We had a sweet Zone Conference (I think you can see pictures of our zone of the mission blog that Sister Cutlet writes) and they talked about being a companion for the Holy Ghost. He is perfect in knowledge but lacks the body, however, I totally have one so win! Together we can be super companions and I really liked that. The conference was exactly what I needed and filled up like half of my study journal. We also stopped at a cheese factory on the way home which was pretty fun. They really do take their cheese seriously here.
A lot happened this week, we had some amazing lessons, blessed a restaurant (never done that before, sorry interjection. A recent convert is opening a restaurant and wanted us to come with some members and say a prayer with is staff the day before it opens so we got a crew and did it. It was a first for us all but we are all going back tonight for supper). I was also so excited to read Erin's e-mail and find out Clay made me a hashtag. Dreams do come true! #hiunclecraig We realized areas we can work on to improve as a companionship in finding and working with our wards, met our new ward mission leader in Shawano and got to visit with Larry again. Now Larry I'm sure will be in several e-mails because he is the funniest convert of two years that swears like a sailor (he claims his language has cleaned up significantly), calls me the foreigner, is a veteran in the Vietnam war, remodeled a bus into an RV, bakes apple pies, is incredibly racist and bold but loves the gospel, this country and is 50/50 on his less active wife Bernice. Ha his words, not ours. But we were over visiting Larry and his wife and they showed us their parrot who dances when you plays music. Larry also told us that his favorite part of the Book of Mormon is when Nephi cuts off Laban's head. God bless Larry. Ha he teases us a ton but he said that means he likes us. I call him Brother Spoon since he says he likes to stir the pot.
Among all the things that happened this week my favorite lesson was sitting in with a reactivated member family in Gresham. The daughter, "M", was in tears explaining that she just doesn't feel like she fits in with the LDS girls and feels more accepted by other groups. She said she wondered if God was even real and said she just needed Him to come and knock on her head. It couldn't be subtle. So I stood up, sat on her chair edge, knocked on her head and said, Hi, I'm Sister Cook, a representative of Jesus Christ and you are my newest investigator. I told her God loved her, and to write down her questions. Two things will happen. She would find answers during the upcoming conference and we would work through the rest. It was a surprise to us all that I did, especially to me but it hit me for the first time really that I actually am a representative of Christ and I am here to teach as He would teach. There are a lot of things I can do to better represent Him but I'm excited to recognize those things and continue forward. The promises I make to our investigators are true for me as well.
I lied, maybe not my favorite but something I will not forget from this week was at our ward sledding activity. We were at this large hill that an older member had rigged up for his grand kids. They had made a tram that rotated on a tractor tire for kids to hold on to to pull them up the hill after they had gone down. Two brothers had just gone down on some old skis and where having a blast but the older brother who had gone up the tram first had gotten his arm caught in the rope and was being tossed around the tire getting some serious rope burn on his face. His mother had seen him go over and was trying to pull him out screaming like I'd never heard before. We were at the camp and all rushed up to the top of the hill to see what was going on. They got the tire stopped and were in the process of cutting his jacket out of the rope when I noticed a small voice calling for help. I walked back halfway down the hill and saw this boys little brother struggling to walk up the hill in his skis. He had tears in his eyes and he asked me quietly if his brother had died. I can't explain the feeling I felt but I gave him a hug and assured him his brother would be okay and we'd get him up to see him. I called one of the young men and we unclipped him from his skis and I walked him up to see his brother and stood by him as the Elders gave his brother a priesthood blessing before taking the family to the hospital. The family is doing great now but I can't shake how the little brother looked. I kept thinking, it was because he didn't know and he couldn't see. It hit me that that's why we have missionaries and encourage members to share their beliefs. To ask questions, to get answers, and to learn. Nothing is more scary than not knowing. Ignorance isn't bliss when you think it's your brothers life on the line.
It's been a good week, crazy, humbling, funny, exciting and luckily not over. I love you all and am just glad I get you all forever. Love,
Kaytie
Larry heard I liked salmon and brought me up my own jar of fish he'd caught and smoked himself. He also brought us some Jelly Beans from the factory down south. He loves the missionaries and Grandma Rekow. Ha oh he also called and told us he learned how to tie a tie and would wear it to church on Sunday.
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