o-Hi-o

Family and Friends!

The other day I was at a dinner and at the end of the meal we were saying our goodbyes when the youngest girl (4 years old) announced, "I can run faster than a cheetah!" and then she proceeded to show us by zooming around the dinner table really fast. 

She was screaming to make sure that we noticed her run like a cheetah. 

Seconds into her sprint, her older sister (6 years old) got excited by the noise and announced even louder than her sister, " I chase boys all day!" and then she proceeded to run in the opposite direction laughing really hard.

I couldn't stop laughing. They are such a cute and fun family to be around. 

At another home a boy, about 11 years old, looks at me and says, "You look really familiar" he ponders the thought for a second and then says, "Oh ya, you remind me of the guy on the corner with the afro."

I started to laugh because he reminded me of some of my 6th graders from last year...always saying something to get a laugh. It is not everyday I get that complement. 

Needless to say, this week has been a good week of laughter! My favorite talk is "Come What May and Love It" By Elder Wirthlin. 

Sister Clark and I have been laughing in all types of situations this week. 

I love the joy that comes from living this gospel.

I love seeing how the atonement changes lives for the better.

IT IS AMAZING! 

I am grateful for all of you for your love and support! 

LOVE YOU!

Sister Cook

Picture: Sister Breeze got to spend a whole day with us! She is amazing!

o-Hi-o

Hello Family and Friends!

Well on Friday we had the great opportunity to have Elder Randell K. Bennett (Quorum of the Seventy) come and talk to us missionaries. The Spirit is the true teacher and the Spirit during that meeting was SO STRONG. I know that he is called of God. I would try to reiterate the things that were said but I don't have the eloquence to do so. All I can say is that God truly calls these men to lead and guide us in these latter days. That night Sister Clark and I witnessed beautiful miracles as we went out to serve. 

 

Then the next morning I woke up flat on my back....sick... with the nasty virus going around. Let me tell you, being sick on the mission is the worst thing that can happen. Just how a teacher doesn't want to get sick during the school year.  I didn't want to be sick...who does? Nevertheless, I had many wonderful and sweet mothers from the ward take care of me. These women are such a great example to me. I don't know what I did to deserve their tender love and care, but they were so good to me and Sister Clark (so don't worry Mom, I was in good care!)  I was quarantined for the day and then by the next morning I had all the energy in the world to get up and go.  

I am so glad that I am healthy again. Woo. God's work must go on.

Instead of "Fake it til you make it" my quote of the week is "Faith it 'til you make it!"

It all starts with having FAITH!

During my struggles and trials I have recognized that I need to continue to build my faith. With faith I am able to find ways to turn more towards God. 

'Tis the season of Thanksgiving remember that the more gratitude that you express towards God the more blessings you will receive!

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!

Love,

Sister Cook

o-Hi-o

Hello Family and Friends,

Well I survived Halloween. They had us go in early so that people wouldn't mistake us as trick-or-treaters. Wouldn't want to give anyone the wrong idea!

My heart has been pulled at this week. It has been stretched to new degrees. On Friday, I shook hands, for the last time, with an older man that we have been teaching for the past couple of months. He moved out of Ohio the following morning for his work. This man has a brilliant mind. Let me simplify how brilliant he is by saying that he has two PhD's in something with science. Okay, okay I know you don't have to have a degree to be known as "brilliant" but that is my quick way of painting a picture of him for you. Because of his culture, he had no Christian background. He came with the desire to know for himself.

This man changed my life! 

The first or second time he met with us he told  us, "You have something I want. I jealous of what you have."

We were able to act as guides and help this father discover God for himself. Through the Holy Ghost we were able to teach him the things that he needs to know at this time in his life. I wish I could be more eloquent in my writing and explain the transformation that occurred within this man. My soul rejoices every single time I think about it. It is because of his desire that he was able to learn for himself and to have his own spiritual experiences (Don't be fooled and think this was a simple process, it has been a hard journey.) 

Goodbyes are hard. I think of a talk from President Uchtdorf when he said something to the fact that our spirits are not meant to say goodbye because our spirits are eternal (I think...Someone correct me if I am wrong.) I told this man that I would see him again. I am so excited for his future and the journey he is taking with God. 

Something that I love about being a missionary is that I am not forcing any principle or belief on anyone. We are simply inviting people to come learn and discover for themselves. God gave a great gift and that is free agency; we get to choose our thoughts and actions for ourselves.  

I love this gospel and the joy that it truly brings and the blessings that are in store for us all as we continue to learn of what those are. We should never stop learning. 

I love you all

Thank you for you love and support. 

Sister Cook

o-Hi-o!

Hello Friends and Family!

This letter will be short. 

We are busy, busy spreading God's word! To anyone that wants to hear.

This past week has been a great week of miracles. I love witnessing the hand of God in our lives, each day.

LOVE YOU!

Ps. Everyone should live in Ohio during the Fall time. 

Sister Cook

o-Hi-o

Hello Family and Friends!

This week we decided to shake things up a bit and do a lemonade stand to talk with people. FREE lemonade! Who could say no? Ok, don't answer that question. It was a delight to say the least. We waved and smiled at a lot of people, talked to others, and passed out cards. My favorite was a van that pulled up. I grabbed two cups of lemonade, walked up to their car and started to talk to them. After exchanging some words of getting to know them

I asked, "Would you like a picture of Jesus to take with you?" 

the driver responded, "No, I'm Christian."

 I giggled, "Me too!"

I then proceeded to tell them what church we were from and all of that. Nothing came from it but I did get a good laugh from it and they were very nice! That is what I love about Ohio. Everyone is respectful towards each other. 

One of the greatest things that I love to witness everyday is to see a persons faith increase. As we work and teach people to come unto Christ, the light within them strengthens. I love helping these people of Mason to come and learn of God's gospel and how it has been restored on the Earth again. This week as we faced rejection over and over again, I started to get down on myself and had a hard time. However, after much prayer I came to recognize that there is opposition in all things and it was my choice on what I wanted to focus on. I thought, "wait, I have been facing rejection for the past 3 months! Why am I being so hard on myself this week?" I then took a step back and recognized all the blessings from the week. There are people that are ready to take that next step towards their Heavenly Father. Changing perspective and focusing on blessings makes life a lot more peaceful. There is opposition in everything. It just depends on if we want to dwell on the negative and trials in our life. I have learned that I need to continue to move forward in faith. 

I invite you to find something this week to find the good in. It will bless your life. I promise. 

Love you all,

Sister Cook

Picture 1: At one of our New Member's home (She is someone that I LOVE WITH ALL MY HEART!!!!!)  Her fat cat decided to finally grace me with his presence. The gray one is the son and the tiny black one is the mommy cat!...the cats are not photogenic...it was impossible to get a good snap.

Picture 2: There we are at our cute lemonade stand, spreading the gospel!

o-Hi-o

Words cannot even describe my love for this area and my companion. I LOVE training!....Actually I don't think I am training. She is well trained and we are running at the same pace. No...we are not running after people. That could potentially look scary. This past week we have been doing things to strengthen our companionship and also having God as our third companion. One thing that we started  at the beginning of our transfer is to memorize 20 faith scriptures that the mission president gave us. WOW. It has done so many wonders. It is so great to see the strength that comes from reading and studying the scriptures. In a sense we are Ponderizing! Each day we pick a new scripture to memorize and focus on. Anytime we are about to approach someone I find myself just reciting one of the scriptures in my head to give me strength to move forward. 

Each day there is always a miracle or tender mercy that occurs it just depends on our perspective if we recognize it. 

Here the faith scriptures that we have ponderized so far. If you get time,I invite you to also read and memorize these scriptures! They will give you great strength.

1. D&C 84:88

2. Isaiah 40:31

3. John 14:27

4. Philippians 4:13

5. Alma 26:27

6.Mark 9:23-24

7.Proverbs 3:5-6

8.John 16:33

9. Ether 12:27

10. Proverbs 23:7

11. Deuteronomy 31:6

I LOVE YOU ALL

Thank you so much for all your prayers, love and support. It truly is a blessing to have you all apart of my life. I feel so blessed.

Sister Cook

Hello!

o-Hi-o

WOW! This past week has been my last week of my training as a new missionary. As of today, I am no longer a "Greenie" as some people would like to call it. Sadly, we just got the call that Sister Witherspoon will be going to a new area! We will no longer be companions. She has been a marvelous trainer to me. I couldn't have asked for someone better. Tomorrow, I will be going to transfers and will be meeting my new companion that I will be training! I know that I will only be able to take this next step in my mission with the help from Heavenly Father. I have so many emotions running through me right now and I should be freaking out; however, I can't help but feel this overwhelming peace. I think I will just focus on that feeling of peace because it is a lot better. Yep, I like peace. 

Well I will have to make this a short letter again because of all the things that are happening with transfers and other things. 

I just want you all to know that Heavenly Father and the Savior loves each one of you! I know that because I can feel His love for all of His children as I go out each day and meet new people. My heart is throbbing because I feel so much charity for everyone. I wish I could be eloquent in my words and describe it, but go find out for yourself! I promise that as you pray, read the scriptures and attend church you will feel the love of God wrap around you. Oh this gospel is so good!  

Well I love you all!

Sister Cook

Picture 1: Okay, check this out. We were knocking on a door and right there was this Praymantice (I don't know how to spell it) anyways, it was the size of my hand! 

Picture 2: Then I looked up right above it and saw the craziest looking spider! I am telling you, Ohio is bug central. 

Hello!

 

o-Hi-o

 

I am short with time today so I will just send pictures! 

 

They are worth 1,000 words!

 

Love you all! 

 

God bless you all!

 

 

Picture 1: A family in my ward has a picture of their grandpa in a tree reading a Book of Mormon. Over time they have been collecting pictures from missionaries that serve in their ward to do the same thing. I finally found a tree that I could climb in a skirt!

 

Picture 2: Painting with my sisters!

 

Picture 3: A meeting with my district! We look so proper. This district is a lot smaller than the one that I had at the MTC, but they are so great to work with! 

 

Picture 4: Last night as we had dinner in a members home the son plays the violin so he had me play his violin while Sister Witherspoon played the piano. It was so fun!! It felt like good old times when I was back home. 

 

Sister Cook