Letter to Home - January 12, 2010

Hey FAMILY!

You will not believe where I got transferred to!....Nowhere! I'm staying right here AGAIN! Holy crap, there must be something I need to do here before I leave! At the end of this transfer I will be here in Brentwood/Oakley for 7 months! Wow, I cant believe that I am staying here again, but I'm excited. I will be forever "banished to Brentwood" (because it is the furthest area away from the mission home!) All of the members here said that there prayers have been answered, and they are glad that I am staying. The members here are awesome! My companion is still Elder Malani, so I was really happy about that! He is the best companion that I have ever had! I also LOVE the District that we are in, and no one in our district got transferred so its good.

We have a baptism this weekend!!!!!!!! Her name is Jenny Giotta. She is one of our miracles. She was taught almost a year ago by some missionaries, but stopped taking the lessons and stopped going to church. Her friend (that is a member) felt inspired, and asked us to go and see her. We had stopped by sooooo many times before, but decided to stop by again. We did and there was no answer at the door (no surprise - even though all of their cars were in the driveway). We waited a week, then went by again, and the door opened! We talked with Jenny, invited her to church, and she has been coming for the past three weeks, and is going to be baptized on Saturday! She is a miracle. I have never seen anyone so excited to be baptized!

Last night we took her to 'Why I Believe", a fireside where recent converts bear their testimonies. There is always a great spirit there. It is held in the building right next to the temple on Temple Hill. It was also way cool because Steve Wilson (who got baptized in Nov.) bore his testimony at the fireside. It was a great experience. It has been really cool to see Steve progress from the beginning until now.

Denise's baptism was so good, and she just glows every time we see her! We all pitched in and bought her a large print quad, so she could have her own scriptures (she was still using the free paper back scriptures). When we gave them to her, she cried, and couldn't stop saying thank you.

This last weekend we had a ward chili cook off! Me and Elder Malani were the judges! It was fun! There were like 16 entries! It was awesome because Jakie Rider, a less active member we are working with, won second place! She was happy, and so was I.

Well I pretty much feel like the Garrisons house is my house. I've been here for so long that I'm going to be afraid to leave!

I got the email that you sent to my new address, so it works!

I love you family!!! Hope that you have a great week!

-Elder Cook

Letter to Home - March 28, 2011

Hey Family,

We had another crazy week.  The whole mess with Sione Fisi'iahe  reached it's climax and it is finally over.  This is how it played out.  We had a lesson with him this past week, and the high councilman over missionary work in the Stake came to the lesson.  We were planning on setting a clear expectation to Sione that he couldn't get baptized on the 26th (this past weekend - the date that the members set for him).  We usually teach him ion English, but since the high counselor was there they taught in English.  As they taught I sensed that something was wrong.  The high counselor was very pushy, and told Sione that he could be baptized on hte 26th.  Elder Neiufi tried to stop it, but was trying to respect his Elders (another culture thing).  So at the end of the lesson Elder Neiufi was in tears, because of the frustration.  We called President Wade again, and told him the situation.  President told us that we will not baptize anyone that doesn't have a testimony.  So he told us to tell the Stake and Ward leaders that Sione would not be getting baptized until we as missionaries felt that he was ready - then President Wade would interview him.  He told us to be very bold and straight forward with them, and to put all of the weight of the situation on his shoulders.  So that's what we did.  Sione's felowshipper - Folau Alusa yelled at Elder Neiufi on the phone, and I talked to the high counselor over missionary work (Bro. Afu) and he yelled at me for 10 minutes straight.  It is hard doing the right thing, then being persecuted by people who are supposed to be on your side!  So you wouldn't believe what they did!  They had the San Jose missionaries interview him, and baptize him this weekend on the 26th - the day that they set for him.  We found out the day before the baptism, and called President Wade.  He was on the phone all day with priesthood leaders, and with the San Jose mission President trying to stop the baptism.  But I guess that President Jackson (the SJ mission pres.) interviewed Sione and felt it was ok for him to be baptized.  The person who baptized him was Jesse Taufa - a recent convert of 2 months from our ward (an innocent bystander).  He told us that as he baptized him, he didn't feel right, and doesn't feel like Sione has a testimony.  So what happened, happened.  We talked with President Wade for a long time yesterday, and he ensured us that we did was the right thing.  He told us that he would fight with us til' the end!  I love President Wade.  It's just hard because some of the members are mad at us, and blame us for what happened.  Folau Alusa (the fellowshipper) said that me and Elder Neiufi have an evil spirit in us, and when we saw him at church on Sunday he told us that "no dirty hands can stop this work from going forward!"  This whole situation is crazy!  I have never seen anything like it, but we are glad that it's over, and valuable lessons have been learned. It's just been a really hard week.

So we are still looking for investigators.  We are planning on gaining the trust of our ward this week.
Zone Conference was this week and it was great.  I love learning from President and Sister Wade.  I'm going to miss them.

I got a letter from Savanna Williams this week, and she told me that Lauren Hill is getting married?!!  I was pretty surprised!  Do you know any details?  She also updated me on a lot of other people back home and I was pretty surprised...  So much changes in 2 years!

Well family I love you!  I hope that you have a great week!

-Elder Cook

Letter to Home - March 21, 2011

Hey Family,

Wow, this week has been a little crazy.  Things are going good.  The highlight was definitely Sione Tongamoa's baptism.  It was neat because a recent covert (his main fellowshipper - Huhane Vatuvei) was the one who baptized him.  Sione is a huge guy, and when he went down, he almost didn't come back up!  But it was a really good service.  This on was 100% in Tongan, so I didn't understand anything, but definitely enjoyed the spirit there.  Sione is a very humble man.  I remember the first time Elder Neiufi and I talked to him on the street, and invited him to learn more.  The very first time we ever talked to him, I remember having a feeling so intense - one that I rarely feel.  It was a feeling of excitement.  I don't know why I had it, because as we talked with him, he told us that he was Methodist and that he was never going to change, but from that very first time - because of the feeling I had - I knew this man was going to be baptized.  The second time we met with him we brought Huhane (the recent convert who baptized him), and he invited Sione to church.  Sione agreed, came to church, felt the spirit, and the rest is history!

We are know trying to find more people to teach.  It has been a hard week.  I'm doing my best to be focused and finish my mission strong.  I've been a little stressed out about everything, and it makes me feel bad, because I want to be focused for the rest my mission.  It is also frustrating when I feel like no one understands me, and half the time I have no idea what anyone is saying.  But there are things to be learned!  I love my mission and it's hard to even think that it's almost all over.

We have also had a hard week with one of our investigators - Sione Fisi'iahe.  He is the Pentecostal preacher that the members finally are letting us teach.  We have a big problem though.  He believes that he has already been baptized for the remission of sins and just wants to be baptized to join the church.  He doesn't believe in the restoration or the nature of God, and a whole bunch of other important doctrine.  He is in his 80's and feels like 20 year old boys cant teach him.  It's tough because the ward is expecting him to be baptized this weekend, but I will not baptize anyone that doesn't have a testimony.  The members keep telling us - "just baptize him now and teach him later!"  The Tongan culture is so different.  All they care about is that we baptize the Pentecostal Preacher.  So we are going to do the best we can.  Elder Neiufi is afraid that Sione won't want to change his views, then he wont be baptized, then the members will be mad and not trust us.  Tongan wards are different than the English wards, because in an English ward we can just go and find investigators through our own efforts, but in the Tongan wards, the way that we have investigators is through the members (except Sione Tongamoa - he was a miracle!).  If you want people to teach the members have to trust you.  They are so involved in missionary work - which is great! but its hard to help them understand why someone who wants to be baptized, but is not ready, can't until they have a testimony.

So that's the scoop.  It was a rough week, but just like any trial in life, it is an opportunity to build faith.  Life is great!  We have Zone Conference this week, and it will be my last.  Its crazy...

Another great thing that happened this week was I got a letter from Veronica - my convert in Walnut Creek (my last area).  She is doing so good!  She is taking 2 institute classes and is loving it!  One of them is a mission prep class, and she is planning on serving a mission!  There is nothing that makes me more happy than to hear that those I taught are still going strong.

Well family I love you!  Hope you have another great week!

Love, Elder Cook

Letter to Home - March 14, 2011

Hey Family!

Well we had a great week!  Everything is fine from the tsunami.  We got a call from President Wade at 6 in the morning, telling us to tell our zone to stay away from the coast, and to be on call, just in case anything happened.  And nothing did.  They did evacuate some of the cities along the coast though, but all is well.

Nio's baptism was so good!  It was my first Tongan baptism, and even though I only understood half of what they were saying (some people spoke English, and some spoke Tongan), it was one of the most spiritual baptisms that I have been to.  It was eat because Elder Neiufi baptized him, and it was his first time to ever baptize anyone.  Nio has really changed his life around.  There was so much support from the ward.  The room was packed!  After the baptism we had a Tongan feast!  There was soooo much food.  I am really trying hard not to get chubby, but I'm beginning to think that it is impossible.  Last night we ate at our bishops house, and I ate so much.  My poor stomach was about to pop!  I was planning on being done, but then Sis Mapa (bishops wife) looked at me an said "Whats da madda Elda, we just getting started!"  She made me eat more, and then gave me a huge bowl of ice cream with a brownie!  I wanted to die.

After Nio's baptism - Later that night, we went to Concord for Dan Parupia's baptism!  I taught Dan when I was in Concord, and I got to go back to see his baptism.  It was a good night.

Guess what happened today!  So I have been teaching Elder Neiufi how to drive, and he has been doing really good.  Tomorrow is his driving test, so he has been driving all day today to help him prepare.  Today when we were pulling out of the grocery store parking lot, a car backed into us! It was a pretty bad collision, and our poor car doesn't look very good.  It was a first experience for us both!  We haven't been having very good car luck lately.

Well, things continue to go great!  Sione is all ready to be baptized this weekend!  Then next weekend (Mar 26) we have another baptism!  That one member is finally letting us teach his friend - the one that he already set a baptism date with!  It took awhile, but after President Wade got involved we didn't have anymore problems. I love you so much family!

-Elder Cook

-I got a letter from Kesley Elsholz this week and she is going on a mission!  She got her call to go to Minnesota!

And tacos sound great.

Letter to Home - March 7, 2011

Hi Family!  Ma lo e la lei!

Wow, we had a great week!  First off...we got transfer calls last Saturday and I will be ending my mission with the Tongan people!  Me and Elder Neiufi are both staying.  I am so happy that Elder Neiufi stayed and will be my last companion.  He's the best!

So we had  MIRACLE yesterday!  Brenda and her boyfriend both came to church!  We couldn't believe it!  Leone (her boyfriend) said that he wants to take things one step at a time, and they stayed for all 3 hours!  It was the perfect testimony meeting for Brenda!  All of the testimonies had to do with overcoming opposition and trial through the Atonement.  Wow, it was so good.

We have seen miracles with our investigator Nio Fale'ofa.  He is going to be baptized this weekend!!!  His faith has grown so much.  On Sunday after gospel principles class we had a short lesson with him.  He bore his testimony to us and just cried.  He told us how he knows that the church is true, and wants to have a better life.  I love the Tongan people!  They are so in tune with the spirit, and you will never find a more loving people.  It was neat to see a huge Tongan guy (probably 3 times my size!) break down in tears and humbly bear his testimony.  He so excited to be baptized and start his new life!

Sione Tongamoa is also doing great!  He hasn't smoked for over a week!  We stopped by him yesterday and he told us that it is a miracle that he hasn't even thought about smoking, or had a desire to smoke!  He has been smoking almost all of his life, and is finally getting rid of it!

We are also working with a woman in the singles ward who has been ready to be baptized forever, but is having the hardest time trying to stop smoking.  Her name is Christine, and she is one of the most sincere people that I have ever taught.  Smoking is Satan's tool!  It kills people physically and spiritually!  She just has this one last hurdle to overcome before she is baptized, and we are doing all we can to help her build her faith to overcome it.

Wow, it sounds like things are going well back home!  A lot of exciting things are happening.  I have feeling that a lot of things have changed since I left.  I cant believe that Kenna is getting ready to graduate!  I still haven't digested the thought that Tyson is really getting married!  I couldn't believe the engagement pictures!  They look great together and Kayla is beautiful.  I am excited to meet her (I'm going to have a sister in law?!).  This week was a little rough on the emotional side, realizing that this is the last transfer of my mission.  I am still in denial that its almost over.  I have entertained the thought of asking President if I could extend, but I wouldn't miss Tyson's wedding for the world!  I am excited to work harder than ever for the last 6 weeks with the Tongan people!  I love you family!

-Elder Cook

Letter to Home - February 28, 2011

Hey Family!

So things are going good.  So my suit will work if it has pin stripes?  It is in perfect condition (as to my standards), but it does have pin stripes.  I will be glad if it works, because I really don't need a new suit.

So all is well, but this week was a little rough.  We lost 2 investigators - one of them being Brenda.  We weren't able to contact her this whole week, even though we stopped by literally everyday.  Calling her doesn't work because her boyfriend answers the phone, and then hangs up on us.  So finally at the end of the week (on Saturday), we stopped by and her boyfriend answered the door.  He told us that he is not going to change, and that Brenda is not interested either.  He told us not to come by anymore.  It's really hard, because we know Brenda's boyfriend is the only thing holding her back.  She is in a really rough situation, and I think that she is scared of Leone (her boyfriend).  It doesn't help that she is expecting, and has no where else to go (both of her parents have passed away).  We are still trying to get in contact with her, because I want to hear it from her, not Leone.  She has a lot of friends that are members, so we are going to keep trying through them.

Then we also lost another investigator, because she just feels comfortable at her church, and isn't willing to keep commitments.

Then to top off the week, we drove by our amazing prepared investigator - Sione Tongamoa - on Wed. (he had a baptism date for Mar. 12th), and we found him sitting outside on his chair smoking!  When he saw us he hid his cigarette and hoped that we didn't see!  We went up to him, and talked to him about it.  He was honest with us, and told us that he is still struggling with it.  Investigators have to be clean from any addiction for 3 weeks before they get baptized, so we had to push back his date to Mar. 19th.  He only smokes like every other day.  He is doing good, and is still excited to be baptized.

So it was just one of those weeks, but all is well.  This is the Lords work, and I know that when we have faith and enthusiasm, the miracles flow!  We did find one new investigator this week, but he doesn't speak English, so I just sat and smiled at him while Elder Neiufi taught.

We had 2 great lessons with our investigator Nio Fale'ofa this week.  He is so excited to be baptized in two weeks!  His faith has really grown and he loves meeting with us.  He lives in Palo Alto - which is out of the mission and like a 30 minute drive from the church in San Mateo (where we teach him), but he makes the sacrifice twice a week to meet with us and learn the gospel.  Also for church, the only member who can give him a ride, has to be to church 1 hour early for a meeting.  So Nio has to get up at 6 am every Sunday to be picked up around 7 am so they can be at the church by 8 am.  Then he has to wait an hour until church starts at 9 am.  He has great desires and says that its all worth it!

I still love being in the Tongan program, and I'm still trying to understand more of their culture...  I have noticed that no matter what I say (to my companion, members, my zone...) they always agree with me, even if its wrong!  I think its due a little to the language barrier, and they just say yes, but they say yes to everything!  If I walked up to any member at church and asked them if I could have their tie, no joke, any member would take off their tie and give it to me.  They are very generous.  I don't know if you've ever heard, but they say that being a missionary in a Tongan ward is the only paid ministry in the church!  Members give us money for no reason all the time (even though they are not supposed to).  Seriously I've been given over $100 since I've been here.  If you don't accept their money they get mad (just like if you don't eat their food!)  But we just donate a lot of it to fast offerings.  Something else that is crazy is that Tongans are the best member missionaries, but sometimes they take it to far!  There is a family that is teaching an investigator on their own!  They wont hand him over yet.  They even set a baptism date for him!  It is pretty ridiculous, but whatever.  Hopefully we are going to start teaching him this week, if they let us.

The weather here has been pretty cold this week.  When I say cold I mean around 50 degrees.  San Mateo is further south than San Francisco, and doesn't have the fog - which I am very grateful for!
Elder Neiufi says that he doesn't want anything from Utah, except for a "nice Utah Mormon girl!"  But seriously I really don't need a package!  I know that you love me, and I'm grateful for all the stuff that you've sent, and if you feel like sending something I love letters!

Well family I love you!  It was so good to hear that Gaylynn in doing well.  Tell her that I love her, and that they are in my prayers.  Love you!

-Elder Cook

Letter to Home - February 21, 2011

Hi family!

Sorry for not answering the suit question last week.  Both of my suits are pin stripped - but are both still in great condition!  The only time we were hem is when we have meetings, at church or at the temple, so they are both still good.

So we had a really good week!  One of the recent converts in the ward -Sesi Taufa, is on fire!  He has such a desire to do missionary work!  He found us 2 new investigators this week, and they are both pretty good.  We are excited to teach them this week.  Sione Tongamoa and Nio Fale'ofa are doing so good!  They are both preparing to be baptized on March 12th.  Brenda is doing alright.  She has a lot of worldly pressures and we are just praying that she will have the courage to make the right decisions.  She can be kind of flaky at times, but when we have the opportunity to teach her, her faith really grows.  We took Sione to the Temple Visitors Center this past week and he loved it!  This week was also 1 out of the 3 times in a year that we get to do a temple session!  I love going to the Oakland Temple - it is one of my favorites!  Also this week on Saturday we got to go to the temple with Veronica Domiguez - one of the converts from my last area, to do baptisms for the dead.  We rode BART from Millbrae to Oakland.  It was my first time riding BART underneath the Bay!  It was fun.  Veronica really enjoyed the temple.

Last night was the Why I Believe fireside that is held once a month.  Usually it is held up at Temple Hill in Oakland, but they just started a San Francisco Why I Believe on our side of the Bay.  Last night was the 2nd one, and President asked me to conduct it.  It was a little scary, I've never conduced a meeting so big.  One of the converts that bore there testimony went way over the time limit and was just rambling on, so President asked me to get up and tell them to wrap it up.  The convert was a little Chinese guy (who was already nervous because he speaks in broken English), and I stood up and whispered in his ear that he needs to wrap it up.  He paused and said, "Oh...I am so embarrassed!  In the name of Jesus Christ Amen!"  Then he quickly returned to his seat.  I felt so bad.  I felt like the bad guy.  but it was a good experience.  Zoe Rookard - someone me and Elder Kesler taught while I was in San Francisco bore her testimony, and she did an amazing job!  It is always good to see those that you've taught have a strong testimony.

So I see Elder Williams all the time on P-days.  Hes doing good.  They are doing pretty well in the city.  it is defiantly one of the hardest areas in the mission, but they have a few baptisms coming up!  I know Elder Williams companion very well  I used to be his district leader when I was in Pittsburg last year, and he can be challenging.  The mission teaches you patience!

Well family I love you!  Thank you so much for the Valentines Day package!  I loved it!  Elder Neiufi really liked the rice crispies!

Love you!

-Elder Cook

Letter to Home - February 14, 2011

Hey Family!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!  I totally forgot that it was Valentines day until this morning.  I love you all!  I know that I truly have the best family, and I'm grateful for all the love and support that I receive.  I am so grateful that we all share a love for the gospel.  I couldn't think of any other ideal situation, than my family being active members of the church.  I am so grateful for the thoughts and the prayers that you have for my investigators.  We have seen miracles this week, and I know it is because of faith.  We had a great lesson with Brenda this week.  We took her uncle with us to help us teach her.  His name is Huhane and he was just baptized less than a month ago.  She is really feeling the spirit, but is in a rough situation.  She loves what she is learning, but she also loves her gangster boyfriend.  She wishes that he would be interested and come to church, but hes not right now.  We told her at our lesson that she would have to move out or get married before her baptism, and she said she would work on it.  She really has a desire to get baptized!

We also had a great lesson with Sione!  We even moved his baptism up a week because he is doing so good!  We taught him the word of wisdom yesterday for the first time, and he told us that he already stopped smoking a week ago!  They have to be smoke free for 3 weeks before they can get baptized, so we moved it up a week, because he is already a week ahead!  He came to church yesterday and LOVED it!

We also set another baptism date for one of our investigators - Nio Fale'ofa.  He is supper prepared, and didn't hesitate to say yes when we invited him.  Brenda, Sione and Nio are all scheduled to be baptized on March 12th!

So this past week on Wed, Thur, and Fri, we had a leadership conference in Walnut Creek from 9 am-4 pm.  It was along week!  It was a total of around 7 hours of driving within the 3 days, but it was really worth it!  Bro. Tracy Watson, who is the director of proselyting, trained us.  He taught us A LOT!  He is going to change the way that our mission works, as we begin to apply his training.  He helped us to see that EVERYTHING we teach needs to be focused on the Doctrine of Christ and his atonement.  As me and Elder Neiufi have applied what we've learned so far, we have seen miracles!  It is amazing how powerful the simpleness of the gospel is.  Its all about inviting and helping people gain and strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ, which will lead them to repent.  As they make those changes in their life they will be prepared to receive the ordinance of baptism.  After baptism we are cleansed by the Holy Ghost and as we continue to have faith and repent each day, He will guide us as we endure.  Bro. Watson taught us that if we teach anything more than faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost, then we are not "built upon his rock".

We teach the commandments to help people strengthen their faith and repent.  We teach the plan of salvation to help people understand the importance of the atonement.  It really made me think about how I teach.

Well family, we have to go!  Members are here to pick us up and take us to the city.  We are going to run around in the city today!

Love you!

-Elder Cook

Letter to Home - January 24, 2011

Wow, so many things to say, I dont even know where to start!  First off...HOLY CRAP!  Tyson is getting married!?  Wow, thats wonderful!  I just cant believe it.  Im just glad that he is waiting before I come home.  It will definatley be crazy, but I am happy for him.  I cant wait to meet Kayla.
So next, thank you so much for the package with the shampoo!  I love it!  Tell Grandma that I love her.  I ate the chocolate that night, and the pistachios were gone in less than 24 hours.
Alright, now for some pretty crazy news!  This past Saturday we got transfer calls, and I was pretty sure that i was going to be released as a Zone Leader.  Those getting released from a leadership position, get a call from President Wade on Saturday morning to be released, then everyone else find out where they are going that night.  So I was expecting a call the whole day but it never came.  So Me and Elder Wickel just assumed that we were staying together.  The calls came that night and I am being transfered!  I am going back to the Peninsula!  This is the crazy news - I will be a Zone Leader over the San Francisco East Tongan Zone!  So I will finish my mission serving in the Tongan program!  I have mixed emmotions.  I wasnt expecting to finish my mission in a language program, but I am excited to serve with the tongan people.  Yesterday I enjoyed my last sacrament meeting in English!  So thats the crazy news - this transfer call was the most suprising one Ive ever recieved!  So the wards I'll be serving in is the Peninsula 1st ward, and the San Francisco 4th ward (both Tongan wards).  My companion will be Elder Neufi (Nay-oo-fee).  It is sad leaving Concord, and Elder Wickel.  We had 2 AMAZING transfers here, but Im excited to be on the other side of the Bay again.
So this week went really well.  We were able to teach the Santa-maria Family, and they are golden!  She understands what we teach very well, and applys it well too.  We were also able to teach Carly Bogners boyfriend - Dan Parupia.  He is from the middle east, and was raised as a Muslim.  He is supper willing to learn.  We taught him about the apostasy, and he loved it!  He said that it all just makes sense!  We also added another new investigator this week named Jason.  He is Chinese, and is friends with a member in the Concord 2nd ward.
So Alexa and Veronica are doing great.  They both started school at DVC today, and are both taking 2 institute classes!  Veronica is so solid!  She had a rough week this past week.  She works for a dry cleaners that her mother owns, and this week she got fired by her own mother!  Her mom is not happy with her being Mormon - it wasn't pretty.  But Veronica has strong faith.  Both Veronica and Alexa are planning on going to BYU-I next year!
So things are going well.  Today we had a fun p day.  We drove up Mt. Diablo, the highest peak in our mission, parked the car 3 miles from the summit, and ran the rest of the way!  It was a blast.  The view is AMAZING up there!  You can see the whole entire mission!  It was a clear day, so I could see all of the areas that Ive served in, including the city!  You could even see the golden gate bridge!  It was fun.  If we ever come and visit my mission, Mt. Diablo is defiantly on the list of things to see.  After we are done emailing Ive got to go pack up!
Well family i love you!  I hope that you have a great week!  Pray that the Tongans don't eat me!
-Elder Cook

Letter to Home - February 7, 2011

Hi Family!

Wow, sounds like exciting things are happening!  I am really glad to hear that things with Matt and Jalena are getting better.  It has been awhile since the "incident", but some things just take patience.  I'm happy that things are working out!  And, wow, I still don't believe that Tyson is engaged.  I hope that everything goes well with he wedding plans!

So this week was really good!  It was great, even though it was one of those weeks were it seemed that almost every appointment that we had cancelled on us.  The Polynesian people are a lot more laid back, and appointments seem to cancel a lot more in the Tongan program.  Tongans have the attitude of "we get there when we get there."  I don't think we've ever been on time to a teaching appointment!
This week we found 2 new amazing investigators!  One is from a part member family, and the other is a friend of a recent convert.

We are teaching a man named Sione Tongamao.  He is 55 years old, and loves what he is learning.  He is the one that me and Elder Neiufi just found by talking to him on the street.  (But if you are Tongan and living in the Bay Area, you know every Tongan living here - so pretty much he knows everyone in the ward already.)  He has always been around the Mormon church, and known about it.  All that it took was him to feel the spirit!  He was sick this past week so we weren't able to teach him, but he is doing well.

We are also teaching a young woman in our singles ward.  Her name is Brenda Vanisi.  She has had a really hard life.  Both of her parents have passed away and she feels alone.  She is pregnant and is living with her boyfriend right now.  Her boyfriend (Leone) is in a Tongan gang, and is always high on something!  Brenda loves what she is learning, and the comfort that comes from the plan of salvation.  She has some changes to make, but has the faith and willingness to make those changes.  I love how the gospel can change our lives!  I've seen it time and time again.  The atonement is real, and has the power to change our hearts and heal us.  This week we set a baptismal date with Brenda for March 12th.  She really wants to be baptized, but first needs to move out of her boyfriends house, which is hard, because she has no where else to go.  We are praying for a miracle that the Lord will somehow provide a way for her to find a place, so she can be baptized on her date.

So this week, I went on exchanges once again with the assistants in Oakland.  I've been a ZL for awhile and always go to Oakland on exchanges, so it almost seems like Oakland is one of my areas!  I know a lot of the members and investigators there, and its always fun to go and see how everything has been progressing in there area since that last time I've been there.  We always talk crazy people there.  They always tell us "do you know where you boys are?  You are in one of the most roughest neighborhoods in the United States!"  But people really respect the missionaries in the ghettos of Oakland.  It is a really fun area to work in!  This is not meant to be a racist comment, but it is so hard to find a white person in West Oakland!  But I learned a lot on exchanges this week.  I've noticed lately how powerful it can be when we teach the simple and basic truths of the gospel in a short, clear way.  I've noticed that we don't have to take 10 minutes to deeply explain a principle, but instead bear a short powerful testimony that the spirit can testify to, then invite the individual to act, and to change.

This week we have a 3 day leadership conference in Walnut Creek from 9 am to 4 pm.  It will be a crazy week!  Bro. Watson (I forgot his first name) is coming to train us.  He is the head of proselyting in the missionary department.  He is one of the main authors of Preach My Gospel.  He is also the one who hired President Wade, when he worked for the church.  So it will be a really exciting meeting.

So things are going well.  Me and my companion are the only ones that live in our apartment, and it is one of the nicest apartments that I have had so far.  I wonder if the way I talk is changing, just because I have to talk in simple terms all the time to my comp, my zone and the ward.  I've learned how to count to 10 in Tongan, how to say the alphabet, how to say our church's name, and simple phrases like "what is your name" or "where are you from".  I can pick out a few words here and there when people are talking, but overall I'm still lost.  I'm getting used to being the only white person in the ward.  Yesterday we had a Stake meeting with the Stake Leaders, the Bishops, the Ward Mission Leaders and President Wade.  Me and President were the only white people, and the only ones that had no idea what was being said!  And the food that Tongans eat is meat!  They eat a lot of roots like taro (its like a very starchy potato - its really nasty).  The food is pretty nasty, but a lot of the Tongans here eat more Americanized food like steak and stuff.

Well family I love you!  I hope that you have a great week!

-Elder Cook

Letter to Home - January 31, 2011

Hey Family!

Wow, what a week!  I got to my new area on Tuesday.  It sure is weird being on this side of the Bay again!  So I cover the Peninsula 2nd and the Peninsula 4th wards.  The 2nd ward is a Tongan family ward, and the 4th ward is a Tongan singles ward.  It has been quite the culture shock, but I love it!  We live in San Mateo, and spend most of the time working here as well.  I have the best companion ever!  His name is Elder Neiufi - from Tonga.  He speaks English pretty well and has been out for 1 year (we were both trained in San Ramon!).  We mostly teach our lessons in English, because most of the members can speak English pretty well, but church is all in Tongan!  Well, yesterday was the Stake Conference, so we didn't go to regular church, but Elder Neiufi says that the family ward is in Tongan, but most of the singles ward services are in English.  So that is good.  But yesterday was Stake Conference, and it was a broadcast.  Elder Packard and President Eyring spoke, but I couldn't understand a word that they said, because it was all in Tongan!  Elder Neiufi is helping me to learn a little bit of Tongan every morning for our language study.  Obviously I'm not going to become fluent in 3 months, but I hope to be able to begin to understand what people are saying to me, and become familiar with the language.  Elder Neiufi is super funny, and is helping me become adjusted to things.  We are the Zone Leaders of the Tongan Zone which consists of only 6 missionaries!  It is the smallest Zone in our mission!  I am the only white person i our whole Zone!  Everyone else is Polynesian.  Its fun.

But I really love this area so far.  The Tongan members are probably the best members of the church!  President Wade always says - "When I get to the celestial kingdom and I'm surrounded by the Tongan people, I will know that I'm in the right place!"  They are so loving and willing to do missionary work!  We don't knock doors in the Tongan program - all of our finding efforts are through the members.  Another crazy thing is that the Stake boundaries (and our ward boundary) go outside of the mission boundary!  So we have permission to leave the mission, as long as we are in our stake boundary (which goes clear down to San Jose!)  Yesterday Stake Conference was in Menlo Park - which is not in our mission.

So me and Elder Neiufi have seen miracles already!  Our second day together we met a Tongan man on the street named Sione Tongamoa.  We started talking to him, and he was a little standoffish.  We asked if we could come back and share a message that would help him come closer to God.  He agreed, and told us that he sits on the street coroner that we were talking to him on, every night.  So a few nights later we went by, and brought Huhane - a recent convert who knows Sione.  (the crazy thing about he Tongan program is that everyone literally knows everyone!  The whole ward is seriously related some how).  We walked up to him, and the first thing that he told us was, "I told you guys that I am Methodist!"  My awesome little Tongan comp. (and when I say little I mean just short - my companion is huge!  His biceps are as big as my thighs!! So I feel pretty safe) smiled at him, and began to teach.  We bore our testimonies to him, and promised him blessings.  His attitude immediately changed, and he told us that he felt happy.  The spirit touched him, and he wants to learn more.  Huhane invited him to church and yesterday he came to Stake Conference and loved it!  Then we taught him later Sunday night for the first time, and he is golden!  We invited him to be baptized and he said yes.  Wow, it was an amazing lesson!  (and we taught in English!)

It is fun being the only white person in the ward!  The members are very nice, and feed me too much!  I may come home a little chubby!  Me and Elder Neiufi are working on being more united in our teaching.  He is pretty well at speaking English, but has a long way to go!  We were teaching a lesson to a less active member about faith, and I asked them how faith in Christ has been an "anchor" in their life.  Elder Neiufi thought I asked how faith in Christ has caused "anger" in their life!  He was surprised, and tried to back track and tie anger into faith!  He said something like "I know that when we exercise faith it can be hard, and sometimes we get angry...."  Wow, it was funny.  Also, Elder Neiufi is working on getting a California drivers licence.  He has a permit, but hasn't been able to practice yet, because he hasn't had a companion with a California drivers licence.  So since I have a Cal. drivers license he has been able to start driving!  Wow, now I know how you felt mom and dad, when you taught me how to drive!  It is his first time driving in the USA.  In Tonga there are no free ways or stop lights, so it is quite different!  It has been fun teaching him how to drive!

So things are going really well!  I love the Tongan program so far!  I still can't believe that I got transferred here, but I am grateful for this experience to stretch, and learn new things!

I love you family!

-Elder Cook

Letter to Home - January 17, 2011

So we had a really rough week.  Things are still going great, but for some reason, almost every appointment with our investigators canceled this week!  About mid week, things were going pretty bad.  Me and Elder Wickel have a tradition of going to Cold Stone to get ice cream when we have a rough week.  It always works!  So we went to cold stone on Wed. in hopes of having a good weekend.  Our weekend plans looked great, and things started to look up.  We had 3 lessons with investigators scheduled for Saturday, and when it rolled around, they all three cancelled!  We had a total of about 10 lessons fall through this week.  We couldn't believe it!  So it was a rough week, but all is well.

The amazing news is that Veronica got baptized!!!!!!  After a very long week, it was a great way to end it.  She is a miracle!  Her and Alexa are basically best friends, and they both are planning on going to BYU-Idaho!  The baptism was great.  Me and Elder Wickel spoke, and Alexa said the closing prayer!  She did such a good job!  Before we met Alexa (less than 2 months ago) she had never prayed, and now she is saying prayers in front of a crowd of people!  It was a great night.  Veronica fits right into the ward and is loving it!

So our teaching pool has run a little dry, but we had a miracle yesterday!  A girl in our ward (the singles ward) named Carly, brought her boyfriend to church, and he is really interested in learning more about the church.  He has come to church a lot, and feels ready to learn more!  We are teaching him for the first time tonight.

So things are going well.  We have an awesome investigator in the Concord 2nd ward named Bill Fisher.  He is 43 and is a recovering alcoholic.  We've taught him for about 5 weeks, and he is really progressing.  He talks A LOT, and we have to change our teaching style to teach him, but he is LOVING the gospel.  He has been to a lot of different churches, and he keeps asking, "Why do I feel so different at your church?"  He keeps telling us that Mormons are a "different breed".  He is afraid to get baptized, because he doesn't want to fail again - he was baptized in another church, but fell away, due to him addictions.  So we continue to work with him.  As far as our ward mission leader goes - he's doing better!  The stake actually talked to him!  It is a little awkward being around him (especially when we are encouraged to work so closely with him), but he is a great guy, and we haven't had a problem with him since!

The family that we are teaching was sick this week (one of the many cancellations), but we look forward to teaching them this week.

Well family I hope you have another great week!  Thank you for sending shampoo!  My hair is still falling out, and my bump is still the same size, but all is well!  I love you all!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!
I hope that you have a wonderful 90th birthday!  I wish I could be there to give you a big "grandma Cook kiss"!  I have absolutely loved my mission so far!  I have never had a better experience in my life!  How lucky I am to have a wonderful family all in the gospel!  I have truly come to know for myself that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the key to happiness.  I have loved serving here in the Bay Area!  When I was serving in San Francisco, we lived close to a huge Sees Candy factory!  Whenever we drove by it I always thought about my little Grandma Cook, who makes far better chocolates than Sister See.

I hope that you enjoy your big birthday party!  Happy Birthday!

-Love your favorite grandson (you know who I am)

Letter to Home - January 10, 2011

Hey Family!

Wow, this week was a great week!  There have been so many miracles that I don't even know what to think!  First off - thank you for the pictures!  I LOVED them!  It was good to put a face to Tyson's woman.  I'm excited to meet her one day, if everything works out.  And WOW, Kenna is beautiful!  She is not the little sister that I left!  And she goes to relief society too huh?!  Wow, those pictures surprised me.

So we had a great week!  We had a few lessons with Veronica this week, and she is solid!  We found out for sure this week - shes been kicked out of her house and is living with the Vanhoven's in Lafayette.  Her family has told her not to talk with them, and they have cut off all financial aid.  She was planning on going to college in Oakland, but now she can't.  The members that she is living with (the Vanhoven's - they are the ones who introduced her to the church),are AMAZING!  They are helping her out so much.  They are not only letting her live in their home, but they are going to pay for her college education at DVC (the local Jr. college).  So we brought Alexa to one of our lessons with her this week, and they are both going to go to DVC together this semester, and take institute classes together!  Then they plan to apply to BYU together next year!  Everything is working out!  It is a miracle to think that we met Veronica less than a month ago, and she has one of the strongest testimonies that I have ever seen!  We took her to temple hill last night to the Why I Believe Fireside.  It was a great night.  So we are very excited for her baptism on Saturday!  She can hardly wait!

I went on 24 hour exchanges with the assistants this week too.  i went with Elder Reeves to Oakland.  It is always fun spending a day in Oakland, doing missionary work.  The Assistants cover West Oakland - which is probably one of the most ghetto areas in the united states!  Its fun talking to people there.  I always learn a lot from exchanges of how I can be better.

So this week we also found a family to teach!  We were trying to contact a former investigator, but he had moved.  Instead we talked to Sylvia Santa-Maria.  She is from South America, but moved here when she was 5.  She has 3 kids - a 10 year old, a 8 year old and a 4 year old.  We had our first lesson with them on Sat. and they are supper receptive!  Sylvia already has a lot of the same beliefs as we do, and really sees the importance of having a living prophet.  The cool thing is, is that they live in our apartment building!  They are the apartment right next to us.  We share the same walls!
We have an exciting week planned so far for this week!  We are taking Alexa to the temple to do baptisms for the dead for the first time, we have interviews with President, and Veronica's baptism!  It will be a good week.

I'm trying lately to be more charitable and patient.  It's almost funny - When the Lord blesses us and we are having success, we can't get comfortable for one second!  The adversary is always working.  Me and Elder Wickel have been butting heads a little lately - just a little.  I love him, and he is one of my favorite companions, and we get along great, but I just need to focus on my Savior and have charity for my comp.  I love the learning experiences that we have in life!

Well family, I love you, and hope that you have a great week!  Thank you for getting those addresses for me!

-Elder Cook

Letter to Home - January 3, 2011

Hello family!

Today has already been an interesting day.  This morning we went to a funeral of a member of our ward.  Bro. Aikele (age 51) passed away last week.  They still don't know why he died, they just found him on the couch.  His wife is the relief society president in the ward.  It was a good service, and it is always good to see the comfort that the knowledge of the gospel brings.  It has also been neat to see the ward come together and support the Aikele's.  We even had 3 of our investigators show up, and we didn't even tell them about it!  I guess they just heard, and wanted to support the ward.

So last week was great!  Alexa's baptism was so good!  I had the opportunity to baptize her on Wednesday, and Elder Wickel confirmed her yesterday.  Baptisms are always a great place to feel the spirit.  Veronica (who is getting baptized on Jan 15th) was there, and her and Alexa have become pretty good friends.  There stories are very similar.  Veronica's friend who introduced her to the church, left yesterday for BYU-I, and so it was Veronica's first day at church yesterday by herself!  She and Alexa have latched on to each other, and are learning together.  We also got news yesterday, about Veronica's family.  We knew that her mother was opposed to her getting baptized, but its even a little more than that.  We are pretty sure that Veronica has been kicked out of her house, and is living with the Vanhoven's (her fellowshippers parents) in Lafayette.  It is sad that her mom doesn't understand, and wont support her in her decision.  Veronica's faith amazes me.  She has felt the spirit, recognizes it, and is willing to do Gods will, even if it results in her being disowned from her family.
On new years eve, we had our zone movie night.  It was fun, but always a little weird to be watching movies.  Toy Story 3 was great, and so was How to Train Your Dragon.  I cant decide what one i like more!  We finished our movies by 9pm, so we could get home, plan, and be in bed by 10:30.  It was a good new years.

So, things are going good.  We had ZL council in Oakland last week, and it was good.  We talked about the success and miracles that our mission has seen over the past year.  In 2009 our mission had about 540 baptisms, and in 2010 we reached about 680.  We talked about obedience and how we are blessed as we obey.  I love being a missionary!

I love you family!  Have a good week!

-Elder Cook

So, yes, I did get the bump checked, and Sis Heaton (the medical lady) wasn't worried about it, but is going to talk with the doctor about it just in case.  So I am just waiting for the news!  It doesn't hurt or bother me at all, it just looks funny to have a little bump poke out of the side of my head!  Oh, is my special shampoo on the way?

Letter to Home - December 27, 2010

Hello Family!

Well I'm glad to hear that you had a wonderful Christmas, and it was really good to talk to you!  We had a good Christmas.  After our phone call, me and Elder Wickel made chocolate chip cookies, to give to some Elderly people who are alone on Christmas.  After we made the cookies we went over to a family in the Concord 2nd ward (the Hill family), for Christmas dinner (but it was 1:00).  I love the Hills.  They are an older couple (in their 60's) but they had all their kids and grand kids over.  they fed us an amazing Christmas feast!  I was so full.  I don't know if I've ever been as full!  After the feast we went and delivered our cookies, and visited with older people in the ward.  It was a good Christmas!  The members here feed us sooooo much!  our apartment is full of cookies and candy, and food!  We also got a ton of socks this year!  I love the Californian members.

Thank you for the package that you sent!  I loved it.  We are excited to listen to the conference talks.
So Alexa's baptism is in two days, and she is really excited!  Out of all the people that I have ever taught she is defiantly one of the most prepared people!  Veronica's baptism is also coming up, and she is just as prepared as Alexa!  We started teaching Veronica on the 15th of December, and she is scheduled to be baptized on Jan 15th!  She got scriptures (a quad) with her name engraved on it for Christmas!  She came to church yesterday, and was so excited to show us!

So on New years eve, we are having a zone new years party.  President picked 6 movies for us to vote on, and we get to watch 2.  Our zone voted, and the winners are: Toy Story 3 and How to Train Your Dragon.  So it will be fun.  President just doesn't want us out on the street on new years eve night, because things can get pretty crazy!

So I have a favor to ask.  Next week could you please email Seth, and Isaac's mission addresses to me?  I feel like I need to write them.  Also could you also email me Coach Allen's address?  I would love to write him as well!  Thank you!

Well family, i love you and hope that you have a happy new year!

-Elder Cook

Letter to Home - December 20, 2010

Hi Family!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!  We had another great week.  A lot has happened this week, but first things first - Don't worry about my hair/bump.  I didn't mean to worry you.  I am feeling 100%.  I haven't talked to anyone about it yet, but I promise that I will call Sis. Heaton today (the senior missionary over medical stuff).  As far as my hair falling out - I have noticed throughout my whole mission that my hair has become thinner than usual (I think that it is normal) but lately when i wash my hair in the shower, I scrub my head then look at my hands and there is at least 12 hairs on each hand!  Then during the day if I run my fingers through my hair, hairs will fall out (like 2 or 4 each time).  So ya, I'm a little concerned, I really don't want to go bald, but I don't know what to do!  It isn't falling out in chunks or anything like that, but yes, this past transfer has been a little more stressful than others.  The Walnut Creek Zone has a lot more disobedient issues than the San Francisco Zone, so I've had to deal with those.  But overall I'm fine!  So that's the scoop.  If you have any more questions (or advice to save my hair!) you can ask me on Christmas.  I'm excited to talk to ya'll!  I think I'll probably call around 12:00 pm your time.  I cant believe that this is my last call home...

Well this week has been crazy!  We are still serving in the Walnut creek 3rd ward (the singles ward), but this was our first week in our new family ward - the Concord 2nd ward.  It is a great ward, but very, very different from Clayton Valley 1st.  The ward struggles and needs a lot of help!  Our ward mission leader was very upset that the missionaries in his ward, now have to share with another ward.  He said, "Let's be honest, missionaries have basically been taken out of our ward.  Zone Leaders don't proselyte.  You are to busy doing other things."  Instead of saying "welcome to the ward, we are happy to have you here" he shared his frustrations.  He then asked us to call each of the auxiliaries and have them bring 5 names to ward council for the focus family program.  We were shocked!  We told him that it was his job as a Ward Mission Leader to do that.  Then he got super upset and threatened to call President Wade on us!  (Remember we had only known him up to this point for about 10 minutes!)  He was mad at us for no reason.  So that same night we had our monthly Stake Meeting with the Danville Stake President and President Wade in Danville.  After the meeting we asked president Wade what he would say to a WML that asks us to call the auxiliaries for him.  He said, "I would tell him that, that's his job!"  We told president that that's exactly what we did and that Bro Goodwin (our WML) got very upset.  President said, "Of course he got mad, you called him to repentance!"  We then told him the rest of our experience, and President was infuriated!  He called our Bishop and talked to him about Bro Goodwin (the WML).  So our first week in the ward, me and Elder Wickel have rocked the boat a bit, but positive change in this ward need to start somewhere!  We are going to continue to love and serve bro Goodwin, and the ward the best that we can.  (Are you beginning to understand why I am loosing hair!?)

The singles ward is doing great!  Alexa is a miracle!  A HUGE miracle.  I love teaching her, because it reminds me that this is the Lords work, and he prepares his children to receive the gospel - we just need to find them!  I just think of how many "Alexa's" there are out there - ready to accept the truth.  She is so happy with all that she is learning.  This week we had a lesson, and she showed up at the institute building (that's where we teach her), in a hoodie and pajama pants.  She said in a whisper - "I am sick.  I called in sick to work, but I won't cancel my lesson!"  We told her she should rest, but she insisted that we have our lesson!  Shes amazing.  She told her mom this week that she is getting baptized, and her mom didn't flip out!  She was angry, but there is even a chance that her mom might show up to the baptism!  Her baptism is next week on the 29th.

We are teaching a new investigator named Veronica Dominguez.  She is almost just like Alexa!  Her friend brought her to church (just like Alexa), and she loved it.  She said that she is going through a hard time in life right now, but the first time she came to church, she felt a peace that she had never before felt.  She loved it and wanted to learn more!  MIRACLES!  It reminds me when Christ said that his sheep are numbered, and they know his voice.  The elect of the Lord feel and recognize the spirit.  So a challenge is that Veronica's friend that introduced her to the church is leaving for college next week.  Her fellowshipper is leaving (just like Alexa's did!).  But Alexa is doing great, and making new friends, so I'm sure that Veronica will be fine too.  We have a lesson with her on Tuesday and we are planning on setting a baptismal date with her!

So things are going well.  I love being a missionary more than anything.  I'm grateful for my wonderful family, and my wonderful parents that have always been a great example to me.  I will always be grateful for the foundation that you have helped me lay, but something that I feel that I have gained on my mission is my very own personal testimony.  I know without a doubt that Christ lives, that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that the Book of Mormon is true!  Knowing these simple truths, and continuing to seek greater understanding of Gods plan for us, brings incomprehensible joy!  I love my Savior and I am grateful for the peace, the purpose and the perspective that His gospel brings.  I love you family!

-Elder Cook

Letter to Home - December 13, 2010

Hey Family!

So this week has been good.  First things first - I didn't get transferred 100%.  I'll still be the Walnut Creek Zone ZL, and cover the singles ward, but because of the new year, and the time changes - we had to switch family wards.  So instead of covering the Clayton Valley first ward, we will cover the Concord 2nd ward.  My companion is still Elder Wickel, and we still live in the same apartment (with the Christmas tree!).  Even though I have only been in the Clayton Valley first ward for one transfer, I am really going to miss it!  It is a great ward.  We had our last "new member lesson" with Bill Scott last night, and it was sad to say good bye.  It was also had to say bye to our other investigators - Lavon Starick, and the Satya family (the Hindu family from India).  But we still have the singles ward so we still get to teach Alexa McCracken, is doing so good!  Her friend left for her mission, and the members have taken her in!  She is making a lot of new friends, and is loving it.  We took her to Temple Hill, and went to the Visitors Center (we are so lucky to have a visitors center in our mission!).  She loved it.  She recently moved into a new place - in an apartment right behind the LDS institute building at DVC - it was perfect!  While she was moving she asked her mom if she could watch her cat for her, and her mom texted her and said - "I will watch a Catholic cat, I will watch a Hindu cat, and I'll watch a non denominational cat, but i will not watch a cult cat!"  Her mother is not pleased at all, about her decision to learn about our church.  Alexa hasn't even told her that she is getting baptized, and doesn't plan on doing so until after she is baptized.  Alexa has great faith, and has really strengthened my testimony as we've taught her.

Anson is doing alright.  It is finals week this week, so he has been super busy with studying.  Its fun to teach him, but there is a bit of a language barrier, because English is his 3rd language.
We met with one of our investigators in the singles ward this past week that we haven't been able to teach for over a month.  Her name is Jina Choi - she is from Korea.  She had a baptismal date before, she passed her baptismal interview and was all ready to be baptized, and then 3 days before the baptism she backed out, and said that she didn't feel ready.  She has been avoiding us for the past couple weeks, but we finally were able to meet with her, and resolve some of her concerns.  We are going to start at square one with her and go from there.

So this week we also had Zone Conference!  it was great.  It was held in Danville - on of the richest neighborhoods in the Bay Area, so the members there are loaded!  The Danville Stake made a Christmas Dinner for us and it was AMAZING!  They also had presents for the whole zone!  We all got new tooth brushes, soap, tooth paste - stuff like that.  Then after the dinner we had a Christmas devotional.  Sister Wade was the speaker, and it was one of the best talks that I have ever heard.
I am sorry family, but I don't think that I'll be able to send anything home for Christmas this year.  There is nothing to really send home that is worth sending home.  I'll send home some pictures for sure.

So things are going great!  Me and Elder Wickel are excited to be in a new ward!

I thought that I'd let you know - this transfer I have noticed that I am going bald!  I don't know why, but my hair just started to fall out, and it wont grow back!  Will you still love me if I come home with no hair?  (Please delete this last paragraph when sending to family and friends - especially if you send it to Brandon!)  Also do you remember the small bump / growth on the back of my head that the doctor looked at before I left?  Well, it has grown, and is pretty big!  You can see this huge bump stick out from the back of my head, and it looks pretty ridiculous!  I might get it removed, or I just may wait until I get home...I'm going to talk to the mission medical lady about it.

I love you family!

-Elder Cook

ps - I will write Gma and Gpa Smith a letter today.

Letter to Home - November 5, 2010

Hi Family!

Well things are going good.  Definitely a highlight of the week was going back to San Francisco for Zoe and Maddie's baptisms!  It was a great night.  Elder Kesler baptized both of them, and when Zoe was being baptized, the thought came to my mind that our Father in Heaven is truly a God of miracles!  The first time that we ever taught Zoe was Oct. 13th, and the day she was baptized was Nov. 13th - exactly one month later!  The Lord works in mysterious ways, and led Zoe to the fullness of his gospel, through an add for Mormon.org on the internet.  Maddie was also a miracle baptism.  When me and Elder Anderson were both new to the ward in July, we sat down with Bishop Hoyt (Bishop of the Sunset ward), and went over the ward list with him, asking who we should drop by.  To make a long story short, Maddie was baptized on Saturday, because of the love of an inspired Bishop, that sent us to the Miles house to "check up on them".  Maddies mom, (Cheryl Miles), and her sister (Ashton) who were less active are making their way back, and it is a miracle to see the effects of the spirit in the home of this family that has been through a lot.

So the baptism in our area didnt go through this weekend.  Bill Scott was supposed to be baptized yesterday, but he didn't pass his baptism interview, because of word of wisdom issues.  He used to drink coffee a lot, and he hasn't had a full cup in over 2 weeks, but he says that he "sips" coffee on a daily basis.  He is an older man (like in his 60's), and found it very hard to understand why sipping coffee would be bad for him, and why it would keep him from being baptized.  We had a good lesson and explained to him the importance of keeping the commandments 100%, and the importance of obeying - even when we don't fully understand why the Lord asks us to keep certain commandments.  So he committed to stop drinking coffee 100%, then after the lesson, he pulled out a bottle of green tea and started drinking it!  We had to explain to him again that tea is also against Gods commandments.  He accepted, and is working towards his new baptism date on November 28th.  Hes a great guy.

We also started teaching a girl in the singles ward named Cassandra Bybee.  She had a really rough childhood, and recently recovered from a marijuana addiction.  She is super sensitive to the spirit, and loves when we have lessons, because she can notice the spirit, and it makes her day better.  She is very shy, and doesn't say much, but she really wants to make changes in her life.  We invited her to be baptized and she didn't hesitate to say yes.  She is preparing herself to be baptized on Dec. 11th.  She is homeless and living with a less active member in the ward, so we are working with both of them, but yesterday they both came to church!

I'm not homesick, or thinking about home to much, so don't let what I'm about to say scare you... today marks my 19th month mark.  It is nothing to be afraid of or hide from - the truth is I only have 5 months left.  Lately a lot of things have been on my mind, and this morning for  my personal study, I set goals for my self to finish my mission out strong.  I just need to be grateful!  I think that gratitude is a great antidote for sorrow in life.  I was sad to leave the city, and I am sad that I only have 5 months left, but I'm trying to be grateful.  Grateful for the amazing experiences that the Lord has blessed me with.  Grateful for the miracles that I have seen, that have shown me that this is the Lords work - without a doubt!  Even in times of regret, when I feel like I could have been better or handled a situation better, I have learned (and I'm still learning!) to be grateful for the opportunity to grow from that certain experience.  The hope and joy that comes from the Atonement, is unexplainable!  We always have hope in our lives no matter what.  We can overcome any trail in life and be restored to joy, because of our Savior.  Any pain in life is only temporary, and if we are obedient in the hard times, and the times when life is good, we will be taken care of and one day be free from all of it.  Yesterday was fast and testimony meeting, because the first Sunday of the month was our Stake Conference.  A man in our ward bore his testimony and said, "We are not defined by our problems, we are defined by how we respond to them".  I know that everyone has problems in life and all of them can be overcome through Christ, and by living His gospel.  I am so grateful to know all these truths!

I love you family and hope that you have another great week!

-Elder Cook

ps - It does not feel like November here!  Last night the Ward had a break the fast, and we were sitting outside at 6 pm under palm trees, in short sleeved shirts eating our dinner.  I felt like a cool summer night.

Letter to Home - December 6, 2010

Hey Family!

Wow, alot has been on my mind lately, but when it all comes down to it, I just love being a missionary!  For some reason, the past few weeks, I have loved my mission more than ever.  I guess it finally has really sunk in, that this is the most important thing that I could ever do in my life, and I love doing it.  I know that I am happy when I accept and follow what the Lord wants for me, and not what I want for myself.  I trust and have faith that what the Lord wants for me, is the best thing for me.

So we had a great week!  Alexa is a miracle investigator, prepared by the Lord!  We had 2 great lessons with her this past week, and set a baptism date with her for Dec. 29th!  She is so excited to be baptized!  Her family is very opposed and so are her friends.  She has even  been fed anti literature, and is getting kicked out of her house, but she still hasn't faltered!  Her faith has strengthened mine, and it is so neat to see the spirit work in her.  You can even see a physical difference - her continence is brighter, and she is willing to follow the spirit that she feels.  We have only taught her for 2 weeks now, but her faith and testimony is stronger that anyone that i have ever taught.  her friend that introduced her to the church, is leaving for her mission this week, but she has been able to meet a lot of the members at church, and is being fellowshipped well.

The past few months have really strengthened my testimony that the Lord is preparing people to accept the truth.  From teaching Matt, Zoe, Maddie, and Alxea it has added to my knowledge that this is the Lords work, and if I am obedient, faithful, and work hard He will trust me, and bless me with the opportunity to teach the elect.

We also had a miracle lesson with our investigator Anson Cheung.  he is going to DVC and is from Hong Kong.  He speaks English well, but there is still a bit of a language barrier.   He has been taught for almost a year, and has been taught everything.  This week we decided to review the plan of salvation, and help him understand more about where he came from.  As we taught we really focused on teaching to his needs, and listening to the spirit to ask him inspired questions.  At the end of the lesson he asked when the next baptism service would be.  We thought that he wanted to see someone get baptized.  There was a bit of confusion then we asked him "Did you want to see a baptism or did you mean you want to get baptized?"  He was like "I want to get baptized!"  We set a baptism date for Feb. 5th!  He is going back to China from mid December to Jan. 21st, so we will have time to teach him for a few more weeks when he gets back.  It was a great lesson.  It brings so much peace and perspective to life when we simply know where we came from!  And that's just a small piece of the Plan of Salvation!  When we understand the plan God has for us, there is nothing that brings more happiness to life.

So this is the last week of the transfer.  I don't know what is going to happen, but for some reason, I feel like I'm going to get released from being a ZL, and hopefully get to train a new missionary again!  What ever my assignment is, I am excited to continue to be my best, improve everyday, and be worthy of all the miracles that the Lord desires to bless me with.

I was a little shocked to hear about G-mama Cook moving.  I kind of suspected that her health was going downhill, because I haven't received a letter from her in forever!  It will be weird not having her live in Lake Point, but I'm glad that she will love her new apartment.  Tell her that her favorite grandson loves her.

Oh yea!  Guess what we did last pday!?  We went to a Christmas tree lot, and bought a live tree!  We just thought it would be fun.  I had never been to a tree lot before.  The tree is about 6 feet tall, and its the really bushy kind!  It was normally $60, but they gave it to us for $30 - the tree, the stand, and the tax - $30!  It was a Christmas miracle.  Some members gave us lights, and we bought $3 worth of ornaments at the dollar store!  Its fun.  We set it up in the front room of our apartment.

So things have never been better!  We enjoyed the Christmas devotional last night.  I love being a missionary during Christmas!  I love you family and hope that you have another great week!

-Elder Cook

Letter to Home - November 29, 2010

Hey Family!

So we had a fantastic week!  It went by so fast, that I hardly remembered what happened!  The highlight was Bill Scott's baptism!  He was baptized yesterday by Elder Wickel, and I had the opportunity to confirm him.  Before he got baptized he had to meet with President Wade.  On Wednesday, president came to our choir practice to see how everything was coming together, and then afterwards he met with Bill.  (I'm so glad that our mission is small, and that we have quick access to our mission President).  The main reason that President wanted to meet with Bill before his baptism was because our Bishop felt that Bill wanted to join the church for financial help.  I new without a doubt that Bill was ready, and is a very sincere investigator - yes he is in a very bad financial problem, but he truly desires to do the right thing.  So after the choir practice, President drove us over to Bills house for the interview, and before we walked up to Bills door, president said, "I hope I don't offend him, because I'm going to have to ask him some pretty hard questions about his situation".  So as president interviewed him, we went tracting around his apartment.  President called us when they were done, and we met him back in his car.  The first thing that president said was "there is no reason why that man shouldn't be baptized!"  President as well as me and Elder Wickel feel that Bill is very sincere.  After the interview, President Wade took me and Elder Wickel out to lunch!  It was fun to spend time with President.  He has been a great positive influence in my life.  So the only problem is, is that we don't feel like the Bishop has been convinced.  But there was a great turnout to the baptism, there were a lot of people there to support Bill.

Another highlight of the week was our new investigator - Alexa McCracken.  She is 20 years old, and going to our singles ward.  Her co-worker, Brooke, who is a member of the ward (and a convert of 2 years) is leaving for a mission in 2 weeks (she is going to Germany), and she invited Alexa to come hear her speak at her farewell.  So Alexa came, and loved it!  We hunted her down after, and set up a time to teach her more.  The first lesson that we had with her was AMAZING!  We were actually on 24 hour exchanges, so I was with Elder Williams the whole day.  (I tell you what - being a missionary with someone that you grew up with, and went to high school with is pretty weird!  But we had a great day together.)  So me and Elder Williams taught her the first lesson, and she loved it!  We invited her to be baptized and she said yes!  She is soaking everything up!  In the first prayer that she has ever said she thanked Heavenly Father for Brooke introducing her to the gospel.  She said it was just the right timing!  If we are worthy, and willing the Lord will work through us to bring souls unto him!  Alexa is soooo prepared, and this week we are planning on setting a baptism date for her, for the end of December!

This week we also sang at the Christmas event in Danville.  it was a huge event!  There were tons of people there, and we sang our hearts out.  Members from the Danville ward, were there to pass out pamphlets and joy to the world DVDs.  President Wade and his family came as well.  it was a fun night.

For thanksgiving we spent the morning practicing for our performance.  After the practice we went to a less active/part member family, and racked there leaves!  It was fun! Then that night at 5:30 pm we ate Thanksgiving Dinner at the Nausin's house - a family in the Clayton Valley Ward.  It was great!  I have never had thanksgiving dinner so late at night!

So things are going great!  I'm really loving this area now.  The sad thing is, is that we are probably going to have to switch wards next transfer, because of the new year.  The singles ward meeting time stays the same (10:00 am) but the Clayton Valley ward will switch from 1:00 pm to 9:00 am, so there will be a conflict.  We will still cover the singles ward, but will probably be moved to another family ward.  Its sad, but Ill serve my best in whatever position I am in!  My companion, Elder Wickel is awesome too.  We get along great, and he is defiantly one of my favorite companions.

Well Family i love you!  I hope you have a great week!

-Elder Cook

I forgot to say THANK YOU for the package you sent!  I LOVED it!  It was the best package ever, because of the pumpkin bars!  They were still really fresh, and the frosting shipped great!  Thank you!  And the shirt was huge!  I wont be able to wear it because its to big, but my roommate, Elder Fessler (Elder Williams companion) might be able to wear it.  I love you!

-Elder Cook

Letter to Home - November 22, 2010

Hey Family!

So this week as been good, but slow.  A lot (about half) of the appointments we had with our investigators canceled, which made it slow, but things are still going good.

Our investigators are doing alright.  Bill Scott is hopefully going to be baptized this weekend, but we have had some problems gaining the trust of our Bishop.  Bill is in a bad financial situation, and has asked the Bishop for help.  The Bishop is concerned that Bills motivation to get baptized is so the church can help him out.  I know that Bill has a testimony, and is one of the most sincere investigators that I have taught.  It is hard for Bishop to see that because Bill isn't able to attend our ward on Sundays because he works.  He goes to church, but just not our ward.  So President Wade is going to interview Bill this week, and make the call.  We know that Bill is ready, but we want the support of our Bishop as well.  So whatever happens, happens, but i know that president Wade is inspired and will make the right choice.

This week, on the day after thanksgiving, our zone is performing in downtown Danville at the town square lighting.  We have our own little booth, where we are going to be singing Christmas hymns, and set out a display table.  It will be a good way for people to feel the spirit, and see missionaries in a non threatening way.

So a few weeks ago, I forgot to tell you about an amazing experience that I had!  So, do remember me telling you about Jennie Giotta?  She was one of the biggest miracle baptisms that I have seen on my mission.  Me and Elder Malani taught her last December in Brentwood, and she got baptized in Jan. 2010.  So, her family lives in Pleasant Hill, and the whole family came to her baptism.  Her sister - Mary Beth - loved the baptism so much, that she wanted to start taking the missionary lessons.  So we told her that there is a singles ward close to her home (the Walnut Creek 3rd ward - the singles ward that I'm covering right now).  She said that she wanted to take the lessons from no one else, except me and Elder Malani.  So, as we went through the new member lessons with Jennie (her sister) Mary Beth drove out to Brentwood from Pleasant Hill, and joined in the lessons.  She loved what she was hearing.  So the plan was to one day pass her off to the Walnut Creek 3rd ward Elders once she felt comfortable.  Well, I left the area, and never really heard what happened.  So when i got transferred here to the Walnut Creek 3rd ward, we stopped by Mary Beth's house.  The bad news is - she wasn't there - she just left for college a few weeks ago, but the good news is that as we pulled up to the front door, guess who was there!?  Jennie!!!  She was visiting her parents.  She saw us walking up to the house and her mouth dropped open.  She ran up to me and said, Am I aloud to give you a hug?  I said - sorry, I'm still a missionary!  I was so excited to see her!  We talked for a few seconds, then came the surprise.  She said, let me show you my baby.  She went back into the house and brought out her 3 week old baby!  I was really surprised, and happy for her.  When I left the area, her and her husband Nick weren't even planning on having a baby, so it was a surprise to everyone.  It was just weird thinking how long I've been gone from Brentwood - my convert had a baby!  We talked for a bit, and had a good visit.  Hopefully this week we will be able to teach Mary Beth, because she is coming home for Thanksgiving.

Another crazy thing that happened was we had our monthly stake correlation with the stake president, his councilors, us and President Wade this week.  My very first Bishop on my mission - Bishop Fosson in San Ramon, is part of the stake presidency!  It was good to see him too.

So Family I love you!  I hope that you enjoy your Thanksgiving!

-Elder Cook

P.S. - I tried taking pictures of my shirts, but it didn't work.  In the pictures it looks like nothing is wrong with them.  The thing that is wrong with them is most of them have pretty gnarly pit stains (the California heat mixed with the way my pits sweat is bad news).   All I need to hold me out is one long sleeved, and one or two short sleeved.  If missionary mall wont send more for free, then I can just buy them here to save on the shipping cost.  Let me know what you think - I'm in no hurry to get new ones.

Letter to Home - November 8, 2010

Hey Family,

So things have been going good.  I'm not going to lie, it was a hard change, leaving San Francisco.  I really miss it.  Elder Kesler stayed there, and I should be going back this weekend for Zoe and Maddie's baptisms.  So I am grateful for that.  It is crazy being back here in the zone that I started my mission in.  It has also been quite the culture shock - I don't know why...  I guess I just got used to the city, and now I'm in an area again with houses that have yards, and a lot of white people!  Also the members here feed us dinner like crazy! (just like my old areas).  It is taking time to adjust to all of it.  Sometimes change is hard, but it is good.

So my new area is the Clayton Valley 1st ward, and the Walnut Creek 3rd ward (the singles ward).  We live in Concord, and the family ward boundary covers a small chunk of the city of Concord.  So most the time we are in Concord, but we go to the neighboring cities as well, because the singles ward covers the whole Zone.  It is weird to think that there is a very good chance that this could be my last area.  My new companion is Elder Wickel, from Nephi, Utah.  He is a great missionary.  We get along great so far, so it should be a good transfer.  We are teaching some pretty amazing people.  We are teaching an older guy (in his 60's) named Bill Scott.  He is a funny old man.  The first lesson I had with him, he called me Elder 'Chef", then last night we dropped by his apartment to see how he was doing, and when we left he said, "Good night Elder Baker!"  Hes fun.  He has a baptism date for this weekend Nov. 14th.  So I'll have Zoe and Maddie's baptisms on the 13th and Bills on the 14th.  It will be an exciting week.  We are also teaching another older lady in the family ward, named Lavon Starick.  She is a very sweet old lady that has seen a lot of death in her life.  Her sister and her brother in law where murdered with a hatchet last April, her nephew was diagnosed with cancer recently and was only given a short time to live, and she is taking care of her aging mother, who is about to go anytime.  Then she lost her husband 3 years ago, and feels very lonely.  She has been through a lot!  We took her to the Visitors Center this weekend, and she loved it.  She said that she felt "calm".  We looked at the temple exhibit where it talked about baptisms for the dead, and she said, "So my husband could get baptized too?"  She learned a lot and soaked it all in.

We are also teaching some cool people in the singles ward.  There is a college in the area - Diablo Valley College (DVC), and that is where we find most of our investigators for the singles ward.  There is an institute building there, where we do a lot of our teaching.  A lot of the students at DVC are Asian, so we are teaching a girl named Jina from Korea, and a guy named Anson from China.  Oh, I forgot to mention, in the family ward, we are teaching a family from India!  They are Hindu, but are very interested in learning about Christ.  Elder Wickel said that it is sometimes a struggle to teach them, because they believe that, all religions are true, and that all roads lead to God.  I had my first lesson with them last night, and they are a wonderful family that has a lot of potential.  The Bay Area is so diverse!

So things are going good.  I'm just in the adjusting period I guess.  Another big difference is that I have roommates!  On the Penninsula no one has roommates, but here in the East Bay there is usually always 4 missionaries to an apartment.  And we have awesome roommates - Elder Williams and his companion!  It is crazy to be living with Elder Williams!  We've had a lot to talk about the past couple days, because he served in the Marsh Creek ward as well.  Hes doing good.

Well family I'm so grateful for the Gospel, and for the joy and purpose that it brings!  I love you all, and I'm grateful to have the best family in the world!

-Elder Cook

Letter to Home - November 1, 2010

Hey Family!

Ok, the big news first...I got transferred!  I am leaving the big city.  I have mixed emotions.  I am going to Walnut Creek - the same stake that San Ramon is in!  I am going back to my roots. I'm excited to get back to the East Bay.  Serving here in San Francisco was quite the experience.  I would say that I have had some of the best experiences of my mission here and definitely some of the hardest.  But overall it has been a great 6 months.  Walnut Creek is a super nice city.  Its in the same valley as San Ramon, and its a very safe area.  It is going to be a culture shock going there - seeing houses with yards again!  I will still be a Zone Leader over there, so I will cover a family ward and also the singles ward in the stake.  My new companion is Elder Wickel.  I know him a little bit and he is an awesome missionary.  He has been out only 6 weeks less than me.

One of the hardest parts about leaving is the amazing investigators that we have been teaching.  We have 4 baptisms coming up in the next 3 weeks, so I will be back soon.  We have seen a lot of miracles in this area.

So, Pa Lor didn't get baptized.  She is still solid, and will definitely get baptized without a doubt, but she is super pregnant, and is going to have her baby soon.  She wont be able to get baptized until after her baby comes.  She felt a little rushed and wants some more time to learn.

Everyone else is doing great!  We took Zoe to the temple visitors center on Saturday, and she loved it!  She is one of the most prepared investigators I have ever taught!  Shes getting baptized on Nov. 13th.  We had our Sunset Ward Halloween party on Saturday as well, and she came and loved it!
Maddie Miles is also getting baptized on Nov. 13th.  The whole family (the less active mom and daughter, Maddie, and the non member step dad), came to a baptism, so they could see what it was like.  The non member step dad (Mike) really felt the spirit, and is planning on coming to church next week!

SO about the shirts - I don't need them in a hurry, so Ill take some pictures, and get the sizes for next week.

Well, I love you family!  I hope that all is going well!

-Elder Cook

Letter to Home - October 18, 2010

Hey Family!

WOW!  This week has been amazing!  I don't think that I have ever seen so many miracles on my mission!  The Lord is blessing this area!  We had 2 amazing lessons with Zoey (the girl that just showed up to church last Sunday).  The second lesson we had with her, our ward mission leader (Bro. Bellisario) invited her to his house for dinner and a lesson.  (Sidenote:  Bro. Bellisario is the best ward mission leader I've ever had!  He is a young, recently married dental student, here in the City going to UCSF.  He and his wife have a 1 year old girl).  I thought that the dinner would be a little awkward at first (because we hadn't even known her for more than a week!), but it went really well.  She was very comfortable.  After dinner we had an AMAZING lesson!  We talked about the apostasy - truth being lost.  Then we watched the Restoration DVD.  After the movie we bore our testimonies of the prophet Joseph Smith, and the Restoration.  Then we talked about baptism, and the importance of following the example of Christ.  We invited her to be baptized on Nov. 20th and she didn't hesitate to say yes!  She is so prepared!  After the lesson she said, "I just love this feeling!"  The spirit is my best friend!  She came to church again yesterday and loved it!

Alright, next miracle - Our investigator Willie Watson, (the older African American man, who has scoliosis, and is in a wheel chair) has always told us that he would never come to church because he has a fear of being in big crowds.  Well, yesterday was his second time at church, and he loved it!  The Lord provided a way for him to over come his fear.  At our lesson with him this week he asked us when he could get baptized!  So, Willie will be getting baptized on Nov. 20th as well!  In church yesterday he told everyone in class that he is excited to be baptized!

Alright next miracle - Last Sunday we were out on the street, and a guy came up to us and asked us if we were Christian.  We told him yes, and he got all excited, because he is just beginning to learn about Christ.  So we set up a lesson with him.  We had 2 lessons with him this past week, and on the second one, we invited him to be baptized and he didn't hesitate to say yes!  He too will be baptized on Nov. 20th!  The Lord is truly preparing people to accept his gospel!  He came to church for the first time yesterday and loved it!

When Elder Jensen toured our mission last week, he said something that Ill always remember.  He said that many times in the scriptures the Lord tells his prophets that "I can do my own work".  If the Lord wanted to he could do everything that needs to get done by himself.  But because he loves us, and wants us to learn and grow, he allows us to assist him in "bringing about the immortality and eternal life of man".  We are to help each other home.  I know that if we are doing our best, and have desires to be the tools in the Lords hands - he will use us.

We also have 3 more investigators with a baptismal date - 2 more for November, and one for December. (Angelica, Maddie Miles, and Pa Lor).  We are being so blessed.

Then another miracle is that yesterday at church another man just walked in!  He saw our church and was curious so he came in!  he liked it, and we will start to teach him soon!

I love missionary work!  We should be so grateful to have the gospel.  To see the light and warmth that comes into an investigators life when they feel the spirit is the best thing I've ever experienced.  It is a miracle to see hearts change (including mine) as we come unto Christ.

Also, yesterday I had a neat experience - I ordained Matt to be a priest in the Aaronic priesthood.  I had never done it before, so it was a neat experience.

It has been a great week!  This week we have our training meetings again in the East Bay Tue-Fri, from 9am to 4pm!  It is for all the Zone Leaders, District Leaders and trainers in the mission.  So it will be a busy week!  President asked me and Elder Kesler to do a 3 hour training about "revelation through church attendance" on Thursday.  So it will be fun!

So, it sounds like fun to come back during spring break.  That would be like 3 days after I am released right?  Sure, sounds fun to me.

Well family I love you!  I hope that you all have a great week!  The church is true!

-Elder Cook

Letter to Home - October 25, 2010

Hey Family!

Well, things are going pretty well.  I am so grateful for the miracles that the Lord has blessed us with, and we continue to see great things in our area.  When things go great and we are being blessed, that is when the adversary works just as hard.  Everything is great, but me and Elder Kesler haven't been getting along to well lately.  He is a great missionary and we are working hard, but hes just testing my patience!  This is the last week of the transfer, so on Saturday I will find out if I stay here in San Francisco, or if I leave.  I will be happy to go where ever I am needed!

So this week is a bit crazy as well, because an Elder in our zone got sick, and had to go home.  We took in his companion, so we are in a trio for this week.  It is a little weird to be in a trio, but  its good.

So our investigators are doing great!  We had dinner with Zoe at a members house last night.  She is doing so good!  She is a miracle.  We moved her date up a week to November 13th.  She is loving everything that we teach her.

On Sunday the Miles family came to church for the first time!  Sis. Miles is less active (hasn't been to church in years), and she has 2 daughters - Ashton (15 yrs old)  and Maddie (10 yrs old).  Maddie was never baptized, so we have been teaching the family, and Maddie has a baptism date for Nov. 13th as well.  It was perfect, because it was there first time at church, and it was the primary program!  They loved it!  The primary program is the best sacrament meeting of the year!  They stayed for all three hours, and where able to meet a lot of the ward members.

In the singles ward, our investigator, Pablo, came to church again for his second time.  He is an interesting character, but we love him.  He is really making big changes in his life.  He used to be really into drugs, and it has taken a toll on his mind, but he loves meeting with us.  We meet with him three times a week!  One lesson we shared the message of the restoration, and after we taught him about Joseph Smiths experience, we paused for a few seconds to let him soak it in.  After a moment he looked up at us and said, "Alright I have 2 questions".  We looked at him, excited to answer his questions.  He said, "What type of cereal did you eat today?"  We had no idea where it came from!  Some days he does better than others, but he is super excited to be baptized!  The members have really taken him in and help him out.  We taught him the Word of Wisdom, and he loved it!  He was so excited, that he said, "I'm going vegan!"  We told him it was ok to eat animal products, and he agreed.

So Rex came back from Hawaii, and he got engaged!  He is marrying the less active member that he has been dating (Tracy).  The only problem is, is that she is not the best influence on him.  She encourages him not to go to church, and tells him that he wouldn't make a very good Mormon.  So we keep praying.

Pa Lor is supposed to be baptized this weekend, but she is feeling really nervous.  I think she needs more time.  If she doesn't get baptized this weekend it will probably be in January, because she is having a baby next month.

So, things are well!  I love the mission, and I love serving in the city.  If I get transferred I will really miss it, but I will serve where I am needed.

So, I was wondering if I could get a few more white shirts.  The ones that I have are getting pretty worn out (especially under the arm pits!  You know how I sweat!)  So I didn't know if missionary Mall would send some for free or not, but I need some pretty soon.  Probably just like 2 short sleeved ones and 1 long sleeved one.  Oh, and guess what!  I weighed myself the other day for the first time in a long time, and I have never been skinnier!  I am like 173!  I have lost weight!  When I was in the East Bay (and members fed us every day), I was 190!  Its crazy.

Well family I love you!  I hope that you have a great week, and have a fun Halloween!

-Elder Cook