#79 - Romping around in the mini van!

Niles is blowing up! The members are getting hyped about missionary work! I gave a talk yesterday during Sacrament meeting about the power of missionary work in blessing the family. We have seen so many miracles with finding part member families to teach! We held a youth fireside last night as well on missionary work! 

We teach this super funny mexican guy (he is on date and is inviting his whole family to the "baptism fiesta") and yesterday he made 80 temales for fun! We will be going by to eat some soon! He is hilarious! 

The members are so great. They give us a bit too much pizza haha but they love missionary work! Their goal is to double the ward size this year, bishop told everyone if we were to do that, they need to double the time they go out with us! 

Funny story: We had a lesson with Sandy this week. She lives with a crazy member and was open to learn about what he believes. She began reading the Book of Mormon about a year ago and loves the stories in 1 Nephi and the family feud. Saturday we committed her to baptism for April but after further discussion we found out she she has a felony in Washington and is wanted! haha oops!

We have some good stories but not enough time! 

Love you all! 

Elder Coon

Our lesson with Karen and Erin outside on their porch Saturday 

afternoon during the snow storm ha! 

The dog is huuuuge! His name is bear. Everyone has animals and they are groooooss haha

#78 - Living faithful for the Lord

First week in Michigan! It has been a growing week! The ward is so great! Very missionary minded and ready to work. We will be giving a fireside next week on missionary work. You are more than welcome to come! 

On Sunday night we had a stake mcm with the stake president and his counselors. They are inspired! They are so missionary minded, they want their members to be full time finders. The meeting was a great motivation for me to keep working with members. They are the key. As I was in the meeting I was so amazed how well the church is run. These leaders know their flock. They loved their people. And they have inspiration on how to progress the work. I testify that Christ is the head of this church and that our leaders are inspired.

We are working with Joey, he is 22 years old and is humble and searching for the gospel. He is working to reach baptism. We had a great discussion this week about the Book of Mormon. If we will read personally and with our families, we will have greater power to resist temptation, the spirit of contention will depart, you will have faith, hope, and charity, and righteousness will increase. I testify that the Book of Mormon 

We had interviews with President this morning. He is so charitable and inspired. We had a good talk about studies. One of his greatest hopes is that his missionaries will have a strong desire to study and feast on their scriptures every day. There is power in them!

Well it is time to go! I encourage you to be strong and live the gospel. 2 Nephi 31:20

Fun Facts

1. Church is still true.

2. It is nice weather up here, a miracle!! 

2.5 Lonely old people love to talk... and we are getting a lot of practice keeping them on track. 

3. Cigarette smoke and animal feces do not go well together.

4. If I come home and it looks like I have an entire cat on me, just look again it is probably just the cats hair haha. 

Acts 28:31 Teach with confidence in God :)

Love you! 

Elder Coon

1107 Woods Edge Dr.

Niles, Michigan 49120

good afternoon dad! new area is great! the ward has about 60-70 active members... so about the size of plymouth. the bishop asked me to give a talk next week, so i am excited. i did make sure my presence was known! we taught 2nd hour on the priesthood. we have one person on date. Joey. he is 22 years old. a member from az met him online and has been working close with him in teaching him! he is on date for 3-11. he is quitting smoking. he is a smart kid but a little slow at understanding the book of mormon. we have been focusing on that with him.

well i have carried my weights to yet another apartment! no bench this time (yet) but elder newey has a pushup band that you wrap around you back to help give more weight on the pushup. 

are you taking annie or hannah this time skiing? ya i would love a season pass! hey send lots of vids/pics of the trip this week!

i have been reading jesus the christ lately on when the pharisees would tempt christ to prove himself through miracles. so funny because all they would have to do is REMEMBER the past. look at all the miracles he has already done! and the miracles will never cease as long as the people will believe him. modern day pharisees are the same way :)

oh the adventures! the funny thing is there are very few families that have the same level of fun and adventures as we do! i cant wait to come home to do them again :) but then again... i can wait because I'm where i want to be!

hello there! ya you guessed it! we have a little bit of time today to email. Lots of changes! michigan is good! the town of niles has a little bit of smell to it but it is fun to serve here. members are very proud to live in michigan and not indiana, it is pretty funny! Elder Newey is so great! We served around each other a year ago. He is a great missionary. We had interviews with president this morning, president asked newey if he would like to die training, i would be sad to see him go if he left me! he is a diligent and obedient missionary. we work hard and he is a great teacher! we transition really well. we balance each other out. he isnt a health/workout nut like i am but he likes to run so we have been running a few times. luckily i have my traveling weights to keep me company :) a bunch of my good missionary friends challenged each other to do 1000 pushups yesterday, and i am sore today! The new ward is great! so much potential! the bishop called me saturday night asking if i would give a talk sunday but it turns out he didn't need me. after church i came to him saying i am prepared for a talk and would like to give one soon. he was blown away haha needless to say i will be giving one next sunday. during ward council they were brainstorming ideas for a youth fireside, not sure if they would be doing one next week. I spoke up and asked if we can do it about missionary work! so next sunday night we will be teaching the youth how to share the gospel, emphasizing social media.

Mom,

Jordan will be baptized on Friday! i was sad to be moved so far, i wont be able to go. they will be sending me pictures! i am going to call him and chuck and a few other people i worked with today to see how they are doing.

niles is a small town. we have many small towns here we cover. it has a bit of a dirty smell to it. probably the dirtiest area so far but it makes for good stories! haha! Newey has been laughing at me because when we go into gross places he can tell im uncomfortable and he just laughs. no worries, that is what a washing machine and shower is for right!?

ya i got my package!! thanks!! I'm still a ZL, drive a full time minivan haha! haven't tried the bananas yet but that is my next snack :)

we have a small teaching pool. Joey is tentatively on a baptism date for march 11. we will have to push it back. he is working to quit smoking. right now he is a bit sick. my theory is when people are working to quit smoking the lord allows them to get sick so they don't want to smoke! this isn't the first time a gator has gotten sick and has quit smoking. he is a member referral from a guy from phoenix! he was a social media referral! im telling ya that is the way to go!

that is about most of our investigators. we are working with a few potentials as well.

wow that is a long time in an area! thanks for the updates!

yes the camera works great thanks!!

great job annie! you are a natural! i'm proud of you. keep excising and keep your life simple and your goals front and center :)

oh boy good old videos haha i was so small! i like the videos of me flexing hahaha. good times!

noia! she is the lady i taught in greenwood. she is still going strong!

President hilton! he is a stud! the 1st counselor to the mission president. he is a strong member missionary! love that guy!

#77 - Transfer to Niles, Michigan

122- Brother and Sister Chase. a bit weird but they are so funny, have a few stories with them...

 the indy district

What a week! Saturday was transfer call day! I think I have figured out why I do not like surprises.... because I have no patience for them! Haha we received a call at 2 oclock that I am going to MICHIGAN!! The farthest north you can go in the mission! My new companion is Elder Newey! I am guessing my last 6 months will be up there. I am sad to leave Franklin and all the friends I have made here but I am excited for the new adventure!

Last night we had a spiritual fireside about the Provinces conversion. There was a great turnout of part member families, investigators, and returning less actives! It was a great going away party as well :)

Jordan will be baptized in a week in a half. He has come so far, I am sad to miss the baptism but will be excited to see pictures! We taught him tithing this week, the link below is a great talk we left him to study.

Have a great week I love you all

Elder Coon

my new address is: 1107 Woods Edge Dr, Niles, Michigan 49120

 Chuck Rabe

 The Provinces

Sister Miles and Gray

Will Ketchum

 Bryant Snider

Sister Giddons

Brother Martin

Bishop

Hamners

 Donn and Paula Webb

Amanda Woodbury
Brother and Sister Black

The Hills

ya im out of here, time flies!! franklin is a good area and i have seen a big turn around with it :) the johnsons are so awesome. they are like my second family! my new companion is elder newey and i really have no idea about anything in niles except that it is a nice apartment haha.

ya each area i have known it is time to leave, just a feeling you get. i will sure miss the people! the lake affect will be interesting! i am happy i am in the same zone as plymouth!! i will be able to go back and visit everyone from the area :) i have really been blessed to serve near old areas. greenwood-franklin plymouth-niles. 

the youth conferences are always a blast :) glad she has good friends!

thank you for your prayers i know they help. have a great week! 

The johnsons are so great :) they said something about coming to az in november and visiting?? that would be so sick!

ya michigan! i was not expecting that! i was thinking either crossroads (the ghetto) or purdue university... but there are people in niles that i need to reach so i am ready and willing. niles michigan is what we call "exiled" haha but i am ready to grow my faith and see miracles. my theme for this area is Live Faithful for the Lord. 

it is a great blessing for me to have a mother like you. thank you for all you do :)

haha dang dad got a haircut? how did it look?

love you! thanks for the updates!

#76 - Bambi says hello

This week we had... meetings. After 7 hours on Wednesday and Friday my brain is pretty much just mush haha but they were very spiritual and powerful! Here are a few notes from this week:

1. Keep goals of finding and baptizing front and center.

2. Baptism is prominent in the doctrine of Christ- speak about it with everyone!

3. Learn how to speak of baptism in pertinence and balance.

4. Guard and strengthen your flame of faith and miracles will follow

5. Lead with Christlike love and have high expectations 

I have a few thoughts today about faith. As missionaries we literally can speak in the name of Christ. As we set inspired goals, promise blessings, teach boldly and lovingly, we are literally saying what Christ would say and do what he would do. Not sure I realize what that all entails but what I do know is that miracles are a result of faith, that is for sure. Faith is the power that will cause things to happen that need to happen. Doctrine and Covenants 29:4-7 says it best. 

4 Verily, I say unto you that ye are chosen out of the world to declare my gospel with the sound of rejoicing, as with the voice of a trump.

 5 Lift up your hearts and be glad, for I am in your midst, and am your advocate with the Father; and it is his good will to give you the kingdom.

 6 And, as it is written—Whatsoever ye shall ask in faith, being united in prayer according to my command, ye shall receive.

 7 And ye are called to bring to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts;

This week we have been sharing messages to members about how to use social media to have missionary opportunities. Last general conference more than once we heard about how successful using social media to have missionary opportunities can be. We have been helping members find mormon messages, bible vidoes, or other videos the church has put out and sending a text to someone they know with a short message about their thoughts of the video. They have received very positive feedback! Missionaries are here to help members have missionary opportunities! The success is in the invitation. 

Love you all! Have a great week and as Elder Oaks said, "Keep on keeping on, just do it more effectively."

Elder Coon

lunch with the guys! 

chopping wood at Brother Provinces!

 Deer! we had dinner at a members home and they let us feed the deer. fun haha

 we had mlc Friday, and we had permission to have the columbus missionaries and the bloomington zls stay over so it is a closer drive for them. in the morning we had a good game of basketball! we did have to take down tables and lights to play because the young woman were having some kind of activity the next night haha. but we put it all back together!

so all these guys are way athletic! i was the only one under 6'1....

i also got some new ballin shoes :)

Here are some more homies at Dairy Queen

Mom,

ha that is super cool hannah plays sports with the boys! that is how cassidee was with us. so sad she is now married hahaha. im glad annie is playing soccer too! she will be good! 

glad you got my letter! ya larson pretty much eats what i eat, and has been getting pretty cut! we did a killer workout saturday and we are wayyyy sore. today we have a multi zone basketball tournament. we are really looking forward to it! i also ordered some new basketball shoes! there is a young man in the ward that works at the adidas outlet and has crazy discounts. i got a pair of $140 shoes for $45! you will see them in some pics :) THANKS FOR THE CAMERA!! ya i have found you save soooooo much money by not eating out! i really havent spent any money eating out in 2 months and i have a lot more of it. usually i buy spinach, milk, eggs, oatmeal, apples, bananas, tuna, chicken, bread, vegetables, and an occasional chocolate milk :)) larson gets the same. we get 70 bucks every twice a month and by the end ya we are pretty broke lol. 

josh and amanda are doing well. he had military training this weekend so they didnt come to church but we will be meeting with them soon. 

jordan is killing it! he cant wait to go through the temple in a year! him and chuck are loving the gospel. we plan on getting jordan to the temple asap!

ya family is sure important! haha about 14 months ago i learned how to do pretty much all the rubix cube except the last 2 steps and elder tanner showed me the last two steps when i was with him. 

no worries about not mentioning the 18th month mark i dont mind haha time flies!!! ya i have a bunch of mints haha i keep some in my scripture case and in the car! we eat a lot of them haha. and i have a bunch of chapstick too!

sorry to see the wellocks go! they are a great family.

love you! -elder coon