MERRY CHRISTMAS

Dallin really loves making gingerbread houses!  

Elder Murray has to rein him in.

Zone Conference

 Clean-Up Crew

Elder Lucha my 2nd companion (goes home this change)

Dinner at the Bishops house!

Christmas Companions

Calling Home for Christmas!

Our Great Ward Mission Leader & His Family

WEEK 74 - STUDY TIME

Last week, we didn’t get to write because our area is too far from the church to walk and we couldn't use public transportation.  All is well though.  The last couple weeks there have been protests concerning the elections, so we stayed in the house for a few days.  It was hard not going out and serving the people but we used the time to study.  I read the Book of Mormon as well as studied in the New Testament, specifically in John and Acts.  We were going a little crazy from being inside, but luckily we are out and serving again.  

This week was interesting because it was the first chance to really explore the other parts of our area, now that they split it and put two missionaries in the other half of the area.  We found a huge area of people which we nicknamed "La Jungla" as well as another part which is farmland, which we nicknamed "Utah."

This week, I could really feel the Spirit as we taught.  We had some great lessons, and through hard work we were able to find some great investigators.  We went to visit one man and his family, whose wife we had contacted earlier, and we taught a lesson.  When we got there, the husband came out and was determined on not letting us in.  After talking and explaining things for a few minutes outside his gate, we got to the topic of Joseph Smith (rumors often spread that we worship Joseph Smith).  He let us in to discuss it, but with the understanding that he was not going to come to our church. 

I really felt the Spirit when my companion and I bore testimony of the Book of Mormon and of Joseph Smith as a prophet.  He did not once more mention that he went to another church, but rather accepted the Book of Mormon and thanked us for visiting him.  I saw on several occasions, yesterday alone, how bearing testimony of the Restoration really invites the Spirit.  I know that His church is true and I am proud to represent the Church of Christ in Honduras.

Thanks for all the Love and Support, and Merry Christmas!!

Elder Cox

WEEK 70 & 71 - MACHETES

For some reason we take lots of pics with cows, hopefully they accept the Gospel too.

We went and chopped an investigators yard, filled with 3 ft high weeds. Lots of blisters came as a result.

SNOW!!!! (From a member's air conditioning unit haha)

Me, my comp, and the Ward Mission Leader's son. "Son" sitting on my lap, haha!

The clouds fall like that for some reason in the mornings, looks pretty sweet!

 We had divisions with the ZLs this week. This is Elder Hernandez, from Peru. Probably the happiest guy I've ever met. Whenever I ask him how he's doing, his response is "Super Feliz compa(man)." We both finish the mission in June.

Us writing, LIVE.

Hello from Villanueva.  A weather update for everyone in the States.  It has actually been a little chilly at night.  I have had to sleep with socks on.  I have no idea how I'll survive in college, haha.

We continue to have a really big pool of investigators right now and we enjoy working with them.  This week, we were able to teach a really cool family.  We were also able to have a lot of investigators come to church this week, which was a huge blessing.  God has answered our prayers.  We have 5 people with baptismal dates within the next month and we are excited for them.

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Also, this week, we went and “chopped” an investigator's yard with machetes.  She had a ton of really tall weeds and grass covering her yard, so we went and helped her out early one morning.  I have lots of blisters now but it was great to serve her.

I hope all is well.  Have a great week and thank everyone for their support.

Love,

Elder Cox

WEEK 69 - HALLOWEEN

A fruit called lichas, pretty sure they don't exist in the States. That was Halloween, strutting my Halloween tie...

I slept on the ground for divisions so my comp could have a bed.

We had a great week and the work is going well. Elder Murray's Spanish is getting better every day. He is doing really well.  We had a really spiritual experience yesterday. Last night, we were going to visit an investigator. We were going to arrive a little late because the appointment was really far away. We had tried to call her, but she didn't answer her phone.  We had the impression that we should invite a specific member to visit the investigators with us. We followed the thought and it turned out that one of the investigators in that house was having some concerns. She was going to tell us not to come back, but somehow, because the member came with us, she told us it was great and we have a family home evening planned with her family for tonight!  We would have lost some pretty cool investigators had we not followed the impressions of the Spirit at that time.

I am trying to plan activities for the district so that we continue to feel unified.  We did not do anything for Halloween.  The only thing I did was wear a Halloween tie. No one celebrates in Honduras.

We have been working really hard and now we are seeing results.  It's been awesome.  I am excited to take advantage of everyday I have in Honduras!!

Thank you for your emails and notes.  I appreciate it!

Elder Cox

WEEK 68 - AGUA

We are working hard and having good results so far. Opening an area is really hard but we should hopefully have things up and running soon. We are beat every time we get home. We are teaching and talking with everyone, so we are tired, but satisfied. It is great here. The members are really supportive and feed us.  In this area, we have to bucket shower and flush the toilet with buckets, etc. The water only comes for an hour twice a week.   It rained really hard here and basically flooded us out last week.

WEEk 67 - ELDER MURRAY

My New Comp - Elder Murray

 P-Day Lunch & Games

I did have changes this last week. I am in a part of Villanueva called "Brisas Del Plan".  We are opening the area again. I am training a new missionary, who also happens to be a gringo. His name is Elder Murray and he is from Brigham City, Utah. I am also serving as the district leader.  We are working really hard, I feel tired … a lot.

Elder Dority went to Copan. They had to close our area for this change, because not enough missionaries were called here (more left/finished, than arrived)..

We are really starting from scratch right now, so we are building up our investigator pool. We had a couple of really awesome lessons with new investigators this week, where we really felt the Spirit. My companion's Spanish is really good for his first week here.  He understands a lot, and I am just helping him learn to speak a little better.

We are enjoying ourselves and are doing our best to see results. We are hopeful for the coming weeks. Also, the ward is supportive of us so that helps.

As I said earlier, I just have felt so tired this week. Feeling this way has reminded me that being tired and satisfied is awesome.  Also, I feel like I am starting the mission all over.  It is interesting how being with someone new can make you feel that way.  I have also just really felt the need to literally talk to everyone.  The value of each soul in the sight of God is our motivation.

Have a great week!

WEEK 66 - BAPTISM & CHANGES

Kevin’s Baptism

Apartment Pila – where we get water and wash our clothes

 Apartment Kitchen

 Apartment Porch

 Apartment Bedroom

 Apartment Fan

Goodbye to San Pedro Sula

Elder Dority and I don’t expect to be together for our next change, but we feel very fortunate to have been together for 12 weeks.  We find out the details for sure tonight.  Meanwhile, we have many lessons scheduled.  In particular, one neighborhood in our area has been incredible.

We had 2 baptisms scheduled for this week.  Unfortunately, one of them didn't go through.  It is difficult to start a new way of living.  He is great and we will continue to love him!  

The baptism service for our investigator was awesome and his family loved it, too.  We are hoping to be able to teach the rest of his family.

I have been focusing even more on Book of Mormon.  As we read it, its power to soften hearts is amazing. There are just so many things one can learn from the Book of Mormon that aren't in the Bible.  Both together are a full testament of Jesus Christ.

I hope everyone is well.  Thank you for your support!

Elder Cox

Week 65 - FLEAS & HOOPS

 Coaching the Kids

 Our District

This week was another awesome week.

On Monday, we were walking to lunch when a random guy pulled up next to us and asked if we wanted to play basketball. We weren't sure what to think, but then he explained that he was a PE teacher at a private elementary school.  He asked us if we would travel to the school and teach the students how to play. We talked to President Bush and he gave us permission. 

It was a lot of fun.  We taught three different age groups.  I used all of the drills that I learned from coaching and playing with my Dad.  We taught them the basketball basics!  The coach has had a lot of contact with Mormons, so the zone leaders are headed over to teach him. 

Recently, we have experienced a flea problem here. Our landlord's dog had them and then passed them on to us.  We sprayed our house with chemicals.  We also hot washed our clothes to kill the fleas.  Fun!

We had a super cool district meeting this week as well.  We talked about general conference, sharing insights and things learned. Afterwards, we played a "Fly Swatter" game where all the general conference speakers were written on a white board, and someone would read a quote from their conference notes.  The first person to identify the speaker and find his name on the board won the game.  It was fun.   We are blessed to have an awesome district.

The “Kevin’s” had their baptismal interviews this week, and will have their upcoming baptisms this Saturday.  Kevin the Younger (haha) went with the ward to the temple in Tegucigalpa and had an awesome time.  He said he felt the Spirit really powerfully and wants to go back as soon as possible!!

Yesterday, we had a cool lesson.  Elder Huber and I had contact with an 18 year old man when we went to do the baptismal interview.  We went back yesterday for the return appointment.  As we were outside teaching him, we noticed that the other family members began to listen.  One actually came over to us.  By the time the lesson ended, there were four family members sitting outside listening to the lesson.  It was clear that they had been touched by the Spirit.  I recognized that the message that we were sharing made sense to them. 

The Holy Spirit is the most powerful tool in teaching and conversion.  I am grateful that as missionaries we have the opportunity to help others feel the light of the Gospel.  Even if people don't accept the Gospel, we are planting seeds in their hearts.  We are grateful to serve them.

Have an awesome week!

Thank you for supporting me!!

Elder Cox, San Pedro Sula, Honduras