Paper maps and JOY

o-Hi-o

Hello Family and Friends!

On Tuesday I sat in with all the other missionaries taking part of transfers during our transfer meeting. I was anxiously awaiting them to call my name. I was getting so NERVOUS! Where would I be going? Who is my new companion? The nerves got the best of me. I was shaking, hands all sweaty, and my thoughts were racing. 

Finally, they called my name, "In Greenville, Sister Cook will be training Sister King." 

AAA so many emotions. We got everything together, started driving away from the city and an hour later we came into the country. My new area is a cute little Branch that covers a lot of area! I have never been in a Branch before. 

My favorite is the church building. When we drove up to it, it shocked me at first. It is a humble little building with a huge steeple out on the front lawn (building too small to hold the steeple.) Walking in I feel like I am home. The spirit is strong and it looks the same but on a smaller scale.

The first few days we didn't have our GPS so a sweet member in the Branch gave us a paper map to use. Unfolding the map took up the whole dash board. I felt very savvy trying to navigate with it. 

The other night we had a great hour(s) of rejection. By the end of the night as we were leaving an area of some people we visited my cute companion said that we should go visit the door down the way. I asked her to start the conversation. She was hesitant and decided that we shouldn't go to the door. I smiled. I reassured her that I would be right there to back up the conversation. So we walked slowly to the door. She knocked on the door. A cute old lady opened the door and right after Sister King spoke the lady said, "I have been praying for you all day, come on in." 

What a beautiful miracle! 

I love in Ether 12:6 because it is after a trial of our faith do we witness the miracle. Our faith was increased and it continues to grow each day when we are thrown into the trials of life. 

I am so excited that it is Christmas. I love to reflect on our Savior, Jesus Christ. Yesterday, first Sunday here and we were asked to give a talk in Sacrament on Jesus Christ and Christmas.

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!

Thank you for all your love and support! I hope you continue to find ways to strengthen your faith.

Here is my new address:

297 Driftwood Dr.

Greenville, OH

45331

LOVE

Sister Cook 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Sloppy and good

o-Hi-o

Hello Family and Friends,

If you haven't figured this out yet, I am not a professional writer. My letters might come off choppy, sloppy, and vague. Each week I have a difficult time trying to think what to share. I want to be careful by not disclosing personal information and then at the same time I don't want to come across too vague. With so many events occurring everyday it is hard to write an email that can make sense and express everything. 

With that in mind, I just realized that I never mentioned my Thanksgiving from last week. Yes, Sister Clark and I were taken care of. A very sweet and wonderful family in the ward welcomed us into their home. It felt so good to be surrounded by loud kids running around and adults laughing with each other over random things. I felt right at home. 

This week is my last week of this transfer. IT IS DECEMBER. WOW. I still feel like it is July. I have been in Mason for almost 5 1/2 months. The people here are the SWEETEST and so respectful. I just love this place. 

We are teaching people from all around the world. It is so fun to be exposed to different cultures. People from Micronesia, Egypt, Africa, and many other places. One man we are teaching that is from Africa is so funny! He is always cracking a joke and his personality just lights up the room, you can't help but smile too. Oh he is such a great father and husband. Overall, that family is just so sweet! 

Well I will let you know next week if I am staying or going. 

I LOVE YOU ALL!

Thank you for your prayers and support. 

Picture:

Sister Clark and I went to the nursing home to visit a sister from our ward. Afterwards, Sister Clark had the great idea to sing some Christmas Carols to some other people. It was wonderful night. 

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