December 17

Hello Family,
Highlights from this week:
-We have really been trying to step it up with the soft baptismal invitation. More people are telling us they would be baptized if they new that our message was true. However, we also have a lot of appointments that are falling through- I feel like this is helping us find people who have real intent- those who really want to change right now and are looking for that change.
-We have been really trying to sift through those we are teaching- so we can really focus on helping people progress towards baptism. We met some new families this week who we have invited to read and pray- they have accepted and now it is up to us to continue to bring the spirit into the lessons to help them feel that desire to change.
- We did service at the bakery again this week - on Tuesday-and afterwards we went tracting in a trailer park to try and find new people to teach. We had never really knocked there before and we found about 5 new people and set up different times that week to come back and bless their family and home. We were also able to do some following-up with other people we are teaching, and visit some less-actives with a member. We were able to talk to another member about missionary work, and bless her home with the spirit of missionary work.
-Sister Schroeppel and I are really trying to put more of an emphasis on our purpose, we read preach my gospel in some of the car rides so we can try to really find new ways to help the people. It is easy to get stuck in old routines and then you get kinda bored. But when you take new approaches and really focus on that one person, new ideas come and your excitement grow again.
-We met an old investigator at Wal-Mart and she was willing to let us come over and visit her/teach her. She really wants to learn again- from the beginning- she had baptismal date before (when i helped teach her when I was in Homewood) and now she is showing that desire to change. She came to church on Sunday- we met her at the English ward and she was excited to be there and learn. She is opening up and the spirit is touching her heart.
-We had a good lesson with the family who has a baptismal date- we defined more of our role to them, and how we are there to help them progress towards their Savior and baptism. They still want to keep learning to make sure it is something they want to do- so we now need to help them keep on developing their own testimony of the restored gospel. We also had really neat lesson with a recent convert Joaquin. He shared an amazing experience on how is testimony is growing about fasting. I love it when we teach him because that scripture that talks about "Both being edified together"....the teacher and the learner...always comes true. He is an amazing member and will do great things. I am lucky to have my testimony strengthened by them.
We have a god week ahead of us, and are excited for people we have to teach. We are trying to make a lot of changes in this area for the better! It will be a great week.
Love you all!!
Hermana Coleman

Hello Fam!

So this has been a week of following up with lots of people we have met over the last couple weeks. It is interesting to see the difference between those who are really searching for knowledge and realize they need change, and those who are not ready quite yet. It is all shown by action and the time the make to see us. We have learned that it is important to really know peoples intentions- and how we can address  the way THEY learn. Once we know that we can help them and try to help them make commitments the best they can.
We found this family a couple weeks ago and we love spending time with them. The kids have a lot of questions- Evelyn and David and they have two little sisters (who are some of my favorite little girls ever- this past week they giggled super hard as they thought it was the funniest thing to hand feed me marshmallows....haha) we are trying to get more creative with the way that we teach them.
I have learned a lot about hope this week- it is the Christ like attribute I am trying to work on. I find that it is easy to focus on the problems that these people have- instead of the progress they are making- or the fact that they are trying the best they can to learn. But with hope, we can hope for the best in people, believe in them, an they will notice and use that positive support to do things they never thought possible. I am still working on it, but I know it will increase my effectiveness as a missionary if I can be better at it. This is all triggered because I was reading a talk (from General Conference I believe- President Monson's Priesthood session talk) where I think it was President Kimball and he was interviewing one of the missionaries who had the most success on his mission. He asked the missionary why he had had so much success- the missionary told him, " it was because every door I knocked on, I would picture that person dressed in white, ready to be baptized." So from the beginning he believed that the people the Lord was leading him to could be baptized. He had hope! Many things can be accomplished with faith and hope, I am grateful for the opportunity I have to try and grow and increase them each day. Some days it is harder than others, but that is why we are so lucky to learn and try again the next day.
We were able to have a family night with some English members at the mission home last night. We talked about the Holy ghost and also learned a lot from President Holzapfel. Have I mentioned before that I am so lucky to have a President who knows a lot about the scriptures?? Well I am, and he and his wife have a way of teaching and helping you understand the people better. They taught us a lot about Peter last night and helped us to visually picture some of the stories in the New Testament. I am learning a lot more about the life of Christ and his Atonement through the stories of his apostles. It is very neat.
We look forward to another good week- lots of rain today so it should be fun. Love you all!!

Nice and Warm in Alabama!

So the weather still feels like it is September/October-ish. super nice and I am not complaining at all- I love it! I have always been lucky to have a snow-filled Christmas, so I am willing to sacrifice one year of it for very nice weather. We had a fun Monday last week- we walked around a trailer park with one of the members- Elvira- she is one of my favorites, can we have favorites? Anyway, she showed us some investigators that the Sister's from a year ago used to go visit. We taught one lesson with her and it was nice to have someone who could testify who was a recent convert. Super great. We also helped her find some church websites on the computer and ended up showing her pictures of temples..haha I was in heaven. Tuesday we went to the Mission Home for a Holiday luncheon- everything made by Sister Holzapel and her mom- it was delicious!! We also got little mini Preach my Gospels (mine is Spanish) from them - so sweet and we have been using them ever since. We went and taught a family that night (one of the ones we had found last weekend) and taught them- they loved the book of Mormon- it is a mom and her two kids Evelyn(12) and David(9) and she also has two other little ones- 4 and 2 haha it was crazy. at the end of the lesson Evelyn said I feel so go right now, I feel so good inside! we promised her it was the holy ghost and if she read and prayed she would know if the BOM was true. Super neat. We didn't invite them to be baptized because it didn't feel right. The next day President Holzapfel came over to check out the apartment and give us some training. He taught us a lot about the soft approach to the baptismal invitation- and invited us to pray and think about how we could implement it more with all the investigators we have found. He also told us some neat stories from his mission and so we were grateful to have him there- great learning experience. That night we went to the same families house we had taught the night before and read a chapter in the book of Mormon with them. they really liked it and the mom liked that the kids are learning about God. I had been thinking earlier that day on what date we would give them and Jan 5 kept popping into mind- so Sister Schroeppel started bringing up baptism to them and I was able to commit them to that date- it was amazing and we were so happy after- step by step people are getting closer to Christ.
Throughout this week we were able to implement the soft approach to baptism more and now 3 other people who said they would be baptized when they find out these things are true. Through extending the invitation to one of our investigators we found out that she is having marital problems, we promised her if she continues learning and acting upon this message she will receive the help she needs. So neat!
We did some dumpster diving (very lady like) for some cardboard boxes for a elderly lady who is getting ready to move. we found free kids toys (it was at the dollar store) and gave out a mormon.org card- very worth the time. We also had a man this week ask us what church we are from- we told him and he said- "Do ya'll believe in Jesus Christ" we said YES!!! he said wow, I thought ya'll didn't, I would like to learn more about ya'll- so we gave him mormon.org card and got his number to teach him this week. super awesome.
We watched the Christmas Devotional in Spanish at President Bethers house- it was fun and earlier that day we went to an English ward to translate for some of our investigators who couldn't make it to the branch. It was a family and they were able to hear a lot of testimonies so it was great. It is interesting translating from English to Spanish- it is good practice for me though and makes you listen....haha.
Things are good here in Alabama- we have an amazing ward mission leader and us and the Elders are really seeing the work move forward in the Lorna branch. It is a miracle. Also we knew that Alabama won because of much screaming from cars saying "Go BAMA!!!!" haha so that is fun.
I hope everyone has a great week- be safe and talk to you next week!
Hermana Coleman

Fried Turkey for Thanksgivin'

Jessica Coleman	Hello family! So this was a fun past week- we started out by going to early T...	1:15 PM (33 minutes ago)
Hello family! So this was a fun past week- we started out by going to early T...

Jessica Coleman	1:15 PM (33 minutes ago)
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Hello family!
So this was a fun past week- we started out by going to early Thanksgiving dinner at the Bolgar home, it was super delicious and we heard a lot of funny stories and got to know their family better. A set of Elders were there as well, and at the end we shared a Thanksgiving Mormon message and did a fun activity to write down everything your grateful for. They shared it at the end and it went well!
We taught some recent converts on Tuesday and Wednesday, which included eating at a Mexican restaurant and sitting in the back of Joaquin's truck with blankets and teaching him about his new role as the branch mission leader!! We are still super excited about helping him figure out his new calling. He has his own PMG and we are helping him realize he just has to take it step by step, and he is happy and loving helping us so we are very lucky.
Thursday we spent the day doing weekly planning, attempting to make an apple pie...........and going to a members house in the English ward for dinner. We went to help finish setting up, and we walked up to Brother Thompson frying a turkey on the driveway- it was awesome- and delicious. We ate a lot of food- there was 6 missionaries there and their son, and then while we waiting for our stomachs to settle we went around the table and each chose 3 scriptures that we were most grateful for. It was actually really neat and I learned some new references and loved hearing everyone's testimonies. it was neat. Then we ate desert and helped clean while all the elders set up Christmas trees. It was a great thanksgiving!
Friday we taught some more recent converts because some of our appointments fell through. We are helping some with getting Liahona, and learning more about the plan of salvation (through talking it out I actually learned a lot more as well- the spirit totally taught us all, it was really neat) and then I found out that one of the members daughters as the same birthday as me- it was a pretty fun moment.
Saturday and Sunday were really great- we spent time in two of the trailer parks here and were trying to have the spirit guides us to find new people to teach and to bless their families. We found 10 new investigators!!! 3 families- we were super happy and had a great past two days, and I have also found that they are in all of my prayers, because we know that the Lord can help these people, we just have to have the faith. We are trying to work hard and listen to the spirit, and help people come one more step closer to the Savior each day. Sunday I spent all three meetings translating for the Stake Relief Society Presidency- that was fun, they had patience with me, but I got to tote the translation equipment around with me everywhere. There was a funny moment where I did the classic mix-up between "soap" and "soup". Soap= jabon, Soup= sopa. See the confusion?? yes two members were very confused when I was trying to explain to them how they could use their old laundry soap containers as water storage for washing clothes when their is no water. They thought I was saying laundry soup containers- they got a good laugh out of that one.
I am really trying to put more faith in the Lord, and Sister Schroeppel and I are increasing our faith and trying to talk to as many people as possible- and not be scared!!
I hope everyone has a great week- Love you all!!

Hermana Coleman

Voy a quedarme en Lorna otra vez!!

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Yep, I am staying!! 4th transfer now, so it has gotta be good right? Sister Schroeppel is staying as well so we are excited for the new beginning and know that this is our time to make new goals. It is the transfer that includes the end of the year so I look forward to a lot of goal setting with myself and others that we meet everyday!
We worked a lot with less-active and recent-converts again this week. We have a lot of people around us (both Spanish and English) that have recently joined the church so we love going and visiting them and helping them find more ways to strengthen their testimonies. They help us a lot too. One of them has a little baby that was born pre-mature and she just got home from the hospital after being there for 4 months. She is so cute and tiny, the mom has to stay home 24/7with her so we try to go at least once a week to help break it up and take the lesson from church that Sunday.
We are also teaching a family that I am learning a lot from. The dad knows a lot about the Bible and we love to show him restoration scriptures from there. This past week he showed us how he found Ephesians 2:20 which talks about Christ's church being built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets. (Sister Schroeppel and I were just smiling) and then a man came into the restaurant where he works and he overheard him talking about how Mormons don't believe in God/Jesus Christ. He went right up to him and told him all about that scripture how we have apostles and prophets, and how we most definitely believe in Christ. It was amazing to hear that story from him, and how sometimes we don't know what to do to help them, but they are learning little by little, and recognizing the truths that the Church has within it.
We have been teaching Rebecca and Francisco about baptisms and going to the temple, they are excited and very excited about sharing what they know with their family. We are excited to use them to help with less-active members and investigators.
We helped a member with mormon.org this week- She has an amazing testimony (which i got to read as i typed it all up for her :)) and was actually really excited on Sunday when we took a picture of her with her two girls and that it would finally be ready to be published on-line. She is amazing!!
Thursday was a good day- we felt like we needed to be in Alabaster and we were passing out invitations for the party we were going to have on Saturday. I felt really weird about getting into the car, but it was starting to get dark and so I was confused on why. But we were standing out side just looking around and Sister Schroeppel sees someone walking toward our direction, so we went up to invite her, and apparently she has been taught by missionaries before and she would love to have us over, so we set up a return appointment and invited her to the party. then we still felt weird about the car so we walked up one of the streets and found a man and his daughter outside, who had also been taught by missionaries a while back, and we invited them and they said we could come back another day as well. We were super surprised and grateful that the Lord led us to them. We will see what happens!
This week I also learned that being bold, with love is a very good thing.
We had a good lesson in English class about the plan of salvation- and one of the members was talking about the sprit world, judgment and kingdoms of glory and I had just been studying them in the bible the past week, so I was able to whip 'em out and give them to one of the ladies we teach. It felt really good to help show her and teach her that and let her know that is what we believe! Little by little with her as well.
So Saturday was the big party- we got there early and set up, we had multicolored table clothes, made some poster signs that said "Noche de Talentos" and put a bunch of punch out stars all over the front of the gym. It was pretty awesome. One of the investigators brought a huge speaker system and President Bethers brought all the food- we made some too and a lot of people actually came! friends, investigators, members, recent converts, and less-actives, some members from the Altadena branch as well! Each companionship of missionaries there had investigators that came- it was so great! we had a lot of fun, laughing and watching salsa dancing, goofy missionaries and families sing. it was successful night.
Well I hope all his well, have a fabulous Thanksgiving week- sounds like the family has some fun plans. We have a thanksgiving meal tonight and on Thursday so we are being very well taken care of by the members out here. Both of them will be in English members homes so it will be fun!

Feliz Dia de Gracias!!
Hermana Coleman

 

The work is moving forward-as Pres. Holzapfel says :)

So exciting news!!! We had stake conference this week and there was a division that affected 3 wards which means growth is happening! Also they announced the numbers that are changing in the mission..... so keep in mind right now we have 140 missionaries and about 26 of those are sisters. The total number is going to increase to 272 missionaries which they say will happen by this summer- 112 will be Elders, 22 Senior couples, and.........138 sister missionaries!!! That's right 138! What?!? President had to clarify that it wasn't a typo in the text message haha- can you believe it?? It is amazing how many girls are now going and how it will affect a lot of missions around the world. So amazing!! Now all that is coming to mind is the word "Training" haha There are a lot of things I can improve on to help make the new sisters that come out have a great start to their mission and so we can all be effective in the Lord's work.
We had a good week and found some great new people to teach. Still working on finding more people who are ready to hear the gospel. At the beginning of the week we were walking around a trailer park in Alabaster trying to find new people the Lord wanted us to teach. We found  4 new women who all let us come in and teach them, it was amazing, and one wants us to come out to her house in Calera and teach her kids- The Lord really blessed us that day and led us to people that needed Him.
As I am looking back over my planner for the last week I am realizing how many people the Lord is putting us in contact with these past two weeks. Especially with those who are less-active or who are faithful members who hadn't been seen by missionaries in a while. He remembers everyone and when we listen we get to help him touch other peoples lives.  We found a less-active last week, Hector and his wife Marina and he came to church on Sunday!! He was happy to be back and see people he recognized. They love us coming over and now we are going to help the wife start thinking on how to get Sunday's off so they can go through the temple.
One of the young girls we are teaching has been having problems coming to church lately. She has the faith but it seems like everything goes wrong to help her come to church. We are trying to decide what is the next best thing for her.
Rebecca and Francisco are doing really well. They are both excited and can tell a difference and feel so much more peace now that they have the spirit. Francisco is already inviting his family to church and telling them how good he feels. He wants to keep learning more so he can help his family understand why he did what he did. They are going to help a lot of people.
Welp, looking forward to this week- Sister Schroeppel is officially banned from saying the word "transfer"....they are next week and it is not okay. time goes by too quick- I read in  an ensign article this morning by President Uctdorf something that really affected me. He said how he always tells full-time missionaries to act like each day is their last day in the mission (something like that...it was in Spanish...) but how to take it a day at a time- make the most of today!! He quoted Emily Dickenson and I really liked it "Forever is composed of nows." So true.
I love you all, make it a great week and enjoy the snow- we don't have any here!!
Hermana Coleman

Baptism!!!

Buenas Tardes!!
So, the Baptism went really well! They were both very happy and Rebecca had a really neat experience. One of our favorite parts of the service was when their son Frankie said “Wow, now all the bad stuff is gone!”, after Rebecca got baptized. It was cute, she loved it because he understood! I gave the talk and we had all the little primary kids sing "When I am Baptized" It was super cute. They were also confirmed on Sunday, and so we are very happy to see them as members and help them get to the temple!
We did splits this weekend with two 18 year old girls in the English wards. It went pretty well, we really wore Chandler out, but she got to see a lot of aspects of missionary work! We did some studies with them, and helped show them how to plan. We had fun getting to know more people- and we were able to show them that talking to everyone helps us teach more people! We were walking around in a trailer park talking to people outside, and a man was outside of his house so we just went up and started talking to him, he let us sit on his porch and teach him a lesson. We were able to challenge him to take another step towards Christ by saying prayers more often and coming to church.
We spent some time doing service on Halloween, and seeing lots of little kids dressed up at the library. Super cute! We stopped by  a recent converts home to see them and eat some food from their party they were having. We were able to meet some nice people so it was fun!
So we had some good times laughing with the members this week, we went tot he bakery to do service and they were all super tired, so we spent time trying to understand what they were saying to us, and then they started laughing at our Spanish a bit....we got two members practically on the floor dying of laughter, which meant we were dying to because they were laughing so hard. They said we helped them to De-stress...haha If anything we fulfilled our purpose by making people happier, even if it was at our own expense.
We have made some good plans to help members move forward with mormon.org profiles. it will be a fun week!
We are trying to find more people to teach, we discovered two new trailer parks (well new to us) this week and an apartment complex. We look forward to finding out where the Lord wants us to go!
Things are going well, glad to hear everything is going well back home, and in New York! We are really focusing how to remember that we are truly called her as servant of the Lord. He is in every aspect of the work and if we remember him more, we are closer to him and the spirit and we can help so many more people. The CES fireside was super good last night. How are we going to move ourselves into action?? A lot of times distractions, opposition binds us down, but if we have enough will power and ask for the strength of the Lord we can become "unbound" and see miracles happen, and lives change, including our own.
I love you all!
Make it a great week!!
Sister Coleman

Starting to get chilly!

Hello Family! So I agree with Elder Liston- it is very hard to not say "So This week was great, or good or whatever" at the start of every sentence. For the sake of you all I will try to be more creative.
We had some fun things happen!
We had a marriage! Yay! Not in the way we had planned- but it happened!! We celebrated by eating lasagna and laughing- Rebecca is the greatest, and so is Francisco.
We spent Tuesday trying to find more people to teach, we also figured out the name of a trailer park that no missionaries had every figured out. We were pretty proud. We met a lot of great people, and also had a great lesson with one of the families we are teaching. We took a member with us- Elvira (she is an amazing recent convert of 1 year) and she shared her testimony about the Sabbath day and how she knows this church is true- how it has brought a peacefulness to her life. I really do look up to all of these members- they help us so much
We also had a fun lesson with Joaquin- we had found the wolf-talk in one of the past Liahona's that we had wanted to give him- so we gave it to him and had a good lesson on how we humble ourselves and do the will of God- while eating Arby's in the back of his truck bed. We try to get creative :)
We had fun trying to convince someone to help us decorate their house in Christmas decorations- after two attempts we decided they probably just don't really want our help- so we will think of something different to do..haha
We went and helped at the Bakery again this week- we usually try to go once every week or every other week- they always love to talk to us about the people we are teaching and how they can help- how we can help them with their callings- and we do service and eat delicious food. We are so blessed to have amazing members who really do help us so much- they do a lot for us since it is a smaller branch- but growing!!. We are so lucky!
We did some service for less-actives and recent converts. We really are meeting such great people and establishing great friendships with these people. It is amazing how the gospel helps us really feel so close and really like brothers and sisters. That is one thing that a lot of people have commented on about our church- how when they come they feel like it is a big family- we are!!!
Sister Schroeppels mom is from El Salvador, we have some people we are teaching and two members who are from there- they got pretty excited when they found out so it is fun to tell everyone.
We did exchanges with the Huntsville sisters this weekend because of the baptism. We had fun planning and meeting new people and organizing everything together. The baptism did not happen- but it just means that there is a lot opposition- that we learn from it and be more determined to help them make this step- they are ready and we know that in the Lord's time it will happen!
We got to go up to Huntsville and work there for a day. It was fun, the members are so great and I learned alot from them during church. I learned a lot from being with Sister Kemp- we had fun laughing and meeting people in the street. I also got to do some good bike riding this weekend- can't feel my legs very well- but it is good for us.
Well this should be a good week- we are going to a Halloween party at a recent converts house- we are hoping to meet some great people- and since we can't really go knocking doors that night anyway it will help us strengthen the members and meet new people- be missionaries!! We might spice it up and switch nametags or something for our costume- typical. haha
love you all!!! have a great week and enjoy Halloween :)
Love,
Hermana Coleman

Hello Family!

Hello everyone!
So quick update
We got to help plan a wedding for another investigator of the elders in the English ward. That was fun, trying to figure out table cloths....I don't know that we helped that much. But the wedding was beautiful and we met some really nice people. Afterwards we booked it to English class- so it was a fun day.
We were involved in a couple interviews this week-  (she was interviewed for a couple of newspapers.  Because of the election there is a lot of interest)they have been some of the neatest experiences I have had- and I've learned a lot. The people's impression of Mormon's have really changed with the elections.
We had a really good lesson this week about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We used the footprints again to demonstrate the "Gospel Path" The kids really liked it and we did a cool analogy of using the Holy Ghost to help us on the path from the influences and distractions that are off the path. We had a good time- who knew learning could be so much fun?? They are a great family, and I have loved getting to know them. He told us "The Book of Mormon really is true, it all makes sense!" We were in very surprised when he said that, and were like Yes!! It does!!
We have been continuing to get to know the Recent Converts, to help them be ready for the temple and their callings that they have. We are so excited for Rebecca and Francisco to become members and see what callings they get, they are going to be a great addition to the Branch. I love all the recent converts!! They are such a good example to me of trying to learn and do the best they can, and that is what matters! They are learning, as well are we that we do not have to be perfect to be a part of Christ's church.
We had a lot of training this week given to us. We had the Sister's meeting which was super great. I learned a lot and felt like there was a lot more potential for this mission. There is a lot of work to do and they gave us council, and training to do a better job and get more involved in the work. I am excited to apply it. We also had some good training that same day by the Callisters (They know Grandma and Grandpa Coleman)- they help us become better teachers- think of things in a different way, know more scriptures and help us ask good questions. He kept telling me he was going to take a picture of me yawning and send it to Grandpa to show him what the mission was doing to me...haha It had been a long day!! 9-6 full of training which was very needed.
We met the nicest elderly man the other day while we were running outside. He lives near us and puts up a lot of decorations every Christmas. Well come to find out he has been doing it for 14 years and people from all over the nearest cities come to see it. you can see it from the interstate! We are trying to convince them that it is a good idea that we help them set it up- they still have a long way to go and it would be a great chance to serve- Him and his son are very nice and it would be a great experience for us all.
I have been studying in 3 Nephi the last couple of weeks and have been learning a lot. Doing that and watching the Bible videos on lds.org, and really trying to understand our Savior has been helping me a lot out here in the mission field. This is his work, and it always will be. I am trying to understand him the best I can so that I can take his desires, attributes, and love to the people that we meet every day. I am so lucky to be a missionary in Alabama, so lucky to be where I am, I need to take full advantage of it and learn the most I can.
I love you all, and am grateful for you all! Make it a great week
Hermana Coleman

New Transfer!

Great week, my new companion is Sister Schroeppel, we lived together in my last area- my first two transfers in the mission. We were not companions but we got along really well and had some great moments haha. So we are excited to be together again and I am already learning a lot from her. We laugh a lot to which makes us even happier- I think people are noticing haha.
We have been seeing more cockroaches lately...I think it is the weather...
We have been meeting a lot more of the members lately. And visiting the bakery.  We have been finding new people that way, and doing service as well. I love when the Lord leads you to the right place at the right time. My love for the computer and determination to figure things out (stubbornness actually) really came in handy this week. A member had lost her password to her LDS account and has a bunch of genealogy she needs done. So through the Spanish language, computer language, and my guessing we figured it out!  We were all pretty excited (may or may not have been some cheering going on- it was pretty crazy) But all in all I know that the Lord helped us  figure it out because there are people waiting on the other side!!
We are focusing this week on getting to know the members, and getting referrals through them. We are trying to increase our teaching pool, and find who the Lord has prepared.
I read today in 3 Nephi 18:13 and it talked about if we do more or less then what the Lord has commanded we are building upon a sandy foundation. There is a point where we try to do much (at least I do) and then I stress. But if we do are best with what the Lord has asked us to do- help with investigators, serve, befriend less-actives and strengthen the members he will help make the other pieces fit. He has put us in the right places this week to touch someone's heart. I have been reading a little bit out of Jesus the Christ the last couple days and it is really helping me to understand our Savior a little bit better. I am loving it.
Even though things don't work out the way we plan sometimes, the Lord has his own timing, and just wants us to be happy and work hard until things work out :) I know he is helping us and am grateful for that. We are working on helping Rebecca and Francisco get baptized in the next couple of weeks- they are amazing and we know that in the Lords timing everything happens!
I hope you all have a great week- I am excited to hear about some new mission calls!!!! (Ky:))

Feelin' like Fall

   
It is starting to get colder here! Which will be fun I think, some of the trees are starting to change and i have heard that it is breathtaking- don't worry pictures will come when this happens. So the news is.....I am staying in Lorna for another transfer!! Hooray!! I am very excited and know that it is a new opportunity to change and implement new things here in the area. My companion Sister Simpson will be leaving, and so is the district leader....I am sad about this we work very well together- but it just means we are both off to more adventures! I find out my companion on Wednesday- I am not training so I will already know my companion because I know/have served around all of the sisters in the mission. But! we are getting 6 new sister missionaries to the mission so we are all excited about this, one will be Spanish.
So Conference was AMAZING! 3 investigators came, including Rebecca and Francisco. They really liked it a lot and were surprised to see all the people in the conference center when they show it on the screen during the intermediate hymn- conference really is amazing! So when they announced the new age limit, Sister Simpson and I had one of the Laurel girls from the English ward siting in between us on the chapel benches- she has helped us a lot these past weeks and comes out to lessons with us at least once a week- she is amazing. Anyway so they announce it and we all just gasped (like 12 missionaries that were there- including couple missionaries) and we both just turned to Chandler and shock and were like You can go earlier now!!!! We always talk to her about missions and now the fact that it is so much closer for her made us so happy!- we really didn't know what to do with ourselves to be honest- and the feeling that came when he announced it was amazing! I think we were all crying- well at least the girls were. We were also texting one of our investigators at the same time who was listening from home, and she is the same age as Chandler- she was also very excited!!!
All in all it was a good week, things are moving forward with the baptism for Rebecca and Francisco, keep them in your prayers- they are ready and we are so excited for this to happen for them. So this weekend I was able to go on a mini-exchange to Clanton while Sister Simpson went to Huntsville to see a baptism. Sister Deem  and I had a great time watching the second session of conference on Saturday and then we went out and visited a ton of members with Sister Abbott in the branch. Let's just say it was a great time, and I got to see the deep south- it is such a cute, small southern town- everything is super spread out. I got to meet a lot of the members which was really fun for me and Sister Abbott entertained us the whole evening- she is a really funny lady- but very service oriented and dedicated. We had some very good laughs.
I hope you enjoyed these stories- the work is really moving forward and there are great things in store for next transfer. A general theme I saw throughout general conference was how it is important to do the will of the Lord. I loved President Eyring's talk about the pavilion. There are so many things to apply from conference into our lives, and one thing I loved doing Sunday after conference was applying conference into the lives of recent converts that we went to visit right after. I really felt like a messenger for the apostles, for the prophet, and for the Lord as I told them about how doing family history will bring them double the blessings in their lives as they take names to the temple- as Elder Scott talked about.
I love you all! Make it a great week, and take time to apply conference into your lives this week! As will I. Love you!

Hermana Coleman

Lovin' Lorna

Super great week last week.  I learned a lot and am grateful for the opportunity to learn so much!
We went to Botanical gardens last week- spent about two hours there for preparation day. Super great, and beautiful! We spent time walking, finding neat little things, and writing letters by the lake. Very calming.
We got in contact with some people that we hadn't seen in a while, so that was perfect! We had been thinking about these people a lot and so we were excited to get in contact with them.
So we also may or may not have lost our house keys for two days.....thanks to the amazing Elder and Sister May we were not stranded outside of our apartment for that long. We were trying to retrace our steps and went to a trailer park and saw them sitting in the grass in someone's yard! We were very very excited, mostly because the mail key was also attached to these set of keys that we lost. It was a happy day.
We taught some amazing people this week. All looking for ways to bring their families closer together. Deep down to it all of them are searching for more of a fulfilling way to follow our Savior, to keep their family united and do what God wants them to.  They are all teaching me a lot. I have learned that God really does care about us and answer our prayers.  I have learned that even though a lot of things in this life are not fair- God has ultimately given us our agency so even though others may cause us harm, it will all be made right in the end. I have also learned and am so grateful for the Temple, what peace it brings and gives us.  Everyone needs this same peace! We were able to go out to the temple again this Friday- every 4th Friday they do a temple night for all the English and Spanish recent converts.  We went to translate for the speakers. We also were able to see some of the members from all three of the Spanish branches, and our recent converts. IT WAS AMAZING! we were so happy, and that experience I will be able to remember forever! I am so grateful we were able to do that.
I LOVED the relief society general broadcast. It was also amazing. It helped me put my focus back on the Savior, and how important it is for us to make him apart of our lives, and make him a part of our teaching.
All in all this weekend- we had a lot of things going on, but I felt so much help from the Lord and from my leaders. It was a great weekend, that has really helped me refocus on what needs to happen in the mission field. We are having fun, meeting new people, and learning a lot about how God answers prayers.
Also had a great experience last night talking to youth from a Methodist church. It was so neat to get to know them, and we taught them more about what we do as missionaries, and our Faith in Christ throughout high school has really shaped us. We had a question and answer after and they had a lot of good questions. We learned a lot, and it was a great experience!
I am so happy and grateful to be in Alabama, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else for my mission, I love it- I love how the Lord knows exactly where we need to be.
Things are moving forward with our investigators, the Lord's hand is in all of this and we just try to keep up :)
Next week are transfers....all ready!!! I will know next Monday if I am staying or going.
Love you all,
Hermana Coleman

Coolin' off in Alabama

Hello Family!
Running a little on the late side so I will do a quick update on the past week.
Wedding plans are moving right along for Rebecca and Francisco- Sister Simpson and I are becoming pro wedding planners....haha that is a joke, but we are proud of our good brainstorming ideas.
We are still teaching Sylvia- she is so great I really do love her, she has a very peaceful and calm personality and wants to do things right.  She doesn't believe a lot in what we teach about the resurrection and about eternal life, but teaching her is starting to change her perspective and recognize little by little the potential that she has. She told us she is not ready to come to church.  She is praying to feel ready (and so are we) We are also praying for some softening of hearts to happen, and her little plant of faith that we planted with her is still growing and her little girl always tells us when we come over that she puts water in it everyday. so cute
We took a cute little birthday cake- bright pink- to a little girl- Luisa and taught her family as well. They have been taught by the missionaries for two years and we were led back to their house. We sang three different types of happy birthday and all ate cake, gelatin and orange juice. Great little birthday party- they were all so happy and we were all laughing at their other little girl- Yeretzy haha she is one of the funniest little 5 year olds I have ever met. they also have a boy who is very smart and loves it when we come. we taught them about family prayer and challenged them to do that as a family and individuals. Spirit very strong and it was a great lesson. We are hoping to increase their confidence and relationship with God.
Sister Simpson and I talked a lot about communication this week- since we all know that I am so good at that.....it was a good talk and we learned a lot!
We had a member from the Hoover English ward do team-ups with us this week. She helped us with one of our English investigators.  I think I mentioned her last week- she is in high school and is so amazing!! She is really increasing my testimony on how amazing this gospel is, how people really desire to have more of the spirit with them, and she is such an example of me of her love for our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ. All three of us left a lesson we had with her and we were like "Well, that was pretty much the most amazing thing ever, and we all need to be like her and have the same love and desire to follow the Savior and do what he asks of us." We all love her, and love having Chandler with us, she also helped us with two Spanish lessons we had and shared her simple testimony in Spanish!!!- which was so great- simple is always the way to go.
Temple this week was amazing!!!! So grateful for the workers and the opportunity we had to go.
I got to see a recent convert from the Altadena branch on Saturday. another recent convert from the Lorna branch was having a party for her little girl- she turned one :) and so people from the other branch came and so I got to talk to them all! Maria who was baptized- her husband, son and baby on the way were there! Ah I was so excited to see her. I also saw Valentin, I got to talk to him for a bit which was so fun and we talked a lot about him preparing for a mission. I also got to see other members and it was just so happy. I love seeing people from past areas and seeing how much they are growing. It strengthens my testimony.
I love you all, I love this area and the people. They help me every day. I am excited for this week to see what it brings.
Love you all! make it a great week :) and Be Happy!
Hermana Coleman

Tuscaloosa Adventures

Let's see, so this week I went on a great exchange for about two days up in Tuscaloosa with Sister Oman. She served with me in my first area and so we were already pretty good friends. We had a great time meeting new people, biking, talking to a less-active and getting  a lot of chocolate, we saw lots of butterflies (they are migrating through Alabama right now headed toward the Caribbean - cloudless sulfur butterflies), found out that University of Alabama was there- finally haha-  we had some great lessons- lots about the plan of Salvation, and she taught me a lot on how to teach better. We taught a family whose cousin is a member in Mexico.  We taught the plan, and how their family could be together forever, and he ended up telling us more about his cousin and letting us know a little bit more about their doubts. Good lesson and helped us know where to take it the next time. It was my first exchange where i traveled and stayed overnight in a different area and it went great- neat to meet other members in other areas and learn a lot about different areas of Alabama.
Tried "papusa" this week- it is a specialty from El Salvador. Have met two different families from there and both gave us some to try- very good crazy how they make it- tortilla, beans, cheese and chicaron (sp?). and then they fry it. Super super good, one day i aspire to make them like they can.
We met this lady a couple of weeks ago at a dress shop (we were helping an investigator....) and we felt like we needed to go see her at her house. We went out there on Sunday with Sister Dunbar and really learned a lot more about her and how she knows some of the members in the Branch. We are really excited about her, and all made a connection, they kept asking if sister Dunbar was our mom- but she shared a great testimony about her conversion which Sister Simpson translated into Spanish. Great lesson! We are excited to go back this Sunday- she lives clear out in the country- so beautiful!!!
The Elders are helping us a lot with our investigators, and with Rebecca and Francisco, they are still doing really well and plans for the wedding are also going well. It is amazing to see how much they are learning and growing and how their family is getting closer to each other.
We will be going to the Temple this week- super excited. I got to give a talk yesterday in Sacrament meeting- we had a little bit of notice...haha but it went really well. Talked about patience, and how important it is for us to have it with others, ourselves, and jobs, families etc. Things really are going so well in the Branch, I am growing to love these people more and more everyday and I feel like myself with them, and can understand the majority of what is being said! I love it and even though I am not perfect the Lord is helping me to be patient, and learn more and more everyday. Love you all, let patience become more a part of your lives and I promise you will be happier. Make it a great week!!!! 

Alligator--YUM!!

Hello everyone :)
Well, I am proud to say I had my first piece of alligator meat last night. Yes, our branch president may or may not be a gator hunter...haha it is pretty much the greatest thing ever. Well not my favorite meat, tastes kinda fishy but I had to say I tried it!
We had some great training this week, and more emphasis put on helping members get profiles on mormon.org. It is so important and really helps people relate to the church in a more personal way.
I have met so many amazing people this week, the Lord has led us to them and I am learning so much from them. We met this young girl who is a teenager, she is amazing and has such a hunger to find the truth.  We love her already, and can't wait to keep showing her the potential she has in this life.
We helped Jasmin set goals to get to the temple this month, and told her and another recent convert what to expect. They both are so excited to go, and I love bearing my testimony about the temple to them.
We helped another Senora plant a seed to "plant her faith" she believes a lot in faith and how it will help you understand God better in life. I have learned and realized so much from her, and have only been to her house three times. Her little girl just comes and hugs me 3-4 times every time we come over and asks when we are coming back. They can tell the difference of the Spirit, and we can testify to these people that they have more potential than they imagine- the Lord helps us see their potential as His missionaries, and I am so grateful for this. It is changing my view point on people in general, and on myself.
We are drawing lots of pictures for people, they are understanding more, and the spirit comes. Even though neither of us draw whatsoever haha. I love teaching, and the Lord is helping me listen more and more. It is so important, and then at the right moment he tells you what to say. I love this feeling. and I am realizing more and more that the Lord loves everyone and has so much in store for them.
We had a great day at church yesterday, lots of people came and during Sunday school a lot of the recent converts, and investigators shared their testimonies, and how their lives have changed since coming to church more and more, and their "process of conversion" how they have seen the help of the Lord in their life, and His help in helping them come to understand Him better. That is what life is about, because we need to want, desire and strive to become like Him. He will help :)
I love you all, hope you make it a great week!

Es Septiembre ya!

   
Hola mi familia!
This was a great week, I say that every week but there are so many things that the Lord needs done for his children, I am amazed that he helps lead us to all of them at the right times. It it so amazing!  We found a lot of new people, and are finding ways more and more to be ourselves in the lesson, but still let the people know of our purpose. We are having fun! I may or may not of gotten us VERY prepared for any weather problems, haha nothing happened, just some rain. But now we are prepared and everything is up to date for emergencies. I fell much better haha.
After no contact with a less-active (not being home, not answering calls) since May we decided to go to her house and “heart-attack” her door with two personalized notes and fun decorated hearts (I may or may not be glad that I have a like a 6 month supply of paper in the apartment- Sister Simpson questioned me at first but now is fully supportive of our paper collection :) haha). I had met her at a joint branch activity a couple months ago.  She called us just two hours later, and left a voicemail about how happy the notes had made her and she would LOVE it for us to come and see her. Night and day difference!! We were so happy, and can't wait to talk to her more.

We found a lot of new families this week, and are understanding how much being real people is helping us connect with the people better. I love it! Sister Simpson keeps describing it as opening up a new world, because we can now communicate with so many more people- that finally clicked with me this week. Just being happy, positive, and teaching them how the Savior can change their lives, as they look to him more (as we are trying to do everyday) their lives will change for the better!

When we enter into peoples lives (the missionaries, or members of the church) they remember us, and the Lord helps them to remember us at the right times.  One woman that we have seen two or three times now, no major lessons but she has a Book of Mormon, told us this week that after a rough week, a lot going on, she had been thinking a lot about us. And how it has helped her, and she was grateful that we are trying to help her find a way through everything. That really touched my heart. The Lord puts the right people in our lives at the right time to let us know that he is always mindful of us, and will be with us wherever we go.

Rebecca and Francisco are amazing! They had to move their wedding date to the 12th of October. They will be getting baptized after that and they are so ready! They are amazing, and so prepared. We are learning so much from them, and are praying everyday to find more people who are searching, just as they are.
We are still thinking out of the box, and it is making us happier and more successful. We are writing more and more letters, and keeping in contact with people better.

Let's see, we teach a lot to a recent convert- he is amazing, and doesn't really realize how amazing he is- which in itself is amazing. He is so curious and desires to do what is right, and has really turned his life around. He has taught me a lot, and i have been able to use past experiences in my life to help him understand how to apply the gospel to his.
I hope everyone is doing well, I love all of you and think of you often. I love these people, they are so loving still, and help make me happier as well. I am learning a lot about acting and having courage to do.

Con amor,
Hermana Coleman

Voy a quedarme en la Rama de Lorna!!

Hello family!
So I am staying in Lorna!! We got the transfer call last night and Sister Simpson is staying as well.  We may or may not have been very excited, there are just so many good things happening, and good things that we can just feel are going to happen we both really wanted to stay together here another transfer. So we got our wish!
Some great things that happened this week:

We got to help teach one of the members piano, it brought back great memories of teaching in high school.  It made me miss it! We are hoping to continue to keep helping her!
We got to go to Los Pedro's (delicious Mexican restaurant) with some investigators in the Branch.  It was really fun, especially to watch their little girl force one of the Elders into drawing her pictures instead of eating....haha
We are teaching this woman named Guadalupe, she has three adorable children, and she is such a great woman! The lessons we are teaching her are answering her questions, and she really does have a desire to do what God helps her feel she should do.  We are looking forward to serving her more this week.
I got to go on splits with on of the Senior missionaries Sister Dunbar.  She is so great, and while we were talking to some of the different families, trying to set up appointments and get to know them better she was really helping with the kids, and being so kind to the families. I enjoyed learning from her a lot!
We are still having crazy run-ins with the cockroaches- still lots of screaming, maybe in a couple months we will get over that.
There was a baptism this past Saturday in the Branch. Jasmin. She is amazing, and she has the cutest little girl.  She went to the Altadena branch at first, and then moved to Hoover right after I got transferred. She really does have so many things going for her.
Such a great week of seeing people from the other branch who came to her baptism, and getting to know the members better! I really am so lucky to be where I am.
Rebecca and Francisco are doing amazing!!! We love them and their family. They are so great! They are so special and so prepared, and we are so blessed to be able to watch them grow, and have them teach us as well.

Sister Belford and Palmer came to help us in our area this weekend. It was perfect because we covered more area, and Sister Belford was able to help me find the people who were progressing when she was here, who may be ready now.  We are excited to return and teach those people this week.

Sister Simpson and I had a great talk the other night about how we need to use our talents, and our creative ideas more.  The little acts of service, or different ways to teach a lesson, or remembering to call someone have made all the difference the last two weeks.
I love you all! I know that the Lord has so much in store for these people. I know that he can help us so much if we put him first in this work.  He is helping me learn how to do that more and more. I am so grateful for the things I am learning, and what these people are teaching me. They are amazing and are changing my life! Make it a great week full of faith and lifting up those around you. Thank you for everything!!

Hermana Coleman

Best Week Ever!

Okay so this week was amazing! Last Monday we received a voicemail from a number we didn’t recognize.  After listening to it we realized it was Rebecca, a lady we tracted into near one of the trailer parks in Alabaster. We had lost contact with her for a while and she called us on Monday! She had started to read the Book of Mormon and had found so much peace, peace she had been looking for. Sister Simpson and I may have been a little more than excited. They have two kids, and their son who is 6 loved church, and didn’t want to leave. Also come to find out they are related to one of the members in the branch, and they had lost contact for the last 2 years, and what a surprise when they saw her at church! She loves church, and feels so different. We feel so blessed that the Lord keeps putting families in our path, especially this family which is so ready! They are such good examples to me of having faith to follow our Savior Jesus Christ, and have taught me a lot in the past week. We are just so happy! They have a baptismal date so we are very excited to see the Lord continue to change their lives.
We had some great lessons this week which involved one of our investigators planting a seed in a little flower pot and every time he waters it he is going to pray and read the book of Mormon, so he can physically watch what could happen to his desire if he continues to look for the truth with a sincere heart. We were pretty excited about this idea.  He told us it was super obvious and we said "We know!"  ha ha. trying to help him see how the Lord tells us to grow our desires.
We had an amazing lesson with Mary and Oscar at a members’ house.  We did a visual lesson on how families can be together forever by using scarves to “tie” them together for eternity. Spirit was super strong. We have been trying to use pictures, visuals, and object lessons a lot more.  I feel like it has been helping people understand the gospel principles better! We will see after we keep trying :)
We are also teaching another family, we were led to them again, after them being taught about a year ago. They are a great family and came to the movie night we had at the church.  We watched Joseph Smith and the Restoration.  We had a little testimony time after, and everyone (2 investigator families, and another investigator) really enjoyed it!
The heat hasn't been too bad this week, we have been super busy which has been very good for us.
We had great training yesterday from Elder Koelliker of the Seventy.  He taught us so many good things, and lot of things that I needed to hear!  The Lord is blessing the mission, and I know that as I form more of a relationship with my Heavenly Father, I can help other people form a relationship with our Heavenly Father as well.
I love you! travel safe, and rest well before the wedding. I am realizing that all the things back home will be there when I get back, but I will never get all of the good, crazy, emotional experiences from the mission back- we are living it up here in Alabama, Sister Simpson and I. So many people are coming to church! The Branch is really growing, and I am loving trying to get to know all of them more.
I love you all! and hope you have a great week!
 Hermana Coleman

Its raining crickets and frogs!

August 13th
 So it has been raining a lot here, we were taking someone a pizza when is started a torrential down pour about 50 feet from the car, and I still had to back Sister Simpson up...haha it was great. Also they say "It's raining crickets and frogs" which makes me laugh.
Today we ate at the Country Diner close to where we live- it was DELICOUS, country fried stake, corn bread, fried okra- which is amazing by the way, and apple pie cake and banana pudding an mashed potatoes.  I still can't move and I ate about 2 hours ago haha. We are becoming friends with he people that work there because we see them every morning on our run- they said "if you are running that means you need to eat more...." haha.
We have been learning a lot this week, a lot about what they Lord needs us to do with those who live here in Alabama. We are trying to think of better ways to teach and let the spirit touch peoples hearts.
We had two baptisms this past week in Lorna- so exciting to see them being examples for their family, and really see the transformation of peace come into their lives. We can't believe how much people change- it is easy to see it in other people and we know that day by day it is happening within ourselves.
We are teaching a family- they have not come to church yet but really are progressing on their reading and finding out if Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. It is amazing to see how the spirit is touching their hearts, and we just have to be their to help the spirit touch them and help them recognize the experiences they have already had to help them know what step to take next.
We are also teaching another family who are growing in faith right before our eyes.  Their little girls love church, and so now we need to help get them all involved in the lessons to start the next step towards their eternal family.
We found a former investigator family this week as well, Sister Simpson taught them a  year ago and we were led to their house again! The Lord really is blessing us with families, and we are trying to do what needs to be done to help them grow their faith in the Lord, and his restored gospel.
I don't know if I have told ya'll but there are members in the branch who own a bakery. It is pretty much the greatest place ever, and one of the members-Ana is a pro cake decorator.  I aspire to be like her one day- in more ways than just being a great cake decorator- She is amazing!
I have been learning a lot about patience and taking things one step at a time.  Think big, and set little goals to achieve what you know can be done! To help others, serve them, and help them feel of the Love of their Savior.  When people fulfill their commitments it is a great feeling! I think the Lord is helping us understand a part of what he feels when we obey his commandments he has given.
I love you all! Things are going great here, and great things are in store, we can feel it!
Love you all,
Hermana Coleman

I LOVE Alabama!

August 6th
We have had a great week here in the Alabama Birmingham Mission! Here are some highlights (bullet points help me organize my thoughts better....so sorry if this is weird for ya'll)( and yes the people and the Elders are getting me hooked on the word ya'll- it is a great word!)
I was able to go to Zone Leader Council and learn a lot of great things on how to remember what we learned in our 12 week training program. It focuses a lot of revelation- and how crucial that is in our lives, and helping other understand their relationship with God.  I have learned so much through teaching and hearing other peoples experiences in how God has answered their prayers
We have been able to visit a lot of recent converts, and they are so great! We had a great experience this week as we talked to one of the recent converts, and he shared how he starting to understand more and more the covenants he has made with God, and how God really does answer prayers at the right time we need them answered, to show his love for us. These people are teaching me so much!
There are so many baptisms happening in the mission, it is a miracle to see because our President texts us all every night after they have happened.  There are two who are being baptized this weekend in the Branch and it is so neat seeing the members excited about missionary work.  We have a big family night in a house where two members live with their families- we invite investigators, and it is perfect for them to hear the testimonies of the members
We had a great fast and testimony meeting, and one of our investigators was at church- so it was perfect for him to hear of the love of God they have felt in their lives through the Restored Gospel.  He is trying to figure out what these things mean for him.  What a great thing for us to help him and learn from him as well!
We are trying to be better at thinking out of the box, to help people come unto Christ- it is going pretty well, but we are always looking and trying to think of new ideas.
I was able to go on an exchange on Saturday with a Temple Square sister from Italy- Sister Lui.  She is super fun and bubbly and we got to go teach a member who spoke Italian who lived in the stake. He speaks Italian, Spanish and English. His wife speaks Spanish and English, and sister Lui speaks Italian and English and understands most Spanish- and then I understand like 1/8 of Italian.  It was so neat to hear everyone interchange between all three languages....one of the greatest experiences I have had on the mission- getting to know them better, teaching them ,and learning from their experiences as well. I got to spend the rest of the day with her in one of the biggest trailer parks in Alabama- :) We had fun tracting, and contacting former investigators and meeting new people.  We got some funny looks as she tried to combine Italian and English- it was very funny haha. We were able to have some great lessons- and I loved learning from her and how she teaches, and helps people understand the doctrine that we teach! We taught a man who had been taught by missionaries before, and we gave him some new invitations to help him increase his faith in Christ, we had  really neat experience with him as we let him know that we were there because Christ had sent us, that he never leaves us alone, and when we put God first in our lives, he helps and blesses us more than we can imagine.  He shared a sweet and powerful testimony that he has felt the Love of God in his life, and knows that Christ never leaves anyone alone, that everyone is Loved and can feel of this love whenever we need it.
I have probably shared this before, but my testimony has grown even more that Christ really does care about "the one" that all through our lives we have opportunities to help others, and lift up the hands that hang down.  People want to be remembered, and we as people have the opportunity to help others feel loved, and cared about and as we do this they will feel of the love the Savior has for them.  We are learning a lot about Charity- and our President said- we have to pray for the gift of charity- and the Lord will help us develop it more and more in our lives. Moroni 7:48.
I am so grateful for the love the Lord shows and helps me feel through other people I meet, members in the branch and the missionaries that I serve with. He is helping me learn more about the importance of love, and how we can show it to other people, and it makes a world of difference in the type of relationships we form with those around us.
I hope everyone has a great week! And yes there have been flash flood warnings here, but out of all the buildings on the 1st floor of the apt. complex- ours was one of the ones that didn't flood....we are definitely being blessed here! Love you all !
Hermana Coleman

Adventures Happening in Lorna

We have had a lot going on and this week flew by! We helped do a church tour on Tuesday which was really fun, helping people learn a little bit more about our church- and we did a musical number (we do a lot of those- but we have amazing sisters who can sing really well so it really brings the spirit.) Sister Simpson and I are having a lot of fun- we are a lot alike and the oldest child and so we have fun giving and taking- usually her ideas really are better than mine :) We had some really really neat experiences this week:
Met a part member family- and the mom wants to know more about the church because two religions are dividing her family, and she wants to know which one is the right one- we so are excited to work with her.
We were led to meet another lady and her two cute kids- she had a lot of questions and we taught her about the basics of the church and introduced her to the Book of Mormon and it all made sense to her! We are loooking forward to teaching her more- we clicked right away and she is so great, her daughter is 18mon and we had fun trying to entertain her during the lesson to-- the spirit was so strong, and we are excited to see what happens in the coming weeks.
We also had a great day on Saturday- all the things we had planned didn't feel "right" so we kind of changed up the day and did service for members, visited investigators with cookies, and while we were doing this we happened to run into a man who had a lot of extra canned goods, and we happened to be on our way to give other supplies to a family in need- it was such a neat experience - the Lord's hand was in it all!
The Members are amazing- we met a family who was going through some hard things, and had been to visit Utah and temple square when they were there- one of the members had been thinking about them all day- we stopped by to try to surprise and serve them and she said it would be better for us to go visit this family- we met their sister who also just needed to hear a message of hope and Jesus Christ- it was such a great day!
We have some good trainings coming up this week- President helps us a lot to keep us focused, and how we can become better missionaries. 
We are meeting a lot of great people, and getting the message of mormon.org out there- which makes it fun to talk and meet new people.
Sister Simpson and I are starting to realize how to teach the people better to their needs.  The first principle that we teach is that God is our loving Heavenly Father- he loves us so much he sent his Son Jesus Christ to go through everything we would so we could make it through this life with his help, and make it back to the next, only through Him! He is our help and advocate with the Father, we only need Him! He is everywhere in the Book of Mormon- that is the sole purpose of it, to help others understand their relationship with Christ and with our Father in Heaven.  That is what we are here to figure out, and that is what we are here to do- to help others come unto Christ. I am thankful for the little lessons, inspiration, and help my companion gives me.
I hope everyone is doing well, I love you all!!
Good luck with the weddings this week, and Megan I love you!!! Good luck, you will love the experience you have.

Love,
Hermana Coleman

Transfer 4 Lorna Branch!!

So this week has been crazy and busy and great! I got transferred to Pelham, Alabama.  Where I have an amazing companion- Sister Simpson who knows the Tanners and some of my friends at BYU.  We have a lot in common, she has already taught me a lot, and we have already seen some amazing things in the past couple of days. We cover Pelham and Alabaster Alabama, and the branch is in Hoover.  There are amazing members, who are so nice and patient with us- and Spanish haha.
Some highlights
We learned a lot at transfers about the Apostasy- and how to teach and understand it better.  I really am going to miss sister Belford and Altadena- it was weird leaving but we will be able to visit and help investigators there soon.
I still haven't unpacked- I guess you never really fully unpack on a mission- I think it is more exciting this way
Sister Simpson and I have had some great lessons, and great street contacting. Found some former investigators, and have been working hard on using Spanish more as a companionship, and memorizing more scriptures.
We found a great shortcut which saves quite an amount of miles- we were excited for 3 days haha- saving miles is one of the greatest accomplishments in respects to the car
There was another wedding on Friday!! Lots of weddings have been happening which has been great to see couples make a big step and commitment to each other. We had fun helping out with that, meeting members and friends of the bride and groom. There are a lot of kids in this branch as well, which makes it fun!
Saturday we went out with a member from the English ward who helped us teach an investigator named Maria- we were trying to help explain authority and what a key it plays to help us make promises to the Savior.  We had a great experience with the Spirit being there, helping her understand the importance, and how even though she is young- it will change her life! The member helped us by sharing great experiences and the Spirit was really teaching.
I have learned that as we are patient, explain things clearly- and drawing on their experiences,  and the spirit is there- amazing things can happen
This has been a great week- of learning and overcoming and finding and teaching and being taught by the spirit.
Hope everyone is doing well- the Lord needs us to be patient, enjoy life and be happy! We have learned a lot about letting go of things that didn't turn out how we planned- or "the right way." Our way is not always the right way- and holding on to things in the past will only inhibit us now!
Love you all!
Hermana Coleman

Semana de Espanol

This has been a great week- started out with Spanish training for all the Spanish missionaries- ways to study better, and goals to set so that we can better fulfill our purpose.  We learned a lot of good things, including that even though we speak Spanish, we are still in America, and how crucial it is for us to work together with the English missionaries. We all have the same purpose! So great week for the branch! There were 3 new members added to the branch this weekend- so happy, they were all nervous, but you can see the affect the gospel is having on them and their lives already.  We love them so much! They are all amazing and are on their way to growing and learning more about the gospel.  It was a great baptismal service, and it is amazing what spirit really is there.
There is a woman and she is one of the Elders investigators who Sister Belford and I have been visiting, and getting to know to encourage her for her baptismal date that is coming.  She has such a sweet spirit, and desire to learn more and follow our Savior Jesus Christ.  She has taught me that even though we have temptations, and obstacles to climb, the Lord will give us strength to do it- because he loves all of us! She is amazing, and helped us hang hearts and pictures of Christ all over her walls- it looks great and makes me want to do it to my room!
We still have been teaching Priscila, and have seen a lot of miracles from still teaching her, and reading the Book of Mormon with her- she teaches her friends about it and is starting to see the importance of the Book of Mormon.
We had an amazing experience doing a team-up with President Holzapfel.  He helped us teaching one of our progressing investigators, and taught us great ways to break down the doctrine, the importance of baptism, and doing it again with the authority of God. He knows Italian so he was able to follow what was going on, encouraged us, and helped to lead the lesson in the right direction.  Such a great experience and she was committed to be baptized at the end of the lesson! It was the right time, and right place- the spirit was very strong and we all felt it. She has been prepared, and now it us up to us to help her make it to her goal- what a great learning experience from our President, and the Spirit. 
The branch is amazing, and we had a great week getting to know them, and working with them and our leaders.
A couple run-ins with the roaches, and spiders.....a lot of screaming- and then laughing- they provide our spur of the moment entertainment so they are at least good for something. We were vacuuming out the car and one came crawling from under the seat- I think the whole gas station heard us scream haha
Everything is moving forward- working with all the other missionaries, our leaders, and everyone we meet is really teaching me a lot.
Love you all, make it a great week and will talk to you soon!
Love,
Hermana Coleman

Another Crazy Week!

This was such a great week! Happy late 4th of July, I am glad everyone had fun at the pool and partying with my parents. We ate otter pops while we listened to the fireworks and I watched the testaments in Spanish- it was a great missionary-like holiday! This week went by super fast- I keep saying how time is crazy on the mission....but it really is! I can't handle it. Transfers are next week, and tomorrow we have a specialized Spanish training for all the Spanish missionaries- 19 of us, because we are getting 4 more!! they will come next week, and we are all very excited. We worked a lot with members this week- it was fun we had a young recent convert in the branch help us teach one of our investigators, and then we went on splits on Friday.  One of the prospective missionaries in the English ward taught with sister Belford, and I took Sister Norris with me (new relief society president in the branch- she served her mission in Peru) Had a really great/ anxious-ridden experience with that.  First of all I had never really been without someone who knows what was going on with our investigators- and it really taught me some great things! She is an amazing teacher so I learned a lot from her as well. we were able to find some new people and teach one of the recent converts and her son about Joseph Smith and the blessings of the priesthood in their home. We had some great training about how to implement the Book of Mormon more into our teaching, and we have really noticed a difference in our lessons.  It is one of the best feelings in the world- watching the spirit touch other peoples hearts, and hearing them ask questions about the Book of Mormon. I have also learned that things don't always go as you planned- but yesterday it worked out so well- we had planned to go to a completely different area- but a contact we met the day before led us to two people that we had met a while ago- and we didn't know where they lived.  We were able to meet and teach one of the girls we had met, and her dad- it was a great lesson!  We also had a great experience that night teaching with the assistants- and reading the Book of Mormon with a great Spanish family- and teaching an English woman about some questions she had after reading mormon.org.  The spirit was so there and we had a great experience!
Things are going great- I am learning a lot, the Lord is teaching me more, and Sister Belford and I have had great experiences which includes a lady flagging us down to tell us that my helmet fell of the bike rack about a mile back- that was super fun getting that in the middle of a busy road- and making blueberry pancakes and eggs at night on a weekly basis- oh yes and otter pops.
Love you all!

Happy New Year!!

So I forgot my camera today or else I would show you all a picture of my face smashed into a birthday cake....haha it was pretty great. The branch presidents son Hugo had a great time doing that one. It is tradition to bite the cake for your birthday, and while you are doing it someone always pushes your face in the cake- I think we should start this tradition, it is awesome!  Good memories- some of the members of the branch were there and the Elders- the did it without telling me by saying it was a family home evening at the park....it was so sweet of them to come and wish me a happy birthday! They really like making birthdays special and so I was super grateful, even though it was late and they all have a lot going on!
What else...we went to a lesson with the Elders to teach a lesson- she is pretty much one of the sweetest, most humble people I have ever met.  She really wants to change her life, and loved the feeling and unity that she felt at church.  She accepted a baptismal date for next week! The spirit was super strong during our lesson, and we all helped teach, ask questions, show pictures and apply the book of Mormon into her life.  It was such a great experience and I think I'll love her forever.
We are doing a lot of work to visit the recent converts and less actives.  The Branch really has been growing, and two families who were implants are leaving so there are a lot of changes coming soon which is good but we will miss all of them! I can't believe how much the members do to help us here, they are always helping us to contact someone- keep in touch with the recent converts, offering their houses for family home evenings, going to pick up investigators for activities.  They are amazing!  we have meetings to help coordinate the work and I am grateful for all they do to help with their busy schedules. 
People just need love, they want to be noticed and feel cared about.  We have time as missionaries to visit, people, meet people, and show them the love and concern that the savior would give them. I see the love for the gospel in our members, in the recent converts and less-actives, in the missionaries and in President Holzapfel.  They are all amazing and teaching me so much about the work, how it is the Lord's, and how important it is to show love to those around us.
Things are going well, we have 17 days left in the transfer and Sister Belford told me yesterday "Happy New Year!" - I was really confused and she said, we can make any new month, any new transfer a time to start fresh, have new goals and do everything we can to accomplish them and be better. I loved this idea, and we really want to work hard and help people progress towards baptism, and towards committing to follow our savior Jesus Christ.  We had the opportunity to see two baptisms this last Saturday.  One for a middle-aged new member! and one for a 13-year old girl- who is a new member of the Branch!! The spirit was so strong at both of them and seeing the looks on their faces, their reactions to the talks, musical numbers, and the actual ordinance itself, really makes you realize that the Lord has people who are ready, and need to have this gospel in their lives.  I am so grateful I am able to witness miracles, meet so many people, and speak with the power of the Holy Ghost, to testify of the power that is in this gospel. 
I love you all!
Sorry it is so quick, but I hope you had a great week, enjoy not living in the humidity (unless you do, and I empathize with you)
Love,
Hermana Coleman

June 25th

Some great things are happening here in the mission! There is a lot of growth and learning going on which is great. We had a great week, Sister Belford     and I. We had a temple family night on Monday with recent converts to prepare them for temple night last Friday. It was great because we had about 5 members there to help explain things and give testimonies! We officially have no more furniture (couches, chairs, extra chairs, coffee table) the mission was giving the unused furniture to people who needed it.  We had fun seeing how much our apartment echoed that night. Friday was one of the greatest days I have had here on the mission.  We have district meeting every Friday where we get together and discuss ways to help our investigators, and then learn something from Preach My Gospel, and then role-play.  So we had been struggling this past week with helping one of our investigators strengthen their testimony, to be ready for baptism.  That is what we talked about in the meeting!  I think our district leader is inspired or something. We talked about things that we need to do and they need to feel in order to gain a testimony.  Faith, create the right atmosphere, help them recognize they are feeling the holy ghost, teach them how to use prayer, testify of things we know, promise them blessings that will come, and be simple! It was great to hear new ideas, and realize the places in our teaching that we need to improve on. After that we went to one of our areas, and went to visit a new investigator.  She is English, she has a great sprit and desire to learn what God wants and needs her to do in her life, after the hard life she has already had.  We taught her a short lesson- about 20 minutes, and the spirit was so strong- we used all of the things we need to help the investigator feel the spirit, and teach her to HER needs, and it was amazing!! She even said "I feel so good right now inside, at peace." I about jumped out of my seat with excitement- That is the spirit!! wow it was such a needed experience, and it made the other experiences we had better that day too. I am so grateful for the leaders we have, preach my gospel, and practice that helps us realize our role as missionaries and what we need to do better.  Saturday we played soccer with the branch, lots of kids there playing too so I only made a little fool of myself trying to play....Great Sunday as well, learned a lot about being patient and we talked about Elder Uctdorf's talk from this last conference.  I had a lot of things to learn from those lessons- and I am so grateful for them, and hearing the experiences from members and investigators in Relief Society. They help me so much! Sometimes I sit there and am surprised I know what is going on.  It is getting easier and easier to understand - mostly gospel conversations- and the speaking is coming along as well.  I have a lot of work to do but I love the language! We are meeting so many different people, and I am so grateful for the opportunity! I have been thinking a lot this week about how much more can happen if we work harder, and focus on the goal, and do everything we can to make things happen. the Lord will bring more miracles and blessings than we think when we have faith in him, are obedient and put our mind fully in the work.  I am so grateful to be here, to be there when people need God in their lives.  That is why we are here, to be there when people need that change, and if us as missionaries are ready, we can be the instruments to change peoples lives.  What a overwhelming task! But we all have this opportunity in our own lives with our families as well. I love you all! Make it a great week, and I can't wait to see pictures from Savannah's baptism.  So special!!
Hermana Coleman