And, finally, today's letter with an addendum:

94%

Monday, March 31, 2014

This week was really good, we had our investigator get baptized!!!! And we got to attend another baptism as well, one of the noisiest ones that I have been to yet. So a mission update: we had set a goal to have 50 baptisms in the month of March. We got *drum roll please* 47 out of 50!!! Yaaaaaaaaahhhhoooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a perfect end to a great month. President Wilson said that even though we didn't get 50 (and we would have if there hadn't been some last-minute things come up) we have gotten a record number since this mission has started. We now have a new goal: for this quarter (from April to June) every area gets at least one baptism. Doing the math, that is 125 new members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the California Bakersfield Mission. 

We also went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders this week. I wanted to focus on teaching simply, but mostly I just wanted to stay awake while Elder Evans taught in Spanish. Lo and behold, I was able to do both. I understand a little Spanish (not nearly enough to get by but I do know some words) so I tried to listen in and keep up with the conversation. What I found astounding was that when I listened, I still was able to feel the Holy Ghost testify of truth. Even though I didn't understand all the words, I still knew the key parts and got the gist of the conversation. I learned that there are certain "buzzwords" that the Spirit is able use to "spiritually charge" the discussion. So in reality we don't need a whole lot of filler words, but just those keywords that have such deep meaning that the Holy Ghost is able to fill in the rest. So really, I was able to accomplish both goals on exchanges and have a greater appreciation for teaching simply.

Sorry this email is so short but we got here late. Love you all and hope you have an excellent weekend.

Elder Cox

P.S. I should probably share a scripture too. Here's a funny one from Job 30:27 "My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me." 

Addendum from mom:  I asked Ethan in my weekly email to him if he had felt the L.A. earthquake.  Here's his response (silly boy!):

And yeah, I did feel the earthquake. I was actually sitting on the ground and started swaying for like 5 seconds. I know that I'm supposed stand in the doorway, right? Or is it lay in the bathtub? Or is it: Hand's o'er your head, keep low to the ground. Learn to duck and cover, yeah...duck and cover.

Letter #5:

Get thee to a Nunnery!

Monday, March 24, 2014

Everybody, 

Okay, so the week in a nutshell...I have no idea what I did. I know that I did stuff and that that we were busy, but for the life of me I don't know where the time went. I will tell you what I remember, but this is going to be a short letter. 

Firstly, we helped a damsel in distress this week. I don't know how many of you remember that woman that Elder Carper and I talked to a few weeks ago, the one that dumped all her family problems on us. Well, turns out her mom was able to talk some sense into her. And so, just like Morianton's maid who came from an abusive home and fled (see Alma 50: 30-31), so too did this daughter of God pack up everything at 8 o'clock in the dark and run with her daughter. We helped move everything and wished her the best. I hope that she makes it okay. 

On a more uplifting note however, our investigator passed his interview, so he will be baptized this Saturday! We're really really really excited for him, since he has been waiting for close to 11 years to do this. He wanted to do it when he was eight, but his father was not supportive (quite against it actually) and refused to give permission for all that time. But now that the investigator is 18, he is an adult, and able to make the decision for himself. And for this whole time he has been raised as a member, so he was just waiting to make it official. Patience really is a virtue: "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." - Psalms 27:14 

Also found a random member that had been lost in the shuffle of living in group homes as a teen. But he's found and we're helping him get back in the swing of church life. 

Like I said, that's about the extent of what I can remember for this week. We have Zone Conference this Friday so I should have more to write about next week. Love you all and hope you have a productive week. 

Elder Cox

Letter #4 (this one was the Monday after his birthday):

Happee Happee Birthday to Me!

Monday, March 17, 2014

Everyone, 

 

Whew, what a week filled with doing almost nothing. To explain what I mean, I wish to share a scripture, Moroni 6:4 which says: "And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith." So guess what Elder Hosteen and I did this week? Color coded our records and maps and put all the notes from missionaries past onto one list. Now, all we have to do is visit around 450 less-active members and see who is still living here and who has moved on. Or if any of them don't want anything to do with the church, or (best case scenario) they allow us to serve them in some way and gain a desire to come back to church. That's been the focus of our efforts this week. Oh, and my birthday. 

 

To which I say thank you for all the birthday wishes. This was a very special birthday for me, because... I turned 21!!!!!!! Now to go out and do... all... the things... that usually happen? Hmmmmm... well, at least I can now... nope can't do that either. Hmmm... suggestions would be helpful here... 

 

Regardless it was a good week, full of random miracles and seeing the Lord's hand in this work. And learned some stuff about grace in church yesterday: 

 

"Christ asks us to show faith in Him, repent, make and keep covenants, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. By complying, we are not paying the demands of justice—not even the smallest part. Instead, we are showing appreciation for what Jesus Christ did by using it to live a life like His. Justice requires immediate perfection or a punishment when we fall short. Because Jesus took that punishment, He can offer us the chance for ultimate perfection (see Matthew 5:48; 3 Nephi 12:48) and help us reach that goal. He can forgive what justice never could, and He can turn to us now with His own set of requirements (see 3 Nephi 28:35)." 

 

I love you all and hope that you have an excellent St. Paddy's day as well as the rest of the week. 

 

Elder Cox

Letter #3:

Searching Out for the One

Monday, March 10, 2014

Everyone, 

Okay so this week has been really sweet. My new companion Elder Hosteen is from Burley, ID. It's such a nice change to have a companion from the Gem State, because we understand so much about each other. He's a riot to be around so I am super excited about this transfer! We are going to get a lot of member work done, because tracting in Rosamond just don't work. The Baptist churches around here have a very tight grip on the people we we have to let the member find those who are open to the gospel. And we're going to help the ward out because they have upwards of 300 people on record but only about 120 are actively attending church. So we're going to see if these people still even live here. Who knows? There might be another ward here in Rosamond if all goes as I hope it will.

 

We had a meeting on Friday called ZTM where all the members of our zone go and are trained by the Zone Leaders who also pass along what they were talked to by President Wilson. The focus for this month is humility, and I want to share a little bit from Preach My Gospel and how it defines being humble:

 

"Humility is willingness to submit to the will of the Lord and to give the Lord the honor for what is accomplished. It includes gratitude for His blessings and acknowledgment of your constant need for His divine help...You are also willing to trust His chosen servants and follow their counsel...The opposite of humility is pride, which is condemned in the scriptures. To be prideful means to put greater trust in oneself than in God or in His servants. It also means to put the things of the world above the things of God. Prideful people take honor to themselves rather than giving God the glory. Pride is competitive; those who are prideful seek to have more and presume they are better than other people. Pride usually results in feelings of anger and hatred, and it is a great stumbling block."

 

That's really about all for this week. We spent a lot of our time planning out what we're going to do this transfer and how we are going to go about hastening the work of salvation in this area. But mission-wide, we are on track to reach 50 baptisms by the end of March! Exciting times to live in. I can't wait to see what the next few weeks will bring.

 

Love you all and hope that you enjoy the blessings the Lord gives to you.

 

Elder Cox

Letter #2:

I Love to See the Temple

Monday, March 3, 2014

 

Everyone,

Firstly, my investigators Billie and Zach got confirmed on Sunday, and I'm grateful that we were able to help them take those last steps and enter in at the strait gate and receive the Holy Ghost. And what a wonderful opportunity to be the voice for Billie's confirmation. I have done that only once before and both time the spirit within that circle is so strong and the love of our Father in Heaven is so evident as to remove all doubt in my mind as to the existence of God and his son Jesus Christ. It was a very uplifting experience and the ward was very welcoming.

Saturday was also fantastic. Originally, our ride for the temple cancelled on us because there was lots of rain and there were a lot of accidents on the 405 which was a bummer. But... we were getting ready for the day when our temple ride called and said the weather was nicer than predicted and wanted to know if we still wanted to go the temple. Of course! I was thrilled to enjoy the peace of the temple and to have questions answered and new gospel insights revealed. And I was able to put things back into the eternal perspective. The biggest insight I had was how joyful we should be in the knowledge that Jesus Christ is our Savior. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6

We all make mistakes in our lives and each one of us at some point has wished that we could take back something we said or did. Through the atoning blood of Christ we can be clean again and live with our Father in Heaven. That should be enough to make anyone's bad day better.

Lastly, I am staying here in Rosamond, and my companion of leaving to a bike area. We don't know were we go until transfer meeting itself when they announce it over the pulpit, so I will let ya'll know where he went and who my new companion is.

Love ya'll!

Elder Cox

Can't believe I haven't posted for over a month!  Sorry!!  Let me get you caught up:

The Worth of Souls is Great in the Sight of God

Monday, February 24, 2014

To Everyone and Anyone, 

So, this week was pretty much the most stressful one that I have ever had in my entire life. Not even joking. And it wasn't even a busy week really, just Saturday was the kicker: I got my first convert baptisms of my mission!!!! I was stressing out so much to make sure that everything went smoothly, that my investigator didn't fall down the font steps and drown, and that she also didn't suffocate without her oxygen cord. So yeah, I'm really relieved that I didn't have to try and bring anyone back from the dead as well as baptize them. We are waiting a week for her to get her strength back up so that we can confirm her next Sunday. 

Nevertheless, my heart was so full of gratitude to my Father in Heaven for his help this week. There were so many miracles that he performed and so many prayers that he answered. I have a firm testimony of the words which the Lord spake to Joseph Smith in D&C 18: "And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!" I have found myself randomly tearing (crying, not ripping) up and my heart full of emotion when I think back on the baptism. I have such a testimony of the peace that the Gospel brings, and not only in other's lives, but in our own when we reach out and share it with others. People are just so much happier when doing missionary work!  

It's just, I don't feel extremely blissful, but I just am so at peace with the world. Everything just seems right with the Universe. On Saturday all the stars aligned and all the powers of heaven combined to allow my investigators to enter in at the strait gate, and set their feet upon the path of eternal life. One of them shared a dream she had the night before her baptism and I'm going to repeat it for you. In her dream, she was talking to her sister (who is dead) and another departed relative who were saying their goodbyes. I can't remember the exact words they used, but it was something along the lines of, "We need to go, but you are in the care of other angels now." And they are. This is the Lord's work, and no one can stop the work of salvation among the children of men. 

I love you all, and am so grateful for the prayers and letters and words of support. Hope you have an awesome week and enjoy the many blessings in your lives. Just remember the word of Albert Einstein when you feel down: "You can live your life in one of two ways: as if everything is a miracle, or as if nothing is."

Elder Cox