Elder Austin Russell Cook Philippines, Legazpi Mission 8-2016 thru 8-2018: We need to build our foundation in Christ, we need to trust Him, lean on Him and follow Him. If we do those things we cannot fall. I know for a fact that this is true. If we center our foundation on Christ, we will never fall. We will experience sadness, trials, sickness and whatever else, but we will NEVER fall because He is there to carry us.

Gotta add the GQ pose

So it has been confirmed that I AM leaving this transfer! All of my bags are already packed, and I'll be leaving Irosin on Tuesday, and I will be making my way over to Libon in the Ligao Zone!

The amazing Glorybie's baptism day

I've spent basically my whole mission so far in this area, so I figured that when I finally did leave, I would be absolutely heartbroken. But when the announcement came that I would be leaving, for some reason I got super excited. Don't get me wrong: this place is my home. These people are my family. These places and these streets are second nature to me now. But I am so excited to be able to do this all over again in another area! We have two other missionaries in our district who are also leaving, and they are super sad about it, and they are kinda confused/mad at me because I'm not sad about leaving. But honestly, I can't help it, I'm really excited!

I told basically all of the members here that I was leaving as soon as I could. Back in the states

District activity from last week .

missionaries come and go and it seems like not many people notice, but here it's absolutely different. You aren't just a missionary here. You are these people's best friend, you are their counselor, and you are their life. So it's really sad to be leaving all of them, but I know that they are in the hands of the Lord. We have a huge Family home evening tonight with basically all of the members of the branch as kind of a way to say goodbye to everyone. But yesterday we went to Twinkle and her siblings to teach them, and they had this awesome surprise for me! They really are the best. After we finished teaching them and bearing our last testimonies to them, they started doing this song and dance that all of the little kids had practiced. And then they gave me a bunch of letters and this really cool thing that they made for me (I'll attach a picture).

The last time me and John Paul will get to work on splits together.

These pictures were at Twinkle's house ..

I really will miss this place though. These people have become my family. I'm gonna miss the Porcado's, Twinkle and her family, John Paul (seriously he's like my brother) the Gernali's, and everyone else in the branch. I'm not worried though, I expect to see them if I am able to return someday but definitely I will in the Celestial Kingdom.

That's pretty much it for this email. I can't wait to see where my next area sends me! It's gonna be great, it really is. One thing that always gives me hope, comfort, and peace is a scripture in Helaman. Helaman 5:12 is really a great scripture in the Book of Mormon. It says that we need to build our foundation in Christ, we need to trust Him, lean on Him and follow Him. If we do those things, Helaman says, we cannot fall. I know for a fact that this is true. If we center our foundation on Christ, we will never fall. We will experience sadness, trials, sickness and whatever else, but we will NEVER fall because He is there to carry us.