Tuesday, August 28, 2012
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
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
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
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
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
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
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