Semana 5

Hola Familia,

Scripture Cases

This week has been a wonderful week with many great times. These past 5 weeks have gone by so fast. The days are long but the weeks are incredibly fast. Last Wednesday we got new roommates; Elder Bodily is from Lehi, Utah and Elder Asay is from Texas. They are a nice change from having Latinos in our room although I wish that they were still in our room because they really helped a lot with the language. The Latinos are so nice. We get new ones in every 2 weeks and all are incredible.

On Thursday and Friday I finally went to Interpol and Migracions. It was way sketchy, there were wild cats running around and finger printing was interesting. My picture was not straight and I look like a killer. I have heard that a lot of missionaries don’t get their I.D. till quite some time into their mission. Also some have to fly to Ecuador to renew their visas. After we got done we were able to go to Pizza Hut and eat some pizza. I have never wanted pizza hut in my life so badly. Saturday was nothing really to great just a ton of studying, the usual day. Sundays are by far the best day of the week, besides P-day. We listened to a talk by Elder Richard G Scott. He talked on how to communicate with Dios (God). He said "Pray even when you have no desire to pray.” That is so powerful. Praying is essential and Satan doesn’t want you to pray because of the comfort received from of our loving Heavenly Father. Sometimes we won’t get a answer right away but that time is to let us struggle, to let us grow, and to increase our faith. Fasting 24 hours on Sunday was awesome. I challenge everyone to try it, but make sure you have a purpose to fast. It is very helpful and prayers really are answered. Monday was another great day and I got to go outside of the compound to exchange the last of my American money. On Tuesday we had Elder Wadell from the Quorum of the 70 in the South American area come and talk to us. He is serving till 2029. He had a really good message. It was about how the whole purpose of missionary work is to get people to enter the temple and baptism was not nearly as important. Obedience is key and to I have been trying really hard to follow the rules and be the best missionary as I possibly can be. He said as soon as you accepted your call from the 1st Presidency you made a covenant with the Lord to complete your mission. After the talk I was able to participate in two blessings and the spirit was extremely strong. On Wednesday nothing spectacular happened. The food is good but so many carbs, I just feel like I am going to pop. But it is awesome I am glad for everything.

McDonalds

Today is finally P-day, we went out shopping which is always a blast; we were able to wear street clothes because the temple was closed. Then we trekked to McDonalds and I got yogurt ha ha. It didn’t look good but I need to drop some lbs. After that I did all my laundry. I love to be able to do my laundry ha ha. Then I just started to pack my bags and get organized for the upcoming week.

The CCM is awesome; it is pretty much always cloudy and dirty. But I am starting to really enjoy the CCM and Peru. I could never live here but the people are so nice and such a pleasure to be around. The spirit is strong here. There are difficult times but I know that this is what I am supposed to be doing, and prayer is my strength. I know that this gospel is true from the bottom of my heart. It is such a blessing to have all the people in my district. I love to sit and talk with them about life. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and if you diligently seek in it for answers you will find them. I love listening to Prophets and they are inspired and speak from God. Just remember that I pray for each and every one of you every night.  You should just look for the chance to serve somebody and become stronger in the gospel.

I hope everyone back home is doing amazing and can’t wait to hear from everyone. I will fly out early Tuesday morning and will probably email you Monday night or when we get to Arequipa Tuesday. Pray and study I love you all so so much.

Love,

Elder Cooley

Dylan also mentioned the two talks below as incredible and suggested we look them up. 

None Were With Him 

By: Elder Jeffery R. Holland  (Click for the link)

The Gospel and the Scientific View: How the Earth Came to Be 

By: F. Kent Nielsen  (Click for the link)

Ancient City

Jesus at Machu Piccu 

Bus Ride 

Peru Independence Day

Hola Familia,

Sorry once again we only get 30 minutes to write this week. The P-day was changed to Tuesday because of Peru's Independence Day.

But, we were able to go to the ancient city of Caral. Photos hopefully come through the dropbox (see below). It was a 6-hour round trip driving on sketchy roads but wow how insane it was. We went across streams and off-roaded in Le Buses. Ha ha I wish I could explain more about the city but look it up it is awesome. I am sorry I couldn´t tell you earlier about the p day change but I know you guys will be alright and blessed. 

On Saturday we had the opportunity to be able to proselyte again. It is always so humbling. I went with another Latino and that was a blessing. We stopped and started to talk to a man, a women and their daughter. We were able to teach them a lesson and they started to cry, they were talking something about the salvation and how everyone can be forgiven. It was such an amazing experience. We were also able to eat fresh bread from a less active members house. Kind of sketchy but I watched it being cooked and so I wasn’t too scared. My companion was 18 and very scared, I don’t know too much Spanish but I was able to calm him down and make him feel comfortable so he could talk.

On Friday I was able to give my first blessing to my companion, he is struggling and emotionally distraught. It was cool to have the words flow out of my mouth. The priesthood is so powerful. Then on Sunday we finally were able to read and have personal study for awhile I love to dive into the scriptures, they really do answer prayers.

Then on Monday after finishing dinner I was walking back to the room and I threw up. It was disgusting. But I think it was something that I ate. I have not had the runs yet; major blessing. Then we were learning Spanish and all of the sudden EARTHQUAKE! It was very small but I have been in an earthquake! EPIC! The food is pretty redundant. But this coming week I get to go to Interpol and Migrations to get my ID and Pizza Hut is on the menu.

I know the power of the gospel.  I know that the Holy Ghost is so essential in our lives. He guides us and gives us comfort always. On Sunday I had a very powerful moment when I told another missionary the importance of 2 Nephi 4:35. This church is true and I can’t wait to share the gospel with as many people as I physically can in these two years.

I love you all so much,

Elder Cooley

Pioneer Day in Peru

Hola Familia,

Today we only get 30 minutes to write. The computers have been not working correctly and so I have to share the hour with my companion. Very bugged, but oh well.

This week I have written down highlights from each day in order to be able to get everything that I want to send. On Thursday night I got a haircut in the bathroom and gave him $6 for the cut. It wasn’t that bad at all. I talked with another Elder until really late the other night.  I have really loved to be able to talk with everyone so much. It is such a great blessing to have these people here in my life. Friday was really cool and talking to our new Latino roommates was really awesome. It is a struggle but learning Spanish is a ton better. Nothing really paramount happened on Saturday. On Sunday we listened to a couple of prophets talking. I really really love Elder Holland and the message that he gave and how passionate he is about it. Our district had a really good devotional and the spirit was so so powerful. On Monday my companion and I went and prayed outside and it was so cool to finally have a personal prayer outside. Today was awesome; I finally was able to find some scriptures in Spanish. The temple is just as beautiful as ever. I am so happy to be here. Also today we were able to talk with about 10 men on the street and gave them pamphlets and talked about the gospel how spiritual it was.

Well I wish I could type faster and be able to go into more detail. But I know that the power of the gospel is real, that Jesus Christ is our Savior and he loves us so so much, the power of the atonement is real. I just love it so so much. The church is true. Prayers are answered I truly know that.

I love you all so much,

Miss you like crazy thanks for all the support and the prayers. 

Elder Cooley

Semana 2

 Hola la Familia,

Snacks

Well where do I even begin. You would think that P days are nice and relaxing, but they are so stressful because I have to do laundry, buy snacks, and write. But I love every single second of it. This last week has definitely slowed down, and I am able to get into a nice routine. It is pretty much wake up at 6:15 shower go to breakfast and eat, then go to class for 5 hours then eat some more. Then class again, after that I go and run around and also work out. Then back to class and eat and finish the day with more class. But it is amazing! Absolutely amazing and I love every single second of it. The work is hard but I would not trade it for anything. I weighed myself and I had gained 5 lbs. since getting here. The rolls are just so good.

CCM 

CCM

On Saturday we went to Northern Lima to proselyte. That was the most amazing, the hardest, and most humbling experience I have had so far. We were set up with either an older or a Latino companion from the CCM. I was set up with a Latino Elder named Elder Paliza from Lima. He spoke about as much English as I did Spanish. There was a huge language barrier. We struggled through planning our lesson to teach. Then we went and hopped onto a bus and drove about an hour north of Lima. The buses are so sketchy and everyone drives like maniacs. When we got there, we went to a church and met up with a ward member to take each set of companions around the village. It was unreal. I have never been so grateful for anything in my life. There were just so many houses up the mountain and made literally out of anything they could find. (Side note it smelled like strait urine everywhere.)  But the one inactive member we were supposed to go and teach was not there, so we had to knock on doors for three hours. It was so so hard. My companion did all the talking, I couldn't even understand what they were saying in the first place. We made about 10 contacts and a few referrals here and there but nobody let us into their house until the last house we went to. We were just walking down the dirt road and I was constantly praying to know what street to go down and which house to knock on. Deciding to knock on the last house was just meant to be. We got into the house and there was an older lady and husband and her older daughter and two children. We just talked to the grandma and grandpa. It lasted about 45 minutes and I only taught her how to pray that was it, but the spirit was definitely there. You could feel it so strong. I think my companion invited her to go to church and finished reading the pamphlet he taught her. Wow just so amazing how the spirit works and how this is supposed to happen. Even though I didn’t understand anything for 4 hours, and was speaking broken Spanish it was unreal.

I can't remember what day it was but we were walking out of the cafeteria after lunch one day, and this dove was coming hot and drilled the wall above the glass door right above our heads. It broke its neck and died about a minute after the incident it was crazy. Yesterday we were lucky enough to see the sun. I think it is the second time I have seen it since I got here. The pollution is next level, the grounds crew is consistently power washing the ground, buildings, plants, and trees; just everything.

Pollution

Coin pouch

The streets here in Lima by the CCM are really nice, but once you get out of the city it is not nice whatsoever. Today I was taking a picture of a statue to send back home and boom I stepped in dog crap, at least I hope it was dog crap. But I thoroughly enjoy the city, and you can buy some pretty awesome stuff here. I bought three woven ties with llamas or the temple on them. I bought a sweet coin pouch made out of leather.  I also bought a ton of candy and drinks.

Statue

Temple

This morning at the temple I decided that I would be brave and listen to the entire session without the headset with English translation and it was so hard. I understood most of what was going on but wow they talk so fast.

My District is comprised of: Elder Cooley (me), Elder Lee (companion), Elder Lorenzen (Herriman), Elder Deangelo (Tooele), Elder Christensian (Colorado), Elder Layton (Arizona), Elder Evens (Layton UT), Elder Beebe (Missouri), Elder Gessel (SLC), Elder Bulkley (St George).

That is my district we are all way close and probably the loudest out of all the districts. We have some of the most spiritual moments I have ever had in my life. We were meant to be together. I have found some amazing scriptures when we all get into those conversations about doctrine. D&C 118:3 is a really good one. I love finding my answers through the scriptures.

The food is getting better, after hot sauce was purchased to spice things up a lot. I am so lucky to be out in the field serving. What a blessing it has brought to my life. Sorry I couldn’t write more, as it is the same things every single day almost. I tried to take some more pictures for everyone. Everything is working great and I don’t think I really forgot anything.

I love everyone. Your faith has really helped me to be comforted and to work through the hard times. Just stay faithful and keep enduring. 

Love, Elder Cooley
mucha amo

Compound

Compound

Room

Tottus

Tottus

CCM