Sunday 3 February 2013

Elder Cocker has been on his month 6 months and 22 days.  I am not ashamed to say, I still sleep with my phone by my pillow and the first thing i do is check email.  It is a mother's prerogative to hold her children as an utmost thought.

This past week learning that almost two weeks had gone by before i knew he was transferred, I wont lie. that really has thrown me for a loop.  It gave pause for much thought and many, many prayers. As I spoke to my dear friend who is about to send her son to the Melbourne Australia Mission and I heard of all the  physical requirements of his preparation my heart dropped.  So many things i hadn't even thought about to worry about and i'm pretty expert at that list.

My sweet friend said, sweetie you reminded me of Mary.  My eyes immediately teared up. The night i heard of his transfer and didnt have the details, going on midnight as i knelt to pray, despite my better thoughts i cried, "where is my son?" and then my phone beeped.  i finished my prayer, checked my phone and i had recieved at midnight a message sent six hours earlier from our stake president with his mission information and mission presidents information.  Somehow my phone had delayed the message receipt.  Prayer answered.

I thought of Mary. as told in Luke 2


 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. (And when he was nineteen years,  old they sent him up to the mission field as is the custom of the Elder's----you get where i'm going with this?)
 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctor's both hearing them, and asking them questions.
 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? (Mom, i'm good his short email said, "Please don't call the Mission Prez again, I promise I will write more.)

and like this story in Luke i take great comfort in the words, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man".  

So to all the mommy's with missionaries out in the field or getting ready to send them with hearts full of tender affection and concern at this world gone mad.  There is great solace in His words, "be of good cheer and do not fear for I the Lord am with you (them) and will comfort you (them).
to note. on fb today Witness Faivakimoana placed this beautiful pic. She had run into Elder Cocker at a stake baptism and he'd been in Sydney nine days. she said, "I attended a baptism today in our stake and came across a familiar face!! It was so good to see him and his growth both physically and spiritually:) he's doing good seeing as he just got here 9 days ago but he's doing good, actually surprised he remembered me!!! "



Friday 1 February 2013

Same Missionary New Mission!

Well guys! Sorry for the delay.  For those following via fb you already know the news but as promised here are the details. Elder Cocker Has been transferred to the SYDNEY AUSTRALIA MISSION!  Pretty amazing stuff and it was a timely occurence. (Thank goodness i found out before we shipped off his valentine's package). Now i know the Lord and his servants have much more important business than worrying about Valentine's letters and packages, but this is a mother's blog.
I had all the normal worries and concerns but received the greatest council from my own mother.
She said, and i quote:  "you cannot cocoon Josh better than Heavenly Father. The earthly factor in this equation must not be considered, as you know. Consider, with complete faith in our Lord's wisdom, eternity. The world needs him & his priesthood & he needs his priesthood. Never consider the human behavior of those around you & him as indicative of the worthiness of him serving a mission. We all have weaknesses & we all come short of the glory of God but it is especially disconcerting when the perception of a beloved child by others is askew. "  I was hopping up and down (as mom's can have a tendency to do) because i was behind the informational curve ball.  Then my mom reminded me, "Josh has temple blessings & he will, I'm sure, avail himself of those blessings. More than any earthly being our Lord wants him to succeed in this life as a follower, believer & doer of Heavenly Father's plan. You know this is true. Do not fear the adversary because to do so is to give credibility to the temptation of Christ when Satan said "if" you are. There is no "if" there is only "factual certainty".

My concerns were, "Where exactly is he?" and "We didnt send him with suits." and "What about shoes". Weird, but practical concerns of a mom.  I like Grandma's perspective much, much, better.

Well we heard from Elder Cocker the other day and he sounds really good.

Here is his New Mission Address:

Australia Sydney Mission
756 Pennant Hills Road
Carlingford NSW  2118

he can also still be reached at josh.cocker@mylds.net

His Mission President is President Howes and Garrick said he sounded really nice and gave a great report of Elder Cocker.  Right now Elder Cocker is serving in the English Speaking Samoan ward and adjusting to a new language, (just as his english was getting bad.....at christmas it was broken english......patience and many blessings  in the Lords learning school.)

My thoughts are completely absorbed right now. Thinking about Elder Cocker and his new Mission.  The changes, the everything of it all.  So I thought deeply on Doctrine and Covenants 18:10-18


 10 Remember the worth of souls  is great in the sight of God; 11 For, behold, the Lord your  Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain  of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. 12 And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentence. 13 And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth 14 Wherefore, you are called to cry repentence unto this people. 15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! 16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me! 17 Behold, you have my gospel before you, and my rock, and my salvation.  18 Ask the Father in my name, in faith believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all things which are expedient unto the children of men.
He is in the Lord's hands, on the Lord's errand, and in the Lord's care.  For that I am eternally grateful and pray and ask you all to pray for Elder Cocker and the missionaries who are serving around the world for their care, for their strength, for their protection from harm, danger and the evil designs of men, for their courage and strength of heart.  That is this mothers prayer. 
Parting thought.  His cheeky sister had a good laugh and said, "oh, no, Elder Cocker is going to come home sounding like that shark of finding Nemo.".....i dont think we'll share that with him til he gets home.  Yeah for Israel, and the Australia Sydney Mission.  They have the greatest son in the world serving there. Ofa Atu Missioni Tonga.  You gave my son the gift of language.