Letter to Home - July 27, 2009

Well, I'm not going to mess around, and I'll give you the exciting news first - I'm leaving beautiful San Ramon! Yup, I've been transferred. I have mixed feelings about it. I'm really going to miss it here (especially the amazing members), but its time to experience a new area, and definitely time for a new companion! Transfer day is tomorrow, and I'm going to the Discovery Bay/Oakley/Brentwood area. Honestly, I'm not quite sure where it is at, but I'm serving in the Marsh Creek Ward, and its some where up there. My new area is in the very top corner of the mission (the furthest away from the mission home) and since it is far from the Bay, it is the "HOT SPOT" of the mission. We are talking like well over 100! The weird thing about this new transfer is that I will be in a three some. I'll have 2 companions! I'm not quite sure how I feel about that right now, but we will see. All i can do is go into it with a good attitude! Attitude = Altitude!

Well I had a neat, personal experience this week. It was a rough week. I was feeling pretty discouraged and I went into the bathroom, shut the door, got on my knees and prayed. I asked for peace and guidance. After I prayed, I went to my desk and started my personal study. I just so happened to be in the part of the Book of Mormon where Nephi and his family are about to die on the sea. I cant quite quote the scripture, but it said something like Call upon the Lord, and he will calm the storm. I felt the peace of the spirit, and received strength to move on.

I'm not going to lie, I'm a little scared about going to a new area, but I know that the Lord loves me and will help me. I'm going to learn and grow, but its going to be hard to leave everyone I love here in San Ramon. Oh, and don't worry quite yet.....My new area isn't ghetto, and from what I hear its safe. I hear that it is a more rural area, but I'll just have to wait and see.

I know that I'll be back in San Ramon soon, because a lot of the people I taught here are soooo close to baptism, and we are aloud to go to are old areas to see the people we taught get baptized.

Well this past week we got to go to the Visitors Center twice! Once with Shawna and Jonathon (they want to be baptized, but just need to get married), and once with James (soooo close to baptism!) They were both great trips.

Some of the wards here might have had a little 24th of July celebration, but I didn't hear anything about it.

Well, I sent a small package home today, so you should get it in a few days. Its flat, and just has some pictures in it, and a small birthday present for dad.

Well, I love you all and hope that your week is great. Sorry about last week, but trust me - It probably upset me more that you! I was mad!

Anyway, Dad- Have a great trip to CANADA!

Love ya'll!

 -Elder Tom Cook