Goodbyes :(, Miembros!, Barachos, Communication, and last but not least...Enya! :)

June 29, 2015:

Fantastic familia y amigos!!! :D

Wow! This week seemed so long...because a week ago...Hna. Sarat was still here in Centenario 2 with us...but now she is in Guatemala. Tuesday was really tough for me to say goodbye...especially because I had to say goodbye to all of my previous companions also. Hna. Guevara and Hna. Huayton. There were many tears shed...but what great memories I have treasured in my heart from these great missionaries! Each of them helped me change a part of my life for the better. What a blessing to know each of them! 

Saying goodbye to Hermana Sarat!!

This week in our reunion de distrito (of our district) we talked about lessons with our investigatores and how important it is to have members present in these lessons. We made the goal as a district to have 12 lessons with members present for each companionship. To be honest I was really doubtful when we made this goal...because the weeks previously we had had very few. But it was incredible this week and we were really able to focus on calling the members ahead of time and really thinking which member would be the best for each of our investigators. We were so excited...and then last night we came short of 1 lesson with a member present...so we didn't quite make our goal...but we were able to have 11 lessons with members present this week! I honestly was soooo bummed last night because I thought our Noche de Hogar (Family Night) would count with our investigator present but the elders taught the lesson and as Hna. Maydana and I talked we realized that our investigator didn't really understand the lesson. A bummer...but I have to remind myself to look at the good things and the good we were able to accomplish. We really were able to see miracles with the members who were able to accompany us in lessons! It was incredible! And now we know how we can better ourselves in this indicador. 

Yesterday I was really struggling because we had many "casi"'s...or close goals...which can be so frustrating! :( We worked really hard to teach the family of William and Jesica (menos activos) all of their lessons and we finished with a miracle Saturday night! They just needed to attend church for all 3 hours the next day! They came to Sacrament Mtg. and they even paid their tithing...which was so incredible! What a blessing to see! Then they told us that they were leaving to go to Viru for a birthday celebration. What a bummer! So close... Also our investigator, Juana was on date for 11 of July with her little daughter, Stephany...but they weren't able to come to church yesterday so we have to move their date. It was a tough day yesterday...but Hna. Maydana and I were able to have a good talk and realize that we can be better in many different areas and we can try new things. This is a learning process for sure. And the Lord is ALWAYS with us! 

We got this picture from another missionary Mom!

What wonderful Hermanas!!

Oh and Dalì...her parents are not ready to give their permission for her to be baptized...well they gave their permission...but they keep giving excuses and won`t settle on a date...so we are now focusing on her parents and helping them feel of the truth. MIRACLE!!! Their whole family came to sacrament meeting yesterday! So with time...I know they will come to know the truth! :)

I want to thank you all for your prayers and your thoughts for Dalì and my other wonderful investigatores. Each day is a process and soon these wonderful people will be able to come to know the truth and enter the waters of baptism. :)

RANDOM:

-Wow...for some reason this week we had two encounters with barachos (drunks)...weird...and honestly I was kind of shaken up...but I was able to learn something neat from these interesting moments. Christ talked to drunks and He LOVED THEM!!! I was thinking as I was looking in the tired, sad, red eyes of one of these men that still he is a child of our Heavenly Father, just like we all are. And we need to love them like He did.  

-Communication is key. Hna. Maydana and I were able to have some really good talks this week...with some tears...but our relationship is getting so much better! :)

-jaja! Mom...Hna. Marler has Enya music in the file of music we can listen to on p'days...so each p'day i love listening to it! it reminds me of you and my yoga class in high school! :) 

INSPIRATIONALS Y FUNNIES:

-I LOVED the packages! Wow! Seriously what spoilage! Thanks so much...seriously! What a miracle...the Lord really knows when we need certain things! It seems like I always get mail or packages when I am struggling the most! We LOVE the study gum...I taught Hna. Maydana what study gum means...so we are able to use it for our studies! 

-Can't remember if I told you guys...but in two of our lessons I asked the person if they could awaken us with a closing prayer...because the word for "send us off" and "awaken us" is sooo stinkin similar in spanish! jaja!

-Last night as I was searching for help and consuelo...I opened up to my mission plaque scripture how neat right? Alma 26:12! Love it! And this one too...Alma 36:3..."whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."

Love you all so much!

Hermana Coleman :D

TRUJILLO OFFICIALLY NOW HAS A TEMPLE!!!!!!! (Happy Father's Day!!!)

June 22, 2015:

Look who took some letters and "study gum" to Jennesa, and who was met at the airport by Pres. and Sis. Marler!! (Bishop Davies!!) He was going for the Trujillo Temple Dedication and handed off the package to the Marlers!!

Dear Wonderful Fam and Friends!!!! 

Holy Smokes! What a week! The Lord sure loves us and is aware of us and our needs! I was able to gain some great reassurance and feelings of love during the Trujillo Temple Dedication...I heard things that I felt were exactly for me! 

Wow...this week we were able to spend some good time together as companions...since Hna. Sarat is going home tomorrow! How crazy is that?! Hna. Maydana and I will sure miss her! She is an incredible missionary and a great example to me...what a neat opportunity to be her companion and become so close to her! :)

The beginning of this week was tough for me because I started to doubt myself as a trainer. But now I am feeling much better after fasting and praying for strength and I know that even though this is tough...I am learning A TON and I feel that I am going to come out of this time in my mission...a much stronger person and missionary! :)

What a wonderful experience to be able to attend the practice for the Cultural Activity on Sat! I LOVED IT! The youth did so well in their dances and it was so fun to see and watch. What a neat experience to see and hear from Pres. Uchtdorf and his wife! They were so close...it seemed like a dream!

What a wonderful opportunity!!

The Cultural Event!!

I was able to run into lots of good friends at the Cultural Activity practice! 

Like how I can hold my skirt out, too! :-)

Some other sweet angels were traveling to the Trujillo Temple Cultural Celebration and texted us this picture!!  We sure love these angels around the world!!

  

 It was really fun to be able to see lots of people from Laureles too! Also a Bob Wood (from Woods Cross--who sets up the AV for the temple dedications) found me and had a package from you wonderful people for me!!! He showed me a pic of you, Dad with my cardboard cutout and asked me if it was me! :) jaja! What a small world! How fun! I LOVED YOUR PACKAGE!!! Swedish fish! Holy Smokes...what gold! My and my comps LOVE them! And everything else...I'll have to give the Redmonds clay a try...we don't have fridge...maybe I can use my pensions...

Landon met this man, Bob Wood at a Scout Training and he took this package to Jennesa for us!! So sweet!  We aren't really sure how he found her in the entire stadium full of people!! Wow!

Oh wow...and then yesterday!!!!! THE TEMPLE DEDICATION!!! What an incredible experience! We were able to go to our stake center and watch all three sessions! And so neat...since they were all different! 

Some little tidbits I loved: 

-Pres. Uchtdorf: Make it Father's Day everyday! Let us honor our Father in Heaven every single day!

-Romulo J. Casós: Puertas abiertas=fiesta espíritual! Like the reunion we will have with our loved ones after this life.

-Juan A. Uceda: His 5 points to make the temple a part of our lives

#1-Have a photo of the temple in your home

#2-Buy your temple clothes NOW! 

#3-Fill out and complete the book..."My Family" with all your family history. And take your own family names to the temple to complete their work.

#4-Always have your temple recommend renewed & ready to use.

#5-Attend the temple regularly!

-Pres. Uchtdorf: I loved how he started out in Spanish! How neat for me to hear him...not speak perfectly but to try with all his heart and spirit!

-Nelly García de Díaz: Valor hermanos!!  Let's press forward with faith! :D

-Pres. Uchtdorf: After the story of Martin...The Savior is here in the old soldier who needs help, the woman who is hungry with a crying baby, and in others! What an answer to prayers...that the little things really do matter! 

-David A. Bednar: Seek after OUR dead!! It´s OUR responsibility! We have been given much and consequently much is required of us!

Our awesome zone of Porvenir

after the 3 sessions of the temple dedication! :)

RANDOM:

-Holy Cow! Hna. Sarat stayed up all night last night writing notes to people...and getting things packed up! She didn't sleep a wink! Wow!

-We've been playing soccer and basketball in the mornings! I need to just let myself have fun and relax...I always feel so self conscious! But I'm getting to love it!

-On Monday we ate with our old bishop and had duck...so good! But it made my stomach not very happy! But now i'm good!

FUNNIES Y INSPIRATIONALS:

-Hna. Maydana will turn to me and say..."Un fish?" with puppy dog eyes and a cute Spanish accent! jaja! How can you say no to that?

-OH MY! We were able to go to one of the first sealings in the Trujillo Temple today for Hna. Sarat...her old pensionista was sealed to her husband and two kids! So incredible! And Elder Uceda did the sealing! Wow! What an incredible experience! I hardly knew them but I had tears streaming down my cheeks! Families can really be together forever!

-I got the following story in a letter from Mimi and Papa this week!

VOICE OF THE MASTER

"Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski Concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked dkown the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE." When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was mission. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing" Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was mesmerized.

That is the way it is with our Heavenly Father. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't exactly graceful flowing music. But with the hand of the Master, our life's work truly can be beautiful. Next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You can heart the voice of the Master whispering in your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing." Feel His loving arms around you. Know that His strong hands are there, helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces. Remember that God doesn't call the equipped. He equips the called. And He'll always be there to love and guide you on to great things."

Isn't that incredible! I invite you to share it with someone you love! Love you all to bits!

Loves,

Hermana Coleman :D

 Aidita...the granddaughter of our pensionista turned 3 on Monday so we were able to go to her b'day party! Super fun! 

A card they made for Father's Day for their Mission President (AKA "their father in the mission field!!)

5 semana training, subasta, Hna. Sarat, miracles in the capilla, my plaque! :(

June 15, 2015:
My wonderful family and friends!!!!

Wow! This week was interesting. It is really tough because Hna. Sarat is ending her mission! :( She goes back to her lovely home of Guatemala (shout out to my awesome bro, Spence!) this 24 de junio. Tough stuff...my partner in training Hna. Maydana is dying, but we are plugging along and we are trying to enjoy each moment! :) We are so excited to have Hna. Sarat staying in our area for this last week...we had cambios just yesterday and we now have a new district leader and zone leader! And......guess what?! I AM STAYING IN TRUJILLO MISIÓN NORTE!!!!!!! WITH PRES Y HNA. MARLER! What a blessing...enserio (seriously)! But...lots of sad news of missionaries that I love and know who are in the other mission...the official change is the 17 de Junio (June 17th).  

We were able to see so many miracles yesterday in the capilla (chapel/church)! Wow! One of our sweet menos activos (less active) families came to church by themselves...we didn't even call them to remind them! It was so neat...and they stayed all 3 hours! We were also able to help Hna. Juana get her kids ready for church and help her be in the church for the first time...for all 3 hours tambien (too)! What a neat day! Hna. Maydana and I were excited to be able to see some of the fruits of our labors...what a tender mercy! 

I was bummed...because yesterday after sacrament meeting while I was talking to some members...the back of my magnetic plaque (missionary nametag) fell off onto the floor...I reached up to grab my plaque and IT WASN'T THERE!!!!! Oh no...so sad...my heart seriously dropped! Because really...my plaque is so special to me and I almost had it for 9 whole months! :( Luckily I have my clip one...and I still have hope that it is in the house of Hna. Juana...lots of prayers! 

This last week we were able to go to Trujillo for Hna. Maydana...her first 5 week training...with all the missionaries from her group and all their trainers. It was much needed and nice to recieve some inspiration and see other missionaries. 

Picture with all the new trainers and trainees with Pres. and Sis. Marler!

We also had a Zone Subasta this week!!! (a zone auction) Our zone leaders made fake money for us...for completing different goals and we have been getting it this whole change...so we were able to use it in the auction! So much fun...one last sh-bang as a zone! Changes are so hard! Oh...but we did get shirts as a zone! They are so sweet...they are jerseys...with our names on the back and our zone! I picked the number 18...because yeah...18 months baby! :)

RANDOM:

-THE TEMPLE DEDICATION IS IN 6 DAYS!!!!! I really need to prepare myself for this special day! What a blessing!

-So many people have told me that I look a lot like the actress Cameron Diaz...but I don't know who she is...jaja! Would someone mind sending me a pic?! :)

-FOOD: Okie dokie mom...the most common things we eat for meals...for breakfast we usually have some kind of hot drink...avena (which i love...it's like oatmeal), avena with coco, or some other stuff with bread! We seriously eat some much bread! Either with jam, butter, omelets, or avocado. Lunch usually some kind of meat, with veggies, and rice. I LOVE the dish called Huai de Gallina...if that is even how you spell it? It´s this yummy yellow sauce over potatoes and chicken. With an egg...sometimes. Dinner is really little...with same as breakfast or sometimes caldo...soup! :) Snacks...i love buying their fruit! It is so cheap! Mandarins, apples, grapes, OH MY!!! I love this crackers they have called Choco Sodas...they are saltine crackers covered in chocolate!!!! So stinkin good! My treat here! Also love the sublimes...oh and wheat crackers! So good! 

A photo of Aji de Gallina (she mentions is one of her favorite foods).

INSPIRATIONALS Y FUNNIES:

-Sad day when my fruit goes bad!! (As Spencer would say, "That's just messed up!") :-)

-Oh gosh...well I didn't have my plaque (Missionary nametag) for the last 2 hours of church...and when we were being dropped off in the old bishops combi (big van...where we can fit a ton of people) one of the returned missionaries in our ward...went to give me a hug to scare me...because I was a "member" without my plaque! Ay ay ay! 

-I have really had to humble myself here in Peru! I have realized that really...I am nothing without my Heavenly Father. He knows me and he loves me. I am so grateful that we can communicate with him through prayer! (I have started saying my night prayers kneeling next to my hard chair...instead of my soft tempting bed) Talk with Him...it is so refreshing and rewarding!

I love you all so stinkin much!

Loves,

Hermana Coleman! :D

Whoooo Hoooo! pics! I sure love you all! 

One is of Dalí and her fam! They had us over for a family night and we are planning her baptism for 27 de Junio!!!! :) 

Our fingernails we painted...they have "R's" on them to help us remember to ask for references! 

  Um...what else? Oh the dancing horse show from last week's Preparation Day...way cool!

Post from the Mission President's Wife's blog!

June 10, 2015:

After a month of working together, serving at the temple, bringing their friends to the temple and working hard the group of missionaries who arrived on May 4 reunited for a little training.

Some fun eating lunch!

Sister Coleman and Elder Haacke provided a beautiful musical number.

Email works!!!, 8 MESES, Life is tough but great!, Dalí!!!!!

June 8, 2015:

Fam and friends!!!! Whoooo Hoooo! 

You don't know how excited I am to write you all! It was so wierd not to be able to write you all this last week...well all that I wanted to...and to be able to read your weekly emails! But whooo Hoooo! My email works now! 

I sure was thinking about you all these past two weeks with tons of Coleman Fam stuff happening! Summer!...how wierd is that?! Last days of school! Spence...graduation...and the temple! OH my heavens! So excited for you! I sure love you all to pieces! 

Wow...yesterday I celebrated 8 months in the mission! Isn't that so stinkin crazy?! Wow...next month my half way mark...whew! Time flies! Ay ay ay! 

We have been able to do divisions where either me or Hna. Sarat proselyting with a member and the other goes with Hna. Maydana...so we are able to gets lots more done this way. It is a little odd being separated from my comps when I'm with the members...but it does help me speak more and get more time to talk. 

This past Saturday the elders had a baptism and we were able to invite lots of our investigators to it...and guess who came? Dalí and HER PARENTS and her little brother, Juana Amaranto and her two kids, Alexa (who reminds me of Bree!), Greissy (told her I want to name one of my girls Graci!) :D! It was sooooo incredible! 

Wow...so last night we were able to talk with Hna. Dalí and her parents about her baptism...we have had many of these talks...but we decided in our weekly planning that we were going to be direct and talk about a date! Wow...her parents actually gave their permission! So incredible...now we are praying so hard because her baptism will either be THIS SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!! or the 19th!!!!!!! Because we are waiting on the work schedule of her mom! Isn't that such a miracle?! Wow...I was so close to tears when I gave her a hug and was walking out the door...what a blessing to be able to see the fruits of our work! :D

RANDOM:

-One night we were planning for the next day and Hna. Sarat had her water bottle on the window sill...and whew!!!!...it totally fell down all 4 floors...haha! Luckily no one was walking in the street! Whew! 

-We bought tons of yummy fruit from a fruit truck...they drive up and down the streets with speakers and call out! :)

FUNNIES Y INSPIRATIONALS:

-So a little girl had fun during a lesson with my fingernails! I LOVED my manicure afterwards! 

Oh and one of our investigators, Rita...we were able to take her to the temple open house with her two cute boys! :)

 Hna. Sarat did my hair last week! I loved it! She is so good! :) I am sure going to miss her!



















-Ok...don't judge...I took it out and wala! jaja! We sure had a few laughs!

- But I sure love you all tons! Oh...for p-day today we are going to a dancing horse show! Should be interesting! 

-Was able to read some of "Becoming a Consecrated Missionary" and I love how it says..."Sometimes we have missionaries who are so worried about offending people that in the process they never ever save them."

Wow right?! I need to open my mouth more! I sure love you all to bits!

Loves,

Hermana Coleeeman :D

Week #34 -- e-mail sign in problems . . . :(

June 1, 2015:

This is a screenshot from the "mormonnetwork" instagram page.  Jennesa has been serving at the Trujillo Peru Temple Open House for the last several weeks about six hours a day.  It was so fun to see this surprise post on instagram!  We love Jennesa and we love the promises of the temple.

************************************************************************************************************

Oh dag nab...I can't log in to my account...so I'm hurrying to type this on my district leaders email. So bummed...hopefully I'll be able to log in sometime during this week...we'll see what happens! I love you all so much and just wanted to let you know that I'm alive...so I should be good! Love you all!!!!!

Have such a fun last week of school...SUMMER baby! So crazy since it's getting more chilly here! :)

All my love and more!

Love,

Hermana Coleman :D Your sis, daughter, ginto bean, and crazy gringa in Peru! Loves!

Gotta love parasite tests, templo, good tired, siempre paciencia! :)

May 25, 2015:

Dearest familia y amigos!!!

Holy Smokes I just love you all so much! :D Thanks bunches for all your support...for reals!!!! I so wish I had more time in the day...but the temple is sooooo worth it! :D I am so grateful for this amazing month of May for the Trujillo Temple Open House! What a blessing to be able to be a part of this! 

Wow! So the news from the clinic is that my stool test came back negative...again. So i don't have parasites which is good...so the doctor told me I have gastrities and she gave me a medicine to take (30 minutes before each meal) and she also said it is stress as well. Oh gosh...I feel like it is always gastrities or stress...so we'll see how the medicine works. I'm also taking the probiotics that you sent me. And the change in diet (no oil!) So I'm hoping and praying that this will help. Thanks so much for your prayers!

  

I just love the temple! We are always able to have really neat experiences and I have been able to meet some really neat people! We were able to go to the temple in a caravan with our ward on Friday night and wow! What a neat experience! We went with two busses and they were packed full...so neat! The members were so excited and they brought along lots of their friends and family to share the temple with! What a blessing that we have temple open houses to the share the temple with EVERYONE! I seriously love telling people that EVERYONE is welcome! How neat we have these three amazing weeks! I'm always really tired...but it is always a good tired! :)

We were able to have our Ward Conference this weekend! There wasn't any electricity in our ward building on Sunday but no problem we still were able to have all our meetings like normal...what a blessing! The speakers did have to talk LOUD though! I was blessed with the opportuinity to play my violin for our ward...which was so great because I haven't played for awhile! It was so touching because multiple people came and told me how they cried...and something SO AMAZING!!! was that our pensionista, Santos came to church!!!!! She is inactive and especially with our change of boundaries she lost all of her animos...excitment. So so neat! :) 

We were also able to meet with Dali (11) and her parents about her baptism! She is so ready and she wants to be baptized so bad (she left crying when her dad was talking about how he didn't want her to be baptized yet)...but her parents aren't quite ready to give their permission. We were able to have a powerful lesson with them...all three of us bearing testimony with our personal experiences and our Ward Mission Leader as well! And violin...to soften up their hearts even more! ;) So keep her in your prayers please! :) She'll be able to be baptized soon! :)

RANDOM:

-So journal writing is really tough for me....so I was pretty excited when I finished my first mission journal! I'm trying to be better and set a timer each night for 10 min! Cuz a little is better than nothing right?! :)

-So many nights there is so much loud fiesta music right outside our windows...gotta love it...especially at 11pm at night! :)

-My legs are looking about the same as my first couple weeks in the mission...i have so many picaduras...bug bites! :) whew! paciencia!

FUNNIES Y INSPIRATIONALS:

-Drinkin LOTS of yogurt to help me! ;) I seriously drank 1/2 of this bottle! Had a take a pic cuz I need to remember these lovely mission moments! We sure were laughing! :D

-Funny story while doing Parasite test!!  Oh, the adventures of a mission!! :-)

-Wow! I always need to have paciencia! Something I love that me and Hna. Sarat came up with is this: "Es una lucha...siempre mejorando...podemos hacerlo!" It's a battle...also becoming better...we can do it! 

-jaja! This was such a dumb blond moment...so i was in a lesson and i had an itch on my knee so i used my pen to scratch it...i thought the lid was on...but ya no ya! jaja! here is my lovely knee! :) and it's a little red from our prayers! ::)

Sure love you all! 

Love,

Hermana Coleman :D