Family,
Sorry this is being sent later. We switched our preperation schedule around a bit today, with permission of course!
Reading all your emails filled my heart with joy and love and my eyes with tears. How am I so blessed? You are all so much more incredible than you could ever know. Truly.
This week has been such an incredible, amazing week. Words can't begin to describe to you the miracles we've been able to witness. Heavenly Father truly is watching over us and guiding us so tenderly.
Last week, we went block knocking and as we were deciding which blocks to go to, the thought came into my head "It doesn't matter where you go, you aren't trusted with prepared people." I said a prayer and asked God if that was a thought from Him, myself, or Satan so I could know how to respond to it. If it was a thought from Him, I wanted to know so I could fix what I needed to be trusted by Him. As we got on the tramvai I had the quietest feeling of "You are being led." We prayed about which block to go into and chose a section of blocks and started knocking. In the second block, the twenty-fourth door, we met Ramona. She let us in... happily. She listened to us... willingly. She set another appointment with us... excitedly. I felt in that short 20 minute lesson about Joseph Smith so guided and helped by the spirit to know exactly what to say. I truly felt the promise of D&C 100: 4-8. It was beautiful. I am so grateful for the power I felt as the Holy Ghost showed me that we are indeed led by Heavenly Father to prepared people. I just feel so grateful for prayer and the opportunity we have to pour out our hearts to our Father in Heaven who is listening so intently.
That night, we had a difficult experience with one of our investigators, Elena, who is a seventh day adventist. She is so nice and has a lot of really great questions. Questions that I had no idea what the answers were or why we do things the way we do them. She is wrapped up in all the times it talks about resting on the 7th day (saturday) and I explained what little I know about how that changed after Christ was resurrected and broke bread on the first day of the week. (Acts 20:7) I wish I knew more.. but I don't. And to be honest, I don't care when we worship as long as we do it and they've told us to worship on Sunday and because I have a testimony that they are prohets of God, I don't question it. I wish I could give her a testimony but all I could do that night was tell her mine. It took all my energy not to break down crying. Luckily, I held it together until we got out in the hall. I just want so badly for her to let go of all the "little" details and pray about the restoration, to pray about the Book of Mormon and gain a testimony for herself of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I can't explain why this lesson was so hard, but it was. My heart just hurt the whole time as I prayed to know what to say to help her. I hope that someday she opens her heart enough to feel the spirit telling her the truth and that she has the faith enough to act on it.
We had a lesson with a former investigator the other day. I mentioned her last week. Her name is Tina and when we called her to set up a lesson with her, we found out she still reads from the Book of Mormon and that she was in Alma 54. As we were talking about what to teach her during weekly planning last week, we felt prompted to teach her the lesson of the 5 steps of the gospel (faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end) and to invite her to commit to be baptized. We prayed about what date to extend and both felt right about February 9th. When we went last Tuesday for our lesson, she wasn't home, so we gave the pamphlet of what we wanted to talk to her about to her neighbor to give to her. When we arrived at her home Friday morning, we found out that not only had she read the pamphlet, but she studied it and marked it and even answered all the questions in the back. It was beautiful! I wish I could explain how inspired this lesson was with Tina. On both parts. Heavenly Father had inspired her to read the exact chapter in the Book of Mormon that we had prepared to talk to her about (2Nephi31) and He inspired us to go over the 5 steps of the gospel with her.
At the beginning of each lesson, we set expectations for our investigators so that we all start off on the same page of what our purpose is in meeting with them and how they can most be blessed through meeting with us (page 176 PmyG). She started our lesson giving us expectations. She told us "I want you to come two times a week to meet with me and teach me about your church and I would like you to give me homework and commitments so I can grow and gain a tesimony for myself." Her desire to learn just warmed my heart.
She told us that three days before day we called her, she had prayed to know which church to go to, whether it was the Mormon Church or some other, she didn't care, she just wanted to know what God wanted her to do. We had gone through the Area Book and felt prompted to call her. Between now and the last time she met with the missionaries, her desires have changed and her husband, who was opposed to her going to any church, not just ours, is now allowing her to meet with us. She told us that she knows that God sent us to her and an answer to her prayer.
She understood the 5 steps perfectly and how we endure to the end. She understood the importance of baptism (the sacrament after baptism) and receving the Holy Ghost only after baptism of proper authority, which comes after having faith unto repentance. We invited her to baptized on February 9th and she told us that if we come 2 times a week to help her feel prepared, she would be baptized on that day. She told us that before when she met with the missionaries she didn't want to be baptized, but now she does and she knows she needs to. Of course, we told her to pray about it and to continue to read in the Book of Mormon. She is so prepared. I've never been in a lesson as neat as that one. She already knew what we had to teach her, she just needed ot be shown the way in how to act upon what she knew.
Praying for her and her husband. I have hope and faith in Christ that she will continue on this path.
This week, I've felt very... consecrated. I know, this is a weird word to describe they way you are feeling, but it's the only word that somewhat does justice to what I feel in my heart. 2Nephi 32:9 describes it perfectly. As we have strived even more this week to turn to God for guidance on what we should do, He has consecrated our performance. The other day with Ramona and then with Tina. I just feel so blessed to be apart of this work. Even if it is the smallest of parts.
Happy half way mark! Where has my time gone? I feel like I am just starting to underatnd my purpose and how to apply it! Praying that my time slows down now and that I can be an even better representative of Christ in my last 9 months.
Mom, I know you asked for a departure date for me, but I'm really not sure. Everything has been so messed up with the transfers and what not (this transfer is only 4 weeks as well as next transfer instead of 6 weeks). I will let you know as soon as I know. As of right now, I think it is October 16th.... Don't hold me to that though.
Happy birthday to all who had birthdays last week! Including Grandpa Cook. I thought about him a lot on his birthday. I never met him, but I am so grateful for the legacy he left behind and for who I am because of the choices that he made in his life. It made me stop and think about what I want my legacy to be and what I want my children's children to say about me. I thought about what choices I need to make today in order to make my legacy something my children can be proud of. It was a cool personal study as I sat and wrote down the answers that came to me.
This week is Zone Training Meeting. As part of Elder Benson's and Elder Grober's presentation on "the teaching model" they are having me teach an efy line dance to the zone. It's actually a great idea. The teaching model is explaining, demonstrating, practicing, analyzing and then re-practicing... which is exactly what it takes to learn a dance. His presentation is on doing role plays and the teaching model. Should be awesome. Don't worry, I will record it and send it home:)
I wish I had more entertaining stories... but I don't. We found a puppy last Tuesday and contemplated taking it home, giving it a bath and taking it to a safer part of the city. But then we called President Hill for voie (permission) and he very nicely told us no. I knew the answer before I called him, but I just thought I would ask. He was really funny actually. He told us all about his dogs and how much he loves dogs too. I just love President Hill. I love how dearly he cares for all his missionaries. A phone call always turns into a story and a joke and a compliment. It's very uplifting. I should call him to get permission for ridiculous things more often!
Okay, family. I must leave now! My time is running up. It always does that. Way too quickly, too! I'm doing well! So happy and so blessed and so loving every second of my mission!!!! Sora Rivera is amazing and I continue to love her more and more every single day. Her desire to do missionary work and be obedient is exactly what I want in a companion. I love it! Please keep her in your prayers as she is not feeling so well. We think she might have a worm. Not sure yet, however. Hoping that isn't the case!
I love you all so dearly. More than you can even try to imagine. Hoping you have an amazing week!
numai bine va doresc,
Sora Cook
PS. Dad, Elder Poulson is in my Zone serving in Oradea. I will tell him hello when I see him on Wednesday. It will be fun to see someone from my home stomping grounds.
My quote for this week....
"If you want to talk to the Lord, get on your knees. If you want the Lord to talk to you, open your scriptures." -Gerald N. Lund
Sorry this is being sent later. We switched our preperation schedule around a bit today, with permission of course!
Reading all your emails filled my heart with joy and love and my eyes with tears. How am I so blessed? You are all so much more incredible than you could ever know. Truly.
This week has been such an incredible, amazing week. Words can't begin to describe to you the miracles we've been able to witness. Heavenly Father truly is watching over us and guiding us so tenderly.
Last week, we went block knocking and as we were deciding which blocks to go to, the thought came into my head "It doesn't matter where you go, you aren't trusted with prepared people." I said a prayer and asked God if that was a thought from Him, myself, or Satan so I could know how to respond to it. If it was a thought from Him, I wanted to know so I could fix what I needed to be trusted by Him. As we got on the tramvai I had the quietest feeling of "You are being led." We prayed about which block to go into and chose a section of blocks and started knocking. In the second block, the twenty-fourth door, we met Ramona. She let us in... happily. She listened to us... willingly. She set another appointment with us... excitedly. I felt in that short 20 minute lesson about Joseph Smith so guided and helped by the spirit to know exactly what to say. I truly felt the promise of D&C 100: 4-8. It was beautiful. I am so grateful for the power I felt as the Holy Ghost showed me that we are indeed led by Heavenly Father to prepared people. I just feel so grateful for prayer and the opportunity we have to pour out our hearts to our Father in Heaven who is listening so intently.
That night, we had a difficult experience with one of our investigators, Elena, who is a seventh day adventist. She is so nice and has a lot of really great questions. Questions that I had no idea what the answers were or why we do things the way we do them. She is wrapped up in all the times it talks about resting on the 7th day (saturday) and I explained what little I know about how that changed after Christ was resurrected and broke bread on the first day of the week. (Acts 20:7) I wish I knew more.. but I don't. And to be honest, I don't care when we worship as long as we do it and they've told us to worship on Sunday and because I have a testimony that they are prohets of God, I don't question it. I wish I could give her a testimony but all I could do that night was tell her mine. It took all my energy not to break down crying. Luckily, I held it together until we got out in the hall. I just want so badly for her to let go of all the "little" details and pray about the restoration, to pray about the Book of Mormon and gain a testimony for herself of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I can't explain why this lesson was so hard, but it was. My heart just hurt the whole time as I prayed to know what to say to help her. I hope that someday she opens her heart enough to feel the spirit telling her the truth and that she has the faith enough to act on it.
We had a lesson with a former investigator the other day. I mentioned her last week. Her name is Tina and when we called her to set up a lesson with her, we found out she still reads from the Book of Mormon and that she was in Alma 54. As we were talking about what to teach her during weekly planning last week, we felt prompted to teach her the lesson of the 5 steps of the gospel (faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end) and to invite her to commit to be baptized. We prayed about what date to extend and both felt right about February 9th. When we went last Tuesday for our lesson, she wasn't home, so we gave the pamphlet of what we wanted to talk to her about to her neighbor to give to her. When we arrived at her home Friday morning, we found out that not only had she read the pamphlet, but she studied it and marked it and even answered all the questions in the back. It was beautiful! I wish I could explain how inspired this lesson was with Tina. On both parts. Heavenly Father had inspired her to read the exact chapter in the Book of Mormon that we had prepared to talk to her about (2Nephi31) and He inspired us to go over the 5 steps of the gospel with her.
At the beginning of each lesson, we set expectations for our investigators so that we all start off on the same page of what our purpose is in meeting with them and how they can most be blessed through meeting with us (page 176 PmyG). She started our lesson giving us expectations. She told us "I want you to come two times a week to meet with me and teach me about your church and I would like you to give me homework and commitments so I can grow and gain a tesimony for myself." Her desire to learn just warmed my heart.
She told us that three days before day we called her, she had prayed to know which church to go to, whether it was the Mormon Church or some other, she didn't care, she just wanted to know what God wanted her to do. We had gone through the Area Book and felt prompted to call her. Between now and the last time she met with the missionaries, her desires have changed and her husband, who was opposed to her going to any church, not just ours, is now allowing her to meet with us. She told us that she knows that God sent us to her and an answer to her prayer.
She understood the 5 steps perfectly and how we endure to the end. She understood the importance of baptism (the sacrament after baptism) and receving the Holy Ghost only after baptism of proper authority, which comes after having faith unto repentance. We invited her to baptized on February 9th and she told us that if we come 2 times a week to help her feel prepared, she would be baptized on that day. She told us that before when she met with the missionaries she didn't want to be baptized, but now she does and she knows she needs to. Of course, we told her to pray about it and to continue to read in the Book of Mormon. She is so prepared. I've never been in a lesson as neat as that one. She already knew what we had to teach her, she just needed ot be shown the way in how to act upon what she knew.
Praying for her and her husband. I have hope and faith in Christ that she will continue on this path.
This week, I've felt very... consecrated. I know, this is a weird word to describe they way you are feeling, but it's the only word that somewhat does justice to what I feel in my heart. 2Nephi 32:9 describes it perfectly. As we have strived even more this week to turn to God for guidance on what we should do, He has consecrated our performance. The other day with Ramona and then with Tina. I just feel so blessed to be apart of this work. Even if it is the smallest of parts.
Happy half way mark! Where has my time gone? I feel like I am just starting to underatnd my purpose and how to apply it! Praying that my time slows down now and that I can be an even better representative of Christ in my last 9 months.
Mom, I know you asked for a departure date for me, but I'm really not sure. Everything has been so messed up with the transfers and what not (this transfer is only 4 weeks as well as next transfer instead of 6 weeks). I will let you know as soon as I know. As of right now, I think it is October 16th.... Don't hold me to that though.
Happy birthday to all who had birthdays last week! Including Grandpa Cook. I thought about him a lot on his birthday. I never met him, but I am so grateful for the legacy he left behind and for who I am because of the choices that he made in his life. It made me stop and think about what I want my legacy to be and what I want my children's children to say about me. I thought about what choices I need to make today in order to make my legacy something my children can be proud of. It was a cool personal study as I sat and wrote down the answers that came to me.
This week is Zone Training Meeting. As part of Elder Benson's and Elder Grober's presentation on "the teaching model" they are having me teach an efy line dance to the zone. It's actually a great idea. The teaching model is explaining, demonstrating, practicing, analyzing and then re-practicing... which is exactly what it takes to learn a dance. His presentation is on doing role plays and the teaching model. Should be awesome. Don't worry, I will record it and send it home:)
I wish I had more entertaining stories... but I don't. We found a puppy last Tuesday and contemplated taking it home, giving it a bath and taking it to a safer part of the city. But then we called President Hill for voie (permission) and he very nicely told us no. I knew the answer before I called him, but I just thought I would ask. He was really funny actually. He told us all about his dogs and how much he loves dogs too. I just love President Hill. I love how dearly he cares for all his missionaries. A phone call always turns into a story and a joke and a compliment. It's very uplifting. I should call him to get permission for ridiculous things more often!
Okay, family. I must leave now! My time is running up. It always does that. Way too quickly, too! I'm doing well! So happy and so blessed and so loving every second of my mission!!!! Sora Rivera is amazing and I continue to love her more and more every single day. Her desire to do missionary work and be obedient is exactly what I want in a companion. I love it! Please keep her in your prayers as she is not feeling so well. We think she might have a worm. Not sure yet, however. Hoping that isn't the case!
I love you all so dearly. More than you can even try to imagine. Hoping you have an amazing week!
numai bine va doresc,
Sora Cook
PS. Dad, Elder Poulson is in my Zone serving in Oradea. I will tell him hello when I see him on Wednesday. It will be fun to see someone from my home stomping grounds.
My quote for this week....
"If you want to talk to the Lord, get on your knees. If you want the Lord to talk to you, open your scriptures." -Gerald N. Lund
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