" ... ye may know the truth of ALL things ..."

"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things..."
Moroni 10:2-5

¡Hola familia!  ¿Cómo estáis?  jaja I am really well.  This week went well.  We had a zone conference and we learned a lot of things about conversion and repentance.  Make sure you are converted to the Gospel.  Also, repentance is a great blessing.  It’s hard and requires pain, but it is also beautiful.  I love Alma 36 – I think it talks about repentance.  You should read it as a familia.  Something I need is my four- generation pedigree chart.  We are going to start to use family history more in the mission so I need it as soon as possible.  Thanks.

Mother, that’s really good with the roses.  You have peace roses?  I love to be healthy as well.  Our body is a temple of God and we should treat it like a temple.  I remember when we were riding our bikes when I was younger.  It was really fun.  That quote from President Monson is true.  Life is hard by the yard, but a cinch by the inch.  I love you VERY MUCH Mother.  XO

Michelle, I love you too.  That’s really powerful with the eclipse.  Now it is raining a lot and at times I am afraid because our house is short and the streets are always full with water, but we still haven’t had problems.  I hope everything is going well with your grades.  They are so important.  If I were home, I would help you, but I am going to rely on the fox. jaja  Keep going hermanita in your faith, school, and, well, all your life.

Daddy, that’s really good that you’re selling a lot of things, except the truck!  How sad.  Now we’re not going to have a manual transmission car.  Here, almost all the cars are standard, or in other words, manual.  Have you already cut down the tree?  Something I miss is working with you on the cars and the garden, etc… but I am doing another kind of work - and I love this work.  Thanks for everything.  I love you.

Hermanito, that is something I noticed this week – all the Christlike attributes are connected, does that make sense?  If you have one, you are going to have another.  Cool, right?  Thanks for what you said about hope, and Facebook and technology.  I am going to use Mormon.org a TON in the work.  It is going to be really powerful.

Also, I want to tell you all something about the Book of Mormon, faith and prayer.  We have an investigator who doesn’t want to read the Book of Mormon.  She wants us to convince her with the Bible.  Basically, she doesn’t have faith.  It’s funny because my companion knows the Bible very well and can answer all questions easily - and we have done this also.  The thing is that she still doesn’t believe.  Even though we have showed her a lot of scriptures about the great apostasy and the Priesthood, the Restoration, baptism, etc… she doesn’t know.  For me, this experience fortifies my testimony of the Book of Mormon, prayer and faith.  I know that all her doubts can be resolved easily if she reads the Book of Mormon and prays about it.  We can show her all the scriptures and answer all her questions, but this is nothing more than giving her knowledge.  She will not grow.  She will only know.  There is a difference.  But the best way is to read the book and ask our Heavenly Father if it is true.  This will increase her faith and she will feel the Spirit.

NOTHING BUT THE WORK OF THE LORD!

Elder Coffman arrived in Merida, Mexico on Monday, April 30, 2012. His first area is in Cancun and his companion is Elder Mills from SLC. Throughout his Mother's Day phone call, he emphasized his love for the missionary work, the honor of serving the Lord and sharing His Gospel and the privilege it is for him to bring the Word of God to our Mexican brothers and sisters. He also said that it was incredibly hot at least 20 times! And yes, he is sleeping in a hammock! 

Remember that Elder Coffman ALWAYS writes his emails in Espanol; pretty impressive! We had a wonderful Mother's Day phone call with him but it had to end just as he was going to bear his testimony, so here it is:

¡Hola Familia!  I liked talking with you guys a lot yesterday.  It was really powerful.  It’s weird that we’re not going to talk until Christmas.  My companion told me that when you wait from May to December, it’s really long.  But I know that you will always pray for me and I’m thankful for that.  I love you all very, very much!  Yesterday I didn’t have the opportunity to tell you my testimony.  Sorry about that.  It’s just that my companion’s family was about to call him, so I had to end the call.  But I want you to know that I have a firm testimony of this Church.  First off, I love Jesus Christ.  I know He is our Savior.  His Atonement is real.  It is the most important event in the entire world.  He suffered for our sins, pains, sufferings, everything.  He died for us on the cross.  But, more than anything, He lives.  Our Savior, Jesus Christ, lives.  Through Him, we can be cleansed from sin, and conquer physical death.  I know this with all my heart.  He loves us more than we can understand.  Also, I have a testimony of our Heavenly Father.  He is the All Powerful God.  He has a body flesh and bones.  He wants us to be happy.  He loves us very, very much like Jesus Christ.  He has a plan so we can live in a state of happiness together with our families forever, if we do His will.  I know that he knows us and that we are His children.  Every person in this world is my brother or sister.  We are all in this world trying to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father.  The fact of the matter is that we have the truth, and we should say it with love, not with pride.  Because through these restored truths, we can return to our Heavenly Father.  Many people don’t have what we have, and it’s necessary we share it.  This has helped me a lot to have love for others.  I know Joseph Smith saw our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  I know that Joseph Smith received his answer to his question.  I know that Jesus Christ restored His Church through Joseph Smith and we now have the same Church that Jesus Christ established when He was on the earth.  I know we have the Priesthood.  I know it is the power of God.  We can do miracles with it if we use it with charity and humility and if it is God’s will.   I know Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God.  I know the Book of Mormon is the evidence of our Church.  I know it is a strong testament that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior.  I know when someone reads it, prays to our Heavenly Father about it, he or she can receive a testimony of the truthfulness of this book by the Holy Ghost.  I know that prayer is real.  I know God hears us when we pray.  I know we have a living prophet.  I know his name is Thomas S. Monson.  He speaks with Jesus Christ.  I know all these things are true.  I say these things In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I hope you all have a good week!  I know I will!  I love this work.  It is the work of God and I feel so blessed for the opportunity I have to help Him with it.  You all have the opportunity also.  Do it!  You will find a lot of joy as you share it with our brothers and sisters.  Make sure you’re active in the Gospel and the Church.  I love you a lot!  Hasta luego beloved familia xoxo

FORT WORTH PHOTOS - 2/10/12 - 4/30/12

IT'S DIFFICULT & HOT BUT ... I WANT MORE CHALLENGES!

Elder C in Arlington, TX 

Elder Coffman's Address for (see bottom of blog for exact mailing instructions) ALL letters, packages (can use DearElder.com for letters, only):


Mexico Merida Mission Home Address: 
Calle 45 #527 Q y Calle 70 
Col. Centro
97000 Mérida, Yucatán 

Mexico 

¡Hola Familia!  I’m going to call you 5:30 Mexico time, so it will be 4:30 in Utah.  But Yes, call me. jaja I am not going to use Skype.  And whoever sends me something, send it to the address you already have.  I don’t have an address where I am right now so if you’re going to send things, letters, packages, etc... to this address throughout my entire mission.  Elder Mill’s first name is Elder jaja jk His name is Jordan.  He’s from Salt Lake City. 

Here in Mexico it’s very different compared to Texas.  We walk a ton, we have to pay for water, rent, electricity, and it’s really hot and humid here.  The schedule is different as well.  Like, when we eat lunch at 2 this is like dinner in the United States.  Also, there is a rule that says we have to eat two bananas each day.  And we can’t have rings either.  It’s really different, but I love this place.  There are coconut trees, banana trees, and many others.  Also the food is so good here.  Also, we baptize soooo much here.  Our president wants us to have a baptism every week – and in Texas it was like every month! 

The area where I am is really poor.  The people live in very small houses, and many don’t have windows (glass or other coverings to protect).  It’s so poor.  I don’t think I can find the pictures of where I am right now, but it’s not a beach.  Actually, there is a rule that says we can’t be near the beach.  But even though the people are so poor, they are happy.  My first day I realized there is more in this life to live and experience.  Most of the people live in really small houses and they don’t do anything besides what is necessary to live/survive.  Simply, God sent us here to live in a little house and then to die.  I know God has a plan for every one of us.  I know the Gospel and families are very important – the most important, as a matter of fact.  Another rule here is that I don’t have a lot of time to write, so, I am not going to say a lot to each of you.

Mother, thanks for that story.  I love Sacrament Meeting as well.  I love you Mother.

 Michelle, like I said before, this part of Cancun isn’t the same jaja.  It’s really poor.  But I like this area.  The people are really powerful.  Also, they are very humble, that’s why I think they are so receptive.  And here it is soooooooo hot jaja I have to use a towel every time to wipe off the sweat.

Daddy, actually, I am a little sad I can’t help you with that tree…  I like to do that kind of work, but oh well.  I want a coconut tree.  jaja That’s what we have at our house right now.  I and like the part that says “this is not something we brothers like to hear.”  Keep going Daddy.

Brother, thanks for the advice.  I am going to follow it.  It’s true.  It’s not necessary to say stuff like that, and it doesn’t do anything good.  Thank you.  We always want to have the Spirit.

There is so much more I want to say, but I don’t have much time, sorry!!!  At times it’s hard to live here, but at the same time, it is something I want.  I want more challenges in my life.  I believe it is going to make me more humble and have more gratitude in my life.  But I love you!!

¡Adios!

Élder Coffman

I am going to say something else.  Michelle, I just read your testimony.  You should pray about the Book of Mormon.  Read the introduction and do the Moroni promise.  I love you familia.  Really, I want to say a lot more, but I don’t have time.  Adios.