Week 43

I hope y'all aren't dying with quarantine yet! We are a little bit but we've found some fun things to do that have kept us sane. 

We went to the world's largest 10 commandments! It was like the closest thing to Disneyland that we could get. They have the 10 commandments on this huge hill and you can walk to the top. It killed my calves but it was a beautiful view. They also have a prayer mountain, a replica of Jesus's tomb, and the crosses. Then we drove to the Tennessee border because that is the edge of our area. In the pics you can see I'm very uncomfortable because I was terrified of getting bit by a snake in those weeds haha

The members have been really great this week with feeding us. We've got a lot of really good food. We are really grateful for them doing that for us. 

We went to the food bank this week! We were able to help out there for a little bit but Sister Weaver wasnt feeling too good so we left a little bit early. 

We've been going on a lot of drives for our outside time. I've gotten to see a lot of the area and the beautiful places that they have up here. 

We had a woman this week request a Book of Mormon. She said that she heard about it on Facebook and wanted her own. So we were able to get that to her. Small miracle!

We also saw our groundhog friend that's been living under our house. We saw him running down the road and followed him. He's huge. And old. That's about the most exciting part of this week haha.

Mosiah 24:15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

Pic 1 North Carolina

Pic 2 the jungle

Pic 3 look at that view

Pic 4 this is our dogwood tree

Pic 5 Tennessee 

Pic 6 giant 10 commandments

Pic 7 Jesus's tomb 

Week 42 - locked out

Hello!

Another good week!

Last Monday we went with one of our members to fire creek and drove around. It is so beautiful up here! There is so much green and waterfalls. We came back to the church so we could do some work and ended up having the keys get locked in the car so we were stuck there for a while haha.

We got a couple referrals this last week and we were able to contact them and meet with them this week. One of them, Tracy, is very solid and we have loved teaching her. 

I think a small blessing of being stuck inside is that I've had a lot more time to study. I've really been able to read all the things I've been wanting to and have enough time to really understand the gospel. 

This week we had zone/mission conference over zoom call. There were a lot of great things shared. Something that stood out was at the end President Marsh talked about how we need to hear Him, remember Him, and follow Him. I've been really striving to ponder how I can do each of these things better and it has been a great experience. 

That same day, we locked ourselves out of our house haha. We mentally grabbed the keys but physically didnt so we sat out on the porch for a while waiting for our land lord to save us. 

We've been encouraged to make sure we take outside time to help keep us sane. So we went on a walk by the river to get sun and exercise. Literally so beautiful up here. 

Quarantine doesnt get easier but we've been doing our best to stay positive. I'm not going to lie it is hard to be positive sometimes because it feels like we aren't really making an impact. But I've started reading the Book of Mormon again trying to finish it by my birthday and I read a verse in 1 Nephi 18:21 that says "after I had prayed the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm." Prayer is one of our most amazing blessings. I know that when things get hard, when I pray, those storms cease and I'm filled with calm. 

I hope you all have the best week of your lives. 

Sister Coleman 

Pic 1 neature

Pic 2 more neature

Pic 3 hey Murphy

Pic 4 hi again Murphy

Week 41 - tornados and wild animals

Hello everyone it has been the longest and craziest week.

So Monday night we are sitting in the living room hanging out and we hear something in the kitchen. It is super loud. So we quietly walk in there and look around but we cant see anything. This house used to have rats in it so we though that they had come back. We called our branch mission leaders to come over and help and we searched the whole house and didnt find anything but then we heard the noise again. So we figured out that it was coming from the vent in our kitchen. It was a large animal bigger than a rat digging under there. So we went and slept at the branch mission leaders house that night because yikes. 

He is still living down there we cant quite figure out how to get him out yet haha. 

This week we also met a woman from England. She is a member that has been having a hard time and so we have been able to call her and help her. We taught her about yellow pad prayer and faith flips and she was able to feel the spirit very strongly and that was a miracle. She has had some very difficult and emotional times this week and it has been hard for us as well but we hopefully have it all figured out now!

We also had a very bad storm just yesterday. Pretty high winds and an almost tornado. But thankfully no damage to our house and we were okay!

For Easter we were able to go over to a members house and have sacrament and a yummy dinner. And then go to another members house amd have desert and make some masks haha. It was a very good day!

I've never really loved Easter but as I've started to understand what it really is and why we celebrate, it has made me really love this holiday. Because of Christ and what He did for us, we will all be resurrected. Death is not the end for us because of Jesus Christ and this is why we have every reason to hope.

1 Corinthians 15:55

"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"

Sister Coleman

Pic 1 feeding the ducks!

Pic 2 it's been a struggle this week

Pic 3 hunting for the animal

Pic 4 and 5 our new masks lol

Week 40 - welcome to North Carolina

Hey everyone! Transfer week!

Monday I got the call I would be moving to Murphy, North Carolina! So we spent all day Tuesday packing. We called all the members to say goodbye and it was really sad. I've made some of my best friends in that branch and I'm going to miss them a lot. We went to campus for theast time to take a couple pictures and say bye. Love that place so much.

So now I'm here in North Carolina! It is weird being in a family ward. I haven't met very many people because of quarantine but this is an older community here so it is weird not being around YSA people. Murphy is a small town up in the mountains. It is very pretty and very southern. I've really enjoyed it so far.

Also. Fun fact. North Carolina is where Pepsi started. So you know I'm living the dream.

We were able to go to a wedding for a recent concert this week. It was a cute small little gathering. I love it.

Then of course this week was general conference! And it was an amazing one. The hosanna shout and singing The Spirit of God made me cry it was so powerful.

One of my favorite quotes of the conference was from Jeffrey R Holland when he said "why not have hope?" Its been so uncertain lately but we have every reason to hope! With Jesus Christ we need never be afraid! If yall didnt get a chance to watch I hope you will go back and read over the talks because they are all so amazing.

Love yall
Sister Coleman

Pic 1 my new companion Sister Weaver
Pic 2 our church building
Pic 3 wedding!
Pic 4, 5, 6 bye KSU