Hey everyone, it's ELDER COOK HERE AGAIN!!!! An intense week has happened, but the best place to start is from the beginning, so I'll start there.

Playing tennis with Ian, the man,

Using my really cook protective eye wear!

Monday was spent playing tennis with Ian Palmer, our investigator who's looking to be baptized in a few months. He's still going strong, but since he's still having a hard time quitting using the pain killers on an overage basis he's mind tends to get a little whack every now and again. He says the weirdest things sometimes, like usually he's pretty quiet, but when he's hyped up on an overage he talks nonstop about "the numbers" that he'll just pull out of thin air out of nowhere and makes no sense whatsoever. I really think that the only reason that he takes them is because he just gets really bored and has nothing else to do, but now that he'll hopefully be doing the community service more often he'll be able to take his mind off of it. We all agree, including himself, that it was a good thing he wasn't baptized because he still isn't ready yet because of his addictions, but he is working on it as much as he can.

Tuesday morning we headed up to Pakenham to drop off Elder Casil, and from there I took Elder Wi Neera, the Elder he's replacing, to the mission office in Wantirna South with me, and basically from there spent the day with the Maroondah Zone Leaders, and I got to go on splits with Elder Babneau. I was really excited to spend the day with him, but ever since he's become a Zone Leader he's gotten REALLY mellow, so it was a lot less fun than I thought it would be.

Elder Holt (my new companion) is just a tad taller than myself

Wednesday was the legendary day that I got to pick up my new companion, Elder Holt. In short we spent most of the day at the mission office eating lunch and then having a golden orientation. He's been out on his mission for eight months, but had to go home for a while but now is back, which means that out of all of Worsencrofts "posterity" in the mission, I'm the oldest of the three. On the way back to Moe Elder Holt was so excited to be my companion, and that's because both him and I have had some pretty bad companions after being trained, but now that we are together we have been working our absolute tails off in complete companionship unity, and the things we are able to accomplish because we have the same mindset are astronomical. But once we got back to our area we went shopping for food because we were out, using up the rest of my mission funds because Elder Holt has yet to receive his mission card. So we had food at this point, but it wasn't enough to last us until the rest of the month.

Thursday we got down to work, having amazing working time and awesome planning for the week. Nothing much came from it, but we worked hard and were nothing but just so happy and excited for this transfer because we are going to SMASH the missionary work here.

Yes I have successfully completed the one year mark

Friday was great because we did tons of finding and were able to find a few more people who want us to come back, and I will mention names as soon as we find out if they are really solid or not. But Friday night was my official year mark: my shirt burning ceremony. I was able to do it with the Winfields, and it was great to be able to do it with them.

Elder Holt holding the "1 year mark shirt" meant for  burning

Saturday was different because when we went out tracting we found multiple people for solid return appointments. As we tracted we met Alan and Bev, and they were a couple in their 50's who we will try to return to go do some service. They really enjoyed the time talking with us and ended up forcing us to take $20.00 from them to "go get lunch". It was such a blessing. Later we went to someone we found the previous day to teach them about what we believe. Long story short they, being a young married couple in their 20's, ended up feeding us a great lunch, and even though they didn't accept a Book of Mormon or a return appointment the spirit was strong. They asked some amazing questions that neither I nor Holt could answer, but when it came to a situation like that we bogged down in pure testimony of our personal witness, and that was the reason the spirit was so strong: so strong in fact that at the end, after each of us bore our testimonies to them, the wife then turned to bear her testimony to us about her love for Jesus Christ, and she did this "not really knowing why". THAT's how strong the spirit was! After that we went tracting again, and eventually meeting this guy named Joseph. He's in his 60's or so and from America, and he had a short white beard and stringy white hair, so when he let us in after about 5 seconds of seeing us I was a bit skeptical, but we went in anyways. Not a crazy dude, just very nice to us, and although he's Christian he didn't want to talk about the Book of Mormon. The reason he let us in so quick was because he had seen us working earlier in the day and was proud of the work we were doing. When we left his house he gave us a lot of different fruits and vegetables and some bread to have, and in my mind I just thought "What a blessing! We had no money and little food, and all throughout the day we were blessed with grocery money, lunch, AND take home food! Heavenly Father is definitely looking out for us." And he definitely is.

So we've been able to meet up with Bazil Rawiri's niece, who is now living with him for a time period while her aunt whom she lives with is away in London. Her aunt is a member, and Manoa, the niece, is 9 years old and not a member, but long story short after very simply teaching her the Gospel of Jesus Christ (with the help of Bazil and his family)  she wants to be baptized. She has been coming to church the past few weeks, and her aunt and uncle she lives with have recently moved from NZ to start life over and to get completely reactivated in the church, so there's no doubt in my mind she will be baptized within the next few weeks.

Got to help the Maroondah Zone Leaders clean the
    temple on Wednesday morning! It was great

So yeah, basically now that I have a companion with amazing work ethic, similar cultural backgrounds and personality, and a desire to be obedient, we will set this place on fire this fall (remember it's fall here in Australia). Already we have found multiple people to teach, and even though we are still struggling a bit with money we know we'll get through it: we always do. It has been such a great week and I am SO grateful that Elder Holt is my new companion: we've both been waiting for a companion like each other for a LONG time: and plus, he loves this area and the ward.

Love you all heaps, and as always, God be with you till we meet again.

-Elder Landon Cook

Ponderize: Isaiah 1:19-20

Elder Holt found us a new Investigator

The one and only Elder Steele front and center

Golden Orientation and lunch with Elder Holt, the new companion

With Elder Poulson, an Elder I've ALWAYS wanted to serve with (hopefully right after Holt)

Lion King re-enactment maybe?

don't ask me what we are doing with this cat

So, this week has been a bit different and full on because of all the stuff that has been happening. About mid-week I realized that this last week would be fast, with Wednesday being full of teaching appointments, Thursday being exchanges with the DL0 and his companion, Friday Exchanges with the ZL's, and Saturday being Ian's baptism, then Sunday night being the night that we get news on transfers! So, with such a busy week there's a lot to talk about, so let's get started:

Wednesday, yes, was full of teaching appointments. Paul, our 15 year old investigator, is sometimes hard to catch because he likes to go out and ride bikes with his friends, but he's still good. Ivy, a single mom in her 20's, is also a really good investigator that we got to teach. We go out with Ross Gilbert a lot because he's got AMAZING people skills and can make almost ANYONE deeply interested in the gospel, and plus since he's headed overseas pretty soon he doesn't have a job, so we utilize him as much as we possibly can. If he were to serve a mission now, he could baptize nations. But yeah, Ivy is a great investigator, and she actually knows one of the members in the ward: Maddy Pollard, who's pretty legit herself.

Thursday was a bit hectic because we had double booked appointments in for our exchange, but because the DL's car was having problems they were unable to make it, so we had to go on emergency splits with a few of the willing members. But since Thursday was the day that Ian was going to have his baptismal interview, the ZL's had to come down in their place to do it. Elder Kim did the interview with Ian, and considering that the interview took about half an hour I was standing outside his flatt a little worried about what was happening, but when both of them came out of the house and Kim had a big smile on his face, I knew he had passed! MAN was I excited! So the day went on like normal and the ZL's headed back to their flatt, and once the day wrapped up and the night was coming to a close we got a late night call from the ZL's, which is really unusual. So, here comes the ball drop. Ian still had community service to do that from something that happened about two years ago that he never completed, and since they were unsure of what that would mean they called President Maxwell for confirmation. Sadly that means that he's still on parole, and in order to be baptized he has to be squared up with the law. Ugh, we were so disappointed, especially since Ian has come so far in his progress and was so ready to be baptized. That rule can't be argued though: the prophet and apostles created it under divine inspiration, so there's no way it could be changed. We had to cancel the baptism... I just felt so bad in knowing we'd have to break Ian's heart the next day.

Friday came around and the ZL's had an exchange with us. Before we began it though, Elder Casil and I went to Ian's place to lightly break the news to him. He was disappointed, and I don't know how anyone couldn't be, but he took it very well, knowing that this was just a small hiccup in his path to exaltation and that like everything he could go over, he could jump this hurdle too. He still wants to come to church and wants to be eventually baptized, but because of the amount of service he has to do he plans on doing 20 hours a week, and even with that it'll take about two months to complete. He's a strong soul though, he can do it. The exchanges with Elder Kim went well, and he's actually from my intake and hits his year mark this week just like I do!

So Saturday comes around and we have to call all the members of the ward to spread the word that Ian's baptism was postponed, and that was a bit tough breaking the news to so many people over and over. But since Saturday was just a normal day in the field instead of using it to prepare for Ian's baptism we went forward with it. Just a normal day, and because our night was freed up the Winfields invited us and Ian over for dinner at their place, knowing that either Elder Casil or I would be transferred out within the next few days. Dinner was awesome, and mom, we did our best to replicate your orange chicken recipe, but nothing is a good as mama's (we did use the Panda Express sauce though). But later that night while still at the Winfield's we got a call from President Maxwell. I answered it and he told me that basically I was training a missionary that had to return home for a while after some health issues, but when I heard that I knew exactly who my next companion was going to be: ELDER HOLT!!!!! And I was right: Elder Holt is my next companion, and President Maxwell said he got my last email about me wanting a companion that is willing to work HARD, and he told me that Elder Holt is "ready to hit the ground running". Talk about music to my sore ears! In the words of Freddy Mercury: "Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?". Brothers and Sisters, dreams do come true. So yeah, usually since transfer news comes on Sunday and I got the news on Saturday I had to keep the news under wraps, but when I hung up the phone I pulled everyone's leg for a bit telling them that President Maxwell just called me to tell me that I'm going to be a Zone Leader, and I had them going on for a while. Teehee!!

But yeah, Sunday night we had the call, and because I already knew what the outcome was going to be it was a lot less exhilarating, but I was even more happy to hear it confirmed on the call out. Ah, what a blessing it will be to have Elder Holt as a companion. He was actually trained by Elder Worsencroft as well, so this will be the transfer of a lifetime. And yes, Elder Holt and I are staying here in Moe, so that means I will have to privilege of continuing to teach Ian some more. To say the least, I am EXCITED!!!!!! What a great thing this will be. Elder Casil head to Pakenham, which is still in the same Zone, tomorrow, and on Wednesday I travel to the mission home to pick up Elder Holt. Man, I am so excited to see him again!

B-dye b-dye b-dye that's all folks! Love you all, talk to you next week, and as always, God be with you till we meet again.

-Elder Landon Cook

 Catherine Brooks, a Korean member in the 

     ward made us some awesome kimche

  David Winfield working on his classic Holden

 (Holden being the Australian equivalent of Chevy)

Heyo all yawl’s! It's been a pretty eventful week this week, starting off with having Liam Winfield come out to do another mini-mission with us. It was really cool, but unlike last time where it was just massive amounts of teaching appointments everywhere, it was nothing but tracting everywhere, all day. On Wednesday when we tracted there was this kid riding his bike around the general area we tracted, and throughout the day he passed us probably about six or seven times, so it was about time we stopped him to talk to him. Since it was school holidays last week there was no school, and when we stopped to talk to him he said he was really curious as to what we were doing all day, and for how much he was on his bike we could say the same. His name is Paul, and he's about 15 years old and has really been looking to know who Jesus Christ is and is looking for a change in lifestyle. He talks about how he'll cuss every now and again just to please friends, but he doesn't really like it. We eventually talked to the parents and they are more than fine with us teaching him, and when we invited him to Wednesday night youth groups he was more than willing to sign up for them, and his dad said he would even drive him to them. We're meeting again with him this Wednesday, and he shows a lot of potential in gospel growth. It's awesome that we found him, especially since Liam was with us. Thursday, our second and last day of the mini mission, was a bit different because Elder Casil came down with a cold, so we had to stay inside most of the day so that he could rest. The weather went through a sudden cold shock and now it's like 50 - 60 degrees on average, so now winter is here.

Zone P-Day (We just played basketball all day)

Ozzi and Rawry are slowly going less active, and that's entirely their inactive dad's fault. He wants them to play footie on Sundays during church and is putting a load of trash in their minds that they don't have to go to church to be "Christians". Well that sounds like a load of Korrihor to me! But yeah, they're still pretty split on what to do. At least, it seems that way, but from the looks of it they're going to let footie win over. I really hope not, but I feel like Casil and I have done all we can do with them to help them to stay active. We'll keep teaching them for sure though.

Ian is still being a boss about his baptism, and he's still continually smashing through the Book of Mormon like it's child's play. He says after he finishes it he's going to read it again and cross reference it with all of the Book of Mormon/Bible references listed on the bottom of the pages so that he can get a more in depth knowledge of the Book of Mormon and about Jesus. He says that every time the Book of Mormon mentions Jesus, he just eats it up and loves it. Knowledge hungry, this guy is. But it's great! He is so ready to become a member. I mean, even during the singing in sacrament meeting he just reads the words out loud and does his best to follow the timing because he's never heard of any of these songs before, but he is trying so hard! He also came to ALL the sessions of General Conference, wearing his really nice gray suit to all of them, and he particularly enjoyed the priesthood session and the Saturday afternoon session (one of his favorite talks was from Jeffrey R Holland because he thought the picture of the dinosaur was pretty funny). Ian is more than ready to be baptized to say the least.

General Conference was amazing though! I always love General Conference, because it's a time to receive correction and counsel from those who are ordained by God to give it, and also a time to receive encouragement and enlightenment. My favorite talks of all of it were by Gary E Stevenson about the keys of the priesthood, Kevin R Duncan, Russell M. Nelson, Stephen W. Owen, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, and by D. Todd Christofferson. I really liked Christoffersons talk on fatherhood because I am always seriously trying to improve who I am so that way I can be the greatest father and husband I can be to my future children and my wife, because I have come to the great realization that my family is the greatest earthly treasure God can give to me, or to anyone.

Julie and her family. They're some of the Winfield's friends 

that we've been teaching lately, They are great but 

they're really hard to catch up with

But that's about it everyone. Transfers are next week, and I'm pretty sure that I'm leaving next transfer as sad as it is, and as much as I don't want to go and would love to stay here with this amazing ward and to help Ian gain comfort in becoming a new member, I know that the more that I fall in love with an area, the higher the chances are that I'll get ripped from it. And plus, I had a pretty realistic dream a few nights ago that I'm moving. Hopefully that isn't some kind of vision, but at the same time... yeah...Anyways, love you all everyone, and I hope that you have another fantastic week. This is the last week of this transfer, so next week we'll be able to know who makes the cut. Love you all, hope the best for you, and as always, God be with you till we meet again.

Elder Landon Cook

Ponderize: Proverbs 12: 1-3

The mini missionaries! Liam is wearing his dads name tag from his mission

Herro errybody! This email has to be pretty butchered because the library here is being ghetto and is only allowing me to stay on for only thirty minutes, but what an amazing week it has been! First of all, we had Liam Winfield for a two day mini-mission with us which was AWESOME!!! The first day was a bit unordinary because the first day of the mini mission we had to train to Cranbourne and stay there overnight for our Zone Interviews, and on the way there the three of us got cussed the living heck out of us from some random guy, and then when we actually got on the train itself we got bashed the heck out of on "how we 'Mormons' can just brush off dinosaurs like they never happened". Haha, like what? I don't know, it was pretty full on because the people in that area are just full blown NUTS!!! And for Liams first day on the mini mission I had to take control of most of those situations to make sure the potty mouth guy didn't start trying to fight us, so I could only have imagined what was going through Liams mind at that time. Interviews were good though, but it's sad to know that President Maxwell is going to be leaving us on

The morning companion studies

June 30th. But I hear President Vidmar is the man!

P-Day was absolutely awesome though! We went to Wilsons Prom which was like this hour hike up to this amazing lookout of a beach, and it was just an amazing day with the Winfields. Hiking, lunch, tossing a ball around on the beach, it was pretty full on

Ian though. What an amazing story he has behind him for this week! We have practically met up with him every other day this week, upwards of around five times this week. He is more than ready to be baptized, I mean he is past a golden investigator, he is diamond!!!! Seriously! When we showed him the baptismal font at church last week he was even more excited for his baptism on the 16th, and with each passing day he becomes more and more excited for it. He tried to have the JW's stop coming over because he's 100% sure he wants to join this church, but they are persistent that they come over every week still. He told us that they warned him "Don't join the Mormons! They'll make you pay 10% of everything you get!", and that was a bit rattling because that was before we taught about tithing and he thought it was a lie. He is in a bit of a financially sticky spot, but after we taught the blessings that come with the sacrifice of tithing, he was again more than willing to do it. TAKE THAT!!!! He's also been fighting like a lion to get over cigarettes, and even though he's only been smoking for two months and only has one every morning it is still a hard habit to kick, but he is fighting it off as much as he can, constantly reading from the Book of Mormon and calling us for help whenever he has a craving. He doesn't have much friends though, but Ross has been an OUTSTANDING help, and Saturday night we decided to go over to his place and, with our own food, teach him how to make home made pizzas. It was a great night, and the three of us shared pictures of family and talked and ate and we had a lesson on temples, and he really wants to experience baptisms for the dead inside the temple. See why I'm so excited for him?

Making pizzas with Ian Palmer, the legend!!!

That's all I have time for, sorry everyone! But just know that I love all of you so much and that I am doing well! Transfer news is in two weeks, but because Ian gets baptized in two weeks I am MORE than grateful that I get to be a part of his baptism and that this transfer is extended. I can't even describe how amazing I feel and happy it makes me to know that I was a part in helping Ian find his way back to God and Jesus Christ, and I, Casil, and Ross Gilbert have all seen the change in him just from applying the principles of the Gospel in his life. The restored gospel changes lives, and I cannot explain the joy that comes from sharing it. I love you all, and as always, God be with you till we meet again.
 

-Elder Landon Cook

Wilsons Prom

Showing my abilities at Wilsons Prom

At Wilsons Prom with the Winfields eating a wonderful lunch!

Elder Rock came with me to Wilsons Prom.
One of my most reliable companions yet

The one hour hike up Wilsons Prom

A little nap after the long walk up Wilsons Prom

The Beautiful view Wilsons Prom

Throwin the footie ball around on the beach with Brother Winfield

I made it!

Brother Winfield... The Man!

Scenery Wilsons Prom

Soaking it all in atop Wilsons Prom

The Winfield Sisters

Elder Casil, Brother David Winfield and me

Elder Rock doing the stanky panky