Weekly Letter

Hi family and friends. Another week under our belts. We got our first snow storm last night and today.  It wasn't a lot but it's cold enough that it is sticking.  The locals say this is a just warm up. It could be worse, we could get the weather Utah and Idaho have received.

I'm going to start this letter by telling you a story we were told by a new member last night.  She had been taught the lessons but wasn't joining the church because she thought her Baptist baptism was sufficient and she didn't see the need to attend church meetings.  The elders challenged her to pray about it and invited her to watch general conference with them.  She agreed to do that and came to watch conference hoping to receive an answer to her prayers. She said during conference one of the women leaders talked about how important it is to be baptized and be a part of the Church.  Then President Nelson talked about how important it was to be attending church meetings to take the Sacrament and feel the Spirit.  She felt like those talks answered her questions and she was baptized shortly after.  She still as some challenges, among others are two disabled adult sons, but she comes to church faithfully.

We had transfers this last week and they transferred our two Idaho boys and brought in two new missionaries. One of them is from Herriman and the other is from Sterling, Alberta, Canada. Sterling is where Brett Memmott is from and the Elder knows his family.  These missionaries are here to determine if it there is enough work to keep the branch open to missionaries. One way or another we will stay here, I think.  The branch needs us.

We worked at the hospital again this week. We really enjoy interacting with the people coming in. We even saw a member of our branch come in with her husband.  We look forward to serving there each week.  We discovered another opportunity for service in the JustServe.org site called Billion Graves.  We will be going to cemeteries around our area to take pictures of headstones.  We upload those photos to the Billion Graves people who make that information available to everyone.  It is interesting that there are lots of little cemeteries in the area.  We think they might family plots or were in little towns that don't exist any more.  We think this will be very interesting. Mom is always talking about looking at old headstones.

We enjoy attending our District Council meeting each Friday.  We provide dessert after each meeting. This week we had what we call Joe's Favorite Pumpkin Dessert and everyone really liked it.  We also made it for our Family Home Evening group.  It was a big hit there as well.

Our scripture this week is one of my favorites.  It prepared me to serve as Bishop and it will help us all to serve.  Doctrine and Covenants 64:33 - "Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.  And out of small things proceedeth that which is great."  

Thanks again for all of your prayers and support and love.

Love, Mom and Dad

Grandma and Grandad

Jamee and Kerry

Sister and Elder Cooper