Week Labing-Dalawa (12)

Hello family and Friends!!  Kumusta po kayo?

Well, this week was a great one!!  Wow, I can't think of anything we did.  We had Christmas and that was a lot of fun.  It was a little sad not being with you all, and doing our Christmas Traditions and stuff.  But, with the ward here, we had a Christmas Eve dinner with the Brizuela's and then on Christmas, we had dinner with the son of the Brizuela's.  It was a lot of fun!  We played uno...and I won, one game.  Man, it's been a while since I played that..and I'm telling you, I got a little, well like myself when I play games. (You all know how that is...right??  Okay, I wasn't too crazy! maybe...)  It was a lot of fun being with a family for Christmas.  I love the branch that I'm in!  

So, our Christmas tree...well I made it on Christmas Eve while Sister Siola'a was in the shower or something.  I surprised her with the "Loveliest" tree ever!  Hopefully I can get a picture of it on the e-mail for you!  It was a fun and memorable 1st Christmas away from home!  The call with the family was so great on the day after Christmas, for me.  I enjoyed talking with you, hearing your voices and seeing your smiles. :) It made me really happy!  I hope all of your Christmas's were filled with love and peace.  We definitely had that here!  

Let's see, as of last night we kind of have 4 people with baptisimal dates!  They are both sets of couples.  Let me tell you, thats such a blessing!  2 of the dates are that family, who had the date for the 28th of December, but now hopefully for the 25th of January.  The other couple is a wonderful couple.  They have the cutest kids.  I had a special experience last night as we were teaching them.  Okay, so the husband is sick right now, and who knows how long.  His Kidney is where he's sick, so it's really sad.  Last night was the first time we taught the sister, with Him.  I think their hearts are softening.  Well, we felt impressed to teach them about how the Gospel Blesses Families.  It was what they needed to hear.  When we invited them to baptism, they both, even the guy, shook his head.  I really hope that the spirit was able to touch their hearts.  While we were teaching I had the vision on them, as a family, all in white, in the temple, being sealed for all eternity.  It was sacred to me.  I know that the temple is real!  I know that families can be together forever, only in and through living the gospel, and being sealed in a temple of God.

Well, our branch had a Christmas party that was so fun!  The sisters sang an arrangement of "Once there was a snowman," but we changed it to "Once there was a sister."  It was so fun, I'll try and send the lyrics next week...I forgot them.  We also sang "Called to Serve."  Wow, I totally felt the spirit!  I love missionary work!  So we had 2 or 3 in-active families come.  We also had 2 of our investigators come, with their families.  I think they were touched by the branch and the spirit that was there.  

Well, I better go now.  I love all of you!  I know the Simbahan Ni JesuCristo is true!!  I love the Lord's work, and I love being a full-time missionary!  It's the best thing I can be doing in my life right now!  I hope you all can feel of the Saviors love, everyday.  Trust in God!  Put him FIRST!!!  I love you!

Love, Sister Coleman

Week Labing-isa (11)

Hello Po!!

This week was so great!  We had pday, then on Tuesday all the trainers and trainees had a training meeting all day.  We got up and drove 45 minutes to Legazpi city, and then started the meeting at 10.  It was so fun to see and talk to them aftr a month of being in the field.  We're all a little different in a better way! :)  Well the training was great, and after we went to the Pacific Mall, and got Mcdonalds sundaes.  It was so delicious!  I miss getting those, every so often! haha!  The next day, we got up really early and then went to Legazpi again for the mission Christmas conference.  It was a lot of fun to see all of the 164 missionaries there!  I learned a lot and felt the spirit tons!!  

So after 2 or 3 days of not doing real missionary work, I was ready to get back in business!  I love Missionary work, and after 3 "Idle" days, I needed and wanted to do it even more!  I love teaching people about the gospel, and seeing people change and come unto Christ!  The atonement is real, and changes us!

So on Saturday, there was a baptism, and I got to play the piano.  I also got to sing a musical number with my companion and some other ladies in the branch.  As I was singing "I feel my Saviors love" I felt an overwhelming feeling of love for the people here.  I felt a little glimpse of the love that God has for them!  I am so grateful for that special moment that I had, that was from God.  It was amazing!  

So I was supposed to give a talk on Sunday, but the Branch President forgot to tell me that He was going to extend it to next week.  Well, I sat up on the stand for the whole sacrament meeting, so I looked pretty stupid.  It was funny though.  I did end up saying the closing prayer, so I was good for something! haha! ;)  

Oh, so an embarrassing moment... Sister Siola'a and I were walking down some stairs at the store, and we were laughing about something.  All of the sudden, well I was falling down the last few stairs, and the next thing I knew, I was laying on the floor, pretty much.  It was so funny!  We just laughed at what had just happened, and also, the reaction of the people who saw!  Oh, I love those funny crazy and embersing moments, that make life great! :)  

Well, I want to wish you all a merry Christmas!  This Christmas season has been a little different for me.  I have really tried to focus on the real reason why Christ was born.  I am so grateful that He as born, so that we can have the Atonement.  As I have thought about it, "Sacrament songs" have become more like "Christmas" songs to me.  Those songs really explain the purpose Christ was born.  I love Jesus Christ.  I know that He lives and Loves each of us!  He is our only hope!!

I love you all!

Love, Johannah 

Week Sampu (10)

Kumusta Po Kayo??

This week has been pretty good.  It was kind of challenging because all of our investigators were so busy and/or were gone when we came to give them lessons.  It's sad that they are too busy to listen to the message of happiness!  I wish they, actually I wish we would ALL put God first!  We would all be much more happy, peaceful and successful, if we would put God first!!

Okay so in my studies this week I was studying about conversion, and I found some characteristics of converted people, in true to the Faith. I love that book! Well, 1. They desire to do good, continually. (Mosiah 5:2, Alma 13:12) 2. They share the gospel (Mosiah 18:1; 27:32-37, Alma 10:1-12; 15:12) 3. They do not rebel against the Lord. (Alma 23:6-7) 4. They are filled with love. (4 Nephi 1:2, 15-17 Moroni 7:45).  So, strive to develop these simple traits, and you will be able to become more converted.  Also, to protect yourself from falling away, or heeding to Satan, here are some steps, also from True to the Faith. 1. Keep your covenants.  2. Obey the commandments! 3. Follow church leaders. 4. Partake of the Sacrament. 5. Constantly strengthen your testimony through: Daily Scripture study, Daily Prayer, and daily service.  

These are all very simple things!  Do them, become converted to the Gospel of our Savior!!  I love this Gospel so much!  I cant to become the daughter of God, He wants me to be, through the gospel!

Okay, so lets see...happy Birthday to Sarah and Nathan!!!  Also, happy anniversary to mom and dad!!  You are amazing parents, and wonderful examples!  I love you all!  So, random fact...sister Siola'a and I went to a place to use the bathroom...but when we saw that you had to pay 5 whole piso's for the "Services" we decided to hold it all in, and wait till we got home. Haha!  I am not going to pay 5 piso's for no toilet paper, and no toilet seat!  haha...

We made spaghetti this week!  Sobra masarap!  I love spaghetti!  We had some "Legazpi rolls" with it.  The weirdest thing happened this week, we came home, and I was about to wash my hands...but there was wala (no) water.  Yep, we had no water for almost 2 days.  Good thing we had lots of stored water. :)  Well, we have water now and I will tell you, I LOVE showers even if they're cold! 

There's an inactive family here, I love them!  I feel like I can just speak Tagalog there, and they will just help me and be patient with me.  Well, we have a deal.  They will memorize the Articles of Faith in Ingles, and Sister Siola'a and I will memorize them in Tagalog.  I'm a little nervous, but I hope we can do it!  Pray for us!!!

Well, I love you all!  I know that the church is true!  I know that the gospel makes people happy!  I know that we are all Children of God.  He loves each and everyone of us!  The Atonement is for all!!  I love you all, and you are in my prayers! Love, Sister Coleman  

  

Week Shum (9)

Hello Everyone! Kumusta po kayo?

This week has been good.  We’ve had our really really good days, and
then we’ve had those other kind of days.  All in all, I love being
here on my mission!  I am supposed to be here!  I love missionary
work!  So lets see, what did I do this week that is new??  Well, I
went on exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders on Wednesday.  I
went with Sister Evans, she’s from New Zealand and is really nice, and
so good in Tagalog.  I learned a lot from her and I had a lot of fun
with her.  I was in her area, so I was again, completely lost like I
was the first day in my own area.  It was kind of funny. Man, I
remember the first day was like I was in Mars!  I didn’t know anyone
and didn’t understand anyone!  I’m just not gonna re-do that day. ;)
So they spent all of Wednesday with us, then they spent the night as
well, and left the next morning.  It was fun, and I will do it again
soon, well I think next transfer.

On Friday, we had zone training.  It was awesome!!  I took a picture
of my zone, but I forgot my SD card reader, and my cord for my camera.
 So, I only have 1 new picture that I took this week.  And, so I’ll
try and add some of the ones I couldn’t send before.  Sorry!  And, the
internet is super slow here, especially on my computer!  I had to
switch computers because it has taken like the 45 minutes, and my
e-mail is not even loaded yet!!  I hope next pday is better.

Okay, so I’ll stop complaining.  I’m sorry, yet again.  We’ve had some
really good experiences this past week.  We were teaching to a less
active lady, and she felt the spirit.  We both could tell, because she
was acting different, she was tearing up, and we both felt the spirit!
 I love the miracles that the spirit can bring.  I know that God
speaks to us through the spirit.  Always be doing, saying, thinking
and in tune with the spirit.  How sad is it when we miss out on
feeling the spirit because of the foolish things we do, see, think and
say.  I know that we have the ability to hear and feel the spirit, we
just need to be worthy for it.  Well, for experiences like that, when
I can see that someone can feel the spirit, that’s when missionary
work really pays off! 

So I think on Monday, we were trying to find an inactive guy.  We
walked up and down the street, but we had no luck.  Well, we finally
found the guy…well so we thought.  He had the right name and
everything.  Well we found out, after visiting with him for a while,
that he was very active catholic and not the man we were looking for.
It was funny.  We invited him to church anyways. So the family that I
talked about last week have a baptismal date for the 28th of this
month.  I hope and pray that they get baptized.  They really do
deserve it. :)

Well, I need to go now.  I love all of you tons!  I hope and pray all
is well with ya'll all the time. :)  Please keep me in your prayers.
I will try and send an attachment with pics. Somethings wrong with the
internet, because it's being super slow! :(
I know the church is true, and I know that if we LIVE it, not just go
through the actions, God will provide the rest for us.  I know we are
all Children of a loving and kind Father in Heaven!  I hope you all
have a wonderful week!
Love, Sister Johannah Coleman

P.S Here is my address that you can send anything to.  Sorry it's
taken me forever, I keep on forgetting!  Not today! Ha!
152 Rizal Street
Barangay Sagpon, Daraga
4501 Albay, Philippines

Week Walo (8)

HI family and friends! 

This week has been pretty good, but challenging at times.  But, whats life without challenges??  I been able to participate more in the lessons and talking to people.  I’m starting to learn Tagalog…but it’s so hard sometimes!  The people here talk so fast.  I hope that’s me in a while! J I have so much to say, but sometimes I just can’t say it, because well, Tagalog is quite confusing  and I don’t know it very well. Ano ever! (That means, whatever…kind of a little Taglish. ;)  Anyways, I will be more diligent in studying the language and gospel!  I have faith that if I do, God will help me.

So it’s official, sister Siola’a and I are horrible cooks who never burn anything, but make the fire alarm go off like all the time!  Bakit tayo!! (Why us!!)  Haha! Yeah, the fire alarm went off like 3 times this week.  It’s our little companion joke, “Fire, Fire!” Well, we will always have something to laugh about I guess. J  The fire alarm does always make me laugh! :)

So how is everyone doing?  What are you all up to?  Do you ever take pictures?? ;)  I will try and send as many as I can today. :) I would love to see all of your maganda and guwapo faces! (Beautiful and Handsome)

I’m sure you are wondering what I do everyday.  Well it’s quite simple, we wake up at 6:30, exercise, make breakfast and get ready for the day.  We study from 8-10, go out and visit people, then come home around 12 for lunch.  After lunch we study for 2 more hours, then around 3, we go back out.  We usually have appointments, but as we all know, a lot of them fall through. :( So when that happens, we go and find the in-actives.  Out of the 1500 members of our ward, 24% are active.  It is really sad when people go inactive because they get offended, or they stop doing the “Small and simple things!”  Please please please, help the inactive member s of your wards!  Help them to feel needed, wanted and loved!  It’s one thing to have “Success” and baptize people, but if they don’t stay active, what good is it?  Reach out to the in-actives, investigators, Recent converts, everyone!!!  Sobra mahalaga!!  (SOOOO important!) Do your visiting and home teaching, and help those that you don’t visit or home teach.  Love the people and show them that God loves them, and needs them in His kingdom!  Okay, so yeah, we go out and find people for the rest of the day.  I was really happy on Sunday, because 13 in-actives that we visited came to church!  They just needed invited.  Invite, they commit, you follow up! ;)

   So weird food, I haven’t had too much.  Pero, I had some authentic delicious Lumpia!  I am soooo getting the recipe!  Sobra masarap! :) I also had some of the best fish I ever tasted!  It was cooked with like coconut oil or something, and other stuff. It was so good…and of course we had it with some delicious authentic Philippine rice. ;)  So you know how last week I told you that I had 1 mosquito bite.  That quickly changed.  I have like a bazillion now!!  That scripture is true, “Pride cometh before the fall…or marami mosquito bites!”  Haha.  Pray that I will have self control, not to scratch.

Well,  last night we extended a baptismal date to a family who has been investigating for 2 years.  They are finally able to be baptized, they got interviewed by my mission president last week.  My mission president came and told us, after the interview, “Why haven’t they been baptized?  They are worthy and ready!  They are such good people and deserve to be baptized.” Well, it’s a miracle and blessing!  I am so glad that they get to take this step finally.  They will be able to have more of the joy and happiness that we can feel from the gospel.  The Gospel changes hearts and lives!  I was reading about King Lamoni and Ammon.  Through the Atonement, Lamoni and His people changed completely.  The gospel is amazing!  I know that it is true!!! I want people to be able to know and feel the way I do, that is why I am on a mission!  I love being here, and sharing the Love of God with all His Children!

Well, I better go now.  I love all of you!  I hope you are doing well, and that you remember that God loves and is mindful of each and everyone of you!  Do your best, and God will bless you so much!

I love you!  You are all in my prayers everyday!

Love, 

Sister Johannah Coleman

Week Pito (7)

Kumusta po kayo??

Well here i am, in the Philippines!  It has been wonderful so far, actually being out in the field!  I love the people here, and I actually like the weather!  I have something to report. In  the 5 or so days I have been here, I have gotten 1 mosquito or aunt bite!  I must have really gross blood to the things here!  Thank goodness! :)  I'm hoping that in the next 16 months, it stays that way!  So I guess I should tell you whats been up..;) Well, the flights were soooo long ans boring!  I'll tell you that getting to Manila alive and with hair, was a miracle, and an answer to many prayers! :)  It was from SLC to LA, 2 hours...then LA to Japan was 16 ish hours which was torture!  I got a window seat...I'll just let you know, the ocean and I became great friends! ;) So we got to Japan and then from there we flew about 4 hours to Manila.  It was definitely one of the longest trips I've ever taken!  It brings back memories of all the great LONG trips we took as the family.  The good thing about this one though, is that I did not run into a deer, like I did on the last trip we took! ;)  Anyways, we spent the night in Manila, then early the next morning flew to Legazpi.  It was a really pretty flight, and I am so happy that I'm in a more rural mission.  I would die in Manila...it's HUGE!!!!

Well the first day was great!  I love my mission president and his wife.  They are sooo adorable and so righteous!  I am excited to get to know them, and work with them in this great work!  My companion is soooo amazing!  I love her to death!  Her name is Sister Siola'a, and she's from Tonga.  It has been really fun working with her, and getting to know her.  She is great in Tagalog, and she is such a wonderful example to me.  I have learned so much from her already!  Just a funny story, I cooked pancakes for breakfast this morning...and I didn't even burn them, but the fire alarm went off.. Haha! Well, later on when I was in the shower, she was making lunch and all the sudden I heard the fire alarm go off again.  Yep, that's a sign that we are both "Great cooks!"  Our land lords, who are next door to us, are probably going to request that we leave the premises! ;) Joke Lang.

Alright, so I have found out that I am horrible at Tagalog!  Yep, it's true!  Well, with lots of study, prayer and practice, I hope I can receive the Gift of Tongues.  I know it is real, and I have seen it in my life!  

Well the people here are so humble.  They are so happy even though they have nothing.  I am so blessed to be here, and learn to humble myself!  I've got a lot of humbling to do, for sure!  What we call "Poverty" in America cannot compare to here.  I have been so touched going to peoples "homes" and them still, being so happy with what they have.  They don't complain and blame others!  I have so much to learn!  I just want to help the people here to find more happiness.  I want them to have the gospel in there lives.  The gospel brings soooo much happiness! 

Oh my goodness, the mga bata (kids) are soooo cute!  They are all so sweet and they all help me so much with Tagalog.  They are tiny!  Well, everyone here is, but the kids are soooo small.  The kids look 2-3 years younger than they actually are.  But they are so sweet and precious!  Pero, no one can compare to my siblings and my nieces and nephews!  I miss you all so much!

 Our transportation most of the time is called a Bajak. It's a bike, with a little carriage thing on the side that my companion and I squish into.  It's 10 piso's per person.  It's fun!

Well, I've learned a lot since being here!  I have felt the spirit so much!  I KNOW that the gospel is true!  I know it with all of my heart!  I know that God allows us to go through challenges so that we can become stronger and more humble.  Humility us the key to all of our happiness and success in life!  I've been trying to focus on Humility during my personal study lately.  I've learned a lot!  And I thought  I'd never say it but I LOVE LOVE LOVE my personal study time, and 1 hour is not enough!  As I have really taken the time to learn and study, I have been able to have the spirit with me, and I have learned so much more!  It's been great!

Well, I better go now.  I do love all of you deeply!  I love the gospel of Jesus Christ so much!  I hope that we can all better, live it, love it, learn more, and become completely immersed in it!  I love being a missionary!  This is exactly what and where I need to be in my life now! 

Love you all!

Sister Coleman

I'll send more pics next week!

Week Anim (6)

Kumusta po Kayo??

Wow, this week has been a good and stressful one.  Sometimes it's hard to be a Sister Training leader, because girls are sooooo emotional!  We stayed up pretty late a few nights because we were trying to do our job as leaders.  I love it though!  I love serving the Lord, by helping others!  My purpose as a missionary is to "Invite others to come unto Christ, by helping them receive the restored gospel, through Faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, Repentance, Baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the end."  I feel like, I am kind of fulfilling my purpose even with my zone.  We can all help others with those things!!  

So, at our Tuesday evening Devotional, Elder L. Tome Perry came and spoke.  His talk was beautiful!  I loved it and felt the spirit so strongly.  I learned to make friends out of my companions, and through that, we will be able to have the spirit with us all the time, especially when we teach.  It is so important to keep the spirit with you!  A scripture that I love that helps me remember to know what I should do is: 2nd Nephi 32.3.  I know the scriptures will give us answers and give us the Guidance we need to do the right things!  Study the Book of Mormon every day!  It will bless your life sooooo much!  It has blessed min so much!

So other news.  I gave my 5th or 6th black eye to Sister Campbell this week.  Sarah's gotten all the other one's I've given... sorry! ;)  We were giving each other a high five and my hand slipped..right on her eye.  (We were playing volleyball, and she was doing a great job at serving the ball.  Okay, maybe I should just stay away from sports on my mission...;)  Well, she's doing fine.  I feel really bad!  I guess I will never NOT hurt someone, on accident. ;/

It snowed today!!!  YAY!  Actually I'm not really happy about the snow.  I was hoping it would just stay in the sky until we left on Monday.  But, since Heavenly Father loves my Companion too, He decided to send some snow today.  She loves snow, and is really happy about it.  I'm happy that she's happy.  :)  Well, yesterday we had "In-field orientation."  It was soooo long, but I learned a lot.  I'm so excited to get to the Philippines and serve 24-7!  It's gonna be the hardest thing ever, but it is so worth it!  I love the gospel and I would give my own life for it.  

Well, I have loved being here in the MTC, but I'm excited to actually DO missionary work now.  It's gone by so quickly.  I've had super hard sad times, but I have also had happy, spiritual andamazing times!  I love being a missionary!!

Love, Sister Johannah Coleman.

Next time I write, I'll be on the other side of the world!

Week (5)

On our way to email!

Kumusta family!

How has your week been??  I love you all so much!  I love the gospel so much!!  So, excitingness...lets see.  I got a hair cut today.  Don't worry, I just got it trimmed so it's not very short.  I started a  new journal last week!  I'm so excited for it!  I got a "Missionary Journal" a while ago, so that's the one I'm writing in now. :)  I got host new missionaries on Wednesday!  It was exciting, but sad at the same time.  I remembered the day I got dropped off at the curb! ;)  

On Sunday, my companion and I got called to be the Sister Training Leaders.  We're like the Sister Zone Leaders.  It's been a lot of fun!  We got to meet the new 2 districts that came into our zone on Wednesday!  We tried to speak in Tagalog....well I said a prayer in Tagalog.  One of them was like, "Wow, you've only been here for 4 weeks....you sound great and know so much!"  Well, I don't know that much, but I do know that the Gift of Tongues is REAL!!  It is amazing to see a gift of the spirit in Action!  Well, I love being a Sister Training Leader!  We've been able to connect with the sisters a lot, and also help them!  I love serving the Lord in whatever capacity He needs me to serve in!

Eating our "delicious" sack lunch on Pday!

AND Sister Richmond and I have matching Journals! YAY!

We got our flight plans.  We fly from SLC to LA at 9:50 a.m.  I will probably call you all sometime in the morning, between 7-9 ish, or later on before we leave from LA to Tokyo at 12.  (Our flight leaves at 12 LA time...whatever that is.)  So, keep your phones on you and charged!  I will probably only be able to call whoever's at home.  Sorry to the rest of you! :(  Oh, so it will be Monday the 18th! Crazy! Well, I'd better get going.  I love all of you so much!  I love the gospel and Jesus Christ more than anything!  I love being a missionary!  This work is amazing and of God!

Love ya!!  Ingat!

Sister Johannah Coleman

Pre Pday pics!!

Comp and I with Sister Howard, the branch presidents wife.

And me, by our dorm door...with the Philippines flag!

Week Apat (4)

Hello Family and Friends!!

Well, this past week has been really great!  I have learned that missionary work is full of joy, and it can also be hard and challenging sometimes!  I love it!  So, lets see, what would be good to tell you?  Hmm, well I'm in the choir, and we sing every Tuesday at our devotionals.  It is actually bigger than the Tabernacle choir...just so ya know! ;) 

 I also saw another picture of Aunt Amy!  Wow..she's famous!  Tell her that I see her everyday at the MTC!  This week I was able to run a whole mile without stopping.  Yes, that is probably stupid news to you all.  But I'm proud of myself!  I hate running, so doing a little mile is a big accomplishment for m. ;)  Well, the language is coming a long.  I thought my companion and I were doing a good job teaching, but then we tried to teach the Plan of Salvation...it turned out very interesting!

Happy be-lated Halloween everyone!  Send me pics of your costumes.  I was a missionary!  Okay, so we got to play sand volleyball for P.E yesterday!  It was a lot of fun...but next time, I'll try and NOT hit it the opposite way of the net! :)  

Well, I hope you all know that I love you lots and that you are in my prayers daily!  Please keep me in your prayers!  I know that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints is true!  It really does have the restored gospel and doctrine of Christ!  I have learned so much since I have been here!  I love it!  I can't wait to go to the Philippines and help the people there, and also learn so much from them!  This Church is true!!!  When we live the best we can, God will always be there pouring out blessings.  Look for the blessings and miracles in you life!

Mahal ko kayo! (I love you!)

Ingat!

Sister Coleman

Week Tatlo (3)

Kumusta Po Kayo?! (Hello, how are you.)

These are the 2 best districts ever!  We all came in the same day!

This past week has been great!!  I've been able to learn a lot and feel the spirit a lot as well!  I love this work, and I know it's what I need to be doing right now!  Oh, before I forget, there's a picture of Aunt Amy and some people from her mission, on a wall in the main building.  I'll make sure and send a picture next week!  It was super cool to see!  

Self portrait of me...yes, I'm a little crazy!

I've seen a few people that I know... like 3 from Cedar City, and Brooke Mortensen from Washington.  We've talked a few times.  It's been fun to see people!  Well, this week has just been full of the same old same old stuff.  Class, food, studying, more class...it's been fun!  I can't believe how fast time flies...after the first week!  It was JUST p-day!  So tell grandma that I'll have all the names done today, so if she could send me some more...it would be fantastic!  

I got a calling/assignment in my branch.  My companion and I are the music coordinators.  I'm excited for this!  Well, I hope you all are doing wonderful, but I need to go do my laundry!  Have a wonderful day!!  This gospel is true and will make anyone, who lives it, very happy!!  

Love, 

Sister Johannah Coleman

 We dress like we go to funerals sometimes...especially when it's freezing! 

Week Dalawa (2)

Well thank you all for e-mailing me back, it was really super duper nice to hear from you all!  Just to get things straight, I have pday on Saturdays, and I have 1 hour to e-mail.  Don't get me wrong though...I'd love to get hard mail! :)  Hey, send me your addresses so I can write you.  I kind of was a slacker and totally forgot to get all of them.  

Okay, so this week has been super awesome!  It's gone by super fast, and I'm kind of hoping that's how it is the rest of my time here..not that the food is gross or anything. ;)  I love the MTC. The spirit is felt so much here, and I have grown so much, and intend on growing even more.  (I hope you guys didn't take that in the way that I've eaten a bunch and I've grown that way.;)  

So I'll start with Sunday:  Church was great!  I played" How Firm a Foundation" and everyone sang it in Tagalog.  Well, it was super funny because no one is exactly a pro at speaking...and then singing tagalog.  Well, one of the councilors in the branch presidency, Brother Donahoo, said that it was too fast...and he just gave me a hard time about playing too fast.  It was soooo funny!  He said later that if he gives someone a "hard time" it just means that he likes them.  I guess he likes me..cuz he always gives me a hard time.  It's funny!  I like my branch presidency!  Well for the devotional that night, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, came and spoke to us!  It was soooo fantastic!  One thing that I learned is that we go on mission's to learn to love people.  Anyways..it was great!

Well, the rest of my week was pretty much the same:  Class, more class, cafeteria food, studying, crazy sisters and elders, more class, and now Pday!!!! :D  I love all of the experiences and opportunities that I have here!  I leave in 1 month minus 1 day!  I'm so excited to teach and be taught by the humble people of the Philippines!  I love this gospel so much!  I love you all very much, and you are all in my prayers!

Have a great week!  Ingat!

 Love,

Sister Coleman

Week Isa (1)

Kumusta Pamilya,

I love you all lots!  Thank you for all your love, prayers and support!  Well this week...or 3 days has been great at the MTC!  I love it here.  I love being a missionary and serving the Lord!  This has brought me much joy!  I love the gospel of Jesus Christ (Ebonghelyo ni Jesucristo), and the happiness it has brought into my life!  I know that God love's each and every one of us!  He wants us to do the best we can in everything!  

Okay, so week Isa has been awesome!  It has been hard at times, but overall it fantabulous!  I have kind of caught onto the language...well more than I did in my first 3 weeks of Spanish! ;)  It's really amazing how much the Lord will help us when we are doing HIS work!  I love the miracles that I have seen and felt in my life!  Please keep me in your prayers though... I sometimes feel overwhelmed with what I need to do.  I have to REALLY learn the language of the spirit, and the language of Tagalog...and a bunch of other little things.  I just need to have more faith and diligence about everything!  

Oh, by the way....thanks for bringing my wallet back.  That night, I was looking through my bag, and my wallet was NOT there!  It freaked me out big time!  So, I had to go to the front desk and almost call you, but the people had it already!  WHEW!!  :)  Thank you again!  

We got to meet our branch presidency.  They are amazing people!!  I'm playing the piano at church on Sunday, and they also assigned me to be the senior companion for the first 3 weeks.  I'm super excited for the opportunities I will have here and in the mission field! :)  Oh, just so you all know, I have another hymnbook to my name!  It's in Tagalog though.  I love music!!!!  I love singing the hymns in Tagalog.  I feel the spirit really strongly when I do!!!  Music has such an amazing power and influence! 

 

Well, I love all of you so much, and I want to bear you my testimony in Tagalog. :)

Alam ko po na totoo po ang Simbahan ni Jesucristo ng mga Banal sa mga Huling Araw at aklat ni Mormon. Mapagmahal po ang Diyos!  Sa pangalan ni Jesucristo, amen.

That was a little one, but I do have a testimony of those things! :)  I love you all!!

Ingat! Johannah Coleman

The Call and Preparation

It was Thursday, June 13th when we got a big envelope in the mail.  What could it be??  Could it be Johannah's mission call that we have eagerly waited for, for the past month?  It was!!  Well, I came home from work, we quickly ate dinner, got everyone on the phone and skype, made the predictions, and then....the big moment came, and I opened the letter and started reading it.  After almost a few tears, I read, "Sister Coleman, You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  You are assigned to labor in the Philippines Legaspi Mission... You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Tagalog language."  

WHAT??  Holy Cow, am I really called to go to the Philippines?  I am so excited for this beautiful blessing and opportunity to serve the Lord, and the wonderful people in the Philippines!  I report to the Provo MTC on Wednesday, October 9th 2013, and I will be out for the next 18 months.  I am so thankful for my mission, and I want to make it the best 18 months of my life so far. :D  Well, keep looking at my blog so you can read my letters and look at my pictures.  Last of all, I want to thank my parents and my siblings for everything they have done for me, to help me prepare for my mission.  I also want to thank all of my friends and other relatives that have influenced me, and have encouraged me to serve the Lord!  THANK YOU!!!

Love, Johannah (Sister Coleman:)