The Best is Yet to Come

This week was awesome! We didn't have any new people but we got to meet with Jodi. That went really good. She said that she would be baptized if she came to know that what we are sharing is true! It was super great! She still doesn't feel like God has answered her prayer about weather she is His daughter or not. It's kind of frustrating, like why? ugh! It will come...We just have to make sure that she is prepared to get the answer!

We also got to meet with three of our other investigators Jenny, Haley and Aaron. Jenny is Haley's mom and Aaron is Haley's boyfriend. They are cool and are keeping their commitments. Aaron actually knows the Bible really well. We showed him the Beatitudes in 3rd Nephi and he said that he believes the Book of Mormon to be scripture (even if Joseph Smith isn't real) because it has the same principles as the Bible. So that was cool! Please keep praying for our investigators. If their faith isn't sufficient for an answer, I hope that ours is so they get it anyway! No agency for them! ha-ha

I totally forgot to tell you guys that along with my Jehovah Witness Bible (yes, I got another one from the JW's on a door step) and Koran, I now have a Catholic Bible! ha-ha Elder Becker thought that he was going to have a heart attack when I asked a lady for one as we were talking with her. She was like, "Yes, hold on one minute." Then she was bragging about how good it was  Whatever! I just was so happy that I added to the collection!

I found out that I'm related to the bishop of my ward, Bishop Budd! We went over to dinner and his wife looked like one of my cousins (Xochtil). So I asked where her family was from because they are from Utah. She said, "Oh, you wouldn't know where Cedar City is" and I was like, "Yep, I do! It's in the boonies by Oak City." I told her I have a ton of family out there and she was like, "Jake does too." I said, "I'm  a Finlinson." and she was like, "So is he!" How crazy is that?! They even had the family book. I couldn't believe it!  ha-ha  It's the small things that keep life spicy!

We did get to go and clean the temple. It was so great just to be in the Lord's house and feel the Spirit that was there and be in white scrubs! ha-ha That's what I want to wear in Heaven! They were super comfortable! I got to clean the glass around the baptismal font and the doorways. I can proudly say that the marble floors are hand polished--hands and knees, wax on, wax off! It was really cool! I'm glad that I got to go!

Have a great week! I can't wait to get your letters. I miss you all still ha-ha like always! But the best is still yet to come!!

 

Love,

   Cooper

Welcome, Elder Becker

Elder Becker, my German brother and fellow Shelley-ite!

So the new comp is Elder Becker from small town Shelley, Idaho--where they know how to bring boys up right!!! Ha-ha.

I was so stressed getting a new comp and then having to train him! We had meetings from like 8:30 until 11:30 so we would know how to train someone. (It really was more like "realize that this is important and don't screw them up!") So then the new guys walked in and there he was! He is so great! It hasn't been a week and we're already best friends. We like the same stuff and know all the same people--it's perfect! He is hard working and ready to go! Hopefully we can keep that fire alive and burning!  Elder Becker is German and so now everyone thinks I am too. We're the only two elders and the Nazi's of the district! ha-ha!

We got to meet up with Jodi this week. Her 18-year-old daughter was home and actually came out which was a surprise--most kids won't do that but she did! We taught about the Plan of Salvation and challenged them to pray to know they are daughters of God. I got to say the closing prayer and the Spirit was there and Jodi's daughter, Tessa, kind of turned after we said amen and said, "Wow! I'm kinda tearing up." She SO felt the Spirit! Too bad neither of us pointed it out! We didn't even think about it until we were driving home but there is always next time.

Grandma Lavely...she always takes care of me!

Another miracle that happened is that we got a referral. We called to see if we could set up a time and wow, this lady is so ready! She was telling us what has been happening in her life and how she is in an abusive relationship and all this stuff. She had a couple of questions for us and we answered them. She was like, "yes! come and see me please! I need to get back on track." It was so cool. We are meeting with her this next Monday the 27th and are both super excited. A great start to the transfer!

We get to go help clean the Detroit temple tomorrow--hopefully. I have to check with President to make sure. The ward needs some help with it. I sure hope we can go. That would be great!

Well, I love you so much. have a great time at the Summers' reunion and your concert--take some pictures for me. I would love to see it all!  I'll talk to you next week.

Cooper

Desire and Blessings

This week was a week full of blessings! I got to give an instruction at a zone meeting on desire. I was already working on it and had been thinking about it a lot the past couple of weeks anyway. It went so well! I couldn't think of how to do it. I had prayed and fasted so I could understand it for myself and the night before zone conference, it clicked and all made sense! Then I really didn't know what to say at zone meeting! So I took all of my notes and all of the talks I had read with me. Father in Heaven blessed me! The Spirit was so strong! I didn't use the outline that I had prepared at all. It just rolled and things came to my mind. It was a powerful experience!

We went through the week and taught and blessed more peoples' lives than I felt we have in the past three months! I would like you guys to pray for Jodi. She is a new investigator. She has absolutely zero religious background. She didn't even know who Jesus was! So we taught her that God is our Father and he loves us. This week we are going to teach her again and I'm so worried. It's like getting handed a blank sheet and knowing the picture that you have to draw but not knowing where to start. It's cool but so nerve racking!

So for transfers I'll be staying in Riverview and  Elder Puente will be going to a new place. He is really nervous but excited. I'm pumped for him. I feel like he and I have both grown a lot in this transfer together!

With all the stuff that has been going on and being stressed out, I think I am truly starting to get what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about. It's so amazing!  President called yesterday night and asked me to train a brand new missionary. He told me I would have to be at the top of my game and teach the new guy obedience, diligence, and spirituality. That's a lot to have laid on you! He asked me if I was up to it. I thought: "God qualifys those he calls." But if you would say some more prayers for me, I would be so thankful! It's going to be a crazy transfer.

I love to hear about your week and what everyone is up to and I love the pictures you send. I miss you guys all so much! I'll be home before I know it! Until then, I just have to keep trucking along!

Yours Always,
     Cooper

This is Lake Erie. We were driving and I saw the ocean for a second--Ha.Ha. ! It's so crazy!

No Soliciting

This area has a lot of trains--like a lot! We got stuck
 for like 30 minutes by this train...it just stopped. Ugh!

This week was a great week. We saw so many miracles! We just put our heads down and started to teach people! We taught 5 other lessons which isn't a lot but we normally only have like 2 or maybe 3 on a normal week--if we are really lucky. It's been so great! We have some new investigators named Jenny and her daughter Haley. They are so solid! Jenny said that it was weird we showed up when we did because she had looked up the Book of Mormon two weeks before because she heard Mormons are the best people. It was so great! We have an appointment with them tomorrow. I'm thrilled!

This week we had a guy who came out to yell at us about no soliciting and he pointed to the glass next to the door and asked if we could read the sign. Well, there wasn't a sign there, so we told him that. He was so confused--the sign was above his head. We were like, "um, sir, it's right there." Needless to say, he looked pretty dumb. We laughed so hard about that for the rest of the week. I've been out for a year and this week was the first time that I have ever been called a cult on the door. I couldn't believe it. The lady said that right to our face. She really didn't like us--must have had a lesson about the Mormons from her pastor. ha-ha! All in all, a really good week.

It's a sad day! I bought this shampoo on July 1, 2014. It lasted
a whole year with me showering every day. Good-bye, Old Friend!

To celebrate the 4th of July all we did was knock doors, which was fine--we got a good tan from it! But, of course, everyone was either gone or busy. We couldn't see any fireworks but we heard the boom and stuff. It was not the same as last year that's for sure. This week is the last week of the transfer. This Saturday we'll see who leaves and who stays. I'm ready to be back on my bike but I'll let you know next week!

I know you are praying for me. Know that I love you guys.  Know that I'm doing well and I'm doing what's right.

Love,
  Cooper