Hey! This past week has been good! I had the opportunity to go to an all day leadership training on Tuesday that Pres. Saylin held. It really strengthened my faith and learned a lot. Also this week I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with my district leader Elder Cowan. Since this is a bi-lingual district, he is English speaking. So it was me and him for most of the lessons. It was an opportunity to exercise my faith and we were able to teach 5 lessons that day, most of which Elder Cowan didn’t know what was going on. But it was good for me to use my Spanish without the help of Elder Jensen and I feel the Lord helped me tremendously to communicate the feelings of my heart to these wonderful people.  While on the exchange we ran into an interesting man who used the Bible to support his theory of aliens and a bunch of other crazy stuff. Also on the exchange we went to teach Angel, as we waited outside for the sisters to be done with their lesson. Quick background, Angel lives with Abraham Perez, a member from the English ward who speaks Spanish. Abraham is basically the best member missionary I have ever seen.  He was baptized 2.5 years ago and shares the gospel in everything he does. He tells us how he is just so full of the love of Christ and wants to share it with everyone; so sometimes he'll schedule lessons at his house for the sisters and elders at the same time so we started coordinating with the sisters. Anyways, the sisters were almost done so we waited outside. We see Angel walking up, staggering, calling us his amigos, and almost walked into the wrong door. It was pretty obvious he was drunk. As we talked with him I realized and gained a further testimony of how much alcohol changes people and causes them to not be able to feel the spirit.  So that lesson ended quickly and it was sad to see one of my investigators like that.

Other than that we have seen the heart of the stepdad of the familia Carranza be softened. He has told us how he loves coming to church and loves having us over. I love that family so much! It has been good to see them come to church and see the changes that have happened in their family.

Anyways for Christmas, we'll go to a member’s house and you can call us after 3 sometime. I'll have more next week like the number to call and what time exactly but that’s the basics. Anyways, love ya all and keep the faith!

Elder Cooley

Adam and Jessie are expecting another one?!  That is Fantastic!  I really appreciate all the pictures of the family and the awesome pictures that the kids have drawn. They are way good artists. That's cool you received the letter from Pres. and Sis. Saylin; they are basically amazing.

I had the opportunity to attend an all day leadership training with Elder Jensen yesterday. There were some grulesome role plays but all in all it was awesome, got to learn a lot from Pres. and Sis. Saylin. President Saylin is a convert and he has an amazing testimony and hearing his always strengthens my own. At the end I was able to have an interview with him which was a very delightful experience.

So, Alvaro Arevalo, after coming to church last week we talked to him Wednesday and he said he loved it! And that he knows the Book of Mormon is true and he wants to change his life! We had him set for a baptismal date for Dec. 18th which is the weekend for our mission-wide goal for every companionship to baptize or "Weekend in White" so every missionary can have a white Christmas and to reach our mission's goal of baptisms for the year.  As of now we lack 80 baptisms and a lot of faith is required to reach the goal, but I know it’s possible. Anyways, Alvaro told us on Wednesday he might be going to Mexico to work until January but he didn’t think it'd happen. Well when we returned on Friday he wasn’t home.  We called him and found out he was on his way to Mexico. It was kind of a letdown; but he's way awesome and we're going to hook him up with the address for the church down there. The one sure date that we have for the “Weekend in White” is for a part member family.  We'll be baptizing one of the boys named Caleb. The whole family is so awesome.  The mom is baptized and there are 5 kids; the 3 oldest have already been baptized. The stepdad isn’t a member, as of now. But they are awesome and love coming to church, so yeah.

We've been teaching Angel Garcia who lives with a member.  He reads 4-6 chapters a night and loves the church but he wants to feel ready for baptism before accepting a date so there are some miracles to be had there. Also this past Saturday during our lunch and dinner hours we went to this parade deal in downtown Galveston called Dickens on The Strand, where they celebrate Charles Dickens and such. A recent convert in the English ward got us tickets; he's lived on the island his whole life and is about 70+. There is a lot of history here in Galveston and it's a wonderful place to serve.

Anyways, I know that where there is faith, there are miracles. When coupled with obedience there is nothing that can’t be done. This is the Lord's work and I feel privileged to be an instrument in His hands. I love you all and thank you for everything!

-Elder Cooley

At the ward Christmas Party

Sounds like y'all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! My Thanksgiving consisted of 2 dinner appointments back to back; it was a bad idea seeing as how I could barely ride my bike after. However it was fun to eat with the members and share a thanksgiving message with them. That is awesome that Sis. Anderson can go to the temple again! I've been meaning to ask, how is everyone in the ward? How's Quintin Begay? How's everyone? That's awesome how Elder Scott got changed to Spanish, it’s a lot to learn but the gift of tongues is very real. I met an elder from the MTC that as soon as he got in the field his call changed to Spanish and he said he was amazed at how fast he was learning the language.

So update on Mando, he was interviewed by someone in the mission presidency since we can’t teach Muslims without them getting an interview from them. He passed the interview and the sisters are beginning to teach him, he has come to church the past 2 weeks and me and Elder Jensen are going tonight to see how he's doing.

We have experience many miracles the past couple weeks, we have gotten 23 new investigators and we are slowly but surely helping them progress. One night I was praying and was asking were the Lord wanted us to go, I heard a distinct voice say,"Go all the way", and then the thought came that we should go to the end of our area the next day. I was a little hesitant because I wasn't sure if I was crazy or if it was a prompting from the Holy Ghost. As we followed through with it we went to the end, neglecting some visits that we had planned on doing at that time. We got to the end of the area and didn’t know what to do, we starting knocking doors and nothing was going our way. We decided around 5:30 to go and see the people we had planned on seeing at 3 (These weren’t visits we set with the people, but rather to stop by to schedule a lesson). As we got there we knocked on the door and no one answered. We decided to knock the door across the hall and then a man answered. We introduced ourselves and Elder Jensen asked, "What is the importance of Jesus Christ in your life?" The man thought and said, "That is a good question" he then let us in and as we taught the 1st lesson he and I remembered that we had seen each other a few days earlier. He was talking to a friend and we were riding our bikes, we didn’t stop to talk but I smiled and waved at him. During the lesson he said it was a sign from God that we were there. As we gave him a Libro de Mormon he was very anxious to read, we set a baptismal date and as we scheduled another lesson we learned that he gets home from work at 5 everyday. If we had come at the time we had planned we would not have met him.

It is amazing how involved the Lord is in this marvelous work! Many other miracles have happened this past week and I wish I had time to explain them but anyways, I love y'all and I pray that the Lord will bless you in your lives and that you will be able to see the miracles he performs.

Con gran amor,

Elder Cooley

 

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!

Hey All!

So I leave for Texas tomorrow morning! Estoy demaciado animado! That is awesome about the regional conference and all.  I love hearing from the prophets and apostles. In fact, last Tuesday for the 4th time, we got to hear from an apostle.  Elder David A. Bednar gave an absolutely amazing talk, probably one of my favorites ever. He talked about how Doctrines are simple revealed truths that have to do with our salvation, and Principles are guidelines for exercising moral agency in line with those principles, and then Applications, which is what we do. Doctrine answers the question "why?”, Principles answer the question "What?", and Applications answer the questions of "How?'. He said too often in the church we try to fix problems with applications.  Por ejemplo, if Home Teaching needs to be improved, some just address the problem with an application and just tell them what to do.  He said in order to be most effective, address the doctrine behind home teaching and when they understand it in their Hearts, that’s when they become committed and improvement happens. "The study of doctrine will change behavior more than the study of behavior will".  He said "The answer is always the doctrine"; one major doctrine is that God is our Loving Heavenly Father and we are his children.

Other than that we had a testimony meeting in our district on Saturday night with one of our teachers, Hna. Scaife, and it was basically amazing.  We also had the opportunity this week to train the new zone leaders and they are gonna do great things.  I am way excited to get out into the field and teach the gospel with the little Spanish that I can teach, but I have faith that as I work hard and trust in the Lord he will provide.

So I received a letter from my mission president about what will happen the next couple days. He'll be there to pick us up.  We'll have some interviews, dinner, and a testimony meeting.  Then since they have 6 kids, we'll be staying the night at some elders’ appartment nearby.  Then Wednesday morning receive a little training and then meet our trainers.  There are 8 of us total heading to Texas, not sure we'll all be in the same mission, but for sure Elder Simmons and Elder Dalley.  I love this work and I am so humbled and priveleged to be a part of it.  He sentido muy debil este semana pasado pero tengo fe en Jesucristo y en el poder del expiacion.  Se que Dios vive, tuve la oportunidad ir al templo este manana y senti el amor de Dios para mi y para todo el mundo.  Entonces, los amo muchisimo y tenga un buen dia!  

Con gran amor, Elder Cooley

Gracias por el abrigo! I got some awesome letters including pictures of Mae, Emmie, Benton (Along with some awesome pictures they drew! made my day) and then pictures of Troy in his mobster outfit (classy), and then today I got a letter from Alicia including pictures of Pepper, Dakota, and the fam, along with some awesome pictures that Dakota drew (with Curious George).

Entonces, gracias for all of the amor! So this week, Tuesday, for the THIRD Tuesday in a row we heard from an apostle, this time M. Russell Ballard, it was way awesome! All of the apostles so far have spoken of the importance of having a smile to show that this gospel is a gospel of happiness. Then on Wednesday we received 20 new elders in our zone and me and Elder Simmons got to orient them and such. It’s my favorite part of being a zone leader because they are usually so shell-shocked and the first few days are overwhelming but all these elders are way sharp. There's an Elder Fisher from Goodyear.    I was talking to him and found out that he went to high school in Springville with Brea and said he knew the Hardesty's and such.  Small world!

Then on Thursday I received my travel plans!! I leave Nov. 16th at 5 am, my flight leaves at 8:25 then I arrive at Houston around 12:30. Only one week left in the MTC so we're trying to soak up all we can here before we go in the field. I am so stoked to be in the field!

Then yesterday we got to hear from Sheri Dew for the fireside. She had 3 main points that she said would help us in our lives to become more powerful disciples.  1-Know who we are and where we come from (Children of God, we have been saved for these last days because in premortality we developed the talent of spirituality, quote from George Q. Cannon I believe),  2-Know the atonement intimately and become familiar with the enabling power of it. Then 3-Learn to be receptive to personal revelation. It was an awesome talk!

And Sean is going to Tallahassee Florida! That is epic! He and Chase will be in the MTC at the same time, also epic. Anyways, I love y'all and pray for y'all often. The Gospel is awesome and true. Learn it, Live it, Love it.

Con gran amor, Elder Cooley

This past week was awesome! And this past month and a half also. Thank you for the cookies (my zone gobbled them up in minutes and they were very delicious!) and the talk. Yeah if you could just mail the ones from home that would be great! And if you could get Brian to mail me my baja sweater jacket abrigo deal that'd be cool since its getting colder and I don’t have a pday jacket.

So I forgot to tell you that 2 Tuesdays ago we had the opportunity to hear from Russell M. Nelson for devotional, it was asombroso. I was about 20 feet away from him and he said some great stuff.  He said if you don’t know the answer to a question just say "We follow Jesus Christ", so that was obviously some good advice. Then this past Tuesday we went to devotional not expecting a general authority because they don’t come much but turned out that Richard G. Scott talked on being led by the spirit! It was epic.  He invoked several blessings upon the missionaries using his apostleship, and the spirit was so strong! He invoked a protective shield upon the sister missionaries as they follow the spirit and he invoked a blessing of el don de lenguas upon all missionaries learning a language! 

I can't wait to get out into the field and teach real people and work with members! It is awesome to hear the potential of the Kingdom of God on the earth and it is left up to us and our faith in order to spread the gospel. This week I realized that in the past I had no idea how much faith played a factor in everything! Faith is the first principle of the gospel and as we exercise faith it gives us power to overcome the world.

Yo amo este evangelio! Se que La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias es el reino de Senor que de nuevo se ha establecido sobre la tierra. Se que el principio de fe es muy poderoso. Se que a traves el evangelio los hijos de hombres pueden ser salvados.

I love you all and I pray each night for family and friends and even for Texas. This gospel answers every concern in every heart and brings happiness to those who live it. I can't wait to get more pictures from the family and to hear from everyone how they're doing!

Love Elder Mark Cooley

P.S. Hymn 72 is awesome