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)