Rainy days and Baptisms

FAMILY! Hello My Family!

I miss you all so much! We had such a successful week this week! I absolutely love Gianola, Melo! Everyone is right...it is the Promised Land! 

Yesterday, we had 5 baptisms! It was excellent. Our sweet investigators made the decision to be baptized! It is seriously the most rewarding experience to see these people that you have spent hours with, teaching them, developing relationships and friendships with, watching their testimony and knowledge grow little by little, and then seeing them enter into the waters of baptism! wow takes my breath away! As they each came out of the water, I held their towels for them and gave them each a big, huge, wet hug. Each of them had the biggest smiles on their face and they said, "Yo se que soy una hija de Dios!" wow the spirit was so strong. So grateful I get to have experiences like this that help increase my own testimony. 

The members in the ward are so great. They feed us and love us! One day this week, we were eating at a members house. Both of her daughters were at school and they were so sad that they couldnt eat lunch with the hermanas. Well, the mom received a call from the school saying that her daughter was sick and needed to come home. The mom ran to pick her daughter up while we finished eating lunch. Turns out the daughter faked sick to come home to see us. It was hilarious! We are fed fideos and tuco every lunch...(its white noodles and sauce). I had a dream one night that I came home from my mission and you mom had fixed me noodles and sauce! Even in my dreams, I am dreaming about how I do not want to eat fideos and tuco! haha!

The Lord is truely blessing us. Before the mission, I lived a happy life. I had a family who loved me and lived the gospel. I worked, went to school, etc. I thought I was happy, which I was, but here I have experienced so much happiness. I feel like my heart is going to burst! 

I know this gospel is true with all of my heart. I would give my life for my Savior!

I love you family and miss you each and everyday. Keep working hard and obeying the commandments!

Hermana Coon

The house that I am living in is the blue turquoise.

I will take more pictures of the houses, but here are a few! SO FUN! TYPE 1! HAPPY!

 They got their packages! Hermana Chavez and Coon!

They can't pronounce our last name... Coon

Hola Familia!

Wow another week has come and gone! Way to go on your awesome missionary experiences and to help the missionaries! So proud! I love hearing about your experiences! I cant believe Grant is coming home so soon! I love your idea and gift to their family, mom. Please send me pictures and videos! I want to see!

So, I LOVE MELO! Here are a few random things about Melo. Number 1...we live in a blue, turquoise house! Melo is total Type1. Every house is a different color. In one street there are houses of purple, pink, green, yellow, red...every color of the rainbow and more! It makes me smile...one of these days I will take a picture and send it to you. Melo is a big hill. We walk hills all the time and what is really cool is the view. We stand on top of the world, and can see all of Melo with this little shacks as houses. One of these days, I will send a picture too. It is awesome. I cant believe I am here in the Promised Land of Melo.

Also something really funny. That cant pronounce our last name here...Coon. Its pronounced "Cone!" haha. Hermana Cone! The Cone Family!

My companion and I had a bit of a scare this week. We work in such poverty...families who dont have anything. The children are so sweet and cute, but just little rugrats, having bathed in weeks. As we were teaching children and playing with them, we noticed little white specks all over each of their heads. I shreaked a little bit and thought, "LICE!" Oh no! Hna Montenegro and I left and we began filling itchies all over our heads. Our cheeks were wet with kisses and our heads were are itchy from the children. Adventures adventures...haha.

The people here in Melo are so friendly. Everyone loves "Las Mormonas!" The ward is excellent! Hermana Montenegro and I were laughing that we came from the smallest branch and one of the hardest areas in the mission, Progreso, to the Promised Land, Melo! Heavenly Father was preparing us with a different manera. The church is huge, it is like a temple! At night, we look up and see the stars shining so bright and then we see the church shining brightly on the hill. I have my own Gilbert temple here in Gianola! Every, well mostly everyone, wants to listen to us. There are people PREPARED! The Lord is preparing his children. Everyone we talk to is looking for something, "but they just dont know where to find it!." We have many progressing investigators who have dates to be baptized and to follow Christ. We will be having a wedding also for la Familia Correa on the5th of April and after a baptism. We are so excited and count our blessings everyday.

I just want to work hard everyday. I am almost at my half way mark and when I come home, I want to know and feel that I served an honorable mission. I want to be changed.

I love you all with my whole heart!

Hermana Coon

P.S. 7 Sundays until Mothers Day!? WOW! How fast is the time! xoxo

Hermana Coon,

hello as good ta just wanted to say that I am very well haceindo video among other things lol .. ok I'm being good lol you wanted to say that Sofia's mom came and also sister to bautismoo was amazing ..... :) . tabien apologize because I made ​​him the joke lol I come home I feel sorry encerio haha :) but wanted to make but ... hehehe bullying and pedi permission not worry the leaders before calling ok ... I I did not want you to have the baptism of sofia because it reminds nthat told him Osin'm throwing salt and buenno and baptism only when I send the photo then I would do but ... SOFIA wanted you to come to baptism but only solution we said maybe it could talk to you and was so good and I kiero mucho loquita my loquita blonde you want and thanks for always showing me photos Command ok :) kisses and bear with montenegro ok as it did with me lol I kiero :) 

Herman Fuentes

My sweet investigator Sofia got baptized on Saturday! Finally! She is a doll and wanted to be baptized so bad, but her mom wouldnt sign the permission slip. But a miracle happened a she was baptized! WOW! I am so happy for her! I was sad that I wasnt able to be there with her, but her are a few of the fun pictures that Hermana Fuentes sent me with some of the youth of the branch and the branch that I love so much! Sofia is in white! Progreso!

Pomised Land

Hello My Precious Family!

What a fun week you have all had in Utah with the wedding of Rebecca and the snow activities. Looks like a blast...I kinda feel like I am missing out on all of the fun, but Melo is definately a new adventure...a new kind of fun, I guess.

Its funny because my companion and I, Hermana Montenegro, came from one of the most difficult areas in the mission to the area that everyone wants to serve in...Gianola, Melo! It is called the "Promised Land" or "La Tierra Prometida" and this week, we have seen why it is called this. Hermana Montenegro and I have had our jaws open with shock everyday. The church building is huge, like a temple on a hill...seriously! We came from a little branch of 50 people and now to a great ward who supports missionary work! The little pueblito in Gianola are so friendly and happy. It doesnt matter if they are members of the church or not, everyone invites us in to their house and they feed us. One day this week, a random lady that we talked to on the street invited us in to her house and she fixed us tortas fritas. (She was actually a very interesting person...she believes she is the "Salvadora" of the world and is going to marry Christ...etc) Yesterday, we had another random family invite us for a second lunch of asado, lamb, etc. One day they will be baptized after they stop smoking. But mom, I think you would die at the animals...purring at our feet as we eat...

I feel like each cambio Heavenly Father is challenging me more and more...training, whitewash,  now a companion who doesnt speak a word of english. I know that it is for my good.

Here is a little bit about my companion...She is from Costa Rica. She is a convert of 2 years and none of her family are members of the church. None of them! And the sad part about it is that her family does not support her. She left for the mission not knowing if she will have a place to live when she comes home. Now that is faith and dedication and testimony! She is a powerhouse. Her mom writes her and a few friends, but no one else. I was thinking that you guys could write her like you did with Hermana Chavez! Her email is mauren.montenegro myldsmail.net. I just cant even imagine not having a supportive family while on the mission because the mission alone is difficult. She loves and misses Hersheys and Nerds and doesnt have hardly any clothes, especially for winter. I worry about her.

Mom, that story is hilarious about the Relief Society lesson and dad, thank you for emailing me my baby blessing. Crazy how closely related those words are to my patriarchal blessing. Amazing. I teared up a bit. James, Annie, Hannah...cant believe the next break for school is summer break! WOW! Time is crusin!

Have a great week and I will talk to you next week!

xoxo

Hermana Coon

I thought you all would get a laugh at this email...I keep receiving handwritten letters in the bolsa and emails from missionaries in other missions. Its actually really creepy and funny at the same time...

 

This is what this elder said...

 

well Hey Katie coon ya you don't know me im just a bored missionary and I looked piano up on Mormon.org and you popped up and you were the cutest girl on there so I was like well whats the worst that can happen she doesn't write back? haha ya that would be pretty bad but the best that could happen is I could find an eternal companion. (awkward) anyways hopefully I can hear from you soon.

 

 

 

(I havent written back...haha.)

So, President Cook! He is great! I met him at changes and he is just a big teddy bear. He has a soft heart and cries a lot. Must be a Type 2, Type 1 secondary. Have fun and work hard! Love it! His wife is so sweet trying to speak spanish...aw.

 

.......

 

Hi Hermana Coon. It was wonderful to meet you this week. We love your enthusiasm and the spirit of dedication you bring to this work. We will see you in a few weeks. Until then, have fun and work hard. (the two go hand in hand). Pres. Cook

Melo, Uruguay

Hi Everyone!

Happy week! Congratulations BECCA! That is so exciting she got married this past week and what a beautiful bride! I received her wedding announcement last week, so I thought of you all on Saturday, the day of her wedding. Looks like you all had a blast.

Big news...changes are this week...and I am leaving Progreso after almost 8 months. My new area is in Melo! 6 hours away from Progreso/Montevideo! Melo is the Promised Land in the mission haha! I am so excited! My companion is Hermana Montenegro from Costa Rica and the funny thing is we are actually roommates right now. We are entering into a whitewash. All I know about Melo is that it is the COLDEST part of Uruguay in the winter! Thermal garments here we come...winter is coming soon...More adventures here we come! 

This week was fantastic. I am seriously in love with this area and I cry thinking about leaving. You know when you put your heart and soul into something everyday, all day, you automatically fall in love with it. This is what has happened to me in Progreso. It is such a difficult area, but I love it. Its been a rough day today saying goodbye to all of the members and young women, and all of our converts, and investigators. All of the memories, good times, hard times, they are all part of me. Some tears shed. I feel like they have all changed my life. Its hard to express in words the feelings that I feel, but I feel really good. I loved the prayer last night with one of our members named Mirta. She prayed that she would do the will of God, but sometimes, she would like to do her own will. And then she prayed and asked Heavenly Father for Hermana Coon to please stay in Progreso. It was the most sweetest prayer.

This week, we helped build a house! Seriously! One of our investigators named Cristian, his house flooded in the last rain storm, so now he is adding on to his concrete house. (Its made out of concrete blocks.) Quite the experience. I can tell ya right now that I will probably never have this experience of building a concrete house ever again. haha. 

Our new mission president is from Idaho Falls, IDAHO! His name is President Cook. I havent met him yet but I know that he will be great. We had a zone conference yesterday and we were introduced to our new mission them "Have I Done Any Good in the World Today." I have such good feelings about this...its about the service and the love...not about numbers. Love it! 

Well family, next week I will be writing you from the opposite part of Uruguay. I cant wait to start this new adventure. I pray the Lord will help us, Hermana Montenegro and I.

I love you!

Hermana Coon

 fotos of going fishing for family home evening!

  building the house!

 Teaching piano lessons after church...love them! 

Hi mom and dad,

I just wanted to write you a quick, private note to tell you both that I love you! I cant believe how fast time is flying. Almost at 9 months! Is the time going fast for you? Thank you for your love and support in everything I do!

Big hug and kiss on the cheek for you both! 

Love, your daughter

Our Gilbert Temple is dedicated!

Hello my dear Family!

WOW! What a week it has been for you all! Our temple is dedicated! What a special experience...the cultural celebration, President Monson! I loved the videos and the pictures that you sent me. It helped me feel a little bit apart of it. As I was watching the video clip of Moroni riding on his horse with all of the flags waving, and seeing our bright temple in the background, I had huge drops of tears in my eyes! What a powerful experience! I have waited my whole life for this temple and I am not even there to be apart of the celebration...but its okay, I feel so happy that our temple is complete!

I cant believe that it is already March! I´ll begin this weeks letter by telling you all a one lined, funny story...

I was proposed to this week. The craziest things happen in Uruguay. Rubia! 

I have really felt the power of the Atonement this week. We were teaching our sweet 16 year old investigator, Mariana, about feasting on the scriptures. She was having a difficult time, knowing for sure that the Book of Mormon is true, not really understanding when she was reading. We had such a powerful lesson with her and we read 3 Nephi 11 about when Christ came to the Americas. We read each verse with her and helped her visualize personally what was really happening, as if she was there when Christ appeared. The Spirit was so strong...the air was as thick as butter and we could cut right through it. We described to her what it would be like see the marks of the nails and to feel them. It was one of those experiences where we dont really remembered what we said...it was the spirit guiding our words about the Atonement, about our Savior, and about the Book of Mormon. I will do anything to one day stand in the presence of my Lord and Savior and thank him for his infinite sacrifice and atonement. As I pray at night, seeking for guidance and inspiration on where to go, what to say, what to do, I know he listens and answers me because I can feel it...

The people here in Uruguay are so special. I know we are all children of our Heavenly Father. 

Thank you for everything. I love you all with my whole heart. The church is true!

Hermana Coon