May 20, 2013

Hi Mum!

    That's the one thing about being on a mission that makes me sad: we only go to the temple on Christmas! Enjoy it for me. We now have a pool of investigators we are working with, many YSA aged folks and a few others! They are just more open to it at this stage in their lives. Yesterday was a busy day, but we had the opportunity to hear a live broadcast from Salt Lake at Stake Conference today. It was being broadcasted to all the British Isles. Elder Baxter ( A Scottish General Authority) spoke first and rebuked the members here for not being happy (which is true for the most part) and reminded them to reach out to others. This was live, so it must have been 1 AM back in Salt Lake! The Last talk was President Eyring, who spoke on agency. We see agency used for both good and evil, but the consequences of our choices are unchangeable. As a missionary, I should use my agency to help others better themselves. 

    Guess what. This week has been the best week in terms of success yet!! New investigators, beating our goals for teaches and lessons, our district is on fire! Now let's see if we can help these new investigators progress! One woman (the miracle one that is the partner of the recently returned less active), Vanessa, has already said she will be baptised: it's just a matter of teaching her the commandments. We need to get her married to her partner! 

    So Sister Pilgrim got baptised? That's awesome! That's incredible! As a missionary I appreciate that so much more now. I love my Ward Mission Leader, Trevor. He's a bit eccentric, but is so into the work that we just go at it! Yesterday he took us up to Lewes (on the far side of our ward boundaries) where we got a new investigator and checked up on some people who will come back to church. It was GORGEOUS outside. Those pictures don't tell the full story. Especially when the clouds break in the evening. 

    Speaking of evening, the days are getting quite long here now. The sun is well up when we wake up at 6:30 (It could be up at 5:30) and sets at around 8:00. Still the weather is mild, never hot. That's nice in my opinion. I was busy and couldn't write a letter this week (a lot of success) so I will do one today. As I heard more about BYU from the Powers (the senior couple here), I found out there is even more construction closing that road between the Wilk and the Law building for good and paving it over. What a beautiful campus BYU is, I'm so happy I get to go there. 

    So I have letters coming huh? Fantastic! I just got in touch with Colin who's at the Provo MTC right now. Hey Heather, don't tell Mom about the bottom of the letter you will get (in the same envelope as hers, of course; just find a way to get it first). It's no big deal, they blocked off the road it was on. England is an awesome place, wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now! As for clotted cream: it is less sweet than whipped cream and a lot thicker. I don't think what you have been eating (that raspberry stuff) is clotted cream. Maybe it is! 

    This is my last full week (possibly) with Elder Ormsby. Moves day is Wednesday next week. Likely I'm staying here, but who knows? You know what would be great, if Elder Gugyelka and I became companions. We would have a blast and do so well. I'll write more spiritual stuff in my handwritten letters, and try to resend those photos. 

   Tell Mike and Candace I'm so happy for them! Little Ryan will sure be an awesome kid with such great parents! And Justin seems to be getting the swing of things haha. I'm excited for Kent's letter; hopefully I can get it quickly from the office. I have to go and get fish and chips now!

Love You Mom and whoever reads this!

     Elder Cooper