Happy Halloween-10-31-11

Tuesday 10-25-11

Today we had a meeting at the V.C. to break the big news to the zone. We told them about the boundary changes, the new zones and the new companionships. Their reaction wasnt as dramatic as I originally anticipated. Oh well. We ate dinner with the Guarneros' and had elder maddox tell them goodbye - we taught Hector and set up a time to meet him at the visitors center this friday - that'll be great for him. He really needs to feel the spirit more. His house is nuts. We spent a good part of the night packing - Elder Maddox is gone. R.I.P.

10-26-11

I got my new companion today. Elder Matheson - from Lindon, UT. He's a really good guy. He's been out for a year - in the ghetto. It should be a fun time and I know we will get a ton of work done. We went to his zone leader training and then went to the hospital in beverly hills to give a blessing. The man that needed the blessing was driving his truck through L.A. and started to feel chest pains. He went to the hospital and checked himself in, then had a heart attack. It's a miracle he's alive. He and his wife are from arizona. It was a real spiritual experience helping them out today - they will remain in my prayers.

10-27-11

I called a Zone Leadership Meeting today with the district leaders. We started to plan the zone goal for november - we are starting from scratch as last months wasn't as successful as we would have liked. We went to Malibu afterwards and had a weekly planning session in the mountains - it was so nice. We went to pepperdine afterwards to visit our friends there. We ate dinner with the Barahona's and then called it a day. I feel like i've just been driving for the past 2 days..

10-28-11

The district meetings went well today. We are starting to plan everything for zone conference in a couple weeks so we are putting together some musical numbers... since we have 1000 sisters in our zone... why not? They'll do great. I realized that I have to speak in the spanish wards sacrament meeting this sunday... and I don't speak spanish or have time to write a talk. Some of the sisters helped me to get it written. We were waiting at the V.C. for Hector to come.. and guess who showed up? David Archulletta walked in the door while we were just standing there. I guess he goes there sometimes to use the bathroom and change before he goes into the temple. He's really short. He said hello and walked out.. I guess the sisters see him quite a bit. Anyway, Hector loved the V.C. and said he wants to take his family there. The sister that helped us with the tour did such an amazing job - I just kept thinking of sara the whole time - she'll be amazing. We had a lesson with William afterwards - he's getting so close...

10-29-11

We had another zone leadership meeting to finalize plans for the zone goal. To honor thanksgiving we are calling the goal 'Torchin' Tommy'... it's all about using the numbers you get everyday to 'cook your turkey'.. we have a picture of a turkey and a thermometer for every companionship. As they fulfil their daily goals, they will receive points... which will heat up the turkey and raise the thermometer.. anyway, should be good. We met Israel and taught him the word of wisdom.. he's been baptized for about 3 months but apparently wasn't taught very clearly.. he's struggling with some things. We met with William again and taught him the 10 commandments - he loved it. He really is doing everything he can to get an answer.. we just have to be patient I guess.

10-30-11

Well I gave my talk in sacrament.. in spanish.. it was pretty ok I guess. I wasn't too nervous - the sisters did most of the work when they wrote it ha. We all sang too - so that was good. We went over to the singles ward - they informed me that today is 'our meeting with the baptists'.... 3 or 4 times a year the singles ward and a baptist church in L.A., go to one anothers' meetings. They help eachother in the community alot .. I guess it's called 'a partnership'.. ? New to me. Anyway, we had sacrament with a family ward, sunday school by ourselves and then a special meeting with the baptists. Their choir sang a few songs.. it was nuts. Mom and grandma would have loved it. They were dancing and clapping... the 'amen's' .. the whole nine yards. Our stake president spoke on revelation afterwards.. and I don't want to be rude, but it was super boring. Then their pastor 'pastor nicholas' got up to speak on the same thing.. Let's just say it was interactive. They had a question and answer session after he spoke. Did you know baptists believe we are already saved? I think I knew that.. but just never really thought about it. They have a sweet choir and are already saved.. sign me up.

That was the week (william came to church yesterday and did NOT like what the baptist pastor had to say... bonus.). I love you all and keep you in my prayers!

Love, Elder Cottrell

New Changes in the mission! 10-24-11

Mama and everyone,

We have alot of new changes in the mission - it's been a good and busy week - look for pictures soon.

10-18-11 tuesday

Today we drove to venice beach to visit a memeber - he stood us up. We looked at the beach a little anyway. We had 3 appointments fall through after that. We did some fishing and found an awesome family that let us inside. It's a younger couple with 3 kids under the age of 8. We taught about the Book of Mormon - they loved it. They asked if we were anything like J.W.'s - we said not really... they said good because they never let those guys inside ha. We tried visiting a family in beverly hills that weren't home - we had dinner with a member and then called it a night. Levi goes home tomorrow- holy smokes.

10-19-11

We went to the old folks home again today - it was awesome as usual. I took Gene around the market - she really really wanted to buy some grapes - we found her some. She wanted to try some guacamole on a chip from one of the sellers - she sucked the guacamole off the chip and then gave it back to the lady on the other side of the counter- I guess she can't chew.. It was super funny. We spent some time planning next months zone goal - I think we're going to focus on ChristLike attributes.. Our numbers are down as a zone - but the missionaries are doing great - we NEED to find more people to teach. We're doing our best. Levi is home - HOLY SMOKES.

10-20-11

Today we had our weekly planning session - we drove into the MOUNTAINS in malibu to get it done. We walked up a little trail and found a picnic table - it was so so nice. We couldn't hear any cars - only the stream and the breeze - it was just like Utah. We got alot done too! After that we went to Pepperdine - a.k.a Hogwarts... seriously. It's a HUGE campus on the mountain side in Malibu - i'm sure you've all heard of it - it was way way nice. We ate dinner with a member there - he has 3 roommates - one from china, one from the middle east and one from wisconsin - we gave them all a BOM in their own language and had a lesson on it - they loved it and said they would all come to church this sunday. It will be awesome to take the chinese elders up there - they need to build up their chinese teaching pool. We took PCH home - there was a ton of traffic - we rolled down the windows, turned off the music and just drove to the sound of the waves.. it was so nice. We had a lesson  at the VC afterwards with a member in the singles ward - it went awesome - good day.

10-21-11

We went to three district meetings today - the A.P.'s went to one of them - it went really bad. We were sort of embarrased for the District Leader.. We got a phone call later tonight telling us how bad it was. Neat. We are going to the district leaders' companionship study tomorrow morning. We should have a pretty good talk... We had a lesson with Andres - he is such a stud. He's only 15, the only active member of his family, and doing everything he can to help others. He needs to be 16 so he can drive himself to church! haha there aren't a ton of available members in his ward to take him - we're working on that.

10-22-11

Today we went to the companionship study of that district leader and had a good talk.. he just wasn't prepared yesterday. At all. That wont happen again. We did some service for a sister in another ward - we helped move some things from a storage unit to another one. It was pretty fun. Then we had lunch with a guy in the singles ward - he was super nice. We had BBQ - I haven't had that in a while - I think it's pretty close to my favorite type of food. This week is 'bring your friend to church' day in the singles ward so we have been challenging all of the singles to find someone to bring, and then let us teach them! We did some more planning this evening for the zone goal.

10-23-11

This morning we had our monthly stake-meeting. We met with Pres. Keeler of the santa monica stake, pres. vansweden and pres baker. Nerve-racking. We gave a 10 minute report on how the stake missionary work is going - it went really well. Our mission president called afterwards and thanked us for how prepared we were. He said it couldn't have been better and it was 'exactly' how the meeting should have been. Bonus. We went to church at La Cienega - it was the primary program - soooo fun. We had pizza afterwards with all of the kids. We went to the singles ward - a lot of people brought friends! it was a good turn-out. We had to leave early to go to Torrance for an emergency zone leader meeting - we found out that they are making 2 new zones in our mission because of the amount of missionaries we currently have. Elder Maddox, my comp, will be helping to open one of those new zones - he is going to be a trainer of 2 new missionaries. I will train a new zone leader here in Marina zone and be with him until I go home i'm sure. We received alot of new information! We had an awesome dinner/lesson with a less active family. We focused on prayer and how key it is that we do it every chance we get. We talked about how keeping a prayer in your heart and mind are vital to staying away from temptation. I've really learned this lesson in my mission - I feel so close to our Heavenly Father. I know that He knows this life is hard. The commandments He has given us are not 'rules' - but a way to receive blessings. He's promised us that as we pray continuosly and keep His commandments, that we will be blessed. We talked to a new member about tithing and the amazing blessings that come with that sacrifice. It was great to think back on my life and the blessings that I personally have received by making this small sacrifice.

I love you all and will talk to you soon!

Love, Elder Cottrell

Reading D & C and gratitude

Thursday 10-13-11

If I start today, I can read one section of D&C everyday and be done by the time I go home - to the day actually. I'm doing it. We trained another zone for 1 1/2 hours today - that was fun. It went pretty well! We trained on The Holy Ghost in Conversion - I really learned alot. We ate some korean bbq in korea town - that was good. I did a baptismal interview for Arturo tonight - it was the first one i've done in spanish - it was hard! He is ready though and will be baptized this sunday. I'm really excited for him.

10-14-11

We trained our zone and another one today for 3 hours - it went well. We are going over the Fundamentals again - the mission needs a refresher course I guess. We didn't have any plans tonight and didn't know what to do - our set appointment fell through. So we sat in the car and prayed to know what we should do. I had a feeling to turn on the cd player. We have been listening to general conference - it was Pres. Monson speaking. We just listened for about 30 seconds - he talked about giving thanks to everyone around us for the great things that they do. I turned it off - we looked at each other and decided to make a list of everyone that has helped us since we've been together - in any way - and write thank - you notes to them. It was an awesome experience. I really am so so grateful for all of the things the missionaries and ward members and leaders do for us each day to make this work that much easier.

10-15-11

We had an awesome lesson with Hector - he is really aching for a change in his life. We are doing our best to help him make that change. He always welcomes us in with a smile - that's so nice to have when so many people just shut the door on us. He will get baptized. I know it. We printed off some pictures to put with our thank- you's.

10-16-11

Long day of church! We had an area 70 come to our ward council meetings - they were great! We went to 2 baptisms - I sang at one of them. I really felt the spirit... I dunno what it is about the spanish wards and baptisms, but they are just... great. We were telling a member family the other day more about the BOM - we explained to them 'this is written by YOUR ancestors! Yours!' their eyes lit up - they loved to hear that - they came to church yesterday. The Book of Mormon is amazing... I wish I had better words for it, but it has truly changed my life. I know the words in there are true - I know it.

I love you all!

Elder Cottrell

Zone Leader Council Oct.2011

Elders Jahng, Conlin, Molinaro, Hall, Stenquist, Gilbert, Jones, Haslem, Wilson, Judd, Bennett, Jacobberger, Carter, Hill, Cottrell, Maddox

We had an amazing day.10-12-11

Wow time really is flying - I can't believe Levi goes home next week - help him to adjust by taking him to a movie his first day home ;)

I've got 10 minutes - i'll summarize the week.

10-4-11 tuesday

We had zone leader council and learned some awesome things about the atonement from P. Baker. We committed Bro. Guarnero's to be baptized - he rejected - so I guess we really just invited - he didnt commit. BUT he is REALLY thinking and praying about it. William talked about conference - he loved it! He took a bunch of notes - but he's stuck on some really deep questions that I don't believe he will get an answer anytime in this life. We're praying for him.

10-5-11

It rained today pretty hard - we went to do our service and instead of walking to the farmers market, we sang hymns for them. They ... kind of liked it? They didn't clap or anything - I don't know if it's cause they physically couldn't, or we just weren't good. I played and sang some songs for them on the guitar. We planned for a while and made a salsa - it was way hot. But way good.

10-6-11

I went on splits with elder payne - a korean elder. It was great! It was kind of a long day because all of our appointments fell through except for william - but that lesson was great! He's progressing and really giving it his all to find out if this it true.

10-7-11

District meeting day - they all went great. None of the districts met their weekly goals so I didnt' have to give them a prize - I was bummed though. Stake conference tomorrow. Nice.

10-8-11

We had an amazing day. We found 3 people ready to be taught - it was great. We also gave a blessing to a child of a former investigator - the family loved it and wants us to come back.

10-9-11

Highlights of the day - william came to stake conference, I met Bishop (now president Vansweden - know's erik and cami). AND Aloysa Wong - one of the people I baptized in my first area, was on her mini-mission in my stake! She has been a member for a year - her mom is a YW advisor - that really made my day. We taught a former - she just wanted to bash - and THEN she learned about the BOM. She's super interested - it was such a 'turn-around' lesson. I'm really excited for her.

10-10-11

Slow day today - went on splits and just counseled an elder. I really am praying for him hard... They are having some tough times. Situations like those  - where I am called on to counsel- have been such a blessing and learning expierience for me.

10-11-11

We contacted an investigator and taught her the restoration. She committed to be baptized on the 30th of this month! I couldn't believe it. I wish I could tell you more about it!

I love you all and pray for you daily!

Love, Elder Sam Cottrell

Great conference and super crazy week!

Heyyyyyyyy mama, I love you! Thank you for the letters.  It's been a super crazy week. I'll try to get my pictures for both transfers mailed out to you in the next couple of weeks. Congratulations on all of your success with your book! Are you going to send me one? Man, that's really awesome. My companion's name is elder maddox - he's from lewiston ut.. grew up on a dairy farm. WE are the ZL's.. every zone leader is companions with another one. I live in South Robertson. Do you and dad read the emails I send to you both? You should - I put the info in both. Sara will be such an amazing missionary - i'm really excited for her. Anyway - conference was amazing. It's almost better than christmas - the only thing thats missing is the phone call home to you all haha. I really liked all of the talks on missionary work - there were a bunch of them! This last week I had the opportunity to go on splits in Korea Town with the korean elders. It was really cool! I had NO idea what they were saying or what I ate, but it was a super super cool experience. We are having such a great time teaching William - he's really progressing fast. We have a member in the ward that served in China a few years back - they have really connected. He has gone from saying that he would never pray to a God that he doesn't know is real, to praying at the end of every lesson without us even asking. It's so great. He loooooved conference - he said 'it was beautiful'. It's been amazing to see his progression over the past few weeks. He's a genius. We presented the new zone goal this last week - I came up with this one. It's called 'extreme makeover: marina zone edition' (e. maddox came up with the name) - we are choosing 1 thing, along with setting baptismal dates, in every district - setting a goal to BREAK for the week and then going at it. I let them throw a dart at a special board that I made - it's got different prizes on it. SO, they aren't only working for baptisms and blessings, but also for whatever they hit on the board.. (pizza, picnic, cookies, zone leaders singing... things like that) It should be good! everyone seemed excited about it - we're hoping that it will help motivate the missionaries in this 'rich and diverse' part of the city. Well I love you all and am so glad that you enjoyed conference. Thank you for your prayers - I feel them everyday.

Keep reading, keep praying, keep the faith!

Love, Elder Cottrell

p.s. you're welcome to send more treats if you'd like!