Howdy!  Thanks for the package!  I got it yesterday.   It was good to see some new pictures from the fam and see how grown up all the kids are.  I was amazed by how big all of them look. Also the Bubba Gump chocolate was delicious.  Being here by the gulf there are a lot of fishers and Shrimpers and all the joy that comes along with it.  One of my favorite things is talking to people out by Clear Lake or by the gulf and it usually starts off with me telling them how we are fishers of men.  I love getting to know random people and helping them recognize how the restored gospel can bless their lives.

Anyways, this past week we were able to find even more new investigators and seemingly some pretty legit ones.  We were able to give a few priesthood blessings too --  one to a sister in the district, another to a member in our area who injured himself while working, and another to Bro. Arnett (with whom we live).  I have seen the Spirit guide us even as we pay attention and follow through on the smallest promptings.

Also, not sure if I ever told ya, but back in Galveston my bike rim got bent by another missionary who tried to do a 180; so I've been riding some giant loaner bike from the mission.  But last week I finally got a new rim; so I'm finally back on my normal-sized bike.

Anyways, the work’s going great; I love being a missionary.  Hope all goes well for y'all this week, peace and blessings!

Elder Cooley

Sounds like a great week! Happy Birthday to Diana and Tharon! You are all getting so old.

Summer is coming up and it is getting warmer... But this past Thursday we went to Kemah Boardwalk for our district activity, it's a little amusement park by the bay, so I'll have to send some pictures of that.  The leisure seems to make the work sweeter, but then too much of a good thing can make you feel sick... As for the work, we were able to give a church tour on Friday to a couple who were getting married the next day.  It is awesome to hear experiences of the members and how the gospel has blessed their lives.  We were also able to teach a less active member, Nora, who we found, who wasn't on the records.  In the process we found out she was baptized about 15 years ago when she was 12 in Honduras.  We ended up teaching her brother, Renaldo, and sister, Seyly, too and gave them a baptismal date to work towards which they accepted.  When we asked Nora to read from the Book of Mormon she read it and after said how she missed reading from the scriptures because of the peace they bring.  

On Sunday we had an investigator fireside and had some awesome speakers even though it was thrown together last minute.  A recent convert from our branch shared his testimony about how the gospel saved him from a life of drugs and alcohol.  A Brazilian sister shared her testimony in broken Spanish and for the most part I was able to understand.  It was definitely fun to hear the resemblance and differences of the 2 languages.  Then another recent convert shared his testimony of how he was at the point of suicide when a friend knocked on his door and told him he had "2 friends" at his house he wanted him to meet.  As he knelt down that night with the Book of Mormon in his hands to pray he said he heard a very distinct voice that said "I am Jesus Christ, the book in your hands is my word.  The Bible and Book of Mormon testify of me".  The final speaker was a greenie sister missionary from Mexico City who told her story of being the only member of her family who was baptized.  It always strengthens my testimony to hear testimonies of others.  Anyways, The Gospel is true, it is not just a good way to live but it is the Only way to receive eternal life.  Hope you all have a great week! I hope you all continue to see the tender mercies of the Lord in your lives!

Carinosamente,

Elder Cooley

Dear Fam,

Sounds like you had a lot of fun in Chicago with Alicia, Tharon, Pepper, and Dakota.  I've heard the city is quite a place to be and I hope to serve in Houston some day soon.  That is awesome to hear that Alicia has another little one in the oven.  It still amazed me to hear Gage talk and it's crazy how all those little ones are growing up so fast.

As for things in Texas, this past week has been one of many changes.  We had a zone conference this past Thursday and the main theme of the conference was our purpose as missionaries, which is to invite others to come unto Christ through the restored gospel.  As we learned about how we can be more purpose driven in our work we also have adopted a new schedule.  Our weekly planning session will now be on Monday, district meetings on Tuesday along with email, P-day on Thursday (until 4:30), and then a half hour of planning for church again on Friday.  Along with that, the way we report our numbers have changed, we used to report our numbers weekly.  As such the prophetic council to get 10 OYM's a day turned into 70 a week which ended in a mad rush at the end of the week for most missionaries.  We have focused more on talking to everyone.  During the whole conference I felt like the law of Moses had been fulfilled and the higher law of the gospel had been ushered in.  Where our old "Standards of Excellence" focused a lot on what we DO, the new Standards focus more on what we ARE.  Then in priesthood on Sunday we read through a talk given this past conference called "Que clase de hombres y mujeres habeis de ser?"   I forget who gave it, but it definitely brought a lot of those thoughts to mind.

As for this past week we have struggled to find new investigators and I'm still trying to catch a vision of what the Lord wants for this area however I have immense hope that great things will happen this week, especially with the new changes. We've been able to get more members out with us which will really help; teaching with members is the best.  An investigator we have right now is Jesus Rodriguez.  He is a very sincere guy; he's been reading and praying and he'll be coming to a fireside this weekend which will help a lot.  As for everything else, thanks for all the prayers.  I hope you all continue to see the Lord's hand in your lives and have a blessed week!

Los Quiero,

Elder Cooley

Hey! How's it going?  Sounds like it's been a pretty fun week.  Good to hear that everything back home is going good and that everyone is still alive.

As for things here in League City, they're great! I'm getting to know the area better along with the members and investigators.  There is definitely a lot of untapped potential in this area that we look forward tapping into and helping it grow.  We have some great investigators who are reading and can tell they feel peace when they read the Book of Mormon, just need to help them getting to church.

On Friday we had the opportunity to go down to Galveston so that Elder Jones could do a baptismal interview with one of the investigators me and Elder Soutas found together, Juana Tomas.  We found out that she was moving out of her house for a while so the city could raise it up 12 feet, and because of that she wasn't going to be able to get baptized.  But got to talk to Elder Soutas and found out the area is still doing good and then we were able to make it home safe and sound.  

The church is true, we are so blessed to have the restored gospel, and as such the Lord has endowed us with the responsibility to take that gospel to all the world, whether it be in Texas or across the street it is the same work and I know that as we share it our testimony grows.  I love you all, keep being awesome!

Con gran amor, Elder Cooley

Hey, how's it going? It was good to hear from everyone and to see that not too much has changed, still just the noisy, happy Cooley Fam. It was crazy to hear Gage talking and to hear from Benton too. I hope all continues to go well with everyone.

So I got transferred on Wednesday to the Kemah Branch, which is in the same stake (League City). My companion, Elder Jones, is from Idaho and is also the district leader. We live with members from the Southshore Ward, The Arnetts. Moving from your own apartment into a member’s house was a little bit of a culture shock but they buy us food and all and are way nice/awesome. As for the area, we live right in the middle with most of our work on the edges, so in order to get to most investigators we have a 30 minute bike ride either north or south which is fun especially along a busy highway. It's a lot different than Galveston for sure. One of our main goals for this transfer is to get the members more involved so that the work can go faster.

Well not too much has happened so far this week but it was great to talk to y'all and hope you have a great week!

Elder Cooley

Hey! So we got transfer calls this morning and it turns out that I'm leaving Galveston.  It’s been a great area and I will miss it, but I am also excited to go to a new place.

So this past week we felt that we should knock a certain area; as we did so, the first house we knocked, a man let us in.  We went in and taught his 85-year-old grandma, Juana. Before the lesson she about chased us off, but as we expressed love and concern we were able to teach.  Afterwards she said she felt really good and peaceful and wanted us to come back.  We were able to get her to church and after Relief Society she said "This is what I've been looking for my whole life"; she is the most legit 85-year-old ever, I'd say.  She can't read but she sleeps with the Book of Mormon and she knows everything we teach her is the truth. Definitely being out here and seeing the faith of others has strengthened my faith and helped me see how truly blessed I am to have grown up in the gospel.  Well, hope you have a great week!

Love, Elder Cooley

How's it going?!

It was great to hear of everyone's week and all the sweet experiences you've had.  It truly is a blessing to be able to speak Spanish.  Just yesterday we had a broadcast from the church called Salvador del Mundo (kind of like the pageant); it was only done in Spanish and was able to see the Saviors birth and Resurrection.  It was awesome to be able to understand it; it was my substitute for the pageant this year.

 As for the rest of the week we've had some great lessons.  We had the baptism of Hno. Juan Camara on Saturday and I was blessed to perform the ordinance.  Background, he had found a Book of Mormon in the hospital (where he has been staying with his son while he's here for treatment) and started reading it. Then some other members that were in the hospital brought him to church which is when we started teaching him just on the 10th of April.  He received his answer to the Book of Mormon very quickly and was eager to get baptized.  

Well, sad to say I don't have much time this week but I hope all continues to go well with everyone.  I will tell ya next week about Mothers day call and yes I got the package, in fact made those pancakes this morning, they were delicious.  Thanks for the tie and talk!

Peace and blessings, Elder Cooley