Lovin' My Indiana Corn Fields

o-Hi-o 

Hello Family and Friends!

I am back in Indiana where the corn fields are chopped down. 

Sister Feil is my new companion! She is so fun and we have had a lot of good laughs this week. 

I am in my 6th area and I have a tiny understanding of how Heavenly Father loves ALL His children, because I just love Muncie. I have loved ALL my areas and ALL the people that I have met so far. I know I probably sound "plastic" that I keep loving everyone, but I can't explain it, my love is so full right now!

The other night we met with the Activity Day girls and had a lesson with them on how to develop their talents. At the end of the lesson one of the girls had a great talent in tricking me to give her extra candy. I would think that after this long of teaching I would not fall into those tricky traps. I couldn't resist. I am human. 

We are teaching a lot of great people out here!

After church we went to go visit a guy and we drove past this road. It only seemed appropriate to stop. This is one of my favorite books in the Book of Mormon.  

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!

Have a wonderful week!

Love, Sister Cook

In the blink of an eye

o-Hi-o

Hello Family and Friends,

Today we got the call for transfers! In a blink of an eye these past 6 weeks have flown by. I am so grateful that I have been able to be a part of all the miracles that have occurred here. This work is God's work. I do not take credit for any miracle that has happened. I am just grateful I got to witness the change of hearts people have had. Meeting people that we weren't expecting to meet. I have loved every minute here in the Liberty Ward. Now I am off to Muncie, Indiana because I know that is God's plan for me. 

Sister Tobler and I will both be leaving, so we have a lot to accomplish today! 

I love you all!

Sister Cook

families are forever

o-Hi-o

Hello Family and Friends! 

I got a glimpse and a personal testimony about eternal families. 

When I got my call to serve in the Ohio Cincinnati Mission, I was informed by my mom and aunt that My ancestors settled out in that area. I looked at my family tree and saw that my Great Great Great Grandpa came from Germany to Kentucky and changed his last name from Koch to Cook. From there some migrated up to Ohio. I was determined to find my long lost relatives! For the past 15 months and 5 areas that I have served in there have been multiple Cook's that I have met (all who I love a lot!) I got good at quickly asking them their heritage and figuring out if they were an original Koch or not. I believe God has a sense of humor, because there are A LOT of Cook's out here. Well the other day I was on exchanges with my Sister Training Leader and I happen to be in the city where my family migrated up from Kentucky. After dinner we were going over to visit a lady that just was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in May of this year. We knocked on her door, she stepped out and we started to talk, I introduced myself and she then told me that her mom was a Cook. I got excited but then didn't want to get too excited because I didn't want to get my hopes  up again for the nth-teen time. So I quickly asked her of her heritage and where they came from. The spirit filled my soul when I heard her tell me how they came from Germany, settled in Kentucky, changed their last name from Koch to Cook and then some moved up to this particular city in Ohio. I about had a heart attack! I started talking at a million miles per hour! I raised my voice,  "WE COULD BE COUSINS!" This is the closest that I have gotten to my long lost relatives. I couldn't be happier! My love for those Sister Missionaries that took the time to talk to everyone on the street. They talked with her and helped her gain a personal testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for those missionaries! I thought how when we pass on and go to the next life how we will be rejoicing with our families, just how I was rejoicing with my long lost cousin on her porch. 

I know that God's power and authority (the Priesthood) is once again on the earth. It was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. That power and authority is given so that we can make sacred ordinances and covenants that will bind us to our families forever. I know this to be true. 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/10/o-how-great-the-plan-of-our-god?lang=eng

I love you all so much!

Go make it a great week!

Sister Cook

o-Hi-o

Hello Family and Friends!

I don't have much time today, but I just wanted to let you all know that I LOVE YOU! Go make it a GREAT WEEK!

If you didn't get the opportunity to listen to General Conference then you should follow the link below!

So many great messages from messengers of God.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference?cid=HP14GC&lang=eng

Picture:

We were sitting at the park the other week, eating lunch, when I saw a storm roll in behind Sister Tobler. While she looked my way and saw only bright skies. 

Remember, in life we all have "storms" that roll into our life and it is through our Savior Jesus Christ that we can find relief. Lean on him through everything and to find JOY in the journey! 

I love you all,

Sister Cook

o-Hi-o

Hello Family and Friends!

The weather is taking it's sweet time out here; I still think it's summer with how hot it gets. The other day I acknowledged the calendar and it happens to be the end of September and I am in shock! I am in the same area as last Fall so I look forward to ALL the trees that create an ocean of green around me to change into a sea of red, orange, and yellow. 

The other day we were having our first official "Introduction to the Book of Mormon" class. Since we just started it up and we were not sure on all the fine details, our turn out was one guy who we met in the park the day before. YAY! We were unable to go into the church alone with the guy. Contemplating on what to do, we then started to share with him the Restoration. He sat in his drivers seat and we stood outside his car, it was like a drive-thru. Half way through the lesson a couple from our ward drives around, they roll down the window to say hi, they talk to my companion for a second and then they drive off. I was thinking to myself, "what are the odds of someone driving through the church parking lot at this time?" Not a minute passes and the car rolls around again, the wife steps out of the car and invites herself to join us in the lesson. Hallelujah! What a miracle, we were then able to go into the church with our member and finish the lesson with the guy and show him around the church.  

For anyone that missed out on hearing the General Women's Session for General Conference here is the link. It was so GREAT! Back home I would just plug my phone into the car and listen to Conference talks, so if you are driving around you might just consider that idea. 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference?cid=HP_SA_24-9-2016_dPFD_fLHNA_xLIDyL1-C_&lang=eng 

I sure love you all!!

Sister Cook

Dance like noone is watching

o-Hi-o

Hello Family and Friends!

The other day as we were walking down the street talking with people, I saw an older gentleman up in his garden jamming out to whatever music was serenading him through his headphones. I was trying to wave to him and right as he hit the climax to his song he spun around towards us, whipped his hedge clippers into guitar position and did an air guitar solo. Once he saw us waving to him, he stopped, unplugged the tunes and announced he used to be in a band. I of course couldn't pass up this great moment to share the gospel, so we crossed the street and started to talk to garden-guitar man. He was so nice and invited us back to share the message with him and his wife. 

As I have said before, I love the people out here. 

I have been doing a lot of studies and pondering this week on our Savior Jesus Christ and his Atonement. The sacrifice that he made was for each of us so that we can all be saved. THROUGH him we can change for the better. The challenges and difficulties that we face are for us to TURN to God and THROUGH Jesus we can become like him and make changes in our lives that bring us in harmony with Him. So much joy and happiness comes from this. 

(That is blurp of my ponderings, just thoughts to share.)

I love you all! I pray that you are all doing well. 

KEEP SMILING

Love,

Sister Cook

Just a quick update!

o-Hi-o

Hello Family and Friends,

Breaking news! I have moved again. I couldn't be more excited then to be back in the West Chester and Mason area of Ohio!! I am serving in the Liberty Ward which is right next to the West Chester Ward (where I served when I first came out.) I don't feel like I am in a foreign town, I feel like I am home. 

Sister Tobler is my new companion and she is so great. I look forward to these next 6 weeks together. 

There is no great update or stories to tell right now, but I just want you all to know that I love ya and that all is well out in the great Ohio Cincinnati Mission! 

Sister Cook

I am just so excited this probably makes no sense!

o-Hi-o

Hello Family and Friends!

This week with another tornado warning, I felt at peace being in the church building. Looking outside was as if I was standing behind a giant waterfall. The rain came down in buckets! It was great. The Holy Ghost is there to comfort us, and it did just that.

This week we heard from Elder Hamula from the seventy and he taught us so many great things. One thing that I learned from the Spirit was the importance of having faith in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father and the true desires of our heart. If we truly desire to do God's will and have faith in Him then through our faith miracles can be truly manifested. The next day in my studies I had my "5,000 trains" running through my head of things that I desired, so I thought to write as many as I could down to make sense of it all. One desire that I had was to be an instrument in God's hand in helping others make changes in their lives that will bring them closer to Jesus Christ and his atonement. By the end of the week, I decided to reflect on the positives rather than the negatives and by doing so I was able to recognize the change in families that we have been teaching. They are changing and excited to take their next step with Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. Ah! It is so cool to be a witness to people working through hard things and becoming essentially happier.
This letter is probably too vague to understand, but I hope through the Spirit you will understand what I am trying to convey. As we change, we are repenting, and repenting is the greatest thing ever! Ah, I just get so excited about repentance every time I think about it! It is so painful to change and it can be frustrating and overwhelming, but through Jesus Christ we can be lifted from our burdens and make great CHANGE!
Side story, this week we had someone call us, that once again had a high consumption of alcohol in that moment, and told us over the phone that we couldn't change him. I thought about that and knew he was right, we couldn't change him. So we asked him, "Who can help  you change?" and he told us only God could. We were grateful that he understood that we were not there to change him but to only invite him to come unto Christ so that he could change through our Savior Jesus Christ.
See, I am getting excited all over again by just reflecting a little bit on repentance!

If we want to know anything then we should pray and ask God and He will answer, I can promise that! I don't know when or how but I know the answer will be for our benefit in the long run.

I sure love you all!

Thank you so much for your love and support!

Matthew 7: 7-12

Mosiah 5: 2-5

Sister Cook

Pictures

Here are just a few pictures with a few of my new friends.

 Do What is Right; Let the Consequence Follow

o-Hi-o

Hello Family and Friends,

I am not sure if life can have a dull moment. Maybe some experiences are not as lively as others, but over all I think life can get pretty exciting. This week the events seemed to never end.

Sister Nelson and I got proposed to; we declined.
A man consumed too much alcohol and started to yell at us; we left promptly.
Had the opportunity to sit next two 4 cute kids under the age of 9 in Sacrament meeting; I grew an appreciation for parents. 

We acted out David and Goliath with a young family; they are excited to read the scriptures.
I thought we lost contact with someone we love; we found them!
Testified of Jesus Christ; someone wants to learn of him.

Picture 1

We helped someone move, we then changed back into our dress clothes and forgot our dress shoes. We figured this didn't look right so we went back for our shoes!

Have a wonderful week!

Good luck to everyone that is going back to school! You are in my prayers.

Sister Cook

https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/do-what-is-right?lang=eng

Shaky and ready to Change

o-Hi-o

Hello Family and Friends,

Yesterday, in Sacrament meeting, we sang Nearer My God to Thee with the Elders, the ward mission leader and two other girls from the ward.  I don't know what it is, but when I perform I get shaky. Sister Nelson had to hold the Hymn book before it shook out of my hand. Overall, it went really well, and I am grateful for any opportunity to strengthen my shaky weaknesses.

I loved hearing from President and Sister Welch this week at our first Zone Conference with them. The thing that really stuck out to me was repentance. Do we fully understand what it means to repent? I notice when someone is truly repenting because of the change of heart they are experiencing. I have witnessed over and over again people having a change of heart as they incorporate prayer, scripture reading, and attending church into their life or anything else that turns them to God. It is through Jesus Christ that we can change (repent). I love when people decide to do good things out of their love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. It is a personal choice and we have been given the gift from God to choose for ourselves. Aw, it is just so neat to see it in action!

Well, it was just another week of walking and talking!

Have a MARVELOUS WEEK and go make a good change!

Picture 1: Sister Nelson and I with Sister Welch

Should I do it?

o-Hi-o

Hello Family and Friends!

Oh, man, I just love hearing the miracles from you all! It sounds like a lot of good things are going on back home! YAY! That makes me happy.

(If you haven't been the receiver of good things lately, then be patient, love others for their success right now, and prepare for your bright future with faithin Christ. I promise it gets better!)

So I am running short on time, but I just want to share with you this thought. Yesterday, I was flipping through the new Ensign for this month and I came across a talk by Elder Bednar. I read the title and I felt like I should read the talk but then I fought with that counter-thought.
"Maybe it would be boring and not be any interest to me"
 or
"Why should I waste my time on it?"
 Then I thought, how sometimes in life the times we don't want to do something is when we REALLY SHOULD DO IT! (clarification: to do good things, not things that will risk our lives for the worse)
I knew that it wouldn't be bad or condemning to my soul. So, why not read a talk from an apostle? I began to read, and yes I got REALLY EXCITED! (Thank goodness, I didn't act on  that second thought) This is the talk I have been looking for! 

Rewind, my third year in college there was a devotional with Elder Bednar speaking to the Young Single Adults. He told a story that impacted me for the better. I loved the message that he had to share because it helped me through a lot of things in my life and the things I was going through at that time.

Back to me reading the article yesterday, it was that same talk! I forgot about it recently and it wasn't until I read it that the Spirit brought back a lot of good things to my remembrance (John 14:26-27)

I love when Heavenly Father does that, He sends us great reminders through the Holy Ghost.

I am glad that I didn't get lazy and not read that talk or I would have never discovered something greater.

Here is the link to it for anyone that would like to read it.

https://www.lds.org/liahona/2016/08/accepting-the-lords-will-and-timing?lang=eng

I SURE LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!

Go make the best this week!

(No pictures, again, because I forgot my cord.)

LOVE YOU ALL!

Sister Cook

 5,000 Trains

o-Hi-o

Hello Family and Friends,

Something that I am coming to realize about myself is that I have thousands of thoughts always running through my mind. I have been apologizing to Sister Nelson for my "5,000 trains" always going (she is so good to me). So MANY thoughts keep running through my mind that when I talk I am not sure if it all makes sense. This pertains to me writing this letter right now. I have so many things that I want to share and testify of but to release my 5,000 train of thoughts would be overwhelming and I don't want any train wrecks. Plus, trying to cram all thoughts down right now would become disorganized and a mess.

Ah-ha, I will write a quick bullet point of things and then attach a lot more pictures than two because I finally have access to loading pictures.

- We got to teach the Junior and Senior Primary kids yesterday and it melted my heart! They made me laugh and I couldn't stop smiling from their bright spirits.

- We have been teaching a lady English and we realize that we are not fully equipped so we are going to help her find classes to learn and then we can continue teaching her about the gospel.

-  This week has been exhausting and tiring but I continue to be uplifted by Jesus Christ. It is through him that we can find relief. Of course we need to have faith in him, have real intent as we seek him, and are willing to change through him.

- The other day we were tired of being exhausted and rejected so in the car (I remember a sister I served around in the past made a "miracle wall" in her apartment.) So we decided to make a mini version in the car. Through out the day, as we drove around, I would write down the grace and miracles that we witnessed every hour. By the end of the day it was fun to see the dashboard filled with post-it notes of good things. I am learning that through trying times we can still endure to the end and enjoy the journey. It is all made possible by our Savior, Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice.

- I keep reflecting on ALL the areas that I have served so far, and ALL the companions I have had, and ALL the people I have met, and I am just in awe. I can't put it to words, but everyone has touched my life in some way. I think of ALL you back home and I am in awe that God would put you all in my life. I can't express how much I love you all. Thank you so much for your support, your testimonies, and for making me laugh.

Have a wonderful week!

Picture 1:

She is preparing for a mission! We love her so much! She is basically my sister. (Picture credit: Her 5 year old sister) 

Picture 2:

Mini Miracle Wall In our car! 

Picture 3:

RAIN!!!!

Picture 4

Beautiful Indiana!  I love it here!

This is quick and random but I love you all!

o-Hi-o

Dear Family and Friends,

I am STAYING in the great Columbia City Ward with Sister Nelson!! My heart is overjoyed right now! Sister Nelson and I are super excited because this new transfer is going to be so GREAT!

This week has been so marvelous, I have been loving to discover my purpose in this area with Sister Nelson. We continue to find and discover God's will for us.

Unfortunately, I don't have time to write out an email for the week and my picture converter is broken (that is why I haven't sent pictures for the past month). 

I just want you all to know that I love you so much! Thank you for your love and support.

I pray that you all will have a wonderful week! Go make the best of it.

I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to this earth in its fullness. I know that we have a modern day prophet to lead and guide us in these last days. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.

I sure love you all and I am grateful to be out here.

Love,

Sister Cook

I found a picture on my email of my zone from this past transfer. We had an activity on Preparation Day. They are so wonderful!