Howdy!

So this past week has been great. I was able to go on an exchange with one of the assistants and learned a lot from him, and then went on an exchange with one of the district leaders in the zone. We've had some good lessons this past week and we also had an investigator devotional yesterday which was well attended. This Wednesday we'll have the departing temple trip and then I don't think I'll have time to email next week.

This past Saturday we had a good lesson with a part-member couple. She, April, was baptized about 20 years ago, and her husband, Luther, has ties to the Catholic Church but never goes. He lived in Idaho as a kid and even attended seminary for a whole year in high school.  He was really close to baptism but he decided not to do it in order to not damage his relationship with his family. He is a super nice guy and we were able to talk about the Restoration and invite them to read the Book of Mormon together. The church is so true.

Anywho, I love y'all, have a great week!

Con gran amor,

Elder Cooley

Howdy,

It sounds like things are going well with y'all.  Things are going great here too.  We had a good week.  

We had Zone Leader Council on Tuesday and were able to talk about how the mission is doing.  Then on Friday we had Zone Meeting; we focused a lot on faith and learned from Nephi's and the Brother of Jared's faith in terms of making things happen.  It is the first principle of the gospel and also of spiritual power.  We had some really good lessons with some less-actives and have begun teaching some of their families.  Also, we went on exchanges with the Spanish missionaries in the stake.  It was fun to speak Spanish again and even more fun to help them as missionaries.  Yesterday we had Zone Activity in which we played a game called Scatter Ball (it's a form of dodgeball).  Anyways, things are going great.  This work is true.

Love, Elder Cooley

Buenas Tardes,

Hace mucho que les he escrito en espanol, a lo mejor porgue ya no me queda en la mente, casi no tengo la oportunidad de hablarlo ni con mi companero ni con la gente. Pues,

This past week was great!  We had zone conference and learned many great and wonderful things.  We had a lot of great lessons with less-actives and also with some investigators.  One was Anna; her husband was baptized earlier this year after he had been praying for 4 years to find the truth.  Well, initially she didn't want anything to do with the missionaries or the church but recently she's been coming and we've been teaching little by little.  This week her husband, John aka "The Legend", asked her if she believed in Joseph Smith and after a long pause she said, "I'm not there yet", it is slow progress but nonetheless it is progress!  

We had a pretty sad lesson with a man who had researched the Book of Mormon and it seemed that he wanted it to be true but was caught up so much on physical evidence and the lack thereof, and as much as we explained things like faith, and prayer, and the Holy Ghost he just would not understand.  Then on Friday, we went on exchanges with the elders in Alvin; it's pretty much the epitome of a small Texas town.  Then Saturday was great; we were biking around when we saw a man walking and as we approached and said hello he asked us to walk with him.  Jim was his name.  While walking we passed in front of a members house, and they happened to be outside doing yard work, so as we approach, Elder Shields says, "Hey, there's Bro. Dawson!" and he and Jim hit it off.  Well, short story shorter, Jim invited us over for dinner at his house later that night.  He told us of a recent disagreement that he had had with the pastor of his church and said he was looking for a church that actually lived what Jesus taught.  

Anywho, the gospel is true and the church is the Lord's kingdom on the earth.  We've made a covenant to share the Book of Mormon with everyone so let's honor it.  I love y'all thanks for everything!

Love, Elder Cooley

P.S. Thanks for the BD card, I also got one from Gma and Gpa, thanks be to them also! Also, is my homecoming talk going to be given my first Sunday back (the 23rd)?  The mission wants to know when and where it's gonna happen.

Mi Querida Familia,

That's awesome to hear about all the great missionary work in the stake; it's amazing how much children can be blessed by a faithful parent.  Also, I did get the package from Alicia and also the package from Kera.  It's crazy to see how much all the kids have grown; Pepper especially surprised me.  She's a GIANT!  I also enjoyed the very well-done coloring pages!

This past week was great, we were able to give a lot of service and teach a lot of good people.  We had dinner with the bishop and his family on Monday and he invited a less-active couple whose father had just passed away and we were able to teach about the Plan of Salvation.  They had a lot of questions and they made it to church this week.  We were also able to teach this awesome family of 4; all they knew about the church was what the dad had seen on a South Park episode so we were able to clear some things up and they understood everything surprisingly well and they have a lot of potential.

Well, the gospel is true.  If we learn it, live it, and love, then we will be happy.  I hope y'all have a great week!

Love, Elder Cooley

 P.S. Thanks for the birthday wishes, I love you Mom, I hope all with school is going well!

Howdy,

This past week was good stuff.  That's awesome to hear about your new job, Mom; it sounds like you're having a lot of fun.  That's ridiculous that Craig is engaged!  I'll have to write him.

We've been able to visit a lot of less-active members and have been able to teach them some of the lessons or read with them from the Book of Mormon; there is such great power in the Book of Mormon.  I feel it every time we read it with them and I see the Spirit working within them.

One scripture that I've come to love during this final stretch has been Moroni 9:6; we're always "in the middle" as Pres. Uchtdorf would put it and we should never slack off.  I love y'all very much!

Con gran amor, Elder Cooley

Picture of the "Friendswood District" My hand is resting on E. Shields (companero)

Como se llama un pato con una pierna? -una pata

Howdy,

Thanks for the package of letters from the family and for dad's letter.  It's always nice to get stuff!

This past week was great; we had a great zone leader council with President Ashton where we learned how to better put into practice the new focuses that he's given us, and then we also had a great zone meeting where we got to talk about all that stuff with the zone.

I went on an exchange with Elder Campbell (a Navajo elder who's missionary language is Vietnamese) from Shiprock, NM.  Good times.  We got to meet some good less-actives and also taught some investigators.  Ha! that classic video of Diana picking her nose, I remember that.  I got some pictures from Kera, the kids look way grown up!  Well, keep being awesome!

Love, Elder Cooley

Howdy!

That's cool to hear about the change in the ward.  This past week has been a good one, just like all the others!  I was able to go on an exchange with Elder Filiaga up in Sunnyside (South Houston), it was quite a treat.  Then on Saturday I went on an exchange with Elder Cruz in the Spanish branch, it was fun to be back in Spanish.  

I'm pretty sure I'll stay here for next transfer also. I should get the package tomorrow.

Anywho, being a missionary is the best. Keep sharing the gospel with those around you, just be an example and open your mouth!

Love, Elder Cooley

Howdy,

So this past week was great.  We had the baptism for Sis. Smith and the missionary that baptized her daughter 8 years ago came back to perform the baptism.  He also brought his family and turned out that they were related to Elder Shields through marriage; he was ‘wierded’ out quite a bit.

We also had a conference with Pres. Ashton and his family on Wednesday and then on Friday he joined Elder Shields and me for companionship study.  It amazed me how he studies the scriptures and it helped me realize that I can do a lot better at feasting upon the words of Christ.  We also had lunch with him and were able to talk more about his vision for the mission.  His big focus is to help us delve deeply into the scriptures so that we can have the spirit of prophecy and revelation.

Anywho, things are going great.  Keep up the great missionary work!

Love, Elder Cooley

My dearly beloved family,

So this past week was pretty bitter-sweet, President Saylin and his family should be on their way to Utah right now.  It'll be weird having a new mission president for just the last little bit but I'm sure we'll be pals by the time I leave.  He also shared with us his full conversion story, the first time I had heard it from beginning to end.  It's nothing too crazy, just simple acts and examples of friends who were members when he was younger.  But it's amazing how those small and simple means are just what brought about great things.

You should try "cakeballs" they are delicious.  Also, Sis. Smith is progressing really well. There's nothing better than sharing the gospel, keep it up!

Love,

Elder Cooley

Mi querida familia,

It's true that I don't have much opportunity to speak Spanish, but I'm making sure to always do language study still and talk to as many Hispanics that I can!  I really miss being in a Spanish area; in the Friendswood stake there is a Spanish branch so I'm looking forward to going on exchanges soon with those missionaries.

This past week was amazing! So this past Monday as we were washing the car Elder Shields contacted some big buff man.  It turned out his name was "Booker T" (apparently some pro-wrestler guy; one elder said he remembers playing him on a video game), anyways, he almost let us come by but I guess he's a little busy.  Sis. Smith is flying through the Book of Mormon and is getting back from being out of town tonight so we will start teaching her again.  We talked with her daughter (a member) and she told her that on her way out of town she realized she had forgotten her scriptures and she felt very distraught.  So she began to pray and as she stopped at the light she looked over and there was a car full of missionaries.  Well she waved them down and had them pull over and they gave her a triple, prayer answered!  Also, as we were out contacting on the 4th of July it started to rain and we felt like we should knock a certain house. Well, Sis. Watson (Sis. Smith's daughter) answered the door and it turned out that it was the house of her sons girlfriend (who had been reading the Book of Mormon but we didn't know where she lived). We went back a couple days later and the girlfriend wasn't there but we taught the mother and it was an awesome lesson.  She told us how her daughter had been talking to her about the Book of Mormon and such, good stuff happening.

Anyways, I love being a missionary.  It's the best!  Keep being awesome; I hope y'all have a great week!  Keep being great examples and opening your mouths and hearts to others.

Con gran amor, Elder Cooley

P.S. Elder Shields is purely English and is from Springville and turns out he knew Brett and Uncle Ken was his coach for baseball as a kid.

July 2, 2012

Hello! Sounds like some good times at Philmont.

As for the new area, I am in the Friendswood 2nd Ward with Elder Shields. My first English ward and I'll probably end my mission here, it's a really nice and friendly ward. I went to the first English sacrament meeting in 21 months and it was very different. The first few days it was a little bit of culture shock but now I think I've accustomed myself to Friendswood.

We had a baptism this past Saturday for Sis. Rose, a 63 year old lady who the missionaries had talked to on her driveway about 3 months ago. She is a saint and had us over for dinner on Friday, homemade country-fried steak, Yummy... On Thursday we had President Saylin's last Zone Leader Council, the spirit was very strong, and he informed us that Pres. Ashton will be arriving in 2 weeks.

One investigator we have is Sis. Smith, the mother of a member family. She has come to church a few times and this Friday she called us on the phone and told us that she wanted to be baptized and even set her own date.

Anyways, things are going great and I'm still loving the mission, even in an English area (for most of my mission I dreaded the thought) but everyone needs the gospel! Keep being that light to your friends and family!

Love, Elder Cooley

Hello!

That's pretty cool to hear about Zeniff and Will. Send Quentin my love, and give him a big hug for me, and tell him to write me, thanks!  That's exciting all the stuff with Philmont; I can't wait to hear about it!

So this past week was my last full week with Elder Tonn.  We get the transfer calls Monday mornings (today), but we went to the mission office on Thursday and President pulled me in for an unexpected interview and asked me to serve as a zone leader.  So I don't know where I am going but I feel I might go to an English area, we'll see, either way I'll be preaching the gospel so I'm happy.  Time sure does fly on the mission; I try not to think about it much though.

Anywho, this past week as we were OYMing we ran into a less-active member who wasn't going to church because he simply "did not know where to find it".  Se llama Florentin y viene de Guatemala, el sirvio una mision en Honduras y ahora vive aqui con sus hermanos que no son miembros.  Well, we started teaching his brother, good stuff. Also, yesterday as we were trying to get an investigator to come see a baptism we went to his house and learned that he had moved. We didn't know where he moved to but we really wanted him to come and see it, so as we were out and about inviting people on the street to come and see it, we ran into the investigator that we were looking for!  That was no coincidence. Well, he was able to come and we were able to find a member to get him a ride. Many other miracles are happening and I'm sure gonna miss this area and all the people I've come to love.

Well, I love y'all very much also and I hope you have a great week!

Peace and blessings, Elder Cooley

P.S. Yes we went and used the Jamba Juice gift cards, thank you so much!! It had been a long time since I had had a Caribbean Passion smoothie. Love ya mom!

Monday June 18, 2012

Como Estamos?

"Que le dice un jaguar a otro jaguar?  Jaguar (How are) you?"  Un chiste que Adan me conto.

It sounds like this past week was an exciting one.  Keeley Sage eh?  I can't wait to see her.  Que suerte que tengan la oportunidad de ir a Philmont.  Espero que se disfruten y saquen muchas fotos para que vea yo como era.

Well, this past week was great.  Hno. Ramos came out with us a couple times and we walked around Guatville with him talking with people and teaching them the gospel.  He also shared with us some stories of his time in the army as a combat engineer.  I was on an exchange Wednesday in the North area and as we were biking around we were stopped by a member, Luis, who had recently moved from Chicago.  He and his wife were baptized about 2 years ago and he was really excited to see us and find out where the nearest church is.  We will be going by to see him and his family this Wednesday. Adan went to mutual and has been going with Hno. Ramos to play soccer and it's good to see him get more involved with the members.  

We found many prepared people this week and I'm excited to teach them.  This is the Lord's work and he knows his sheep and they are numbered.  Well, I hope y'all have a great week! Keep the faith.

Love, Elder Cooley

Howdy!

Congrats on the baby girl, Kera and Greg!  I hadn't heard the news about Al Fuller getting married and expecting, that's awesome!  I also got letters from Zach Carpenter and Craig Roberts; it was good to hear from them and all the crazy stuff going on back home.  As for things in Texas, I am still working hard and the mission is doing great.

 This past Monday we had district activity; we went to Memorial Park and barbecued some fajita meat that an investigator had graciously bought for us, along with playing some games.  We then went to an English member’s house and we helped him in his attempt to catch an alligator with his lasso, but the gator had already been caught before so it didn't work out.  I also interviewed a man for baptism and then on Wednesday he and his girlfriend got married, then he got baptized.  

On Thursday, we taught a sister who, after being in-active for 4 years, showed up at church and asked us to come by.  She then showed up to church again with her husband and is very excited to get back into the church.  She said the whole time during her inactivity she would try and do other things on Sunday to "fill" her, even go to different churches, but she always felt empty.  Also, Joseph Matuk came back from New York and he's doing great as always.

Yesterday, there was an investigator fireside in which recent converts share their testimonies. Well, Sofia Ramos shared her's; she has also been called to serve with the Young Women and is doing great!  I love this gospel!  I hope y'all have a great week with the baby-naming and all other delightful things.

Happy late birthday Diana & Josh.  Also, happy birthday Dad, Benton, Alicia, and nameless Cooley girl!

Love,

Elder Cooley

Monday, June 4, 2012

Hola,

I don't have much time to email but this past week was really good!

We had a lot of lessons fall through, but we are planning on a baptism this Sunday so hopefully all goes well with that.  Also, the meeting with Paul V. Johnson was really good!  They created a new stake in Houston!  Good stuff!  

Well, I love ya bunches!

Elder Cooley

Dear Family,

That's crazy that all those kids in the ward just graduated.  Thanks for sending those shoes!

This past week was awesome!  A week full of OYM's and lessons.  This Saturday all 3 Houston missions will get together to hear from Elder Paul V. Johnson along with another Seventy and then on Sunday there is a multi-stake conference.  There is speculation of some changes in stake/mission boundaries.  

We had the confirmation of Jose Moncado; he just loves being a member and feels very blessed to have fallen into our hands.  I've really noticed this past week the importance of trusting in the Lord's timing.  Sometimes when things don't work out the way we had hoped, if we just put our trust in him then his purposes will be realized and we'll know that everything is in His hands.

 I hope you all have a great week!

Love, Elder Cooley

Dear Family,

This past week was great!

So on Sunday Jose Moncado got baptized, the man who stopped us a couple months ago and asked us to teach him; it was a very sweet experience and Elder Tonn was able to perform the ordinance.  Also, transfers happened.  All 5 companionships are now in 1 district (before it was 2).  Hna. Martinez, a native Mexican, is training Hna. Moreno Cordero, a native Spaniard.  They add a little bit of culture to the district.

Joseph Matuk just left for a couple weeks to visit his daughter in New York.  I definitely have to say that of all the tamales I've tried, Guatemalans make the best.  They make tamales de masa, de arroz, y de papa and they're all amazing.  We taught lessons and talked to people on the street, there's nothing better.  Well, I hope all is well back home!

Love, Elder Cooley

Hello!

How's it going?  It was crazy to see all those little kids and how they've grown!

Well, it is the start of a new transfer and Elder Tonn and I are staying together!  So this past week was amazing.  We got to teach a man named Jorge; he is from Cuba and has been searching for the truth for about 6 years.  At that time he lived in Cuba and saw about 7 different churches, all claiming to have the truth but one night he raised his Bible to heaven pleading to God that He would show him the truth.  Well, just recently he touched down here in the US and is a doctor at a clinic that a member works at.  He preaches in front of a congregation of another church and he told us about how his leaders gave him the topic for his sermon in 2 months - the topic being to preach against the Mormon Church.  He thought in his mind and later asked his leaders, "How can I preach against something of which I know nothing about?"  Their answer was simply, just do what we tell you, but he wanted to know more fully.  Well, that's where the member comes into play.  He found out that this member with whom he worked was Mormon and they began talking.  Well, he's been reading the Book of Mormon and believes it to be the Word of God.  He feels very strongly about personal revelation and is a very sensitive to spiritual things.  And we will be teaching him again tonight so we're pretty stoked.

Also this past week I had the opportunity to exchange with Elder Soutas (an old companion in Galveston) so that was fun to work with him again.  An investigator of ours, Denis, was able to come to Sofia Ramos' baptism and also to the Mother's Day party we had.  He loved both of course.  There are just so many things going on but time is short.

I love you all!

Love, Elder Cooley

Why Hello!

How's everything going?  I haven't gotten the shoes yet but I'll probably get them this Thursday.

You mentioned how everyone is growing up and I was thinking of how crazy the concept of time is.  Just yesterday we had ward conference and the bishop talked about how 2 of the great gifts we have from God are time and agency.  It's up to us how we use that time and God will hold us accountable at the last day for what we did with it.

Gonzalo, the man from Guatemala whose wife is a member, made it to church yesterday. It was good to see all the fellowship he received from the members.  I love how as we follow those little promptings of the Holy Ghost then the Lord will bless us with that testimony that it was from Him, but only after the trial of our faith.

As for writing in my journal I try to do it at least once a week.  This past week was great and we saw many small miracles, just how little things worked out and came together so well; being a missionary is good stuff.

Well, I love you all! Have a great week! See ya Sunday!

Love, Elder Cooley

Como estamos?

So this past week was pretty much amazing.  I got all those pictures of the family and they blew my mind!  The kids are getting so big!  I'm excited to Skype and be able to see the family again.  

Last Monday for P-day, the elders in the district ate lunch with Joseph Matuk and he fed us some amazing chicken and of course, bobaganoosh.  Then later on in the week we went by and he wanted to feed us but all he had was sardines and 6 month old eggplant that had been fermenting in a jar with nuts and olive oil.  It was the first time I've tried either... Apparently the eggplant deal is what they do in the Middle East whenever they run out of food, like their year supply.  

We were able to teach a Muslim man who was very interested in the idea of a modern prophet and another book of scripture and he'll begin being taught by the English missionaries.  Also, as we were out contacting on the street I approached a man sitting down looking at his cell phone.  Without looking up he began to talk to us as if he knew us and he asked for our telephone number.  He said he was waiting for a call from his wife in Guatemala and then he stood up and presented himself to us.  His name is Gonzalo and he just got here a couple weeks ago.  His wife and all her family are members and he has been attending church with them as of late.  As we were talking with him his wife called and he almost immediately passed the phone to me.  She asked my name and thanked me for finding and talking to her husband and told us to get him baptized.  She started crying and saying that God is a God of miracles and I felt to promise that her family would be sealed in the temple someday.   I got a little teary-eyed as I thought of how the Lord knows His sheep and will do all he can to bring the lost ones to the fold.  I love this gospel and can't wait to talk to y'all in a couple weeks!

Love, Elder Cooley

My Dearly Beloved Family,

Como Estais?  Sounds like all the fun stuff of summer is coming up, who all is going to Philmont?  Who in the ward is graduating?  Tell Zeniff congrats on his mission call.

As for this past week it was full of good stuff.  On Friday Elder Tonn got his first dose of Houston rain and we got to bike around in it without jackets.  We also went to the temple on Thursday, it was AMAZING!  Also, yesterday at church we saw many tender mercies of the Lord as a few random people showed up who we weren't expecting.  One is a man who was being taught before he went out of town and has been attending church wherever he went and just recently returned so we'll start teaching him.  

I love the gospel and each and every one of you tambien.  Have a great week, sorry for the short email!

Love, Elder Cooley

P.S. Both pairs of my shoes are wearing through and I'm not sure they can endure to the end, if you could send me either the Propels or Dr. Martins that would be much appreciated :)

Also, how are all those primary kids doing like Nathaniel, Jared, Sam, etc. They are probably pretty closing to being deacons, right? Crazy!

Howdy!

How's it going?  Joseph's baptism was probably the smoothest baptism of my mission. He is the man.  When he came up out of the water he put his fist through a gap between the glass and the floor and 'fist bumped' 2 of the little girls kneeling down.  He then reached up and fist bumped Elder Tonn, he's a big fan of the fist bump.  And then after his confirmation he gave Elder Tonn and me a kiss; he says it's normal but, cada quien.

As for the rest of the week it was full of talking to people as always and an unusual amount of appointments fell through but things are going great, Elder Tonn is a champ. The gospel is true and it's the best.  We gotta share it with others.  I've noticed that when I'm feeling out of it (don't want to talk to people) the best thing to do is just go and get into it and then by doing so the Spirit comes.

Well, I hope you all remember this piece of sage advice, "Entre gustos y colores no discuten los doctores".

Love, Elder Cooley

Dear Family,

How is it going?! This past week was great!

I too was sick since Tuesday and I'm just getting over it. My new companion is Elder Devin Tonn from Queen Creek, AZ. We are in the 'Houston 1 Central' Area, and the 'Houston 1 South' District (there are 2 districts in the ward).  It's pretty much guaranteed that I'll be here another 2 transfers to finish training so feel free to send anything.

I bet the Easter pageant was great as always! Elder Tonn is just super excited for the work and his Spanish is getting better and better every day. I'll send y'all some pictures next week.

As for this week, Joseph Matuk will be getting baptized (he was going to get baptized this past week but he had to go out of town). He had his interview this past week and afterwards he fed us some homemade bobaganoosh (you'll have to try it). Well, the church is true and the gospel is perfect! I hope y'all have a great week!

Love, Elder Cooley

Howdy!

Wasn't conference the best?  I was able to write out all the questions/concerns I had before the conference and then as I listened I did so with an ear ready to receive council; without a doubt every question/concern was addressed.  

Joseph is continuing to prepare for his baptism this Saturday and is very excited.  We reviewed the baptismal questions with him yesterday and he is stoked.  He told us of how, the night before, him and his wife invited friends over for dinner (apparently a weekly thing) and how while everyone else was drinking wine 'til 1 o'clock am, he drank water the whole time.  He truly understands the blessings that come from obedience.

We have several other investigators which are continuing to read and progress in the gospel.  One of such is Edgar, from Uruguay.  He cooked us "pollo a la italiana" (they eat a lot of Italian food in Uruguay and Argentina) and afterwards we taught about the Plan of Salvation and how he'll be able to see his family members who have passed on. Another investigator is Jose, from El Salvador; we have been able to teach him a lot more recently and he started reading the Book of Mormon from the beginning.  Jose's grandpa back in El Salvador is the only member of the church in their family and they've been talking a lot more because of it.  Jose told us about how his grandpa is excited that he's no longer going to be the only member in the family.

Yesterday, we were able to teach a less-active family and it was a very sweet lesson.  We expressed our love for them and encouraged them to start with something simple, family prayer.  The daughter who goes to church with her grandma had asked her that day, "Grandma, why don't mom and dad come to church?"  She was able to testify of how she felt at church and we gave the grandma a blessing of health before leaving.  Also, last night I received a very unexpected call from President Saylin.  He started off by saying how he had a couple assignments for me - the first of which is to train an incoming missionary, and the other to be a district leader.  So Elder Claunch is being transferred and on Wednesday I will meet my "son".  It will be nice to learn from him and help him get a good start to his mission.

Well, I love you all and hope that you have a great week!

Con gran amor, Elder Cooley

March 26, 2012

Dear Family,

Great things are happening in the vineyard of the Lord. This past week we were able to teach the friend of a member, Joseph. He is 82 years old and although his parents are from Lebanon and Damascus he was born in Columbia and so Spanish is his preferred language. He has already read the entire Gospel Principles manual but is still very excited to learn more. Our first lesson was a very sweet experience. Before we even started teaching he asked, "So when can I get baptized?" As we shared the experience of the First Vision, he leaned forward in his chair listening very intently. Afterwards, he fed us some hummus, good stuff. He is very excited for his baptism on the 7th of April and hopes that his wife will consent to come. Joseph has been of testimony that even those who come in the 11th hour will receive the same as those of us who have been around for awhile. The gospel is true and if we learn it, live it, and love it we will be happy.  I hope y'all have a great week!

Love, Elder Cooley

My Dearly Beloved Family,

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Things are going great here in the land of Texas.  This past Saturday and Sunday Melba was baptized and confirmed; this time it was done in one dunk and the water was warm. Jose, our amigo venezolano, and Edgar, our amigo uruguayo, both came to church this past week for the first time and the lesson in Gospel Principles was about the scriptures. Afterwards they wanted a Triple so that they could read D&C and the Pearl of Great Price.  Jose has read up to 1 Nefi 17 and loves every bit of it.  He is progressing towards baptism and can't wait to feel clean.  

I love this area so much; there are so many people to talk to!  This past week we received a call from a member who lives outside of the mission but who has a friend who lives in our area.  The friend wants us to come over and teach him so we will be visiting him this Wednesday.

Tell Craig that he needs to write me, porfa. Anywho, the work is going great, time is flying by and I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Love, Elder Cooley

Howdy,

So, this past week was amazing!  We were able to teach a lot of people and see many miracles.  About a week back, as we were rushing to make it home on time, we were stopped by Jose, a man in our apartment complex.  One of the first things he said was "Quiero que me ensenen".  After setting up a few appointments and him not being there for them we began to give up hope.  But as we were trying to get an investigator to an investigator fireside yesterday we walked by his door and he was outside, we invited him and he accepted.  We were able to get him a ride and he loved it.  We still haven't taught him so he has a lot of questions about Jose Smith and the Book of Mormon but he definitely felt the Spirit which is the most important part.  Also at the fireside, Moises Gomez, shared his conversion story.  It was awesome to see him and hear how he's doing.  He has received the priesthood and just turned 16 so he will soon start blessing the sacrament.

We had a great lesson with Melba; she was postponing baptism because of her arthritis and she feels that her bones were really weak.  We then asked her how she was doing with the Word of Wisdom and admitted that she was still drinking coffee.  We then read through parts of D&C 89 and focused on how even the weakest of saints can do it and then testified of the blessings, including marrow in the bones and those were the blessings she needed.

There were 2 instances in which after talking to people on the street we set up appointments for the next day.  We taught them and they accepted baptismal dates. Also, we taught Adan, a 15 year old who recently came from Guatemala and who is living with his sister and brother in law.  He said he's not really sure why he came here, he liked it back in Guatemala, he was going to a nice school and everything but he feels that God has him here for a reason.  Afterwards I was reminded of the scripture in the Book of Mormon that talks about how no one will be brought here save it be by the hand of the Lord.  I feel privileged to serve among those who have been brought here by the hand of the Lord and I have seen that scripture be true many times throughout my mission.  As for Adan, he is a really smart kid and has already come to church several times and has a baptismal date.  

There certainly has been "an abundance of rain"(1 Kings 18:41) this past week, in terms of literal rain and blessings that the Lord has poured out upon us.  This gospel is true and it makes eternal changes in the lives of all who accept it with full purpose of heart.

Love, Elder Cooley

Buenas,

How's it going?  As for the bike/car thing, our area got cut in half so we didn't need the car anymore and I was thankful for that.  I prefer bike areas over car areas.  As for Ashlee getting called to Scotland/Ireland, that is fantastic!  Hopefully she likes haggis.

So as for this past week, it was absolutely amazing!  President called for "a return to greatness", in terms of more diligent striving to meet our goals and focus on our purpose.  As such, we set out to talk to everyone and not waste a minute.  I was reminded of my time back in Galveston with Elder Jensen and how hard we strove to reach our goals, how much success we had, and the Spirit that filled my life and raised my faith as we did so.  We saw many blessings.  

As we were biking home one night to get picked up by a member, we stopped and offered help to a couple carrying things; they were both deaf and accepted our help. After helping them, we were able to get their information and will get it to the ASL elders.  

Countless other blessings; we needed 3 investigator lessons on Sunday and we had 3 lessons scheduled but 2 fell through.  We talked to someone on the street and he asked if we could teach him right then, so we went to a nearby park and taught him.  Upon ending that lesson, another man walked by and we talked to him; he told us how he had talked to missionaries before but they never came by.  So we walked with him to his apartment and taught him.  He was a humble man from Guatemala and he showed us pictures of his family who are still in Guatemala, and then I pulled out my wallet family picture and showed him my family.  This past weekend has been unforgettable.  There is nothing more satisfying than work!

About a month back, Lilian dropped us, saying that she needed more time.  Then this past weekend, her and her boyfriend got in a car accident.  He passed away but she is in the hospital and hopefully gets well soon.  It was a witness of how sometimes the time we ask for doesn't exist, that's why it's so important to not procrastinate the day of our repentance.  That relationship was one of the things keeping her from baptism so hopefully this can work for her good.  Pues, La Iglesia es verdadera y El Libro es azul.

Que Dios los bendiga y que tengan siempre trabajo y salud!

Con un abrazo,

Elder Cooley

Dear Family,

How are things?  Hopefully Dad continues to get better!  That's awesome about all the missionary experiences you've been having, keep it up!  Sadly in Texas there are no such things as Navajo tacos, or Indian fry bread.  Maybe if you send me a recipe I could teach them and let them enjoy of such blessings also.

So this past Saturday, Elder Christofferson came to our mission and spoke.  We got to shake his hand and he invoked some apostolic blessings upon the missionaries through their faithfulness. President Saylin said, “What a remarkable experience we had together with Elder D. Todd Christofferson at the missionary devotional!  I was particularly moved by the blessings he bestowed upon us as missionaries.  Did you catch those at the end?  I wrote as fast as I could in attempt to record them.  He blessed us with greater light and understanding -- revelation -- as we study the scriptures in personal study and companion study.  He promised us that the gospel will be "unfolded" unto us.  He also blessed us with a solemn witness of the Savior, along with a true knowledge that we have been forgiven of our sins and sanctified from the stains of sins.  Wow!  If we had just been there to receive those blessings from the hand of an apostle it would have been worth all of the effort to be there.  Let us not forget the things the Spirit whispered to us as we sat at the feet of one of the prophets. Remember -- the fulfillment of these blessings comes through our faith and doing those things we have been asked to do." It was a day never to be forgotten.

So we will be having a baptism this weekend for Melba Romero.  She's already been baptized back in El Salvador, but her records were lost and so she gets another chance so that it'll be recorded on earth, and in heaven :)  Tonight we are having a Noche de Hogar con la familia del Obispo y la familia Ramos.  We have planned to teach about the Atonement, one of my favorite things to teach.  They are reading together from the Book of Mormon nightly and have come to church for the past month and a half.  Also, this next week is stake conference and Elder Flukeger is coming!  We found a family from Cuba that we were able to teach yesterday and they were really interested in the Book of Mormon.  We got to do a lot of biking around in the rain this past week, I love the gospel. Y'all are great!

Love, Elder Cooley

P.S. Thanks Dad for everything, I was able to fix the shower in our apartment due to one time that you did it for someone else and you made me come along with you, haha. And also every time I'm walking in front of my companion I think of the advice you gave me to always walk side by side and I quickly correct it.

Dear Family,

What a wonderful week to be a servant of the Lord. For P-day we went to Williams Tower and went up to the 64th floor. It's the closest thing to a mountain they have around so we got a nice view of Houston.

We are going to start teaching one of the sisters' investigator. The reason we get to teach him is because he proposed to one of the sisters... We also had some cool experiences of talking to everyone. We found a part member family that recently moved from Georgia and we were able to teach them. Yesterday we had an awesome investigator fireside to which Sofia attended, and at the same time there was a baptism going on for Leoncia Guzman (one of my investigators back in Mo City) and I was able to see many of the members from that ward that I miss so dearly.

There were several opportunities this past week to give unplanned service - we helped an older couple with their yard, helped an old lady take out the trash, and helped a man with a bad back move into his new apartment upstairs.

I know that the Lord is so very close to this work and as we pay attention to the spirit we are led to do what he would want us do. I know that the more we strive for a consecrated life the more companionship of the Holy Ghost we'll have.  I hope Dad gets feeling better soon and that the family continues doing well.

Love, Elder Cooley

Dear Family,

It sure was good to hear from y'all. Things are going great in the area, we are teaching the wife of a member and she is just super legit. For the first time I can remember in my mission (I think it might have happened before but I've forgotten), when we came back for the 2nd visit she had answered all the questions that were at the back of the Restoration pamphlet that we had left with her. She also signed up during Relief Society to do Visiting Teaching and is doing awesome. We gave them a Houston Temple picture to hang up in their apartment and they are excited to go there someday to be sealed for time and all eternity.

I sure love being a missionary and all the things I have learned, I am reminded of Mosiah 5:13 which says,"For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?" We come to know the Master as we serve Him with all our heart, might, mind, and strength, and as we keep Him close to the thoughts and intents of our hearts. Keep being awesome and living the gospel!

Love, Elder Cooley