A Tribute to Faggs aka Maraget Hadden

"Pudding"

Hiya!

Last p-day we had lunch at the 'Slug n' lettuce'  with Linda our lovely member friend with 7 cats (wait she might have 8 now). anyways she is just the loveliest person alive. She is really ill. She is in remission from breast cancer last year but her spinal column is failing (part of it has already been fused) but her disks keep bursting. She is having a rough time. Its very painful for her to move around so it was a big deal that she took us out to lunch. (I ordered Mexican pasta shells ...soooo good.) She also gave us the cutest little stuffed animal owls. I named mine Chester after 'colChester'. It was so thoughtful of her. 

I found out this week that my friend Faggs from Canterbury died the last week of April. She was so lovely and so clever. She loved us so much and I loved her with my whole heart. I loved going to see her. She would always say , 'Oh crumbs!' whenever something went wrong. I still have the loveliest red scarf and warm warm socks from her because she was so worried about us getting cold. She always had chocolate for us. We pulled christmas crackers so many times and raced little penguins across her floor. As a district we bought her a little stuffed penguin for Christmas because she loves penguins. When she opened it, she thought it was an owl and named him 'owl' then when we told her it was a penguin she laughed so hard, but the name stuck. Owl the penguin. Going to see her was always such a blessing for me as a new missionary. I knew i was 'safe' going to see her. She was always cheerful and happy even though she dealt with so much pain. 

I know that the power of the temple is real. I know that Heavenly Father really has a plan. It is a plan of happiness that allows each of us to learn, grow, and then return to dwell with him. Part of that plan is death. We will all return to be with Him again. Alma taught, 'Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

 12 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.'

She is happy. She is healed. She has two legs that work. I feel so privileged to have been a part of her mortal journey, because I know she really affected mine.  

Miracle:  We met this really cool Sixth-Form student on the bus and had a return appointment with her on Friday. She came, and brought a friend, AND gave us the number of her other friend who was looking to join a christian church. It was amazing. It was such a tender mercy because we had bashed with a man earlier that day and were trying really hard not to feel down. But there is opposition in all things. If one thing goes wrong, there is bound to be a miracle around the corner. Satan works his hardest when we are on the cusp of big spiritual moments. like Joseph Smith. And the first missionaries in England. (cool story look it up).  

We had our last Zone conference with President Jordan this week. It was so good. I learned so much. We sang. they showed the 'Glorious' video we made. 

I was asked to give a 1 minute message of how to creatively introduce the Book of Mormon with the Ipad. So I took a selfie. With President. hahahahaha it was epic. Sister Jordan gave a fantastic training on opposition and the first missionaries in England how they were majorly attacked by the devil the night before they had their first baptism. But they persevered. the prayed and supplicated at the throne of our Heavenly Father and they overcame. Sister Jordan gave each of us a pebble from the 'River Ribble' , where those first baptisms in the British Isles took place.

I will persevere! I will declare his name! I will strive to be an instrument in the hands of the Master who is preparing this place and these people to hear and accept His word. 

I love you all! I had such a wonderful week! Thank you for the prayers! 

love, 

Sister Coleman

Sis. Coleman giving iPad training and taking a 'selfie' with Pres. Jordan as part of the lesson.

Beautiful Feet

Hi Daddy, 

I also loved the President Benson lesson this week. I love where he said 'While the Bible helped me know about what Jesus did for people in the holy land, the book of mormon gave me a deeper understanding of what he has done for me. 

I have finally overcome my fear. I was on my exchange and I could not believe how easily Sister Cummings had 'step ins'. It was so natural. I want to become like that. I realised the only way I would, was if I practised. So I decided that I would practise all the time. I would choose to no longer be afraid. 2 Nephi 8 really helped me. For some reason when I read it, the spirit burned within me more than ever before, helping me to know that the message was for me. 

That he was saying to me, 'I am He; yea, I am He that comforteth you. Behold, who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of man, who shall die, and of the son of man, who shall be made like unto grass?.... And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth, and hast feared continually every day, because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? And where is the fury of the oppressor?.....  But I am the Lord thy God, whose waves roared; the Lord of Hosts is my name. And I have put my words in thy mouth, and have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion: Behold, thou art my people.Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise, sit down, O Jerusalem; loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion..' 

I will no longer allow myself to be tied down by fear. I will no longer yield my heart to the adversary who wants me to shut my mouth. I am no longer captive to fear. 

I decided on Saturday morning that Thursday was my last day being afraid on my mission. And that's how it has been. I have stopped so many people and invited them to learn. I have felt like a real missionary. I don't feel passive about the work anymore. I am so excited about it! I am not perfect at continuing conversations and at effectively teaching, testifying and inviting on the streets, but I am getting better. 

I am so happy to be a missionary. To have this time to serve my Lord, my God. I only wish I was better at it so I could see the fruits of my desires.

We want to be led to those that are prepared. 

I love you!

Hiya! 

So apparently this week was when all of you decided to send me pictures of crazy things and tell me stories of bugs and snakes! haha! I have been laughing so hard. 

The sun has been shining so bright!.... Every other day! It usually rains and then shines. Today it is raining.

This week has been revolutionary! haha! 

Craziness:

I got pooped on. By a bird. Two days in a row. 

This is my worst nightmare. But it was pretty funny. Apparently it is good luck. haha :) but seriously it was sooo funny. 

We have this Mum whose children are investigating (P and J ) she is on her own and getting them to church has been hard. She doesn't have a car and she has 5 boys. The bus for church leaves town at 9:38 but that is a good 20 minute fast walk without little kids. She doesn't have any booster seats so none of the members can get them a lift (we have been looking for booster seats for ages). For this sunday we decided that Sister Wai and I would walk to their house at 8:45 to help get everyone ready and then hike to the bus stop. While we were planning the GREATEST people EVER, Ed and Lucy (Ed was in the same mission as Benji) came up with a plan with two cars and two booster seats that they drove around town and gathered. (there aren't enough seats in one car for all of them.)

So, Sister Wai and I got to their house Sunday morning and they were all asleep. We proceeded to start finding trousers, shirts, socks and shoes for everyone while Dave ran around making toast for all the boys.  The cars showed up and we took all these boys to church. The youngest two sat in between Sister Wai and I on the front row (I knew Daddy would be proud of that front row). We kept them entertained with doodling. It was such a miracle that they came to church. We also had a miracle of a former Friend coming to church! We are going to teach her on Friday!!!

yay! 

I had an exchange in Ipswich with Sister Cummings. It. Was. Amazing. I learned so much. 

The members we had dinner with (the Baxters) fed us TACOS! WITH guacamole! I love mexican food! Their family was so fantastic. (Bethany, Jack, Poppy, Brooke, Jude, and Rose). We played a game as part of our spiritual lesson called 'the pound-£ game'. I was not good at it but it was SO fun. After the lesson we shared, this sweet family surprised us with pedicures. They washed and rubbed our gross tracting, walking, missionary feet. I was speechless. There are not words for how loved I felt by this family who had just barely met me. It was very humbling.

It just makes me think of when the Saviour washed his disciples feet. Their feet must have been so nasty! They wore sandels and walked on dusty roads their feet were probably stinky and muddy and calloused. Yet the Saviour washed each one with love and care. 

It made me want to work even harder. I can think of no greater honor than to be a messanger to others of how much the Saviour loves them. Isaiah said, 'Oh how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who publisheth peace.' 

I want to have beautiful feet. Feet of a missionary who teaches people of the joy of the gospel.  So many people have no idea of who they really are. Of how loved they are. Of how much their Father wants them to return. They just need an example to follow. An invitation. We make such a HUGE difference in others lives by being examples of how faith in God helps us. Don't be afraid to tell them that :)

Abinadi Said: Mosiah 15:15-22

'And these are they who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth! 15 And O how beautiful upon the mountains were their feet!
16 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that are still publishing peace!
17 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who shall hereafter publish peace, yea, from this time henceforth and forever!
18 And behold, I say unto you, this is not all. For O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation unto his people;
19 For were it not for the redemption which he hath made for his people, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, I say unto you, were it not for this, all mankind must have perished.
20 But behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead.
21 And there cometh a resurrection, even a first resurrection; yea, even a resurrection of those that have been, and who are, and who shall be, even until the resurrection of Christ—for so shall he be called.
22 And now, the resurrection of all the prophets, and all those that have believed in their words, or all those that have kept the commandments of God, shall come forth in the first resurrection; therefore, they are the first resurrection.
23 They are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed them; thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death.'

He lives. He has saved us. We just need to let him help us and help others. I love you all!
love, Sister Coleman

It's all about 'becoming', Innit?!!

Hiya! 

 

This was a strange week! It started out wonderfully with many miracles of investigators progressing who hadn't been, and finished slightly off with some investigators dropping off date. We had a couple days where appointment after appointment fell through. It was a good learning experience. I am understanding more and more that this life really is all about 'Becoming' like the Saviour. That means there HAS to be refining processes. 'Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine'-Hymn 85. Because I am understanding this more and more, those refining hours have become easier to bear. I am able to step outside of the situation and think ,'How is this helping me become like the Saviour?'. For some reason being able to know why it is happening makes it easier. 

 

I loved Skyping on Mother's Day! So SO great! 

 

I have had several members of the ward tell me recently that I look like Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Needless to say, that made me very very happy. :) 

 

Prayer is a real thing. It works. Heavenly Father hears. He responds. That amazes me. I know He lives and loves us. 

 

Sister Wai and I baked 4 batches of cookies this week. chocolate cake mix cookies, strawberry cookies, and chocolate chip cookies. (I still need a no-bake recipe). We gave them to elders and members and less actives and potential investigators. I only ate a handful ;). 

 

Sister Wai and I love to sing together. We sing ALL day long! our favourites are: Come thou Fount, then 'Whenever I feel afraid I whistle' the  song from King and I, and Nearer my God to thee. Sometimes I catch myself whistling 'apostate'( JK ) songs like 'Bless Her Beautiful Hide' from 7 brides for 7 brothers.  (awkward). I'm working on that. ; )

 

We had a cool finding moment this week when we walked past a family and were SO mad at ouselves for not stopping them and talking to them. But, we decided it wasn't too late and we ran up the hill after them and asked for directions. They helped us out and then asked us who we were/what were we doing because they wanted to know why we were dressed so nicely and modestly. (Most of the girls in Essex dress like they are on the beach, or it is all skin tight).  We were able to talk to them about the church and teach them about when Heavenly Father called Joseph Smith to be a prophet. We have an appointment later this week! :)  lesson learned: ALWAYS be modest. people notice. 

 

Miracle: I found an amazing burrito at KFC.  ( Craving Mexican Food )

 

Miracle:

One of our 'investigators' (I will now be calling them Friends with a capital 'F'). Didn't want us to teach her the gospel. But as we continued to stop by and share teeny tiny gospel truths, she noticed she felt better when we came to see her. This week we went to see her and a miracle occured where she said we could teach her the gospel!! It was amazing. 

 

The Ward here is fantastic. They really love us and support us. I am so so grateful.

 

I love you all!!! 

 

love, Sister Coleman

Sis. Wai and Sis. Coleman 

Colchester Essex England

IPads

Colchester Zone 

Mother's Day Skype 

Nate talking to Sis. Coleman 

Spiritual Splinters and the Zoo

Hiya! 

We went to the Zoo! YAY! I LOVED it! I fed a giraffe and an elephant and some birds. Sister Wai held a coacroach! We saw soo many cool animals. We had  so much fun as a district!  We even gave the bird lady a pass along card. :)  I did NOT like the ant exhibit.

We have our Ipads! They have already been a miracle! The other night we were out walking an saw a man sitting on a bench with his head in his hands. We sat next to him, asked him for directions. He ended up showing us pictures of his kids and we ended up showing him 'Because of Him'. He said he had never seen anything like it. And that he felt something. 'Something weird , like inner peace. but more than that. It feels weird.' 

#thechurchistrue 

We testified to him of Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost. It was very sacred. 

The iPad training was brilliant. All about having a plan when you feel vulnerable (aka hungry angry bored tired alone.) Sound familiar? :) #ihavethebestparentsever 

And the other focus was the atonement. 

And Guess what!? Elder Holland is coming to visit us at the beginning of June!! AHH!

We have seen so many miracles with our investigators this week. Please keep praying for them. We are hoping to see them baptised at the end of May. 

Thank you so much for the package! I laughed at everything inside. Only my mother would mail me bean dip. hahahahahahaha. It was like our Christmas Stockings. It was so so great. I loved it! 

I told Sister Wai that you had deliberately sent some of the items to just her. She doesn't get mail and I can tell she really wants some. Her family emails her, she just doesn't get pacakages or snail mail. Could Nate mail her a picture? :)

On that note- Transfers are this week! and I am ...............Staying! In Colchester with.... Sister 

Wai! YAY! I am so happy. We have too much work to do to be moved. :)

I love the two talks you sent me. I am learning sooo much from them. I understand so much more. Thank you for sending them. 

Some insight I had today during personal study: 

Splinters. They hurt. But pulling them out can hurt too. Sometimes you have to dig, cut some skin, push, pull. Change the angle. Get some good lighting. Sometimes while you are pulling it out, it breaks. Then you have to dig some more. Often you can't get splinters out yourself. Sometimes you just can't get it out. You have to wait for it to loosen or come out on its own. But it always feels better once it is out. 

I have a spiritual splinter. It's name is 'Fear of Man'.( approaching and striking up conversations ) But Heavenly Father is helping me pull it out. He is pushing and pulling, changing the angle and the lighting. He has gotten out some big pieces. Only the little bits are left. I've had to walk on it a bit, try to pull it out by myself. But, only He has the right angle, light, and tools that will work. I just need to trust Him and sit still long enough to just let Him pull it out! I have to trust Him that even though it may hurt while he pulls and pushes, I will feel better in the end with it gone. 

If we let a splinter sit in our skin, it may get infected,l cause diease, or who knows, we could even lose the tissue! if we leave it too long. Do not wait. Let the Master heal you. Let Him remove your splinters. As He is removing mine. :)

This week was great! Right now we have 4 people scheduled for baptism! What a miracle! 

The first is C our awesome Costa Rican friend. He wasn't going to make it to Stake Conference this week but then a member gave him some petrol money and he drove an hour by himself to Ipswich for Stake Conference! #windowsofheaven

The next two are P and J.   P is just tearing through the Book of Mormon. He loves reading the scriptures. He loved when we taught him about Joseph Smith. 

We didn't know how we were going to get this family to church this week because all of the children need booster seats (the 3 little brothers 6, 5, and 3) to ride in a car and this family didn't have any. 

We showed up to their door Sunday morning (hiked through the rain haha) and I braided these boys hair (they all have afros) and hurried out the door.... and missed the bus by 30 seconds. P hopped on his bike and rode to church (took him 45 minutes) and G (the mum) ended up calling a taxi for us! haha! So we all showed up to church in a taxi. I felt so posh!!!!!

Our taxi driver's uncle was a mormon as well! Which was cool cause we got to chat about that. #windowsofheaven

The fourth is a family we met on Tuesday. We had met the dad briefly at a bus stop before and when we saw him in town we recognized each other. We started chatting and his girlfriend came up to meet us. We started talking to her and she testified of how God is our Father. We testified as well and the spirit was so strong. She was in tears. We set up a return appointment and met with her on Friday.  She is so prepared for the gospel. She was amazed at Joseph Smith's account. #windowsofheaven

I know this is the truth. I know that Heavenly Father loves us. We are his children. His crowning achievement. Even though we make mistakes and do silly things he still loves us. He weeps when we weep and rejoices when we succeed. He knows the desires of our hearts and will help us to attain them. He will never leave us alone. He sends angels to minister to us. The heavens are open for business. Ask and then listen. Heavenly Father always loves us. 

The sun is shining! England is Green! And the church is true! 

Love, Sister Coleman

How did your Mexican Pizza turn out? Was the crust stale? - I froze the crust as soon as I got it so it was YUMMY! The first round of pizzas was alright (a bit tooo tomatoey) the second round failed because I didn't soak the new black beans long enough haha but it was still yummy pizza from home :).

Are there beautiful flowers blooming?  A couple months ago there were Daffodils EVERYWHERE. literally. it was gorgeous. They are mostly all gone but all the trees are PINK. 

Did you ever take cookies to the Romanian bathroom man? Nope. Hopefully this week:) 

I LOVE YOU! TALK TO YOU SUNDAY! ( Mother's Day phone call)

love, Sister Coleman

Snake from Harry Potter. -Burmese Python.  I definitely tapped on the glass pretending to be Uncle Vernon and a little kid named Harry walked by.... :) I hope the snake is still in the tank.

Taking a Book of Mormon to my bear friends in the UK. ( Chloe's Mom here, only this girl who joined the BYU Wildlife and Game Club would even think this. Ha Ha)

Service gardening

Service