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| WEDDING PREPARATIONS w/these 2 cuties! |
Monday, July 13, 2015
Candy? Who knew!! He did :)
Those Sundays when the relief society president makes an announcement to feed the missionaries and everyone comes up to you and invites you over! We had a fulllllll week of eating citas:))) blessings! Haha or
cursings....we were sooo full everyday! But it's better than being hungry right? Thursday we had 3! Not sure how we made it out alive on that one..
It was a great week! We great lessons with a lot people, but I'm going to talk about one young man specifically, He is from Ecuador, he is 18 years old, and the missionaries have been teaching
him a little while before I got here to elche. He had been to a few baptisms and met a couple members from member present lessons, but had never been to church in the three months that he has been receiving
the charlas.....until YESTERDAY! My comp and I gave him a church tour on Friday and introduced him to family history work. His parents aren't very interested in the church...yet!...they are always working
except Sunday's and so they always go out of town for the weekend and that is one reason why he's never been to church. I told him a few weeks ago to talk to his parents and plan a Sunday in the future to
leave free for the morning so they could all come, well they didn't but he did! anyway, like PMG says-family history work would be a good way for people to to be brought closer to their families and to the
gospel. So he took the papers home and we told him to work on them with his mom and dad and then we can put it all in the computer. They started working on them so we will see how far they got this week! Did
I mention he came to church!? Satan was at work too, the sacrament water was salty and we were one of the first and only to take it when the bishop jumped up and told everyone to stop drinking it haha.
Thankfully it was blessed, but really!?. Never in my life has something like that happened haha, so they changed the water real quick and re did it. Super funny. Anyways, another funny story! We gringos thought we were going to a "capilla limpieza" (church cleaning) on Saturday and we showed up and it looked like a big party. Eventually we asked someone because we were so confused, but it was the olimpiada de los niños. (Kids Olympics activity!) Hahahah. So we helped out with that and it was so fun:)
Yesterday this old man we know said hi to us while we were walking the street and gave us a handful of candy, one was strawberry, one was mint, one was lemon, and the rest were coffee. My comp threw all the
coffee ones away immediately and ate the strawberry so I was left with mint or lemon...neither sounded good so I didn't take one. Then a lady was walking behind us, and for some reason I asked my comp for the
mint candy even though I didn't want it, wasn't really sure why but the question just came out of my mouth. So I was struggling to open it and I finally got it, then it dropped and broke all over the ground:(
sad day...but it was the perfect conversation starter! Haha. We started talking with this girl and ended up really connecting with her and shared our beliefs and why we are here. She said what strikes her so much is how young we are and we are sharing the gospel for so long away in a foreign place. I said that this was evidence of our testimonies of the reality of our message and the blessings it brings to people and families. Then of course we got her numba:) pray for her. I know this church is true, and that we have to fight upstream constantly, but that it is worth it! There is so much more in this life than what the world has to offer. There is a solace and peace and an indescribable happiness that can be found and treasured In the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It isn't just for a few people, it is for every one of us, as heavenly fathers children. And it is available, today. The Book of Mormon is evidence of this message and we each need to find out for ourselves if it is true, through reading and praying and then listening to the spirit. I have done this
personally and testify of the happiness and joy that is found within living the commandments, making and keeping covenants with the Lord in His temples, and putting others before ourselves. I love the gospel- the more I live it the more I love it! And my family!! I love you all, but man do I love my family! Xoxoxoxox
Hermana cook
cursings....we were sooo full everyday! But it's better than being hungry right? Thursday we had 3! Not sure how we made it out alive on that one..
It was a great week! We great lessons with a lot people, but I'm going to talk about one young man specifically, He is from Ecuador, he is 18 years old, and the missionaries have been teaching
him a little while before I got here to elche. He had been to a few baptisms and met a couple members from member present lessons, but had never been to church in the three months that he has been receiving
the charlas.....until YESTERDAY! My comp and I gave him a church tour on Friday and introduced him to family history work. His parents aren't very interested in the church...yet!...they are always working
except Sunday's and so they always go out of town for the weekend and that is one reason why he's never been to church. I told him a few weeks ago to talk to his parents and plan a Sunday in the future to
leave free for the morning so they could all come, well they didn't but he did! anyway, like PMG says-family history work would be a good way for people to to be brought closer to their families and to the
gospel. So he took the papers home and we told him to work on them with his mom and dad and then we can put it all in the computer. They started working on them so we will see how far they got this week! Did
I mention he came to church!? Satan was at work too, the sacrament water was salty and we were one of the first and only to take it when the bishop jumped up and told everyone to stop drinking it haha.
Thankfully it was blessed, but really!?. Never in my life has something like that happened haha, so they changed the water real quick and re did it. Super funny. Anyways, another funny story! We gringos thought we were going to a "capilla limpieza" (church cleaning) on Saturday and we showed up and it looked like a big party. Eventually we asked someone because we were so confused, but it was the olimpiada de los niños. (Kids Olympics activity!) Hahahah. So we helped out with that and it was so fun:)
Yesterday this old man we know said hi to us while we were walking the street and gave us a handful of candy, one was strawberry, one was mint, one was lemon, and the rest were coffee. My comp threw all the
coffee ones away immediately and ate the strawberry so I was left with mint or lemon...neither sounded good so I didn't take one. Then a lady was walking behind us, and for some reason I asked my comp for the
mint candy even though I didn't want it, wasn't really sure why but the question just came out of my mouth. So I was struggling to open it and I finally got it, then it dropped and broke all over the ground:(
sad day...but it was the perfect conversation starter! Haha. We started talking with this girl and ended up really connecting with her and shared our beliefs and why we are here. She said what strikes her so much is how young we are and we are sharing the gospel for so long away in a foreign place. I said that this was evidence of our testimonies of the reality of our message and the blessings it brings to people and families. Then of course we got her numba:) pray for her. I know this church is true, and that we have to fight upstream constantly, but that it is worth it! There is so much more in this life than what the world has to offer. There is a solace and peace and an indescribable happiness that can be found and treasured In the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It isn't just for a few people, it is for every one of us, as heavenly fathers children. And it is available, today. The Book of Mormon is evidence of this message and we each need to find out for ourselves if it is true, through reading and praying and then listening to the spirit. I have done this
personally and testify of the happiness and joy that is found within living the commandments, making and keeping covenants with the Lord in His temples, and putting others before ourselves. I love the gospel- the more I live it the more I love it! And my family!! I love you all, but man do I love my family! Xoxoxoxox
Hermana cook
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Inspiration and listening to the Still Small Voice
Today I was kind of having a rough morning, just sad and missing home and the people I love, we taught this guy , he is from Ecuador. He's super cool. He told us about his spiritual journey, started when
he was twenty and a party guy but one night he was in a party and felt bad and the scriptures were coming into his mind and he knew he shouldn't be doing what he was doing. I'm excited to help him finally
find truth and answers to his questions. I had the feeling to grab a restoration video on the way out the door today and I gave him one to watch! Yay, he said he is not too much of a reader so hopefully he
watches it and understands a little better with the video :) this it made my day, knowing I'm able to share this light and knowledge with people and there's people out there sincerely searching. He had so many good questions, and it's cool because I don't have to make up an answer or be unsure. I know this church is true. I know we have a Heavenly Father who hears and answers our prayers. I know we have a Savior, even Jesus Christ, and because of Him we can let go of the past and have a brighter more fulfilling present and future. "The Lord doesn't expect perfection, but He does expect improvements" and because of and only through Christ we can change and receive divine help at any given moment. I love the gospel, I love my family, and I love my Heavenly Father! Xoxoxoxoxox
he was twenty and a party guy but one night he was in a party and felt bad and the scriptures were coming into his mind and he knew he shouldn't be doing what he was doing. I'm excited to help him finally
find truth and answers to his questions. I had the feeling to grab a restoration video on the way out the door today and I gave him one to watch! Yay, he said he is not too much of a reader so hopefully he
watches it and understands a little better with the video :) this it made my day, knowing I'm able to share this light and knowledge with people and there's people out there sincerely searching. He had so many good questions, and it's cool because I don't have to make up an answer or be unsure. I know this church is true. I know we have a Heavenly Father who hears and answers our prayers. I know we have a Savior, even Jesus Christ, and because of Him we can let go of the past and have a brighter more fulfilling present and future. "The Lord doesn't expect perfection, but He does expect improvements" and because of and only through Christ we can change and receive divine help at any given moment. I love the gospel, I love my family, and I love my Heavenly Father! Xoxoxoxoxox
I feel like it's Christmas up in here!!! Thanks for the package family :))) I'm in heaven! My comp got a package too with Spanish CDs, Cadbury eggs, and the movie MEET THE MORMONS! We know what we will be doing for next p day:) I still haven't seen it yet...so I'm excited.
Well merry summer mish-mas and have a great week!(: I love you family ❤️
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| Gorditas and their Napolitanos' |
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| Christmas in July in Espana' |
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| I'm shoving this whole cookie in my mouth! Watch me do it :) |
Meet my Twinnnnnn?
Meet Jocelyn Clark....whoa right!? We followed each other in insta before the mission and we finally met!
She just barely got out of the MTC, she's super sweet:)
She just barely got out of the MTC, she's super sweet:)
New beginnings; New President; Changes in Elche'
my mission this past week!(:
So Monday- we had a noche de hogar with this cute little family! They are members and they just moved into the ward about a month ago, two girls, the oldest is 5 I think, and then a little four month old. Both converts from Colombia I think.. Such an amazing family! One of the greatest examples to me of teaching and adhering to gospel principles to set a firm example for their daughters :) he has a noche de hogar book that they record all of them in and he directs, they take it for real I loved it!! we played a little game, we made cards of random acts, either good or bad, and whichever one they drew determined if they took steps forwards or backwards, bringing them closer or further away from the picture of Christ (we had a pic of Christ as the "finish line") and then we shared a scrip, and of course the little girl d there was a surprise behind the picture of Christ, because when we obey and keepwon;) an trying our best we are blessed! <3 such a simple, but powerful concept portrayed throughout the scriptures.
We have been teaching this one lady- and her husband. They are Romanian and her faith is insanely great! She is so cute, she is always saying how she is just a baby in gospel stuff and she needs us to teach her so she can know more like us, and we always tell her no way we are still babies too, we are learning
constantly everyday, haha. But she has basically read the whole Book of Mormon! The problem is that she has really bad health problems going on and hey are dirt poor and speak very broken Spanish so they
don't understand anything the doctors are saying and it is so sad to see her suffer...but she loves when we come over and right away she always says talk to me about God and the Book of Mormon to make me
feel better :) the elders gave her a blessing last week, but she is still unable to come to church just because she is always in so much pain. :(( we met her little grandson he other day, she was so proud to
introduce us to him and he played he piano for us, their whole family is very musical, it's how they get money right now..they play music on the street. She has a beautiful voice too! But she hasn't been working
for awhile. Williams is this 16 year old whose family is not in the church and he never comes but he was baptized last year...so we are focusing on being his friends and examples to him, we have been reading from the strength of youth with him whenever we meet. He is just at the age where it's cooler to be cool, but he will figure it out with time :)
We contacted lots this week!! Found some really cool prepared people, one lady named Maria Esperanza just moved to Spain, but she left this weekend for a vacation for about three weeks so it will be awhile
until we get to teach her. I also had an awkward encounter with this Chinese guy trying to give me besitos hahha, he full on took his sunglasses off, cradled my head ready to slap a fat kiss and I'm sure
my face had the look of terror as I tried to spit out no podemos como misioneras! lol. If I got a euro for every time that happened....$$$$
One of our recent converts is not always very clear in what she wants from us or needs help with and it's confusing sometimes and when we're all confused it can turn into frustration, so I had been praying for
love for her and patience and understanding and the gift of tongues so we could all understand one another. And then we met with her the other day to see what we could do for her and it went so smoothly, I
know the spirit was there helping us all communicate, milagro!
Then Friday night was the surprise party at the capilla for the mission president and wife who served in Argentina for the past three years and were coming home. So fun! And cool, an antiguo
investigadora came. I was so surprised! She is Russian but has lived her for many years. She has kind of a rough exterior, but my comp and I just love her:) the other day after English classes I went to give her a hug and said abrazo! And she said no no, I smoke and I don't want to hug you for that because I know
smoking is against the church. And I was basically like give me a hug woman, I don't care if I smell like smoke after we love you. And she just broke down in tears. But anyways she was there! And she acts all
tough, but she tells us how much we mean to her all the time and we do as well to her:)
Then SATURDAY!!!!! HAPPY FOURTH! I hope everyone had a safe fun super American Fourth of July with lots of American food:)))) haha My fourth was insanely awesome, we welcomed our new pres and his wife! Whom are amazing and sweet and courageous. And then we had the baptism of the lady who got married last week, we invited president to it, and my comp and I ended up riding in their car while all the other missionaries had to take the bus and they came and MY COMP AND I SANG AT THE BAPTISM!!!!! You all know I DO NOT SING. I wanted to record it, but I was so nervous I forgot, but I'm okay with that because you can't record he spirit, and that was the important part of that experience. My prayers before (I said countless) were not to sing great or sound amazing, but for the Abu,it's to express my testimony through singing this song, to invite the spirit, and fill the room with the love of our Heavenly Father. So many people were crying, mission accomplished? I think yes!💪🏼😇 "hija de un Rey" YouTube it
:) so pretty, it's also in English so you can understand the lyrics! But it is one of her favorite songs so we surprised her with it:)) ah so many great things family:) I love the gospel!
At the conference we had on Saturday with president Andersen, he said to concentrate on the spirit and what he says to us and then we were going to take few minutes to share later. So when that time came my
hand shot up, just on its own, yikes haha the first one to speak!? But their son had prepared a video of pics of their family and while we were watching it of course I thought of my own family and how hard it
was to leave (sis Andersen said that is the hardest part for her and then the language next) and the thought that came to me was - knowing how difficult it was to leave my earthly home and family, I can only
imagine how hard it was to leave our heavenly home, so why'd we do it? Well, I left my home for an important cause, we must have left our perfect celestial home for a pretty worthy cause as well. I testify
that we did, that we knew coming here and enduring the things we would have to endure would not even compare to the joy and glory we will receive once we return, and not return on our own, but with our
families and loved ones. We are here to be messengers to the world of this divine truth, that we will one day return to a loving Heavenly Father. I love you for eternity family and I'm bringing you all with
me back to the celestial kingdom, but for now we have to fight to maintain our faith and roots in the gospel in a world that wants to tear that down, we are here to support and to love each other and to protect our homes as heavens on earth, sacred and safe away from the things of the world. I know there is more than what he world has to offer, and it's the gospel of Jesus Christ which brings us peace happiness loyalty love joy bliss, 2 nephi 5:27
Love you forever and always
Jaycee:) ❤️
Monday, June 15, 2015
These words connect the threads of our hearts from here to Spain ~ Makes it all worth it! I love my missionary~
Yay I can't wait!! Thanks mom for all the encouragement :) LOVE YOU!!!
Canadians, Pastries and How that increases my testimony :)
Jenny and Corrine, these super cool Canadian chicks I met on the bus
from Malaga back to elche! They were speaking English so I asked where
they were from, they sounded American, I was excited for a moment
haha. But Canada is close enough... Anyways at one of the bus stops
they invited me to sit with them while they drank a beer, and I ate
some food and told them all about the mission life. They probably
think I'm crazy:p here they are traveling Europe for a few weeks,
partying and doing everything under the sun, which would be so fun,
but I wouldn't trade spots if I could. I'm so grateful for the gospel
and the foundation it has given me- an anchor to ground me in this
crazy world where values and principles are constantly changing. I
have something sure and everlasting to cling to, give me purpose and
direction, receive peace and assurance from, and this can only be
founded upon our Savior, Jesus Christ. That is my testimony:) I love
the mission, it's not a sacrifice, sure maybe by definition because I
am giving up lots of things, but it's really a trade- for grander more
enriching, and fulfilling unexplainable things and it is so real, I
cannot deny it. No puedo negarlo, nunca. Con todo mi corazón, amo mi
Padre Celestial y mi familia. Estoy agradecida por el sacrificio de
Cristo y puedo cambiar, mejorar, y regresar a vivir con mi familia por
eternidad en la presencia de Dios y Su Hijo, y que tengo este
conocimiento para guíame en esta vida. ❤️ (lo siento por el español,
pero a veces es más fácil expresarme 😛)
I LOVE YOU ALL! Thank you family, for all the love you've shown and
sacrifices you've made for me and agreeing to coming to earth all
together..my life just would not be as bright without each of you in
it:) xoxoxoxoxox
-Hermana Cook
from Malaga back to elche! They were speaking English so I asked where
they were from, they sounded American, I was excited for a moment
haha. But Canada is close enough... Anyways at one of the bus stops
they invited me to sit with them while they drank a beer, and I ate
some food and told them all about the mission life. They probably
think I'm crazy:p here they are traveling Europe for a few weeks,
partying and doing everything under the sun, which would be so fun,
but I wouldn't trade spots if I could. I'm so grateful for the gospel
and the foundation it has given me- an anchor to ground me in this
crazy world where values and principles are constantly changing. I
have something sure and everlasting to cling to, give me purpose and
direction, receive peace and assurance from, and this can only be
founded upon our Savior, Jesus Christ. That is my testimony:) I love
the mission, it's not a sacrifice, sure maybe by definition because I
am giving up lots of things, but it's really a trade- for grander more
enriching, and fulfilling unexplainable things and it is so real, I
cannot deny it. No puedo negarlo, nunca. Con todo mi corazón, amo mi
Padre Celestial y mi familia. Estoy agradecida por el sacrificio de
Cristo y puedo cambiar, mejorar, y regresar a vivir con mi familia por
eternidad en la presencia de Dios y Su Hijo, y que tengo este
conocimiento para guíame en esta vida. ❤️ (lo siento por el español,
pero a veces es más fácil expresarme 😛)
I LOVE YOU ALL! Thank you family, for all the love you've shown and
sacrifices you've made for me and agreeing to coming to earth all
together..my life just would not be as bright without each of you in
it:) xoxoxoxoxox
-Hermana Cook
A bus ride to paradise and back~giggles and surprises~
This past week was the third week of the transfer, all ready halfway
through! So crazy..feels like I just got to elche. (Well three weeks
isn't that long, but in missionary time it is!:)
Anyways, Monday I took the 8 hour bus ride back to Malaga! :)) I met a
senior couple at the station when I arrived, the Frosts (I LOVE
them!!) and they took me to a bakery and hooked me up:) then I took
the train and stayed the night at the mission home with other
missionaries from my MTC group and Tuesday morning we went and
finished our residency (until December when I go back to renew it.) It
was like a mini vacation, we got to talk to president Deere as a
group, which is always awesome...just listening to his insights and
sharing our experiences with him..ah so edifying!(: then since elche
is so far from Malaga, I didn't go back until Wednesday so I got to
stay Tuesday night with the Malaga SHE's :) ahhhh it felt so good to
be back in Malaga, I miss it! I almost got to see one of my recent
converts but he ended up having work :( which is a blessing though so
I'm happy! I at least got to talk to him on the phone and he was so
excited, so that was a super cool blessing :) I also got to play
futbol for the forreal last time with my Malaga missionary homies! We
are so dedicated we got up at 630am! (Which sounds lame to those who
serve in states because that's actually the time you wake up..haha)
anyways, gooood times:)
Then the lovely 8 hour bus ride for the 3rd time...I met some cool
Canadians and someone stole my pastry ! So you could say it was an
interesting trip:)?
This past week, my comp has been having health issues so the work days
have been anything but normal..but we have been working with one
sister, she's in her forties, and her baptism is this
Saturday! (The 20th) she is awesome, very sweet, and comes to
church every Sunday and clases de ingles every wed and fri. She is
quieter and I was a little worried about her having friends, but she
came to a baby shower on Friday and was smiling and laughing, and
having a really really really good time (for those in my fam who know
this song reference) and she said she wanted to stay even though we
were leaving :) yay! So yeah, we went to a baby shower, not the place
for missionaries haha no it was fun though and I was in the
skit this lady put together! Super funny haha.
Today my comp Hermana Rowley and I went to ward choir practice, and on
the walk there we smiled and said "hola" to everyone we passed like
always:), (I better master "hola" with a Spanish accent by the end of
my mission for how many times I say it in a day.....lol)
So anyways, we encountered this old man and after we said hola he kept
on talking so we stopped and listened thinking we'd be right back on
our way. But eventually he pulled out his wallet and started showing
us old pics of him in the military, of his kids, grandkids etc. I wish
I had more time to listen to him, he is 78 I think, so lots of
experience he has had in life, I wanted to hear his military stories
and stuff, but we were in a hurry...so we gave him our pass along card
and he called us guapa and was like "and a besito before you leave",
and he grabbed my arm and pulled me in as I tried to back away and
quickly spit out "noooo we're missionaries!" in Spanish... He gave me
a big fat kiss on my cheek and almost fell doing it, hahha he didn't
even realize I was trying to get away either, he was just so startled
and said "woah, I almost fell there" and then went after my comp. Poor
old man..my comp was thinking oh great, I'm next..but he was so old
and cute that I'm sure Heavenly Father won't be too upset he gave us
slobbery besitos, in fact I'm pretty sure He placed him in our path to
give us a good laugh :)
Overall it's been a roller coaster, some parts i just can't wait until
they're over and others are insanely fun and i wish would last
forever; in the end I never regret getting on. I know that the Lord
has a plan for each of us, and we just gotta trust in Him, it's hard
and the natural man in us doesn't want to, but I promise that when we
take that leap of faith into the dark, we discover something even
greater and we feel the presence of our Savior even more fully:) and
then we are just happier! Even during hard times, we still can't help
but smile, I've experienced it, and I know it is real and that this is
the true church of Jesus Christ. I love you all, keep "...pressing
forward with a perfect brightness of hope...", "...thine afflictions
will be but a small moment..."
Xoxoxoxoxox Hermana cooook(: 💁🏼 ¡besitos! 😙❤️
through! So crazy..feels like I just got to elche. (Well three weeks
isn't that long, but in missionary time it is!:)
Anyways, Monday I took the 8 hour bus ride back to Malaga! :)) I met a
senior couple at the station when I arrived, the Frosts (I LOVE
them!!) and they took me to a bakery and hooked me up:) then I took
the train and stayed the night at the mission home with other
missionaries from my MTC group and Tuesday morning we went and
finished our residency (until December when I go back to renew it.) It
was like a mini vacation, we got to talk to president Deere as a
group, which is always awesome...just listening to his insights and
sharing our experiences with him..ah so edifying!(: then since elche
is so far from Malaga, I didn't go back until Wednesday so I got to
stay Tuesday night with the Malaga SHE's :) ahhhh it felt so good to
be back in Malaga, I miss it! I almost got to see one of my recent
converts but he ended up having work :( which is a blessing though so
I'm happy! I at least got to talk to him on the phone and he was so
excited, so that was a super cool blessing :) I also got to play
futbol for the forreal last time with my Malaga missionary homies! We
are so dedicated we got up at 630am! (Which sounds lame to those who
serve in states because that's actually the time you wake up..haha)
anyways, gooood times:)
Then the lovely 8 hour bus ride for the 3rd time...I met some cool
Canadians and someone stole my pastry ! So you could say it was an
interesting trip:)?
This past week, my comp has been having health issues so the work days
have been anything but normal..but we have been working with one
sister, she's in her forties, and her baptism is this
Saturday! (The 20th) she is awesome, very sweet, and comes to
church every Sunday and clases de ingles every wed and fri. She is
quieter and I was a little worried about her having friends, but she
came to a baby shower on Friday and was smiling and laughing, and
having a really really really good time (for those in my fam who know
this song reference) and she said she wanted to stay even though we
were leaving :) yay! So yeah, we went to a baby shower, not the place
for missionaries haha no it was fun though and I was in the
skit this lady put together! Super funny haha.
Today my comp Hermana Rowley and I went to ward choir practice, and on
the walk there we smiled and said "hola" to everyone we passed like
always:), (I better master "hola" with a Spanish accent by the end of
my mission for how many times I say it in a day.....lol)
So anyways, we encountered this old man and after we said hola he kept
on talking so we stopped and listened thinking we'd be right back on
our way. But eventually he pulled out his wallet and started showing
us old pics of him in the military, of his kids, grandkids etc. I wish
I had more time to listen to him, he is 78 I think, so lots of
experience he has had in life, I wanted to hear his military stories
and stuff, but we were in a hurry...so we gave him our pass along card
and he called us guapa and was like "and a besito before you leave",
and he grabbed my arm and pulled me in as I tried to back away and
quickly spit out "noooo we're missionaries!" in Spanish... He gave me
a big fat kiss on my cheek and almost fell doing it, hahha he didn't
even realize I was trying to get away either, he was just so startled
and said "woah, I almost fell there" and then went after my comp. Poor
old man..my comp was thinking oh great, I'm next..but he was so old
and cute that I'm sure Heavenly Father won't be too upset he gave us
slobbery besitos, in fact I'm pretty sure He placed him in our path to
give us a good laugh :)
Overall it's been a roller coaster, some parts i just can't wait until
they're over and others are insanely fun and i wish would last
forever; in the end I never regret getting on. I know that the Lord
has a plan for each of us, and we just gotta trust in Him, it's hard
and the natural man in us doesn't want to, but I promise that when we
take that leap of faith into the dark, we discover something even
greater and we feel the presence of our Savior even more fully:) and
then we are just happier! Even during hard times, we still can't help
but smile, I've experienced it, and I know it is real and that this is
the true church of Jesus Christ. I love you all, keep "...pressing
forward with a perfect brightness of hope...", "...thine afflictions
will be but a small moment..."
Xoxoxoxoxox Hermana cooook(: 💁🏼 ¡besitos! 😙❤️
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Time is Flying (some days) By
It's the end of my first transfer family! I cant say it went by fast...but I learned a lot, worked super hard and can't wait for another transfer of new goals and more learning and growing!(: So people hang their clothes up on clothes lines in the streets here, apparently they also hang their weaves :p
We taught a menos activo (less active) at a park that has kangaroos, ostriches, and turtles! So cool, we had a less active, recent convert and an investigator at church this Sunday!!!! I LOVE CHURCH! I love seeing all the little families there.... there is a special spirit at church you cant feel anywhere else :) a mom went up to bear her testimony and slowly her 2 little girls followed and then her husband with their baby so their whole family was up there ;p that happened with another little family too, and it was soo cute! I know that families are how God has intended us to learn and grow and like it was said in conference- families are where we become who God wants us to become. Being on a mission I understand the family unit so differently, I see family in more of a celestial light. I am so emotional on the mission its ridiculous haha . I always tear up when I see families at church, or when we are at a families home and you can just feel the spirit and love and unity in their home:) I MISS MY FAMILY! <3 but it also helps me see what kind of mother I want to be one day and the kind of home I will establish. I love the gospel!!!!
I love you family so so so much, you are in my prayers EVERY day!
xoxoxoxoxohermana cook
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| Low Voltage Hair Dryer~ ha ha |
We taught a menos activo (less active) at a park that has kangaroos, ostriches, and turtles! So cool, we had a less active, recent convert and an investigator at church this Sunday!!!! I LOVE CHURCH! I love seeing all the little families there.... there is a special spirit at church you cant feel anywhere else :) a mom went up to bear her testimony and slowly her 2 little girls followed and then her husband with their baby so their whole family was up there ;p that happened with another little family too, and it was soo cute! I know that families are how God has intended us to learn and grow and like it was said in conference- families are where we become who God wants us to become. Being on a mission I understand the family unit so differently, I see family in more of a celestial light. I am so emotional on the mission its ridiculous haha . I always tear up when I see families at church, or when we are at a families home and you can just feel the spirit and love and unity in their home:) I MISS MY FAMILY! <3 but it also helps me see what kind of mother I want to be one day and the kind of home I will establish. I love the gospel!!!!
I love you family so so so much, you are in my prayers EVERY day!
xoxoxoxoxohermana cook
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| Spring in Malaga |
There are Easter Miracles happening in Malaga~
This week we walked to the beach one day and just breathed in the salty fresh air :) I made some homemade tomato soup! (thanks for the recipe mom:)
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| Just Breathe |
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| Mmmm Good |
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| We Serve those we Love, We Love those we Serve<3 |
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| Happy Easter ~ Spain stylin |
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Fish, Cinnamon Rolls and Baptisms?
This week i made samarle, a Romanian dish. basically its meat with rice and spices rolled up in a firmented cabbage leaf and then boiled for a long time! heres also pics of the fish we ate, it was actually really good. it had garlic and red bell peppers cooked with it! (we didnt eat the fish heads, dont worry..)
this week i felt like i was back in washington...it was so rainy!!:((( i thought for sure i wouldnt see rain for the next year and a half..but we definitely did! crazy wind too, the sun is back out today so im happy :) someone said that there is a week of straight rain in the spring, and then summer starts! yay
we also ate another interesting food- leche frita. literally means fried milk. this one is a spanish recipe! you mix milk corn starch and sugar, you can add cinnamon or lemon or other stuff to flavor it. then you pour it in a pan and freeze it. cut it into cubes and fry it. haha it had the consistency of tofu... but try it and tell me what you think!(:
We made some bomb cinnamon rolls for FHE and everyone loves us now :)
sooooo this saturday was pretty exciting....Our Investigator got baptized! it was amazing. the day was so crazy for my comp and i. we were running around preparing everything so that it would go smoothly for her and the spirit would be there. and it was!(: we made cookies and had Natalya sing the song "Come Unto Christ". look up that song! its sooo good. and this RM Natalya (she served in Cali and just got back like 2 months ago!) her voice is insaaane! shes so talented. then Victoria shared a brief testimony after she was baptized and it was so cool. one thing i love about the gospel being so young in spain still, is that everyones testimonies are so unique. i feel like sometimes in the church we get in the habit of that "general testimony" if that makes sense? it was so cute, her little baby Isabella is 1yrs old and afterwards Victoria was like, "Just wait until you are 8 Isabella" awww my heart melted! its amazing to see peoples lives change because of the gospel. (: they become so much happier, more peaceful, positive etc. her home is so much more warm than when we first started teaching her. we also gave her a pic of Christ because she really wanted one for her room and she loved it!(:
this week i listened to a talk by Elder Holland,"Broken Things" from April 2006, look it up!! its sooo good. i know that if we hand over all our stresses, flaws, everything- He gives us back rest and peace and so much more then the world can offer. we can feel light, and He makes so much more out of us then we can on our own. I love this gospel, i love that i know families are forever, and i love sharing this message of hope with people - its not just for some people, its the plan God made for us all, as His children(:
i love you all so much!!!!!
xoxoxoxoxo hermana cook(:
ps saturday marked my 2 months!(;
this week i felt like i was back in washington...it was so rainy!!:((( i thought for sure i wouldnt see rain for the next year and a half..but we definitely did! crazy wind too, the sun is back out today so im happy :) someone said that there is a week of straight rain in the spring, and then summer starts! yay
we also ate another interesting food- leche frita. literally means fried milk. this one is a spanish recipe! you mix milk corn starch and sugar, you can add cinnamon or lemon or other stuff to flavor it. then you pour it in a pan and freeze it. cut it into cubes and fry it. haha it had the consistency of tofu... but try it and tell me what you think!(:
We made some bomb cinnamon rolls for FHE and everyone loves us now :)
sooooo this saturday was pretty exciting....Our Investigator got baptized! it was amazing. the day was so crazy for my comp and i. we were running around preparing everything so that it would go smoothly for her and the spirit would be there. and it was!(: we made cookies and had Natalya sing the song "Come Unto Christ". look up that song! its sooo good. and this RM Natalya (she served in Cali and just got back like 2 months ago!) her voice is insaaane! shes so talented. then Victoria shared a brief testimony after she was baptized and it was so cool. one thing i love about the gospel being so young in spain still, is that everyones testimonies are so unique. i feel like sometimes in the church we get in the habit of that "general testimony" if that makes sense? it was so cute, her little baby Isabella is 1yrs old and afterwards Victoria was like, "Just wait until you are 8 Isabella" awww my heart melted! its amazing to see peoples lives change because of the gospel. (: they become so much happier, more peaceful, positive etc. her home is so much more warm than when we first started teaching her. we also gave her a pic of Christ because she really wanted one for her room and she loved it!(:
this week i listened to a talk by Elder Holland,"Broken Things" from April 2006, look it up!! its sooo good. i know that if we hand over all our stresses, flaws, everything- He gives us back rest and peace and so much more then the world can offer. we can feel light, and He makes so much more out of us then we can on our own. I love this gospel, i love that i know families are forever, and i love sharing this message of hope with people - its not just for some people, its the plan God made for us all, as His children(:
i love you all so much!!!!!
xoxoxoxoxo hermana cook(:
ps saturday marked my 2 months!(;
Monday, March 9, 2015
We talk to everyone :)
| These investigators would not sit still or pay attention~ Must work on teaching strategies |
I think this is the missionary apartment~ ha ha ha
| He was totally Captivated with our message |
| Welcome Home~ My new home |
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