Como estamos?

So this past week the Gladys Knight devotionals were amazing.  First of all, in order for members to have gotten tickets they had to invite non-member friends and it turned out that about 2/3 of all the tickets went to nonmembers.  There were 16 missionaries asked to help out and our assignment was to hand out programs and encourage the visitors to fill out a request form on the back to get a sample CD of the SUV choir, a Book of Mormon, and a Restoration DVD which the missionaries would later bring by their house.  President just sent the mission a letter saying," Our little team of missionaries collected a record-breaking 1,941 request cards!   The majority of these requests were within the Texas Houston South Mission."

As I sat in on the first session and several others the spirit testified to me how the gospel is for everyone and how many lives were being blessed and opened up to receive the gospel.  It was great to hear her conversion story and another speaker in between the music taught the Restoration, point by point accordingly with Preach my Gospel.  There were many "Amens!" and even felt like we were in the midst of a baptism choir.  Gladys Knight has been set apart as a missionary and her testimony was very powerful as she invited others to find out more.  Because of her service and those in the choir many people’s lives will be changed.  We were told of one experience where 600 people were baptized due to just 4 sessions, and we had a total of 9, from 2 sessions on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, and 3 on Saturday, with the Chapel and Cultural hall being pretty much full every time.  There were many preachers and pastors from other churches in attendance as well, with them filling out request cards also.  They go around and visit missions and stakes upon request and apparently the waiting line is several years in advance but due to President Saylin and the excitement of Gladys to come here to Houston we were able to cut in line.  Although probably no one in my area will be baptized because of this since it was only in English, it was great to be a part of it and on the front lines.  I know many lives will be changed because of the diligence of members to get their friends there.

Now, this weekend we are having a ward party and we are working on having members invite their friends, since Hispanics love parties and food is an easy way to introduce people to the church.  I am also stoked for conference and to hear from living prophets and apostles.  Gladys told of her mom and how she (her mother) would always call the kids in to the living room to watch general conference, without being members, and her mom would say, "pay attention, these are some wise men".  Now she knows that they're not only wise men but men called of God, prophets and apostles, special witnesses of Jesus Christ.  For the first time I heard President Saylin pray this past week in behalf of all the missionaries that were helping out with the firesides.  It was Friday night and we were really tired, and he offered an amazing prayer asking that we wake up the next morning refreshed and lo and behold, we went to bed after midnight and woke up at 5:30 and I wasn't tired.  This entire experience has definitely been one of my favorites on the mission.  Anyways, wish I had time to tell more.

Hope you all have a great week and continue to invite others to come unto Christ.

Love, Elder Cooley