Nov 10

Our little man is 20! Holy cow he is 20. That makes me actually old. I'm basically wrinkling so send me some cream for Christmas.

This week has been so good. I got a letter from Bwells! She also had a birthday so will someone please tell her Happy Brithday for me? I guess she is technically Bwhiplle now.

We also had Stake Conference and got to hear from Elder Nash of the 70. Saturday night session was really fun because it was all missionary based in a Q and A style. They had all the missionaries raise their hands and it was really fun as we saw how many people we have out serving full time but even cooler to hear how the members serve. It's been a hard week for me mentally, I always have a lot of questions and there were a lot of tender mercies as I was able to receive some answers. The good news is, the gospel is true and we've always been on God's timing. It's a statment that we hear often but as I read it, I knew everything would be okay. Just remember "Be still, and know that I am God."

Broken record here but Stake Conference really was so cool. It also helps when you don't fall asleep during the meeting. Ha thank goodness for Pepsi. But Elder Nash told us about how as a missionary he did something cool and got some neat guy to go to church, yadda yadda. But what he said after was profound. One of the Bishop's said, yes it's great this guy is at church, but Elder Nash isn't anything special. He was just following the Lord. Now I know that he didn't mean this to be harsh but how true it is, we can all expect to do great things if we listen to the spirit. I am a bit vain and think of myself a lot. But it's humbling to have reminders like that. The gospel is true, and how very loved we are as individuals.

I got to go on exchanges with Sister Packer in the YSA ward and we contacted on all the University campuses. Sadly, no Jabari was scheduled but we hear he's a great home teacher so win for the big man. It's weird, when you leave your area for a day you feel like you missed 2 weeks of info. How cool it is that that much work can happen so fast? I was in my area my first exchange so this was my frist mission in a car expereince. It's a lot warmer. But I learned I do love my area and busses aren't all that bad. But... if we get a car next transfer, I won't be sad.

Ha we also had tons of meals this week because Sister Reese goes home in 9 days. But on Saturday we had some time to grab supper on our own before conference and naturally we got pizza hut and ate it outside of the Catholic Church under a giant statue of Mary. Check the internet, I am sure we are a Mormon Meme somewhere in cyber space.

The coolest thing happened though yesterday after Sister Yan dropped us off from contacting LAs. We were walking down north and this nice truck drives by and yells "Keep preaching!" We waved and laughed and were suprised when said truck pulls up beside us a few minutes later. A man named Maurice comes out and I recognized him from a contact we had last week. He asked us why we were Christians and sincerely wanted to know our real answers. We half expected him to start yelling at us and asking us if we'd been born again like another man had done earlier this week, but he didn't. You could tell this was a man who had seen some hard things, found a God and had changed and wanted to know why we had done so too. We got his number, told him we would think about his questions and talk to him again soon. He shared a bit about how he had done everything wrong you can, he had seen what the world had to offer and he assued us, we weren't missing out on anything and to stay strong in our faith. He then asked me how I remembered his name, because that meant a lot to him. I was honest and said it was because I had really liked his truck and he laughed. Ha win, he liked the answer. I am excited to talk to him again.

Oh and because it's me, there's always something awkward. We were watching, litterally just watching this baby boy crawl on the floor while his mom got her hair cut at a member's house because we can't actually babysit or hold children. He bonked his head and started crying and everyone looked at me to pick him up. Being me and half obedient, I awkwardly pick him up Simba over the pride land style wondering what on earth to do. Ha sister Reese said it was an emergency so I consoled him til I could put him back down. Oh to be a missionary.

Life is good and I miss you all but it's great to be here! From your baby holding, Mary statue loving, literal Sister Cook