For the Last Time

Dearest Ones,
Could this day possibly be here so soon? I will be seeing you again. Walking
off the plane to the view of my family....is this not what all missionaries
(in the back of their mind at least) envision as a wonderful and glorious
day?
We read Alma 26 today. How much more those words mean to me now. The Father
has given me, I feel, just as much joy in my labors. He has fulfilled His
word to me in every particular, helping me to accomplish things I had no
idea could be accomplished.
In honesty, I have dreaded the day I would have to take off this name tag;
all missionaries do. However, the Lord promises us great things. He said to
us that He would go before our face, that He would be on our right hand and
on our left, His spirit will be in our hearts and His angels round about us
to bear us up. Even though I have no idea what the future holds, I know that
He will prepare the way.
I have received a few letters recently. I want you all to know, that I am
coming home to love you. That is my purpose. I hope you would expect nothing
less.
God be with you 'til we meet again.
One more thing, I want to tell you something that happened this week. I got
a letter in the mail. It cost the individual 16 dollars! He wanted to get it
to me in time and sent it on a two-day delivery. It was from my beloved
brother Jacob. It contained only a single page, and I wondered what could
possibly merit spending 16 dollars to send a one-page letter. Then I read the letter. It was so beautiful. The words he wrote filled me
with gratitude and great love. This instance was so moving to me, although
seemingly insignificant to the world. I wrote in my journal and told
everyone of how my brother was so kind and good, that he spent 16 dollars
just to tell me he loved me. Jacob, thank you. I want you to know that I
will remember that for the rest of my life.
Love Sister Colvin

L is for Lobster and I love you

Dear Kin,
Family, I love you, Family, I doooo, Father in Heaven is sending me to yoouuuuuuu, soon I'll be nearrrrrr you, I love to hear you say you're excited and you love me tooooooo. (-"Mother I Love You")
Oh yeah, I sent Trisha a letter to read with y'all for FHE and was hoping y'all could do that before I come home.
It is so wierd, it hasn't hit me yet that I'm leaving here yet. It's strange, but at least I am still able to focus. I want you all to know that I might be insane when I get home. I hope you plan on putting up padded walls in my room j/k. ANyways I will try my best not to have strange outbursts in public of yelling at the crew on the mothership.....uhhh I mean.....hey, I'm normal. What are you talking about?
Everyone keeps giving me a hard time about going on and getting married. Our branch mission leader said something to me about, "being anxiously ENGAGED in...." and then having a good laugh about it. They are so funny. One of the ladies here has been begging me for the last 6 months about coming back to live with her....isn't it niced to be loved. I think everyone here is trying their best to fatten me up as much as possible before going home. We've been invited over for many dinners this week, and there are more to come. I might have to purchase two seats on the plane ; ) heh heh
Isn't life so wonderful!!!???
I really love President Monson. Everything he say makes total sense, and I know by following his words the work will continue to improve I am really happy. I have been praying every day that my companion will be happy. I've noticed that when we pray for others, it always turns to bless us. When my companion is happy, I am happy. I love the gospel and I love the Lord!
Our investigators are progressing, and we are finding more and teaching more. See you soon, I love you, Love Sister Colvin
Ps: Can I go to the temple the day I get back? And Everyone better be at the airport or I will hold a bitter and everlasting grudge against them for EVER. Muhahaha!!!!!!!!!! Just kidding, I know y'all have lives. The Lord has blessed me too much for me to demand anything more than what He has already given me.
mom- the office is sending my bike home; i just have to give them 35-40$ i think. It's the cheaper route anyways. ALso, i will be in Tallahassee on the 25th and fly home the 26th. i don't know anything about the letters question
Jake- i didn't understand WHO you were talking about sending it to...
Rose- thanks for giving me a place to stay and working so hard to get it together. I really don't deserve you.
Trisha- thanks for the email, it gave me a lot of cheer.
Sarah & Elisabeth- Thanks for always writing; i always enjoy seeing your letters in the mailbox!
Grandma- I really hope you can be there!

For You

Dear Family,
Ofcourse, things are going very well.
Thank you everyone for your letters.
Hey Roseanne I sent home a box addressed to your house. It's just my stuff.
So this week one of the members took us out for mexican food. Mexican food in Troy, Alabama is disgusting! It make me feel sick. Afterwards they dropped us off at Sister Coleman's house (an 89 year old lady in our branch who we visit each week because she lives alone). Well, we came in and noticed a bunch of stuff all over the floor; so we ran in and found her on the floor! She had fallen and been laying there for 3 hours! She hadn't broken anything, but her face was swollen and her heart-rate was pretty high. So, we lifted her up onto her bed and called 911(they had been there 2 days before for the same thing). Anyways, her blood-pressure was pretty high. She refused to go with them,and so they couldn't do anything about it.
Weibi has been having a rough time with his parents' negative position about the church. They told him he must wait at least 6 months. He totally disagrees with this ofcourse but is still slightly hesitant and stressed. In his prayer, he asked God to forgive his parents because they don't understand. I love teaching Weibi. He said that he wished we would have been here when he first got here. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father, being mindful of all His children, sent us here. I truly believe that this place will always be a doorway for the Chinese (and others) to come and receive the gospel at His hand. I love you, Sister Colvin

For the Love of the Work

Dear Family,
Happy Halloween
This week was wonderful! Fei's baptism was as serene as could have been hoped for. She knew exactly what she was doing. She bore her testimony before the ordinance, and it was so powerful. She told us that she that Jesus Christ is the beloved son of God and that she is so happy to be our "forever sister". I didn't think it possible for her to be more pure and clean, and yet the cleansing power of the baptism and confirmation brightened her and sanctified her to whats seemed as a celestial degree. We were blessed upon Weibi announcing that he wants to be baptized this month. How wonderful!
A huge miracle happened on Sunday: There is a family here that hasn't come to church in years on account of an offense and dispute. They wouldn't let anyone from church in their home. I've been visiting them periodically this whole year with no success. They wouldn't even come to the door. One time I met the husband, and he told me their side of the story. I remember the sick feeling I had from it. It was not good; there was so much anger. Anyways, I've prayed for them from time to time not knowing that one day I would see them walk through the doors at church! The husband got up and bore his testimony, sharing his story of how they came back to church. I was overcome with this evidence of His profound love for His children.
Thanks Jacob and Baysingers for the letters!
I love the work. I still find myself totally enveloped in it.
It will only continue onward and upward!
Love Sister Colvin

Family of Mine

~Sister Kaonohi~

Dear Family,
Last week, I found out that Sister Kaonohi (a sister I served with in the MTC) after suffering with migraines for several months, visited the doctor and discovered that she had a large tumor in her brain. During surgery to remove it, she suffered a stroke and went into a coma for two weeks. She survived it and is now trying to recover. How very sad it was to get that news; she is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. Elder Wright, Elder Jacobson, and I united together yesterday in a fast for her and her family.

Anyways, I love all of you. I've been a little bit sick this week, so one of our investigators gave me some chinese medicine. He was nice enough to try it on himself before giving it to me (perhaps to make sure it didn't kill me) No, I won't take it, but I thought it was very nice of him to do that. This example of kindness, in a way, reminds me of Jesus Christ. He wanted to help us get better, so He took it all upon Himself first. This way He knows how to help us through trial and pain and knows if we can handle it or not. Perhaps this is a stretch, but I love to compare everything to Him. My wonderful brother, who is now serving in the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission, wrote me today saying, "Remember, the race is won by the final sprint!" I hope to do just that with the time still granted me!

Love Sister Colvin

Wardrobe Malfunctions!

Hello Dear Family,
Life is so beautiful! The work is great, and our companionship is great. I have found ready power in prayer. Since one can only do so much in their particular reach and sphere, it is wonderful to be able to call upon Him who reaches all things and covers every angle. I really do trust Him. It would be silly not to. Fei told us last night that she would like to be baptized on November 1st. She is amazing in our lessons, understanding with perfection.
We have also had a lot of success in tracting this week! One such success was our meeting Stacy yesterday. Stacy turned out to be a member who fell away at 14. She said she'd like to come back. Not only this, but she is married to a man from Vietnam (Junior). Junior is cousins with Vincent, who is the 1st person I met in Troy( which was really significant to me having just left Trang in Theodore, also Vietnamese). Interestingly enough, a few months ago we tracted into Junior and Vincent's grandma (Mary), who let us in a few times. It was so amazing to just "happen" to meet Stacy! I had been thinking about that Vietnamese family a lot recently. They don't even live near eachother!
So they say that a mission is like a mini life. When you first come out your like a baby. Well, I am definitely in my GRANNY stages. I've been having many "senior moments" lately, and many of them have to do with wardrobe malfunctions.
It all started at zone conference, when I came out of the bathroom with my dress tucked in the back. I walked in front of a whole line of elders and one of the senior sisters ran to me and told me of the problem. I looked up and saw a bunch of elders with their hands over their mouths, in shock no doubt!
A few days later, I just finished talking to Elder Carlisle when I was informed that my shirt had a button undone in a not-so-good place....(hand covering face).
A few days later, we were knocking on someone's door when I was informed by my companion and the member we were with that I had forgotten to zip up the back of my skirt (it has a button and then a zipper just below it which runs down the center). I remembered the button just not the zipper! What an embarrassing place to have a zipper down!Not only this, but I had forgotten to pull up one of my stockings!(one up , one down)
......the story of this skirt continues a few days later......... We had just changed from doing service at a member's house, and I was again wearing that blasted skirt..... Now get this, I was bent over, picking something up and Sister Ryan comes behind me and says, " Let me get that zipper for you." She then zipped up my skirt! Ahhhh! There is no end to my embarrassing stories it seems!
Well I hope y'all enjoyed that. I hope to get many letters this week!
love Sister Colvin

a quck note..

We have been informed that the Troy branch is ranked in the top 5% in the church (u.s. & canada) for growth!! COOL!

this week in 'bama

Dear Family,
Happy Birthday Robert!
We received very good news yesterday!!! Fei came to Conference and told us that her aunt supports her for baptism and is going to try to persuade her parents to do so as well! Haha I actually missed Sunday morning session because she didn't want to sit alone in the Mandarin session...so i sat with her... I tried using the phone to listen in on the english session through the elders' phone...didn't work very well.. :) Also, Tianchi attended Conference in the Conference Center and said he loved it and wants to go every year! (he's also staying with Sister Furner and her family).
It seems all of our recent converts have been going through some degrees of darkness the past few weeks and have now been brought safely through! It is beautiful to watch the hand of the Master in the lives of those we adore and love. After seeing this, I cannot doubt that He will care for them and carry them through. I am grateful to know Him more as the Good Shepherd. I think it is so wonderful that the Lord has so many names. This is so we can come to know each aspect of Him, to know him as our : Counselor, Redeemer, Prince of Peace, and much more.
Everyone is welcome to send me as many letters as you like :) Maybe you send some inspirational messages...i love those!
love y'all
Sister Colvin ( or co-vin in chinese)
ps:
the attached picture is Weibi Wang...In his last prayer with us he said, " I swear to you I will do my best to learn about you."

Ups and Downs

( Our ESL Class)

Dear Family,
I love you.
This week had a few ups and downs. Both Andy & Fei told us separately that both of their families do not support their decision to be baptized, and because of that, they feel that they must put it off. In China, receiving the blessing of one's parents is a prerequisite and a very large determining factor. Most will not do something that their parents do not approve of. Despite this, I believe that time will fix it. Both have said that they are praying for their families to support them.
We did have many good and wonderful things happen as well, those little miracles that are often too numerous to mention.
I'm not sure what to write today.
I love the Lord. I know that Heavenly Father cares about me and hears my prayers. I have come to understand the enabling power of the atonement more in the last months than ever in my life. This is part of my "Divine Cirriculum". Every experience we have is not happenstance. It was devised by Him to help us come unto Him. This is truth.

I love you all,

Sister Colvin

Hi Everybody It's ME!

Dear Family,
This week was wonderful!
Little Andy is going to be baptized in October!!!! I also found out the eternal investigator in Theodore got baptized this week! This is one of the biggest miracles I have seen thus far! Also this week, we the zone set goals for new investigators this week.....well, Troy missionaries didn't find any!! I felt bummed, but President said that the zone still exceeded its' goals even without the two best areas in the zone (our are and the elders here). The cool thing is that I think it was meant to happen that way. At the end of that night, Fei said she wanted to be baptized in October too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's what I wrote to President: I have been thinking about why we (and the Elders) didn't find any new investigators on Saturday. I have to admit, it was somewhat disheartening. It is easy for the adversary to put thoughts in one's head such as: " Maybe you just didn't have enough faith" etc. I feel I have found the answer. I evaluated the Elders' and our experience that day. I know that all of us had enough faith, yet we did not see the results we desired. My thoughts were directed to the army of Israel when the Lord decided that only a part of the army should go to battle so that He could show both the enemy and His people that He had power to enough to accomplish things with small numbers. The zone still exceeded its goals!
I believe that we learned last time that we could see miracles with faith. This time, I believe we learned the next lesson, that being that miracles are also dependent upon His timing and will. ( Work + Faith + His Will = Miracles)
-------------------------------------
ANyways, Heavenly Father knows best. I am glad to know that. Also Brother Qi got the Melchizidek priesthood yesterday!!!!! And President Summerhays, during his talk (STake conference) asked Brother Qi to get up there. He asked him a few questions and had hin bear his testimony. It was so wonderful! Brother Qi's girlfriend (who he taught the gospel to over the internet) has accepted the gospel and wants to get baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love life!
-Sister Colvin

LONG LETTER for a crazy/good week

Hi Family,
Thank you for that package!! IT was great!! THANK YOU!
Wow this week WAS COOL.
We had SO many appointments. So here's how it goes: We meet everyone in what is called the Trojan Center. We basically stay there all the time while our different students/investigators come and go. One day we had to sit for 5 straight hours!! That was painful but good. We had an amazing lesson w/ Fei Wang and little Andy(t'would take too long to tell you all the details).
We had our ESL class on Saturday, and we had 13 students show up. A bunch of them came up to us afterwards practically begging to come to church. One girl said, " Oh I'm so happy to see you both!" We were like, "Uh..thanks...good to see you too." Then she said, " I went to your church in Korea." We said" What?!" She said," Yes, and I'm a member. I've been here a month and didn't know there was a church here." WOW.
Later we had to meet w/ Bro. Enslen ( guy from northern Alabama who sat by Sasha on the plane and is the one who referred him to us), Sasha, and his friend Tony who is from Kiev, Ukraine. Well Sasha, in my opinion is pretty lame. We think he's taking advantage of Bro. Enslen because he spends money taking him out & etc. Anyways, the plan was that we would accompany them to the Troy VS: Alcorn State football game. Oh my, it was the most boring, torturous time of my life. I do NOT like watching football! Plus, i thought that games were just an hour! I was bored before the end of the 1st quarter. Plus, the other team's Dance team...was so dirty...then to add to that their marching band (the entire band) was totally dirty too!! It was the worst any of us have ever seen. I was waiting for lightning bolts to be sent down! ANyways, Alcorn State was the worst team in existence. The score was something like 65-0. Sasha was being a punk to me the whole time. He kept ignoring me. The redeeming factor of it all was that we met Tony, who is super nice and interested in the gospel!


Anyways, we had 3 chinese and 1 japanese people/person at church yesterday. It was so cool! They are all wonderful!!
THe japanese guy's name is Shin and says his favorite thing to do on weekends is to drink... It was funny, earlier in the week, we got invited to one of the students parties. We ended up having to leave early because people were drinking but not before we see Shin walk in with a huge bottle of liquor...oh man!
Oh yeah, also funny this week: I was talking to a girl who informed me that she was Buddhist. Well, we've been sharing an inspirational story called "The Golden Buddha" it's about seeing your inner-potential ....blah, blah....... SO I just started telling her this story and well, she started crying!!! Apparently it was a " spiritual" story for her since she's buddhist. Then I got to thinking, " My purpose is to bring souls to Christ.....not to Buddha!" What kind of missionary am I? haha
WEll anyways enough of my crazy week.
love y'all,
Sister Colvin

Amazingness

Dear Everyone, HAPPY BIRTHDAY GABRIELLE!!!!!!!!!!
This week was amazing!!!
We taught so much. We taught two people how to pray, and one received his answer in our closing prayer(that God exists). I love this! We have a new investigator we call Bro. Liu(from China...same town as Brother Qi) He is great! He had tears in his eyes throughout church and was able to witness Tianchi receive the Priesthood! We also got a new member in our branch named Terrance. He is actually from Taiwan, was baptized a year ago, and speaks Mandarin. Well, Family, he is the one who ordained Tianchi to the office of a Priest! Also, he gave the blessing in Mandarin which must have been so special to Tianchi, Brother Qi, Brother Liu, and himself (it being his first time to ever do that).
Everything is going amazing!!! We feel that Andy will be baptized soon. All of the classes we are teaching are very successful. In all of our classes combined, we are teaching over 40 people. Things are happening here! Anyways this week was just great! We taught people from China, Nepal, Korea, Japan, Morroco. There was a creep from Nepal who was trying to seduce me in the library...yuck! Today, we met with a guy from Belarus (a small country between Russia and Poland). His name is Sasha and he speaks Russian... I met a sister missionary in the MTC who was from Russia. She wrote a bunch of Russian phrases on a piece of paper and gave it to me...Luckily I was able to find it and practice some Russian on him !! Anyways, he was nice and said I would survive in Russia. We also gave him a Book of Mormon in Russian. We'll see what happens.....
Something funny:
We are grading a paper for one of our chinese students....in it he said that the U.S. should make Iraq the 51st state. Also, another student (also from China) gave me some advice for when I look for a husband...haha Here it is,
" He needs to be like a Father so he'll take care of you, a Husband so he'll spoil you, and a Gentleman so He will respect you."
I don't know, I thought that was pretty funny.
Well, I love y'all.

EVACUATION!!! j/k

Dear Family,
No, we were not affected that much by the hurricane...just some rain. JAKE are you evacuated? what's going on???? I asked people to pray for you. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD! Yours is the day before President Summerhays. Did you have a good birthday? Well, Troy is so wonderful! We had double the amount of students at our English class and have been able to set up appointments with all of them to provided a one-on-one study which has been very fruitful in the past. We finally get to start teaching a japanese student!!
Also, we got a new investigator this week through abnormal means. We were talking to a man named John who, after a while, we realized just wanted to bash with us. Well, a student named H. that I met very briefly only minutes before, came over and joined the conversation. I was really wishing that he had not because it wasn't the most ideal conversation. ANyways, I just had a prayer in my heart and tried to follow the spirit. Well, this H. began defending us even though he'd never talked to us before. It was amazing! Afterwards he talked with us and became our new investigator. WOW!
PS: Jake & Ammon: since you are teaching Chinese people....I would suggest getting a Mandarin Preach My Gospel. You will not be able to read it, but they will. I have been informed it is actually a better translation than even the Book of Mormon and has proved very helpful. I am going to try and get Brother Qi & Tianchi to write their testimonies in Mandarin, and I'll send it to you both incase that would help. As far as getting them a BOM in Mandarin you will need to determine whether they read Simplified or Traditional Characters. Also a good thing to keep in mind is that many of them will just SAY that they understand what you're telling them to avoid feeling stupid. You will need to teach mainly by using questions. We have found it useful to give copies of Preach my gospel Ch3 and have them actually study that in preparation for the next meeting. Also, have them watch Finding Faith.. and the restoration in Mandarin has proven to be very helpful also. Another thing, it is custom in China (especially in business deals etc) to offer a drink(usually alcohol or tea). It is also considered highly insulting to refuse an offered drink. SO, you're going to have to help them understand that even if someone else offers them a drink that is not in line with the word of wisdom that they still need to decline. Umm.....what else.... just remember they have most likely had no background of any kind of christianity so don't take anything for granted. One student was having difficulty because we did not explain what chapters and verses were...etc..
ANyways, much of this may be quite obvious or something you already knew, but hopefully, something will help. If you want, either of you, I can give you the email addresses of our chinese bretheren here and your investigators can corespond with them that way. It would be great because one of them is set apart as a branch missionary.
Well, Love y'all have a great week!
Love SIster Colvin

even the winds and seas obey Him

Dear Family,
This week was great. I hope I can write an okay letter for y'all today because I have a headache caused by the evil rain. It has been Raining like mad. I wish I could relate all the funny events of this week...but my head hurts so you'll have to wait 'til i'm home. ...i'll give you some.. On Saturday, was Tianchi's Baptism. WELL, it was storming like crazy. The Elders picked us up. We had to run to the car....I was holding a vase of flowers and shielding a framed picture under my shirt...Well the wind was blowing so hard...the flowers were starting to disintegrate ( luckily they came out okay)....and I didn't have an extra hand to open the car so I was stuck!! After being beaten up by the evil rain, Elder Taylor opened my door from the inside. So, we get to the church; little do I know that my planner fell into a nearby puddle, which I didn't find 'til later, and it was a gonner. So the power goes out at the church for a while, I'm freaking out, Tianchi forgets to bring an extra shirt and leaves in a huge storm to go get one, one of the speakers gets sick so I have to come up with something, there's no pianist available to play (she's on vacation) so we have to do it(the piano is part electronic and has some songs that it can play by itself)....etc.....etc....etc Although flickering at times, the power remains on. The program begins. The first speaker finishes, and Tianchi gets up and bears his testimony. The Spirits fills the room and every heart. I am smiling and filled with peace and joy. I hear him speak of things I did not even know He understood. It is serene. We all move into where the font is, and Tyrell & Tianchi step into the water. As our little Tianchi is baptized, I am filled. There is so much happiness, there is so much hope. Tianchi is so bright and so good. He comes into the room and it is my turn to speak. Somehow I am given the words. The program ends and everyone is joyous. It amazes me what the Lord can do even in the middle of a great storm. "What manner of man is this that even the winds and seas obey Him?" He calmed the tempest for just a few precious moments. Perhaps so He could watch His little Tianchi come unto Him.
I love you,
Sister Colvin

Today today work with a will today today your duties fulfill, prepare for tomorrow by working toda

Family,
Hi.........how's it going......................................................................................................................................?.............................. :) So anyways this week, fall semester started back up. So, there were lots of people.. YEAH!!!!! We also met with the Chancellor of Troy U. I guess he is incharge of all Troy U. in the world. People kept asking us if we were nervous to meet him. Honestly, I was not nervous....until people kept asking if I was. I was thinking, well maybe I should be nervous...Ha ha ha It went really well, we were escorted in by some man ( he then watched us by the door the whole time). The Chencellor's office was really nice. It was what I'd imagine the queen of England to have...no joke... but instead we met a guy with white hair.
Apparently he is planning on running for governor or some big office of somekind. He was really nice. We just told him who we were and what we do etc etc.
Anyways lots happened this week. I feel the Lord has continued on in my training. He is training me to be the servant that He needs me to be for the rest of my life. I learn so many lessons at such a rapid speed that I am surprised by each. It is so good;He makes our missions and our lives full, useful and purpose-filled.
There is a quote that says something like, anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to run around shouting he's been robbed. It goes on to say that life is filled with delays, sidetracks, and setbacks interrupted only briefly by beautiful valleys and vistas; we just have to thank the Lord for the ride.
It amazes me how many people fool themselves into thinking life is all supposed to be happy & easy. Actually, no it is not. It would be a waste. Quoting Elder Holland, "Salvation is not a cheap experience". I am thoroughly convinced that if in our lives we only experienced happy smiles, rainbows, and butterflies, we would be sorrowfully disappointed at the end. Perhaps we would say, " That's all He thought that I could handle?" Sad day. When we are brought through the furnace of affliction, we have great reason to rejoice: first in knowing that He approves of us & knows we are strong enough to endure it, second in knowing we will be more fit for the Kingdom, and third remembering that our Savior suffered at a magnitude that we actually will not have to.
Thank you for being a loving member of my family. I hope there was something that I might have said that helped you with what you were feeling today. I love you, love Sister colvin Ps; Gab & Sarah thanks for writing!

hey congrats on the office ! That is so cool!!
I love you guys. Mom said that Kaden was amonth old already..holy moses! Time goes by fast.

Troy U

Hi everyone!
This week was certainly eventful. Actually there were some really rough patches. I wanted to share one experience that happened earlier this week:
We were invited by one of our friends to attend the sort of welcome party for the new international students(on campus) that arrived. So, we went and met some really good people. While we were talking to a Nepalese girl that I had met before, a middle-aged woman(staff member) came by with the strangest look on her face and gave us an even more strange, "hello". I got a really weird vibe from her. So anyways, a bit later, we had just gotten some food and were greeted by a guy from the Netherlands who started asking us lots of questions. Well, we gave him a Passalong card because it had our number on it.
Suddenly that same woman from before swooped in and in a VERY angry tone told us we "cannot be giving out tracts here. This is a state university"......after we said "okay" about 4 or five times she repeated in saying. "do you understand me?!" about twice! Holy Cow, she was scary. We went somewhere else in the room (in all honesty to get away from her). I decided to talk to a guy standing by the garbage can. He was from Nepal also. We obviously weren't handing anything more out but just finished saying "nice to meet you" when another staff member came up to us. This man looked about 30, high fashion( i know, weird), and an obvious fake-bake (that means fake tan for anyone who doesn't know). He said, "Where are you ladies from?" My companion said, "Utah". Then the man said, " Well that's not quite international and ...NOT very interesting." He scoffed at my mentioning Arizona. He then said something to the effect of " we know what you're trying to do here......this is a private party.....and you need to leave." We informed him that we had been invited, but he still insisted that we leave.
So we left and did our walk of shame into the sunset....very dramatic. It was such a weird feeling to be treated like that and to be looked at like that. It caused me to think of the rejection that the Savior experienced. How strange it would have been to see people treat the Messiah, the most pure and gentle lamb with such horrid anger and evil hate. As we walked away, we noticed the sunset was a most beautiful scene. We knew it was Heavenly Father showing us He loves us and wanting us to feel better. It was kind of an awesome feeling being part of the same truth that was rejected in days long ago and that will always be rejected as long as evil fights against good.

Heavenly Father is always with us, all of us. At the hardest part of the week. He brought so many GREAT things to pass. I received a letter that day. It had been delayed on its arrival and came exactly when I needed it. Thank you to who sent it. Heavenly Father even controls the mail!! Isn't that Great!!!!
Everything is going to be wonderful! I know that rain always comes before the brightest sunlight! Still He allows little pockets of light to poke through the clouds :)
I love you all. A woman who could use any prayers this week is Robin. Please pray for her!
I hope to hear from all of you this week.
Love Sister Colvin

real quick

Hey everyone,
I didn't get the blessed opportunity to write yesterday because circumstances did not allow. However, we were granted permission to do so today.
Well anyways, to answer mom's questions from last time Andy is an investigator I wrote about a few weeks ago. & Tyrell is one the YSA's on campus that helps us out with missionary work.
Life is still good. Today I am so tired for some reason; I'm having difficulty thinking correctly. So obviously this letter will be quite prone to randomness.
ANyways, our baptism went really well on Saturday. Andy & Tianchi came. Tianchi will be baptized on the 23rd....so pray for him...Also pray for Andy. I found out this week why God has us teaching so many men. We had a lesson with Andy at the Ryan's & the Elders were there. I've noticed that for some reason that sometimes when men start talking together, it can can become a sort of debate. I don't think they mean to, I'm just saying that certain men cannot be taught by elders & I can more easily see the role that sisters play ( just as certain women cannot be taught by sisters).....anyhow so everyone please pray for Andy. He grew up in hard circumstances that caused him to become "tough" and because of that it is difficult for him to put on humility. In all my life, I have never been so directed to an individual over & over. Please do make it a point to pray for him.

Also please pray for us to find more of His prepared people. We believe in prayer and its miraculous abilities. Thank you for what you do offer up to Him in my and our behalf.

gotta go bye-sister colvin

Troy this week

Hello all,
I came hoping to be able to send out a good email, but now that I'm here, my mind is somewhat blank.... My companion said that she needed about 2 hours to write emails today...so yeah, I'm going to be so bored.
ANyways, this week was good. We've been preparing Angelina for her baptism this Saturday!
Funny things that happened yesterday:
* On our way to an appt. Tyrell walked into a huge Banana-spider's web and it engulfed his entire head (and he's got a big head)
* Andy somehow had an allergic reaction to the room we were in for FHE and had to start spitting mucus into a cup. (Don't worry he's okay)

ANyways, that's all for now.....maybe i'll think of more things to say in the next couple of hours
love y'all
-Sister Colvin

Oh yeah,
I come home November 26th 2008.......just FYI .......now write me back an' tell me how much ya love me!

One more 4 y'all,

Yesterday we had a man come to church(on his way home just trying to catch church) who was just baptized a week ago, but something happened to where he was never confirmed. He does plan on doing that soon, but it was so great that he happened to come to our branch on a day that 2 people were confirmed!

Also, an interesting thing happened later on. We happened to run into Andy outside ( we run into him everywhere!) We invited him to come with us to Sister Stewarts house for dinner. Expecting that he would say no, he surprised us by accepting the invitation. Well, President, it was so amazing. The kids were all running around being there wonderful selves and the "family feel" was very strong. Andy made a comment that he felt like he was in a "totally different world". The Elders were there and we shared a message on humility ( which I hate to say Andy sorely needed). Andy asked a lot of questions, and everyone in the circle was able to teach and testify. It went great! Not only this, but he then agreed to go to FHE with the Young single adults. This was even more amazing!! Again, as we sat in a circle, everyone got to teach and testify to Andy (including Bro. Qi). President, I wish you knew Andy or that I could accurately describe him to you. He is actually a sheep....a sheep in wolf's clothing and everytime we meet with him, I feel strongly to bear witness of Heavenly Father's love for him. It comes so strong everytime!! Oh, I wish you could have been there last night to see this amazing event. Two times a whole group(of different people) able to testify together!

enjoy :)
PLEASE EVERYONE WRITE ME..............I LOVE AN OCCUPPIED MAILBOX

Dear Family,
THANK YOU so much for the package; that was so nice! It makes the week happier.

This week we were priviledged to witness two baptized and confirmed. The services were great and so many people came, even unexpected people we never thought would come! Both Caelan and Michael are so happy, excited, and ready to do amazing things


Well I just watched the video y'all sent me about 5 min. ago. You all are so beautiful and wonderful. I was amazed at how things have changed, the little ones growing up& being born, and the developments with everything.... in just 14 months. I'm just glad that there is a constant, a thing that will never change: our love, our personalities, our sealing.

One of our investigators, Kiwanda, had her baby prematurly the day after Kaden. He came early because she smoked most of the time. The family is somewhat broken, and they live in circumstances indelicate and where people are undervalued. Then I think of Kaden and how lucky, how blessed he is. Born one day apart, yet they have two different worlds. Perhaps they stood by eachother in line to come here. I now am humbled by my own circumstances. How is it that we are so blessed when our brothers, our sisters are given so much less? I hope we can better understand the great goodness in God in allowing us what He has given. Freely we have received, let us freely give. This is the only way to make it fair to them ( our brothers & sisters). Let us waste and wear out our lives to lift them and to bring them this Hope we have so long basked in the light of.

I love you
love sister colvin

Love Ya

Dearest Family,

Another wonderful week has come and gone.
First, I would like to tell y'all about my experience with the
new class we are teaching......

Sis. Wilson is a former
cougarette from BYU and has taught many dance classes before
she came out. Well,for service, we are  she is teaching a
beginning ballet class for girls. Let me just say that I am glad
for this weekly opportunity to be humbled. When I'm not running
around helping the little ones to get their feet into "first
position", I myself get to participate at the student level.
And, to add to the glory of it, it is viewed by the eager
parents. Yes, that's right, I get to humiliate myself doing all
sorts of not-so-graceful ballet moves and stretches that I was
born not to do. It really is quite embarrassing being the only
adult in the ranks with 5 year olds. I do not endure joyfully
to the end. However, there is a moral. The only reason I'm doing
it is to show Heavenly Father that I will not set
a limit at serving Him...at least not there. 

We all have our
limits I think,the parts of ourselves we hold back from God.
I believe that if we push far enough to the outskirts of our
abilities and find that "wall" of our comfort zones or our
offering to God, we must break it and step outside it. We must
do this until our borders not just align with but, mesh in or
melt into His. Only then our we, in the end, acceptable and
fit for the kingdom.

This week, Robin's son, Caelan is getting baptized! He has
changed so much since we met him. He is so happy now!
This sunday, Brother Qi blessed the sacrament and accepted his
1st calling as Branch Missionary. He was so excited. His mother
has started asking questions, and he has been able to teach her
so much. It is a miracle to him because not so long ago she said
she didn't want to hear it. He had been praying for this.

This week has been so heavenly to me, heavenly in the fact that
I've been visited much with care and love from Divinity. The
Lord has taught me that if I ask, I shall receive...not just
"if ye ask", but if  I ask. I have been given many answers this
week. I have found that personal revelation comes so
much easier, faster, and clearer than ever before. I believe that
it is because I trust Him. He has put me in many situations where
all I could do was to trust and lean on Him, and because of this
refinement I am better able to do His work and simply better able.
What great blessings come after trial & tribulations we never can
estimate the value of. It is absolutely without fail! There will
always be a light at the end of the dark dark tunnel....a bright
light!  The light that Joseph Smith was embraced by was above the
brightness of the sun.

I would like to take this time to thank each of you my darlings
for praying for me. I promise you He hears them and they are
answered with great blessings upon my head. Please continue;
these i draw strength from and through these His Kingdom is built.
Thank you so much. 

I love you each and all.
Love Bon, 

Sister Colvin

Hi There!

Hi!!!
Thank you Rose, Sarah, and Trisha & Robert for letters this week.

Another amazing week has passed by.

Happy Independence Day!!!

Hope y'all had fun together. Brother Qi walked around with us contacting. It was fun. On Sunday, he received the Aaronic priesthood and this Sunday will be blessing the sacrament! I also finally finished Jesus the Christ along with all the other "missionary books". So, I am pretty happy about that:) I am slowly but surely learning chinese. It is great. It has been awesome to be able to speak a few words to the chinese people here. They love it and is a nice way to say I care about them. I have been continually asking Heavenly Father to pour out his Spirit here. This fast sunday, I was able to see the fruits of that. People were practically jumping out of their seats to get up and bear their testimony. It's never been like that before!

Then we had our Gospel Principles class and it was AMAZING!

Our class has actually grown to exceed the size of the Gospel Doctrine class!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is nothing other than a miracle. Our building is getting to the point of not being able to hold the amount of people in it! My vision and dream of Troy is coming to view! We all can see things like this in our lives. All we have to do is pray with faith and get out and do. We, all of us, truly do have the faith neccessary to work miracles. He is waiting for us to figure that out! He cannot/will not withhold the fulfillment of our hearts' desires. Often times our desires are His desires.
Well i love you and hope to read many letters from you this week....please!!! -love sister c

Hello my celestial family,
Here is a quote from a local church marquis:
"Saints have a past, Sinners have a future".

How, how can I write the contents of this thaumaturgical(miraculous) week? I come to the question, "Does it really get, or could it really get any better than this?" The workings of the Lord have been truly indefinable as He has carefully and attentively shepherded His child. I was honored to witness, and the Father glorified at the entrance of, My Brother, Xiaodong Qi into the waters of baptism. No single event in my mission seemed more rich or with such divine bliss.
As he bore his testimony, it seemed the words of such angelic origin carried to our ears by his voice and carried to our hearts by the Holy Ghost, that it did not seem possible that God at that moment would not take him back with Him to Heaven.
After the ordinance was performed, there was a zion-like enthusiasm and elation by all. The memory of Brother Qi's triumphant joy will never be dimished in my heart. He was so excited! So happy! Oh how the Lord has blessed us!
I pray that these words and this event will bless you and strengthen you. I pray that you may feel even a portion of what was felt.
May Father guide us to such spirits as these continually and throughout our lives. For we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay! Let us remember our Brothers and our Sisters.

All My Love, Sister Bonnie Colvin

Ni Hao ( this means hello, how are you in chinese)
Heng gao shing ren shi ni
wahoo!!! Yes, wahoo is how things are going in Troy. The people are going crazy for the gospel. Troy has been so blessed. I remember praying asking God that He would pour out His spirit upon the people of Troy that they would be prepared, ready, and searching. It appears to me that that prayer had been answered the moment it was uttered.

Sister Wilson is doing great. There is still much to learn, but everything is going to go very well. She is a hard worker.
ANyways, this week has been great. We have been working hard to prepare Brother Qi for his baptism. We know that he is ready, and even better, he knows it too.
We are teaching loads of chinese people. Last week we had 3 at church. We have an english class we're teaching w/ about 8 or so students. It is so cool. The best way we've found to find people to teach is doing service. Most often this speaks louder than words. It has been so wonderful to teach so many people how to pray and then to hear their first prayer that they offer to the Father. One said he wouldn't stop asking until he knows God is real. etc.blessings etc.
Wow!!! I wish I could write about all the people we're teaching, or even all the people who are getting baptized....it is so wonderful!!!!!! Celestial missionary work. I've never been so blessed. It just reminds me of Alma 26... I never knew it was possible that my mission could be like this or that God would grant unto us so much success.
love you,
zie jian
love Sister Colvin
ps: I hope you had a great Birthday Sarah....sorry i missed it again.... I ran out of stamps... but i'll be sending your letter today.
Pss; I haven't forgotten all y'all who've written me...hopefully you'll get a reply soon.

HIHIHIHIHIHI my *FAMILY*
I did not get to write last week because we found out that Sister Furner was leaving and that I was training!!! Yes that is right. I am training....
Haha, when I found out, I cried because I didn't want to train...but I know that the Lord wanted it...and oddly through it all I had a firm peace that wouldn't go away no matter how much tried to cry or worry it away hahahaha. Anyways...actually the transfer sheet was messed up because it said I was leaving for a little town called Andalusia and Troy was closing...I might've had an aneurism!But again oddly I knew that it was wrong for some reason,.,,,then to find out my feeling was right.

Man...... This week has been crazy. On my trainee's 1st day we tracted and taught a crazy scientologist.....2nd day we set a BCD with Josh Jordan whom I have seen in a dream before....3rd day we taught a man in spanish a little(we both speak)...etc etc etc

Anyhow I'll cut to the chase. Please pray for me like never before....for real!
Anyways, pray your guts out for Brother Qi to be baptized on the 28th,Tianchi to know God is real as he is praying about that, Josh to quit smoking, and the companionship to be strong.
Love y'all
luv Bon







Dear President,
The people here are amazing. This week we had Brother Qi, Tianchi, Josh Jordan, and William Wang at church. The branch is so excited!
This week I found a good gift. The Lord allowed me an abundance of joy in our beautiful investigators, our loving branch, and my beloved scriptures.
The training experience is definitely not easy, but I believe the Lord has been preparing me for it. For that, I am so grateful. He allows us His grace that we might meet challenges we are faced with: sometimes instantly, and sometimes that grace teaches over time and makes us strong. I am hoping, I can cultivate a kind of mission/companionship culture focused on love+work so that she will have a great advantage as she begins this journey. She is definitely a very hard worker ,very dedicated, and many other things. This I am glad for, and I know we will become better people from serving together.
We are doing our best, and, wonderfully, that means the Lord will do the rest.
Anyways, I look forward to seeing you on the 26th
I love you President,
Sister Colvin

Hi Colvins/Services/Wrights,
Sorry y'all, I haven't written the past week or two. I didn't have the chance for various reasons. 1st reason, I can't remember. 2nd reason, I blame the Elders...nuff said. hee hee


The God of Heaven and Earth has blessed us beyond measure and understanding this joyous week. I wish you could see the goodness in my life right now. Your prayers for me have been carried across the heavens and poured down upon me.

Here is what I sent to President Summerhays:

Hi President,
Thank you for your prayers.
We had a great week this week!
Robin McKendry was baptized and recieved the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
We started teaching the English Class for the Chinese students and have already gotten 2 new investigators Tianchi & Xiao-dong.

Xiao-dong Chi now goes by Brother Chi. He was so excited to learn about "the God". He said he had always believed in Him but didn't know much about Him or where to find that information.It was so fun to teach him about Heavenly Father. He was so surprised that He has a physical body. We taught him how to pray. Now he says he feels peace when he prays. He loves church, and he loves the gospel! He came to Robin's baptism and told us afterwards that he felt the spirit so much that he didn't even want to breathe. Yesterday, he got up in sacrament meeting and bore his testimony. It was the best I've ever been blessed to hear. :) He has also said to us that he wants his family to believe and wants to marry his girlfriend in the temple! I cannot even say how amazing he is. He is very special.
Yesterday,
we got to teach Tianchi how to pray, something He's never done before.

We fasted yesterday and prayed in faith. 1 person was added to God's Kingdom, 2 non-members bore their testimony, 3 people decided to be baptized, 1 person came to know God and asked to learn more about Him, 2 missionaries grew in faith.

I stand amazed before God who has breathed new life into me.

Love, Sister Colvin

-----
ps: everyone who gets this letter has to write me one letter this week
PUH-LEASSEEE

May 19th 2008

My dear Forever Family,
I decided to say that just because I'm so happy about it.
I wish I could talk to y'all forever...oh wait...I can :)
Wahoo!
You know what is great. The Lord expects us to get lost in the work and this we do. All of us do. It doesn't matter if you're on a mission or not. One of the greatest things about this is that though I am lost in it,,, I do not forget the ones I love. I pray for you & I still communicate with you. One can be fully engaged in this great work and remember to send love to those who need it. Their family eternal. We can still develop eternal ties even now.
I'm sorry I am out of time. I love you and now go to serve the Lord.
Love bonnie





Hi President,

Thankyou so much for listening to , helping, and supporting us. We have had a rough week, but things are looking way up! You know, I can't even say that we've had a rough week, because the Lord has blessed us too much for me to say that.
We are going to see Robin today ( at her request of course)!
Kris Bista is soo much happier now!
Joe is doing well with the elders and there are no problems.
Takeya is going through a rough patch saying she is not, at present, ready. Yet, she still desires baptism and to turn herself fully to God. We pray that the Lord will unfold in our minds what He would have us do.

We have gotten to do a ton of service this week. It is great!! Opportunities for it have been exploding all around us. I even got to sing at another funeral this past weekend for a group of christian bikers :)
I'm not sure why we haven't had much success with finding new people to teach. We will continue and perhaps His purposes will be made known.
Well, I love you President and am happy to see you this Thursday.
Love, Sister Colvin

Hi everyone.I can't believe it has been a whole year! This has been the best year of my life.Happy Birthday Grandma....I'm going to be sending you a card.Things are crazy and great.I have been slowed down a bit with some sort of cold. We were teaching one of our investigators and it was obvious that the did not realize the great importance of this message. I bore my testimony and got a little choked up... In that moment I felt the love God had for this man and how much He wanted this for him. It was so important. I believe he felt something and somewhat understood, but he told my companion to make sure I get some rest and drink plenty of fluids. ( He thought it was because I was sick that I had tears in my eyes :). ahh......Anyways, we also found out this week that a lot of our investigators actually know eachother ....and that two of them are moving in together this next semester. God has some good plans ready and I am excited to see what they are. Anyways, please everyone keep writing....Sis. Furner and I haven't gotten anything in a while....all we get are coupons and diaper samples...I love y'all please pray for miracles for us out here and for y'all out there.Love Sister ColvinPS: Ha ha happy mothers day....I wouldn't forget that.... I really am not sure when I can call y'all.... uh....let's try for 7pm ish my time???not sureIF this is a problem you can call angie stewart at 334-268-4087

Monday, April 28th, 2008

Hello from Troy!
This week is so great!!!
Miracles miracles....We have had so many good things happen.
We currently have 3 and potentially a few more who have made
the commitment to be baptized. I am so amazed at how many people
there are that truly are seeking, actively searching.
Robin Mckendry, we met just outside her apartment. She was new,
looking for a church, and people who were like her. She and her
children are going to be baptized in May.
Takeya Bryant, we met after both having a dream about teaching
her. We sure were surprised to find her that same day. She'll be
getting baptized in June.
Kris Bista, we met on campus shortly after his arrival to America
being a new christian. He will be getting baptized in June.
Joe Zhao, we met walking down the stairs after saying a prayer in
my heart that God would use me. He illegally held christian-based
meetings in his home in China for years. He is praying to know if
Joseph Smith was a prophet.He's commited to stop drinking.
Dear family, I wish you could hear all of what is happening...if
you did, you would be amazed, and there would be no doubt of the
reality of our Father in Heaven. He working through His children
( who know how to pray in Faith) to bring to pass His wondrous
and great work, the salvation and exaltation of His little ones.
I love you all. Ask in Faith, and He will show you what great
things you can do for Him. I am excited to talk to y'all in a few
weeks. Thank you for your letters, packages, and best of all  your
support and love.
Love Sister Colvin
Ps: Happy Birthday Ammon ( that's great about Pasha getting
baptized. I remember that I had prayed for him)   
Ps: Happy Birthday Krista (on the 25th) I hope everything is going
good for you. Love you
Ps: Love you Sarah!

Dear President & Dear Family!

Aren't things just wonderful? I love life as a missionary.
I feel as thoughI've never been so thankful to be the
Lord's servant being privilidged to bearwitness of the truth
to those who stand in darkness.
There is so much joy! Yesterday, we met Sister Peng
from Dothan Ward at Stake Conference. The usher brought her
over to Joe ( our investigator from china), and they
suddenly started speaking chinese together. I was so
overwhelmed I almost cried.What a wonderful Father that
we have! It seemed so far off that we could find a
member of the church who spoke chinese to help us...it truly
was the answer to the prayer of my heart.
She said that she had had a vision that she would be
 teaching younger chinese...she wasn't sure whether it was
here or if she should go back to china. Well her prayers
were also answered. The students of Troy University
need her and so do we. I will never forget that day for
the rest of my life. She invited us and Joe over
to her home for home-cooked chinese. It was great by the way.
More importantly,it was a most amazing experience to be able
to sit and listen to her speak. Notonly was her conversion
story so precious and beautiful, but she fluently spoke
the language of the spirit the entire time( which is probably
the most important languages she does speak). We were all lifted
and edified and a little closer to our God.
The Lord God will always come to us. He truly knows the desires
of our hearts and does His best to help us obtain and make them
a reality. I know that He lives, He loves, and He is my Father.
Is there anything to great for our God? No, there is nothing.
Oh, I feel as though I will praise His glorious name forever.
Love and Joy,
Sister Colvin

This plan

Hey every beautiful member of my blessed family!I love you. This week has been so insane. Two days ago, Sister Benfield got emergency transferred to Tallahassee because one of the sisters there is going home because of health....the sister missionaries are dropping like flies! Now It's me & Sister Furner again.So many miracles have been unfolding here. Heavenly Father wants us to be successful & happy.We are teaching a guy from China named Joe. He's 39, christian, and working on his MBA. At first, we thought we might have to stop teaching him or pass him over to the elders because he had a crush on me....but, I prayed and he seemed to get over it! I love prayer. So, Joe came to Conference during the 1st session where there was so much sustaining going on..he was confused. He thought when Pres. Uchtdorf was reading of all the names, that he was actually preaching something in french..haha Anyways, We found out later that he had a very spiritual experience during the MoTab singing " Praise to the Man". He said It felt like, "a huge breath of fresh air, the air was so fresh"...(he doesn't have big english vocab. & that is the best he could describe it.) He said He'd never felt that in any other church ever. Also when we were teaching him, he said he knew it was important to pray to find out if Joseph Smith truly was a prophet. He said He would pray that night. We explained to him that Joseph Smith had been murdered...he was so shocked! He said that it must have been because he was true...he said that Jesus Christ was true and that He was killed for it and that it gave him more reason to believe that Joseph was a prophet. He said he'd keep reading and praying 'til he got an answer!!I wish I could tell you how great this beautiful work is here. I love it with all my heart. There is a marvelous work and a wonder that Father has done and is doing. I am so grateful beyond all I am that I know of His plan for us. Many call it the Plan of Salvation or the Plan of Happiness. I call it my plan or the plan that helps me to understand, the plan that shows me and my family, my friends the way. I know that we lived with Him and we knew Him, why it is we are here in these frail bodies of clay, that there is a direction, a purpose, a meaning, and work for us...an eternity. I can say that through the feelings of the Holy Ghost that I know that I will be with my Grandpa again because I know this plan is true. I know where he is, where he's going, where I am , and where I am going. I know what that scripture in Corinthians 15 means where it talks about the glory of the sun and moon! Oh beautiful day, that I can say these things! Oh I just wish I could put it into the hearts of all just to contemplate it!!! It is the truth, the added light, the clarification. This is His work and His Glory!!!I love my Father for all of this, just to bring me peace inside.Dearest Sarah, my heart aches for you at this time. I've asked all around me to pray in your behalf. I love you so much and you will not be left alone. Oh I wish that I could be there at this time. I loved your grandma, such a kind soul. Please picture me there with you right now. That is where I would be. It is so hard to have to write this instead of speak it. Feel the prayers, the many prayers that are being sent, heard, and answered for you and your grandma and your mother.Again I love you. For now, I must rely upon my dear family and our dear Father in Heaven to be your support where I cannot. I know you will be taken care of. I am here for you no matter what. I want you to know that! It is so hard to not be there. Love BonniePlease everyone pray for Sarah and Elisabeth

HI

Hey y'all. I am so amazed by Jakey & Ammon ( or as Rose would say "Ammo" ); they can write such long letters. I have no talent in that area. I think its funny that when Pres. Hall set us apart, he gave jake counsel on remembering to write letters home. Ha ha, oh well.Anyways, I would like to thank mi familia for sending the easter fun pkg....the bunny was cute and everyone was perplexed by the " candy grass". I have some stuff to send to y'all at home & stuff I have to send out to the two Elders. So be looking for it in either a few days or a few weeks...you never know.We had a gorgeous week by the way.This week, I got to be in a parade. Our "float" consisted of a little red ford escort w/ Sis. Furner waving at people, Sis. Benfield standing up through the sun roof holding an LDSSA sign (it stands for Latter Day Saint Student Association), and me running around outside the car passing out pass-along cards to people on the sidewalk.....man you should have seen it. I know I looked so funny out there, and we were blasting the Mormon tabernacle choir! hahaYou know what's funny I only got rejected by women....which, is actually quite normal. Women in general do not seem to respond the best to sister missionaries. Men, on the other hand, generally have a more postitive response...( probably vice versa for elders...right jake& Ammon?) anyways this leads me into my next point....satan has been waging a huge war on the female gender( JST Rev 12...can represent this). This we know. He has upgraded his armament and subtley increased his attacks . I have been amazed to see ( even in my lifetime) how much damage he has done to the women of the earth. It has never been harder to be a righteous woman as now. The question posed in Prov. 31, " Who can find a virtuous woman?", is quite legitimate. There is such a need for good women it is frightening. In my experience, it has been surpirisingly difficult to get the woman in the family to commit to change. Woman are becoming increasingly more aggressive while men are assuming a submissive role.Sadly, this is nothing new...we've been seeing this for some time now.I would like to echo Sis. Beck in saying that it is my belief that we as latterday saint women need to stand strong and immovable. The definition of a woman is being lost in today's society, and we should feel it our duty to be that pattern & model. Let us stand and be defenders of womanhood, a thing most sacred to the Father.I hope to be the woman God intended. Thanks to my Mother and all my other good women for showing me the way. I love you mom.
LOVE SIS. COLVIN

Happy Easter

Hi everyone,JACOB!!! woo woo congratulations!! I knew that Father wouldn't forget you. Just as the scriptures say, " and the lord remembered Rachel.." He remembered His Jacob. I am so proud of you. I tell everyone about you. I hope you can feel the prayers that are sent up for you every night. Ha Ha now you can speak with the tongue of a spanish angel :)Our companionship is now three...it's me, Sis. Furner still, and sis. Benfield. Sis. Benfield is wonderful. I love having her around;she is definitely a blessing.We have been experiencing something new with our previous DL becoming a zone leader. It's been....well.... It is interesting to see how different people view leadership. It is nice to see when they come to understand the role of a great leader is to encourage, lift, inspire, and bless...until then, we all have to "bear with patience our afflictions".Currently we are teaching a man named David from China. He told us how he changed his life through christianity and now leads his owns bible studies. We are trying to help him accept the restored gospel which, is proving to be somewhat difficult in that he holds dear many incorrect ideas. Before we even began teaching him, he asked us to pray for his parents who are reading the bible for the 1st time...perhaps to also become christian. This was so important to him. We have prayed for them throughout the week as we told him we would. It has been a beautiful experience. We are teaching a lot of Asians. I love them! It would be so great to live in Korea, Japan, China, or Vietnam for a time to build up the Kingdom.Seeing the goodness of people is so wonderful. I feel overcome with joy & reverence. This week our RC Jasmine Fenn-who is terrified of doing anything in front of people- gave a talk in church about repentance!!!! I was so happy to see such growth in her!I was brought to think of how our King must feel when he sees us grow and change. Ahhhh, sweet is the peace the gospel brings.
Love, Sister Colvin
ps:please pray for Takeya Bryant who is getting baptized in April
Ps; Thanks Baysingers for sending me the letter! It was great to hear from you all!
Ps; Thanks for writing Zacky, You are going to be a great big brother for him too.
Ps; I wrote each of you individual emails last week and none of them sent & all got erased!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi!!

Dear Ones,
Sorry for being so skimpy on writing this past while. I haven't been able to get to email & am bad at writing actual letters....so hopefully none of you worried :) How are you? Spring break was this past week, and most of the students were away. So, needless to say we are glad that it is over now. Things are still happy and we are baing granted much success. Satan is working overtime in all aspects, but I have chosen to take a perspective on it that conquers it. My perspective is: those nights I prayed for strength and was covered in it, the times when my heart was near bursting from the power of His spirit, when He whispers in my ear how much He thinks of me, when he speaks His love in the beautiful sky and soft breeze, it is those times I know that He is my Father. With that, what can destroy our peace?I joy in this great work. I have found so much of Him in it. This week, we listened to Ruth Ryan(R.S. President) speak of her love for her husband and all the "little things" he does. Sis. Furner and I later talked about this. How God must love it when we do the little things. We can say we love Him all day, but when we do the little things we prove it. I hope I can remember this lesson all my days. I hope to show Him in the "little things" that I really am His daughter.May His love abide in you and fill you with consolation this day.
Love Sister Colvin
Ps: Robert where did you serve EXACTLY... and when were you there?? I need to know.

No TIME!

Hey guys,
I don't have time to write again this week. Sorry, everything is great and I did not have a colonoscopy...ha ha trish you sent me jake's letter and you sent him mine...
I really am surprised!
Anyways,
tell everyone i'm okay for me.
love Bonnie
hi kaden!

Love Always

Dear ones,
I thank you for your prayers. They are so important.I do not know what to write you. I feel so many things. Father has been very kind to me this week. His tenderness with me surprises me, brings me to my knees, and draws tears from my eyes. I suppose I cannot truly explain, only that I know that He loves me. If nothing else, this is what He wants His children to know. It is the 1st thing that we should come to know, the 1st thing we should testify of. People need to know they are loved first, and then they will understand the purpose of the Restoration, it always being love.Let us also manifest that love in how we listen to one another.
I love you Grandpa, thank you for being with me here.
Love Always,
Bonnie

Love Again

Dearest ones,
LOVE< LOVE< LOVE!!!
How can I really write the words of my heart in a silly email. It could not possibly communicate it. The Most High God is King over all the Earth, Heaven & the hearts of all the righteous. I accept Him as my Shepherd and my everlasting light. The darkness, seemingly overpowering, is easily swept and driven before His almighty hand, and power of His everlasting word. The Father of my spirit safely gathers in His little ones. Isn't it so beautiful? He remembers us even when we are so far away. Think of those little lambs who do not believe that there is anyone to rescue them,lost and alone, ..no escape , no light, no end. He remembers them and reclaims them . He leads us on to full light and love. He calms the raging tempests of life so that His dear ones are not afraid.How many praises will we sing unto Him in the eternities for all He has done for us? Forming us out of the simplest intelligence, He had charity, He led us into obtaining spirit form, He deeply loved, he taught us, he showed us agency, He carefully planned us and gave us a Savior, a rescuer, He brought us into a tabernacle of clay, He lit the path, and He directs us to all He has, through mortality to immortality. Dearest of all and everything is He, the Most High God. How can we keep from singing? How can we ever experience the fullness of His love? How? Our Father calls out from the halls of His Kingdom for us. He is calling us on, forward to Him, that we, too, might abide in His glory from death unto life forever and ever. Let us heed it.
-Love Bonnie

I Love You

Chau everybody,
Haha that was fun emailing u rose...Well this week was great! I'm going to try to keep this thing as short as possible.... Well I get to serve with Sis. Furner who I've known all along..I'm happy I don't have to train....besides I didn't "feel" like i would anyways. It's going to be great. Kris came to church...in testimony meeting he said, " I have to get up" and he went and bore his testimony!! He ended it by saying, " I'm Kris from Nepal, thanks." :) haha I love that guyAmila from Sri Lanka also showed up... I had no idea he was coming! He said he drove up and down the street trying to find the church. Hui Y. from China tried to come but also couldn't find it. Anyways, this place is the best place in the world! I wish I could tell you how amazing Heavenly Father is to me here. He treats me like His daughter and helps me along. I am grateful for my Loving Father. As I come to know Him and observe His ways, I come to understand how I must be as a future mother. He is showing me how, each day.Oh, wonderful family, it is so good to be here. I am in a beautiful position where I can teach all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people. I believe that what I am doing here is to fulfill that prophecy as the deep walls that encompass the rest of the world are penetrated. These students will bring the message of Christ to their home countries. There are over 3,000 chinese students here! We are meeting with two more tonight!! The gift of song is blessing His children and bringing their hearts. I cannot even express the joy that I have.Read Alma 26, the words of Ammon say it best. Love you and I am with you, united in our many prayers.
love,
Bonnie
ps: I bet somebody that if the giants won the superbowl, they would have to come to church.....haha guess that's their sign :)
Ps; Sorry to everyone who have not been getting letters. I haven't had a real-pday since I've been here....we are busy busy girls
Ps: Jakey, I love you, thanks for your email... I'm praying for you always..remember that. ....I wanna be like you when I grow up :)

...What To Write...

Namaste my family,
I wish I could relate the contents of this week to you all.I'm going to be honest, this has been probably the most difficult week on my mission. I can't really explain everything. There are so many details. Sister Carpenter called president Summerhays on Monday. She told me afterwards, unexpectedly, that she would probably be going home soon...maybe at the end of the transfer or the next. I was shocked! I knew she had had her hard days but was usually fine. I was quite troubled over the news. As I prayed, I felt that I should tell her that she could stay out in the field, that I had full faith in her, and that I would help her do it even if I had to drag her along. Afterwards, she felt a lot better and things seemed fine. Well, that night they talked again and I was informed by President that she was, in fact, leaving. Not only that, but would be leaving the next morning! I was informed that I could not know the reason why, only that it was health oriented. He explained they would be bringing Sister Scoresby from Andalusia up to serve with me for the remainder of the transfer (she must have had a shock, she had no time to tell anyone she was leaving & barely enough time to pack her bags) President said that it was very likely that after the conclusion of this transfer (2weeks) I will be training.....Needless to say I was experiencing a higher level of stress at that moment. So the next morning, she left . I am now with Sister Scoresby. In spite of all this, my Father has reached out . I have been encircled about my the arms of His love. The day she left: I received the package that Robert & Trisha sent me & one that Sarah's mom sent. Sister Chapman called me....she felt very strongly that she needed to call me and didn't know why. Since then, Sister Carpenter emailed me. She is doing well and having a wonderful time with her family. In her email, she told me that President Summerhays told her that she served with the two most exceptional sisters in the mission (sis. Pope, who trained her just before going home & myself) I was shocked when I read that. Thursday, Sis. Price's (a lady in our ward) son-in-law's mother died. Well, I called him and offered our help for the funeral that was the next day (friday, yesterday) He asked me to sing, " The Old Rugged Cross". Luckily, I had a 1956 Baptist Hymnal someone in mobile gave me. I was happy to do it for them. I was expecting it to be a small funeral ,knowing them...Well, it was not small, well, at least it wasn't as small as the other funeral I sang at. There was well over a hundred people and at the last second, they decided I was going to sing Amazing Grace as well........never really sung it before....... (it was either that or In the Garden & they chose that one).....Sister Scoresby & I prayed in a empty room together that the Spirit would help me and that we would be able to use this great opportunity to bring forth His desires...Well I asked the preacher if I could introduce myself & he said no, so i just sang. The Lord helped me. I wished I could have said something or done something more.......but afterwards we able to talk to a lot of people.Well I wish I could write everything, but I cannot...some things will have to be shared in the future. From this week I learned more about myself, what I can handle, my Father, the greatness of His mysteries, the access of miracles, and the sweetness of moments spent pleading in utter weakness before Him.I will continue to put my trust in Him and He will still deliver me.
Love
Bonnie
Ps; We actually are not moving
Pss: Ammon, I met a student from Russia! His name is Said (pronounced Sigh-eed for those who don't know) He had SO many questions. It was awesome. I was looking at my email and that I recieved your weekly letter...I then felt I should talk to the guy next to me! And wow, it turned out he was from Russia. In the middle of talking, he had to run off but scribbled down his email address....well I emailed him the next day, but it didn't work..so I tried a bunch of different variations of it and still had no luck... Then I prayed and asked God to help me figure it out..........Right as I finished praying, I looked up and He was a few feet in front of me on a computer!!! I love how God gives us better gifts than we even ask for.
Also, thank you for your prayers for Trang's family.

I'm moving again!

New Address:
Troy, AL
They wanted to move the Elders here out of their apartment because it was really old and nasty. So.....they are moving them in our apartment and we are moving to a different one. Our new one is a bit older but is bigger...and it's yellow so that makes me happy. ANyways, I wanted to say thanks for the love i got from you all. Trisha, thanks for the package and clothing... I especially like the brown sweater. Gab thanks for the dolphin; it totally reminds me of you! ;) Mom, thanks for the cd's, blank tapes, and very much for the letter. Sarah, thanks for the pics, tape, and the letter you sent me this week. The work here has become so sweet. It is one of the greatest joys that I've had. We are already teaching a 26 year old man named Krishna "Kris" B. We had a meeting with him and his friend Thakur at one of our members homes. It was wonderful. Our AP's happened to be with us and were able to participate. I am glad I was given the experience of teaching Trang so I would know how to teach in a way that those whose 1st language is not English can understand. The spirit taught the lesson, so we were all edified. Kris said that he felt very happy and said that he would be baptized when he received the answer that it was true. He said it will take a little time. He is amazing and researches on his own.It is so cool to work with so many different people of different races and nationalities! We've met people from Nepal, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Sweden, and good 'ole Alabama. I was I could describe how ridiculously happy I am here. This is what I was meant to do. I able to fulfill my purpose here. It is like serving a mission in every country!! It is a taste of every mission! I know if it is God's will, His timing, and we are worthy, we will bring to pass much of His miracles He has been waiting to break forth.The purpose that God had in setting up this church, His Kingdom, was to bring in all His children to be in One, no longer divided and separate. We were always meant to be together. This is why we are here, to find each other and rejoice in it. It should never be about denomination. This is only the inheritance of an apostasy. We can now inherit the blessings that come from the truths restored, the uniting of the human family, and the proof of His eternal love.
With love,
Bonnie
Sister Colvin :)

My Week

Dear sweet ones,

It is me again. I can't believe the week has gone by so quickly. Thank you all for....i don't even know...I'm just grateful for you.We had an amazing yet hard week.Wednesday night at 8:50 pm...I was filling out pass-along cards with our number on them. The thought came to my mind to call Trang. I hadn't since I was transferred. I continued writing and the thought kept pressing firmer to where I put the pen down. I called him. He sounded different and wasn't excited as he normally would have been. He kept saying.."have you seen the news? have you seen the news?"I hadn't. I didn't know what he was talking about. He mentioned his nieces and nephews(you know the ones he babysits that live with him...the ones that run around like crazy, my little ones). I guess the father of the children allegedly threw all four over the Dauphin Island bridge on Monday! I was in shock. I had heard mention of something involving a bridge from one of the members here but had no idea. To make it worse, no one in the ward there knew about it... I was the only and first and I'm out here in Troy! I talked to him about it and told him I was going to call the Elders there. I could hardly communicate choking on tears, trying to call different people in Mobile trying to get the Elders phone number. I finally got it and told them. They hadn't visited him in a while. Although it was late about 10:30pm, President Summerhays told them to go over and see him and call me back. I cannot describe how hard that was. I wanted to be there. That is my family. Those little kids. The Elders called back later and said they gave his sister Qu (the mother) a priesthood blessing and there was a great feeling of peace as they left the home. I myself was given a blessing by President and was given peace. That night was stressful because there was a tornado warning as well. The city alarm thing had gone off a few times. Don't worry we are fine. ANyways, it is difficult because I do not have much of any details about this situation. Last I heard the bodies have not been found yet.Sis. Carpenter is very fragile, especially about the topic of death. It really hits home. She's been stressed and I've been able to talk with her about it. Anyways, I want y'all to know that I am okay and have been given much strength and peace in my Savior.

Here is what I sent to President:

Dear President,

Thank you. It must be hard to be a constant source of strength to so many. I am glad to know that Heavenly Father sustains you in that.I do feel at peace. At first, I was distressed, but I know that one must allow the Lord to put one at peace. I believe in Him as much as I ever have and know that all will be as it should. I know that it is okay to have sorrow at death. I read in True to the Faith that, " the only way to take sorrow out of death is to take love out of life. So with that, we express our love, but one does not need to allow it to destroy one's self. I know in whom I can trust and am safe in that. I talked to Trang, and he said that he knows that Jesus Christ will always be there for him and that he can be strong for his family. I am honored to have been able to claim him as my brother whom I must have promised my help in the premortal world. Also, the university is wonderful! We met with the Dean and it went very well. We've met a lot of international students! Things, we realize, may be slow at first, but that is fine. We know with whom we labor.

Love Sister Colvin

Please everyone pray hard my family. They are the Phan family. I've been asking everyone to pray for them. Please join. I'm sorry to send such sad news to y'all. I want y'all to know there is much , much good here as well! There is so much to be happy and amazed about. I love you.

Love bonnie

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23031838-2,00.html?from=public_rss

http://crime.about.com/b/2008/01/10/man-throws-4-children-off-alabama-bridge.htm

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2008/01/man_throws_four_children_off_a.html

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,321249,00.html

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Alabama_father_throws_children_in_river

Read first!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I just spent an hour and a half writing an email to y'all and the computer shut off!!!!I am not sure that I have the inner strength to not be quite upset. It was a wonderful letter.....oh well. I believe that the Lord would like to see how I react to this situation, and thus, I know I can succeed because He knows I will :) I do happen to have a copy of my letter to President ...I'll just stick that in here:Hi President. I am very happy. It is was neat to see that this past week's letter was on the topic of being happy since that is exactly what I've been focusing on this week.Sis. Carpenter and I are definitely seeing many of our purposes in being here in Troy. This past week, we met a vietnamese man, and I was able to speak a little vietnamese with him. He agreed to be taught :) Also, just yesterday, we came across a deaf man and Sis. Carpenter was able to communicate with him! Cool huh?! ANyways, life is good, and we are continuing to seek out those whom we agreed to find.Also, I wanted to tell you that I had my 1st crash on my bike yesterday...I am so proud :) haha-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Now to this I will elaborate ...if I have time.I was biking along(down a busy street)and decided to hop a curb. Unfortunately, I clenched down on the brakes at the same time. I ate it. I fell off, having a special greeting from the pavement. My skirt decided to betray me allowing my legs to say hello to the world...lovely.I came out with a bloody chin, bruises, and the visor on my helmit bent down over my face.. I believe I must have been an instrument in the hands of God to make somebody driving down the street have a wonderful laugh thus having a wonderful day...Me and Sis. Carpenter laughed our tails off. WE've been having a lot of fun biking ordeals hahaI'mgoing to send this incase it shuts off again......and finish with another.........
okay I'm back....Also, I was the 1st victim to try out our washer/dryer. It seems the previous occupant liked bleach.......AHHH MANNN A lot of my clothes were messed. How is everyone? I'm sorry that Y'all have been sick. I'm also sorry about the theft. One would think that you'd have double the blessings for having two missionaries out. However, I have full confidence in His designs. This is a wonderful time for you. He is showing you His great trust and love by allowing you these experiences. He shapes us into beings as He is. The great Refiner. As His well loved and adored children, we are to wade through trial, tribulation, pain, heartache, disappointment...the mud of life and the path that leads to our dear Father. I know that as you plead for His aid, you will feel His presence and power. You will feel him walking beside you, His arms encircled about you. Did He not promise us from the beginning that He would be with us? As we did long ago, let us choose Him again, our Savior, Redeemer, Friend, Rescuer, and Finisher of our Faith. Dearest family let us go out in the power of His spirit and bring to pass His great works. I believe in you; my full confidence is yours. He wants you to suceed.
Love always,
Bonnie, Sister Colvin
gimme gimme,uh..... I badly need LOTS of sheet music. The Lord desires that I use my singing to reach many of His children. I need all kinds..different styles...not everyone loves opera....Even some Josh Groban, ray boltz, Jessie Clark, Michelle Tumes( or tombs), hillary weeks, mark shultz music.....also different cultures would help too....especially polynesian, asian, latino, black or negro spirituals. This is IMPORTANT...if y'all could please help and SOON, that would be wondrous!!! Thank you!!! MY NEW ADDRESS : Troy, Al 36081