Hola! Como estan ustedes? This past week has been very eventful and awesome! Tuesday when we arrived we did some contacting (in Spanish) which was way fun. Then we ate dinner with Pres. Saylin and his fam that night. Wednesday morning we received some more orientation and such, we also had breakfast which was Kolaches, basically a delicious hot pocket and didn’t taste like a dirty microwave so I was definately a fan of them. Then I met my trainer, Elder Jensen from Highland Utah, he reminds me a lot of Craig Roberts. Anyways I got assigned to Galveston, (La Isla) as people call it. I feel way blessed to be here and work among these people. We have the beach in our area but can’t go on it or even drive/ride by it during the summer for obvious reasons.

So our first night we were fed by a couple in the branch, it was very humbling to see people who had very little give so much to feed us. Then later that night we did some finding, we didn’t have many investigators that night. But we decided to kneel down near a park, say a prayer, and go wherever. After we prayed we got up and headed a direction. Elder Jensen left it up to me and since I didn’t know the area I just headed off. After knocking about 3 doors we got to a door where as soon as we knocked they let us in. It was a man named Mando and his son. Turned out Mando has lived here 3 years and was a general in the Pakistan Army. Anyhow... I committed him to baptism and he is a pretty cool guy. His son is really scarred up from some stuff that happened in Pakistan so Mando says he wants peace and freedom for his son and we told him the gospel brings that. He loves Jesus, he says He is the International King, his water, his oxygen, and his light. We got him to come to church with his son and he loved it but sadly we have to turn him over to the English sisters.

There have been a lot of experiences; I was able to give a blessing to a less-active member who was going through some hard stuff. We fasted on Saturday so that we could find more people to teach and to have a baptism by the 18th or 19th of December and we have been teaching a lot more and I have faith that if we do our part then the Lord will do his. This goal is a mission wide goal that came straight from Pres. Saylin so I know it’s possible. I have seen many miracles in this past week and I feel extremely blessed to be able to serve a mission! I wish I could tell y'all everything but time just won’t permit it. Entonces, Los amo muchisisimo y estoy muy agradecidos tener una familia eterna. -Elder Cooley

This is the first day in Houston with all the arriving Elders and Sisters

and our Mission President and family.

With President and Sister Saylin

Deep in the heart of Texas!