that needs to talk more. I realize that i like talking a<br />
lot..woops but we are getting better and we are really now just<br />
finding the miracles and getting us ready for this next month.<br />
Last but not least i wanted to talk a second to think about<br />
Thanksgiving. I may not be celebrating it this year but here is<br />
something to think about. Isn't it weird that in the states we first<br />
have thanksgiving and then we have a full month of thinking of Christ.<br />
I think we may need a little bit more of a humble heart to give thanks<br />
to our savior before we think of what a gift he actually is and was.<br />
This week i will be fore sure thinking of what kind of thanks i have<br />
to give every night for the things we have. This is a season to give<br />
thanks. In my studies i have really seen that true humility does not<br />
mean to be poor but it just means to be thankful and recognize that<br />
God is the source of everything that we want and need in our lives. I<br />
am thankful for this time that my God has given me to teach and preach<br />
the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. The fact that i get to do<br />
everything in my power to really help the people here in Argentina so<br />
that they may fully realize the gift of Jesus Christ. I love my savior<br />
and i love my God. I love you all and i hope that you all have a<br />
wonderful and cold thanksgiving. Enjoy it because i wont be able to!<br />
Elder CookAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-67327487848554413392014-11-17T22:22:00.000-08:002014-11-30T22:46:35.249-08:00A week full of miracles again<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">A week full of </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">miracles</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> again.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> I </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">don't</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> know how these things happen but i feel like the lord has</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">just blessed us with a handful of miracles that we have all not been</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">able to comprehend at first.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> First off.....(drum roll) WE BAPTIZED. Yes a women that should have</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">been </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">baptized</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> about 2 weeks ago was finally baptized. She was</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">baptized yesterday after all the meetings and classes. It was a pretty</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">cool </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">experience</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> to see her. We </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">didn't</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> know who was </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">going</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> to do it until </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">last moment and a lucky </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">priest</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> that the parents are </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">trying</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> to put</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">a missionary focus on him made him do the baptism. IT was a little</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">weird experience and kind of a funny story from my point of view but i</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">think that may be for another day.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">Another Miracle</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">. We put forth the work and we find the </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">people</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> that</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">are waiting for us. Last week we were </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">walking</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> through a part of th</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">e</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">city that is </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">kind</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> of far away from where we actually live. Far from</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">the church as well but the cool thing was we tried to visit every</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">member possible that we knew and that was listed. But the good thing</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">was that we found two </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">people</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> and we </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">didn't</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> even teach them. We came in</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">sat down in their houses and the first thing we heard was elders i</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">know it has been a long time since i have come to church but i will be</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">going this week. We sat there </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">looking</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> at each other and kind of</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">humbled but happy </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">to</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> be there at the right time. and not just that 1</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">of those people came and on her bike in the 90 degree weather that we</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">had sunday </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">morning.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> Last miracle of the week was news that i heard from my ex comp. So</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">a miracle that i </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">told</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> a few emails ago, in my last area, of a woman</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">that had some family problems and that we helped her out. Well we got</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">there and she wanted to be </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">baptized</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> right? well i got the news that</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">she was baptized and not only that, her dreams were completed as she</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">was confirmed a member and the first time she took the sacrament she</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">received</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> it from her son that has been a member for 4 years already</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">and has been her example and testimony bearer for the longest time. I</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">wish i could have seen it but i </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">guess</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> there are just some things that</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">we will never will see until the next life. I am just happy though</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">that i was able to be part of it in one way or another.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> Well i </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">can't</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> really tell you what will be in store for next week,</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">but i </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">just</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> cant help but realize how much my loving </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">heavenly</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> father is</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">truly</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> looking over the work and is helping his </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">servants</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> who take their</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">time to do it. I love this work. i love leaving and </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">being</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> under the</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">hot sun and in </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">the humid</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> air because i know </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">without</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> a doubt that i</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">wouldnt be happier doing </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">anything</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> else but this. I love being a</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">missionary</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> Elder Cook</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-35790901334020772242014-11-10T22:14:00.000-08:002014-11-23T22:18:23.994-08:00UNA SEMANA DE MILAGROS MIS AMIGOS QUERIDOS!<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">
UNA SEMANA DE MILAGROS MIS AMIGOS QUERIDOS!</div>
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Wow i can't believe all the things that i have seen throughout this week. It was amazing. Another week of us being guided by the spirit to be at one place at the exact right time when God needed us. Something that reached us though was with an investigator that is a student here at the university. She and her three friends found the missionaries about 3 weeks ago and they all three received the book of mormon. And now 2 of which have already finished the book and the one that hasn't finished accepted to be baptized after talking to her parents. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! God truly does prepare his people to receive the gospel.</div>
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Another miracle of the week. So we came over to some members house and we were talking to them for a while and right before we are about to end the lesson a women comes in and sits down on the lesson. We then start summarizing the lesson for this stranger woman and she ends up needing the lesson that we were giving. She was having problems with her husband and having a ton of difficulties. And right there we were talking about how we needed to endure the problems that we may have as hard as they may be. We set up a lesson for the next day and it was amazing.</div>
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Next miracle. We go to this same members house to teach this new miracle find we had, well she didn't show up but in place of here the member told us of a different women who was going through some family problems and sent us over to go visit her. We knocked on the door and she looked at us invited us into her house and i don't think i said a single word for an hour and a half. She talked our ears off telling us nothing but her life story and all the problems that she has gone through. She loves the church has studied it before and wants to continue with us. It was absolutely amazing. I loved it! We are going to be passing by her this week.</div>
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The spirit works its ways and i love the mission for that. We are guided to the right people at the right time. I LOVE IT!</div>
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I know i have very little time left but i got to use it to the max. I keep serving the lord with all m might mind and strength using everything in my power to help those who really need it!</div>
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I love you all and until next week!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">
Elder Cook</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-52958701363389464852014-11-03T22:11:00.000-08:002014-11-23T22:11:45.923-08:00A week of flying emotions for sure<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">A week of flying emotions for sure. Transfers have come and gone</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">and so did After a good solid 6 months in Parque Capital i have</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">finally left the area. And with that i am also officially outside of</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">the city which i think will be a good thing. I have gone through my</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">whole mission here being less than an hour away from the main city of</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">Cordoba and now i am about a good solid 3 hours away from the city in</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">a city called San Francisco. Yes like the one that is in California.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">But i am still in Cordoba. It is especially weird to think that this</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">may be my last area in the mission. Even weird is the fact that in my</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">pension right now we have 6 elders and 4 of us are ending our missions</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">in the next 4 months. So it will for sure be a weird way of ending</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">things.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> This last week has been just a </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">whirlwind</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> of emotions knowing that</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">transfers were just </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">around</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> the </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">corner</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">. We kind of just went around</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">making sure that we </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">could</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> say goodbye to everybody that we would want</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">to. The worst part is that after 6 months you have a lot of people to</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">say good bye to. But it was also nice because we were able to see the</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">majority of them.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> But there is a miracle out of all of this. As i talked about in my</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">last weeks email the spirit has a weird way of guiding us to the</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">people that need us the most well we saw a miracle after that moment.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">It all goes to the Loza Family. The Loza family is an interesting</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">story but to make it short they are one </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">family</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> that has been trying to</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">baptize</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> themselves for a good solid 4 years but it has been hard</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">through marriage problems and just the fact of jobs and a lot of</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">things. Well this last week the wife of the family, the only one that</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">isn't</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> baptized saw the fact that the lord has a hand in her life. This</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">last wednesday we went over there for dinner and she started</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">explaining how she was so affected by our teachings and that she</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">started reading the book of mormon and that she finally made a promise</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">with god and that she wants to be </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">baptized</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">. It is really hard for her</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">to go to church for her job but she wants to try with all her might</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">to get baptized. It was a serious miracle and a true change of heart.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">One of the cool things you get to see as a missionary. It is sad that</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">i wont be able to see it but i just feel happy that i got to be part</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">of it.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> Well as i look at the time i have left i am going to take advantage</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">of every minute that i have left. I love the mission and i love</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">serving the people . I love it here in Argentina and i just love the</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">fact i get to see people really changing and taking upon themselves</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">the name of jesus christ.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> I may miss my old area but i just </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">know</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> that i will be enjoying my</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">time</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> here in San Francisco. I love you all!</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> Elder Cook</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-43500937192384218862014-10-27T22:09:00.000-07:002014-11-23T22:09:56.043-08:00Happy Halloween Everybody!<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">
Happy Halloween Everybody!</div>
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This week was a very interesting week because of one thing. I was really shown that the lord guides his work. he makes sure that we are in the right places and in the right times. First off so this last week we started off by feeling like we needed to pass by a certain family. Well we went by this family and we ended having a super spiritual experience with them where they explained everything about what their problems were in their lives and what they truly were looking for in that moment. Well we helped them out and she told us that she doesn't want us to go anymore just because she feels so good and that she wants us to pass by more often so we can help her feel so good while in these troubled times. Then right after that we felt like we needed to go to another family. we knocked on their door and we ended up learning that they were going through a huge family crisis at that moment because they had just gotten in a car wreck and his job revolves around him being able to use his car and that in the family as well one of the daughters had just got up and left. It was sad to see and really hard but they ended thanking us for being so willing to help them out in that time as well.</div>
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After that we had some good news. Our ward baptized this week! WOOT! The other elders have been helping out this one guy who is married to a member that hasn't gone in years. Well just recently he has been showing the signs of actually wanting to progress and wanting to help his family come to church. well after a long 3 month process and some prayers and fasting he was baptized this last saturday and confirmed a member on sunday. He bore his testimony the day of his confirmation and testified in front of everybody of how he gained a testimony of this church and how he wants the teachings of this church to be the ones that his kids can grow up with. HE has already seen the blessings of confiding with the lord and he is now so happy. He is a changed person. Shows that this i s a gospel o transformations.</div>
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After that this will probably be my last week here in this area and i am super sad to have to start saying my goodbyes but to be honest i am just excited to end this transfer and see where god wants me next. I am sad i am going to be missing out on the whole Halloween thing but you know what i just will have to celebrate halloween my own way. Anyways i love you all and i hope that everything goes well.</div>
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Elder Cook</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-83649868599171627362014-10-20T21:41:00.000-07:002014-10-26T21:45:58.956-07:00this week has been one of those weeks that has defined my mission<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">so this week has been one of those weeks that has defined my</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">mission. This week i have been a very spiritually and humbled state of</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">mind. I have had a real </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">understanding</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> of what it means to be in the</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">service of the lord. A true </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">messenger</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> and tool in his hands here in</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">Argentina. I feel as if this week is just one of the many reasons that</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">i had to be called exactly to this area. to get to know and become</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">such close friends to certain people.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> To start off what was going on we start on wednesday morning.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">Usually we have district meeting and as we have been helping one</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">investigator quit smoking we delayed the meeting to just an hour later</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">than it was supposed to be </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">because</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> the other elders needed to give the</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">daily morning dosage of </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">cigarettes</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> to their </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">investigator</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">. Anyways right</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">before we got started we got a text from a good friend in the ward</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">that his dad had just passed away that morning and that he was on his</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">way home to see what happened. We then soon after got a call from our</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">bishop to be assigned to be there the whole day to help out in any way</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">shape or form. even if that means keeping watch over the body while</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">the others do all the paperwork and set </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">everything</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> up.</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> While we were there we were </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">being</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> the spiritual guides through out</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">the morning. This family has been members for a long time. They are</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">really close friends to us so we just talked very casually with them.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">As we learned more about the mans life that had died. He had been a</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">member of the church for about 50 years. One of the </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">original</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> pioneers</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">here in Cordoba. He had gone to church almost every Sunday </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">and had one</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">of the strongest testimonies that i have ever seen. Willing to bear it</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">at any time or place. at 76 years old he was still </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">willing</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> to walk to</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">the chapel which is a good 4 miles away from where he lives. He shows</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">up early, does what he needs to do and completes with his duties in</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">the church.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> As we watched over the body until we got the doctors signature to</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">confirm that he was dead you just felt a spirit </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">watching</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> over us. It</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">was different inside this mans house. It was colder than the rest of</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">the world. there was a different feeling there. I cant explain it too</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">well but one thing that i can say is that the feeling inside that</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">house</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> as we looked and watched over </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">his</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> body was just and interesting</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">experience.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> Finally comes the part that really impacted me the most. After</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">being there the whole day and basically </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">until</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> night time came.Our</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">bishop came over and asked us if we would be willing to take part of</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">the </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">dressing</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> of this man to prepare him for his burial. The four of us</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">and the bishop carefully and gently dressed this man in clean</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">garments, dressed him in his white temple clothes, and then finally</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">dressed him in the robes of the temple.I cannot explain the feelings</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">and emotions that were running through my head this whole time. Some</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">may be disgusted as even thinking of touching a dead man, but now this</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">moment was a very </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">spiritual</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> one. I had the </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">opportunity</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> to prepare this</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">man for the </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">resurrection</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">. This man was a faithful member of the church</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">for more than 50 years. He died a faithful member who is truly</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">rightful king and heir to the celestial kingdom. A member who died</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">wearing his garments.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> I dont know if i have explained all the feelings that have come from</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">this moment but i will for sure never forget it.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> Finally to end the week we had</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Sunday </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">wh</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">ich was the day that kind of</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">just put the cherry on top of everything. I got a call on saturday</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">night to prepare a talk. I </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">prepared</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> one Sunday</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">morning</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> about trials</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">and how they really help us and how we are supposed to get blessings</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">from them. But i ended up </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">falling</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> across the story of My great great</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">grandpa thomas hilton who he and his wife saw the </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">birth</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> and death of 3</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">children while serving the lord in the </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">samoan</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> islands. They were a</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">young </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">couple</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> still at the </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">moment</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">. THey probably </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">weren't</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> even 25 yet.</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">And yet they suffered through and bore the afflictions and death of 3</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">children. As i prepared and finished my </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">talk</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> i felt </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">very</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> humbled to be</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">part of this heritage. A strong and faithful family that has endured</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">and suffered and yet still comes out saying I am a member of the</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">church of jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. And i am a missionary of</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">that church, a true representative of Jesus Christ.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> To end this letter i tell you that i ended up not giving this talk.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">The bishop instead took the time to speak and talk of the experience</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">that i have told all of you just now of the member dying. He then</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">thanked us all personally(the missionaries) and then </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">invited</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> us all to</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">just never lose that desire to serve. to love those who are in need</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">and do it at whatever the cost. To be a true representative of jesus</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">christ</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">. He thanked us for our service and i </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">couldn't</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> help but just</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">think</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> for the last 5 months that i have been here in this area and where</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">i am now.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> I know this is the true church. I hope that i can be </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">just</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> like my</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">ancestors, just </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">like</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> this man that i barely knew but from a distance.</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">I want to be like them. I want to die with the name of this church on</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">my person. I want to die a representative. i want to die knowing that</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">i am worthy to wear the temple garments and that i can rise on the day</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">of resurrection on the right hand of god.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> I love this church and i am so honored to be part of this work. The</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">Lords work. I send this to you all to show that i love what i am</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">doing. I cant imagine doing </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">anything</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> else. I love you all.</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> Elder Cook, Missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-29222964516195621902014-10-13T22:33:00.000-07:002014-10-19T22:39:52.839-07:00I really enjoy the mission life<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> I really enjoy the mission life. As the days pass by i just really </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">start to enjoy the fact that i am still a missionary. Sometimes i just </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">look at </span><span style="color: #222222;">myself</span><span style="color: #222222;"> in the mirror and realize that i have been doing this </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">for more than a year and i just cant think of doing anything else now.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The cool part is the fact that we get to see so many miracles and that </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">we get to see the lords hand in our lives every day, and even better </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">we see the lords hand in the lives of others.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> So something that i have realized is that cooking is a really fun </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">way to get the trust of other people. I have </span><span style="color: #222222;">found</span><span style="color: #222222;"> another favorite </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">recipe to make with people. Bread Pudding. They </span><span style="color: #222222;">don't</span><span style="color: #222222;"> have raspberries </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">here but i have </span><span style="color: #222222;">found</span><span style="color: #222222;"> that strawberries are just as good. I am </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">absolutely in love with it too </span><span style="color: #222222;">because</span><span style="color: #222222;"> it doesn't take as much time to </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">make and less ingredients and just as enjoyable. I am going to go make </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it again this week and i have to say that i am overly excited for it.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Well as much as making food is just one the best parts of my </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">mission, the other one is when we get to see the lord bless us with </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">just so many miracles. This week my companion and i worked our butts</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">off in our area. We did </span><span style="color: #222222;">everything</span><span style="color: #222222;"> that we could and we just </span></span><span style="color: #222222;">couldn't </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">see a lot of success through out the week. We saw potential people and </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">a lot of promises that we were </span><span style="color: #222222;">just</span><span style="color: #222222;"> hoping and praying would come </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">through. The day that it all comes down to is sunday.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"> Lets </span><span style="color: #222222;">just</span><span style="color: #222222;"> say we </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">were going to church with a little bit of sadness because we thought </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">everything</span><span style="color: #222222;"> had fallen through. The people we looked for all told us </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">that they </span><span style="color: #222222;">couldn't</span><span style="color: #222222;">. So we go to church and we find a person waiting for </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">us. A good friend of ours who came to conference with his girlfriend.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">he told us that basically he came because he has a desire to come and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">he wants to get baptized. He wants to learn a little more before he </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">chooses the day but i am </span><span style="color: #222222;">just</span><span style="color: #222222;"> super excited because he started </span></span><span style="color: #222222;">crying </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">in front of us on how he just feels so comfortable here int eh church </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">and that there is some deep desire to come. It was a real big </span><span style="color: #222222;">miracle </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">for us and the lord </span><span style="color: #222222;">just</span><span style="color: #222222;"> put him in our path. I love it.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> I love the mission and though we may do a lot of the same things i </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">feel that the mission just has bigger and bigger surprises as we go </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">along the road. Love you all!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Elder Cook</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-83600958369580565612014-10-06T22:30:00.000-07:002014-10-19T22:31:14.054-07:00I am so dead tired<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">
I am so dead tired. We worked our butt off before conference and we just came back from an exhausting p-day activity. </div>
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First off conference. Wow what a roller coaster of events. First of, i don't know how the weather was for you guys up in the states, but conference day was just a down pour of rain. It started raining friday afternoon and we were thinking that it would slow down and we would have enough time and ability to take a taxi to the stake center. Well about 630 in the morning the rain just started coming down. We seriously were having problems of flooding in the streets. This made it absolutely impossible to get a taxi there and the buses that could take us there were closed down from problems on the streets, so we walked to the stake center that was closer to us in a different stake. The coolest part of it all was we had an investigator with us. We were all going to take a taxi together but that changed so we asked him if he was willing to walk and he said yes. He walked with us for at least a good 25 blocks to see saturdays conference with us. It was absolutely amazing. he really enjoyed conference too.</div>
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Speaking of conference, it was so cool to have everybody speak in their native tongue. It was super cool because i listened to the whole thing in spanish this time and i really did get he whole experience. THey had the english room set up for the missionaries and all that fun stuff but i decided to stay for the spanish. But the thing is when the spanish speakers started talking all the missionaries came in to listen to it in spanish. It was a really cool experience to actually listen to it in spanish and understand it all. Signs of an old missionary.</div>
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Two elders got sick this week so we have been fighting the diseases this week and in a pension with 4 elders you find yourself in a circle of just repeating sicknesses. I hate it. I am just keeping up on a fruit diet to fight off the sicknesses and the weight...hopefully i can fend off both of them.</div>
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Anyways i love you all and i hope that you all enjoyed this conference week. With rain and sun i sure did.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">
Elder Cook</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-76816134314510554092014-09-29T21:48:00.000-07:002014-10-05T21:55:16.000-07:00wooo what a week<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">wooo what a week. We have been </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">working</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> our butts off and i just</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">cant </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">believe</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> sometimes what we get done in one week. We had just a ton</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">of </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">things</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> to do and for me the first week of the transfer always is a</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">little more slower than the ones that are to come.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> With no changes in </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">the</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> pension we are just </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">getting</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> back to work.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">This week we set goals to get one specific </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">family</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> to have baptismal</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">dates for this week. Well </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">let's</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> just say with a little fasting and</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">praying we now have 4 baptismal dates set for </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">the</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> middle of October.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">These dates are all </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">coming</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> from a less active family that i have had a</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">ton of challenges with but as well as many spiritual </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">moments</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">I Am</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> super</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">happy </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">to</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> finally see some fruits pop out of this </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">family</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> and i just</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">cant wait to see when they finally are </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">baptized</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> we are all </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">preparing</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> for conference weekend this week by </span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">preparing</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">the members with messages focused on </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">prophets</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> and the revelation. It is</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">super cool to think that this week we all get to watch modern day</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">prophets</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> talk to us about what God wants or us. i am so excited. As a</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">missionary i feel </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">like</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> we get almost way overly excited about these</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">kind of things but i feel </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">like</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> it is appropriate to think that we will</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">be </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">receiving</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> pure doctrine for the whole end of the week. i am so</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">excited. I </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">have</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> also heard </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">that people</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> will be speaking in their</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">native </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">tongue</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> so i am quite excited to hear the people speak spanish</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">and realize that i will be able to </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">understand</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> it without the subtitles</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">or whatever way they will be doing it.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> Well i am </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">going</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> to love this week. we have just a ton of </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">things</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> we</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">an do this week which </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">includes</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">making</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> a lot of sweets and family home</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">evenings where they want cakes from the states. Loving it!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> Elder Cook</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-18158955897363471082014-09-22T21:45:00.000-07:002014-10-05T21:46:07.407-07:00 i am staying another transfer here in Parque Capital<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">Well transfers have come and i am staying another transfer here in</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">Parque Capital. I have officially four and a half months here and by</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">the end of the 6 weeks of this transfer i will end with six months. a</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">fourth of my </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">mission</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> will be here in this area. I cant </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">believe it</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">. we</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">didn't have any changes in the area so we will be staying together for</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">another transfer and i am just so excited.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> We all thought that i might go this week so we had a ton of parties</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">that were a slight good bye party. A few asasdos a few huge parties</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">and in the end i </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">didn't go</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> so i guess we might </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">just</span><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> have to have</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">another one in a few weeks.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> Lastly some gringo fun. We made home made united states chocolate</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">chips cookies that i was so excited to have. We have made friends in</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">the ward that just love the fact that i love cooking deserts. We are</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">planning to make some brownies in the next visit so i will tell you</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">how</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> they turn out.</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> I am sorry that i </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">don't</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> have too much time to write a good long PSA.</span></span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">This week just wasnt that exciting either. The heat waves are </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">starting</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">to hit, we had a bunch of almost goodbyes, and in the end of it all i</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">am super excited to stay with my comp, with my area, and just keep on</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">working!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> I love you all!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;"> Elder COok</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7155658212049592036.post-55292223391808830362014-09-15T21:43:00.000-07:002014-10-05T21:58:29.730-07:00i am starting to lose ideas about what to write to all of you<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.7272720336914px;">
So i have got to admit....i am starting to lose ideas about what to write to all of you.....I am starting to realize that the things i do are the same....the miracles repeat and sometimes just being in the same area you find that you just talk to the same people and try to do the same things...</div>
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Something interesting of this last week was we were all sick. We are all suffering from Climate changing colds and we just cant fight it off because the weather is just so strange here. The nights get cold and the afternoons are just absolutely unbearably hot. I have decided that short sleeve shirts are just the best way of surviving. you just really start hoping that when the night comes around you have a nice warm home to enter into....i mean you really don't have too modern of heating down here so you find the majority just using stoves or some sort of portable heater to warm up their house made of cement and bricks.</div>
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Another interesting experience was something that happened yesterday. So wednesday we learned that one of the elders in our house had to go to Chile yesterday so it would leave his companion in a trio with us. So as i am typing we are in a trio. We learned that Elder Reber would have to leave right after church. Well we sent Elder Tukuafu and Elder Lac to the lunch that was set with our Bishop and then i waited with Elder Reber to send him off to the mission home. I organized it so i would be with a member the whole day as i would wait for my companions to come look for me It was one of the coolest experiences of my life. It was just fun getting to know them more. We just basically had a long conversation about the mission and different missionary experiences and how it has affected me and how it affected the member. He served his mission in Paraguay and he talked about all the things he learned and the advice he would give to me as a missionary. I would basically say that this member would be one of my best friends here in this ward. I get along super well with his family and i just feel that when i am in his house i feel like i am in my own. I love the family. Their name is Familia Carrizo. The Dad of the family, that is my best friend, speaks incredibly good english so we find ourselves slipping into a spanglish all the time and gladly his wife understands us. They invited us over this friday to make chocolate chip cookies and have a family home evening dinner to end off the transfer.</div>
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I am loving the mission and i just keep having cool and awesome experiences here on the mission. I love you all,</div>
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Elder Cook<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px; text-align: start;">the pictures. The assassins creed is a sticker that Hno Carrizo made for me. I learned that i like Assassins Creed and he found this picture and he cut out this sticker for me. The other is just a cool district photo in our argentine garb </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15970442477704249356noreply@blogger.com0