Lieve Familie,
This week’s email
I want to talk about the "free agency of others" and how annoying and
heartbreaking it can be for a missionary. This week my heart was absolutely
broken because of it. I have learned something so big on my mission that I know
will affect me not only for the rest of my mission, but also throughout the
rest of my life and that is- giving out invitations. As people or as
missionaries the only possible thing we can ever do to get someone to do
something for us or just for themselves is by asking them to do it; and whether
they do it or not is totally up to them. That’s where I have learned
that: all the questions that we will ask throughout our lives, with the
intention of someone actually having to do something, is not a
question but instead it is an invitation. An invitation for them to do
something for themselves or for you. For example: I used to always ask mom
if she would make me something to eat..ALWAYS. hahah but really that was just
an invitation I was giving her because she had the choice to actually do it or
not. Therefore she had the choice to deny the invitation or accept it. - Its a
good thing she ALWAYS accepted ;) (LOVE
YOU). So where I am trying to go with this
is here: we gave the "invitation" for Siara and Don to read the Book
of Mormon and they had the choice or "free agency" to do whatever
they wanted. Don read about 1/3 of it, but Siara wouldn’t even touch it because
she loves her bible. Our appointment ended up being a bible bash with them and
let me just say- you can't solve anything by "proving to the other person
they are wrong" it just doesn’t work.
So yeah my heart was crushed this week with them and it actually left me in a weird,
depressed, and sad mood for the rest of the week which was pretty
rough... but its funny how the Lord works because that all turned around
yesterday at church when: Drum Roll please... Patrick- the father of the
other family were teaching- CAME TO CHURCH! He came alone because he
wanted to check it out before his daughter and wife would come and guess what..
He actually enjoyed it! We had the chance to teach the Sunday school class with
him there and we gave a solid review on the Restoration of the Church, Joseph
Smith, and the Priesthood. So solid that yup... with the spirit being so strong
we "Invited" him to be baptized on April 26th and he totally
accepted. This guy is awesome and so is his wife and daughter. They are all
Belgium and the Lord definitely prepared them. The branch here in Kortrijk
definitely needs them and I'm pretty sure they would love to see a baptism
since it has been a very very long time since they have even seen an
investigator walk into church!
Its funny how the Lord works. One day your feeling the lowest of lows and the
next day your feeling like your on cloud 9, but I guess
that is just included in this missionary roller coaster ride of emotions.
FREAK! hahah In other news though I am beginning to have some super
strong relationships with the members here, especially with one named Marnix-
who is taking us to the gym again today because he knows how much I loved it
last week. Everything else is going good- This Sunday we get transfer calls
and I'm pretty sure I’ll be staying, but then again you never know...
right now I'm known as the "Mission whore" because I have been in
just about every zone and can't seem to stay in one place.. hahaha
Life is
good. God is great. And people are crazy. Love you guys and miss you all like
crazy and stay LEKKER.
Liefs,
Elder
Cook
Ps: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMAAAAAAAA!!
LOVE YOU!! PARTY LIKE IT’S HOT!
Pics: Here is
Marnix and I at the gym last week
Here is the cow family Pops!
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| For Shmoe! |
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