So, I have definitely been struggling to send out a big email lately, but I want to change my ways! But this week was just full of miracles and amazing things! To start, we had an incredible opportunity this week to have Elder Whiting come tour the mission! He is in the First Quorum of the Seventy, and if you aren't familiar with him, look up his talk "Temple Standard." It is amazing! But basically he is one of the most amazing men I have ever met! We got to have a full day spent with him, just learning from a general authority and it was such a spiritual experience! He walked in and the first thing that he talked about was that he was sent, and teaching us under the authority of the twelve, saying that Elder Packer sent him personally to come do this, and that the job of the seventy is that they go places and do things that the quorum of the twelve can not go because they don't have time to go everywhere in the world. The spirit was just ridiculously strong when he walked in the room to teach us, and I just had this feeling that I really can't deny that he is a man called of God, and that this church is so true.
In the conference we talked about a lot of different things, but one thing that really stood out to me was how he explained power. He talked about how we all have authority to preach the gospel, but we have to work to gain that power and I thought that was so good! He talked about how we have to learn the things and gain that power for ourselves if we want to be that "most profitable servant." That was something I was really thinking about before going into the conference was "How can I be a more profitable servant, and become that missionary that I have always wanted to become?" I felt like he was really just teaching to me and I can't believe how great the conference was!
So after that, Elder Whiting selected a few missionaries that he wanted to interview after, and just talk to, and he picked me to be one of those! Amazing opportunity right? Personal interview with a general authority! Yeah, I was a little nervous..but blown away by the amazing opportunity. When it was my turn, he brought me in and we sat right down. I said a prayer for us to start, and then we just talked! He asked me about my family, and got to know me a little bit and it was really cool! I won't lie I was nervous at the beginning, but once we started, he was just so loving and kind. It was so cool to talk to him. Then he just looked at me and he asked if I had any questions I wanted to ask him about anything. Wow right? I can ask a general authority any question I want..mysteries of the kingdom? Haha no basically I just sat there for a second and then just asked how I can really work personally to become a better missionary, and just expressed to him that I wanted to be the most profitable servant possible. He had talked a little about this during the conference, but he looked at me and told me he was going to tell me something that he didn't tell the whole group. He started talking about how when I become that missionary, Satan is going to try everything he can to get me to fail. He told me to be LASER BEAM focused on my goal, and when Satan tries to discourage and lead me away, to keep my end goal in mind. It was so amazing! I could feel the spirit so strongly as he was teaching right to me personally. Right when I got home I journaled everything I felt in the interview, and just wrote out some things that he told me. It was an incredible experience that I will never forget! He also told me that when I see him again, he wants me to come up and tell him how things are going and give a report. Looks like I have a new General Authority friend;)
That was definitely an amazing part of the week, however we also had a great week here in Mito! The next day was a classic missionary day. It was cold, and rainy, and me and Elder Lammintaus had some finding time! So, after we studied and planned, we headed out in the rain! I won't lie everytime I do that I just really feel like a missionary because that is just what we do! We go out and talk rain or shine right? We headed to the Station to try to find some people, and to be honest at the start it wasn't good. Because it was raining, everyone wanted to be inside, and so it just ended up being kind of difficult! But, we continued to talk to everyone and finally I stopped this young kid with a really cool hat. We started talking and he seemed like he had a little interest in our message. He wanted to learn more, and so we set up a time to meet the next day! It was great! New investigator. So after setting that appointment, we were just about to go back to the bikes to head home, but there was a kid who was walking by who had a really cool backpack. I commented on it saying it was cool, and he stopped and we talked for a while. I told him what we were doing and he was really interested! He said he wanted to meet up, and I asked when his break was and he said Saturdays and Sundays were good! So, we exchanged phone numbers and he agreed to come to church! It was incredible. We really were able to see miracles because we were being faithful missionaries and going out, even when it was hard to go out in the rain, and God blessed us with two prepared people in our path.
L_______is still doing really well! We were able to meet with him this week, and just teach him more things that he needed to know! He is looking really good for February to be baptized, and I just can't wait to see the day that he is! He came to church this week, and he wore his suit and just looked like a little member! I am so blessed to know him for sure, he is seriously one of my best friends I have in Japan! He is the best, and I can't wait to be his eternal friend! Thank you so much for all your prayers, it is making a difference!
Seriously, this week really was amazing and we really were able to see so many miracles! This next week is going to be another good one I know it. The crazy part is, we get Ipads on Wednesday! It is officially here, so we are all super excited about that! It is really going to change the mission, and my mission forever! Things will definitely never be the same that is for sure..but we are really excited to see how the ipads can just make us much better missionaries!
Things really are just going great right now. I love my companion Elder Lammintaus, I will send a voice recording today and have him say some stuff he is the best! He is just really chill, and easy to get along with, and wants to just work super hard! Perfect companion right? The other two elders in the apartment are great, and it is just way too fun right now. Thank you all so much for your amazing support! I could not do this without all of your prayers and the support back home. I am so blessed! I pray for you all daily, and think about you often! I love this gospel, and I love missionary work. It is the hastening of his work right now, and I am so blessed to just be a part! Have amazing weeks, and I will talk to you all soon!
愛してるよ！
Love you!
Elder Cottle
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