#64 - General Conference, shotguns and Masons

Not much time today! This week was super! Elder Richards is a great new companion. We are working hard. Samantha is still good for the 15th for baptism! Ramon is officially on date for baptism as well for May 13th! Things are looking up for him! We are still working with Joyce and Rodney for a date. 

General Conference was ah-hay-zing as usual! Saturday we went down south (about a 3 hour drive) to a baptism in an old area of my companions. So we listened to portions of the conference in the car. There were so many great insights, here are a few good pointers that I liked

-We increase in the Saviors power in our lives by making and keeping our covenants.

-Learn to love being worthy and staying worthy.

-Be thankful, but dont inhale it!

-We should not and must not hide our light. Preach what you practice.

-We must act on our first prompting! You will get it right 9/10 times.

-Those who do the small and simple things will have strong faith to overcome the hard troubles of life.

Samantha's dad is huge in the free masonry so he gave us a tour of the masonic temple in South Bend!! It was so cool! He said we saw more things than most masons have in their life! From secret passage ways to the kitchen to the friendship room.... it was super cool! Very interesting to learn about it. And to see that there was a good amount of the founding fathers involved with the organization.

Love, Elder Coon

 This is jordan from my last area. elder larson and i taught him. he was baptized about a month ago, here are his pics!

Hello Elder,

What a great day / weekend of Conference.  It only takes 10,000 Hrs to become an expert!  That is 8 hours a day, 365 days a year for 3.4 years.  Do you feel you are getting close to the expert status as a missionary?  I am certainly shy of an expert, but hope,  with this weekends motivation, that with scripture study and prayer that my spiritual well being will increase.  

We received your letter in the mail and enjoyed the gospel questions you included.  We will use those tomorrow night at FHE.  Next week, Tiffany is getting married and family will be coming in.  We will have Cath, Liz, Laurie and Katie T staying with us.  It should be a Coon Marathon. 

I have two cousins, brothers, that are serving as Stake President's.  They are dealing with a number of missionaries that are coming home early.  This week in High Council Mtg, Pres asked what our thoughts are for helping prepare our young men and women to serve.  I raised my hand and said that my dad was not more than a Sunday School Teacher, but raised 8 children to be active members in the church.  His mantra was "Get out of bed and go to work!"  I believe these young men need to hold down a real job and need to be put to work long before 17 or 18.

The Coon Cousin you found was fun, it is amazing to find a distant relative.  Please let us know your gators progress and how your work is progressing.  Also, tell us more about your Pres.  I loved Elder Yoom (sp?) talk on, "When it rains, look up and open your mouth."

I pray for you throughout the day that you will have the blessing of the Spirit to teach and testify with power.  I also pray for the members in your area to open their mouths that you may teach.  I know you were called to serve and assigned to labor in the Indiana Indi Mission.  What a comfort and motive to know that Father knows where and who you are.

I love you James, keep that contagious attitude, the Lord can work with that superb talent.

Dad

hah wow that means im getting close! um i feel confident in missionary work but im sure not close to being an expert ha!

good answer! it is all about a desire for the work. the Lord can work with those who will believe. great general conferece talk! 

yes the coon cousins are stellar missionaries in their ward. we were at a baptism in moorseville where they live and they were the key to the conversion of the family being baptized! all it took was an invite over for dinner!

thank you for the prayers! i feel them more than ever!