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