New Area!

So, we woke up at four thirty (which was way early), and rode a bus to the London temple. We got to take a session through the temple--it was amazing! Also, we got to meet a lot of cool people. President and Sister Swinton are amazing and I look forward to knowing them for as long as I will!!!!!

I want to thank all those who have been writing me--awesome job! Hahaha, all the rest of my family need to, too!!

Well, I learned about a lot of other things--they drive left side of road. We all need to get licenses here, so I need to get on that. There are a lot of the areas and districts!!! Now, the important thing . . . where I am serving!!!! I am in Brickston, London, so it is a very busy town and there are a lot of people here. This is in the London Town, our flat is way nice and we have a very big kitchen and a lot of amazing things (also my own fridge and a cupboard it will be a good living place already). I arrived and got a phone call--we received a referral for an appointment on Saturday, we also have an appointment tonight and lunch with a member today, so wow it's been crazy, but I am so excited--really, I am and it will be a neat experience!!

I love you all and I hope all of you are doing good. You can now send my mail to that place I gave you in my last e-mail and they will send it from there to my flat (so the London Temple address yeah!!!). I'm having a great time--my new trainer's (or companion) name is elder Hanks. He is awesome, and it will be a great experience to get to know him more. We both get along great and have no problems with each other--he is funny and we will get along great!!!

I have no doubt in my mind I was called here. There are lots of Jamaican blacks and lots of Chinese and lots of Muslims--the whole world is in this one city of Brickston. Everyone said I have an amazing city.

My best friend Elder De Almeida is in my zone and on P-days we meet up with them and play football (which is soccer in America, here it's called football. I sent a lot of things that mean different things so you will all see it when Becca puts it on the blog!!) So, yeah, I sent letters out so you will get them soon. Keep sending them, kay?

I love you all and hope the best for all of you. Keep me in your prayers and I will do the same!!! You guys do what I said: Dad and Everett, visit grampa twice a month, kay? Seriously.

I want to tell you how much my testimony has grown!!! I know this work is true and the gospel is true!!! I am so grateful to serve the Lord and I owe him so much!!! I'm so grateful for Joseph Smith and for the restoration--I know he saw Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. I know this church is the true church!!! I'm so grateful for the atonement and what it has meant in my life and done for me!!! I would not be here if i did not have that great atonement in my life. I love this work already and I have been out already a month and it has flown by! Really, it has (well almost a month, but still these days will go fast).

I'm so grateful for you, my family, and for all the great examples you have been. Keep studying and praying--really, it has changed my life. I feel the love of my Saviour and the protection I have from the angels around me. I love you, and love the Lord. Thank you all. In the name of Jesus Christ My Lord and My Redeemer, AMEN!!!

P.S. Sisters, I want you all to know I love all of you. Continue to study and pray as well and stay strong--the Lord has important things for you and your families, and I know this is true for real!! Do the best you can--show the Saviour you love him by exercising faith and working to become like Him. Develop those Christ-like attributes so you may have joy in your life. Your homes will be filled with the spirit of the Lord, and I know these things are true. I'm so glad you all support my calling. I literally have the whole world in my mission--anywhere I go there are thousands from everywhere it really is international!!! Keep writing!!

Elder Hanks says "hi" and he is excited to have me with him. I can tell he is a hard worker and loves the work. He really has already meant a lot to me by how he treats and talks to me!!! Tell the little ones hi!! Mom, give Lukas a big hug and kiss for me, and Dad hug and kiss the rest that come over while Mom is gone--tell them all I love them!!!

I'll get pics on Monday (that is my regular P-day--today we had one because it was transfers). I love you all, and can't wait to HEAR FROM YOU!

Third P-Day Email

Hey! All is going well, I will send some pics in my next e-mail (we do not have time tonight, I am packing and going out into the field and finding out who my new companion is and where I am going to be serving). I can't wait to see! I am so excited--really I am and wow, it will be neat! It's hard to say goodbyes, but we get up at 4:30 AM and leave at 5:30, so yeah, we need everything to be spotless.

I love you and I love the Lord. We went to Preston today and saw President Hinckley's living quarters where he got the letter "forget yourself and go to work."

Sorry, I do not have to much time to write, I just want you all to know I love you so much. Keep your heads up. Everett, I do love you a lot and I miss you so much--it has been hard to not have you to talk to, so make sure you stay in contact, kay?

I love you so much--all of you! MUAH!!!!

Keep praying and studying your scriptures. Really, it has blessed my life. Justin and Sharla: read 2 Nephi 31. This is amazing about baptism so you help Jamen understand, and you guys start studying with them, kay?

I love you all!!! Ahhh, I miss you all, but I will work my hardest and baptize not a few, but thousands. The Lord is with me and his angels and the Spirit. It's a life change, but I think I am ready, 'cause I gave up all my stuff before I left, so I just want you all to know I love you a lot!!!

STUDY STUDY!!!!! PRAY PRAY!!!!! The lord is with all his saints and we have a great work. Invite the missionaries to all your homes--this goes for all my sisters--at least once a month. See the change you can have!!

Second P-Day Email

Hello!

So, a little about the schedule: well, we get up at six and run (me and my companion, Elder Davies). We work hard and study hard till ten in personal and companion study, then we have class till noon and have lunch! Then we have class till 5, dinner, and then do service. Then class till nine, and then we pray and set plans that night--then same thing the next day.

We had a very special experience on Friday. We got to go out and teach people on the street and we taught a black man named Lavine, and we talked to him on the train. He was amazing and had so many questions--we answered all that we could the best we could. We taught the first discussion and also a lot about the Book of Mormon. We gave him a page to read, but he said he wanted to read the whole book! We told him to read and pray to know if this is true. He promised, and thanked us so much for what we had done. I was so glad for this and we know he will join the church . . . the Spirit showed unto him that we were true elders and we had something with us. He was so happy. We never saw him again, he lives in Preston and is going to school, but I am sure we will somehow cross paths again--I feel it!!!

Also, we had the chance to have M. Russell Ballard and President Claudio R. M. Costa from the Seventy come to the MTC and teach us. I can't even explain the power these men have. There are 31 of us here and we all met in a room--we had a picture taken with him (so that will get sent out) but, man, the power they had was unreal. I, too, am called just as an apostle--we hold the next high power to teach, and the authority to teach. Really, it was neat to meet him and to see all he has done for us!!!

I love the Lord and I love all of you. I hope all is going well and I love the MTC (any questions, just ask). And, Dad, I personally know this book Preach My Gospel is true. I have studied it every day, all day, and I'm learning so much about the scriptures, and I have that desire to keep reading more and more and to internalize all these into my life.

I love you!! Oh yeah, and post takes about 4-12 days to get to me, but if you want to send packages cheaper get on tesco.com and send me packages (it's like Amazon for here and the package gets sent from here so I get it fast and it is cheap for you).

And my new address is:

Elder Coon

England London South Mission

The London Temple

West Park Road

Newchapel, Surrey RH7 6NB

Keep me updated on family and all, and tell me how everyone is progressing at home, kay?

I love you all and can't wait to see ya in two years and the change in you as well as me. I know this church is true and I love you all. I know that God loves all of us and through Christ's atonement we can all return to live with our Father and be like him!!! I'm so grateful for all the influences you have had on me and I want to thank you all for that. You're amazing! Stay strong!!! I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

P.S. Tell Everett to e-mail me. I expect a letter or an e-mail every week from him (I love you, bro, you mean the world to me!!!)

P.P.S. Oh, and the food: not so bad . . . some things taste real bad. Thanks to Dad for always putting keffir in everything . . . it tastes just like that so I'm used to it! (Hahaha, love you.)

P.P.P.S. Letters mean a lot--keep sending them, please. I love all of you and thanks for the pics you sent.

First Email Home

Hello, everyone!

I'm doing so great out in the mission here. Really, I love the work, and it makes me so happy to tell you all my testimony!!! I love the Lord and this church. Really, I have felt like Elijah and strive to be like Ammon and Aaron--I feel the spirit so strong!!!

I know Jesus atoned for us so we can return to live with him and also so we can have happiness and joy and success in our families. I love you all so much, and Joseph Smith did restore this gospel as told in JSH 1: 16-17: "And I saw a pillar of light exactly above my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. When it rested upon me, I saw two personages standing above me, whose brightness and glory defy all description. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name, and said, pointing to the other, 'This is my Beloved Son, hear him!'"

I testify and know what Joseph saw and heard and felt is true, and the doctrines of this church are true. I'm so grateful for all your help and prayers! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Write me and update my blog, so anyone can see the updates of my mission and pics of England. I love it here so much and I feel my Savior's love!

I want to share a story of me and my companion who is the leader of our district. We are the examples, the President says, so we have to live the standards and preach a lot and teach those who are without. We have no problem and we have offered many blesings to elders and sisters who needed our help! I can testify everything said in those prayers are true and from the Lord--not from my word but the Lord's--and I can really feel the Spirit surging through me as I tell you correct principles.

I can't wait to go out and teach these people. Really, I am so excited and I love you all. Keep in touch, okay? Goodbye.

Letters to Eli

Well, we're starting out right--I hope I can be consistent at writing to Elder Coon with Truman and Brigham every Sunday. (Posted by Becca)

the next two years...

we are all so excited for ELI to serve a mission in London...let's give him some words of encouragement!