Weekly Letter

Another good week of blessings and missionary work.  We hope this letter finds all of you well and happy.  We put on our chef hats this week.  On Tuesday we fed the kids at the Institute.  This week was haystacks. We suppose everybody knows what that is.  The kids really enjoyed it and there was plenty to go around with plenty of leftovers for later.  One of the girls had a birthday that day so there were cupcakes and pie for dessert.

On the way home the roads got a little iffy. So iffy in fact that the freeway was shut down for a while.  We were stopped on the freeway for about half an hour. When we got started again, the freeway going the other way was still shut down completely.  As we got going we found the causes of the closure. A semi truck that was going the other way must of hit some ice because it went across the lanes on the other side and across our lanes and off the road and ran into the embankment on our side of the road.  Another truck was jack-knifed in the median and at least two cars were involved.  There was at least one ambulance.  Luckily our exit was only a couple more miles down the road.  But the roads the rest of the way home weren't too good and it was a little foggy, so we had to take it pretty slow.  We were really happy to get home.  The next day wasn't much better, so we stayed home and did some family history work again and wrote in our journals.

Thursday was our regular day at the hospital. It was off and on busy most of the morning, but at about 11:00 we got slammed for about half an hour and then is slowed up again.  That afternoon was spent driving around delivering invitations for the Branch chili dinner. We had another good visit or two with inactive branch members.  One of them was Morgan who quit coming to church several years ago but came to our Christmas party after we invited him and might come to our chili dinner. He asked us to visit him anytime. He doesn't like being around crowds but loves to visit with us.

Friday was our regular District Council meeting.  About half the missionaries in our district got transferred, so we have a few new ones.  All but one missionary in our district is from Utah.  The Sister missionaries stayed in Morgantown to work but were reassigned to a different district. We lost Elder Hooper from Rigby. He has been in our district since we got here, so it was kind of sad to see him go. We decided to feed the missionaries the leftover haystacks from the Institute dinner.  They were all very grateful. Missionaries seem to always be hungry.  Friday night we went to the Flanagan's for dinner. They are becoming very good friends.  Sister Flanagan is in the YW presidency with Mom. They also keep us stocked up on eggs. They have a bunch of chickens who lay lots of eggs.

Saturday we joined the Elders as they taught a discussion.  They are teaching a young man whose mother joined the Church about a year ago. He is a  31 year-old who who is a high functioning autistic.  We visited with his mom while the elders taught him. HIs mother really wants him to be baptized but he hasn't wanted to - until now.  After their lesson, he told the elders he wants to be baptized on March 4. We hope he keeps progressing.  After the discussion we had the elders over for dinner. We made some Chicken Fettucine Alfredo and garlic bread sticks. It was a good meal.

Today I taught my first Sunday School lesson. Mom didn't have any young women in class, so her presidency has a meeting.  It's a little frustrating for her, but things will get better.

 My scripture tonight is from 3Nephi 5:13.  It is one of our mission's recitations. "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people, that they might have everlasting life."  We use this scripture as missionaries because that is our calling.  Our full-time job is to testify of Jesus Christ and declare his word.  But we are all disciples of Jesus Christ and it is our calling to testify of Christ and declare his word.

Have a great week.  We love you and pray for you every day.

Love,

Mom and Dad

Grandma and Grandad

Jamee and Kerry

Sister and Elder Cooper