Kneel in Prayer

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Hola Familia,

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How is everyone doing this amazing week?  I am doing great.  I had one of the coolest experiences ever yesterday.  So this was awesome, we were able to teach an insane amount of lessons and visit a ton of people.  I have not been this tired on my mission before, but it was awesome.  After working so hard Sunday came along ha ha.  Sunday is the day when all you work in the week pays off; it is when people come to church.  When we got to Church (Spanish version) and there was nobody at all.  It was a national holiday and there was nobody at all in Church.  It was hard because all the work that we did throughout the entire week was for nothing.  But then I was thinking a ton during the day about everything and that night I was sitting down and I read a letter and at the end it said, “don’t forget to pray.” (Spanish version)  So I got on my knees and started pouring my heart out to God (Spanish version) to see what I need to do.  I know that he was there with me comforting me and giving me the strength that I needed and the knowledge to know that my work was not in vain.  He was there helping me and guiding me to be better, because he knows our pain and our heartache, he knows absolutely everything.  I would like to invite everyone to be able to have an experience like this to feel the love (Spanish version) that he has for us.

Well this week was great.  We were able to help a ton of people to come unto Christ (Spanish version) a little more.  Nothing too interesting happened this week but just an awesome experience.  This past year has been awesome.  Sometimes it is hard to not have too many baptisms (Spanish version) but I know that this is the work of the Lord and we need to preach repentance (Spanish version) and show how people can strengthen their faith (Spanish version).

Well family I love you all so much and I wish you all a great week.  I want to give a special shout out to JACLYN COOLEY.  I hope that you have a great birthday sister. Keep up the good work.

Les amo,

Elder Cooley

Questions:

1. Favorite scriptures?         

Matthew 6:33 (Spanish version)

2. Did you actually go to Trujillo for the dedication or was it just broadcast?

No it was just broadcasted to the Stake (Spanish version) Center in Ilo.

3. Is there anything special planned for your one-year anniversary?

Um I don’t know, maybe I will go out and buy some ice cream or something ha ha.

4. Do people go camping in Peru?

Nobody goes camping here ha ha.  I don’t think that it is even thought of ha ha.

5. Is your baptism still looking good for July first?

Well she did not come to Church because of the holiday so we have to postpone it for the next week.

6. Do Peruvians cook anything similar to s'mores? (We are plenty for you!)

They do not at all ha ha.  There are not graham crackers here ha ha.

7. What is your exercise regimen like in Ilo?

It is waking up at 5:30 and doing P90X and Insanity ha ha.

8. Have you had guinea pig yet?

I have not ha ha.

9. What is the nicest car that you have seen so far?

I saw a Camaro the other day but that is about it ha ha.

10. What do most people do for work in Ilo?

There are a lot of fishermen.

11. Do they eat toast?

They do not like bread in a loaf so it is super rare.  I will send pictures of a normal breakfast ha ha.

Temple Dedication

Hola Family,

Well this week has been crazy as usual ha ha.  Well after I wrote last week we went to the beach and ate lunch with the entire Zone, which was really cool, then we just hung out at the beach for an hour or so.  After that watched a movie at the Church.  That night went to a Family Home Evening (Spanish version) with a recent convert, which was a ton of fun.  Then we had the amazing opportunity to be able to have the Presidente (President) come and visit the Zone, which was awesome.  He came and we had a meeting with him in the morning about the Zone then we went and have a meeting with all the missionaries in the Zone.  Later that day we went on divisions with all the missionaries in the Zone; it was a fun opportunity.  This week we were able to have some tremendous lessons with people. 

We were able to help a member move and to help her have some better experiences with her new house.  We went and were able to attend the Temple Dedication for the Trujillo Temple.  It was awesome.  So Saturday night we went and watched the cultural event and that was super cool.  We watched traditional dances from all over northern Peru and it was really fantastic to see the history of this place.  On Sunday we had the opportunity to attend the three dedications sessions.  It was such a spiritual experience and I am so happy for the chance that we had to go and watch something so important in our Church.  I really liked a quote from President Utchdorf, "Normal Life is Temple Life."  We need to strive to always be worthy to attend the temple and to receive all the blessings that are found inside of the temple.

Hermana Basilia is doing really well and she is getting ready to be baptized on the 4th of July ha ha.  Which will be really cool.  We have been working with her for awhile and I know that she has changed and that she is doing a lot better.

I know that this Church is true and that the powers of the scriptures (Spanish version) are amazing.  I know that temples (Spanish version) are where we should go and need to go to strengthen our relationship with God.  I know that this Church is true and I love every single principal that we have. 

Have a great week and shout out to Frank, Happy Fathers Day! (Spanish version)

Les Amo,

Elder Cooley

Questions:

1. Favorite scripture?

2 Timothy 3:13-15 (Spanish version)

2. Have you had a chance to make any more no-bake cookies?

I have not made anymore no bake cookies ha ha.

3. How are things coming with your investigators?

They are coming along well.

4. Is there a rainy (or monsoon) season there?  If so, when is it?

There is no rain ha ha.  I have had one day of rain my entire mission ha ha.

5. Do you have a favorite quote?

“Normal life is Church life.”

6. How is your Spanish coming?

It is coming along well.  It has helped that I have been able to have a Latino companion to help me out.

Prayer = Strength

Hola Familia,

This week has been short since I wrote to all of you guys this past Wednesday but I am glad for the time and how fast it goes by.  This life just flies by and sometimes I feel like I don’t have enough time in my life ha ha.

Zone 

Well this week was great and everything went really well and I am really enjoying the mission.  We are finally seeing some success in the Zone.  The Zone is working really hard.  I am always trying to figure out what we can do to help the missionaries in our Zone out and to make their mission a little better.  But generally everything is going great.  This week we were lucky enough to find three new investigators that we will be teaching.  Hopefully we can put a baptism date on them soon so they can prepare to be baptized.  We also are going to have another baptism this Friday if everything goes well.  Overall I love the mission.

Zone

Nothing too exciting happened this week but I just love the work.  I have gotten re-motivated and am just working like crazy.  At night I am tired but I know that the Lord is giving me the extra strength (Spanish version) that I need to be able to work in his vineyard.  I love the power of prayer (Spanish version) that I know my prayers are being answered.  This week my companion and I have been talking a ton about faith (Spanish version) and how crucial faith is I really loved Ether 12 (Spanish version).  It is a great chapter about the importance of faith.

Well this week I was able to cook some pretty epic pizzas and then some tacos yesterday ha ha.  I can just whip out pizza and tacos like nobodies business ha ha.  But I love the mission.  I have learned so much in my time here and just working on being the best person that I can be.

Tacos

Pizza

Francisco

I love you all.  Try to renew your testimony of the Book of Mormon  and gain a deeper understanding of the book that will bring us eternal life (Spanish version) I know that it is true and is the best guide we can have in our life.

Les amo,

Elder Cooley

Questions:

1. Favorite scripture?

Ether 12:27 (Spanish version)

2. Is your Zone going to be shut down during the next transfer?

No there are only like a couple areas in the entire mission that are being shut down.  So my area will not be shutdown.

3. What did you order from T.G.I Friday’s?

I ordered a chipotle cajun salad ha ha.

4. Do you have any memorable stories or experiences?  If so, what is one?

Um this week nothing really too exciting happened sorry.

5. How are you adjusting to the culture down there?

I am used to the culture for a while now ha ha.

6. What is your favorite thing to do down there in Peru?

I love how the people really enjoy their life here and are less worried about everything that is happening.

7. What is your favorite native food to eat?

I really love the jugos (juices) that they make here.

8. Have you seen any movies recently?

I have seen Ephraim’s Rescue, which is awesome.

9. Have you tried any new foods? (Please say yes! It makes me sad that you eat potatoes and rice so much)

I tried like an alfredo pasta this week which was really good.  I also tried these potato cakes that reminded me of that German restaurant (Potato Pancakes) that we went to.

10. Do you ever teach lessons during Sunday School, Priesthood or Relief Society?

We teach the lesson some times when there are not people to teach ha ha.

11. Are there many children in the Wards that you have been working in?

In this Ward there is not a lot of children or teenagers, which is sad.

Elder Garcia