Thursday, December 11, 2014
April 15, 2011
Today I've been a set apart missionary for 2 years. Wow time flies. I can't believe I'll be returning home in 4 days. Things have been great! My last week so far has been one of the best! In week 1 and week 2 of this transfer we baptized Nio and Sione and after that we've really struggled to find Tongans to teach. We fasted and prayed and last week we found 5 new investigators! It's been great. I was afraid to leave the area without anyone for Elder Neiufi to teach, but the Lord has blessed us. This week I went to the temple 2 times! Once on Wed. with all the departing missionaries and once on Thurs. - we took Nio, Huhare and Jesse to do baptisms for the dead for their first time. It was a great experience, and it's always so good to be in the temple. It's hard to believe that I'm going home so soon, and the past few weeks I've just felt so grateful for the opportunity I've had to serve the Lord in the Bay Area. I have loved my mission! It is truly a miracle to see the hearts of people change as they come unto Christ. It has been a sacred privilege to serve the Lord full time for 2 years.
Letter to Home - March 28, 2011
Hey Family,
We had another crazy week. The whole mess with Sione Fisi'iahe reached it's climax and it is finally over. This is how it played out. We had a lesson with him this past week, and the high councilman over missionary work in the Stake came to the lesson. We were planning on setting a clear expectation to Sione that he couldn't get baptized on the 26th (this past weekend - the date that the members set for him). We usually teach him ion English, but since the high counselor was there they taught in English. As they taught I sensed that something was wrong. The high counselor was very pushy, and told Sione that he could be baptized on hte 26th. Elder Neiufi tried to stop it, but was trying to respect his Elders (another culture thing). So at the end of the lesson Elder Neiufi was in tears, because of the frustration. We called President Wade again, and told him the situation. President told us that we will not baptize anyone that doesn't have a testimony. So he told us to tell the Stake and Ward leaders that Sione would not be getting baptized until we as missionaries felt that he was ready - then President Wade would interview him. He told us to be very bold and straight forward with them, and to put all of the weight of the situation on his shoulders. So that's what we did. Sione's felowshipper - Folau Alusa yelled at Elder Neiufi on the phone, and I talked to the high counselor over missionary work (Bro. Afu) and he yelled at me for 10 minutes straight. It is hard doing the right thing, then being persecuted by people who are supposed to be on your side! So you wouldn't believe what they did! They had the San Jose missionaries interview him, and baptize him this weekend on the 26th - the day that they set for him. We found out the day before the baptism, and called President Wade. He was on the phone all day with priesthood leaders, and with the San Jose mission President trying to stop the baptism. But I guess that President Jackson (the SJ mission pres.) interviewed Sione and felt it was ok for him to be baptized. The person who baptized him was Jesse Taufa - a recent convert of 2 months from our ward (an innocent bystander). He told us that as he baptized him, he didn't feel right, and doesn't feel like Sione has a testimony. So what happened, happened. We talked with President Wade for a long time yesterday, and he ensured us that we did was the right thing. He told us that he would fight with us til' the end! I love President Wade. It's just hard because some of the members are mad at us, and blame us for what happened. Folau Alusa (the fellowshipper) said that me and Elder Neiufi have an evil spirit in us, and when we saw him at church on Sunday he told us that "no dirty hands can stop this work from going forward!" This whole situation is crazy! I have never seen anything like it, but we are glad that it's over, and valuable lessons have been learned. It's just been a really hard week.
So we are still looking for investigators. We are planning on gaining the trust of our ward this week.
Zone Conference was this week and it was great. I love learning from President and Sister Wade. I'm going to miss them.
I got a letter from Savanna Williams this week, and she told me that Lauren Hill is getting married?!! I was pretty surprised! Do you know any details? She also updated me on a lot of other people back home and I was pretty surprised... So much changes in 2 years!
Well family I love you! I hope that you have a great week!
-Elder Cook
We had another crazy week. The whole mess with Sione Fisi'iahe reached it's climax and it is finally over. This is how it played out. We had a lesson with him this past week, and the high councilman over missionary work in the Stake came to the lesson. We were planning on setting a clear expectation to Sione that he couldn't get baptized on the 26th (this past weekend - the date that the members set for him). We usually teach him ion English, but since the high counselor was there they taught in English. As they taught I sensed that something was wrong. The high counselor was very pushy, and told Sione that he could be baptized on hte 26th. Elder Neiufi tried to stop it, but was trying to respect his Elders (another culture thing). So at the end of the lesson Elder Neiufi was in tears, because of the frustration. We called President Wade again, and told him the situation. President told us that we will not baptize anyone that doesn't have a testimony. So he told us to tell the Stake and Ward leaders that Sione would not be getting baptized until we as missionaries felt that he was ready - then President Wade would interview him. He told us to be very bold and straight forward with them, and to put all of the weight of the situation on his shoulders. So that's what we did. Sione's felowshipper - Folau Alusa yelled at Elder Neiufi on the phone, and I talked to the high counselor over missionary work (Bro. Afu) and he yelled at me for 10 minutes straight. It is hard doing the right thing, then being persecuted by people who are supposed to be on your side! So you wouldn't believe what they did! They had the San Jose missionaries interview him, and baptize him this weekend on the 26th - the day that they set for him. We found out the day before the baptism, and called President Wade. He was on the phone all day with priesthood leaders, and with the San Jose mission President trying to stop the baptism. But I guess that President Jackson (the SJ mission pres.) interviewed Sione and felt it was ok for him to be baptized. The person who baptized him was Jesse Taufa - a recent convert of 2 months from our ward (an innocent bystander). He told us that as he baptized him, he didn't feel right, and doesn't feel like Sione has a testimony. So what happened, happened. We talked with President Wade for a long time yesterday, and he ensured us that we did was the right thing. He told us that he would fight with us til' the end! I love President Wade. It's just hard because some of the members are mad at us, and blame us for what happened. Folau Alusa (the fellowshipper) said that me and Elder Neiufi have an evil spirit in us, and when we saw him at church on Sunday he told us that "no dirty hands can stop this work from going forward!" This whole situation is crazy! I have never seen anything like it, but we are glad that it's over, and valuable lessons have been learned. It's just been a really hard week.
So we are still looking for investigators. We are planning on gaining the trust of our ward this week.
Zone Conference was this week and it was great. I love learning from President and Sister Wade. I'm going to miss them.
I got a letter from Savanna Williams this week, and she told me that Lauren Hill is getting married?!! I was pretty surprised! Do you know any details? She also updated me on a lot of other people back home and I was pretty surprised... So much changes in 2 years!
Well family I love you! I hope that you have a great week!
-Elder Cook
March 26, 2011
Things have got ridiculous with Sione Fisi'iahe. We've been teaching him the past 2 weeks and he doesn't believe what we teach. He wants to be baptized into the church, but believes that he's already been baptized for the remission of his sins. As we taught him he told us not to ask him any questions. I felt like he just wanted to get through the lessons so he could be baptized. He loves the church and the members but doesn't believe our doctrine. As we tried to teach him the spirit just wasn't there. So the whole time we were teaching him he thought he was going to be baptized on March 26th (the date the members set) but we talked and worked with President Wade very closely and he made it clear that we don't baptize anyone that doesn't believe the doctrine and have a testimony - and I agree 100%. SO anyway we knew he wasn't going to make his date and we wanted to keep teaching him and preparing him to be baptized, maybe next month or in May - whenever he humbled himself to let us teach him. But things got really messy and even the stake got involved. Members got really mad that the wasn't going to be baptized by the date that they set for him, and you wouldn't believe what they did. Two days ago they had him interviewed by San Jose mission missionaries and today he was baptized in the San Jose mission! I couldn't believe it. President Wade tried to stop it, but somehow it went through. Jesse Taufa - one of the recent converts in the ward was the one that baptized him and he told us tonight at our lesson with him that he didn't want to. He felt that Sione didn't have a testimony either. So that's that.
Letter to Home - March 21, 2011
Hey Family,
Wow, this week has been a little crazy. Things are going good. The highlight was definitely Sione Tongamoa's baptism. It was neat because a recent covert (his main fellowshipper - Huhane Vatuvei) was the one who baptized him. Sione is a huge guy, and when he went down, he almost didn't come back up! But it was a really good service. This on was 100% in Tongan, so I didn't understand anything, but definitely enjoyed the spirit there. Sione is a very humble man. I remember the first time Elder Neiufi and I talked to him on the street, and invited him to learn more. The very first time we ever talked to him, I remember having a feeling so intense - one that I rarely feel. It was a feeling of excitement. I don't know why I had it, because as we talked with him, he told us that he was Methodist and that he was never going to change, but from that very first time - because of the feeling I had - I knew this man was going to be baptized. The second time we met with him we brought Huhane (the recent convert who baptized him), and he invited Sione to church. Sione agreed, came to church, felt the spirit, and the rest is history!
We are know trying to find more people to teach. It has been a hard week. I'm doing my best to be focused and finish my mission strong. I've been a little stressed out about everything, and it makes me feel bad, because I want to be focused for the rest my mission. It is also frustrating when I feel like no one understands me, and half the time I have no idea what anyone is saying. But there are things to be learned! I love my mission and it's hard to even think that it's almost all over.
We have also had a hard week with one of our investigators - Sione Fisi'iahe. He is the Pentecostal preacher that the members finally are letting us teach. We have a big problem though. He believes that he has already been baptized for the remission of sins and just wants to be baptized to join the church. He doesn't believe in the restoration or the nature of God, and a whole bunch of other important doctrine. He is in his 80's and feels like 20 year old boys cant teach him. It's tough because the ward is expecting him to be baptized this weekend, but I will not baptize anyone that doesn't have a testimony. The members keep telling us - "just baptize him now and teach him later!" The Tongan culture is so different. All they care about is that we baptize the Pentecostal Preacher. So we are going to do the best we can. Elder Neiufi is afraid that Sione won't want to change his views, then he wont be baptized, then the members will be mad and not trust us. Tongan wards are different than the English wards, because in an English ward we can just go and find investigators through our own efforts, but in the Tongan wards, the way that we have investigators is through the members (except Sione Tongamoa - he was a miracle!). If you want people to teach the members have to trust you. They are so involved in missionary work - which is great! but its hard to help them understand why someone who wants to be baptized, but is not ready, can't until they have a testimony.
So that's the scoop. It was a rough week, but just like any trial in life, it is an opportunity to build faith. Life is great! We have Zone Conference this week, and it will be my last. Its crazy...
Another great thing that happened this week was I got a letter from Veronica - my convert in Walnut Creek (my last area). She is doing so good! She is taking 2 institute classes and is loving it! One of them is a mission prep class, and she is planning on serving a mission! There is nothing that makes me more happy than to hear that those I taught are still going strong.
Well family I love you! Hope you have another great week!
Love, Elder Cook
Wow, this week has been a little crazy. Things are going good. The highlight was definitely Sione Tongamoa's baptism. It was neat because a recent covert (his main fellowshipper - Huhane Vatuvei) was the one who baptized him. Sione is a huge guy, and when he went down, he almost didn't come back up! But it was a really good service. This on was 100% in Tongan, so I didn't understand anything, but definitely enjoyed the spirit there. Sione is a very humble man. I remember the first time Elder Neiufi and I talked to him on the street, and invited him to learn more. The very first time we ever talked to him, I remember having a feeling so intense - one that I rarely feel. It was a feeling of excitement. I don't know why I had it, because as we talked with him, he told us that he was Methodist and that he was never going to change, but from that very first time - because of the feeling I had - I knew this man was going to be baptized. The second time we met with him we brought Huhane (the recent convert who baptized him), and he invited Sione to church. Sione agreed, came to church, felt the spirit, and the rest is history!
We are know trying to find more people to teach. It has been a hard week. I'm doing my best to be focused and finish my mission strong. I've been a little stressed out about everything, and it makes me feel bad, because I want to be focused for the rest my mission. It is also frustrating when I feel like no one understands me, and half the time I have no idea what anyone is saying. But there are things to be learned! I love my mission and it's hard to even think that it's almost all over.
We have also had a hard week with one of our investigators - Sione Fisi'iahe. He is the Pentecostal preacher that the members finally are letting us teach. We have a big problem though. He believes that he has already been baptized for the remission of sins and just wants to be baptized to join the church. He doesn't believe in the restoration or the nature of God, and a whole bunch of other important doctrine. He is in his 80's and feels like 20 year old boys cant teach him. It's tough because the ward is expecting him to be baptized this weekend, but I will not baptize anyone that doesn't have a testimony. The members keep telling us - "just baptize him now and teach him later!" The Tongan culture is so different. All they care about is that we baptize the Pentecostal Preacher. So we are going to do the best we can. Elder Neiufi is afraid that Sione won't want to change his views, then he wont be baptized, then the members will be mad and not trust us. Tongan wards are different than the English wards, because in an English ward we can just go and find investigators through our own efforts, but in the Tongan wards, the way that we have investigators is through the members (except Sione Tongamoa - he was a miracle!). If you want people to teach the members have to trust you. They are so involved in missionary work - which is great! but its hard to help them understand why someone who wants to be baptized, but is not ready, can't until they have a testimony.
So that's the scoop. It was a rough week, but just like any trial in life, it is an opportunity to build faith. Life is great! We have Zone Conference this week, and it will be my last. Its crazy...
Another great thing that happened this week was I got a letter from Veronica - my convert in Walnut Creek (my last area). She is doing so good! She is taking 2 institute classes and is loving it! One of them is a mission prep class, and she is planning on serving a mission! There is nothing that makes me more happy than to hear that those I taught are still going strong.
Well family I love you! Hope you have another great week!
Love, Elder Cook
March 18, 2011
It is a rainy Friday afternoon and E. Neiufi is sick in bed, so I thought I'd catch up a bit with my journal. Things are going well. We have a crazy experience lately with an investigator. His name is Sione Fisi'iahe. He used to be a Pentacost minister. His friend - Folau Alus, has been fellowshipping him and bringing him to church for probably the past 6 weeks. We found out a few weeks ago that Folau and some other members began teaching him the lessons, and they even set a baptism date for him! Tongan members are amazing missionaries but sometimes they take it way too far. We asked Folau if we could teach him, but he kept telling us he would let us know when he is ready. Last week Folau and Bishop wanted to set up a baptism interview for him - without us teaching him at all! It was ridiculous. So we called President Wade. He was pretty ticked! He said "I promise you that that man will not get baptized unless you teach him", and then he said "They have as much authority to baptize as a Catholic Priest to baptize him without my authorization!" It was pretty funny. So President talked to Bishop and after that there were no problems.
Letter to Home - March 14, 2011
Hey Family!
Well we had a great week! Everything is fine from the tsunami. We got a call from President Wade at 6 in the morning, telling us to tell our zone to stay away from the coast, and to be on call, just in case anything happened. And nothing did. They did evacuate some of the cities along the coast though, but all is well.
Nio's baptism was so good! It was my first Tongan baptism, and even though I only understood half of what they were saying (some people spoke English, and some spoke Tongan), it was one of the most spiritual baptisms that I have been to. It was eat because Elder Neiufi baptized him, and it was his first time to ever baptize anyone. Nio has really changed his life around. There was so much support from the ward. The room was packed! After the baptism we had a Tongan feast! There was soooo much food. I am really trying hard not to get chubby, but I'm beginning to think that it is impossible. Last night we ate at our bishops house, and I ate so much. My poor stomach was about to pop! I was planning on being done, but then Sis Mapa (bishops wife) looked at me an said "Whats da madda Elda, we just getting started!" She made me eat more, and then gave me a huge bowl of ice cream with a brownie! I wanted to die.
After Nio's baptism - Later that night, we went to Concord for Dan Parupia's baptism! I taught Dan when I was in Concord, and I got to go back to see his baptism. It was a good night.
Guess what happened today! So I have been teaching Elder Neiufi how to drive, and he has been doing really good. Tomorrow is his driving test, so he has been driving all day today to help him prepare. Today when we were pulling out of the grocery store parking lot, a car backed into us! It was a pretty bad collision, and our poor car doesn't look very good. It was a first experience for us both! We haven't been having very good car luck lately.
Well, things continue to go great! Sione is all ready to be baptized this weekend! Then next weekend (Mar 26) we have another baptism! That one member is finally letting us teach his friend - the one that he already set a baptism date with! It took awhile, but after President Wade got involved we didn't have anymore problems. I love you so much family!
-Elder Cook
-I got a letter from Kesley Elsholz this week and she is going on a mission! She got her call to go to Minnesota!
And tacos sound great.
Well we had a great week! Everything is fine from the tsunami. We got a call from President Wade at 6 in the morning, telling us to tell our zone to stay away from the coast, and to be on call, just in case anything happened. And nothing did. They did evacuate some of the cities along the coast though, but all is well.
Nio's baptism was so good! It was my first Tongan baptism, and even though I only understood half of what they were saying (some people spoke English, and some spoke Tongan), it was one of the most spiritual baptisms that I have been to. It was eat because Elder Neiufi baptized him, and it was his first time to ever baptize anyone. Nio has really changed his life around. There was so much support from the ward. The room was packed! After the baptism we had a Tongan feast! There was soooo much food. I am really trying hard not to get chubby, but I'm beginning to think that it is impossible. Last night we ate at our bishops house, and I ate so much. My poor stomach was about to pop! I was planning on being done, but then Sis Mapa (bishops wife) looked at me an said "Whats da madda Elda, we just getting started!" She made me eat more, and then gave me a huge bowl of ice cream with a brownie! I wanted to die.
After Nio's baptism - Later that night, we went to Concord for Dan Parupia's baptism! I taught Dan when I was in Concord, and I got to go back to see his baptism. It was a good night.
Guess what happened today! So I have been teaching Elder Neiufi how to drive, and he has been doing really good. Tomorrow is his driving test, so he has been driving all day today to help him prepare. Today when we were pulling out of the grocery store parking lot, a car backed into us! It was a pretty bad collision, and our poor car doesn't look very good. It was a first experience for us both! We haven't been having very good car luck lately.
Well, things continue to go great! Sione is all ready to be baptized this weekend! Then next weekend (Mar 26) we have another baptism! That one member is finally letting us teach his friend - the one that he already set a baptism date with! It took awhile, but after President Wade got involved we didn't have anymore problems. I love you so much family!
-Elder Cook
-I got a letter from Kesley Elsholz this week and she is going on a mission! She got her call to go to Minnesota!
And tacos sound great.
March 13, 2011
We had an amazing weekend. On Sat. Nio Fale'ofa was baptized. It was cool because E. Neiufi baptized him and it was his first time ever baptizing someone. It was one of the most spiritual baptisms I've ever been to. Even though half of it was in Tongan I've never felt the spirit as strong at a baptism. It was packed too! It was right after a ward conference training so everyone just came to the baptism. Then after there was "an eating". It was a Tongan feast. Nio is awesome. He bore a powerful testimony after his baptism. Then that night, Pita Moala (our YSA ward mission leader) drove us to Concord to go to Dan Parupia's baptism. Me and E. Wickel began teaching Dan in Jan. He had been coming to church with his girlfriend - Carly Boegner for a while before we started teaching him. At FHE one night I saw Carly sitting on a couch at the institute building and I had a very strong impression to go over, introduce myself, and ask her about her friend that she had been bringing to church. I did and we talked for a while and made plans for her to introduce us to him the next Sunday. On Sunday we met him, set up a lesson, and began teaching him! The spirit is real! Dan's background is Islam so it was a big deal that he got baptized!
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