Transferencias

So just an update on transfer week.

Not much changed because I am still in the first 12 weeks with sister Guerrero. She is still hilarious, hardworking and brings me much joy. Our zone is still with Zone leader Sister Leyes from Argentina, but Sister Felhman from Germany replaced our lovely Sister Kogure from Japan who went home. District leader is still Sister Ghetti from Brasil! YAS.

Our assignment this transfer is WELFARE SQUARE. So we get to go to welfare square one day during the week from 9-4 and give tours and help people to know more about the welfare program of the Church and our goal to be more like the Savior in helping others and getting people on their feet to be more self sufficient. Here is how I like to think about it, and I'm sure I am copying the words or thoughts of what someone said once. But, yes you could just fish for the man who is hungry so he is fed for a bit, but why not teach a man to fish so he can avoid hunger and feed himself his whole life? That is what humanitarian work and the welfare system of the church are all about. Welfare Square is seriously so cool. I've been dying to serve there or the Humanitarian center every transfer. Heavenly Father loves me.

Last week Thursday we had a Mission Tour or Mission training from Elder Kim Clark of the Quorum of the Seventy. He is a pretty incredible human and I learned so many things. Too many things for one email I have like 11,623 pages of notes. 

This weekend a few of our investigators were baptized, one of them a woman named Manogna, from Texas. I've had such an incredible journey with her in the past few months so many ups and downs and challenges but she stuck through it all and finally made the first step to entering the Kingdom of God. We didn't get to skype for the baptism but we called her afterward and it was so amazing hearing the happiness in hear voice and hearing her say that she wanted to stay in touch "forever." (so sweeeet!:)) Filled me with an inexpressible mutual feeling of happiness.

Post script, I have gained more wrinkles since being here on my mission. Dry weather+smiling a lot will do that to you I guess haha.

Have a good week all. Update me on your lives please:) 

Sorry no pics this week...

Xoxo,

Sister Cox

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Hey there amigos y familia,

We sent our investigators Valentines Day texts and the replies were so sweet. Many ghetto keyboard hearts were sent and received, because we don't have emojis on our computer phones. <3 We loved it.

My Valentine. We ate at the Lionhouse for lunch.

It has been my favourite year celebrating this holiday because it has always carried an annoying connotation and meaning to me: all that mushy gushy love PDA stuff. Don't get me wrong, I dig love, but other holidays have always held more favour to me. (although valentines day does hold a lot of good flavour, (e.g. candy)

This time around though, I think because I am experiencing love with a new lens in a much deeper way, I really appreciated it. So here is my favourite verse about the best most perfect love out there:

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  (Romans 8) 

I have a conference talk and a video suggestion for you all this week that are superb that really helped me with the ups and downs of this week and really prepared me for what the Lord needed me to communicate to others esta semana:

Opposition in all Things - Dalin H. Oaks (conference talk) https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/opposition-in-all-things?lang=eng

We aren't God's Only People - Samuel Hislop (mormonchannel Hope Works Video) https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/hope-works/we-arent-gods-only-people-samuel-hislop-hope-works

Love you all

extra XOXOXOXOXO

Sister Cox

Haha this pic just makes me feel happy every time I look at it, so I thought I'd share. In case you can't tell, her vision is terrible so when she moves her glasses forward it makes her eyes look tiny hahaha. Sister Williams from Japan

Only a Stone Cutter

This week Sister Guerrero and I watched a short film about a stone cutter who helped to build the Temple here in Salt Lake. He is faithful to his calling his whole life and walks 22 miles to the temple everyday even after losing a leg. One of the first quotes that was said: 

"There are two kinds of people in this world, those who are acted upon and those who act." 

Think about it for second. Which one are you? Which one do you want to be? For me the answer was obvious. Faith with out action is nothing. I love the Bible Dictionary so so so much. It says this about faith: 

"Faith is a principle of action and of power, and by it one can command the elements, heal the sick, and influence any number of circumstances when occasion warrants (Jacob 4:4–7). Even more important, by faith one obtains a remission of sins and eventually can stand in the presence of God." 

I think I could spend the rest of my life studying faith and I would still learn or appreciate something new every time.

Zone activity today, Pizza and played mafia Book of Mormon style.

This week our district buried our swords. Well metaphorically. But kind of literally at the same time. We wrote down things on a piece of paper that we wanted to give up and we actually buried them in the ground. Like the story in Alma 24 when the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's bury their swords because they would rather give up their own lives than to shed the blood of their brethren. So we decided that we would give up something in our lives "in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God." (Alma 6:6) I think the gardeners planting the flowers for springtime might be in for a bit of a suprise hahah.

After burial. It had to be at a time during the day when people weren't able to see we didn't want to freak any poor souls out. Cause to be honest it looked a little weird haha.

Love you all, have a wonderful week! Xoxo

Sister Cox

The weather lately has been glorious. The time of night when we took this picture is my favorite. I realized this week my favorite season is the one that's in between. Between fall and spring, between summer and fall, between fall and winter. I dig the change.

Febuary

Growing up in elementary school I sucked at math (still do) but fortunately I excelled at spelling. However, one word I could never remember how to spell was the month FEBRUARY. What is up with that extra R? Still confuses me to this day. Also here is a pic from my childhood and those years of rebellion and doing hood rat things ft. my best sister friend.

EXCITED FOR THIS MONTH OF FEBUARY AND ALL IT HOLDS. 

And now on to more important and relevant missionary topics.

If you have anyone else on a mission you will have heard that there was a mission wide broadcast about "Teaching Repentance and Baptizing Converts." Big deal #1: The key indicators have been changed for all missions and big deal #2 the daily missionary schedule has also been changed.

Now we just have extra time on pday for ourselves and at night when we get home at the end of the day. We have daily planning at different times(what works best for our mission and schedule) and we are focusing on fewer key indicators. It kind of varies for each mission, time zones, culture etc. But basically we have been given more flexibility and trust. We're excited to see how it goes. And Elder Oaks shared some excellent advice and correction for all of us. He is still my favorite.

Went to Fat Cats for our district activity and ran into a member family whose son served in Sister Blocher's (third on the left) ward back home in Texas. They bought us dinner, we shared a message with them, and they shared their testimonies with us. It was a cool experience being able to feel the spirit in a busy, noisy crowded bowling alley.

Just wanted to share one more thing before I make like a baby and head out.

I was talking to one of our investigators on the phone this morning before Pday started and we talked a lot about empathy. She is just beginning to meet with the missionaries in Louisiana and she told us that she has the ability to feel empathy so strongly for other people and she has been learning more about that word this week. We were able to help her understand more fully how the Atonement and our relationship is the most incredible example of empathy in existence and she shared how she is beginning to find so much more purpose in her life. This fills me with the kind of joy that can only be found doing missionary work and I feel so blessed.

S/O to my sister Mel and my mom for really helping me to understand that word and prepared me for this conversation before my mission. 

Sister Orellano from El Salvador trying on my hair.

Today was sunny, the birds were chirping, and it's the beginning of a new month. I hope you all enjoy it.

Snow last week. It's all almost already gone.

Love, xoxo

Sister Cox