A SIMPLE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST: May 7, 2012

Dear Family,

I like Tahiti. I love my mission. Sadly, the baptisms we had fixed for before I left were pushed back. So, unless there is a miracle, which is very possible, I don't think there will be any more baptisms on my mission. We are teaching a guy whose business is selling drugs.  When we first started teaching him,  he didn't seem interested at all. He likes to talk.  When we go we usually listen to him talk for 2 hours and talk ourselves for only a few minutes, but it is interesting to see that at times (rarely) in the lessons,  a simple testimony of Jesus Christ and his gospel will touch him, quiet him, and cause him to reflect.  He starts to ask about how he can change and follow Jesus Christ until he gets tempted, I guess, and changes the subject and chases the Spirit away again by talking about less important things. The Spirit bears witness of the truth of all things to all people regardless of their background or life experiences. That is what I learned this week
Love Y'all
Love, Elder Cosby

GOD REALLY DOES LOVE US AND KNOW US: May 1, 2012

Dear Family,

Elder Zwick of the 70 came and talked with us today which was an amazing experience. He came at a good time for me because this week was really hard. It poured constantly.  70% of our lessons were cancelled,  and basically all that started to wear on me. I was praying for something to help me finish strong. It was a great spiritual boost that will carry me to the last second of my mission serving the Lord with all my heart, might, mind and streangth. We were asked by Elder Zwick to ask ourselves "What am I willing to change to better share the gospel of Jesus Christ?" We were taught that if we are willing to change, the Spirit will be there to show us "all things that we must do." and inversely that if we are not willing to change, he will not be able to help us. The meeting was clearly driven by the Spirit. It was life changing. I could and probably will talk about it in 45 emails but I don't feel that is necessary. In the middle of the meeting Sister Zwick was given a time and said that she would take a little time to quiz us about Preach My Gospel. She then took out what she called "motivators," being skittles, starburst, and ...reeses.

 

I havent had reeses in 2 years

 

They dont sell reeses here

 

It's my favorite candy

 

I was determined to get me one of those. The game was that she would ask a question and we had to find the response in "Preach my Gospel and stand up as soon as we found it. The first question was about  the weekly planning session and I was the first to pop up with my heart beating fast and full of excitement.  I announced the page. Due to the fact that the section continued on to the next page and the response was in fact on the next page, I was deemed unworthy of the reeses.  I was devastated, and embarrassed, but undeterred.  I was determined to eat my reeses. The next few questions were increasingly difficult and I watched with fear as the candies slowly started to disappear.  Finally only two candies remained.   My heart was beating fast when she started the question, but I stood before she finished her sentence with a fist pump of triumph.  It was correct and she threw me my reeses.  I sat down, out of breath, and patiently waited till the end of our meeting to eat my reeses. It was good.

 

I like my mission. Right at the moment where I thought, "It's too hard," I was sent a spiritual boost and even my favorite treat. God really does love us and know us, even down to our favorite candy.

Love Y'all

Love, Elder Cosby

TRAVEL ITINERARY: THIS IS THE LAST MONTH

Subject:  FINAL Travel Itinerary For COSBY/SETH LORENZO - 29May - 5472X5
To: Tahiti Papeete Mission 

Electronic ticket(s) have been issued and are ready for travel. See ETKT information below.

 

The following is a revised itinerary. Please take note of changes to flight numbers, times, and/or transfer cities.

  

CHURCH TRAVEL CWT                          DATE 16APRIL12

50 EAST NORTH TEMPLE ST                    AGENT JJ/KT BOOKING REF 5472X5

SALT LAKE CITY UT 84150

TELEPHONE: 801 240-5111                    COSBY/SETH LORENZO  191435-R

FAX      : 801-240-5115

 

  MISSIONARY TRAVEL

  TAHITI PAPEETE MISSION

 

SERVICE               DATE  FROM           TO             DEPART  ARRIVE

_____________________ _____ ______________ ______________ _______ ______

AIR TAHITI NUI        29MAY PAPEETE        LOS ANGELES CA 1159P   1110A

TN 8                TUESDAY FAAA           LOS ANGELES IN         30MAY

L ECONOMY                   TERMINAL INTL  TERMINAL B

                            SNACK/BREAKFAST               NON STOP

                            RESERVATION CONFIRMED         8:11 DURATION

                  AIRCRAFT: AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A340-300

                            SEAT 35A NO SMOKING CONFIRMED

 

AMERICAN AIRLINES     30MAY LOS ANGELES CA DALLAS TX      135P    635P

AA 2448           WEDNESDAY LOS ANGELES IN DALLAS FT WORT    

Q ECONOMY                   TERMINAL 4

           NON SMOKING      FOOD AND BEVERAGES FOR PURCHA NON STOP

                            RESERVATION CONFIRMED         3:00 DURATION

                  AIRCRAFT: BOEING 737-800

                            SEAT 23B NO SMOKING CONFIRMED

 

RESERVATION NUMBER(S)  AA/PTUEGD  TN/DFLBQB

 

COSBY/SETH LORENZO  191435-R

     ETKT:TN/244 7037194274

 

**IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, FLIGHT CHANGES ENROUTE

OR SIGNIFICANT DELAYS, IMMEDIATELY TELEPHONE

CHURCH TRAVEL (801-240-5111 OR 1-800-537-3537)

.

CHURCH TRAVEL IS AVAILABLE 24/7

.

KATY TALBOT - EXT 25153

 

MISSION PRESIDENT BENJAMIN TAURAA SINJOUX

PH 011-689-50-5521 OFFICE 011-689-42-4332 HOME

      * NOTICE * STATE OR FEDERAL PHOTO I.D. REQUIRED AT AIRPORT.

        BECAUSE CHECK-IN TIMES AROUND THE WORLD MAY VARY BASED    

       ON THE INDIVIDUAL AIRPORT AND DAY-TO-DAY SECURITY ISSUES

                 PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY FOR YOUR FLIGHTS.

      IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING AIRPORT SECURITY,

                 PLEASE CONTACT THE AIRPORT DIRECTLY.

          MISSIONARY TRAVEL (800) 537-3537 OR (801) 240-5111

 

BAGGAGE POLICY - FOR TRAVEL TO/FROM, WITHIN THE US, PLEASE VISIT:

HTTPS://BAGS.AMADEUS.COM?R=5472X5&N=COSBY  

 

Use CheckMyTrip to view your itinerary and flight changes at any time:

Go to CheckMyTrip now: http://WWW.CHECKMYTRIP.COM/CMTSERVLET?R=5472X5&L=US&N=COSBY

 

MISSIONARY DOG DAYS: April 26, 2012

Dear Family, 

Here's something that happened to us recently.  I've been busy and can't remember if I've written this to you already.   Two missionaries on bikes.  There are no street lights in most of the valley of Tuauru. As we were riding,  I heard a few barks in the distance but they were closing in fast. In all of the valley there is one black dog that likes to chase us.  It was him. I was behind Elder Ezekiela. I quickly put my gears as high as they could go.   As I passed Ezekiela I yelled, "HURRY,"  but black dog had already made it to the road.  We passed him so quickly that it scared him and prevented him from eating us and the excellent Lasagna that we were given to take home as leftovers.  We had to slow down because it was completely dark  (no street lights in the valley of Tuauru) and we were scared we were gonna die.  But then we saw hope... lights from a car.  I gave my companion a military hand signal to dodge right and I would dodge left.   I didn't get to see the driver of the car but hopefully he wasn't old because he might have had a heart attack.  He would have seen two young men in white shirts and ties and helmets narrowly dodge his car on both sides and right behind the most evil bloodthirsty black-as-night dog he had ever seen in his life hit it.   Right after passing the car I looked back to verify that the car was a heaven sent missile to destroy our possessed pursuer.  It was.  Stop reading if you like  dogs.  Speeding car met speeding dog like a Tongan lineman blindsiding an unsuspecting punter.  The last thing I saw before turning the corner was a black dog in the air, whose yelps were drowned out by me and my companion's laughs of fear and surprise.

Love y'all,

Love Elder Cosby

GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS: April 16, 2012

Dear Family,
Saturday we had the baptism of Tehina.   It was great.  We thought it wouldn't happen because her family got in a fight with one of our ward members, but we all put our prayers and defeated the enemy.  I am thankful for my companion, he really helps me out.   Every day with my last companion I prayed to have a companion that would help me to become better and finish strong before I go home. I'm happy.  God answers prayers.   Missionaries need the members help.  We can't do it by ourselves.  Everyone go be an investigator's friend this week.  Love y'all 
Love, Elder Cosby

CONFERENCE and EASTER: April 2 and April 9, 2012

Dear Family (April 2),

Conference was great. Me and my companion woke up at 4:30 yesterday and Saturday so we could get there in time.   Here it starts at 6:00 a.m.  Each time I watch it I pay more attention.  I didn't sleep through any of the talks. 

This week was really difficult.  We had more than half of our lessons where our investigators just weren't there when we got there, and we had our baptism for next week get her entire family in a fight with our members.   So it was nice to have conference at the end of all that.   I don't know what else to say about this week without being depressing, but I'm glad that I have "a mountain to climb" like President Eyring said. I love my mission even though this week was just downright terrible.   I am still happy for some reason and me and my companion are still going for our goals to baptize a lot of people. He is a good guy.  I like him.

Love Y'al,

Love Elder Cosby

(April 9) It's Easter! Everything closes in 5 minutes. Love y'all


Love, Elder Cosby 

COOL EXPERIENCES: March 26, 2012

Dear Family,

This week my companion was really sick. It started at a family's house where we were eating and in the middle he got up and threw up. There was a non member there who was the boyfriend of the daughter and he made my companion medicine out of plants (it worked) for three days.  We engaged him to take the lessons and told him to come to church so he cut his long hair and came to church.   Other than that we stayed a lot at the house to rest.  I read a lot of scriptures and Liahonas.  

Saturday we had the baptism of Tehotu   It was great.  He is a great guy.  He told us that he was going to go on a mission.  He is 16.   We also started the lessons with a guy named Doodi who told us he planned on being baptized and serving a mission after and had already planned most of his baptismal program.  Cool experiences.  I like my mission. I like being busy doing important stuff.   Love y'all

Love, Elder Cosby

NO EMAIL: March 19, 2012

SURPRISE : March 12, 2012

Dear Family,

President changed my finish date to the 29th of May. Me and Elder Ezekiela are having a lot of good success. I've learned a lot more  english phrases. Me and an investigator that I really like (Christian) got in a calm debate about prophets and the law of the land.  After talking for a long time and geting nowhere I asked him if he believed the Book of Mormon was true.  He said yes.  So we fixed his baptismal date.   Also for Ezekiela's first contact we met a young man named Tamatoa with his friends that were drinking and smoking but he wasn't. They told us to go away but he said I'm gonna go over and talk to them.  He asked some really good questions.  We gave him a Book of Mormon.  He told us that he was gonna read the entire thing and we could come back whenever we wanted and then he asked us to play ping pong with him and he destroyed us both.

Love yall,

Love Elder Cosby

ELDER EZEKIELA: Mar 5, 2012

Dear Family, 


I received my last companion Elder Ezekiela fresh from the MTC. He is from the Cook Islands. He is awesome and very motivated. The mission department has a new 12 week program thing of training. so I am pretty sure that I will be ending my mission in Mahina. Me and Elder Ezekiela have the same watch.  I thought that was cool.  I have been praying to have a companion that would help me become a better person and I think I got what I asked for.  He has an Australlian accent and says cool phrases like "he's just gotta pull his socks up" (meaning he has gotta be a man or get over it). Family, I am needing advice about what I need to do career wise.   I ask that all career advice submissions be submitted before next Monday and are no longer than 200 words.  Y'alls decisions will be how I determine who I love the most in the familly for the rest of my life.
Love yall,
Love Elder Cosby

I REALLY LIKE MY MISSION: Feb 27, 2012

Dear Family,

This week we had 2 baptisms.  The first was Manutea Putoa ( translation:  White Bird Conchshell Store).  We hope that his mom will soon join him and get baptized.  The other was Nooroa Taero (Big Reputation Drunk).  He is a good guy even though he forgets the lessons really fast because he is super old.  At this moment I am with Elder Crump while we both wait for our new companions after which he will be going to Raiatea.  I will be finishing my mission here in Mahina.  I know I don't write a lot in my emails but y'all shoudl know that I really lke my mission and that I am super happy to be here.

Love,
Elder Cosby

TEARII: February 20, 2012

Dear Family,

Last week was the baptism of Tearii. He is an 11 year old boy . The baptism was great.  He was so excited that he could not contain himself.  He jumped up to lead the first song with his aunt and yelled, "I am a child of God" at the top of his lungs the first verse all three times (verses). President Sinjoux came.  When he got up to speak Tearii took President's arm and put it around himself and stood next to him until he was finished.  It was a great baptism. His parents have completely changed now. They tell us that Tearii is much better in school now also. After the baptism Tearii went and told all of his neighbors that he was baptised.  They told him that they would buy him candy as a gift and he told them: "Make sure it is big!"  Everything is going great 

Love y'all

Love, Elder Cosby

NO TIME: February 13, 2012

Dear Family,

I am out of time to write.  Next week.

Love ya'll
Love,  Elder Cosby

TEHOTU: February 6, 2012

Dear Family,

This week we went to eat at a family's house.  The man's brother was there.  His name is Tehotu (the fruit).  He is not a member.  The first thing that Tehotu said to us was "I don't talk a lot . . . I am timid".   While we were eating we found this to be true.   Tehotu didn't talk a lot, even when asked direct questions, but towards the end of the dinner he lifted his head from his stew and cut us all off in saying rather loudly, "I want the missionary lessons!" So we set up a day to come back and had an amazing lesson with him where he told us that he wanted to be baptised. We also learned that his job is to "search for the treasures of his ancestors in caves and other places."   I thought that was pretty neat. I wonder if he gets paid well.  Also yesterday we went to Paea to do the same missionary concert that we have been doing in all the stakes in Tahiti. It was cool to be able to see all of my investigators from a year ago still attending church. I was happy.

Love y'all

Love, Elder Cosby

MARRIAGE IS WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER TODAY: January 30, 2012

Dear Family,

My first companion Elder Punu got married and since the reception was in the chapel 6 feet from our house I was able to go. Elder Punu put me at the table of honor, and even though we went home we could still hear the music late into the night. Punu's wife is from Hitiaa, my second area.  I got to see a lot of people that I knew before over there. It was great. We also went to Paea today and I saw one of our old investigators who recently received the Melchizedek Priesthood. I have been seeing a lot of my old friends for some reason lately.

Moving on to culture time:  France and French countries do what is called Bisoux to greet people. This consists normally of grasping hands and/or shoulders of the victim and then bumping your face (cleanliness is optional) on the side the victim's face and then doing the same on the opposite side. At each face bump, a kissing noise is made, but the lips in most cases do not actually make contact with the face.  Normally missionaries are counselled against this practice because it is weird.   So we defend ourselves.  The extended arm elbow locked block was created to evade any incoming bisoux, but often a missionary is caught unawares, leaving the opposing party standing having gone 50% lips pursed ready to make the kissy noises and the missionary's hand extended.   After several seconds of this artisticly awkward pose, either the opposing party or the missionary will give in . . .  in bisouxing or hand shaking . . .  with many incomprehensible after awkward situation mumbles. I have only given in to one old lady in the first week of my mission. In every other Bisoux battle I have held my ground leaving victor. 

Love y'all

Love, Elder Cosby 

GRATITUDE: January 16, 2012

Dear Family, 

Lately I had the chance to see some of my old investigators (passing in the store or on the street).  It was really cool to see that Sarah Moarii, one of my first baptisms, had gone through the temple and others have callings in the church, active and happy. We have also been gathering eggs in the morning from a chicken that hangs out in our yard and then making omelets. I;m feeling super blessed. I don't really know what else to say besides the work is going well.

Love y'all

Love, Elder Cosby

RAIN: January 9, 2012

Dear Family,

It has been raining the entire week non stop. I have been very wet. Me and my companion do a lot of service projects for a  lady named Mommy Maeva . . .  she . . . calls me Elder Marite which is the equivalent of Elder America in Tahitian. She calls my companion Jon for some reason,  but I correct her and tell her to call him Elder Tahiti. While me and my companion were moving trees (something I became very good at at home),  I had a funny experience . . . 

Love Elder Cosby

TAHITIAN BARBEQUE: January 2, 2012

Dear Family,
Everything is going great. In these times of holidays I have  had many experiences with Tahitian BBQs from. a little tiny camper stove lookin' thing with wet charcol in a car repair garage with Nitro 412 dilutant stuff on the charcoal to start it after which they used an air compressor to blow on the coals to keep them hot to  coals  started in the drum of  a washing machine.  There's all kinds of meats cooking on these covered with the same sauce . . . for a delicious Tahitian Barbeque.  Not much time to write this week . . .


Love y'all,
Elder Cosby

A GREAT EXPERIENCE: December 29,2011

This week we had a great experience in our first lesson with a man named Christian.
During the lesson you could just tell he was feeling the Spirit the whole time.
After the lesson he said the prayer and said to God that from now on his life will change
dramatically.  The Spirit is very powerfull.  I will tell everything else on Christmas.  
I have been studying a lot about the temple too because I was thinking that we would 
be going soon as president has said we would go once a year and it has almost been a year. 
I love you and will call you on Christmas.

Love ya'll,

Elder Cosby