******* LANDON J. COOK ******* Melbourne, Australia Mission April 2015

Mole Creek caves

Myself, Darcy and Elder Wade

Wow it sure has been a crazy busy week! Last P-Day we went to the Mole Creek caves in Deloraine, and that was a lot of fun. But I guess there are really two highlights to this week: performing the Haka WITH a participating investigator and with Greg and Linda watching, it was pretty awesome. We put a lot of time into practicing throughout the week, and Darcy was keen-as to do the haka with us. It was for a ward-wide talent show, and we thought the best way to introduce them to the church was through showing them the fun side of things. Because of all the practicing we did (and in our practicing we went HARD) our throats were destroyed and my thighs had bruises on them from all the leg-slapping. It was crazy, but we ended up completely nailing it. Luckily we had Job Tai and his son Benny perform with us so it wasn't a completely white-washed haka, but altogether we had Luke, our ward mission leader, Job, Benny, Darcy, Elder Wade and I all do it. It was pretty dang awesome.

So we have been spending a lot of time with Greg, Linda and Darcy this week, but I feel like we've been spending too much time with them as causal friends and not as missionaries. But we did get permission from the Zone Leaders to go to Cradle Mountain with them on Saturday, and that was a lot of fun. We were only allowed to go on one condition: that we wore our proselyting clothes when we went. No biggie, so when we got to Greg and Linda's house (Darcy had work sadly) we were in our full church

Cradle Mountain

Inside Mole Creek Caves

clothes, but they were completely bundled up like they were headed up to the top of Mt. Everest, so we definitely went unprepared: I even brought my beat up church shoes, and they both had full blown hiking shoes. Luckily Greg lent us some really warm jumpers, but for the rest of the clothes we were on our own. It was cold, cloudy, drizzly, windy, and awesome. The 6k hike wasn't too bad in our pros, and it was actually a lot easier than I thought. That 50 mile hike in the Uinta Mountains two years back has prepared me well, ay papa?

So Sunday rolls around and we go to the Pentecostal church. Again. There really is a lack of spirit and peace there, but we just go to be polite because we are trying to have them come to our church to REALLY feel what the spirit feels like: the feeling of love peace and joy, not adrenaline running through your veins about the rock concert about Jesus. We went there and it was kinda weird, again, but they invited us to go to get coffee with them and we had to decline to keep the Sabbath day holy. Elder Wade said he has a hard time saying no to people, so whenever we have to turn down coffee or tea they offer us I'm always the one who has to stick up for ourselves. Kinda sucks, but hey, I just look at it that it builds me up to be a stronger person. Long story short Darcy and Linda came to church on Sunday because I told them I was giving a talk, but it was a pretty lame topic to give a talk on when we have investigators: The Word of Wisdom. Out of all the inspiring things I could've been assigned, the Word of Wisdom was my topic. Who knows though, it may have been just what they needed to hear. Anyways, they seemed to enjoy church because they came to the second hour, so that was good. Elder Jensen has been getting on our case because we're starting to get too "buddy-buddy" with them, and I totally agree: the relationship feels more like friends than investigators, so Elder Wade and I have been thinking of ways so that we can get them more and more "riveted" to the Book of Mormon.

This week we have Zone Conference in Hobart, and I'm really excited for that, because not only is Zone Conference always a big spiritual boost for me but after that our Zone is working on making our Christmas video the missionaries make every year. This year it's centered on Disney movies, and we got Lilo & Stitch for ours. Not quite sure what we're gonna do with it, but hopefully it doesn't stink haha.

Well my amazing family, I guess that's the jist of this week. No fear, no worries, ain't no biggie brodda, it's been alright. Love you all, love you HEAPS, and as always, God be with you till we meet again!
-Elder Landon Cook