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.