Week 29 in LA--Baptism and a Great Week

I've had a great week! 

Monday we went to the bat cave and President Galoraths home. We also had Eric's Baptismal interview 

Tuesday we had a regular day proslighting

Wednesday we visited a home that smelled awful, and it was all torn up and looked abandoned but a less active lives in there with like 10 cats it's crazy. 

Thursday we had Zone Conference about the Book of Mormon.  I learned so much from President Haynie. We also had a good lunch, so spiritually and physically fed. 

Friday we had District Meeting and prepped for the Baptism the next day. 

Saturday we had Eric's baptism, we also got a mini-missionary. It was so awesome to participate. I felt the spirit so strong. He was so happy, and so am I. Also Sharron from my Manhattan Beach days got baptized as well, so two people I taught were baptized on the same day. 

Sunday Eric was confirmed and we had a good sacrament meeting focused on the Savior. We also called a ton of people.

Today we went to a parkor gym so that's why I am late emailing. Thanks for understanding. 

ELDER Cox 

Baptism and the Cave 

Week 28 in LA--A Great Week Ahead

This past week was pretty fun. Get ready for some good info. 

So on Monday we just kinda chilled and we had dinner at the Sizemores. 

On Tuesday we went and had a great lunch with a member who fed us some good BIG steaks. I was very happy (We don't get steak as much as you think). We then had the opportunity to go to President Galoraths home. Side note-- we live so far away he came and picked us up in his Tesla. That car is super fast, 0 to 60 in 2.8 Seconds. It was crazy, but fun. 

Wednesday, we had another lesson with Chris the Pastor. He asked some hard questions. We tried to answer them, but we are going to have to do some research. We then went to English class which is always fun. We then went and visited some people and had Correlation with our WML (ward mission leader) During that meeting he showed us Eric's baptismal program for Saturday the 24th. I looked at it and I was very surprised and humbled. Eric wants Me to Baptize him. Later that night I was in reflection of his progress. I came to the realization that he is the reason why I have been in this ward, I was touched. I consider him one of my greatest friends now. 

Thursday we went to the Temple and did a session. We also had interviews with President Haynie, they both went well. We then drove back to our area to only turn around and go back to the Temple with Eric and his son Ethan and Brother Gracia to have a Visitor Center tour. It was so cool and I love the VC. We then went and got some good pastrami on the way back. When we got back we then exchanged with our Zone Leaders. I went to Gardena with Elder Retemales. 

Friday we had District Meeting, it was good. We then had lunch at a good BBQ place and taught a guy named Jerry. He is super cool. We also had dinner with a Recent Convert named Ceaser. He is cool too. 

Saturday we had to fix bikes all day.

Sunday we had a basic good Sunday and weekly planning. 

Elder Cox 

Pictures 

1. St. Patrick's Day at the Sizemore's

2. & 3. LA Temple with Eric, Ethan and Brother Gracia (#3 sent to me (mom) by Elder Albuquerque's mom)

4. Pastrami Sandwiches with Eric, Ethan and Brother Gracia

5. Elder Cox and Elder Albuquerque (sent to me (mom) by Patricia Albuquerque)

6. P-Day Hiking (sent to me (mom) by Patricia Albuquerque last week)

Week 27 in LA--A Pretty Good Week & A Family Email

This is the email Zach sent to the big group.

This week was pretty good (as you can tell by the title). 

Monday we went to the Old Los Angeles Zoo, we walked around and saw some old cages and stuff, it was pretty cool. 

Tuesday we had a bunch of service and then we went to a Care center and gave a lady a blessing there. It was a great spiritual experience 

Wednesday we got a New Investigator named Chris he is a pastor for a church and he is intrested in our message. We then had English class and we passed out some VC Cards. 

Thursday we planned and visited some people, pretty regular day. 

Friday we had District Meeting and we enjoyed some good Mexican food after with the Zone Leaders. 

Saturday it rained all day so we couldn't bike, so we walked around giving people cards with Book of Mormon Scriptures on it. While doing this we visited a lady named Aidia, and she became a new investigator as well. 

Sunday it lightly rained all day and we had fun at church and had two dinners which was good. 

See ya next week 

Elder Cox 

And here is the email that he sent just to family.

Hello family. I decided to make a more personal email that I will send to my family each week. If you guys think I'm missing anyone or anything like that let me know and I will add them!

This week has gone pretty well, my mission did a Book of Mormon reading challenge in 3 months which ended on Friday, It was amazing to read and find new truths in the Book of Mormon. I highly suggest that you give it a try (if you don't my feelings won't be hurt). Saturday was raining and gloomy all day and as you know I am on a bike so we walked all day, even though I had on a waterproof jacket and my umbrella I still got soaked. My companion is Elder Albuquerque he is from Brazil (a city called Reciefe), he was a big video game player and he even plays guitar. He was a big soccer player back home and we talk about it often. I am grateful for you all being in my support circle, the prayers are definitely felt on my end. There have been times I just don't want to roll out of bed and go out to do what I do, but I always feel something push me up. I feel that it is the prayers said by my loved ones. I will try to do my best to make you guys proud and I hope you enjoy a longer email than my 5 line regular emails. I was able to find a couple of new investigators this week, one is a pastor of another church here in LA. He is more interested in us just answering his questions, but we are still excited to teach him about it. Thanks for reading! 

Love 

Elder Cox 

Calender for the reading if you want to participate is down below with some pictures 

We are doing a march maddnes type thing so here's a picture 

Week 26 in LA--I Can't Make Up Titles

This week was pretty great. We went out and visited people and worked out a lot. 

Tuesday we were on exchanges. I went with Elder Terry he is a recent convert of 2 years and he is super cool. He is from Florida.

Wednesday we had to go to English class and then we visited some people and had a fun time. 

Thursday we did service for the Sizemores, a great older couple in our ward. He can't do much, since he is a bit sicker than he's used to, so we cleaned up his backyard area. 

Friday we had District Meeting and then we visited some people and had a Skype lesson for Elder Albuquerque in Portuguese. 

Saturday we gave a blessing to brother Sizemore because he was having surgery on his elbow the next day. 

Sunday we had another Skype lesson in Brazil, and then we had a FaceTime lesson with Eric.  He is doing well and is getting baptized in 2 weeks. 

Life is going well here in California and I'm enjoying every minute I have. Next week will try to have more pictures it's just I forget. Thanks for reading habe a great week! 

Elder Cox 

PICTURES 😆

I got a hair cut today 

Sunny Cali ☀️☀️

Picture of Elder Cox, Elder Albuquerque, Elder Styer and his companion sent to me (mom) by Elder Albuquerque's mom.

Week 25 in LA--Week Down, Another to Come

This week was the transfer week so it's a little slow but I'll try to make it interesting. 

Tuesday we had a good day, we visited some people then we drove up to the mission office (still on bike we car shared), our apartment has a lot of spiders. We name them. One is lil' drake, and the other is Jason. [See pictures]

Wednesday we had a good day talking with people, we then had some meetings and we had to fix Elder Albuquerque's bike, a spoke broke. 

Thursday we got the bike back and went out and visited some more pople nothing real came from it but that's missionary life.

Friday we had District Meeting and then we went and visited some people in a retirement home. We also had fun doing family history for the older folks. 

Saturday we had the Adult session of Stake conference and Ivan got to be apart of a Recent Convert panel. It was so cool to see. 

Sunday we had Stake conference and I learned a lot. We had Elder Misken of the 70 there, it was really cool. 

Thanks for reading 

Elder Cox 

PICTURES 

1 New TN zone 

2 Lil' Drake 

3 Jason 

4 I (mom) got this one from his companions mom--Elder Cox, Elder Albuquerque & Brother Gracia

Week 24 in LA--Transfers Are In........

So this week was really cool. So on Monday we had a fun P Day, then our Mission President went with us out to dinner and a Lesson with our investigator Eric. It was so cool and we had an awesome discussion. He is getting baptized March 10th and I am super excited. 

Tuesday we did some service and moved some couches it was pretty hard as the couches were super heavy but we got it done and we had fun. 

Wednesday we went up to the Los Angeles Temple and we did Service while the temple is closed for cleaning. We got to cut some crab grass in the front of the temple with sickles it was really cool. 

Thursday we had a regular missionary day we went out and knocked doors and we got a return appointment for Tuesday. We then had Correlation with Brother Gracia and we then headed home for the day. 

Friday we had District Meeting and I always enjoy going to those and learning from others. We then went and taught a Family History Crash Course at a retirement home and we got some people intrested. 

Saturday we went to a baptism for someone in the Manhattan Beach ward who I found. It was so cool to see him being baptized, when we met him he didn't even know who Jesus Christ was. I was very happy for him and his family. 

Sunday we went to church and had a great service, we then went out and then had a great lunch at a members home. That night we got our Transfer calls, Elder Albuquerque and I are staying together in R2. It's going to be awesome to stay and see Eric baptized. 

Have a great Week! 

Elder Cox 

PICTURES 

1. Monday Night with Eric and President Haynie 

2-5. Torrance North Zone after temple service (we have zone shirts on.)

6. Last night at Sizemores
7. At the Gracia's house
8. Splits with Elder Styer
9-11. Me in an Alfa Romeo that one of the members has

Week 23 in LA--Fresh Week, Off the Press

This week was pretty good. We had a Zone Conference, and we learned about how to be better with schedules and helping people. 

Friday we went on Exchanges and I got to go to a awesome ward party I was with Elder Styer.  We also are teaching some pretty cool people. 

Thursday we had the Zone Conference. 

Wensday we did some service and regular missionary stuff 

Tuesday we  went and found some new people to teach 

Today we are having a fun time in the southern part of the mission in PV 

Elder Cox