Monday, July 22, 2013

Hello Everyone!

 
It was very hot out here this week, we drank lots of water and loved riding the bikes haha. We were able to do some fun exchanges at the beginning of the week. I was out in Talladega, where there are so many bugs, and it is country and I was really afraid that I was going to get like 6 ticks my last week out here. I think I am in the clear though. We were able to have some great lessons and learn from some amazing people.
We have some great people that the Lord has led us to here, really! This area is amazing, and has amazing members/ recent converts that are really coming together and becoming great friends. There were a couple people that we wanted at church who didn't come, but I know they will soon! they are prepared.
So there is a man we have been teaching for a while off and on- a member referral, and he came to church on Sunday for the first time in a month. He texted the member who is his friend telling her he really wants to be baptized next week! Say what! Just before that our other main investigator called and said he really wanted to go through with his baptism this upcoming weekend. Sister Butt and I were super excited, and she said "Sister Coleman, how many times have we talked about how we wished someone would call us saying they wanted to be baptized?" A lot I said! And it came true! we were super stoked.
I know that the Lord is hastening his work, I have seen so many miracles, and them coming just because we have asked for them! The full-time missionaries at this time are so lucky to be missionaries, to be tutored and prepared to continue serving the Lord for the rest of their lives. I am so grateful for the time I have had here in Alabama. I really do love these people, and I am grateful that the Lord helped me get out on a mission so I could learn how to be more faithful to Him. I am still not perfect at it, but he gave me so much to learn and work on and I am grateful to keep applying it. I believe in the Restoration of the gospel, I know that Joseph Smith really did see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and was called to lead us to follow our Savior more closely. I love how the Book of Mormon helps us to understand the Bible better, and to also increase our testimony. I know that missions are not easy, but it has been the best 18 months of my life :) I love you all! See you soon :)
Hermana Coleman


Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Milagros!

This week was a successful week of re-contacting potentials that we had met in the last couple of weeks. Lots of miracles! One man who works a tire shop who live in Bessemer (40 min away) said that him and his family are moving to Homewood by the end of the month and he wants us to come over to teach/meet them! Wohoo! We also found out where a referral lived by chance and was able to meet a former investigator who lives in that same apartment who had been reading the Book of Mormon off and on, and had been really enjoying it. Then we tried to go give a blessing on this families home that we met last weekend, but they weren't home when we had set the appointment. the next day, I was with one of the English sisters and we were running super late to meet back up with sister butt and her companion, but I felt like we needed to go see if this family was home. The woman was- Amy- and she said come in! she felt bad that she had missed us yesterday and said she was hoping we would come back today (inspiration!) she speaks English and Spanish and so we taught her about what our role was and some basics about the church and all the concerns she had from the church she is going to were answered in what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints could offer her. The spirit was so strong and amazing! We told her we would come back the next day to teach more. So Sister Butt and I went back, and she had done some reading and expressed more concerns on how she really wanted to grow closer to God. She said that she felt close to Him every time we came, and so we invited her to church, told her about the plan of salvation and restoration a bit, and invited her to be baptized. She said YES!!!! Wow we were super stoked. She is a 2nd Ingrid, so prepared and ready. We love her already.
Otis is still doing really well, we did a object lesson about repentance involving brownies and dirt- and how when you repent the Lord will give you a whole new brownie! He got super excited and shared that punch line with everyone before we good. We were proud of him.
Also, Sister Butt met this man one night who wanted to find a church to go to, apparently he came to church (she didn't recognize him because it had been dark) but he CAME! he said he wanted to attend services in English- so that he could learn more English and more about God at the same time. He said that we could bring the English missionaries by this weekend to help explain more. He really like that.
There are amazing people here who are ready! We just have to keep up with the Lord. He really his hastening his work! D&C 88: 73 which says, "Behold, I will hasten my work in its time." Which Elder Holland added, "It's time."
I love you all! Make it a great week.


Puddles and Puddles of Rain!

This week we had "Meet the President" there was 6 zones there (half the mission) so a lot of missionaries! It was a lot of fun, and we got to meet President and Sister Hanks, they are great, have a lot of enthusiasm and amazing testimonies. We are all excited to have them. We did exchanges with the other Birmingham Sisters and I was able to be in a trio! it was fun, I haven't done that for a long time and we biked everywhere! by our last appointment we were all out of it, good thing that person did a great job at talking! We were able to leave an great chapter for her to read 2 Nephi 4- and she really enjoyed it. That day also included teaching Ingrid about baptisms for the dead and having "the armor of God" lesson with Alex and Odalys, which included their younger siblings throwing paper "temptation" rocks at them, it got a little crazy. But was fun! We had a great member lesson with Otis, and he was able to share his testimony in Spanish to an English man at the park who came up to talk to us (we translated for him) It was so neat!
We went by to see a less-active on Thursday, and he wasn't home, but we were able to teach a lesson to his sister-in-law an her friend, and gave her a book of Mormon so that was really neat - the Lord blessed us for staying out before 9! (which can get kinda tricky, but in the summer it is easier). So Friday we went up to Anniston and did exchanges with two English sisters up there. We had a lot of fun, and it was very rainy. YES! I really had been waiting for an all-day rainstorm and it came!! We were soaking wet, even with umbrellas, and we were walking in puddles, my scriptures, shoes and backpack are still wet- thanks to the fact the nothing ever dries in Alabama. So it was great, we were able to meet some people and someone offered us a ride and they were actually looking for a new church! It was so great. Lots of laughing at each other.
Sunday was great, the spirit was really strong in fast and testimony meeting although not a lot of people were there. It really is full of recent converts- and they have great testimonies and are the strength of the branch, it is great. Otis came!! and he stayed for the whole time!! it was a miracle, he really enjoyed it and his friend Zenon also stayed. It was great, great!
I learned a lot about people's agency this week, it was topped off as we had a lesson in gospel principles about it as well. It is amazing how we can teach the principles of the gospel, and the Restoration of the gospel in its simplicity, and people have the ability to interpret it the way they desire and how they are going to accept it into their life. It is very interesting to me. I know that agency is amazing, and we are so lucky to be able to choose to bring more happiness into our lives. I know that this gospel does that, and as we apply it daily, it is the formula for happiness. It will bring someone burdened down and overwhelmed, to have peace and rest. I love it!
"Preach unto them repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ. Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls."
Love you all! Make it a great week.
Love,
Sister Coleman

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Fun Fun Week!

 
We had the first part of the week in our area, for the rest of it we were out and about!
Had a fun surprise birthday party from some of the families here in the branch. They were so sweet and very secretive, I got cake everywhere, including up my nose which was fun.
Thursday we were able to go up to Camp Hulaco, a church owned camp where the Birmingham stake has girls camp! 4 of us sisters went with a member and we were asked about a month ago to prepare a workshop for the girls. We had a lot of fun planning on the drive up ( about 90 minutes away) and We each had our parts which included one of the sisters sharing her conversion story (she has been a member for 18 months and is on a mission!!) then one sharing how she studies and prepared for a mission, then I talked about working hard and demonstrated how you clip your skirts to get ready to ride the bicycle, they thought that was great. Then we talked about developing talents and as they do that will prepare them so well to be missionaries! Lots of them had good questions and it was fun being up there and feeling the spirit of girls camp. I love girls camp! so we were very lucky, we got to talk to a lot of sweet girls, it was super fun.
Friday we went to the temple to help translate for baptisms for the dead, I was able to see some of the members from other branches, it was great!!
We were up in Gadsden Alabama and we were able to do double the work there on Saturday. It was fun and we met a lot of people, and this sweet sister from Chile who knows French, Spanish and English, she is very classy and sophisticated and wants to go to the temple so badly. The sisters are going to get things going to help prepare her. She is in her 80's and I just love her!
Sunday was great, we talked a lot about temples and our branch president is amazing. He really does have his heart in this work, wants to be more involved in missionary work, and is trying to get the branch and recent converts more involved too. There is a lot of work to be done, but they are great. I really am so happy in this branch, I am learning a lot from them, and their love and service and kindness. great examples. I am grateful to be meeting so many of the new sisters out here in the field, they are amazing and are fulfilling their purpose by helping others come unto Christ.
I love you all! we are surviving the heat here, but barely, I want it to rain so bad! maybe this week.
Have a great week!!
Love,
Sister Coleman


This is a pictures of a recent convert- Fabiana, her Daughter Emily, and her mother Dirce from Brazil who is investigating the church.

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Crazy whirlwind kind of crazy!!

Hello familia!
So today as already been a great day. We went to the Waffle House again (same one i went to a year ago) and I still LOVE it there, the waffles are divine, it was a great start to the week.
We had a family night at the mission home on Monday with the Temple president and his wife there. It was really fun, and the lesson was on recognizing the spirit more, and they told some really neat stories. Also found out that they both went to Weber High and were high school sweethearts. Hmmmm that sounds really familiar?? That was a fun connection.
There are a lots of little details of things that happened this week but, I really just want to share what I have been observing. With these new converts and the ones from the previous year when I was in this area before. Sister Butt and I are just HAPPY when we are around them, they have a light, and are just excited about the gospel and what others to know and to do what they are doing. We had given Paco a Liahona and he had started to read it, his roommate who has never really had much interest in what we've had to say, looked at it and was just kinda flipping through it. All of the sudden one day Paco realized it had gone missing, and that his roommate had taken it and had been reading through all of the talks. SCORE! haha, Paco was on track saying that he was just going to act like he hadn't taken his precious magazine, and we have now formed a plot where we are going to strategically bring over other Liahonas so his roommate and just happen to pick it up and read them. Genius. He is just doing so great, and has a calling and is already trying to help and serve in the church, always says hi to everyone. He is great.
I am grateful towards the end of my mission to see some of these new converts really be converted to the gospel. It is so fun! It is a treat for us to go over to their home and see their excitement. It is an aspect that helps keep us going. There are lots of aspects to the conversion process and I am grateful that I have been able to see them. Things are crazy and busy, and we will be getting a new mission president this weekend. We are excited for the changes and all that will be happening with missionary work. This weekend is temple weekend! We are going to get everyone there! That is our goal!!
Love you all, have a great week!!
Hermana Coleman

Baptism!!!

So Ingrid was baptized this past Saturday and it was amazing!!! She felt so good, and different- she just kinda bounces around everywhere now- we taught her Sunday night and she already has a calling, and is preparing to go to the temple the end of this month. She is so excited- and wants her family to be a part of it. Her family came from Miami to see it, and it was so great! We just love her. Sister Butt was saying how lucky we were to be a part of this- the Lord has been preparing her for so many years, as well as her cousin, we were so lucky to help see this part of the conversion process!!!!!
Paco is still doing really well, he also has a calling, and is learningn so much, has great questions and a very strong testimony.
We were able to go contact some referrals this past week, and were able to meet some great people and get some new investigators whom have potential. All of them are referrals or family members of recent converts/less-actives so that is fun!
It is getting hotter and hotter. It is insane. Also crazy rain storm, umbrellas did nothing for us, it was fun though, we were able to have a lesson with our branch mission leader in his doorway about missionary work!!
We were able to contact some former investigators, and had some funny experiences with that. Surprising ones actually, where I had to eat insanely spicy chicken- been a while since that had to happen- and carbonation is NOT the remedy.
A lot of this week was spent preparing Ingrid, and contacting referrals and formers. It was a lot of fun, and we learned so much! We received 31 new missionaries into the mission on Wednesday and so there is so much more help, and ways that we need to serve them! Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are so organized, it is amazing, and we are loving seeing how amazing things happen when you do it in the Lord's way. He has to be so pleased with all of his missionaries starting their service, I know he is! This is a great work, and I am so happy to be witnessing it. It is historic!!

Love you all!
Sister Coleman

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Hello Familia

Hello familia!
Good good week! So Ingrid is going to be getting baptized this Saturday!! She has family coming up from Miami, and she is so excited. We saw her almost every night this week, and even had a temple square sister from Honduras come and meet their family. That was fun. She is learning so much and accepting everything. She loves the conference talks, and was able to share her testimony of living prophets to her in-laws. Sister Butt and I were talking about how we haven't done anything, it is all the Lord, we show up and he teaches her. We love going though because her 2 year old and 1 year old scream "MUCHACHAS!!" when ever we come. Makes us feel loved haha.
Paco is doing really well. He received the priesthood yesterday and he is just so happy. He wants us to come over all the time too. Haha. We are preparing him to go to the temple the 28th of June. He is excited.
We played soccer Friday and we had some investigators from both of the branches to show up, somehow they convinced both Sister Butt and I to play. That was a treat.
A family got baptized in the branch this week! A mom and her two kids, she has two others as well. it was so exciting, she had friends and family come, and we were able to meet some great people and talk to a less-active who she is friends with and hadn't been to church in 15 years! It was a beautiful day.
The Lord has a lot of ready people here, so we are busy with the other missionaries trying to see them, set up appointments and follow-up. There is a lot to do. I was on exchanges this past Saturday and we found some new investigators for their teaching pool. We explained the apostasy like a puzzle- losing some of the pieces and they said it totally made sense. One of them actually has family members who are members of the church. We almost didn't stop to talk to them because we were running late. So glad we did! That is one thing our mission president is pushing, talk to everyone. Trying to get better at that, and not just be in a hurry the whole time. I am always in a hurry and trying to figure out how to do things faster (hmmmm, I wonder where i get that from?) so the Lord is teaching me patience. I think about how much patience the Lord has to have with us, his imperfect servants, and it helps me to have more patience with others, and with the work. It is a work in progress! I love serving here, with these amazing people. I am grateful to be learning from their testimonies and faith, they have amazing faith and I am learning from their examples. Ingrid is just going forward with what she knows to be true, she is amazing! And is such an example to us. I am grateful to be here, experiencing this right now!
Love you all! I know that this gospel is true, and that is changes lives everyday if we let it.
Sister Coleman

Monday, June 3, 2013

Hello Everyone

This has been quite the week. So we have pretty much seen Ingrid every day this week (she still likes having us come over, she is amazing) and she accepted a date to be baptized!! She is so prepared, and her cousin has been preparing her for a while now, it was just the right timing. She has amazing questions and we love teaching her. We are crossing our fingers for this weekend!!
We had some great lessons this week teaching about prophets- neat experience. We were on exchanges and I was here with Sister Isaak. We were teaching a recent convert family along with her non-member mom (who speaks portugese) along with another recent convert who speaks english, swedish and portugese. Talk about con-fusing. haha but it was great! we showed two mormon messages- one by President Monson, and the other by Elder Holland. It really related to the family (inspiration- not credited to us at all....) and they loved it and got emotional. They felt something, and we can almost see their testimonies in living prophets start to grow, it is really neat.
Paco is doing well. we are starting to get him pumped up to go to the temple. We found out a couple days ago that Sister butt and I get to go do the translating for the convert spanish baptisms on the 4th friday of June. Score!! Paco and Ingrid will be able to go, so we are so stoked to be there and are going to do everything we can to help them get there.
We had some miracles of member referrals this week. We were just in the right place at the right time (by inspiration of course) and the Lord provided people who he needed us to teach. We are having a lot of adventures and my mind really can't keep up with everything.
Enjoying reading the conference talks lately, and trying to apply them to the circumstances that we are in.
I hope all is well, and I hope that you have an amazing week!!
Love,
Sister Coleman

Good Week!

 
 
Good week, The weeks keep getting busier and busier, which is a good think! I wouldn't ask for it any other way. We were able to teach some good lessons with our investigators and found some new people who were interested in learning about more. I got to go to a trailer park that i taught people in about 9 months ago. We met a man named Alejandro- and I felt like I new him! He understood the apostosy and said he needed a Bible, we gave in a Book of Mormon instead and said we owuld get the Bible for him later. Lucky him! and Us! He is just so great, and the other sisters have an apointment with him this week. Also re-met another woman, she let us bless her home and said we could come back! She felt the spirit so we hope to keep teaching her.
We were able to teach Alex and Odalys this week, it went really well, the youngest everytime we come over says "Hola Elder Coleman!!" Sister Butt and I die everytime, we keep trying to correct her, but I guess it is cuter that way.
So Paco was baptized! He was nervous all week, but us, the other sisters, and the elders were each able to teach him and help him get ready. The baptism went really well and there were a lot of investigators there.
Ok best part of the week!!!!
So we have been struggling with referrals for a couple weeks now, it is acutally really weird, usually you have 1 or 2 a week but we have had 1 or 2 in like 3 weeks. So we prayed Saturday night for more help to be more aware, and to get a referral! So while we were waiting for Paco to change after his baptism, we were walking down the hall towards the relief society room. This hispanic woman walks around the corner and I ask her if she is a family member of someone because we didn't recognize her. and tells us that she is new here, and that she looked the church up online and came! We just kinda stared at her in shock i think for about 10 seconds, didn't even introduce ourselves, and just asked her if we could take her on a church tour while we waited for he baptism to recommence. WHAT!! We were so excited, apparently she had gone to church twice in Florida with a cousin who is a member and she loved how much she learned, so she wanted to come back! WHAT! So she sat next to the relief society president during church, we talked about hte articles of faith in gospel principles and she loved that and she loved relief society, we set up an appointment with her for Tuesday, and asked if she had a Book of Mormon. She said, oh yeah i was going to ask you if i could have one. WHAT! So yep great Sunday, Heavenly Father totally answered our prayers and gave us a "referral" from Him haha. We are so excited to get to know her better.
Things are going well, looking forward to some meetings and other great things these coming weeks before transfers. Hope you all make it a great week!


Monday, May 20, 2013

 
 




May 20th, 2013

Alex and Odalys were baptized!!!! The Elders were great in helping them get ready this past week, it was a joint effort which helps so much. The baptism went well and there were about 8 investigators there. Que milagro! What a miracle. The spirit was strong during the talks. Odalys was so nervous, but it nice when things happen fast because you don't have enough time to think too much about it. She has so much potential- only being 9 but you can see that she has a great future ahead of her. She is so sweet.
We are still teaching Paco with the other sisters and the Elders. He never knows who is coming to teach him haha, but he always updates us on what happened in the lesson if we were not there. He is excited and has so many good questions, we taught him last night and he had a friend with him! He is already being a missionary, and wanting others to receive an answer as he has. His grandpa was a member and you can't help but think he is helping him as well.
We were able to do service with one of our investigators this past week- he needed glasses so he could read the book of mormon better (along with other things of course, but we feel like that is the main reason haha) so that was fun. He and two others also come to english class that we hold on hour before church starts on Sundays. He loves the feelings he gets when he is taught and when he comes to church. He knows he needs to be baptized, so we are trying to help him set some goals. He is great.
Sister Butt and I got eaten alive in Talladega this week, we were on exchanges out there and I had a bug biting me every  minute. But we found out some info on less-active members so it made it worth it! We have had some fun experiences with sisters who are getting ready to leave on their missions, it is so exciting!!
Things are just moving right along, and I am just trying to keep up. Sister Butt and I just have to take a step back and laugh sometimes or talk about how we have no idea what we are doing and then the Lord just helps us move forward and tells us what to do. It is a miracle really. He is so involved in this work, and there are so many connections, or random people that you have met before that the Lord puts in your path (just as both Grandma Coleman and Grandma Tanner mentioned in their e-mails) It makes missionary work and life more fun and it keeps us on our toes, right? We are just trying to keep up with the plans the Lord has!
Love you all!
Sister Coleman

Monday, May 13, 2013

Hills, rain, mud and bugs!

We had a good week this week. Started off with teaching Alex and Odalys- we taught them about the gospel of jesus christ, which included having all the kids walking around with rocks in their shoes to teach them about sin (thank you primary book) it was a fun lesson. Then we were able to go see a family about 30 minutes away who just had a baby. we hadn't really discussed what we were going to teach about at all (which is not normal....most the time haha) and so we were saying the prayer and the first thought that came into my mind was Family Home Evening. So Sister Butt and i talked about the importance and blessings of doing that, and then their son Diego (11 years old) started asking about missionary work, so we showed him the white handbook and talked about things we did. It got him excited. We challenged them to do FHE and said that the missionaries could help them to get started doing ti weekly. After the lesson Sister Butt said that lesson was so inspired, that is the same thing that came into my mind during the prayer! that made us happy.
We taught another lesson to Alex and Odalys, they are excited to be baptized, and have been waiting for this for a while!
Friday and Saturday were the days for randomly running into less-actives. We met one from the english ward and we were able to have a lesson about the importance of church and how it would bless her life to come. it went well. (turns out she lives right below us.....who knew) also saturday we randomly tracted into a less-actives door and found a former investigator which was really funny. We will be trying to see them this week.
Friday the Elders went to teach Paco and they were able to help him see that he is ready to be baptized!! He told them that the Lord told him that he should be baptized in 2 weeks. May 26th it is! We taught him the next day and he is really excited and happy. He has lots of questions and amazing stories. He teaches us a lot too.
Saturday was a crazy biking day- hence the title of this e-mail. We went over this rocky short cut twice, and ended up talking to people on the way and got eaten by bugs and attacked by ants on a giant ant hill we didn't notice as we were locking our bikes up. It was crazy. We were just meeting people, inviting people to church, offering blessings, and we had made some mother's day notes for members and investigators. It was fun. Oh and to top it off it started pouring rain! good good day. We got home and I realized that my muscles were not screaming at me!! first time EVER and i feel like i am starting to finally conquer the bike.
We were able to teach gospel principles yesterday during church, and it helped me to realize what amazing, dedicated members we have. The branch president does so much, but he is always wanting to help, and participate in the lessons, and share his strong testimony. I look up to their family a lot and, he being a convert himself, has such a strong, solid testimony. I am grateful to be learning from them and all of the members sweet testimonies and desire to learn. I hope everyone is doing well, and continues to share their testimony, example, and happiness with all those around you. It helps!!
Love ya!
Sister Coleman

Monday, May 6, 2013

MILAGROS!

Okay so this has been a great week. Tuesday was Sister Sherwins last day here which was weird, we taught some lessons and less-actives and were able to do some service, so that was good. It was sad to see her go, but she taught me so much and I am grateful that I had a week with her, it was exactly what was needed to help push the work forward. So now I am companions with Sister Butt, she is great and is a whiz at Spanish- but really, she is. Also, we are still living with 2 other sisters, so there are currently 6 of us serving in the branch, and I get to serve with one of the elders i served with in Lorna, it will be a great/fun transfer.
So all four of us are teaching this man named Paco- he is amazing and is so ready to be baptized. We had two lessons with him this week, and he said he has a desire to be baptized, he just thinks may 11th is a little soon, he saw a baptism in the english ward yesterday and said he will pray, so we will see what happens. Faith!! He grandpa was a member and he is so humble and really likes church a lot. We are trying to help him get more friends. It was his birthday on Saturday and so we made him cookies and sang him happy birthday after the lesson. It was fun!
We are also teaching the mother of one of the recent converts- she is from Brazil!! it is crazy trying to teach in Spanish to a Portuguese woman. Her daughter speaks Portuguese and 2 members have come with us and the elders so that is helping a lot. She is really liking the book of Mormon and enjoys church!
Ok so biggest miracle EVER, i am so excited. Okay so yesterday we were sitting and waiting for relief society to start- and I leaned over to Maria Reyes (one of the recent converts who got baptized when i was here a year ago) and i asked if we could come to her house to practice teaching the lessons to her kids. She has 4 kids, two old enough(one boy and one girl) to be baptized and two not. The two oldest are not baptized because the father wouldn't give them permission. (complicated) So ever since Maria was baptized the missionaries had been trying to help her two kids be baptized but it wasn't working out. anyway......She said yes we could come and said, "Oh hermana! I was talking to their dad this morning and he has finally given them permission to be baptized!" WHAT!! She was so happy, and we were so happy and one of her kids- Odalys and I have always gotten along, and she is so sweet and maria said that she wanted us to come teach her the lessons!!!!!!! So. Excited. I think i kind of startled Sister Butt, but she is excited as well. So we are teaching them to night at a family night and are inviting her and her brother to be baptized on May 19th- we talked with the branch president and he thinks that it will be perfect. Wow. Wasn't expecting that, the Lord blesses his members and wants families to be together!! So neat and I feel so blessed to be able to serve her again among these great families and watch them grow as they accept and act upon the Lord's teachings. He is doing it all, softening hearts, growing testimonies, and blessing people, we just get to witness it and be changed as well! I love it!!
Well I love you all, i hope you have a great week!!!

Monday, April 29, 2013

Altadena!

So it is so great to be back in Altadena. At church on Sunday it was great to see the recent converts who are doing so well, and they have grown so much in the gospel. They have a little bit more confidence and great things are happening for them! The sisters have been teaching english class to some hispanic men, and have recently started teaching them the lessons. They are reading the Book of Mormon and have come to church 3 times already! They called us this week and had us come to their restaurant (where they work) and they gave us amazing food! We also talked to some of the workers, and them and had a lot of fun. The next day we taught one of them at the park, he had been reading and it was bothering him how he could change from the religion he had grown up in. We testified to him that it would only add to what he had already learned! As we read 2 Nephi 31 with him, the spirit came really strong, and we simply taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He said he didn't want to committ to a date yet, but that he is praying about it, and he said he wants to be a part of what we are a part of, he feels so good! He is amazing, very humble and teachable, we are excited for him and know the Lord will bless him.
We were able to go on 3 exchanges this weekend, it was crazy! Sister Sherwin is leaving this week (transfers :( ) and so we were able to do a lot of things in a short amount of time, to figure out the best way to help the Sisters. We went to Pratville, Leeds, and up to Northport! We learned a lot in all of the areas and it was a fun road trip (missionary road trip) and we had amazing experiences learning from these sisters. I was able to see some old investigators in Northport, and see how they are progessing to help Bobbie be baptized this weekend. Lots of things are going to be happening this week, so I am grateful that everything is so busy, it helps you learn so much more.
I loved being in the branch on Sunday, they have such strong testimonies, and the spirit was very strong. It is amazing that even though there weren't more than 12 people in relef society, we all learned so much and were able to hear about how one of the members had finally taken her mothers name to the temple and did baptisms, confirmation, intitories and endowment- all in one night. She was so happy and helped get others excited about family history work. I love you all! I hope you have a great week!!


Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Hello Family!

 
So great week, very very busy but it has been amazing! First off, I have been 2/3 of the way transferred into a new area, today!! and best part about it is that it is Altadena where I served when i first came to Alabama. I feel very blessed. It is a great Spanish branch full of amazing members and recent converts and lots of hills- yep good thing I started biking in Northport or else we would be in big trouble.
So fast forward to last week, we had a fun zone activity which involved burgers and water balloons.
Tuesday we taught a lady named Jennifer, She had read, and had questions about 1 Nephi 1. she is great and the spirit is so strong in her lessons, we taught her again Friday about baptism and first part of plan of salvation, she wants to be with her parents again whom have already passed on.
Wednesday the large print book of Mormon we ordered for Martha finally came, so one of our appointments that night fell through so we decided to go give it to her and teach her how to use it. She was so excited, and was feeling better (after the blessing the elders gave her the day before because she had poor health) and had questions about peace and comfort and forgiveness, so we taught her how to look up scriptures and turns out one of the Elders gave her a reading assignment the day before and as we looked at it again it was about peace and comfort- that really increased her faith. We taught her Friday about the Word of Wisdom and she loved it, committed to it and said she would be at church. the only thing holding her back from being baptized is that she doesn't want to leave her church (40 year member) which is understandable! But we promised her blessings and she said she is going to keep praying.
Debbie is doing great, cutting down on tea and coffee still, and she knows she needs to be baptized, she needs to come to church at least two more times, so we read 3 Nephi 11 with her and promised her if she came to church, work would go better for her. She committed to come. Great lesson wither, her, we love her! she is so sweet, and really pumped up one of the YSA's here to really want to go on a mission, it was great.
We taught some fun member lessons this week, it really is a great ward and I was so sad to leave, i love watching their examples and they have a great love for the gospel. It was neat how we could teach to their needs, but how their questions helped us to. We had fun.
Sunday was AMAZING! Bobbie, Debbie and Martha all came to church!! Sister Nyland and I were half shocked half beaming, it was pretty great, members sat by all of them and continued to welcome them. Debbie had to leave after sacrament to go to work, but she texted us at work saying she had had the best day at work since she moved here! Martha participated in class and enjoyed church even more than the first time she came. It was great. Bobbie said that she doesn't have a for sure answer but she is willing to take a step into the dark to be baptized- so as of now she is preparing for the 5th! So exciting. The Lord is working- some days I don't feel like I can do that much good that day, or appointments fall through, or lessons don't go super well, but when you look at the big picture, you can see the Lord is blessing and inspiring his children to repent, and if she just ask them, they will repent and feel the difference afterwards. It is so neat. I am so grateful for all the new missionaries, it is changing the mission field! 60 new sisters in the next 3 transfers!! Crazy, you can feel this buzz out here, and it is amazing how between October conference and now it has just kind of been building up and now it is exploding. It is a great time to be a full-time missionary and a member missionary!
Make it a great week!!
 



Monday, April 15, 2013

Hey Familia!

 
 Fun fun week!!
Okay so Tuesday was great, we went to Birmingham for a meeting and the Ensley Elders (they are in our Zone) had a Spanish referral for us, so on the way home we stopped by and she wasn't home. We were kinda disappointed because it was out of the way. But as we looked down the street we saw 3 ladies and a guy out on their porch. We were running a little late and we thought its alright we can just go home. But then we just looked at each other and decided we needed to go open our mouths and talk to them. Well we started talking- they were elderly but really nice, and so we started teaching them a little about what we do. Then the guy came out- he is about 22 and he recognized us because he had talked to the Elders in the area recently (about 3 weeks ago) and had gone to an activity at the church. We asked him what he thought about everything and he said he liked it and was open to new things. and we started talking about prophets and he thought it was great, and wouldn't be opposed to having prophets in our day. THEN we asked if he had been reading the Book of Mormon, he said yes, and that he had read Moroni's promise and asked God if it was true and he felt like it was and he had gotten his answer.......Sister Nyland and I were kind of in shock I guess you could say. So we told him we would get a hold of the Elders and send them back over, invited him to church and invited him to read the conference talk by Elder Cook.
Fast forward to Sunday- we get a text from the Zone leaders (they text to the whole zone when someone has committed to a baptismal date) saying that Cory had committed to be baptized in Ensley!! We were so excited, that the Lord helped us open our mouths, and that the Elders were able to go invite, and he accepted!! President always talks about how the Lord gives baptisms to missions and not missionaries, as we are all being obedient and doing what the Lord has asked, he blesses everyone. It was really neat.
Wednesday we went on exchanges - Sister Woomer and I stayed in Tuscaloosa and Sister Nyland and Stahle in Northport. We all learned a lot and set some really good goals together, it was a 24 hour exchange, and the Sisters committed Bobbie to be baptized. We were all pretty stoked. Her family is so great, we just love them.
Debbie is doing really well with no tea, but coffee is a struggle. We are still working with her and with getting her to church.
We had some fun lessons with member this week, and learned a lot from one of the member converts here. She converted back in the 70's but has such a sweet testimony and love for the gospel, she helped us so much! The Lord puts people in your path to lift you up- so both are edified together.
Friday we also spent time opening our mouths- we went to lunch with one of the members in Birmingham who was visiting, so it was good to catch up with her, then we put our bikes in her trunk....haha and we went to Tuscaloosa and taught one of our progressing investigators. On the way back we had some neat experiences of opening our mouths- one was Jennifer, she was sitting outside on the chair and as we rode past I knew we needed to talk to her. She had talked to missionaries a while ago, but had lost the 'bible" they had given to her, we pulled out the Book of Mormon and her face lit up and said "that's it!" We set up a return appointment with her, we were able to meet some other people with varying degrees of interest, but it was neat to see that even though we did that, we still had time to do the things we were committed to later that day. Great great!
Sunday was great as well, there was special spirit in the fast and testimony meeting and I learned a lot from the members. We asked a couple if we could come over to practice teaching and they were all so nice and willing to have us. We are excited for this week, and more biking!!
Love you all, have a great week!
Sister Coleman

Monday, April 8, 2013

23 mile bike day!

So I am going to start out this e-mail with the fact that Sister Nyland and I rode 23 MILES on our bikes Friday. Yep, we did. We are pretty proud of it actually (thank goodness the next two days consisted of a lot of sitting at conference....) But when we told the Zone Leaders they were shocked and said we put the Elders to shame. All in a days work. haha we had to end the conversation by asking for more miles though, they didn't think that was too funny. We were able to teach 3 lessons and figure out some new service opportunities in the community. We were wiped at the end of the day though, but felt like we did some good work, and sacrificed to save miles for a different day.
This week in our member and less-active lessons we focused a lot on asking questions and looking for the answers during general conference. We taught one of the YSA's in the ward, and she had told us she had never done it before. We got a text from her last night saying how all weekend she had been trying to think of a question but nothing was coming to mind. But as she watched President Uchtdorf's talk she felt like questions just started being answered. She thanked us so much for that experience. That was neat!
Also, Sister Nyland and I may have splurged a bit at the Easter candy sale at Wal-Mart. So we were on a sugar kick for about 4 days, but on Thursday we taught one of our investigators who has a tea and coffee addiction- so we told her that in a 2 week period, if she could go 7 straight days without either, we would have a ding dong party (her favorite treat) and then Sister Nyland stepped it up a notch saying we would go without sugar.....BOTH of us! Yes, we are learning how to exercise control now as well, it was hard not to eat the brownies and ice cream at the between conference social, but it is amazing how we have kept in contact everyday with her through the hard times. She is going to stick with tea right now, and once we help her with that she will move to coffee. Addictions are rough. But tender mercy, we were talking to one of the YSA's and she works at the same Wal-Mart as our investigator, so we gave her some money to buy some tang and crystal light and take her a note so she can focus off the tea. Our investigator- Debbie sent us a text and was so grateful for this sister that gave her the gift and how it made her day. When you think out of the box, and use the resources the Lord puts right in front of you, miracles happen!!
Conference was really great, we learned so many things, and sister Nyland and I talk about cool things that stood out to us in each lesson all the time.  She and I are really learning a lot together, and have set some great goals on how we can bless the lives of those in this area more. President Holzapfel taught me about the story in John 10 a while back, and how the Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, he is always working, not taking breaks, not being selfish, trying his best to lead them through the gate- to their Savior Jesus Christ. He told me that we have to be the shepherds, and not the Hirelings. The Hirelings run when things get hard, but the Lord has given us these people to help, and we have to do our best to diligently work our hardest for them and for the Lord. Conference talked a lot about bringing peace into the lives of those around us- that is our job as members and as missionaries. Think of helping at least one person each day, bring a little bit more of the light and peace of the Savior into their lives. Our lives will change and so will theirs. I am grateful for all of our prophets seers and revelators, and that we can read the Book of Mormon and the Bible through the lens of the general conference talks. We have prophets who can help us understand! What a blessing- I am so grateful that we have 6 more months to study their words, understand them, and apply them into our lives.
I love you all! Have a great week :)
Sister Coleman

Week of No Car!!

So we had a lot of trips to Birmingham and other places in Alabama this month, so we were running a little short on miles. We decided we were not going to use it all last week and that we would be walking, and walking, until Sister Nylands bike got here. We had some fun experiences of people laughing and chuckling in their cars towards us. We just waved and were laughing as well, it looks ridiculous to see two girls in a skirts running across an intersection towards a trailer park. I mean really, I don't blame them. Then We had a miracle on Tuesday, we were attempting to walk to the library which was about 6 miles away....and we just had the feeling it would work out. So one of the members who we had taught the night before stops in the middle of the road next to us, and says "Get In!" so she asks where we are going, we tell her and she looked at us like we were crazy people for walking that far. She insisted on driving us there and coming to pick us up when we were done. We were so grateful!! While we were there we were able to teach Martha- she is doing really well, she is learning a lot and told us that no matter what her family says, she is coming to church on Sunday. She sounded excited and so we taught her about what to expect, all the classes, and the importance of the Sacrament. We both felt good about committing her to April 27th, but she told us she would pray about it. We are praying that this week, she will feel that desire. She is so ready! She loved church on Sunday- it was so fun to see her sitting up in the front by her member friend, we told the ward council she was coming so everyone greeted her and were very friendly.
We were also able to teach Bobbie during church, we watched "How Rare a Possession" about an Italian man who had to wait YEARS to be baptized. The spirit was really strong, we talked to her one on one about baptism, and she is getting closer and closer. We are excited for her family!
Another person we finally met this week as Debbie- she just moved from Illinois, and had been taught all the lessons by the sister missionaries there. She lives really far out in the country, but we had a member come with us, and as we were talking we asked her why she kept letting the sisters come back and why she likes the church. She said that her life had gone so much better, and she saw more blessings, and she was learning! She got emotional and said she knows it is good, and she wants to keep up with studying and coming to church. Her work schedule interferes with church so we are going to help her work with that.
There are so many people in this area who are ready! The Stake President stepped into our District Meeting we had this past week and he said, that we are not here to plant seeds (us 8 missionaries) we are here to harvest, the planting has already been done. It was so neat to hear him say that and feel the spirit witness of that. He is excited and so are we! I am lucky to be in this area.
We had some fun tracting in the rain this week. One of the young women came out with us and was a great sport. Lots of people were nice and let us give them a mormon.org card, but were not interested in anything else. We taught one man, who really needs the gospel, another who doesn't see the hand of God around him or in his life so he has come to the conclusion that nothing is really out there- that made us really sad. and as we were getting ready to leave (and wanting to because it was freezing) we saw a family get out of there car, they let us come into their mothers home and we left a blessing. The spirit came really strong and afterwards we asked if they have a church they go to- they did not, they were actually looking for one right now! The Lord gave us that miracle for being diligent, we were so excited and we set up an appointment with them for later this week. We will see how it goes!
So excited for conference, we are going to make flyers of sorts and give them to people to try and help them come and listen to a prophets voice! I love conference as a missionary, and appreciate it so much more now, seeing other people as they do not realize that we have living prophets and apostles! Remember to come up with some questions this week that you can take to conference with you. They will be answered!
Love you all!! Have a great week.
Sister Coleman

 

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

March 25, 2013

Great week! I have a new companion- her name is Sister Nyland and she is from Plesant Grove Utah. We are having a lot of fun together and we laugh a lot, mostly in the mornings when we are singing, trying to speak Spanish, and when we are tracting (you meet some fun people and see some funny signs). But good news! Sister Stahle got moved to the other ward that meets in our same building and she got a new companion as well. It is fun to have all of us in the same area, and we are excited to work together and be in the same district. All of the Elders that were here last transfer stayed the same.
Since Thursday we have been doing a lot of walking and trying to contact former investigators. We have a lot of people in the area book, and we prayed, and chose some that we felt impressed to stop by and meet. We have had success! Saturday we spent from 12-5:30 out in the trailer parks and projects, and met some Hispanic investigators, and American as well- we were giving blessings upon their homes, and talking to them outside, passing out mormon.org cards- it was fun! Our last lesson that day was with a teenager named Carol. She is from Mexico and her family listened to the missionaries last year. We taught her about her potential and the importance of reading the book of Mormon- the spirit was there soooo strong- it was really neat. Everything that day worked about, we met people as they were coming home from work etc. and others while they were just leaving= i love the Lord's timing! It was all because we followed a prompting to go to a nursing home near by (we didn't know why) we taught a AT&T man, but he wasn't super interested, so we were confused why we had to walk all the way over there- but the whole rest of the day worked out perfect - we had 5 lessons- which is actually really good, and an investigator called who we had been wanting to get ahold of for a couple days. it was great!
Sunday was great as well, we met with the ward council, and went to the Spanish gospel principles class so Sister Nyland can get pro with her Spanish. Afterwards we went to the Archibald's for lunch- they are going to be mission presidents in Peru come July- and we enjoyed getting to know them, shared a thought about missionary work (using Ko's awesome quote) and it went great, he is a Institute teacher and so he taught us some cool things about how we as sister missionaries have the special privilege of working under the key's and priesthood of our mission president- it was neat. Then their daughter Talli came out with us and we tried to visit a couple people. One lady wouldn't answer the door and hung up on us when we called, one Hispanic family wasn't home, but we taught Frank who is a older gentleman- who apparently has a brother who is Mormon- we learned lots of things about him, and that he really does respect our church and he thinks it makes sense. we have a return appointment with him this week. we really enjoyed that. Then we went to contact a former investigator- and she happened to be just getting home when we pulled up! Miracle! apparently she was excited to see girls- and she didn't know girls could be missionaries as well, because when the guys came to teach her they could never come in. She was really excited to meet with us so we made an appointment for this Friday.
Things are going well, and we have some great potential appointments this week, we are excited and will be getting help from the members so that will be great! We will also be going to the temple on Wednesday and will be going to a meeting in Birmingham on Friday- and Easter Sunday! President Holzapfel always has conference call devotionals over the phone during the Christian holidays, and he teaches us amazing things from the Bible- I will try to take good notes!
Love you all, make it a great week and enjoy the weather!
Sister Coleman

Monday, March 18, 2013

Crazy Week!

My mind is all over the place, so once again i am doing bullet points:
  • So Tuesday we went to the trainers/new missionary meeting. It went really well, and we learned a lot, and good analogies from President Holzapfel. He shared a great scriptures Exodus 3:6-8. the Lord sees, hears, and knows everything that we are going through. and he will deliver us! We shared that with a lot of people this week. Later that day we went to do mormon.org, and talked to like 7 different women afterwards while we were waiting for an appointment to get home. One of them knew a member and had lost contact with her. She had been wanting her number so we got hers and told her we would contact the member for her! She was so excited. Miracles! Later that day we got a referral from salt lake of a woman who had just moved from Indiana and had received all the lessons, just needs to be baptized! We contacted her and have an appointment with her this week. At craft night later that night- none of our investigators came, but 6 members did, and we got 3 referrals out of it! It is amazing how things don't work out the way you plan, but the Lord blesses you in other ways. As I have heard a member explain before. Don't complain or worry when you were asking for a steak and the Lord gives you a fish. We made earrings, and all of those women needed a break and said how it made their day. Sometimes we don't realize whose faith the Lord needs us to strengthen that day.
  • We taught Bobbie again this week, the lesson went well and we were able to go on a team-up with the stake president, who was the former ward mission leader of this ward. It went really well- we learned a lot from the way he taught and looked at the scriptures. It was really neat. and the other member we brought- Kristina bore a really strong testimony- it made everyone in the room go silent- you could hear a pin drop. She will be an amazing missionary.
  • Thursday we had a ton of plans cancel, but through some phone calls we filled up our night. We taught one of the less-actives, she hadn't come to church in 50 years, and you wouldn't know it with how excited she is about the gospel. She said " i just want to walk down the street and knock on all my neighbors doors to tell them about this church." Her mom wasn't open to reading the Book of Mormon, but she asked this member on Saturday if she could send her a copy! Crazy how much the Lord helps and inspires us.
  • We went out to Jasper this week as well, a small country town to contact a Hispanic man, He wasn't home, but we were able to help out the other Elders and meet some less-actives and their families, and contact others along the way. Our confidence is increasing in opening our mouths
  • Saturday we did a mini mission type thing with Kristina- we studied with her and then felt inspired to go to a members apartment complex. As we were walking to his place, right outside there were two Hispanic men who were painting. We started talking and I found out that one of them was really good friends with a member! He had tried to come to church about a year ago but never made it. He said he knows that change is a good thing, and that we don't have a lot of time because the Lord is coming, i was like, Exactly!! So taught him two principles of the restoration, and gave him the pamphlet and we set up an appointment for this Saturday. He really is interested, and his member friend was so excited on Sunday that we found him, he wants to come teach him with us. The Lord is in control of this work! We went out later that day to Bobbie's house in Gordo and ate a delicious southern meal with the whole family and saw their chickens- took pictures and played with the kids for a bit. It was fun to get to know their family a little better.
  • This transfer is over, but Sister Stahle and I really learned about loving people this transfer. We feel like we did a lot of prep work for the future Sisters that will be here, as we have gotten to know the members, and members who are returning to church. Miracles have happened, and I know that next transfer will be a big finding transfer- people are waiting to hear!!
Love you all! make it a great week,
Hermana Coleman

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Time is Flying!

This was a good week!
We were able to teach a good lesson with a member this week, and the investigator had some great questions. Turns out her dad had listend to the mormon missionaries before as well.
Two weeks ago we gave flowers (us and the elders) to a less-active. we went and saw her this week and she still had them!! She talked about them for 10 minutes and how much she loves them and it shows her God loves her. Invited her to conference, she has been a member for a while but has never been!
We taught another woman who God led us to at the Wal-Mart. She has a lot of friends who are Mormon and she is looking for a church right now! We were so excited and committed her to read the Book of Mormon with us on Thursday.
Lots of crazy things happened Thursday though- we were planning for investigators, and the two people i mentioned above dropped us, and so did another investigator. We were pretty sad, but I felt at peace because we opened our mouths to them, and even talked about baptism- which is what we are supposed to do in every lesson. It is better that they tell us then to keep wasting time. But as PMG says- as missionaries a lot of our job is to plant seeds for missionaries who will follow. The member whose friend dropped us was just happy that it went as far as it did. So that was a blessing.
We had an amazing lesson with Bobbie (part member family)- spirit really strong and she said she would be baptized when she has an answer. We will help her get one! With the help of the spirit. the member who comes with us to teach is our age and wants to go an a mission and she is loving the experiences she is having. We are going out with her all day Saturday so she can see the mission life (studies and all) and so we can go out the Bobbie's house and do service/have a BBQ and help fellowship. It will be great.
We are also doing a craft night tomorrow night. We have invited a couple members and they are bringing friends, and some investigators are coming, we are using it as a finding tool and we are really excited. We are making jewelry- a member has a lot of supplies and volunteered to help. We also invited some sisters so that they can all make more friends within the ward. it should be great, even if only a few come!
Highlight- Saturday we went out to Demopolis- about 70 minutes away from us. and met with a member out there, she had some referrals she wanted to take us to because there are not missionaries out there right now. So we went to a little city called Linden, and met some amazing people! First of all she is the mail carrier so she knows EVERYONE and their address (28 years working and still going strong...haha)We were driving in her truck and she said " We need to go see this family" and she took us straight there, we met two families there and the one person she didn't intend for us to meet is truly searching! we gave them Book of Mormon and committed them to read. Also met another sweet lady and her daughter who had a handicap- we taught her about Book of Mormon and the Atonement of Christ and how she can live with her daughter one day with a perfect body! Spirit came so strong, and her daughter even though she couldn't talk got really smiley and really animated- the Elders will be going out every other week so we can keep up with these people in person and over the phone. Great experience.
Learning a lot about early morning meetings (7:00am) and working with ward councils. Such cool experiences of learning how to help other leaders in the church.
I hope everyone had a good week, make it a great one!
Sister Coleman

Monday, March 4, 2013

"I'm as excited as a mexican jumping bean!"

So Sister Stahle and I are really trying to develop our southern accents....well she is so in the process she has convinced me it is a good idea. We have been noting a lot more southern phrases such as "I am fixin' to go to the store" or "Wait while I cut of the television" or "I'm as excited as a Mexican jumping bean." Which is my all time favorite. We are trying to write more down so stay tuned.
We had a fun zone activity on Monday where we played kickball......I was hoping the MTC would be the last of those embarrassing situations but it wasn't. Instead I enjoyed just laughing at the Elders and funny situations so it was a good time. We have been teaching in members homes a lot which has been good, and it is good for sister Stahle and I to practice teaching together. It is helping us. One family in particular wants us to teach all the lessons to them- we did lesson 1 on Monday and today we will teach lesson 2- the plan of salvation. We have a cool visual involving cardboard cut out circles rectangles. it is pretty great.
We have been visiting some people that the ward wanted us to see, and so we didn't get to teach a lot of them, but set up appointments for this coming week.
We have two investigators that are reading in the Book of Mormon, and have great questions. We are excited for them, and are now trying to help them pray and come to church. One almost came on Sunday but had a last minute obligation- there is still time!
We went to go teach a family out in Tuscaloosa, and we had about 45 minutes before we needed to be at their home so we did some tracting and met some people. It was fun to go tell the members about them and it got them excited. The member took cookies a couple of days later to one of the people we met- but put it at the wrong door.....at least they too felt some love!
We went out with a member and she helped us find some less-actives- turns out they had moved...and she showed us where some other members lived...good week!
We have a lot to look forward to this week. We have some good appointments set up- and one with a part member family that lives in Gordo- great name! haha. The work is starting to move forward slowly, it is comforting to know that whatever sisters are here next will have more to work from, and we are grateful for all the members are doing to help.
CES fireside was great, and we got some young single adult girls to come with us- and they tried to invite friends. we were so proud of them for inviting. sometimes that is the hardest part!
Learning a lot about submitting our will to the will of the Father. Is getting mentioned and talked a lot about- I know that is something to work on, and am really learning more how to apply that into missionary work and this mission that I am serving. This transfer is only 5 weeks, so only 2 more weeks!! There is a lot of work to do in that time and I look forward to pushing myself to do more.
Love you all! Make it a great week.
Hermana Coleman

Monday, February 25, 2013

Tuscaloosa!

Good week. We have been trying to get used to our new area, and day by day it gets better. We had a family home evening with some of the Spanish members- they shared the different principles of the gospel that converted them to the restored gospel and then we ate burritos and they told jokes...haha it was funny, they had a lot of good ones.
We also went out with a member to give a blessing to her friend- and at first the friend wasn't super open, then we gave the prayer and she was more friendly and said we could come back, her daughter also wants to listen, and said she likes listening to young missionaries because she feels she can relate...haha. We also gave some more blessings in Tuscaloosa but so far no one is progressing from there. We were able to give service to a young girl who is paralyzed from the neck down. She needs people to talk to, and the Lord put us in her path to help. Elders used to go over and help as well. We were able to contact some other member referrals and get to know some members in the ward- part member families, and less actives as well. We went and took flowers to a less-active for the Elders, she was feeling kind of down when we first got there, but after giving the flowers and sharing a short message to help her, her countenance was completely different, it was neat.
Friday we had a mission conference! It was amazing, we had 3 visiting authorities who were there, including Elder Christofferson. We were so blessed and I learned a lot. Before it started I was talking to Sister Schroeppel and she said "Oh!, did you know that Mariela is getting baptized today?"- she has been an investigator for the last 4 years and both of her sisters are members. I didn't believe her at all, I was so surprised! Missionaries have been trying to help her for a longgggg time!! Turns out we got permission to stay, especially because new missionaries need to see baptisms- and so we got to stay the day in Lorna, and teach lessons- I was able to go and teach Rebecca which was a blessing and the spirit came once again, the Lord really is helping her and I am so grateful for the experiences I have had with her. We visited/taught a couple of other people and then went to the baptism. Mariela seemed like a completely different person, she was so happy- even before she got baptized. I was so grateful it happened to be the weekend that we were already in Birmingham- such a blessing! My faith was definitely strengthened and it was a tender mercy from the Lord. Spirit was there very strong.
Sunday went well, we were able to set up some great appointments with members/less-actives and find out what the bishop wants from us as the missionaries in the ward.
Favorite part of the week: We got a referral from the Tuscaloosa elders to teach a woman named Betty. We went and she asked about what the Restoration means in respect to other religions. We told her about prophets, and the Joseph Smith story. The spirit came super strong and she said "So you are guided by a prophet....and my pastor is not a prophet?" We explained to her why, and she loved it! She loved the picture of the first vision, asked to keep it and ran and got a frame for it. We asked her if she would want to become a member of this church if it was true, she said yes! We gave her a book of Mormon, and she said she would read it before we came next Sunday. We already love her, she is so sweet and we were so happy after. She called the Elders after we left saying how happy she was and how she was going to try and come to church on Sunday. Miracle! We are excited to see the Lord work with her, and pray that she will continue to see and feel of the truth.
We look forward to another busy week, and hope that we can continue to bless these people as they bless us.
Love you all!
Sister Coleman


Tuesday, February 19, 2013

February 18, 2013

Hello everyone!
So transfers came and I am currently serving in the Northport ward (which has a Spanish group in it....a brother gave a talk in church yesterday in Spanish and it made me very happy, I felt that I was back at home in the Spanish branches) I am also training, which has forced us to really rely on the members and preach my gospel because 1. All the people I was teaching are not here....and 2. we have no previous knowledge of the area besides the 1 Elder who was not transferred out the of ward. But! missionaries do this all the time, transferred into new areas to pick up the work and serve the members. We enjoyed Sunday getting to know everyone and setting up appointments for this week. We have already had a member take us around today to explain the city of Northport, and another two days ago who explained Tuscaloosa to us :)
I have never had to do anything like this on my mission, but it is already teaching me a lot and causing me to have a lot of trust in the Lord.
My companion Sister Stahle is also from Bountiful, we both graduated from Woods Cross High, two years later than me! Everyone out here thinks it is hilarious. We are getting along super well and have a lot of things in common!
We are looking forward to having good lessons this week with some member referrals and really start tracting in some great neighborhoods.
Well more details next week! Make it a great week!
 

Hermana Coleman

 

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Lots of Rain!

This week has been full of a lot of rain, but it hasn't been very cold at all. I am loving this winter.
We had another good lesson with the recent convert Jasmin, she is very excited about being a member missionary and we have started teaching her how she can better share the gospel with others.
We got some good referrals from members this week, and more help from girls who are getting ready to go on Spanish speaking missions.
Funny story, we were waiting in a Mexican store parking lot to go visit an investigator with a member. While there we were able to make some calls, and while we were doing this our progressing investigator Stephanie and her sister pull up right by us( they were the ones we were going to see with the member...haha)! It was crazy, so we were able to talk to them for a bit- get some great daily contact in and set an appointment for the next day. Also, another member pulled in and we were able to talk to her about plans coming to her house the next day. Instead of going to the people the Lord brought them to us, we were laughing and very grateful.
Cristina is doing well, she came to church on Sunday, where they talked about temples and baptism again. Temples really interest her and we had been talking to her about them a lot lately, so it was perfect. She wants to know everything, keep learning before she will recommit to a date- she wasn't ready when her date came up and so we are now focusing on helping her recognize the answer she has already received. She knows the Book of Mormon is true, so we are excited for what is in store for her. Oh! So Christina had told us she didn't have very many winter skirts- she had one and it was the one she more to church two weeks before. So somehow Sister Schroeppel casually asked what skirt size she was and what length she liked....that night when our appointments fell through (same night we were in the Mexican store) we went to the American Thrift Store, biggest thrift store i have seen in my life....and found 6 skirts for her! we were so proud. While we were there we were able to open our mouths and talk to a really nice man about the gospel and things happening in his life.
We were able to talk to one of our neighbors this past week about the gospel- she has tried a lot of different religions, so we taught her a little more about ours and invited her to read the Book of Mormon, we will follow up with her today.
Great activity Sunday night- the branch president organized an activity for some of the families and investigators in the branch. We started out by watching this old 20 minute church movie- "What is real" it talked about how a new father was worried about being able to help his daughter know the purpose of life, and raise her the right way. The branch president got up after and testified that Christ can help them know the answer to these questions to help their children. They don't have to rely on him, or the missionaries, they can know it for themselves. Then I accompanied Sister Schroeppel while she sang "I Know that My Redeemer Lives." while people thought about a question or concern that they wanted answered for their family. It was beautiful and the spirit was very strong. The Lord can help anyone, and any family. He is constantly listening to our prayers and needs, and he has solutions. We just need to listen and humble ourselves so that we can hear, feel and apply the answers into our lives.
Transfers are this week, so we will see what the Lord has in store!
Have a fabulous week!
Hermana Coleman

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

February 4th, 2013

Good week, I have been trying to work more on Spanish this week, I have a goal to finish the book of Mormon in Spanish by the end of my mission by reading it out loud....it will happen! We are reading 6 pages a day as a mission and we are now in Mosiah- just read about Abinidai and Alma, I have learned a lot by applying their work/words to missionary work. They were very bold and testified over and over about Jesus Christ, Repentance, authority and baptism. They are great examples.
We were able to do some good work with members this week. We went out to Hueytown again with a member, and we had some good conversations. She is so strong in her testimony, and wants everyone to come to church, and return to church to feel what she feels. I love hearing her testimony and how many goals she has for herself and her children in the church.
We were able to go out with two other members this week. They are both trying to learn Spanish as they prepare for Spanish speaking missions. They love listening to it, and it is fun to help them speak and understand what is going on. The women we brought them to loved hearing their testimonies and it really helped in the work. Especially with Cristina and another women named Veronica. We see so many different personal situations and experiences, but time and time again we can testify of the same gospel, the same spirit, and the same Christ that they can receive the help, joy, peace, and comfort that they need.
We taught English class this week, and we had four people there, Sister Schoreppel and I split them off into two groups and helped them according to their own needs, and had a good lesson on the 1st half of the plan of salvation. We ended up sharing a part of the Book of Mormon that was one of the favorites of the member that was there- so inspired! We were able to testify of Jesus Christ and his importance of the plan, and how everything he has done is to keep us on the path. Good day!
We are still enjoying working with the recent converts in the area, both Spanish and English. I really do love doing both work. It just makes it so we can talk to even more people. That has still been one of my goals, to talk to more people about the gospel. People have heard about the church, but have questions. And we will be blessed as it says in Mosiah 15 to those who have "opened [their] mouths."
I love you all!! Have a great week :)
Hermana Coleman

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

January 28, 2013

This week started out with teaching a recent convert- Jasmin and member how to make lasagna, and while it was cooking we had a really good lesson about the temple. She has gone to do baptism, so we are trying to help prepare her for the rest of the blessings. She has a lot of questions and has felt the spirit confirm to her that the temple is the house of the Lord. She is excited and happy.
We had a lot of referrals this week for families, we look forward to keep contacting them this week to move forward with teaching them more.
We made a candy posterboard for one of our investigators, she had never seen one before (and she loves chocolate and gum) so she got super excited, took a picture of it and put it right on facebook. It was a good way to serve her and teach her according to her needs afterwards. Success :)
We went to a new trailer park this week, we saw everything from turkey's, chickens, roosters, and a peacock, yes, a peacock, and a dog with painted toenails roaming around the premesis. We officially named it Peacock Trailer Park, and we had some good laughs- lightened the mood on a overcast day. We were able to contact some of the elders investigators for them, and meet a nurse who had been taught by the missionaries before, we got her number and gave her as a referral to the sisters who live with us.
We were able to do some good less-active work, we are seeing success and people are opening their hearts to the Lord and his spirit to help change them. It is really neat to see!
Great news of the week, Cristina came to church!!!! We were so excited, it has been hard for our whole zone to get people church, and we are starting to see the Lord help people get there. We helped introduce her to more members, they were really good about talking to her and getting to know her. You could tell she felt peaceful. We taught her the day before, and she is reading the Book of Mormon and Bible more, and she says she feels very peaceful, you can tell too. Her demeanor has changed. We read part of MOsiah 2 with her, and helpede her apply it to her life. During the closing prayer one of the things she said is that she wants us to keep coming and teaching her. She is not ready to be baptized, but if she keeps acting, we know she will be. We love her a lot, and her kids- they are a beautiful family.
We have another investigator- Stephanie who is doing really well. She doesn't want a date yet, but she has really good questions and is reading hte Book of Mormon in spanish and english. We are teaching different members of her family as well because they all live close to each other. She wants to come to church so we are excited to see her there.
There are alot of good things happening here in Lorna. Members continue to be excited about missionary work and the duties they have. We have so much help from them, us serving each other- and them taking us clear out to Heuytown to visit people (40 min away) good time to strengthen each other and have good laughs. I love this area!
I hope everything is going well, I love you all and am so proud of all the members of my family and friends who are doing missionary work wherever you may be.
Love you!
Hermana Coleman

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

January 21, 2013

Highlights from this week! We had a really good lesson with a recent convert about the temple. It was funny experience, with a little bit of confusion, but once she started asking more questions and understanding our acting out the difference between not being sealed in this life and being sealed, the spirit came really strong. The less-active husband and wife who have started coming back to church invited us over to learn how to make papusa's. They are El Salvadorian and Sister Schroeppel was in heaven. We had such a good time visiting with them, getting to know them better and it was great. The Elders came and so did another member to eat the masterpieces! We were able to meet some of their children as well which was good. One of our investigators- Stephanie asked to know about why Mormon's believe in eternal families- we taught her about the temple, and testified to her about how she could be together with her husband and two kids forever. The next time we went to see her, she was really excited and she wants to keep learning more and come to church next Sunday! We are excited for her. We had an amazing experience tracting on Saturday, and lots of success! We were in a trailer park and felt there was one road we needed to knock. We came across a trailer and both felt we needed to knock it. We offered to bless her home, she let us in. Turns out she had a dream two nights before where her deceased father had told her he wasn't happy where he was, he needed to be somewhere else. She said she is so confused and not at peace. We promised her God sent us to her, we explained to her that he was still living and that we could help her know how to help him. She started crying and said we can come by again to teach her more. We will see her this week! It was a good Sunday as well. We had a really good gospel principles lesson- we only had 30 minutes, so we watched the 20 min Joseph Smith movie and had 3 members afterwards give their testimony about Joseph Smith and how the church is true. There was about 3 non members there and a lot of recent converts. It was a very peaceful class, and some of them got teary-eyed. I am so grateful for the testimonies of the members here, it helps so much in the work! We really did see a lot more success this week, members are coming out of the wood works from the different wards/branches offering their help. Those we are teaching are progressing and we are grateful that the Lord has led us to some people who really are open and want to learn more about their Savior. I am grateful for the doctrine of the Atonement. Many people do not understand it fully, but we are so blessed to have a Book of Mormon, living prophets, and personal revelation so that we can know exactly how to apply the Lord into our lives. We know that the Atonement covers his suffering in the garden of Gethsemene, the Cross, and most importantly his Resurrection. So much hope is given to everyone that has the desire to understand, and apply these teachings into their lives. I have a testimony of the gospel and of this work. The Lord helps us and gives us the strength we need everyday! I love you all! Have an amazing week! Hermana Coleman

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Great Weekend!

So we had a really neat weekend. We were able to see a re-organization of a Stake and hear amazing council from those who were sent. It is amazing to see the process of the Lord choosing his servants, and where he needs them, and at what time. I learned a lot, we also had a Gulf Coast Conference and Elder Cook and Elder Scott spoke. Elder Cook used a conversion story from our mission, and we received a lot of good council from all of them. We have a lot of young girls here in the area who want to come out on splits with us. We are lucky to have their help, some of them have already been called to Spanish speaking missions. We were able to help Cristina again this week, we found out that she is friends with a member who lives in her same trailer park, and who is willing to help her come to church. We talked to Cristina who is really excited to come, and we were able to bring another member with us who has a strong testimony and was able to share with Cristina about how the gospel has changed her life. The Lord is really helping make things happen with her. We are excited!! We were able to do service for Rebecca this weekend as well, we had a lot of fun with her, and it was good for us to spend that time with her. Sister Schroeppel and I had an interesting week as well, it is amazing how the Lord tests your diligence and faith- but you still know that he is working with you even when things don't go as planned. He wants to make us think, and really want this gospel for people. Like Elder Liston said, sometimes the adversary gets in the way. But we just have to have faith that one day, these great families will be able to accept the gospel and be sealed in the temple. We are moving forward as a mission and really trying to be exactly obedient. Obedience has also been sticking out a lot for sister Schroeppel and I as we study. It is amazing how even though we don't do it perfectly, the Lord still gives us his spirit and lets us repent. The Plan that Heavenly Father really does makes us free! I love the feeling that the spirit gives, and how he helps us learn so much. I know that this is Christ's church here upon the earth, I can feel it! It is beautiful, and I love it. I love you all! Make it a great week :) Hermana Coleman

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Long Time No Write!

Hello everyone, So these past couple weeks have been great. First of all I am staying in Lorna again!!! 5th transfer- oh yeah. Sister Schroeppel and I are staying together, but we have two new sisters living with us who are over the Hoover and Alabaster ward. They are great and it will be a great transfer! Highlights: Cristina and her daughter have a baptismal date for next month. Christina is great and has started to read the book of Mormon, has a lot of questions, and really wants to do what God wants her to do. Jessica :) - She also wants to follow God and have more peace in her life, she has two little girls and they are very giggly....we laugh at them and have fun. She accepted a Book of Mormon, said she would read, so we are excited to follow up this week. One of the couples in the ward had not been able to come to church in a long time because of work, and they don't have a car. Well they both came to church two Sundays ago, and she loved it! (he had been coming earlier), she shared her testimony on how the Hermanas had been coming to see them, and helped her grow the desire to come and ask for work off, and how she was so happy to be there. They still need to be sealed in the temple so it is so neat to see the Branch now involved with them. Miracle! We have been trying to do a better job at talking to everyone. We have meet some really nice people, and even though we had not been able to teach them a full lesson- we give out mormon.org card and their faith has been strengthened. We have been asking for more members help in the work, and we have been blessed by their testimonies. We had one come teach her friend about the importance of church (she is the primary president) so she was able to help give comfort to her friend on what she would feel there, and how she would be blessed. This investigator also shared that ever since we had been coming, she has felt more peaceful, and calm- in difference aspects of her life. We testified it was the spirit, and she could have it, even when we weren't there! good lesson. It is really neat to know that as members of the church, we are so blessed to have the Spirit of the Lord be our companion, so we really can help and bless those around us. During companionship study we had a neat realization. Everything we do is to get us back to our father in Heaven. All the commandments, everything! He wants us to be ready and prepared to live with him. I feel so blessed for that knowledge, and that I am able to learn that here, in Alabama, as a missionary. I love you all! make it an amazing week!