Dec 28, 2011
Dear Mom,
It was fun to talk to you on Christmas, as well. I was worried it was going to be really distracting, but it actually helped me put things into better perspective. The feeling I had talking to you and Dad and the rest of the family made me realize just how much I love all of you. I cannot imagine having to give that up. That is what we are offering to people. A chance to be with their families forever.
I will get Colby's gift as soon as I can. We went to the temple today, so we did not have time to go shopping. I will put it in my Planner in BOLD MULTICOLORED letters. (The temple is a bit farther away than we are used to. Fresno is about an hour and a half away...[I am simply glad we get to go])
The Cherry Cordials were... Smashed. Thank you USPS... The pieces were excellent, though. Thank you for thinking of me.
Dad is awesome! I really appreciate everything he does for all of us.
New Years Eve? We are working, until 6:00 PM. Then, for our safety, we go inside. MY party is going to be behind my eyelids...
Our investigators are doing really well. It has been hard to catch them because of Christmas, but when we do, we usually have fairly good lessons. I am still learning how to teach... We haven't taught many lessons in the last week.
I have been so thankful for this Christmas season! I am thankful for the sacrifice of the Savior and what it means for me. I know this is where I am supposed to be and that the Church is true. I know that Christ Lives and that He truly died for our sins and sorrows. I know that others can find that out as well. I am here to help them do just that!
Love you!
Elder Coles
Dad,
If you have any other suggestions, I would really love to hear them!
We also went out on a team-up Last night with a man named Ron King, who works with Buck Oler. Seems to know his family pretty well... Ask Buck if he knows a man from Turlock, CA named Ron King... It was kind of cool.
Thank you for being my dad!
Elder Coles
Jan 2, 2012
Dear Family,
Everything is going great! This week has been pretty hard since everyone is still coming back from vacation. We have tried really hard to do well. I am having to reevaluate my effort to make sure I am not stagnating or coasting as I am so used to doing. I really wish I had tried harder in school... I have carried the attitude that everything is easy and I don't really need to exert myself, just show up every day, throughout my life. I am working hard to correct it, but mediocrity is easy to slip back into. Excellence it doing that little bit extra when you think you can do no more... I haven't been doing that. It has helped me to have a planner where all the day's activities are written out. I need to prioritize though, I never have been good at that.
New Years was strange, we had to be in by 6 unless we had a member with us and a set appointment, our appointment fell through, so we were in by 7. We got to bed early. It is a different world out here. Apparently, there were gunshots in our neighborhood... Not something I am used to.
Thank you. I will continue to improve and become the best I can be. Transfers are coming up, and it is strange because this is my first "real" transfer, as I was guaranteed to be with Elder Roberts for two Transfers so he could train me.
It is interesting how I thought that BYU football was going to be one of the hardest things for me to give up. It has been tough, but it has gotten easier as I have been out. Like I said, it is a different world. I have been blessed as I follow the promptings of the Spirit. I have had the opportunity to give several blessings out here, and it is weird. It is so much easier. I don't usually, while I am giving the blessing, have anything that I thought of beforehand or before I say it. It just gets said. I don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing yet.
We had the opportunity to set 3 baptismal dates within the last 3 days! That has been awesome!
Our Investigators are doing great!
I love you all!
The Church is True!
Elder Coles
Mom,
How is everything going? I hope your Christmas Break was awesome!
I had a Cherry Cordial this morning that USPS hadn't smashed. It was awesome! Thank you so much for sending them to me! I love your chocolates! I am going to send Colby's Present today!
I love you!
Elder Coles
Jan 8, 2012
Dear Family,
Thank you for Decker's Address, It has been awesome to have him write me.
Oh, I guess I should tell you. I am being transferred on wednesday to Modesto 8th ward. Just 20 minutes north on I-99. Modesto is about the same size as Boise... I don't know how they cram so many people in... I miss the mountains.
We had some awesome Lessons yesterday: (Sorry I haven't told you much about our Investigators recently)
J: We took his member fellowshipper, Bro. C, whom J had never met. That was awesome. Bro. C had also had a problem with chewing tobacco before he was baptized, and Elder Roberts and myself didn't say much for the whole lesson. We just let the two of them talk. Bro. C told us in the car after the lesson that J was going to be baptized. May I stress the importance of a MEMBER fellowshipper. That is the only thing I would have any ward do better. It is really key in an Investigator's progression, and almost guarantees their baptism.
Ji and Ja:
We had an awesome lesson with them. They aren't living together anymore, and Ja expressed a great deal of emotional stress because of it. We went over how God feels about all of His children and that He loves her. We gave her a blessing and Ji was moved because of it. That was really cool! (I also gave them address cards, they are one of those families I will have to come back and visit.)
Jo: She is a senior sister who is very accepting and has already been to church once. She is awesome!
I love you all and I know the church is true! Have an awesome week!
Love
Elder Coles
Dad,
How has mom's desk been coming? Thank you for telling me stories about your mission. I really am enjoying the work. It doesn't make sense to the natural man, but I am...
Elder Coles
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