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