Dear Mom, Dad, and Cole Family,

Happy February Everyone!!!!  As another week comes to a close, I am once again reminded of how much awesome being a missionary is.  We didn't have someone walk up to us and ask if they can get baptized but this last week was great regardless.  

Elder Guevarra and I have been talking about different ways that we can find new investigators so now with the approval of the Ward Council; it is official that we are going to be teaching an English class every Saturday and I have been designated  as the teacher.  This should be a fun experience, I have absolute no idea of how to teach English so let's hope and pray that this can turn out well.  I've also been chosen to help teach a fireside about how to effectively do home and visiting teaching.  I don't know why in the world they would want to have me to teach but hey, it's another opportunity for me to learn so I won't complain.

Earlier this week we kind of struggled to teach lessons, we just kept getting punted and things just weren't going the way that we had hoped.  But thankfully to the wonderful youth of the San Jose Ward, we were able to accomplish great things.  After church on Sunday there were about 8 youth who wanted to work with us so we were able to go on splits.  Through their willingness to work and with the help of the Lord we were able to teach a grand total of 11 lessons in one day.  During that time not one of our planned appointments fell through and all of the youth were able to help share their knowledge and testimony about the gospel.  I wish that I could have been as willing to work with the missionaries as these youth when I was younger.  We had a great time and learned a lot from another.  

Just for laughs, the other night we ate dinner at a members house and there wasn't any transportation so we had to walk home.  So when we were walking this dog came out of the shadows and started chasing us so I just started running as fast as I could.  Here's the thing, right as I started running my left shoe came right off.  And I mean right off.  I ran right out of my shoe because I ran so fast.  Don't worry, I faced my fears and ran back for my shoe but I didn't put it back on till I was a safe distance away from the dog.  

I just read something from Russel M. Nelson that really kind of made me realize of how important it is for us to smile.  "When you meet people for the first time do so with a smile. Be happy. This is a gospel of joy. If you look grumpy, who wants to be like you?" I know he was talking to missionaries but the principle is universal.  We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Yes life is hard and there are things that make it hard to smile.  But if we go around life thinking about the bad all the time we will miss the small blessings that the Lord has given us in our lives.  I may be a hypocrite some times by saying that but nobody's perfect and I'm trying to apply that principle in my life.  I know that if we do that,  our lives will be more happy and that we will be more proud to be members of this wonderful church.  

Thanks for everything that you do for me in my life.  You are all superb.  Mahal na mahal ko po kayo.  May God be with you till we meet again.  

                                                   -Elder Cole