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

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

 

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

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