Hey Family!
Wow, things are great! Matt's baptism was so good! He is the most prepared investigator that I have ever taught! Yesterday, during testimony meeting, he bore such a powerful testimony! He told everyone how he never would have imagined himself standing up in a LDS meeting, bearing his testimony! We talked with a missionary at zone conference who served here about 9 months ago, and they tried to teach Matt (he was over at a members house), and he wouldn't even sit in the room while the missionaries shared a message to the members. He has been prepared, and accepted the gospel! He will be a great member.
We also had MANY other miracles this week! On Tuesday night I had one of the most amazing experiences on my mission. We had our appointment with Rex, and we had our Ward Mission Leader scheduled to come with us, to help teach and fellowship. He and Rex have become pretty good friends. A few hours before our appointment, Rex sent us a text that said "Don't bring any members of the church tonight, just y'all." I got pretty nervous when I read it, and knew that something was up. We went into the lesson, said a prayer, and right after the prayer Rex began to tell us how frustrated he was about not getting an answer as he has prayed the past few months, and how he doesn't want to meet with us anymore. He was very upset. He felt like he has put a lot of time and effort into finding out if all of this is true, and he said that he has felt nothing. He also read some anti material, and was upset about that as well. He vented for about 20 minutes and after he was done, I looked at him and said how do you feel right now? He said, angry, upset and sad. We turned to Galatians 5:22 and read the fruits of the spirit (a scripture that we have read with him MANY times before). We asked "Do you feel any of these feeling right now?" He said, no. And I said, "I don't either!" We then bore our testimonies about the Holy Ghost. After we were done we told him that we wanted him to get on his knees and pray. We told him to pray for the answers that he is looking for. We all got down on our knees and Rex prayed (something that we have done with him many times before). Rex plead to "just feel something". He said "If I have been missing your nudges, then please Lord, shove me!" He closed his prayer, and we knelt for a few moments in silence. We sat back up in our chairs, and Rex was more somber, but still upset that he didn't feel anything. I had a very strong impression that came into my mind. The thought that I had was - Ask Rex to get on his knees and pray again, but this time have him only express thanks. The thought that I had made me a little nervous. I didn't want to offend him, and make him think that his first prayer wasn't good enough. Then I thought about a talk in conference about teaching. The speaker said if you will follow the impressions that the spirit gives you while teaching, no matter how uncomfortable they may seem - you and those you are teaching will have the sweetest experiences. So I invited Rex to get on his knees again, and offer a prayer of gratitude. He agreed and said another prayer. He said the most beautiful prayer, thanking his Father in Heaven for the many blessings in his life. The spirit flooded the room. After the prayer, me and Elder Tang (we were on on exchanges with the Chinese missionaries) sang, Be Still My Soul. After we were done singing, we sat in silence for a few moments. After a while we asked Rex how he felt. He said, "Peaceful, but I don't know what that means." I looked at him and smiled and I said, "Rex, that means everything! That is the spirit!" The spirit flooded the room again! Rex couldn't stop smiling! He said, "I'm glad that I finally feel something! How can I make sure that i feel this again?" We bore our testimonies and promised him blessings. Rex finally recognized the spirit! He left for Hawaii 2 days later and wont be back until the 17th, but I know that he will continue to build off of this experience. It really strengthened my testimony, that the spirit will tell us what to do and say, and when we courageously follow what the spirit puts into our hearts and minds, we will see miracles! The church is true!
Another miracle happened yesterday at church. A lady named Zoey, saw a commercial on tv for our church, looked up the closest chapel, and showed up all by herself! She stayed for all 3 hours and loved it! She even signed up to bring cookies to a Relief Society activity! We set an appointment to teach the first lesson on Wed. this week!
And guess what else! Elder Whitney Clayton (from the Presidency of the Seventy) randomly showed up to our family ward! We got to meet him and talk to him for a bit. It was cool.
We are truly being blessed in our area. Being on a mission in\s the best. So, about the question you asked... I want to end my mission as a missionary. President welcomes parents to come pick up their kids, but I would rather just fly home. About school - I have no idea! I will be flying home on April 20, so will I make it? Even if I would, I think Ill just do the Fall semester.
Things are going well! I love you family and hope that you have a great week!
-Elder Cook
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