People only fear a prophet because they fear the judgement of God because they don't want to turn from wickedness.

So I get home in two weeks anyways, so it's like, meh, why even talk about my week, amirite? Just kidding, for your sake I will discuss what happened. So last P-Day we went to Strike as a Zone, and because it was a public holiday the place was stinkin' packed! I swear this place has so many holidays, especially on Mondays. It's ridiculous. BUT nonetheless it was a ton of fun. We've also been able to go on a couple of exchanges with the companionships, and in the next two weeks we've got to go on three more exchanges. That'll be great.

As far as this weeks most exciting event, we're now in preparation for the Stake's mini-mission. So Thursday morning we got a huge hiccup in the program, and that is that mini-missionaries (youth at the age of 16 or 17) are no longer allowed to go one-on-one with full-time missionaries. I don't know why, but with the mini-mission happening in the next few weeks, there were some changes that needed to be made! With potentially 40-45 youth participating, that means we'd need about 40-45 companionships participating as well...what the heck!?  Literally all day Thursday I spent on the phone calling Zone Leaders and individual companionships from the Gippsland, Narre Warren, Maroondah, Heidelberg, and the Chinese Melbourne Zones. It was nuts, and I had to charge the phone about three times that day. Literally spent about eight hours on the phone calling, explaining, and recruiting troops for this mini mission. Oh, and also participating mini-missionaries can't leave the Stake boundaries, so that means that in that singular weekend we will be having about 40-45 companionships proselyting inside of our Zone instead of the normal 7. Wow won't that be fun for me to try to manage? Elder Carroll isn't all too invested in it and just wants me to take care of it, and if it be that way then I will. I would LOVE his help in this, but if needs be I will continue to do the Lords work, with or without him.

This next week will be a lot of fun because about half of it will be spent trying to get this mini-mission up in wraps, still trying to figure out more companionships to use. Still haven't contacted all of them, and more phone calls will be under way. I have seen the lives of youth changed because of mini-missions, and out of everyone Sister McFadden, the Stake Young Women's President, and I are the biggest advocates of making sure this thing is a success. What makes it even better is that this mini-mission will happen on literally the last weekend of my mission. It'll be prepped for, it'll happen, and then BOOM!, mission is done. SO much to do, so little time, and I love staying busy in the Lord's work.

            The church put this up as part of the Easter initiative 

                    (and don't worry I've since gotten a haircut)

Something that I learned in my studies of the Book of Mormon though, and I will learn it again and again, is that the world is more and more increasingly wicked and in such great need of a prophet. It's so wonderful to know that the prophet is there to guide us to God. People only fear a prophet because they fear the judgement of God because they don't want to turn from wickedness. Seriously, it's such an easy concept: obey God, be blessed and remain happy. Disobey God, receive consequences and be unhappy. Like, seriously, it's the easiest thing in the world and for so many people they just try so hard to convince themselves that there's gotta be a loophole somewhere, where wickedness and disobedience can be happiness. Well, you can't eat your cake and have it too. I just can't emphasis how much I love being a member of the Lords Church. I wish everyone would be willing to just at least give it a shot.

 Us at Strike as a Zone once again

But I love you all, and I am glad for the work that I've done and the work that I'm continuously doing. I come home in two weeks and am very prepared for it. Not to say I hate my mission, even though my current companion makes me want to punch a hole through the wall sometimes, but I'm not gonna come home and fall into dumb habits.  That's not faith in the future: that's a prime example of fear. But I exercise no fear. The natural man fears, but there is no point to that. I love you all, and as always, God be with you till we meet again.
-Elder Landon Cook

Ponderize: Helaman 6:35-36

(Sorry for the lack of photos, I've realized that I want to spend less time taking photos and more time working, which has never really been the case but every second seems more and more precious to me)


Little did we know we accidentally booked two dinner appts.  After the second dinner at the lovely Haymes home, we were so full we had to bring dessert home

The Beautiful Rachael Haymes ♥