Mijn Geliefde Familie,
Het is bijna Kerst hier in Nederland en natuurlijk ben ik heel blij mee, maar
ook een beetje bang ervoor want het zal de eerst keer voor mij zijn dat ik niet
bij jullie zal zijn. Maar in ieder geval ik kan niet wachten om jullie weer te
zien via Skype:)!!!! Even iets voor jullie... Voor wij gaan skypen, kunnen
jullie een paar vragen in jullie gedachten nemen om aan mij te vragen. Op die
manier gaat het skypen gemakkelijker. Danken jullie wel!
Familie holy shmoooooly! This last week absolutely flew by. It’s hard to
believe that it is only 9 days until Christmas, I feel like December
just began! Time really does just fly by. Even though there are those days that
feel like weeks or years, but really I can’t believe Christmas is just right
around the corner! I hope all of you have finished all the crazy Christmas
shopping and are finally able to just settle down and think more about what
Christmas really means. Fortunately for me I don’t have to worry about the
crazy shopping and instead really take this time to think upon the
importance of this wonderful Holiday! Christmas ahhhhhhh! I don’t even know
where to begin with it. I’m so excited and sooo... just... blaahhh! hahah
But ANYWAYS this week familie.. "It wasss a goooood one" (dumb
and dumber voice)! On Wednesday we had a General Authority come
speak to us, Elder Teixeira, and it was quite the experience that’s for sure.
He said/gave some really good advice on how we can be better missionaries and
how we really can improve- it was definitely a good conference, but I must be
honest... It was our Christmas Conference for the mission and I didn't feel to
much love..:( And "ISNT THAT WHAT CHRISTMAS IS FOR" (Grinch voice).
It was a good experience though. Following the conference I got to finally pick
up all the wonderful packages you guys sent me!!! AHHHH they are so awesome! It
definitely made my day to see all that Love from you guys. I want you all to
know that I am taking this whole "12 days" of Christmas thing really
seriously and only opening a present once a day, I'm on day 3 now! Oh
and I am also saving all the other packages/presents for Christmas Eve and
Christmas! wwwwwaaaaaaaaahhoooo!
The next day I got to spend my whole day on exchanges with a younger Elder in a
different city. It was a longgggggg day as we knocked doors and street
contacted for almost 6 hours. My feet were about to fall off and I’ve never
experienced such a sore throat in my life from the non-stop Dutch speaking. However
it was a fun day and definitely a day that I needed of just non-stop work.
I hope you all are wondering about Ethlyn also... well on Friday we
had probably one of the coolest lessons ever on my mission. (It was definitely
a journal moment) On Friday we took Ethlyn to the Temple that is
really close here to Den Haag. Ethlyn used to think that she wasn’t even
allowed to go within 100 meters of the Temple so she was really surprised when
we took her inside of it and had a lesson in the waiting room. Well I can
honestly say without a single doubt that the Temple radiates the spirit. As we
taught/ talked to Ethlyn about what’s so special about the Temple (while
sitting inside the Temple) the spirit completely took over and I’ve
never seen or experienced the Holy Ghost testify so strongly of the truth in my
life. It really built my testimony up that we, us as missionaries or members of
the Church, are only instruments in the hands of the Lord and that the Holy
Ghost truly is the one who testifies the truth. Tears were shed by just about
everyone in the room because of how strong the spirit was working. I am so
grateful to have experienced it and be here to help Ethlyn on her path.
ENJOY TO THE END
Met Lief,
Elder Cook(ie)!
PS: Congrats to Elissa on the
engagement! I’m super stoked for you guys! Just remember that this
"Andrew" guy has got one crazy cousin he still has to meet who is in
Europe! hahahahha
PS: mom look I got my picture with SANTA CLAUS!!!
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