My work here in Uruguay is still not done.

My dear family!

I LOVE YOU! 

The time is going by so quickly! I honestly cannot believe it. 

So much happened this week, I have so much to tell you. What a week full of miracles Hermana Harvey and I have had. It has been such a challenging, trying week, but in the end we witnessed so many blessings. Our sweet Hermana Rosalia plays hymns on her year 1800 piano and every night we can hear her playing. One of the songs she was playing was, "Cuenta tus bendiciones." (Count your many blessings.) Wow I couldnt believe how much the Lord has blessed us this week. We had so many tender mercies and it is so evident that the Lord was guiding us. I pray every night that Hermana Harvey will have spiritual experiences with me that will impact her for the rest of her mission. I feel like Heavenly Father is listening and he is answering my prayers.

Here in Piriapolis, it is super close the ocean. Its like the "San Diego of Uruguay." We talk to everyone and we hear so many interesting beliefs. It has been so interesting for me to switch from working in cute little Melo where everyone believes in God to coming to Piriapolis where a lot of people dont believe in God. I am grateful to be a representative on the Lord and to share my testimony every day. Everyday I feel like we live in the chapter of Alma 30. One experience, we began talking with man, who told us that he was completely athiest. He told us that he didnt believe in anything. The things that he was telling us took my back. He completely denied Christ and the spirit. It broke my heart literally, this people who literally live in darkness because there is no hope! We testifed that there is a God and that Christ will come. The testimony that Hermana Harvey and I shared was so powerful and I could feel the spirit testifying of our words. I know that this man felt something. We walked away completely in awe and with even firmer testimonies that Christ lives. I am thankful to be a witness of God. 

Even though it is the San Diego of Uruguay, heavenly father is blessing us with people to teach. Yesterday, we found a woman named Paola who is so prepared for the gospel. She and her son are going to get baptized on the 29 of November. We had such an amazing lesson with her yesterday. It was one of those lessons where you dont really remember what was said, the spirit just took it away. I cannot thank my Heavenly Father enough for the tender mercies and the many miracles that I have witnessed in my mission. I worked out of my area in Pan de Azucar (hermana coxs old area) a day this week. There are people so prepared in all of uruguay. The Lord is definitely hastening his work. We taught a mother and son about the gospel of Jesucristo and they were literally eating every word we said. It was so rewarding. They were so eager to read out of the Book of Mormon and to keep their commitments. It was remarkable how the Lord guides his missionaries.

We had a capilla abierta (open house) for our little church here in Piriapolis on Sunday. You know what? Hermana Harvey and I were outside invited people to come in. We went up to these two teenagers and began to talk to them in spanish inviting them to the church. All of the sudden, they tried to speak in spanish, but it was apparent that they were from the States and could not understand anything we were saying. I began to talk to them in english and they came into the church for our tour. Hermana Harvey and I gave them the tour in english, and you know what....I could not do it! I could not teach in english for the life of me! I dreamed for this day when I was in Hermana Harveys shoes. It was so funny...I felt like I kept apologizing because spanish words would come out easier then english words. Uh oh I am in for trouble when I come home! You guys understand spanish, right? haha

I am been receiving some wonderful letters from my people in Melo. It is the most rewarding this to hear their testimonies and to see their conversion. It makes my heart leap for joy. We really dont realize the difference that we make in peoples lives. Either the 22 or the 29 of December, I am going to visit Melo before I come home. What a joyous reunion this will be. I cant believe my dear Hermana Cox is leaving the mission so soon. I will miss her dearly. I cant believe how fast time is moving. I just want to soak up every minute of every second that I have here in my promised land. I enjoy it so much. I am just about to enter into my last change next week. I told Hermana Harvey that it is forbidden that we speak of it...haha. She is a good sport. I love her a lot and I know that we will be friends forever. The gospel is like a glue. It ties people together. That is why I am so thankful for our family...its because we have the gospel in our lives and we live it. 

My work here in Uruguay is still not done. I will continue to work hard until the very last second that they tell me that it is time for me to go home. We are praying for a family to teach and baptize. It is the temple that is our goal. I know the gospel is true with my whole soul.

I love you! This...........................................................................................................much.

Hermana Coon

p.s. The picture is of us and Abuela Rosalia!

Hermana Harvey's letter to her family:

Hola mis amigos y familia!

The days are starting to fly by it seems like! I cant believe ive already been gone for 2 months!

This week we already had our “Oro Conference” and I got to see all my buddies from the CCM again! The ones that our in my mission at least. That was awesome! We didn’t have much time to chat though, we did a bunch of practices which were very helpful! I also didn’t get a chance to take a picture, but next week ill be able to see them all again because we have a huge conference with the 2 missions of Uruguay! Lots and lots of conferences and traveling on the omnibus!

Also this week I had my first Intercombio! So for a day/night I was with another Hermana. Hna.Armijo and she is just the sweetest girl! It was weird though not to have Hna. Coon by my side haha she helped me a lot with my Spanish and we had a good day together! Its cool to see how different situations can be like with different people, in different places all around the world, with different people, etc. But all this work is the same no matter what. The gospel of Jesus Christ has always been the same and that’s all we are doing as missionaries is not trying to convince anyone. We are simply just spreading and sharing this gospel with others and having them find out for themselves like we have that this is the true church.

Hna. Coon and I had a theme this week of “Cuenta tus bendiciones” which is count your blessings. We had a hard time with our investigators keeping their commitments and slacking off and ugh we just want them to try it and then they can see how great this gospel is and how much it can help their lives! But a lot of people struggle with that and they don’t want to try, and they give up and there isn’t much we can do. It seems like people are waiting for these huge signs and miracles, but the truth is they’ve already had miracles and blessings in their lives they are just being so blinded they cant see them. So Hna. Coon and I started to not focus on the negative, we have been finding the little blessings in our life and have been writing them down every night.  Also our investigator Enrique is still progressing really well because he has been keeping his commitments and whats so amazing is hearing his experiences! He told us that while he was reading he received inspiration and he knows this gospel is true and he puts in the effort and he came to church on Sunday! He woke up late, but he still came and walked and its just amazing his faith is growing soooo much! It’s a longer story than that I know I wish I could have time. Ill write about it in my letter, but I love you guys and thank you for everything! One day ill get this emailing thing down I promise! Keep the faith you guys! Love you

Xoxoxoxox,
Hna. Harvey

Oh that picture with my lil pumpkin was my way of spending Halloween haha they do celebrate it here but its not cute like it is back home with kids dressed up as princesses and heros, its all blood and guts and scary stuff. Also no king size candy like we have in the states haha. I carved a temple because the Temple is my heaven here on earth and I cannot wait for the day I can be married and sealed for eternity in it! Bryce im so happy to hear about you getting your endowments out!

White Picket Fence

Hello my Family!!!!

I miss you all so much and I love to hear from each and every one of you every week! It feels my heart with joy! WOW JAMES! Holy cow bro! You got a FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIP! Congratulations! That is incredible! I always knew that you have great things in store for your future. Keep aiming high. I dont even recognize James or any of his friends in the pictures that you send. When I left they were little boys, now they are MEN! haha. wow i cant believe it. Same with Annie and Hannah! Everyone is so old! haha.

I absolutely love training. I forgot how fun it really is. The last time I trained was a year ago with Hermanita Fuentes. Hermana Harvey is so wonderful and I am so impressed at her diligence to learn. It is so fun because everything is so new to here. I am glad that I get to be apart of her "oro" experience. It is a treat for me everyday. For example, she tried a "torta frita" for the first time this week. I will never forget the first time I tried a torta frita. (There were mice crawling around in the house. haha.) Its fun to reminisce on all the good times, isnt it?

We have had quite the rain storm here in Piriapolis over the past 3 days or so. I have never seen such a big storm in my life! The rain never stops...ever! Piriapolis is so beautiful with such cute houses! You all know that it is my dream to live in a house with a white picket fence. My dream has come true! Our little home with Rosalia has the cutest entrance with a white picket fence. Everyday, Hermana Harvey and I are discovering new plants in our yard. Above our heads, we have grapevines growing. We will be eating grapes all the time for the next couple of months. Just today, we saw that Rosalia is growing corn! We live in the secret garden...I love it! 

I love reflecting back on the week and I can really see the hand of the Lord in our lives. We are witnessing miracles. What is so fun is that Hermana Harvey is so new to everything, so every little miracle that we see is like gold to her. 

I will begin by telling you an awesome experience of what happened to our awesome investigator, Inrique. We have been teaching him for about a week now, and oh boy, have I absolutely LOVED to see the change in him that the gospel brings. It makes my heart rejoice! Before he didnt believe in God, that god loves him, that god hears him. We found him as we were walking in the street. He told us later that he felt something good about us, that desire to learn what we were all about. I know that the spirit has been guiding us with his teachings. We taught him about faith in Alma 32 and how is faith is growing, how we plant our little seed in of faith in our heart, and then by reading, praying, and going to church our little seed of faith grows! He took that lesson to heart. The next day, he read all of what we left him to read, Alma 32. The next day we come back to him home to see if he read. He had tears in his eyes as he told us that he did read and that he knows that the Book of Mormon was true. Through his study of the Book of Mormon, he received personal revelation for his life. It was so amazing and he was telling us his personal experience. I asked him, "Inrique, now do you believe that God listens to your prayers?" He knows it and he is changing. This strengthened my testimony of the power of the Book of Mormon and how it is written for each and every one of us. Now Inrique is reading the book of mormon everyday and enjoying what he is learning. In his prayers, he thanks Heavenly Father for sending to angels to his home to teach him the gospel. He lived in such darkness, but now he is receiving the light that he was searching for. One out of the many things that I will miss about being a missionary is that all the time we get people calling us "their angels." Hermana Harvey was a little creeped about by this when she heard us called angels. I explained to her that people call us that here. It is the biggest compliment we can ever receive. People are changing their lives with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love to be a missionary.

We have worked so hard this past week helping reactivate a few inactive families. Hermana Harvey has loved our family nights that we have done with them. I woke upSunday morning thinking that we had done everything, all that we could, and now it was in the Lords hands. It was raining, and no Uruguayo likes to go out in the rain. I am glad to know that Heavenly Father knows the desires of our hearts. All of our little inactive families came to church as well as a few investigators...in the rain! It was a miracle as we saw each one of the pull up to the church. Hermana Harvey and I ran out in the sprinkling rain to give them a big kiss on the cheek and welcome them to church. Inrique came to church as well and loved every minute of it. Each of the testimonies that the members gave were just for him. He knew so many members even and they were so excited to see him there. We had such a fabulous Sabbath day yesterday as we went visiting teaching with our amazing total Type 1 Hermana Corrales. We visited a nursing home and sang to our sweet old hermanas there. My heart was full last night as I went to bed thanking Heavenly Father for everything.

I have been thinking a lot about our neighbors Luis and Sofia. Oh how do I want to share the gospel with them. I think it will help now, now that I can communicate with Sofia. I feel like they are prepared to receive the gospel. They have been on my mind and my heart so much lately, which is a bit unusual. Wouldnt you just love to see them enter into the waters of baptism?! I know I would!

My testimony this week is short and simple, but it feels my whole soul. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love my Savior and I know him. I feel so blessed to be completely immersed in the gospel. It is light. 

I love you family! Stay strong and of good courage! We will see eachother soon!

Hermana Coon

HERMANA HARVEY'S LETTER TO HER FAMILY

HOLLLLLAA familia y amigos!

WOW what a week it has been! Many many miracles as well! So much to tell!

Remember last week how I was saying Hna. Coon and I were sweating bullets haha well this week was completely the opposite! Its been windy and raining all week and we were in our coats! The weather is a bit bipolar like Utah you could say!

We had a fantastic week with lots of great Noche de Hogars (FHE) with some less active families in our area. Everyone is so nice and they are always feeding us. The picture I sent is of the Fila Duerda and their son reminds me of Zero off Holes haha anyways they are awesome and its like a tradition here that everytime it rains they make Torta Fritas and that’s what we had with some dulce de leche . HMMMMM! Hna. Coon took that left over dulce de leche and tried to make popcorn balls with it for another family. They didn’t look too great, but everyone loved them.  

That’s another story to tell! This other family owns 14 dogs! Crazy! We clapped saying that we were there at their house (you don’t really knock on doors here its their culture) but anyways all the dogs came rushing to the fence and it was normal like it always is, but then when the mother came out the dogs started attacking eachother! Oh my goodness and Hna. Coon and I weren’t sure what to do! There were so many dogs  and we could smell blood and there was dog crap everywhere and the neighbors had to come over and wow what an experience! Poor Hna. Coon haha she hates dogs so much! Other than that the night and lesson was great!

Church this week was another success even with the rain! One of our progressing investigators is a middle age man named Enrique and his faith has been growing so much! He calls us his angels because before he met us he didn’t have any faith. Also the fun fact that we literally see him every day SOMEWHERE because we keep running into him it’s the funniest thing ever! It’s a sign we tell him that this church is for him haha he wants to get baptized but the only problem is he is living with his girlfriend. My favorite quote from him this week was when we asked if he was still coming to church because of the rain (since a lot of people use that as an excuse here) He said “I imagine the rain doesn’t turn off the faith” amen to that! He came, and the less active families, and a girl who has a baptism date with us for next week! It was a great Fast Sunday and great testimonies shared. I have such a strong testimony on fasting! We have fasted so much and we have truly seen so many miracles this week. Its still not an easy task, especially since we aren’t incharge of everyones own agency, but it works! Ah the Lord has blessed us so much! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this gospel!

Oh and the picture of us in the Garden is a service project we did this week with the Fila. Delgado. They are an amazing family and help the missionaries so much so we decieded to give back and help with their garden. The girl with us is their daughter Camila who is 18 yrs old.

Love you all! Never lose the faith, remember faith is also an action!

Xoxoxoxox,

Hna. Harvey

HOLA my family!

Hello Family!

YOU MET HERMANA FLORES!!!! The Hermana Flores!!!! I am so happy! I loved to see all of those pictures of you with her! She is definitely one of my cherished friends from the mission. Isnt she so fun!?! 

It has been a fabulous and hot week here in Piriapolis! It is such a different area, with different people, and different climate...it has taken me a while to get use to! haha. But what I do know is that missionary work is the same wherever you go...and there are people so prepared for the gospel. I am grateful to know that the lord is preparing people. Even when I was in Melo last change, I could feel that I was coming here, around Pan de Azucar. I just knew it. I am thankful to be here with sweet Hermana Harvey. I am learning so much everyday.

One of the many things that I am thankful for is the spirit. Without the spirit, we as missionaries, can do nothing. The spirit is the real teacher. 

We have an investigator named Inrique. He is an amazing man whose faith is growing tremendously. The first charla we had with him, he told us that he didnt believe that god listens to his prayers. Over these past couple days we have taught him, and he is receiving answers to his prayers. It is incredible to see the change in people....but its not the kind of change that us as missionaries do, its the spirit. Its the spirit that touches their hearts. He told us that he sees something different in us that he wants to have. He told us that his life has been filled with darkness and he is looking for light. We testified that the Lord guided us to him. He had water in his eyes. I felt the spirit so strongly and I know that the spirit was testifying and testified of our words. Hna Harveys sweet words in spanish are priceless. Learning a language is priceless and I know that Heavenly Father blesses his missionaries with the gift of tongues. It is an incredible experience to experience.

Celsy, is one of our investigators, and during our planning session on Thursday, Hna Harvey and I both had the small thought to text Celsy. We wrote a scripture in the text and told her how much we love her. Come to find out, yesterday, we ere eating with a member, Celsys friend and coworker, who told us just how that text message arrived at the right time. It was the anniversary of Celsys brothers death. Minutes before Celsy received the text, she had commented to the member friend of her brothers death and was needing some uplifting words, then the text message arrived with an uplifting scripture. 

Needless to say, more than ever, I am so thankful for the spirit. 

I just wanted to tell you all that I am so thankful for your righteous desires and examples. Annie mentioned last week that some kids from her school are using bad words and she asked what she should do. Annie, I have thought about this all week long....You are such a great example. Just be yourself and stand up for what is right. People know that you are a member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and they know what you stand for. Keep being an example and letting your light shine! You are beautiful!

I have set a goal for myself before the end of the year and I wanted to share it with you all! Maybe you will like to join me in it!?? I want to memorize all of "Jesus is the Christ" before the end of the year. Will you all join me in it? I am starting tomorrow! :)

I love you all! I know Jesus is our Savior. He is the light and life of the world. I am thankful for the scriptures. I love my scriptures with my whole heart. They give such guidance, comfort, and direction to our lives. I, like Nephi, have been born of goodly parents and am forever thankful for the blessing of an eternal family. The gospel is light!

Until next week!

Hermana Coon

Hola from Piriapolis!

How are you all? It sounds like you all have had a good week! It has been a great adventure week here in Piriapolis. Everyday is an adventure when you know nothing about the area, but we begining to not get lost so much. haha. 

I am really enjoying being here in Piriapolis, but I have a huge part of my heart still in Melo! I love Melo with my whole soul! But I then I think, I said that about Progreso when I got to Melo. haha. My love is beginning to grow for this area and the people here too. 

I will first begin by telling you about our cute little widow who rents our house to us. She is adorable! Her name is Rosalia. She bakes baked goodies for us. Sometimes after planning every night we go visit with her in her little grandma home. Last night, I played on her 200 year old piano for her. It was so out of tune, but she loved the music in her home. She has skin as soft as butter and is the most converted person I have ever seen. She shows us pictures of when she was a new wife and mother. Life goes by so fast. She was explaining to us how when she still looks at this pictures, she still has the same emotions. She is incredible. Our home is so beautiful with her beautiful garden.

Piriapolis is so beautiful! It is becoming summer soon, so there are a lot of tourists. Are area is full of summer homes. I was telling my sweet oro that I have not seen houses this beautiful and this big in so long! A lot of the houses are like the houses in Draper, Utah by the temple...huge! Like I said before, I feel like I am a little fish in a big city. It is definitely a different way of working...a different way to soften the peoples hearts to the gospel...I am just thankful that it is not us who are the teachers, its the spirit! haha. 

This week was also Hermana Harveys 20th birthday! I hope she had a good day. It is so hard being away from home when you are brand new in the mission. I remember those days of being an oro. It doesnt feel like that long ago. She is doing so well and I keep telling her that the language will come...it just takes paciencia! Please keep her in your prayers. Uruguay is quite the culture shock! haha. Yesterday we had a birthday lunch at the Flia Corrales home. They are an incredible family. They baked her a special Uruguayo cake, complete with peaches and dulce de leche!

We are seriously seeing miracles in our area. My companion is so blonde and so am I, so we stick out like no other. It is so funny the kind of comments we receive. We leave our house each day, ready to find these miracles that Heavenly Father has prepared. The area book is becoming our best friend. One night, we were searching through the area book, looking for people to find the next day. We found this name, Celsy, and decided to go visit her. The next day at lunch, the members gave us this same reference! We knew it was meant to be, so we contacted Celsy! I could just feel it, that the Lord was guiding us to her home. She is so prepared for the gospel. We have begun teaching her and her testimony is growing little by little. She came to church yesterday and loved it. She is so valient and we hope and pray that the hearts of her husband and 2 sons will be softened to the gospel. I am grateful to the Lord for guiding us to Celsy. We also had Adrianna at church yesterday! She is incredible as well. Her boyfriend, who she is living with, and who is inactive, even served a mission. He doesnt want to get married, but she desperately wants to be baptized and to have an eternal family. Please keep them in your prayers.

I have been reflecting a lot this week on Melo and the experiences that I have had there. It was such an incredible experience that I will never ever forget. I have never witnessed such great miracles like I witnessed in Melo in my whole life. It makes me sad to think that that door of my life and mission has closed. But, I know that Heavenly Father only has greater things in store for us here in Piriapolis. I just hope that we will be worthy instruments in his hands. I only want to do His will.

Bueno familia. I love you all so much. It is just crazy to me how fast time is flying. I just have only a few more months of being a representative of the Lord. It is sad! Lets just enjoy this time while we have it! 

Hermana Coon

 weird to see me in pants, right???

Piriapolis is full of hills! On the top of one very big hill is a cross! We hiked up to that today as a zone. It was so hard, but super fun. The view was breathtaking.  You can see my area from here, the ocean as well.

Greetings from...PIRIAPOLIS!

Dear Family!

Greetings from...PIRIAPOLIS! 

How are you all? It sounds like you all had a great Fall Break! I honestly cannot believe it is fall at home!!! La primavera is in full spring here in Uruguay.

Well, all is well here in Piriapolis. I am now with Hermana Harvey from Orem, Utah! She is the cutest thing, she has such a strong faith and desire to serve the Lord. I like it! It has been such an adventure these past few days working in our whitewash and training. 

I will begin the adventure week by beginning with Tuesday. Saying goodbye to Melo was the hardest thing I have ever done. I left on the 6 hour bus ride to Montevideo at 12 30 am to make it to the mission home and 8am to pick up my oro. We got to our area later that afternoon. It was a long day of traveling.

Piriapolis is beautiful...absolutely beautiful. Our area is right along the beach and we live about 5 blocks from the beach. We live with Rosalia, who is an 80 year old grandma who has been a member for 40 years. She is remarkable. She rents her house to us. She brings us home baked treats to our home, she takes really good care of us. She loves the missionaries and is such a valient, beautiful member of the church. We really are so blessed to live with her, her gardens are beautiful.

The members are so wonderful here. I have never such great food in all of my misson....vegetables, vegetables, vegetables! We have eaten beets everyday this week! It is incredible! Also, everySaturday, there is a farmers market close by the beach and one of our less actives works at the fruit and vegetable stand. She gives us as many fruit and vegetables for free that we want!!!! It is amazing! They even have spinach! I havent seen spinach during my whole mission! haha. This morning, Hermana Harvey and I made a spinach green smoothie. Heaven!

I really like whitewashes. We found Marcos and Rosaura, and Monica and Richard, in a whitewash in Melo when I first got there. There are always miracles! The hermanas left us with nothing, no investigators, directions, nothing. We have been searching through the area book, trying to make good plans. The Lord has guided us so much through our efforts. I just feel like I have to change a little bit of the way I work, especially because my companion doesnt even know a word of spanish. haha. The people here in Piriapolis are not like the people from humble Melo. I feel like I am working in San Diego, California haha. Kinda feel like a little fish in a big sea. I just feel with my whole heart that there are people waiting for the gospel. I feel like with each day, I am just getting closer and closer to Heavenly Father. Thats all I want to do is his will. 

"Ill go where you want me to go dear lord, over mountains or plains or seas." That is my theme song.

I love you all, so very much!!!!!

Hermana Coon

 President and Sister Cook, Hermana Harvey and Hermana Coon

Hermana Harvey! ...my last companion!

 part of our new home...It is beautiful...our tiny home.

 I feel like I am serving in San Diego

I love Hermana Harvey!

Life is Beautiful

Hello Family!

¡Greetings from Melo! 

This will be the last time I can say that "greetings from Melo." I love my Melo with my whole heart. Can you believe it is changes AGAIN!? Why is time going by soooo fast?! Sunday night after conference, I received a call telling my that I am leaving Melo and for my last 2 changes, and I am going to train! I am going to train another oro! Oh my goodness I couldnt believe it. Last night, I found out where I will be serving my last 2 changes. My new area is PIRIAPOLIS! (Which happens to be Hna Coxs first area!) You have got to look it up online to see what it is like! My area is right along the beautiful ocean. It is the most beautiful place in Uruguay, so I have heard. I am beyond excited to train. Those were such fun times training my sweet Hermana Fuentes almost a year ago. I feel blessed that the Lord has enough trust in him to train another one of his valient missionaries. But, I dont think any area will be as beautiful as Melo. I will miss the people of Melo with my whole heart.

Love has been a topic of conversation between Hermana Cox and I. We have shed a few tears because of our separation. We were recalling back to when we got set apart and when we were oros, our first change here in Uruguay. Other missionaries told us that they loved the people so much. I honestly couldnt imagine loving these people. I mean, their culture is SO different, their food, clothes, and even their language! I could not even understand what they were saying! I could not even imagine loving a people so much. I remember praying with all of the energy of my heart the first few months of my mission to love these people of Uruguay. Now I can say that I love them. I really do. Its going to be a super hard day today saying goodbye to my dearest. I feel like a peace of my heart is being ripped out. 

But, I do feel something special for Piriapolis. I know that their are people waiting for the gospel. I feel like it is calling my name. It will be yet another adventure in a whitewash training, but I will love every minute of it. Hermana Cox has such wonderful things to say about this area. President Cook wrote me this message this morning..."I think you will love your final assignment as you share your love, testimony and lessons learned in the mission with someone who will be looking to you for strength at every turn. See you soon. PC" 

Conference was so wonderful, wasnt it? Our sweet investigator Maria del Carmen came. She loved every minute of it and afterwards, she told us that she felt fire in her chest. How blessed we are to have a prophet of God, a guide and a mouthpiece for us. Wasnt that so fun for one of the speakers to be from Uruguay! He is from Minas...my new zone! haha. Rocke came to the conference for all three sessions Saturday. It is so amazing! The members are showing so much love for him. His testimony that he shared the day of his baptism has touched everyones hearts! He has been so blessed physically and spiritually. He came to the conference dressed all nice in his new tie, white shirt, and shoes that the members gave him. The smile on his face was just priceless. For one of the first times in his life, he felt loved and important. Makes me so happy.

I must tell you all and mom, dont be too upset. Hna Cox and I have topped the list for the craziest things that we have eaten. Are you ready???? COWS STOMACH! haha. It was actually the stomach part, but the outer lining of the stomach. Sunday, before conference, we were eating at a members home and out they bring the food. They told us, "Dont worry, hermanas, it is not our next door cat or dog." Hermana Cox and I looked at each other a bit worried. I am sure you can imagine how the story went....haha

I am so grateful for you. I love my family with my whole heart. 

I am so thankful for the many, bounteous blessings that Heavenly Father has blessed us with, Hermana Cox and I as well. I have seen His hand in our lives and especially in my mission. Just as our profeta testified in conference, we are His children and He knows us perfectly and individually. Hna Cox and I have had such a fun time this week, recording all of our Uruguayos testimonys on our cameras. It has been the most rewarding thing and we know that it will be a treasure for the eternities. Just to hear them express that they know that their savior lives and loves them and to hear them bear powerful testimony that this is the true church, and to hear the gratitude in their words for missionaries who found them, makes my heart sing. I have witnessed miracles here in Melo and have been completely changed because of them.

I love you!

Hermana Coon

Rocke, awesome man!

 Our angels!

 Andres´ house! 

 Our sweet hermanas. 

 Mispuros!!!! It is a fruit definitely unheard of in the states! They are so yummy!

Our lider misional del barrio! mission leader I think it the name in english! haha

Hermana Cox's letter to her family

Hi family!!!!

Well it is nice sunny spring morning here in Melo. The time has come for me to say goodbye to my beloved companion and best friend Hermana Coon. On, Sunday night, the assistants called our phone asking her if she would train this next change! I am so excited for her and super jealous of her oro. She has no idea what great experiences are in store for her. The assistants told us that we would knowMonday night where she would be training, along with the rest of the changes. It was nice of them to give us a heads up. But it doesn`t make this any easier. I can`t believe that we have been able to spend these last 4 months together. Oh how I love Hermana Coon! We have been through it all together. I know when I have found a great friend because they make me want to be a better person, and that is exactly what Hermana Coon has done for me. I love her so much and we will be best friends forever! We knew this change was bound to come. Last night, they called us to tell us that Hermana Coon will be training in Piriapolis!!!!! I am so jealous and excited! She will be ending her mission where I started mine. She will be able to meet all of the wonderful people there including Victoria!!!! I am so excited for her. It is the most beautiful place of all of Uruguay! She will be a wonderful trainer! I am staying here!!!! Yeah!!!!!! My companion will be Hermana Ramache. She is from my group but she will be ending with Hermana Coon because she is a latina and they are only in the ccm for 2 weeks. But I think she is from Columbia. I don`t know much about her but I know she is awesome! It is going to be a great change! Hermana Zelaya and Hermana Leiva are both leaving and we will be back to 4 hermanas in the ward again. Hermana Altamirano is staying and her companion will be Hermana Fragapani from Germany. She is Hermana Alvarado`s oro. So, it will be an interesting change. But we are really excited! These goodbyes are difficult though, and I am not even the one saying goodbye. Hermana Coon has changed so many lives here. It is incredible to see how many people are in mounring to see her go. 

It has been a super crazy week! Tuesday morning, we headed out to 33 to do an intercambio with Hermana Johnson and Hermana Denos. I was with Hermana Johnson and poor girl, she is not doing well with her knees. We had to walk at snail`s speed the whole day and even take a few breaks to sit down because the pain was so bad. I don`t know how she does it. She has so much faith and never complains. She has been in area the majority of her mission because it is the smallest area in the mission. She is an incredible teacher and missionary! We are definitely praying for her. 

That night we slept a few hours there and at 3:30 in the morning we took the bus from 33 to Montevideo for concilio. It was once again an incredible concilio! I feel like I am learning so much for the incredible leaders of the mission. Every time I leave, I learn things that I want to apply to be a better missionary and instrument in the Lord`s hands. I was able to accompany two elders singing an arrangement of A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief. It was fun to play again. 

We made it back to our area late Wednesday night. On Friday, we did another intercambio with Hermana Zelaya and Hermana Leiva. I worked with Hermana Leiva in their area. It was a wonderful intercambio and it reaffirmed my conviction that Gianola really is the promised land. 

GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!!! Wasn`t that just amazing?!?!?! On the mission, going to the temple and watching general conference are like christmas!!!! It is the best! Oh how I loved conference! We were able to watch it in English. Saturday morning, they played a rebroadcast of the women`s meeting. WOW! So powerful! I went to conference seeking an answer to a specific question in prayer and it was answered word for word what I needed to hear in Pres. Uchtdorf`s talk at the end of the women`s meeting. At the end of his talk, I felt like he was talking directly to me. Incredible how that works. 

Rocky came to all of the session of conference on Saturday. He even went back with one of the members to the Priesthood session at 9 that night. He was wearing church clothes that some members had given to him. He felt so special. He was just beaming. Maria del Carmen also went to the Saturdayafternoon session. We talked to her after and she said that she felt the spirit so strong. She described it as a fire in her chest and a peace and tranquility. She said she felt so great and knows that she needs to get baptized. She is reading more than what we left for her in her Book of Mormon to read. She is progressing really well. And we are hoping that she will be ready for baptism and stop smoking before the 18th. 

Sunday before conference, we ate lunch with the Rodriguez family. They were the ones that gave us lunch on my birthday. We always love eating with them because they give us vegatables and prepare a really nice lunch always. It was Hermana Zelaya and Hermana Leiva`s turn to eat with them, and we were a bit bummed. But they called us Sunday morning telling us that they weren`t going to have time to walk all the way over to their house becuase they live in our area. So, we quickly and gladly told them that we would go for them instead. We ate so nice vegatable soup and then they brought out the plate of food. It was mashed potatoes and then a slab of ......i don`t know what. Their girls asked what it was but they told us to try it first before they would tell us. So we began to eat it and then they told us it was the outside of cow stomach. Mmmmmm. Mmmm. There was a lot of fat in it but the meat part of it was like lamb. Yeah, so that is a write home moment. We usually eat normal food but that was definitely a first........and a last now that I think about it.....At least I hope. I would rather not repeat that meal again. haha 

Well this week, Hermana Herrera, Hermana Schaelling, Hermana Elmont, Hermana Neuffer, Hermana Flores and about 10 other hermanas will be retunring home. I can`t belive how time flies. It blows my mind because they are the group right ahead of me. Where has the time gone? 

The Lord has blessed us immensely in these last 3 changes. No matter what happens no one can take away these incredible experiences that we have had together.I have never experienced such happiness like I have in these last 3 changes. I have seen miracles. I have seen people completely change their lives because of the gospel. I am so grateful to my Father in Heaven for blessing me with the gospel in my life and for blessing me with such a wonderful family and wonderful parents. I was reminded once again in conference, of the wonderful blessings that we have as members of the church. I wouldn`t be where I am today if it were not for the incredible parents that I have that are perfect exmaples of true discipleship. I know that Christ lives. I know that this is His church and that He is directing this work. I am so grateful to be a missionary. I love you all! Have a wonderful week!!!!

-Hermana Cox :)     

A letter from The De Los Santos Family

bueno hermana. llego el dia de su partida .Le quiero expresar mi gratitud y todo lo que han echo por nosotros. Me siento mu triste por su partida pero alegre por todo lo que a echo por mi y mi familia .le agradezco todo todo disculpe la falta de ortografía no soy bueno escribiendo .usted a cambiado mi vida y la de mi familia vamos a seguir firmes en la iglesia .gracias por los regalos por todo el amor que nos han dado no tengo palabras para expresar mi amor asia usted y a la hermana cox .En este momento me siento perdido emocionalmente al saber de su partida. Nuestros deceos son .Que su vida sea muy linda y tenga mucho gozo en su corazón al lado de su familia y futro esposo y sus hijos .Que tenga buen viaje hermana y gran amiga    la extrañaremos mucho chauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu