Last Email Home - See You Soon Mom!

I want to tell you stories of this week but time is running short...3 John 1:13-14 "I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.";) My mission... the grandest, hardest, most wonderful thing I've ever been blessed to do is coming to an end. I can't believe it. Its bitter sweet. To think that 18 months ago I was packing up my suitcases to leave and saying goodbye. The hardest part of it all was hugging my mom and thinking I wouldn't see her for a long time. On the cement curb of the MTC, feeling out of place next to a kid in a suit with a tag and me with my converse sneakers and bright blonde hair (yes I wore converse as my dress shoes haha). The hardest thing I've ever had to do was say Goodbye to my mom and walk away. Kicking my feet one in front of the other, I had no clue what my mission would do. As the song says, It is the hardest thing I've ever come to love. Over these 18 months, lives have changed, but I feel mine has changed the most. I came out on the mission thinking that I was going to change the world, having no clue how the mission would change my world, change me. I can feel in my soul that I did my best and the Lord is pleased with me. I don't have this thought of like, "I should've done this or should've done that." I gave it my all. I know it and He knows it. I know with all my heart and soul that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. I don't want this to end but I know He has a plan. Seeing hearts be touched and changed, I know He was with me each and every day. He loves us and I've felt him put his arms around me. In the moments that seemed hard, I now look back with a thankful heart. He knows me better than I know myself. I wish I could put into words how I feel but words can't describe how beautiful this is to me. Testifying of what I know to be true... and watching hearts change as the spirit told their hearts my words were true. I've got worn out shoes & skirts, water damage in my scriptures, but most of all I have His name pinned to my chest. I don't want to give back my name tag. It has His Name next to mine. If I could tell everyone to go on a mission, I would. Because of my mission I've come closer to Christ than I ever have been before. When my name tag isn't on anymore, His name will still be written on my heart. It is going to be hard leaving this place I've come to love. Flash back to, "You've been called to FREAKING Twin Falls Idaho" haha Man, do I love this freaking place! Haha :D I had no clue what I was in for. Heavenly Father knows best and now I don't want to leave but I can't wait to get on that plane and come home to my Mom. I can't wait to show you Mom who I've come to be. I'm going to hug you and not let go. Families are forever because of His plan and oh how grateful I am to know that! I can't wait to see my family, I'm gonna squeeze ya tight ashleta piketa! <3

I wish I had more to say but I leave you my testimony. This is the Church of Jesus Christ. He lives. He watches over us. This work is true. Joseph Smith is a true prophet. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. Jesus Christ's Atonement is real and eternal. He can heal the broken heart, I know this because He healed mine. He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane for me and you. With every drop of blood that was shed, remember it was shed for you. There is no greater happiness than knowing this. I will live my life for him. I am His missionary and will always be His friend. In the name of Jesus Christ amen. <3

See you soon <3

Sister Coats

18 Month Mark!

This week was rewarding and overwhelming. I feel like I am just missing something and I don't know what. Like I'm shooting at a hidden target... We are trying to work hard but with the lack of success I'm starting to lose my desire which I do not want to happen. I studied the 1st bullet point for this month's focus, "Cultivate attitude of desire, faith in God, concern for others," I really needed to study that. I realized that even though I feel alone, I'm not. 2 Timothy 4:16-18 "... all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known... and the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." 

Why do I so often forget that? The Lord stands with me, He strengthens me, and that I am His missionary! I know that and how cool is it that by me His message will be shared! :D Its awesome! I need to do all I can to make this message known to the people in our area. Its just been hard because I want to help sister Patterson take the lead but she gets afraid... She shuts down... I don't want her to shut down... I know she can do it! I know she can! I'm trying to help her build her confidence. We had a rough start at the beginning of the week, mostly because I am the one talking and I don't want it to be like that. I want us to be companions and work together... I want her to see that I love her and that she is a fantastic sister missionary! I can't do the work without her and we can't do the work without HIM. Thankfully, we got a blessing from a member and it was exactly what we needed. In our blessings we both were told that we need each other at this time. :) That helped so much! When we got in the car we talked about our blessings and we both realized that the biggest thing we need to do right now is recognize that we don't have to carry this work alone. We have each other and most of all we have the Lord. :) I am so grateful that we finally clicked. Even if our area is struggling, at least we have a solid friendship and can trust each other. I feel like there are so many things I can learn from Sister Patterson, she is kind to everyone and is great with the scriptures, when she testifies she testifies with power! :) I just want to help her see how great she is and that she can do this. I hope we can work on our unity and teaching together. We got the friendship & trust down, now its time to teach! :D With this crazy emergency transfer, I'm grateful it happened. Sister Patterson and I were talking about how it worked out perfectly because if nothing else, we needed each other right now. Heavenly Father definitely knows best and I don't want any other companion than Sister Patterson. :) 

Wait... hold up... sister Patterson just asked me if I could think of one time that the spirit wasn't there when we were teaching this week... holy smokes! Not once did we not have the spirit with us... so like, yeah our teaching in unity could improve, but we do have the spirit with us #randomsidenote 

Exchanges were interesting... It seemed like the sister I was with was doing a bunch of little things just to see if I'd point it out or not. It was quite ridiculous really. I don't want to be a police woman...  I had to pray to not get bugged... but hey! We taught a lady who had anti-crud and I felt to testify of the Book of Mormon. We were bold and blunt, but it didn't come out harsh. We told her that the only way she will come to know if the Church is true is if she gets rid of the anti-crud and reads the Book of Mormon with a sincere desire to find out if its true. :) The lady got quiet and held the anti-crud and asked, "This book really is anti?" We replied, "Yes, we can feel that its not good." (Really though, I could feel the book was bad as soon as I saw it) I was pretty persistent on getting rid of that anti-crud. The lady was like, "I can throw it out." But I insisted on us throwing it out haha ;) It was fun tearing that anti-crud book to shreds but it did hurt to see sacred photos of our Prophet Joseph Smith and the Temple be skewed and degraded.... however, while we were chucking it, a guy yelled at us and was like, "what are you girls doin?" I said, "Taking out the trash!" He said, "Can I join! Looks like you're having a hay day!" Haha the sister I was on exchanges with didn't move, but I sprinted to him. Shook his hand and shared with him how we are missionaries.Real life missionaries and how we have a message that will change his life! As cheesy as it may sound while reading it, I did say that and he got a laugh out of it. He agreed to meet with us later that day and the lesson was great! The Sisters got a new investigator and he seems willing to ACT on the message. It was fun. 

Any who! I'm proud of Sister Patterson for doing the exchange with the other sister. From what it sounded like, they are both really quiet but it gave Sister Patterson the opportunity to talk and she realized she can do it. She said, "I won't talk if I don't have to but If I have to, I realized I can." :) YAY! :) She did great on exchanges and the sister loved her. They worked hard and I think Sister Patterson realized how she can do this. She really can. :)

Heavenly Father is pretty awesome. He answered prayers. No doubt about it.

John 15:18 "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

Oh! Last thing, we taught a family this week and shared with them the mormon message Heavenly Father Earthly Father, it was so perfect. The Dad was almost in tears. He realized how important his role as a father is and said, "I want to be a good example. I am a father because He is a father to me. I've never thought about it like that... wow, he really loves me." It was so sweet. Then he offered the closing prayer and thanked Heavenly Father for his family. :)

PS: Testimony meeting was pretty... unique... it was one of those testimony meetings where we were grateful we didn't have any investigators at church haha ;) Poor bishop ric though, they had to handle an old man flinging his cane/wooden rod around the podium and correcting some false stuff... not gonna lie though, it was pretty entertaining. I don't think anyone was sleeping haha 

Golly Gee.... we got our flu shot today and my arm is like... sluggin... :P

Have a great week everyone! Sorry this is all over the place 

<3 Sister Coats

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August 31 E Una Bella Vita

I can't believe how hard this week was... Emergency exchanges turned to an emergency transfer. It took me by complete surprise to hear from president that the exchange was going to stay... I tried to not be sad but he asked how I was, I said "I'm good..." He asked again... and I couldn't hold the tears back. I just started to sob. I was so overwhelmed. I just want to do what the Lord want's me to do but I didn't even know what that was at the moment! The sister who openly and vocally declares her hate for me is now staying in my area (I feel like some people try to be hard to love, I swear she is trying to make this difficult haha) and I didn't get to say goodbye to anyone! Ripped my heart out a bit... and my new area, is completely dead... well its coming back to life but I kind of just vented to him.... y'all get the point, I was standing on my soap box... then I bit my tongue, I was only focusing on myself in that moment... but President let me vent and then he reminded me of how badly I just want to do what the Lord wants me to do. He encouraged me saying that this new area and my new companion need me and I can help. I can make a difference here. He also said something pretty cool, "sometimes inspiration is what will get the job done." Anyway, Its taken me a few days to believe his words but I'm starting to believe them.

My new companion is an absolute sweetheart but she struggles with talking... which has been interesting... we've been role playing a lot and she has the strongest testimony. In just a few days she has gotten so much better at saying hi to people. Its been hard for me to just sit there and let the conversation get awkward but its worth it because its giving her the opportunity to speak.

To top our week off with craziness we found a new investigator, or we thought we did, when we came back for our next appointment to her chewing us out for not believing in Christ. It was the cherry on top to a horrid few days. We testified but really lady? Excuse me? You are bashing us and saying we don't believe in Christ? Do you not see our badges? What about that picture of Christ that you are holding on the pamphlet we gave you? Some people flat out just do not want to listen. I don't get it... I feel like some people choose to be angry, just because they can...

So ready for some positivity? Because negativity brings me down. Haha :) I read the talk, "Of Regrets and Resolutions" by Dieter F. Uchtdorf. I loved it because it helped me realize that I can choose to dwell on the negative or I can choose to be positive and see the good in every situation. "We do matter. We determine our happiness. You and I are ultimately in charge of our own happiness." He also goes on to say, "We shouldn't wait to be happy until we reach some future point, only to discover that happiness was already available - all the time! Life is not meant to be appreciated only in retrospect. "This is the day which the Lord hath made...," the Psalmist wrote. "Rejoice and be glad in it."

So all in all, it hit me that I can choose to be like "whoa is me," and focus on my selfishness, or instead I can be positive and see the many blessings and trust that this the Lord's will and I'm willing to do it! :) I'm in a new zone, with a new kind and sweet companion, Sister Patterson, I get to serve in a new area, new ward, the members are awesome, I'm still an STL(by myself with has been interesting and different but fun at the same time), and this is giving me an even greater opportunity to sprint to the end and forget about MYSELF! :) When I made the choice to just move on and be positive, the week instantly got better. We have been talking to everyone we can! Which I believe has helped Sister Patterson realize that she can do this. Its one of the coolest things to see when she knows she did well, she starts to break out of her cement shell haha :) Plus we got a new investigator (who lives in our area and didn't chew us out) and sent out a bunch of referrals. Ya know what is funny? As we've talked to everyone we can, only 1 this week has been in our area. Haha We've sent out a handful of referrals and then one of the new investigators we thought we had, we found out the next day (when we looked at the map) that he literally lived on the wrong side of the street! He'd be in our area if he were only on the other side! Haha! Oh my gosh, like really? But hey, we've been helping all the other missionaries with finding and everything is getting so much better.

To close this up, I'm grateful for how Heavenly Father oversees all and I am actually very grateful to finish out my mission this way. Yeah its crazy and totally unexpected but I did say I want to do the Lord's will and I'm grateful He trusts me to do it, no matter what is asked He can know I will do it, I may kick a little at first but I will do it. :)  I know He is watching over us and He has sent tender mercies everyday to remind me of that. I am Happy because I know I am His.

Its a beautiful life :)

Sister Coats

Quote of the day, "One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes."

PS: Funny moment

A little girl sat next to me and said, "I don't know my neighbors." Me, "... why?" Little girl, "because my parents say they're kidnappers."

So random, yet so funny! (Maybe you had to be there ;))

Sister Patterson & I

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August 24, Trying to Make it Spiritual!

This week Sister Pohahau got sick... which was hard because I know she wants to go out and work but she also won't give herself a break until she absolutely needs one, which is actually good because I trust her when she says she can't work, she can't work. With her being sick I realized I've actually grown a lot in patience. Before when my companions would get sick I'd be antsy but instead I was very patient and as I served her, I grew in patience & love for her. We even went to the hospital. Sister Pohahau is so strong, she won't let anything bring her down. It hurt my heart to see her hurt. Its amazing how praying for her, if nothing else brought me comfort haha She is feeling better today though. :)

I wish I had more to say but my mind is everywhere today. I'm just totally overloaded with everything we need to get done. We are going on emergency exchanges with the sisters today,(which means I need to put my selfish p-day desires aside) with the sisters that ya know, last week... were so fond of me. #not :P In a way its kind of a tender mercy because I've been praying for that sister's heart to be softened towards me and with how things have played out, her heart has definitely been softened. She had a minor fall... she really hurt her knee and we were the ones to help her out. She has to use a wheel chair right now and has to depend on others. Her heart is being softened, as she has to let us help, its giving her an opportunity for us to show her we love her. I'm nervous about this week exchange, but it will be good. I get to even more fully totally forget about myself and help the sisters out :) President said I need to help their area get going since we've been nailing it in finding lately and I think the exchange will repair what happened last week. Heavenly Father works in mysterious ways. I don't get it most of the time haha but I gotta trust him. 

I'm really grateful for my mission President and his wife. I really need their counsel, like all the time haha While I was reading in Doctrine and Covenants 121 & 122 today, DC 122:2 hit me because it says, "... the pure in heart... seek counsel..." I want to be pure in heart and I'm trying to become more pure everyday. I don't want the power of Heaven to be restricted in any way! I want to be exactly obedient and I want to help others do the same. As I've applied the counsel of my leaders, and especially the apostles and prophet, I know my heart is becoming more pure. I'm definitely being refined and its nice to know my president really does care about me.

Ya know something that is on my mind is if everyone would just be obedient! So many problems in the mission would be resolved! Whatever, I can't control others agency, even if they are using it wrong. My head is hurting... gosh, do I sound like a complainer or what? :)

Oh!! Miracle! Remember the lady that we took on a tour of the church? And she like busted up into tears! Well, her ex boyfriend wouldn't give us her phone number, so we went on the hunt to find her haha we said multiple prayers and a few days ago we drove pass her ex boyfriend's home and I saw her red hair!! YES! Immediately we pulled over and it was her! So I guess they are back together but the point I am trying to make is heavenly Father answered our prayers and we got her new phone number, she came to church, and I thought we lost her but hey, prayers answered and she was found! :)

I hope all of you have a great week! I wish I could focus right now, my mind is going a thousand different directions. Any who, I hope you all know that you are loved from above and He is always near. Always near you. I know He hears me and does what is best for me. I don't know much but I do know that Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ live. I know it. I am honored to be their missionary. 

Sister Coats

Doctrine and Covenants 121:35-36 "Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson - that the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness."

Us & Grandma Joe! 

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August 17 17 Month Mark!

Exchanges were extremely difficult. Its hard when all I want to do is love the sisters and they want no part of it. One sister choose to not like me, even before the exchange started. I had no idea she could dislike me so much when she doesn't even know me. With how much hate she had towards me, it made it impossible for the spirit to be with us. Because I could feel the unknown tension I asked how she was doing. She looked me in the eye, raised her voice, and said, "You prissy barbie sister! You are perfect and then you come in and tell me what to do and expect me to listen to a leader as awful as you!" I sat there.. and to be honest my 1st thought was, "You think I'm perfect, you really must not know me at all" #FooledHer JK :P It was quite awful really. As she went on yelling at me... pointing out my every flaw, as if I didn't already know I had a trillion, I had a prayer in my heart. I was able to not say anything which then seemed to make her even more upset because I just took it. "Oh now you are going to act all humble and be like how can I help you? Well I don't want your help." Y'all get the jist of this, the sister hates me basically just because I am an STL. When I finally was able to talk, totally the spirit not me, I told her how much her Heavenly Father loves her and that I just want to help her be a better missionary so I can be a better missionary too. That we can be better missionaries together. I asked her how I could help and told her that all I was here for was to love her. She flat out told me she wanted none of it. That hurt my heart, yes the words hurt but more than anything was seeing how sad she was that she wanted to bring me down with her. It was such a horrid exchange that we ended early and I was so grateful to see Sister Pohahau again! I needed her! She saved me haha we talked to Sister Curtis concerning the matter and what a blessing it is to have leaders that I know love me and want to help me. Its pretty awesome how Heavenly Father definitely works through other people to give us a lift. The saying of "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." Personally, I'd rather be hit with sticks and stones. After the scene, Sister Pohahau helped me realize how the spirit was with me. I was able to be quiet and just listen to that sister vent and hate on me but after prayer and talking it over, Its just easier to forgive the sister and keep loving her. Even if she doesn't want anything to do with me she can't stop me from caring about her! Haha Kill em' with kindness! ;) Its amazing that I actually have just typed out this paragraph without crying and without any negativity, I really feel like a year ago, I would have been like, "woo is me." But hey, its all good. Everything always works out especially when you are in the Service of your Lord and the sister will come around. Even if its after our missions. If nothing else I can always pray for her and I am grateful to know how powerful prayer really is.

Terson was baptized this week! He was so happy! Seeing him so happy made us soo happy too! Some of his family members came and they came to his confirmation too. IT was way rad hearing his confirmation in his native language, didn't know what was said, but the spirit was there. :) Seeing the happiness that comes to others from the Gospel of Jesus Christ makes me even more appreciative to be have the opportunity to share it with them. How lucky am I to be doing his work? SO LUCKY! And we all can be a part of it! That's the coolest part. We can all do His work, together and with Him. Terson's conversion is so solid because he had the ward members with him when we couldn't be and Heavenly Father has a purpose for all of us. He trusts us to do His work and we don't have to do it alone! I want to do His work forever. Its too fun, rewarding, and the love that is felt is indescribable! 

I am grateful for Sister Pohahau. She helps me everyday. We have powerful companionship studies and we teach well together. She has a desire to be obedient and so do I. She works as hard as she can every day. I feel like we push each other to be our best! I am also grateful for how well she can correct disobedience or rudeness and stay strong with it. She isn't a, (what I feel like I am) "Pushover." OH! Funny moments, I greatly appreciate the death stare she gave to an investigator this week. He isn't seeing us as missionaries anymore but Sister Pohahau is my protector! Haha! Like really does no one see our name badges? Whatever, we handed him over to ward and she set him straight! OH! So funny story from yesterday. We were walking out of our garage and there was this red truck just parked in the middle of the street. Sister Pohahau realized that they have been there for a while. We go to close the garage and get into our car and then the truck attempts to pull away super fast (realizing that we saw them looking at us) but over turns his wheel too hard, hits the curb, drives into the neighbors lawn, and almost hits this big tree in front, barely missing our car. (FYI We live on a straight road, so who knows where he was turning in the 1st place!) Sister Pohahau got super embarrassed for them, then I did too, she walk into the house, after a few minutes of looking at them like "What the?" I follow her into the home and we proceeded to stare out the front window at them...  We were laughing so hard we had to sit on the floor to hide. These 2 brown people get out to see if there truck is good and then get back in and drive away. Finally, we go back out to finally leave. We pass by our recent convert's house (who is from Micronesia) and there's a bunch of cars out front, one of them being that truck! #BeingStalked Sister Pohahau looked the other way and I busted up laughing, wanting to drive by one more time to make sure thats the same red truck! IT was! & Dang SO FUNNY! (Maybe you had to be there?) All these islanders just sitting outside #WhatJustHappened I think Sister Pohahau and her island beauty distracted them. She thinks they were drunk but it was like 2 in the afternoon and yeah, I mean you could get drunk anytime of the day but I just don't think they were drunk. I think they followed us home (we only live around the block from them) and then they got distracted by her/we caught em'! Hahaha Pretty dang funny. Trouble trouble trouble.

Have a great week everyone!

Sister Coats

Scripture of the week

Isaiah 49:16 "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."

I didn't get any pics sent to me yet, and I knew you'd still want a picture mom, so yeah... this is the picture of the week. I got hecka sick after one of our exchanges... here ya go Mom! See I do remember to send you pictures! Haha Love ya! :P

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August 10 #Pohauts

It was hard saying goodbye to Sister McCallum and my other missionary friends. I prayed I wouldn't just burst into a puddle, and I didn't, so prayer answered! Haha But dang, I miss my best friend already! She finished strong, and I want to finish strong too! Plus, It's just weird to think they won't be missionaries anymore... what do I call them now? By their first name? Uh... strange haha We got to do role plays with the newbies brought into the mission. I think that was a wonderful way for Sister McCallum to finish her last day in the mission field. Its so fun role playing with the new missionaries! They have such a strong desire to be one and only thing, a great missionary! Role playing with them made me want to consecrate myself more fully to the work, and it was cool to see how much I've grown. At the beginning of my mission I barely talked, now these new missionaries actually think I know what I am doing! Haha Fooled them ;) jk :P Its hard to see my progress in a day, but when I look back on my mission, I see how much the Lord has helped me grow. I am so much more confident in my own skin because I know I am His. When I was studying in 1 Chronicles 22, David was to build a temple but the Lord told him to have his son Solomon build the temple. The Lord tells David that Solomon (verse 10) "shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over israel for ever." I loved that verse because I realized that as we do His work, we become like Him, which then shows we are his. Then when we become His (have a desire to become His), He gives us all He has. I hope that makes sense? Haha But It reminded me that I become His by doing His work and that becoming like him, its possible, it's in my reach. Because of Jesus Christ and his atonement, He made that goal possible. :) Plus! The cool part is He does His work with me! (Verse 16) "... Arise, therefore, and be doing, and the Lord be with thee." The Lord is doing His work with us and when we allow Him to show us how to do His work, in His way, that's when miracles happen! :)

We got a new ward this week. We took over the ZL's YSA, so we are now over the college ward, family ward, and the older young single adults ward... its been hard balancing out the work, but I love being busy! And my new companion Sister Pohahau, she is so chill.  She never seems to get overwhelmed, and I get overwhelmed all the time, so its a good balance because she is helping me relax, which has helped made the new area and all the work we have to do seem less taunting. I admire how soft spoken she is. When she speaks in any situation, the spirit is with her. I am trying to be more soft spoken like her. Our area is a blast because we are so busy! There is never a dull moment. I have a really good feeling about this transfer. I've already learned a lot from Sister Pohahau already and I'm excited to see our teaching continue to progress. 

Random tid bit; we helped some sisters move and helped a family move too and I've come to the conclusion that I am never buying my children toys. Haha :P They can make their own toys with sticks and boxes! :P 

T is getting baptized this week! We are so excited for him! Hopefully we can get one of the ward members to translate for him and baptize him in his native language. That would be so powerful. Its amazing doing the Lord's work. There is nothing like it. There is so much to do and ya know what's kinda awesome? It makes me happy! I'm happy when I am in the service of the Lord. When we serve His children, I see them the way He sees them, I love them and want nothing but the best for them. He has blessed us this week with lots of lessons, new people to teach, and with beautiful sunshine! Hope you all have a wonderful week! Gotta go! 

"There is gladness in my soul today, and hope and praise and love, for blessings which he gives me now, for joys "laid up" above. Oh, there's sunshine, blessed sunshine when the peaceful happy moments roll. When Jesus shows his smiling face, there is sunshine in the soul!"

Sister Coats

Sister Pohahau are exhausted! But hey! This is us! :D #Pohauts

My Brothas! Taione and Fleck! (we were in the mtc together!) They are now companions, those lucky ducks!  I actually look tiny next to them! Haha! :) 

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August 3 Last Transfer!

SISTER MCCALLUM IS LEAVING ME!!!!!!! NOO!!! Why does this happen every transfer? Haha We are attached at the hip and now she is being taken away from me... gosh, ya know having a companion is like having a permanent stalker. Haha I've really come to love this one ;) My favorite thing to do is be a dork with her and be like, "You're stuck with me haha!" But now she's not.... Anyway, I am going to miss her so much. She has helped me grow. I admire how she always has a prayer in her heart and never thinks negative. I am grateful for how Heavenly Father lead us together, that we got to be companions. We have a friendship built upon the spirit. Its a friendship I know will last forever. I know it's going to be super hard to say goodbye to her on Wednesday... whoa, its gonna be hard. We are just so comfortable with each other. She is like my other half! We laugh and bicker and push and love each other like real sisters hehe I am so grateful that I got to learn from her, work with her, and be her friend. 

"Friendship comes in many forms, like laughter, joy & care. But the truest way to be a friend, is in God's love you share." - Fay Hansen. 

Its been a great week! Our area is doing amazing, new people to teach, and man we've been so busy! I love it! We have had meetings galore, I got to train during zone meeting which a wee bit terrifying and I think I butchered it but hey, I did it and I'm alive so thats good. We got dumb ti-wi's.... its a little gadget that yells at you everytime you drive a little less than safe.... the 1st time it yelled, I had no idea what it was and if my window would've been open, I would have flown right out it! Sister McCallum thought that was hilarious because I basically smashed my face and body against the window, (I looked like one of those windex birds if ya know what I'm saying haha) Anyway, its good because it helps us be, quote, "Safe" but it makes me nervous! I hope I still don't drive next transfer. I am terrified of driving a mission car because its not my car and then this ti-wi thing is just strange. 

We had miracles galore! KIM was baptized!!!!!!!!!!!! It was so beautiful and her smile was so big! Everyone commented on how they've never seen her so happy before! The coolest part of her baptism was what happened right before. So we stopped by before her baptism to see how she was doing and she and her daughter had a wonderful surprise. Every time we've met with Kim, her daughter has run away from us, wanting nothing to do with us, well this time she stayed. Kim told us her daughter had something special to share with us. Her daughter explained how she has seen her mom change. "She is happy, she is so much happier. Happier than I've ever seen her. I know that this change has helped her and I'm happy for my mom." As she explained the happiness the gospel has brought to her mom, we could see how Kim was holding back tears. Her daughter then said, "I want it." <3 Isn't that beautiful? Because Kim is truly converted to the gospel, to her Savior Jesus Christ, with all the opposition she has had & still has, she still stayed strong and her daughter recognized that and wants to follow her mom's example. Kim was afraid of being alone, but her daughter is following her, and together they can live the Gospel of Jesus Christ to its fullest. I know that Heavenly Father has heard Kim's prayers and our prayers. We prayed her family's hearts would be soften and now her daughter wants what she has. We can already see how their relationship has grown stronger because they want to support each other in following Jesus Christ. I know families can be together forever. Heavenly Father knows our deepest desires. He wants us happy and I know that true happiness comes only from our Savior Jesus Christ. 

1 Nephi 8:10-12 "And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy. And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that the it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen. And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit."

This is what Kim is doing for her family, she has tasted the fruit and wants her family to taste of it too. Something awesome about sharing the happiness of the gospel, is as I've been able to share it, I've come to love it more, to truly feel the joy that comes from it. Seeing Kim get baptized and her daughter's heart be softened, made me love this gospel even more because I got to see the happiness it brings to all of God's children. I love my Savior more each day, which I didn't think was possible, but with each passing day, I love Him more.

There is nothing like be the Lord's instrument! 

I can't help but see the Lord's hand when I am in it. 

BTW, at the baptism, multiple investigators came and they received answers! It was amazing! There is so much work to do! So much love to share! :)

I am trying to not let my weaknesses cripple me. I read a letter from a dear friend of mine that really helped me this week. He said, that I am blessed because of my weaknesses because they allow me to grow.

Ether 12:27 “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”

The Lord gives men weakness, not as a punishment, but as a blessing.  

 He also said, Be extra kind and patient to yourself and know that the Lord will, in His own time and in His own way, lift you up and make all those weaknesses you now feel holding you down, the means whereby you shall be lifted up. (Thank you Bob :))

I need to be patient with myself and remember that I am not walking this alone. The Lord in His own time and way will lift me up and make all my weaknesses that I feel are holding me down, the means whereby I will be lifted up.

I know this gospel is true. I know our Savior Lives and we are all God's Children. He is our Father. I know that knowing these truths for yourself will bring you more happiness than anything else. Lasting Happiness. You will know you are not lost, but that you are HIS. I pray that I may have said what the Lord wanted you to hear, in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, Amen. 

Sister Coats

PS: Waiting to get pics from Kim's baptism! ( I LOVE HER!)

This is us in Grandma Joe's betty boop jackets Hehe <3

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