Letter #52 (Aug 1st, 2012)

Hey all,
I hate rain! This past week was so hard not being able to visit the
areas in the bukid again... I think we visited the same 4 families
almost every day that week, and still managed to get punted (and I
think those families may be sick of seeing us so often :P jujuju). But
even that being the case we still had some great successes this week.

We also had one member ask us some amazing questions
this week from her reading in the Book of Mormon. She has really
started to delve into her reading and is coming out with questions
which have been pushing us as missionaries, because they aren't just
the plain old questions we always get. It was great to be able to share
from the scriptures and help her to increase her understanding of the doctrine.

The rain has not just been problematic for us but also for our
members, who were not able to work with us this week because they
couldn't get from their houses to us because their roads were washed
away in the storm. But every Sunday after church we have so many
members who are willing to work with us and help out with the work. We
have just started going to this one area that has a few members in it,
and it turns out there are a bunch of investigators that missionaries
were teaching out there before that stopped only because the
missionaries all of the sudden disappeared, or stopped going there. So
we have been working closely with the members out there and have been
teaching new investigators every Sunday, which has been great for
Elder Padilla for the 12 week program. He is doing absolutely amazing
in his training, and is a great teacher. His skills are increasing
very quickly and he is showing forth his talent. It has been great to
see him take the lead in teaching situations and do so with boldness
in his teaching. We are having a great time working with the members
and getting them involved in the work. We are working closely with a
less active YSA at the moment who has a smoking problem, but really
wants to come back to church and hopefully be able to serve a mission.
We try to visit with him everyday and follow up on how he is doing. We
have build a great rel;relationship of trust with his and he is dong
well to get away from his addiction. He even came out to work with us
just this past Monday, and it really rekindled his desire that he had
to serve a mission.

To be completely honest the storms have been really bad here... dont
want to alarm you or anything, but just to inform you. We have storms
pass over almost every day now, with ridiculously strong winds and
rain. It brown outs almost every day now here and we have fun trying
not to get soaking wet or blown away. Lots of prayer! Always! that
helps a little bit...

Just to start asking in advance... i was wondering if you could get
some more pictures again of people for this Christmas when you send a
package again.

I have been doing great this week. I feel healthy and my study is
really improving, and i am finding I am receiving more revelation all
the time. Last week when I hit my year mark I realised the time we
have here is very short and passes by much quicker than we anticipate.
I am so glad for all the experiences that I have had so far and look
forward to all that I am yet to learn... I feel like before I know it
my mission will be over, and I need to seize every opportunity while I
still have the opportunity to do so. Exciting things are ahead...

Hope you are all doing well
Miss you and Love you all
Elder Taylor Addison Cox