September 16, 2013

Dear Mum,

   We had so many people at church yesterday it was mad! Like organising an army! I was expecting a good Sunday but this was incredible. We will be baptising Sean Pierce on Sept. 28 (we are treating him as a convert baptism as instructed, even though he had his name removed about 10 years ago). He was at church this Sunday. Linda (a former investigator with a baptismal date) and her entire family came to church yesterday as well! We also had some less actives drop by, and 2 new faces (one who showed with his mother, is 24 and loved the lesson on priesthood, and another who has cerebral palsy and came with 2 friends/caretakers of his). 

   The Sister missionaries are seeing things pick up in their area and are loving the mission. They came with an investigator family to church. Elder La Mazza wants time to stop, so to speak, that he could remain on the mission forever. His patience with us all is exemplary, and the lesson he and Elder Carver gave in Zone training was so inspiring. I thought of king Lamoni's father willing to give away all his sins to know God. I want to do the same. 

  In my personal study I have studied what the Lord has said concerning obtaining happiness. There is too much I learned to include in this letter. It really inspired me though. Thank goodness for the topical guide!

  The English autumn is a lot like a California winter, except greener of course. This country is so beautiful! It's a give and take situation; if you work in the country your success is generally lower (since only wealthier people live there) but you enjoy the scenery a lot. Luckily, in Reading there are plenty of people to teach and occasional countryside trips we must take. Then we get to see nature. Ironically the way England is set up there are packed towns surrounding by large spaces of country. Most people only see buildings if they work in the city! 

   We did another phone lesson with Blake, he's so clever for his age! Like a Joseph Smith! Anyways, it's kinda a shame I can't see Aunt Luann and Uncle Dave here, but perhaps it's for the best. It could cause tension in the District, I'm not sure. I get Heather's letter today probably, and she'll probably get mine today or tomorrow. 

   You're right! The time is flying! Before you know it over 6 and a half months have flown by! I got the tape this last week from Candace and the rest of you. Maybe on Christmas I will send a tape back! I will have toad-in-the-hole this week ( a sausage in a yorkshire pudding kind of dish). Right, well I'm going to write some other family members now. Just know that I have been keeping a journal of every day on the mission, and that I'm nearing the end of the first one (I have the second one prepped). Not even "a hundredth" is contained in those pages haha. Love you!

Elder Cooper