#76 - Hello there

Not much time today! We are going to the Amish land with our good friend Scott! Her daughter was baptized 2 months ago and he is investigating! I will send the pics of what we do next week!

It was a miracle week again. On Saturday we had two spirit filled lessons. One with Desiree and Jasmine. They are loving the Book of Mormon. They had found the chapters where Christ comes to America and read from 3 Nephi 11-27! They knew the scriptures were true. They will be coming to church next week. Their baptismal date is July 29th. 

We also had a great lesson with Robert. His wife is a member. Robert was raised in foster care and has never been apart of a family. He is looking for the joy that comes from the family. It is found here! He is a miracle find. 3 weeks ago while saying our nighttime prayers on a Saturday night we prayed that someone will be directed to church the next day who has a desire to change their life and be baptized. The next day he walked into church. He has not missed a Sunday since. He is on date for July 29th as well.

Everyone else we are teaching are doing wonderful! I came across this quote the other day. President Lorenzo Snow said, “There is no mortal man that is so much interested in the success of an elder when he is preaching the gospel as the Lord that sent him to preach to the people who are the Lord’s children” I know that is true. We are guided and directed every day and the Lord. He wants His children come home to him and we all can be his instruments in doing so. We must live worthy, sacrifice, and make a covenant with Him. As Paul once said to the Corinthians, "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase."

D&C 64:33-34

wow! that is a ton of remembers! 

what has changed.... i am a whole different person. my personality is the same but i feel i have come to know who I am by coming to know who my Father is. i have remembered the spiritual experiences and simple impressions from the HG. 

How is kaleb? steele said he was coming home a few weeks early so he can go on a trip with his family to mend some relationships. it will be the only time to do so before they all leave again i guess. Glad to hear ashlyn is coming the same time!

samantha is doing great! scott is taking us to the omish country today so we will be with him all day today! we have a baptism in 3 weeks with gary. and one every week after that so far. we put another 3 on date this week! so that is 6 total right now. wow you guys in the chaparral ward need to step it up big time!! bring someone to church mom!! 

thanks for the motivation! ''what you do after you do all you can is really what counts to the Lord.'' we listened to a talk this week and the general authority said that. its true! im excited to see you! love you!

#75 -We eat, sleep, breathe the doctrine of Christ

This transfer we have prayed about our vision and goal for this area in the next 6 weeks. Our motto is "If the desire is strong enough, performance is assured." We are following Christ to victory- we will do so by 1. Sacrifice and Consecration to be strictly obedient, pray mightily, study purposefully, and expect miracles. 2. Act boldly by focusing on the progressing gators and resting the rest and contact gators daily, do something each day to result in a baptism, and reinforce the blessings of baptism including the Gift of the HG. It will be a transfer of miracles and I cant wait help my Savior in the work of salvation.

Zone conference was this week. We had several policies presented to us by President Carlson that will help us to be more effective with the time that we have. Hopefully we will be able to successfully implement everything going forward in a way that will allow us to work smart!

Church attendance yesterday was a miracle! We had 6 at church! Saturday night Samantha invited her parents, who we have invited hundreds of times, to come to church with her. We prayed all week that Scott and Elsie would come this week. When they walked in the church doors we both almost fell over! We had witnessed a miracle!! They stayed all three hours and loved every minute of it! Both of them fit right in to the ward. We have been teaching Samantha the new member lessons and silently been teaching them the lessons at the same time. They will be out of town at a family reunion next week but loved church and will be back soon! Gary came as well and is loving everything he has learned, baptism will be within the next month for him. Ray is getting back on his feet and starting with church. Robert is a part member family and in the beginning stages of taking the lessons and coming to church. Rodney is also a part member family. Saturday we had a powerful lesson with their family, focusing on repentance and baptism by following our Saviors teachings in 3 Nephi 27. He has gained a testimony of prayer and the Book of Mormon. Baptism is coming soon :)

Yesterday we had a return appointment with a man named Guy. While teaching the Restoration of the Gospel and Book of Mormon, Elder Richards and I kept looking at each other to ask ourselves if this was real... He was so prepared ha! He agreed with everything and loves the simplicity of the Restoration. He is on date for July 29th. 

Wednesday we had a great lesson at the church with Alena and 3 of her friends. Jasmine, Desiree, and Jared. Jared was really quiet but D.J. were eating everything up! They love it! We are excited to begin teaching them!

Joyce is making leaps and bounds! This last week we had a great lesson. We committed her to a baptismal date of July 22. She is now figuring out how to get work off on Sundays instead of Saturdays. She was a 7th day... but her testimony of that church is COMPLETELY shattered :) We invited her to be baptized and she responded, "Well I have been baptized?... oh but not by the priesthood! Yes!" She loves the priesthood!

Life is good and I love the work. Happy fathers day to my wonderful father. I have a great love for you. The longer I am out the more I realize that I am very much like you ha! The Savior has the power to change our lives to help us become disciple he needs us to be. 

Quote of the Week: "I hope your parents have wealthy children!"

Nasty.... gross!!!

 Car show in town...

 ​So brother Tropp just sold me his spare motorcycle.

 I will be driving this home instead of flying home.

 ​Apartment tracting

Walking to the Light...

The most confusing name for a church! 

How about just "the church of jesus christ..." -3 nephi 27​

ya we had a good laugh at grandpaDs letter. i always enjoy hearing what he has to say. we have been seeing huge growth with the people we teach. we are exercising principles of righteousness and seeing the miracles role in! i am loving my mission.

well i am staying here for my last 6 weeks! i requested this from president so i was pretty sure this is how it would end. wouldnt have it any other way :) there are probably about 7 zones in the mission. i have been a dl for 9 months and a zl for 12, 3 months to be trained. 

Thank you for the support. thanks for keeping an eye out for work for when i come home. i have a goal to make $6,000 a month when i come home! im sure i will have to work up to it but that is the goal! 

Last fast sunday there was a little girl who was 5 years old that got up and bore her testimony. it was so powerful and made a lasting impact on me. one of the most sacred priesthood duties is to be a father. while she spoke i noticed her father with tears down his face, and i knew he was a proud father. i wish to make my father on earth, and in heaven, proud! thank you for leading the family in righteousness. i have felt the strength of our family as i serve will my whole soul. I am reminded of D&C130:19-21. blessings come by obedience to specific laws. priesthood power comes as we are faithful and consecrated. 

This transfers theme we have thought up is "If the desire is strong enough, performance is assured." We are following Christ to victory- we will do so by 1. Sacrifice and Consecration to be strictly obedient, pray mightily, study purposefully, and expect a miracle. 2. Act boldly by focusing on the progressing gators and resting the rest and contact gators daily and reinforce the blessings of baptism including the Gift of the HG. How does it sound? any thing i should add?

#74 - Less actives have the worst excuses!

So we visited some less actives who promised us they would be at church. This week their excuse was, "We HAD to get the new heater in our trailer before winter hits and Sunday morning at 9 oclock was the ONLY time the guy could install it. Winter is coming FAST!" haha! Winter doesnt hit for atleast 5 months. Thought that one was pretty funny!

We were invited to a graduation party for a youth in the ward this week. There we met two twin sisters who we had a great gospel conversation with and they love the Book of Mormon! We will be meeting with them this week to teach them more. It was a miracle we met them and we have high hopes for them!

We are working with a man named Gary. He had a brain surgery a few years back to take out cancer. He is a great guy and loved church yesterday. We are also still meeting with Joyce (from Ghana). Her husband sat in on the lesson the other day and he was pretty interested! We are now teaching him too and they are learning as a family now:) We pray they will come to church this next week. 

"When you become tired of walking, then it is time to run. Study more intently, pray more earnestly, rededicate yourself to the Lord."

"Once you wear out your shoes, then you are back on your feet." 

Fun Facts:

1. This area has so many lakes around! We have set out to find a person who lives in a lake house to teach

2. We have been told by two black people this week that Jesus was black, who knew!

3. We went to a car show in town on Saturday! Thought of GrandpaD and his classic cars :) 

Here are some great talks to study!

1. Following Christ to Victory by Hartman Rector, Jr.  

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1979/04/following-christ-to-victory?lang=eng

2. Which Way Do You Face? By Elder Lynn G. Robbins

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/which-way-do-you-face?lang=eng

Sorry for no pics! Love you all! 

Elder Coon

Zone conference outline:

Stand Up and Be All In

- Ezekiel 18:21-22

What is the promise we are given? The promise requires two “alls” to receive the third “all.” It requires us to be “all in.”

-D&C 4:1-2 See that ye serve him with your heart, might, mind, and strength.

-By becoming fully committed we will become like the strippling warriors, firm and undaunted from the world. But if we are only partially committed or lukewarm (revelations 15:16) we will lose our choicest blessings.

-Share video “Your Potential, Your Privileges” or tell story of member who buys junk cars. They settle for discomfort and less.

-Discuss

-We are, in effect, settling for less when we take lightly our duty, live less than obedient to the mission standards, or even forget to involve the Lord in our work.

-Have a vision, set goals, and reach your potential. “The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going.”

-”When we are complacent with our covenants, we are complicit with the consequences.”

-In reality, it is much easier to be “all in” than partially in!

-Isa 57:20-21 There is no peace to the disobedient

-Share: Job 17:9 The righteous shall be made strong

-President Carlson said, “Stand tall, never back down from being obedient.”

-Be patient in your trials, have a positive outlook, talk good about people, defend what is right.

-These standards President has talked about are inspired. They will help us to keep in sight of our paramount responsibility to T.R.B.C.

-If you spend time with LA’s who are not keeping commitments, or doing service that does not produce missionary opportunities, it is time to reevaluate those things.

-In the premortal life we shouted for joy to come to earth and be a disciple, a missionary, for HF. We were all in.

-When you become tired of walking, then it is time to run. Study more intently, pray more earnestly, rededicate yourself to the Lord.

-Pg 2pmg Lengthen your stride. When we are exactly obedient, we can expect miracles.

-We challenge you to become the best missionary you can be.

-Who is a missionary you look up to? Elder Kapua. Alma 22 Sacrifice and make a covenant. He taught me if you would have a blessing from the Lord, put something upon the altar. Make the sacrifice. If you want to receive, you must first give. Then expect a miracle.

-This mission is the Saviors mission. I am here for Him, not myself, not my friends/family, not for President Carlson, but for my God.

-We promise if you will focus on finding, teaching, and baptizing, and will stand up and be all in, you will become the missionary HF needs you to be.

#73 From getting chased to eating

What a week! We had so many good laughs and miracles. First off, if you want to learn from my mistake I would recommend not flashing your bright lights at a random car, they might turn around and chase you down.

MLC was super as always. On the 4 hour drive down to Fishers, Elder Quick yelled, "Oh beep I forgot my suit!" The next morning we drove around to all the Goodwills in the area to find him a suit to wear for the meeting. Ha! And we found one!​

Dinner that night to celebrate to best car ride ever was Texas Roadhouse.​

We also had the opportunity while we were down to check up on Sister Banks!​

Courtney went crazy on us this week while we introduced him to the Plan of Salvation. He saw the black Jesus on the front and exclaimed, Jesus was obviously black! And it only went down hill from there. Lets just say weed and conspiracy theories don't go well together... and that the world is about to go into the 4th dimension (don't worry there are 9 dimensions).... and the andromeda council will one day need all of our support and money so the aliens don't take us over. Ha!

This week we had a lesson on Family History with Sister Phillips... you can tell how much of a help we were... :)​

We have had some huge miracles this week. The work is progressing and we are working hard. The ward is catching the fire :) And they are hooking us up with a bunch of meat so that is nice too. 

We are working with members to bring more people to the gospel. It is called "Operation New Blood," where the ward reaches out to the inactives and show they are needed in the ward, because they really are needed! They should already be doing this but by calling it O.N.B. they are getting excited. We have seen a bit of success so far so we are excited to see where things go. 

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