Passing the torch.

Hiya! 

Well this has just been a wonderful week! We had interviews with President on Friday, I went to the temple on Saturday, and Liza was baptised on Sunday!! Oh how great are the tender mercies of the Lord! He is so so good and great. His love is abounding and so tender! I feel so grateful at the love and the miracles I have seen.  

In my interview with President, I asked him for a blessing and he said that my service was accepted by the Lord. Oh what joy filled my heart! Then as I went to the temple, I really prayed to feel that my service was accepted, and the peace and love that came into my heart are unmeasurable. Oh how I love Father in Heaven. And oh how I love the temple!! To know we are redeemed and enabled and empowered to change and become and grow and progress! There is no greater joy! 

And then Liza was baptised on Sunday! I have not known her very long but she is so sweet and the journey has been long with her family being reactivated. The spirit was so so sweet as she was baptised and confirmed. God is so good. 

We had such an adventure getting to the temple haha! Sister Quinn and I go home together and are serving close to each other. To get to the temple, sister Quinn and I did an exchange, slept at the Thetford flat with the Thetford sisters on Friday night and then drove to the temple on Saturday morning with a Texan sister and her husband that live on the American army base. They were driving an American car which was sooooo weird because we were on the left side of the road! It took us around 2.5 hours to get to Surrey. It was a fun drive :). 

We went to the visitor centre and the 11:15 endowment session. Oh how happy it made my heart! Then I met up with sister Katrnakova and ..., Sister Park!!!!!!! Whom I love!!!!! It was so good to see her. We all went to a pub for lunch (right around the corner from the temple) where there was a picture of the temple hanging on the wall!! Hahaha!  A temple in a pub! They probably have no idea. 

We also were able to identify our friend L--concern about church. She has some anxiety and I was able to share testimony with her of the anxieties I have struggled with. We made some really good plans to help her come to church at her pace :). 

I just love my companion! She is just so amazing and she shows me so much love. I am grateful for her! 

Life is good and the church is true! 

I love you all! My thoughts and prayers are ever with you!! Keep going strong! 

Love, sister Coleman I ( Sis. Coleman the first )

P.S. When I was in the temple, I finally felt like it is ok for me to come home. I have been feeling a lot of anxiety about coming home, but as I was in the temple I finally felt a peace that it is right for me to return and move on. As I have had those thoughts I wrote out a piece (I don't know if it would qualify as prose? Not sure..... But wanted to share it with you all.) 

Passing the torch (torch as in the Olympic torch not a flashlight) 

The tips of my shoes are faded to navy instead of the crisp black they once were. 

The heels are worn down and many scuff marks pocket the sides from the many times I have tripped over the cobblestones. They were a nuisance in the beginning when, untried and brand new, they gave my feet blisters when I walked the halls of the MTC.

 There I watched the snow fall and the mountain tops be dusted with white as I wondered what would the next 18 months be like? 

That is when I first received my torch.

 

I entered England with her gorgeous green hills and lamp posts that shine through the rain, a bit like those shoes- untried and brand new. 

Those first few weeks I tripped as I walked and as I talked, but I began to learn how to carry the message and share Christ's light with others.

 I learned how to flag down a double decker bus and begin a conversation with whomever I sat by. 

I prayed and fasted for courage and for faith as I earnestly searched the scriptures and learned how to teach.

 That is when my torch began to light. 

As time passed, I began to feel dissatisfied with my torch.

 I thought it should be better and brighter. I tried to hasten its growth and denied it patience and mercy.

 I was unyielding with myself. I could not see the warmth and the light it was already giving.

 My poor torch lost its joy and fearfully watched the darkness it was trying to battle creep in upon it.

 The flames began to flicker and wink in and out.

 My torch grew heavier and harder to carry.   

That is when I wondered if my torch would make it to the end.

Then I met the Torch Maker.

 The One that gives the flame to each torch bearer.

 He came and found me in my cold corner with nothing but my flickering light.

 He took me by the hand and raised me to my feet.

 He held me in His arms until my light began to grow again.

 With one more embrace He told me, 'as I have done it unto you, go and do likewise.' And I determined to search for those with flickering lights and those who had no torch, and share His and my light with them. 

That is when I engraved His name upon my torch. 

With His name upon my torch, the darkness could not prevail around me. 

My heart was filled with joy as I truly strived to give over my whole heart and will and mind to the Maker and Master of us all. 

My torch was refined and changed and my faith grew steadily. 

I was bolder and more diligent in sharing His light. I established lasting friendships with those whom I shared my light and those who shared their light with me as we came to know the Maker together. 

That is when my torch fuelled Joy. 

Now I can see the finish line.

 It is not far off and rapidly approaching.

 How has time gone so fast?

 It feels like it has been a brief moment, but my battered shoes tell me otherwise.

 How can I leave this behind? 

How can I say goodbye to these people and this land that have become an inseparable piece of my soul? 

 My heart trembles at the thought. 

And yet I know that it's time for a new journey.

 The Torch Maker is preparing a new torch for me. 

I know that it is time to pass my torch on and build a new one.

 How fortunate am I, that I know exactly who I am passing my torch to?

 That the torch I have lifted beneath the cloudy skies of London will soon be under the California sun!!!

What great rejoicing we will have the day we are reunited! 

But for now I will be content in knowing that I found true happiness during my labors here.

 I will trust in the Maker and let him lead me to the next step.

 I am forever grateful that He let me carry His light.

 And for the joy it gave me to bask in it.

 Which same joy I will soon share with my sister, who bears my torch. 

This is when I pass the torch. 

Have fun in he MTC Emy! You are going to move mountains!! Xoxoxo 

Press forward;He is the Light in the wilderness

Hiya!
This morning after I finished my prayers, Sister Reina reached down
from the top bunk of our bed, smacked me with a pillow and said, 'make
me pancakes! ' hahahahahaha. We made a deal for Spanish omelettes in
exchange for American pancakes. I went and whipped some up and they
were soooo good. :) I love my companion :).

Today for p-day we went to the beach in Hunstanton with a member, Dora
from Slovenia. It was so so fun.  We made a sand temple, the 'Sand iego'
temple ;). And took millions of pictures.

This week we really focused on not worrying and trusting in the Lord.
Letting him lead and guide our efforts. Letting him speak through us.
We felt the spirit very powerfully as we prayed to receive that gift
of being led what to say, do, go and be. We also were blessed to find
two new friends to work with! D- and G-. We also had a miracle
on the bus.

On Friday we had zone training meeting in Norwich which is a 2 hour bus
journey each way plus a half hour walking and another half hour to go
to Wisbech after and another half hour to return. In total we had been
on the bus a little under 6hours on Friday. We were tired and bus
sick. On the way home for the day we were teaching our 'GAP's (each
day we teach 4 2 minute role plays teaching a principle with a
scripture which we call GAPs)
. And the man near us listened and said, excuse me, 'who are you and
what do you do?'
We told him we were teachers for he church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints and continued to teach him about the restoration. He asked
us some more questions to see if we were really Christians and we felt
the spirit testify powerfully to him of Jesus Christ. He told us that
he felt like his soul had told him to talk to us. He had been stopped
by sister missionaries the other day and he had not listened and been
busy but this time he said he really felt the spirit. We have a return
appointment with him on Saturday! 
How cool is that! You just never know how the Lord has prepared people
to listen. :)

Liza passed her baptismal interview!! Woohoo! So she is all set for Sunday :)

In my Book of Mormon study today I was struck by 1 Nephi 17:13. The
background is Lehis family being commanded not to make fire in the
wilderness. Instead the Lord says:
'13 And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will
prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my
commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye
shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is
by me that ye are led.'

This is so beautiful. The Lord is teaching us that sometimes we can't
go about things the way we initially want to. I'm sure Lehi and nephi
thought it would be much easier to just make fire and cook their food
and have light. But the Lord had a better plan. A plan to teach them
how to trust him fully. To remember and rely on Him to bring them
safely home. We also have to trust more in the lords plan then in 'our
plan'. As we keep his commandments and trust him, he will 'prepare the
way' before us. He will be the light in our darkness. He will lead us
to the fulfilment of ALL his promises.
Trust in the Lord. Keep his commandments. Trust in good things ahead.
The Lord fulfills all his promises to us.

I love the youth theme this year to 'press forward'. Many times when
it is raining and I'm striving to maintain a good attitude while being
rejected I sing:
1. Press forward, Saints, with steadfast faith in Christ
With hope’s bright flame alight in heart and mind
With love of God and love of all mankind.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
2. Press forward, feasting on the word of Christ
Receive his name, rejoicing in his might
Come unto God; find everlasting light.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
3. Press on, enduring in the ways of Christ
His love proclaim thru days of mortal strife
Thus saith our God: “Ye have eternal life!”
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

This has particularly helped me as I contemplate returning home and
the changes that are going to happen in my life. I have to remember
that Heavenly Father's plan is all about us pressing forward. It's all
about taking the next step, being patient with others and ourselves,
loving others and ourselves and God, and continuing in faith. We can
do all things with his help. Let us not fear to 'press forward'.
Press forward with hope
Press forward with faith

'1 Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be
comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;
2 Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into
the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and
testament--the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.
3 Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable
covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you
have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my
name’s glory, saith the Lord.'- D&C 98:1-3

I love you all!
Love, sister Coleman I ( Sis. Coleman the first ) 

Sister Reina and Sister Coleman 

Sister Reina

Estoy muy feliz :)

Hola! Cómo está ?
Yalrigh?

I really love Kings Lynn! And my companion is amazing! :) Life is so
so good. The weather has been bright and shining and we have been
working hard. Sister Reina is from Madrid, Spain (which part of Spain
did Aunt Sherry serve?). Her father Jose Reina was just released from
the 3rd Quorom of the seventy on Saturday. This is her third transfer.
We are having a great time together. Also she is teaching me Spanish
and she cooked a Spanish omelette for lunch today SO GOOD, mostly
because they have fried potato inside. :) I love her a lot and I feel
very blessed.

Our area is huge. We do NOT ride bikes #hallelujah but we walk
everywhere, get lifts from members and take the infrequent buses. We
cover Kings Lynn, Wisbech (30 min bus ride) Downham Market (10 min
train ride), Hunstanton (60 min bus ride), and all the areas
in-between. It is really fun:) we are a 2.5 hour train ride away from
London. But I LOVE the countryside. Kings Lynn reminds me of
Canterbury because of how old it is and it makes me happy. The town
centre is very Diagon Alley style:). There is a huge park with
beautiful gates and buildings that are really really old. And a
gorgeous library that I would love to love inside! I will try to take
more pictures on my camera this week. :)

The area is really booming. The sisters here have worked so hard.
Currently we have 3 investigators on date. One who is all set to be baptised on the 17th of
April. Her name is L-. We are very very busy. Please pray that no
one will drop off last minute and that we can continue he to find
prepared people :)

The ward is great as well. I haven't met all of them yet because of
conference but those I have met are wonderful. Especially the Relief
Society president Sister Robinson who is a huge Harry Potter fan and
has a son named Harry and a daughter named Lily. :) :) :) It's so
great :).

We have had many teaching appointments this week and it is just so
fun. I really have felt the Holy Ghost testify. We also made a new
friend on the bus (one of our long ones) where we were able to teach
him all about resurrection and prayer for about 20 mins on the bus.  We
have a return appointment with him on Friday.

I loved conference. I had some written questions that I was seeking
revelation on and ALL of them were answered. I haven't finished the
Saturday afternoon session yet but I am excited to hear the rest of it
:). I have great hopes for this transfer and for the future.

I discovered a new favourite scripture this week it is Hebrews 6:10-12
(the rest of the chapter is great as well) it says:
'10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love,
which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to
the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to
the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith
and patience inherit the promises.'

It struck me quite powerfully as a real promise the Lord has made to
me. That all the time and energy and heartache will all be a blessing
upon my head either in the mission or out. I will receive all of the
blessings He has promised. As I read this scripture my heart was
filled with so much joy and peace. It made me feel even more
determined to labour with love and diligence for these people and
continue after as well. Oh God is so good. <3

I sent a very large package home with books and letters and stuff I
want to keep. You can open it and look through stuff and read whatever
you would like, but there aren't any gifts inside. :)
I also sent a package for Daddy's birthday. It is just for him. :)

Os quiero!
Sister Coleman I

Sis. Coleman and Sis. Reina

Kebabtism and Farewell to Romford

Hiya! Yalrigh?
Well its transfers and I am..... Leaving! I am going to Kings Lynne in
Norwich Zone (this is the tippy top of the mission boundary, as far
north as we go) my new companion is Sister Reina who I actually
haven't met so this will be fun:). I am excited. We also may be a
biking area so that should also be an adventure haha:)

I am so sad to leave Romford, I have left my heart with this ward!!!!But
I am excited for a new adventure as well and have had the spirit
confirm to me that it is right :).
I had to say goodbye to Sister Park and her family today. It was so so
hard!!! I need to come back and visit them.

I got kebabtised today. Hahaha they have things called 'kebabs' here
which are Turkish. I have been afraid to eat one because it is this
terrifying meat all compressed on a stick and then frozen and then
heated. But it is a tradition to have one and it really was a miracle
that I have made it this long without having one. Haha. I will send
you a picture :). Carl,Claudette, Amelia, Sister Park, and the elders
all came. It was fun:).

This week was an adventure as usual, on Saturday it just rained and
rained and we didn't have umbrellas ( I wore only a light jacket the
other day the weather has been so warm). So we just got drenched. I
loved it. It was dark and raining and the lamps were lighting up the
wet cobblestones and I just loved it.

I learned a lot about Christlike love this week. We have a friend,
Antoinette who is a member, she is pretty house bound, and we wanted
to bring her to the fireside. I called everyone to give her a lift and
no one could. I even started asking people outside the ward. I was
feeling very upset because I wanted her to come so badly. Finally I
decided to ask the Bishop's wife, (I had been avoiding asking her
because she is also has been ill  and her daughter has the flu and she
always does so much anyways to help. I really tried not to ask her
because I know she already does so so much to help everyone and didn't
want to add to her burden.) so I asked her, and she said yes. I
started to cry because I was so relieved to find Antoinette a lift and
because I knew this wonderful woman would do it even with everything
already she was doing. I told her about how I was reluctant to ask her
because she is sick and how I had asked everyone else and she said to
me,  'I don't want to just waste away at home, when I could be out
helping someone else.'
It really hit home with me what the Saviour taught that when we lose
ourselves in the service of others, we truly find joy despite our own
circumstances. I want to be like sister Ishmael. I want to be someone
that will help and hug and hold and listen and lift despite my own
circumstances. That when I speak to others, I speak for their
edification and not my own gratification. That even in the midst of my
personal trials and challenges, I can be someone who infuses others
with light and hope and love.

We had a good Easter! The Easter fireside went really well after loads
of opposition. I could really feel the spirit which was lovely. We had
an investigator family come as well as a less active friend. It was
great. I sang 'Here is Hope' from the lamb of God and 'Gloria' again.
I really felt the power of the atonement and a new appreciation for
all that the Lord did as I have read the scriptures this week. I love
Easter.

I also studied the plan of salvation and had a beautiful realisation.
That where we go after this life is determined by how we have embraced
the atonement of Christ. Those that enter into the celestial kingdom
are not perfect people who never made mistakes or sinned. The people
in the celestial kingdom are people that are repenters, and covenant
keepers. 'These are they who are just men [and women] made perfect
through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this
perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood.'  -d&c 76.
When we believe in Jesus Christ and repent of our mistakes, the
atonement has the power to cleanse us, purify us, and prepare us for
the kingdom of God. All sin must be paid for. We get to chose if it is
paid for by us or by Christ, (although he has already paid it in
full), we chose to suffer the penalty or not.
Isn't that amazing! Oh how I love heavenly fathers plan! It is truly glorious!

As I approach the end of my service here, I want to be diligent. I
want to work hard and love much, and continue in faith. I am so
grateful for the time I have been given and I pray that the Lord will
use me to help his children. I know that as I seek his help and make
changes that he will help me to conquer my weaknesses.

I love you!

Love, sister Coleman l

#Hallelujah

Hiya!! Yalrigh?

Well what a crazy crazy week this has been. On Tuesday, I poured out my heart to God and asked Him to bless our area. We had a rocky start but then the blessings really poured in. We are working with 3 new investigators and one of them is on date to be baptised. we were also able to see SO many less actives this week that we weren't able to see last week.  Actually some of them we weren't expecting to get in and then they welcomed us in and we were able to have a lesson!  That was a huge miracle! AND we finally saw S-- and R--- again! They are still interested!! oh what a blessing that is. God is so so good.

The new people we are working with are V-, C-, and M-. 

V- is from England but she loves India. Her house is like walking into an Indian Palace haha. It is draped with silk drapes and jewels and there are elephant statues everywhere. It is so cool! We met V- in my first transfer in Romford. We tracted into her and she said we could pop by and see her again. We tried a couple of times to see her but she was never home. Then this week we found out that the flat number we were knocking on was the man that she is a carer for and she actually lives a couple flights below. So we went to see her and she invited us in! She is christian and is open to learn about other religions. We shared the #HALLELUJAH video with her and she loved it! We are seeing her again on Wednesday and she is also planning to come to the Easter Musical fireside. :)

C- is also English.  She loves to sing and play the piano (sounds familiar right!). Her Mum is having some health problems right now. We were able to comfort her and testify to her of God's love. we said a prayer with her on the street and are hoping to see her this week.

M- We met her about a month ago at a bus stop for about 2 minutes and we gave her a card. She texted us this week and wanted to meet up! We met with her, taught her about the restoration and invited her to come to church. Right now she is on date for baptism on April 16. Please pray for her to make that.

God is so good!

I am so excited for Easter! Transfers are next week so email will come on Tuesday. :)

Romford has a new Young Women's President so we go to Relief Society now. And hopefully they are calling a Ward mission leader soon as well :).

An insight I had: In Relief Society the lesson was on the Atonement. The Teacher, the wonderful Lisa Harper, had us close our eyes and imagine being with the Saviour at each moment of the atonement (gethsemane, the roman whipping, and calvary). When I pictured the Saviour being whipped and me just standing their watching, I wanted to throw myself in between him and the whip. I wanted to shield him from the punishment. and protect him from the pain by putting myself in front of him. 

But then I realised. It was not His whipping. It was mine, and he had done exactly what I wanted to do for him. He put himself between me and the whip. He shields me, puts his arms around me to stop me from recieving the punishment. Thats what the scriptures mean when they say that Christ stands betwixt us and justice. He has paid the whole price and felt the whole punishment so that we do not have to. and the only thing he asks us to do is to love Him forever. To love Him and show Him our love by keeping His commandments and repenting when we mess up.  

I love Elder Holland's talk 'Where justice love and Mercy meet' here is a quote from that: 

'This Easter I thank Him and the Father, who gave Him to us, that Jesus still stands triumphant over death, although He stands on wounded feet. This Easter I thank Him and the Father, who gave Him to us, that He still extends unending grace, although He extends it with pierced palms and scarred wrists. This Easter I thank Him and the Father, who gave Him to us, that we can sing before a sweat-stained garden, a nail-driven cross, and a gloriously empty tomb:

'How great, how glorious, how complete

Redemption’s grand design,

Where justice, love, and mercy meet

In harmony divine!^{11 '}

#Hallelujah that Jesus Christ came for us! That we will all live again! That Every fall and every mistake will end in victory. Because of Jesus Christ.  A final thought from Romans 8:

'' 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be comparedwith the glory which shall be revealed in us.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.''

I love you! God bless you!

Love, Sister Coleman I  ( Chloe's Mum here ;)  I love how she is signing this Sis. Coleman no# l .  She has been       

                                         she has been calling Emily Sis. Coleman no# ll)