June 25th

Some great things are happening here in the mission! There is a lot of growth and learning going on which is great. We had a great week, Sister Belford     and I. We had a temple family night on Monday with recent converts to prepare them for temple night last Friday. It was great because we had about 5 members there to help explain things and give testimonies! We officially have no more furniture (couches, chairs, extra chairs, coffee table) the mission was giving the unused furniture to people who needed it.  We had fun seeing how much our apartment echoed that night. Friday was one of the greatest days I have had here on the mission.  We have district meeting every Friday where we get together and discuss ways to help our investigators, and then learn something from Preach My Gospel, and then role-play.  So we had been struggling this past week with helping one of our investigators strengthen their testimony, to be ready for baptism.  That is what we talked about in the meeting!  I think our district leader is inspired or something. We talked about things that we need to do and they need to feel in order to gain a testimony.  Faith, create the right atmosphere, help them recognize they are feeling the holy ghost, teach them how to use prayer, testify of things we know, promise them blessings that will come, and be simple! It was great to hear new ideas, and realize the places in our teaching that we need to improve on. After that we went to one of our areas, and went to visit a new investigator.  She is English, she has a great sprit and desire to learn what God wants and needs her to do in her life, after the hard life she has already had.  We taught her a short lesson- about 20 minutes, and the spirit was so strong- we used all of the things we need to help the investigator feel the spirit, and teach her to HER needs, and it was amazing!! She even said "I feel so good right now inside, at peace." I about jumped out of my seat with excitement- That is the spirit!! wow it was such a needed experience, and it made the other experiences we had better that day too. I am so grateful for the leaders we have, preach my gospel, and practice that helps us realize our role as missionaries and what we need to do better.  Saturday we played soccer with the branch, lots of kids there playing too so I only made a little fool of myself trying to play....Great Sunday as well, learned a lot about being patient and we talked about Elder Uctdorf's talk from this last conference.  I had a lot of things to learn from those lessons- and I am so grateful for them, and hearing the experiences from members and investigators in Relief Society. They help me so much! Sometimes I sit there and am surprised I know what is going on.  It is getting easier and easier to understand - mostly gospel conversations- and the speaking is coming along as well.  I have a lot of work to do but I love the language! We are meeting so many different people, and I am so grateful for the opportunity! I have been thinking a lot this week about how much more can happen if we work harder, and focus on the goal, and do everything we can to make things happen. the Lord will bring more miracles and blessings than we think when we have faith in him, are obedient and put our mind fully in the work.  I am so grateful to be here, to be there when people need God in their lives.  That is why we are here, to be there when people need that change, and if us as missionaries are ready, we can be the instruments to change peoples lives.  What a overwhelming task! But we all have this opportunity in our own lives with our families as well. I love you all! Make it a great week, and I can't wait to see pictures from Savannah's baptism.  So special!!
Hermana Coleman

Happy Wedding!

This was a great week- Maria and Juan got married!!! My first Spanish wedding! Super fun, and we were able to help her get ready and make that day special for their family.  We had investigators and recent converts there so it was fun having everyone get to know each other, and for us to get to know other people better as well! We also learned that it is possible for the relief society to plan a wedding in a week and a half....who knew?
Sister Belford and I have been doing great, we are meeting  a lot of new people and figuring out how to become better missionaries together. We laugh a lot, which helps keep us happy and realize that some things are just out of our control.  We have planned a family night tonight with the Elders and recent converts and two families in the branch.  We are  going to be teaching about the temple because it is branch temple night on Friday, we want them to understand how they can prepare now, to enter the temple in a year.  We are really excited for it and hope it will help encourage them and strengthen our relationships within the branch. Speaking of temples, we were able to go this week as a Zone, which was a really neat experience!
Great things are happening in our branch, and I am really grateful that the Lord is patient with us as we try to find those he has prepared to hear the gospel.  It is amazing how he helps you love the people, and realize how much we need to improve so we can teach them the best we can, and help them improve their lives. Two of my favorite chapters this week that I was able to study is Mosiah 15 and John 15.  The Lord is our friend, he wants us to know that! He wants to help us, test us, try us, because he knows what is best for us.  He is the only way to happiness and eternal life.  He is the only person who can help us see what we are missing, when we are looking beyond the mark, worrying about things that don't matter, and how we are his disciples, and because of this he is willing to do anything to help us.  He has already done everything- he sacrificed his life for us, and so of us it is required to sacrifice some things for ourselves to understand more of what he did for us. Prophets since the beginning of time have testified of his sacrifice, and how it is the only way for us to be happy, become better and have eternal life.  Through Him!
I am still grateful for the lessons the Lord is giving me here on the mission.  I couldn't get the ones I need anywhere else, so that is definitely why I am here. I am grateful for the lessons the Lord is teaching me about sacrifice, and understanding my calling as a missionary more.  Dallin H. Oaks said that a religion that does not require one to sacrifice all things, does not produce the faith necessary for exhaltation and eternal life.  Yo se que Dios quiere que pongamos nuestro confianza en El. Al sacrificar las cosas en nuestras vidas, el va a darnos muchas bendiciones, y consuelo. 
I love you all!
Los Quiero!
Make it a great week, and know that I am probably hotter here than i have ever been in my life.
Love,
Hermana Coleman

3rd transfer....time is flying!!

So transfers were this past week- I am still in Altadena!! I am so excited to stay here, and continue to teach the people and get to know the members better.  Sister Oman and Schroeppel left to different areas and will be working in English wards and doing Spanish work.  Big responsibility and we are excited for them!  I am with Sister Belford for a 3rd transfer(lucky her haha), and the two elders in our branch are still here.  So Maria was baptized on SATURDAY! She is amazing, the whole week leading up to her baptism she was saying how peaceful she felt and ready to be baptized.  I know it was the spirit working with her and HER desire to follow Christ and act on the feelings she was receiving.  We were just there to help guide her and let her know what Christ wanted her to do so she could follow him and accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  It was a great weekend and so neat to see two Maria's added to the branch!! Maria's wedding will be this weekend, the relief society is going in full force to make it a great wedding- we are all so excited and Sister Belford and I are pretty much super excited to be here to see it!
The Hispanic people are still continuing to teach me a lot:
1.That fried is always the way to go haha- Their food really is so DELICIOUS.
2.How to make gorditas- an investigator taught us and I think i got second degree burns on my finger tips from trying to flip tortillas.... but it was worth it!
3.How to have fun- to be happy!! The members of our branch are always happy, laughing and making me laugh in turn.
4.To talk slower...haha even in Spanish I mumble and talk 1,000 miles per minute. (A man we talked to yesterday suggested that :)- so did my companion about 7 weeks ago....)
5.To love, family are very important to them, and they realize the importance of family and how to work hard for them. 
6.All day yesterday we learned something about life from every person we met , about how they have lived, and what they have learned from life.  I don't think they realize that they help us, give us encouragement and help us be happy.  One man we met talked a lot about your attitude in life, where it gets you and how it will help you be so much happier when you have  a good attitude about what is around you. I have also heard experiences of good Christian people who are the way they are because of realizations they had during life that Christ is what is important.  Living the principles that he teaches is what really is important in life.
I know that I have been called here, to be where I am and to serve these people for a reason.  Through them I will be able to grow so much, when I apply the lessons I have learned from them, and the lessons that Christ tries to teach me every day.  It is a lot easier to be stubborn and do it my way, but when I do that, it doesn't ever turn out nearly as good as when I follow and pay attention to what Christ KNOWS will be better. He is still teaching me each day, and I am grateful for the patience he has with me, and with all of us!
I love you all,
make it a great week and thank you for everything!!
Love,
Hermana Coleman

LOVE the Rain, the Food and the People!

So this week has been pretty crazy, but really good- I don't remember half the things that happen, but our days are filled with many things to try and get done! We are meeting a lot of super great, nice people- a couple people were put into our path this week- where we were able to just listen to them, and teach them a couple principles from lesson 1- one man started crying because of the things he is going through- and another said "Wow thank you ladies, I really needed someone to listen to me today!" Those are the times that make you feel SUPER good, and know that you at least touched someone that day.  Things are going well in the Branch- I still am loving all the members, and they are helping me be more loving and have fun here in Alabama.  It is amazing how we are all from different parts of the world, but we can all help each other, and strengthen each other.  Super neat.
Today was pretty much the best exercise time we have had- so we decided to go ride bikes for our exercise (not in skirts thank goodness) and it was kind of overcast- so we were riding down this beautiful trail with trees and a river- and it starts POURING rain- yeah it was pretty much the best bike ride ever- we got to ride through huge puddles and sing "give said the little stream" super cheesy I know but we had a blast. Yesterday there was a crazy rain storm- so a man let us into his new Laundromat to wait it out. That day we talked to everyone we saw- and had a lot of lessons because of it! Super neat, all the people you can meet and talk to and try to uplift and help them understand our church better. We give out mormon.org cards with profiles they can watch- specific url's which is really neat!
People are still feeding us so much, it is kinda crazy- and they are trying to help me become "acustombrada" to the spicy food.....it is working!! haha.
Sacrament meeting was so great- testimonies were beautiful- and they talked a lot about missionary work- we were all crying- great for the investigators to see and feel of the sweet spirit that comes into the meetings.  I loved it! The others meetings talked a lot about missionary work as well- there were a lot of investigators at church- members there, and relief society was full! So fun to share testimonies, and meet people.
Maria is super ready to get baptized this week! We are so excited and will be coordinating with the Elders because one of their investigators is getting baptized as well! The Branch is growing with faithful members- which increases my faith as well, and makes me want to work harder to help and strengthen the branch as they help us.
I am still learning a lot- trying to become a better missionary, companion, and example of Jesus Christ.  We shared a scripture in companion ship study today with the four of us sisters- in Phillipans 4:11- talks about being content with wherever you are in life- in that moment- don't look to the past, or the future.  Prepare for them, and learn from them, but be happy, and try to become a better person in the situation you are in- the lord will bless us and we will be able to grow more than we know!!
Love you all! Make it a great week- watch some mormon.org profiles they are so inspiring!
Hermana Coleman

Hello Everyone!

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

Hermana Coleman

Fun Week!

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

Feliz Dia de Las Madres

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

Hermana Coleman