I've Reached The Top of the Ladder...

And now its time to go down the slide!!! Holy cow its been 9 months! The time has absolutely flown by and there has been little time to stop and see what has been going on, so let me take a second...

Today will be my first day in a new area on the east side of Manhattan in the Manhattan 3rd YSA ward (I just cant get enough!). I will be joining Sister Hsieh, pronounced as if you asking someone to be quiet, i.e. "shhh?", who has been over here for about 3 months. We will be possibly be joining a mysterious new Zone the mission has created called Manhattan Central Zone, but that has yet to be determined. All in all though, I am super excited!

It was so sad to let go of Sister Fuimaono today though. We celebrated "210 Days of Fui and Coleman" this morning as we prepared my old desk for her new greenie that arrived yesterday from the MTC, sad day! Along with Sister Babb who is preparing for her flight in the morning back to Washington, I have "lost" everything bahhhhh hah hahahhh! and yet have gained so much.

I am sure these next 9 months will be so great. In fact, I have no doubt about it! The Lord has blessed me already so much, I could only imagine how much more is lying in wait. We shall see though, and so it is...

A Little Bit of Home in NY

Thanks for sharing your story with the world!

Good Morning, Good Morning!

Before I get started, check out these Belomont transplants...did I even leave Provo?


Its an early day in the New York New York North Mission and the weather is fine. It has been a very quick week, but I realize I have not been in touch with everyone for a couple of weeks now. Im so sorry, but I will have to blame it on our busy companionship. Sister Babb will be leaving us next week so we spent last week getting her ready to take the flight home. Oh wow, it has been a great time serving with her, but like all missionaries, the time comes and the time goes :)

So what has been happening lately?
What hasn't been happening lately is the real question, heavens its been so busy and exciting around New York lately.

The work has been so good to us. We continue to teach such amazing people and are actually preparing for a baptism this coming weekend! It is always so amazing to see people anxious to follow the Lord. We have been teaching this investigator for about 3 weeks now and after considering the Gospel he told us last week, " I think that if I am going to follow Him then baptism would be a great start. But considering its the beginning of this journey I should start soon." Haha, well said!

Baptism is just that, and initiatory action we display to the Lord that we are willing to follow him and have his spirit to be with us. It is faith! Taking the chance, making the choice and having confidence that as we do what we can, we can be equipped with His Spirit. I just love baptisms, they are my favorite.

Speaking of a few of my favorite things though, we had the opportunity to meet Elder L. Tom Perry, Elder Quentin L. Cook, Elder Olsen of the 70 and Senator Harry Reid! That was a great time. For the YSA Conference that took place this past weekend we had the joy of meeting and hearing from all of these lovely men! They bore such amazing testimonies of the Gospel, sharing such amazing experiences as their mission years, conversion stories and the joy of the gospel in their lives today. It was so great! I think Elder Perry and I are best friends now, haha! He is hilarious.

Also making the list is the new Mormon.org launch that is going on here in the city. What a riot it is going to be! So we have been a pilot mission for the mormon.org campaign for the past 9 months are so, aka as long as I have been here :) and have been preparing to "bring the world His truth." We got word early last week that the launch was Monday. What all does this entail? Well let me tell you:

The Megatron in Time Square (42nd St.) looping mormon.org videos
Electronic billboards
Missionaries (we didn't have permits before to proselytize there)
200 Taxi toppers
Videos on Taxi TV, and
4 Subway shuttle cars decked out in mormon.org ads during rush hour

So that's it! Its gonna be crazy!!! Everyone is like, "oh, what timing with the Book of Mormon Musical." Yeah buddy! Curiosity is the least of it right now. As called missionaries in the midst of all this we will be responding to all the hype. Im so excited! I will have to keep everyone posted on the amazing stories that will soon follow.

Anyways, life is good and the work is moving forward. Guess what? The Church is still true! I have no doubt about that, and if doubt does ever arise it is absolutely an opportunity to search further and pray fervently for answers. They will come, they always have. Maybe not in the time that we expect but for sure in the time that we need. Elder Perry said this weekend, "our desires will be met in the way we least expect them." I will add my testimony to his by saying I have never been more entertained then by the depth of this reality. I just love you love you and hope you are having a great week. You're all in my prayers, and so it is...

So Hot in Non-Pros

I never thought I would say this but as we left the house in non-proselyting clothes today, heading out for PDay festivities in the Park I actually thought, "I would rather be in a skirt!!!" I don't know how people do it. How do they live in this ridiculously outrageous weather?! It is either freezing cold or blazing hot! I don't know how its all going to work out, haha! Just pray for me I suppose :) New York is a lovely place but it could definitely use some better weather.

Anyways, I feel like that is all I ever talk about...so let me get on a few other things.

This past week was a good one, beginning with last PDay we have had a marathon of amazing adventures. First, I have a confession to make, you didn't hear much from me last week because we went to a Yankees game, eke!!! I know! I feel like such a traitor. My beloved Angels, please dont think I have turned over to the Dark side. If it makes anyone feel better, I think I only had fun because I was with all of the wonderful missionaries in my district and area. Other than that, it would have been the worst! I promise (fingers crossed). It was the Yankees vs. Blue Jays and the Yankees brought home the win. It was very hot but our seats were in the shade, such a great time. You could see many areas of the stadium where there were whiteouts, aka rows of missionaries sitting together. It was quite the sight, so funny!

Moving right along, we have had the opportunity to teach some great new investigators! One was found contacting on the street, which is always a great surprise and the other took a Mormonism class at Columbia University and 2 years later felt a desire to stop by the Lincoln Square chapel to find missionaries! Its always nice when an investigator can recite the 8th Article of Faith, haha! Yeah that happened. It has been such a privilege. The more and more I go forward with this work I realize that this has nothing to do with me. I know that we have all been called so that the message can come out of our mouth for specific people ( I have no doubt about that knowledge) but I know that the Lord has gone before me to prepare the way of people I will come into contact with. I am nothing more than a conduit of the Spirit who is the ultimate teacher. I find that more and more as I study the scriptures and as I teach others the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Some other amazing things I have discovered in my study this week is the importance of the Sacrament. It is so funny to see people's reaction when we explain how simply going to church can change their life. Most respond with "I have been to church." Its true. But when we understand what it is that we are doing when we are at church it can change our life. I was thinking about the power of the Sacrament table. How much we rely on it. How we can bring all that we have to this very table and feel as though we have been baptized again. The bread and water is so symbolic and important, representing the flesh and blood of the Savior. This holy sacrifice was in effort to redeem us from death and sin. The Atonement and Resurrection were performed to see Heavenly Father's plan through, "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39)." This chain of thought lead me to the knowledge that every time we partake of the sacrament we are participating in God's plan, wow! Anyways, I'm babbling.

Its been a great week! I love this work. The Trifecta continues and it's great! I am so happy to be here in New York! I love all of you and thank you for your support. Sister Babb has helped me to see that there is not much time left, I better get to work! Well, I love you love you, and so it is...

Soaking Wet!

It is pouring rain outside and has been a hot mess for the past week almost! And I mean that literally. It is hot outside, too hot for a jacket but it has been raining all week long, ugh! Absolutely the worst.

Anywhoo... so this week was the first week of the Trifecta:
trifecta (traɪˈfɛktə)
— n
1. a form of betting in which the punter selects the first three place-winners in a horse race in the correct order
2. any achievement involving three successful outcomes...so obviously we have been named after the latter, that or "The Tenacious Trio", and I have to say it was nothing less than marvelous. I think people are still wondering how this companionship was ever chosen. Well no need to think about it, what's done is done. Moving on, haha!

Just kidding! We have combined the two wards Harlem 3 and Morningside Heights so we are a busy bunch of bees on Sunday. It is a little weird being in a family ward now. There are children and adults and families, it was a bit overwhelming, but it was only a matter of time. I think this is President's way of easing me into the idea of only serving in a family ward in the future...that will be a very different mission than it has been, yet still a great work to do.

In all honesty there hasn't been that much going on this week. That's not to say that the work isn't exciting because let me tell you, we are preparing recent converts to receive the Priesthood, get Patriarchal blessings and go to the temple. So great right?! There is always room for progression. Intern season is officially here (what do you like more...? ha!) so many people from the Valley are joining us, a few of which I know, Josh! Such a delightful time. Oh wow I'm so scatter-brained today. I have to apologize.

It's been a good week though for sure! Run, run, run... I have to go, but I love you all and wish you well this week. Love you love you!

What's Going On Here?!?

Oh heavens, what a week it has been! I have to say I had been packing my bags (in my head that is cause I was too lazy and busy to actually do it), nonetheless it would have been for no reason because the good Lord has blessed me with one more cycle in Harlem 3!!! Haha, and yes it is with Sister Fuimaono... Now introducing our new addition to the family, Sister Babb (she's dying this cycle so we will so honorably be killing her, mission style that is, haha!) No other word to describe it but EPIC!

I guess I should have saved that news to the end because it would have been great to leave you wondering but in all honesty this email is like eating a slice of pizza backwards, crispy, delicious crust first baby! Not to say the rest of the pizza isn't grand because heaven knows it is... so let's get to it!

This last week was a week of miracles! So, a baptism that we had planned for the 30th didn't happen and we were so sad because we had lost contact with our investigator who was committed. He is a really shy kid and has the testimony like you have never seen but he was so afraid that he was not up to par. Sister Fuimaono and I were devastated. We had no idea where he was or if he was ok. On Tuesday we had a dinner appointment with a member of the family ward in the area that introduced him to the gospel. He was there!!!! As we met with him, we expressed that he was our friend whether or not he was going to be baptized, and that we just worried that we hadn't heard from him. He agreed that we could still see him and hang out in the usual spot (Central Park) and talk about the gospel. Elated, we scheduled an appointment for Thursday. Long story short, Thursday as we were sitting in the park eating ice cream, terrible life I know!, he said, being usually a man of few words, "sisters, I have something to tell you...I want to get baptized this weekend." We were dumbfounded but so touched by his honesty and spirit. So guess what we did this weekend? Baptism!!


What a fantastic service it was too. He was surrounded by friends and family alike who lended their support and love. What an awesome day it was. Aside from that it was Mother's Day and a great one too! Congratulations to my sister and brother-in-law on their new baby, Jakobe last Wednesday. He is adorable! Communicating and visiting with family and friends was such a great summary to the week too, preparing me for what was supposed to be a somber week of moving, changing companions and packing. Jokes on me again...oh I don't know what to say besides I am truly blessed. My work must not be done here in this great ward and I am happy to be at their service for another 6 weeks. Before I part ways with you all this week I would like to share with you an amazing quote I found while studying this week;

" Conversion is the greatest miracle. It is even more wonderful than healing the sick or raising the dead. For a while a person who is healed will eventually fall sick again and ultimately die, the miracle of conversion can last forever and affect the eternities for the convert as well as for his or her posterity. Whole generations are healed and redeemed from death through the miracle of conversion."

What a great work to be a part of. I just love all of you and am thankful for your support. I feel selfish sometimes being out here and feeling of the love that I do while at the Lord's call. I pray that you may all have a great week. Thank you once again for your love! I love you love you, and so it is...

Big changes

Hey, so transfers are in 2 weeks, eke!!! I feel like I say that every week, but I think that that is really the only dramatic change as missionaries we experience so it is the most talked about. I keep getting the dreaded "So Sister Coleman. You have been in Harlem for 5 cycles now..." blah, blah, blah! Haha, they are trying to kick me out of here. Im hoping its not until my mission life is over so I guess I could say, "over my mission dead body!" oh missionary jargon! (Not speaking in terms of real death of course but come the end of the mission we "die", or are released from the calling.) I will not be mad though if I do get transferred, I will however be sad! And so it is...

Anyways, this past week was Easter; such a conclusion to a great week of religious appreciation and learning! I think it was because so many things clicked for me. The entire week was so great! As I explained in the previous post, Sunday was the the commencement of Jesus' final week. Lazareth Saturday and Palm Sunday, all these amazing events to commemorate the Savior were celebrated in their own way. Then on the next Saturday, taking focus completely away from the Savior for most, but drawing near to Him for the Latter-Day Saints, our ward missionary council conducted a Passover Seder. In the Jewish community this is a feast that marks the beginning of the Passover Holiday, it was such an experience. Jen, who is a chef in our ward (hehe, needless to say we're besties!), made traditional kosher foods and conducted the rituals that follow their traditions. It was amazingly authentic and even made the Jewish newspaper in town which was cool. But by far the most amazing thing was seeing the Catholic churches in the neighborhood display their Good Friday Celebration. I have never seen such a sight, and being on the 17th floor, surrounded by 3 cathedrals we got to see quite a bit. All in all though, the best was observing the Sabbath in our Easter Program this past Sunday. It was such a great service. The musical numbers and talks were so sincere and really brought the spirit. The thing that I loved most was the knowledge of the resurrection. I dont know that I honestly considered what happened when the Savior was raised from the dead. He obtained new life, celestial, perfected and complete.

His work was finished and at that time he came again to minister to the people their eternal destiny when the time too would come for them. He was there in the flesh. People could touch his hands, feet and side and feel the scars of the weight in which he carried for all of us. I was taken aback a little by the reality of it all. I think the line in a hymn that describes it best is "Oh it is wonderful that he would care for me enough to die for me. Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me." I cannot repay the Lord for what he did on my account. I can only do what I can to prove myself worthy for such a sacrifice and I am thankful for the opportunity. There is such joy in this work! I love the word joy because it describes something that cannot easily be received. It is a word that is more internal than happy and in some cases doesn't involve that word when used. It is a feeling and a knowledge above that that can be obtained by worldly things. I have such joy in this work and learning that is this mission.


I am so thankful for the time I have out here. The weather is warming up and the trees are green again! So beautiful. Well, its time to go to work! And so it is...


Oh PS! Thanks Cubs in the ward for the Easter basket/box!!! You are the best :) Thanks everyone, Love you love you!
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