Como estamos?

Sounds like some good stuff has happened this past week and that there'll be some good stuff happening this next week.

This past week has been great here also.  President Saylin called for a special meeting for all Spanish missionaries and we talked about how to better embrace the culture and how to better help out those we teach.  A lot of the native missionaries gave talks and also Presidente Del Aguila, a counselor to President Saylin, who's been in Houston for a long time and has seen the church grow.  He related us the story of how a little branch grew into 2 stakes in less than 30 years and he attributed the success to the Lord and also to the amount of activities that they had.  I feel very blessed to serve here in Houston among the Hispanic people, from a lot of other countries.  For the past week we have been "fasting" from English, o sea, we only speak English when it's completely necesario. I have seen my Spanish improve a lot this past week and I'll definitely continue fasting.

This past week an investigator fed us pulpo chiquito, and it wasn't calamari, it was straight up baby octopus, good stuff if I might say so myself.  Then of course, Joaquin's baptism was amazing.  It was the smoothest baptism I've had on the mission and because of that the Spirit was unrestrained.  He was planning on his mom and family not being able to come, but then the member family that fellowshipped him were able to surprise him and they showed up right on time.  There were a lot of people who showed up from the ward to support him also, which showed to his family how much we truly cared about him and the decision he was making.  We will shortly begin to teach the mom and family because of his awesome ejemplo.

The work continues to roll on and it sure is good stuff.  As for transfers, me and Elder Heidt are staying!  So nothing new besides the awesome opportunity I have to continue to serve in this great ward and with such great missionaries.  I hope you all have a great week!

Love, Elder Cooley