Hermana Cox's letter to her family

Hey family!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!! I hope it is a wonderful day.

Okay so as you now know.... We are staying here another change. It really is an answer to our prayers!!! We are so excited!!! Hermana Burbank and Hermana Zelaya are also staying!!! Yeah!!!

It has been a crazy week once again. On Tuesday, we went to zone conference and they told us that that day we were going to have an intercambio, and we didn`t even know until that day. So, Hermana Burbank and I worked together in our area. Her Spanish is coming along great and she is no longer an oro.

I can`t remember if i had already told you guys this last week, but these are the three most common topics of conversation:

1. How awesome jose Martin is!!!

2. How much we didn`t want to get changed (how fast the time is flying)

3. How much we miss fruits and vegatables

Jose Martin accompanied us to go visit a less active young man named damian. He got baptized when he was 14 and now he is 16 and he has a baby that is a year and a half. We went to go visit him and Jose Martin was incredible! He sounded just like a missionary! It was awesome to hear him testify to Damian and be his friend. He bore a powerful testimony to Damian`s evangelica grandma that was there too. He even offered to pass by to pick up Damian on Sunday so they could go to church together. It was great! 

hermana Coon and I have had a very interesting week. It has been a lot like last week, where we just haven`t felt like we have found anyone that was really interested. So, as far as finding goes, it has been another rough week. We have worked super hard this week, we committed so many people to go to church on Sunday, we sent people messages, made phone calls, and even passed by their houses, but we only had one investigator go to church on Sunday. It was Jose Martin`s brother, Diego that was visiting from 33. Like I said before, the most difficult thing about the mission is people`s agency. Thank you for the emails that you guys sent me last week, Mom and Dad. it was exactly what we needed. You are so inspired. But yeah, this whole week has just had a weird feel about it. We have had so many people to go visit and all of our numbers have been some of the highest numbers I have had throughout my whole mission, but for some reason, we felt like we have been walking around aimlessly and working super hard but not really knowing what to do, because none of our investigators really want anything and we didnt` and couldn`t understand why. We have been analizing and thinking about what we can change. Various time throughout the day, we stop in the street to say a prayer to have the spirit guide us to the prepared people that are waiting for us, but day after day it seemed the same. It was very strange. And on Friday, we had some interesting experiences. We couldn`t pinpoint exactly what it was about the day, but we just felt the world and Satan bombarding us from all sides. We could see and feel the power that Satan has in the lives of so many people here. It is sad when we see the way people are living their lives in sin when we have the greatest gift and message of happiness that they could ever experience and they don`t want to accept it. I know that the Lord really does answer our prayers because lately I have been praying to learn and experience all that I need to here on the mission and we have been given these trials. But, my companion and i are not discouraged or sad at all. In fact, we have even more desire to go out and work. We are not discourged or upset, because we know that we are doing all we can and we are doing our best, the rest is left in the hands of the Lord. We are learning to depend on him more and more each day. And we know that there are miracles waiting for us this change!!!!

We prayed for miracles to happen at church this Sunday with people going to church. Unfortunately, it rained on Sunday, and I think the people here are afraid of the rain because many of the people that we committed to come didn`t go. But the Lord showed us an even greater miracle on Sunday. First of all, Jose Martin went and picked up Damian and brought his brother Diego as well.

Also, while we were in sacrament meeting, I was sitting up on the piano bench behind the organ with Hermana Coon. They announed that they were going to extend a few callings. They announced Jose Martin`s name and called him to be the 1st counselor in Young Mens!!!!!! What?!?!?!?! We couldn`t believe it. We had no idea! We immediately started crying. It was awesome! Then, guess what. Richard de Los Santos got called to be 2nd counselor!!!!! We looked at them both and they had the biggest grins!!!! They are so excited to get to work!!! The two of them are exactly what these young men need. They are going to be so great!!!! In fact, they had their first meeting at 10 this morning. They are excited to contribute!!!! We are sooooooo happy for them!!!! They both left church that sunday with their red handbooks and ready to go to work!!! That has definitely made this week worth it.....to see the gospel change their lives. I can`t believe it. We met Jose Martin just a week ago today and he already has a calling in young Mens!!!! 

On Saturday, as we were eating at a recent converts family`s house, Hermana Coon turned to me and said "my tooth is going to fall out". What?!?!! One of the screws from the untensils was in her food and she bit down into it and her fake tooth moved. Well it is still in there but it is loose, so we will see how long it lasts! 

The temperature here has been crazy hot! Yesterday, I was wearing a short sleeve shirt and i was sweating! What?!?! This is winter? Okay, yeah, I can deal with this kind of winter. 

So yep changes are tomorrow! Even though we are not getting changed, Hermana Coon and I will be going to Montevideo tomorrow at 5 in the morning. We are so grateful we don`t have to pack or anything! What a blessing!!!! Last night, after planning, we were anxiously waiting the phone call for the changes. I honestly thought that Hermana Coon would be leaving me. But as we were waiting, we got a message from Richard de los Santos telling us to text them as soon as we knew changes. We got the call and one by one Elder Lambert our district leader, told us that we were staying!!! We were so excited! We immediately sent Jose Martin a message and the Family de Los Santos a message too. We got a message back saying that Richard and his family were so grateful that the Lord had answered their prayers. They told us that they had been fasting so that we would stay. wow!!!!! What faith!!!!!! It is a good thing we are staying!!!! 

The Lord really has answered our prayers!!! 

Well, it is time to go now!!! I figure tomorrow I will finally receive the package!!!! This week I have been feeling really great! I think that that drink has been helping me a ton. and I have been eating a ton of oatmeal. Just in this past week, I think my companion and I have eaten about 2 kilos of oatmeal!!!! It is what we live on! haha Thank you for all you do for me! Thank you for your letters, pictures, and prayers. I love you all!!!! have a wonderful week!!!!! I love this work!!!! 

-Hermana Cox  

hermana Zelaya`s birthday!

 Hey Jill,

I don't know if we told you or not, but Doug likes to send our two missionaries top ten lists and challenges for each week. I am not sure if Katie told you what the challenge is these pictures are referring to so, I am sending it to you. Here it is...

'Are you ready?  Are you ready for “This Weeks Challenge”?

"Often times missionaries don’t get the attention that they deserve or need.  This weeks challenge is designed to fix that and be fun in the process!  You might need the assistance of a Ward member too.  If so, this can assist in Ward relationships with the missionaries.  It is a win-win all the way around."

"This week’s challenge is:

For you and your companion, make and wear superman capes."

Also, here is a couple Top Ten lists that Doug sent to Gabrielle of which you might be interested in as well...The following is a small portion from Doug's letter to Gabrielle following our wonderful visit in Farmington:

"Grant and Jill miss their Hermana almost as much as we do.  I could go on and on about our quick conversation due to the feelings I had the entire time.  They are wonderful people.  If the world was filled with Coon-like people it would be a Heaven on earth."

"I figured there is a Top Ten list in meeting them.  Here goes."

"Words Typically Used to Describe Members of the Coon Family"

10  Loving

9    Accepting

8    Considerate

7    Fun

6    Blessed

5    Cheerful

4    Wonder-Daughter-Raisers (Parents only at this point)

3    Saints

2    Service

1    Disciples

"If there are words to describe them, then there must be the following:"

"Words Rarely Used to Describe Members of the Coon Family"

10  Lethal

9    Vain

8    Contentious (See 3 Nephi 11:29)

7    Grating

6    Hillbilly/Backward (tie)

5    Ornery

4    Offensive

3    Stoic

2    Defensive

1    Tattooed

Silly, I know!! Poor Hermana Coon had no idea what she was in for when she met up with our Gabrielle! Katie is such a good sport to help make Doug's challenge come to fruition! It made his day!!

We are so grateful for your wonderful family!! How thankful we are to have your example and friendship in our life and in the life of our daughter in Uruguay!

We love you!

- The Cox Family

Okay so my companion and I have really been working hard on these challanges that you have given us, Dad. And this week we have proof of one of the challenges that you gave us two weeks ago. I think it proved to be a great success. Tell us what you think!!! I think it might just be our new look!

 

I love my companion!!!

Happy WeeK

Hello!

Hi family! How are you all??? Can I just say that I LOVED getting so many great emails from you! I feel so connected to you now! I will print them all out and read them all afternoon! Seriously thankyou! I cannot believe how fast everyone is growing up! Those pictures from the family reunion AMAZED ME! I cannot believe it! We have a beautiful family! I wish I could respond to each and everyone of your emails! Just know that I love you and that i do read them, think about you, and pray for you!

What a marvelous week it has been. First of all, changes are this week and...HERMANA COX AND I ARE STAYING ANOTHER CHANGE TOGETHER! We have been so nervous all week, but Heavenly Father has heard our fervent prayers...he has also heard the prayers of our sweet converts here. We didnt even know this, but yesterday, The De los Santos Family, our awesome golden family, was fasting so that we could stay here in Melo with them! We cried from happiness last night as we received the call that we were staying. We just know that there are more people for us to meet and to teach here in Melo. Melo has my heart forever and ever.

Probably the most happy feeling in the world is to see your new convert, barely baptized, sharing the gospel with other people. Happy news! Jose Martin and Richard De los Santos, received callings to be the 1st and 2nd counselors in the Young Mens Presidency on Sunday! To say that Hermana Cox and I were happy just doesnt even describe our feelings! The change in them and in their families are huge! I know I say this every week, pero amo la obra misional!

Hermana Cox and I are learning so much together and are having so much fun together. I have never had so much fun with any other companion! I will send you pictures of the fun that we have had. I literally have never laughed so hard in my life! I have learned so much this week. I really think that the Lord is trying our faith...and our patience as we have been searching for new investigators to teach and baptize. We are just craving baptism! But for some reason, our teaching pool is empty! We help other hermanas in their areas find people to baptize, why cant we find anyone in our own area?! We can both agree that we have never worked so hard in our life, but for some reason we are stuck! One day this week, I was so humbled and we were completely brought to our knees pleading for help. Every person that we talked to literally laughed at our face as we were sharing our testimonies of how our message could bless their lives. And they just laughed in our face! The whole reason why we are here and they mocked us! I just could not believe it, nothing like this has every happened in my whole entire mission! We just felt the power of the adversary so strongly. It was super weird.

During personal study, I was just thinking about all these experiences and how so thickly we are in the world. It is so evident. We work with the spirit all day and so we its not with us, we feel empty...and sad. I began reading Elder Hollands talk in the April Conference called The Cost and Blessings of Discipleship. I cried as I read this talk...because it is exactly what we are experiencing right now. I thought about what a rollercoaster the mission is...one minute I feel completely feliz and happy and the next humbled and weak! ..."You will forge unshakable faith, y ou will find safelty against ill winds tha blow, even shafts in the worldwind, and you will feel the rock like strengh of our Redeemer, upon whom if you build your unflagging discipleship, you cannot fail."

I know these words to be true. All the experiences we have are just here to make us stronger. I know that if we have faith and trust in the Lord, we can conquer any trial. 

I love you family, I hope you all know that! Stay strong and immovable always abounding in good works!

Have an excellent week!

Hermana Coon

The picture is of Jose Martin, (by me) and his brother! This was the day he recieved his calling! He is SO AWESOME! Can you notice the difference in his countenace and that of his non member brother? Jose Martin has changed so much!

 Our District!

 Super Sisters!

 We are still together!!

  Cape blowing in the wind...so funny!

 So happy our families met!!!!!

 Popular Uruguayan food! 

 You are going to laugh so hard! I have never laughed so hard in my life! Hermana Coxs dad is so super creative and so he had a challenge for us...and this was it! We cried we were laughing so hard. So priceless! Super sisters!

I love Uruguay

Dear Family,

First of all, before I say anything else, I just want to let you all know that Hermana Cox and I have decided that we are definitely coming back to visit Uruguay in a year or so. Our hearts are here forever! 

HOW FUN THAT YOU MET HERMANA COXS FAMILY!!!!!!!! We were literally screaming from happiness as we saw all the pictures! It was so fun! It was such a treat! We love eachother and we love that our families love eachother! We are like sisters! Please pray that we will never be changed as companions! haha. We will do the Lords will, we just hope that we will be together while doing the Lords will.

What a fun family reunion! I dont really know much that went on, but it sounds like it was a success!

We had such an excellent week which ended in our golden baptism of Jose Martin. It is just amazing to see the change in people. Something that was so cool was to see the Lords hand in his life guiding him to the gospel and guiding him to meet the missionaries. The gospel changes people! He told us that he felt like he has known us before, but its impossible because he has never been to the US and we have never been to Uruguay before. We just know that Hermana Cox, Jose Martin, and I were friends before we came to earth. And it was Hermana Coxs and my responsibility to find him here on earth to bring him the gospel...and we found our heaven friend! We are finding so many of our heaven friends here in Melo. His baptism was so special. The spirit was so strong. He told us that it doesnt matter how hard Satan works, he will never stray from the gospel. Hermana Cox and I go to bed every night, just beaming from happiness. I never thought it was possible to be so happy. 

We had a great intercambio (I dont know what the name is in english..) this Friday with some other great hermanas. We found some awesome people. I worked in my area with another hermana, Hermana Bustos from Chile, and Hermana Cox worked in their area with Hermana Diaz from Peru. Hermana Bustos and I found so many miracles in the pouring rain. Its so fun to know that my journal will be full with crazy experiences in the mission.

Its funny, Hermana Cox and I were talking about the mission yesterday, and before, we always heard of crazy stories happening to missionaries and we never thought that it would happen to us...but it has and is happening! We love the mission and we cry everynight because we never want to leave. This is the change that I have grown and changed the most. Hermana Cox has taught me so much. 

I love you family. Vamo arriba Uruguay! Its our holy land.

Love you,

Hermana Coon

 This week was the baptism of the best convert in the world...JOSE MARTIN!!!! He is the best! I cant wait to tell you more about him and his conversion process! He is our best friend! His uncle, Hugo, aka the funniest man in the world, baptized him. He is a convert too of almost a year!

Thought you would get a kick out of this. She is my twin! We are praying so hard that we will not get changed in 1 week! We dont want to leave eachother!

Another week of Miracles!

Dear Family!

Well family, what a week it has been! Such a good week! 

Before I begin, i must tell you of a few things. Yesterday was a big moment for me! It was the first time I ate spinach in one whole year! I about died from hapiness! Mom, I know you are amazed that I am actually living. Also, I now live with a hermana from honduras and she cooks the best tortillas and burritos. I about died when I put that burrito and homemade tortilla into my mouth. Oh how i have missed my food! haha. I did receive the peanut butter package! Oh man we have enjoyed that peanut butter! Thank you!

Also, did you know that right now in the WORLD CUP? I didnt even know the US has a team, but the world cup is huge here in South america! People here are obsessed! I will have to tell you more about it next letter! 

I LOVE MY MISSION! By far the best decision I have ever made in my whole life so far was to serve a mission. We have seen so many miracles this week, it is incredible! I dont even know where to start and hope that when you read this letter that you can feel the spirit strongly because it really is amazing the experiences that we have had. It is amazing to see the hand of our Heavenly Father leading and guiding us. Here are some powerful examples of how He has led and guided us this week...The gospel is amazing!

Jose Martin. Jose is an investigator of ours, he is the nephew of some recent converts in the ward. His uncle told us at church last Sunday that Jose was wanting to learn more about the gospel, so that day, we contacted him. The first time we met him, he looked super sad and was super quiet. He just told us that he wanted to change his life and to become a new person. We invited him to be baptized on the spot and he agreed. Wow have we ever seen the change in him and really how the Atonement works in everyones life! He has changed, he has done a complete 180 and is so happy! He use to smoke 20 cigarettes everyday, but yesterday, he only smoked 1! It is absolutely amazing. He came to church yesterday and loved it! As we were teaching him last night, he told us that he wanted to show us something. He opened up his book of mormon and told us that he has always wanted to travel and be a good person. He said as he was talking to his uncle last night about serving a mission, he opened up to the Book of mormon to find his answer. And he opened up to Alma 29 12-13. He read the scripture to us and it was so powerful...the spirit was so strong. He then told us that he wanted to prepare to serve a mission. Hermana Cox and I couldnt believe it. The change in people that the gospel brings is remarkable! 

Next experience happened with our sweet investigator, Victoria, who is 13 years old. She is getting baptized this Saturday and is so excited. Before, she was having such problems in her family and with her personal life and self esteem, but ever since she has known the gospel, her life has changed all for the better. We commited her to read the Book of Mormon and then after to pray to know the truth, then to sit for a few minutes and pay attention to her feelings. Then after, to write on a sticky note how she feels. She wrote something so sweet. She wrote, "I feel so happy. I can finally go to bed with a smile on my face." When we rely on the Savior, it makes everything okay. She is stellar.

Richard and Monica. I dont know if you remember them, but we found them with Hermana Montenegro. Their son had just died, and the day he died, we knocked on their door. It was a miracle, it really was. Well, they finally set a date to be married so they can be baptized! It is such a miracle and to top that off, Richard came to church yesterday and the whole family was so happy. He is the next bishop. 

We began visiting Monicas daughter, Dayana, in her home this week. They LOVE the missionaries too! And we love them! Dayana and her "husband", David, arent married, but have 2 children. Dayana wants to be baptized so bad. She comes to church every week. Their family is so poor and dont have much. I wish you could see some of the houses these people live in. Her husband doesnt want to get baptized and is a very strong Evangelist. He doesnt even want to get married. He has been out of work for 1 year. Antonella, their daughter, told us that for this year, she has been praying to the Virgen Mary that her dad could find work..but we began visiting them and teaching them and the day that Hermana Cox and I arrived to their house, that night David found a job. What a change in David we have seen! Picture an unshaved, tinted yellow fingers from his homemade cigarettes saying, "Christ is everything. I will do ANYTHING for him." Now that is a change of heart.

I did an interchange in my old area with Hermana Zelaya from Honduras on Wednesday! I love this area with my whole heart! There are ALWays miracles during intercambios! The Lord always blesses us to find people and to help the hermanas in their areas. This next experience is super crazy, so hold your horses! We contacted this house and out comes a young girl, 21 years old. I have never seen anyone so dark and scary in all of my life. She was such a cute girl, but we could see that something was different. Her eyes were just dark and she was so sad. We began getting to know her and teaching her a bit. She was listening, but then told us something that I will never forget. She told us that she knows that there is a difference between the good and the bad. She told us that she has 7 demeons inside of her. Now, dont get scared family, the contact turned out good. As we were talking to her, we could see that this daughter of God needs help! She almost began to pass out and told us that whenever she is around churches or talking with relgious people, she gets dizzy. That these evil spirits are always with her and she cant get rid of them. Hermana Zelaya and I could feel the spirit guiding our words. Really, as representatives of Jesus Christ, we promise you that God loves you and wants to help you. It was such an experience of a lifetime, family. There is more to the story, but thats to tell when I get home. She was happy and smiling when we left! There is hope for everyone!

The De los Santos family, is doing excellent! Our golden family! They payed their first tithing yesterday, Dayana working on her personal progress, and Richard is figuring ways to not work at all on Sundays so he can keep the Sabbath day holy. What a miracle! They are progressing so well. Hermana Cox and I want to come back to Uruguay next year in June for their sealing!

Last night, as we were sitting with our roommates, talking about all of the miracles that Heavenly Father is blessing us with, we were all crying and so touched. I went to bed overwhelmed with happiness, I have never felt this kind of happiness ever in my life. I thought to myself and could not even imagine leaving this holy land of Uruguay in a few short months. My heart is here forever! I LOVE MY MISSION! The Atonement is real and the gospel is true. In Preach my gospel, it says that we as missionaries have front row seats to seeing the change in people through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. That is so true. 

I love you family!

Hermana Coon

 The family Dayana and Antonella!

 My awesome companion, Hermana Cox!

 Victoria

Water bottles on top of cars??? FOR SALE!

 jaja what a funny culture! They are everywhere!

The Promise Land... Uruguay!

Happy Fathers Day

 Our miracle family! I can't wait to tell you all about them.

 Hermana  Cox and Hermana Coon

Buen Día!

How are my favorite people in the world doing? I enjoyed reading whats going on at life at home. First of all, HAPPY FATHERS DAY DAD! It was not fathers day here in Uruguay, but, because I had our family calendar, I remembered that it was indeed fathers day. I thought about you all day, dad. I love you! Hermana Cox and I today were laughing about all of our childhood memories and it was fun reminising back to the good ol times. So many times, I just wish that I can give you a great big hug dad, play tennis, go on our father daughter dates, and do all of the things that we use to do. Especially there are so many times that I just wish I could have a fathers blessing from my daddy. I know the day will soon come when I can do all those things again, but for now they are sweet memories. I love you, dad! Hope you had a great day!

James, have such a great week at efy! Best week ever! 

We had such an awesome week! Spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Hermana Cox and I laugh every morning as we wake up. We seriously have bodies of 80 year olds. haha no, but I guess that is good because we are working hard. I just love these experiences that we are having in Uruguay, because they are experiences that we would never have at home. Funny story...this week, we have been having troubles with our bathroom flooding into our kitchen. We thought that it was water from the shower, so every night as there was a river flowing through our kitchen, we would franticly clean up our river of water, "whistling while we worked." Ringing the towels out...etc. Well, a few days later, a member came to help us figure out our problem. He told us that the water was not clean...that it was sewage water coming up out of our toilet. We just about died! We didnt know whetherto laugh or to cry! haha. Long story short, our bathroom is now fixed and we now dont have sewage water filling up our kitchen. We hope and pray that we dont have any sort of parasite. haha. 

I say this every week, but the weeks just keep getting better and better. Heavenly Father is really blessing our area immensely. We started the week off with interviews with President Cook. He is seriously the best. I look up to him a lot and really enjoyed my interview with him. Then Wednesday, Hermana Cox and I, had an intercambio with a few hermanas. We helped train them and helped them in their area. It was a wonderful day. 

Thursday, we traveled to Montevideo to have a multi mission conference with Elder Robbins, a member of the seventy. It was so neat to have both of the missions here in Uruguay together, which hardly never happens. Let me just say there was power in that room! I had the great privledge to play the piano. As all 700 of us missionaries in Uruguay powerful sang the opening song, "Called to Serve" my spirit filled my soul. Its something so difficult to describe, but I could feel the spirit so strongly. We are as the Army of Helaman...We have been taught in our youth! We left the conference feeling so rejuvenated to do better and to be better.

Our week ended perfect with our wonderful miracle Familia De Los Santos. I have no words. I feel so blessed. They are and were so prepared from the beginning. To see them hand in hand walk to their baptism with the biggest smiles on their faces was just perfect, but then to see them in all white was even better. This family is so special and I know that we were friends before this life. They are my best friends! We have shared so many special experiences together. The baptism was so spiritual. Hermana Cox played the violin while I accompanied her on the piano for the musical number. We made an arrangement of, "Soy un hijo de dios," and "Las Familias Pueden Ser Eternas." It was wonderful and in one year they will go to the temple to be sealed for time and for ALL ETERNITY: My heart is full and my eyes are full of tears from happiness.

As we taught Sunday School, gospel principles class yesterday to all the recent converts, the spirit was so strong. pero muy fuerte. We taught about la obra misional. As we shared experiences and bore testimony, the spirit testifed of our words. This gospel is so true. I loved the hear the personal experiences from all of these stalwart converts that were prepared from the beginning....Rosaura and Marcos, Jenifer De los Santos, Mabel and Nilo. To think that my companion and I have been there every step of the way, seeing their changes and watching their conversion. It is amazing!

Anywho. This was our week of miracles, spiritually, emotionally and physically. All is well. I love you all, I love who you are! Really, from the bottom, most sincerest part of my heart, I thank you for your prayers. I know that our Heavenly Father hears ALL of our prayers. Maybe he doesnt answer them in the timing that we would like, but he hears them. He leads and guides us.

Con amor,

Hermana Coon

A new cambio!

HOLA What a beautiful day!

Hi family, how are you all doing this week? What cool pictures on the lake that you sent! James, looking buff bro! I loved to hear about all of your missionary experiences..way to go family! How nice what Amanda said. I hope she is doing well. That makes me happy that everyone is participating in the work of salvation! 

It has been the best week ever! We had changes and my new companion, Hermana Cox, is the best!!! Seriously she just like me, its like I am seeing a reflection. As we were talking to our district leader last night, I told him that we never wanted to change companions jamas en toda de mi misión. This companionship just works! We are having a lot of fun together!

We continue to find miracles and people prepared. It is astounding sometimes at how prepared they actually are. What is even more cool is to see the Spirit guiding us every step of the way. When we think that no one will accept our message, there always is someone who will! We found a sweet teenager named Victoria who is friends of a member. WOW is she so prepared! We invited her to be baptized right on the stop and her eyes just lit up and her smile was so bright! Right then, she decided she wanted to be enrolled in early morning seminary, so with her member friend we walked right over to the seminary teachers house and enrolled her. Today was her first day in seminary, we are excited to see how it went. Hermana Cox and I just looked at eachother like, "What in the world is happening!?" It was awesome! 

One thing that i have loved is receiving letters from my converts after their baptized and after i have left the area. Just to see the change in them and to hear their testimonies and gratitude. It is amazing and so worth the achy back and feet. haha!

It is a big week this week as our wonderful family, the De Los Santos family is getting baptized! We are so excited but know that Satans temptations are real as well, especially for such a strong, powerful, prepared family. Please keep Richard, Jennifer, and Dayana in your prayers this week. They are so awesome. They told us last night that we are, "Amigos de corazon." Like you said dad, its unreal the love that we can have for people when we serve them. 

The work continues and I have never been happier. Life just gets better and better, right?! There is never a bad day when we look for the good. 

Les amo!

Hermana Coon

Share the gospel with everyone!

My Wonderful Family!

I love and miss you all so much! I love hearing from you each week. Sounds like it has been a good week for you all. Hannah, sorry you were sick all week! That is no fun! Annie, I LOVE your new clothes that you bought! WOW! They are so cute! And I love your glasses too! Mom says that I wont be able to recognize you when I come home! James, what a HARDWORKER you are. I loved you guys shared the gospel with your friend...please please please send the missionaries to his house! Wouldnt that be so cool if he was baptized because of your example? What a missionary you are. I can just see you being a stellar missionary! Mom and dad, it is getting super cold. Actually, today I bought a coat because I didnt have one! It was so fun shopping for the first time in 11 months! haha. I cannot believe that tomorrow is my 11 month mark in the mission! 

FELICITACIONES to Kendall!!!! I am so happy! Give her a giant hug for me and tell her that I love her and am so proud of her! She will be an excellent missionary. The mission will change her life tremendously!

Changes are here again! This is why I am writing on Tuesday. ¡Otra vez hay cambios! The news is I am staying here in Melo with Hermana Cox from Utah! I am so excited...my first "gringa" companion since my trainer! It is so interesting how the Lord knows our heart and he knows what we need. He knows us perfectly. 

We had a great week traveling! We went from Melo to Montevideo to Maldonado and Punto de Este and back to Melo all in 2 days. We had a conference as leaders and then conferences with the whole mission. I sent a few pictures on the conference...but let me just tell ya how fun the mission is and how many eternal friendships I have made here. Its like in the scriptures of the great missionaries like Alma and Ammom and their brethren. They rejoiced when they saw eachother. It is so the same here as missionaries today! Anyways, Elder Gonzalez from the seventy taught us for 2 days straight...first as leaders in the mission and then together with the whole mission. It was wonderful and I learned so much of how to teach better and how to be a better person. We have been putting into action what we learned in the conference and we are seeing miracles this week from it! 

I was thinking the other day about the missionary work at home. I need to seriously repent because I was not a good missionary at home. As I look at all of the people that I interacted with who werent members of the church, I realized that I could of so easily of shared the gospel with them. Everyone on earth already chose Gods Plan, the just dont remember it. Why wouldnt they choose it again? Ok family, I am challenging you to invite someone to church this week or to have a Family Night and invite a nonmember with the missionaries. (The missionaries will LOVE IT! trust me!) A challenge from the Hermana Coon. As missionaries, we always extend commitments every second of the day and expect the people to keep their "compromisos" (in spanish) or commitments. haha. Invite invite invite and share your testimonies and its a promise from our loving Heavenly Father that his spirit will testify of your words. I know that there are people at home searching for the truth too, they just dont know what they are searching for! 

I know that this gospel is true with all of my heart. I love being able to share my testimony everyday. And I love the spirit that I can enjoy everyday as well. Last night, as Hermana Ots and I taught a powerful lesson to our Familia de Oro (our golden Family, the Family De los Santos), I could feel this exact power and authority that we have as missionaries. We all ended the lesson crying because the air was as thick as butter. The spirit was there. This family is so prepared! With tears in her eyes, Jennifer told us that they were "esperando para nosotras." The have been waiting for 30 years..all of their lives to recieve the gospel. 

My heart is full. I am not the best missionary, I have a lot to learn. But I know that with the strength of the Lord, we can do everything. I know that with the strength of the Lord, you too, can find these Familias de Oro in our own neighborhood! 

I love you family! Les amo!

Hermana Coon

p.s. I am anxious to hear how your missionary experiences go! Keep my updated! xoxo

Reunited at last! Hermana Chavez and Herman Fuentes!

Playing with some effects on my camera before we picked up our investigators to go to church! I love you all!

my district and zone! vamo arriba! (Elder Lambert, the tall blonde, (my district leader) is from Mesa, Arizona!)