Hello! Sorry I didn't write yesterday, all of the libraries were closed.. Funny I guess people here still substituted the 4th of July for the 5th because it was on a sunday. Oh well. Grandma and Grandpa Cottrell, did you know a sister Gladis Muania in the Hawaii visitors center that learned to quilt and passed away on her last day of her mission? A member here mentioned her and knew her in one way or another - kind of random but I made a note to ask you if you knew her. Mom could you please send that back-massage pad for the car that brett had on his mission? I know it's downstairs... saw it before I left. That'd be really appreciated, some days my back kills me. Dad that guy that plays for the Bears is the tight end and his name is Brandon Monomeleuna. Finally got that information. Alright and the last of my points I wrote down during the week - Sister Tepper in the ward grew up with the Beach Boys in Hawthorne and went to a dance with Brian. Thought you'd think that was neat.
Tuesday Elder Mitillo and I went to Malaga Cove to help some other Elders do service for a guy that recently moved here from Hawaii. We moved a bunch of wood from one side of his yard to the other. He has a huuuuge garden that has been there for years and years with over 30 different kinds of trees including avacado, grapefruit, apricot, orange, and fig. It was very cool! He took us around and showed us each one, letting us sample it. When we left his house and got back to the other Elders apartment in Wilmington, I realized the keys to my car were... misplaced. We had played soccer for a while at the park that day so I figured they must have been there. We went all the way back to Malaga Cove to search for the keys, with no luck. We looked everywhere and could not find them anywhere. We ended up having to drive all the way to the mission home to borrow a spare key. While there I also found out that it'd cost me about $350 to replace the old key because it had a remote in it, etc. That debt would be divided between me and elder mitillo - that's how all fines are done here. I felt super bad because I was the one who lost the keys yet he would still have to pay as well. I was really bummed the rest of the night and at our dinner appointment. I never lose things and was very frustrated that I couldn't find those keys! Well I prayed... and prayed... and prayed some more. Wednesday morning I got out of bed and sat on the couch and just thought about where that key could be. All of the sudden a picture popped into my head of where it was. The whole time I was convinced that I lost it at the park but in this picture was the other Elders' car, and the seatbelt. Elder Mitillo got out of bed and the first thing I said to him was "I know where the key is". We drove to the other Elders' apartment and I asked them to unlock their car. They rolled their eyes keeping in mind that we had torn that car apart looking for the key the day before. I opened the door and looked at the exact spot I had seen in my head. I reached my hand below the seatbelt and pulled out the key. They couldn't believe it, and neither could I. I wanted to cry I was so happy. Both that I didnt have to pay the fine and that I truly received revelation as to where it was. I know the validity of personal revelation and that God really does lead and guide us with that great tool. I'm so so grateful that I am on a mission and was in-tune with the spirit enough to recognize what I needed to do.
Wednesday we had a 'meet and greet' with our new President. President and Sister Baker. They have lived in Riverton for a couple of years but have moved around the states for most of their lives. They both, however, are originally from san diego and are very familiar with this area. They seem very down-to-earth and very called of God. I was very impressed with them both and am excited to see what they have to give to the mission.
I've been able to see the ocean a whole lot lately now that it is in my area. I love it! Elder Leveall and I went contacting by the beach while our companions were in a leadership meeting earlier that day. We met a guy some Elders call the 'Jesus Man'. He has a van covered in crosses and other things about Jesus. He however really dislikes The Church. We talked to him for maybe 5 minutes and lets just say it didn't go too well. He really bashed on The Church and was saying really rude things to Elder Leveall. I was really really upset and.... got out of there before anything too drastic happened. You know I have a temper sometimes.
Thursday we did service again for Sister Green picking plums. She makes plum jam and needs us to get the plums for her. I love going there because she always lets us take a bag for ourselves. We went to the Grover's house later to pick up Journey of Faith - a dvd about facts of the Book of Mormon and the science of it.
Friday we had a district meeting and then visited Amelia Lopez afterwards. We taught about faith and patience. It was a really good lesson. Then we went to teach an investigator of ours - Brian Hernandez in Wilmington. He is 16 years old and was raised Catholic. We taught him about baptism and the Priesthood. It is so difficult telling people that they weren't baptized correctly and that they don't have the fullness of the Gospel. He accepted it pretty well though and we have high hopes for him getting baptized. We visited a recent convert of Elder Mitillo's. - Pretty Ricky. If you remember he is the same kid I sewed shorts for. He hasn't been to church in a while so we went to see what's going on. Bad news - he says he doesnt believe in the Church and was forced to be baptized by his sister. He wouldn't listen to what we were teaching him and was just not paying attention at all. I was firm with him when I told him that he had been baptized and made certain promises with God and is expected to live up to them. He is going to a different church now with one of his sisters and says he'll never come to ours again. Elder Mitillo took it really hard because he had just baptized him a few months earlier and seemed to be doing so well. We hope Ricky can feel the spirit and know what he needs to do.
Mom, Franco STILL won't be quiet about that ring you sent him. He calls just about every other day to say thank you again. So, thank you for sending that. Again. I really wish we could get him back to church. He's such a good guy.
Saturday I got converted to Mate. A drink many South Americans drink that is basically hay. I'll send you some pictures and maybe a sample. It's not very good but Elder Mitillo drinks it all the time. I like new things and exploring different cultures so I thought i'd give it a try. We taught Ampelia again about mothers in the home. I was able to relate to her alot with how her kids are and how she can get closer to them. Her kids are teenagers and she's a single mom - having a hard time staying close as a family. From stories she told us I remembered many times that you (mom and dad) have been such a great example to me and given me the advice I needed at that time in my life.
Sunday was testimony meeting and all of the youth got up to bear their testimonies and tell how much they learned on Trek this last week. It was a good meeting and brought back many memories and feelings I had of Trek. We ate dinner with the Romo family, latins - therefor we had mexican food. It was really really good and they were very nice to let us come and eat with all of their family on that holliday. We had a Zone activity that night at the church. We watched Journey of Faith. After that we went to Elder Richins apartment in Wilmington and got on the roof. As soon as the sun went down, the city went nuts. It honestly was the most fireworks I have ever seen in my life. And they were evvvvverywhere. We got back to our aparment around 10 and the sound of the fireworks went on all through the night.
Yesterday I woke up at 4:30 and knew that something was wrong with my stomach. Between then and 9:30 I lost it in the toilet 3 times. Out of my mouth. That was fun... Then the zone leaders picked us up and took us to Bell Gardens in South Gate to have a soccer tournament with the whole mission. There were about 150 missionaries there so it was pretty chaotic but it was fun. I felt really light headed for most of the day... I must have had the stomach flu or something but I was ok.
We had family night at the Lopez's. I used an object lesson where I had one of the kids represent Jesus Christ. Then I went around the room and asked everyone if they wanted a piece of candy. I gave one to them wether they wanted one or not. Then I said to the kid representing Jesus Christ that for everyone that had a piece of candy, he would have to do 10 push ups. He was shaking and exhausted by the time he got done. The family was laughing at first but then it got really quiet towards the end when it was clear he was struggling. We had a really good lesson about the Atonement and how we should remember it in everything we do. We need to be so grateful for it and use it daily. It was a really good family night.
That brings us to today. Elder Mitillo woke up and couldn't walk from soccer yesterday. It's pretty funny but I guess serious enough that he had the other elders come over to help give him a blessing.
Sounds like you have had and will have a busy summer! Be careful rafting, wear your life jacket! I'm so grateful that you've truly honestly dedicated your lives to the Gospel. I'll write again soon!
Love you all,
Elder Cottrell
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