Staying Strong Til The End

Dear Mom,

My companion and I found a boy this last week contacting- which is turning out to be the one fruitful contact of my mission. He is very serious about getting baptized. His date is for the day after I leave my mission. I just hope we can get the branch to support him. I want that they will support our investigator in the branch here. His name is Dainus.

So how are you and dad and Kyle doing?

The best thing to do is to keep busy and focus on others. I promise that will help. I know it’s easier said than done but it’s the best way. Plus, being busy and serving others isnt hard for you. :)

The less I think about the tragedy the better I can focus on the Lord’s work. Tell Kyle I will be way excited to live with him when I get back.

Also tell dad to keep an eye out for any jobs so I can keep myself busy with until i go to school. Although i am sure you will need my help at home, which I will be happy to do. I just want to stay busy.  I will have to make sure Kyle and I have some fun when i get back.

How is grandma H doing? 

We actually have conference next week as well.  I have to speak in the branch the week after and then the week after that- will be my last Sunday.

I love you.

Tell everyone the same.

Angela's accident 10/19/2010

President Dance called me last night and told me about Angela's accident. I was shocked and confused about what i could possibly do. He told me that I should write you all. I feel such an immense amount of grief as I am sure all of you do. My thoughts keep returning to Kyle. I cannot begin to comprehend how he must be feeling. I don't feel that any words from me could ease that pain but I just want Kyle to know that I love him. I believe in him and I respect him more than he understands. My prayers return again and again to the plea, that He would know how much we all care about him and loved Angela. Angela was an embodiment of care and kindness. She loved us and we loved her. She was my sister and I will miss her a great deal. I am sorry I cannot come to the funereal even though nobody expects me too. I would do absolutely anything to make this time just a little bit easier for any one of you. Especially Kyle. I know that Kyle is a rock and can tough about anything out but this must seem like just too much. I hope Angela's parents and family is doing alright. I don't know what aright means in this situation but I hope they are at least surviving. This must be so difficult for all of you right now. I wish none of you had to experience this. I hope that everyone in this family remembers the things they have said to others when others have grieved for somebody that they have lost. When we are in the situation it is sometimes harder to remember the blessing and designs of God. But this is the time to see the gospel in action. You have gone to church, served callings and testified of the truthfulness of the Plan of our Father. You have all been strengthened for this day. God saw this day a long way off. Now is when we see the fruits. This is what it is all about. To overcome the hardships of the world and to grow. I know it is a time for grief and I know you have all heard the routine of, "everything will be alright" a hundred times. I don't want to vainly repeat these words of support but it's true. Everything will be alright. It will be. I can't express this thought strongly enough. And if you already understand it then let that one truth ease the pain and bring you peace. Time is never an object to God.  He wants you to know that. If you know that then you know how soon we will all see Angela again. She is just fine. I know that she is ok. That brings me a great measure of peace. Now my one wish is that all of you would be alright. I know it will take time but just know that I love all of you so much. I don't want anybody worrying about me. This is not about me. I will be fine. I am in good hands out here. I can feel God with me and I know he is with you. He loves all of you. You are all so strong and when you are together you are even stronger. Cookes don't quit. Tell Gabe that Sorensens don't quit either. In others you will find peace. Dont distance yourself from those around you. Find solace in the love that you all have for one another. Again, i love you all. I love you Kyle as I am sure you are reading this. Don't lose faith. Don't let yourself be brought down by what I imagine is an immense load. Your one of my biggest heroes. I want to be like you. I wish I could be with you through this but you have everybody else to help you in my place. I know that you would want nothing more than for me to keep going strong out here until the end. Know that I will do that. Turn to Christ. You will learn so much from this and it will benefit you the rest of your life. I know you might not value that very much right now but God does. I know Christ is our savior and redeemer. He is with us when we think all is lost and he will stay with us until we learn that all is not lost if we stay with him. I know that Angela will be seen again. I know she is happy and wants us to be happy. I know that we are all bound together. She has been separated from us for only a short time. We will all be together again. I know it. I love all of you. Know that my prayers are with you. Don't lose faith.


Elder Cooke

Getting To It!

Hey team,                                                                                               
   

   This week went well. Elder Manning and I got sick and so that was fun to work through. Be it for better or worse we don't take sick days. I just cant bring myself to stay inside for a full day and so far nothing has hit me hard enough to keep me from walking. I have had my companions make me come in early but we have still made it out every day to find and teach somebody. We watched conference in Lithuanian with the branch on Sunday. It is funny how as a missionary out here you have to be ready to do everything. I laughed to myself when it seemed so normal to have to set up all the equipment for conference. I always remember seeing all the media equipment in the church for conferences and things and just being amazed at whoever did all that. Our church just rocks. This is the first day of the transfer. we find out who we are with in the next day or two. I have a lot of interesting feelings. I think an experience I had last night wraps up how I feel right now. I had an image of myself last night sitting on our front porch on the steps. I remember how the air felt and smelt and how i felt before my mission when I was home in November 2008. Even though It felt nice to feel the feelings of home, in the image I saw myself start crying because I realized how far away Lithuania was. This entire world with all its people and way of life as a missionary was so far away. It wasn't a welcoming thought but I am glad i had it. I am glad because in entering my last transfer as a missionary I have thought a lot about how is the best way to end a mission such as this. It's never hard to go outside and work so that's not even an issue. But more of my attitude in the whole process. I have come to the conclusion that we must serve where we stand and see things how they really are. I can't just straight up ignore what is going to happen next month but I shouldn't dwell on it. Talking about definitely doesn't help anybody especially the person I am most likely talking to. But like Dad said before I left, "I know you are where the Lord wants you so why would I be sad? I wouldn't want you anywhere else." That is how I feel. I am where the Lord wants me so I am not sad. It was hard to say goodbye to you all but it wasn't more than I could handle and the same it is with leaving this place that I love. If I will be where the Lord wants me then I should be happy. All I can do right now is work while I have the call until there is nothing left to give. If I can do that then I will be truly happy. Don't worry about me finishing hard, it will all be left on the mat, I promise.
     I am glad you liked the things I sent. I wish I could buy you everything out here. I can't, nor will I ever be able, to express how deeply grateful I am for everything you all have done for me. Especially Mom and Dad who I know could be buying a thousand different things but yet insist on giving me the best life has to offer. Monetarily and in every other way possible. I am also very grateful for Grandma and Grandpa Cooke who live providently so they can help support all their grand kids. I don't feel worthy to any extent of such sacrifices. Elder Holland hit my feelings right on the head in his talk in Conference. Not only do I have monetary support but all the other type of support possible from siblings, cousins, friends and people I don't even know who get on their knees every night and pray for our relatively small but powerful force of missionaries. The support that I cannot even begin to scratch the surface of its depth and value is the constant support of my Father in heaven and my Savior Jesus Christ. I do not feel myself worthy to receive anything more from them. Even when I feel I am not worthy to ask a single thing through prayer. Every time I ask, I have received an answer to my prayer in one way or another. Even when I am driving myself down with bad habits and sin Christ, in his mercy and in the power of his endless atonement, deems me worthy to receive his guidance, council and support. He always does if we come to him in faith and humility. If we are trying as much as we are able in our own capacity to keep the letter and spirit of Gods commandments, then we will feel the cleansing and edifying power of the Holy Spirit and we will have the sustenance to keep going. Always remember that you always have enough to keep going. God promised it. I love you all so much. I miss you dearly but not enough to leave the work just yet. 


Laikykites, Elder Cooke

Dear Everybody,

How is life in Heaven, I mean Idaho

This side of the rock is just wonderful. We committed a man we are teaching to be baptized in November and he accepted. His name is Linas. He didn't make it to church. which is a bummer. I hope he can make it to conference this weekend. I am so excited to watch conference. We get to see it in English and then we always catch some sessions in Lithuanian so it's a fun expieriance. Riga was fun. Elder Gearhart and I went up and learned a bunch of new stuff to implement in our zone of Lithuania. One of them is committing people to be baptised in every lesson including the first. It is very direct and bold and I just love it.  My companion was excited to hear that BYU got thumped. I guess he would be since he will be USU's quarterback in couple years. I hear BYU is just way down this year. Well the work isn't- so that's the real good news. However last month the mission had huge setbacks as far as baptisms go. We had 3 as an entire mission last month. No good. But we are amped to go hit it hard this month. I am feeling really good this week. It is the last week of the transfer which is just crazy. I still have the fire- prbably thanks to the dilligent prayers of the family.
I am so stoked for Craig and Sylvia. Go get that taken care of. I love it when the Cooke family just gets stuff done.
You do your part and I'll do mine.
I love you all.
Keep the faith.


Elder Cooke

Labutis

Hey fam/everybody,

    It was a fun week. We had a lot of interesting things happen, as always.

      I did a ton a squats this weekend so my legs are just hamburger. It was not a good idea. The weather has gotten a little warmer which was good but I feel its the last hurrah before we dive into winter. I can't believe it is already time to put our sweet coats on again. It should be only a few more weeks of just suits.

      Finding went well this week. We found 8 new lessons this week. I was amped about that. Taught some good people. Last week we had a cool expieriance. Elder Manning and I were trying to find a place to harvest and we were going to go to some apartments that we had our eye on but it just didnt feel right. We didn't say anything to each other but we just kept on walking. We walked right past them and found a big red building that just felt good. We went in and like always said a prayer in the staiwell and the third door we knocked on we found a beautiful family. They let us in and we had a wonderful lesson.

 The coolest old man in Lithuania. Mikolas. 

He feeds us every time we go to his house even though he is way old. He calls us his little brothers.

I ran an exchange here with Elder Graham and we found a way cool kid named Marijus. Way nice kid who shows a lot of promise. We had some interesting things happen with the branch this week. Members dieing/loosing testimonies/getting admitted to pschyc wards. It happens. But all is well and the week looks like it should be fun. I have some more exchanges I need to run and I have to go to Vilnius tommorrow so I can leave for Riga bright and early Wednesday morning. Lots of work but its the greatest time of my life. I love it but you should all know that by now. Thank you for everything. I love all of you too.

Elder JBCooke

Laba

Hey everyone. 

 some pictures of Laisves aleja

Thank you for the support and good letters. I appreciate them. Even if i totally fail to answer your questions and my letters seem to get less and less informative. And thank you for putting up with my spelling which has gone from terrible before my mission to almost absurd. Spell check helps though.

 The street where we do most of our contacting here in Kaunas.

We are working with the branch here in Kaunas a lot. I have been meeting with President Dance to discuss what should be done. Kaunas has had a lot of bad missionary work in the past so there are just lists and lists of inactives. It is a tough situation. It has made them a little wary of new converts. It is good because I was able to meet with the district president (stake president equiv.) and talk about how we can start to work better with the branch. We talked about using past experience to make good logical decisions but not letting it hamper my faith. Since I have been here I have seen 3 people get baptised and all three at one point fell away. I know, definitely not fun. Valentinas came back and is on the up and up which I am so grateful for. Due to branch and missionary efforts and people who truly care about that family. Sarunas is going through a tough time right now and i will have to explain all these stories when I get home. The point is I know I did my part and I can't be upset when people use their free agency. And I definately can't let that affect my faith for the future. If I have learned one thing out here I have learned that people have agency. I feel the spirit burning within me so I know that I am doing everything I need to be doing. I hope I can help translate that more to the branch here. I have to speak Sunday after next so it will be a good opportunity. We have to have faith always that people can change. Anybody can change. (see sermon at end of letter)

 A picture of Elder Manning & I at a members house here named Loreta (we call her  Bobaleta) 

The Missionary couple are the Morrels.

    Elder Manning is the right man for the job here as District Leader. He is a great learner and is ready to make any changes neccessary to be a better missionary. I couldn't ask for a better example. This week there isn't too much new to report.  So I will just do what I love to do, testify.

(*my sermon for today)

The gospel changes hearts. I have been so blessed to see the gospel work on people to turn them into different people. We all say,"we need to be true to ourselves" and although that is true in some aspects we can never use that as an excuse to keep ourselves away from being who we REALLY are, creatures of our God and King. WE are the creations of God. And as such we have a responsibility to be true to THAT truth and not all the bad habits and desires we have picked up during our time here on earth. That is not who we really are. It is a lesson I needed to learn myself and i am still trying to learn it. There is no excuse for sin and there is nothing good that comes from it. You dont need to sin to understand sin. C.S. Lewis stated, "Only the tree that stands against the wind knows its full power." We only understand what we are up against if we stand against it. Sinning distances one from God who is the source of all truth and light and therefore we become less educated and have a weaker understanding of everything as it really is. I have seen people come to that light and fall away, including myself and i have found a new understanding for the verse that wickedness never was happiness. When somebody is truly converted then it changes their whole perspective and it makes there previous life and selfish desires seem trivial and worthless. The gosple is good, "it tases good" as Joseph Smith would say. I love it and I love all of you. Look for truth not for excusses. Thank you all so much for everything.

The view out my apartment window

Laikykites

Elder Kukas

Transfers

Hey fam,

   Well, I have left my beautiful Vilnius. I am now in a new city with a new branch.  KAUNAS.
   I am with Elder Manning from Logan, Utah. He is an awesome kid who is way athletic. He actually has already signed with Utah State as a Quarterback.
  I am still a zone leader but i will not be with Elder Gearhart who is also still a zone leader and still in Vilnius with Elder Dellinger from our MTC group. Elder Gearhart and I are in Riga right now for zone leader council but I will be back in Kaunas tommorrow. I love Kaunas already. It is a nice change of sceanery. It has a beautiful old town and the people are way nice. It has gotten a bad rap from missionaries saying it is way ghetto which is partialy true but it is way beautiful as well. It just depends on what your looking for. Elder Gearhart says it's the best city in the baltics and what Elder Gearhart says is law. I'm way excited for the move. We have been finding a lot of people to teach and have been working hard. Everything is going really well. I am happy and healthy. Love you all.

Elder Cooke