Earth Shaking!

I will start this email off by telling you that we survived an EARTHQUAKE!!!!! You probably didn't hear it on the news. It wasn't very big. It was classified as a 3.9/4.0. It was on Saturday morning at about 8:15. Just on the other side of the lake. I was kneeling down to pray to start my studies (I was running behind that morning) when all of a sudden the floor started shaking.  It stopped quickly and paused. I thought good heavens what are the neighbors doing!!!!!! All of a sudden there was another big shake! That was all. It was the weirdest feeling ever. Besides the shaking and the rattling of our dishes and the somewhat subtle roar it felt like there was a suction cup underneath us. By the second shake I was up running to the bedroom. I think my "tornado warning-get up and move" training kicked in. I was looking for cover. Sister Hatfield loves telling people my reaction =) I just keep telling myself that if it was any worse she would have been a goner because she didn't move at all!!!! But she felt all of it hahahahaha We had more aftershocks for the rest of the day but didn't feel many of them. So we survived an earthquake. We just found out that there was another one this morning in the south of our mission that was a 4.7 I think I felt it because I woke up around the same time this morning feeling like my bed was shaking. WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA! Dont worry we are taking extra measures as a mission to be prepared. 

This week has been an interesting one to say the least. I have had highs and lows spiritually. We had interviews this week with President Hall. I had things to tell him but by the time I got to meet with him I couldn't remember what I wanted to say. I tell you why this happened.

 For interviews the Zone Leaders and the Sister Training Leaders set up a tour in the church building totally focused on Jesus Christ. They started us off in the waiting room where we were assigned to read Alma 26. When the tour started we were asked to forget all the stress and the worries and the concerns for our area and the work and totally and completely focus on ourselves and our needs and to think about our testimony of Jesus Christ. We were then taken to the chapel and we watched a Mormon Message on "Lifting Burdens." It was amazing and I was able to pull several things out of it that I needed to hear. The next room was full of Pictures of Jesus Christ. They read scriptures that were central to Christs life. After we were asked how the scriptures made us feel or what we felt as they were being read. The 3rd room was another movie, "Climbing High Mountains" (?) by Elder Eyring. That movie had me near to sobbing. We discussed who we turn to in our trials. It was so intense! The final room was another waiting room (for our interview) They had us ponder what we learned and how we felt the spirit, think about Christ and then read The Living Christ and add our own testimony to the back of it. Talk about prepping a Sister to cry before she goes in to see President Hall. I cry anyway!!!! But regardless it was an amazing experience. The church was a temple that day. You didn't want to do anything but whisper. It was an amazing experience, truly inspired and a miracle for myself.

More Miracles: my companion got really sick this week (that isn't the miracle!) and I was able to take a day to just study. It was so wonderful. I studied several talks that have to do with the Atonement and being a missionary. I did an activity that Pres. Hall asked us as trainers to do. I have never done it and thought that I would do it since I had loads of time! The activity was this: Imagine your last day in the mission. What differences would you want people to notice in you? What do you want to say you have done as a missionary? and What do you want to have become? I felt that my answers were totally generic answers from a missionary. Well as I read these talks I found my answers totally validated. I discovered that I am on the right track and that my answers were perfect for me! It was so relieving. 

I am struggling with this area and the members being rude most of the time over us being obedient. Seriously I am not kidding. We totally threw a wrench in their "ignorance is bliss" life style in being around the missionaries. Frustration City! (As one of my dearest companions used to say. ;) ) But what made it totally worth it was Friday night. A member family actually thanked us for working so hard to be obedient after we apologized for the behavior of the missionaries previous to us during the dinner appointments. It was what I needed that night and it helped push me forward until Sunday when I totally lost it and in my way kicked and screamed and ranted about how immature the ward members are acting over the stupid dinner calendar. I would rather NOT have dinners! Anyway I am going to move on now...... 

 I got the dreaded green paper in the mail this week that tells me when I am going home. YUCK! I cant believe how fast time is going by. This thin paper has given me such a hard time. I can't focus!!!!!! Well sometimes when I am at home I cant focus. So, as we should, we stay outside all day and then I can focus. =) Its much better that way. 

We are working hard everyday to find new investigators. We found a 1/2 family last week. Its a single father and his kids that he has shared custody over. He has had some really influential friends who have been members their whole lives or who have converted recently. We love teaching them! His boys are super intelligent and ask really good questions. There is a lot going on with him right now and so its hard to get a hold of him. We teach him at the members home who referred him to us. So please pray for him! He needs as many prayers as he can get right now. His email name is Rock. 

Well everyone I love you all so much! Keep hanging in there. Its going to be a great week!

Hurrah for Israel!

Love,

Sister Cottrell

Inspired Trainings

I feel like each week is so different than the one before. Maybe its just the area being so different but I feel like our weeks are different up here than in the valley. To start off we had some amazing days of training. We had our one week follow for the missionaries and trainers. We talk about the handbook and the rules and the manuals that are here for our use and learning. I love talking about the handbook. I always see something that I need to improve! And they are always the little details but they will make a HUGE difference! That wasThursday.

On Friday we had a Zone Training Meeting. The zone leaders and the sister training leaders train us on what the President trained them on. At one point we needed to set our zone goals for the month for New Investigators and Baptismal Dates. If we dont set goals then how will we work hard to help the Lord? Also by setting these goals we are actually setting goals to help our investigators progress towards baptism. So as we were talking about it I realized that we weren't just talking about what our goal should be it was a council. There were ideas being put on the table with reasons behind them that we all wanted but we had to decide what the best goal would be for us. So at one point my district leader stood up and shared a scripture. It was D&C 6:8-9. I would type it up but I dont have my scriptures. So you will have to look it up now. Anyway, when he read the scripture my whole body broke into goosebumps and I just started getting this feeling of motivation and extreme happiness. I just wanted to stand up and say, "AMEN!" I wanted to get out and get working. I knew this was the spirit testifying to me that we were on the right track. This was a promise to our zone in the scriptures and we all knew it!  So we set a goal of finding 100 new investigators and setting 75 baptismal dates for this month (March). This day of training reminded me so much of how our Mission Leadership Council's are. I LOVED IT!

As if that morning couldn't have been topped we went on exchanges that afternoon. Sister McQueen is from New Zealand and she is a temple square sister. As we went out and worked hard all afternoon we had some really cool experiences. For the first time on my mission I taught the Restoration on the doorstep of someone's home. I wasn't trained very well in door contacting and I have struggled with it my whole mission. So this experience was amazing! I learned so much from this exchange. I had prayed so hard that I would have the ability to learn what I needed to learn. What was even better is that I was able to go back to Castaic and apply it directly and we had a wonderful time. It doesn't matter how long you have been out you will always learn something.

 A quote that was shared in ZTM has stuck with me really hard. "Love is now spelled T.I.M.E. Serve the Lord with the time you have as a missionary." -Elder Holland. I have been slowly learning that Diligence is the way I show the Lord my love for him as a missionary. I have also been learning that my time is very short now out here in California. So this quote made a huge difference for me. Every time we get ready to go out I think about this quote. It makes me think about how hard I am willing to work with the time we have scheduled for the day. I am not sure if I am explaining it the way I feel it. But I feel it resonanting with in my heart urging me to be even more diligent every day. I want to feel successful as a missionary. I want to say I did my best to share the gospel. I want to show the Lord my love for him. To go along with this quote another one has popped up that I feel goes along with it. Again Elder Holland says, '"The crowning characteristic of love is Loyalty." I feel very strongly that when we are Loyal to the Lord to do His will then we are willing to dedicate our time to him in a way that is acceptable to him. I am a missionary. This was his will for me and I came. Now its up to me to show my Love for Him. Kind of a mind spinner, huh?

Well I love you all very very much! I hope you have a great week!

Hurrah for Israel!

Love,

Sister Cottrell

Singing In The Rain!

Oh my goodness gracious! The heavens opened and it came pouring down. We had 3 solid days of rain! There was no chance of being dry during the days. We constantly changed shoes and dripped dry next to our umbrellas. It was hard to complain about the rain because we have needed it so much. I wouldn't be surprised if we did get 6 inches of rain. In a canyon pretty close to us there was a mud slide 4 miles up. We were all preparing for the worse. Some backyards ended up in pools because there was no vegetation to hold it in. There were some fires up here over the summer and with no rain to help the grass seed sprayed onto those areas we were at high risk for mud slides. But all is well and things are going to take a while to dry out a little bit. 

My new companion is Sister Hatfield. She is 19 years old and is from Spanish Fork, UT. She has never lived on her own before nor has she lived outside of Spanish Fork. We have had some adventures learning how to bake/cook. And we have had some tough days of homesickness. I wish I knew how to help her better. All I can do is listen and tell her I love her.

 I am currently serving in an area called Castaic (cast-ay-ick). hmmm how would I describe it to you? Its a town located north of the Santa Clarita Valley. The homes and the town are surrounded and built into the bluffs. Its beautiful. This morning I woke up to a fiery orange sunrise just coming over the east bluff. There are lots of canyons surrounding us that we drive through to get to the ward members homes. The "downtown" part of it reminds me of Cheyenne Wyoming. There are lots of semi truck gas stations. The drivers here dont drive like California drivers. Most of the homes are ritzy but the owners aren't rich. Everyone buys the big homes just to go to work everyday to try and afford them. There are also some places of mobile home parks.So its a mix of hick and rich. Interesting, right? Our church building is 9 miles away and for us to go grocery shopping somewhere cheap we have to go down into Santa Clarita. I have definitely been spoiled by being in San Fernando Valley for way too long.... 

This week has been a little frustrating to say the least. When we got to the area I just about died. I quickly realized that the past/previous missionaries were very very disobedient. The ward doesn't know what obedient missionaries are. It has taken a lot of effort to explain why we cant leave our area for dinners (which is an absolute fiasco!), why we cant hold their children or why we have to stay with our companion. I found out also that an Elder who has since returned home from serving his mission made out with some of the young women....yeah, bad missionary!!!! I got so overwhelmed I called President Hall. He assured me that I had been put there for a purpose and that he trusts that my companion and I can get things set straight. We walked all day long in the rain for several days. We quickly learned no one answers their doors! We are learning just how much we will have to work with the ward members. So it may be extremely slow the next couple weeks. 

Last Monday night I made a big boo boo. The apartment I was staying at with the Sister Training Leaders has some problems with cockroaches. One walked over my night guard. So thinking about the easiest way to sterilize it I went to boil it. BIG MISTAKE!!!!!!! I totally warped and shrunk a $400 mouth guard in a matter of seconds. I was totally devastated. I went to bed stressed and woke up sick the next morning. I kept thinking what am I going to do? I need it! I can't afford a new one, not right now. So the rubber one from the store is just going to have to work for now. It isn't the same but it is a solution that will have to work for the next few months. 

So this week has just been an adventure. I know that this next week will get better. So there you have it. =)

I am glad that all the kids from the family were able to get together. It was fun to "see" everyone. 

Well, I need to go but I love you all and I hope that you are staying dryer than I have!

Hurrah for Israel,

Sister Cottrell

My New Companion- Sister Hatfield

Preaching in the RAIN!

Hard Week!

Once again I am not exactly sure how to start this email. And I am not sure I can make it a long one today. This week has been the MOST emotionally, physically, and mentally. Last week I left you a huge cliff hanger as to what was happening. So to address the elephant in my life, my companion Sister Bray went home this week. There were things that needed to be taken care of. It sounds simple but between her and I for several weeks it has been hard. I am drained plain and simple. I made sure to be the rock that she needed everyday. She needed me to be strong so that she could manage one hour at a time. I haven't done a ton of missionary work in the last 2 weeks and that has been weighing on me. When we got the call telling us she was going home it was Tuesday of this week. We were both instructed to pack. That was a mess! I am so glad that I have sent boxes home lately! Sister Bray flew home Thursday. Saying goodbye to our investigators and our ward was so hard, and not everyone we wanted to say goodbye to could we get a hold of. Our dear investigator (the 13 year old)... we almost lost him this week with the emergency transfer. It was so scary! I was so worried that it wouldn't go through. Why? Because we are the only missionaries he has been able to connect with and his legal guardian was being protective and flaky. But we got those concerns resolved and he is getting baptized next Sunday. I didn't think it would be so hard to say goodbye to Sister Bray. She literally became my best friend close enough to a sister for me. I felt torn apart and when I left her with my new companions for the week I lost it hard core. I cried the whole way home. Given that I am back in the YSA ward for the week with the other Sister Training Leaders. It was weird to be there. I have friends there and I absolutely love all of them but I didn't belong. It isn't my stewardship anymore. I felt out of place and like a stranger almost. That was really hard. President Hall called on Friday.......he had 3 things to discuss with me. 1. Sister Bray is doing great. He thanked me for being who I am because it was meant to be me to help her with whatever was going to happen. He assured me that she didn't get sent home because of me, which I already knew but told me he loved me and appreciated all I did for her and with her. 2. He informed me that Great Grandpa had passed away. I knew that is was coming when I saw his name on the caller id. But it was still hard to hear. Its true that no matter how well you know the gospel you still have a mourning period. I couldn't cry at the time because we were at an appointment but I definitely cried later. I miss him a lot. I have lots of memories that have come flooding back this week. The pictures have been amazing to see of him. Thank you all for sharing them with the family. 3. I was told that it was 95% certain I wasn't going back to Van Nuys. President Hall broke tradition and told me I was leaving the Valley. I know exactly where I am going and I am training again. I remember I was nervous to get Sister Bray but today I am on the edge. I feel totally uncertain about this next transfer. I don't know what will work for my new companion, or how she will respond to me, or what I need to do to make her transition into the mission field easy. What I keep hanging on to is Pres. Halls words. He told me that when this area was brought up my name came immediately to mind and he knew that I needed to go there. I trust him and I trust the Lord so now I am just trying to "put off the natural man." What I can tell you about this area is that it is the "country side" of the city. I have never been there but I have heard good things about it. 

So that has been my week. I got a blessing last night because I just felt so overwhelmed. I am trying to not be a burden to the other Sisters but when you unexpectedly throw a 3rd companion into the picture with their area plus all your responsibilities it gets messy. 

I know this isn't a happy email and I am sorry. I am doing well. Just trying to take one day at a time. I love you all and I hope that as you all prepare to go to the funeral that you find peace. Even if the tears come. Death is not unfamiliar to me. I know that the grief will pass eventually but until then I will let the tears come and I will remember the memories and hold onto them. I know that Grandpa is doing a great work on the other side. I know that because of the plan of salvation and the Atonement and the Priesthood we will all be able to see and hug grandpa again someday. I love the Gospel and I am grateful for the peace it brings me. This is what I share everyday. I know its true. 

Hurrah for Israel!

Love,

Sister Cottrell

Where to Begin

I am not exactly sure where to start my email today. What I know is this: I am so grateful for the family connections that we have. I am so blessed to have a close knit family. I am grateful I was raised to understand the importance of families and that Families need to be together forever! I am so blessed to know the Plan of Salvation. I know that Heavenly Father loves us so much. He created a plan just for us to progress so that we could gain bodies to become like him. And through our journey to become like him there are blessings that we will obtain that can be ours through our faithfulness to him. Blessings such as eternal life and eternal families. I know that Grandpa Randall has lived a good life and I am going to miss him but I also know with all of my heart that there is life after death and this is not a final goodbye. With that being said let me tell you about our week.

This week has been the hardest, most stressful week of my mission. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I cannot tell you what has happened to make this week this way. I am not at liberty to give those details at the moment. All I can say is that we are in close communication with President Hall. Don't worry we are safe and sound and our companionship is closer than ever. We have been counselled by Pres. Hall to do all that we can in missionary work but if we need to stay home, to stay home and take care of ourselves. Basically we don't really leave the apartment unless it is for appointments. President Hall told us that our stress levels have been in the white zone. And in the missionary stress book White doesn't exist! So its been a really rough week.

However through all of this there have been some highlights. I failed to mention last week that our ward now has a 4th set of missionaries. They are the Kempf's. The First and only senior couple in our mission! We are so excited to have them and to be working with them. Our Bishop got up and bore his testimony of the miracles that have come to our ward. I broke out in goosebumps while he spoke. Hopefully the picture attached itself correctly. Their main focus is less active work and boy have they jumped on it! We talk to them several times a week and we are seeing miracles already!

One of the sunshine moments of our week was when Sister Bray got to meet the one and only actor from the Best Two Years!!!!! Casey Clyde! He is the missionary that is lazy and wont do anything and who gets the new "greenie." Sister Bray LOVES this movie and when she figured out who he was she freaked out. She even got a picture with him. He lives in the neighboring ward that meets in our same building. It was hilarious and something that brightened up our week. I took the picture and because I didn't want to be the "crazy girl" fan I talked myself out of getting a picture with him. But here is the picture I took for Sister Bray.

On Valentines day the San Fernando Valley Sky was filled with airplanes writing love messages. It was so fun to guess what letters were going to come next. It was the only clear day we had and perfect weather for the "Love in the air." hahaha I am so funny.....

We met a fellow last night who was in a motorized wheelchair. When we greeted him with a how are you sir? He responded well I made it out of Vietnam.... Then he asked what new religion we were pushing or what new God we were teaching about. We assured him it wasn't anything "new." He suddenly looked up and started to do the Holy Cross thing that Catholics do. He stopped and said, Wait are you nuns? We told him we weren't and then he said, "Oh, well great, now you've made me do the holy cross when I didn't have to and now we are all going to burn in hell!" We simply just laughed and watched him scoot away. It still makes us laugh. Oh yeah, he told us that we were crazy for being on the street we were on dressed the way we were. He said, "Seems crazy to me!"

We also had to drop an investigator due to his schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We seem to be running across alot of people like this who we later have to drop. Unfortuately we do it to keep ourselves safe from harm, and a majority of the time they aren't accountable enough to be baptized.

Speaking of investigators our 2 baptismal dates are moving along quite nicely and they are coming to church every week! It amazing to watch the changes taking place in their lives. When we first met Bill he had a lot of anger in his heart over the situation he is currently in. However over the last month that anger has seemed to melt away and he smiles and laughs more than ever. He is so amazing and I am so glad for the opportunity we have had to teach him.

As much of a hard week it has been there have been good moments and I thank Heavenly Father for sending them. He has been so aware of us this week and sends the blessings that we need as we need them. I am so grateful for the priesthood which allows me to hear from my Heavenly Father in blessings. It brings so much comfort!

Well I think that is it! I love you all! Have a wonderful week!

Hurrah for Israel!

Love,

Sister Cottrell

 

Hello!

What a week! We have had some pretty dark clouds hanging over the valley but as for rainfall...little to none. So if the rain has come it hasn't hit my area of the world. It sounds like it is making all the other parts of the US nice and moist. We would love the rain but it just wont drop down here.

This week we really struggled to get our investigators and less actives to keep appointments. However the lessons we did have were wonderful and the spirit was strong. "Bill" learned about the word of wisdom. Its always entertaining to watch their reactions to the things they cant have and rewarding to watch when they understand the spiritual benefits of living it. Lucky for him he is too poor to be able to buy cigarettes, coffee, and wine. =)

The 13 year old (still can't come up with a name) also learned about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the 10 commandments. When ever we bring up his baptism his face literally lights up. His eyes get all squinty as he smiles big and wide. His eyes start twinkling and he just nods. He is so excited about March 2cd! I love being able to teach him and see the progress that he makes. He is one of those people that are just special to the Lord.

Yesterday was an interesting experience. I have never felt like I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off  until yesterday. We were pulled in so many different ways. I have become the primary pianist for the next couple weeks and it was so fun to watch the kids. I really enjoyed it. Sister Bray also really enjoyed the time. Church starts at 11:30. We got there a little early and didn't leave until 4:30. It was a long day. By the end of the day we had forgotten 2 people we needed to visit and I was just close to tears. Bed came quickly and I am doing much better.

We were asked to do an emergency help packing job this week. When we went over there there was maybe 10 boxes totally packed. We were there for 4 hours helping this pregnant sister and more that doubled her boxes. We found out later that when they were loading up the truck she was still packing. Oy! I thought for sure she would have been ready with us helping her out. But it all worked out!

We had a huge success with the Sister in our ward that we did the stop smoking program with. She is officially a non smoker and is doing so good! She is so much more confident than before and she is sharing the program with everyone.

It was overall a very good week. A little stressful but we came out on top of the messy pile up. Just in time for a new week. Sister Bray continues to lovingly remind me that we only have 2 weeks left in this transfer. HELP! hahaha

So I finally remembered the other funny things that happened last week. Here's a list of things I learned:

I learned to not trust my companion on how to cook a potato in the microwave. Trust me its not 7 minutes. Its like 4 minutes. If its seven, black smoke starts pooring out of the microwave and your potato has caught fire. The smell is disgusting!

When your investigator is addicted to drugs turn your head and look the other way when his brother goes off to make a drug deal.

After it rains dont walk on the sidewalk next to huge puddles of water that are on the street. The cars hit them and huge walls of water come flying at you and soak you through....... However do be nice to the poor young man that stops and looks for a towel that doesn't exist in his car and then politely decline the drink at his apartment once you are dry. =)

These are some of the things that I have learned and that have made me laugh. The wall of water is my favorite one. It was just like the classic old movies and we did get wet and just started laughing. The guy was almost frantic. He hazard parked in the middle of the road just to make sure we were okay. I hope he wasn't offended when we didn't go to his apartment. I am still not sure he heard us say, "No Thank you!" hahaha

Well until next week!

Hurrah for Israel!

Love,

Sister Cottrell

Sweater Weather!

Okay okay okay, I know I have given all you cold weather people grief over the last couple months but good heavens someone cursed California!!!!!!!! It got so cold out here! I even had to break out the scarfs and the real winter coat last night. We even had to turn our heat on 2 days ago after its been off for the last month!!!!!!! However a really cool miracle happened with all the cold weather. California has been in a huge drought  this year. We recently learned why we are having water shortages. Long story short....many many years ago 2 people bought a whole river that flowed down into LA. They built a resevoir. The source of the river is run off from the Sierra Nevada Mountains. A couple years after the resevoir was built it broke and flooded the land clear out to the sea and killed many people who were illegal immigrants living in the "wild." Since then our water has been in short supply and these men lived the rest of thier lives in shame. Okay so with all of that, yesterday several other states besides all of southern California fasted and have been praying for rain/snow (for the mountains) and IT TOTALLY RAINED LAST NIGHT!!!!!!!!! It had been over cast all day and had really dark clounds, then at 6pm it started raining until about 9pm. We didn't get a ton of water in the valley so we are praying it all went to the mountains and dumped snow. Cool, right! total miracle in my book!

This week has been really awesome. Once again we worked really hard to find the less actives of our ward. We got in with quiet a few of them and had wonderful experiences with them. Our investigators are really struggling right now. I have no idea why but they are. For whatever reason they just wont keep commitments. I mean hello, how hard is it to read 2 pages? Anyway they could use some extra prayers. One of them is from the Philipines. His name is "Bill." We sometimes have a super hard time communicating with him and question whether or not he really understands what we are teaching him. We have invited several of our ward members to come to the lessons because 1. we need them and 2. they speak Tagalog. However Bill absolutely refuses to speak Tagalog when we are present, only English. So frustrating! So we are devising a plan to send over our Filipino members to review the lessons without us so that they can judge whether Bill understands or not. We did set a baptismal date for him in March which is pretty exciting. Its gonna take a ton of faith and a big Miracle to get him ready for it! 

We also taught our 13 year old investigator who has Aspergers. We set a baptismal date for him as well last night. It was super funny because when we told him that we wanted to work towards March 2 he stopped us and said, "Hey that's my Birthday!" We were totally shocked because we had no idea and found it really ironic it was the date we have been pulled to for weeks to shoot for. I am really hoping that "grandpa" is ready to baptize him. We are concerned he wont be ready. We found out that our Bishop has already discussed this possible scenario and there are back up people ready to baptize our investigator. I am still trying to come up with a name for him.

We helped a member in our ward quit smoking this week. The program that we as missionaries get to use is amazing! It requires us to commit individuals to follow 15 steps every day in order to turn off the bell that signals a person they want to smoke. So far it is working really well for her and it was an adventure for us all. The Bishop and his wife were there and just really added to the spirit and the enthusiasm for this Sister to continue to living the Word of Wisdom and giving herself and her son a better life. At one point during the lesson the person has to crush, or tear up the cigarettes. It was cool to watch and also super disgusting..... This program has been proven to be extremely useful and effective and we are now using it to help another less active in our ward and possible 2 other people.

This week I also had a wonderful experience in my personal study. I was totaly focused one day in studying how to have faith to find people who are ready to receive us. By the sprirt my study was totally redirected in the middle of it to go read my Setting apart blessing, which gratefully I had people take notes on. I swear things have been added to the blessing since it was written down! =) I read things that were new to me and that I absolutely needed to hear that day. Specifically about not being shy and having no fear. It brought me to tears and to my knees. I also discovered that in my head I got 6 weeks ahead of myself. How? No clue. I think that with everyone always talking to me about how long I have left my brain just shorted out. I was happy to discover that I had 1 whole extra transfer out here! HOORAY! Now I know it seems weird to be excited about this discovery but I am seriously excited. I still have so much I want to accomplish! I am grateful for the tender mercies the Lord has given me this week. 

We had some pretty funny moments this week but at the moment I dont remember any except for one. We stopped by to see one of our investigators who has liver cancer. They had just gotten back from a Costco run. They are also Filipino and are always very giving. They sent us home with Waffles and a big, big jug of juice. As we were walking into our apartment complex Sister Bray went to swing the paper sacks holding the goods and suddenly there was a huge thud. Looking back Sister Bray's face was in total shock and totally red. I looked at the ground and there were the waffles and juice in a very riped paper bag. I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe.........funny. It might have been a if you were there moment but even writing it here on the email has me in the giggles. 

Another one I just remembered is that on our way to an appointment with a less active I had looked up to say hello to someone passing us. I said hello and he said, "Hey Sweetheart..." Gross. But what was funny about it is that Sister Bray has been getting the fliratous ones lately and I had refused to even think it could/would happen to me anytime soon. Well it happened. It had us both giggling. 

Probably the highlight of the week besides setting 2 baptismal dates was seeing how many of the people we having been teaching came to church yesterday. For us alone we had 6 total (2 investigators and 4 less actives). The total number of investigators and less actives to church in our whole ward was somewhere between 15-20. It was amazing and our Bishop was very quick to notice.   

This week was good and full of miracles. I am so excited to be a missionary and to continue helping people come closer to Christ!

Hopefully you all will stay warm and safe this week and we will try not to "freeze!"

I love you all very much!

Hurrah for Israel!

Love,

Sister Cottrell