Hey-

Hi FAM
Thats so great to hear about everyone. I am glad you are all safe.
I am glad sadie didn't foul out again but she got a "T" for TETON!
Everything here is going well. Next week is transfers again. I can't believe it.
Guess what, NEW MISSIONARIES ARE COMING IN! Two Elders will be arriving next week. It is the first time new missionaries have come into Lithuania since ME! I might not see them for a while because most likely they wont send them here to Siauliai and i have a good chance of staying here. There might just be 2 elders here next transfer. Crazy hu?
4 Elders will be going home including Elder Newman and Elder Fitzgerald. wow...
As far as the work goes i had a nice little lesson taught to me last night. We were waiting at the bus stop and i was not in a good mood. Almost everything had gone wrong and i was just at the end of my rope. I was a little frustrated with EVERYthing. As i was sitting there feeling bad for myself our bus showed up. Without me having to move the door stopped right in front of me and our investigator who we had been looking for for over a week stepped out of the bus (this is Aurumas.) We had lost contact with him and I had begun to loose hope. But I had forgotten the prayers my family, friends and people in the temple had been saying on his behalf. He got off the bus said he got a phone that we can now contact him on, he wants to meet and he hasn't smoked since we met last! I couldn't believe it. I learned a good lesson of faith last night. Anything is possible with god. Thank you for your prayers everyone.
So life here is good. People are still struggling alot but thats just the times. It is sad for me to hear that Idaho isnt safe from the hard times either. But i guess that just means the whole world was due for some humbling...YEA PRIDE CYCLE! But I know if we all keep faith and a PROGRESSIVE attitude then everything will be ok. I say "progressive" because it isn't just a "optomistic" or "realistic" or "pessimistic" attitude that is going to get anything accomplished. We need to be Progressors. This when we are neither blindly optomisitic and ignore the challanges and hardships that lie in front of us,nor so realistic or pessimistic that we fail to keep the eye of faith that change can be made and trials can be overcome. We must asses our own personal situations and progress through challanges. This is when we achieve our goal in life which is to progress and perfect our selves. Never think our goal is to "survive life". LIFE is to be enjoyed and used for what it truely is. An opportunity to learn grow and progress. Necessary for that is a humble heart that is willing to accept that we dont have all the answers and we have room to progress. After that is a will and a desire for change. I challenge all of you to move forward and progress. I know its hard, guess what, it gets harder. But i know its possible, and i know its worth it. Of this I bear testimony. I love you all so much i cant describe. I pray for you and each day and every day i am here is a testimony of those that have helped me so much through the years. Thank you


Elder Cooke

Linksmiu Svenciu! Happy Holidays!

Hey fam!
Its sounds like your Thanksgivings were joyful AND triumphant!
But first things first. I am going to call Sadie a NIMROD
(being interpreted meaning Mighty Hunter) THAT IS SO COOL that she shot her first duck. I am so proud of her. I am not even sure when i shot my first duck becasue every time i shot one Kyle claimed HE shot it ;) BUt anyway on this side of the world everything is just normal. Aurumas has his Baptisimal date set for Christmas. We still havent found Edvinas. I am way worried about him. But just keep the prayers coming and everything will work out. The power of prayer is unbelievable. We can never change the will of God but we can gain strength, peace, understanding and show our faith in which we WILL see answers to our prayers. I know that is true. I have seen it.
It was just a normal week for the most part. It was really FAST but it was normal. We are just getting ready for Christmas. We started a small choir with people from our english classes and members. We just want to teach people to sing carols so they can feel that joy from the holidays that just doesnt exsist here right now. I am really excited for this.
So anyway that will be all from me this week. I am happy that everyone is doing so well back at home. You all sound happy. If there is anything you need help with let me know.
Anyway, thanks family for all you do.
I love you all with all my heart.

Go show somebody you love them!!!!!!!!

Love Elder Cooke

Labukas

Hi family
Well i wrote you an email and then the power went out so i lost it. Here is the 2nd edition.

Sounds like you are all doing fantastic. My companions always think you all are nuts because of the random stuff you all do. I really liked the "Sadie fouling out in every game" part. Thats my lil sis.

In MY world....Lithuanian is still awesome.

In other news Edvinas dissapeard. He has no way of contacting us so we didnt know where he went. We found out later that his dad got cancer and so he has been staying with him for the whole time. I really care about those boys alot. Take their names to the temple and pray for them. Other than that everything is just great here. We are still rockin the threesome here in Siauliai. I dont have much time becasue today is THANKSGIVING! we dont have much planned. We are going to go cook all day for the most part then go teach english class and then go the the branch presidents house with his family and a couple members. It should be a good time. But know that i am so thankful for each one of you. You all are such blessings to me. I have deffinately had my eyes opened to that fact. I would be lost without each one of you. I love you all with all my heart. THank you for everything you all do.

Love,
Elder Cooke

HAPPY THANKSGIVING
(if you want write me and tell me the ONE thing you are most thankful for)

Fantastic!!!

Hey fam
Everything here is just peachy.
Me and my companions are getting along just fine. Its a real party here. We went to zone conference and that was just a blast. Elder Senkans, our area 70 came and spoke to us. They randomly selected missionaries to have an interview with him and my companions and i got picked. It was a great opportunity for me to ask him some questions that I have had recently. Those men are men of God, period. <--right there thats a period. <--Thats one to. ok I'm done
Other than that we are still working dilligantly with Edvinas. He is doing really well and still hasn't smoked (day 10 or so now) Valentinas is doing awesome as well. He wants to start harvesting with us. In fact, because we only have 3 missionaries here I have started teaching 1st class english by myself. It is so much fun. They dont speak any english so I have to go 100% Lithunian with them. Its so much fun, my english teachers would be so proud :) But! the reason I say that is Valentinas has started teaching the spiritual thought with me at the end of class. At the end of each class we have a 15 min spiritual thought. Valentinas has been testifying how we need to show those we love that we ACTUALLY love them. It is so nice to have a Lithuanian say that. I tell people here all the time to show thier families that they love them. Yesterday I talked to a man on a bus who didn't want anything to do with our church but i committed him to go home and tell his wife how much she means to him, and he accepted. But when I said that in english class the people just told me that this was "an american tradition" and they dont do that. Valentinas then said, "Are you serious!," "every day when i leave the house i kiss my wife and tell her i love her. How can you live without love like that!?" He has a point. We CAN'T live without love like that. Thats why alot of people here unfortunatly end their lives early. WE NEED MORE LOVE HERE! We trying to do our part though. And that is by just loving the people. My MTC teacher said ,"If you dont love those people then who is going to?"
He was right. I love em all. And i love you all. THank you for all you do. I love you all.


Elder Cooke


p.s. oh my goodness I just realized I have been out for a year...
...time is lame, i want more.

1+1+1=COMPANIONSHIP

Hey Fam! I am still in Siauliai! But this is the weird part. I am in a threesome…and that’s it in the city. Everybody got moved out and it is only our companionship of three in the city. I am still with Elder Porter but now we have Elder Anderson as well. Both solid! Elder Anderson was with me in Klaipeda. He is from Orem, Utah. He is HUGE on football and he reminds me a lot of Craig (minus the beard). He is actually considering playing football for BYU when he goes home. I love these two missionaries to death. We are all way pumped to get started. It is way funny because now the CITY of Siauliai is our area. I can’t explain the blessing it has been to be in this city and see the changes it has undergone in the last 5 months. I have high hopes for this place. Other than that I just have to many stories that I can’t wait to tell you but this isn’t the proper setting for it. You will just all have to wait a while but I can say that I have seen the hand of the Lord here in ways I can’t possibly describe. I love it.You asked how my language is and well. I have to say that my English is absolutely terrible. Thank goodness for spell checker on Microsoft word because I can’t spell ANY thing anymore. As for Lithuanian, I would have to say that it is starting to become second nature. It is still hard but its there. I have been dealing a lot with banks and books lately because they are changing the church’s finance system here. It’s been hard but I have learned a TON of new vocabulary because of it. Its way fun.Anyways, I better get going. I love and miss you all. I can’t believe how fast the time is going. I try not to ever think about time out here though. Other missionaries do but I like to just forget about it and get to it.

Linksmu Svenciu (happy holidays)
Vyresnysis Kukas (the coolest elder ever)