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."