Shaving and Moving On!

My district.

 So the big news is that I'm leaving Riverview and the Wetlands Stake. I'm excited but I already miss Elder Becker and we haven't even separated yet! President Gerber called yesterday and asked that I go and finish someone's training and re-open a new area. Wow! That is going to be a new experience! I'm excited but nervous at the same time...neither of us is going to know where anything is but we'll have to see. Ha-ha It was funny--one of the sisters in my district has been out for like 7 months and I have been her district leader the whole time. She was joking at church that they're just not going to know what to do anymore. It was funny! Hopefully Elder Becker's new companion is cool and relaxed.

This week we did a lot of finding and that was about it. Really. We had one lesson and it was while I was on exchanges so I wasn't even there for it but we had a good time. I got to go to Detroit--like down town, for the day. I felt really uncomfortable--so many people all looking at me. I swear you don't have to go to a circus, just go to the city and you'll see some weird people!

Brother & Sister Lunford

We taught a J.W. while I was there. He was really nice. He, of course, wasn't active at all so it was only like teaching half a J.W. Then I saw this guy and thought I'd be brave and talk to him. So I offered him a card and the next thingI know, He's going off about something. That's when I realized he was crazy! We couldn't get away--he just kept talking. Finally we had to walk off.

Yesterday I went and said good bye to some people that I love. Pray I get a cool comp and a good area. President said that I would like it but you never know!

Cooper

SO real men shave with straight blade razors! My barber shaved the back of my neck when I got my hair cut and they do shaves also. So I was like "that would be awesome to be able to do!" So Becker and I bought the razors and practiced on balloons and the top of our thighs. Today we shaved our faces! It would have been better after a hot shower but we still did really good! Dad I'll be able to shave your face when I get home--best Father's Day gift ever--other than me being home again!
 
           

Our Blah Week

This week was good. Nothing too great happened. I truly think that out of every transfer, there is just a week that you are blah. It's not that you aren't working hard, it's just like you get bogged down a little by the people, the weather, or whatever it may be. This week was our blah week. We had some really good lessons though.

We taught Jenny the Word of Wisdom and she had absolutely no problems with it. I was shocked! She should have something, ha-ha. I was ready for a little bit of push back but it wasn't there. So we committed her to live the Word of Wisdom for one week. This week we will get to follow up with her about it. I sure hope she at least tried to live it. She told us that she has been smoking since she was 9. That is so crazy--she's in her forties! But the grace of God will help her overcome her addiction. She just has to put it on Him and put in the work and it will turn out alright.

We saw Jodi this week. We didn't drop her but that's how it kind of worked out. She just needs time to read and ponder what we have been talking about. She is so stressed with the choices that her daughter is making and other health problems. Ugh! It's just so annoying when you know you have the peace people want all--they have to do is follow our simple commitments!

This week though I had a tender mercy. I was having a hard day and so was Elder Becker. He was taking a nap during dinner and I was just sitting there. I called Gramma Lavley to check our appointment with her and she said, "I feel like I need to tell you this..." and she spoke with the spirit. She comforted me even though she had no clue what was going on. Some day I want to be as close to the spirit as she is. God loves his children but he often uses us to meet their needs and answer their prayers.

Thanks for the letter and the pictures! I'll write you back so don't worry! I miss you. Keep praying for me!  This week is transfers so we'll know next Monday what happens. I'll let you know!

Love
   Cooper

Tender Mercies

This week was a good one. One quote that we have out here is "love the awkward" because that's all that we have! Out here is that "ugh" feeling but we do it and people are blessed because of it. There are some times that you just can't and it almost hurts.

There is a sister missionary who challenged me and Elder Becker (mostly me) to go and try street contacting three times and then report back to her. She said it's such a good way (or at least a different way) to find people to teach instead of knocking on doors. Well we tried once and it was a fail! We couldn't talk to anyone or they just shut us down if we tried. We left pretty beat up. We had a specialized training that was super good. The Spirit was there and I was so blessed! We got home and I was ready to try it again. So we went. It didn't work! Try walking up to some one and talking about something that you know most people would rather not talk about on Sunday and especially not with you!

So we sat down on a bench. I was so tired! Being a missionary stinks some times. So I talked to Heavenly Father. I said, "We are out here. We're trying. Please bless us. The Preach My Gospel Manual says you're preparing people to find us or us to find them--so bring some one to us!" As I ended my prayer, two boys walked up and asked who we were and what we were doing in the park. They sat down and we talked about how the church Jesus had in Bible times was once again on the earth. Talk about a miracle! We walked out feeling on fire! We talked to about 4 more people about the gospel.

AND Jenny, one of our investigators asked us about baptism. She said she wants a full salvation. We taught her the Word of Wisdom today. We are going to see her tomorrow. I hope that she is prepared. It's so exciting! She is the first person I've found and taught that has come this close to baptism! Tender mercies are how Father shows us His love and keeps the darkness from closing in on us.

I hope that you have a good week. Know that I'm always thinking about you.

Love,
   Cooper

The Refiner's Fire

You know how they talk about the refiner's fire?  How, for some metal, you have to really crank the heat so you can get the right temper so the metal will hold it's edge for a lot longer? Well that was our week!  Elder Becker and I must be needed for something really hard in the future! We met like three people that were absolutely nuts or were against the "Mormons" who we actually talked with. We also met a lot of other people who just wouldn't talk to us because we worshipped another Christ?!  I joked that I wasn't going to let Elder Becker pray for us anymore. Every time that he prayed and I felt like we should go somewhere or knock on that door, the people were a little less than pleasant. But if I prayed and Elder Becker followed the promptings, we found really great people--whether or not they were interested! Ha-ha Missionary work at it's finest! That's why we go two-by-two.

We had a really great lesson about baptism with Jenny, Hali and Aaron. We were going to commit them to be baptized and then the whole lesson changed and instead we invited them to church. The next day we gave them a church tour and, as we sat in the chapel,we said that this was a great time to pray and ask our Heavenly Father to answer our prayers because the chapel is a special place. So they took a second. I was praying like crazy that they would feel the Spirit and so was Becker! We asked how they felt.  Aaron said that he had gotten an answer and that he felt the Spirit! Jenny could feel it too, you could tell--she just couldn't describe it.  Hali, on the other hand, said she felt nothing. Bummer! We'll work with her some more--so will God. Sadly, they didn't make it to church. We were so worried when we realized that it was a fast Sunday! Wards out here aren't your typical Utah wards. They have some interesting people and you can never tell what they will say but it was really good. I felt the Spirit and was happy! All in all, another week bites the dust and we're getting closer to dunking some one! ha-ha!

Today at the store we ran into Mama Jan! I was like, "MAMA JAN!!" She came over and chatted with us for a while and caught us up on everything. She said when life slows down she will call us to come over and talk to her. Then, as we were getting ready to part and finish shopping, she said, "well give me a hug." So I got a hug!! I was so happy!! She only shook Becker's hand but I got a hug! It felt good! I was so excited to tell you! I always have something to tell you and then I forget it as I email.

Yesterday we had dinner with the Budds. He's the Bishop that I told you is a Finlinson. We were going to pull the book out and look but we didn't get time to do it, sadly. I still think it's so cool that he and I are related!  It's weird to hear that school is starting and that Clara will be graduated when I get home! I honestly had a hard time recognizing some of my siblings in the pictures you sent in your letter. I felt really bad! They have grown up so much! Dad teaching the girls to fix a flat tire made me laugh! That's a good skill to have. Out here, they have us call some one to do it for us, even if we are Elders because of liability issues and stuff. We're so spoiled and so abused all at the same time.

I hope that you have a good week. I love you so much! I'll be home before we know it and then the girls will wish that I was in Michigan again! ha-ha! Oh well! I'll talk to you next week!

Love,
    Cooper