Time Flies!

The time just flies. I hear that everywhere and am glad to know that it is not only me. Our week has been really fun. And full of small miracles and success.

 

I have recieved letters from both Gideon and Adrianne and a few others. I am thankful also for them. I will be trying to write back. The sun has come out and it feels like what Washington would call June. It's wonderful, but we are starting to pull out the fans and open the windows first thing in the morning to keep cool and our mission is officially suit jacket free until October.

 

This week has seemed like a blur. A pleasant one not to be mistaken.

 

On thursday, We had a round of lessons. Which was good. Some less actives and an investigator. Nothing hugely notable. But fun none the less.

 

We had a meeting with our branch president on Friday to help discuss meeting the needs of some of the members in the ward and then went with him to drop off some papers at various agencies to help get some people jobs. It was pretty fun. At the end of that day, we went over to Sorella Morriggi's House and had dinner, which was also good. She introduced us to Gorganzola which stinks but tastes pretty descent and I bought some to try a recipe that she gave us. I'm trying it tomorrow, so I will tell you more about that later.

 

We had a day full of finding on Saturday, and we had a really awesome miracle where a guy stopped us and told us that something inside him wouldn't let him pass us. He saw the Book of Mormon and became really estatic! It was awesome. He says he's from Sicilia, but honestly his accent is kind of weird and I think he is probably Albanian or Macedonian, because that is what his accent sounds like. His name is Natale which means Christmas...appropriate I thought. None of the members in church on Sunday believed he was Italian so he brought out his documents proving that he was Italian and that his name really was Christmas. It was entertaining

 

On Sunday, we went to Church and afterwards had a potluck together and literally everyone who stayed after brought something and there were a bunch of left overs which normally wouldn't be possible at an Italian Potluck. We made chocolate covered pinnapple and the members at first stuck their noses up at it but when they tried it loved it and then it disappeared right after.

 

On Monday we had a scambio with Reggio Emilia. Is any of that sounding surprising? I hosted Anziano Divincent and we had amamzing fun! We made the pinnapple rings again for him to try and it rocked. We had spare chocolate and we dumped some master crumble (I am assuming that it only exists in Italy but it is granola) into that and it was also really good. On the train home we ran into one of our Potentials who is always super busy. We set up a lesson with her and geave her a Book of Mormon in Spanish.

 

Yesterday, we had a great time and it felt like 93 lessons, but it was really like 4. We found a guy who was really excitied to know about our church and accepted a baptismal invite. He kept on saying "I am so happy, I am so excited!" It was wonderful.

 

Today our Landlord came over with the senior missionaries and discussed how to improve the appartment. I probably won't see the changes, because I am nearing the end of my third transfer in Piacenza, but who knows?

 

Tomorrow, we are going to Verona for a Zone meeting. and next week Pday will not be on Wednesday, because we will be going to Verona again. We should do it on Tuesday...

 

Everyone, I love you and I want you to know that God makes miracles you just have to look for them!

 

Love,

 

Anziano John Colin Cook

 

 

Snow/Shine/Rain in Piacenza!

Hello from Snowy one day, Sun Shiny the next and raining buckets after Piacenza.

 

Altough a little damp, I am doing well and as always Piacenza rocks even though it begins to look like a lake lately. We got our transfer calls this morning because all of the missionaries phones were down yesterday. Seriously all across the mission. Well the verdict is... ... ... that I am going to... ... ... Train!... ... ... Just kidding. I am staying in Piacenza with Anziano Iacovelli. Though this morning when the phone rang our zone leaders in Verona (where Anziano Thompson is) first told me that I was training and I freaked out and they had me on speaker so I heard Anziano Thompson bust up laughing and saying "I knew he would fall for it!" Training means that I would be responsible for a new missionary from the MTC and have to teach him all about being a missionary. I was scared.

 

 On Thursday, we recieved a text message from the referral center at mormon.org with a lady named Priscilla in Cremona (a city in our jurisdiction that is about 50 minutes away on the bus) asking for us to come visit her and her family the following Saturday. It was really awesome to see because usually we are the ones who do the approaching.When we called her, she said "I am so glad you called! You have answered my prayers. I have been praying for missionaries to come find me and my family and I put my name in mormon.org several weeks ago! I am so glad!" 

 

On Friday we taught two friends from the Ivory Coast who speak French. One of them barely speaks any Italian and the other speaks really well. They were awesome! They accepted the baptismal invite and a date. It was really cool! Also they said that they felt like they finally found an answer to their questions. The lesson was really spiritual and it was in a mix of Italian and French.

 

On Saturday we helped an elderly couple in our branch move and they fed us after. It was pretty good. The craziest part of that was moving a fridge up four flights of stairs with a bunch of rough movers speaking in dialect and from what I understood, none of it was necissarily appropriate language. We went to visit Priscilla and her family that day and found out that Priscilla had joined the church years ago when she was living in the Phillipines and fell away. She wants to become active again and her son Nicolo who is 9 wants to be baptized really badly. When we asked him why, he said "So that I can recieve the Holy Ghost and one day hold the Priesthood!" Anziano Iacovelli and I were blown away! Her husband is Catholic, but Catholic in the way that everyone here is Catholic (went to church as a kid probably long enough to cover all the bases and jump through the hoops and then stopped and now barely believes in God at all.) Their house is really big. One of the biggest I have seen here in Italy and their walls are literally covered in art of many different styles and types. It was amazing. They actually did a good portion of it. They are really cool so we will go see them every Saturday.

 

We went to Church on Sunday and afterward we had lunch with President Taina, our branch president who then decided to accompany us to all of our lessons after with Sorella Libè and Yvonne. They were happy to see him but Sorella Libè seemed a little stressed because President Taina sort of rushed her through the lesson. That was a good day for the most part but it did rain like crazy!

 

On Monday, we woke up to a pile of snow which we rode our bikes in so that I could take my immigration class that is required before I get my Promesso di Sogiorno (green card, residence permit) which allows me to stay in Italy for the next two years. It was way boring but I just bit the bullet and took the class. It was a video of an American woman and an Englishman talking about all the laws and requirements and things the Italian government think people need to know to integrate into Italian culture and be happy here. None of it was super useful to me or missionary work and they didn't even cover the rules for people here on religious motive visas even though they said they would. It was really funny becasue I was the only American, male, over 18 person in the entire room and one of the girls in the room turned to the other and said "I am so bored! What is your number so I can text you?" They proceeded to text through the entire class and at the end added each other on facebook. I guess it is good to make friends to make immigrating easier.

 

Yesterday, We cleaned our house and saw Andrew and tried to get around the cell phone failiure that our whole mission experienced.

 

Today we got a new bike lock, haircuts we are going to go grocery shopping and then teach English!

 

That's been my week.

 

Mom, you asked me if I am in good health. The answer is Yes. I have just gotten over a cold/flu and doing great.Also I am about 50 lbs lighter than I was when we last saw eachother. The sun is coming out more and more, so it should be really nice soon. You also asked if there is anything that I need. If you could send my French study materials because as it appears, there are French speakers here... a lot of them. Actually if you can find  any of my Spanish materials too that would rock, but French is a priority since the Spanish speakers can figure out Italian pretty well. You other question is what we have been cooking lately, well we do pasta things a lot because pasta and pasta related things are cheap here, I do quiche (which I could use some pointers on :) since yours is still way better than mine any day.) We made a chicken coucous curry vegetable thing which was REALLY good. I also made enchiladas which were good. We are trying to come up with some good ideas, so any that you can think of would rock. On the menu for next week is Chili (which I have never made from anything but a can), Tuna Sandwiches (to use up some of our old stuff), Tortelini soup, And Fancy French Bread Pizza.

Fouri Di Testa

Hello again from still rainy or overcast Piacenza!

 

I hope everyone is well and feeling happy and wonderful! This week has been a really wonderful week and I am feeling bleesings from God every day. The sun is trying to make more appearances but the clouds and rain always have the stage. It will be on soon enough.

 

Well let's see if there is anything to tell you about my week.

 

Thursday and Friday were normal days.

 

On Saturday, we went to Cremona for a lesson with Priscilla. It was really good. We set a baptismal date for her son, May 18. Nicolò he and Priscilla are fouri di testa (an idiomatc expression that means estatic and literally means "out of head"). After our lesson, they took us out for dinner in a family style Italian restaurant. If there is one thing that you need to know about the Italian eating lifestyle it is simply to believe the stereotypes. At that restaurant, You had to buy the steak by the kilo and Prscilla's husband ordered 2 kilos and pizza. As well as a bunch of roasted vegetables and bread. It was good and Anziano Iacovelli and I were quite well filled afterwards. Please pray for Priscilla. She wants to com e to Church really bad, but she live about an hour away and depends on her husband for transport and he isn't always disponibile. He seems supportive but a bit apprehensive and I hope that we can help him understand that his family is making a good choice.

 

On Sunday we had church which one of the French speaking investigators came to! The Relief Society totally took her under their wing! We have auxilliaries and then Sunday School and Sacrament meeting at the end. By the time that sacrament meeting came around, She had a bunch of friends talking to her and asking her questions. We taught her the Plan of Salvation lesson yesterday and she kept saying "I know that this is true. It's so clear!" After church we had lunch (the chili I was talking about making which ended up pretty good. Anziano Iacovelli wants me to make it next week). Then we went to have a lesson with a less active member named Peter, from Nigeria. I wrote down incomplete directions and we got totally lost... in the rain. We went in circles for 45 minutes and then... remembered that we had a map on our phone. It's new so we don't still know all of the features! Ugh! I felt so dumb and wet. But the lesson was good and Peter's son Nosa wants to meet and learn more about the church! He has so much faith in God! We met with Yvonne and Sorella Libé as usaual. Sorella Noda and her mom Sorella Caratoni were also visiting Sorella Libé when we came by. Sorella Caratoni is a few years older than Sorella Libé and is one of the cutest old ladies in the world. We taught them how to play nose goes to decide who would say the prayer at the end and Sorella Caratoni lost and told us all it wasn't fair because we moved to fast. And then she laughed her cute little old lady laugh and Anziano Iacovelli just busted up laughing which made Sorella Caratoni laugh even harder which got everyone else laughing. That was really fun!

 

On Monday, We had our district meeting in Reggio Emilia which was good and interesting because all of the companionships except our has changed. Modena now has two people that I was in the MTC with one in the group above me and the other in the Group below. Reggio has Anziano Miller's trainer (Anziano Miller is training now), And Reggio Sorelle Have Sorella Harward who was in the group above us in the MTC and Sorella Stevens who just arrived last week form the MTC. After district meeting we went home and did finding. It was pretty rough but we were trying to remember that often trying times come right before blessings. We got yelled at by a Muslim woman who said that every day religious people are coming to her house and pestering her and her family and she has had enough "Leave the People in peace. If they want to find out they can find out for themselves! Just go and tell the peole from your church to stop coming" The door was slammed and a few doors later we got "Why do Jehovah's Witnesses like this street so much? You are the third people to come by this week!"  In both cases, we tried to explain that we werent the ones who had been there previously. So things were pretty hard that week but then we turned the coner and knocked on a door that a thin old man answered who was so extremely prepared for our message. He gladly took a Book of Mormon and promised to start reading from the beginning without us even getting the chance to ask him to read any of it.

 

Yesterday, I picked up my Permesso di Soggiorno, which officially ensures my status as a legal immigrant to the republic of Italy. We wet with Massimiliano who agreed to start living the Word of Wisdom and is getting excited for his baptism next month! We also met with Sorella Saquing we gave her a lesson on faith instead of beating the dean horse of Church attendance which is the approach of most missionaries when it comes to less actives. There was a point in the lesson where she said "I do have faith. I hope you know. I know I need to show it and come to church and I want to but I just don't know what to do about it. I am always so busy and so exhausted but I need you Elders to know that I still have faith!" That was really Powerful. We assured her that we knew she had faith and that the Lord would bless her for making the effort.

 

Our plans for today are to do some grocery shopping and then catch up on letters (of which I have many to write please forgive my slowness of writing!) and then teach English.

 

I love you all and I hope that you are aware of God's blessings in your life!

 

Anziano John Colin Cook

 

 

Pssssssssst!

This week has been a whirlwind. We have done and seen a lot and evrything is going wonderfully! It's been intersting re adjusting  to being in two instead of three. 

Lets see, on Thursday, we blessed Osas ans John's new house. Which was amazing! It was definitely a huge step up from the refugee camp. They love it and they are so happy to be there. They are now looking for work to sustain themselves better which is awesome!

On Friday, We had scambio in Reggio Emilia again which was really fun but had a weird twist at the end. Anziano D, with whom I was doing the scambio, woke up the following morning with his face red, itchy and swollen. We called the mission president's wife who told us to go to the hospital. So we spent most of that next morning in the emergency room and had a rescambi in the hospital. Shortly after we left, we recieved a call that Anziano D had passed out and hit his head. He's doing okay now, but the Anziani in Reggio can't go outside because of Anziano D's injury.

On Sunday, we had a bunch of investigators at church as well as a lot of stake leaders form Verona. That was really awesome because 2 of them hadn't ever been before. One was a member's friend and another was from English class. We also had lessons with Sorella Libè and Yvonne. That was really nice.

We went to Verona on Monday and that pretty much took all day especially after I got off the train in the wrong city because the city was printed on my ticket by some weird mistake. We ended up getting home at 730 just in time for a lesson with one of our youth who is 14 but wanted to know what to do to get ready for a mission! That was awesome!  He is really cool! 

We had a lunch on Tuesay with the Lombardelli family and I learned about how to make a cake with pears and chocolate that was also really good. We talked to Michele a bit about committing himself to be baptized and to live the gospel more. It went okay, but the lesson got way side tracked when he said that he still wanted to drink and not pay tithe and then Sorella Lombardelli tried to show him a million different scriptures which he didn't really respond to.

Yesterday, My back tire on my bike shattered. Literally crumbled. We were on our way to an early lesson and I hear Pssssssssssssssssssssssss. Anziano I stoped asking what that sound was an I said "the air in my tire" We then walked it towards the shop when he got the idea to ride it there saying "I don't think the tire could get any worse" as he said that, the tire broke in at least 7 different places. That was pretty crazy. The bike shop owner looked really bewildered. He fixed it for 60€. We have no Idea what could have caused something like that, but we thinkl that it could have something to do with the uneven streets and all of the bumps we go over. It was weird. Also, when we got to the church to do internet, one of the computers was gone and the other didn't work anymore. so we just got ready for English class. Which was pretty okay for me, my class likes me but I think they need a slower pace. Which I am pleased to give them. Anziano I's class, Conversational played Taboo they had a total blast!. It was awesome to hear that they had a good time.

Which brings me to today where we searched all over creation to find an internet point and now here we are...

I love you all so much and I hope that all of your daily lives are wonderful and that you are all surrounded by the Love of God and your Family and Friends!

Piacenza is a Whirlwind!

Dear Family and Friends back home in Washington and abroad,

Piacenza has been a whirlwind lately. The transfer drama continues as Anziano Thompson, my trainer has been space transfered to Verona. He called us a couple of hours ago, so we know he is safely arrived. We didn't travel with him because Verona is 3 hours away and it would have turned into an all day ordeal. Now Anziano Iacovelli and I are going to brave Piacenza in 2 like normal (even though for right now 2 feels like something is missing). Rumor has it however that Piacenza is going to have a second companionship soon. And we will all be in the same apartment! It occurs to me that it will go from three seeming perfect, to two seeming a tad empty to four seeming like too much. It will be a grand adventure for sure.

I get the sense that the mission has ancora di più surprises in store. I am loving every minute of it. 

Last week, I was senior companion as part of the 12 week training program that we have to do when we get into the field. It was fun but stressful. It gave me a lot of respect for Anziano Thompson and Iacovelli because it isn't easy to do missionary work and it's even less easy to organize it all by yourself. 

On Thursday and Friday, We had a lot of lessons and Finding work to do, like normal. One of those days, I can't quite remember which, A guy came walking right towards us while we were waiting to meet one of our investigators in an almost empty Piazza and we tried to move out of his way but he continued walking towards us and realizing that it was his intention to talk to us, we met him half way. He told us how he had seen us drawing on the street (the Plan of Salvation that was mentioned in last weeks e-mail) and he wanted to know what it was all about. He seemed kind of sort of half interested and we talked for a little while and offered to come by and give him a Book of Mormon which he thought would be a really cool thing if we were to also bring a Bhagivad Gita in Italian. After explaining to him that we weren't Hindu, and had no idea where to get a Bhagivad Gita in Italian, he lost interest. It was kind of bizzare. Or maybe a lot bizzare. He said Namasté to us upon his parting. I had to explain everything to my other two companions who had no idea what was happening in the latter part of the conversation and had probably never heard the word Namasté in their lives (which is a greeting in Sanskrit that in effect means "the good/light in me salutes the good/light within you")

On Saturday, two Ecuadorian families in our Branch invited us to come over for food. Ecuadorians are amazing cooks! So for lunch we were over at the Lombardelli house which is a farm with cows and chickens and goats. It was really cool. We offered to come over one day and help with the farm and they said that it would be awesome, but they want us to come in the spring when there is more to do. Actually Michele, Sorella Lombardelli's husband, who isn't a member, but comes to church with his wife, said that he has been thinking really hard about God latley and he wants to start taking it a bit more seriously and start doing what is right in his life. He wants to fix up some things in his life and he wants to seriously consider finally comitting to being baptized. It is a cool thing to see! After our meeting with them, we had some appointment and the dinner with the Stephanoni family. Who cooked... drumroll please... an delicacy that I like to call tripe... That's right cow stomach! It was actually something that was okay. I just couldn't shut my brain off enough to really completely enjoy it. Anziano Thompson couldn't shut his brain off at all and didn't finish his whole plate.

On Sunday, we had a really good time a church. Our new members, Osas John and Fred brought some friends to church with them and one of them, Nancy, Osas' sister, bore her testimony. It was really cool. Actually, we also ran out of translating devices which made me really happy. After church, we went to the Noda's house for lunch and learned how to play an Italian card game that is pretty similar to one I have played in the states, but I cant remember any of the rules. Sorella Noda told us some funny stories about coordinating all of the travel paperwork for missionaries coming in and out of Italy and also riding trains. It was really awesome. After that we went to a concert that Fratello Noda was going to be in. He's an opera singer. That was cool.

On Monday, we had a district meeting and that is where we found out about Anziano Thompson's space transfer and at first I told him "Stop joking around, Anziano Thompson, It's time to be serious" and then he said "I am being serious. That was just President Wolfgramm on the phone." And then I didn't have anything to say after that.

Yesterday, we were in Milan for an in-training missionary conference. Which was fun. It was great to see all of the people that I was in the MTC with. We came back around night time where we met with our branch President so that he could say goodbye to Anziano Thompson after that we came to see Osas, John and Fred who talked about how grateful they were to be members and introduced us to their friend Andrew who had been in Church on Sunday. Andrew wants to learn more too! We also found out that they found housing nearby in Piacenza. All around Italy, the refugee camps have been closing and it has been really hard for people but our prayers have been answered for Osas John and Fred! After English class, we are going to come by to bless their house and dedicate it to the Lord at their request!

Today was P-day so we cleaned and helped Anziano Thompson pack, and saw him off in the rain, and cooked quiche which I am getting better at, but I still can't get it as good as mom's cooking. Then Anziano Iacovelli and I went shopping and between the two of us pulled a 19€ speza. I don't know how, but it ws cool.

That's been my week! I love you all and hope that you are doing well! I am so hapy to be here and have this opportunity to serve the Lord and the people of Italy! I hope that you all kow that the Lord loves you and that he has a plan for you and I have felt this as I have labored here in Piacenza. I am growing here daily and I have seen blessings for doing the right things. The Lord works in mysterious but wonderful ways and I have been so grateful to be a part of that even though I don't see the whole plan.

Love,

Anziano Cook

Bi-Polar Crazy Weather!

Hello Everyone!

Greetings from lovely bi-polar crazy weather Piacenza! This week we have had rain and snow and glorious sunshine within days of each other. I thought Washington had crazy weather and then I came to Italy. 

After 23 days, my hair is starting to look like I did not have a gross cosmetic accident. Like maybe, I just wanted short hair. Seconda me, it doesn't look half bad. 

We have had a really amazing week! We have been really busy and doing as much of the Lords work as we possibly can! I am so glad to be here and do this work!

We have been really busy with lessons and finding lately and we have seen success and also some let downs. The French investigator that we had randomly moved to Milan one day, but that is alright since there are missionaries there too (as far as French speaking ones, I can't be sure). Also Cinzia told us that she didn't want to meet and that she just wants to go to church so we are giving each other a break. We have also had a lot of referrals that we have been working with. It rocks!

On Saturday, We had a baptism! Three friends from Nigeria that we originally thought were brothers... I had the privelage of baptising two of them. It was really cool and Sasha, an investigator from Ukraine, came to the service with us and apparently leaned over to Anziano Iacovelli and said "How long does it take a person to to prepare for baptism?" and Anziano Iacovelli said "Cioè, A person like you?" and Sasha said "Exactly". So we gave Him a baptismal date and we will be working with him some more. His comprehension isn't the best I've seen and he has a really thick Ukranian accent. So Piano Piano.  

On Sunday, We went to Church and pretty much all around creation. We saw Sorella Libè like we normally do. It was a brief visit and a bit awkward because Valerio, (the one who has a long hair and beard and dresses in all white) was there and he is super mad at us because we asked him to be more respectful and less distracting when he comes to church (In his behavior, speech, and dress)

On Monday, we planned to have a lesson with Sasha and a member who is a pointedly punctual person and Sasha called us, telling us that he would be and hour late. So we decided to have a practise lesson with the member who gave us a lot of teaching tips and I feel like I am a better missionary because of that lesson.

Yesterday, We had a pretty full day of finding. We dicided to draw the Plan of Salvation out in chalk on the street in Centro. We didn't really take notce of the fact that it was right infront of a shop. The owner got mad and called the Police and on the phone she said "These people have drawn some strange things on the sidewalk! Suns and Moons and Stars and the words Resurection and Judgement!!" We tried to offer to help clean it up, but she told us to leave. We walked by later and somebody had cleaned it off. Anziano Thompson got a kick out of the melodrama and I thought that we should be more careful about where we plan our finding activities. 

Today, I had to go to the Immigration office to sign a form stating that I would do what was required oif me as a foreign immigrant to assimilate into Italian culture and take a 6 hour required class and then we had our apartment inspected and maintennance checked by a senior couple that is serving on the Military Base in Vicenza (they brought peanut butter and Oreos!) Now I am here!

I hope that everyone back home is doing fine! Happy birthday to Uncle Mike, Aunt Brenda and Dad! I hope everything is doing well for you! Dad, keep your eyes peeled for a little something that may or may not have anything to do with your birthday. 

Love you all!

Anziano John Colin Cook

The Work Continues!

Hello Beautiful family and friends!

I love you all so much and I want you to know that everything here is going well. We have had a crazy week this week and Piacenza is popping like crazy!

A bit after my last e-mail... Actually now that I think of it, it was the day after just after English class, we found out that Anziano Edwards was being tranfered to Udine to train and we would be recieving Anziano Iacovelli from Alaska to come and be our third companion. He rocks! I am learning so much from him language and missionary wise. I get along really well because he reminds me of a lot of people back home.

Let's see what else has happened....

On Wednesday, We went to Verona for Zone conference which was really good. It was cool to see Verona in the Sun this time. I recived a lot of letters there and that was really awesome. We taught English classs after and then recived a surprise call from President, telling us that Anziano Edwards was going to be transerred.

On Thursday, we had 6 missionaries at our appartment for lunch. Anziano Thompson, Edwards, Icovelli, Tanner (Anziano Iacovelli's companion who I met in the MTC) and the senior missionaries from Verona. It was kind of crazy. We changed companions and got to work.

On Friday we had a lot of appoinments and then a dinner appointment with the Morriggi's. We had Tacos! I dismissed the thought of eating one of those for the next two years. We taught the Plan of Salvation to Fratello Morriggi who is not a member of the Church, but want's to know more about the church and began attending at his wife's insistance. It was a really spiritual lesson. At the end he prayed out loud for the first time in 55 years. 

On Saturday, we had lessons and finding.

On Sunday, we went to Church and then had a visit with Sorella Libé. She has always had basically a candy shop waiting for us, including a cake. She cut us all liberal slices and when it came to me I asked for a pezzitino (little piece) and she said "You eat almost nothing and you just keep getting thinner and thinner. You need to enjoy life some or soon you will just blow away! Also if you become skinny, you will also become UGLY!" She cut me a really fat piece and brought it to me asking "Is that small enough for you? I can make it bigger because honestly you eat almost nothing!" I just shut my mouth and ate the cake.

On Monday, we had scambi and I hosted and taught a lesson in French to a Morroccan man. That was really crazy because my French really has become much worse, but we were able to understand each other and he understood both of my other companions when they spoke really slow Italian. It was really cool. Also I was able to find my way to the house of one of our contacts using a map and memory and help from others--I felt proud of myself for knowing a city in a foreign country. It was really fun.

Yesterday, We had a really cool lesson with a sister in our branch who is giving her first talk tomorrow and we were able to calm her stress down and help her breathe.

Today we went to a castle and got a tour of it by its owner.

This week has been really wonderful and I am feeling closer and closer to God and feeling honored to do His work. I love the people here. The work of a missionary is hard, but there is nothing like it! I hope that this e-mail finds everyone in great health and happiness and in the Love of God!

Hugs!

Anziano John Colin Cook