^

Dear Family.
Que Pasa?! It was so fun to be able to talk to y'all on Christmas. I was so tired by the end of it, I'm not sure that I made much sense....Hello from Troy. We are excited to be here. I miss mobile and my polys, but I am happy. The branch here is wonderful and full of life. What a wonderful place to be. It's kind of neat that I am opening up another area to sisters. Troy has never had sisters before.The Elders here (Elders Rookhuyzen& Austin)are very hardworking and serving. They spent hours cleaning our apartment so that we would be able to live in it when we got here, they organized an area book for us, and are helping us get to work here. I feel bad...we ended up getting put in another apartment......(I found a cockroach crawling in my suitcase from the 1st aprmt)yuck Our new apartment is only 6months old and is way nice. I feel bad, (it costs $100 more)I think they spoil the sister missionaries a little too much. I think I could have handled the cockroachy, moldy apartment , but my companera was totally against it.Whatever I'm not going to complain...this place is nice! We both have our own bathroom!HAHA Elder Rookhuyzen is totally Robert! It is so funny...same commentary, speech, and humor...it's awesome! I now have another adopted brother. ALso,Elder Austin is very short and Sis. Carpenter swears he is a dwarf.(she says she's studied dwarves...haha)but he's nice anyways.We've only been here a day but have seen the foreshadowing of the fulfillment of His promises. In that one day we met 5 people who actually own a copy of the Book of Mormon!We are still working to get ourselves organized, and it is as if the Lord Himself is just so excited that we are here.Love Sister Colvin
ps: Rose, I sent a pkg. with my randomstuff in it...so be lookin' fer it.pss: Sarah ...the things i was going to mail you is packed somewhere but will be recovered shortlypsss: Dad, Elder Honzik said he sent you a birthday card... Is that true? HAHAHA that would be funny.
Saturday is now our p-day...We are the Troy University Campus sisters and mondays are the busy days. WE will be working mainly on campus. Crazy huh? I am mostly waiting for Sis. Carp to be done emailing......anyways rosie, I hope you had a good Christmas. It is so wierd to be in a branch now. I looked at the branch directory and there were 100 members total. Crazy huh? They said about 60-70 come on sundays...and the building is tiny!We live on elm st. by campus but don't remember exact address. Guess what ... last week in mobile we found out one of our investigators got arrested (Patty) She attacked her husband and his duaghter. Oddly enough she LOVED me...she would go on and on about how much of an angel i was....One time, us, the elders and president were all there and they gave her a blessing. Now they always give me such a hard time about it.." Oh SIster Colvin , You're such an angel! haha" What silly elders. SO the last two nights we've had to sleep in a member's home. Her name is Yolanda, she's older, and only speaks spanish. It was really strange but we loved her. We adopted her as our grandma, our Tia. :) This morning, Yo comia 4 sopapias a desayuno...mmmm Well gotta go...the elders will be picking us up soon...(we've been having to ride with them lately cuz we got no car) yes, we will be getting a lot of exercise this transfer.
love you
bye-bon

HI

Hi everyone,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROSEANNE (and Tres the week before)
Sorry I didn't write last week...I was way way busy.Sis. Carp. was sick & I almost had to stay inside all day on my birthday. Luckily, I was able to go with the Sisters in Semmes. We met up with a bunch of the missionaries in the zone and had a great day. 4 people made me birthday cakes! The Polynesian Elders gave me stuff from Hawaii. We all just played Ultimate frisbee and sang songs. It was one of the best birthdays I've had. It would have been better with y'all, but I'll see ya next year.here is an exerpt from my weekly letter to Pres. Summerhays-------------------------------------------------------Hi President,
Guess what, I just got a bunch of emails from my family telling me how much they love me! Isn't that wonderful?
President, the Lord loves his people so much. He sends us messages every day telling us of His love. If we would just look....we could always be filled with this same joy.Wonderful things are happening and are in store for Mobile. It has been a beautiful gift to be a laborer here. I have been able to see so much, so many changes and growth! I want you to know that you've put the right missionaries here. Everyone is working together to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of their brothers and sisters. Thank you also for calling and singing on my birthday! That was wonderful. This was my only birthday on my mission, and it ended up being the best I've had ANyways, everything is wonderful and great out here. LOVE you!
Love SIs. Colvin
------------------------------------Wow, I have less than a year out here! What ? I hope I can fill out the measure of time I've been entrusted with. I've put my whole heart into Mobile more than I've done in anything. This week Trang Pham is going to be baptized(with a miracle). I cannot tell you how I feel. I love that boy so much. I have found a lost brother and the reclaimation is so very sweet.Please everyone pray, pray , pray for that boy. There are some difficult circumstances surrounding it. We need a miracle.I love you all, Thank you for the love and the gifts. Sis. Carp says thanks too. Guess what, one of my former investigators delivered those packages to our house!!! Crazy huh? It was a miracle!BYE LOVE YOU...i'mgoing to be singing o holy night on chrstmas day.... also I need some sheet music for church stuff please some if you can...different stuff.Well i gotta go........thanks jake for the hilarious card..i laughed alot and put it iny my journal
love bonnie

WHAT

hi everyone,
I didn't get to email yesterday because my companion is sick and has been literally in bed for a week. I can't go anywhere unless I go on splits....not easy. Well we had the Luau and it was AMAZING. over 400 people showed up and it was the best thing I've ever been to. The entertainment was so amazing. I, with God's help, danced in 2 of the performances and actually did okay :) haha I have had such a crazy week. This transfer has been nuts. My comp. called home yesterday without telling anyone...but don't worry everything is fine. AnyhowI have had to rely so much more on the Lord. Situations are very different and I am having to adjust. There is a ton of good happening and I am happy.Thanks for the Tree hahHA
love bonnie
GOT TO GO ...LOVE YOU!