The Savior is Real

The District! My companion, Elder Todd, is on the far right.

Mission life almost never changes--like, at all! It's the same thing over and over. The only thing that changes is the people that you are loving and being with! We got to see all of our people this week. The girls, Kaylee and Camryn are still on date for April 9th. They have come to church three weeks in a row now. Their mom even came this last week. It was so great! They are so pumped for their baptism! The whole ward is starting to get excited about it. Keep praying for them, they will need it!

We also have been working with a girl named Breann. She's almost 17. She's sweet. She is less-active (she and her mom). She has to work a lot and every Sunday but she has such a conversion. It was so great to teach her. She finds out today if her boss will let her change her hours around on Sundays. We have been praying so hard for her to be able to get her schedule changed. The Lord has answered my prayers before. I don't think he will change that now! She had enough faith to ask, so hopefully it all works out for her!

Church yesterday was good. Elder Todd and I spoke in sacrament meeting. It went well. There was supposed to be a guy speaking between us but he didn't show, sadly, so we took the time. I miss home but I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere but there yesterday. It was just great! The Spirit was so strong...as I took the sacrament through the talks, it was awesome! I had been working on my talk....thankfully, all my thoughts came into line. They always seem to do that. I woke up one morning at 4 am so I got up. Then felt sleepy and laid back down but didn't sleep. Man! I just gave my whole talk in my head. It was so great! When I got up to study, I couldn't remember it anymore! ha-ha But it all worked out. I got up and took my time. I felt the Spirit--like goose bumps and chills thrilling through me. I KNOW that my Savior is real. I talked about how we need to know the Savior as a friend not just as some great god that we worship. It was so great.

As for transfers, Todd and I are staying together for one more. I'm happy to not leave Howell just yet. We're just going to hit the pavement! The district is staying the same. One elder that I'm really good friends with goes home tomorrow. That's sad but we are getting a brand new elder to replace him. I hope that he is cool.

--Cooper

No, those aren't clip-ons! I'm a man now and tie my own bow ties!
With Elder Beckstrom

Ready for a Change

This week was pretty fast. I can't really remember anything too exciting that happened. We had exchanges on Tuesday which was nice. They say that you shouldn't do exchanges just to get away from your comp, but hey, we have to go on them anyway! ha. ha. It just worked out and it's nice to have a break from the normal everyday life. One of the elders had a birthday so we "un-celebrated" with him. They don't want us to lose focus with a party, so another elder and I organized an un-party for him! ha. ha. (It's all about that gray area.) It was really great. He had a bummer of a week and it cheered him up. It was his first birthday on the mish so he probably missed home like crazy.

We got to meet with the girls. They are doing so good! Their mom is struggling with life and just having a hard time...being a single mom isn't easy. If you would all pray for Sister Patton that would be sweet! She could use the help! She brought the girls to church yesterday but had to work so she dropped them off and ran. The girls sat with us and ran off to class as soon as the amen was said. ha. ha. It's good to be with people that like to have you with them!

We helped Papa and Gramma Douglas into their new apartment. It was nice. Thanks to Dad for teaching me how to work. I about freaked out at Elder Todd. "Get your hands out of your pockets so you can work! Ugh--Nevermind, just get out of my way! I'll do it!"  ha. ha. I am a Kniffen. What can I say? Thankfully, one of the Douglas boys, Craig, was there. He's Ute's age and I hope Ute is just like him. He's a hard worker and so converted to the gospel I think he could handle a mission right now! He and I figured out how to work around Todd and have him feel like he was working but we are actually doing everything. Ha. Ha.

I have to speak in sacrament meeting on Sunday--Easter Sunday! I have been working on my talk but I just don't like it. I was pondering on it yesterday. I laughed and decided I'm trying too hard. I'm just going to get up there and talk--you know use the Spirit and my gift of BS and rock it! No, I'm joking! I just haven't figured out quite what to say. Mom, you and I will be speaking at the same time. How cool is that? Just know that we can cry together! Ha. Ha.

It was a good week. I'm happy it went by fast. This Saturday we get transfer calls. I'm hoping that I stay here for one more. I love it here and I love the people but I would like a new comp... We'll see what God wants. He's the boss!

I love you all!

Cooper

Recharged

So after my fast last week this week was so great! I felt like we had a purpose again. We had a chance to see the girls. I missed them so much! They were so excited to see us! They want to come to church so bad. We talked it over and set a new baptism date for April 9th. Come hell or high water, that's the date! It's amazing to see the change in people. Sister Patton, the girls' mom, got a new job and she has to work some Sundays. We said we would help her any way we could. She called and said she had to work but she would drop the girls off at church before work if we could get them home. What trust she had to put her girls into our hands! They came and we sat with them. They loved church! We are off to a great start!

We also got to see a less-active girl, Breann. She's less-active because she has to work. To find people that want to come back and are willing to do what they need to is so refreshing! Since finding is absolutely the crappiest thing ever, we have started doing member lessons and inviting them to think of one friend that isn't presently participating in the gospel and then start to work with them and we will help them. Its been a hit so far. It's not showing yet but its got people thinking and coming up with names.

So its been a great week. It was so nice to take the sacrament yesterday. By the time Saturday came, I was done--just washed out. I didn't have my spiritual charge anymore. How blessed we are to have the gospel! I'm hoping to stay in Howell for one more transfer (and to get a new comp!). This ward is home to me. Their people are like my family. I have never felt love like this for a ward...people, yes, but a ward, not so much. It's cool. I almost feel like I want to move out here with my family and try and help the ward. It's weird. Charity!

Thanks for all the prayers! Sometimes when something out of the blue happens and a blessing comes, I tell the boys. "There it is! Mom is still praying for me." There isn't anywhere I go that your prayer hasn't already been! Thank you! This has definitely not been the best two years of my life. But it has been the best two years for my life.

--Cooper

Moving Papa

One lesson and one heart softened is our week this week. There is a sister in our ward named Sister Douglas. Her family is so awesome. Her husband is in the bishopric and her kids are all just super awesome.  They are my family--the ones that are taking care of me with Fakahau gone. She called and asked us to come and help move her non-member parents.  That is what we did almost all week!

We started last Saturday. We took all the Elders with us on Monday night. We worked Tuesday all day and Wednesday. What a blessing! Papa (her dad) is kind of crusty but by the end of the week he was so open and kind with us...Sister Douglas was amazed! It was so neat to be apart of it. I felt like one of the grandkids. I honestly don't know either of their names--they are Papa and Gramma. Papa call's me Coop! ha-ha I love it! I ought to correct him but it's not worth it. He pulled me aside and personally thanked me for all that I had done for him--saying it was tenfold of what was required or even asked for. It was so cool! We invited him to church, as grandkids and as friends, because Elder Todd and I are speaking. I thought that it turned him off. He didn't really say anything. Then, as we left, he said he would tell Gramma about Easter Sunday! How awesome is that?!

We taught one lesson to a guy at TJ Maxx. He was super cool. His name is Jay. He asked if I was on a hot date all dressed up (note Todd was not standing with me so it wasn't gay). I told him, "I wished!" We talked about the mission and what we believe. It was cool.

We also had a Zone Conference. President Gerber talked to us about the atonement. It was awesome! I cried, no surprise there! It's hard not to be overwhelmed when I think that for me He died. If I was the only person on Earth, He would have still come to die, to succor me, and be there for me. Like I mentioned, I get to give a talk on Easter Sunday about the atonement.  My hope is that the people I speak to will be able to feel the spirit and know the reality of the Savior and what it means for them. Please pray for me!

Have a great week!

--Cooper

Another Week

Another week bites the dust! I wish that I had something exciting to tell you about this week but we didn't see anyone--like zero lessons. It snowed so much that we had to cancel with the girls. It was like a blizzard! We got 15 inches of snow in a couple of hours. The schools closed for two days. The roads were so bad! We ended up walking around with our shovels so we could help people as we walked. It was something different to do but I miss the warm weather!

The longer I stay out here, the older I feel and the
older I look, too! Helping put  up drywall was messy!

It was warmer yesterday. The snow is almost all gone. It was perfect timing! I left the keys in the car and one of the elders put his laundry in it and the other elders dropped off a set of hair clippers--then they locked the door! We had to call a service guy to come help us. Even he couldn't get our car unlocked! The elders drove us to the mission office and we got the spare set of keys. It was pretty crazy.

We helped some people move. We also helped the bishop hang some drywall. Nothing too great!

I hope that you have a great week. Thanks for all the prayers!

Love,
     Cooper

Learning to Listen

This week was a lot better than the last. We did a lot of finding and found no one but that's okay. The girls are my little rays of sunshine always. There is nothing better than showing up to a lesson and they are excited to see us and keep wanting us to start as we try to visit with their mom and see how her week was. They really hunger after the gospel. They aren't going to get baptized this weekend. They didn't make it to church because their mom had to work. And last week they were sick. We are moving the date but they are still solid and growing.

Elder Todd

I did the weirdest thing this week. I have been trying to follow the Spirit more. I have a hard time knowing if it's just in my head or the Spirit, so it's always a battle. We were contacting downtown and we walked past this insurance place. I looked in and this girl was there. Oh well, whatever. We walked past again and I thought I saw her crying--like positive she was crying. It was so weird. I felt for her--like ached and we walked past. I was like, "She needs what I have!" So we turned around and (I didn't tell Elder Todd what was going on) we almost walked past again...UGH! Finally, I just stepped in and told her that I felt that she could use this and gave her a card and invited her to check out the church's website. I apologized for it being awkward and walked out. I couldn't believe that I had just done that! But I felt like I had done the right thing. The Spirit confirmed it this week. I have seen the effects of little promptings. I'm so bad at following them that our miles ares starting to pay for it but I'm slowly learning. By the end of the week I was drained--like weary.

Sunday was such a relief! My goal was to take the sacrament and have it renew my covenants and to cleanse me, So I applied myself. That darn Summers' blood came out! I was trying not to cry as I felt the Spirit touch my heart as I was passing the sacrament.  It was such a miracle--so small and yet it renewed, sanctified, and lifted my tired soul. What a blessing to be able to take the sacrament every 7th day for the rest of my life!

My companion and I are adjusting just fine. I just have to learn to love him. He's a great guy. I'm trying to learn to refine myself. Mission's aren't about baptisms. It's about the molding and shaping of the missionaries...building their conversion. When people see that, I believe they feel and begin to see that in the missionaries. That is what ignites something in them!

Love,
  Cooper

So you know that hole in my ear? One of the other elders noticed it and his mom has one. So he asked if he could put a needle in it. (He didn't use the sharp end.) I was pretty sad. It wasn't too deep. His mom can put a whole earring in hers :/ I guess I wasn't meant to have my ears peirced all the way ha-ha

Blessed are the Valiant

This week was a week or parties and sadness. Transfers were Tuesday and it was a mess, as expected. It is so hard to have your family ripped away from you like that! Fakahau got moved down to Detroit River Branch, lucky guy! He told me that he wanted to go to Detroit. He hadn't been there but wanted to serve there so bad and he got his wish! My new comp is better than Ross but still a challenge. His name is Elder Todd. He's from Utah and been out the same amount of time as Oviatt. He's had 18 comps and as many areas as I have had. I really miss Fakahau but I still have the district and I won't be alone this time.

The hardest part of my week was that an elder that I love went home for medical reasons. He called me in tears and asked for a blessing. He was one of the young ones in the district, my babies, I joke. We went over and gave him a blessing and we talked for a while. He flew home yesterday. People just don't realize how hard a mission is or how valiant some people are to answer the Prophet's call even knowing the demons they will be fighting. If people knew, they would never judge a missionary for coming home early. They honor military for their valor, their courage. They call them heroes. That's what this elder was to me. A dear friend and a hero! May God bless him on his journey.

The girls are now on date for February 27th. We are all super excited about it. They are ready! Their mom brings them to church and stays with them. They missed church on Sunday but so did the rest of the ward. It was so cold! We had 60 people there, maybe. It was small. We have an appointment with them tomorrow and then they are going to go to activity days for the fist time. I'm so excited for them.

It has been a crazy week but this week looks normal. Keep praying for Kaylee and Camryn. They are going to need it to keep Satan off their backs!  Thanks for the letters. I don't think that I need anything--just prayers (always) but you are already doing that. Only 18 weeks to go!

Love,
   Cooper