I didn’t know I could care about somebody so much who I barely even knew.

7-1-2012

Hey! Let’s dive into this and get the bad news out of the way first because I’m tired of being depressed. Today honestly had one second that was horrible so I’m going to just talk about it and get it out of the way so I can move on and be happy.  Basically one of the ladies we have been teaching dropped us. It stunk so badly. We were just biking and getting visiting some people before church and she just texted us. She said she wasn’t ready to join a church and stuff. Basically she’s not interested in taking more lessons. Wow. I have never felt my heart drop so fast. I can’t even explain how bad it hurts when somebody drops you like that. Man, It was the worst. I didn’t know I could care about somebody so much who I barely even knew. We had been only teaching her for one week but man the spirit was there in every lesson. She was just so keen. You just start blaming yourself and your inadequacies. Maybe something happened; we’ll go talk to her this week and see how she’s doing. Ok, from now on I’m going to be happy and put that behind me. It’s going to turn out ok.

 So what’s pretty awesome here is the steak is really cheap here so sometimes we buy steak, grill it up and have a nice steak and vegetable meal. 

There is this guy in our ward here. It’s amazing because he collects or is just interested in American change. I’ve given him about two dollars in change now that I’ve randomly found. I bring them to church for him and he gets stoked.  It’s awesome when I can give him a new quarter and tell him it’s from “Indiana,” or wherever.

We have been teaching another girl but she’s been really dodgy. She is in a part-member family and really easy going. She just called her and asked if we could come and do a family home evening with them.

Another person we are teaching is a guy who believes in a fourth dimensional being in area 51 that can flatten us just to create more space in the atmosphere. I don’t know, it’s kind of crazy. He seems normal though.

There is this other guy that we just happen to see everywhere we go. I was on exchanges and my bike got a flat so we were walking our bikes to the shop. We came out of the store and he was walking down the store. He always likes to get into political talks and refers to the movies quite a bit. He gets into deep discussions. He’s a pretty big guy and talks like a general. He was very interesting the first time talking to him. You just have to know the guy. He’s a pure English man…. There’s really not a way I can explain his personality.

Last week we had so many sit down lessons fall through. It stunk. Every day it happens.

So since my birthday is coming up I am making a birthday list for my birthday package. I figured you guys would want to send me something or a package, I don’t know. I mean if you love me it’s a good way to show it. Ya know what Jesus Christ asked for. He asks for us to go to church and read our scriptures. He asks us to act on the faith that we do love him. I don’t know. If you guys want to act on it that’s fine, it’s your choice if you want to act on it that’s your choice. That’s what agency is about. 

OK - Answers to your questions - 

 

Thus far the most spiritual experience was teaching the restoration to one of our investigators G. She had this witness when we shared the first vision. You could see it and she started to cry. I wish she would remember that feeling because we can forget it if we don’t act. 

The person that has had the most impact on my life in the mission has got to President. When you sit down with the guy you can just feel his love for you. President Lindsey actually showed up yesterday. Its pretty exciting to get a new President. We get to meet him on Wednesday so we’re pretty excited. 

What I love most about Australia has got to be that the people are really easy going. They are nice and have no worries. Some are still rude but… just kidding. They are really nice, just not interested.

Favorite Preparation Day activity has got to be rugby. It’s probably the most fun thing to do on a P-day. I would also love to take a nap. Haven’t been able to do that yet but I would love to. 

The experience that has made my testimony grow the most would have to be…. There are heaps of little ones. I’d have to look in my journal for a specific one but to be honest I’m too lazy to get up and go look for it.

My greatest challenge has been the people. Not the people in general but contacting door to door. Looking for people to teach and then having them drop you or cancel appointments and not giving you the time of day in the rudest way. Ah man, it’s so tough but it’s also not. We make heaps of appointments and then every time I think there is a for sure appointment it falls through. But we just picked up a less active that stopped going at age 17. He’s been in-active for about a year. He’s definitely not interested in coming back right now but he is the nicest guy. We are going to be teaching and working with that family. They are really nice and will be giving us dinner next week. 

It’s been good talking to you. I’m sending all the love I can gather and sending it to you now. Hopefully you are thinking that guy, that son, that friend, that person I’ve never looked up to… is good. 

We’ll see ya,

Elder Cook