Why hello!
Elder Cook was fantastic. I loved how down to earth he is. His wife is a crack up!!! She had the whole mission singing primary songs and then after we finished she would jump up and down and say "oh you're just wonderful!" Well Elder cook visited the stake here on Wed. night. We tried to do our best to round up less active and recent converts to go just to help their testimonies. A lot of people went. I actually have a video of everyone getting of the bus . . . and all I can say is . . . your going to love it! It's amazing how many people can fit on a bus! We went in and Sister Cook started off by telling stories about family home evening. One time their son was acting out the part of mouses (that prophet in the bible . . . I can't spell anymore) and Elder Cook the pharou (still cant spell). The son would say "let my people go" and Elder Cook kept saying "no." After about two times the son wound up and punched his dad in the face (Elder Cook). She just tried to use the story to explain that family night will always be an adventure, but as she put it . . . "My son was learning scriptures. ha ha ha" After Elder Cook talked about the same thing, The Family. He used other examples of family home evening. His story was. . . one time he was pretending to be . . . somebody. Anyway he was on his hands and knees and his grandson was able to see the top of his head. Elder Cook said, "He had probably never seen the top of my head because I am taller than him . . . but today I was down low so, I guess he saw it for the first time." So the grandson looks at him and says- "Grandpa, why do you cut your hair like that?" (because he's bald) And this happened years ago - so Elder Cook said . . . "Well do you know who Michael Jordan is?" The grandson replied "no, is he in the bible?" Elder Cook started to laugh because he could tell the little guy was puzzled by the question of who Michael Jordan was because he thought the question was directed towards the gospel. The little guy thought and thought and then started to sing joyfully because he thought he had figured it out! "When Jesus Christ was baptized down in the river JORDAN!" It was a really funny story. Elder Cook said something interesting. He said Brazil is not having problems with money because they are humble. They accept the gospel, and don't search after worldly things and that is why the crisis has not effected them. That was really interesting. After we went home and returned the next day just to have time with Elder Cook. (Just the missionaries in the Cuiaba area. So I was lucky I got transfered!) He taught us about preach my gospel. He was the one who was in charge of writing it so . . . he REALLY taught us! He told us what chapters we need to study better, what part of the book came from what apostle. What part came from revelation. Then he gave a blessing to us which I´ll explain later. Then we asked questions. He told us about what it was like when Pres. Monson was set apart. He told us about his mission and what it was like to be companions with Elder Holland. Then we ate lunch and he left. It was so great!Anyway, back to the blessing. My companion is having major problems. He has wanted to go home since he got here, and I have just been trying to do my best to help him, but it is so hard. He is so moody. One day he´ll tell me he loves me and that he can´t go the whole mission without me by his side and then the next he'll tell me he hates me! So it's just really hard for me too. Anyway he made it through his first transfer. Last week he was doing a lot better, but in the middle of the week he crashed. He really wanted to go home. So we set up an appointment for him to talk with Pres. Milder. (oh side note- I am in a trio because this area is one of the biggest areas in the mission, so Elder Pierringer is showing the area to me.) So one night Elder Pierringer and I were up talking about what we would like to ask Elder Cook. Anyway my companion sat up started to cry and screamed I want to go home. ( This was the night before Elder Cook came.) We gave him a blessing and tried to calm him down- he did and went back to sleep. We woke up and went to Elder Cook. This is why I want to share with you what he blessed us with. I watched an apostle receive revelation in front of me. He stopped in the middle of his talk, and started to say, "There is no other place in the world, that could be better for you, than here." And he paused again and started looking straight at my companion. "If you're worried about your family, financial problems or other things, just know the Lord will bless you. The lord will bless your family. The lord will bless your future wife. And the lord will bless your children because of your service here." It was amazing to see him pause and direct the blessing to so many missionaries in the room. AWESOME! Well all is well here. Just pray that I can just keep helping my companion with love and patience and pray for him as well. Letters of love and support would help me a lot! I need them right now, because it's hard. I am great though and learning so much about patience and love. I am learning to rely on faith in the lord, and beginning to understand the importance of prayer.
LoveElder Perry