Week #64 (August 29, 2016)

1) Went over to do service for a returning less-active member and
ended up basically digging a trench along her fench line. Due to her
lack of resources, and my brilliance breaking her only shovel in the
first 15 minutes, our primary digging instrument was that of the
hammer.

We hit this massive root, and the claw end of the hammer just wasn't
cutting it anymore (literally). So we went through her very menial
tool collection and luckily found a chisel.

10 minutes later, the chisel is at sword-in-the-stone depth and we
cannot remove it.

This is the picture of us using a smaller chisel we found, trying to
remove the larger chisel -

  

I enjoy working with roots. Must run in the family. 

Sunday was a mix, we had 7 investigators at church, but Tony (our golden boy) didn't make it. 

I am so grateful to have President and Sister Taylor, I wish you could all experience them. Their trainings at MLC were a perspective changer. I love them so much. 

The classic Abraham Lincoln quote saying: "All that I am, I owe to my mother" has been on my mind lately. This is mostly because my mom is so incredible, but also because a variation of the quote came to mind the other day: "All that I am, I owe to the Savior." 

I cannot express the debt I feel to the Savior in words. His influence, which I have felt on my mission has been the most profound of my whole life. The only influence to surpass that of my mom. I rely on Him daily. 

I love this little branch, I love the Book of Mormon, I love my family, I love Pres. and Sis. Taylor, I love my mission. I'm just a lover these days. 

Have a great week, 

Elder Cox 

Here's a picture of Elder Fifita picking me up on P-day, the Longview Zone at Zone meeting this Friday, and my companion selfie-ing during the root crisis

Week #63 (August 22, 2016)

Quotes/scenes of the week:

#1) Went to contact this guy, he says:
"What church are you from?"
I open my mouth to answer, and before I get words out he says:
"I'M CATHOLIC" and turns to speed walk/run away into his house

Mission life is awesome. We had some really incredible experiences this week.

Street contacted someone this week named Tony, taught him right then,
and then set up a little facetime lesson with him a couple days later.

This facetime lesson was in all honesty one of the best of my whole
mission. He gave us the most sincere testimony of the Book of Mormon I
have ever heard. He said:

"I just want to tell you guys, after I read that chapter you gave me
and prayed, I felt so happy all day. I always felt sad before this,
but I feel so happy."

If you wanna tell me that the Book of Mormon comes from the devil, you
are gonna have to talk to my friend Tony first.

The Book of Mormon has had a similar effect on me in my mission - I
know it's true and it has brought me to God. Read it!

Love yall!

-Elder Cox

Week #62 (August 15, 2016)

Quotes of the week:

1) First Sunday in the area, Branch President asked my companion to
give a testimony. My companion just asked if he could sing instead.
The musical number was so good, the whole branch was basically
weeping, and when the hermana got up to give her talk, branch
president just says:

"I am sorry."

This week was awesome. We found a ton of new investigators and did a
ton of what we call "Phase 1" work (i.e. Knocking, street contacting,
etc.), It isn't the most fruitful work,l but it is the only option sometimes, and you
gotta do what you gotta do.

This next couple weeks will be a lot of "sifting" - follow-up visits,
calls, texts, return-appts, just trying to see if any of the people we
found are willing to make and keep commitments and progress toward
their next ordinance.

My companion is a solid worker. I think I have a lot to learn from him
this transfer. He is a big believer in "building relationships" and
"loving people into the gospel," kind of a different style than mine,
but I hope to take the best of it and make it my own.

I just keep trying my best to be obedient and work my hardest. I can
feel the Lord's hand holding me up and guiding me when tough times
come. He lives!

Elder Bednar had a great quote that I have been revisiting this whole week:
(Not exact...) "Sometimes we will cancel a certain program in the church or change
something and a bunch of members will throw a fit, saying 'ahhh, the
church isn't true!' The church is true, the problem is YOU AREN'T TRUE
TO THE CHURCH!"

Let's all strive to be true to the church this week! The Lord will be with us!

Love you all, be safe and healthy and happy this week,

Elder Cox

Dropping off Elder Finlinson in my old Garland apartment - my first time back to this old apartment since I was transferred away more than 6 months prior. I wept and begged the Elders there to take care of the branch and work hard. 

Super cool English investigator, Jordan, from Vegas who I found and tsught, now he is preparing to be baptized with the Sister missionaries - he was taught for a few months but eventually fizzled

 Recent convert and relief society president - Maribel Cejas (recent convert) and Hermana Plascencia (relief society president)

District picture, left to right: Elders Fifita, Cole, Cox (me), Andersen, and Sisters Cowper and Merrill

Week #61 (August 8, 2016)

Quotes/scenes of the week:

1) One of our investigator's pastors:
"Anything that isn't the Bible is a LIE FROM SATAN!"

Transfers have taken Elder Finlinson to Garland 6th - my favorite area
in the mission!  I am so jealous of him, but also so hyped for another
transfer in the promised land of Longview, TX.

My new companion's name is Elder Anderson, he is from Brigham City,
UT. And rocking a full ride scholarship for opera to the U of U. He
has been in the mission a little less than I have, but I am sure that
he probably knows more than I do.

I rely more on the Savior's grace every day.

In district meeting this week, I starting sharing a comment and the
Spirit hit me so strong, it was humbling. I realized that I truly have
nothing to boast of in the mission field. I owe all of my successes to
the Savior.

I make so many mistakes when I try to do things on my own, but with
Him I have never failed!

Don't forget to be (as President Taylor would say) a PRO this week -
Pray, Read, and Obey.

Love you all to Kolob and back!

-Elder Cox

Week #60 (Aug 1, 2016)

Quotes/scenes of the week:

1) Psychotic anti-mormon pulled up to us in the middle of a street
contact, told us to leave his neighborhood, I told him if he wants us
to leave, he needs to call the police on us. He rode away on his
motorcycle pretty shortly thereafter.

I bet y'all heard, we are getting facebook in the mission.

I am pretty thrilled with the possibilities. Texts and calls just
aren't enough communication to really nurture someone along the way in
gospel progression. Facebook is going to allow us a lot more interface
with investigators.  We are excited! (Especially because hispanics LOVE
Facebok, they call it "el face.")

President Taylor held a spur-of-the-moment MLC where we drove into
Dallas and received a bunch of training materials from Salt Lake that
we then turned around and presented to our zones in a zone meeting
held the next day.

It was a lot of driving for one week. The work in our area definitely
felt it, but all is well.

The great quote that was said and re-said in the whole facebook set up
process is from David O. McKay. It was a direct prophecy of our day,
technological advancements, etc etc.

My favorite line of the quote is: "limitless perils and untold possibilities."

It is true of both technology and our lives on this earth. With every
advancement comes broader horizons and more freedom to act as we
please. Why do you think the power of godliness is reserved for those
who maintain the highest standards of living? (P.S.  D&C 84:20-21)

Love yall to Kolob and Back,

Elder Cox

Here is Elder Maxwell and I at MLC + and a pig in one of our lessons
on an exchange

Elders Maxwell, Cole, and I reunited once again

Baby pig in a lesson out east

Week #59 (July 24, 2016)

Quotes/Scenes of the Week

1) We are teaching a lady on her doorstep as her kids run in and out of the house, when she begins telling us about her real struggle - one of her sons who has massive anger issues. The kid is standing right there, and what does his shirt say?....

"U mad bro?"

Ironic?


The week flew by. I can't believe I am writing emails again, I feel like I was doing this 5 minutes ago. 

My mission president is honestly the perfect president for me, I love him and Sister Taylor so much. 

As a matter of fact, I love my mission so much too, it is perfect.

The only thing that needs fixing about my mission is me.

I have never felt more aware of my weaknesses and shortcomings as I have now, nor of the Savior's love and patience with me. He has done so much more for me than I will ever be able to pay back. I love my Savior. He truly lives.

Thank you so much for keeping me in your prayers, I can feel it!

Don't sleep through the Restoration!!

Love you all to Kolob and Back!

-Elder Cox

P.s. I sent letters back to all those who sent me hard mail, I so appreciate it!

Here are the haircuts Hmna Monsivais gave us in the Longview 4th Branch

P.s.s. The Church is true

Week #58 (July 18, 2016)

Quote of the week: 1. Conversation through a car window about an hour ago: Us: "Hello!" Lady in car: "Y'ALL BELIEVE IN SPEAKING IN TONGUES?!" 5 minutes later she ends up giving us a Scentsy catalogue and driving away. It has been eventful this week - First, interviews and zone conference with President and Sister Taylor. I love them like family -- such incredible people. I feel so blessed to have had him as my mission president. (We are even going home the same transfer, can you believe that?) Second, at the zone conference, Elder Cole and I have a training about "How to use the sicklle," for which President Taylor gave us both his sickle and permission to make videos. Here is one of me showing "how not to use the sickle": It was a hit. Fun video I made with Elders Green and Cole about "The Harvest"  Third, at the zone conference, Hermana Alldredge (the African American sister missionary on Sister Taylor's right, convert of <2 years) gave the most incredible conversion story/testimony at the end of the meeting. I will literally pay her to speak at my family home evening when my kids are old enough to serve missions, it was touching. Fourth, we lost our phone and I had to take a "defense driving" course, so a couple of the senior missionaries, Elder and Sister Wilson, drove out from Dallas. They are converts of many years who got married 21 days before he went to Vietnam and baptized 3 weeks after meeting the missionaries upon his return. They took us out to lunch after, awesome people.   Fifth, the work is on fire in this area. We have 4 people on date for baptism, and we just can't move fast enough. Add on President Taylor's challenge to the mission to "double your new investigators," and you can sure bet that we are busy bodies out here.  I am so humbled by the priviledge to share the gospel. It's not easy sometimes, but I am so grateful for how this experience is changing me and preparing me for my life to come. Jesus Christ lives. This is His church. Get in on the action! Love yall to Kolob and Back! -Elder Cox Longview Zone meeting with President and Sis Taylor The Wilsons came and delivered some stuff to us and took us to lunch in Longview