Dear Mom, Dad, and Cole Family,

The Lord has really shown me this week that He is preparing the hearts of His children to hear the gospel.  This past little bit the missionary counsel has been pushing us to OYM (Open Your Mouth) and have added a new key indicator in our reporting.  They have set the goal for 50 OYM's every week per companionship which is pretty gosh darn high for most people.  No we weren't able to reach the goal but we have had some great experiences.  On Tuesday I went on exchanges with Elder Christensen in their area (who is from Utah) and at the beginning of our day we got punted from most of our appointments which of course means...tracting/OYM'ing.  But me being me got this great idea to just ask people if they knew a specific person because Filipinos are always willing to help/talk to you if you have a question.  So we decided to start ask people if they knew where Chris Tucker lived.  I would just like to say that we got a lot of funny reactions of people trying to find out where "Chris Tucker" lived.  But this one time we met a guy named Elmer who invited us in after his frantic search of trying to find our good friend Mr. Tucker.  We talked to him and shared our purpose as missionaries.  Later on we met his mom who was about 87 but was still walking without a cane or any help.  We were able to teach Elmers mom who was super nice and open but she almost spoke pure Bicol which isn't my strongest point.  I got some of what she was saying so the lesson was still super great.  She has 12 kids but 3 of them have passed away along with her husband so she is really interested in learning about Eternal Families.

Well might I say that there are a bunch of Less-Actives in our area so most of our appointments are for Less Actives and new members.  But our investigator pool is still steadily increasing.  We met two kids by the name of Rian(11) and Mark Dave (9), and they are probably some of the politest and smartest kids that I have ever met in my whole life.  Seriously.  When we taught them they just listened and answered every question.  Their mom was an investigator when she was young but she doesn't have an interest at the moment in taking the lessons but she is all for having her kids take the missionary lessons if that's what they want to do.  Reynan (Hay-Hey) is still golden.  He's always excited to see us and always is willing to help us out.  I don't think that I've met a more prepared person my whole mission.  I really hope that his baptism will continue on February 7th!!!

This past week we also had the opportunity to have interviews with President Reeder which was great.  I have been so blessed to have him as a Mission President.  During our district meeting while we were waiting to be interviewed the zone leaders had us read and discuss a talk about being a consecrated missionary (I'm sorry I don't remember who gave the talk).  But he said that being a consecrated missionary means that we need be willing to give everything to the Lord.  Our thoughts, our desires, our energy, and most of all our time.  He even mentions that he keeps his heart locked and forgets about his girlfriend (not that I have to worry about that one).  Being a consecrated missionary also means that we need to change our nature.  We need to follow the commandments not because we know that it's expected of us; but because we really want to.  We need to work hard not because we want a lot of lessons to look good; but because we truly love our brethren.  I don't think that I can call myself a consecrated missionary but I know that if we all try to consecrate ourselves to the Lord that we will recieve blessings beyond what we can imagine.  

Mahal na mahal ko po kayo!!! May God be with you till we meet again.

                                                    -Elder Cole

Dear Mom, Dad, and Cole Family,

Well I know you've all been itching to find out where this stud muffin missionary has been sent to and just for your information..... I'm not in Daet.  In fact I'm in the opposite direction of Daet.  I'm here in the glorious place of San Jose Goa and my new companion is Elder Guevarra.... another Filipino.  He's from Antipolo Rizal which is pretty close to Manila.  Guess what????  He's also in my batch going home.  Just to make things even better; Elder San Pedro is my roommate so we've enjoyed talking about all of our adventures in Ragay.

This week has been full of fun with getting to meet the members and our investigators.  Although, in order to get to some of our areas we have to cross rice fields and small little streams.  And judging from my past letters, you all know that those don't result in good things for me.  Things haven't changed.  On Tuesday we were going to go visit a less-active and there is this little stream that we had to jump across because there weren't rocks or anything to jump on.  In short I didn't jump far enough and I got both myself and Elder Guevarra wet which is not comfortable when it's already humid.  And then on that same day we were running late for an appointment so one of the members who was working with us decided to take us through a rice field because it was faster.  I don't know if it was a short cut but it felt like I walked for ages.  It's kind of hard walking on a narrow path that isn't completely sturdy and could collapse at any time.  Thankfully the Lord was merciful and I didn't fall into the rice field again like I did in my first area but I did smell a little funky after because of the sweat.  

We have an investigator named Reynan (but he goes by Hay-Hey) and he is golden.  We haven't even finished lesson one with him yet and he already want's to be baptized. I hope it's not because his girlfriend is a member and he's doing it for her.  But they are both planning on serving missions at the same time when he turns 18 so I don't know.  Just a funny side note, I think Reynan is the Filipino version of Taylor Lautner.  The first time I saw him that's the first thing that popped into my head.  Well back to the story.  Things are looking bright for him so I hope that he can be baptized next month if all things end well.  

Well I would like to thank you so much for that package.  It literally saved my life and the t-shirt is hilarious.  I hope that this is my last area so I don't have to worry about packing again. Now I know how Aunt Sarah feels every time they move. Well I wish you the best of luck and I hope things are going well.  Mahal na mahal ko po kayo mga mahal ko!  May God be with you till we meet again.

                                                      -Elder Cole

Life is full of surprises.  Our kind Zone Leaders just texted us and told us that I'm transferring. Again.  Bye bye Calabanga.

Dear Family and Friends,

Life just keeps continuing to throw different obstacles at me that I didn't see coming.  A few nights ago we got a call from the Calabanga sisters telling us that they were being pulled out of their area which meant that we would be taking over part of their area.  The funny part of this is that the sisters area is the most progressing area out of the 3 areas.  I guess that the Lord has a plan that I don't really see at the moment.  Another thing that I didn't see coming is that Elder Grospe isn't transferred which means that we'll be together for 4 1/2 months.  Hooray!!!  One more transfer of hard work and fun.

Work in our area is still struggling but we're not getting down on that.  We're just keeping our heads up and continuing to look forward into the future.  Hopefully with the addition of the sisters area we will be able to find more people to teach.  Sherwin is continuing to progress but he hasn't come to church yet.  We're trying to help him recognize the importance of attending church every week and not just on Easter, Christmas etc...  That's one part of the Filipino culture that's hard to break.  We're also trying to help him understand of how truly important baptism is and that it's not "a welcoming" into a church but that it's a commandment of God. 

Oh by the way.  I finally got my package and I am very grateful for what you guys have done for me!!!  We are really enjoying the basketball hoop in the house and let me just say that up to this point I am undefeated in "Horse" ha ha. But really I love you all so much and I wish the best for each and every one of you.  But before I go I would like to leave something from one of my favorite talks of all time by Thomas S. Monson.  He quoted a poem that he head back in primary stating "

Dare to be a Mormon; Dare to stand alone.  Date to have a purpse firm. Dare to make it known.  

In a world where values are changing and where the moral dignity of people is being degraded, we as members need to make a stand for our beliefs and stand for who we are as....Mormons.  Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Don't change who you are, but be examples to the rest of the world so that they may someday find the gospel of Christ.  I know it's hard to do; but if we do it the blessings will be enormous.  Mahal na mahal ko po kayo.  May God be with you till we meet again.

                                                       -Elder Cole 

Dear Mom, Dad, and Cole Family,

Welcome to 2015 and the 4th  quarter of Elder Cole's mission.  I hope that all of you guys enjoyed your New Year parties and set new years resolutions for this upcoming year.  For New Years Eve we went to Brother Buchabal's house (our ward mission leader) and ate with them and for the first time in a while I got to watch a few basketball replay's which made me really excited for this upcoming season when I can actually stay updated.  I never knew of how basketball trunky I could get ha ha.  But one of my new years resolutions is to keep focused until the end of my mission.

This past has been rough for Elder Grospe and I to teach people.  Most people were busy or partying which made things really difficult.  Everywhere we went we were punted and then the weather was horrible the first part of the week.  I don't think I saw the sun for about 9 days straight because it was always raining.  I even bought a jacket because it was so cold.  Thankfully now it's sunny and hot again so now we can play basketball in the mornings!!!  But on the bright side of the work.... Sherwin accepted the baptismal invitation!!  He was kind of startled when I invited him and he asked me "Brother Cole (that's what he always calls us) does that mean that I will be a Mormons when I get baptized"?  We set a date for February 21st so I hope that he can make it.  It's going to be hard for him to giving up drinking with his friends but I know that he can do it.  Another great thing is that Sherwin's friend wants to listen to us when he doesn't have work!  "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass".  Things are hard in Calabanga but it's a challenge that I'm ready to take on.  Transfer week is next Tuesday so I can probably say my farewells to Elder Grospe.  He's been a great companion and I'll truly miss him. 

I've heard a lot of people say that the new year is a new life, and a new chance to change and improve ourselves.  One of my favorite verses in the Book of Mormon is 3 Nephi 27:27 when Jesus Christ is inviting the Nephites follow him.  "Therefore what manner of men ought ye be?  Verily I say unto you, even as I am".  Now we all now that Jesus Christ was the perfect example given to men from God.  If we set a goal this year to be more patient, we can look to the example of Christ.  If we set a goal to be more humble, we can look the example of Christ.  If we want to serve our fellow man more often, we can look to the example of Christ.  Everything that we can do to improve ourselves is in the characteristics of Christ.  If we turn our hearts to God and His son Jesus Christ, we will not perish but will rejoice in His spirit.

Well I love you guys so much and I look forward to seeing you guys in the following months.  Just stay strong and continue to be the amazing people that you are. Ingat po kayo palagi at Maligayang bagong taon!  Mahal na mahal ko po kayo!!  May God be with you till we meet again.

                                                  -Elder Cole