hope wherever you are, whoever you sit down with for dinner, and whatever you eat, that this thanksgiving you can know I'm thinking about each and every one of you. I'm thinking about Cooks in Florida, Truetts in Ohio, Hoffs in Utah, and Ryan in the MTC. I was also in the MTC last year for thanksgiving and Christmas and I really enjoyed it. Ryan will be fine and will be with 2000 other people in the exact same situation, and I'm gonna be here in Macau with 10 other missionaries eating chicken wings because turkey is really expensive. But I'm going to be really really happy doing it. :)

This week we had a lot of finding miracles, and Macau had the yearly Grad Prix. 2 people died apparently. but I saw some of the motorcycle races and it seemed super scary. I've finally figured out what Macau is like. It's like Vegas. Its the Vegas of China, because it has about a million casino's and everyone works for the casino's and we went in the Venetian for dinner once (largest concrete building in the world) and It felt like the great and spacious building. But, I still love Macau and I know that God has some big things in store for here.

Our mission president visited our branch on Sunday and gave a super spiritual talk about sticking to your commitments and loving God. We were able to get the Au Yeung family to come to church! I met their dad on the street last week! So it was cool that they got to meet the mission president. And then we found this other Grandma, who wants us to meet her entire family and bring them all to church. She will come this Sunday. It's on fire here!

I LOVE you all so much, I just want to take a minute to tell you what I'm thankful for. Recently I have been pondering the value of my mission. I have been through some hard times, and some really great and amazing things have happened as well. The other day in personal study I was reading in Alma 5 and decided to read out loud verses 7-9. I encourage you all to do that and to think about your life and the role that the savior has played. I know that these experiences have shaped my soul. It's sometimes really tough to be stretched and pulled in painful ways by the challenges around us, but you have to tear down a muscle before it can become stronger. I don't know in what ways yet, but I know that I am stronger. I know that my mission has taught me a lot. I know that I still have a lot to learn. But I will be forever grateful for this experience. I'm so glad that I have a family that supports my decision to serve, as so many people I've met do not have the same blessing. I am grateful for my mom and my dad, and how hard they work. I'm grateful for my little brother who worked so hard to prepare for his mission. I'm grateful for Justin, who's gonna be the big brother now. I'm grateful for Mitchell because he lets me tease him all the time and he's fun to joke around with. I am grateful for Emma and Jackson and their combined overpowering cuteness. I am grateful for Hoffs and Truetts and Grandma and Grandpa and Nana. And I'm grateful for Pa. And I know he's with us too. And so is Stan. And so is the combining power that holds us all together, even the Holy Spirt of Promise. We are so lucky to have what we do. And almost no one in China knows about it at all, so I've got a lot of people to talk to and a lot more teaching to do. And so do all of you. We have the best thing you could ever have. And that's a testimony of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Happy thanksgiving

Sister Cook