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
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