Monday, April 18, 2016

Family

Wow. I don´t know what else to say. This week has been so full of ups and downs and all-arounds and I can´t believe how much has happened. So many things going on at home. So much sad news and so much need for prayers. I´m so sorry to hear about the missionary in Steven´s mission, Lou Hickman, and Eva Fay.  I don´t mean to add to the sadness, but there has been some sad news here as well. You´ve probably heard but on Saturday night there was a big earthquake in Ecuador. We don´t have a lot of information because as missionaries we can´t watch the news or anything, but my companion is from there and it happened in her city. Her dad isn´t there and her brothers are in the US so her mom is there alone. She was so worried because we couldn´t get ahold of her, but today she got an email from her saying she is ok. Everything is a mess and her house collapsed, but her mom is alive and well. Please add them to your prayers. So many missionaries here are worried about their families and loved ones. I hope Sam Yorgason and Shannon are alright as well. I heard that none of the missionaries were affected so I hope their families are at peace as well. Lots of praying to do this week. 

But this week was still really good. We had 4 days of trainings this week, one of them being in a multi-zone conference with president in front of like 70 or 80 missionaries. But they all went really well. The only bad thing is we were planning every night super late and then traveling and we were exhausted...and then of course I got sick. :) Hehe, but the Lord is so merciful and I’ve never healed so fast from a cold. Everything went well and we saw soooo many miracles this week.

I´m out of time, but I’ll write more next week. Sorry, I’ve been trying to be with my companion and talking with her about her family so I didn´t get to write much. Love you all so much. 

Hermana Cox

Monday, April 11, 2016

Hello Friends and Family!

Good news is that we had a baptism this week!!! J... F... was baptized on Saturday and it was such a special experience. He is an escogido for sure! The sisters found him knocking doors and now he is a baptized member of the church. His testimony is based on the Book of Mormon and he knows that it is true which helped him feel that everything else we were teaching him was too. He is really shy and timid but Hermana Suarez and I both feel that he is going to grow so much in the gospel and be a great blessing to this ward and a great example to the members for his complete obedience. He is exactly obedient and wants to do everything right. He even "confessed" to the district leader in his interview that he liked to play chess and guitar and asked if he could still keep doing that or not. Haha, he is so pure and so ready to give his life to the Lord. 

This week was crazy with lots of meetings and also giving 2 trainings. We are the sister leaders of 4 zones so we do a lot of traveling and trainings. Next week we will be giving 4 more big trainings, one of them in a multi-zone conference we have with President....yikes!! But it will be a good experience. Please pray for us! The Lord is teaching me so much with this responsibility and even though it stretches me, I am so grateful because I know it´s making me better. 

Please pray for little M... (10 years old) who will be baptized this week or next, P... and M... who also have a baptismal date, R..., E..., J..., and C... who we are working with to accept baptism, and J... our new recent convert. I love the people here and will try and tell more about them soon. 

I love you all so much and hope you have a great week. I know the Lord is so aware of each one of us and loves us individually. We are blessed by him every single day, we only have to look and we will surely find his hand. I am so grateful to be a missionary.  

Missionary challenge this week, find someone who is not a member of the church and share a small message about some blessings you have received from living the gospel. It may seem small, but it´s the little things that bring about the great miracles. Pray to find the one. 

I love you all! Have a great week!

Hermana Cox

Family Home Evening

Tuesday, April 05, 2016

Dearest Friends and Family:

WAHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ANOTHER TEMPLE IN LIMA PERU!!!!!! I can´t even express how much joy I felt when I heard that announcement from Pres. Monson. Our whole chapel filled with excitement and I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest for joy. That means there will be 4 temples here in Peru!! That is seriously incredible. The faith of the people here and their righteousness is bringing great blessings and I feel so grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to be here and be a part of this grand work. I decided I’m going to start my Lima temple dedication fund now so I can come back and see the temple dedicated and visit all my areas here. :)

 Saying goodbye! The first ones are of L... and F.... 

F... leaves for Germany this week!!!

Our pensionista and her family. The ones that always posted pics for you mom :)

Well, week one down in my new area! I am serving in the ward Portada del Sol in the Stake Campoy. We are the only sisters in the area and the area was just opened for sisters about 7 months ago.

Here is our zone of Campoy! Yes, as you see we are the only sisters here...that´s a fun change! Don´t worry, they treat us like princesses and take good care of us. :)

 It is a lot more humble than Monterrico...but then again every area in the mission is. :) There are a bunch of people who are really humble and receptive and the members are awesome! I´ll try to send a few pics so you can see what it´s like. 

My new room

My companion is Hermana Suárez from Ecuador and she is awesome! She actually was living in Salt Lake for a year before her mission because she was studying at LDS Business College. She speaks fluent English which is pretty fun. :) She is such a hard worker and I am learning so much from her! 

  Pictures at the temple with my new companion

Wow, this is seriously a gold mine here, there are so many amazing people to teach! We have an investigator who will be getting baptized on Saturday so please pray for him! J... is awesome and has such a great desire to change his life. Also please pray for M... and his family, R... that she can receive an answer, E..., P..., and all our investigators. Also L..., V..., and M... A... who are recent converts. :) 

Wow, Conference was incredible and I absolutely loved it. I received so much revelation and help that I didn’t even know I was searching for. I loved the talks from Pres. Eyring, Pres. Uchtdorf, Pres. Monson, Elder Holland, and the one about peace as well by someone who I can´t remember their name. And basically every other talk as well. :) I can´t wait to get the Liahona to be able to study the talks. I know that we have living prophets and apostles who guide and direct us. I love this church and I love the Lord. 

Hope you all have a great week! I love you all so much!!!!!! Hurrah for Israel!!!

Hermana Cox

More temple pictures

Well, family I have some exciting news for you...it finally happened...this week I received my trunky letter. This letter is the one that tells me that my time is coming to an end and confirms my release date...August 2nd I will be coming home!  I am excited to be seeing you all again but I will be honest and say that my eyes got a little teary when that little letter was put into my hands. Wow, how quickly the time passes. :(