I'll go where you want me to go!

We've worked hard this week, and despite my companion's health issues, we've done much good. We've been reconcentrating our efforts in our area, Thomson. And I am finally feeling at peace about having to leave most of what I knew behind (investigators, recent converts, members). The longer we're here, the more we feel that there is a great work waiting to be done on our side of the ward, work that God has called us to do. No, we don't have very many active members in our area. No, we can't really visit people I have grown to love. Yes, we have to give our old investigators completely over to the Elders...but that's okay, because that's why he assigned those missionaries here, that's why he asked us to work in Thomson. We found a good apartment this week to move into and are just waiting for it to be approved. We want to move as soon as possible so our work can be more effective.

We've had a lot of wonderful opportunities to work with less active members and found a few new investigators this week. We found a large family, the Thomas's, and are excited to work with them. It was intimidating at first to teach them b/c there were so many (Grandparents and about 7 grandkids) but I have grown to love them and pray for them often. I'm excited to keep teaching them.

We got to find someone for the Elders to teach this week. It was a miracle. On Wednesday, our plans fell through and we had a couple hours before we had dinner with a member in the area.  It was our old area, but I didn't want to tred on the Elders. As we were trying to figure out who to see, I remembered a promising lead nearby who we had struggled to contact. I knew the Elders didn't know about her, so we followed the prompting and immediately headed her way. Dora, the one we had talked to before, wasn't home, but her 19yr old son was. He called her, and she couldn't make it back in time, so we said we would try back another day. Two days later on our way back into town from one of my physical therapy appointments (which are going well and helping a lot), we stopped by. Dora was home and had time to talk! We had an amazing visit with her and she expressed her sincere desire to learn more. Her close friend in Nevada had recently joined the Church and she had been sharing what she was learning with Dora. Dora wanted what the church and the gospel offers because she feels it will bless her and help her sons become better people. We left her with a Book of Mormon and scheduled for Sunday so we could introduce the Elders. On our way to the Sunday appointment she texted and said another day would be better, but we felt we should still go over for a couple minutes. When we showed up, she knew it was God reminding her this was important and she could take a couple minutes in the busy day to talk. She was excited to meet the Elders and felt that they would be perfect for her sons (who are 19 and 17). As the Elders bore testimony of the blessings of the gospel, the Spirit gave me peace that they were Dora's missionaries. I learned that if a missionary is obedient and righteous, it doesn't matter who they are; the Lord will use them as tools in His hands to bless His children. I want to be one of His tools!

I know God guides and teaches us through the Spirit. I know that there are people around us who are waiting for the gospel, whether they know it or not, and if we will seek for opportunities to be God's tools, He will use us to bless them. The gospel blesses our lives so much! I'm so grateful I get to share it with others.

Expect miracles. See people as they can be. Love ya!

Love,

Sister Cottam

Enduring well

It has been a busy week! We finished splitting our area and are enjoying the first week of working with Elders in our ward. My new companion is Sister Gardner. I'm excited to work with her here. She's is brimming with faith and is helping me stretch and grow. I've learned how to appreciate change this week as I've opened my heart to continue learning and growing. Newish area, new people, new companion, and new ways to share the gospel.

Vince is doing well. He continues to grow and mature. I love watching him move forward, no matter the obstacle, to seek true repentance and healing on the path of the gospel. We had stake conference this week. He got to go to the adult session and the Sunday session. He loved many of the messages shared as said again, "I still have so much to learn!"

During my studies this week, God taught me an important lesson. I got "stuck" on the first few verses of 2 Nephi 2 where Lehi is talking to his son Jacob about all that Jacob has been through. As I pondered on those verses, writing in my study journal about what Jacob endured, the Spirit taught me what "enduring" really means (and then it was reiterated in stake conference!). Enduring to the End doesn't mean we hang on for dear life until it's over...enduring well means taking the situation and thriving in it. A speaker in stake conference put it in perfect wording: being "anxiously engaged in a good cause". During these final weeks I don't want to just "hang on", I want to thrive. The Lord blessed me with the perfect companion to help me do so. The Lord is hastening His work. It will go on whether we are part of it or not.

I want to be a part of it.

I'm in the middle of my mission. I've so much still to learn. I'm excited to get to work and find those who need us, who need the hope of the gospel!

Have a good week y'all! Endure it well.

Love,

Sister Cottam

News: baptism and white washing (this is from today)

This week has been CRAZY!

We took care of several health issues and planned a baptism. I don't like having to take time to take care of my health, but I am glad that I have, because it is helping a lot, and in the long run, I know it will be better.

We had a wonderful week though as we helped Vince Crow finish preparing for his baptism. Last minute, our bishop asked if we could move the baptism to Friday evening instead of Saturday morning (there was a temple trip that morning). We scrambled all day to be sure everyone could still make it, and everything worked out for the better (I'm grateful for our bishop's inspiration). Vince was so ready (even though we did it a day earlier than originally planned) and was very excited and nervous. I have loved watching him literally grow in the gospel.

I gained a testimony this weekend of the power of ordinances. Maybe it has just been my hightened sensitivity to the Spirit, or something else, but as each ordinance was performed (baptism on Friday and confirmation on Sunday), it was as if I felt heaven's power for that moment. I could sense the priesthood and power of God at work in this humble man's life and that it had forever changed him. He is becoming more and more like the man God sees in him. As I watched him interact on Saturday at the ward activity, I could tell the gospel had a huge impact on his life. He had purpose again. I know the gospel is true, that the priesthood power is real, and that ordinances help us acheive Celestial goals. I read an article in the new member Ensign that came out several years ago that was by Elder Holland and he said that there is nothing Terrestial or Telestial about the Church. Everything in the Church is geared towards Celestial goals. As I have thought about it, I have realized how true that is and how grateful I am for it.

Well, transfers are this week. Sister Steimle is leaving. We also found out that they're moving Elders into the ward. They will be biking in Harlem and the sisters will be moving to Thomson. They're still looking for a place for us to move to, so the poor elders are going to live with the nearest missionaries 20 miles away for a couple of weeks. I know it'll all work out. I am excited and humbled by the prospect of working in the Thomson side of the ward. I know it is the Lord's will, and it has been inspiring, as we have sought inspiration for how to organize everything, how the Spirit does direct us.

This is the Lord's work.

Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Cottam

P.S. the first picture is of the baptism. Bro. Tindall(the chief fellowshipper) is the tall dark haired one and Vince is the blonde scruffy guy. The second picture is Bro. Trover standing over a hundred pounds of pork smoked for our ward activity...soooo good.

faith to get a ride (from February 4, 2013)

It's been an amazing, stressful, and miracle-filled week. We continue to work with Vince. I am still amazed at the growth I see in him, at the changes in his countance, and his sensitivity to the Spirit...etc. I love it. I count my blessing every time we teach him or talk with him when he asks a good question, thanks us for all the help, and bears his testimony to us. I'm learning more and more how true that scripture in D&C is about finding His elect. That is our calling. Through us, the Lord changes lives.

The day before the missionary fireside (Wednesday) this week, we were still struggling to find Vince a ride. We didn't hear back from the member who had said he would take care of finding a ride, and then everyone we were calling couldn't do it. Thursday afternoon we were still without a ride. We prayed with all our hearts for a miracle. We made a few more phone calls. Then, later in the afternoon we received 3 return calls offering him a ride. We were amazed and felt so blessed that the Lord had provided the miracle we were seeking. Vince was able to go to the fireside, have his testimony strengthened and questions answered, and the brother who brought him was also able to have an uplifting experience in a hard week. Faith is a principle of action. As we prayed with the expectation that God would answer, then did everything in our power to make it happen, a mountain moved. I've learned so much about faith and hope, that expectation that God will fulfill His promises. It's not always according to our will or in our timing, but He does answer. I know He does. I've seen it very powerfully this week, and it's amazing.

We have been seeking for new investigators this week while we help Vince prepare for baptism this Saturday. We've found several new potential investigators and hope for the best. All in the Lord's timing.

I love this gospel and love being a missionary!

Have a good week!

Love,
Sister Cottam

Divine potential (from January 28, 2013)

This week has been an intense spiritual learning experience. As we've continued to work with Vince, I am amazing by the power of the gospel and the Holy Ghost to change people's lives. I've also come to realize how overwhelming life can be and how truly blessed I am to have the things I do, to have grown up in the home I did, to have the fulness of the gospel in my life. It struck me so plainly and so powerfully this week how blessed I am as we have seen Vince struggle with his living conditions, his emotional struggles because of it, and his spiritual growth. He is hungry for the peace that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can bring. He wants it so much and seeks every opportunity to have it. It's the hope he had lost. It's the peace he now needs. It's the motivation he desires. It's the hands to pull him out. It's the direction he has been looking for. What strikes me so much is how the Lord has prepared him, and prepared us to meet at this time. There are experiences that Sister Steimle and I have been through that are exactly what this son of God needs at this time in his life. Vince is excited to be baptized on Feb. 9th :) . He is really solid on preparing for that day. I love it!

This scripture keeps sticking out in my mind this week: "But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen. (1 Nephi 9:6)" I stand all amazed at God's power and plan for us. I see in Vince an amazing man with so much potential.

We have another missionary fireside this week. I'm excited for it. we have several people who have committed to come (part member families, less active families, and Vince) I'm excited for them to go and feel the Spirit there.

Hope y'all have a wonderful week! Touch someone's life this week :)

Love,

Sister Cottam

one good man (from January 21, 2013)

This week has been full of all kinds of ups and downs, but it has been an amazing growing experience. I am so grateful for the Lord's hand in my life and in this work. I feel like every single day the Lord is shaping me and shaping the people around me in ways that I don't even comprehend.

First I want to share a really cool analogy that Sister Steimle came up with today. She was studying about the Atonement, and in the 3rd article of faith, it says: "We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel." I never realized how poweful that really is. Many believe that we can't get to heaven by our works, but in the restored Gospel, we have learned differently. In this article of faith, Joseph Smith was describing pure and simply how the Atonement is essential to allowing us to be saved (because we can't accomplish anything on our own, anything without it). Without the Atonement we're helpless, but then Joseph adds another phrase "...by obedience...". In other words, we have to do certain things in order to access that saving power. Sister Steimle, being an art minor, compaired it to clay molding. The Atonement is like the clay and our hands are like our obedience. Without the clay, our hands have nothing to do, nothing to accomplish. Without our hands, the clay sits there, a blob, useless. The Atonement is neccissary for our progression. We have no hope without it and it's through this medium of the Atonement that our obedience can make a difference, that our actions can create something better. The Gospel is all about acting on our faith and using the Atonement to become better. Wow.

We've had a couple of opportunities to teach our new investigator Vince this week. He is an amazing son of God. He loves learning and is emmersing himself in the gospel, and he's doing it because he wants it. We taught him about our purpose (inviting others to come unto Christ by living the Gospel) the Restoration last Wednesday and the Spirit was strong. Vince has such a childlike faith, such a humble desire to follow Christ, to be baptized, and to have a better life. He called us last Tuesday and prayed with us and talked with us. He had asked his active brother in Washington to teach him how to pray! and then after our lesson with him, he called on Friday and asked about how to apply the Atonement to quitting smoking! When I think about this man's faith, about his diligent effort in applying the gospel in his life, about his sincere desire to be more and do better, I feel so humbled and I pray that we will be a help and not a hinderance to this sweet man's progression, that the Lord will use us as tools in his hands to bless this man's life now and forever. This work is so much bigger than we are. I love it so much.

It's at times like these that I wish it would never end, that my mission would last forever. And then I am reminded that it doesn't really end, that I'll be a missionary for the rest of my life, just without the name tag.

What a wonderful plan our Heavenly Father has. What an amazing Gospel. What an overwhelming opportunity it is to be a missionary.

Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Cottam

P.S. Hope you like the pics from the Sister's Training. The first is Sister Steimle and me. The second is the sisters from my MTC district :) Oh yah, and I was one of the ones who put up all those balloons ;) that was fun.

humble man+church=peace (from January 15, 2013)

Sorry this is a day late. The email site wouldn't work for us yesterday, so we received permission to do it today.

This has been a busy and wonderful week. I feel like I've learned so many important lessons this week. We had Specialized Sister's Training on Wednesday, and I loved it! There was such an amazing Spirit there, one that struck me deeply and has had a great affect on me throughout the week. I felt like the Spirit was truly the teacher that day. I learned a lot about humility and charity, the importance of divine worth, not comparing myself (good or bad) to others, an increased desire to be MY best, trusting in God, having faith in others, etc. The things I learned then have led me in a search to get to know myself better and know how to improve. The Spirit has continued to be my teacher each day. The lessons I am being taught have helped me improve my relationships with others and my efforts in this work. I know this work is so precious and this calling is so sacred. I am so grateful I get to be a missionary. I love it!
This weekend we've had some wonderful experiences. I feel that now that I am opening myself more to the Lord and striving to be truly humble, He is blessing us. We were able to finally sit down with an investigator, Willie, and a potential investigator family in Thomson this weekend. We had good lessons with both of them and are excited to continue working with them. We also had a wonderful opportunity to talk with an investigator, Hope, from North Augusta (she's meeting with the elders there). She is a good friend of a less active family who we've been working with. Sister Hilliard took the liberty of inviting her friend Hope to dinner with us this week. She sat in on part of our lesson with the Hilliards' son and then over dinner we were able to answer a lot of her questions and bear our testimonies of the gospel. It was a precious opportunity to share in her conversion process. I love working through members!

We had another miracle yesterday at church. In ward council they informed us of a man who would be visiting that day. His younger brother is an active member in Washington state and he called to ask the ward to help his struggling brother, for he knew the gospel could help. The man, Vince, came to church and enjoyed all of the services. We were then able to take time after church to answer any questions and set up a time to teach him more. Vince is so humble and ready to make changes in his life. I know the gospel will bless him so much. To add to that miracle, today he gave us a call because he was struggling again and needed someone to talk to. He prayed with us and talked to us about the reading he has been doing in the Book of Mormon and the new Teachings of the Prophets book. He told us that he had never thought about there being living prophets on the earth today, but that the idea becomes more and more real to him as he keeps reading. My heart is full of joy when I think about how the gospel is already affecting Vince's life.
I am grateful for the Lord's hand in this work. I know it is His work and I am so grateful I get to be a part of it! I love being a missionary. I love getting to learn and grow every day. We never stop learning.
Have a great week!

Love,
Sister Cottam