Shake and tremble

o-Hi-o

Hello Family and Friends,

It is that time again in my life when I got asked to play my violin in a musical number at Zone Conference. I debated if I should have done it or not. Do I hide my talent or do I share it with others? I have witnessed too many miracles out here to deny God. I know that this talent was given from Him and so I knew that this was my next step in strengthening it. Deep down I was trembling with fear. I decided this time round in performing I would change my attitude. 

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7)

I started to pray for excitement and faith in performing. I did all that I could to stomp out the fear. The day of the performance, I performed and I was filled with joy. I couldn't stop smiling. I was having fun in playing the piece. At the end however, I think from my excitement, I messed up the timing and made it sound like a train wreck at the end. Nevertheless, I couldn't stop smiling and feeling joy because I didn't SHAKE and TREMBLE! That is what I prayed for. I prayed to not shake or tremble. I was strengthened by Christ. 

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13)

I was thinking how I had to change something about myself and turn to Christ for strength.That is what we are doing out here as missionaries. Helping people repent (change) and turn to Christ. To have all the blessings that come from God's power and authority (the Priesthood) being restored to the earth once again.I have seen people face fear when they turn towards Christ to change. Some people are ready for change and others are not yet. Once they put their faith in him and trust in him then do the miracles proceed. Miracles are out there!

I sure love you all!

Have a wonderful week!

Remember YOU get to choose how to act and react in a situation. So choose to be happy!

Sister Cook

Dark roads and bright faces

o-Hi-o

Hello Family and Friends,

The other night we were out to meet a member from our ward, so we started to drive. The drive led us out through the beautiful country, it was dark and there were a couple of lamp posts that lit the way. We finally made it to our destination on a dim road with a couple of houses. We parked and got out trying to find our way through the dark. We couldn't find the house number, so we went to inquire a neighbor to help us out. We knocked, no answer. Across the way we saw a mom send her daughter off, so we quickly crossed the street and went to ask her for some help. We started talking and had a delightful conversation, her husband came out and started to talk with us too. Half way through our conversation his phone began  to receive multiple phone calls from the neighbors. All the neighbors were wondering who owned the "mystery" car on the street. We felt bad for disrupting the row of houses, but thankfully we were in good hands. The couple we talked to were so lovely and they were able to help us out. They invited us in, the husband let me play his electric violin. After, we said a prayer with them and went on our way to spread the word. 

There are so many good people in the world. I encounter them everyday. I love the support we have from members too! The wards and branches that I have been in, the members are more than willing to feed us, come out and teach with us, drive us around, and many more acts of service. I love the constant support from everyone. 

Though we are not perfect and we have our flaws that fact is we just have to try our best! 

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!

I love serving the Lord. This is His vineyard and the work that is being accomplished is all done because of Him. 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-00-1420-because-of-him?lang=eng

Love

Sister Cook

Have a wonderful week!

Riding in a Boat to the Promise Land

o-Hi-o

Hello Family and Friends!

Have you ever thought about how Lehi's family makes it to the promise land and they still have to work and they still go through trials and afflictions? Today in my studies, I was reading 1 Nephi 16 and 17 and I was thinking how the daughters of Ishmael started to complain and wanted to go back to the easy life and how Laman and Lemuel always have an experience with an angel and then the next few verses they go back to complaining and having a lack of faith in God. I don't know about you, but I can be a Laman and Lemuel. I see a miracle and then I find myself complaining. I have learned on my mission the importance of being happy no matter what situation I am placed in. I have met people from all walks of life. I have heard all stories of what people have experienced in their life time. I have cried, laughed and any other possible emotion that comes from hearing a story. Something that I took from my studies and continue to be better at is to never give up and to choose the right! We get to choose how to react in any situation that we are placed in. 

We are teaching someone that has grown up in a difficult situation and she is learning how to combat the negativity and the sadness. She is changing through Jesus Christ. I love witnessing the change! I love to see how people come to Christ and through him they change for the better. It is just beautiful!

When we make a covenant with Heavenly Father it is a two way promise. As we keep the commandments then He promises blessings in return. Going back to Lehi and his family making it to the promised land. They went where the Lord wanted them to be and because of that they received blessings as long as they kept the commandments. It is all choice on whether to keep the commandments or not. They are there to bless and protect us! 

I love it here!  As a Sister Training Leader I get to go out with the sisters in the Stake. I have learned so much from being with all the different sisters. They are BEAUTIFUL inside and out! 

I love you all! 

Sister Cook

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