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

So it has been a really eventful week this week, as always. But at the same time, it's been pretty stressful because of all the planning out we've been having to do. So all the baptisms we've had set up, none of them have gone through. YET!!! BUT!!! Ozzi and Rawry Porter are still set to be baptized. Those two have been our main concerns right now, so we've been making sure to put a lot of focus on them and in teaching them and increasing their faith in Jesus Christ and in the restored gospel.

We have recently taught about following the prophet, and how Thomas S. Monson is the current prophet today. After explaining what a prophet is and how they are called of God, etc., I said "So it's pretty important that we make sure to follow the Prophet and his guidance", and Ozzi, the 10 year old, said " 'Pretty' important? It's VERY important Elder Cook!", and his little brother was right on board. So yeah, they are solid. The only reason their baptism was postponed was because they were on vacation the past few weeks and haven't gone to church, and they each need to come to church at least twice before they are baptized. Ozzi came to church yesterday, which makes two, so he's ready to get baptized this weekend, but Rawry was sick, and because Stake Conference is next week, we'll have to put it off until the 21st I'm afraid. But both are very solid and excited to be baptized. My biggest fear for them was that their mother would agree to them being baptized and then go back on her word last second, but that fear has recently been put to rest, and this is why: Last week when we went to go teach them the Gospel of Jesus Christ, little Rawry gave the closing prayer, to which Mary, their mother, was present. After we left Elder Casil admitted to me that he had his eyes open during the prayer, but that Mary had a huge smile on her face the whole time. Also, when Mary got news that Rawry didn't go to church yesterday, she was like "What!? Why didn't he go!?", and when she found out he was sick with a slight cough she was like "Psh, he could've gone". So yeah, we are really excited for them!!! A lot of the ward is very excited for them as well, because this ward hasn't had a convert baptism in over two years!

Me and some of the kids at the BBQ

So here's a funny story! Saturday we had a ward BBQ at Blue Rock Dam, and it is a beautiful place to have a BBQ...usually. It started at 10:00AM, but when we got there half an hour early it was cold, cloudy, windy, and it just looked like such a depressing day to have a BBQ. It's summer! It's supposed to be hot!!! Within the first hour of the BBQ it was so cold, and only Dean Smith and his two sons showed up, so I was thinking "Gosh dang it! This was supposed to be an awesome ward activity hosted by the missionaries, and now look at it", so it was looking pretty dim. Literally, within the span of about ten minutes, the clouds cleared, the sun came out, the temperature warmed up, and about 40 people from the ward all showed up, including a few less-active families! What a miracle! It turned out to be a fantastic missionary opportunity, and as the day went on the BBQ only got better and better, with the young men throwing an American Football around to each other (a REAL one, not a football theme Rugby ball), the mothers and sisters in the ward all sitting and laughing out on the grass, the youth and primary children out playing and running around, and yeah, it was just how I had it imagined in my mind.

Basil Kickin' and throwin' the football around

As we were BBQing, some guy with a few young kids just walked up and started talking to the members, and the 1st councilor quickly notified me of him. Him and I started talking, and we talked for about 20 minutes or so just one on one getting to know each other. His name is Emlyn, and he said he saw the BBQ and thought "This is either a JW thing or a Mormon thing, but when I saw the two young men in the church clothes I knew it was a Mormon thing". He said he used to be a member, but his wife is a Catholic and he converted for her, and as we talked he actually volunteered his contact information to me and said "Give me a call when you're in the area and we'll set something up"! What a miracle!

That's it for now I think. I'm sure more has happened throughout the week that I can't remember, but that's okay because right now Ozzi and Rawry are the highlights and our main focus. A lot is happening here in Moe, and we can feel the Spirit of God like a fire is burning. I love you all, catch ya later mate, and as always, God be with you till we meet again.

Remember the girl Adrianna Bianconi who drew
me as a koala named Blinky Bill? Well here's a
photo of me reenacting it, just because we have
nothing to do on P-Days

-Elder Landon Cook

Ponderize: Romans 1:16