A Wonderful Baptism- God Is In Charge Even During The Quarantine!

Hello everybody!!!

It's been a wild one out here! In case you have forgotten, I am in trio with 2 other missionaries in St. Petersburg!  Still doin' missionary work and still lovin' it!!  This week was full of nice surprises and spiritual boosters!! Click on those seat belts and hold on because, as Anakin Skywalker would say, "This is where the fun begins!" 

You will notice in the picture below that my hair is very short.  It is actually too short for the mission and I apologized to President Hollingsworth for cutting it so short.  I usually cut my own hair (and do a good job if I do say so myself).  Well, I grabbed a shorter blade than I had planned and went right down the font of my head without a second thought.  I looked in the mirror and realized what I had done!  After I realized I had grabbed the wrong size, it was too late and I had to finish with that one. hahaha  Thank goodness it will grow- just not fast enough! 

I feel like Crocodile Dundee out here as of late because we have been seeing a lot more gators and I LOVE IT!!!!  I have been waiting to see gators in their natural habitat!  We got even got a video today of one swimming! It was pretty sweet!!   A kid threw a stick into the water and I was so glad because the gator, which was initially just chilling out, swam right to it.  Also, I have become best friends with a few squirrels as well! They do love good snacks! As do I! 

Julio- A Great Example To Me

So that is the fun that we have been having during the quarantine but let's get to the spiritual boost of the week.  It was when Julio got BAPTIZED!!! It was so great to see him make changes, keep commitments and watch his excitement for his baptism build! He was so happy after the Baptism!!  There were only 7 people at this baptism (us 3 Elders, the person baptizing him, his wife, Julio and the Bishop).  We had a video going for others to join in.  We all wore masks so it was hard for people on the video to understand what was being said.  I gave the talk on the Holy Ghost.  I just loved being a part of his day!  Julio's wife is already a member so she has been so overjoyed with his faith and level of commitment!  Julio has taught me a lot about true discipleship and commitment!  He gave up coffee on the spot and is willing to live all the commandments!!  He demonstrates such faith!  He wants to become closer to his Father in Heaven and to follow Christ!!  He Is a great example of that!!  I'm grateful for all Julio he has taught me!! 

Julio and The Trio In St. Petersburg

My mom and dad recently sent me a new Bible and I have been studying from Revelations lately.  And it's been amazing!!  Two of my favorite books in the Bible are Isaiah and Revelations!  The reason being is that it takes the Spirit to understand them and it also takes modern-day revelation!!  It's cool to see how the ancient and modern prophets shed so much light on the same subject! 

We Elders have received many online referrals from people wanting to learn about the church!! It's been amazing to have people come to us!! I know the Lord answers prayers and He truly love us!! I personally have been praying in every prayer to find the people ready to be baptized and that if I don't find them, that they will find me!!  Prayer works!!   I know it as I have had my prayers answered!  We have to have faith and effort and then act!!   But I know from experience (and I have shared many of these experiences with you) that as I have faith and act upon that faith I have, Heavenly Father will answer my prayers!!

We continue to have video lessons and teach members and other friends that are investigating the church.  We are staying focused and busy doing the Lord's work. 

Stay safe everyone! I love you all and have a great week!! I'm so grateful to be a missionary at this time and for all the wonderful things I have learned!!! 

Elder Cahoon

Keeping On Keeping On During The Lockdown

Dear friends and family,

It's been amazing! I don't have time so I'm going to make it quick! So Sonia, the lady that I was teaching in my last area, watched all of General Conference and loved it!! She even told her family that she thinks she found God's Church! So that was really cool! 

In my new area, we set a baptismal date for a man we are teaching named Julio! We taught him the word of Wisdom and he was a little reluctant to give up his coffee. He speaks mostly English and after talking to a member who suggested this, we promised him that if he gave up his coffee he would be able to better learn English. After we said that he said, "Okay I'm throwing it all away."  And he did!  He is really excited to be Baptized!! 

Love you all and have a great week!! Thank you everyone for your prayers and support! 

Elder Cahoon

God is Good! He Knows Me, Loves Me and Wants To Help Me!

Hello Family and Friends! 

I am still out here in paradise serving the Lord!  I am loving it even though missionary work is different.  I am having a great time teaching through technology!  I had 5 lessons this week and it was awesome!  This week is transfer week and 50 missionaries from the mission will be returning home.  It is sad to see so many of my friends go home.  I am grateful I am still here!!  I am going to be transferred to St. Petersburg where I will be in a trio (3 missionaries together).  Almost all companionships are trios because of the decreased numbers of missionaries and zero time contacting people on their doors or the streets due to COVID-19.  I will continue to be a Zone Leader in St. Petersburg (which is west of Tampa by the gulf).  I am sad to leave the Lakeland Zone and Davenport area but am looking forward to being in a big city with lots of people- now I just need to be able to get out and meet them!! 

This past weekend I was able to watch the Prophet of my church and other leaders speak to the world (it is called General Conference).  I watched them on TV- how else would they be able to talk to all the people all over the world at the same time?  As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we hve this opportunity 2 times a year! I had an investigator of the church watch Conference as well.  Her name is Sonja and she watched all of the sessions- 10 hours total in 2 days. 

It was such an incredible experience to talk with her afterwards.  She wept as she talked about her feelings with different talks given by various leaders.  She participated in the Hosanna Shout and she said she felt so good!  Her husband, who is also not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints also watched some of it.  As Sonja listened to a particular talk about the Restoration, she better understood why John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ and why he returned to restore the Aaronic Priesthood to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery!  She said, “Of course that is why John the Baptist returned to restore the Aaronic Priesthood- he had the keys of baptism.”  These people are rockstars!!  They continue to read the Book of Mormon on their own.  When we call them to discuss it, they are pumped and ready!  They watch the Book of Mormon videos together too!  These are videos that coincide with what they are reading.  They are reenactments of the actual events in the scriptures. They are really cool and well-done!  I invite you to watch them!   

I also had an amazing personal experience where Heavenly Father answered my exact prayer.  Before Conference, I prayed to understand how to better teach about the Priesthood so it would be more clear to people that aren’t members of the church.  Well, in the Saturday night session, Heavenly Father answered that prayer through President Dallin H. Oaks (a counselor to the Prophet)!  It was exactly what I was looking for.  He almost said the exact words I was looking for to explain more clearly!  God is Good!  He knows me, loves me and wants to help me!! 

Remember my companion and set up a Book of Mormon Baseball Challenge for the Zone? Well we had the Tournament today (Monday).  I didn't win but it was fun!  The guy who beat me won it all so I guess that is good. haha   

Even though missionary work looks different, great miracles are happening!!  In fact, this past month, the Tampa Mission had a “Miracle March!!!!”  We had 10 more baptisms than we normally have with limited contact with people!  The Lord is definitely in charge!  We, as missionaries of the Tampa Mission, worked so hard to find people and to rely on the Lord for help in this endeavor!  It was so great to see all the missionaries working in unison – with an eye single to the Glory of God!  He is so anxious to help us when we ask with sincerity and diligently strive to do His will!  Again, God is Good!  He knows me, loves me and wants to help me! 

I love you all! Thank you so much for your support and your emails!!  They really help me!

Elder Cahoon