9-27-10
Hey, how is it going back home? Things have been going good up here so far and it is crazy to think that there is only 2 more weeks left in the transfer. So, I was going to mention some things in this email but I left my planner in the car that had the list. I have had a few expenses these past couple weeks that have been kind of a bummer. I broke my back axle on my bike again and it ended up costing me just about 30 bucks and yes I got the letter from grandma which came right in time for that. THANK YOU GRANDMA COOPER! Oh and my p-day shoes (my vans) last week completely ripped in half so good thing it is the beginning of the month so I can buy new shoes next Monday. I was also curious about David Carlson. Is he still working on getting his papers in. Now, Elder Sadlier is in the MTC which is super exciting and he sounded like he was really pumped to go before he left.
I found out also that a couple weeks ago a lady in my first area that I was in that I taught got BAPTIZED! That is always cool to here about after you have left an area that things are still going forward. So this last week we had something cool happen. We have been working with this inactive member of our ward who has been struggling for awhile with getting a testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon (last 18 years). Well, he and his wife attended church this last Sunday which was awesome and his wife might take the lessons. She actually might be a member. When she was younger her mom got her baptized in several churches I guess to cover all the bases so she might have been baptized in our church too. If so great, but it would also be cool if she wasn't a member too. A baptism is really what this ward needs. They haven't seen one in like 3 years so I really think that this could be the spark that gets the ward thinking about missionary work.
Other than that things have been about the same. I am super excited for general conference this next week. It’s a nice weekend as a missionary to sit back and listen to the brethren speak. I can't believe how old Lucy looks now and I hope everything goes better with Grandpa. He is in my prayers.
Elder Cooper
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Hey,
So this last week was pretty good. Things have been going well with my comp and we seem to getting along better. We had stake conference this past Sunday too and it was a broadcast from Salt Lake so we got to hear from Elder Hallstrom, Sister Cook, Elder Perry, and Elder Utchdorf. It was pretty awesome except it was hard to hear them speak sometimes because the feed from the satellite was pretty bad.
The area I am in is pretty SWEET too. We don't have a ton of investigators right now but the investigators that we do have are so close to baptism! I can just feel it. One of them is a single lady who is living with her boyfriend but the other day she told us that as soon as she can find a job she’s moving out. The other one is a part member family and the husband is the non member. They are about to have a child and he will do anything for his family. Shouldn't be the main reason for baptism but it is a strong motivator. The cool thing is, he wasn't sure that he believed in God so we asked him to pray and ask if he even exists. The other day he said he was having a stressful day and he prayed for peace and comfort, and guess what....his prayer was ANSWERED! I would have to say that is proof that there is a loving Heavenly Father who is watching over us.
I hope that everything goes alright with Grandpa Cooper. My last companion’s grandfather is going through the same thing or went through the same thing...one of the two. Anyway, it’s good that it is treatable.
Hope all is well and go CHARGERS even if the game was not shown on TV.
Elder Cooper
So this last week was pretty good. Things have been going well with my comp and we seem to getting along better. We had stake conference this past Sunday too and it was a broadcast from Salt Lake so we got to hear from Elder Hallstrom, Sister Cook, Elder Perry, and Elder Utchdorf. It was pretty awesome except it was hard to hear them speak sometimes because the feed from the satellite was pretty bad.
The area I am in is pretty SWEET too. We don't have a ton of investigators right now but the investigators that we do have are so close to baptism! I can just feel it. One of them is a single lady who is living with her boyfriend but the other day she told us that as soon as she can find a job she’s moving out. The other one is a part member family and the husband is the non member. They are about to have a child and he will do anything for his family. Shouldn't be the main reason for baptism but it is a strong motivator. The cool thing is, he wasn't sure that he believed in God so we asked him to pray and ask if he even exists. The other day he said he was having a stressful day and he prayed for peace and comfort, and guess what....his prayer was ANSWERED! I would have to say that is proof that there is a loving Heavenly Father who is watching over us.
I hope that everything goes alright with Grandpa Cooper. My last companion’s grandfather is going through the same thing or went through the same thing...one of the two. Anyway, it’s good that it is treatable.
Hope all is well and go CHARGERS even if the game was not shown on TV.
Elder Cooper
Thursday, September 16, 2010
A letter from a member in Colorado
This note arrived at our home last week....Made my week!!!
Brother and Sister Cooper,
I live in Berthoud, Colorado where your son recently served and I just wanted to drop you a quick note to tell you what a wonderful missionary he is! We had Elder Cooper in our home on several occasions and was touched and uplifted each time. His testimony is strong and his desire to serve is such a wonderful example. The love he feels for our Savior is evident in all he does. We were so touched by his spirit and his willingness to do what the Lord wants him to do, to seek and to teach. Each message he left us with was filled with the spirit and confirmed the love our Heavenly Father has for each of us. Thank you for your sacrifice and willingness to share your son with us. Elder Cooper was a joy to have in our home. We will miss him.
Love, Sister Lin Morgan
Brother and Sister Cooper,
I live in Berthoud, Colorado where your son recently served and I just wanted to drop you a quick note to tell you what a wonderful missionary he is! We had Elder Cooper in our home on several occasions and was touched and uplifted each time. His testimony is strong and his desire to serve is such a wonderful example. The love he feels for our Savior is evident in all he does. We were so touched by his spirit and his willingness to do what the Lord wants him to do, to seek and to teach. Each message he left us with was filled with the spirit and confirmed the love our Heavenly Father has for each of us. Thank you for your sacrifice and willingness to share your son with us. Elder Cooper was a joy to have in our home. We will miss him.
Love, Sister Lin Morgan
Hey everyone,
Yea, so this past week was pretty awesome. Nothing in particular but it was just overall a better week. So, there have been some fires too. The first week was in Boulder, just south of us, and it wasn't too bad where we were, not like back home when we had the fires. There is one going on right now just west of Loveland so it looks like Longmont will be safe for now. Oh and I have to tell you, the family sweatshirt curse struck me today. We were in Ross and I ended up buying a sweatshirt. I don't know what came over me.
Anyways, this past week we had zone conference and normally zone conferences can be kind of long and tiring, but something was different at this zone conference. The spirit was super strong and we really focused on how we can improve as a mission. It just so happens that it was right on my year mark so it was a great way to kick off the new mission year. They also showed a video of missionaries for our training and guess where it was filmed.....San Diego! I’m not going to lie, it made me a little trunky. All they had to do is show one clip of the beach....
Other than that, things have been going pretty well. We have been trying to get the ward to really focus on the ward mission plan because missionary work in the ward is struggling and I feel that everyone is on a different page. My companion and I are getting along a lot better than the first week and now it isn't a matter of "Please let these 6 weeks hurry". So, normally missionaries burn a shirt at the year mark but I didn't really feel like it. The tie burning at 6 months wasn't super exciting and I decided that I wanted to keep the shirts that I have. As far as things that I need....not this transfer but next transfer I might need some new gloves and earmuffs because next month is when it starts getting cold again!
Elder Cooper
Yea, so this past week was pretty awesome. Nothing in particular but it was just overall a better week. So, there have been some fires too. The first week was in Boulder, just south of us, and it wasn't too bad where we were, not like back home when we had the fires. There is one going on right now just west of Loveland so it looks like Longmont will be safe for now. Oh and I have to tell you, the family sweatshirt curse struck me today. We were in Ross and I ended up buying a sweatshirt. I don't know what came over me.
Anyways, this past week we had zone conference and normally zone conferences can be kind of long and tiring, but something was different at this zone conference. The spirit was super strong and we really focused on how we can improve as a mission. It just so happens that it was right on my year mark so it was a great way to kick off the new mission year. They also showed a video of missionaries for our training and guess where it was filmed.....San Diego! I’m not going to lie, it made me a little trunky. All they had to do is show one clip of the beach....
Other than that, things have been going pretty well. We have been trying to get the ward to really focus on the ward mission plan because missionary work in the ward is struggling and I feel that everyone is on a different page. My companion and I are getting along a lot better than the first week and now it isn't a matter of "Please let these 6 weeks hurry". So, normally missionaries burn a shirt at the year mark but I didn't really feel like it. The tie burning at 6 months wasn't super exciting and I decided that I wanted to keep the shirts that I have. As far as things that I need....not this transfer but next transfer I might need some new gloves and earmuffs because next month is when it starts getting cold again!
Elder Cooper
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
You were right. Yesterday was a holiday so we are just now getting the opportunity to do our emails. Things have been pretty good. Sorry, but I forgot about getting the address again, next week for sure. So, to tell you a little bit about Longmont… Our ward is on the east edge of town and we are on bikes. I have never been in an area with as many hills as here. It gets a little tiring after a while but it is not too bad. It is an interesting ward because it goes from low income areas to really high expensive areas all in the same ward. The place we live at is more on the Hispanic side of town. We live with a single guy, but he has been out of town since I got here so I haven't officially met him yet. Elder Henson, I might have told you already, is from Buhl, Idaho. It is by Twin Falls I believe. Things were a little rocky at first but they are starting to smooth out. He is willing to work which is great and I am glad that I have never had a companion where that was an issue. We have a few investigators, some I feel are semi close to baptism....maybe. None are set and we have been having a hard time getting a hold of a lot of them. This last week was also super slow because we didn't really have any scheduled appointments for whatever reason but we have been super busy this week which is good. This week we have zone conference which is nice and this is the last zone conference before we switch it to having one every other transfer.
It is crazy to think that it is 1 day from my year mark and I have been thinking a lot about how I have changed and how limited my time is left on the mission. I'm so grateful that I have been given such a wonderful, once in a lifetime, opportunity to do so, and can't wait to see what happens in year 2.
Elder Cooper
It is crazy to think that it is 1 day from my year mark and I have been thinking a lot about how I have changed and how limited my time is left on the mission. I'm so grateful that I have been given such a wonderful, once in a lifetime, opportunity to do so, and can't wait to see what happens in year 2.
Elder Cooper
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
I got tranferred again!
Hello everyone!
Hey, so sorry this is a day late but....I got transferred again! This time it is to Longmont, Colorado which is right below Berthoud and is a pretty big town. What happened was there are not as many missionaries coming out as there are going home this transfer and I'm guessing because Berthoud is so small...it’s the first to go. The zone leaders are actually going to be the elders for Berthoud Ward now. I was a little bit bummed because things were going pretty good and it felt that I just unpacked but when it is time, it is time. So I am in the Union Ward in Longmont. I'm follow up training with an elder who has only been out a transfer. His name is Elder Henson. He is from Buhl Idaho. First impressions, to be honest, were not so good. He just got out of high school like 3 months ago and he is still kind of immature if you know what I mean. We will see how it goes. We live with a single guy who I have not met because he is out of town right now (I haven't been able to write down our address yet either). Unfortunately my bedding, pillow, and helmet went missing during transfers so I'm trying to find where they went. I was able to get a spare helmet for now though. It is super weird going back to a big town after being in Berthoud for 6 weeks.
So funny story... this last Sunday I gave a talk in church. I wrote it on Tuesday last week and by Saturday I could not find the binder that I put it in. It wasn't at the house so it either had to be in the zone leader’s car or at the church. Well, Sunday morning we called the zone leaders and they couldn't find it. I thought for sure that it would be at the church then. When we got at the church it was nowhere to be found. That is when panic set in and my heart dropped. That is when the silent prayers started up as well. I called the zone leaders one more time to check the car and behind just about everything....there was the binder.
What also is cool about Longmont is that I know just about all the elders in the district (one of them I lived in the farmhouse with in Greeley and Elder Tuiasosopo (former comp in Greeley) is the zone leader here so it should be a fun transfer. The first couple weeks are a little difficult to get adjusted.
Elder Cooper
Hey, so sorry this is a day late but....I got transferred again! This time it is to Longmont, Colorado which is right below Berthoud and is a pretty big town. What happened was there are not as many missionaries coming out as there are going home this transfer and I'm guessing because Berthoud is so small...it’s the first to go. The zone leaders are actually going to be the elders for Berthoud Ward now. I was a little bit bummed because things were going pretty good and it felt that I just unpacked but when it is time, it is time. So I am in the Union Ward in Longmont. I'm follow up training with an elder who has only been out a transfer. His name is Elder Henson. He is from Buhl Idaho. First impressions, to be honest, were not so good. He just got out of high school like 3 months ago and he is still kind of immature if you know what I mean. We will see how it goes. We live with a single guy who I have not met because he is out of town right now (I haven't been able to write down our address yet either). Unfortunately my bedding, pillow, and helmet went missing during transfers so I'm trying to find where they went. I was able to get a spare helmet for now though. It is super weird going back to a big town after being in Berthoud for 6 weeks.
So funny story... this last Sunday I gave a talk in church. I wrote it on Tuesday last week and by Saturday I could not find the binder that I put it in. It wasn't at the house so it either had to be in the zone leader’s car or at the church. Well, Sunday morning we called the zone leaders and they couldn't find it. I thought for sure that it would be at the church then. When we got at the church it was nowhere to be found. That is when panic set in and my heart dropped. That is when the silent prayers started up as well. I called the zone leaders one more time to check the car and behind just about everything....there was the binder.
What also is cool about Longmont is that I know just about all the elders in the district (one of them I lived in the farmhouse with in Greeley and Elder Tuiasosopo (former comp in Greeley) is the zone leader here so it should be a fun transfer. The first couple weeks are a little difficult to get adjusted.
Elder Cooper
Monday, August 23, 2010
Hey everyone,
To answer your question about the bike, I was being stupid. That is usually how missionary bike accidents happen. There is a BMX track right next to the church so 4 of us missionaries decided that it would be a good idea to check it out on p-day with our wonderful mountain bikes. Sure enough we said "Let’s race". The third go around I ended up eating it on one of the jumps. I went right over the handlebars. I only got a few small scrapes. yea....
So this past week was good. We taught a new investigator. She is a theology major so we are not sure what her true motives are yet but we will see. We also have another appointment with a potential investigator this week that was given to us by a member so we are super excited for that one. The bummer about this past week is once again none of our investigators made it to church again. Even when we contact them the night before they still seem to not make it.
On Saturday some members took us out to lunch and of course my stomach started to hurt so we went back to the church after to use the restroom and after, when we were just about to leave, a mouse ran into the kitchen where we were! We stood there for a minute trying to decide whether to pretend we didn't see it or to take care of it ourselves. We ended up spending the next 20 minutes to take care of it ourselves. We didn't kill it. We ended up sweeping it outside. We got it on camera too. It was hilarious.
Other than that it has pretty much been the same kind of missionary work. I can't believe that this transfer is already over at the end of this week and that the half way point is in 2. For some reason I feel that I will be getting transferred but I don't know why. I have been right so far. We will just have to wait and see what happens.
Elder Cooper
To answer your question about the bike, I was being stupid. That is usually how missionary bike accidents happen. There is a BMX track right next to the church so 4 of us missionaries decided that it would be a good idea to check it out on p-day with our wonderful mountain bikes. Sure enough we said "Let’s race". The third go around I ended up eating it on one of the jumps. I went right over the handlebars. I only got a few small scrapes. yea....
So this past week was good. We taught a new investigator. She is a theology major so we are not sure what her true motives are yet but we will see. We also have another appointment with a potential investigator this week that was given to us by a member so we are super excited for that one. The bummer about this past week is once again none of our investigators made it to church again. Even when we contact them the night before they still seem to not make it.
On Saturday some members took us out to lunch and of course my stomach started to hurt so we went back to the church after to use the restroom and after, when we were just about to leave, a mouse ran into the kitchen where we were! We stood there for a minute trying to decide whether to pretend we didn't see it or to take care of it ourselves. We ended up spending the next 20 minutes to take care of it ourselves. We didn't kill it. We ended up sweeping it outside. We got it on camera too. It was hilarious.
Other than that it has pretty much been the same kind of missionary work. I can't believe that this transfer is already over at the end of this week and that the half way point is in 2. For some reason I feel that I will be getting transferred but I don't know why. I have been right so far. We will just have to wait and see what happens.
Elder Cooper
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