Redemption Story + Elder Cook #91

What's up family!? How are yall doing?! I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the good in life! Love yall so so much :) This week I got a new companion, Elder Cook. Since the MTC we've been best of friends on the mission and I honestly can't believe we get to serve with each other. We are having a blast working hard, laughing with people, and testifying. He is super cool and his love for Jesus shows in the joy he's able to share with others. Transfers were fun, we received 4 sisters... 1 mongolian and 3 americans. This will be president Kunz's first full transfer as a missionary, and he's doing a great job of getting missionaries hyped on helping others have a fresh start through the grace of Jesus Christ's atonement. Spiritual thought - redemption story... must read! A member named Martsetseg shared this story from 20 years ago... Martsetseg was walking down the street. She then saw a dis-shoveled man with tattered clothes and sun beat skin scrummaging through the dumpster. The old man looked at her and offered her a cigarette to which she replied that she didn't smoke. The man was shocked to learn she didn't drink either or use any addictive substances. The man had just been released from prison after a 7 year sentence. Martsetseg then shared with him her faith and connected him with the missionaries. He learned about Jesus Christ and then quit smoking and drinking... and eventually was baptized. The prison he was released from however was 1000km from his wife and children and they had no connection during that time. The man was afraid to go find his family as he thought maybe his wife had married a new man and his family had moved on. After the man left, Martsetseg lost contact with him. But 12 years later... she saw an obituary to the old man she had helped. In that obituary she learned the old man was accepted by his family and even grandchildren whom he'd never met. He spent the last 12 years of his life as a loving grandfather, husband, father and helped bring his family unto Jesus Christ. I know that by the goodness of Jesus Christ we have power to overcome any challenge, set back, or sin. Never lose hope. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God Love, Elder Bateman