...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