Hello Everyone!

So yep definitely a great heat wave going through Birmingham Alabama right now. Never sweated so much in my life- sorry if that is too much information but it is true.  We just laugh about it now and compare how much we are sweating to each other.  That is the main topic of conversation with everyone as well...."hay demasiado calor!!!" We had a great week which consisted of training and invitations to help us becoming better missionaries.  We are trying to use the Book of Mormon so much more in our mission.  Really help people get into the Book and understand what it has to offer.  It can apply to everyone- so we have been challenged to find ways to pivot conversations that we have with investigators or their interests to the book of Mormon.  It is going really well! We are helping people read it more one on one, and it helps us not have as much awkward transitions to introducing the book of Mormon and also help explain the book and the background better. "A man get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."(Introduction of the Book of Mormon).  So true!  It is the most correct book on the earth- and we as members and missionaries have the opportunity to let the whole world know about what this book can bring and offer into their lives.  We ourselves as missionaries are working on flooding our lives with the book of Mormon and becoming more familiar with the stories, verses, and how much Christ is mentioned.  It is going well and I am really trying to focus my attention on it and how it can help the people we teach.
Maria is doing well! We are teaching her the commandments, and preparing her for her baptismal date!! There is another Maria who is also getting baptized on that date- the Elders are teaching her and she is so great!  I have been loving getting to know them and become their friends which is really helping me to love them! They are amazing and I feel like it is our privilege to help teach them- and in turn they teach us.  Maria has 4 little kids- the youngest is Betsy- she is 3 and the cutest thing, she giggles at everything. There are so many kids in the branch- it is fun to talk to them and try to understand them....haha they are all so sweet and help make all of us happy as well. We also had one of the little girls in the branch get baptized last night- Melissa- she was beautiful and it was a great service.  Investigators came which was good for them to see that at age 8 little kids have the opportunity to be baptized and make that decision for themselves! We had fun getting to know the branch after as we talked and ate delicious food. 
I hope everyone is doing well! Sometimes I wish I could just film the things that happen here, so much happens in one day it is hard to remember it all! So happy to hear that Cragun is safe in sound in the MTC- he is going to love it there! And I am excited for Megan to get to go soon as well!!
Love you all!

Hermana Coleman

Fun Week!

Wow I can't believe that May is already almost over,  crazy how time flies.  This has been a good week! We found an investigator who we thought we lost- he lives way out in these trailer parks so hard to go see him, and finally one day we passed and he was home! Super great news! Made a cake with a less-active member for her son's birthday- first of all I have missed decorating cakes- and we used a Ziploc bag to do it which was great.  But we also made the cake from SCRATCH.....haha that was funny. it actually turned out pretty good but was really dense- and we could barely move after we ate it- it didn't help that she gave us three servings of pasta before that either...haha if you eat too fast they just keep giving you food, but if you don't take enough they complain until you put more on your plate. Good thing we ride bikes.
Maria is still progressing really well! She didn't come to church because Juan had to go into work.  We want her to feel like SHE can come to church on her own! That is what I really want to think about to help her in this upcoming week.  She has such a strong testimony, and last time we were there she explained the book of Mormon and Joseph Smith story to her 10 year old son.....Sister Belford and I were so amazed! She is so great, and so sweet and really does have a desire to learn more and follow Jesus Christ.  She is such an example of real intent and we are excited to help strengthen her testimony of the gospel and on going to church.  We also challenged them to read the Book of Mormon as a family together- we gave them the simple family story book of Mormon so it will be easier for her son to understand- who is probably one of the most proper boys I have ever met.
We have been having fun getting to know the branch better- we probably see a member every night- and just go visit and help them, and share messages with them.  We also do family nights- which is such a great way to get to know the family better, have them share their testimonies and practice teaching the lessons.  Last Monday we got to teach two Spanish families with 3 of their kids- we did a Jeopardy game on Lesson 3 which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ- we can make it through this life with Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Gift of Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. Really neat to get to know their families better- and have fun with them.  We spent time laughing and hearing them tell stories, which was neat for us! We had a fun night last night celebrating one of the members birthday at the Branch Presidents house- I almost drank out of one of the members cups of pineapple soda (which is amazing by the way).....until he yelled "HERMANA, eso es mio!!!" Yeah super embarrassing, went bright red and everyone got a kick out of it which made it all okay.
We were at an investigators house this week, and before we left they were getting ready to leave to go to their own church activity.  This sister had not been to church for years, and we took a family picture of them all dressed up.  Something kind of hit me as I was doing that....this family could live together forever, they have the potential to be happy FOREVER with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  I wanted so badly right then to just show them what they could have- how close they are to knowing and having the blessings that we as latter-day saints know and experience everyday.  They love God, and know that he is their Father in Heaven.  But it is our opportunity and responsibility to help them feel of the difference that can come from having the Holy Ghost in their lives, in their family, and knowledge that they can live together forever- in an never ending state of happiness. I am grateful for these experiences- I need them to help me realize my purpose of life and why I am on a mission. 
I love you all, I know that families can be together forever, the happiness in the relationships we have with our families now, will be magnified and will continue on in the next life. I love the plan of Salvation! Every time we teach it, I get to see understanding come to peoples eyes, clarity, and confusion gone.  What a blessing the gospel is! I love you all, make it a great week!
Hermana Coleman

Feliz Dia de Las Madres

This was a good week! A lot of things happened that I can't remember- so sorry- but they are in the journal! Got to talk to my family which was awesome- 3 way call with Elder Coleman!! I was late to it of course- but they forgave me and I got to hear Coleman sing so I was super happy! Great time. We had a lot of funny moments on the bikes this week.  My companion would kill me if I mentioned some of them- so maybe in the next couple weeks.  Ha ha, we got soaked in the rain yesterday which was super fun and there was also a baptism on Saturday- Miguel- he is 17 and it is great to have him in the branch.  So we helped the branch presidents wife make little hand outs for mothers day- very cute she is amazingly crafty- and the whole priesthood came in and gave us all the hand out and some candy during Relief Society- they sang for us too- that was  hilarious.  Spanish men don't sing very well...haha Sister Schroeppel, Belford and I did a musical number during our joint sacrament meeting with the English Branch- the Spanish members had head sets- we wanted them to be there to see their kids sing.  They sang Love at Home while I played- turned out great considering we had like no time to practice.  First two verses English and did the last in Spanish- beautiful!! We spent a lot of time in Trusville that day and we taught 5 lessons and met like 7 new people! So fun, and great to practice the Spanish.  We have lots of funny conversations with people about their lives and how we are in the "hood" which Sister Belford doesn't believe. Good actually GREAT news.....Maria has a baptismal date!!!! June 9- and then her and Juan (the recent convert) will get married a week later!!! We are going to commit her 10 year old son to the same day.  She is amazing, she knows so much and is understanding everything we teach her- there was a lesson on temples on Sunday and she shared her testimony about marriage and how it grew because of how the gospel teachings the importance of it! We love her so much and can't wait to see her grow  even more.  We are crossing our fingers and praying we don't get transferred before it happens though. People like her strengthen my testimony so much, because they are so faithful and curious to learn more about what God has to teach for them and what God has in store.  A lot of the work out here is strengthening the faith of people we meet on the street, investigators, less-actives, and members- but while we do this I think that they end up helping us even more.  They are teaching me how to love and really serve and fulfill our purpose here in life.  To live the gospel, to follow Jesus Christ and to serve others.  The Branch President and his wife are always helping, and when we mess up they say "No se preocupen" - Don't worry about it! It is all okay! I love them so much and love the example that they are for me, and us as missionaries out here. Every Sunday in Sunday school we learn so much from Sister Cuenca and her sweet testimony- they help strengthen the investigators that we brings and I am so grateful for that.  I want you all this week to forget the past things that you did wrong, you messed up on- tomorrow is new day as President Holzapfel says- and combined with President Cuenca we can add It is all okay! The Lord just wants us to keep trying, learn from what has happened and keep trying the next day- this is my motto right now and it is helping me so much. I love you all- make it a great week!

Hermana Coleman

Week of the Waffle House!

Okay so I don't remember if I have said this before but there are Waffle Houses on like every street corner here.  One time- about 5 weeks ago.  We talked to a man in the waffle house and he tried for 30 min to get us to eat one- but we kept saying no we are okay! so today we decided we needed to go experience it for ourselves- oh my gosh- the waffles were amazing!! we rode our bikes to one that is by our apt. (in skirts) and all got delicious breakfast at 7am- I am still not hungry and it is 1:00 ha ha. But so good and definitely a staple of Alabama- or the south anyway- we also got to listen to someone analyze the price of the things on the menu in a very loud southern voice- priceless. I got pictures which I will send soon. We had an awesome girls night last Monday with Priscilla and her 6 friends that came! So fun with food, we taught them 10 commandments which they didn't know- showed them hand signs to remember- did a little game for them to guess what commandment someone was keeping for breaking and at the end Priscilla explained the book of Mormon to all of her friends using the pictures in the front- so awesome!! She really does have a great desire and you can tell- she is so sweet and we have loved getting to know and teach her and her friends- young people are a lot easier to teach. - plus they speak English :) The Cinco de Mayo party was fun- not very many members came from either of the branches but a lot of investigators and less actives- surprising actually! We shared a spiritual thought and had food and a pinata and talked with all of the people- it was fun one of the lady's who came hadn't been to church in 2 years and came because the sisters called her- she said she didn't believe in chance and wanted to see all of the people her mom knew (because her mom died a few years ago) and so it was good for us to talk to her - she is part of the other branch so I am hoping that she will come to church and feel again what she felt at her baptism 2 years ago! We are knocking a lot of doors- meeting a lot of people and getting to know their story- there was one lady- she was English and attended a different church- but quoted us a lot of scriptures in the Bible and really lifted our spirits- she said you have got to know who your Savior is, be rooted in him and then do not be afraid to tell everyone you meet about what you know- Sister Belford and I felt Super edified after that and were going- what just happened?! There are so many good people out here- and I have loved meeting all of them and feel like they are helping me everyday more than I am helping them.  I am really learning a lot about loving people- my companion loves everyone and she is such an example to me of what it takes to do that and how much better I can be to show the people I care, and love them- just as the Savior does!  There is something that affected me this week- it is in one of the video's we watch for training and the sister missionary said "Once you really start to love the people, you study for them, think about them and worry about them- everything is focused on them- instead of yourself"  Great lesson that I am trying to implement everyday that I am out here.  I love you all!  Thank you for the pictures of Benson and Kaitlyn's wedding- they looked so happy and it looked beautiful! I hope everyone has a great week- I love you all and think of you often. 

Hermana Coleman