The L & E Cook Family

More about us

2010-07-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

You can find out more about my little family on our blog. I try to update it with something new each week. It is private though so if you are interested in looking, leave me your email address so I can invite you. Love all of you and was disappointed to miss Jeff's wedding.

2010-07-02T09:20:00.001-07:00

dear family members, I am very curious as to what is occurring within your family units so please post!! here is whats up with my family

Letter from Sis. Derenthal- Feb 1

2010-02-01T10:30:00.003-08:00

Hola Todos,

Thanks for the emails this week. It was great to hear from all of you. Ma, that's so awesome that you're going to Hawaii! That should be fun. Are you going to try to surf while you're there? haha that would be awesome. Dad, I'm excited that you're re-reading your old mission journal. I bet that would quite a read. It would be sweet if you could write down your conversion story too so that all the kids could have it. I would love that. So you're really into the i-pod now I hear. I'm not going to lie, it's a little hard to imagine you at a swim-meet sitting in the stands with earphones in. Good thing you have kids because you'd probably be doing old man things if you didn't have our influence. That's great that the bathroom is coming along. I can't wait to see it. Mom, that's good that you have a break today. Isn't busy season coming up though? It was funny because I was talking about you and what you do to someone and I didn't really know for sure. Sister Forsey's cousin and her new husband moved to San Antonio a couple of months ago and since Sis.Forsey's leaving soon she got permission from President for her cousing to come up and go out to dinner with us. So they took us to chipotle and it was really fun. They are two years older than me and just graduated from BYU and then got married last year. It was interesting to hear them talk about BYU, it was like I was caught in between two different worlds. Anyways, her cousin just graduated from the Accounting program and now works for a place in San Antonio and her husband graduated from information systems and works for Ernst & Young. I told her you were an accountant and it was funny because I couldn't really remember/ don't really know. You do other businesses and banks taxes/accounts right? I think that you do the same thing as this girl bceause you're always busy during tax season and so is she. It was funny. Kate, that's awesome that you beat your best time. It sounds like you're a natural. Remember how when you were really little it took us a while to get you to go under water? You were so scared, but once you did it you loved and we couldn't get you out of the water. I'm so proud of you for working so hard at it. Drew, that sounds pretty interesting the project that you're working on, but to be honest, I don't really get it. It sounds cool though and like you know what you're talking about. So I guess that's good. Are you still working at the MTC? Do you like being in the Young Mens' in your ward? Are you the president, or one of the counselors? I'm so excited for you guys to have another baby! I remember when Darcy was born and I was there in the hospital with you guys. It remember Tracy sitting in the bed having contractions and just putting on make-up as calm as could be. Is it going to be a c-section again?

Well, things here are going well. We are really progressing in building a relationship of trust with the members here. The members have gone out with us several times this week and we are also presenting a family mission plan to each of the families in the ward as part of the ward mission plan. I know that once we get the members more excited about the work that the referrals with start flowing and the work will really take off here. The weather has been really cold here for the past couple of days. It was so weird because at the beginning of the week, it was in the 70s and now its in the 30s. Sis. Forsey and I get all bundled up with scarves and gloves when we go out and everybody else is just wearing sweatshirts and light jackets. It kind of makes me feel crazy. Besides that things are going well. We've found several new investigators and taught a lot of lessons this week, but we never be able to make it past the first lesson. Everytime we go back they are either not there or don't want to be taught. This is why I'm really trying to put my heart into the members here. I know that we can't do it alone. We have to do it through the members. I"m learning a lot, and we're having fun. I love you guys so much and I"m so grateful for everything you do for me.

Love you lots,
Hermana Derenthal

Sam's 1st Week

2009-09-28T14:06:00.001-07:00

Dear Everybody,

So, I´m here in Sincelejo Colombia, in a small internet cafe. This week
has been crazy. So I flew from Salt Lake at 7 on Monday and arrived in
Atlanta. Then we had a 5 hour lay-over where we talked to some really
nice people and we talked with the people on our flight about Colombia.
All the people were really nice, I especially enjoyed talking to the
little kids because they spoke really good english. Anyways, so it was
raining and our flight was a little late and so we got to Bogota at 10
at night. And it was cloudy and we didn´t get to see the ocean or
anything. So me and Elder Staples go outside the airport into Colombia
and what do you know there is no one there we know. We thought that
there would be missionaries or something, but nope. But there were a
bunch of people who wanted us to stay in their hotels. We didn´t know
what to do and our Spanish was still really bad and I didn´t understand
anything. But eventually we got it figured out and staples paid this
guy $5 dollars
to use his phone. So we called the Mission home and they called the
person that was supposed to pick us up. I´m not going to lie, i was
pretty nervous around those people. Anyways so this nice member in
Colombia, Giovanni, came to our rescue and brought us to a hotel for
the night. He was supposed to be there earlier but he forgot. haha.
Anyways it was all good.

The next morning we flew to Barranquilla with
a bunch of other missionaries from the MTC in Bogota. It was nice to be
traveling with people who knew spanish. We got to Barranquilla and we
came into the Airport to a big hug and welcome from President Roundy.
It was great. Someone that spoke english. We immediantely went to DAS
to get our permits to be in the country. Then we went to the Stake
Center and had some training and ate lunch at the mission home and then
more training. The stake center is far away from the Mission home and
we took taxies everywhere. But you wouldn´t believe how crazy the roads
are and the driving.
There are 2 lanes but really there are as many lanes as you want, and
stop signs and red lights don´t matter. And people run across the
street in between traffic. And there are tons of motor cycle taxies
going in between cars. And the huge buses just pass people on the
shoulder and people move out of the way. Needless to say, I was afraid
for my life and there weren´t even seatbelts in the taxies. It was
crazy. Anyways so we slept that night at the mission home too and that
was nice because by this time we were really tired. And also very
hungry and Sister Roundy is probably the best cook in the world. In the past two nights me and Elder Staples had 6 hours of sleep
total. We were exhausted and I slept for 11 hours. haha. I woke up and
my companion was gone! Because he had already left to his new companion
in Barranquilla also.

But I was leaving to Sincelejo. So I had to leave
about half my stuff at the mission home because it weighed to much for
the small plane we were
taking. And I flew to Corozol in a crappy little plane that I thought
was going to explode or fall apart any second. We, 2 sister
missionaries and I, arrived in corozol and again no one was there. But
then later 3 missionaries pulled up in a taxi. And I met my new
companion Elder Soto. He´s from South Chile. Concepsion, Chile. He´s
really nice and knows a little english which is good for me. So we
drove to our new area and that´s where I am now. I´m in the San Carlos
area of Sincelejo a medium sized city 30 minutes from the coast. It´s
nice here, apparently it´s the coolest place in the mission, but it´s
still hotter than heck. I´ve probably lost 10 pounds already in sweat
but it´s good.

The people here are the best. The members are all nice
and they feed us lunch everyday and they love to talk. People in
Sincelejo are all nice. You walk by and say, Hey we are missionaries of
the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints, and they say, oh sit
down and talk to us. They´re really

nice. Since it´s so hot people are always outside talking. And they
love there music here. Villenato. It´s cool it has like accordian and
trumpets and stuff. There food is really good. They eat rice meat and
fruit and other things. They also have papa fritas which are fried
potatoes filled with meat and cheese and things, it´s really good. And
they have a sauce called suedo which is kind of like rance that they
all love. But yeah the people here are super nice.

This last week we
meet a lot with members and we've been trying to find past
investigatores and new investigatores to teach. We have 11 new
investigatores and 15 with a baptismal date. They some of them aren´t
for sure though. We asked them if they prayed find out if it´s true
when the read the scriptures will they be baptised on this day and they
said yes. It´s really easy to talk to people here. They people are and
a beautiful people but it´s also bad because it´s hot and the girls
don´t dress very modest. And they have
dance parties ever night and when we walk past they always hiss and me
and Elder Soto. When they hiss at you it means they want to flirt. They
hiss at us all the time but we just ignore them. We call them snakes.
They´re crazy. Some people have houses where the whole house is
speakers and it shakes the whole house and people are dancing outside.
It´s crazy. There was also a dance and the church with all the
members. It was fun, we of course didn´t dance but we ate lots of food
and talked to everybody. The kids are fun to talk to because they know
a little English from school. They are really nice. They have cool
names here to like Nefi (nephi) and a lot a bible names. It´s cool.

I love it here, and it´s not nearly as dangerous as I would have
thought. Especially here in Sincelejo people are really nice. As long
as we follow the rules we´ll be fine. As far as Spanish goes it´s
really tough to understand people. At time they just go off. Like
preisthood meeting
yesterday. I didn´t understand a word. But people are patient and they
talk slow for me during lessons. They all say my spanish is amazing for
only 2 months of spanish in MTC. It´s kind of tough during
lessons and things but i´m learning and i talk all day with my
companion in spanish and my spanish is getting a lot better. It´s been
weird typing in english i feel like i don´t know how to talk anymore.
Haha. Anyways. I love you all and have a nice week. That´s awesome BYU
won and hopefully they win next week. I hope everyone´s alright. Love
you lots. Don´t worry mom I´ll be fine.

Elder Snow

Snow Family Update

2009-09-17T09:48:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,
Here is a quick update on everyone

Sam-
Is leaving for colombia next week. He is loving serving so far.

Jeff- is working and taking a few credits at UVU. He just moved out into his first apartment with all his buddies

Aaron, Julie "& Molly: Just chillin in dallas. Aaron is in his 4th trimester at school and loving it. Julie is 6 months pregnant with a little boy. And molly is just crazy and growing so fast.

Kyle, Rachel, Karlie & Brooklyn: Are living in college station tx. Kyle is Going to texas a&m. He just participated in his first triathalon and did an awesome job and is looking forward to doing more. Rachel is loving being a mom. Karlie got her first stitches and brooklyn can now climb stairs.

Rasty Becky, Anika, and Olivia; Chillin in Saratoga springs. They found out they are getting a little boy about the same time as julie & Aaron. Anika is excited for a little brother and rasty is especially excited for a fishing buddy.

Mike Emily james Alysen and Wil
Mike is in nursing school. His last year. He is working as an lpn at a nursing home. Emily survived the birth of another child on sept. 15 little will weighs 8 lbs 12 oz. The kids are so excited to have a little baby brother.

Bob and liz. They are empty nesters and trying to re claim their home after 17+ years of kids clutter. Liz isn't going to school this semester she needed a break after her crazy summer so she is enjoying a break and bob is enjoying fishing, golfing and being his own man with a wife who is no longer obsessing about school work (for the moment)

letter from Hermana Derenthal- September 1

2009-09-01T14:27:00.000-07:00

Hey Everybody,

Mom, yes I did get the bank card. I got it like two weeks ago but I guess I forgot to tell you, sorry. I don't really need anything else. I just need the contacts. I would love some pictures though. Like from Beth's wedding or something. That is so sweet what happened at the sealing; that must have been a wonderful experience. I"m glad that Christian got off safely to BYU and that he's having fun there. Tracy, do you know the sex of the baby yet? When will you know? How ahve you been feeling? Good luck with school! Katie, that's so awesome that you are doing well in Tennis and that you are loving high school. Sorry that you don't like seminary but have a good attitude and you will learn from it. What does Kevin say to make you upset? Sean, I did get your letter. It came at a great time and I loved what you said. I've read it multiple times since then. You should attach a picture of Dennis and his fiance so I can see what they look like. Are they going to send me an invitation? Tell Dennis I'm going to kick his butt if he doesn't. I got Beth's invitation in the mail. It is so pretty. I'm so happy for her. I got Dad's letter too, which really made my day. I especially loved the pictures. My favorite is of drew, Sean, and Christian's "celestial bodies" while playing wiffle ball at Ma's house. What good looking kids. It's so crazy how much they look like you Dad. And I'm suprised you weren't out there bare chesting it with them.

Things are going well here. Sorry I should have let you know that I wasn't getting transferred. Since I just got here I knew that I was probably staying. Sister Winters is staying here with me, and we're both excited. We get along well. We also have some sweet investigators who are probably going to get baptized this month as well. It's so rewarding to meet elect people after so much rejection. But those 100s of doors that are slammed in your face are so worth it when you meet that one person who is ready to hear our message and you can watch it change them and bring happiness to them. We're teaching a woman named Josie who has four boys. She is so elect. We taught her again this week and she just couldn't stop talking about how happy she was and she was talking about it to her whole family and her boys loved church. We're so happy for her.

Guess what!? We made our goal for baptisms this month as a mission. We got 105 baptisms!!!! Isn't that awesome! We are all so excited and grateful that we were able to accomplish that goal for the first time since Pres. Cutler has been mission president. I love being a missionary so much. Can you believe that at one point I didn't want to be here? I can't imagine being who I am without being a missionary.

This past week we also started teaching this man named Walter who is really cool. We helped him paint the outside of his house. He's an architect and we walked in the addition that he made on the back of his house, a studio. It's sweet. He had a table up there with all of these building plans and it reminded me of Daddy. Remember when you had that table up in your room in the apartment in North College Hill? Anyways, it was really fun and Sister Winters and I got paint all over us so we were cleaning up with teh hose in the yard and she "accidentally" sprayed me, which turned into a water fight, resulting in us being soaking wet. It was so fun. It was almost like swimming!

Well I got to go. Love you all!! Miss you!!!
Hermana Derenthal

Email from Hermana Derenthal- 24 Aug 2009

2009-08-24T17:25:00.000-07:00

Lauren at the San Antonio, Texas temple.

Howdy,

Right now I'm in Kerrville, 15 min away from Fredericksburg, and I still can't believe that i'm in this tiny cowboy town. It's so great. I'm doing well. This past week we had 4 investigators at church, which is awesome! They liked it too. A counselor in the branch presidency also called us on Saturday and asked if we could speak during sacrament. We were kind of freaking out, but it turned out really well. A member spoke and then me and I had just made an outline and references that I wanted to use. I ended up speaking for like twenty minutes, I couldn't believe it. I looked up and time was up! That's kind of a milestone for me because I get nervous when I talk. But I think we both did well. And it was about missionary work, so I hope that it inspired some of the members to be a little more dedicated.

We got a sweet new investigator this week whose name is Josie. She has four adorable boys and two of the them are baptismal age. She is so awesome because she knows that the BOM is true and she knows she needs to come to church. It was just hard for her to make that effort to do it. But she said she knows we are messengers from God. I've never really heard anyone say that about us straight out, so it was pretty cool. I think they all really liked church. During Relief Society, Sister Winters and I were really nervous though because the lesson was about modesty and Josie was wearing a sleevless top. We were just sitting there biting our lips the whole time because we were so scared she would be offended. I don't think she was though. She said afterwards that you learn something knew and that she just needs to come back so that she can learn more. It was stressful though, Sundays are the most stressful days for us!

Later that night we had dinner with a member and then knocked their street. We knocked on one door and this guy wearing a Catholic priest's robe answered the door. He was pretty nice and was curious as to what exactly the BOM is. We started talking to him and then his friend comes out and says he's just going to listen, he's just "curious". Well, so much for that, because after about 2 min of me talking about the BOM he just launches into this huge rant about how the BOM has already been proved false. Basically I tried to cut into to say alright, you know bear my testimony, and then get out of there because it's not good to a debate that brings contention, it's not productive. But then he started making comments about my testimony and then I started getting angry and I started debating with him and then next thing I know 45 min had gone by. It was super frustrating, and I definitely learned that bible bashing is not productive in any way. He was an elitist jerk, he gave us all his credentials and then went on to say how 25 years ago scientists proved that the Native Americans have no genetic connection with the Israelites and that there is no archaeological proof of there being horses or bronze or ore work among the Native Americans, which would prove the BoM is true. He called us ignorant, hypocritical idiots and he was super condescending. We were worked up for a while, but during distric leader calls he gave me some good advice that he had learned earlier in his mission. It helped a lot. I know that because of those things he said, it's not going to change my testimony. That I still know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that Joseph really was a prophet called to restore Christ's church to the earth again. It was quite a night.

Everything is going well though. Transfers are next week so Sister Winters might be leaving which is sad. So I have been driving the truck so that I can know where I'm going. I won't write until Tuesday next week.

It sounds like everyone is doing well. Kate sounds super busy, which is fun. Good luck on your tennis match! Just play your heart out, leave it all on the court. That's cool that Kevin is the seminary teacher, I think that will be good for him. I can't believe Christian is leaving! You'll do great. Mom, don't worry, we'll all come back. At least we know that we're all going to be together forever. That will be a great day! I'm glad that Ma is going to have her surgery soon. Why does she have to have more radiation after the surgery? What's up with Dad, I haven't heard from him for awhile? How is work going? I hear the economy is getting pretty bad. Tracy, do you miss Drew? That's pretty cool that he is in India though. Sounds like Mom had a great time with Darcy. How is being pregnant and having a 1 yr old?

Well, I love you all sooo much. I miss you all sooo much.
I'll talk to you soon.
Love, Sister D

Drew Derenthal- BYU Graduation August 14, 2009

2009-08-14T10:12:00.000-07:00

Today Drew graduated from BYU with his bachelor's in Geology. It was a little like deja vu for me, because 28 years ago, Bob graduated from the same college with his Bachelor's in Geology.
Here are a few pictures. I went to his graduation, so that some family would be represented on this day of great accomplishment and hard work.

2009-08-04T15:38:00.000-07:00

letter from Hermana Derenthal- Aug 3

2009-08-03T17:14:00.001-07:00

Hey everybody,

Wow! Today has been a sweet p-day. We went to Enchanted Rock and then I look at my inbox and I have 10 emails! I got an email from almost everyone in the family which is a milagro! (that's miracle...for all you english people). Anyways thanks for the encouragement and the love and the funny stories from home. I appreciate it so much; it really helps me to have such a better outlook on the week to know that my family is supporting me so much.

As a district we went to enchanted rock today, this state park that has trails and caves and a big rock, hahah..I"ll send pictures later, I forgot to bring my cord for teh computer (sorry I have to hurry because we don't have a ton of time). It was so fun. We had headlamps and went through this tight little crevices. It was only me and a couple other elders that went all the way through. It was so fun and it reminded me of doing stuff as a family and I loved it. I"m so glad you took us to all those parks dad (i know i know, I can't believe i said it either).

This week was good. We got six new investigators and 3 of them are spanish speakers. It's awesome because I really get to speak spanish a lot here. I'm improving every day and I've been putting more effort into my spanish study as well. Tracy, I have memorized the first two paragraphs of El Cristo Vivente, so it's coming along, slowly, but surely, and it really does help. I also read outloud from the LdM every day. We are having fun in the threesome. It's kind of hard sometimes because there are three different personalities to deal with. But it's also a blessing. I've been doing some really good studying lately. I'm reading in the Bible in Acts and also in PMG, and I love it. There are so many wonderful things to soak up in the church materials. It just makes me so happy to open my scriptures.

It's definitely a struggle sometimes, but I know that it will make me stronger. I'm trying to be the best I can be. Sometimes I slip up, so it's hard to keep that balance in your head that it's okay not to be perfect, but at the same time to keep trying.
I love you guys so much...I have to go, but I'll send you pics or something.

Love you!!
MIss you!!
Hermana Derenthal

letter from Hermana Derenthal

2009-07-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody,

As I write this email I am sitting in the public library in Fredericksburg, TX, which is about an hour westish of San Antonio. Apparently it's a little german town. It was established by Germans and then Lyman White and mormons came here to and helped them because the Germans were about to die. It's pretty tiny and way out in the middle of nowhere. It's so bizarre. There are cows everywhere and big fields. It's more humid here, so there's more green which is beautiful. It's called the Hill Country. I got here on Thursday after the two transfer meetings in San Antonio. I had a lot of fun riding up to San Antonio in the border van. I was the only sister so it was just me with a bunch of Elders. It took us about 4 hours. It was fun. Then at transfer meeting I got to see a lot of people from the MTC and others that I haven't seen in a long time which was really fun. I also met some new people as well, which is always nice. I got my new companion in the first meeting at 8:30 am, her name is Sister Winters. Her trainer just left and they had been together two transfers, so she's just one transfer younger than me. It's kind of strange not to be the youngest one. She was trained in the area that we are in, so she is the only one that knows the area. She's from Pleasant Grove, Utah. Then we waited in San Antonio until the other meeting at 3:00 pm where we got our other companion, Sister Denison. Yes, we are a threesome. There's an odd amount of Sisters in the mission right now because we got two new ones and so we are the only threesome. It's definitely interesting. It's a lot different, but at the same time fun. Sister Denision is also from Utah, the West Jordan area. She has been out for about 10 months, so she is the "wise" one, haha. It was a little crazy at first, there was a lot of tension btween them, and I have to be the peacemaker kind of. But we had a big talk yesterday and I think everything's going to get better from here. There's not a ton going on in this area. There's no one we are teaching. They visit recent converts and less actives a lot. But the past couple days we have been knocking and contacting formers and we have a lot of return appointments this week. I'm sure we will have a full teaching pool soon. I was kind of worried because there's not a ton of spanish here and there's no spanish speaking branch. In fact, there's only two members that I know of here that speak spanish, and one is a man so I can't go on splits with him. On the second day, however, we went out and found this whole block with spansih speakers and got tons of return appointments. Oh, I forgot to mention that Sister Winters and Sister Denison are both English speaking missionaries, so that don't know any spanish. It's kind of strange talking while they are just sitting there and have no idea what's going on. It's sweet though because there definitely is spanish here. Every single day we have worked I've been able to talk to people, so I love it. On Saturday, we went to a groundbreaking for a new stake center that they are building. It was way out in the middle of nowhere in this big field next to a field full of cows. There weren't a ton of people there. We got there and were meeting a lot of people and then they asked me to sing in the choir, so I did. Then at the end when they had the Stake pres adn some other people "turn the dirt" with the golden shovels, they asked all the missionaries to come up and do it after them. So we went up and turned the dirt like we were officials or something, it was kind of funny. There were just the three of us there, us missionaries.

We've been doing well. Today we spent the whole morning cleaning the apartment because it was pretty gross. The apartment definitely feels smaller with three people in it and there are three beds squoshed into one room. I think it's going to be a great transfer though. I'm pretty excited about the work. Everything is going well. We also stopped by a place called Luchenbauch. I dont know if you have ever heard of it, supposedly it's in a Willie Nelson song. But it's just these tiny little town with a bar and a dance hall and a store and people just go there to drink and there's tons of "hogs" people call them, motorcyle gangs. It's pretty hilarious little town. I guess it's mainly a tourist thing. It's like a totally different world down here. The people are super patriotic and proud to be Texans and they all have accents.

Well, I can't really think of anything else to say. I'm having fun. Oh yeah, and we have a truck here! It's so sweet. It's a nice one too. We are totally rockin it out here in the country. I love you all!! I'm excited to hear stories of Darcy in Cincinnati. Mom must be freaking out. Don't have too much fun! Talk to you soon,

Hermana Derenthal

My new address:
1019 Friendship Ln #306
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

Letter- July 23, 2009

2009-07-25T12:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom and Dad-
Hola! I have a little more time to write today. We learned alot and everyone is so nice. So my companion is Elder Staples from Sandy. I've also met many familiar faces from Mapleton and Springville. Today was just another orientation day. We thought we would be emailing but we will be doing that on Tuesday our p-day. Oh, it would be cool if you'd send my other t-shoes (the Nikes) My other shoes aren't good for basketball. I met an Elder who was born in Cartegena, Colombia. We are alone though because no other Elders are going to Barranquilla, but there is one pair of missionaries going to Bogota, but we haven't met them yet. I'd love to hear from you if you would write. Love you, don't worry about me I'm doing fine. It feels nice to have such a structured plan for each day and to learn so much. I love you and I'm trying my best.

Your son- Samuel Snow

P.S. my last letter I couldn't remember my address so I didn't put it so hopefully it makes it.

Letter- July 22, 2009

2009-07-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

Dear Mom,
hello, I'm supposed to be in bed but I'm going to write a quick letter because they told me to write. I get to email tomorrow so you'll probably read that first. But I'm doing well so far. My companion Elder Staples is cool and my mission president Elder Roundy is a really nice person. I love you and I'm lucky to have such a nice mother. Love you- Samuel L. Snow

Sam's address

2009-07-22T12:47:00.001-07:00

Elder Samuel L. Snow
MTC Mailbox # 283
Colombia Barranquilla Mission
2005 North 900 East
Provo, UTah 84604-1793

Sam Enters the MTC- July 22, 2009

2009-07-22T12:20:00.000-07:00

Elder Snow leaving with the other missionary dragging his suitcases.
Bob, Elder Snow and Liz. (notice I'm wearing sunglasses)
Bob, Liz and Elder Snow after Setting apart on Tues. night.
A brothers bear hug , or group hug.
Bob, Liz, Rasty, Jeff and the new Elder Sam Snow.
Sam and President Munk at the setting apart on Tues. night.

Hi to all-

We left Sam at the MTC today at 1:00. It is pretty slick, they direct you into the driveway by the sidewalk, you stop at a number, an MTC elder helps with the luggage, a volunteer sister gave us Sam's address, we took one picture, hugged, Mom cried alot and left all in about 5 min.

I know it will be a wonderful experience, but it also a rip-your-heart-out experience for a Mom.

President Munk gave him a wonderful blessing. He promised him that if he would obey everything the Mission President and his wife asked, that he would be healthy and able to work hard. He also talked to us before hand and told Sam that he needed to think of the generations of family members he will be sharing the gospel with, not just one person. It was great advice.

Here are some pics.

More photos of Hermana Derenthal

2009-07-22T07:09:00.000-07:00

Letter and Pictures from Hermana Derenthal- July 21, 2009

2009-07-21T09:36:00.001-07:00

Hey Everybody,

It's so good to hear from you. I'm not sure why, maybe because it's transfer week, but I was having a hard time this week. I was feeling kind of discouraged. I'm amazed by how often I get emails or letters from you guys that are just perfect for me. Thank you for your encouragement and love. You really don't know how much I appreciate it.

Last night we got transfer calls, and I'm getting transferred. They send down the van tomorrow to pick up/drop off all of the people who are leaving/going to the border. I will get picked up tomorrow and then probably spend the night at the nearest sisters' apartment. On Thursday is the transfer meeting which is a lot more formal than anything they do on the Border so it's going to be a little strange. At the transfer meeting I will figure out where I'm going and who my new companion will be. I'm kind of nervous, but at the same time I'm excited for a new experience and a change of scenery. Sister Forsey and I get along so well and I've had an awesome time on the Border, but I know that I need to have other experiences so that I can change and grow and become better so I'm excited for that even if it might be difficult at first. There is going to be a threesome of sisters and there's a chance I might be in that, which would be a little strange, but we will see. I"ll let you know what my new address and everything is next monday when I email again.

This week has been a little difficult, but at the same time wonderful because we had a baptism. We have been knocking a lot and been in the "finding" process and we have been rejected a lot as well. Tracy described it perfectly: you get discouraged because you are not sure if you have enough faith like those who do witness a lot of miracles. However, we have been working hard and we have definitely found some who are willing to listen, some promising prospects. On Saturday we had the baptism of Rolland Mills. It was so great! I was so happy. And so was he and his family. It was quite humorus though because he had to be dunked 4 times before they finally got him fully submersed. His was doing this weird thing of spreading his legs wide so that he would be more balanced, but finally figured out that it's all in the knee bend. It was really nice; he's going to be such a great addition to the branch. And then in a year, he can go to the temple with his wife and get married. They told me that they wanted me to come back so that I could be there for it. They're an awesome family; I'm going to miss them.

After the baptism, one of our investigators invited us over for dinner so we headed over to his house. He has a ranch kind of, and we had helped him with his barn, so he wanted to barbecue for us. Everything was going great until about half way through eating. Him and his wife had been having problems and they got into a little tiff while they were preparing the food. The husband made some comment in spanish to her, that he thought we couldn't understand, and then she started to cry at the table. It was insane. They started getting into this screaming match while we were sitting there, and their three kids were there too. It was like a couples' therapy session, but instead they were talking to two 21 yr old missionaries that are not trained at all for that kind of thing. It was one of the mos horrible things i have ever sat through. I have been so blessed to live in a family with parents who loved each other and we never saw fight really ever and it was just so sad to actually witness this scene that was probably not too rare in that house. They argued for about and hour and we were just sitting there, trying to get in a word, but couldn't. It really broke my heart to see the children sitting there and the wife crying over the sink. The husband was pretty angry and said he just wanted to give up and that he didn't want to change. It was just the most unsettling feeling I've ever had. I could really see the power that Satan can have when we give it to him. We repetitively bore our testimonies of the peace and healing power of the Atonement and the gospel, but the man did not want to change. Finally at the end, they wouldn't stop fighting so I started singing "I need thee every hour". Sister Forsey joined in and the room got quiet as we broke into tears during our song. When we finished I asked if I could say a prayer and I did so, really pleading that the spirit would come and bring them comfort. It's one of the worst kind of pains to feel sorrow for someone else and not really being able to do much about it. We then left, and when we got outside in the car we said a prayer together, Sister Forsey and I, so that we could bring the Comforter. We dropped of food that we had been given for the Elders and we told them about our experience. We then all knelt down in the Elders' apartment and Elder Criddle said a prayer. As soon as he began, tears streamed down my cheeks and then slowly by the end of the prayer I felt more peace come to my heart. I know that there was a power there with the Elders because they had the priesthood and that was a big thing that was missing from the home of our investigators. I felt safe. While driving home, I was thinking of how safe I felt with my brothers and my dad because they have the priesthood and how blessed I was to be able to ask Drew and Sean for blessings and guidance while at school. I'm so grateful to have gospel in my life and to have such a happy life. I know there have been and will be hard times, but I know that those without the gospel struggle so much more. It gives me more motivation to want to share the gospel with others.

I think I have let the discouragement get to me too much, but at the same time I have learned a lot from the experiences I've had. MIssionary work is supposed to be hard. In a talk by Elder Holland he says that missionary work is so hard because salvation is hard. And I agree, attaining salvation is a hard road and so must be the process of sharing it with others and finding those who will accept it. I'm anxious to know where I'm going to be next. I'm excited for new experiences that will help me to better understand missionary work and trials and the gospel.

Oh yeah, Dad asked how I was doing with the language. I think I"m doing pretty well. I can definitely communicate although not flawlessly. We do speak a lot of spanish here on the border and I can tell that I have improved a lot since the time I've been here. I definitely want to keep studying it when I get home. Unfortunately there aren't very many areas for spanish speaking sisters in this mission so im not sure how much I will get to speak when I leave Del Rio. But since I do know spanish fairly well I think President will be more likely to send me to spanish areas. I love it here. I can't wait to show you all around one day.

Well I love you all, thank you for being so good to me. Talk to you soon!
Love,
Hermana Derenthal

Hi from Liz

2009-07-18T13:28:00.000-07:00

4 generations of Cooks/Snows

Hi all! I hope we can stay in touch better with this blog. I see how much everyone is on facebook and I hope this will be the new Cook place to be before facebook.

Love- Liz

Welcome

2009-07-18T13:07:00.001-07:00

welcome to our cook family blog. I am so excited to get connected with everyone and learn how you all are doing!! If you wish to share something let me know and I can e-mail you my address (if my mom Liz already hasn't) and you can e-mail it to me and hopefully it will soon be displayed!! Love you all!!