Miracles

I don't know what happened with our ward but it has changed. We had three lessons with members last week. That's more than the last transfer combined! It was just great! We had a member I knew from Walled Lake call and go with us to teach her friend. It was a bad lesson. The lady had agreed to take a lesson so she could get help with some work stuff. She really didn't feel it but we still got to go and teach, which was good.

Then we did some service for a lady. Her home teacher took us. She had some friends over to help her get packed (she's trying to move). When we went to give a message, she told us we should go to the kitchen "there are more ears there."  We did the nail lesson. They are older and were awed! ha-ha It was cool. The member that took us, he and his wife teach seminary. They had a funeral to go to and didn't have a sub. So we taught seminary Thursday and Friday and today. It starts at 6:10 a.m. Let me tell you! We got up at 5:30 a.m. to go over there. That little bit makes so much of a difference!  We came home, did personal study, tried to do comp study, and then took a nap! The kids were super cool! Today we had a high of 9. There are kids in seminary that don't even come to church! It was so great!

We taught the girls about the temple. They are so pumped to go there some day. They are so converted! The week before last, they were in Florida. We went to church and I didn't realize they were there. They came in late and sat by themselves. This week they came and sat with us. It was sweet! They are just little lights in the ward.

We had a couple super cool thing happen. We got a referral to go see this lady and her husband. We went stopped by but they weren't home. We called and the woman was so nice to us. Her husband was in a nursing home. We said we would call in two weeks so we could check in and meet them when he was better. We called the man who gave us the referral, his name was Peter Jensen (I thought of Pete, but it wasn't him--I asked). Peter said that the man wouldn't be coming home with his wife. He had a week to live. He was dying of cancer. I felt so bad! She didn't even let on! We sent some elders to see them--the nursing home wasn't in our mission.

On Saturday were were doing service for a member's non-member daughter. She's moving into her parents' basement to help take care of them. We were with her when we got the call that the man had passed. I don't know them. I've never seen them. But I hurt for them. Lisa, the woman we were moving, was lost to what we had to do with it all. So, impromptu, we taught maybe the best restoration lesson I've ever felt. We simply explained that we, because of the restoration of the gospel, have all the peace, hope, happiness, and strength that any person could want or need. We have it and we're giving it away for free. This time she got it! She agreed to take the lessons after she was settled in. What a blessing!

It has been cool learning how things feel. Once I was annoyed with a family here in church. This mom was struggling to get her three children to be quiet and settle down. They were distracting from the spirit and I wanted to worship! What an inconvenience to me! Then I looked at the Bishop's face. He was looking at her like she was an angel?! He was so happy to see HER. I pondered on that. Here was a mom, alone, that brought her three kids to church because that's where they needed to be and she had that duty to herself and them. She came alone and has since I can remember. A warrior against the devil for her children! The Bishop loved her like the Savior does. He was so happy to see all the sinners and hypocrites, the trodden down, battle-worn people file through the doors into the chapel to worship and be renewed. It has changed me forever! I now see people in church through his eyes and I know how Christ must see me. Miracles, I'm telling you! I don't pray for hard times, but I learn so much more when I have them.

Have a good week!

-- Cooper

Fightin' the Fight

When I first came out, I thought that we were coming out to fight the devil and all the evil in the world. But the longer I serve and study, I really feel that it's more about fighting the evil that is in ourselves. If we can empty ourselves of that evil, and tame our own devils, we will make the world a better place one person at a time.

This week was pretty blah. We had a district melt down. You put a bunch of 19 and 20 year old boys in charge and it's bound to happen. It's all about being able to communicate with each other. We got it all solved but it was so tiring. Drama! Drama! Drama! ha-ha.

We had some cool stuff happen. Kim, a lady we met at an antique store (she's the owner) invited us to the grand opening of her new store. She's so cool! She is doing her hobby for a job. I felt so special being invited. We don't ever get to go to stuff like that and it was a personal invite! We couldn't make it--stupid mission boundaries! We are going to see her later this week though and see how it went.

The Lord puts us in places to help others.  Yesterday we had dinner with the whole Douglas family. It was so nice. I felt just like family and that I belonged for a while. We came home and were talking to some of our neighbors. One of the girls always has a nurse with her. She started to have a seizure. I took the dog's leash (they had just gotten back from a walk) and they got her all taken care of. One of the ladies commented about how it was "perfect timing" and "thank heaven that we had come when we did."

It was a pretty good week. We saw a lot of less-active people and members took us to do it. The work is starting to pick up even thought the numbers aren't showing it but they can't record everything! I hope this week goes just as well!

--Cooper

The Girls' Baptism

So this week was a great one! Here in Howell we work hard, and party hard! ha-ha (and sleep hard too!) The girls passed their interview on Thursday night. Man, I was so stressed. We had gone over on Wednesday night and went through all the questions with them. Flawless, as always! They want it and for their righteous desire, they should get it! As we were getting ready to leave one of the girls said, "Don't worry, I will only drink a little coffee when I grow up." I just about died! So we kindly but firmly helped her understand that we had just asked her mom to quit and it has been hard for her so she shouldn't even start. They passed either way!

One of the elders had his year-mark temple trip so we had his comp with us all day. It was great! He's probably my best friend in the whole district so I was happy. It caused some waves with Todd though. I guess it's hard not to be Mom's favorite. We had a good long talk about it Friday and we are getting through it. The rest of this transfer might actually be a lot better. Thursday night some elders, the ones who were at the temple, stayed and chatted a while. They are super cool and I really enjoyed it.

Camryn & Kaylee's Baptism

Saturday I was starting to stress. As always, I hate being dependent on anyone. I had made sure that I wasn't in charge but it all worked out. The girls got baptized! We had been praying for the Spirit to be there so their brother could feel it. We had almost picked Corbin up as a new investigator earlier in the week. Sister Douglas had put his name in the temple and we all were praying. I don't know if he felt it, but I did.

After we got everything cleaned up and went home. I sat down and boom! out like a light! I was so exhausted. It was funny. One of the Douglas kids had told me to stand up straight. One of the sisters from the ward stood up for me. She said that I was tired from the spiritual side--like after a trip to the temple. It was so true! I slept it off! ha-ha. Yesterday the girls were confirmed. It was good. I felt the Spirit strongly again (no nap this time). We also got a new ward mission leader. It was a cool day.

On a mission, we live for days like these! We spend all day looking and nights praying for people to be searching. It was so great to find and help them!

--Cooper

Countdown to Baptism

This week was a tough one...it's up there in the "Big Three" of hard weeks! The work was about the same but when you don't feel mentally or emotionally strong, it's rough. The scripture says "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." For me, most times, it's the flesh is willing and able but my spirit is weary. You don't have to worry about me. I want you to know Father's looking out for me always!

We met with the girls this week. They are so excited! They have the program all planned out for their baptism this weekend. They are so thrilled, and so are we! ha-ha They have their interview on Thursday night. The baptism is Saturday at 11:45. We planned it right after a Primary activity so all the kids will be there and can stay and support. I hope that there is a ton of people there!

The weather stinks! It was pretty warm all week then BOOM! snow and cold for Conference. In the broadcast, Utah was all sunny and warm! ha-ha All the elders in my district are from Utah so I'm the only sane one! They were all thinking of sunny Mormonville! Just kidding! Conference was good. We watched it at the church on Saturday. Sunday we went to the Douglas's house. It was nice just to be home. I thought it was cool. Brother Douglas blessed the food we were eating and he asked that the missionaries would feel comfortable in their home. What a cool thing to ask for! We did feel comfortable--maybe too comfortable! It's nice to be with family--not ours but still, it's as close as we can get!

Only 11 weeks left and counting! ha-ha I'm still working but I'm ready to get some rest. I was born with an old spirit and it's needing some sitting down time! ha-ha

--Cooper