8/22/17 Solar Eclipse!

So many miracles happened this week! I'll get to them, but I wanted to first talk about our Zone Conference last week!

Last week, Tuesday, we had Elders Snow and Taylor of the seventy visit our mission! It was really just one of the most spiritual zone conferences I've had on my mission so far, and each one always seems to blow me away, so that's saying something. :)  Elder Snow focused a lot about improving our teaching skills, and the stepping stones an investigator has to take before they are converted. He helped us see how to involve the members, and how to further focus on efforts on finding people to teach, because the work can't really start until we do find other who are being prepared by the Lord's hand!

Since our mission decided to switch out Preparation day to today, so that we could proselyte yesterday, we had the unique opportunity to street contact in Idaho Falls, in the Greenbelt! I absolutely loved every second of it, even when we were rejected! We talked with this one family from Arizona, and they wanted to learn more so we were able to send their information to the missionaries there, and we also did the same thing with this guy from Italy, who was just one his way to Yellowstone and decided to stop in Idaho Falls for the eclipse! Then, while we were walking we felt impressed to talk to this one young adult in the park, who had a 2 month old baby. She said she was from Salt Lake City, and we had a great conversation with her. As we shared the gospel, she told us that although she wasn't a member, she went to church a few times in the past with some friend, and that literally just two days ago she and her fiancee were talking about maybe learning more about the church. It was a tender moment as she mentioned how they had just had that conversation, and how she didn't feel like it was a coincidence that we stopped to talk to her out of all the people there. She agreed to meet with missionaries in Utah, and we were able to send her information to them, and she accepted a Book of Mormon. I felt my faith just increase a ton from that day of street contacting! We had gospel conversations with many people in that short time frame. 

One of our investigators shared a wonderful experience with us Sunday, during a lesson! He said that he actually was struggling a bit financially, and it was something that was on his mind a ton, since he was trying to sell one of his houses in California. He decided to donate a large sum to the church, and as he did so within the week everything worked out, and it was just one of those things that I know was because he had faith that things would work out! 

Also, I just feel so honored to have been able to teach Paige and Thessaly, and see them be baptized and follow the example of our Savior! It was truly an amazing experience and I love them both so much! I just want to bare my testimony that I know that Heavenly Father is truly mindful of each and everyone of us! I seriously love this gospel, and I know that if we only reach out and do our part in learning and growing, we can be able to be truly converted. 

Just some quotes I found this week during studies :) 

"To testify is to know and to declare. To be converted requires us to do and to become." -Elder Oaks 

"Strong faith in the Savior is submissively accepting of His will and timing in our lives- even if the outcome is not what we hoped for or wanted." 

-Elder Bendar "Accepting The Lord's Will and Timing"

...and some more quotes, this time from Zone Conference :)

"Sometimes you just have to bow your head, say a prayer, and weather the storm."

"There is no conversation, no spiritual experience, unless the Spirit of the Lord is involved."

With love,

-Sister Cottrell

Pictures: Zone Conference! Sister Settle (From Georgia)  on the left and Sister Ganbold (from Mongolia) on the right- two of my very dear friends! Sister Settle finished her mission last week!

Pagie (with her husband) and Thessaly's baptism, and then the total solar eclipse! 

8/14/17 Second Week in Ammon Foothills!

Tomorrow is our Zone Conference, and we have Elder Snow and Elder Taylor visiting us! We are all very excited to be able to have them here for our mission tour! 

This week, I'm been striving to pay more and more attention to the promptings of the Spirit, and I realized that really without the guidance of the Holy Ghost, this work would be impossible. Yesterday, both my companion and I felt that we needed to try to see this one home, who we've never have before been able to catch home, and sure enough they were and they let us right in! We also had an amazing lesson with Darren, in which he's been reading the Book of Mormon a ton and has accepted a date to prepare to be baptized! He's great, he's from CA and is super fun! When we asked what brought him to Idaho, he said "I-15". He said that he literally was just driving, and it got dark by the time they were in Idaho Falls, and so they decided to stay here, haha! It's so beautiful and it's a really nice area. We also have been able to catch people home that we never have before, and so that's been a wonderful miracle lately! 

Since I've been out a year, I've really been focusing on what I can do to make sure that I truly become who the Lord wants me to be, and while looking back at the past year, I just can't believe all that I have been able to see while serving a mission. I just feel like my heart has grown so much, and I know that I feel for sure confident that the Lord truly does know each of us, and that the Spirit is the true teacher. 

I also have been learning a lot about faith this week, and just how important it is to have not only faith and hope, but faith in our Savior, Jesus Christ! I love how in Hebrews 11 (Ether 12 is wonderful and about faith as well!) verse 8-9, it talks about how by faith Abraham traveled to go to the place of his inheritance, a promised land. Just how Lehi had to have the faith that when the Lord asked them to leave their home to journey into the wilderness for many years. Nephi too was guided, as he states he was "led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do." That's just like how it is with each of us, missionaries or not, we are constantly seeking direction and promptings, and are trying to be engaged in doing good on our own as well. I love in Heb. 11:13, which says that "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off.." Even if things in this life seem unfair, I know that things will work out in the end, and that all of the promises are available in the life to come. :) 

Just some quotes that I like :)

"Understanding the Savior’s freely given atoning love can free us from self-imposed, incorrect, and unrealistic expectations of what perfection is. Such understanding allows us to let go of fears that we are imperfect—fears that we make mistakes, fears that we are not good enough, fears that we are a failure compared to others, fears that we are not doing enough to merit His love."

—Gerrit W. Gong, "Becoming Perfect in Christ", Ensign, July 2014

"Said the Lord in a dark and troubled hour to those he loved, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). May the Lord bless you, each of you, with faith, with affection, with hope, with charity"

-Gordon B. Hinckley

Love,

-Sister Cottrell 

Just a few pictures of our area :)

08/07/2017

I feel like this week went by so fast, but and the same time it felt very long as well! First off, I love Ammon Foothills so much. The people are just wonderful (an Idaho thing!) and it truly is the most beautiful place on earth! It was so hard saying bye to everyone in Rexburg! But I already feel just such peace and joy, and I know that's how it goes whenever any of us go on any life journey. 

Monday night, we had this amazing lesson with Kent and his son and daughter in law who are both returned missionaries. We finished teaching the plan of salvation and the gospel of Jesus Christ, about faith, repentance, baptism, and enduing to the end. We then ended with inviting him to be baptized again, and I had one of the most touching experiences on my mission so far. After the invitation, Kent was quiet for a bit and then mentioned how he'd been thinking about this recently, (the first time, he say he would be baptized only if he knows this is true) and he's been reading the Book of Mormon and going to church, and he said in our last appointment "I would like someone who I know is worthy to hold the priesthood to baptize me, I would like my son to do it." It was a very tender and emotional moment for us all, especially for Kent and his son. I will just always remember that night! Kent was so sweet, and always bought us pizza that night, and asked if I could still come to his baptism in the second week of September. We had some amazing and very touching lessons before I left Rexburg! One investigator told us about how during her baptismal interview, she was asked to share her testimony and she said just was surprised that as she started to, so many emotions just came to her, especially as she testified of Christ and the plan of salvation. 

My new companion is Sister Thompson, from Dallas, Texas (yes, she has great state pride!)! She's been great, and actually knows more than she thinks she knows about the area! She's been out on her mission for almost 6 weeks now, and it's been great getting to know her! She was born and raised in the church, but both of her parents are converts. Both of us want to be the best companionship that we can be, so I'm excited! They have a few investigators here, one of which is this guy names Darren, who has a sweet 12 year-old daughter who was recently baptized. A few weeks ago, she shocked them in asking how long it could take for him to be baptized, so they responded and didn't hear back from him for a few weeks, and they worried because they weren't able to have another appointment and didn't see him at church. But he was there this week, and right away asked if we could have an appointment that day. He's just so awesome, and it was a great discussion with him and his fellow-shippers, and he said that he'd pray about baptism. Apparently he used to be very anti, but I know that Heavenly Father really does just prepares the hearts of His children. One miracle that occurred, was that we went to one ward for sacrament meeting, and this young single mother was there who wasn't a member, and just moved there! The Ward Mission Leader was out of town, so we jumped at the opportunity to teach gospel principles, and she went to it! We taught the first discussion with about eight or so others in the class, and she had wonderful questions and everything was new to her. She right away set another appointment with us to learn more, and even asked if she could keep the Book of Mormon we gave to her. It was just a further testimony to me of miracles. 

We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.)

Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is His revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah. -Introduction to the Book of Mormon

One thing that we get to do a lot as missionaries is to read the Introduction of the Book of Mormon to investigators, and I just love the promise in here! I know that as we read the Book of Mormon, we'll be able to feel the power of the Holy Ghost work within us, and that we'll be able to have that witness if we pray and have real intent. :)

Love,

-Sister Cottrell

3135 S Chartwell Gdn
Idaho Falls, Idaho 83406

Pictures: Mary, one of our investigators who committed to church this week! Me and Thessaly, who's getting baptized next week! A few from Ammon Foothills and me and Sister Thompson!

07/31/17 Transfers!

So, first off I'm so incredibly sad to leave Rexburg, but I know that just like how it was hard for me to leave Sugar City, I grew to love everyone in BYU-I 2 so much! I'm leaving to Ammon Foothills, and was called as a trainer to finish training a new missionary, and I honestly can say that I've been saying a lot of prayers for strength to be able to help this area and my new companion! I feel that I have seen so many miracles in serving here! This week alone, we have been blown away as we have been teaching Thessaly, who's so dedicated and strong and is just an example to her family, and we've had some powerful lessons with Kent this week too, and he knows full heartily that the Plan of Salvation is true. As I look back on the last 6 months of serving here, I just can say that I have a firm testimony that Heavenly Father is guiding all of His children, and is deeply aware of all of their needs. This week will be my year mark, and I'm just so just blown away at all I have learned! I feel like I have changed so much, and I know that I'll just continue to learn. 

Moroni 8:16 "...Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear.

17 And I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love; wherefore, all children are alike unto me; wherefore, I love little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike and partakers of salvation."

I know that there can always be fear in the unknown and in the future, but as we look to Heavenly Father and trust in His plan, things will work out for our good! I love this Scripture, and how despite any fears we might have in regards to others, being filled with love/charity can help us cast out all fear! Know that whatever is going on in your lives, just to quote President Uchtdorf from this last general conference, "don't give up"! Sorry for the short e-mail this week!

Love,

-Sister Cottrell

7.24.17

I feel that each week of being on a mission, I just have more and more opportunities to not only see Heavenly Father's hand in other's lives, but also I'm able to be more humbled in the fact that we are truly just "instruments in His hands" :) 

Daniel was able to make his first covenant with the Lord, and was baptized this week and yesterday was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost! Daniel also had the opportunity to bear his testimony during the baptismal services, and one thing he mentioned was that he never guessed that he would be there today 5 years ago, or even a few months ago. He knows that the Church has been restored, and he gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon after not being to stop thinking about the book, and started reading it through the night. Sister Deuel was also able to come to the baptism, since she was the one who started teaching him with me :) One amazing moment to me was when after the baptism, when we went to congratulate Daniel, was when we thanked me for not giving up on him, and how that even when he would hide when we went to teach his wife, he could feel the Spirit when we would come.  

We also started teaching this girl named Thessaly, who's just so sweet and a super bright 10 year-old, who's parents moved here recently but aren't sure the process of having her baptized. The mom wants to come back, and so it's been really just amazing being able to start teaching the family!  Thessaly loves to read, and not only read the chapter we gave her to read for when we would come back to her next appointment, but also read a bunch more of the Book of Mormon, and just is totally embracing the gospel. It really helps me to see that children are just so receptive to the spirit! We typically go to church with our investigators, and one neat thing was that when Kent went to the family ward for the first time yesterday, our Bishop was so excited to be able to meet him, that he quickly made it to introduce himself! The Stake presidency also happened to be in the ward that day, and so he got to meet a lot of different people! 

"The trial of our faith will always involve staying true to simple, daily practices of faith" 

Helaman 3:35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God. 

This scripture sort of just became one of my favorites over the past week, and I just know that part of our progression in this life involves us yielding our hearts to Heavenly Father! Our life may not be in any way what we imagined it to be, but I know that when we turn our will over to God, things work out! 

With love,

-Sister Cottrell

7/17/17

I just wanted to start of by saying that I know with all of my heart that God truly is our Father in Heaven, and I know that he hears and answers prayers. It may not always be in the way that we expect, or even the way that we want Him to answer. Heavenly Father is there for us though, and that will never change. I know that despite hardships and trials, His love is never ending, and I know that we can't even comprehend how much He cares for us. I've been able to feel the strength from the Holy Ghost and comfort, and I know that Christ knows perfectly what we have each gone through. Despite choices of others, hurt, heartache, I know that there's nothing that we are each personally going through that our Savior hasn't felt.  

With that being said, I just have been able to see just a bit of the evidence of Heavenly Father's love for His children this week, as He's prepared so many wonderful people! We went to this appointment with a sweet Christian woman, named Darleen, who's not a member and who's friend invited her to learn more. We knocked on her door at the time of her appointment, and gladly welcomed us in. She shocked us both by having a ton of refreshments for us, and was just so super kind. It was pretty funny, because we even mentioned that no one had ever done that for us on a first appointment, and she's like "well, what better way to make friends than by breaking bread together?" She's had a hard life with health problems and family trials, and she even told us that she grew up in Idaho, and has always hid from the missionaries- until now. Darleen then explained that she had an angel of a friend just had such a glow about her and was just a perfect example to her. She mentioned that her friend who's a member didn't try to preach to her or share her beliefs, but that she didn't have to. Darleen started to ask questions, and then when she started asking more deep things, her friend explained that that's why there are missionaries. We had a great discussion and she asked a ton of questions!

We also met with Kent, who's from Detroit and who I mentioned last week! He's had it rough as well, but the discussion went great. He wants to truly learn more and he wants to know for himself if the Priesthood has been restored! The priesthood seems to be a hard concept, we taught Marissa more about the priesthood, and she really understands it now. She brought up baptism herself, and is preparing for the middle of August :) There's also this young man visiting for an extended period of time from Denmark. He used to be a foreign exchange student four years ago, and is familiar with the church but now wants to learn as much as he can. He's met with us multiple times this week, and keeps commitments. He even studied the introduction on his own for an hour, so that he could highlight things that stands out to him! We had dinner with the family he's staying with, which was awesome! Also, there's this family in one of our home wards that just adopted 6 kids, and 3 of which are over the age of 9. They're seriously the sweetest kids ever! They're from Florida, and haven't heard anything about the church before. So we started teaching the kids too, which is going to be so much fun! I haven't taught many kids since my last area. Speaking of which, on exchanges I went to Sugar City with Sister Huckbay, who's going to go home in about a month! I was able to teach some of the people I did when I served there, and it was crazy to see just how many people remembered me so well. Also, Daniel saw the Spanish Elders outside earlier this week, and called them over and talked to them for a little bit! The Elders were super funny, and asked us "wait, so are you the sisters who are teaching the scary man on west main st.? With all of the tattoos?" Daniel is a sweetheart though, and he even told the Elders about this baptism, and his interview went great! Paige is preparing for Saturday as well. I love being here and I love the people! I know that despite hard times, Heavenly Father truly does have a plan for each of His children!

"If blessings were immediate, choosing the right would not build faith."

-President Eyring, Apr. 2014

Love,

-Sister Cottrell

Pictures: Tie dye with Pagie and Kelsey on the 4th of July! 

7.10.17 Happy 4th!

This week was just simply amazing, but it went by super fast! For the 4th of July, we were in The Rexburg Parade carrying banners, and then we just hung out with investigators! In the evening, we did a BBQ with our zone and had a great time. Wednesday we had our zone conference, and one thing that I feel like I learned in particular, is just how great of role the Holy Ghost has in this work.  I'll just add a few of the roles the Holy Ghost has:

-A revelation, a guide to action, teaches truth and carries it into the heart, purifies the teacher and the learner, intercedes to strength prayers. "The Holy Ghost is the right to have, whenever on eis worthy. For those who receive the gift, the Holy Ghost acts as a cleansing agent, to purify them and sanctify them from all sin." 

-If you lack revelation, it may be because the decisions are trivial, or when either of the choices are acceptable. 

Our zone conference also had the theme of having Charity, and that's one thing that I feel that I need to be constantly working on, and I'll probably have to do so the rest of my life. I've seen a lot of charity just from the members here! Such as when those who teach with us invite and take less-actives to church, and just this week it was neat to see the outreach from the wards. So, we had quite a few miracles this week! Wednesday, Daniel finally handed over his last pack of cigarettes, and hasn't smoked since. We also had a really spiritual lesson with Paige, and I think I'm slowly learning each day just how to let the Holy Ghost guide my words. We also found a new investigator, and I'm just amazed each day with how ready different people are! He's the husband of another investigator of ours, and we're seeing them again tonight. Also, last Monday we were trying this home of one of our married students, because we heard that their neighbors where either non-members or inactive, and it turns out that he was like "hi guys! Oh! *looks over his shoulder* my dad isn't a member, and he's staying with us and moving across the street. I'll go get him." So we had a good conversation with him, and he's great! So we're eating dinner with them tonight and teaching his dad! He's from Detroit, and was raised baptist. We also we able to set up an appointment with a couple different people this week who want to learn more, which was really just amazing to us! 

Alma 8:30 And Alma went forth, and also Amulek, among the people, to declare the words of God unto them; and they were filled with the Holy Ghost.

Two of the greatest missionaries! I found this in my studies this week, and I took a couple things from this. I love that as they declared the word of God, that they were filled with the Holy Ghost. Just like how if we keep any of the commandments, we'll feel peace from the Holy Ghost, Alma and Amulek felt this as they shared the gospel. I also know that if we do share what we know to be true, like Alma and Amulek, we'll be filled with the Spirit, and we'll know what to say and do :)

With love,

-Sister Cottrell

Pictures: Our zone, right before the parade! Also, since we don't have AC, our neighbor gave us a window air conditioner, which we put in ourselves!

07.03.17!

This week has just been really good! A few things stood out to me- one was when we were teaching this one less-active family about prayer, and as part of the message, we shared the mormon message "Abide with me." After the video, we were surprised to see the 13-year-old just in tears, and her comment really make me think. She said, after noticing that we didn't react as strongly as she just did "you guys are so strong, you must be so lucky to watch and study things like this everyday." That really made me thing about my life before, and how great it really is to be able to do more things through out my day now to help me feel the Spirit. We helped her recognize the Spirit and what she was feeling, and it was just a great thing to be part of. While walking down the road to an appointment, this guy pulls over, and he's seriously so amazing! He saw us and just wanted to tell us that we were doing a great work, and he thanked us for what we were doing. He also told us just briefly about how he's a convert of about 20 years, and how he was rejected by all of his family members for joining the church. He just glowed, and was so incredibly grateful for the gospel in his life. He told us that no matter what we think, that we are making a difference. Afterwards, Sister Barber looked and me and said "he's probably not an angel, but he should be!" I totally agree with her! I'm also just so grateful for our country and the opportunity we have to celebrate our freedom. Heavenly Father gave us agency, the freedom to choose, a long time ago, and that was one of the best gifts he could have given us! we were able to attend church with a few of our investigators yesterday, and a less-active family who went to sacrament for the first time in awhile. It always is just others using their own agency, and acting on their faith! 

~Mormon 1:15- in this, I love how Mormon mentioned that he was able to "taste" and know of the goodness of Christ. I feel that I've been able to see that more and more each day. We were in RS yesterday with one of our investigators, and the lesson was all about loving one another. I feel that I have been able to "taste" and know the goodness of Christ just a little bit more and more while searching for those small opportunities to love and serve others.  

~"Faith in Jesus Christ propels us to do things we otherwise would not do. Faith that motivates us to action gives us more access to His power." 

-President Russel. M. Nelson

~"Overcoming the world is not one defining moment in a lifetime, but a lifetime of moments that define an eternity." 

- Elder Neil L. Andersen 

I hope everyone has a wonderful Independence Day! 

Love,

-Sister Cottrell 

P.S. Today marks my 11th month being out, and being here seriously has been the best ever :) 

Pictures: Sister Barber and myself :) 

Exchanges with Sister Ganbold! I love her so much!! We have way too much fun together sometimes!