I got the news that I will be transferred to a new area called Comun. President is sending me out there to help my new companion to be a leader

I learned a priceless lesson this last week. The whole of the lesson was actually learned in about 20 minutes or so, but I think the Lord has been preparing me for the last four and a half months to get me to those final 20 minutes, in order to teach me the things that I needed to learn. I won't go deep into the details, but Elder David and I have really been having a lot of friction this past transfer (so for the past 6 weeks) but neither of us talked about it. It was kind of under the surface stuff, but it was VERY obvious that both of us were irritated.

Well, last Friday, we finally opened up to each other about all of the things we were irritated with. We used very blunt words to explain what we were feeling, and turns out that we were both feeling the EXACT same thing about each other. The conversation lasted about 20 minutes, but by the end, there was not even a trace of anger or frustration between the two of us. Crazy how we both just sat and suffered for 6 weeks when all we needed was a twenty minute talk to put it past us. Valuable lessons for the future. I assume this lesson might come in handy when I'm married hahaha.

Anyways, as far as the work goes, this last week was GREAT for finding! We have made it a goal to talk to as many people as we can in the streets, and really focus our finding efforts on families. So anytime we saw a family sitting together, or just a couple sitting together, we just walked straight up to them and tried to introduce the Gospel. We ended up finding two families who are very humble, kind, and interested in the Gospel and in what we have to share. We are very excited to see the progression these two families will make. We were able to teach both of them in their homes, and they really seemed to get what we taught and showed that they were very interested.

We also found an attorney! That probably doesn't sound that cool to you guys, but here it's a pretty big deal because all of the attorneys and the lawyers here are VERY prideful and don't want anything to do with us. But we were tracting late one night and found this guy named Edgar Abitria. We briefly shared a 2 minute message of the Restoration, and he told us to come back the next day to teach him in his office. We did, of course, come back the next day, and it was one of the most professional visits that I've experienced here on my mission. He was actually very humble and respectful (asked a ton of questions) but he told us that he wants to hear more about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Cool stuff right?

Just last night I got the news that I will be transferred to a new area called Comun, which isn't too far from where I'm at right now. I know nothing about this new place, all I know is that it's supposed to be a very beautiful place. I don't know who my new companion is, all I know is that he's a special assignment for me. The Assistants told me that President is sending me out there to help my new companion to be a leader. I guess we will see how these next six weeks go! I have high hopes though. Either way, I'll be home pretty soon, so I plan on giving it my all in this new area.

 Photo with some ward memebers

This is Fred! Hes from Pennsylvania, and he's super cool. We took some farewell pictures with him. He lives in the apartment underneath us. He hates Mormons, but he loves us haha.

And to my surprise, when we exited the chapel after the conference, I saw Twinkle Frilles waiting outside to meet me!

This week was great yet again! Elder David and I have been working really hard to get the members to start working with us, and we learned that these members are capable of working miracles if they just put their minds to it! They have helped our investigators read the Book of Mormon, come to church, pray to God, and many other things. Especially our Bishop, Bishop Serrano, is helping us a ton.

One new progressing investigator that we have found is a girl named Aileen. She's about 30 years old and can't walk at all. She has legs, but they haven't really worked since birth, so she has a really hard time getting around. Poor woman has no one else living with her in her house, so she has to rely on infrequent visits from family and neighbors when she needs help with something. But she still does her own laundry by hand, her own cooking, cleaning, etc. Anyways, she has a baptismal date for July 28, so we are doing everything we can to help her reach that goal date. The only problem is her church attendance (because she can't walk) so we are going to make arrangements this next week for a member to pick her up to come to church. Wish us luck!

We also found a family (the Del Castllo Family) two weeks ago, and from what we see, they are very much ready to receive the Gospel. The first thing we asked when we met them was why they allowed us into their home to teach them, and they responded by saying that they really want to change their lives, come closer to Christ, and they felt, when they saw us, that we were the key to get closer to Him. We have only taught them twice, but they are really excited to go to church next Sunday, so we are very excited to see them progress.

The Magdaong family is just kind of on and off. Sometimes they show progress, and other times they don't. We still have hope for them, but they just seem to be having a very difficult time progressing.

Last Saturday all of the missionaries in the Legazpi Mission had a conference with a member of the Presidency of the Quorom of the Seventy, President Ucida. It was only a two hour conference, but it was an amazing spiritual experience, and we all learned a lot. President Ucida is a very bold man, and used the phrase (almost shouted it) many times, "I invite you to repent NOW." I think it was the closest I've ever come to being chastised by a general authority haha. But I learned a lot and received some answers to some questions that I've had for more than a year now.

And to my surprise, when we exited the chapel after the conference, I saw Twinkle Frilles waiting outside to meet me! Twinkle was one of my converts in Irosin, (my very first area on my mission) and probably the strongest convert I've met on my mission. I was seriously so shocked and excited to see her. It's been more than a year and a half now since I have seen her, so I was definitely not expecting it! Our conversation was only about ten minutes (which made me really sad) but it was the BEST ten minutes!!  haha. It really made me MISS Irosin a lot!  haha.  It was such a blessing to see her and those she traveled with because I didn't expect to see her again while on my mission.

Well, that's it for this week! Pictures will come in a separate email! Love you all!! :)
Elder Austin Russell Cook


               Surprise visit from Twinkle Frilles :)

                Service project for our bishop. 

They dont have lawn mowers, so we just use machetes

We had like 11 missionaries sleep at our apartment 

one night, and this is how we fit them all 

(good thing they have a balcony)

Just some photos this week :)

These weeks are just full of pure tracting!

These weeks are just full of pure tracting!! Something is happening in this area and tracting just doesn't seem to be working. We have set some good solid goals for ourselves and our area, but they are just not being reached by us... But we still work, and we aren't getting down! Well, sometimes we do, but we quickly pick ourselves up afterwards!

Our only progressing family, the Magdaong Family, have finally missed their fourth week of church attendance, so we don't know what is keeping them from coming... That's our struggle with them. They read, pray, and keep all of the commitments we give them EXCEPT coming to church. We might have to get some more members involved with this one.

That's pretty much it for this last week! Hopefully I'll have more to report on next week haha. Sorry mom for the short email. Love ya'll, have a great week!

Since my SD card got stolen I have been using my companions to add photos.  But now I have a new companion and he doesn't have an SD card.  Ill try to buy a new one or use another missionaries SD card.