Alrighty, so here's the quick scoop. It's gosh dang green here. i thought that the mountains outside of Fresno would be sufficiently green for me, but since arriving here, i can assure you that there are different types of green. i don't know if its just me or whats going on, but it just feels greener here. wild stuff.
*Phew* ok, I've ranted about the color of this state, now lets see what i can tell you about how I'm doing. this week we had the opportunity to go to a Farmers Market and set up a booth about family History and the Church provided (free) Website where you can do all of your family history work. it was a lot of fun. A lot of great conversations about where peoples ancestors have come from and how much family history has already been done by them. It was fun to do something in the community.
also, farmers markets smell really good. i kept getting hit from one side by Kettle Corn, and from the other side by taco trucks and Blinchikis (which believe it or not are basically just Russian crepes which was cool). i felt a little like Remy from Ratatouille when he was imagining the color of food or whatever he was doing. Smell after smell after smell. Super fun stuff.
On Saturday we hosted a free car wash and Basically just invited people to come and talk with some of us while the rest of us washed their cars. That was also fun because everyone that came to get their car washed was super nice and was willing to just have a conversation about literally anything. We had a lot of really good gospel conversations. I like the opportunities to do stuff in the community more than door knocking.
Speaking of door knocking, its not all dull stuff. we have a lot of opportunities to give lessons. last week we gave almost 50 something doorway lessons. And we are talking to quite a few new people that we found this week. i think we've got a few people we are trying to teach right now. so hopefully those go somewhere.
Fun fact. They gave me an English tag so uh... not sure how long they expect me to be here but I've got an english tag out of it so I'm not mad👍😁👍
Here's my thought for the week
John 14:27
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
I really liked this verse because it reminds of the Love of God towards us. Its just something that we can rely on. Simple reassurances.
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Week 9-Ever hear of the Space Needle?
Alrighty Folks, here's the deal. For those who may not already know, i am currently residing in Seattle Washington! Yes you read that right, i'm stateside for another few weeks, so guess what that means... that's right, CHICK FIL A!! haha. Jk... kinda. Anyways just thought i'd let everyone officially know that i am in Seattle before i get on with sharing a couple of days worth of info in an email.
Alrighty. So. A lots happened since i last shared (obviously) so lets get to it. To start, i found out that i would be going to Seattle four days before i flew out. It was quite fun actually, kinda like a second mission call. It was kinda fun to tell people id been reassigned for a cool minute to Washington! And now i'm here and i'm pretty sure I've already experienced more rain than i ever have in a one week span. Its a good thing i like the rain! They tell me that wont last long...
Speaking of they, i'm in a trio! One of my trainers has been out for 21 months, so hes pretty wizened and my other trainer is actually a native Russian speaker!! I can not tell you how surprised i was to be greeted with здравтвуйте! After stepping of the plane! Their Names are Elders Kochev and Worthington, and so far we've had nothing but success here!
We went out and met a bunch of the ward and stake leaders my first night and did ALOT of tracting my second day. Actually everyday. I didn't realize how much tracting there would be. Its interesting to see what can come of it. We've taught a lot of doorway lessons, and received alot of return appointments too. I've been in two lessons so far and it was awesome to actually put into play my testimony, and see it help someone understand stuff.
Funniest moment this week was when a door literally opened and closed in a matter of 2 seconds upon seeing us😅. It was literally *opens door* hey, how ar- *closes door* pretty fun stuff.
Best moment (from tracting) this week was when we knocked on a mans door and he recognized us as missionaries. He actually excused himself to go back inside and turn off his oven because he knew he wanted to talk with us for a while. We talked alot about Jesus Christ and how he is absolutely amazing and how any normal man would have complained and murmured or done something like that on the cross. Not him.
This man had also already read the Book of Mormon a little bit, and after talking a little more with him on receiving answers, i left him with a scripture and we set a return appointment to talk more on religion. Absolutely amazing man, cant wait to talk with him some more!
Here's something that i found interesting in my studies this week and ill share it with all of you real quick. It comes from 2 Nephi 7:12 Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him. This verse was really interesting to me because it said that God is able to do ALL things, and all we have to do it have the faith that he can help us.
Alrighty, there's my condensed week! Hope you all enjoyed and have a good week!
Улыбка! Всегда!
Elder Coleman
Alrighty. So. A lots happened since i last shared (obviously) so lets get to it. To start, i found out that i would be going to Seattle four days before i flew out. It was quite fun actually, kinda like a second mission call. It was kinda fun to tell people id been reassigned for a cool minute to Washington! And now i'm here and i'm pretty sure I've already experienced more rain than i ever have in a one week span. Its a good thing i like the rain! They tell me that wont last long...
Speaking of they, i'm in a trio! One of my trainers has been out for 21 months, so hes pretty wizened and my other trainer is actually a native Russian speaker!! I can not tell you how surprised i was to be greeted with здравтвуйте! After stepping of the plane! Their Names are Elders Kochev and Worthington, and so far we've had nothing but success here!
We went out and met a bunch of the ward and stake leaders my first night and did ALOT of tracting my second day. Actually everyday. I didn't realize how much tracting there would be. Its interesting to see what can come of it. We've taught a lot of doorway lessons, and received alot of return appointments too. I've been in two lessons so far and it was awesome to actually put into play my testimony, and see it help someone understand stuff.
Funniest moment this week was when a door literally opened and closed in a matter of 2 seconds upon seeing us😅. It was literally *opens door* hey, how ar- *closes door* pretty fun stuff.
Best moment (from tracting) this week was when we knocked on a mans door and he recognized us as missionaries. He actually excused himself to go back inside and turn off his oven because he knew he wanted to talk with us for a while. We talked alot about Jesus Christ and how he is absolutely amazing and how any normal man would have complained and murmured or done something like that on the cross. Not him.
This man had also already read the Book of Mormon a little bit, and after talking a little more with him on receiving answers, i left him with a scripture and we set a return appointment to talk more on religion. Absolutely amazing man, cant wait to talk with him some more!
Here's something that i found interesting in my studies this week and ill share it with all of you real quick. It comes from 2 Nephi 7:12 Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him. This verse was really interesting to me because it said that God is able to do ALL things, and all we have to do it have the faith that he can help us.
Alrighty, there's my condensed week! Hope you all enjoyed and have a good week!
Улыбка! Всегда!
Elder Coleman
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Change of Plans! Jacob, meet Seattle.
I got a message from Jacob this evening, here is what he shared about his last few days:
Technically today is my pday right now, so I'll send this off really quick! I figured out officially that I would be coming to Washington on Saturday and I was honestly stoked. It was rough when everyone left without me, but I got some nice wandering time as a trio with Elders Hebdon and Durfey yesterday.
Technically today is my pday right now, so I'll send this off really quick! I figured out officially that I would be coming to Washington on Saturday and I was honestly stoked. It was rough when everyone left without me, but I got some nice wandering time as a trio with Elders Hebdon and Durfey yesterday.
Today I woke up at 3: something and sent off Hebdon. I was in a companionship with Durfey until 5:15 when I had to leave. I immediately got on a bus and a train headed to SLC and was on a plane with 20 other Missionaries!
Most of those missionaries were actually assigned to Seattle, but I'm one of three visa "waiters" right now. One missionary with us was going all the way to India so that was cool.
And now we are getting introduced to our Mission President and wife and getting the low down on what we gotta do here. Its super exciting because I see this as my area right now! I get my companion tonight, so we are gonna see whats going on around the mission and I'll let you know next Monday!!!
Also there is a Ukrainian Elder that was legit assigned to Washington. Hopefully I get to talk with him a lot to keep up the Russian. (Already held a mediocre conversation).
Jacob with the Seattle Mission President and newly arrived missionaries.
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Update - From Shelby
Well Jacob has certainly been ready to leave for the last few weeks, he was VERY excited to get his flight information yesterday. 12 hour flight to Amsterdam from Salt Lake, then 4 more hours into the Ukraine. We was getting really excited.
That was yesterday. This afternoon he was called into the travel office because they found out his Visa wasn't ready yet, they needed him to sign a few things. He filled out the paperwork and they told him they would submit it and to cross his fingers. They gave it a 50/50 shot of coming back in time for him to leave for the Ukraine on Monday with the rest of the district (9 other Ukrainian missionaries).
If it doesn't come back in time for him to go out Monday then he will get an immediate stateside placement temporarily...so one way or another he leaves the MTC next Monday. The bummer is we will have no idea where he will end up until his first personal day AFTER his move out of the MTC, which will be the Monday after next. We don't know when he will contact us, how he will contact us, or WHERE he will contact us from. #ItsAnAdventure
I'm SOOOOOO going to miss these all day phone calls on his day off, I want to cry just thinking about it. I've certainly been spoiled, I know it, but still, I've loved every opportunity I've gotten to see and talk to that cute face.
Here is Jacob's missionary plaque that is hanging up in our ward, Jacob chose the scripture posted on it. When he comes home our Bishop will present it to him for "time served". It's fun to get to see it every Sunday.
That was yesterday. This afternoon he was called into the travel office because they found out his Visa wasn't ready yet, they needed him to sign a few things. He filled out the paperwork and they told him they would submit it and to cross his fingers. They gave it a 50/50 shot of coming back in time for him to leave for the Ukraine on Monday with the rest of the district (9 other Ukrainian missionaries).
If it doesn't come back in time for him to go out Monday then he will get an immediate stateside placement temporarily...so one way or another he leaves the MTC next Monday. The bummer is we will have no idea where he will end up until his first personal day AFTER his move out of the MTC, which will be the Monday after next. We don't know when he will contact us, how he will contact us, or WHERE he will contact us from. #ItsAnAdventure
Week 8- We are OUTTA HERE!
Ladies and Gentleman i am pleased to say that i am not in fact serving in the Provo MTC Mission no matter how long i stay here (it would be cool).
ОСТАВАЙСЯ ПОЗИТИВНЫМ
So here it goes. Hopefully what will be the last email from here in the states. Oh boy i cant wait. In all fairness I wouldn't care where i go (called to the Work, not to a place) but boy is Ukraine sounding cool. Just so everyone knows, im going directly to Amsterdam an then to Ukraine. im not to familiar with flying but that seems like a long time. Oh well, im sure it'll be fun.
So here's the news from the week about me. There are a bunch of new languages coming in this week i think there are three Georgians and like nine Armenians. its fun because that also means i kinda get to steal their alphabet. Not entirely sure how to read much of what its saying, but im sure gonna fake it. If no one knows what those languages look like, the best way to describe it is, Armenian is spaghetti and Georgian is Elvish... yep.. that's what it is... imma try and learn it 👍 😁👍
Anyways that's about all the fun news that's coming from me this week. sorry about the Semi dull letter, but i can only find so many new cracks when looking at the same wall. Here's what happened in the devotionals this week, so hopefully this will intrigue some folk.
We had Sister Ulrich on Sunday Night and Elder Martino on Tuesday. Sister Ulrich is a Psychologist and she talked about... Psychology Stuffs. the best thing she said was something that really stuck out to me and it was "What do you want most?" That was something i thought was super interesting because im thinking about what is happening to me while im here on my mission. After TWO years i will return to the world and be reintegrated into society. And im not even worried. I know that this is something that I want. This is something that will work for my benefit for a long time hereafter. Prepare for that. Make plans that lead you to something that you want most. even if its short term. What little things will you let get in the way of what you want most? hopefully not much.
The next Speaker was a simple message to understand. Elder Martino said don't murmur. tha'ts the big difference in how one can obtain a lot more in life. if you think about it Laman and Lemuel did everything that Nephi did... Almost EXACTLY what he did. The big difference was that they murmured the entire time. its wild to think but that was the BIG difference there. Find the positive in all your situations and don't murmur too much about it.
Anyways, there you go! Enjoy!
ОСТАВАЙСЯ ПОЗИТИВНЫМ
1. We have to find some way to stay entertained😅😁
2. This is literally just choir. Almost 1200 Missionaries singing. Wild
3. Thought this picture of some elders in Fresno from '99 was funny. Interesting hook...
Week 7- Just Keep Swimming, Swimming, Swimming
This is a poor title because as soon as I looked at it i realized that i miss pools. it rained the other day and i was like "Woah... Water." a little anticlimactic i know but i was taken aback a little (Also by the fact that water was falling from the sky, but that is just something that happens)
Просто продолжай плавать!
The MTC is a place where time stands still. i officially am having trouble relating to people how long i've been here when they ask. Someone asked me how long id been here when i was standing in line and i couldn't remember if it was 5, 6, or 7. I just said "A few" and tried not to think about the weird time space continuum of the MTC. I am learning tho. i think... i hope... Oh well I am here until they say i'm not, which is supposedly pretty soon. I think we get our flight plans this week!! Woot Woot!
We also lost our Final Armenian this week. Love you Elder Shamshoian. That was about the most exciting thing that happened this week. I got sick, got better, woke up with my arm on fire, now its better. literally just a week with some huge 5 minute spike in excitement (not to time scale, but it feels like it)
Here's my favorite part of this week. Last Night we had a Devotional by the Presiding Bishop Gerald Causse. He gave a really awesome talk on being bold yet humble, on how all negative things can be spun positively, and how weaknesses are stumbling blocks, but opportunities. Not entirely sure on that last one, but it sounded good and i made a note on it so if anyone has any thoughts on that feel free to share.
Anyways, at the very end of the talk he told us he was going to play the piano for us which was something he didn't really do. he was taking one of the point of his talk and putting it into play. He started out the song and it was just one hand on one scale. i thought to myself "Alright, this is what we are going to listen to right now lets go!". that is not what we were going to listen to right then.
He started to pick it up line by line until he was using the entire piano both hands. he played Come, Come, Ye Saints (Great listen highly recommend) and it was super awesome because he started shakily, built inot where he was literally pounding the piano and just getting the chords out, and ended as fluidly and beautifully as one would imagine a piano being played. all this he did while still making the song sound incredible.
My challenge this week is a simple one in my opinion. Share a talent that you have in a way that you wouldn't normally. Read a book with someone, sing a song with someone, Carry a big ol' heavy box and just basically get out of your comfort zone and try to share what you love with who you love. Family, Friends or strangers, try hard to share what you've got!
Просто продолжай плавать!
1. All the buildings there are gone now. Continuing destruction
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