December 8, 2014

Dear Friends and Family,

Well, this is the last email I will be sending out because I will be
going home to Connecticut next Wednesday. So, this letter will
(hopefully) be better than all my previous ones. Luckily, I have some
really cool experiences this week.

To start off, we taught London a couple 3 times this week. He was
reading, praying, and even came to the church for a bible study and
church tour. He was on fire.....and then we taught the infamous WoW.
The lesson itself was awesome. We could see the Spirit working on him
and he answered the questions we asked perfectly. We were going to
talk about how our body is a temple, but he brought it up even before
we got to it. It was really cool, but he said it was one of those
things he really liked so he wouldn't live it. We were so sad that he
wasn't willing to receive the blessings from living this commandment.

On a better note, we were teaching an investigator who was not
progressing, but yesterday, we really listened to the Spirit and asked
inspired questions and he was really touched by the Spirit. We were
going to drop him, but his enthusiasm afterwards let us know that he
needs another shot. The Spirit is so powerful!

I also had a life changing event this week. As the reckoning at the
end approaches, I have done a lot of reflecting on how well I've done
and how selflessly I have served. I haven't been the perfect
missionary and it was getting me down. I didn't think it was possible
to change so near the end. I prayed very earnestly for forgiveness and
fasted to know if my mission was an acceptable sacrifice. During fast
and testimony meeting and throughout the whole day, everything seemed
to be focused on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I also felt an
overwhelming feeling that I have been forgiven and my sacrifice was
accepted. This gave me a desire to share the Gospel even more. It now
reminds me of a scripture in Moroni 8:25-26, "And the first fruits of
repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling
the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth
remission of sins; And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and
lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart
cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with
hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto
prayer,until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with
God." I know as we sincerely repent, God WILL forgive us and this
forgiveness will give us a desire to share the Gospel. I bear witness
of the Savior and He really did suffer for us, that we might not
suffer if we would repent. My mission has changed me so much and I am
so grateful for the opportunity I had to teach so many of my brothers
and sisters. My joy is truly full! I love you all so much!!!!!

With love,
Elder Spencer Coleman

December 1, 2014

Dear Friends and Family,

Amazing few days since the Elder Arnold Conference! After his
trainings, we now have 2 people on date to be baptized. The first one
was an awesome experience! We met him while he was walking his dog. We
went by later that week and he let us in and we taught the Restoration of
the Gospel. He accepted a Book of Mormon and then flipped it open
randomly and started reading it silently to himself. He then read it
out loud and the scripture he read was, "And it came to pass that I,
Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord
hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto
the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they
may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." So.....it was
pretty awesome. What are the chances...slim to none. We then talked to
him about coming to know for himself. The Spirit definitely testified
to him that the Book was true.

This is really weird, but I will only send out one more email before I
go home to my family in Connecticut, but I've seen over this two years
that things in the Gospel are not easy, but they are always possible.
We all have struggles, but we can overcome them with His help. I love
you all and have a great week!

Love,
Elder Spencer Coleman

November 24, 2014

Dear Friends and family,

Awesome first week back in Richland! We had some great lessons this
week. Lately, I've been trying to ask more inspired questions, which
help the investigator feel the Spirit and receive revelation. I have seen
it work a lot.

We also had Elder Arnold of the Seventy come and train us about how we
can participate more fully in the Lord's hastening. He shared some
very applicable advise. Well, you can never be too old to repent and
improve. He had an incredible testimony of the Savior, which can only
stem from a lifelong commitment to follow Him.

Speaking of this...I read a scripture today that hit me with a lot of
power. Bartimaeus is a blind dude, and he implores for the Savior's
mercy in healing him. Mark 10:52 says, "And Jesus said unto him,
Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he
received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way." What really struck
me is that Jesus said "Go thy way." We all have our own will or way
that is our agency. We can do what we want. Bartimaeus however decides
to follow Jesus in THE Way. THIS is the Gospel of Christ. He is The
Way. He is The Only Way. I testify that as we give our hearts to Him,
that he will be able to heal us. I love you and I love this amazing
opportunity I've been given to serve a mission! Have a Happy
Thanksgiving.

Love,
Elder Spencer Coleman

November 10, 2014

Dear Friends and Family,

This week was pretty good. The weeks honestly keep getting better! We are teaching mostly part member families and the ward is doing such a great job with fellowshipping! It is truly amazing how normal people can rise to the occasion and have such an impact others!

I've been reading the talks from general conference again and the Spirit that is in the words of God's chosen servants is so powerful. As I read, I feel the Spirit tell me what I can improve on, questions I have, and just inspiration. Transfer calls are this week though so the fate of my last 4 weeks will be decided on Saturday! My mission has been the greatest experience of my life. It has set the pattern that I hope to live for the rest of eternity, which is faith, repentance, keeping covenants, and enduring to the end. How great is the Gospel!

Love,

Elder Spencer Coleman

October 20. 2014

Dear Friends and Family,

Well, this week was super good. We are teaching this mother and daughter (who is dating a member in another ward) and the daughter is thinking about getting baptized. In our mission, we call it implementing the 43rd principle (there are 42 in Preach my Gospel) or FTC (which stands for flirt to convert) so this fine young man has mastered this principle:)

Lately, I've been working on focusing on other people. As I've gotten better at it during my mission, it has really made me happy. A quote comes to mind by President Utchdorf, "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but less about yourself." With this being said, we stopped by a potential to whom we had given a Book of Mormon. Her husband answered the door with a serious foot injury. As we listened to his story with love, charity filled our hearts. He commented after, "Thank you for listening. Its hard to find people now days that care." I then told him, "Well, God cares." He then very excitedly said he would read the Book of Mormon and would love us to come back again. I love our brothers and sisters, God's love will fill our hears and we will be happy. I love you all and have a LOVEly week!

Love,

Elder Spencer Coleman

October 13, 2014

Dear Friends and Family,

This week was pretty good. It took me a long time to write these few
sentences because I am getting old so I don't have much to say, my
spelling is super bad, and my typing is even worse. Anyway....We had a
really good week! We found a really solid family. The mom let us in
because her daughter is dating a member and her daughter is
considering getting baptized. We tracted into them a month ago, but
they were on vacation for a while. We felt prompted to see a part
member family, but they couldn't meet, however, this family lived
really close and let us right in! It was pretty awesome. God knows
everything....who knew.

As I've gone over my general conference notes, a paragraph by Elder
Scott that I have really tried to implement into my life.

"The first tool is prayer. Choose to converse with your Father in
Heaven often. Make time every day to share your thoughts and feelings
with Him. Tell Him everything that concerns you. He is interested in
the most important as well as the most mundane facets of your life.
Share with Him your full range of feelings and experiences.

Because He respects your agency, Father in Heaven will never force you
to pray to Him. But as you exercise that agency and include Him in
every aspect of your daily life, your heart will begin to fill with
peace, buoyant peace. That peace will focus an eternal light on your
struggles. It will help you to manage those challenges from an eternal
perspective."

I testify that as we tell Him everything, we can find peace in our
lives as we speak to Him as one man speaketh to another. Love you all
and have a great week!

Love,
Elder Spencer Coleman

October 6, 2014

Dear Friends and Family,

Well, it turns out that I will be staying in Pasco for my last full
transfer! It is so awesome serving here.

So for those of you who have other missionaries writing you, I'm sure
you have heard about conference and I feel as does Jarom, "wherefore,
it must needs be that I write a little; but I shall not write the
things of my prophesying, nor of my revelations. For what could I
write more than [the prophets] have written?"

However, I came to Conference with Specific questions and had them all
answered. That's what happens when you're listening to prophets! I
really liked President Uchtdorf's talk in the Priesthood session about
judging. We as humans have the tendency to look at the faults of
others before we see our own weaknesses. As we strive to correct our
own weaknesses through the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus
Christ, I can promise you that you will be able to see clearly and you
will be able to love those people, in spite of their weaknesses. I
love you all and have a great week.

Love,
Elder Spencer Coleman

p.s. watch meet the Mormons this week. I testify its good.