Week 12 - Tortilla Time

  Our investigators' wedding. We helped make the tortillas. We are getting to be pros.

Making tortillas with the ladies.

 I couldn't help myself, alphabet soup!  The lady that fed us thinks I am crazy.

Stirring giant buckets of chicken. 

The gas truck. I thought the name was rather interesting.

San Pedro says Goodnight!

Week 11 - Farm Girl

“Children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy children.”  Isaiah 54:13

Sometimes I’ll hear parents say they feel their family is being punished because of their bad parenting.  Big trials come into their lives and completely knock-out any hope/harmony in their home.  They know they need to turn to their Heavenly Father, but feel they can’t, because they haven’t tried to talk to him for a long time.  Hurricane Jane came and their foundation was a little faulty.  It’s like riding your motorcycle without a helmet.  You think all is well and nothing is going to happen until you hit the witch’s eye in front of you and go flying over your bike. We won’t always see the trials that are coming and they will hit us when we least expect it.  What do you have to protect you?  There are 3 things that promise protection.  Three things EVERYONE knows and FEW people do.

1. Go To Church

2. Pray Everyday

3. Read the Scriptures Everyday

God doesn’t send trials to punish us, but to force us to see things we weren’t willing to recognize before.  He sends trials to refine us into the person we can become. The person that can live with him again.  Build a foundation so that when the trials come, you can’t FALL.  I testify that if you aren’t doing these 3 things, there is no promise your family will be protected.  Doctrine & Covenants 130:20-21

I Love You, Hermana Cox

Week 10 - Conference Quotes ... and a Fiesta !!!

"I can teach you to dance, but you have to learn the music"

“It’s hard to find a structure that can withstand a category 5 storm.”

“When we offer succor to anyone, the Savior feels it.”

“Two keys to a successful marriage – a cookie and a kiss.”

“That became the great adventure of our lives”

“And all the while loves grows stronger”

“It will when covenants are made and kept, last for an eternity.”

“The ideals of an earthly father are magnified in our Heavenly Father”

“There will be no end”

“Not compete with each other, but complete each other”

“I wish I had been less pre-occupied with lists and more with lives.”

“The root of all evil is not money, but the love of money”

“God does not force us to believe, he invites us to believe.”

“Overtime, you will come to see that you made the best choice you could possibly make”

"We now live in a culture of temporary”

“It is important that they do not give up on themselves”

“See that ye look to God and live”

“Only when his gaze was diverted by the winds and waves did he begin to sink”

“Satan attacks everything that is sacred.”

“Many are Good, some are Important, but only a few are Essential”

“If you can’t hear the music in your home-keep practicing.”

“A saint is a sinner who keeps on trying”

“If we don’t try, we are latter-day sinners, if we don’t persevere, we are latter-day quitters, if we don’t allow others to try, we are latter-day hypocrites.”

“There are always members that seem to know who need help and how to give it.”

“The service that counts most is usually counted by God alone”

I apologize for not emailing last week, my companion and I got a little sick. But all is well now!  Conference was great!  I included a few of my favorite quotes from the Saturday night session.  A few fun things happened this week.  I got attacked by a dog, I ate cow intestine, we had interviews with President, we are going to start giving English classes, we have 2 new investigators!  My favorite quote this week was when a lady told us she feels a “fiesta in her body” when we come to visit.  Until next week! 

Love Ya, Hermana Cox 

Courtney's Room

Week 9 - Q & A

1)  Tell us briefly about President and Sister Crickmore based on your brief visit with them?

VERY KIND, SENSITIVE TO SPIRIT, DON’T MESS AROUND !!

2)  How often do you speak with them?

SEND EMAIL 1X WEEK, INTERVIEW 1X MONTH

3)  How many missionaries are in your mission?

LOTS, MORE AMERICANS THAN I THOUGHT

4)  Give us some words to describe the area?

SMALL, FARMING

5)  Describe the homes?

WOODEN HUTS, SOME CEMENT, FEW BRICK

6)  How close are you to the volcanoes?

VERY CLOSE !!  THEY SMOKE EVERY DAY

7)  Describe the people?

SUPER, SUPER KIND AND FRIENDLY

8)  Do you have any modern amenities?

ELECTRICITY, FRIDGE, MICROWAVE, NO RUNNING WATER, BED, SPACE HEATERS, TOILET WITH NO SEAT HAHA

9)  How are the bugs?

SOME SPIDERS

10)  How is the rain?

IT RAINS ALOT !!

11)  How are your clothes working out?

SHOES ARE GREAT.  CLOTHING IS GOOD.  HAVING DRESS MADE FOR ME J

12)  Any hot water?

CAN HEAT WATER

13)  Water to drink?  Have to boil?

HAVE PURIFIED WATER JUGS

14)  How do you wash your clothes?

BY HAND

15)  How do you clean up?  Shower?

DIDN’T ANSWER THIS QUESTION J

16) Do you need any money or supplies?

NO

17)  Do you have a small general store?

LOTS OF SMALL STORES TO BUY TREATS

18) Are you on foot?

YES

19)  Any other missionaries in the area?

TWO SISTERS

20)  Where do you meet for church?

TWO CHURCHES

21)  How many members are there?

LOTS

22)  Do you stick to the missionary schedule?

YES, BUT SLIGHTLY ADJUSTED

23)  Do you take a mid-afternoon siesta?

I WISH

24) Do you have your running shoes ready in case Popo (volcano) goes off ?

I WILL DIE ACTUALLY HAHA

25)  What makes you smile?

THE PEOPLE, THE FOOD, THINGS FROM HOME, SOME OF THE MEMBERS ARE REALLY FUNNY

26)  What are some interesting things you have encountered?

PEOPLE TELL US THINGS LIKE FROM DREAMS

27)  What are the strangest foods you have had so far?

CACTUS, PIG SKIN

28)  What can we pray for on your behalf?

THE LANGUAGE, THAT I CAN WORK HARD TO SERVE THE PEOPLE

Week 8 – Chiclets

“I want every child to feel like they are the most important priority to their parents.” This is a quote from the Women’s General Conference that I really liked.  Kids have a soft spot in my heart, and I wish that there were more parents willing to fulfill their role (my parents are awesome). It was also said that children need to know that “they have the power to do anything they can imagine” and “home is a place second-only to the temple.”

This week we attended a volcano emergency preparedness meeting…and I was happy to find that Chiclets were on the list of items needed for our emergency backpack.  We also had to explain to a lady why my skin is white. She said if I lived in Las Vegas, and it’s really hot there, then the sun should have turned my skin dark like hers.  I think both parties were a little confused.  There are a lot of people here that like to learn English words, so I teach them “obvi.” It’s great!  At a lunch appointment this week, I told the sister her food was delicious and she replied, “obvi!”

We have some awesome investigators.  One of them has a miracle story to tell us every time we come to visit her about how her daughter had a high fever, so she prayed and it went away or paid tithing and ended up with enough money to buy the things she needed.  She has great faith!

Conference is this weekend!!! One great blessing of conference is that we can receive answers to our personal questions.  I challenge you to think of a question or something that has been troubling you and listen for the Lord to give you personal revelation through his servants.  I LOVE YOU!  Hermana Cox

Sister Escorts Us Home During Storm

Week 7 – San Pedro

Como han estado?  I am still living.  When President and Sister Crickmore came to pick us up from the CCM, all the Elders from our zone came to see us off.  Sister Crickmore looked at me and then she turned to the Elders and said, “she whooped you in basketball, didn’t she?”  Haha.  She’s awesome.  This week I have been camping out in my first area.  And by camping out I mean we don’t have running water …. I’ve become a pro at bucket carrying.  I’m actually featured in the picture to the left (below).  So San Pedro is the closest area to the volcanoes.  They are HUGE and sometimes they smoke.  This area is gorgeous.  We are surrounded by fields and mountains.  The people here are muy amable (friendly).  And the food … let’s just say I’ve gained ten pounds.  My trainer is awesome.  She’s from SLC and her name is Hermana Castillo.  I can’t understand a lot of what people are saying, but every day I understand a little more.  We have some great investigators, and a lot of them came to church this Sunday!  One thing I have learned this week is that families CAN be together forever, but that promise requires work on our part.  Not only do we need to complete the covenants necessary to return to Him, but we need to endure to the end also.  For me, this means family home evening, family prayer, and family scripture study, even if only one verse.  We have visited a lot of homes this week, and we can recognize how diligent they are in these things by how strong we can feel the Spirit when we enter their homes.  I LOVE YOU!  Thank you for your prayers!  

Hermana Cox 

Arrival at the Mexico City Chalco Mission 3/16/15

Dear Parents,

Your sons and daughters are here in the Chalco mission. All are well and we are excited to have them. Thank you for your help with a marvelous group of missionaries.

Presidente y Hermana Crickmore