Hey Everyone,
Hope you all had a good week and a good time getting ready for Christmas. This last week was the same as the last couple weeks. We had some good things happen but we haven't been able to have as many lessons. The last three weeks we've been finding quite a few new people to teach, but then were never able to teach them again. We have a lot of potential investigators but everyone we go to see is either too busy or asks us to come back in a couple of days and then that falls through too. So it's been a little frustrating these last few weeks. We've been able to have some good experiences though. We started teaching a new family and they're awesome. Horrace and Yesha are in they're late 20's and have two young kids. They really liked the lesson on the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. Yesha was really excited about church when we described it to her and she said they would be there on Sunday. Unfortunately they didn't make it but, we're seeing them tomorrow and hopefully we can get them to church this next Sunday. Raymond and Traci are doing pretty good. We're just trying to get more members to fellowship them and have them gain their own testimony on the Book of Mormon. The ward I'm in had a Christmas party on Saturday the 11th and Raymond and Traci were able to make it. They really enjoyed it and it was really good for Traci because she met a couple of more people who she seemed to get along with pretty good. We'll just keep working with them and helping them in whatever way we can to help them progress towards baptism.
Yesterday on Sunday all the missionaries in the ward were invited to eat dinner at the Bishop's house. Bishop and Sister Seamons are really nice people and they were kind enough to feed all 8 of us missionaries in the ward. It was really good and I was finally able to have a piece of pumpkin pie. It was good though to talk more with the Bishop about how we can help the ward and how the ward can help us with our investigators.
So the week was decent. The area I'm in, New Orleans east, has a lot of potential and it feels like it's going to take off soon. I just hope that it starts soon so that we can start having baptisms in the area and build up solid members in the area.
It's sounds like everything is going good back at home. It was exciting to hear about Jordan Brough and Kenny Bealus both being engaged. Also, it was exciting to hear that the Webbs had a new addition to the family. It doesn't hurt, too, that the Cardinals won. Hopefully they can finish out the season strong and have some dignity.
Well I'm about out of time. I still love it out here even though it has been a little discouraging the last few weeks. I know that If I put my trust in the Lord that he will direct me and that I will be able to see miracles happen. That's true for everyone too. I love the gospel and I love you all and hope you have a great week!
Love,
Elder Cooper
