Hi Family,
We had a miracle this week! This past week on Wednesday, was our first full day in our new area (the Sunset Ward). The area hasn't seen much success for a long time, and there isn't really any investigators being taught here when we got to the area. So on Wed. we got a media referral for this guy named Rex - he requested a BOM. So we went to deliver it, and when we knocked on his door, no one was home. We were bummed out, but decided to knock on his neighbors door that lives below him. We thought - Maybe we are supposed to be in this area not to contact the referral, but to talk with someone else. So we knocked on the door, and it opened, and a girl says, "Hey guys come on in." We were surprised! She said, the guy that ordered the BOM is here. So we went in and sat down on the couch. We met the referral - Rex, and his girlfriend, Tracy - a less active member. We had a great lesson! Rex is super prepared! We invited them to church, and yesterday he came for the first time! He is loving it! Tonight we are going to teach him the restoration, and invite him to be baptized! I am so grateful that on the very first day of being in our new area, the Lord has blessed us with an amazing investigator! Tracy (the less active member) is awesome too! She has a really strong testimony, but has just lost the path a bit. We are excited to work with them and watch them progress as they come closer to Christ.
Wow, our new area is crazy! It is just north of our old area, but it is closer to downtown, so it is a lot busier. We have learned to stay out of the Castro! We were trying to contact a less active member there, but were afraid too! We got out of the car, and the first person that walks by us, glared at us and said, "You are in the wrong neighborhood." So we tried to contact the less active, but they were not home, so we left. There is still a lot of hard feelings since prop 8. There was actually a new movie that came out in the City that's called "The Mormons Proposition" or something like that. So we just stay away from the Castro. Missionaries have been ran out, or people throw things at us. The City is crazy! But we are loving our new area. The ward is great, and we are excited to be here. It is weird living in San Francisco, it is very different from all of the other places that I have lived. Our neighborhood and the place we live is super ghetto! It's fun.
So last Tuesday I got toe surgery! It wasn't bad at all. It was pretty sore after, but I'm excited to be done with all of this nonsense, when it finally heals. I have to wear sandals for one more week then I should be in shoes again! I am just happy that is hasn't rained while I've been wearing sandals.
So I wasn't able to send home pictures last Monday, but I sent some home today.
Our fourth of July was just a normal, wonderful day of missionary work. We had a few great lessons with some less active members, then spent the night on the rail cars contacting people - most of them were heading downtown to see the fire works. Then in our neighborhood there was just a bunch of people light illegal fireworks all night long, and drinking booze. Nothing new.
Well family I love you! The church is true! The Lord truly loves all of his children, and is preparing people everywhere to receive the fullness of his gospel - even in San Francisco!
I love you!
-Elder Cook
Friday, October 31, 2014
Letter to Home - June 28, 2010
Hey Family!
So this week went well. Our investigators are doing great! Jimmy is the next scheduled for baptism on the 10th of July. I don't remember if I told you, but Michelle is out of town for a mouth, but I have no doubt that she will be baptized soon, when she comes back. Nathan, the ex-gangster from Southern California is doing so good! He is by far the most prepared investigator that I have ever taught. At first it scared me a little being in the home of some one who is fresh out of prison, but he wants to turn his life around. The spirit teaches him, and he is progressing very well. It's too bad that he can't be baptized for two years - until he is off parole.
Alright, so tomorrow we are taking the long commute to Walnut Creek to get my toe looked at. There is a member there that is a podiatrist. I had a priesthood blessing, and the church is true, because it has healed so well! It was a big open sore that was really bloody, and other nasty stuff came out all the time, but the sore part is almost all the way healed! The only problem is the swelling around my toe hasn't gone down much, so we are going to have it looked at. It used to hurt when I walked on it, but it doesn't anymore. So all is well, I will let you know next week if I had to get surgery!
Well, we had transfers this week, and it was quite exciting and unusual. So me and Elder Anderson are staying, but not in the same area. We are still going to be serving in the San Francisco 1st ward (the young single adult ward), but we are no longer going to serve in the South San Francisco ward. Instead we will cover the Sunset family Ward. So we are moving out of our apartment in South City, and we are moving to San Francisco! The Sunset ward covers a large part of San Francisco. It covers the Sunset District and the Mission District. It also cover the Castro! Its the gay part of the City, were all the homo people live - but we are asked to stay clear of that area! By the way, this weekend was San Francisco's annual "Gay Pride" celebration. I love San Francisco, but it is such a wicked city! Gay Pride Weekend is comparable to Mardi Gras or Carnival. So we have a lot of change coming up. We are still the zone leaders, and we have a lot of great missionaries coming into the zone. Oh, and this is Elder Anderson's last transfer too.
Before I forget, I did not get my new shoes from missionary mall. I was at the mission home on Tuesday, and they were not there.
So it is going to be sad to leave the South City Ward, because I am going to miss Sister Webb! She is my favorite! I will send pictures of her home today. Tonight we are going to have FHE with her and her 12 year old daughter. They have never heard of FHE so this will be there first one! It will be fun. Then tomorrow morning we are moving to the City!
So this weekend was the San Francisco West Stakes Conference. It was good! Our Stake here is super diverse! We have 3 English wards, 1 Chinese Branch, 1 Samoan Ward, and 1 Philippino Ward! It was a really neat experience that I will never forget - being in Stake Conference with people of all different races and cultures and backgrounds, but being united by the gospel of Jesus Christ. During the conference the Samoan Ward provided a choir. Wow! It was so good! I love the way that islanders sing - it was powerful. Our Stake Center is on a hill, right next to the ocean! I love serving by the ocean, it is beautiful!
Just a random tid bit - We were in a stake missionary coordination meeting, were the Stake President, the Zone Leaders, and the Ward Mission Leader discuss the missionary work in the Stake (the stake boundary and zone boundary are the same). The Branch President of the Chinese Branch was telling us how a lot of Chinese people that are being baptized here in San Francisco, are going back to China, and doing missionary work! Missionaries are not aloud in China yet, but the wards and branches in China are growing, because of these recent converts! The Lords work moves forward even in a place that doesn't allow full time missionaries. San Francisco has one of the nations largest China Towns, and the Chinese Branch here in the city is on fire!
Well family, I hope that you have an amazing week! Have a fun forth of July weekend! I love you!
-Elder Cook
ps. Mom - I loved the quote at the end of the letter this week! Thanks!
So this week went well. Our investigators are doing great! Jimmy is the next scheduled for baptism on the 10th of July. I don't remember if I told you, but Michelle is out of town for a mouth, but I have no doubt that she will be baptized soon, when she comes back. Nathan, the ex-gangster from Southern California is doing so good! He is by far the most prepared investigator that I have ever taught. At first it scared me a little being in the home of some one who is fresh out of prison, but he wants to turn his life around. The spirit teaches him, and he is progressing very well. It's too bad that he can't be baptized for two years - until he is off parole.
Alright, so tomorrow we are taking the long commute to Walnut Creek to get my toe looked at. There is a member there that is a podiatrist. I had a priesthood blessing, and the church is true, because it has healed so well! It was a big open sore that was really bloody, and other nasty stuff came out all the time, but the sore part is almost all the way healed! The only problem is the swelling around my toe hasn't gone down much, so we are going to have it looked at. It used to hurt when I walked on it, but it doesn't anymore. So all is well, I will let you know next week if I had to get surgery!
Well, we had transfers this week, and it was quite exciting and unusual. So me and Elder Anderson are staying, but not in the same area. We are still going to be serving in the San Francisco 1st ward (the young single adult ward), but we are no longer going to serve in the South San Francisco ward. Instead we will cover the Sunset family Ward. So we are moving out of our apartment in South City, and we are moving to San Francisco! The Sunset ward covers a large part of San Francisco. It covers the Sunset District and the Mission District. It also cover the Castro! Its the gay part of the City, were all the homo people live - but we are asked to stay clear of that area! By the way, this weekend was San Francisco's annual "Gay Pride" celebration. I love San Francisco, but it is such a wicked city! Gay Pride Weekend is comparable to Mardi Gras or Carnival. So we have a lot of change coming up. We are still the zone leaders, and we have a lot of great missionaries coming into the zone. Oh, and this is Elder Anderson's last transfer too.
Before I forget, I did not get my new shoes from missionary mall. I was at the mission home on Tuesday, and they were not there.
So it is going to be sad to leave the South City Ward, because I am going to miss Sister Webb! She is my favorite! I will send pictures of her home today. Tonight we are going to have FHE with her and her 12 year old daughter. They have never heard of FHE so this will be there first one! It will be fun. Then tomorrow morning we are moving to the City!
So this weekend was the San Francisco West Stakes Conference. It was good! Our Stake here is super diverse! We have 3 English wards, 1 Chinese Branch, 1 Samoan Ward, and 1 Philippino Ward! It was a really neat experience that I will never forget - being in Stake Conference with people of all different races and cultures and backgrounds, but being united by the gospel of Jesus Christ. During the conference the Samoan Ward provided a choir. Wow! It was so good! I love the way that islanders sing - it was powerful. Our Stake Center is on a hill, right next to the ocean! I love serving by the ocean, it is beautiful!
Just a random tid bit - We were in a stake missionary coordination meeting, were the Stake President, the Zone Leaders, and the Ward Mission Leader discuss the missionary work in the Stake (the stake boundary and zone boundary are the same). The Branch President of the Chinese Branch was telling us how a lot of Chinese people that are being baptized here in San Francisco, are going back to China, and doing missionary work! Missionaries are not aloud in China yet, but the wards and branches in China are growing, because of these recent converts! The Lords work moves forward even in a place that doesn't allow full time missionaries. San Francisco has one of the nations largest China Towns, and the Chinese Branch here in the city is on fire!
Well family, I hope that you have an amazing week! Have a fun forth of July weekend! I love you!
-Elder Cook
ps. Mom - I loved the quote at the end of the letter this week! Thanks!
Letter to Home - June 21, 2010
Hi Family!
Well my toe is still nasty. I called the mission nurse and she told me to be patient. Then yesterday, I talked to Mark (the person we just baptized) because he is a surgeon resident at UCSF, and he said that I should get surgery right away! So, the nurse is going to look at it again tomorrow and we will see what happens!
This week was a little slow, but we did have Sis Webb's baptism! Amy didn't get baptized, because she wants her boyfriend to baptize her, but he has some worthiness issues to work out with the Bishop. But she is still solid. But, Sis. Webb's baptism was so good! She was praising the Lord all night! We actually had to have President Wade interview her for her baptism, so on Friday night we had a member drive her across the bay, over to Oakland. After the interview, President called us and said, "Elder Cook! You didn't tell me you were sending me a Pentecostal preacher! Holy smokes brother you've got to warn me!" It was funny. We had a good laugh, and he thanked us for being the best missionaries in the mission! (just kidding he didn't say that, but I'm sure he wanted to) She is one of my favorite investigators that I've taught. After we confirmed her in sacrament meeting on Sunday, she did a little dance in front of everyone because she was so excited! I love her! Now we hope to start teaching her 12 year old daughter.
So all is well. Michelle (the Chinese girl) is going to be out of town for a whole month! So that was a bummer. She is going to visit her sister in Canada, and her sister doesn't like Mormons, so we hope she doesn't get antied! Michelle is solid, so she'll be good.
Thank you so much for sending the camera card and my debit card - I got them both! The camera card works great, and my camera isn't broke! So I'll send the other one home - it has a lot of pictures on it!
Well family I love you! I hope that you have a great week!
-Elder Cook
Well my toe is still nasty. I called the mission nurse and she told me to be patient. Then yesterday, I talked to Mark (the person we just baptized) because he is a surgeon resident at UCSF, and he said that I should get surgery right away! So, the nurse is going to look at it again tomorrow and we will see what happens!
This week was a little slow, but we did have Sis Webb's baptism! Amy didn't get baptized, because she wants her boyfriend to baptize her, but he has some worthiness issues to work out with the Bishop. But she is still solid. But, Sis. Webb's baptism was so good! She was praising the Lord all night! We actually had to have President Wade interview her for her baptism, so on Friday night we had a member drive her across the bay, over to Oakland. After the interview, President called us and said, "Elder Cook! You didn't tell me you were sending me a Pentecostal preacher! Holy smokes brother you've got to warn me!" It was funny. We had a good laugh, and he thanked us for being the best missionaries in the mission! (just kidding he didn't say that, but I'm sure he wanted to) She is one of my favorite investigators that I've taught. After we confirmed her in sacrament meeting on Sunday, she did a little dance in front of everyone because she was so excited! I love her! Now we hope to start teaching her 12 year old daughter.
So all is well. Michelle (the Chinese girl) is going to be out of town for a whole month! So that was a bummer. She is going to visit her sister in Canada, and her sister doesn't like Mormons, so we hope she doesn't get antied! Michelle is solid, so she'll be good.
Thank you so much for sending the camera card and my debit card - I got them both! The camera card works great, and my camera isn't broke! So I'll send the other one home - it has a lot of pictures on it!
Well family I love you! I hope that you have a great week!
-Elder Cook
Letter to Home - May 31, 2010
Hi Family!
So, first off, I did get my card! After I emailed last week we went back to the apartment and checked the mail, and it was there. So no worries.
Well I'm loving this area more and more! This week was good. We found a new investigator (actually she found us!) and her name is Michelle Chiu (she is from China, but speaks perfect English). She came to church last week (in the singles ward), and she was talking with Stacey, one of the members. They instantly became friends, and we just assumed that Stacey and her had been friends for awhile, and that Stacey invited her to church. We had a great lesson with her and Stacey (Michelle is SUPER prepared) and we set a baptismal date for June 26th. Later on that week, we called Stacey to find out how much contact she has with Michelle, and Stacey said she never even sees her! We thought they were good friends, but they just know each other from work. Michelle has totally been investigating all by herself, no one really invited her to! But now they are good friends, and Stacey is taking care of her.
Also Mark Scott had to be interviewed by President Wade for baptism this week, and he is all good to go! He has changed from being homosexual, and is ready to enter into the covenant of baptism! He is so ready. Jimmy should also be baptized this week end (2 baptisms in one day!), but may have to wait a few weeks. He will defiantly be baptized soon, he just has some testimony issues. We want to make sure that he is ready.
Also Amy Linn is preparing to be baptized on June 19th. If everything goes well this month we are going to have 2 baptisms the first week of June, one the second week, one the third week, and one the forth! We have 5 people scheduled to be baptized in June! The Lord is really blessing us here in this area!
So this week I had a really awesome experience. We went on 24 hour exchanges with the Chinese Elders in our zone. In San Francisco there in a Chinese Ward. By the way, there are sooooo many Chinese people here! There are almost just as much Chinese people as there are white people - no joke! So I spent Saturday in the Chinese program with Elder Chan from Hong Kong. We started the day off by going to the church to teach English class. The Chinese Elders don't have a car, they rely on the city's public transportation to get around (buses, BART, and rail cars). So there is ALWAYS plenty of people to talk to! I'm not going to lie I was a bit scared! I have been on the outer East Bay my whole mission, cover the suburb areas, where there is never anyone walking the streets, and tracting is really the only form of contacting. Here in the City, there are people everywhere! It is always busy! So we rode the bus to the church in the morning for English class. We met the other Elders there, Elder Wong, and Elder Zhang. When we got there they told me I would be teaching, and I was surprised! I was the only missionary there from the states, and the only one that spoke English fluently (and with no accent). So me and Elder Wong taught the beginning class. There was about 10 people there. I mostly just talked to them and they repeated the words that I said (to help them with their pronunciation). It was a blast! Chinese people are so cool! Elder Wong helped me out and translated for me as I taught. It was a fun experience. Then we spent most of the day finding. We rode the rail cars for most of the day talking to people. It was a good day.
So I have a little bit of bad news... I dropped my camera the other day, and it broke! Ya, its a bummer. So I was wondering if you could send me my old one (if you can find it). I think that it is in my night stand next to my bed. If you cant find it let me know, and I will just buy one out here. If you can find it, make sure that you send the battery recharger with it too! Thank you!
I am still working out the whole drivers license thing, but all is well. Elder Anderson is driving so its good. And yes, I did get the money that Grandma Smith sent. Oh, and I was wondering if you could do one more favor for me... Could you take out 25 dollars out of my account and pay it to tithing for me? I haven't been paying tithing for money that people have been giving me while I've been on my mission! That would be great!
Well family I love you! Have a great week!
-Elder Cook
So, first off, I did get my card! After I emailed last week we went back to the apartment and checked the mail, and it was there. So no worries.
Well I'm loving this area more and more! This week was good. We found a new investigator (actually she found us!) and her name is Michelle Chiu (she is from China, but speaks perfect English). She came to church last week (in the singles ward), and she was talking with Stacey, one of the members. They instantly became friends, and we just assumed that Stacey and her had been friends for awhile, and that Stacey invited her to church. We had a great lesson with her and Stacey (Michelle is SUPER prepared) and we set a baptismal date for June 26th. Later on that week, we called Stacey to find out how much contact she has with Michelle, and Stacey said she never even sees her! We thought they were good friends, but they just know each other from work. Michelle has totally been investigating all by herself, no one really invited her to! But now they are good friends, and Stacey is taking care of her.
Also Mark Scott had to be interviewed by President Wade for baptism this week, and he is all good to go! He has changed from being homosexual, and is ready to enter into the covenant of baptism! He is so ready. Jimmy should also be baptized this week end (2 baptisms in one day!), but may have to wait a few weeks. He will defiantly be baptized soon, he just has some testimony issues. We want to make sure that he is ready.
Also Amy Linn is preparing to be baptized on June 19th. If everything goes well this month we are going to have 2 baptisms the first week of June, one the second week, one the third week, and one the forth! We have 5 people scheduled to be baptized in June! The Lord is really blessing us here in this area!
So this week I had a really awesome experience. We went on 24 hour exchanges with the Chinese Elders in our zone. In San Francisco there in a Chinese Ward. By the way, there are sooooo many Chinese people here! There are almost just as much Chinese people as there are white people - no joke! So I spent Saturday in the Chinese program with Elder Chan from Hong Kong. We started the day off by going to the church to teach English class. The Chinese Elders don't have a car, they rely on the city's public transportation to get around (buses, BART, and rail cars). So there is ALWAYS plenty of people to talk to! I'm not going to lie I was a bit scared! I have been on the outer East Bay my whole mission, cover the suburb areas, where there is never anyone walking the streets, and tracting is really the only form of contacting. Here in the City, there are people everywhere! It is always busy! So we rode the bus to the church in the morning for English class. We met the other Elders there, Elder Wong, and Elder Zhang. When we got there they told me I would be teaching, and I was surprised! I was the only missionary there from the states, and the only one that spoke English fluently (and with no accent). So me and Elder Wong taught the beginning class. There was about 10 people there. I mostly just talked to them and they repeated the words that I said (to help them with their pronunciation). It was a blast! Chinese people are so cool! Elder Wong helped me out and translated for me as I taught. It was a fun experience. Then we spent most of the day finding. We rode the rail cars for most of the day talking to people. It was a good day.
So I have a little bit of bad news... I dropped my camera the other day, and it broke! Ya, its a bummer. So I was wondering if you could send me my old one (if you can find it). I think that it is in my night stand next to my bed. If you cant find it let me know, and I will just buy one out here. If you can find it, make sure that you send the battery recharger with it too! Thank you!
I am still working out the whole drivers license thing, but all is well. Elder Anderson is driving so its good. And yes, I did get the money that Grandma Smith sent. Oh, and I was wondering if you could do one more favor for me... Could you take out 25 dollars out of my account and pay it to tithing for me? I haven't been paying tithing for money that people have been giving me while I've been on my mission! That would be great!
Well family I love you! Have a great week!
-Elder Cook
Letter to Home - May 24, 2010
Hey Family!
Well I am here on the Peninsula! The new area is different, but I love it. So, me and my companion Elder Anderson (from Alberta Canada) cover 2 wards. We cover the north part of the South San Francisco Family Ward, and also the San Francisco Singles Ward. The part of the South City ward, covers the very bottom part of San Francisco, and the Singles Ward covers the whole Peninsula! (including downtown) So our area is huge! We live in South San Francisco (which is a totally different city than San Francisco). The city is pretty crazy. Most of the time we are working in our family ward area, but we go downtown every once in a while. The first time I went downtown, it was crazy awesome! Wow, it was like my dream come true (you know me, and tall buildings!) We took BART in from Daly City, and in San Francisco BART is all underground, like a subway. We have a car in our area, but we also have a pass that lets us ride BART, buses and the rail cars in the city. We came out of the Bart station, and there were tall buildings everywhere! SF is a very busy city! The Church owns a teaching office in the financial district, in an office building, and we meet people there to have lessons.
So the work here is going great! Currently we have 6 people with dates to be baptized! I have met most of our investigators and they are all awesome. We have been working with a guy in the singles ward, named Mark. He lives in the Sunset District, which is right next to the ocean. (By the way, you know the song Ocean Avenue by Yellow Card? The Ocean Ave, that they are singing about is in my area!) Anyway, Mark is awesome. He has a date to be baptized on June 11. He is a recovering homosexual (the first one that I've taught). He has such a great testimony of the restored gospel, and now just has this one last hurtle to overcome before he is baptized. He wants to do what is right, but has a problem excepting that homosexuality is wrong. He knows and understands the importance of being baptized and wants to be sure he can keep the covenants he will be making, before he does it. He is great.
We are also teaching a girl named Amy, and a guy named Jimmi. They both go to the singles ward, and both will be baptized in June. In the family ward that we cover we are teaching some cool people as well. We are teaching this black family (a single mom and her 11 year old daughter) and they both want to be baptized, but we think that they might be a little crazy. They aren't really willing to learn, and every time we try to have a lesson, she always preaches to us (she is southern Baptist). So we are not sure why she even wants to be baptized, but I have never taught anyone as crazy! They are way cool, and I love them, but we want to make sure that they are accountable to be baptized. So this area is doing well! I'm learning what it takes to be a Zone Leader. My companion Elder Anderson only has 2 transfers left, and has been a Zone Leader for almost a year. He is a great missionary. He is kinda shy and quiet, but he is great! I'm excited and thankful to be his companion.
San Francisco is sooooo cold! It has been in the lower 50's this past week! There is almost always a 30 degree difference from SF to the Pittsburg/Brentwood area. Mark Twain said "The coldest winter I've ever spent was a summer in San Francisco!" Yup, its cold here. Also the houses here are crazy! They are all connected to each other! All of the houses in the city are all attached to each other, and the hills here are outrageous! The city is built on hills! Sometimes when we are driving around I'm afraid that the car wont make it up some of the hills here! I'm also glad that I'm not driving, because people in the city are crazy drivers! So since I cover the whole San Francisco area, I have a little bit of every thing - nice parts, average parts, ghetto parts, really ghetto parts, and gay parts. The city is very diverse!
I'm grateful to have the gospel in my life and have the opportunity to share it with others - full time! I LOVE the scriptures. We are so blessed to have a living prophet, and the knowledge of the FULLNESS of the gospel! What joy and peace, come from living the gospel! It makes me so happy to know what I know. I know that Heavenly Father has a Plan for us, and that it is through the Savior Jesus Christ that all things are possible. Wow, we are blessed! I love you all so much! I hope that you have a great week!
Kenna - Did you disown me too?! I haven't heard from my favorite sister in a while...
Dad - It is always good to hear from you, I love you!
Mom - Wow, I was surprised that you got released from being RS president. I know that you did an AMAZING job! Your the best. (and I'm serious!) Oh, and I have not yet received my debit card. And it wont be a problem if my shoes get here in a few weeks, I can wait. I love you!
Well I am here on the Peninsula! The new area is different, but I love it. So, me and my companion Elder Anderson (from Alberta Canada) cover 2 wards. We cover the north part of the South San Francisco Family Ward, and also the San Francisco Singles Ward. The part of the South City ward, covers the very bottom part of San Francisco, and the Singles Ward covers the whole Peninsula! (including downtown) So our area is huge! We live in South San Francisco (which is a totally different city than San Francisco). The city is pretty crazy. Most of the time we are working in our family ward area, but we go downtown every once in a while. The first time I went downtown, it was crazy awesome! Wow, it was like my dream come true (you know me, and tall buildings!) We took BART in from Daly City, and in San Francisco BART is all underground, like a subway. We have a car in our area, but we also have a pass that lets us ride BART, buses and the rail cars in the city. We came out of the Bart station, and there were tall buildings everywhere! SF is a very busy city! The Church owns a teaching office in the financial district, in an office building, and we meet people there to have lessons.
So the work here is going great! Currently we have 6 people with dates to be baptized! I have met most of our investigators and they are all awesome. We have been working with a guy in the singles ward, named Mark. He lives in the Sunset District, which is right next to the ocean. (By the way, you know the song Ocean Avenue by Yellow Card? The Ocean Ave, that they are singing about is in my area!) Anyway, Mark is awesome. He has a date to be baptized on June 11. He is a recovering homosexual (the first one that I've taught). He has such a great testimony of the restored gospel, and now just has this one last hurtle to overcome before he is baptized. He wants to do what is right, but has a problem excepting that homosexuality is wrong. He knows and understands the importance of being baptized and wants to be sure he can keep the covenants he will be making, before he does it. He is great.
We are also teaching a girl named Amy, and a guy named Jimmi. They both go to the singles ward, and both will be baptized in June. In the family ward that we cover we are teaching some cool people as well. We are teaching this black family (a single mom and her 11 year old daughter) and they both want to be baptized, but we think that they might be a little crazy. They aren't really willing to learn, and every time we try to have a lesson, she always preaches to us (she is southern Baptist). So we are not sure why she even wants to be baptized, but I have never taught anyone as crazy! They are way cool, and I love them, but we want to make sure that they are accountable to be baptized. So this area is doing well! I'm learning what it takes to be a Zone Leader. My companion Elder Anderson only has 2 transfers left, and has been a Zone Leader for almost a year. He is a great missionary. He is kinda shy and quiet, but he is great! I'm excited and thankful to be his companion.
San Francisco is sooooo cold! It has been in the lower 50's this past week! There is almost always a 30 degree difference from SF to the Pittsburg/Brentwood area. Mark Twain said "The coldest winter I've ever spent was a summer in San Francisco!" Yup, its cold here. Also the houses here are crazy! They are all connected to each other! All of the houses in the city are all attached to each other, and the hills here are outrageous! The city is built on hills! Sometimes when we are driving around I'm afraid that the car wont make it up some of the hills here! I'm also glad that I'm not driving, because people in the city are crazy drivers! So since I cover the whole San Francisco area, I have a little bit of every thing - nice parts, average parts, ghetto parts, really ghetto parts, and gay parts. The city is very diverse!
I'm grateful to have the gospel in my life and have the opportunity to share it with others - full time! I LOVE the scriptures. We are so blessed to have a living prophet, and the knowledge of the FULLNESS of the gospel! What joy and peace, come from living the gospel! It makes me so happy to know what I know. I know that Heavenly Father has a Plan for us, and that it is through the Savior Jesus Christ that all things are possible. Wow, we are blessed! I love you all so much! I hope that you have a great week!
Kenna - Did you disown me too?! I haven't heard from my favorite sister in a while...
Dad - It is always good to hear from you, I love you!
Mom - Wow, I was surprised that you got released from being RS president. I know that you did an AMAZING job! Your the best. (and I'm serious!) Oh, and I have not yet received my debit card. And it wont be a problem if my shoes get here in a few weeks, I can wait. I love you!
Letter to Home - May 17, 2010
WOW! You wont believe what happened for transfers! I am going to the city! SAN FRANCISCO! It has been my dream to serve in the city. I have been asked by President to serve as a zone leader of the San Francisco West Zone. I am so excited! My companion will be Elder Anderson from Canada, he is a great missionary. Wow, I'm excited, and also very nervous. I anticipated one day serving as a zone leader and I have been dreaming about going to the city, but I never thought they would both come at once! I am humbled for the opportunity. It will definitely make me grow as I serve the people on the other side of the Bay, and also the missionaries in my zone. I know the Lord will help me fulfill the work that he has prepared for me, just as he has done for me in the past. I have heard CRAZY things about San Francisco! There are a bunch of crazies, so it should be fun.
So the way transfers work, is that we get the transfer call on Saturday night, of where we are going, and who our companion will be. Then we have Sun, and Mon, to prepare to leave (pack up, and say goodbye to those we taught), then on Tuesday morning we go to our new areas. I have been in this stake for the longest time - it is going to be weird leaving, but I know that President Wade is inspired, and that there is work I need to do in San Francisco.
So the other good news is that I past my driving test! I have a California learners permit right now, and I need to contact the Utah DMV to get a document that proves I have a active Utah drivers license (so that I don't have to take the behind the wheel test here). So I have that all taken care of. I will mail my birth certificate home when this is all over.
So I had my last appointment with Dr. Wright this morning. He has helped me sooooo much with my back (which is doing great!) I have been going to him every Monday morning for 7 months! He has done so much for me.
One cool experience that we had this week was late one night, only a few minutes before we had to be in our apartment, we decided to stop by this old man in our ward from Germany named Bro. Prawitt. He and his family were refuges from World War 2. We shared a scripture with him, and it was one of those times where we were led to the right place at the right time, and we said the right things. He asked us how we can know when we are forgiven for our sins. We had the opportunity to have a great discussion about the atonement and about repentance and forgiveness. He has been carrying a sin around for years, and we encouraged him to counsel with the Bishop. After we said a closing prayer her said "I am so grateful that you two came over tonight!" It was a neat experience.
Another cool thing this week was that I got to ride BART for the first time! Someone that Elder Watkins taught in Fremont got baptized, so we got to go down for the baptism. So, we live in Pittsburg, which is the most northern part of the mission, and we had to go to Fremont, which is the most southern part of the mission. So it took awhile to get there! We rode BART and it took about an hour and twenty minutes. But BART is so fun! A lot of it is underground (like a subway), and then it also goes above the ground. I got to see a lot of the Bay Area that I have never seen before. The Bay Area is so diverse! As people got on and off the train I saw more nationalities in one hour than I ever did back home!
So, about my debit card, if you could change the pin to **** that would be great. And about the shoes, they are ten and a half prophets.
Thank you for everything! I love you!
-Elder Cook
PS The picture in "The Hood" is Bay Point (aka: Gun Point). I just had to take a ghetto picture to remind me of this area!
So the way transfers work, is that we get the transfer call on Saturday night, of where we are going, and who our companion will be. Then we have Sun, and Mon, to prepare to leave (pack up, and say goodbye to those we taught), then on Tuesday morning we go to our new areas. I have been in this stake for the longest time - it is going to be weird leaving, but I know that President Wade is inspired, and that there is work I need to do in San Francisco.
So the other good news is that I past my driving test! I have a California learners permit right now, and I need to contact the Utah DMV to get a document that proves I have a active Utah drivers license (so that I don't have to take the behind the wheel test here). So I have that all taken care of. I will mail my birth certificate home when this is all over.
So I had my last appointment with Dr. Wright this morning. He has helped me sooooo much with my back (which is doing great!) I have been going to him every Monday morning for 7 months! He has done so much for me.
One cool experience that we had this week was late one night, only a few minutes before we had to be in our apartment, we decided to stop by this old man in our ward from Germany named Bro. Prawitt. He and his family were refuges from World War 2. We shared a scripture with him, and it was one of those times where we were led to the right place at the right time, and we said the right things. He asked us how we can know when we are forgiven for our sins. We had the opportunity to have a great discussion about the atonement and about repentance and forgiveness. He has been carrying a sin around for years, and we encouraged him to counsel with the Bishop. After we said a closing prayer her said "I am so grateful that you two came over tonight!" It was a neat experience.
Another cool thing this week was that I got to ride BART for the first time! Someone that Elder Watkins taught in Fremont got baptized, so we got to go down for the baptism. So, we live in Pittsburg, which is the most northern part of the mission, and we had to go to Fremont, which is the most southern part of the mission. So it took awhile to get there! We rode BART and it took about an hour and twenty minutes. But BART is so fun! A lot of it is underground (like a subway), and then it also goes above the ground. I got to see a lot of the Bay Area that I have never seen before. The Bay Area is so diverse! As people got on and off the train I saw more nationalities in one hour than I ever did back home!
So, about my debit card, if you could change the pin to **** that would be great. And about the shoes, they are ten and a half prophets.
Thank you for everything! I love you!
-Elder Cook
PS The picture in "The Hood" is Bay Point (aka: Gun Point). I just had to take a ghetto picture to remind me of this area!
Letter to Home - May 10, 2010
I was happy to talk with you yesterday! It was good to hear from Grandma Cook too, I am glad that she was there. Well, I hope that you had a wonderful Mothers Day! I am going to print off some pictures today, and hopefully send some home. I have a busy p-day today, because we are going to the DMV to get me a new drivers license! So I got the birth certificate from Elder Jackson, and it is like the real deal! So, when I am done with it, I will just send it back, right? I hope I don't fail the written test!
So I forgot to tell you yesterday that on Saturday morning it was Mormon Helping Hands Day! All over California wards did service projects in their community. Our ward went to a park in Pittsburg and planted trees and flowers, painted benches and tables and picked up trash along the creek that runs through the park. It was fun. After the service project we had a ward picnic. Then that night was Tuis baptism! Since Tui lives with Tongans (and she is part Tongan) after her baptism, we had a feast! They made so much food! It was a good day.
Yup, so things are great. I hope that you all have a great week!
-Elder Cook
So I forgot to tell you yesterday that on Saturday morning it was Mormon Helping Hands Day! All over California wards did service projects in their community. Our ward went to a park in Pittsburg and planted trees and flowers, painted benches and tables and picked up trash along the creek that runs through the park. It was fun. After the service project we had a ward picnic. Then that night was Tuis baptism! Since Tui lives with Tongans (and she is part Tongan) after her baptism, we had a feast! They made so much food! It was a good day.
Yup, so things are great. I hope that you all have a great week!
-Elder Cook
Letter to Home - May 3, 2010
Hi!
Things are going great! We had kind of a slow week, but things are still good. Today I lost my wallet! It is it either lost or stolen, I don't know. It has been a stressful p-day, but things will work out. So about the Mothers day call - we get 40 minutes again, and I should be able to call Tyson. So when I talk to you on Sunday we will have to work everything out with my wallet gone missing, like my debit card, and my drivers license. It really sucks loosing your wallet, but Im trying not to let it worry me. So other than that crappy event, things are good.
I cant believe that everyone is getting married! Crystal got married!? Wow. I just got a letter from Savanna Williams and she told me that Christina Mesler is getting married. I also heard that Alyssa Roberts is getting married, and Vanessa too! Wow, it is weird.
This weekend we had our stake conference. Elder Kukuchi (I have no idea how to spell his name) from the 70 was there. I also got to see a lot of friendly faces from the Marsh Creek ward! I got to talk with Bishop Garrison for awhile. It was great to see him! I love that Sister Garrison sent some money for the fundraiser! They are the best! During Christmas they paid for Elder Malani's phone call to Fiji, and it ended costing over $300! I love the Garrisons! But anyway Stake Conference was great! I have noticed that I have been in the Antioch Stake for almost a year!
Well we have a baptism this weekend! Tui (too-ee) Taufa (ta-oo-fa) will be getting baptized. She asked me to speak at her baptism. She is awesome! We have only been teaching her for 2 months! Me and Elder Watkins were the only ones to teach her (and that is rare!) Usually converts go through quite a few missionaries before they are baptized.
Well I have to go, but I love you and will talk to you on Sunday! I will probably call in the evening around 8:00pm your time.
LOVE YOU!
-Elder Cook
Things are going great! We had kind of a slow week, but things are still good. Today I lost my wallet! It is it either lost or stolen, I don't know. It has been a stressful p-day, but things will work out. So about the Mothers day call - we get 40 minutes again, and I should be able to call Tyson. So when I talk to you on Sunday we will have to work everything out with my wallet gone missing, like my debit card, and my drivers license. It really sucks loosing your wallet, but Im trying not to let it worry me. So other than that crappy event, things are good.
I cant believe that everyone is getting married! Crystal got married!? Wow. I just got a letter from Savanna Williams and she told me that Christina Mesler is getting married. I also heard that Alyssa Roberts is getting married, and Vanessa too! Wow, it is weird.
This weekend we had our stake conference. Elder Kukuchi (I have no idea how to spell his name) from the 70 was there. I also got to see a lot of friendly faces from the Marsh Creek ward! I got to talk with Bishop Garrison for awhile. It was great to see him! I love that Sister Garrison sent some money for the fundraiser! They are the best! During Christmas they paid for Elder Malani's phone call to Fiji, and it ended costing over $300! I love the Garrisons! But anyway Stake Conference was great! I have noticed that I have been in the Antioch Stake for almost a year!
Well we have a baptism this weekend! Tui (too-ee) Taufa (ta-oo-fa) will be getting baptized. She asked me to speak at her baptism. She is awesome! We have only been teaching her for 2 months! Me and Elder Watkins were the only ones to teach her (and that is rare!) Usually converts go through quite a few missionaries before they are baptized.
Well I have to go, but I love you and will talk to you on Sunday! I will probably call in the evening around 8:00pm your time.
LOVE YOU!
-Elder Cook
Letter to Home - April 19, 2010
Hey Family!
Wow, this was a good week. The highlight of the week was of course Jerry's baptism! Jerry is the oldest guy that I have ever seen get baptized! (he is 75). It was a wonderful day. Now that Jerry is baptized we are really going to start focusing on Martha.
This week we had a funny experience. We are working with a ex-comunicated member named sister Molinari. All we are doing is reading the scriptures with her and helping her find her way back. We as missionaries don't have stewardship over excommunicated people, we act under the direction of the bishop. Anyway, Sis. Molinari was in a horrible car accident a few years ago, and is now paralyzed from the waist down. So she cruises around in one of those motorized wheel chairs. So we dropped in unannounced this past week, and when she heard us coming up the ramp, I heard her say, "Oh crap!" We walked up to the door (which was open) and said "hey Sis. Molinari, how are ya?" She was so embarrassed because she was sitting there in her front room drinking a beer! She wheeled over to us and we I asked her if she should be drinking and driving! We all had a good laugh. Sis. Molinari has some things to overcome, but she is great.
We found 3 new investigators this week! We have a lot of brand new investigators, and most of them are doing well. One of our new investigators, Henrietta, loved the firs lesson sooo much! She is excited to read from the Book of Mormon, and meet with us tomorrow. Out of 10 investigators that we are teaching, only 2 of them are white people! The Bay Area is super diverse!
Things are going great! Thank you for sending the pictures of Kenna's prom! I loved them! I couldn't believe that I was looking at my little sister! Wow, she is beautiful.
I love you all, and hope that you have a great week!
-Elder Cook
Wow, this was a good week. The highlight of the week was of course Jerry's baptism! Jerry is the oldest guy that I have ever seen get baptized! (he is 75). It was a wonderful day. Now that Jerry is baptized we are really going to start focusing on Martha.
This week we had a funny experience. We are working with a ex-comunicated member named sister Molinari. All we are doing is reading the scriptures with her and helping her find her way back. We as missionaries don't have stewardship over excommunicated people, we act under the direction of the bishop. Anyway, Sis. Molinari was in a horrible car accident a few years ago, and is now paralyzed from the waist down. So she cruises around in one of those motorized wheel chairs. So we dropped in unannounced this past week, and when she heard us coming up the ramp, I heard her say, "Oh crap!" We walked up to the door (which was open) and said "hey Sis. Molinari, how are ya?" She was so embarrassed because she was sitting there in her front room drinking a beer! She wheeled over to us and we I asked her if she should be drinking and driving! We all had a good laugh. Sis. Molinari has some things to overcome, but she is great.
We found 3 new investigators this week! We have a lot of brand new investigators, and most of them are doing well. One of our new investigators, Henrietta, loved the firs lesson sooo much! She is excited to read from the Book of Mormon, and meet with us tomorrow. Out of 10 investigators that we are teaching, only 2 of them are white people! The Bay Area is super diverse!
Things are going great! Thank you for sending the pictures of Kenna's prom! I loved them! I couldn't believe that I was looking at my little sister! Wow, she is beautiful.
I love you all, and hope that you have a great week!
-Elder Cook
Letter to Home - April 12, 2010
Hey Family!
I was excited to hear that Elder Williams is serving in the Marsh Creek ward! He is in my zone, but not in my district. On Sunday was our ward conference, and since Sister Garrison has a stake calling, she was there and I was able to see her! It was good to talk to her for a little bit. She is happy to have Elder Williams living with them.
So yes I am still serving as a district leader, and this past week, we had a district leader conference in Oakland, up on Temple Hill. All of the district leaders in the mission met and we were trained by President Wade and the assistants. It was an amazing meeting! I love learning from President Wade. The spirit in the meeting was so strong. President talked about the righteous influence of one who is obedient. He looked at all of us district leaders (I'm going to guess that there are 30 DL's in the mission), and he said, "I hope you feel the power among this group." He went on to talk about how we need to fortify, and lift other missionaries by example. It was one of the most amazing meetings that i have been to. It is hard sometimes being a district leader, but being able to go to these kind of meetings with President Wade, makes it all worth it! After the meeting we all went over to the mission home and had lunch. After lunch, there was an additional 2 hour meeting for those who have been newly called as DL's. I didn't have to go to it, but the missionary I drove up with did, so I had to wait. The only other missionary that had to wait as well, was my best friend form the MTC, Elder Kesler! So it was good to sit and talk with him, about how his mission is going. He is doing great! He is a District Leader in my greenie area. We talked about how we couldn't believe that we have already been out for one year! HOLY COW, it is going fast! We got ourselves all excited about putting everything on the line for this last year, and to have no regrets! It was good to talk with him.
So the week went well. Jerry passed his interview and is going to be baptized this Saturday! Also we set a baptismal date with Tui for 5/8/2010. We took her to a baptism in Antioch, and the person that got baptized had to be dunked 4 times, before they did it right! After the baptism, Tui said, "Elders its only going to take me once!" She enjoyed the baptism.
On Saturday was a day full of baptism! Jerry had his interview, I gave an interview, we took Jerry and Martha to a baptism in the morning, and then took Tui to that baptism at night! It was a great weekend!
So Jerry and Martha printed off all the pictures that they took at my little birthday party, and gave them to me, so I'm sending them all home.
And I loved the birthday package you sent me! My Tongan roommates had never seen silly string before, and we had a blast with it! Thank you!
Well have a great week! I love you!
-Elder Cook
Letter to Home - April 5, 2010
Hi Family,
Well we had a good week. We got transfer calls on Saturday, and I wasn't surprised at all to find out that me and Elder Watkins will be staying for another transfer together here in Pittsburg. I would have been sad if I had to leave, so Im excited that we are staying. My Tongan roommate - Elder Latu - has finished his mission and will be going home. My new roommate is Elder Ouellette! My first comp in Marsh Creek. So that will be fun.
Well this week we found a new investigator. His name is Alan. He is an African american, and lives in the more ghetto part of Pittsburg. We taught him the first lesson and it went really well. He even watched the BYU channel the next morning, about Joseph Smith! He is cool guy. Our other investigators are doing well. Tui (Too-ee) is awesome. She is loving what we teach, even though she learns a little slower than most. The wonderful thing about Preach My Gospel is we can take the lessons as slow as we want. As long as Tui is feeling the spirit, learning and progressing, and gaining a testimony, that is all that matters. She is a very visual learner, and every time we watch a movie with her, like finding faith in Christ, she cries.
Angel, our 9 year old investigator, is ready to be baptized, as soon as her mom is reactivated. We don't want to baptize her with no support, so we would like her mom to start coming out to church more often. It is really really hard to see people be lazy about living the gospel. It is hard to see people struggle (like Angels mom), and you know that if they lived the gospel, and read the scriptures, and put God first in their life, then they would have peace. That is something that has been frustrating to me in this area. People don't understand that if they want Gods promised blessings than they have to obey. I have to keep reminding myself that I just need to follow the spirit, do my best to be obedient, have patience and faith, then let God take care of the rest. I'm starting to understand why missionaries have so many rules. Because the spirit is key. To have the spirit we have to be obedient and worthy. That is something I've known since day one out here, but now being in a situation where you want to help people so bad, and help them to see the blessings of living the gospel, having the spirit to know how to help them is vital.
So conference was great! We were able to watch all of conference at our investigators house - Jerry and Martha Howe. They have the BYU channel, so we watched all 4 sessions with them there. Jerry is excited to be baptized in 2 weeks, and Martha is getting there. I think she enjoyed conference more than Jerry! She is the cutest little old lady from Nicaragua. She is like my mission mom in Pittsburg! On Saturday and Sunday she fed us breakfast before the morning session, lunch in between sessions, and dinner after the afternoon session! You should have seen what they did for me on my birthday! On Sunday night they decorated their house with happy birthday signs and balloons, made a birthday dinner for me, got me a present (cologne), and Martha ordered a fancy cake that said happy birthday Elder Cook on it! I was so surprised. Jerry and Martha are the best!
Also this week I went on splits with Elder Latu in his area (in the Tongan program). There are A LOT of Tongans in the Bay Area. In our mission we have 2 Tongan stakes, and a lot of Tongan wards. So on Thursday I spent the day in the Tongan ward. We went to dinner at this sweet little old Tongan ladies house, and she dint speak English. We sat down at the dinner table, and I was surprised to find out what we were about to eat! She fed us a pig head! Everything was still there - it was nasty! So Elder Latu digs in, and I go for the other meat the she served - horse! So I ate horse meat while Elder Latu ate the pig head. When he got to the brains I tried a little bit, and it was really not good. Elder Latu said that in Tonga they always save the pig head for the chief, and that it is an honor. I say no thanks!
So the week was full of surprises! I hope all is well at home! I love you all very much!
- Elder Cook
Oh and I would love conference on cd! That would be great!
Hey Mom and Dad! I just wanted to write a separate email this week to tell you how much I love and appreciate you both! As I watched conference this weekend (and by the way, I didn't fall asleep once!), I noticed that a lot of the talks were about raising kids, and providing them with guidance, or helping youth have a firm foundation, or the importance of motherhood in nurturing her children, or the importance of providing children with a home where the gospel of Jesus Christ can be taught. As I listened to these talks I thought about my parents and how I have been raised. I will eternally be grateful for the example that you have shown to me. As I listened to conference I felt so blessed to have the opportunity to grow up in a home where the spirit was felt. That we always prayed as a family, and read the scriptures together. I'm thankful for the foundation that you helped me lay. I'm grateful that I grew up without a doubt in my mind that my Dad and Mom, loves me. I know that families are ordained of God, and words cannot begin to describe how grateful I am for my family!
Thank you for your love and support! I love you!
-Elder Cook
Well we had a good week. We got transfer calls on Saturday, and I wasn't surprised at all to find out that me and Elder Watkins will be staying for another transfer together here in Pittsburg. I would have been sad if I had to leave, so Im excited that we are staying. My Tongan roommate - Elder Latu - has finished his mission and will be going home. My new roommate is Elder Ouellette! My first comp in Marsh Creek. So that will be fun.
Well this week we found a new investigator. His name is Alan. He is an African american, and lives in the more ghetto part of Pittsburg. We taught him the first lesson and it went really well. He even watched the BYU channel the next morning, about Joseph Smith! He is cool guy. Our other investigators are doing well. Tui (Too-ee) is awesome. She is loving what we teach, even though she learns a little slower than most. The wonderful thing about Preach My Gospel is we can take the lessons as slow as we want. As long as Tui is feeling the spirit, learning and progressing, and gaining a testimony, that is all that matters. She is a very visual learner, and every time we watch a movie with her, like finding faith in Christ, she cries.
Angel, our 9 year old investigator, is ready to be baptized, as soon as her mom is reactivated. We don't want to baptize her with no support, so we would like her mom to start coming out to church more often. It is really really hard to see people be lazy about living the gospel. It is hard to see people struggle (like Angels mom), and you know that if they lived the gospel, and read the scriptures, and put God first in their life, then they would have peace. That is something that has been frustrating to me in this area. People don't understand that if they want Gods promised blessings than they have to obey. I have to keep reminding myself that I just need to follow the spirit, do my best to be obedient, have patience and faith, then let God take care of the rest. I'm starting to understand why missionaries have so many rules. Because the spirit is key. To have the spirit we have to be obedient and worthy. That is something I've known since day one out here, but now being in a situation where you want to help people so bad, and help them to see the blessings of living the gospel, having the spirit to know how to help them is vital.
So conference was great! We were able to watch all of conference at our investigators house - Jerry and Martha Howe. They have the BYU channel, so we watched all 4 sessions with them there. Jerry is excited to be baptized in 2 weeks, and Martha is getting there. I think she enjoyed conference more than Jerry! She is the cutest little old lady from Nicaragua. She is like my mission mom in Pittsburg! On Saturday and Sunday she fed us breakfast before the morning session, lunch in between sessions, and dinner after the afternoon session! You should have seen what they did for me on my birthday! On Sunday night they decorated their house with happy birthday signs and balloons, made a birthday dinner for me, got me a present (cologne), and Martha ordered a fancy cake that said happy birthday Elder Cook on it! I was so surprised. Jerry and Martha are the best!
Also this week I went on splits with Elder Latu in his area (in the Tongan program). There are A LOT of Tongans in the Bay Area. In our mission we have 2 Tongan stakes, and a lot of Tongan wards. So on Thursday I spent the day in the Tongan ward. We went to dinner at this sweet little old Tongan ladies house, and she dint speak English. We sat down at the dinner table, and I was surprised to find out what we were about to eat! She fed us a pig head! Everything was still there - it was nasty! So Elder Latu digs in, and I go for the other meat the she served - horse! So I ate horse meat while Elder Latu ate the pig head. When he got to the brains I tried a little bit, and it was really not good. Elder Latu said that in Tonga they always save the pig head for the chief, and that it is an honor. I say no thanks!
So the week was full of surprises! I hope all is well at home! I love you all very much!
- Elder Cook
Oh and I would love conference on cd! That would be great!
Hey Mom and Dad! I just wanted to write a separate email this week to tell you how much I love and appreciate you both! As I watched conference this weekend (and by the way, I didn't fall asleep once!), I noticed that a lot of the talks were about raising kids, and providing them with guidance, or helping youth have a firm foundation, or the importance of motherhood in nurturing her children, or the importance of providing children with a home where the gospel of Jesus Christ can be taught. As I listened to these talks I thought about my parents and how I have been raised. I will eternally be grateful for the example that you have shown to me. As I listened to conference I felt so blessed to have the opportunity to grow up in a home where the spirit was felt. That we always prayed as a family, and read the scriptures together. I'm thankful for the foundation that you helped me lay. I'm grateful that I grew up without a doubt in my mind that my Dad and Mom, loves me. I know that families are ordained of God, and words cannot begin to describe how grateful I am for my family!
Thank you for your love and support! I love you!
-Elder Cook
Monday, October 6, 2014
Letter to Home - March 29, 2010
Hey Family!
This week has been a good one. We got bad news on Friday - Aunt Charlotte did not pass here baptism interview. She is such a sweet heart... I bet she was just really nervous. But the zone leaders said that she will definitely get baptized, she just needs some more time. So hopefully in the next few weeks she will be baptized.
So this area is awesome and I love it, but it's a little strange. We are teaching great people. It's just weird because 3 of our investigators want to be baptized (they will get baptized tomorrow if we let them), but they just don't understand the important, necessary steps they need to take - like coming to church! One of our investigators - April - needs to get married before she gets baptized, but she loves everything we teach.
Jerry and Martha are doing great! Jerry is totally prepared to be baptized. Martha is still the cutest little old Mexican lady I know, but still doesn't understand the importance of baptism by authority (even though she may be more excited for Jerry's baptism that he is!) We are going to watch general conference at there house on sat and sun. On Sunday, Martha said she is going to make me a birthday cake! Oh, and you might not want to send my package to Pittsburg. Its just not a good idea. I would definitely send it to the mission home.
Well I am just loving my mission! It took me a while to be able to honestly say that I really love it out here. There is so much to learn and so much work to be done. No matter where you are, there is always someone around you that needs your help, and in some way you can help them come unto Christ. I love the words of the hymn "Lead Kindly Light". That's how I feel most of the time. I don't know what the Lord has in store for me, but as I trust in him and move forward, one step at a time, I know that i will fulfill my purpose.
I love you family! I loved the pictures that you sent!
-Elder Cook
This week has been a good one. We got bad news on Friday - Aunt Charlotte did not pass here baptism interview. She is such a sweet heart... I bet she was just really nervous. But the zone leaders said that she will definitely get baptized, she just needs some more time. So hopefully in the next few weeks she will be baptized.
So this area is awesome and I love it, but it's a little strange. We are teaching great people. It's just weird because 3 of our investigators want to be baptized (they will get baptized tomorrow if we let them), but they just don't understand the important, necessary steps they need to take - like coming to church! One of our investigators - April - needs to get married before she gets baptized, but she loves everything we teach.
Jerry and Martha are doing great! Jerry is totally prepared to be baptized. Martha is still the cutest little old Mexican lady I know, but still doesn't understand the importance of baptism by authority (even though she may be more excited for Jerry's baptism that he is!) We are going to watch general conference at there house on sat and sun. On Sunday, Martha said she is going to make me a birthday cake! Oh, and you might not want to send my package to Pittsburg. Its just not a good idea. I would definitely send it to the mission home.
Well I am just loving my mission! It took me a while to be able to honestly say that I really love it out here. There is so much to learn and so much work to be done. No matter where you are, there is always someone around you that needs your help, and in some way you can help them come unto Christ. I love the words of the hymn "Lead Kindly Light". That's how I feel most of the time. I don't know what the Lord has in store for me, but as I trust in him and move forward, one step at a time, I know that i will fulfill my purpose.
I love you family! I loved the pictures that you sent!
-Elder Cook
Letter to Home - March 24, 2010
Hi Family!
Sorry I didn't email on Monday - because it wasn't our pday this week. We went to the temple today, so it was our pday today. Well the week went great! This is going to be a short email, because of the temple today, and we also went mini golfing, but life is good! We had a great lesson with Jerry and Martha! Jerry is so ready to be baptized, and Martha is coming along. We took Sis. McNamara with us yesterday (she is a convert, and used to be Catholic) She was able to resolve some of Martha's concerns. Jerry and Martha are both excited to watch conference.
Tui is doing good. We haven't been able to meet with her for about a week in a half, because she works a lot, but she lives with active members, so she is taken care of. We also found 2 more investigators this week! There is so much good stuff going on! I sometimes feel overwhelmed with everything, but I just remind myself that this is the Lord's work, and he will bless us. I just need to do my best, have faith and not worry! Doubt is not a principle of the gospel. I love the plan of happiness! God allows us to learn and grow everyday.
OH! GUESS WHAT! Aunt Charlotte is getting baptized this weekend! I was the one who began teaching her in Marsh Creek (about 3 months ago), and I get to go back for the baptism. Actually me and Elder Malani are doing a musical number!
If you just want put some money in my account, I will just buy my garments here. I going to get a different kind this time.
Well family I love you soooo much!
Well I love you!
Elder Cook
Sorry I didn't email on Monday - because it wasn't our pday this week. We went to the temple today, so it was our pday today. Well the week went great! This is going to be a short email, because of the temple today, and we also went mini golfing, but life is good! We had a great lesson with Jerry and Martha! Jerry is so ready to be baptized, and Martha is coming along. We took Sis. McNamara with us yesterday (she is a convert, and used to be Catholic) She was able to resolve some of Martha's concerns. Jerry and Martha are both excited to watch conference.
Tui is doing good. We haven't been able to meet with her for about a week in a half, because she works a lot, but she lives with active members, so she is taken care of. We also found 2 more investigators this week! There is so much good stuff going on! I sometimes feel overwhelmed with everything, but I just remind myself that this is the Lord's work, and he will bless us. I just need to do my best, have faith and not worry! Doubt is not a principle of the gospel. I love the plan of happiness! God allows us to learn and grow everyday.
OH! GUESS WHAT! Aunt Charlotte is getting baptized this weekend! I was the one who began teaching her in Marsh Creek (about 3 months ago), and I get to go back for the baptism. Actually me and Elder Malani are doing a musical number!
If you just want put some money in my account, I will just buy my garments here. I going to get a different kind this time.
Well family I love you soooo much!
Well I love you!
Elder Cook
Letter to Home - March 15, 2010
Hey Family,
Well this week was really good. I really like this area, and this ward. Mom, I hope that you had a happy birthday! I saw that card last week and thought it was awesome! Anyway this week we had a great lesson with Angel Bellamy (our 9 year old investigator). We set a baptism date for her on April 10th. She is excited to be baptized. Jerry is still doing great, and is preparing to be baptized on April 17th. Then last night we picked up a new investigator from a Tongan family in our ward named the Lius'. They have a cousin living with them who is Methodist, but is interested in taking the missionary lessons, and she thinks that she already wants to be baptized! Her name is Tui (To-ee) and we have a lesson with her this coming week.
So something that is really weird, and even a bit disturbing, is that my trainer (Elder Cain) has moved to the Bay Area, and is living in San Ramon! Ahhhh! He actually called me and was like, "Hey dude, we should go tracting some time!" It scared me.
My companion is doing great. I'm trying to love him and be his friend, but he is really hard to read, or tell what he is thinking. He has a hard time talking with people, but he keeps trying. He is obedient and comes out to do the work everyday without complaint. I think that we are going to be with each other for at least another transfer, and I'm fine with that. He is from American Fork (my first Utah companion - not to mention my first white companion in 5 months!) He comes from a great family, and has good support.
So I did get the new letter from Ashley, and loved it! I was going to mention it last week, but forgot. Next time you see her tell her thank you for me, it was really cool, and put together really well. There was a part on there that said "one of our dearest ward members Ruth Cook, turned 89....." When I read it, at first I thought it was going to say, "One of our dearest ward members Ruth Cook, passed away this week..." or something like that! It really woke me up, and startled me a bit!
So my birthday is coming up, huh? Well the only thing that I would want is new garments! We have a mini distribution center next to the temple, so if you want to put some money in my account so I can get some new garments that would be great! We have our temple day on March 24th, so I could pick them up then.
So this past week I went on 24 hour splits with Elder Vawdrey (a missionary in my district). The crazy thing is, is that this is the same Elder Vawdrey that was my roommate my first transfer, and was hot tubbing! It was a neat experience to spend the day with him in his area, and learn a lot from him - Because he has changed a lot! He is now a very obedient missionary, and works hard. I'm so grateful for the power to change, and become better through the atonement. President Wade is always saying that the biggest miracle that you will ever see in your life, is the changing of the human heart as they come unto Christ. I love being a missionary, because you get to see that miracle all the time. You see it in your investigators, in other missionaries (like Elder Vawdrey), and the most noticeable one is you see that change in yourself. I was reading some of my journal entries from almost a year ago, and can really see a difference in all that I have learned so far. I had a neat experience this week, where the Lord kinda said "I told you so!" At the first of my mission I had doubts - a lot of them. I was really stressed out and worried (you know me!). I wasn't sure what was going to happen in the next two years, and I feared. During my first transfer in the field, a scripture kept coming to mind. I thought of it a lot, and I actually memorized it! It is 2 Nephi 28:30 where it says that we learn line upon line. I look back to see how far I've come and I notice that it didn't come all at once, it came exactly the way that the Lord was telling me at the beginning of my mission - line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. The Lord's promised blessings always come, but it definitely takes faith, patience and diligence! I'm so grateful for the gospel. Because we have the truth of the restored gospel, we always have something to smile about! I still have so much learning and growing to do, and things to overcome, but I now have more faith that if we will do our part and always be diligent to the things we know to do, then we will be growing line upon line. When we know what to do, then do what we know - we become what our Father in Heaven wants us to be.
Well family I love you so much! Thank you for all of your love and support!
-Elder Cook
PS. Tell Grandma Cook and Grandpa and Grandma Smith that I love them!
Well this week was really good. I really like this area, and this ward. Mom, I hope that you had a happy birthday! I saw that card last week and thought it was awesome! Anyway this week we had a great lesson with Angel Bellamy (our 9 year old investigator). We set a baptism date for her on April 10th. She is excited to be baptized. Jerry is still doing great, and is preparing to be baptized on April 17th. Then last night we picked up a new investigator from a Tongan family in our ward named the Lius'. They have a cousin living with them who is Methodist, but is interested in taking the missionary lessons, and she thinks that she already wants to be baptized! Her name is Tui (To-ee) and we have a lesson with her this coming week.
So something that is really weird, and even a bit disturbing, is that my trainer (Elder Cain) has moved to the Bay Area, and is living in San Ramon! Ahhhh! He actually called me and was like, "Hey dude, we should go tracting some time!" It scared me.
My companion is doing great. I'm trying to love him and be his friend, but he is really hard to read, or tell what he is thinking. He has a hard time talking with people, but he keeps trying. He is obedient and comes out to do the work everyday without complaint. I think that we are going to be with each other for at least another transfer, and I'm fine with that. He is from American Fork (my first Utah companion - not to mention my first white companion in 5 months!) He comes from a great family, and has good support.
So I did get the new letter from Ashley, and loved it! I was going to mention it last week, but forgot. Next time you see her tell her thank you for me, it was really cool, and put together really well. There was a part on there that said "one of our dearest ward members Ruth Cook, turned 89....." When I read it, at first I thought it was going to say, "One of our dearest ward members Ruth Cook, passed away this week..." or something like that! It really woke me up, and startled me a bit!
So my birthday is coming up, huh? Well the only thing that I would want is new garments! We have a mini distribution center next to the temple, so if you want to put some money in my account so I can get some new garments that would be great! We have our temple day on March 24th, so I could pick them up then.
So this past week I went on 24 hour splits with Elder Vawdrey (a missionary in my district). The crazy thing is, is that this is the same Elder Vawdrey that was my roommate my first transfer, and was hot tubbing! It was a neat experience to spend the day with him in his area, and learn a lot from him - Because he has changed a lot! He is now a very obedient missionary, and works hard. I'm so grateful for the power to change, and become better through the atonement. President Wade is always saying that the biggest miracle that you will ever see in your life, is the changing of the human heart as they come unto Christ. I love being a missionary, because you get to see that miracle all the time. You see it in your investigators, in other missionaries (like Elder Vawdrey), and the most noticeable one is you see that change in yourself. I was reading some of my journal entries from almost a year ago, and can really see a difference in all that I have learned so far. I had a neat experience this week, where the Lord kinda said "I told you so!" At the first of my mission I had doubts - a lot of them. I was really stressed out and worried (you know me!). I wasn't sure what was going to happen in the next two years, and I feared. During my first transfer in the field, a scripture kept coming to mind. I thought of it a lot, and I actually memorized it! It is 2 Nephi 28:30 where it says that we learn line upon line. I look back to see how far I've come and I notice that it didn't come all at once, it came exactly the way that the Lord was telling me at the beginning of my mission - line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. The Lord's promised blessings always come, but it definitely takes faith, patience and diligence! I'm so grateful for the gospel. Because we have the truth of the restored gospel, we always have something to smile about! I still have so much learning and growing to do, and things to overcome, but I now have more faith that if we will do our part and always be diligent to the things we know to do, then we will be growing line upon line. When we know what to do, then do what we know - we become what our Father in Heaven wants us to be.
Well family I love you so much! Thank you for all of your love and support!
-Elder Cook
PS. Tell Grandma Cook and Grandpa and Grandma Smith that I love them!
Letter to Home - March 8, 2010
HI FAMILY!
I'm liking this area more and more each day! There is a lot of great work to do here. In the next month our goal is to have 4 people scheduled for baptism. Jerry Howe's date is for the 17th of April, then we are also teaching a part member family named the Carillos. They are an awesome family from the Philippines and Bro. Carillos wife is not a member. We are teaching a 9 year old girl named Angel Bellamy who is really excited to learn and be baptized. We are also going to try to get Martha (Jerry's wife) baptized on the 17th as well. Martha is a cute little Mexican lady, that is Catholic. She is so funny! She promised the Lord that she wouldn't miss a day of church (our church), and she believes the Book of Mormon is true (and reads it every day), and also believes that Joseph Smith is a prophet, but doesn't want to be baptized! She feels like she would be betraying her religion if she was baptized again. I just know that someday she'll be baptized.
So we are getting to know the wonderful city of Pittsburg! I have never in my life felt like the minority, and in most of the areas we go I feel like we are the only white people! We cover all of Pittsburg and another city called Bay Point (people out here call it "Gun Point!") So Bay point is probably the most ghetto. A few years ago it was called West Pittsburg (it was just one big city), but it got so bad that they cleaned it up a bit and renamed it Bay Point to give the area a new feel. So I've heard that it is a lot better than before, but is still rough. I don't feel scared at all being here. I know that the Lord will watch over us.
So my apartment is in Pittsburg. It's in a more safe area. When we told a member in the ward where we lived he said "OK, you probably wont here gun shots there!" So no worries. Our apartment is actually pretty dang nice. We live with the Tongan Elders, so the apartment would even be nicer, but Tongans are pretty rough, so the apartment is a little banged up. Instead of living in a quite neighborhood, like where I lived in Brentwood, we live on a very busy street in the middle of the city (I love the city feel!) So things are great!
I loved your email mom, especially the part about the faith of Abraham. Sometimes I know that I lack in faith, and rely on my own wisdom. One scripture that has become my favorite is Alma 37:6-7 (I hope that's the right reference). It talks about the small and simple things we do. We should constantly be doing all we can, and our smiles, happy attitude and service will bring great things to pass. I love the gospel! I love you family, and have a great week!
-Elder Cook
-YAY KENNA! Have fun at prom! You are going to be the most beautiful girl there.
I'm liking this area more and more each day! There is a lot of great work to do here. In the next month our goal is to have 4 people scheduled for baptism. Jerry Howe's date is for the 17th of April, then we are also teaching a part member family named the Carillos. They are an awesome family from the Philippines and Bro. Carillos wife is not a member. We are teaching a 9 year old girl named Angel Bellamy who is really excited to learn and be baptized. We are also going to try to get Martha (Jerry's wife) baptized on the 17th as well. Martha is a cute little Mexican lady, that is Catholic. She is so funny! She promised the Lord that she wouldn't miss a day of church (our church), and she believes the Book of Mormon is true (and reads it every day), and also believes that Joseph Smith is a prophet, but doesn't want to be baptized! She feels like she would be betraying her religion if she was baptized again. I just know that someday she'll be baptized.
So we are getting to know the wonderful city of Pittsburg! I have never in my life felt like the minority, and in most of the areas we go I feel like we are the only white people! We cover all of Pittsburg and another city called Bay Point (people out here call it "Gun Point!") So Bay point is probably the most ghetto. A few years ago it was called West Pittsburg (it was just one big city), but it got so bad that they cleaned it up a bit and renamed it Bay Point to give the area a new feel. So I've heard that it is a lot better than before, but is still rough. I don't feel scared at all being here. I know that the Lord will watch over us.
So my apartment is in Pittsburg. It's in a more safe area. When we told a member in the ward where we lived he said "OK, you probably wont here gun shots there!" So no worries. Our apartment is actually pretty dang nice. We live with the Tongan Elders, so the apartment would even be nicer, but Tongans are pretty rough, so the apartment is a little banged up. Instead of living in a quite neighborhood, like where I lived in Brentwood, we live on a very busy street in the middle of the city (I love the city feel!) So things are great!
I loved your email mom, especially the part about the faith of Abraham. Sometimes I know that I lack in faith, and rely on my own wisdom. One scripture that has become my favorite is Alma 37:6-7 (I hope that's the right reference). It talks about the small and simple things we do. We should constantly be doing all we can, and our smiles, happy attitude and service will bring great things to pass. I love the gospel! I love you family, and have a great week!
-Elder Cook
-YAY KENNA! Have fun at prom! You are going to be the most beautiful girl there.
Letter to Home - March 1, 2010
Hey Family!
Wow....This week has been crazy. We got to Pittsburg on Tuesday, and didn't have a clue what was going on. The apartment was a mess, and since me and my companion are new to this area we didn't even know where to start! So we got in contact with the ward mission leader, and the bishop to get familiar with the work going on in the area. When we met the WML and the Bishop they treated us like kings! They were soooo happy to see us. This area hasn't had missionaries that actually do work for a long time. Every ward member that we meet says "OH! You're here! We have been waiting for you!" This ward is AMAZING and very missionary minded, but they just haven't had missionaries that will do the work that they have for them. So a lot of members have referrals for us that they were hiding until the right missionaries came along! It's kind of funny. So there is a lot of good work going on here, I really like this area.
So Pittsburg is ghetto! It's poor ghetto and scary ghetto! Its awesome! Since me and Elder Watkins are both new to this area, the members are helping us out, and telling us where we shouldn't be at night. But no worries, nothing has ever happened to a missionary here. This area is super different from Brentwood! In Brentwood there are a lot of younger families, because it is a safe area, but here in Pittsburg half of the ward are old people! Young families don't live out here because the schools are rough. There are a lot of people here that need the gospel.
So this past week we set a baptismal date with one of our investigators! His name is Jerry Howe, and he has been taught by ALOT of missionaries for a long time. He has read the BOM twice all the way through, but we found out that he has never prayed about it (ya, that's a problem). So we set a baptismal date for April 10 2010.
So my comp Elder Watkins, is going to be a little bit of a struggle. He works, which is the most important, but I guess he has autism, and doesn't have very good social skills at all. But he is a great Elder, and I'm looking forward to work with him this transfer. I'm just going to increase in patience and love. It is going to be a great transfer! The ward here is probably the most amazing ward ever!
So things are well! I've felt a bit overwhelmed and a bit Marsh Creek Ward homesick, but all is well. I have a lot of work to do and I know that if I trust in the Lord and not on my own understanding, I will succeed! I love you so much, and hope that you have a great week!
-Elder Cook
Wow....This week has been crazy. We got to Pittsburg on Tuesday, and didn't have a clue what was going on. The apartment was a mess, and since me and my companion are new to this area we didn't even know where to start! So we got in contact with the ward mission leader, and the bishop to get familiar with the work going on in the area. When we met the WML and the Bishop they treated us like kings! They were soooo happy to see us. This area hasn't had missionaries that actually do work for a long time. Every ward member that we meet says "OH! You're here! We have been waiting for you!" This ward is AMAZING and very missionary minded, but they just haven't had missionaries that will do the work that they have for them. So a lot of members have referrals for us that they were hiding until the right missionaries came along! It's kind of funny. So there is a lot of good work going on here, I really like this area.
So Pittsburg is ghetto! It's poor ghetto and scary ghetto! Its awesome! Since me and Elder Watkins are both new to this area, the members are helping us out, and telling us where we shouldn't be at night. But no worries, nothing has ever happened to a missionary here. This area is super different from Brentwood! In Brentwood there are a lot of younger families, because it is a safe area, but here in Pittsburg half of the ward are old people! Young families don't live out here because the schools are rough. There are a lot of people here that need the gospel.
So this past week we set a baptismal date with one of our investigators! His name is Jerry Howe, and he has been taught by ALOT of missionaries for a long time. He has read the BOM twice all the way through, but we found out that he has never prayed about it (ya, that's a problem). So we set a baptismal date for April 10 2010.
So my comp Elder Watkins, is going to be a little bit of a struggle. He works, which is the most important, but I guess he has autism, and doesn't have very good social skills at all. But he is a great Elder, and I'm looking forward to work with him this transfer. I'm just going to increase in patience and love. It is going to be a great transfer! The ward here is probably the most amazing ward ever!
So things are well! I've felt a bit overwhelmed and a bit Marsh Creek Ward homesick, but all is well. I have a lot of work to do and I know that if I trust in the Lord and not on my own understanding, I will succeed! I love you so much, and hope that you have a great week!
-Elder Cook
Letter from Member - February 18, 2010
I just wanted to write to you and tell you what an incredible job your son has done in this ward. I don't know if he told you about the sacrament meeting that we had on Valentines Day or not, but we had four people talk and they were all people that your son had taught while he has been here and they had all been baptized while he has been here too.....as I looked up there and saw Deniece, Steve, Jenni and Irene, I could not help but feel very grateful to have had Elder Cook here in this ward. Before he came, we hadn't had a baptism in a long while. It has brought such a vitality to our ward! Thank you for preparing such a worthy young man to serve here in the Bay Area.
I asked him this morning if he was nervous about transferring and he said he was. I told him that I was nervous about him transferring too! It will be so weird not to have him here. He has actually slept in the room that he is in almost as long as our two sons that shared that room did! He will always be special to us. I would say, that on Saturday he will probably hear where he is going, so I will let you know ok?
In the meantime, I hope that all is going well with you and your family!
Much love to you all.
Donna
I asked him this morning if he was nervous about transferring and he said he was. I told him that I was nervous about him transferring too! It will be so weird not to have him here. He has actually slept in the room that he is in almost as long as our two sons that shared that room did! He will always be special to us. I would say, that on Saturday he will probably hear where he is going, so I will let you know ok?
In the meantime, I hope that all is going well with you and your family!
Much love to you all.
Donna
Letter to Home - February 15, 2010
Hey Family!
Well this week was a good one. Jose and Yessica aren't doing so well. Jose has disappeared again ('return calls, and is never home) and Yessica is always sick. But our other investigators, Juan and Aunt Charlotte (the coolest old lady) are doing great! We had really good lessons with them this past week and they are progressing and keeping their commitments. We will probably set a baptismal date with Juan soon.
Yesterday was the BEST sacrament meeting of my life! It was sooo good! All of the recent converts spoke (Steve, Denise, and Jennie, and Sis. Morris) They all did such an amazing job, and they all shone as they spoke. The subject that they spoke on was their testimony, and why it is important. I love hearing the testimony of recent converts.
Then on Sunday night, Denise spoke at the Why I Believe fireside in Oakland. She did such a great job! She spoke in sacrament and at the fireside!
So at the end of the fireside, President Wade got up and said some closing remarks. He told the congregation (of about 200) about the spirit that comes when missionaries sing. He told the congregation that he want everyone to have that experience. I was listening to him, and out of the huge crowd he made eye contact with me and said "Elder Cook, and Elder Malani, will you come up and sing a song for us?" Holy crap I was surprised! So me and Elder Malani went up to the pulpit and sang Nearer My God to Thee in front of the whole fireside! And we sounded good! We blend really well together. But it was a neat experience. I have never sang a duet in front of that many people before!
So this week we get transfer calls. SO don't send anymore mail to the Garrisons house - start sending it to the mission home and it will get to me. It's hard to think that after 7 months I may be leaving the Marsh Creek ward. It really does feel like home here, but I'm excited to go to a new area. I have learned and grown so much here.
We volunteer at the library ans also serve lunch to the homeless once a week. They are great ways to meet people in a non threatening way. At the library we organize books for them every Sat. morning. It is fun.
Well, I don't have much time this week, but I love you all! Thank you so much for the package that you sent! I really love the tie, and those cookies are my favorite! Have a great week!
-Elder Cook
Well this week was a good one. Jose and Yessica aren't doing so well. Jose has disappeared again ('return calls, and is never home) and Yessica is always sick. But our other investigators, Juan and Aunt Charlotte (the coolest old lady) are doing great! We had really good lessons with them this past week and they are progressing and keeping their commitments. We will probably set a baptismal date with Juan soon.
Yesterday was the BEST sacrament meeting of my life! It was sooo good! All of the recent converts spoke (Steve, Denise, and Jennie, and Sis. Morris) They all did such an amazing job, and they all shone as they spoke. The subject that they spoke on was their testimony, and why it is important. I love hearing the testimony of recent converts.
Then on Sunday night, Denise spoke at the Why I Believe fireside in Oakland. She did such a great job! She spoke in sacrament and at the fireside!
So at the end of the fireside, President Wade got up and said some closing remarks. He told the congregation (of about 200) about the spirit that comes when missionaries sing. He told the congregation that he want everyone to have that experience. I was listening to him, and out of the huge crowd he made eye contact with me and said "Elder Cook, and Elder Malani, will you come up and sing a song for us?" Holy crap I was surprised! So me and Elder Malani went up to the pulpit and sang Nearer My God to Thee in front of the whole fireside! And we sounded good! We blend really well together. But it was a neat experience. I have never sang a duet in front of that many people before!
So this week we get transfer calls. SO don't send anymore mail to the Garrisons house - start sending it to the mission home and it will get to me. It's hard to think that after 7 months I may be leaving the Marsh Creek ward. It really does feel like home here, but I'm excited to go to a new area. I have learned and grown so much here.
We volunteer at the library ans also serve lunch to the homeless once a week. They are great ways to meet people in a non threatening way. At the library we organize books for them every Sat. morning. It is fun.
Well, I don't have much time this week, but I love you all! Thank you so much for the package that you sent! I really love the tie, and those cookies are my favorite! Have a great week!
-Elder Cook
Letter to Home - February 8, 2010
Hey family,
Well things are going well. We had a good week. We took Jennie Giotta to the temple to do baptisms for the dead, for the first time last week! It was a great trip! I love going to the temple. Temple Hill is such an AMAZING place! It almost reminds me of a little mini temple square. Did you see the Feb. Ensign article about the Oakland Temple Family History Center? That is us! I was excited to see it in there.
This week we also had a lesson with Jennies sister - Mary Beth. She is amazing and I have no doubt in my mind that she is going to be baptized! She came to church with Jennie for the first time yesterday. She stayed for the whole 3 hours and she loved it! Next Sunday Jennie is speaking in church, and her whole family will be there!
So we met with Yessica this week and she asked us when she could get baptized! We were super excited, but then her neighbors (they are members) gave us a little warning that she might join the church just for the social side of it. So she seems to ALWAYS be sick, so it is hard to meet with her, but we are going to work with her and her family, and make sure that she has a testimony and joins for the right reasons.
We also made great head way with our investigator Jose. We wants to know the truth and be baptized for the right reasons, but has a problem with the whole Joseph Smith thing. He wants to know for himself, so we are going to do everything we can to help him gain the testimony for himself.
Well, the past few weeks it has been raining quite a bit! It's a very calm rain though. There is no lightning or thunder at all. People here in California are spoiled with the weather. When there is a tiny little storm everyone we see will say "wow, did you see that storm yesterday!? wow!" It doesn't storm here is drizzles with authority. But it has been really wet the past couple of days. Yesterday and today we have BEAUTIFUL weather! At 8:00pm last night I was walking around in a short sleeved shirt! It's been warm.
Well, I love ya family! I hope that you all have a great week!
Well things are going well. We had a good week. We took Jennie Giotta to the temple to do baptisms for the dead, for the first time last week! It was a great trip! I love going to the temple. Temple Hill is such an AMAZING place! It almost reminds me of a little mini temple square. Did you see the Feb. Ensign article about the Oakland Temple Family History Center? That is us! I was excited to see it in there.
This week we also had a lesson with Jennies sister - Mary Beth. She is amazing and I have no doubt in my mind that she is going to be baptized! She came to church with Jennie for the first time yesterday. She stayed for the whole 3 hours and she loved it! Next Sunday Jennie is speaking in church, and her whole family will be there!
So we met with Yessica this week and she asked us when she could get baptized! We were super excited, but then her neighbors (they are members) gave us a little warning that she might join the church just for the social side of it. So she seems to ALWAYS be sick, so it is hard to meet with her, but we are going to work with her and her family, and make sure that she has a testimony and joins for the right reasons.
We also made great head way with our investigator Jose. We wants to know the truth and be baptized for the right reasons, but has a problem with the whole Joseph Smith thing. He wants to know for himself, so we are going to do everything we can to help him gain the testimony for himself.
Well, the past few weeks it has been raining quite a bit! It's a very calm rain though. There is no lightning or thunder at all. People here in California are spoiled with the weather. When there is a tiny little storm everyone we see will say "wow, did you see that storm yesterday!? wow!" It doesn't storm here is drizzles with authority. But it has been really wet the past couple of days. Yesterday and today we have BEAUTIFUL weather! At 8:00pm last night I was walking around in a short sleeved shirt! It's been warm.
Well, I love ya family! I hope that you all have a great week!
Letter to Home - February 1, 2010
Hey there family,
Well, things are going great! This week was a little slower, but still good. We seem to be struggling a bit with our investigators. They don't have as much fire as I wish they did. My focus the past couple of days has been to get our investigators progressing (and not "fence sitting"), and to find more people to teach. This coming week we are starting our new volunteer job at the Brentwood Library! It will be fun. It's only once a week, but it will be good, and who knows what might come out of it? We are also volunteering at the local Catholic Church, by helping them serve lunch to the local needy people in Oakley.
This week will be exciting because we are going to the temple to do baptisms with Jennie, and with Denise - both for their first time! We are excited. All of the recent converts are doing so good! Denise just shines every time that we see her. You can really see, and feel the difference that the gospel is making in her life. On Sunday the 14th, Bishop asked all 3 of the recent converts (Steve, Denise, and Jennie) to speak in sacrament meeting! It will be a great missionary oriented meeting. We are now teaching Jennies sister Mary Beth. Mary Beth came to Jennies baptism, felt the spirit, and LOVED it! She is reading the Book of Mormon every single night, and is excited to take the lessons. The only problem is, is that she lives in Pleasant Hill, about 30 minutes away! We told her that there are missionaries there that would love to teach her, but she said that she doesn't want to be taught by them, she wants to be taught by us! So we are going to begin the lessons, and she is going to come to church with Jennie, then when she feels comfortable with everything, Jennie is going to go to Mary Beth's ward in Pleasant Hill, with her and make the transition. So it will be good.
We continue to work with Cecilia and Lou (my mission grandparents!) A few days ago Cecilia told me, "Your the best grandchild I could ever have, because I didn't have to give birth to your parents!" I love her! She is reading the scriptures and praying everyday, and seeing the blessings and miracles of it! She would be at church more often if her health would permit.
So things are good! I'm just trying to keep up with my companion - he is the most Christ-like person that I think I've ever met! He's the best. I've noticed lately that this REALLY is the Lords work. Being in this area for so long has really been a blessing, because I've been able to see the Lord directing and guiding the work. All that I have to do is be obedient and worthy of the spirit, and have faith and be enthusiastic and diligent, then see the miracles take place!
I hope that you all have a great week! Love ya!
-Elder Cook
Well, things are going great! This week was a little slower, but still good. We seem to be struggling a bit with our investigators. They don't have as much fire as I wish they did. My focus the past couple of days has been to get our investigators progressing (and not "fence sitting"), and to find more people to teach. This coming week we are starting our new volunteer job at the Brentwood Library! It will be fun. It's only once a week, but it will be good, and who knows what might come out of it? We are also volunteering at the local Catholic Church, by helping them serve lunch to the local needy people in Oakley.
This week will be exciting because we are going to the temple to do baptisms with Jennie, and with Denise - both for their first time! We are excited. All of the recent converts are doing so good! Denise just shines every time that we see her. You can really see, and feel the difference that the gospel is making in her life. On Sunday the 14th, Bishop asked all 3 of the recent converts (Steve, Denise, and Jennie) to speak in sacrament meeting! It will be a great missionary oriented meeting. We are now teaching Jennies sister Mary Beth. Mary Beth came to Jennies baptism, felt the spirit, and LOVED it! She is reading the Book of Mormon every single night, and is excited to take the lessons. The only problem is, is that she lives in Pleasant Hill, about 30 minutes away! We told her that there are missionaries there that would love to teach her, but she said that she doesn't want to be taught by them, she wants to be taught by us! So we are going to begin the lessons, and she is going to come to church with Jennie, then when she feels comfortable with everything, Jennie is going to go to Mary Beth's ward in Pleasant Hill, with her and make the transition. So it will be good.
We continue to work with Cecilia and Lou (my mission grandparents!) A few days ago Cecilia told me, "Your the best grandchild I could ever have, because I didn't have to give birth to your parents!" I love her! She is reading the scriptures and praying everyday, and seeing the blessings and miracles of it! She would be at church more often if her health would permit.
So things are good! I'm just trying to keep up with my companion - he is the most Christ-like person that I think I've ever met! He's the best. I've noticed lately that this REALLY is the Lords work. Being in this area for so long has really been a blessing, because I've been able to see the Lord directing and guiding the work. All that I have to do is be obedient and worthy of the spirit, and have faith and be enthusiastic and diligent, then see the miracles take place!
I hope that you all have a great week! Love ya!
-Elder Cook
Letter from Member - January 28, 2010
Hello Sister Cook!
Your son Elder Cook is currently serving in our ward. What a wonderful
young man you have raised! He is so friendly and outgoing and such a
joy to be around. Recently he and his companion Elder Malani came to
visit us in our home. While we were unable to have him over for dinner
he did enjoy a few moments talking to us and playing with our pets. We
have a weimaraner dog and an double yellow headed amazon parrot, which
Elder Cook loved and the bird loved him! Below you will see the photos!
Sincerely, Sister Heather Cardoza
Your son Elder Cook is currently serving in our ward. What a wonderful
young man you have raised! He is so friendly and outgoing and such a
joy to be around. Recently he and his companion Elder Malani came to
visit us in our home. While we were unable to have him over for dinner
he did enjoy a few moments talking to us and playing with our pets. We
have a weimaraner dog and an double yellow headed amazon parrot, which
Elder Cook loved and the bird loved him! Below you will see the photos!
Sincerely, Sister Heather Cardoza
Letter to Home - January 25, 2010
Hey FAMILY!
Well things are going so good. The mission has never been go great! I love Elder Malani. He is the greatest! The only thing that we have a problem with is that sometimes he is too nice. Sometimes I have to tell him "Elder, I can fold my own laundry" or "Elder, its my turn to wash the dishes." He is the most charitable person that I have ever met!
Last week in church a member referred us to her neighbor, a lady named Yessica. We stopped by, and she and her family are awesome! They all took the lessons before, and were going to get baptized, but they moved. She just got out of the hospital, so we can't teach her and her family yet, but I'm excited to when she feels better.
Just a random note: Dad, I've been seeing Clean Harbor trucks a lot lately! Yay!
So, we have been focusing more on finding new investigators - since we have been baptizing all of progressing investigators! I love working with recent converts though. They are so full of light and excitement! Jennie is continuing to work on her husband. He said that he doesn't feel the need for religion in his life right now. So we are praying that they lose their house or something...just kidding that's messed up. But I think that he needs a humbling experience or something to help him see the need for the gospel.
Lately I've really grown in appreciation for the restoration, and mostly for the Book of Mormon. I love the Bible too, but as we talk with Christians, not of our faith, I can really see all that they are missing. I see the confusion and I know the solution, and wish that everyone could see the blessings of the restored gospel. I've also come to realize the importance of a prophet. Without direct revelation from God, and the authority to act in his name, of course there will be confusion! The Gospel of Jesus Christ, just makes sense! It answers all of life's questions. We are blessed.
I got a letter from Grandma Cook this week, and I laughed all the way through! She is a sweety. She explained to me how she LOVES it when she gets visitors. I wish I could be there to visit with her.
Well I love you all so much, and hope that you have an amazing week! GOOD LUCK AT STATE KENNA!!!!!
-Elder Cook
Well things are going so good. The mission has never been go great! I love Elder Malani. He is the greatest! The only thing that we have a problem with is that sometimes he is too nice. Sometimes I have to tell him "Elder, I can fold my own laundry" or "Elder, its my turn to wash the dishes." He is the most charitable person that I have ever met!
Last week in church a member referred us to her neighbor, a lady named Yessica. We stopped by, and she and her family are awesome! They all took the lessons before, and were going to get baptized, but they moved. She just got out of the hospital, so we can't teach her and her family yet, but I'm excited to when she feels better.
Just a random note: Dad, I've been seeing Clean Harbor trucks a lot lately! Yay!
So, we have been focusing more on finding new investigators - since we have been baptizing all of progressing investigators! I love working with recent converts though. They are so full of light and excitement! Jennie is continuing to work on her husband. He said that he doesn't feel the need for religion in his life right now. So we are praying that they lose their house or something...just kidding that's messed up. But I think that he needs a humbling experience or something to help him see the need for the gospel.
Lately I've really grown in appreciation for the restoration, and mostly for the Book of Mormon. I love the Bible too, but as we talk with Christians, not of our faith, I can really see all that they are missing. I see the confusion and I know the solution, and wish that everyone could see the blessings of the restored gospel. I've also come to realize the importance of a prophet. Without direct revelation from God, and the authority to act in his name, of course there will be confusion! The Gospel of Jesus Christ, just makes sense! It answers all of life's questions. We are blessed.
I got a letter from Grandma Cook this week, and I laughed all the way through! She is a sweety. She explained to me how she LOVES it when she gets visitors. I wish I could be there to visit with her.
Well I love you all so much, and hope that you have an amazing week! GOOD LUCK AT STATE KENNA!!!!!
-Elder Cook
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