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