2015-6-15 “The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh, Blessed be the name of the Lord."

The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh, Blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1:21

(and then he gives it back...takes it back...but in the end he gives it back again! or at least I hope so...;) jajaja that about describes my week. Taking and giving. 

Maria Antonia y Aron. After I wrote ya´ll last week, we go to visit Maria Antonia. 

Bad news badgers. Her husband was super drunk...I think she was too...and she told us that her mom wasn't going to let Aron get baptized (because he lives with her mom...and not her...it's a weird situation) We were both SUPER stunned. HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN!?!??! She told us to come back the next day. So we did. 

Next day (Tuesday) She told us lots and lots of bad news. And she told us how awful her husband is. For reals, I wanted to cry. I just can't believe how awful human beings can be. After we left her house, I lost it. I was crying like a baby. I could not believe that she wouldn't be able to get baptized!! I was very upset, thinking what I could have done differently, or what did I do wrong. It was a hard day. What hurt really bad is knowing that I will be coming home in a week to family and friends that love me, people that live the gospel, a house, food, etc. and she would still be here suffering. It hurt me to the core. 

We went back on Thursday. Things have changed again. She definitely wants to leave her husband, and her mom said that she could stay in her house!! AND...we talked to her mom (who loves us) and she said that Aron could get baptized too!!! It was seriously a crazy week. Real real crazy. I felt bad afterwards for having so little faith...but I have repented and learned from my mistakes. :) Progression. 

So...unless things change again...Maria Antonia y Aron will be getting baptized this Saturday!!! SO BLESSED!!!!

Maria Antonia, Aron, neice, & Carolina

Other quick news. Maria de Jesus and Pablo...aren't gonna be getting baptized...this week.

BUT...they definitely will be getting baptized!!!!!!!! Pablo knows the church is true. He told a member the other day that he feels like he wants to cry when he is at church because he feels so much peace and happiness. I can't even begin to tell you how happy and blessed we have been to be teaching these people. I feel like they are my children!!! Love these people. So although I won´t be able to be here to see them get baptized, I want to come back in a year to see them get sealed!!! I know that they will go there someday!! (and crazy side note miracle. The same time that we started teaching them, there son and his family in Mexicali started listening to the missionaries. The also love the church and I think the are also gonna get baptized!! Wow...the lord and his timing. It's perfect.)

Anyway...this week went by super duper fast and was filled with lots and lots of blessings. 

The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1:21

Okay...now for the goodbye...When I made the decision to serve a mission, I thought I was taking a year off from school; taking time off from work; taking time off from family and friends..movies...haha...

TAKING my time and GIVING it to the Lord. JAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJA!!!!!!!

I know now that really, when I thought God was "taking my time", He was actually always GIVING. Always. When I missed the wedding of my favorite (and only) brother, and the wedding of one of my best friends, and seeing my other best friend get engaged, and missing my sister open her mission call, and seeing my first nephew be born (PSYCH!!! nobody has given me a nephew yet...;) I thought the Lord was 'taking'. Nope. Always always giving. He gave me a much clearer eternal perspective. Eternal families. The importance of a temple marriage.

When I missed some of my favorite movies come out (jajaja..I am so lame) I thought the Lord was taking.  ..jajaja...wrong again. Silly chae chae.

He gave me wisdom. People, children of God, and their salvation is SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT than the quest of a couple of attractive dwarves and a Hobbit. (jaja...nerd.)

When hard times came (hard companions, training a new missionary, not being able to speak and understand people) I thought a part of my happiness was being taken away. BUT, He was really actually helping me to rely on Him more; giving me opportunities to grow.

I did not take a year and a half off to serve the Lord...He GAVE me a year and a half to feel more love FROM Him and FOR him. He gave me new friends, more family. He gave me the opportunity to know some of my beloved brothers and sisters from the premortal life.

I understand better now that when the Lord appears to be taking, He is actually always giving. ALWAYS.

I am so eternally grateful for this time the Lord has given me to teach and preach of our Savior, Jesus Christ. There is no one I love and respect more. No one I want to serve more. No one I want to live with more forever and ever.

I know God loves me. I know He loves us SO MUCH. For the which He sent His only Begotten Son, who also loves us so much. I know our Savior suffered and died for our sins, our sorrows, our sicknesses, for everything. I know that ''although our sins be as scarlet, they can be as white as snow.'' I know that Jesus established a church. His true and only church. I know that there was a grand apostasy and that the church and the authority were lost. But I know without a doubt that God loves us and restored the true church and His sacred priesthood authority and all the saving ordinances on the earth once more. I know he appeared to the prophet Jose Smith. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is the true and living church upon the earth, and it is led by living prophets and apostles. I now that families can be together forever through Heavenly Father's plan. I love to see the temple and I know it's the house of God.

I love this gospel. I know it's true will all my heart, might, mind and strength. I want to show my love for my Father and Savior forever. I want to be obedient. I love God. I know He lives. I love my Savior. I know that my Redeemer lives.

I love hymn #112 "Savior, Redeemer of my Soul"

Savior, Redeemer of My Soul (sung by Dallyn Bayles)

1. Savior, Redeemer of my soul, Whose mighty  and hath made me whole,

Whose wondrous pow'r hath raised me up And filled with sweet my bitter cup!

What tongue my gratitude can tell, O gracious God of Israel.

2. Never can I repay thee, Lord, But I can love thee. Thy pure word,

Hath it not been my one delight, My joy by day, my dream by night?

Then let my lips proclaim it still, And all my life reflect thy will.

3. O'errule mine acts to serve thine ends. Change frowning foes to smiling friends.

Chasten my soul till I shall be In perfect harmony with thee.

Make me more worthy of thy love, And fit me for the life above.

I love you all so much. I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Do what is right, keep the commandments, and love God!!

Love forever and ever,

Hermana Cook

Mission Mexico Ciudad Obregon!

2015-6-8 I am so BLESSED to be a missionary& will be eternally grateful for the opportunity

ARON!!! and Carolina!! Aron is gonna be my future husband.
We got it all planned out. SO CUTE!!

Wow. Week 3 of this transfer FLEW by!!! bye bye!! hijole!

Maria Antonia y Aron. They didn't come to church on Sunday :( I think it has something to do with her husband...that she's not married to. We went to visit her at the beginning of the week. She told us she doesn't want to get married to her husband (he's not very supportive...or nice...) and so she's going to live with her mom :) We were happy to hear that...it makes things a lot easier. She was sure with her decision. But when we went to visit her on Saturday, she was at her husband's house and she told us that maybe she will be getting married. NO! Why? So she told us she would come with an answer to church. But she didn`t come to church. RAYOS! But I am praying praying praying PRAYING that I can see her baptized!! My dream come true would be to see her and her son (my future husband...in 12 years...jajaja) get baptized!! My last Saturday with a baptism!!! POR FAVOR!!! But I have lots of faith..and hope...and charity (?) that she'll get baptized while I’m here!!!

Maria de Jesus and Pablo!!  Okay...God is sooooooooo perfect and his timing is the same! Perfect!!! So...I don't remember how much I’ve talked about them. But they are super cool. We (hna. Amador and I) contacted Maria when all of our plans fell through (but God's plans always work out :) She told us she was SUPER catholic..but told us we could come by. We visited her a lot...and she had lots of potential...but in the month that we had been visiting her..she never came to church. So...one day...we had no one to visit...but we were close to her house...so we went to go see how she was (it had been like 2 or 3 weeks since we had seen her). Long story short. Her husband, who she has had lots of problems with, was there. Long story short. He is trying to find the truth!!! ''We'll sir, you are in great luck, because these ARE the droids you're looking for!!!!'' (jajaja...name that movie ;) So since then, they have been coming to church, reading to the Book of Mormon (because the lesson in church was about the Book of Mormon) and being super duper awesome!! This couple that has had so many problems in their marriage, are now laughing with each other, sitting on the same couch together (when we first starting teaching them, they didn't even sit on the same couch together) and they even are talking about the stories of them when they first met!! SO CUTE!!! And...even better, they are feeding us!!! They made us dinner twice this week!!! They are the best. They have their goal for the 20th...but they still have to stop drinking coffee....but...TODO SE PUEDE!!!! What a wonderful Saturday to have 4 baptisms. Crossing my fingers (and praying even harder ;)

*Pablo y Maria de Jesus!! They are the coolest!!!

Anyway...that about sums up my happiness for this week.
I feel SO BLESSED to be a missionary!!! To see the gospel working in the lives of others! It is such a beautiful thing. I am so eternally grateful for my mission and my experiences. I can't believe there was a time when I didn’t want to serve a mission. SO GRATEFUL for the help and support so many of you have given me!!! I know that God placed all of you in my life for a reason!!
I know that my Redeemer lives! What comfort this sweet sentence gives!!!
It truly is a comfort and a joy to know that my Redeemer lives and loves me. 
And loves you!!! And I love you too!!!

Have a great week....and KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS!!!!

Love,
Hna.Galleta!!

hahaha...my funeral...zone conference...jaja

2015-6-1 "How great shall be your joy if you shall save but one soul...

The Payson Utah Temple is SO BEAUTIFUL!!!! I want to go on a temple tour when I get home!!! Love it!!!!

http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/payson/video/

Hello  hello hello!!! 

Good things. Maria Antonia. Wow. She makes me want to keep being a missionary forever!!!!!!!
She really is sent from God!!!  At the end of a lesson, we were talking about how she felt about the church and the Book of Mormon and her baptism etc, and she was SO SWEET!!! She asked me how I felt to have helped a family with TONS of problems feel like a family. She said before she felt like they were just people living together, and now she really really feels like she has a family. SO SWEET!! And then she practically quoted DyC 18:
15"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!"

 16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

She was like ''wow...how great you must feel to have saved me and my family. And how great you must feel with all the people you have helped.'' I was like...wow...she has the spirit!!!!!! (I'm not trying to boast or sound proud...I just am really really really really happy and feel really blessed!!!)

Alma 26:

2 And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?

3 Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.

11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

And of equal cuteness...her son Aron...8 años...we taught him about the restoration etc, and when we came back, he had read the pamphlet and had started reading the Book of Mormon!! And he was even underlining things he liked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SUPER AWESOME!!!! I love love love love love love this family!!!! So so so so blessed with the success God is giving me right now. I feel soooo imperfect. Thanks for always praying for me. You guys are the best best best!!!

Um...weather report. IT'S SUPER HOT HERE IN OBREGON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My skin is on fire. For reals. Even showering with cold water doesn't put it out. But it's fine. I remember how much I don't like snow and cold and being miserable. So then I’m good again. jajaja. It's all about perspective.

Also, yesterday, our Maria de Jesus y Pablo came to church!! They are SUPER awesome. They also have had TONS of problems...but the gospel is helping them SO MUCH!! This is the second time they have come to church. Almost the third. Last week, they actually came to church..but since they were 30 minutes late...Pablo didn't want to walk in..so the left. RAYOS!! But it's fine. At least they came again :) They have accepted a fecha bautismal..and so we are praying praying praying praying praying that they can get their answers and quit drinking coffee.

So sad to hear about Elder Perry passing away. He was one of my favorites!! But I know the Lord has His plan. Now I’m just praying they won't take my mission pres :) jaja...but really. He's the coolest.

Love you all so much!!!
Keeping being faithful members of the church!! And keep reading the scriptures and applying them!!

Love you all!! XxooxxXOXoXOxxOOO (big kiss big kiss..little hug little hug...etc) jajajaja

Love,
Hermana Cook

2015-5-25 Leaders are called of God

mi and my compy...we have cats that look like us :)

Well...I don't have a lot of time right now because I have to get a couple things ready for a family night we are going to have in 2 hours. And we have to go talk to our land lady in like 10 minutes. So yeah...really quick.

Good news...Maria Antonia is super excited for her baptism en June!!! And we are too!! And another wonderful thing is that her son, Aaron, who has 8 años, wants to get baptized too!! He hasn't been there when we teach...so we are going to teach them separately...but yeah. 2 baptisms!! woot woot!!! She is the cutest!! We were talking about prophets the other day, and she just thinks they are the coolest (because the are) and she was soooooo excited to hear that we get to listen to them every 6 months. But she was super bummed that she didn't know about the conference in April (we found her the day after conference). I told her I have the talks in a magazine (Liahonna) and she was SUPER STOKED to read them. SO SO CUTE!!! I love teaching her! She helps me remember how cool this gospel is!!! We are seriously SO BLESSED to have living prophets!

I was talking to one of my friends in an email, and he told me that in his stake conference, when they were doing the sustaining of the prophet, five people got up and said ''opposed.'' How sad!! I LOVE love love love the prophet and all the leaders of the church! I know they are all called of God!! I have this quote in my scriptures...and it is super duper true. “‘When we say anything bad about the leaders of the Church, whether true or false, we tend to impair their influence and their usefulness and are thus working against the Lord and his cause.’

There is nothing new about this counsel. Even though King Saul sought to kill him, David would not allow his companion to strike the king, saying, “for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?” (1 Sam. 26:9.)''

So true. If we are on the Lord's side, we should NEVER EVER EVER talk bad out our leaders. Period.

Other exciting things....yesterday, the Temple President of Heromosillo came to talk to our stake. We got permission from  Pres. Munive that we could go. So we did. And because we did..I got the best  surprise of my life!!!!!!!
I had totally forgotten who was in my stake...the ward AEROPUERTO!!!!!!!! So I got to see my family again!! I really feel like they are part of my family. Such a HUGE blessing to serve there for 6 months!! Shortest 6 months of my life!!!

Other than that, we are doing good!! I love love love Mexico and I love The Lord even more!!!
Proud to be a missionary!!!

Love,
Hna.Cook

walking in a field...sister missionaries of Cajeme!

2015-5-18 "That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world"

Um...so first week of last transfer. It went super duper well...even though my companion that knew the area is gone :( I am learning the area super duper fast now. jaja.

Hector y Carmen came to church!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally!!!!
AND...it's thanks to Hna.Chayito y Hno.Franco!!! Best members ever. Hna.Chayito is an angel!!! She lives like 5 houses up from where Hector y Carmen live and we found out that she is visiting them a lot!! On her own!! And invites them to church!!! And she invited them over to dinner on Sunday!!! Wow wow wow!! We are so blessed to have members that want to help other people come unto Christ. Carmen and Hector can really see the love that we have for others. It is so so so wonderful. And moral of the story... always be a friend to everyone. And do your visiting teaching and home teaching and random visits. EVERYONE wants to feel loved and cared for.                                

Hector...because of his knowledge of the bible, has doubts about EVERYTHING!! So frustrating...Carmen on the other hand, hardly knows anything and loves loves loves loves everything. She is always reading the book of Mormon and LOVED church on Sunday!! She actually has accepted a day to be baptized..but because Hector hasn’t..she doesn`t want to without him. Hijole. We gonna need a miracle. But I believe in miracles, so we're good :)

Maria Antonia.... She is still sick. she has lots of pain in her side and the doctors say it's nothing. All week she wanted to come to church, but didn't this Sunday because she says she doesn't have a watch. My heart broke a little bit with the excuse. BUT...I going to keep having faith and doing my part and all will be well. She really is super duper great. Love these people. I just wish they had the same desire as I do for them to come unto Christ.

Um...cool story.
So our ward mission leader (we finally have one) and his wife told us to visit a family that missionaries had visited over a year ago. So we put it in our plans to visit if our planned lesson fell through. Well it did...so we went to visit them. When she opened the door..she acted like she really really didn't want to see us. So that's always great... but as we got talking..she told us about how her son had just gotten out of jail 2 days earlier. So we started talking about how with baptism we can start over again. Well, as we keep talking, she told us about how one of her sisters is a member and that she brought her son a Book of Mormon when he was in jail...and he liked it a lot!! And then her daughter of 14 years, out of no where, tells us that she has a gospel principles book and she and her cousin have been trying to read a chapter of it every week. WWWHHHAAATTT?!?! Super duper duper cool. The mom, Erika, told us how she feels like God had sent us in exactly the right moment. Wow....and it was a back up plan!!

That is a lesson I have LOVED learning here in the mission. When our plans don't fall through as planned, it's because God has a better plan planned for us. I have seen that with almost all of my investigadores and converts here. We found them either through failed plans or obedience (contacting 10 people every day). It's AMAZING how much God blesses us for our obedience and faith. I honestly don't feel like an amazing missionary that you always seen in the movies.I don't have lots of scriptures memorized and I can't speak the language perfectly.(DyC 1:23  That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world)
BUT..God is no respecter of persons...and he blesses all of his children as long as they are obedient and have faith. Before my dear friend Hna. Lindsley left, we were talking about obedience and how I wanted and needed to be more obedient. Long story short...we mentioned that obedience is a matter of choice, not your situation.  A lot of times we are obedient because it's easy when others are doing it, and when there are no problems. But it's when we are tested it is a lot harder (obviously). But we are truly truly blessed in all things for our obedience. Nothing goes unseen before the Lord. Anywho...I think that is the millionth time I have talked about obedience. hahaha...I think it's something I need to be reminded of on a weekly basis. jaja.

okay. yeah...speaking of obedience...I got to go. Love you all SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can't believe that I will be seeing you in 5 weeks.

Be good and remember to help and love others!! When we are in the service of our fellow being, we are only in the service of our God :)

Love, Hna. Cook

2015-5-11 "He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven

2015-5-11 "He who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more."

MAGDALENA GOT BAPTIZED!!! I almost had a heart attack because she had to have an interview with presidente...but all went well...oh me of little faith... :) She has soooo much faith and she was SO HAPPY!!! It was the sweetest thing ever. I really do have such a strong testimony of the Holy Ghost. I know it's real and people really do feel it when they do what is right!

And yeah. It was SUCH a loving and humbling experience to see the difference in Hermana  Magdalena.  After the baptism, she was seriously on cloud 9! You could see the difference in her countenance! She was burden free! She was sooooo happy that she wanted to walk all the way home (I think we live like...2 or 3 miles from the church...) but she was just sooooo happy and light that it didn't matter. It was such a great experience!!

 I know that this gospel changes lives! I know that when we confess our sins to God, he will FORGIVE and FORGET!!!
D&C 58:
31 Who am I, saith the Lord, that have promised and have not fulfilled?
42 Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.
43 By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them.

I know that is true. God will always fulfill his promises!! So just keep His commandments and you're all good :)

Got my new compy! Hna. Franco. She's from Argentina. Super sweet, super pretty, super dedicated, and super duper ready to work me to death!!! jajaja (I say that because she gonna kill me...or at least that's what we call  it here when one finishes their mission...)

I was super sad to see Hermana Amador leave. She is a great missionary. But God has a plan and I will have faith in that plan...if I want to be happy :)

Love you all so much!!!!

Hermana Cook

oh...and p.s.
I HAVE THE BEST MOMMY AND GRANDMAS IN THE WORLD!!!!

2015-5-4 Protection in obedience

Last P-day with our district

First, I just got to say FELICIDADES to my querido hermanita EMMY!!!!!
Indiana, Indianapolis Mission!!!!! WOOT WOOT!!!
2nd best mission in the world!!! (Cd.Obregon es la mejor!!)
So excited for her. She is going to be the best servant of Lord :)

Anyway...well...I have good good good news, and sad sad sad SAD news... :D X(

¡¡Good good news!!
Magdalena is getting baptized this week!!! WAHOO!!!!!!!! She is ready to get over her fear of baptism and take that step!!!  She has such a great testimony and lots and lots of faith. We are soooo proud of her :') And we are making sure she doesn't drink coffee either. If you could pray for her too, that'd be really great :)


Goodish-badish news...
So...Maria Antonia, our super golden investigador, well...she didn't go to church this Sunday or the last Sunday. Her decision to not go the Sunday before affected her ability to go this Sunday...let me explain...
Sunday...2 Sundays ago, she didn't come because she got in a big fight with her mom and didn't feel like going to church. Bad idea. When we went to go visit her that day, she told us she felt really bad for not going...and as a result...her husband, who also didn't go....went and bought a lot of beer and they were super drunk D: D: D: Super sad...but we haven't taught them the word of wisdom...so it's a transgression.
Well...because she was super drunk, she felt SO BAD!!!! SO bad!! We've had to talk a lot about forgiveness and perdon this week because she just feels a lot of Godly sorrow...which is good. She doesn't want to drink anymore!!! BUT...as a result....she is super sick!! Like all this week she couldn't hardly eat or sleep or walk and had a really bad fever...and so again she couldn't go to church yesterday!! it was the WORST!!! But we know that all things happen for a reason and that ''all these things shall give thee experience and be for thy good.''
AND we also learned and understood mejor DyC 59:9...And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day..."
Wow. How true is that promise!!! That we can be less spotted from the world!!!! I know that by going to church we can keep our selves more clean from the world!!! I know that there is protection in obedience to the commandments of the Lord. Protection AND blessings!!! How neat is that!??!?! Maria Antonia is suffering a lot from this experience...but I know that it will be for her good. But let us learn from her experience and GO TO CHURCH!!! ALWAYS!!! No importa the excuses. Go go go!! Always always always!! :)

Okay...now for the sad sad sad bad bad bad news.
Remember my dear sweet awesome investigators Hector y Carmen?!?! D: Yeah...well we're going to have to drop them. They were progressing mucho much...but the other day when we went to visit them, we were asking about their progress in the Book of Mormon, if they'd prayed to know it's true, etc etc...and out of no where, Hector nicely blew up at us and told us that he wants to know the truth, but on his time and in his own way...and basically told us that we are welcome to keep coming and visiting them, but that for right now, he doesn't have a huge need to know RIGHT NOW...but mas adelante.... :( wwwwaaaaaaaaaa :(
This hurt me a TON!!! These are the people that told me that they wanted to adopt me! They are super great and love love love us. And they really have felt the spirit so strong. It hurts me that they are resisting this great spirit, this great peace, this great love, this great gift from our loving Heavenly Father!! So I might have shed one or two tears for them... :'( But more updates luego...)

Okay...well...that about sums up my week...
oh...but to end on good good good good news!!!!
Socorro Zazueta, my dear sweet investigadora grandma got baptized on Saturday!! In Navojoa!! I wanted to be there so bad....but I am soooo happy for her!!!! wahoo!!!

anywho...gots to go...see ya'll on Sunday!!!!
love,
Hna.Cook