it’s been a November to Remember

Family and friends,

Hey all y'all!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had dinner with the bishop. His wife is an amazing southern cook and their son is a professional chef....it was divine. We had turkey, squash cassoral, dressing, green beans and potatoes, and brussel sprouts (which were surprisingly very good! he sauteed them with bacon. Even his mom said she never liked brussel sprouts until her son made them.). For dessert I had my first slice of sweet potato pie, a chocolate cherry crunch, and a pumpkin whoopy(like a pumpkin cookie sandwich). It was amazing. I missed home, but I knew I was where I need to be, and I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve others.

The mission theme for November was "November to Remember". It has truly been a month to remember with Thomas' baptism and all. He's had a couple struggles this week. Satan is working hard on him, but his testimony has not waivered.

We had many struggles and are still trying to find people to teach, but we've had wonderful miracles too. We've been working with an inactive family, mainly the mother. We had stopped by in the end of October and chatted with the family and got to know them. The next week on Halloween she broke her ankle (by reading, walking backwards, and tripping). She called us to keep her in our prayers. We offered to have the two elders who would be with us the next day give her a blessing. She accepted and that experience was so powerful. They promised her miracles according to her faithfulness in doing the Lord's will. We've stopped by and seen here about once a week and she has had quite the struggle. Her surgery was scheduled for this past week, but she got hives from a shot they gave her in the ER a couple days before so the doctor refused to do it (fear that she might wake up afterwards). She goes in for a consultation today at another hospital. As she has struggled through this trial of loads of pain and frustrations, the Lord has softened her heart. The family had stopped going to church a couple years after they were baptised because they had been offended. She sees now how important the gospel really is. She admitted this past week that she probably would never have changed her life if not for the Lord humbling her in such a way. She's been reading the scriptures, and she has been working on quitting smoking. The ward has been life savers. The Relief society has been providing meals, found her a wheel chair, and several sisters have taken time out of their days to sit with her and help her. Two brothers from the ward who work construction went over and built a very sturdy ramp out the back of the house. She has seen how much the ward really does care for them even though they haven't been in church for 8 years. This past week has been a turning point as she has turned to the Lord when in pain and He has helped her overcome it. She told us and the bishop that once she is on the way to recovery, she will be back in the church on Sundays and she wants to get back to the temple! It is so amazing to the gospel bless not only new member's lives, but those who have fallen away as well.

The Lord is stretching me and shaping me through trials, disappointments, and blessings. I just remember that He is in control and try to do 10% better every day.

Love you all! I loved the emails I received. Keep writing!

Love,

Sister Cottam

Heart full of thanks

This last weekend was amazing.

On Friday we had a special Sisters' training where ALL of the sisters in the mission got together. They just created a traveling companionship so we'll get to do exchanges some time soon. I loved it...especially because I got to see Sis. Roos and the sisters I came out of the MTC with. We also learned a lot of amazing things specific to sisters.

Thomas' baptism went on without a hitch...which is quite a blessing because this guy is 6 foot 7. Yup...he's tall. He had Manfred baptize him who is an older member of the ward and is about a foot shorter. Thomas ended up kneeling down and then leaning back...but he got alll the way under the first time! My companion and I did a musical number before the ordinance. She played the piano and I sang "This is the Christ" (we found it in an old Ensign). Thomas loved it. The most special part of this weekend though was the next day when Thomas recieved the gift of the Holy Ghost. The spirit was strong, and I could tell the difference. His spirit glowed. He was soooo happy to get to turn his life to God.

This whole thing really made me think about the importance of baptism. It's been so long since I was baptized, and I was so young. Baptism is truly a starting place, a narrow gate to get on the path to eternal life. I stressed and worried a little before Thomas was baptized because I was worried he would back out last minute. After he received the Holy Ghost I relaxed and rejoiced. In 2 Nephi 30:5-6 Nephi talks about how the remnant of his people will learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ and will rejoice: "And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God..." I have been really counting my blessings this past week for the restored gospel in its fulness, for God's love for me and all of His children, for my opportunity to teach others about the restored gospel, for the Atonement, and for ordinances that allow us to partake in that Atonement. Without baptism, without temple ordinances we cannnot access the Atonement, as much as we want to. 

Now that the baptism is over, we have a lot of finding to do. Our teaching pool has dwindled, but I know as we work hard and are obedient, He will help us find others who are searching for the fulness of the gospel.

I still have so much to learn and several hurdles to overcome, but I know the Lord is teaching me and helping me. Through it all there is sooo much to be thankful for!

Have a very happy Thanksgiving y'all!

Love,

Sister Cottam

Autumn leaves and a fall baptism!!!

Hey y'all this week has been amazing!!!!!!!!

I can't believe I'm having to say this already: Just FYI, all Christmas packages need to be sent by Dec. 1 so it can get to me in time. (The mission will be giving them to the zone leaders who will give them to us the week before Christmas.)

Autumn is beautiful and chilly here. The cold cuts right through you with all this humidity. 50 degrees feels like 35....brrrrrr. But it's all good. Have fun with the snow for me! I think that's the main thing I'll miss this winter. 

Thanks again mom for sharing that story about the Book of Mormon. I've used it a couple times with less actives. One of our investigators, Cayce, had an awesome experience with the BoM last week. She was stressed from her three young boys and decided she should try reading the Book of Mormon. As she was reading, she was physically cold because it's chilly here now, but she said as she read she had this warmth come over her that filled her insides and filled her with peace and calm. When her husband (who is an inactive member) got home she was so excited to tell him what happened and asked him what it was. He told her it was the spirit telling her the book was true. So awesome!

It's been one miracle after another with Thomas. He has stayed strong. We were seriously considering moving his baptism from the 26th to the 19th because of how much he was progressing. We brought it up a couple times early this week and he seemed uncomfortable with the idea. We still felt like the 26th would be too long away, so we kept praying about it and trusted the Lord would guide us. We had a lesson with him Saturday morning. We talked about the commandments including keeping the sabbath day, the law of chasity, and reviewing the word of wisdom. Before we began, we felt like we should show him a teaching record so he could see that we've taught him almost everything he needed to know, and he let us know that he had quit smoking completely on Friday! After we taught, we ended by testifying of the blessings of keeping all the commandments. He told us how he wish he had know these 43 years ago (when he was 4 years old basically), and how sinners have to go through so much. Sis. Jepsen felt prompted to share a scripture from Alma 36 about the release from sin when we repent and again brought up the idea of moving the baptism up so he could have that complete cleansing as soon as possible, because we knew he was now ready. The Spirit was there. It told us what to say, and he immedately accepted! He nodded, and said, "Then let's do this!"

We called up the district leader right then to see if he could come interview Thomas that night. They were free and drove up Saturday night. (The crazy thing is that we had felt something important was going on that night and our district leader had felt that same way. They had been unable to make any plans for that evening. The Spirit had hinted to both of us that the interview would be going on. We just didn't know it until after that lesson...so sweet)  Thomas was a little nervous going in, but he came out with a beaming smile that was completely contagious. He was so happy and excited and ready to jump in the water. Plans are under way for next Saturday. It will be a day to remember! I'm soooo excited and so grateful. This is all the Lord's doing. We were simply doing the right thing at the right time and the Lord made us instruments in his hands.

This gospel is soooo true, and it does change lives. This gospel is so worth sharing!

I am so grateful for everything God has given me. What a wonderful time of year to remember what we have through the tough times and the amazing times.

Love you all!

Sister Cottam

This week of miracles!

This week has been amazing. I want to tell you about Thomas:

Monday evening - received a media referal via text message requesting a Finding Faith in Christ, Book of Mormon, and "The Testiments" (which we don't give out). Sister Jepsen had the feeling that he might be another "Daniel" from a previous area who got baptized in 3 weeks.

Tuesday - one Zone leader and our District leader were following us around and came with us in the evening to meet him and hopefully teach him. We found out he had been investigating the church 4 years ago in Baton Rouge, then moved for work purposes and couldn't find it again. On Monday he had found a pass-along card at the Salvation Army store and called the number. We taught the first lesson. Knew it was all true. After we told Joseph Smith's story, he asked us when he could get baptised! We set the date for Nov. 26th

Wednesday - He came to Book of Mormon class and loved it. We took him on a tour of the church. He felt peace, nervousness, and excitement at the baptismal font. He told us that he had prayed after we left Tuesday night to find out if this is what he should do and got a yes. He met the bishop who took him downstairs and showed him the family history center where he stayed until closing.

Thursday - Found out he spent a couple hours at the family history center before our appointment. We taught the Plan of Salvation with a couple of members which he loved. He has been reading from the Book of Mormon. We also taught the Word of Wisdom. He told us that he had asked the Elders the first night before they left if he would have to quit smoking, they said yes. He went from 3 and a half packs to 4 cigarettes in a day and told us he had the goal to be done next Monday. He was sad to find out he couldn't drink coffee or tea, but knew he needed to.

Friday - Called us in the morning to tell us he had studied the scriptures in the Plan of Salvation pamphlet and understood it even more. He poured out his tea and put up the coffee pot. He asked if we were planning on coming over to teach again that day. We agreed to come. We were able to get Manfred and Patti (older couple, Manfred used to be the bishop) to come with us. We taught about fasting and tithing. He already knew what they were and had a testimony of them. He didn't have to work and spent almost all day reading.

Saturday - taught in the morning about the Atonement and the sacrement. He asked for anything we could give him that he could read and study. He spends almost all of his free time learning as much as he can.

Sunday - Got up super early because he was so excited to go to church. Came, and was nervous, but he loved it. In Sacrement mtg. Manfred invited him to sit with them. He told us that that made him feel more at home and comfortable (yay for listening to the spirit and inviting him to sit with them!).

This guy is sooooooooooo prepared. We found out he already stopped drinking and got rid of all his R-rated movies last summer because he saw his life wasn't going where it needed to go. We cannot take any of the blame for this man's progress. The Lord has prepared him. He is ready. And we'll probably move his baptismal date up a week!

How amazing this gospel is! No matter who says otherwise, it is true. It changes lives. God lives and there are people out there waiting to find His gospel! Amazing!

Love y'all!

Sister Cottam

Changed Mission Address!

By the way, the address for the mission office changed. Send everything to this new address.

South Carolina Columbia Mission

110 Oak Park Dr.  Unit B

Irmo, SC 29063

Mission Pics 1

These are pics she sent to us.

September 18, 2011

From left to right: Sister Robertson (companion), Sister Cottam, Sister Kloepfel, Sister Chai

MTC District 52C with Sister Call (Rachel’s district)

MTC District 52C September 2011

From left to right: Elder Arudson, Elder Christensen, Elder Thompson, Sister Kloepfel, Sister Robertson, Sister Chai, Sister Cottam

September 2011

Sister and Sister Cottam

MTC District 52C September 2011

From left to right: Sister Kloepfel, Sister Chai, Sister Robertson, Sister Cottam, Elder Ar, Elder Christensen, Elder Thompson

MTC District 52C with Brother Hawkins

Mission President Holm, Sister Cottam, Sister Holm

September 2011

SCCM (South Carolina Columbia Mission)

Sister Jepsen, her new Companion and Trainer