#63 - Pickle ball, Cars, New friends (gators) and Transfers

​Here is to another great week! We had transfer calls and Elder Newey is leaving me and going to train in the ghetto of Indianapolis! Sad to see him go. I am getting Elder Richards! We will be working hard!

Samantha is doing great. Her date is for the 15th and of course, you are all invited to that!

This transfer I am ponderizing Doctrine and Covenants 121:34-37 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? 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. That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man. So powerful! The powers of the priesthood are contingent on principles of righteousness. 

General Conference is coming!! So pumped!! Hope you all will take time and study it!

The weather is getting nice and we are sure enjoying it! Spring is coming! Sorry for the super small letter! Life is good!

Love, Elder Coon

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 ​This is Samantha! She will be getting baptized in 3 weeks!

 This is Ramon! He will be getting baptized SOON!

Really officer, I tried to break...

 Aftermath...

Three studs...well two and an old codger

 Joe, Elder Newey & Elder Coon

 Studebaker Museum 

#82 - 600 days with Christ on my heart

Today is day 600 of my mission! And no I have not counted every day of my mission. It is amazing to look back on those days and remember all the great experiences, all the trials of faith, and the tender mercies from the Lord. I am so blessed to be out and doing all I can for the Lord. I would not trade it for anything!

This week we went to a Catholic Mass! It lasted under an hour long and I noticed that there was very few people who knew each other. The priest was wearing a pretty sweet getup but sadly announced to the people moving to northern Michigan and will be over another congregation. The whole service the only thing I could think of was Nacho Libre! "You have not been baptized?" "I believe in science." hahaha. But we got some sweet pictures to show from it! 

We are still working with Joyce from Ghana. She is super fun to teach! Rodney is on date for baptism. It is looking good with him. He is reading and praying! Samantha will be baptized here in 3 weeks. Trying to get everything taught and it all organized. Each person and baptism is always different and good in different ways!

We had a stake missionary correlation meeting yesterday with the stake president again. I really enjoy those meetings! We talked about how we can help get members "out of the stands and onto the field of missionary work." When the leadership is on board then the work is so much more enjoyable! They have a goal to use all their resources to bring more people into the gospel.

Just a thought for the day. We read how Abinadi was killed, Alma was cast into prison (and a fire), those who were baptized by Alma were put in bondage for their beliefs. The pattern continues and we learn that it was not easy for them to live true to the gospel! "Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith." And this was for the intent to make them better, stronger, and more faithful than they would naturally be. "And it came to pass that so ​

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​great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage." And they gave thanks to God. We must too go through trials, tribulations, and discomfort to become better, stronger, and more faithful. I testify that Christ will lift you up and ease your burdens if you put your trust in Him and his atonement. 

Today we are going to visiting Notre Dame! I will be sure to take pictures!

Love you all!

Elder Coon

#81 -The good life

Dad, nearest companionship is only about 30 minutes away, in south bend! we are having a chill p-day. eating lunch with our catholic mormon friend, haircut, and shooting a hoop or two. fun skiing hopefully!

wow that is soooo warm!! we woke up today with a bunch of snow on the ground!! shocker!

ya i agree! that is a good thing to do. when i was in martinsville, elder quick and clark (they are both great missionaries, and zls) never had read the bom so in one week they both read it! haha it was a fun week! i drove and they read! that is a good idea to make sure they all have read it.

scripture study is one of the first steps to revelation! we had an mlc with brother donaldson this week. he was the mission president when the district 2 came out. he is powerful! he taught us that any concern our investigators have can be solved with book of mormon study! it is true! if you will study it every day you will find that your questions/problems will be resolved. 

love you too! have a great week!

This week has been pretty crazy. We had a meeting down in Indianapolis, and we went on exchanges Tuesday and Friday. So in all, I was only in the area for just under 2 days this week. That being said, with the time we had we had some very good lessons! 

Samantha is doing great! She loves the Book of Mormon and attending church! Rodney is struggling with an idea of prophets, but that isnt stopping him from learning and praying! If he will continue to study and pray he will find his answer:) Joey is still recovering from falling on a floor joist, doctors say it will be at least a 6 week recovery... Poor guy!

We learned a TON from our meeting. Brother Donaldson from the missionary department was visiting, and we talked a lot about the direction that missionary work was headed. Long story short, it's all heading towards social media. We may get iPads in the near future, but they've been telling me that for the last 20 months, so I'm not holding my breath! Leaving that meeting I had an overall impression that we are led by inspiration! He taught with power and authority. The mission is going a great direction! And good news, we dont have to do exchange reports anymore:)

Fun Facts

1. The 7th Day Adventist Church is the fastest growing Protestant church in the world, but the records show we are the fastest growing church OF ALL TIME. 

2. The new easter video is soooo sweet! #princeofpeace

Live in faith my friends. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Love, Elder Coon

#80 - The Provided again...

Family,

 Ya, I saw the pic Katie sent of him and Tanner! so cool!

well let me tell you fasting works!! i sent the fam a letter in the mail. we fasted this week for the opportunity to teach a family the gospel and bring them in and this week we have began to teach 3 families!! they are either part member families or active families where we are teaching a friend but it was an answer to our fast. it was a miracle. fasting and praying is so powerful. i had some very special experiences this week working with the spirit. 

on tuesday i went on an exchange with the south bend district leader elder ellsworth. we went and gave a blessing to a man with terminal cancer, age 59, with only weeks to live. his wife is not a member. the spirit was so powerful as i blessed him. it was one of those times where the spirit was clear on what i needed to say. i am thankful for the blessing it had on me and the family. we will be visiting them weekly and plan on teaching them.

small changes.... well for one thing it is so much easier to understand the language of the scriptures! sometimes when i am just speaking i begin to use scripture words haha i guess that is what you get when you immerse yourself in them. i was studying jesus the christ and matthew ch 13. ive always wondered what he means when he says in verse 13 how they seeing, see not or hearing hear not. but this week it clicked! we teach people so simply and clearly, testifying of truth, but if they arent receptive and willing to search ponder and pray, they will be blind to the spiritual things. but to us who are on the inside it seems so clear to us that the gospel is true!! those honest seekers of truth will study it out and the hg will teach them.

yes well that was sure a nice compliment. glad he thinks that i am a hard worker, because he is right!

 love you dad! hey i had a dream the other night that we were skiing and came flying around the corner and i hit this huuuuge jump! and wrecked haha. then you told me to try it again so you can video me wrecking haha so we went down the same run again but this time when i hit the huge air you caught it on video. haha well it was a fun dream! maybe sometime we can do it in person!

yes!! church is so important!! that is why it is one of our 4 key indicators (baptized, date, church, new gators). hey is sent the family a letter it should be in the mail!

no i haven't seen any face to faces yet.

read dads letter i sent. that was a pretty good experience with prayers answered! wow that is a great story!

haha no fasting is no easier! i do it though because of the power it has! it makes a huge difference when you have prepared and have a purpose.

wow a new ALA High school?! that will be a huge mormon school i bet.

CHECK WHAT THE LORD BLESSED ME WITH THIS WEEK!!!

A BENCH!! that makes all 5 areas I've had weights and a bench :)