P-Day Picture

I got an email tonight from 

Sis Aherns with this picture she took of 

Elder Cottam emailing us from her house today! 

Hey Family & Friends!!

It's been a crazy week!! haha. I hope you guys have had a good week. I love you guys so much. I can't believe how much support I have from you guys. I love it!

Monday: Last Pday was pretty sweet!! One of the most memorable experiences of my mission!! President Anderson came down to Marion and picked us up and took us down to Princeton to go bowling!! It was so much fun. We had so much trash talk between us!! haha. As you could probably guess, President Anderson kicked our butt!! He got 159 the first game and 158 the second game!! I swear that guy is good at everything!! Elder Roney and I thought we could take him, but we were wrong... haha. Elder Roney got pretty close to him in the second game, but that's because President cheated!! haha. They were cleaning the lanes and the guy knocked the pins down to sweep the lane and it ended up giving President an extra strike!! haha. Of course the time that President comes down is the time that I completely sucked it up. We had a lot of fun though. After bowling, President took us to Subway, then back up to Marion to see a couple of our investigators. We had this really powerful lesson with Seldon!! The Spirit was so strong and we all had really powerful testimonies. After Seldon, we went and saw Bill. Bill wasn't feeling too good, so we gave him a blessing and read some scriptures with him. The Spirit was so strong during the blessing. Bill's daughter Rachel (Less Active Member) was there and she told us that she really felt the Spirit. The whole day went so perfectly! It was amazing!! We had a great time with President and he said that he had a great night as well. We were so shocked when he said he was coming down! It was such a privilege to have him come to Marion. President and Sister Anderson are the best! I love them to death!

Tuesday: We met with a Less Active Member at McDonalds. Her name is Annette. She has lived in Marion for quite some time. She was saying that she wants to come back into the Church. We talked with the branch and we should be getting her some Visiting Teachers soon. Hopefully she can attend church soon. We had a great talk with her. Later that night we went down to Family Home Evening in Princeton and Tim & Trudy came. The little lesson and activity went really well. Tim & Trudy thought it went okay cause they misunderstood what Brother Aherns was saying, but we went back on Thursday and cleared everything up. They were supposed to get baptized this week, but they were really sick yesterday and they couldn't make it to church. Hopefully we can have their baptismal service next week. Everyone is super excited for them. They love having us over and they love the Church. I love it!!

Wednesday: Temple Trip!!! The temple they have in Franklin, TN is so beautiful on the inside and outside. It's a super tiny temple (perfect for my tiny mom ;), but the peace and love you feel inside is still the same and just as powerful. I have missed going to the temple so much and it was so nice to finally go again. We had are District go through together and it was such a neat experience for all of us. I love going to the temple and I'm so grateful that we have so many temples that are so close together in Utah. It was a good 2-2 1/2 hour drive for this one. Most people hear have to make the temple a full day activity. After the temple we went to lunch at Chipolte. It was really good, but it doesn't compare to Cafe Rio. Oh how I miss Cafe Rio... and Panda Express... haha. Then we headed back to Marion. The new Cadiz Elders who used to be the Princeton Elders have been in Fairview, TN for the past 3 weeks. They finally got a replacement companion and they finally got a car for them to use in Cadiz. Their apartment wasn't completely ready in Cadiz, so they stayed with us until Saturday. Let's just say, it's been the longest 3 days of my mission. They are great missionaries, but they need to change some things.

Thursday: It was quite interesting figuring out what to do with Cadiz Elders while we had are normal plans, but we made it work. We went and saw Tim & Trudy and had a great lesson with them. We were so grateful that we could take care of the issue they had at FHE. They feel a lot better right now. We were so grateful that everything went well. Then we went and saw Seldon with the Cadiz Elders. The lesson went really well. We talked about what has been reading. He loves reading and we love talking about what he read. We also talked to him about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I found this cool way to explain the Gospel of Jesus Christ by using an egg and sucking it through a bottle. If you don't know what I mean, I'll have to show you sometime because it would take a long time to explain it all. haha. It's pretty cool!!

Friday: We had weekly planning for most of the day. I like to plan really thoroughly for the next week. It makes it so nice when we have most of the planning already done. Every night we have a nightly planning for the next day and it goes so much better when we have most of it already planned. After planning we went to play volleyball with the members of the Marion Baptist. They love having us come and play and we love playing with them. It's really good fellowship.

Saturday: We tried to go down to Eddyville to get our car fixed, but on Saturdays they aren't open for very long, so we had to wait. We went out with Brother Aherns to see a bunch of people in Eddyville and Kuttawa. We ended up having a lot of success. We met with a couple less actives and they were welcoming to us. Then we had dinner with the Walkers. They are the sweetest old couple ever. Then we drove down to Princeton and talked with a bunch of people down there. It was a pretty good day!

Sunday: We had a great Church service. The Princeton Sisters and one of the Cadiz Elders had to give talks in Sacrament Meeting. All 3 of them did very well. Then we had a great missionary correlation after church like we always do. We headed back up to Marion and stopped to see one of our investigators, Tom & Kathy. We gave her a blessing because she has been really sick recently. The Spirit was so strong. Kathy said she was very grateful and that she has never had a blessing before. It was a very cool experience for all of us. 

Today: We still needed to fix our car, so we drove down to Eddyville and put it in the shop while we email and have lunch with the Aherns. After emailing and lunch, we will head back up to Marion and do the normal routine. After we write letters and stuff, we will go over to Seldon's house and play ping pong!! haha!! Super excited.

Thank you so much for all that you guys do. I hope you guys had a great Valentines Day. I enjoyed everything I got from you guys. Especially the food Grandma Heidi! haha. No one can compare to your cooking Grandma. I'm sorry that I haven't sent anything to you guys. I've been super busy. I hope you guys know that I love you and miss you so much. Time is so different while on a mission. Things are flying by! haha! Love ya guys! Have a fantastic week.

-Love Elder Cottam

The library is finally open!

Hey Family & Friends!

  The weather is finally clear enough for us to use the library!! haha. Sorry I couldn't email/write all of you last week. I will write you guys back as soon as possible. Keep the letters/emails coming! I love each and everyone of them. Your support/love means everything to me.

 

Well I have to tell you, the days go by way fast here!! Elder Roney and I can never remember what we did the past week and it always feels like that was two weeks ago. haha. Just bare with me. Good thing we have a planner and journal! 

 

Monday: The Library was closed because of the weather, but we got to play ping pong with Seldon and I totally dominated!! haha. Seldon is pretty good, but I finally figured out his style. We went and talked to one of our investigators, Tod. He is a nice guy that works for the school as a history teacher. The lesson went pretty well, but I feel we could've done a better job.

 

Tuesday: We were locked inside for most of the day. Elder Roney and I created this volleyball game in our apartment and it is so much fun!! haha. We die of laughter everytime! haha.

 

Wednesday: We were supposed to have District Meeting, but we had to cancel it because of the weather. There was too much ice on the roads to drive down. So, we just stayed in for most of the day, then went out after dinner and did our best.

 

Thursday: The roads were still a little sketchy, but we were able to drive down to Hopkinsville for Zone Meeting. We had a great time and we learned a lot. We also learned that we are getting iPad Minis in a couple weeks!! We are so excited!! Then we came back and talked with a couple people in Princeton and Crayne. We talked with a less active that lives in Crayne and we were able to give her boyfriend a blessing. It went really well. Then we talked with Seldon that night like we always do Thursday night. We talked about what he read in the Book of Mormon and we talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We always have an awesoem lesson with him. We are seeing him tonight because President Anderson wanted to go bowling with us in Princeton then go out to see some of the people we are talking with. We were so surprised when President said he was coming down for us!! We are going to cream him in bowling!! haha. President will love Seldon.

 

Friday: We did a long weekly planning that helped us plan this week. Then we went out and tried to talk to a bunch of people, but we didn't have much luck.

 

Saturday: We went down to Eddyville & Kuttawa. We have quite a few Less Active Members down there. We started off with having lunch with Brother and Sister Carlisle. They fed us Chicken Noodle Soup and it was delicious. We talked about the Church with them and they gave us a neighbor to go see, but he wasn't too interested. Then Brother Aherns picked us up at the Carlisle's house and we went out and saw a bunch of less actives. We found two sisters that we haven't seen before and we are getting them visiting teachers. They were super nice and glad to see us. After we had a successful time with Brother Aherns, we went to Brother & Sister Walker's house for dinner. The fed us Chicken and Dumplings!! Sister Walker's Chicken and Dumplings are amazing!! haha. After dinner, they gave us a neighbor to see. We went and talked with another neighbor that we have talked with before and we got to know them really well.

 

Sunday: Church was canceled because of all the ice in the parking lot. (It wasn't that bad at all...) So, we couldn't go to Church :(. So, we had studies in the morning, then went out and saw a bunch of people and it ended up being a successful day. We had a sweet lesson with Tim & Trudy on the commandments. They love having us over and they love learning about the Gospel. The funny thing is, they pretty much know it all and live it, so all they need is baptism. Hopefully we can have them baptized next week or the week after that. Love it!!

 

Today: We will get our normal Pday stuff done. At 3, President is picking us up for bowling, dinner, then to see some of our invesitgators. If all goes well, we will have a fantastic day!! We are super excited!!

 

Elder Roney is probably my favorite companion so far! haha. We get along really well and we work hard. We always crack jokes at each other and we always look to make it fun. He is obedient and he loves this Gospel. I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father gives me so many great companions. I love it.

 

My District is doing really well. We have been having a lot of success and everyone is getting along.

 

We get to go to the Temple this week!! I'm so excited!! I've missed going. The Nashville Temple is pretty small, but I know that I will love it! I know it is the house of the Lord.

 

Thank you so much for everything you've done for me. I love you guys so much!! I miss you so much!! I hope you have an awesome week!

 

-Love Elder Cottam

Pictures

Newspaper Article

Elder Cottam was in the local newspaper in Marion.  Check out this great article.

A very successful week!!

Hey Family & Friends!

  Wow what a crazy and successful week!! We have also been having a lot of snow so, that's why I couldn't write to you guys until today.

 

  The work is really moving forward! We had a very successful week. We had 3 investigators and 1 less active come to church this Sunday!! It was awesome! I love seeing the progress of an area!!

 

Monday: Transfer breakfast. I already told you about that. It was super delicious. After the breakfast and writing to you guys we had dinner and went out and tried to see a bunch of people.

 

Tuesday: Was a super cold and chilly day!! haha. This was the day of transfers, but luckily Elder Roney and I stayed the same so it was just a normal day. We tried to meet a less active at McDonald's, but she didn't show. Then we went and saw a couple other people before dinner. After dinner, we went down to Princeton and met the new Princeton Sisters, Sister Boyle and Sister Trask. Sister Boyle came out the same time as me and she is training Sister Trask. It was pretty hectic for them getting everything all ready. We met them at the Family Home Evening that we have in Princeton every Tuesday. Elder Roney and I taught the 10 commandments to the group. The lesson went really well.

 

Wednesday: Started off the day with District Meeting. We got to meet the new members of our District. Most of us stayed the same, but it was nice to meet the new missionaries. District Meeting went well and we headed back to Princeton. District Meeting is in Hopkinsville. Elder Roney and I had a lunch appointment with the Wrights in Princeton. They are super cool members. They have a son on a mission in Montana. We had lunch with them and tried to hit a couple people on the way back up to Marion. That night we had a set appointment with a nice couple. They are potential investigators. They're name is Tom & Johanna. We had a pretty good lesson with them.

 

Thursday: Started off with heading down to Princeton to help the Sisters get to know their area. Brother and Sister Aherns picked us up to take us down there. The Elders that were there before them are down in Fairview, TN. They were assigned to Cadiz, but had to go down to Fairview for a little bit. So, the Sisters will just cover Cadiz until they get back. Anyways, the Elders didn't keep their area book updated or leave the sisters with a plan for the week. So, we went down and organized the area book, helped the understand who they were teaching, and prepare them for the week. The were grateful for the help. After that, we went back up to appointments we had in Marion. We met with a guy named, Todd and had a pretty good lesson. Then we met with Sheldon. He is our top investigator and he loves having us over and we love going over. We had an awesome lesson with!

 

Friday: We have weekly planning on Fridays. So, we planned for the next week (this week) for most of the morning. After that, Brother Aherns picked us up and took us to Kuttawa. They had a "fish-fry" so Brother Aherns took us and we got a lot of food and we were able to meet with some people. I tried catfish for the first time and I enjoyed it. It texture is like the fries at KFC and the taste is a little bit different than chicken, but still pretty similar. haha. Then he took us down to Princeton for the Broadcast of "Hastening the work". Sadly, the connection with the satellite made it not function properly. They said that they would get a copy of it to view it another time.

 

Saturday: We went out on exchanges with Brother Aherns and saw a bunch of people! We saw a lot of progressing investigators and it was a big success that day.

 

Sunday: We had a great Church service. We had a lot of investigators at church and a lot of members as well. The Sisters also had a lot of investigators at church, so the Branch was super happy. haha. I loved it. After church we went home and had normal studies until dinner. After dinner, we tried to see people, but it started to snow and rain a lot, so we had to go in early.

 

Yesterday: We got groceries, wrote letters, and played ping pong with Sheldon!! haha. Last Thursday, we found out that he has a ping pong table in his garage, so we went and played him! I dominated!! I loved it! We had no clue that Sheldon was so good a ping pong though. It was so hilarious watching him get into it and play us. After dinner, we tried to see a couple of people. Overall it was a fantastic day!

 

Well, it looks like Marion is having more freezing rain, so they are closing the library soon. I will have to finish email you guys tomorrow. Sorry. Thanks for everything!! You're the best! I love and miss all of you!!

 

-Love Elder Cottam