Week Dalawampu-Apat (24)

Hello Po family!

This week has been a great week!  We were able to meet the standard of
Excellence and teach 35 people!  It was so fun, and we found 9 new
investigators!  Heavenly Father has blessed us with a wonderful last
week together as a companionship!  Yep you read it, it was our last
week.   I am getting transferred tomorrow!  I am so sad to leave my
first, wonderful and most beautiful area!  I have loved serving in
Tabaco Branch!  I love the members, and my investigators that I have
gotten to know so well.  I  love that I have the opportunity to serve
a mission  and Invite othes to come unto Christ!  I love the work of
the Lord, and being one of His full-time servants has brought me the
greatest joy!

Okay, so I am really excited to transfer, meet my new kasama and meet
the people in my area!  I have been nervous about transferring, but I
have prayed that it won't be too hard!  I'm excited for this transfer!
 I'm so nervous though... Well, it'll all be fine!  I'm sad to leave
my area and sister Tou!  I have learned so much from her, from the
short 6 weeks we were together.  We got to sing in Sacrament meeting
yesterday, and everyone was like, "Perang angels!"  So apparently we
sounded like angels.  We definitely had some helping us then!!  It was
a fun experience!!

Well, I am sorry that there are no pictures today!  Next week I'll
send more stories and pics!  I love the work, and I am soooooo happy!
I really am, and I can't get enough of the work of the Lord!  I love
you all!  the church is true!

Love, Sister Coleman

Dalawampu-Tatlo (Week 23)

Hello Everyone!

I sure hope the number...in Tagalog is right.  Hindo ko po marunong mag-tagalog...so thats why I'm not too good at the numbers. ;)  (I don't really know, or am good at Tagalog.)  Anyways, how is everyone??  I really hope you are all doing quite fantastic and wonderful...because I am!  I have to say, I just LOVE my mission!  I love learning, teaching, trying to speak in Tagalog, eating new delicious food, feeling the spirit-individually, as a companionship, and especially in lessons; and I love everything else about my mission!  I really do know that I have been called by God, to come and be His missionary in the Philippines.  I love letting people know that the Gospel, the PURE and TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored!  I love teaching the gospel, and the simple doctrines.  Oh it is so wonderful, or gahanga-hanga, being a missionary!!

So this week has been very good!  I have learned a lot!  Oh, we are teaching this lady, Fely, in Relocation, and she is so awesome!  We taught her the Plan of Salvation, or Ang Plano ng Kaligtasan, and she was so prepared.  She has been reading and praying, and is so interested.  While we were teaching her, I felt like we should invite her to baptism, but I wasn't sure what sister Tou was feeling, and she was the one talking and stuff, right then.  Anyways, I prayed that she would be able to be on the same page as me, and invite sister Fely to binyag.  Well, she did!  And!!!  Sister, Fely, before we were even done with the invitation was like, "Opo!!!" and then asked how she can be baptized and stuff.  She understands what we have taught her... or what the spirit has taught her.  Oh, but I do love it, when Sister Tou and I are both feeling the exact same thing, and it does happen quite often.  It is also so wonderful, and such a faith builder, when I can feel the spirit working through me...or the other way around.  I just love being a missionary, and I wouldn't trade this special time for anything!

Well, we had zone Training this week.  We learned about becoming Master Gospel Teachers, like Christ is.  It was a great training!  The things I need to work on...whew many!  I need to study the simple doctrines of the gospel, a lot more.  I need to always do the "5 P's" as Elder Arden of the Area Presidency would say.  "Proper, Prier, Preparation Proceeds Power."  So, as a companionship, we really need to work on Proper, Prier, and Preparation!  The lessons to people are so much more spirit filled and effective when we prepare, and both really know whats going on.  I love teaching the gospel, so why don't I just do Proper, Prier, Preparation, that makes the lessons so much more wonderful! Well, I will be making better lesson plans and finding scriptures and answers for my investigators and Less Actives.  I am excited to change, and improve.

We had exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders on Saturday.  I was companions with Sister Pareja in her area.  I learned a lot!  I really need to work on How To Begin Teaching. Okay, we're not horrible at it, but we can work on doing it better.  I want to be better at letting people know MY purpose as a missionary, and how the gospel can really help and better their lives and their family's lives.  I actually LOVE the first visit and lesson with people.  I like using HTBT, and then telling them about God, and His Plan for them and their family, and then telling them how the gospel has blessed my family!  Mom and Dad, thank you, thank you thank you, for letting me grow up in a Gospel and Christ centered home!  The gospel really does bless families, every single one!  Well, I am excited to become a better teacher and missionary!

Oh, while we were walking, on the day of exchanges...guess what??  I stepped in dog pooh.  Gross!  Actually, I am so pleased to announce that I have stepped in Dog pooh here, than I have any time or any where else in my life!  There is dog pooh everywhere! Oh, it was funny, but gross at the same time.  Oh the blessings of going on exchanges! ;)

Well, I love you all!  I love the beautiful gospel of Jesus Christ, and I know that through living the gospel, we can all have a complete fullness of Joy!  I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is central to God's plano para sa atin, and I know that we need to use it and rely on it to reach our full potential, and happiness!  There are no words to describe the joy I have from being a missionary, and an instrument in the hands of God!  I love God's plan of each and every one of His beloved Children, ALL OF US!!  I know that we are all children of God, and that He know's us individually!  I love the Ebanghelo ni JesuCristo, at alam ko po na ito ay totoo!  Maraming salamat po sa inyo para sa lahat ang tulong at support!  Mahal ko po kayo lahat!

Love, Sister Coleman

This is Sister Tou and I...need I say more?  We got new P.J's in Legazpi! :) And my favorite picture..it's of my new pillow and I...oh and Sister Tou.  I haven't been sleeping with my old pillow since I went to the doctors, because of my bites.  Well, I got a new pillow, so now I can have pillow-bug-less sleepful nights. :) YAY!!

Sister McCoard and I at zone training.  All the kids, and people here love looking at the pictures we take.  They all get so excited about seeing a picture, it is so cute and precious!  Well, Yes even all the sisters in the Tabaco Branch fit on a tricy! :)

Did I tell you that I can drive Tricies?? ;) This is exchanges and a baptism. :)  

Yes, we made donuts!  They we so masarap, and so soft and perfect!  We are so making a bakery and donut shop pagkatopos ang mission namin! It was fun making donuts, and they were really good...you can just see our excitement right?? :)

Week Dalawampu-Dalawa (22)

Hello Po!

Okay, so I might just start using Spanish numbers, because they use them more than Tagalog numbers.  haha!  Well, this week has been interesting! We've had some great lessons, and visits!  There's this girl who is on a search for the truth, and I hope that she realizes and prays to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, and what she needs!  There is also this couple in our really far away area, who are great!  We invited them to baptism on the 5th of April, but that will all depend on them coming to church.  I really hope they will act on their faith, and I hope that God will bless them with pamasahe! (Thats the money for travel.)  The people in this area are great, and are so prepared, but just don't have pamasahe! :(  I hope we can figure out a way to help them! 

Oh man, so at one of our lessons, we were sitting down on their bench thats hooked onto some trees.  Anyways, it had been raining earlier, and so things were damp.  Well, sister Tou and the lady were sitting down, and then I sat down and the lady fell down...with the bench.  Oh man, I like broke their bench.  I feel so bad!! (But I couldn't help laughing...of course where she couldn't see.)  It was so bad, and funny at the same time!  I hope that she forgives me for being fat.  Well, she still seems to be progressing, so thats good! :)

Oh, happy Birthday to Heather, Mom, Leo and Caleb!  (And Josh...but I'll send some kind of picture next week for him.:)  I celebrated it here for you.  There was a nice lady who gave us the balloons when we went and baught the candles.  She said to say Happy Birthday for her! :)  The cake was good...but I'm sure all of yours was geereat! :)  Anyways, happy birthday, and I hope that you all got your bday cards!  I love you all so much!

 

Family, I hope you know that the Bingo game you sent me, is in good use! :)  We played in with the Boridors, and whoever lost...or didn't get a bingo, got lipstick put on their face.  Well, yes, I apparently didn't do too well. ;)  But, the lesson was good, and related to the game....and they understood and participated!  Yay for Book of Mormon Bingo! Thank you!!!!  

So this family, the Bonaobra's, I love them  sooooo much!  Anyways, they let us help them make donuts and these other masarap things!  It was so much fun with them, and I will miss them when I leave this area.  Anyways, I learned some donut making tricks, and stuff. We're soooo making donuts one of these days, with different creative things!  I love how creative the people are here!  Seriously, they use their brains!  Well, the donuts were great, and the lesson with them was too!  

 

OKay, about the gross picture of my neck...yes, I got eaten by something during a night.  We weren't sure what it was, so the mission presidents wife told us to travel to Leagspi to the dermatologist.  She told us it was just bug bites.  We celebrated by going to McDonalds! :)  I have never been so excited for McDonalds in my life!  After a few days of some special soap and lotion, my neck is feeling a lot better, and doesn't itch like crazy!  

 

I love the work of the Lord.  It makes me sooooo happy!  I have never been happier in my life, and I can't believe that I have already been out on my mission for 5 months on the 9th.  Time flies so fast!  I love the gospel, and how much it has blessed and continues to bless my life.  I love helping others have that happiness in their lives, through the gospel.  Please pray for missionary opportunities, and grab them when they're there.  Missionary work has no substitute.  Be the best example you can be, by living the gospel the best you can.  The gospel is true, and has been restored.  I know that the Priesthood and Authority of God is real!!  I am sooooo excited for conference!  Please prepare yourselves and live the gospel.  I love you all so much!  

Love, Sister Coleman

 

Weej Dakawampu-isa (21)

Hello po Everyone!

This week has been really good.  I love this new area that we have found!  The people are so prepared!  Okay, so the Delfin family, from last weeks e-mail...so Sister told us that after we left from our first or 2nd lesson, Brother read the BOM until he went to sleep.  He also played with the kids at night (and he doesn't ever really do that.), and he is already in Jacob.  Holy cow, this family is amazing...and it's a whole family!  Man, I just love the people here.  They are really the most selfless people.  They know that we are "Rich" and have plenty of food and stuff, but they still give us all they can.  I love these Christ-like and wonderful people.  I have come here to the best place, to help me become humble.  These people really know what it means to serve, from their hearts!  I learn so much everyday.

We had a family home evening with the Calleja family.  Oh it was wonderful!  I have a strong testimony of FHE.  Every family needs to make that an essential weekly activity.  I know that through FHE families become closer together, and closer to Christ.  Always have FHE, even though it is hard sometimes. 

Oh so we had a mission Tour this week with Elder Ardern, who's in the Philippines area presidency.  Oh man, I learned so much.  I have a lot to improve on, and I am excited for it!  Sister Tou and I have been trying to apply what we learned to our teaching and studying, and it has helped.  It was also fun, because I got a package from Deseret Book/mom and dad.  Thank you for the gifts!! :)  I will definitely play the game with the kids here!  They will love it!  I also gt to see Sister Siola'a.  It was so fun talking and "catching up" with her.  She's a great missionary, and taught me so much!  I miss her, but I love my new companion too!

Well, I just want to let you all know that I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints is true, and it was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith.  I know that the same Church that Christ established a long time ago, is on the earth once more.  It is true and we have the fulness of the gospel!  I love the gospel with all of my heart!  I love serving the Lord in this capacity!  I am so happy being a missionary for the Lord!  Please share the happy message of the restored gospel!

Love, Sister Coleman

On our way to the mission Tour with Elder and Sister Arden.  The kids in my new favorite area: Relocation.  And me, in from of the rice drying on the road.  The rice looks like wheat, then the yellow stuff falls off as it dries, and then it's masarap Rice! :)

People leaving from Church.  Forget about a car, the whole family can fit on a motorcycle...or a pajuck.  There are at least 7 people on the padjuck.  And then, the picture with bus in, is the Berces family.  They're an L.A family.  We love them!