Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Consejo de Liderazgo

Hola Familia,

This week has been really awesome.  It has been crazy getting a new companion and having to train him how to be a Zone Leader and then also having to help out the Zone.  We had to go and clean out an area’s room because it was closed down.  The mission is going to have fewer missionaries so there will be a bunch of Zones that get closed down during this up coming transfer.  So we went and cleaned out the room and it was filthy.  But we were able to get it cleaned out and get the things ready to be sent to Arequipa.  Then we had to go and do a bunch of things for the Zone.  It has been a really busy week but we were efficient.  We were able to help out the Sisters in the Zone to find some new investigators with a Zone activity.  It was really fun and it was good to help the sisters. 

This week we had the opportunity to go and have the monthly leadership council (Consejo de Liderazgo).  It was so much fun.  So in leadership council all the Zone Leaders from each of the 15 Zones and the Sister leaders in the mission go to the Mission Home and talk about the things that we need to do as a mission and what we need to do better.  Overall it was awesome and a ton of fun.  I was also able to see some of the Elders from the same group as me be called as Zone Leaders which was awesome.  Overall I love it and it is just so amazing and I know that I just need to keep working harder and harder and everything will turn out. 

We were able to go and explore Arequipa because we got there a little early.  It was a ton of fun and then we went and ate at T.G.I Fridays ha ha.  I was able to eat something that was kind of like the States for once in like a year and it was fantastic.  Then we went to our meeting the rest of the night and then the entire next day.  I learned a ton and am so glad that I have been to go.



The investigators are doing really well and it is remarkable to see the changes that we have seen in them this past week.  So we have one investigator that we were about to stop teaching but then he called us and was like when can you guys come and see me.  Then he came to Church, which is a miracle, but overall it was humbling to see the changes he has made and the Holy Ghost (Spanish version) work.

This week I learned a ton and just I need to keep working my hardest to be the best example for the Zone and just keep pushing on.

I love you all and I hope that you all have a great week.
Elder Cooley

Questions
1. Favorite scripture?

2. Did a lot of the ward show up to Cesar’s baptism?
Yeah it was a pretty good amount of members that were able to come to the baptism.

3. Why was the boat up in the street?  Were people living in it?
It was just being repaired and so they had it there for the time ha ha.

4. Was the picture of the house where you are living with your Pensionista?
Yes that is our house where we live with our Pensionista.

5. What is Moqugua?
Moqugua is a place in the mission ha ha.

6. A couple of weeks ago when you were serving were you just pulling out stumps?
Yeah we just pretty much weeded for like four hours ha ha.

7. Is there only one ward in your area or are there multiple wards?
There is just one war in our area and usually there is only one set of missionaries at each Zone.

8. What do you typically eat?  (It looks like you have a lot of tacos)
Just rice and potatoes ha ha.

9. Was Elder Cerezo one of your companions?

He was my companion for like a week when both of our companions ended their missions.  We didn’t have anyone so we just paired up.  When you end your mission you go home a week earlier than transfers so we were together for a week ha ha.

Zone Leaders in my group

Fernanda

Plaza de Armas Arequipa

Elder Diaz


Elder Garcia : My Companion

Elder Vargas

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

"May we have the strength and the courage to follow Him." ~L. Tom Perry


Hola Familia,

Cesar Llanos
Well I have had my first baptism.  This week we were blessed to be able to baptize Cesar.  It has been cool to see his progress and to see how he was ready to be baptized.  He is really awesome and ready to be a member the church.  I know that it might be hard for him but we know that he will be a great member.  It is hard to have a life in the world and then change it for a life in the Church.  I know that everything will work out.  We are going to keep on teaching him and helping him progress.

Well the baptism was crazy ha ha.  So we went on Saturday night to go see the font, it was not full.  Then we called the Bishop and asked him to fill it up but he forgot.  So we went back and started filling it up about 6 and the baptism was at 7.  We got a hose and started filling it up with a hose.  It was going well until all of the sudden the water stopped ha ha.  So we didn’t have even close to a sufficient amount of water ha ha.  We were like, what are we going to do for the baptism!  Luckily a church in another area had a full font.  So we got everyone in buses and went to the other chapel.  Then on our way up to the chapel the taxi broke down ha ha.  So we had to get another taxi.  But it was incredible and everything went really well.  I know that the challenges are there and we just need to be persistent.


This week has been crazy since my companion ended his mission.  He left a week earlier then transfers so I was with another elder whose companion had also ended his mission.  Because of us working together we had two areas to be in and we had to travel a ton to be able to teach everything in each area.  It was a great experience though, I was with Elder Cerezo from Ecuador.  It was an awesome week and he is a great missionary to work with.

Overall this week has been remarkable and I have really enjoyed it.  I learned a ton being alone and trying to run the Zone h aha.  It was a good test and I think that I was able to gain the trust of the Zone more, which is amazing. 

Once again it was a great week and I learned so much.  I am so happy to be here in Ilo. I love all of the people here and it is just amazing.

Thank you all so much for all of your support I hope that you all have a great week.

Elder Cooley
Elder Cerezo
Elder Cerezo saying goodbye
Zone Ilo
For Dad: Bar de Frank
Cesar's Baptism
The Home (Costa Azul D-18)
Elder Cornejo
Zone
Soccer
Ilo
TACOS
Elder Cornejo
Moqugua

Monday, May 25, 2015

"For with God nothing shall be impossible." -Luke 1:37


Hola Familia,

Well this week has been crazy ha ha.

We have had a ton of things to do because my companion is ending his mission.  Also the Zone is doing well and everything is going great.  Well this week something exciting happened.  Our investigator Cesar Llanos is doing good and progressing.  We were able to talk with him and to confirm his date to be baptized this Saturday or the next just depending on him and which one he wants to pick.  He will have his interview and then it will all be good.  It was really cool.  When we went to talk with him his attitude totally changed.  He had been changed from the Spirit of the Holy Ghost (Spanish version).  If we can apply the simple things in our life we can change everything.  If we read and pray (see video below) and follow the steps to have Eternal Life (Spanish version) we will be happy and ready to be changed. 


Christian is doing really well.  We were thinking about dropping him because he has not been progressing but we went for the last lesson with him.  We were talking with him and discovered that out of nowhere had read the Book of Mormon (Spanish version) chapter that we left with him.  He has prayed and is ready to be baptized.  I think that he will be baptized this weekend or next weekend as well.

I have gained a testimony of the Power of God.  Luke 1:37 (Spanish version). 



If we can put our trust in God he will help us and will change who we are.  We are not inviting people to come to the Church, we are inviting people to come to Christ and to changed their life through Christ.

I love my mission and all the ups and downs but everything is amazing.  Overall this week has been really good.  I was able to cook some tacos real quick ha ha and they were amazing.  


Everything has just been going great.  I am ready to get a new companion.  Overall I love everything.  Life is amazing.

I love you all and just keep on keeping on and everything will work out.
Elder Cooley

Questions:

1. Favorite scripture?



2. What is your workout schedule?
Um, I usually do different things everyday.  I just workout in the living room of our Pensionista and typically just do circuit workouts.

3. Can you give us an update on your pedometer?
I will next week; I do not have it with me right now.

4. What is the missionaries’ biggest health issue as a whole in your area?
I think that the biggest issue is stomach problems.

5. Have you tried any seafood yet?
Just fish ha ha.  We really don’t eat too much seafood even though we live on the coast.

6. Is it getting colder there yet?
It is getting a little colder.  The shower is definitely getting ice cold ha ha.

7. Do the people there reuse items when they can?
Yes everyone loves to reuse all the bottles and everything.  Although they don’t store food for more than one day in the refrigerator.

8. How often do you listen to your music?
I listen to music every morning doing my workout.

9. What is your favorite song?
I think that The Piano Guys are pretty awesome.

10. Do the Ward members help you out with the new investigators?
Yes, they are able to come with us to help teach.






Happy Birthday Elder Garcia!

Service

Cute Dog

Steak

BBQ

Hahahaha

Yum

Before
After

Angel and Cindy

The Patriarch (Patriarchal blessings)

Zone Breakfast