March 11, 2013

Dear Mom,

   I will send more pictures tomorrow, but they are giving me 5 minutes to write you right now to tell you I leave on Wednesday morning for my mission field. I just did get your letter! It takes about 4 days then I suppose. We have practiced hard in the MTC, and during the middle part of the time I was in my most depressed state (it couldve been that I was not able to get out of the building 23 hours of the day). But when I shared my testimony of what I knew to be true, immediately I received strength and encouragement from the Lord! that was just yesterday. The finding activity in Manchester went very well for us as a whole: Elder Mongelli and I placed our first Book of Mormon to a man named Jack and got his information! you can see it on the photo gallery online (I'll send more photos tomorrow of Durnham village we visited yesterday as well). I see President Millar soon and find out where I serve and who I serve with this wednesday. I'll tell you next wednesday! Tell Heather thanks for the letter (I joked with the elders that she was my girlfriend haha). It's an exciting time... the MTC has been a refiner's fire for my testimony and faith, and it will be hard to say goodbye to Elder Mongelli (he leaves for the London Mission on a separate bus). Don't tell Raymond this but he's even cooler haha!  I got more to say but not enough time (like fun facts for Heather!). I'll write!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Love,

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Elder Cooper (your son!)

Elder Ormsby and I

President Millar and Sister Millar

4 generation of missionaries trained by each other

March 6, 2013

Dear Mom,

Thank Goodness for Colin! I knew I could count on him! I will try to take care of that as soon as I can. I have some pictures I will attach. Today at the Preston Temple I had a wonderful experience! I felt comfort and reassurance that I can carry out God's will through his help. Tomorrow I go out on the streets of Manchester to share the gospel for a couple of hours. Pray for me, I need it! The pictures of the hotel room are the ones from when I stayed at London Heathrow Marriott, the guys in my room are all the guys in my district (we have sister missionaries as well) and are Elder Gugyelka (the first missionary I met at the airport in Chicago), Elder Mongelli in the center (my Italian companion who everyone wants to be around) and Elder O'Keeffe from around here. The airline picture is the morning flight over England (from London to Manchester), just a sea of clouds! The weather out here is good at midday and cloudy at all other times it seems. For exercise (when I actually get outside) we play either Rugby or Soccer. I'm bad at both but its fun! We're already at the halfway point of th MTC experience. Saturday I find out where I'm going and who my trainer will be. I'll be out in the world then! Well I have chores to do, and I try to keep my spirits up even when out of my comfort zone!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Love you Mom!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Elder Cooper

MTC Arrival

March 3, 2013

Hi mom,

    I made it o the MTC just 3 days ago (you'll get a letter about what happened to my flight, I'm sending it tomorrow). Peparation Days are Wednesdays so I will write you more then. Things are amazing out here, and I'm excited to be doing the Lord's work. I'm a distict leader in the MTC, my companion is great and I'm pretty close with a lot of guys out here. I have a more detailed account of what goes on here in the letter, including letters to uncle dave, heather, and grandma and grandpa. They will all come in one envelope. I'll try to take more pictues and send them to you on Wednesday as well!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Love you!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Elder Steven Cooper