"We Are As the Army of Helaman"

Monday, June 24, 2013

     All I really have to talk about is that Leadership Broadcast on Sunday. It was incredible to see all the missionaries in the broadcast fill the Marriott Center to capacity, and know that even they are not the full extent of the Lord's army. I am so grateful and humbled to know that I am one of those soldiers fighting for the salvation of God's children, and that my personal success is not measured in the number of baptisms, but in the number of people that I can reach.
     The broadcast was also helpful in that I felt like the apostles were taking the burden of finding people off of missionaries' shoulder and giving that responsibility to the members. At first I was flabbergasted, "what would I do all day?!" But after pondering the significance of that shift, I was able to see the vision that the apostles have for the work: that members become friends with everyone they meet and are therefore in a position to not only extend the Gospel to them, but also to help retain them and allow the Church to grow that much faster. In a perfect world, every lesson that the missionaries teach would be a member present lesson, and they would be running around from appointment to appointment with no time to rest during the day. I could almost see it happening in our wards here in Tehachapi. But I know that there is still a ways to go before that point of teaching is realized, so the work goes on.

     Also, my new mission mailing address as of July 1st will be:
 

Elder Ethan L. Cox

California Bakersfield Mission

3512 Coffee Road, Suite B

Bakersfield, CA  93308

     Love you all and hope everyone is doing well!

 
Elder Cox

Wait - I'm not in the Ventura Mission?

Monday, June 17, 2013

     This past week was taken up with service and with nervous energy in preparation for the transfer calls today; because on July 1, this area is going to split from the Ventura mission and become the California Bakersfield mission. I wasn't entirely sure which mission I wanted to be in, both of them are great and have amazing people in them (but the weather on the coast is much milder). But when I got the call to remain in Tehachapi (meaning that I'm going to be opening the new mission), I knew that this is where I'm supposed to be. I'm going to miss the coast, for the brief time that I knew it, but the people up here are so amazing that it makes up for the heat...  I hope.
     So come July 1, I will have a new mission office that letters and packages will have to go to; so don't send anything about a week before that, otherwise the letter might get lost. And this transfer is going to be a 7 week transfer, so that President Wilson and the MTC can get on track. So I'm "stuck" with Elder Broby as District Leader for an extra week. Hope we can get along that long.
     There was a testimony builder I had on Sunday that I'd like to share. I don't know if you recall a member in one of the wards, Woody, who was dying of cancer that I talked about in a previous letter. Well, on Sunday he came to church and it was a shock to see him out and about, because on the last visit he was wanting to die. Miraculously, his last surgery was able to take out all the cancer and all that remains is to regain his strength. I know that it was the blessing that Elder Scott and I gave him that allowed him to heal so effectively, because the doctors were not optimistic about his chances for survival. This just strengthens my testimony of the power of the priesthood and how it can be used to completely change people's lives.
     That's all I have to say about that. Elder Broby and I got an energy boost, and I have a feeling this transfer is going to be a good one. I love you all and hope that you have an awesome week!

Elder Cox

2 Baptisms, A Wedding, and A Funeral

 

Monday, June 10, 2013

 

     This week was really hard. My companion got "DearJohn'd" on Tuesday, so the rest of the week was shot because Elder Broby was in mourning. We also had to travel from Tehachapi to Bakersfield every day but one this past week, which destroyed our miles (we're at 700 of 1850 already). We did the best we could, but still by the end of the week we were completely exhausted - physically, emotionally and spiritually.
     The greatest learning experience that I gained this week is that the Lord will provide uplifting experiences in our lives to help us through all the other trials that we have to face. We saw that in two convert baptisms, a wedding, and a trip to the temple - all of which helped me to keep my perspective on life and the work that needs doing. One of the baptisms was Elizabeth, who was also the bride at the wedding. That was a really cool experience to attend that baptism (at 10pm!!!) and the wedding. The downside to the wedding was that we were behind the bride's maids during the ceremony and couldn't see anything, and we couldn't dance with any of the pretty girls. Oh well, good thing I like being a missionary!
     With this next week being the last of this transfer, I definitely feel a sense of urgency to make sure that the area book is up-to-date and that every thing is ready for the formation of a new mission. However, I also learned that we need to keep things in an eternal perspective. While the personal things that happened were devastating, in 20 years it won't matter, and even in 40 years we won't remember them. But the baptisms, the temple, and even the wedding (eventually) are going to remain for eternity, and they are more important than temporal matters.

     Sorry that this is so short, but like I said, this week was rough. Love you all and when I "talk" to you next, I'll know if I'm in the Ventura or Bakersfield mission.

Elder Cox

 Moroni 7:37
"Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain."

 

Monday, June 3, 2013

 

     This week has been incredible! I truly believe that miracles happen on exchanges, and I have been on three this week, and every time there have been prayers answered and doors open.
     The first was on Wednesday with Elder Whent from Delaware. We worked solely on updating the area book by seeing people that have not been visited in several months. I met so many people that were very friendly to missionaries, but not necessarily open to the gospel at this time. Such as Reggie: a very devout Christian who holds a lot of our beliefs, but not quite ready for the discussions. Nevertheless, he still invites the missionaries in every time they come over, so I just pray that his heart can be opened to receive the gospel. But there were so many other doors open that day, I was utterly exhausted from running about this area.
     I also learned a great deal from Elder Whent especially regarding faith and teaching. He told me that faith is made up of three parts: 1) A belief in God; 2) A correct understanding of his character; and 3) A belief that we can change and mold our lives to his will. Although there are a few more aspects of faith, we both agree that this is what it all boils down to. I also learned a valuable lesson in teaching with companion unity. I don't like interrupting people when they are teaching, especially when they are going in the direction the lesson needs to go. If the discussion starts to stray, I will bring it back, but otherwise I don't like killing someone's momentum. This is not how lessons should be though. I talked later with Elder Whent and Elder Broby about this; and they both said that both companions need to talk, because if one Elder is doing all the talking, then the investigators/members disregard the other companion and going out "two by two" loses its effectiveness. So I learned that I need to work on being more bold and using the voice that God has given me. Which as many of you know is a force to be reckoned with.
     The other exchange that I went on this week that really inspired me was with Elder Scott, the traveling trainer. Bear Valley/Golden Hills was his first area, so he already knows a lot of the people and many of their needs. One of the most moving experiences that I have had on my mission was during this exchange: a member named Woody in Bear Valley Ward was recently diagnosed with cancer. He has survived so many things (multiple gunshot wounds, knife fights, car crashes, etc.) but he may not survive this. The day Elder Scott and I visited him was especially bad. He had spent the entire night in such pain that he begged God to take him; or if not God, the devil would do - just to stop the pain. Then that morning he prayed for some relief.  He prayed for Elder Scott to come because they had been really close when he was serving in this area. Lo and behold, a few hours after that prayer, we came to his house to check up on him. Being an answer to a son of God's prayer was such an uplifting experience, even more so when Elder Scott gave him a blessing. The love that our Father in heaven had for Woody was felt in that room, the Spirit nearly overwhelming to me. I will never forget that experience and I will always treasure the feelings that I had, as well as the council that I received after that from Elder Scott. After we left Woody's, Elder Scott emphasized the importance of keeping to the schedule that you give yourself for that day. Because if we had lingered with some other investigators earlier in the day, we could not have ministered to Woody who was in the deepest of need. It was a very valuable lesson.
     One of the last things that Elder Scott talked to me about was the importance of not justifying any degree of disobedience. He gave the analogy of when you're swimming in the ocean, that you don't notice the tide going out; but little by little you stray from shore, and little by little you are swept out to sea. So stay close to shore and take Alma's council in Alma 42:30 to not attempt to justify sin in the least whit.

     That's about all for this week. I love you all and you are in my prayers and thoughts (when I'm not thinking about missionary work that is).

Elder Cox