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
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