May 6, 2013

Hi Mom!

     Another busy week flies by again! The latest news is that we have a new set of elders coming in to Brighton, which means (you guessed it) we have to find a flat for them before they come! It will likely be another trainer/ trainee companionship. We have until Wednesday to get a flat, and until May 28 to furnish it. There will be 8 more missionaries than expected coming into the mission this transfer, which means a total of 38 missionaries coming in at one time! Right now i'm writing from the bishop's home because we just got finished with doing some service. I swear garden work is so popular in England! Whenever the weather is good, bust out the trowels! I'm feeling good this week, even though it wasn't either fantastic or bad. Just busy and productive. I was drooling when I heard Raymond had 14 investigators at church on Sunday in Fort Worth Texas (his temporary assignment). We were very fortunate to have the 4 investigators the other week! This Sunday many of them wanted but couldn't make it either because nobody could take them or they had a job volunteering. Still a lot of hope for them all. One of them told us when we had a lesson with them that "I felt strange at church, in a good way, like I had butterflies. When I got home I just wanted to do something!" The Spirit touched her! Just got your last letter, Grandma is such a miracle woman! Tell her i love her for the way she sees things. A lot of people in England don't see life the same way she does. A few of the people we come in contact with would prefer not living this life! Of course, there are others who just love life and don't see a need for religion. I just offer what Christ invites! I will try to send those pictures again, you really should see them. Tell Nate that he better muster up all the enthusiasm he can for the mission, because it takes that to get through the first few weeks! Most of all, on the mission you have to find a line between stressing out and being diligent (or not being a "waster" as they call it). If you were to send a care package, dark socks would be nice, I wear through them a lot while walking around. Those Hushpuppy shoes we got are AWESOME. I mean they're the most durable shoes in the world. Let Doug also know that i use the shoe trees for my Sunday shoes and the tie hangar as well. I'm going to get a rain jacket/ summer jacket out here soon (overlooked packing that). You know what would be great? Recipes. Recipes would be great. A collection that can be simply-moderately cooked. I'm running out of ideas for food! I used your chicken, egg and rice dish! I also sewed for the second time out here this last week (not too shabby, a button!). I will write a letter about the other details. Mother's day i guess I will call you on the phone and have skype on hand wherever i am. It will be morning for you when i call. Sorry, I try to plan things out but its tricky! 

    To Heather, I told a Norwegian Elder about you, but you're not into that kinda thing are you? haha anyways he would want someone who would move to Norway anyways (recent personal revelation to him, even though he's been in America so many times and was an exchange student). He is my district leader who i went on exchanges with this week. He's awesome, we got along so well. He's maybe Kent's age, so I'll keep looking. Cheerio!

                                                                                             Love,

                                                                                                 Elder Cooper