Week 48 - Ocoee

HELLO. I HOPE YA HAD A GREAT WEEK!

Quick Shout out 🗣 to Rachel Clark! She leaves to the MTC this week and I wish her all the luck in the world on her mission! She has been such an AMAZING example to me, on and off the mission. . . So. . . Go Rachel!

Sooooooooo. . . This week has been. . . Long. . . And boring. . . So there's not too much to say. We had temple service which was purdy great. Afterwards we went to the only LDS bookstore in Florida. . . I think it's the only one. . . But the best part about this store is that they sell Utah Truffles. Soooo. . I bought one for my companion and I. . Such a historic event is definitely selfie worthy. So. . . You can see that selfie down below.

My bike computer got soaked in water. . So. . I can't track my miles now. . . 🙁

Zone conference was this week. . . Yep that's all I want to talk about that. . . 

Hahahahaha jk. I actually ran into Sister Grover. Sister Grover came out the same time as me and we knew each other back in Kansas. Which was like 10 years ago. Hahaha. Sooooo. . . It was really nice to bump into her again. Selfie down below. 

THANK YOU SO MUCH. Thank you for your prayers for Mary. She is suuuuuuuuuuch a solid investigator. We gave her a Book of Mormon on tape and she's read/listened to 7 chapters in just 3 days! She's so excited about the gospel and when we sat down with her she said that she loves the Book of Mormon and that she knows it's true. I was blasted with the Holy Ghost. I felt like I'm actually making a difference out here in Florida. A felling I hadn't felt in months. She then went on to say that she read all the pamphlets that we've givin her. And she is excited for her baptism on June 25. If you could keep Mary in your prayers throughout this week. That would mean so much to me. 

THANK YOU SO MUCH. for all of your prayers, letters,  and emails! They really root me on and I appreciate all that you do! I hope you have a great week! 

—Elder Coley

Alma 29:8

🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲Lizard counter: 577🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲

🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 Frog counter: 10🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸

🌲🐑🌾🏔🌋CATAN standings 7-8⬅️ I'm still not happy about this 

🚲🚲🚲 833+ miles 🚲🚲🚲

 Utah Truffles

 Zone Conference

Sister Grover

Week 47 - Ocoee

HELLO TO THE MASSES! Hahahaha . . . Or just mom! 

This week this week has been cool dawg! 

We kicked off the week with some killer temple service! It's like the best part of the week! We go over to the Orlando temple and pull weeds or plant flowers or whatever they tell us! It was grand! 

The week it rained. . . And it rained bad!!! I was dripping wet just completely soaked. We biked in the two worst days of the week! It looked like we rode staight into a swimming pool. I was soaking wet! Then since Florida likes to be a jerk about things it decide just to rain enough to get you soaking wet then the sun comes out and makes things CRAZY HOT. and CRAZY HUMID. it felt like I was in a sauna with a shirt and tie on. . . I'm not excited for the summer. 

Just to getcha an idea of what went down on this past week. When I removed my foot from my Shoe it made a suction cup noise. Then I put my shoes out on the balcony to dry. I come back a few days later and the're CRAZY wet with MOLD growin on (and in) them! Ew ! Haha. It was discussing so then my companion an I got creative and scrubbed the mold of then we rigged up a shoe Chandelier! It's pretty dope and it got my shoes dry and crusty. . . So I polished them now and there good as new. . Kinda. 

Spiritual moment of the week! 

Our teaching pool is about as shallow as Laman and Lemuel. So we have been praying like nobody's business for a new investigator to progress all the way to baptism! So. . Half way threw the week That prayer was answered and we received a bible referral. Usually bible referrals are one of my least favorite things to do because it's usually some angry guy that answers the door wondering why they sent too missionary's to deliver a free bible instead of just mailing it. But this time was different. We went to this lady's room which was in a rehabilitation/hospice place. And we delivered a bible. She was sooooo excited we came. We then talked to her about the restoration and the Book of Mormon. She was so excited about the Book of Mormon. Later that week we came back with a member and taught the plan of salvation and we dipped into the gospel of Jesus Christ and talked about baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. I asked "wouldn't it be awesome to have the holy ghost with you all day every day?" She said "of course. "Well if you are baptized with the proper priesthood authority, you can receive the gift of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost! I then invited her to be baptized and she excepted. . . That was the first time that I personally had asked someone and accepted the invitation to be baptized on my mission. It felt so amazing to invite someone to wash way their sins and make a covenant with God to always follow him. It was such a neat experience. Pray for Mary!

Well we got some pictures down below! Go check those bad boys out! There's some old pics from Conway down there too! 

Thank you guys soooooooooooo much for all you do to help me and support while I've been out the letters, emails, and packages really do mean the world to me! I hope you all have a marvelous week! 

—Elder Coley

Alma 29:8

🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲Lizard counter: 570🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲

🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 Frog counter: 9🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸

🌲🐑🌾🏔🌋CATAN standings 7-8⬅️ I'm still not happy about this 

🚲🚲🚲 833miles 🚲🚲🚲

Gotta take a selfie when you are out biking in OBT

Shoe Chandelier

Conway Homies

Week 46 - Ocoee

HELLO! This week has been WEIRD!

So I got transferred this last week to a lil' place called Ocoee! Hahahahaha. I served in this very area 6 months ago and actually saw some success here. It covers crime hills. . I mean the city pine hills! Oops. Hahaha but it's good to be back but it's been crazy coming back here. It's given me the weirdest sense of deja-vo.  

It's amazing how names and addresses have been flooding back to me since I've gotten here. I've truly seen the gift of thoughts coming back to my remembrance. It was really neat coming back and seeing so many familiar faces. It's really cool! I've been able to contribute and share what missionary work was going on 6 months ago. I feel like a special edition "Throwback missionary". #ThrowbackThursday/transfer 

Our teaching pool has completely changed in 6 months. Except for this one gator named Silvia. Elder Cheung and I were teaching her 6 months ago but health challenges have gotten in the way of her getting baptized. It's also been really hard for missionaries to get in contact with her because of her health. She's read the Book of Mormon and knows it's true and she wants to be baptized! I really think that she is one of the reasons why I'm back in Ocoee. 

My companion is Elder Jennings. He's from Colorado and is hard of hearing. So. . . It's a lot of "what's that?" And "say that again?" But it's actually a blessing since he's asked me to repeat myself. It's actually pointing out how many times I murmur and how I'm quick to judge. So. . I'm changin' plus it's making me more patient. 

Speaking of complaining. Our apartment is infested with roaches and is disgusting and gross. I don't even want to go into the kitchen to make food, it's that bad. . . Sorry I had to rant to someone. 

Down below is a drawing that THE Elder Belnap drew. He's a beast. I'll include more pics of my homies in Conway next week! . . . Because my camera died. 

ANYWAYS!!!! Thank you so much now for all ya do! I'm so grateful for all of your loving emails and letters. I hope you all have an amazing week! I'll catch ya later!

—Elder Coley

Alma 29:8

🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲Lizard counter: 550🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲

🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 Frog counter: 9🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸

🌲🐑🌾🏔🌋CATAN standings 7-8⬅️ I'm still not happy about this 

🚲🚲🚲 803miles 🚲🚲🚲

Week 45 - Conway & Ocoee

Hello! Soooooooo. . .  This week has been exciting.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! To all you mothers out there. 

I loooooove Mother's Day! It's my new favorite holiday! I've never been so excited for Mother's Day in my life! It was sooooo awesome talking to my mom, and the rest of my family. I love Skype! It's so weird whenever I Skype or email on Mondays it just reminds me of my past life. It feels like I'm living two live's. And Tuesday thru Sunday it's all about Florida, investigators, and church. But on Monday, it's just a constant reminder of my life in Utah. Which is a healthy mix of staying focused on the mission but staying excited for home. Pictures are below. 

Cinco de mayo was this week. . . I was on exchanges and we got these huge hats. 

This last week in Conway has been slooooooooow. We're really not workin with anyone solid. Sooo we've been going around to members and we're trying to get them on board about missionary work. We're starting a family mission plan with these people. Missionary work FOR THE WIN. 

I'm getting transferred! I'm going to Ocoee north. . . Sooooo that's exciting! I've already served there before. And I'll know a lot of the members and gators that were workin with. The only bad part about goin back to Ocoee is that the apartment is full of cockroaches. Hooray!

Spiritual moment of the week: probably Mother's Day. I was able to bare my testimony. It was soooo cool. The spirit just took over and lead me to know what to say. I really enjoy that moment in a lesson or just talking to someone and the spirit takes over and you really don't even know what your speaking until the words just dribble out. It's such a neat feeling. I love the spirit. And I can't wait to take on ocoee again. 

Love you guys and I'll talk to ya soon. 

—Elder Coley

Alma 29:8

Sent from my iPad

🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲Lizard counter: 543🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉

🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 Frog counter: 9🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸

🌲🐑🌾🏔🌋CATAN standings 7-8⬅️ I'm still not happy about this 

🚲🚲🚲 768miles 🚲🚲🚲

Week 44 - Conway

Well. . . This weeks been eventful! 

#ChalkChrist

#StakeConfrence

#CarCrash

#PlanofSalvationfortheWIN

#HitMy10MonthMark

It's been wild we started off the the week chalking up a the sidewalk! It was legit! There is the suuuuper talented artist elder in the ward that I serve in. So we all decided to go to a park and to chalk it up. It was AMAZING! And it came out looking sooooo SICK! Elder Belnap did the face and my companion and I pretty much shaded in everything else. . . . The only bad thing is that. . In rains in Florida. Soooo. . 4 hours later it was washed away. 

Our stake conference was this week. It was great and quite spiritually enlightening. 

Sooooooo. . . We got into a car crash. My companion was driving and we were taking a right turn on red. We inched up and saw a car crusin' up so we slammed on the breaks and the guy behind didn't stop in time so we got rear ended. After that it was a 2 hour long process waiting on the police to show up to fill out a report because it is the churches car. I felt bad for the guy who hit us because he was just a 19 year old dude heading over to a friends house. I could really relate to him and I didn't want him to get punished just because of a dent in the back of the car. When the police showed up he still issued a $120 citation to the guy which really ruined the guys day and mine. So. . . I think I'm gonna make him cookies. 

Spiritual part of the week! We're teaching our awesome investigations. And we're teaching them the plan of salvation. As my companion and I were planning for the lesson he expressed to me how much he didn't enjoy teaching the plan of salvation. Because it can get really sloppy and confusing if you don't teach simply. Sooooo. . I was reading in a missionary teaching tools book and it explained a sweet way to teach the PoS. It's a little story about how we grew up with our family. But in order to progress further we needed to go to school. In school we experience joy, frustration and we help the other students study too. Through out school we take a lot of test that help us grow. Then it just goes from there. It talks about the different roads we take to make it back home. And at the end it all relates back to the plan of salvation. I'll send a picture of all the teaching aids next week. But it was sweet to teach. And I feel like our gators really understand the Plan of salvation!

Anyways shout out to Kaela Coverston it's her birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 

Thank you guys for all the love and support you give me as always. You truly do lift me back up each week. I can't wait for Mother's Day! And I'll talk to yo guys later! 

—Elder Coley

Alma 29:8

🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲Lizard counter: 533🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉🐲🐉

🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 Frog counter: 8🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸

🌲🐑🌾🏔🌋CATAN standings 7-8⬅️ I'm still not happy about this 

🚲🚲🚲 753miles 🚲🚲🚲

 Dent in the car

Banana pancakes we made in honor or Jack Johnson