Como estamos?

This past week was good. There are a lot of good missionaries going home and a lot of new missionaries coming in so we'll see what happens. I was able to house some departing missionaries last night and will be housing the new missionaries tonight; it'll be fun to see the differences. The departing missionaries were excited/nervous about heading home and I'm sure the new ones will feel the same way towards the mission field.

That's awesome to hear how our house is the neighborhood hangout for kids. That's one thing I love about being in a ward now is that there are a lot more youth to work with and encourage to do missionary work. Speaking of wards, this past week the Fresno branch combined with the Missouri City Ward. It was a wonderful occasion to see everyone mix together so well since mostly everyone already knew each other. Also Elder Scavo loved to be there and die with Fresno seeing as how he was born there. We gave a church tour to an investigator family and Maria is still doing good.

This morning we got transfer calls, I'm staying and it seems that we might be getting even more area. How's the family doing? How's Lyndie? (hopefully that's spelled right) I was wondering if you could send me a talk by Bruce R. McConkie called "Household of Faith" I think, if so that'd be awesome! Other than that things are going great.

Anyways, the gospel's great. God loves all His children, dondequiera que esten. It's crazy to think that once upon a time I didn't understand Spanish at all. Pero Dios me ha dado el poder para aprenderlo. Yo se sin ningun duda de mi corazon que si vivamos dignos, El nos preparara' un lugar consigo en el reino celestial; donde podremos vivir con nuestras familias eternamente. A mi me encanta el poder expiatorio que yo he sentido del sufrimiento de nuestro Salvador y por eso estoy aqui en Texas, para compartirlo con los demas. Les amo muchisimo y Que Dios les bendiga!

Con gran amor, Elder Cooley

Hey!

Sounds like a lot of family stuff going on along with love in the air. Brian better send me an announcement.

I don't have much to say, but this is Elder Scavo's last week here in Texas and he's doing pretty good at keeping his sadness under control.  We're still teaching awesome people with a possibility of Maria Llanas getting baptized this weekend.  It has been pretty humid and hot here most days, along with rain every once in awhile.   Sorry about the short email; I’ll be sending some pictures soon.

Well, the gospel's true, and I love it.

Love, Elder Cooley

Hey!

How's it going?  I heard about the big dust storm on Sunday when we were talking about signs of the second coming in Gospel Principles; it was funny to hear them throw that into the lesson.  I am so glad I am not cleaning pools anymore; also, I don't worry about it raining or being windy as much as I did.  That is awesome to hear about the new niece, Lyndie June; now they have a Mae and a June.  I hope to see some pictures soon. I've realized that it's been a while since I've sent pictures home... I left my camera charger in the Galveston apartment so my camera has since died and I'm waiting for those elders to send it on over, but soon enough I'll get some and send 'em.  As for Houston it's definitely getting hotter and more humid, but I'm used to sweating.  Thankfully, people offer us water a lot so we stay hydrated.

Anyways, this past Wednesday I went on an exchange with Elder Bullock in Houston 2 and while I was up there with him, Elder Robertson was here with Elder Scavo in Fresno.  It was really special for them because they came out together and are going home in a couple weeks and they both started their missions in Fresno so they were just living it all over again.  But as they were riding around in the rain, they got struck by lightning.  They said they saw a bright light, Elder Scavo screamed, and then they turned around and the street was smoking.  Elder Scavo said that all the joints on his left side hurt but all is well right now, it's amazing how the Lord protected them.

On Sunday we had an investigator fireside which me and Elder B. Smith got to sing at.  I love those firesides and being able to hear converts and how the gospel has changed their life.  It makes this all worth it.  So this past Friday we went and taught Maria Llanas; turns out that she's being reading, a lot.  She told us how she had already started 2 Nefi and so we quizzed her about what she remembered and helped her apply it to her life.  She had remembered a lot; she's awesome.  Then she came to church this past Sunday and also to a Noche de Hogar last night that we had as a branch.  Another investigator kicked her boyfriend out of the house and is ready to make some changes. Anyways, the work is going great!  If there's anything you need from me just ask.  I love you very much.  Hope you have a great week.  The gospel is true and changes lives.  Let's live it with a smile.

Love, Elder Cooley

Howdy,

This past week was really good.  I've been expecting some news about Jessie and the baby so it was good to hear that.  I haven't heard much of what's new with everyone but hopefully all is well.  So I don't know if I've told ya before but Elder Zach Carpenter's cousin is in my zone now (Elder Bryan Smith) and I think we'll be singing this Sunday at an investigator devotional.  

This past p-day we went to a Holocaust museum in Houston, it was kinda depressing.  Then we went to the Museum of Fine Arts, that was pretty interesting.  Anyways, we had an awesome lesson with Maria Llanas.  She has continued to live the Word of Wisdom and has been reading the scriptures every day.  Her parents are against her getting baptized but we've committed her to live the gospel and share it with them so they can see how it blesses her life.  I'm really excited for this next week and hope all continues to go well with everyone else!  One of the big focuses that President Saylin has had is that Obedience Precedes Miracles.  I've really noticed this past week how much our Faith and Obedience have in common.  I know as we're willing to submit to the will of the Lord we show our faith through obedience and in turn he blesses us with more faith and with miracles.

I love you all, peace and blessings.

Elder Cooley

This past week was amazing.  Yes, I am a lot closer to the mission home now.  Correction to address, we live in Stafford instead of Missouri City but you probably already figured that out.  In our apartment complex there are 3 other companionships, English elders and sisters and then a senior couple.  Because it is so close to the mission home all the departing missionaries and arriving missionaries come and stay the night in our apartment every transfer so that'll be cool to see.  Sounds like Girls Camp was a huge success and I'm sure the food was delicious as always, Mom.

So, as for this past week we were able to find a lot of good new investigators.  One is Adrian, an 11 year old boy who's family is less active; but he told his mom how he wanted to learn more about God and Christ and we weren't ever able to find them home, but this past week we did and he is a way cool kid. He plays soccer so it was fun being able to teach The Restoration in a way that he could understand by using a lot of soccer analogies.  We also were biking around in the little town of Fresno when we OYM'd (Open Your Mouth) a young man named Omar who was about to leave and play soccer but he was willing to sit down and we shared the Restoration with him and his family.  His little sister is really good at reading and loved reading from the Book of Mormon and they all understood really well.  We are teaching a pair of 22 year old twins, Yanis and Myra.  When they were younger their family investigated and they ended up going to Utah on a trip.  They said that they felt the spirit there and really wanted to get baptized but their dad wouldn't let them.  Later on the dad, Hno. Reyes (who is now a councilor in the branch presidency) got baptized and by that time they didn't want to get baptized.  They had a lot of questions about authority and how to recognize the truth, but as we taught them all of their questions were answered.  We also started teaching a 22 year old guy, Edwin, who investigated back when Elder Scavo was here his first time, but we taught him and he came to church on Sunday!  As for this past Sunday, we had Stake Conference; it was cool to go to a complete Spanish stake.  The temple president, President Bradshaw, talked and was very enthusiastic.  He told us how he served his mission in Argentina and how recently at the temple he performed a sealing for some people from Argentina. They told him how they knew an Elder Bradshaw who always talked about Texas and turned out he had written his testimony in their scriptures.  The stake president, Presidente Portillo, spoke a lot about how we need to show more love in the home and to work towards a celestial family.  He is a somewhat short man but a spiritual giant.

I did this really awesome thing on Sunday.  I ran into a pole.  There was a light pole in the middle of the side walk and I was going pretty fast.  I had planned on going to the left side but as I approached it I noticed there was a bunch of broken glass so last minute I decided to go to the right side and turns out it didn't work out and wasn't as cool as I had hoped.  But nothing too bad happened.  Also for P-day we went to a Mandir, aka Hindu temple.  It was really weird, but there were a lot of intricate carvings and such.  Anyways, the Lord is preparing people to accept the gospel.  Maria Llanas is working towards baptism.  She hasn't drank coffee in a few weeks and although it is hard she knows that it's a commandment and is willing to live it and thereby is blessed.  So it is with our own lives, when we know the commandments and keep them, then we are blessed.  Hope you all have a great week, peace and blessings.

Love, Elder Cooley

Sounds like you had a great Fathers Day!  That's crazy to hear that Max Webb is back already.  Time flies.  As for the new area and companion, I am with Elder Scavo from Palmdale, California (He went to the same high school as Afroman) and this is his last transfer.  He's an awesome missionary; he was previously a zone leader and is a very funny guy.  Our area is the Missouri City South/Fresno area (2 areas combined for now, both of which Elder Scavo has served in previously).  We cover a big part of the Missouri City Ward (there are 3 companionships in the ward) and also the Fresno branch (just us).  The Ward is pretty big and runs well and the Branch has about 15-20 members and we meet in a rented spot at a strip mall.  All the members are awesome and we have some great investigators. Because this is Elder Scavo's last transfer I'll be here for a few transfers so I'm excited to get to stay in an area for awhile again.  

I am loving this new area and there is a lot of work to be done in the vineyard.  In district meeting we talked about faith and how they are related to miracles and I was reminded of all the sweet experiences I've had in seeing miracles come to pass in the lives of people I've had the privilege to work with.  This truly is the work of the Lord and he desires to bless his children.  Anyways, hope you all have a great week!

Love, Elder Cooley

This past week has been awesome.  I can't believe that I've been here in League City for 6 weeks; neither can I believe that I am being transferred again tomorrow.  Well actually, I didn't feel like I would be staying and that feeling seemed to be true.  But either way, I will be where the Lord needs me.

So this past week we found some good new investigators and saw many tender mercies. We were finally able to teach a family that we had talked to.  The mom had worked with members before and was really impressed by their "forma de ser" and she wanted to read the Book of Mormon to know and was really willing to listen and follow through with commitments.

On Sunday we had a great day at church.  Some less actives came who we've been working with, an investigator, and also a friend of a member who had just moved to Texas about 8 days ago so we'll start teaching him.  Then yesterday we had 2 really good lessons.  The first was an investigator who Elder Jones and the missionary before me had taught once but we had never taught her; we had stopped by but they were never home.  But we saw them outside a few days ago and she said she had read and wanted us to come over so we set up an appointment and they were there this time.  She had a lot of great questions which we did our best to answer and we had her say the last prayer. As she was praying to Heavenly Father she said "I'm sorry for doubting you, Joseph Smith, please help me to have more faith in you"... It's one thing to pray About Joseph Smith and another to pray To Joseph Smith.  That was definitely a first in my life, and after the prayer we let her know that we only pray to God.

Another awesome lesson we had right after was with Jesus Rodriguez.  We have been working with him the entire transfer but haven't been able to get him to church. However we brought up the idea of a church tour and we convinced him to do one.  So, we called up Hno. Cervantez, a really awesome member, and he came and picked us up and drove us to the church.  As we showed him around the church and explained what happens and why, he felt the spirit really strong and told us how he wanted to come and see it on Sunday.  So a lo mejor el va a venir este domingo que viene.

Anyways, the work is growing in this area and I love being a missionary.  Hope everyone has a great week.  Happy Birthday Dad!

Con gran amor, Elder Cooley