December 26th

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year to all

Well Christmas was good. Not like anything back home but it was Christmas. We ate dinner Christmas Eve with a family and it was good. Chicken, Roasted pig, and it tasted like Alfredo but she said it wasn't. anyways we ate dinner last night. Tonight we also have a dinner/FHE. I have to leave here pretty soon to make it that. But it was really good hearing everyone voice. Time always flys!!! The time i spent talk to you all felt like 10 minutes. We will be having a baptism/ marriage on the Dec 31. The ward is planning a ward FHE that night so that the family has a special time with the members and a good welcome to the ward. I was kinda worried about that the other day. The family is to wealthy. They make it by and they were hoping to have some food at the wedding and I told them its not important. The important part is that you are getting married and baptized. We have also been visiting a lot of less actives helping them come back.

The pics....That is Letson baboy, my shoes, The bus we rented to go to the temple, the pic the member sketched of the Willard family.

Well Sorry I dont have a lot of time but I will write again next week.

Elder Cobbley

November 23rd Letter

Sorry I am kinda in a rush at the moment. Well today my comp and I went to Outback Steak House for lunch after we went to the temple this morning. We actually met his dad and brother there at the temple and the talked and gave him a package and then we split. But this Saturday we are going back to the Temple for a sealing of recent convert of Elder Hernando's. I was suppose to have one on saturday too but they moved it to december. I just told them basta before april. haha before I go home. I think we are going to go back to Outback and have lunch again. Also Friday night I talked to sister missionaries in our zone to cook dinner for me so yeah. My birthday should be pretty fun!

I went on exchanges with the district Leader here Elder Velasco. He is going home in 1 week and we is having a hard time staying productive but when I worked with him he explained the he doesn't want to go home but that he wants to stay. I explained that when he goes home he has nothing to back to. Here his life is set. Sleep, Study, Preach. But other than that we had an awesome day of work. We to some people who are awesome. We gave out some bap. dates and I will say it again it was a AWESOME night. on the other hand the night before with elder hernando we experienced one of the and worst lesson I have experienced on my mission. It was a our last lesson and it went no where. The investigators were not focused. They asked questions that had no importance to the lesson. For example this haha I asked him if he had any questions about the purpose of a prophet and he paused and than asked hmmmm do you guys ever get tired from walking every where. There was no spirit at all due to distractions. I COULDN'T SPEAK TAGALOG!!! I was even messing up with my english ha. it was not good and we were frustrated. But I did eat octopus for the first time and it was actually really good!!

I guess the way im going with this email im telling everything backwards. so when you read this just think of it backwards to haha.

Well these last few weeks and last 2 transfers I have struggled. Why? I didnt know why until yesterday morning. I read in Alma 37 and it just hit me really hard. Almost the whole chap. I applied to myself in a real way. This is Alma speaking to his son Helaman. I love the whole chap but in verse 33 is where it begins! Verse 33 until the very end. In verse 38 it talks about the Liahona or in our time and MY CASE, The Book of Mormon. It explains everything so well in verses 40-43. To tell you the truth I was lacking, I was being slothful, I wasn't reading as much of the B of M as much as I should and very thoroughly. So what happened was I did not progress in my journey here or in other words my mission. I hit a stumbling block. I tried to remove it but it was to heavy for me to carry it, and to big to climb over. I just wasn't following my Liahona and those marvelous works and miracles ceased. But now that my eyes have been opened, my Liahona, The Words of Christ will carry me beyond that vale or sorrows into a far better land of promise.

I testify until everyone that The Book of Mormon really does have answers to our problems and helps us become more like Christ. I learned so much from this Chapter. Also this has become my favorite chapter. I know we all experience it sometime in our life and I tell you this is the KEY!!! I love you all and know that God is watching us, listens and answers our pleads of help. If any of us are wading in that dark and dreary waste, grab hold of The Iron Rod, Our Liahona I pray in the sacred name of Jesus The Christ, Amen

November 13th Letter

Well this week has had its ups and downs of course, but the ups are so much better. I will start with Monday night. We headed out to work and went exploring looking for someone to share the gospel with. As we walked and talked with some people we walked by an old tatay sitting outside his house and we actually walked past him and I looked at him and thought he needs to know the Plan of Salvation. I grabbed my companion and we went back. We started talking and he let us in. When we went inside we met his kids and their families. We ended up teaching them all and giving them a Baptismal Date for Dec 24. After that THEY ask us where the church was and what they should wear. After we left my comp and I were on top of the clouds. We felt SOOO happy and guided! It was like we couldn't breath. I wont share the rest cause that first part is the UP of this story the other have is the down. Lets just say that my comp and I are suppose to learn something from this experience. From that time last Monday night until now we haven't seen them. We have dropped by but no one there. We are not giving up or getting discouraged about this. We learned a lot from this week of work.

One night when we were just about to go to sleep and I decided I wanted to find a study group. Here in the Philippines people gather together and study from the Bible. They have no religion, they are just looking for truth. I want to find one of these groups and study with them and help them find the truth. Im sure this does happen just in the Philippines. Anyways we were looking for "the group" we found the Moore Family. They were pretty shy at first but the second lesson they softened up.

We have been teaching The Jimilgo Family for a few weeks. They are so AWESOME!!! They have a baptismal date for Dec 17. They have gave us some really good referrals this last week. Jimmy Jimilgo is so cool. He testifies to those he knows that this church and that The Book of Mormon is true. I love this work!

Lately I have been studying the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I have been studying this for some time now cause there are so many questions that it answers. I really like the scripture in Mosiah 3:5-10. In verse 7 we learn that he suffered temptations, pains, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer. He bleed from every pore for us. In Jacob 7:12 we learn that if he had not atoned for us, all mankind must have been lost. Through the Atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ all things are possible. I love my Lord Jesus Christ. He made the atoning sacrifice for me and you so that we can live with our Heavenly Father again. I know this is true in the name of Jesus The Christ, Amen.

Elder Cobbley

November 7th

Love you all!
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Novmeber 6th Letter

This last week we had a Mission Your with Elder Ardern of the Seventy and his wife came and talked to us. It was a really good experience be able to meet with a general authority. We had a mtg with just the leaders of the mission and Elder Ardern and it was really cool. We also had a temple tour this last saturday and we rented a bus to get everyone there. The total cost of the bus was 12000 pesos and we got some help from President Stucki and and the rest we split between the missionaries. It was an awesome experience. We planned on having 80 investigators go and plus 20 missionaries. We knew we wouldn't all fit in the bus which sat 60. hahaha We looked for a jeepney to take the rest cause 12000 pesos is already a lot. We had a plan b and worst case scenario hahaha what we ended up doing is if we didn't all fit the missionaries would just travel themselves. Saturday morning came around and not everyone showed up and we fit perfectly in the bus. We watched The Prophet of The Restoration and The Testaments. We took Hermina, Jimmy and Cathy Jimilgo and we had a great experience at the temple. We taught them on the grounds and we were able to give them a Baptismal Date while we were there for Dec. 17. They had a really spiritual experience and they really enjoyed everything. Yesterday we had a fun time working and giving out baptismal dates to everyone we taught. That is one thing we have been focusing on here is giving baptismal dates early and often. I thin I shared that our baptismal dates as a mission doubled in the space of 4 weeks. We are now almost at 600 baptismal dates as a mission. Here is the area we have 8 yesterday. What this does is helps us find those who are prepared and have a desire to follow Christ's example and be baptized by someone holding Priesthood Authority. Our goal this Dec. is to have a total of 300 baptisms as a Mission. In Sept. of last year we had 229 baptisms. I know this church is true and The Book of Mormon is true. We NEED to read it everyday! Love you all!


ps. see if you can find me in the picture.

-Elder Cobbley

November 1st Letter

Where to start haha. Well this Thursday we are going to have a Mission Tour with Elder Ardern of the Seventy. I had a good experience at my first ZLC. An awesome experience we had this last week beside the whole day we work Thursdays with the Teaching Assistants. Sunday morning we went to an investigator and as we were coming back to go to church a man stopped us and asked if we could teach him. He shared what happened to him in his life and what he is experienced and what he wants. We invited him to church and he had some stuff to do but we went to the church before it started and showed him around and introduced him to the members. I am shown so many times each day and week that the Lord does lead us to those who are in search of the true Church of Christ. My companion and I are focusing on personal progression. We set some goals to help us be more sensitive to the Spirit. We are trying to Sanctify ourselves. I know we have a living Prophets and Apostles. Without them I wouldn't know what to do. Yesterday we had an FHE with the senior couple. We ate tacos and they were the BOMB! I know this Church is true and the Book of Mormon is the Word of God. The Book of Mormon is the cornerstone of our religion. Without it we would not have a sure foundation. Like it says in Helaman 5:12. I am focusing on reading and study The Book of Mormon everyday! I know it is required to have a strong testimony of the Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. I challenge each of you like our prophets do and read The Book of Mormon. In Septembers issue of the Liahona there is a message about the tree of life. The difference between those who "clinging to the rod of iron" and those who "continually holding fast to the rod". What happened to those who "continually holding fast to the rod", endured to the end and partook of the fruit which is eternal life. That is what we need to do. That means feasting upon the Word of God EVERYDAY! Until next time.

Elder Cobbley

10/24/2011

Well these past few days have been really hectic. Planning, reporting, helping missionaries. I know I should be tired but I don't really feel much fatigue. We had 5 baptisms last Saturday! Sunday they were confirmed members of the church. I want to share a cool experience we had Sunday afternoon. Well we didn't have any investigators so we were feeling pretty down. We went out to work and our investigators weren't at home so we were feeling even more down. We felt like dropping our investigators but of course we wouldn't do that. We didn't really know where to go or what to. We took a sec to talk about what might be more affective. after a few minutes we decided to go contact a part member family. When we went their house a guy was sitting outside and he said that no one was there. We talked with him for a few minutes and than asked if we could teach him he said yeah why not! We went inside his house and he told us that he was taught about 2 years ago by some missionaries like us. Him and his wife had a fight and she left about a week before. We shared a simple but powerful message and at the end we committed him to be baptized on Nov.26. He accepted and he shared with us what happened with him and his wife. The had a fight due to his addictions. We committed him to stop smoking and drinking. The spirit was really strong.

Later on that day we received a text from an Elder in our zone asking who's area might this referral be in. I was so excited cause it was ours!! We decided to go contact her right away. We found her house and no one was there... We continued working and going to our appointments. We finished a lesson at 8:30pm and hurry and ran home to prepare our report for the AP's who would be calling at 8:50pm. As we were counting the numbers someone called and my companion answered it and it was her! The referral we received and she read the pamphlet and she was expecting a return appointment. It was so awesome!! earlier that day we had some trials and some downs but it than went up really fast!!! We had District Mtg earlier and set goals as a zone. So far my experience as a zone leader has been great. Well thats all for now. Until next week.

-Elder Cobbley

Pics

10/19/11

Well it has been a while. Great things have happened lately! First of all I really enjoyed Genernal Conference. I know im late saying this but we are delayed here in the Philippines. Anyways A lot of great talks were given. I especially like the priesthood session! Elder Holland's talk "We Are All Enlisted" I was really inspired by the things he said. Also Our living Prophet Thomas S. Monson's message "Dare to Stand Alone". Lately I watched On the Lords Errand. A life story about The prophet Thomas S. Monson. He became a bishop at age 22. hahaha Im turning 21 next month. SCARY haha.

Well I have been transferred after 1 transfer in Pasay Zone. I have been doing really bad at writing in my journal the past few months. So I committed myself to write in it everyday. Well I was transferred to Dasma Zone and am now a Zone Leader with Elder Hernando. He is a Filipino from Utah. He is in the picture 010. My last companion in pic 005. Pasay Zone in 007, missionaries in the apartment in 001, Balut 002 and 003, Ward mission leader in 004, Bishop Fernandez and family in 008, sunrise in 009, baptism of sister heidi in 011.

I am so stoked to work with Elder Hernando and maybe I will finish off my mission in this area, who knows. Being a Zone Leader or any leader or calling in any type of setting, I know most of us have felt some kind of inadequacy in our ability or knowledge but I know with Faith in Christ and humble prayer NOTHING is impossible and we have been called of GOD to do so. Remember "God is at the helm. He will overrule for the good of this work. We have nothing to fear, as long as we are prayerful and faithful." I love you all and I will let you know how things go with this new calling.

10/10/2011

Well it has been a while haha I guess I have just been really busy and lazy hahaha. I have had to make sacrifices to be obedient and focus more on our investigators. We watched General Conference but not all of it. Saturday Morning Session we stayed home and had companionship study cause we were getting behind on that. But we were able to attend Saturday Afternoon. There were technical problems so there was no Priesthood Session. Sunday we attended and missed a little bit of the afternoon session cause we were teaching Sister Heidi. Helping her get ready for Baptism this Saturday. But as much as we watched there were some really good talks. But sounds like everyone is doin awesome. Especially Amanda and her family. Thats so exciting that they were sealed as a family. I wish I was there but its ok. I wouldn't have wanted them to hold off 6 months. Their family will be blessed!!! Well im sorry I dont have much to say haha I wrote in my journal earlier so I dont really have much to say. Anyways I love you all. Until next week. We'll see what I have to write next week hahaha. byebye.

Elder Cobbley

9-7-2011

Well great news everyone I transferred after 8 months in Bulihan. I actually would have been able to make it if I stayed another hahaha 9 and a half months. The record here is 12 or 13 months in one area haha. I was still far from reaching it. Well I am now here in Pasay, Manila 2 ward. I have a new companion Elder Galagal who I am follow up training. I left my anak in Bulihan. I have to say that last transfer was a good one even thou it was rough. We experienced some trials but we made every minute MASAYA!!!! But my new area is a city area. Skyscrapers and pollution hahaha cant forget the americans and other nationality's from like Saudi Arabia and other ones in the grocery stores. In my last area it was clean air and nothing higher than a 3 story house with no white people. But I am excited to experience a new area. I know the Lord has something for me here. Actually in Bulihan I baptized the Encinas Family and here in my new area, the parents of brother Encinas lives here. Tomorrow I m going to meet them. Sorry this is short but until next week where I have more time cause its late right now. Love you all and thanks for the support. Take care everyone.

Elder Cobbley

8/24/2011

Well to begin my letter to you all I want to start off with a really cool experience. About 2 weeks ago on a sunday we got out of church and went out to work. We didn't have much to do but knock on doors and those of you who have served missions there is a better way to do mission work. Anyways as we were walking I remembered a member who recently passed away. As we walked past her house I had a prompting to go to her house. Her kids are members but they are in-active. I asked my companion if that he wanted to do that and he said yeah! So we dropped by their place. We met Sis Jackie who is the youngest of them all and she is not a member. We taught her that night and have been going back ever since. The 3rd time we taught her we shared about baptism and she had a lot of questions about baptism. She is not married but is living with someone and has 4 kids. We now have appointments with her every night and she is awesome!! She wants to be married and baptized!! Well anyways that is my experience.

I just back from the temple and it was a good day even thou we woke up at 4 this morning and made it the the 3rd session. Went to the mall and ate at Wendys. I had a baked potato w/ chili and cheese and a frosty....MASARAP!!! Anyways our other investigators Marvin and Clerly are still doing good. Brother got a new job delivering clothes and has overtime all the time hahaha. His last job was delivering cigarettes to stores and he was getting free packs. hahaha well sorry again:( I forgot to bring my card so there are no pics this week either. Next week I promise!! Another awesome thing that happened this last week.....the Encinas Family came to church. They are my Recent Converts and after they were baptized, brother got a new job and they fell away:( But he lately backed out of that job and we talked to them and shared a nice message with them and they came. Now brother has a new part time job and there are bad influences there. We are continually dropping by them and sharing to strength them. Well thats about all til next week. Love you all. take care.

-Elder Cobbley

8/14/2011

Well this week was a good one. I was able to go on exchanges with Elder Anderson. He's from Eagle, ID. He's a really good Elder. I learned a few things from him and hope to apply those things to my work to make it better. Last Friday we went to teach Marvin and Clerlyn and they are AWESOME. They are a gospel convert. They always have deep and hard questions so I have to prepare every time for those. They have a baptism date for Aug 27 but they are not yet married so we are encouraging them to go get that done. I don't want to do it for them. Its best that they show their faith and do it themselves. Brother Marvin said that he was going to go work on it last Saturday. So tomorrow we will follow them up. They didn't come to church...i think because it started raining pretty hard. We only had 1 investigator come to church. Right now we have 5 baptism date and maybe 6 next week. I want to give Ronnie Morgan a Baptism date but I don't know if he's ready yet. He's ready knowledge wise but he is lacking on the obedience part. He is still have a problem smoking from what I know. Every time we have asked him in the past he has lied to us and than I catch him. He might be able to trick or lie to me but to God he can't. Tomorrow we are going to have him fast. Help him learn self control. We have been trying to find for people to teach and like last week we have been struggling with that. Finding the right people that will progress is the hard part. I just talk to everybody and trust that I will be led to those that are ready. As trainers we have portable DVD players and church videos to help us train. Each night I have watching the episodes of Preach My Gospel. Watching the Elder and Sister how they teach and do things. It has helped me with my aspects and skills.

None of us are perfect and never will be. Thats whats so great about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. If thou we make mistakes big or small we can find that relief and help from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We just need to relies that we can be better and make plans and goals to be that better person. Once we make plans and goals we need to follow those and never give up. Our mistakes can and will be wiped away but we have to act. Its up to us and what we want. I know this Church is true and I will never forget the feelings and testimony that my Heavenly Father has given me. I encourage who ever it way concern to do the same. If we love him we will keep his commandments and if we keep his commandments we shall prosper in the land! We need to do all that we are able to do and only we know if what were doing is our best. KAYA NATIN!!!

-Elder Cobbley

8/1/2011

This last few day have been really great. I have learned a lot and Elder Cayago is a great Elder. Sometimes he does get shy talking to people but that will go away with practice. When he teaches and testifies the Spirit just fills the room. im excited to be here in Bulihan with him and having the opportunity to be training him. One thing in the 12 week training program that I like is the applying to proselyting. We spent some time finding and talking to people. He is getting over him fear of talking to people. Also with that he gave a baptismal date to our investigators Marvin and Clerly.

Our investigators Marvin and Clerly are really great and have truly been prepared by the Lord. They always have great questions and they have a strong desire to be baptized. Brother Marvin shared with us that the message we share is really different than all the others. He shared that he has attended many churches and he said all their messages are the same. It goes in one ear and out the other but the Gospel of Jesus Christ he said fills his heart with a warm feeling. They have a Baptismal Date for Aug 27. The one thing holding them back is they're not yet married but we are going to talk to the branch here to see if they can help in any way. I know this Gospel is true and the work we do is so important.

Elder Cobbley

7/27/2011

Well where to start hahahaha Transfer day was earlier and YEP I am staying another transfer maybe 2. Tomorrow I will pick up my anak or child.....hahaha my trainee. I am also still the District Leader here. I have been a total of 7 months in my area and I will make it 8. I guess....well not guess but know that the Lord still has something for me to do that I haven't done in the past 7 months hahaha. Right now I am working in the city with 2 other Elder who will train also. There are 27 Elders and Sister entering the Mission tomorrow. My companion will be Filipino and my roomates companion will be american but he's Filipino hahaha. He was think that it was wrong cause he would rather not speak English hahaha:D Anyways I had a nice treat today. I ate Chicken Alfredo. I was alright.

Well in my area I had a cool experince with some investigators. Yesterday when my companin went to say goodbye to Marvin and Clerly, We taught them about faith from Alma 32. They really enjoyed the lesson and they said that they believe what we taught them was true. After that we followed up some things with the Word of Wisdom and Bro. Marvin said the as he reads the BOM he slowly losses the desire to smoke. In the past he would smoke about 10 a day. 1 pack every 2 days but now he has gone down to 2 a day and he said it was because of the BOM. He has also go rid of the need for Coffee. This next week we will give them a Baptismal Date. I know that as we read and study the BOM that our addictions and problems slowly go away. I am going to use this with another investigator who is having problems with this right now. I know The BOM is the true word of God! I also enjoy studying it regularly. I encourage all of you who read this to read The BOM and not just read but study and live the principles contained in it. I know that if we do that we will be showered down with blessings!!! Well until next week maybe Monday we will see. Love you all!!!!

Elder Cobbley

7-18-2011

Hoy sounds like everyone is doing good! We had a good week so far. Transfers are coming up and the word around the street is im staying again but I dont know if thats true or if its just a joke cause than I would be 8 months in my area. Patay haha...Well we had a lot of people at church. We had some good things happen. I realized that Sundays in the mission are not so great. Everything works up to Sunday. The lessons and commitments lead up to Sunday and than everything just plummets. Yesterday we sent up an appointment to take some less-actives to church, we went by their house and they were drinking and the sober one didnt wanted to come with us. Than I found out a recent convert had gone back to his bad habits. Sundays are just rough. We do have some progressing investigators but not as many as I would like. The Branch is doing A LOT better now. Members with new callings. Its was awesome just listening to all of them being sustained in sacrament. There is a new area being opened out in the ocean hahaha Coron Island. Its next to Palawan Island. 4-6 missionaries will be assigned there and there are only 6 members on the Island. hahaha AWESOME!!! This next transfer there will be a total of 210 missionaries in the Philippines Manila Mission. Alam ko maikli lang ang letter ko ngayon. Hangang susunod mahal na mahal ko kayo.

-Elder Cobbley

7/11/11

Hello

Well to start im not sure ha... Maybe I will just explain how great our 4th was here. Well last Monday we went to the Morgan couples apartment and had a BBQ. There was hotdogs, sausages, Chips(doritos,sun chips), potato salad, Corn on the cobb, A&W rootbeer, and for desert The Spencer couple made chocolate pudding pie and apple pie. IT WAS ALL DELICIOUS!!! I stuffed myself. I have been eating Peanut Butter and Strawberry jam sandwiches for the last 2 weeks for lunch and snacks and I LOVE IT STILL!!! I have been cutting out the rice but do eat it occasionally.

My interview with President Stucki went really well. We talked about good ol' Blackfoot and Idaho falls, Idaho haha. He grew up in Ririe. Sister Stucki in Preston. Small world no? The interview was just to get to know each other a little bit. Also last Friday at District Mtg I was told that im pregnant hahaha Yes i know its impossible but its true daw haha. From what they said that I might be training this next transfer a new american. So I might stay in my area again ha. Right now this is my 7th month here and training will keep me her for another 3 months. This week our work was awesome!! We had 5 at church is a better than usual. We had 2 awesome investigators there Marvin and Clerly. it was there first time and they had a good experience. They read to 2 Nephi 15 the first time we left the BOM and they are still reading. We also had branch conference and a new Branch President was called. The 1st counselor stepped up to President. He a is 32 yrs old RM and still single. We are helping him find a wife.

Sorry my letter is not full of stuff or very long but I cant think of anything else. Thank you for the support and prayers. Love you all. Until next week Byebye.

-Elder Cobbley

7-4-11

Good afternoon

Well Happy 4th of July to everyone. To start off my letter our 4th here in the Philippines is going to be awesome tonight hahaha. We have a senior couple in our area and MY companion mooched off of them. Well yesterday at church my companion went up to Elder Morgan after he tried mooching off of Sister Morgan who didn't fall for it. My companion asked Elder Morgan "What are your plans for the 4th", Elder Morgan said "hmmmm I haven't thought of that yet", my companion "We were kinda thinking maybe we could have a BBQ of something like that", Elder Morgan "Yeah!". So later on about 4:30 we are going to their house to have a BBQ. I am very grateful for my companion Elder Tomlinson. But im more grateful for the AMERICAN FOOD we will be eating!:D

We now have our new Mission President na Si President Stucki. Its a small world after all. He has already made some changes where are not really to big. We wear belts made out of horns, coconuts, bamboo here in the Philippines but now those are forbidden. We have to wear leather belts. We cant listen to EFY music...Hymns only, and we cant take naps on Pday. There might be more but I will find them out Friday.

We had 119 attendance yesterday and the last 2 weeks 120. So the Branch is getting stronger. We have had some less actives come to church and I heard them say that they want to enter the Temple.

The pics are of our Baptism of Brother Macagba, my Dr Pepper:D, and a spider we found again in our house that had an egg sack that she wouldn't let go of. But the sack broke open and babies ran everywhere.

Well thats all for this week but next week more exciting stuff and experiences. Well until than ingat kayo and mahal ko kayo.

Elder Cobbley

6-27-2011

This week was a great one with up and down's. Lets start with
our baptism... Dominador Macagba was baptized last Saturday. He is a
77 yr old retired military Sargent. He was also interviewed yesterday
as well as Oscar Morgan and found worthy the receive the Priesthood.
So next week they will be given the Priesthood. The other candidate we
had for baptism is having some problems so we are working with him and
he will be baptized in the up coming weeks. Also yesterday we had 120
attend church which is a big improvement!!! The highest is about 120
about 6 months ago in January. A lot of less-active members came to
church. Ones that i have never seen at church.

The downs this week were we lost a few progressing investigators.
one tried returning the BOM but I insisted that she keeps it. Another
would just share the same scripture time after time that "No man can
see God" I hope I quoted that right. Even after the scriptures that we
shared that prophets have seen and talked to God. So he was rejecting
the truthfulness of the BOM and Joseph Smith. Others we dropped cause
they are not keeping commitments but all of these we will go back to
from time to time.

This is Presidents Howard last week. He leaves July 1 and
President Stuki comes in. Last week President Howard gave everyone
blessings. His blessing for me was really cool. He said that I will
have the opportunity to train new missionaries coming in and be a
leader. He also told me to stay strong and work hard cause Satan knows
my potential and would love to take over.

I know this Gospel is true! No doubt in my mind. Like I shared a
few weeks ago about conversion...We are all still being converted.
Kinda like Peter from the Bible..The Savior asked him 3 times because
the Savior knew he wasn't converted to the Gospel and what did Peter
do? He denied him. Would we ever do that? OR Would we ever deny our
faith? We are still in our conversion process and its a life long
path. Thats all until next week. Take care everyone.

-Elder Cobbley

6/22/2011

Good afternoon to everyone. Well this week have been pretty awesome.
We went to the temple this morning at 5am. Tomorrow we have our last
zone conference with President Howard. We went to the Mall today and
ate McDonalds and I had a BIG MAC it was pretty good and then went to
Dairy Queen and had an Oreo Blizzard and it was amazing! I also bought
poptarts and malt o meal marshmallow mateys. So thats my breakfast for
the the next week:) Something I have been looking for for so long I
have found. I have spent the last 14 months on this search and TODAY
was the day. I found DR PEPPER. The only problem they're sold by the
can for 43 pesos. So I bought 1 can for 1 dollar and I am definitely
going back for more!!! Well for the other cool things! We are going to
have 2 baptisms this coming Saturday. Ronie Morgan and Dominador
Macagba. Brother Macagba is a retired Air Force Sargent here in the
Philippines. We also found some great new investigators. We were
having a horrible day. We were just knocking on door and getting
rejected by everyone. We stopped to count our numbers and my companion
said to me. Ok Elder! We are going to be happy and talk to everyone
starting with this guy and so we talked to Brother Cesar who was just
sitting outside his house and he was totally cool with us sharing. I
was really a simple but strong message. He committed to going to
church this Sunday. We had a good last week of work and this week will
be another great week even thou I have totally exhausted! I have had a
cold/few the last few days and right now I have a problem with my ear.
I cant hear out of the right side to well and its been like this for a
day now. Last night it hurt like something crawled up there and made
home haha but there isn't anything in there from what I can tell and
from what my companion can see. But hopefully it will go way soon
cause its really annoying!! Well until next week... Take care
everyone.
-Elder Cobbley

ps-thanks for the pics and videos. There awesome! Just have to say
road trip on the Harley when I get back!!:)

Well a new transfer has just begun. I am still here in my area (Bulihan) 6 months now. I got here last Dec 29 and I will be here till at least July 27. My companion is still Elder Tomlinson. We are excited for our new transfer. To tell the truth I thought I was going to be transferring because thats what President Howard told me. So I told the members that i will be leaving and some were sad and some were just like its life.....Missionaries come and go. So we went to some and told that I wasn't transferring after all hahaha it was pretty funny. Oscar and Leilani Morgan were baptized this last week. Ronie Morgan and Dominador Macagba will be baptized this next week. We had a great transfer meeting today. The mission is splitting and we are getting a new mission president July 1. Great news I am still in the Philippines Manila Mission hahaha:). Some Elders and Sister are transferring to a the new Quezon City South Mission. This mission is the coolest ever. Thats all I have to say!!!! Well thats all for now. Until next week.... Take care and mahal ko kayo.

Elder Cobbley

6-6-11

Good afternoon.....This last week has been pretty good. I had a good week. My companion has had a cold type sickness that he might have gave to me. But last week he had herpes on his arm haha. He got rid of it and it came back the next week. But right now he is taking meds for it. Im doing awesome for now. It has been raining everyday for the past week an a half. Sometimes real strong and other times just real light. Lani and Oscar Morgan will be baptized this coming Saturday! Something I have been struggling with that im trying to fix is making investigators knowledge and testimony like mine. I really want them to receive an answer about there prayers. Something that I read and I was studying in The BOM is Alma 32. In this Chapter it talks about faith not being a perfect knowledge but believing in something we cant see but we hope for. Thats totally true! I pondered the verses here and read in verse 17 and 18 I believe. It saying that some want a sign then they will believe but once we see its becomes knowledge, not belief and exercise of our faith. I thought real hard about this and came to the thought about my investigators.....If they receive a sign about their prayers than its not faith anymore. We can believe and still have a strong testimony of the truthfulness. Over time comes the witness after the trail of our faith. So instead of trying to help them to get a witness or testimony like mine I am going to help them exercise their faith and BELIEVE!!!

We had interviews with President Howard. Im not sure if I shared this but I might be transferring in the zone. But its not for sure yet. 1 wk an a half still in the transfer. Well I hope Blackfoot is all good with the Snake River all FULL. Hope all of you are doing good. Until next week. Love you all.

-Elder Cobbley

Eww....... (5/30/2011)

5-30-2011 Pics

5/30/2011

Hello everyone.

This week has been way fast. I have 3 days until i hit my 1 yr here in Philippines. I dont know how I am going to celebrate but I will think of something. This week was not to bad. We had some good experiences. I gave a talk in sacrament yesterday hahaha I was told the night before to speak on service. So I studied a little bit and made some notes that night and morning. We had 4 investigators come to church. We also had a big increase of attendance this week! The last few weeks we had about 40 to 60 attend. This last Sunday we had 104 attend. But most of those were visiting and so we will see what happens next week. We have had dinner appointment every night this last week. I was starting to complain for some weird reason haha but thats just cause I was eating a lot rice. My companion and I have stopped drinking soft drinks. But last Saturday we went to get a snack at a tindahan.....let me explain this well....This is a small store were people sell small items like ketchup, eggs, soft drinks, snacks from their front window or door. These people sit and watch their tindahan all day selling stuff to people. Anyways we went to this tindahan to buy a snack and I saw a soft drink that I have never seen before. Arcy's Root beer. I had to have one as well as my companion.

The Morgan Family one of our progressing investigators are doing great but they have some problems that might keep them from baptism on June 11. They are from Kalookan, Manila and that is were they went to school but it is really crazy and dangerous there. There are gangs and riots that happen a lot. Their oldest sister wants them to go to school here in Bulihan where its not as crazy. For them to study they have to have a Birth Certificate that needs to be green for them to enroll. Why green I do not know. But we are working with them to get that and prepared for baptism.

Great news Sister Howard has been released from the Hospital. We saw her yesterday and she is really skinny but doing well she said. They will be going home soon. They have about 4 weeks left. They are some awesome mission parents! Well that all for this week. Thanks for all of your support. Love you all.

-Elder Cobbley

5-13-2001 (SOO THOUGH I POSTED THIS, OOOPS)

Hey everyone!

Well this week has been way busy. We went to the city for meetings 3 or more times. We had a musical fireside last night were all of the missionaries sang. Other than having a ton of meetings and traveling a lot we had a good week. We have some good investigators that have some great potential for baptism. We found Brother Teody just before Elder Villasor transferred May 4. He is Catholic but he doesn't want to church cause he noticed that there are people that don't follow the commandments. We have taught him about 4 times and he was confused why the world is the way it is so we shared The Restoration with him. Right now we just finished the BOM with him and now we will teach Faith. Something he noticed that he liked about the church is even thou there is little attending church rather than the catholic church, we are more spiritual and obedient to the commandments. He noticed this even thou he hasn't been to church yet. That tells me that people really are watching even when we don't think they are.

Sister Rosario De Jesus is another investigator we found last transfer. We have taught he about 4 times now also. The 2nd time we taught her we had her pray about it and she did. I have already told this story. After she prayed she had some questions that randomly came to her mind about the priesthood she said. Last week we taught she was having a hard time with her family. A lot of trials have entered her life and all at once. While we were teaching her she started to cry and she said she was able to hold it back when she was with her family. She committed to pray again and continue to read. We shared a message from the BOM and after she asked if she could borrow it for a while. We told her it was her's to keep.

The Morgan Family is another investigator who is pretty close to baptism. They come to church every week. Last week they walked even thou it was raining really hard. We helped them get home so they didn't have to walk in the storm. They are an awesome family.

Well today we had district meeting and so we set goals and plans for the next 4 weeks as a district. Even thou it was just planning it was very guided. We made a calendar for the next 4 weeks of what we will be studying. After that we had a short 10 min. discussion as a district about the meaning for sustaining. I learned a lot!!! Sustaining of leaders means that you are going to do all you can to help that leader succeed in his or her calling. Its not just the raise of a hand. Sometimes we think when someone is sustained we leave everything up to them but that not what it means. They cant do a good job if they don't have the support and help of the members. Well thats about it. I love you all and hope you all have great week. Until next week take care.

Elder Cobbley

5/11/11

Hey everyone

This week has been pretty awesome. We have found a few of new good investigators. They are really interested cause something that we focused on this last week with them was authority. We shared the whole Restoration and made everything really simple and pointed out the importance of the Priesthood. We shared with them verses from the bible about Priesthood and the light bulb turned on for them. Sister Rosario De Jesus was a new investigator 2 weeks ago. The first lesson was pretty simple and she didn't quite understand it. The 2nd time we shared The Restoration. We committed her to read the pamphlet and pray about it. The next week we followed her up and she did. She said that when she prayed about it after she said amen questions came into her mind like....what is the priesthood? where did it come from?....Those even we didnt really focus on the priesthood with her. But tomorrow we will follow her up and she what she was received. Yesterday she had a 2nd visit with a family that we found. We shared about prophets and one of the brothers there said to us. "I want to know who the prophet is today that guides us". We continued through the whole restoration. It was a really good lesson. We have had alot of success this last week. It was really awesome. Thats all for this week. Well Happy Mothers Day to all you that are mothers hahaha Until next week take care.
-Elder Cobbley

5/4/2011

Hey everyone

Where to start? Hindi ko alam. Well this week was the Jubilee. A celebration of the church for its 50th anniversary in the Phillipines. There were dances and that jazz. That was last Saturday and Sunday they had a service were Elder Teh of the Area Presidency here spoke and had President Boyd K. Packer and Elder Quentin L. Cook spoke. It was really good. Elder Teh's talk really helped. Last Monday just after transfer announcement Elder Spiva(My Zone Leader) spoke about whatwe can do to help the zone become stronger. He gave some advice as a District Leader and things I can do which really help and had me answer 3 questions that Elder Teh asked. (Are you reading the Scriptures everyday? If not, what might be keeping you from doing that? and last...Is that reason acceptable for the Lord?). He had search in PMG Christlike Attributes to find the answer to a question. What will make a mighty change of heart in a missionary or in a person? I researched it and found out that it is all about everyday scripture study. This has inspired me to work on that.

We had transfers today and I stayed here in Bulihan again and my new companion is Elder Tomlinson. He is from Utah. Well last week we had some good experiences just Elder Villasor transferred. We had a FHE with The Cagas Family and it was way fun. Some of our investigators were there and they had a good time watching me make a fool of myself playing games in Tagalog hahaha. They have a great spirit about them. The whole Family. They do have some problems with the WOW that we are going o fix this week.

Well thats all for now. Until next week take care and I love you all.

-Elder Cobbley

4/28/2011

Wow our week was really good. We had some really good experiences. We had slits with the ZL's here and also the teaching assistants in the same week. I had the opportunity to work with Elder Richwine and it was a great experience and I learned a ton. The things I learned were simple things that I can do to improve my skills. Even though it was holy week we had some really good success. This last week we were able to receive a referral from a member here for their family members. The Morgan family is really awesome. They all came to church last Sunday. Their desire to learn the Gospel is really strong. As well as the Altamante Family. The Nanay there is a less active member and her husband is a non-member. I have noticed President that has we OYM that the work turns out better. We tried our best to reach the S.O.E. of OYM last week but this next week we will reach it. From this last week I have come to recognize the Holy Ghost in our work. I continue to pray for you and Sister Howard. I love you two and you two are truly great examples.

Elder Cobbley

4/28/2011

Ok well im out of time at the moment so I will have to catch you up on everything next week. Alot of cool stuff happened. Until next week love you all.

Elder Cobbley

4/18/2011

Hey family and friends

Well this week has something else. It is now HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im sweating like crazy at the moment and yesterday was worse! especially we were walking up and down streets on a Sunday so we cant buy soda drinks. We had a cool experience this last week. We were find a less active member and we went to there house and they happen to move so we talked to a sister who let us come in and share. What happened there was I thought it was the member and so I said "hello sister we are missionaries from our church". She said what church and so I told her the name and she came out and I found out that it wasn't her but she was really nice and we shared a message and received a return appointment. Another experience is we were ask to met our goal of OYM of 160. We focused on that and we had some success. The leaders told us that we need to reach that 160. Last Friday we were finding and we found tons of people. We were talking to everyone and had several effective lessons with return appointments. We really felt that our work was really effective this week. It may have not been a ton of lessons but they were effective. This next week that is something we are going to focus on. Talking to everyone. Well we are suppose to have interviews with President Howard tomorrow but he will not becoming. Sister Howard is in the hospital with a something serious. She has been in the hospital for about 2 weeks now and we are all praying and fasting for a quick recovery. She is the coolest mission mom ever!!! I really love the Howards and have grown close to them. They are about to go home in July. Well thats about all for this week. Well take care everyone! Til next week.....mahal ko kayo.....

Elder Cobbley

4-11-11

Hello everyone!

Well a lot has happened these past few days. A lot has been running through my mind about the work in our area. I've been think and trying to apply thing to make the work and experience here in Bulihan a better one for my companion and I. We have experienced trials this whole transfer and not just in our area but the whole zone. Discouragements, up's and down's. Just the life of a servant of the Lord. This area that we are in is fun and really great people(members) but every area has its area that needs help or that little spot that is rough to do. We defiantly found it even thou we weren't looking for it. We talked and pondered about the things we are experiencing with the zone in what we will hopefully do again called "Missionary Round Table". We opened our Preach My Gospel's and Scriptures and begin to solve the problems and trials we experience in our area's. I know that we can apply that in our own lives and families having "Family Round Tables" or "Family Home Evenings". The thing that we are having a hard time doing is FINDING. A couple of weeks ago the focus changed from finding a lot to Records. Some got lazy after a while and the zone and Mission hit its lowest amount of baptisms is the last 3 years of 118 souls. The lowest point that has ever been in 3 years. We are changing our desire and our attitude. "A mighty change of heart.". Redemption is needed and will be obtained! Anyways last night we were able to find a new investigator who I believe is going to awesome! She is a part member. Francia Panes is the ate or older sister of Marjorie Panes. She has a sickness that is going to a struggle to get past but we will do it. She cant speak very well or walk very far but she cant understand Tagalog. She has something like severe autism. Well I hope everyone is doing well. I would like to share and testify that our trials that we experience in life are there to help us and will help us come closer to our Heavenly Father. After the kneeling and humbling times that we go through our faith with increase just as big as the trial that we face. But we cant do it alone! We need the help of our Savior and lord Jesus Christ to help hold us up and we walk the rugged path. I'm grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the assurance that our mistakes can and will be forgiven if we turn back to him and follow him. I love you all and hope that we all can take shelter from the storm and remember what Jesus The Christ did for us. General Conference was great and I encourage all to study the messages and apply them in our lives. I know that Thomas S. Monson is and was called to be the light, the beacon, the example for us all. Love you all again and say these things in the of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen!

Elder Cobbley

4/6/2011

Hello everyone

Well this was a regular week but we did have a baptism. Sister Marjorie was baptized! We had some cool experiences especially me hahaha From the pics haha well those are some pics of the last little bit. I wish I could send more but the darn computer is slow and the pics are pretty big. Well one of those is Balut! The ball looking thing with an eye hahaha:) Well all i have to say about that is it wasn't bad. I do have a video but its to long to send here. So you'll just have to wait till i come home to see that haha. I've had 2 now and its not bad at all its actually pretty good! Balut is a duck egg that has been in an (incubator) i think thats spelled right anyways there are different days....16, 17, 18, 19, 20. the longer its in the incubator the more mature it is haha sometime its has eye balls and feathers sometimes not. It was actually pretty good. They put "suca" or spicy vinegar on it as well as "asin" or salt and that it makes taste even better!!! The video is pretty good haha so tell Wes Sanders that its not bad at all. Its a must try here in the Philippines!!! Anyways our week here was pretty great! We have zone conference tomorrow and guess what i get to report my districts work to the other zones ha. I did say in my past letter that we are focusing on members more and we are now teaching 2 part members now. The Batuhan Fam and Maloloy-on Fam. They are both less active members with unbaptized family members. Well thats about all. Sorry its not much but well see what next week brings. Well love you all. take care.

Elder Cobbley