May 16, 2016 - The week!

Well this was one of those weeks that was so full of missionary work I don't even know where to start or what stood out. We taught lots, found lots of new people and bought lots of people herbal tea so they can be keeping the word of wisdom!

Heather, Ayden and Prentice all came to church this week and are super pumped for their baptism! We taught them all about the temple and being sealed together as a family this week and they set that as a goal they want to have in a year from now. Chad (Heather's husband) is a member. He was baptized when he was 14 but has been inactive since he was 16, now 40. Their story is pretty amazing. They were super close to getting divorced when they sat down one night and Heather told him that she knew what they needed to do. They needed to go to church. His church. Because in all the ups and downs she knew that his testimony in the Book of Mormon was the only thing that had remained constant and untouched in his crazy life. So they did it. They took the leap of faith, called the missionaries, now in 2 weeks they will all be baptized, they have a much happier family and relationship, and one day will be sealed together. 

It's amazing that in the midst of all that, Heather had the faith to know what they needed to do. The Book of Mormon is amazing and the truth found in it truly changes who we are if we let it. Only the pure gospel of Jesus Christ can do that.

Sorry it's short this week and I have bad news. Sister Petersen and Sister Anderson stole my camera all week for splits, so I have no pictures to send home. sorry 

Love, Elder Cox

Monday May 9, 2016 - Mother's Day and Book of Mormon Play!

Hey Family! It was so great to talk to you yesterday! 

This week was great. I took lots of pictures mom. 

So this week the Book of Mormon play came to Des Moines. The Book of Mormon play is basically an anti-Mormon play from Broadway. And we got the lucky assignment to stand outside the doors and hand out copies of the Book of Mormon as people came out the doors. The first night was BRUTAL. I have never been laughed at, criticized, made fun of, had so many crude things yelled at me in such a short period of time in my whole life. But there's a quote by Jeffrey R. Holland that explains better than I can how I felt during those few nights:

In the gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil, and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike--and they will--you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham's seed.”

Through all the laughs and vulgar language, we handed out 120 copies of the Book of Mormon. Whether or not any of those turn into people we are able to teach and baptize, I don't know. But I do KNOW that someone's life will be blessed by having a Book of Mormon in their home. And if only 1 person comes to a knowledge of the truth through our efforts this week it will be well worth it!

Not too many other exciting things happened this week, a few meetings. Teaching lots of people here in Des Moines. There was one really cool experience that happened with Heather, Ayden, and Prentice, A part-member family. Ayden, the 9 year old, was saying a prayer at the end of the lesson and he said: "We are grateful for the Elders for being worthy to teach us"

I always get hit super hard with the spirit when little children talk, and this was another one of those moments where those few simple words opened up revelation  to my mind of the importance of being worthy to bear the Spirit. Living the gospel in such a way that no matter where we are, who we're with, what we're doing, we do it worthily to have the Spirit with us.

Love you all hope you had a great Mother's day!

Love Elder Cox

Weird Art in Des Moines

Monday May 2, 2016 - Back to the BIg City!

Alright sorry for the short, not very informative email last week. No promises this one will be better but I'll try.

This week was crazy and there was some sad points but it ended with a miracle filled Sunday! We had a mission-wide fast on Sunday and SO many miracles came from it!

Start off with Gita. She is awesome she is from Turkey and is Muslim but has been learning and reading the BoM for 3 weeks now and LOVES it. She's read from the beginning through Alma 11 in 3 weeks. But on Thursday we found out we're not allowed to teach Muslim people until they've been interviewed by our mission president to make sure their lives won't be in danger if they convert to Christianity, which she told us she would be so we had to stop teaching her. BUT then President Jensen came to our sacrament and interviewed her and we can continue teaching her and she's on date to be baptized on May 28th!!

Then we are also working with Marissa. She's a 17 year old girl and she was scheduled to be baptized May 7th, passed her baptismal interview with flying colors, but her aunts and uncles antied her the day after. So she told us Saturday that she didn't want to be baptized and didn't want to meet with us or see us again. BUT we went back on Sunday, because we're missionaries and we don't give up that easy, and we had a super great lesson with her, answered all of her questions that her family put in her head, and most of all helped her recognize the spirit. She said when people told her those things she felt bad and sad, but whenever we came over she always felt really happy afterward.

Yesterday when she started talking to us she wouldn't look at us and gave us 1 word answers, but by the end of the lesson (and a 17 year old girl vent session) she prayed and thanked Heavenly Father for helping her realize that this really is the path she should take to be most happy in life. It was the greatest feeling ever.

Alright now the pictures I'll attach them in a thread and explain each one individually. Most of them are people I said goodbye to in Cedar Rapids, and they all have amazing stories.

Christie  and Bro Hogan- Hilarious people always pulling pranks on us but
Christie' getting baptized in 3 weeks!!

Austin  & Merry& Amy- Austin couldn't get baptized because
his dad wouldn't give him permission.

The Manirakiza's- Pierre's family but Pierre was at work. I've told their story tons of times they're amazing! He's a stud and he wrote me a song on his guitar that he got for Christmas and I helped him string and tune it. I'm getting the lyrics from his mom it almost made me cry.

The Beste's- She's a recent convert and Ayden is crazy, and they were one of my favorite families