A Zone Picture with our Stake President,President Manny Valdez, who actually 

became a convert tothe church when he turned 20 years old

Wow, what an amazing week it has been! AAAGH!!! I love my mission! Elder Casil, my new companion, is legit-as when it comes to being obedient and working hard. My biggest concern about getting new companions is if they are obedient to the rules or not, and if they're big on getting the work done. And he is heaps of both.

Last P-Day with Elder Vaiouga 

So for Vaiouga and mine's last P-Day together we went down to the south peninsula to check out the bush paths for picture taking in the bush and at this certain beach down south called Venus Bay. Pretty cool, but we didn't stay for too long because it was so blasted hot. It was a great P-Day though overall, and Elder Vaiouga kept saying it was the "best P-Day ever".

The first day was a bit confusing with trying to get Elder Vaiouga to his next area with the train schedule, but we got it figured out. This entire week has been nothing but finding so many people who are prepared to hear about the message of the restored gospel, it's amazing. The first few people we met were Billy and Alecia, Billy being the brother of a convert who was baptized a few years ago. We picked him up for some previous lessons so he could help us teach, but they fell through, and as we drove to drop him off he said to us "Elders, do you mind if we stop by my brother’s house and talk to him?". So that was really amazing that he suggested that. and we ended up talking to him and his "partner" (not wife, but they say partner for their girlfriend/wife to make sure it's politically correct. I think it's kinda dumb) is REALLY keen to learn more.

Elder Vaiouga headed out on the train Tuesday morning (but he's still in the Zone!!!)

We also met with the Horvath family, who the dad is the only member. Basically the wife and their three kids want to be baptized, and they pray and read and teach from the Book of Mormon. The only thing that's keeping them back is that they just don't come to church, and I don't know why! We'll try to figure that one out. We also had a dinner appointment with the Winfield family, and they are just gung-ho for the missionary work! Both the mom and dad are converts to the church, and have had to sacrifice a lot in order to be members, but they never look back on it. They had their friend Julie there, and we taught the lesson of the Restoration with such spiritual power, it was overwhelming. The spirit if discernment is real, and that night Elder Casil and I were blessed with it. We taught with the power and authority of the Lord himself, and every time we said something it would just bring her to tears. She's been looking for the truth to churches for a long time she says, and now she is very excited to learn more. Through her tears she would constantly say "So young, yet so wise". Honestly, it was something that I would never be able to do without help from Heavenly Father.

So, for Rawry and Ozzi. They weren't able to come to church because they had to pack all day for a fishing trip their dad was taking them on, and since they won't be able to make it to church on this Sunday their baptism is sadly going to have to be postponed. All goods though, because Rawry is especially excited to be baptized. I think we have to teach more about Joseph Smith and having faith is Jesus Christ, but I think this will all work out with them in the end. Super excited for what this transfer might bring.

We have labored hard in the area, and we are constantly being blessed for it. I don't know why we have gotten so many blessings and new people to teach, but I won't take it for granted and start to slack off on my diligence, because I'm sure that as soon as I do, the area will start to decrease again. That's how Heavenly Father works: You stay obedient to commandments through thick and thin, then you receive so many blessings in ways that you can never repay Him back. But if you stray from the commandments, then you are no longer promised those blessings, and they instantly start to withdraw from you. We are so close to this, and now, and this last minute, we cannot afford to lose the promises of Jesus Christ. I love you all, I can't wait for this next week of work, and as always, God be with you till we meet again.

-Elder Landon Cook

Vaiouga and I as our last P-Day as a companionship.

 Below are some of the families we visited before Elder Vaiouga left for his next area:

              Us with Callan and Catherine Brooks, who 

         are married and served together a few years back

Us with Steve Tzitziras and his family

Us with the Pollard family (Along with Chris Rae,

our convert friend who was baptised a few years back

Us with the Rawiri (Mainly Basil and Mata, but they had family in town that day)

Us with the Winfield family, who have helped us so much

Vaiouga and I as our last P-Day as a companionship.

Vaiouga and I as our last P-Day as a companionship.

Vaiouga and I as our last P-Day as a companionship

Elder Vaiouga with Bishop Cranston

MY NEW COMPANION, Elder Casil :) 

picture of me and the scones is also taken with 

Elder Casil, my new companion from the Philippines 

who's only been out a transfer longer than I have been

Got some awesome scones from one of the booths, 

and there was a guy that make the legittest bracelets,

rings, and jewelry out of utensils

Went to this place called the Warragul Markets, 

and we did some missionary work and looked around.

Elder Casil and I dorking around at K-Mart for a bit