Week 56

This week was great! It was actually kind of a short work week for us. We had a conference in Montevideo, and then we stayed over night because my companion had to sign some legal papers and I just got to relax and not do too much while we waited haha! 

This week we saw all sorts of miracles too! And it was interesting because every miracle we saw came from another disappointment. A lot of times during my mission when things don`t go as planned and the lessons we have fall through, I get a little disappointed and frustrated; but this week I just made it a point to try and be positive no matter what happened! God knows everything and if I am fully willing to trust in Him, sometimes He wants me to do things that I wasn`t planning on. This week we had times when we would try to visit investigators and they weren`t home, but instead of getting upset, I made it a point to look for what the Lord wanted me to do in that moment other than what I had planned. It has been hard actually to get myself to start thinking this way, but we have seen so many little miracles and I feel like I am using my time way more now and I feel happier.  I guess I just try to always think of what the Lord`s will is and try to forget what my own plans are... I hope that I can get really good at training myself to think like this so when things don`t go as planned after the mission, I can keep trusting in the Lord and doing His will in my life. I was thinking about the General Conference we just had and I realized that several speakers spoke of trusting in the Lord, and so I have tried to trust in Him all I could this week. I gave Him all I had. I love this quote from conference, 

"We cannot control all that happens to us, but we have absolute control over how we respond to the changes in our lives. This does not imply that the challenges and trials we face are of no consequence and easily handled or dealt with. It does not imply that we will be free from pain or heartache. But it does mean that there is cause for hope and that due to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can move forward and find better days—even days full of joy, light, and happiness."

 - Bishop W. Christopher Waddell. 

I hope you all are well! I love you all and you are always in my prayers!

Love,

Elder Cole

Parts from the family email:

Hey Ma! Yeah, I really like our area! Since my new companion got here we really started taking off! We should be seeing some baptisms soon! 

There are these things called tortugones that you can only eat in Maldonado and they are incredible. I love them! There is all sorts of great food here! The members say that the missionaries get fat in our ward so I guess we will see haha! 

Yeah Mom only 10 months...... unless I extend...... ;)  That is awesome that you guys have been reading more! I have really realized how important it is to read the Book of Mormon everyday and also as a family. I can`t tell you how many families are having issues with their kids and if they were just having better family home evenings and scripture studies than it would help, but usually by the point of problems it is too late to start doing those things.  Love ya Ma!

(Below pictures) Photo credit to Brother and Sister Wankier

http://gordon-renee-in-uruguay.blogspot.com/

Week 55

Wow! This week was great! The whole week was just super busy and fun, but General Conference this weekend was without a doubt something special! It was too bad that President Monson couldn`t have been there, but the other talks were just as powerful as anything President Monson could have told us. As I listened to every session, it seemed like there were a few things that several speakers brought up, humility, service, social websites, ect. But by far the most talked about subject during this General Conference was the Book of Mormon! 

I think that it is incredible that just six months after President Monson gave his 3 to 4 minute talk about the importance of the Book of Mormon, the Apostles and General Authorities of the church expanded and deepened the prophets message that every member, no matter the age, should read the Book of Mormon everyday! I liked President Nelson`s talk a lot as he focused on the importance and power of the Book of Mormon. President Nelson asked three questions that really inspired me to reflect on my answers, "How would my life be without the Book of Mormon?" "What would I not know" "What would I not have?"  I love the Book of Mormon and to hear the Apostles speak of it so much really inspired me to learn to love it even more. My testimony of this church is based in that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.  I don`t know where I would be if I hadn`t had the chance to study the Book of Mormon, but I know that I wouldn`t be in Uruguay sharing something that I really love!

Just as the conference ended we headed to the home of some people that we had met earlier in the week. As we got to know them we learned that they were really strong in their Evangelist church. It was amazing to see their love for the Bible and their willingness to follow the Savior Jesus Christ. We taught them about Christ`s church and the restoration of the Gospel through Joseph Smith. We then explained a little of the Book of Mormon and that`s when the father of the family began to verbally attack us. He wasn`t malicious or mean, but was firm in his doubts about the Book of Mormon. For some time we debated and talked using spiritual experiences, examples and even the Bible to back up the truth of the Book of Mormon, but after all that was said, all I could do in the end was bear testimony that I know that The Book of Mormon is the the word of God. No one can take that knowledge from me, and as we testified of the truths that we know, both my companion and I were filled with feelings of power, peace and asurity that I am not sure I have felt before. 

Without a doubt the Book of Mormon is from God. I am so glad to be a missionary at this time in my life so that I can share this knowledge with others. My testimony is not close to the ones that we heard in General Conference, but it truly is an honor for me to bear my testimony  of the Book of Mormon to the people of Uruguay, just as the Apostles of Jesus Christ bore theirs to the world this last weekend. 

President Nelson ended his talk with the promise that we will receive guidance and answers as well as power against temptation, if we study the Book of Mormon everyday. I know that his promise is real and I hope to see more of God`s power and guidance as I study each day. 

Love Yall,

Elder Cole

Parts from the family email, answering my questions:

Hey Ma! The conference was super great! It is always super awesome to hear form the apostles! My companion is cool. He`s going to BYU after too, and we get along pretty well. No, I haven`t had any luck with my comps having available sisters haha... You can pray for Ismael, Rosa and Ismael, Sabino and the Madruga family. President Eddy is super great! He isn`t strict at all, we just follow what the mission manual says and he doesn`t add anything more to it. He is super inspired and its always great to hear him talk. I wouldn`t be too surprised if he is a general authority after his time as mission president. Hermana Eddy is super great. She is super sweet and just tries to always help as much as she can. Love ya Ma!

Love,

Elder Cole  

Week 54

This week was great! We were just running everywhere like crazy, but we saw so many little miracles! On Wednesday we had to head to Montevideo to work with the Assistants to the President for a day. It was great to work with them and I actually got to work with Elder Mecham, who I got to know when he was my Zone Leader in Treinta y Tres! At the end of the day we were walking back to the house and as we crossed a parking lot a car pulled up and the guy yelled something at us. At first we weren`t sure what he said, but I figured he was mad because we cut him off on accident. And then this big guy gets out of the car and starts talking to us in English, but an English that I really didn`t recognize. It turns out that the guys is from Georgia and was visiting Uruguay because he served here 40 years ago! I guess hearing Spanish everyday didn`t really prepare me to hear the Georgian accent.  He was also MTC companions with a bishop in Moses Lake and so he knew all about central Washington! 

The next day we headed to the big bus station so that we could get on a bus to head home. The trip from the Assistant`s house to the station is about 30 minutes by car and just as we arrived we realized that we forgot our phone in the house so we had to go back and get it. We ended up losing an hour and had to take a later bus. We were kinda frustrated with ourselves that we had wasted so much time, but as we sat on the bus a guy from Germany (named Jan) sat in the seat in front of us.  He spoke English and so for the 2 1/2 hour bus ride we talked to him and taught him about the church. That day we had gotten a Book of Mormon in English for a sister missionary who is learning English, but we ended up giving the Book of Mormon to Jan! He was super excited to read it and we were able to write down his address so that the missionaries can visit him! He lives in Santigo Chile right now and teaches English and seemed really excited to read the Book of Mormon and learn more! It is just super incredible that we were able to met this guy and bring him the gospel, all because we left our phone! I guess God does work in mysterious ways!

We also have changes this week and sadly Elder Lockhart will no longer be my companion. But My new companion is Elder Guañuna from California!  I met him in Treinta y Tres and we are pretty good friends so I am super excited to be his companion! 

Love y'all! Hope all is well! Good luck with North Korea hahahaha! 

Love,

Elder Cole

Week 53

This week was good! This last Monday we went to a beach called Punta Ballena and visited some caves that are over there. It was super cool! Then we visited a place called Casapueblo, that is a big hotel that is sculpted into the side of the cliff over-looking the ocean. It was pretty cool to be able to visit one of Uruguay`s most famous places!

This last week we were just running. We had a ton of things to do to help other missionaries in our zone and it was pretty crazy. My companion also had to go to Montevideo this week so that he could sign some papers and getting his Uruguayan ID. We also had to do a few interviews for a baptism so we ended up switching companions for a few hours so that he could go do that and I could stay behind to take care of the interviews. I am really grateful for Mondays haha! I love missionary work and the life here in Uruguay, but by the time Sunday rolls around I am just dead. 

We also had the chance to teach a really cool 19 year old girl this week. Her 20 year old brother is a drug addict  and she has been in charge of taking care of him. It sounds like she has been having a tough time, but we know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can/will help anyone with any problem, and so we are really excited to see the changes and blessings that come into her life as she chooses to learn more! 

Love y'all! Hope all is well! 

Love,

Elder Cole

Some pics from Casapueblo:

One Year!!!!!!

Hey guys! Hope all is well at home! The people here talk a lot about the big storms and earthquakes that are all over the US! 

This week was good! It just dumped rain on us all day, everyday, but we really saw a lot of little miracles in the rain! I am just really enjoying Uruguay and the mission!  We had an awesome conference with President Eddy! I really learned a lot and we have already seen the difference that his council has made in the way we study, teach and serve!

Since today is 9/11 I wanted to share a thought that I had when I was reading the Book of Mormon. In Alma 29:12&14 it says,

"12. While many thousands of others truly mourn for the loss of their kindred, yet they rejoice and exult in the hope, and even know, according to the promises of the Lord, that they are raised to dwell at the right hand of God, in a state of never-ending happiness. 14. And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing—sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life"

I feel like on a day like today, when we remember the attacks on the Twin Towers we can also remember the hope and joy that we have knowing that we are sons and daughters of God, that death is not the end, and that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we will all live again and be with those we love! 

Love ya`ll! You are always in my prayers! Enjoy your week, and God bless America! 

- Elder Cole

1. The famous "La Mano" here in Maldonado

2. I finally made it to the beach 

Week 51

This week was full of ups and downs! This last P-day I had the chance to get to know a part of Maldonado called Punta del Este, which is like the richest part of all Maldonado! I got to go see the famous fingers in the sand and eat McDonald's (it is a pretty rare thing here in Uruguay)! We also walked down to the port and looked for a guy from Switzerland that sells waffles on the beach... but we never ended up finding him haha! 

I also got to work with two other missionaries this week, so that we could learn from each other! Both times we had a hard time because we met a lot of closed doors, even for lessons that we had set up. But we worked hard and at the end of one night we ended up teaching a cool family and they must have felt the Spirit because they agreed to come to church on Sunday! I feel like this always happens on my mission; we work really hard all day and don`t have much luck until the last hour of the day and we end up seeing some great miracle and we go home feeling satisfied with the success we had that day! 

Life is good here in Maldonado! Hope all is well at home! I always pray for y'all! Hope everyone enjoys going back to school! ;P 

Love,

Elder Cole

Parts from the family email:

Hey Ma! The mission work is going good! I am doing alright with everything don`t worry.... I guess if you could send me some new soles for my shoes that would be great, my other ones are starting to look rough. 

They didn`t really celebrate Independence Day here... people in the big cities in Uruguay aren`t very patriotic, not like the states. The night before their Independence Day they had "nostalgic night" where everyone listens to old music from like the 80`s. That was cool, but they didn`t start partying til like 9:30 so we didn`t get to see anything. 

I have some cool pictures, but the computer I am at now is broken and can`t send pics so maybe next week... 

This week was good! I got to work with two other missionaries in exchanges for a couple of days so that we can learn from each other. One was...  but the other worked really hard and was great! It is super cool to be on the mission and meet all sorts of different people and different cultures! 

We also went to "La Mano" here in Maldonado which was super cool and is pretty well known throughout the world!  I have also eaten more McDonald's in the last two weeks than the other ten months of my mission haha! 

We have been having some good luck finding people to teach, but it is super hard to talk to anyone a second time, but we are working on it haha! Hope everything is good at home! Also if you can I need more Spanish CTR rings! Love y'all!

Love,

Elder Cole

Week 50

This week was great... and wet. It rained a ton here! It rained for like 3-4 days straight and everything we had was super moist and things started getting moldy haha! I can now honestly say that humidity is not for me. The day that was actually raining the hardest, we should have been doing our weekly planning, but someone in our ward called and asked for a priesthood blessing and so we took off in the downpour for a little neighborhood way out in the middle of no where! It was a great opportunity to serve a little old lady that has some tough illnesses.  The mission is an awesome experience to get to serve at all times and to just help people, putting aside anything else!

This Sunday we also had a special broadcast for Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. We got to hear a few members of the Seventy and Elder Rasband of the Twelve! It was super cool because almost every speaker has visited Uruguay and told personal stories about the faith and testimonies of the people in these three South American countries!  I really love the mission and all that the Lord has called for me to do!

Love you all! I am praying for you! If you can please pray that our investigators can quit smoking Marijuana!

Love,

Elder Cole

Parts from the family email:

Hey Ma! Maldonado is super cool! It is pretty modern, but our area is in just some neighborhoods so it is pretty similar to my other areas, but is definitely a better standard of living. The people here are wealthier than most of Uruguay, but in the part called Punta del Este there are people that are SUPER rich! They have like huge mansions. But Punta del Este isn`t in our area either.

Our ward is pretty big, there are about 110 people that are active. They feed us pretty well. We have a few investigators, but everyone works a ton here so that they can support their lifestyle so it is super hard to talk to someone more than once. So we are looking for some new people to teach and we are excited to see what we can do! 

My comp is pretty cool! We get along well. He is from California so he is super chill and has some Californian slang haha!   

I have been wearing my boots because it dumps sometimes and those boots save my life! Haha!

This week was pretty relaxed. We did a ton of looking for new investigators and we found a few really good people! We also had a guy that we met this week come to church, which was super cool because my companion said that it has been a while since an investigator has come to church!

Hope all is well with you guys! When does school start? Love y'all!

Elder Cole



Photo credit to Bro Wankier @ https://gordon-renee-in-uruguay.blogspot.com