Happy New Year,

So basically most Spanish jokes I've heard just aren't the same in English so translating just never does them justice when you say, "What did one cup (vaso) say to the other?" when you say "Que vaso?" it's supposed to sound like "Que Paso'?  (I heard that one from a 9 year old).

That's cool they legalized fireworks on those days, I'm sure everyone had fun with that. As for the festivities here in Houston, the buses ran all night to encourage people not to drive if they'd been drinking.  They just do the usual partying, and a lot of staying up late.

 A big focus in church was about setting goals and faithfully working towards them.  Also we got to teach the youth Sunday School class an introduction to the Book of Mormon.  We did a pretty epic object lesson, and then committed all of them to read the Book of Mormon daily and also gave them copies of the Book of Mormon to share with a friend.

This past week I went on an exchange with Elder Preece in his area.  We were walking through a complex and stopped to talk to a lady while she was doing laundry.  She invited us to come back another day and then we asked her if she knew anyone else who would be interested.  Without delay she said yes; she told us of a friend she had who's sister had just died.  She then went into her apartment, grabbed the phone and called her asking if she would be willing.  On the other end of the line she seemed excited to have us over and we set up an appointment.  When the elders went back her husband wasn't there so they weren't able to go in, but since then they've been able to teach them and they are very excited to read the Book of Mormon, all of that because we asked someone we talked to on the street for a referral.  We also had another neat experience this past week.  We talked to a guy, Roberto, really quick, who seemed really excited to have us over; it was a little unusual because we didn't even explain who we were we just said "Hola, como esta?" as we walked by him.  He stopped to talk but said he didn't have time now but that we should come by this upcoming Saturday.  Then yesterday we got a call from a member who asked us if we were the missionaries that talked to her friend, Roberto.  It turns out that she's been inviting him to church and to talk with the missionaries but he's always been busy.  She told him how much God loves him and is looking out for him.

I love being a missionary and being able to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord.  I know that the Lord is preparing the hearts of people to receive the gospel.  Thanks for all the member missionary work that y'all are doing, keep it up, look for ways that you can be a light unto others, if the Lord can make simple stones give light unto others in darkness surely he can use people with weaknesses and faults to build up His Kingdom as we humbly submit to His will and have faith. I hope all is well and that y'all have a fantastic week!

Con gran amor, Elder Cooley