Hello! or Hola!

I am so happy that you received the letter from me! 

I have been dying all week to tell you all the eventful, dramatic story of the week! It is so funny. We were visiting a less active, Margarita Buela and su familia. We had just got done reading the scriptures together and singing How Great Thou Art. The spirit was nice. I just love this sweet family. Their son, Disney, brought us out some sandwiches with bologna and juice. We never eat dinner, so it was nice to have something to eat. I took a bite of the sandwich. The bread was hard as a rock and all of the sudden...I felt something empty with my tongue. "OH NO!" I thought to myself. I started freaking out inside. My worst nightmare on my mission has come true. "I lost my tooth!" I thought frantickly. I started whispering loudly to Hermana Harris. "My tooth, my tooth!" And then it was made known that Hermana Coon was toothless. It was super funny because I was totally in shock and I began speaking in English to the family. They couldnt understand a word I was saying and I could not think in Spanish at this moment. Good thing Hermana Harris was there to translate for me! It was hilarious because the first thing they said was, "Where is your tooth?!" (in spanish of course) and then the second thing they said was, "Oh, esta bien! It happens all the time!" Hermana Harris and I had a good laugh about that one. No, this does not happen all the time...only in Uruguay! Hermano Buela gave me his denture cream. We had such a good laugh, but I had mucho verguenza! They were laughing so hard at me, but I think that this experience has only made them more endeared to us.

But like I said, the next day during proselitismo, everyone understood me so much better! I talked with a lisp and more like a Uruguayan! haha! And NO ONE, not even one person said anything to me about my rotten, dead tooth. I am becoming an Uruguayan to the extreme! The first dentist we went to was no bueno, the second was in Las Piedras. I was so scared and I will FOREVER be grateful for dentists in America...land of the free! I was sitting in the waiting room hearing the sound of the drills and my nerves were getting the better of me. I began reading my scriptures as I waited, but then, all of a sudden, my name was called. I walked back to the dental room, actually more like a mad scientist lab. The dentist looked like a mad scientist wearing JEANS. I sat in the 1970s chair with the light shining right in my face. Hermana Harris, my translator, told him the problem. He began drilling away my tooth to nothing...without my permission. He glued the temporary tooth back on and then I told him that I was concerned that my retainer wouldnt fit. He pushed that retainer in my mouth and then took it to drill it down! I freaked out! "Tell him to stop!" I told Hermana Harris. He shrugged his shoulders like I was crazy and said, "Its not like retainers do anything anyways." Yes they do! haha. I was quite tramatized from everything...the santication, the setting, everything. I was quite tramatized from the experience. Tell Doctor Wold that I will kiss the ground of his office when I come home. Afterwards, we bought icecream from Gritos and called Hermana Pugmire, who is the nurse for the missionaries. I am going to find a dentist in Montevideo because this temporary is only suppose to last for maybe 2 months. I am on an all liquid diet! haha just kidding, but I am trying to be so careful. 

So that was my exciting experience for the week! But, asides from almost getting proposed to from some random guy on the street, it was a great week! It is amazing how the spirit works. The spirit is definitely not a loud voice, but yet a still small voice that is so quiet you have to be really paying attention to hear it. We found this sweet daughter and father, Mario and Julianna, this week. As we were walking past them and say them in their front yard fixing a bike, Hermana Harris and I both had the thought that we should talk to them. We talk with everyone we see, but this time it was different. We began teaching them and sharing our testimonies. Julianna is 10 years old and is so sweet and intelligent. She wants to be baptized. We just love her. 

I really feel like I am serving with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I know that this is the Lords work and he is and will put people into our paths to teach and bring to the gospel. A lot of our planned baptisms had fallen through, but like I said, I know the Lord has a plan. He loves his children so much. I spoke in church yesterday. It was my goal to really speak from my heart and not to have it written in spanish word for word. I began my talk by saying something like, "I know you all know that I am learning spanish and I hope and pray that you will all understand me, but what I hope for more is that you will be able to feel the spirit and the truthfulness of the words that I will speak." My heart is beating so fast as I type this because I am reflecting on each and every experience and I know that Heavenly Father has helped me. This is an experience that I will never forget because it is so true that the lord really put words into my mouth. I spoke of Revelacion Personal and shared the experience of my decision to serve a mission and then how Joseph Smith received personal revelation. The branch of Progreso is so small and it is so cute because when I have troubles finding a word, people sitting in the congregation just shout words out to help me. It is tender. I love my mission. I love this time in my life where I am able to grow spiritually. Yes, a lot of times it is really hard, but most of the time it is really fun and rewarding. 

Goodness, thank you all for your love and support. And thank you for writing Hermana Chavez. She is mi mejor amiga. She loves receiving letters from you. I feel like we were friends in the pre existence. So cool! I love you miss you all so much, but I will be home so soon. Time is going by so fast and I know it will only go faster and faster.

Mom, look up this song by Hillary Weeks...its called "Dancing in the Rain" or something like that. It will remind you of me, I hope! 

Until Next Week! Be Missionaries! Share this light with all your friends!

Hermana Coon

 Hermana Harris, Hermana Chavez, Hermana Coon, Hermana Flores

EMERGENCY!

Hello my beautiful family!

You are all probably wondering why you are getting an email from me on a Wednesday! Lets just say something very urgent has happened! haha. My fake tooth has fallen out! I cant wait to tell you all the story in detail because it is crazy, but for now that is all I can say. 

Today, Hermana Harris and I went to the dentist here in Progreso (a little sketchy) to try to figure out what to do. I have two options. I can either have a tempory fixed for 2 months which would cost about $20 or I can have a permanent implant where they put a pin in the root of the tooth and they build a new tooth around it. This is probably about $300. I am a little nervous since the dentistry is very different here. My tooth is completely dead and is cracking because it has no life. Also, these arent the only options because I still need to have xrays taken. 

Needless to say, I have gone all day today with a rotten tooth. I am trying to look at the blessings of it...and you know what!? People actually understand me better! haha it is awesome! I am becoming a Uruguayan! (Most Uruguayans have no teeth or they are rotten!) The funny thing is, out of all the people we have talked to today, not ONE person has said anything about my tooth. Its completely normal here I guess. too funny.

I will come to the cyber to check my email tomorrow with your responses. 2pm Uruguayan time. Just a quick little email to let you know my little dilemma. Off to teach an english class! 

Love you all! Enjoy the pictures!

Hermana Coon!

Hermana Coon and Hermana Harris!

Hello loves!

I. am. so. tired. All the time. I remember before I left, Sunshine told me that I will never be as tired as I am here on the mission because we are working hard spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Spritually obviously because we try so hard to have the spirit with us at all times, physically because we walk and walk and walk some more, and emotionally...I have a story to tell you about this....

I have told you all about our investigator Monica. Yesterday, after lunch with the Familia Dotta (our branch president), Presidente Dotta, his wife, and us went to visit Monica and su hijos. We wanted Dotta to be there with us and to share his testimony as we taught about tithing. We knew that this would be a little difficult for Monica because she is sooo poor. She lives in an old house that is probably the size of our tv family room, it smells so bad and is so dirty, flies and animals fill the kitchen. During a lesson with her, I probably have 8 flies buzzing around my head at one time. Last night, as we visited with her, we found some more things out about Monica that we didnt know before. Monica told us that she is a spotter...I didnt know what this was before, but apparently it is someone who has no where to live, so they find an abandoned house and live there. Spotters dont pay rent, water, electrical, nothing. The people whose house she is living in are trying to kick her out...shes breaking the law, but she has no where to go. She doesnt work because she doesnt want to leave her two sons. Her situation is so sad...she doesnt have anywhere to go or to live and her kids are suffering because of this. As we sat there attempting to teach about tithing, promising her blessings, I looked over my shoulder to see Presidente Dotta in tears. A full grown man completely in tears looking at her surroundings. We had just, 10 minutes earlier, had come from Presidente Dotta´s house, which is almost as nice as a house in the states to the house of Monica. As we left the house and piled into the Dottas car, Presidente Dotta burst in to tears, and so did the rest of us. He was sobing because she has nothing and we have so much. "Did you think that you would experience things like this before you came on your mission, Coon?" he asked. "What would Presidente Monson do if he was here or better yet, what would the Savior do?" We just sat in the car and we were all crying, completely touched by what we had just experienced, how we all recognized how blessed we really are. Presidente Dotta did as the Savior would do. He gave us 2000 pesos to go buy some new shoes for the children because they pretty much have no shoes and to buy some groceries. 

Afterwards, as Hermana Harris and I were talking about what had just happened, we couldnt help but talk about our many many blessings. What did we do to deserve such a good life as we have? We have a family who loves us and is strong in the church AND we were born in AMERICA! Home of the free. Tears streamed down our eyes as we thought about this. My life will never be the same after my mission and after what I have seen. My heart aches for Monica. My eyes are actually teary as I write this. Today for Pday, we traveled to Las Piedras to buy some shoes and after this we are going grocery shopping. We have to teach her to be self reliant...that she can work and that she has so much potential. This is just one experience of how the mission is emotionally draining. Its like you love these people so much and you spend so much time with them and to hear, see, and witness things like this is so hard.

This week I read about the Stripling Warriors in the Book of Mormon, about how their mothers had taught them. This has caused me to reflect about my own mom and dad. Thats another blessing. I have, that I have righteous parents who teach their children the gospel. Mom, thanks for telling me about that talk in the ensign. I really needed to hear that. Trying to learn a language can be so frustrating and it is so scary teaching in spanish. I feel like I am starting from the very beginning again. It is so challenging. Yesterday, for Sunday School, my companion and I taught the lesson on the spot because the teacher didnt show up. We taught about the creation and it went well. After lessons like these, I think, "How in the world did I just do that?" And I KNOW that it was the Lord helping me. It is his work and he will not leave me alone to fend for myself. We have been working so hard with visiting the less actives and trying to reactivate them and yesterday, we had 7 Less Actives at church! It was so great. I love each and everyone one of them and want them so desperately to be active once again.

This whole week and last week, Hermana Flores (my best friend in the mission and roommate) have been going running. It has been so fun and really good for our social aspect and health! She is the greatest. I love running through the campo with the red sunrise and seeing the fog over the vineyards. 

Well family, I love you all so much and miss you all muchisimo! James congrats on your new job and fun stuff! So exciting to hear about our temple and other fun things like that. haha and dad, the shot gun story will forever be one of the funniest memories. Goodness, life is grand. 

Xoxo,

Hermana Coon

p.s. Hermana Chavez just gave me a big hug and said that you guys emailed her! She is so happy and so am I! THANK YOU! MUCHISIMO GRACIAS! Besos!

This is a picture of us and Monica. We taught her how to sew a cute quilted purse to make more money. 

Oh ya, crazy to think that the ward split again! WOW! Life will be so different when I come home. 

Give everyone a biiiiiiig hug for me...James, Annie, Hannah, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandma, grandpas, friends, ward members, everyone! 

Hey mom and dad!

Still no package from ya, but thank you so much for sending letters for Hermana Chavez! Also for the scrapbook, just stuff like paper, cute stuff, etc. It is so fun starting a scrapbook!

jaja the way they sell cars here is hilarious! They put like an empty bottle on top of the cars if they are for sell. super weird and random. And the dogs...I cant even talk about the dogs...they are so gross! I have been really practicing patience with these animals because i cant stand when they jump on me, bark in my ear, and lick my legs. haha. All i can do is take a couple deep breathes and then scrub my legs like no other when I get home at night and take a shower. Haha. 

Could you also send me some dietary supplies to clean out my system? Vegetables here are very limited and I feel very....soft. I have never been this out of shape in my life. It is actually pretty sad and I really know now how important eating healthy is. 

Love you both! Thank you so much for your love and support. Each day gets better and better. And I am enjoying myself more and more. I just always have to rely on Heavenly Father because I know that he is always listening. Its been different because usually I would just tell you both everything that was on my mind, but now you arent here. I have turned to my Heavenly Father instead to tell everything too. Its a good relationship.

I love you!

Your hungry for vegetables daughter,

Hermana Coon

Hello My Familia!

I received a bunch of letters from you all! They were written on September 9ish. I LOVED reading them all. I read them all on the way to Montevideo early this morning. We traveled to Montevideo this morning to figure some things out with my visa. Sometimes I cant believe that I am here...living in South America in Uruguay! Who would have thought? Its so fun being in Montevideo...the city. 

It sounds like you all had a blast in Buttonwillow this week. I have such good memories at that place! Thank you for sending letters to Hermana Chavez! She is really needing some encouragement and it is so hard for her, or anyone, not to have much support from home. It was funny because after I asked you guys, I forgot that she wont be able to understand because of the spanish barrier. But its okay, because she is learning english! She is such a sweetheart and has really gone through a lot of trials in her life. Her testimony is so firm and she is such a great missionary. Her email address is leydi.chavez at myldsmailnet. She will love having emails waiting for her in her inbox next Monday! 

Dad, in your email you mentioned to look how far i have come in these short 3 months and oh boy is that so true! This morning in Montevideo, I was talking with a group of latino missionaries...IN SPANISH! I had to stop for a second and think, "Holy Cow! I am carrying on a conversation with someone in SPANISH!" All I can say is that Heavenly Father is a God of miracles because i know that it is only through his help that I am able to understand and speak. ¡El idioma es muy dificil todavia, pero mi encanta español! 

Este semana ha sido una semana de milagros but it has also been a very trying week. I want these emails to be real...and I want you to know the truth of how I am learning and growing. I have learned the cure to a bad day...Go to work and think about someone else! And you know what? As soon as I did that, my day instantly turned better. I am not here in Uruguay for myself, I am here servir otras personas! This mission is turning me into a completely selfless person. Being a missionary is a completely selfless way of life. I love it. I feel like a completely different person than I was before. I love my mission and I am so happy. 

I have also learned the importance of MEMBERS! Members are amazing in missionary work and they make a huge difference in the investigadores. I know you are all awesome member missionaries! Invite invite invite, go out with the missionaries, etc. We had an awesome experience this week with a member couple this week with a Jehovah Witness. His name is David. Because the members were there and shared their testimonies, David commited to come to church and to learn more about the gospel!!! The members bore such powerful testimonies and really touched Davids heart. A Testigo too! You know how testigos are, so it was really awesome! 

The work is moving forward. Give everyone my love and have a great week! 

¡Les Quiero!

Hermana Coon

Dear Family!

What a great week it has been...from Conference to the miracles we see daily. Conference was SO AMAZING! WOW! It was such a blessing to be able to listen to it in English, too. I was sitting in my seat as it began, and I had a whole flood of memories come to my mind about conference. I thought about how you all were probably eating your crepes right now and laying on my big, comfy mattress. I remembered exactly ONE year ago when the announcement was made. Boy, that day changed our lives! And then I thought about 6 months ago thinking that I would be in Uruguay for the next Conference! I thought about how we were watching the same conference at the same time! Conference has always been so meaningful to me, but this time, it seemed even more meaningful as a missionary. It seemed like the major themes were the Atonement, el Plan de Dios, convenios, and MISSIONARY WORK! 

We had so many miracles happen this week and as I reflect on this past week, I am filled with so many different emotions...most filled with complete joy. Let me tell you why! I went on splits with Hermana Zegara from Peru. We were proselyting in an area called Cuatro Piedras. As soon as we stepped off the bus, we saw this old man standing near a tree and so we began talking to him. We began getting to know him and then found out that his wife past away 3 years ago. He seemed really lonely. We began teaching him about the Plan of Salvation...the Plan of Happiness! Mom, Dad, James, Annie, Hannah, everyone...The spirit was so strong! As we were teaching and testifying, I watched his expressions and emotions. Tears filled his eyes and we talked about our purpose here on earth and Gods plan after death...that he WILL see his wife again!!! At the end of our little lesson, we invited him to be baptized...and he said YES! He is getting baptized on October 26th! YAY! As Hermana Zegara and I walked away, she put her arm around me and whispered in my ear..."He was waiting for us!" And I knew it was true. Heavenly Father had prepared him especially for us.

Another miracle happened with our investigator, Monica. Monica has had a difficult time keeping her commitments and so this week we were going to drop her for the 3rd time. Everytime we attempt to drop her, something comes up. That is exactly what happened this 3rd time! I guess Heavenly Father has a different idea that we do! As we entered into her normally filthy home, we saw that it was a lot cleaner than normal! Monica had a sparkle in her eye and her whole countenance had changed! The first thing she said to us was, "I read your Bible!" haha. She has began to read the Book of Mormon every night with her two sons! I wish you all could see the change in her. This was a testimony to me that the gospel of Jesus Christ can literally change a person, spiritually and physically. She has commited to be baptized on Nov 2!!! She came to both sessions of Conference on Saturday and attempted to make it to Sunday. In her own words, she said, "Me encanto!" (Which is "I LOVE!") 

How cool it is to be able to be an instrument in the hand of the Lord in bringing about this wonderful gospel. I am so humbled by my sacred calling as a missionary. I wish I would have been a better missionary at home and in high school! You guys are right...all we need to do is invite. I have begun studying my scriptures and Predicad mi Evangelio each morning in spanish...I LOVE IT! Its like a whole new book almost. Nah, but I like it because things are described so differently. I was reading one day and noticed that in spanish, they describe the Book of Mormon and a "tesoro," which is treasure! How cool, huh?! We have a treasure and we must share our treasure to all the world! 

Words cannot express how grateful I am for your support! My sweet friend and roommate, Hermana Chavez does not have family that writes her. Most of them are less actives and dont support her on her mission. Can I give you guys her email and you can send her some emails so she has somethings to read? 

Mom, I think that Lord has blessed me with a lot of Type 1s on my mission, so that I have a piece of my mom with me. So far, all my companions and roommates have been Type 1s. Its actually pretty funny. There is never a dull moment in our apartment...lots of giggles and jokes. haha. Oh yay! I just got an email from Kami er..Hermana Severtson! and Sister Sunni Harrison! This is such a great time in life to have so many friends on missions!!! I am so grateful for this wonderful life that I have been blessed with. We are SO blessed, family!

Hannah, thank you for your prayer! That made me tear, especially the part about the Spanish and that the people would be able to understand me. And I have come to the conclusion that they may not understand me perfectly, but the Spirit is able to touch their hearts. The Spirit is the real teacher. I can feel your prayers each day...Heavenly Father is answering your prayers! Thank you! I love you! 

The work is moving forward. I love you all more and more each day and I love my Savior and Heavenly Father more and more each day too! 

Love,

Hermana Katie Coon

Oct 4 was my CUMPLEMES! 3 months in the mission! whoo hoo! Hermana Chavez made me a quite little sign for the celebration.

Today for lunch, Hermana Flores and I fixed the all american meal...grill cheese sandwich with tomato. Delish! Hermana Chavez, from Peru, had never heard of a grill cheese sandwich! WHAT!? Instead, she ate rice. Typical for a Peruian, i think?? 

The famous piano and my sweet friend the chorister in sacrament meeting. She probably has the most beautiful voice that i have heard in a long time. 

Mi Familia!

Hello! Sounds like you all have had a great week! This week has been a good one for me too. Congrats to Tyler and Anne on their new baby boy! What did they name him? And congrats to Summer Threet and Aubri on finding their prince charmings! so exciting! On Tuesday I received 2 letters from you and since its Pday today, I was able to read them! I LOVE LETTERS!

That picture that was sent to you was from an open house of a church building in Canelones, an area right next to Progreso. Those sweet members in the picture arent from my branch, but they are just the kindest and most loving people. It is such a gorgeous building and as missionaries, we directed the tours and taught the people from off the streets who wanted to tour the building and learn more about our beliefs. It was so FUN! I felt like a missionary from the Mesa visitors center. At the beginning, we brought the people into the chapel where the statue of the Christus was, welcomed them, and then had them listen to the recording of Christ. (just like at the Mesa visitors center.) Then once it was finished, my companion and I would bear our testimonies of our Savior. We would then take them to another room and teach them about Christ, the Restoration, the Plan of Salvacion, Book of Mormon, temples, and families. It was AMAZING! I taught everything in Spanish. I could not believe what was coming out of my mouth...and I could literally feel the help of Heavenly Father. My favorite was teaching about the temple...there was a beautiful picture of the Montevideo temple and I testified that I am so thankful for the perfect plan of our Heavenly Father. It is perfect and He is loving. And because of this perfect plan, we are able to be with our families FOREVER! And then I thought of my own family that I havent seen in forever it feels like. Oh how I miss you. The open house was really successful! At the end of the night, we have four baptismal dates set! wooo hoo!

You guys had your primary program yesterday? So did we! Our small little branch of probably 12 children. It was the sweetest experience. The primary president asked me to accompany them on the piano. To my right, I could see all of their sweet little faces and hear them singing those tender primary songs in spanish. I was right there with them to. That is an experience that I will never forget. And then after sacrament meeting, the hermanas and a few other members in the ward continued singing hymns around me as I played the piano. Gosh that you for giving me piano lessons. It has been a huge blessing in my life. 

I want to tell you about a typical Uruguayan meal. (Well one of them haha.) Yesterday for lunch, after church we ate lunch. It was really fun...we helped fix almuerzo. Picture this...Milenesas soaked in grease. Lettuce and tomatoes drenched in salt. Potato salad covered in mayonnaise. Fruit salad soggy in sugar. I thought to myself, "I am surprised we are not all dead!" But we are grateful for all the food that we have received, even if we have stomach aches and diarrhea for days after.

This week consisted of my poor companion being sick, 4 wasp stings, 3 dogs almost attacked us, 15 kilometers walking in one day, and zombie cows. Our area, Progreso A, is HUGE! We were walking in the middle of the campo and all of a sudden, Hermana Harris starts freaking out and running like a mad woman. She was being attacked by 2 wasps! I run to save my poor companion. We are screaming like little girls because these wasps are biting us. The good thing is that neither of us are allergic. And, we actually used our stings for our benefit...we got one new investigator out of it! Also, I KNOW that we have angels protecting us. We were clapping at a door and this dog comes sprinting towards us, barking, mean dog. But, right as it was about to attack us, it instantly turned away and stopped barking. It was like something pushed it away from us and it didnt bother us again. Crazy, huh? 

Hermana Harris and I are back to ground zero. We have no progressing investigators. We have set some new goals for this cambio and we are ready to teach and baptize someone. We have an town in our area that has never had the missionaries. They dont even have any churches! nada! So this week, that is where we are going to be...Cuarto Piedras and Cerillos. 

I have been studying about the Atonement this week. I want to share something that enlightened me...In Alma 34 16, it says that the Atonement encircles us in the ARMS OF SAFETY. I Loved that! I know that Christ has felt our every pain, weakness, afflicitons, temptation, sicknesses. Christ had done no evil, but because He loves us SO much, He was willing, ready, and prepared to do the unimaginable. He is here to make intercession for us, because without the Atonement and without him, we are nothing. He has felt what it feels like to feel completely alone. He knows what it feels like to be a missionary and to be rejected and rejected some more. And he knows what it is like to learn a language. hard. But goodness, if we just put our trust in him, be diligent in keeping the commandments, and have faith, he will help us. I know it and I have felt it. I have felt his love. 

I love this quote that I read this morning during personal study..."Trust in Him who knows all things. Trust Him whose love for you is perfect. Trust Him, who alone suffered, paid and atoned for your sings, and for your weaknesses as well. Trust Him that He will make of you, immeasurably more, than what you will ever, ever, in all eternity, make of yourself. He will create of you a masterpiece. You will create an ordinary man. He will create a God." 

I Love you all with my whole heart. I love my Savior. He is my light. I love this gospel. and I love the happiness that it brings me.

Con amor, 

Hermana Coon