Elder Andrew D. Cook entered the MTC on January 15, 2014. I am excited to update as I know how he is doing, especially posting his mass emails.

Writing & Shipping information is found in the right hand column.

There is also a link to a few different translators to help us guess what Andrew said. :D Sometimes I get a better idea when I remove his ! from a word.

Monday, August 31, 2015

Emails from Aug 24 and 31

Note from Mom: I was super busy with the start of school so I didn't get this posted. I'm sorry for the delay.

Email from Aug 24

oh! I forgot to write a mass email! I am out of time, so I will share this only:
"
The future is bright, and Latter-day Saints have every reason to be optimistic 
....
 It might be well to remind ourselves that Enoch and his people established Zion in their day, also a time of great wickedness. We will do the same.
I finished reading the institute guide "Doctrines of the Gospel" in just one week! this is my Favorite quote. It reminds me no matter what is going on around me , no matter how disobedient other people are, I can still increase in light and truth.

I was super stressed before, but I suddenly realized that the Lord is pleased with my effort. I am pushing as hard as I possibly can, so even if other things, out side of my circle of influence keep me from reaching my goal, those things are INSIDE of the Lord's circle of influence, and He won't let me fail. so as  long as I don't relax on my effort, I will continue to succeed with His will, even if I don't see what I am achieving. 

I know this sounds super cliche, but I honestly believe this, and I can't tell you how much comfort it brought me. and I get along better with everyone now, because I am not uptight. I realized for months now I have been complaining about companions. I feel sooooo bad. that is not charity. they are trying too. and they have a different perspective on what success is. so they might feel very successful! 


I want to work on Charity. I know the Lord will help! have a great week!

my watch broke!





He said he didn't write a mass but here it is. Silly Elder.

a lot of stress happened this week. 

But before I get to that, I want to apologize for complaining about my companions for so long. It was really prideful of me! Especially Elder Jones. He does some very disobedient things, but to be honest, He's one of the few people here who is essentially nice to me!

We had an FHE with our Investigator with a Baptisimal Date. half way through the games, He stood up and said "This is childish! I am leaving!" and it was at his house! To compound this, there was a young man there, who has severe anxiety attacks! He couldn't function well, and hasn't been able to go into work since then, having an anxiety attack every evening!

Gossip from the other missionaries has been affecting me real bad. I cried in front of a member... They tell me I am bad for sharing experiences in our zone meetings. I have essentially stopped participating. but last thursday, I only raised my hand once the whole day, and after the conference, the other Elders came up to Elder Jones and told him how bad it was that I participate. but that was nothing compared to what happened the next day!

The investigator I mentioned earlier, DIED! Here's his story: He used to be wealthy, but he sold some land to the Governer, and 3 million went "missing." Due a legal dispute, he was promised 8 million from his niece, (It was locked up by something similar to a lien) and had loaned her over a million to pay "lawyer fees." this niece was just running with the money! when his savings were running out, he began borrowing money to pay the niece, he borrowed more money to pay the loans he took, slowly he began borrowing more an more to pay the people he was borrowing from, kind of like a pyramid. Eventually he borrowed from a very dangerous source who gave him 5 days to pay back. He died on the 5th day of high blood pressure from the stress! His cousin is a member in our ward. he told us that the niece is now in prison. His baptism was supposed to be Saturday! Elder Jones has taken this VERY hard! he is unable to focus now.

I told all this to my mission president, of course, and I want to quote my last paragraph to him:
"However I am not coming to you with problems, I am telling you this to explain how I solved my problems. I have found much strength and power in the Book of Mormon. the Chapter that meant most to me this week was Ether 12. It solved all my problems at once! I learned about Faith to overcome any obstacle in my way. and I also like the scripture about the other missionaries' gossip: "Fools mock but they shall mourn!" haha Most important in any time of trouble is the presence of the Holy Ghost. He is called the comforter for a reason!  :D
We understand the plan of salvation, so we can't be too sad for brother Mariano. next week will be much better!"

I guess you might describe it as Irony, that the activity days girls mailed me a 14 day advent calendar, and the last day was Friday.

Elder Jones and I also had a conversation about disobedience, and have seen MARKED improvement. also, the more trials I have the more I learn, so I really can not be unhappy about it. 

    Moses 5:11

    11 And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should haveknown good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.

    Ecclesiastes 7:3

    3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
Email from Aug 31 (today)

sorry my email is late! we had a service project (even though it's p-day) so I just now have the chance to write!
This week, We had a bunch of new missionaries come in! We were requested to exchange with them the day before they meet their trainer. Elder Youngerman, who was with us in the MTC but went home came back this transfer, and was with Elder Jones. I exchanged with Elder Richardson, who will be trained by Elder Heninger, MY SON! in otherwords, I met my GRANDSON! heh heh He's a good kid, but he also went to Bingham.

good or bad news: (I am not yet sure.) I was extended. only 2 of us were extended! they rest of my batch is still being released on the 16th, while Elder Brig Perkins and I are being released on: the THIRTIETH! 

In regards to missing Starwars and Christmas, the only response I can give is best quoted by mister Skywalker himself, right after his hand was cut off: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!"

I don't know why we were extended... they say it has to do with travel blocks on the 24th-29th, but my release date wasn't in that period. also, why were only the two of us extended? I am however excited to have just that much longer to be in the Lord's service, and I have absolutely no excuse to be home sickness, as I won't have any special upcoming events to look forward to!

Rereading that last paragraph, I said to Elder Jones "My English is so gone." after which he reminded me that it should have been "My English is so wrong"

I have a copy of "History of the Church: volume six" (I think I told you we found this at a used book store) and I am now past chapter 8. Joseph Smith was an interesting politician! I thought it was cool how Porter Rockwell got out of prison in Missouri, and arrived back in Nauvoo on Christmas day!

I'd love to tell you how the work is going, but It's not. we have so few investigators. I just have such a finding in my current companionship. but that's okay for now, we have good lessons with less active members.

I memorized the circle of fifths. there's that.

Mariano death was confirmed murder, but it wasn't poison, it was blunt force to the head. eep. we'll be taking him to the temple in a year.

for our service project, we build a house. Nifty experience to put on a job application no?

well, since this is so late, I don't want to spend too much time on the email, so if you don't get a reply this week, expect one the next!
love you all! have a great week!

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