Three Things I've Learned

There are three things I've learned this week. One is that when you know some one is way more intelligent than you, always bring a guy just as smart or you're in some serious trouble. We met a guy named Dave while we were knocking doors. He said that he had had missionaries come over before but they never came back.  Elder O. thought he was going to bash with us but we had to at least go back once more. So we took a guy from our ward (he is crazy smart) and went over to teach. The man is a Roman Catholic. We walked in a said hello and then didn't say a word for an hour and a half.  The guy from our ward and Dave went to town! They were talking about Greek translations of words and perfect participles in the Bible.  I just sat there thinking, "Holy crap! I'm glad didn't have to talk to him!" Dave said if we can show him where there proof of an apostasy, he would be baptized and join our church. We have another lesson with him on Thursday...we are bringing the member with us! Thank Heaven he knows his stuff!

The second thing I learned was how lucky we were to be able to pray and "TALK" to God not just utter the same stuff over and over. We met another Catholic lady this week.  She talked to us on the door step for a while. She was old and crazy but she was nice. She told us every day that she practically falls out of bed onto her face and prays. This is her prayer: "I am nothing. I am less than nothing without you (meaning Jesus and God). I am nothing."  It may be true but that's so depressing! I'd put a gun in my mouth if I had to say that every day! I'd start to think I was worthless--not a the prince that I am! 

The third thing I learned is that I need a rain jacket! I'd love it if you guys would mail me one.  It dumped yesterday...so hard the tornado sirens went off. The sky was black and nasty. It was kind of exciting... if there was a tornado, we could do service! ha-ha  

Well, I love you guys and I'm always thinking about you! I hope you have a great week!

Yours Always,

     Cooper

Where did Jesus come from?

Nothing really new happened this week.  I did have to go on splits for a day.  Elder Olsen got to go to the temple for a sealing of a guy that was in one of his old areas.  I was pretty jealous. That's so awesome for

him!  The elder that was with me is named Elder Shepard. He was a pretty nice guy, nothing too special. He played the ukulele. He was a little Molly Mormon for me but that's alright. He really helped me feel comfortable.  I was so stressed because I had to make all of the appointments and things like that because we were in my area.  I also had to drive--that is the first time since leaving home.  It all worked out good and nothing bad happened.  I was a little tired of singing though!  We sang at everyone's house because Elder Shepard wouldn't just leave it in the car!  Ugh! The people enjoyed it so I can't be too unhappy!

Another funny thing is that we had a lesson with a less-active family (this was with Elder Olsen). We got there and the mom wasn't home but her 16-year-old daughter and other kids were.  We had a member and his wife with us so we went in to teach them.  It was a disaster!  The kids are always disruptive but the little girl, she's around 8 years old, asked where Jesus came from.  I was like, "Jesus came from Heaven, just like
us." Super safe answer, right? Oh, no--not going to happen! She kept asking.  So the member was like,

"well, he was made in his mom's belly just like your sister's baby."(I forgot to mention that the 16-year-old sister is about 7 months pregnant. It's sad and makes me hurt inside.) Then the whole thing went to pot!  To make a long story short, he asked her something about where her sister would have her baby.  The little girl said, "she's going to go to the hospital and she's going to push the baby out!" Poor little me! I was just about ready to walk out!  I was so shocked! The 16-year-old was so embarrassed. There was no recovering from that one! Wow!  It was rough but it makes for a great story, I guess. The first of many more I'm sure.

Last Monday I played sting with Elder Olsen.  I stink at ping pong so I got marked up! I promise I'll write more next week. I love you! Stay happy. I think about you always.

Love,
     Cooper

July 14, 2014

I really wish that I had something exciting to tell you but I don't. We don't have any new investigators. There were two people we found tracting. One was a really pretty blonde. She was nice and seemed interested. The other was a mom--Elder Olsen thought that she just wanted to bash so that made me nervous. We went back to visit the girl and she was fighting with a boy and said we should come another time. I'm pretty sure she had just broken up with him--it was kind of awkward. So we went and visited with the mom and she wasn't home but her husband was. He's a Presbyterian pastor and he was so nice to us. I guess he had LDS friends when he was young and was a scout. So we talked about scouts. He asked us about some of our beliefs and said he thought we were doing an awesome thing spreading the gospel. He gave us his name and number and said if we ever needed something to call him like for rides or food. It was really weird but he was a really great guy.

We went back to visit the girl after a day and there were some other girls walking into her house. They were wearing some pretty revealing clothes and carrying a lot of alcohol so we didn't stop. We finally got a hold of her parents yesterday and they kindly told us she wasn't interested. They were really nice about it and talked with us for a while.

Thanks for keeping me up to date with everything back home. A family in the ward feeds us dinner every Thursday. The sister said before I leave the area, the tradition is that she'll cook a meal--anything we want, something that we miss from home. She would try to make it as close to the way it was back home. So I was thinking about it. I really don't miss the food or anything back home too much. I just miss you guys. I miss the people. But I'm alright. I'm learning a lot and I'm being a good boy. That's all I can do. I love you and miss you a lot! Thanks for loving me and cheering for me!

Love,
      Cooper

Love from Michigan

July 3, 2014

So I finally made it to Michigan.  The flights were super cool.  I loved it when the plane took off and threw me back into the seat!  We took two planes to get here.  We went from Salt Lake to Minneapolis (I think) and then to Detroit.  I was beyond stressed during the first flight.  Not only didn't my dumb credit card not work, but I also had to sit all by myself.  I was a lot nervous and really got to trust God on that one.  By the time I got here, I felt like a pro!

We got off the plane and President and Sister Gerber met us by the baggage claim.  They knew us all by name and knew our faces.  They hugged all of us.  That was cool and just what I needed.  It's cool that they knew us all.  We stepped out of the airport and I literally started to melt!  It was so muggy and gross.  It was hot and sweaty and the air was so thick!  So we jumped into the car as soon as possible and went to the mission home.  All of the roads are pretty bad with potholes and stuff but they also go from pavement to dirt and back and it's on a major road!

When we got to the mission home, everything was so green and trees everywhere.  They let us settle for a little bit and then we sat through some training.  They let us take a nap and then had more training.  The next day we went to the church and got our trainers.  My trainer's name is Elder Tanner Olsen.  He's awesome, a really good guy.  He's showing me the ropes.  We don't have any investigators so we go and knock a lot of doors and visit part-member and less active families.  He even has a cousin that used to live in Shelley that I knew.  We have a car and a pretty big area.  That first day he took me to meet some of the members. We met the ward mission leader's family.  They are super nice.  They have a daughter on a mission, one that just graduated and one that is 10.

I had my first dinner appointment.  The house was in a trailer park, not judging, but it was not a clean house. It made me nervous to eat something that came out of it!  We went and met the Thompson family.  They are super nice and love to have us over.  They have three sons, one of which is on a mission.  Sister Thompson is a member and her husband, Jerry, is not. When we were there, Sister Thompson was watching a friend's children--there were eight of them.  It made me homesick to hear them and see them playing. Poor Elder Olsen was kind of overwhelmed but it made me ache. I felt so at home with it, it was really hard to leave.

I miss you guys but I'm doing good. The weather doesn't bother me and the people are good.  It just fits!  You'd almost think God knew I was supposed to be here, ha ha.  I can't wait until Monday to hear from you again!  I love you.  Tell every one I miss them and love them.

Cooper

With Elder Olsen

At the Thompson's home.

Safe Arrival

On June 30 we received an email from Sister Gerber telling us that Cooper had arrived in Detroit.  

On July 1 we received a letter from President Gerber letting us know that Cooper was safe and ready to go to work.

First Letter Home

June 20, 2014

I'm doing good! I love it!  There are a lot of dull classes but that's alright,  the spirit is super strong and equals it out.  The food is okay--not as good as yours but better than school, so I can't complain. We eat so much it's awesome! I'm able to sleep, after classes all day and all the other things that we have to do, I get super sleepy.  The first night was the only one that was hard.

My companion is good.  His name is Elder Christensen.   He's cool, different but cool.  We only have six people in our district.  It's super nice.  We are all really close.  We are the only all-elder district that our teachers know of.  They think that we may be the only one in the MTC.  

I only miss home a little.  It's like a sore muscle that aches but the spirit here drowns it out its so strong and it only grows!  I shaved for the first time this morning and i hated it!  My face wasn't wet and so it was hard to shave but I'm doing what they ask so I'll be blessed.  I know I'm where I'm supposed to be.  I can feel that.  It fits.  Everything here is perfect and it's comfortable.  This is home for now until Detriot.  When I'm off the plane I'll be home for good. 

I love you so much and miss you.  Thanks for writing me.  I can't wait to hear from you again! 

Love, 

Elder Kniffen

In random order: Elders McGhan, Wakefield, Dias, Kniffen, Christensen, and Doyle.

The Adventure Begins

June 18, 2014

Last good-byes before the curb-side drop off at MTC.