My friend Peter

Hiya!!

Our qi Gong friend V came to church! Yay! first time in  5 weeks that we have had someone at sacrament meeting. She cried when the sacrament was passed. She has never been to a church before.

We ran into our friend Malcolm at M&S! We popped in there to get M&S cookies (they have the best ones) and ran into Malcolm! He invited us to come see him later that day and through a series of miracles, we were able to bring a member with us. We shared D&C 121 with him and invited him to watch conference with us. He still has medical things going on that just make me want to weep for him. He is a true disciple of Jesus Christ. 

We went to the Norton's dinner and I managed to spill squash on the carpet, then dip my hair in it and put chutney in there as well to make my hair look reeeeaal nice. haha It was quite funny. :)

We helped our friend Jo Potts move house this week and have been painting for her and such. I love it.

We found £5 mexican Mondays! at a pub in town! woohoo! SO GOOD. Sister Phillips and I also created a fajita creation that makes my mouth water. so so good!  Maybe a good Christmas gift would be guacamole packets...;)

We had interviews with President Stevens in Hyde Park. It was really good. We read a talk about Peter. He is me. (well kind of). I use to really judge Peter. When he walked on water and then fell I would think, 'Come on Peter! have more faith.' When Peter fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane I thought, 'Come on Peter! you could have stayed awake.' When Peter denied Christ I thought, 'Come on Peter! how could you? I would never have done that.'

But I have discovered that I am Peter. That Peter was a rather bold, loving disciple, that sometimes let fear overtake him. That sometimes he overestimated his abilities. That he had the best of intentions to help and to serve, and to 'be the rock' and he just wasn't quite there yet. He accepted being rebuked by the Master and was humble. The Saviour patiently taught him and helped him to change. Through experiences, Peter was able to become fully converted. He was changed line upon line and precept on precept. He gained a witness from the Holy Ghost that Jesus was the Son of God. His conversion and testimony were sealed when he saw the living, resurrected Christ. After that he was changed. He no longer let fear or pride rule him.

I am a sister missionary who has the greatest of intentions of serving the Saviour. Sometimes (often times) I overestimate my abilities. I think I can do more and be better. Other times, I am confronted by 'the waves and the winds boistrous' and I begin to sink. Or I fear to open my mouth or I am not as bold about declaring who I am and who I represent as I should be. Sometimes I become slothful or fall asleep. I am striving to overcome these things by gaining for myself a personal testimony and witness from the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Son of God. I know the Saviour patiently teaches me line upon line and precept upon precept. I pray to develop patience for myself. 

Sometimes he needs to correct me. But that does not mean he does not love me. He never stopped loving Peter. He just had to keep reminding him to 'feed my sheep, feed my lambs.'

When Jesus of Nazareth first met Peter, his name was actually Simon. He told Simon the fisherman that one day he would become Cephas or Peter the Rock. If he could become a 'rock' or the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ, then I believe that with my willing heart, The Saviour will be able to shape me into something too. maybe one day I can be a rock of testimony too.

I love you all! Thank you for your prayers, I need them.

Love,

Sister Coleman

Chloe sent this and said, " This is London."  Photo credit James Neeley

Heart attacking a door

Painting

Hungry Sister missionaries with an empty fridge.

Watford Zone with Pres. and Sis. Stevens 

Riding in the Lorry with Sis. Potts

Prayers , Pregnant Ladies and Pie oh my!!!

Hiya!
The weather is autumn/winter and it makes me happy. I feel like I am in Canterbury again and for some reason that makes me really happy. That or I'm just excited for Christmas. ;) 

Inside joke of Sister Phillips and I: We always sing 'Where are you Christmas!? why can't I find you? except we will insert 'investigator' or 'planner' etc for Christmas. Some times we do just say Christmas. :)

Cool experience:
On Saturday we were on the bus heading to Aylesbury for a Ward party. Sister Phillips and I usually sit apart on the bus so that we can talk to people (but we stay in sight and sound of each other ). On the row behind me ,there were two young adult men who were heckling me. And they were just speaking loudly, not touching me or anything, but I felt afraid. I knew they couldn't do anything to me, but I felt afraid. SO I began to pray. I prayed that their minds and hearts and thoughts would be turned from me, that they would be distracted and leave me alone. (they continued to heckle as I prayed) and then I said 'I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.' and they stopped!! They were silent for a long time and then talked quietly to each other for a bit, for the rest of the 20 minutes, and then they got off the bus.
God really hears and answers prayers. Even of little ole' Sister Coleman in Leighton Buzzard.

We have a new Friend! His name is D- from London! He is so cool! and he has a date for baptism, he is reading the Book of Mormon and praying about it! YAY! 

I am ill. again. Not terribly ill, but I do have a cold. and that is no fun when you are a missionary. So I asked the Ward Mission Leader, Graham Jest, for a blessing. It was probably the most interesting blessing I have recieved. It was not 'arise and be made whole'. instead it was: 'I bless you to be able to bear this illness. be able to go to appointments set. Rest when necessary. And  blessed with righteous desires to serve.'  and that was basically it. I was  surprised. but I know it is true. I do feel a bit better today which is a relief. but it was kind of a 'be patient, be diligent, push through, but don' t push too hard.' message. which I think is better for me. I am going to learn more and have another period of spiritual growth I think. We shall see. :)

I have a new favourite scripture. It is Alma 33. It is my soul on paper. I have never particularly noticed it before because I always  focus on Alma 32 (faith and the word are like a little seed) and then Alma 34 which is about the atonement. but Alma 33 is just beautiful. It is about prayer and evidence from the scriptures that Christ really would come and why that is SO important. I particularly love verse 11 :

4 For he said: Thou art merciful, O God, for thou hast heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness; yea, thou wast merciful when I prayed concerning those who were mine enemies, and thou didst turn them to me.

 5 Yea, O God, and thou wast merciful unto me when I did cry unto thee in my field; when I did cry unto thee in my prayer, and thou didst hear me.

 6 And again, O God, when I did turn to my house thou didst hear me in my prayer.

 7 And when I did turn unto my closet, O Lord, and prayed unto thee, thou didst hear me.

 8 Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them.

 9 Yea, O God, thou hast been merciful unto me, and heard my cries in the midst of thy congregations.

 10 Yea, and thou hast also heard me when I have been cast out and have been despised by mine enemies; yea, thou didst hear my cries, and wast angry with mine enemies, and thou didst visit them in thine anger with speedy destruction.

 11 And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of thy Son.

And then:

19 Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live. 

 20 But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them.

 21 O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?

 22 If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works.

 23 And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. 

I love the members in this ward! We ate mexican food with Sheppards and they wrapped us in warm blankets cause we were soaked and freezing (our fault for being unprepared for the rain that day). We were able to help the Richardsons jr. clean their garden and see their brand new baby! We also always get a lift with the Richardsons Sr. to church and they play classical music which makes me happy (they are the ones that showed us Batmans house). We were able to go talk to people on the street with a young woman from the ward (Harriet). she was fantastic at giving away pass along cards. and we have fallen in love with the Aallon-by-Briggs family. They are portugeuse/english and they are fantastic. I will share their conversion story another time, but we love them and they love us.

I slaved over a cottage pie on sunday. It tasted pretty good in the end :)

I purchased a baked potato with chilli at a cafe called 'on a roll' in Leighton Buzzard. (yes they do have jacket potato carts in the street, I am going to buy one this week and send a pic). 

We had a really great quiz night with the ward. I couldn't answer any of the American trivia. I never memorised the Presidents. All of the members knew the answer.... awkward!!! BUT, I did know the opening sentence of 'Little Women'. :) :) :)

There are also a million ladies in the ward that are having babies and we had a baby shower activity night. They got us to do all of the games and it was fun :).

I love you all! I hope you have a fabulous week!

I love you!! 

Love, 

Sister Coleman

Stuff

Hiya!!! We have had a great week! We have tried an new strategy.
Whoever is holding the Book of Mormon stops someone and then we
switch. We have had a great week! I loved All the emails!
The house they filmed for Bruce Wayne's house is outside Leighton buzzard!
We took a pic!

I love my ward, my companion, my district! My whole life!
We have seen many miracles this week! We found 6 new investigators!
Whohoo! Life is good!

Look up the Mormon green eggs and ham story about Brother Lurch.

Sorry this is such a rubbish email, we made music videos with the
district all day and ran out of time.

We worked hard this week. Never have felt so good and so tired. I love
Sister Phillips. Went on an exchange with sister Rodriguez and it was
so fun. I love you so much! The book is blue! The church is true!!

I loved Daddy's account of the Hun!

Love, Sis Coleman

Joy in His Kingdom

Hiya! Ya'alrigh?

I'm al'righ! I recieved the GREATEST compliment this week from the lovely Mander family. 

This is how the conversation went: 

Sis Mander: 'Where are you from?' 

Me: 'I'm from this reeally exotic place called Utah.'

Sis Mander: 'No. You're joking!'

Me: 'I'm from Utah.'

Sis Mander: 'I lived in Utah for a couple of years and you do not sound like you are from Utah. You have been Anglicised my friend.' 

Me: 'YES!'

haha:) Since pointing this out to me, and because my companion is from Utah, I have noticed I am a bit English. I don't have a full blown accent or anything, but my vowels and my 't's and my grammar are just a bit more English then they were. I am quite pleased with that ;).

This week was so great! Sister Phillips is great! She is working so so hard. She is a great missionary :). yup. We worked hard this week :). Lots of ill investigators or dropped us or rescheduled appointments so we did lots of OYMing( opening your mouth )  and a bit of tracting around less actives and such. I feel pleased with our week.

Miracle: Went to contact a man from our area book and he has moved, we told the man that did live there that we were sharing a message about Eternal families and how you can know it through prayer and left him with a pass-a-long card. Well, he texted us that night and says he wants to meet! Please pray he wont have to work a night shift on Saturday so he can come to church on Sunday :)

Cool experience this week:
We realized Saturday night that it was fast sunday, and we wanted to fast as a companionship. We had been out tracting and it was late. We were sitting on a brick fence/wall and we really counseled together on what we should fast for. We said a short prayer sitting there and asked Heavenly Father what we should fast for. We both felt the spirit really warm in our hearts and decided we should fast for the pass-along card/texted us later guy.  So we decided to start our fast, but we didn't want to just stand or sit, we really wanted to kneel. There was no good place, but we went behind a bush in someone's driveway and knelt in the gravel to pray and start our fast. I don't know if it really made a difference to Heavenly Father if we knelt or not, but I definitly felt more commited to do what I had prayed for. And felt more humble and ready to do whatever He would have me do. :)

We had a mission wide conference yesterday about Member Missionary Work and it was brilliant.  I'm excited to be a missionary at home because of all of the things he taught us. It actually comforts me that this feeling doesn't have to end at 18 months. I wanted to share them with you and invite you to try some of these Ideas of sharing the gospel with our friends:

1. Decouple your friendship from the invitation. Before inviting them to learn about the church you can say, 'I want you to promise me that if you're not interested, you'll say no. Do you promise?' then you can ask 'Would you like to learn about what makes mormons tick?'...etc

2. Invite non-member friends to help you in your calling. Brother Clayton Christensen shared several stories of asking friends to help him teach a class, teach young mens, asked for their point of view on a sacrament talk and then invited them to come hear it, help in hosting a relief society activity or making something for a service project, just asking friends for help in fulfilling your calling. Brilliant. And they feel the spirit while they help. :) 

3. Setting a date. Set a date with the Lord of when to find a friend to invite to meet with the missionaries. And then go to work :) Miracles follow fasting and praying about finding someone by that date.

So I don't really want anything for Christmas. Please don't send me clothes or anything because I will have to carry it around. What I would like is this: Would all of you consider these ideas and invite a friend to learn about the church, or invite a friend to help you in your calling, or set a date of when you will invite someone and do it? Will you share the gospel with someone in some way and then tell me about it for Christmas?? What better gift could we give the Lord? Feel free to ask the missionaries near you for help, for ideas. Maybe you could share a Christmas video or message on a friend's wall or invite someone to dinner with your family, or take them a gift about the Saviour. Will you all do that?

I promise as you do this, you will be filled with the joy of missionary work. They don't have to say yes or be baptised, Success in missionary work comes in the inviting. The spirit of missionary work comes in the inviting. and it feels so good. People do not get offended when they know you are sincere in loving them. So I know I'm asking this as a gift for me, but really I'm hoping this will be a gift for you. Because it is the best feeling in the world to have the peace in your heart knowing that the Saviour can count on you to help.

"15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!  16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!
 17 Behold, you have my gospel before you, and my rock, and my salvation.
 18 Ask the Father in my name in faith, believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all things which are expedient unto the children of men."
I know you can do it! This is really the only way I can think of to help you understand how wonderful this mission has been.

And I know it can happen in UTAH! 

Experience: IN High School, IN UTAH, I became really good friends with a girl in my Wildlife Biology class. We always sat by each other and chatted. Then she was in my seminary class. One day I asked her if she would say the opening prayer and she whispered to me, 'I can't, i'm not a member'. I was SO surprised. I whispered to her that she could still say the prayer if she wanted to, but if she didn't then that was fine too. She told me later that she was meeting with the missionaries because her other friend had introduced her to them. We became really great friends and even did our final project in Biology together. A couple months later, she asked me if I would say the opening prayer at her baptism. I was delighted. I have never,  to this day, felt the spirit more strongly than I did that day at her baptism. It was powerful. She was my friend and I was overjoyed to see her join. and in the program I was Chole.

YOU CAN DO IT TOO! :) 

I love you all! 

Please email me if you have more questions or if you want some more ideas or if you are worried about this idea!

LOOOOVVE,

Sister CHOLE Coleman

Hold To The Rod

Sis. Coleman and Sis. Phillips

Elder Clayton Christensen visit

Last day with Sis. Obley

There can be miracles.

So here we walk. Everywhere. We don't have funds for infrequent buses
so we walk. My feet are so Dagum tired haha. But it's good cause I
fall asleep immediately. It's fun. We are just working hard. Right now
Heavenly Father is teaching me how to be diligent. It feels good when
I have a diligent day :).

Investigators: they are gone. M- has been ill, B- is in Thailand
and S- have disappeared. But it's all good. I learned in Colchester
that there are phases of teaching and not teaching so right now I'm
just enjoying the finding and visiting less actives and members. I
love this ward.

Miracle: we were contacting a potential investigator from our area
book, she wasn't home, but we decided to talk to a lady sitting
outside of the flat. She had two tattoos of angels with names and we
asked her about them. She said they were for her step mom and her son
who had died. We asked her if she believes in eternal families. She
did. We testified to her about eternal marriage and the temple and the
fact that we CAN be together with our families forever. We asked her
if a temple marriage was something she would want to work for. She
said yes! We taught a bit more about baptism and church and I told her
about the Make-a-Wish foundation because of a congenital disease her
daughter has. Then we asked if there was anyone we could pray for. She
asked us to pray for her brother----long story short--- sister Obley
is friends with her brother on Facebook! She stopped him on the street
last transfer. As we were preparing to leave I got an impression to
give her a Book of Mormon. I hesitated because I knew we would have to
take more of her time to explain it, but we did it anyway. As we
showed it to her she said, 'I know that book! My parents use to be
visited by missionaries when I was a little girl. We would read it
together and go to church. They even gave me a blessing.' She
explained that her father loved the elders as his sons and when they
went home they stopped learning. She gave us the address of her dad to
contact him again. We gave her the Book of Mormon and assigned Alma 40
for her to read before we see her again on Friday!
God is good!!! The church is true! The Book of Mormon is true!!

I love you all!!
Love, sister Coleman

The field is white

Border of England London Mission and England London South  Mission 

The London Eye
The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London.

You're a wizard Sis. Coleman

This is just the best week ever.

1st. Harry Potter. Its all real. Harry is a wizard.  I looked in the Mirror of Erised and saw myself at Harry Potter Studios so I know it really works. I almost cried. Coolest thing: Most of the things I thought were animated in the films were actually animatronic. machines and such. it was sweet. I knocked on #4 privet drive with a Book of Mormon. They weren't in, but I sent them a Pass-a-long card by Owl. It was so great. I flew on a broom and in Mr. Weasleys car and I rode the Hogwarts Express. The floor of the great hall is real stone from a castle. Snape's costume is actually navy blue not black because under theatre lights black looks dusty. His hair also has blue streaks. When they first filmed they used real candles floating in the great hall but the wax dripped on the actors so they animated them. life is great.

Miracle week! !

We found 3 families this week!

N and M : have two kids. They want to be sealed. This is the lady from last week. She is GREAT. They asked us to come back and teach them again.

N and T : We knocked on Nikkies door back in July and haven't been able to see her since. Knocked on Thursday and she invited us in. She read the Plan of Salvation Pamphlet and she agrees with it! She thought it made so much sense! Her son came in while we were teaching and said his friend was telling him about what happens after we die with kingdoms and such.-turns out he is friends with one of the young women in the ward-Hannah Cracroft. She is helping us teach him.

S- Fund her on Saturday.  We taught her about eternal families she was really interested. she has 4 kids and the youngest is 3 months. ADORABLE. She wants to learn more and come to church. 

MIRACLES!

M- is still really ill. We put paper hearts on his door the other day and it just made him so happy. He was really touched. I talked to an 88 year old man the other day who flew airplanes in WW2. Old English people are SO COOL because they were right in the middle of WW2.

It is transfers this week. Sister Obley is leaving :(. We have had just the most amazing transfer. We both have cried. I will be follow up training Sister Phillips from Utah. 

 Do you have to pay when packages are delivered to the Mission home?  or only to your flat?  Do you have to pay for the DHL packages or just the US mail packages?  I don't know.  i think just when it's a big one? it isn't safe to have packages delivered to our flat.

Red phone booth, do they have working phones in them?   YES. but. they STINK. They smell like a urinated cat. at least the Leighton Buzzard ones.

This is what I have learned this transfer: faith + diligence= miracles. I am really learning about diligence. It is all coming together. I am happy. :) The summer is pretty much gone. it is raining pretty much every day now so I have pulled out my boots and my jumpers and such. One of the blessings of tracting in the rain is that people take pity on you and invite you in :). and you get to sing and jump in puddles :). I love my whole LIFE! i CAN DO anything Good! Better! with Jesus Christ!

Also I am so grateful for Heavenly Father. He is so amazing. He gave us a way that we can just talk to him when ever we want. He just lets us do that. I love Him. God is good. with diligence and faith Truth will Prevail! 

I loooooOOOOOOOOoooooOOOOOOve YOU! 

love, 

Sister Coleman

Tripping

Hiya! 

I keep tripping. Like everyday. I actually fell to the pavement a couple days ago. I don't know if it's my shoes or if Im just tired. 

Today I cooked chicken and potatoes and later we are going to pick blackberries (they are EVERYWHERE).I love Sister Obley. She has been out for 3 months. She is so funny. We just have a blast. 

We are teaching 3 really solid people right now:

M- 54, english, has been in a wheelchair his whole life. He was taught by missionaries 10 years ago. He stopped us and asked about the book of mormon. He has a baptismal date at the end of september. He is really ill right now with penemonia. So we haven't been able to teach him. Please pray that he will heal.

B- 20-30s, english, He was the one that defended us from the Sherem/Korihor Guy. He has so many brilliant questions. He is going on holiday soon so we are talking about a baptismal date in October. Please pray he will know the Book of Mormon is true. 

S- 24, English. He is the boyfriend of a recent convert. He believes the church is true but his family doesn't want him to get baptised. We've only taught him one lesson. Please pray we can get an appointment with him. 


I just love this ward. We have been really trying to earn the trust of the members and we were blessed. I wanted to get to know the YWs president and Sis Obley wanted to get to know one of the nursery leaders, and we got to church and they were short on teachers for nursery and YW's so we split and I was able to teach the YW's class and Sis Obley went into nursery! It was a miracle. I just love this ward so so so much. It really is the promised land. 

We had zone conference with President Stevens. It was so so good. We also read a Sacrament talk. I learned that the Holy Ghost is the power that cleanses us. We make the covenant, and perform the ordinance and then we recommit to the covenant and perform the ordinance of the sacrament and the Holy Ghost cleanses us. TA DA! So cool.

We love the rain. We jump in puddles. Life is great.