One More Month!

This week has been bittersweet so far.  As we prepared for moves, I just had some reflection on all the people whose lives we get to effect, and how it really is not us but the Lord and His Spirit that makes a difference.

A few times, I found myself crying during a teach because I am realizing that I won't have this feeling and this comfort as strong for very much longer! The mission is coming to an end, and I have to move on: it's tough. 

This week as I stood in the water and baptized Nicole Palmer, I felt something very strong, and it just reminded me how important this church really is.  I think we let days pass and we forget about the importance of the Gospel because we let little things get in the way.

It's hard for me to focused lately.  I study harder, I work more effectively, and my habits are changing, yet it feels as though this happiness is being shot down from all sides! The pain that comes form leaving home is bittersweet . . . but the pain upon receiving a phone call to tell you that you're going home in a month is sad! It hurts.  It feels as though you're losing the Saviour holding you up! I am SCARED to come home, to be honest with you all, because I love this great work so much!  Just writing this makes me feel a tinge of pain in my heart. 

I know I will adjust, but I want to be someone new and someone who changed his life, just as Nicole and Andrea Palmer let the Gospel change their lives.  When we first met them, Nicole was shy and did not speak much.  Andrea could talk your ears off, yet she has completely changed to someone who recognizes the promptings of the Spirit immediately. Nicole loves the church and the Young Women program . . . I see her cry sometimes when she feels the Spirit.

Because of the Gospel, lives are changed and people are made happy! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO LIVE CLOSER TO OUR SAVIOUR?  It's sad to hear of some who can't be baptized, or those who struggle to go to church, or those who say they are too busy! The Lord is not too busy for us, and He is always there for you and I!  Please do all you can to feel His love.  The Lord's power can change our natures, our attitudes, and our behaviors, I know it.  I am grateful that I get to serve Him

I love this church, I love all of you, and I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.


Love, Elder Coon

PS- On Sunday, after they were confirmed, their dad and husband, Sean Palmer, accepted to be baptized along with an eight-year-old named Eli that I get to baptize!  I love this work!  Again, it is bittersweet, and it's up to us to choose what we will partake of!

Happy Valentine's Day to Me!

Well, I know Valentine's Day is supposed to be grand and all about the love: lovers buying sweets and chocolates, people preparing dinners and elaborate meals, giving gifts to loved ones.  It's sad it only comes once in a year.

I want to explain a little of what happened this last week: I could feel Satan actually closing in on me from all angles: from home, to friends, to investigators, to my own health at risk.

We had a good week with loads of teaches (to be precise, we taught over 26 lessons with investigators and less-actives, so it was quite good!) We lost a few really good people, but the blessings came as the week ended well for others.

We had Zone Conference, in which I learned many important things.  I felt the Spirit helping me want to become a better and more effective person. My companion and I wanted to make some changes together, and afterward we talked and sang our mission song, "Jerusalem."  That is when disaster struck!  There was more at the beginning of the week: like people getting mad at me for things which I already understood and tried to correct . . . but after this meeting, my stomach started to hurt.  I mean, it hurt, like someone was stabbing me over and over in the stomach! We had teaches, so I decided to go to each one.  I turned up about 15 wrong roads and I felt lightheaded.  I could not think straight, and I was white and pale--I  was burning with a fever, but that did not explain my stomach pain at all.

When we were done, I had a blessing which promised I would heal, and the sickness would be healed.  That night, I did not sleep at all.  The pain was unbearable--I woke at about 4:30 with a splitting headache and went out on the couch had a drink.  Then I went back to the room where the battle of tossing to and fro continued.  When the alarm went off at 6:30, the headache and dizziness and fever had broken, but the pain in the stomach was still there!

We had to go to church, because four investigators were coming, and I could not miss out on that!  So I took the bite the bullet approach.  The whole day was pain on the right side of my stomach--I was afraid it was my appendix or something.

That night, as I prayed, I asked the Lord for help.  I said, "I was told I could be healed, and I believed 100%." I decided that if I did not feel better by the next morning, I would go to the doctor.  But I awoke the next morning and the pain was gone completely! I thanked the Lord as I stood on our balcony. The sun came up and it was one of those moments when you realize how great the priesthood is, how great this Gospel is, and how much Jesus Christ really does care about our well being.

I love you all, and I hope you have a very happy Valentine's Day!

LOVE,
Elder Coon

Sweet Ride

Finally!  Mexican food!  There is no Mexican food over here, so we were really excited to find this place called "The Mission" that serves burritos!

Me and Garder at the park

One Busy Week!

Well, let's start off with the week that made me so tired!

On P-day (last Monday), we ran all over the place, and that evening was full of teaches.

Then we had a wonderful Tuesday as we sat at the feet of our mission president and his counselors and learned how to become the best missionaries England has ever had. We were spiritually fed, and I loved every second of it!

Wednesday came and we had to do so much because it was like we had 2 P-days with the meeting at President's home, so we had to teach a lot. It was a full day and we reached five solid teaches for the day.

On Thursday, we had a driving lesson and we taught our other family who are preparing for the 19th of this month to be baptized!

Friday we had the baptism of Ana Fernandez. She is a lovely daughter of God--19 years old and full of energy, and just so happy to have this Gospel in her life! We had a Brazilian party at her house afterward with loads of food. It was great, I can't complain!

Then Saturday was a busy day--we supported a family and went to their son's football match. We also had loads of people to find and teach--we reached six solid teaches this day.

On Sunday, we had Ana get confirmed. (She was a little late, so the stress levels were high). Then we had accounting all night from about 8 o' clock to 10:30--so it really was such a busy night! We were on the phone back and forth with concerns for the zone how to help individual areas and how to really boost the morale of all the missionaries. We had some good chats and some wonderful talks, we made goals and plans that I feel will get everyone pumped up and moving!

We are loving the work right now. I am definitely loving it, and I can feel so much peace and happiness, and a stronger desire than ever! This last month came and went so fast, and I can tell February is looking equally as fast already. It's starting to dawn more and more how much we really have and how little others have . . . so why not share? It's been constantly in the back of my mind how soon it arrives.

I will be home on April 8th (I hope my dad got the email they sent out from here that gave all the details!) I am scared, and it seems crazy, but reality has not completely set in and I am still fighting a wonderful battle that I will never complain about!

I am happy, as all you should be who have the Gospel and who grip onto it tightly! I love you all and I want you to know I know this church is true!

Love,

Elder Coon

Happy 21st Birthday to Me!

Well, on my birthday, I wanted to make a list of 21 things I am grateful for!

1) I am Grateful to know we have a Saviour who loves each of us individually and knows each of us by name!
2) I am grateful for the plan of salvation for knowing that even if some of make mistakes God has a plan for ALL His children--that makes me so happy!
3) Temple covenants and sealings: the power to seal me to my family forever! I am so happy I get to be with all of you that I love for eternity
4) I am grateful for how living the Gospel and going to church keep families so strong and close together . . . even though sometimes they fall out, the feeling is still strong!
5) For the priesthood power! The same power that our Father used to create the Earth, to heal and counsel and to bless.
6) The blessing of tithing and how living this law can open the windows of heaven if we give willingly!
7) The Family Proclamation, and how it directs us in how we should raise and how to keep our families stable, given through revelation
8) The living prophets and apostles! They who lead this church are called and inspired of God, and I know it!
9) The gift of the Holy Ghost: how it can personally benefit us and others! To receive and share gifts that the Spirit gives us is wonderful!
10) The Atonement, which can cleanse even the vilest of sinners! It can pierce all darkness and cause within our heart a cleanliness that can surpass all understanding and all feeling! For its wonderful effect on body, heart, soul and mind . . . it's truly a blessing that I cannot believe or fully understand, but can partake of weekly (even daily) as I counsel with my Father in Heaven.
11) The Word of Wisdom to keep us healthy, clean, and pure! To keep our bodies, which are temples, sacred and clean
12) The Book of Mormon, for how it changes people's hearts, and helps them to feel of the Saviour's love for each of us personally! For how many (who have been martyred because they would not deny the truth) bear witness of its truth and divinity. I love this book, and hold it dear to my heart
13) Home teaching, which has taught me so much and has helped me realize how important a good home teacher can be. For the opportunity to see God's children return to his fold by love unfeigned, and recognizing that someone really cares about them
14) The Scouting Program, which taught me leadership skills and responsibilities that have help me and also many others I have seen! I am grateful for the programs and the blessings that come from the youth
15) Baptism: to be able to understand how important baptism is and the proper way to baptize
16) For Prayer: understanding how to pray, and how our prayers truly show our love for our Saviour, and God our Father! The blessings I have seen as I have prayed, and also as I been the recipient of so many prayers in my behalf has changed my life!
17) True friends, like Josh Kunde and Travis Empey and Joel Guthrie and James Steffler and Corey Powell . . . all those who have been such wonderful examples to me and who have encouraged me daily! I am so grateful the friendship and that trust that can be built when we are all striving to be like our all powerful Master
18) For Bishops and Stake Presidents, for how they truly know and can discern the feelings and thoughts of our hearts and minds. I am grateful for their guidance and counsel--it blesses me so much to know that someone really does care. To have someone to look to and who can counsel with the Lord makes repentance so much more meaningful and also a blessing.
19) For my brother and my sisters! They all have taught me. Sometimes I can be a terror and someone that they wanted to hit, someone who complained all the time and someone who made mistakes many times and continued to but they put up with me. My brother Everett, who I love dearly for the great example he has been to me throughout my whole life. He helped me endure trials and really trained me how to be a leader and how to do a job right. And for my wonderful sisters: I am so blessed that my Father in Heaven would bless me with 6 beautiful and wonderful sisters who mean the world to me! My sisters are the best big sisters on earth and they are a blessing from God. I love you all dearly!
20) For my Mother, the sacrifice and the heartaches I have seen her endure: 6 girl teenagers and 2 smelly boys would drive anyone crazy, but my mother had the patience, endurance, faith, and desire like no one I have ever met! My mother is the best mum on earth and I am grateful God allowed me to be born to such a wonderful and beautiful mum! She has stuck by my side through through all my dilemmas as they came. She was always there when I had no one else to turn to, and she would hold me and call me her baby even to the day I left her hands and came on a mission. After that last hug, it felt like a lifetime had separated us, as I stepped through that security check and was looking through the glass! My mum is the best because she is full of love, kindness, tenderness, and gentleness! She has all the Christlike attributes, and charity (hands down) has been her defining trait since the day I was born! I love you, MUM!
21) For my Father whom I love dearly, who has always showed me how hard work and persistence really pay off! My Dad is one who does not get down . . . or when he does get down, he does it on his knees. He always asks God to help him, and showed me that obedience to God's commandments is truly what sets us free! The only time I can recall my dad crying is when he and my mother would weep for me and my brother and my sisters: that is TRUE LOVE, that is a True Father! I am grateful that my Heavenly Father would give me an earthly Father who (in my opinion) resembles my Heavenly Father. I love him dearly, and I can't wait to see him again. I feel so weak without my Father's hand to lift me up, to help me when I need help, and to counsel with me on the most important subjects.
God loves us, and he sent me to my family for a reason: I know this is true and I want you all to know I love you dearly.

I have a strong testimony and now that I am 21 I feel like I am a little older and a little wiser, but still the kid at heart that I was 2 years ago! Things have changed--my attitude and outlook has changed, but I am still the same brother and still the same nephew, cousin, uncle and friend that I was 2 years ago (hopefully a little wiser and a little more in tune).

God loves each of you and I do as well! Thank you for all you do, in the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN!

The Day of the Seekers

Wow, what a week! What a joy, a happiness, a fire within all the missionaries! This week we were blessed in our area to take 2 of God's children down into the waters of baptism! It was wonderful, and I loved it!


Elie Wong from Malaysia and Adrian Poponete from Romania! Adrian has read more than half of The Book of Mormon in about 2 weeks! And Elie, bless her, has read loads in English and has (in the short 3 weeks we had with her) found out that God answers prayers and that God cares about all of His children!


I feel so blessed to have been able to serve here in the Reading Zone--we have truly been blessed from on high. I can't explain the feeling, the change, the power that has come. I really am learning so much! Elder Gardner and I can feel the spirit of love and unity as we teach. This last week, we taught a girl named Ana, and we said a prayer with her and talked and extended a date for the 5th of February. She lives in Reading area, but she accepted! We talked to her on Sunday and she wants us to baptize her, and the other missionaries to give talks--we are both so excited!

I feel it took so long for me to begin to understand missionary work, but I feel it is just by sincere love, sharing what you know is completely true, and also by diligently focusing on each child as a child of God (and remembering to always keep a smile on your face). These things have blessed my life, and I know they can bless each of our lives as we seek for help to share the Gospel.


The Day of the Seekers has come! People want to know about God, because people are struggling. It's a new year and people are sincerely seeking for truth. At the baptism, we had a lady come with one of the members--her name is Andrea and she was so sweet. We invited her to church, and she came--it was wonderful. We are seeing her tonight for a family home evening with a member and I can't wait!


I am so happy right now and I can't even explain it! Like I said, I feel so close to my Saviour and I really do love Him! I feel like trials are bombarding, but I am using all my skills to battle them. Satan is real as we learn from Joseph's experience: when things are going the best, that's when the MOST opposition will come.


People are sincerely seeking--you and I can reach out and lift those people who stand in need! This is my testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.


Love you all,
ELDER COON

New Companion!

Moves has come and gone, and the sense and the feeling of the missionary work is really settling in! I'm becoming a missionary. It's funny--it takes two years to become a missionary but somewhere and some point you realize your divine importance, you catch a glow/blaze/fire that was not there before. You feel old in the mission--your bones get a little achy, and you can see age in your face from day 1 to the end. Really, a few weeks and I'll be home: WOW!

We received moves calls, and Elder Peay got called to be an AP! Now I have to take over an area again, and I also am training the new Zone Leader who was a district leader, so I know the Lord calls us in our weakness! But, that's when we are pliable and able to bear the load and increase and expand our knowledge.

Last night, I had the opportunity to work with my new companion. He interviewed our investigator for a baptismal date for this weekend, and Adrian passed! Ellie has her interview on Thursday (tomorrow), and I'm looking forward to that! I can't wait to see how things pan out--I can't believe how much we are blessed!

Last night we went on exchanges in the Readings area. We extended a date on the first teach with a girl named Ana. We spoke a little Portuguese to her, and she opened up like never before! She accepted a date as we followed the promptings of the Spirit, and now she is preparing for the 5th of February!

We have 2 baptisms this Saturday and I can feel the work load just becoming a fruitful basket: a living well springing up into everlasting life, as the scriptures explain. As I read King Benjamin's words in Mosiah, and as I experience the feelings of complete loneliness and confusion with Mormon and Moroni . . . I know this church is true! I have felt the Lord work through me this week like never before--I feel a new power a new sense of awakening! I know that if i can share this Gospel with everyone I talk to that people will listen! The fear and doubts of talking to people have gone--it's natural now, and I can feel more a sense of fear and doubt when I don't speak up.

I love this Gospel. My new companion is going to be great, and a great Zone Leader as well! The Lord will qualify who he calls. I love when the question is asked "Unto what are ye ordained?" and Christ answers, "To become even As I AM."

I really know this church is true. I can't tell you enough how much I love you all and pray for you! I hope all of you receive the blessings you are looking for, and find the happiness you seek! I have a burning testimony of this church, I know its true! I have seen the Lord's hand in all my doings, and I know it is through obedience and through faith!

Your prayers, and your willingness to write and to keep in contact mean the world to me! I will do anything I can to bless your lives, and I know this church is true! I leave you these things in the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN!

LOVE,

ELDER COON