I AM BACK

This past week was one of the MOST fun weeks I have had here. It was our 6mth mission activity (every feb. and aug.), there is an activity for every zone in the mission, depending on what area you are in depends on what activity you get to go to. I was able to go to two of the activities, to the zoo here in Tuxtla, and my FAVORITE to Tonina with all the tzotzils/san cristobal/comitan zones, Tonina are ruins here in Mexico, they are beautiful, and it is about 2300ft high. At the very tip top of Tonina there is about a 3 by 3 ft rock, and when you stand on it, the view is amazing, quite breath-taking actually. It made me really miss hiking in Utah, but also appreciate these tender yet beautiful moments in life, such peace, such beauty. I loved it so much. We are so blessed to live in such a beautiful world. Our Father loves us so much he has created such a perfect plan of happiness for us, with moments of such joy, for me, these are the tender moments I live for. 

Being the "presidents secretary" as he likes to call me was really fun. He taught me a lot. But it is great to be back in action. I am finally a full, functioning (slightly in pain), fully renewed missionary. Saturday afternoon Hna. Juliana came to the mission home to pick me up, and on Sunday while in church Jose blessed the sacrament like a pro. It was beautiful. He is doing wonderfully and preparing to go to the temple this coming week. Being a missionary truly is one of the most fulfilling callings this life has to offer. I know this time flies, very quickly and I need to work hard until the end... 

Wow, it's crazy how many of my katy friends are getting engaged and all that jazz. After being with Hna. George she opened up my eyes, a lot, to what a family will be like, and all I can think is: I am SUPER happy to be here in Mexico. I know this is where I am needed a this moment in my life, and that this time is preparing me to be a much better wife/mother in the future. But that I also need to take these next months to grow, and be the best person I can be, and continue to become the person Christ needs me to be so that one day, He can trust me with such great responsibilities.

Right now I LOVE feeling the satisfaction when I meet someone and just feeling that connection of: "I totally knew you before. I can feel it. I am going to help you." Since this is the last week of the transfer I am feeling more motivated than ever before to work hard and give it all I can. I have grown to love Teran so much. On Sunday I felt beyong loved, these beautiful members were so genuinely happy in welcoming me nack here, they even gave me ice cream and made me chocolate muffins. Hna. Juliana and I are "predicting"/ feeling that this transfer that come we won't be together, and that there will be transfers for hna Jules, which makes me sad to think about but also hopeful for the future. Whatever happens I like to think of and always act on my new favorite quote: "I desire to do the Will of the Lord, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else."

Expect miracles to come this week, I can't wait to go out and tell y'all about them next week. Until then, I love y'all so much. Se que esta obra es verdadera. Yo se que Jesucristo vive. Vive fiel para recibir Sus bendiciones.

I TOTALLY almost forgot: Elder Oaks is coming this Saturday and we get to ask Him questions, any question we want, too cool!!!! ANNNIIIMMMMOOOO.

Les amo, UN BUEN,

Hermana Coronado

Trip to the Zoo with "the guerras" 

 "One Crutch Team" - Hna. Westbrook

See that peak at the top: that is the Summit of Tonina

The grass is really greener on the other side

¡What a view!

 Yo amo a MEXICO por sus montañas verdes, por su calor y por las vacas en las calles, por todo lo raro y bello que es este país.

Sweet Relief and Infinite Gratitude

This week has been a blast. I went to parque Central with my dear friend Hna. Westbrook, and to Chiapa de Corzo earlier today with a ton of hermanas and with Sister George. There are just so many hand-made neat things here. One of my favorite little treasures is a hymn case with little Mexican women dolls sown onto it. I truly love hymns. I miss singing to strangers in the street like no other. I also just found out I am going to be in the missionary choir for Elder Oaks, he is coming here to Chiapas, to Tuxtla next Friday, we are all buzzing with excitement. I cant wait to see him, and ask him questions. I am giving the closing prayer in our meeting and am quite excited. :) 

I love this work, tooo much. This week has given me time to reflect more on why this is happening and I have come to the conclusion that because of my Savior, Jesus Christ I will not have to suffer this for much longer. He loves me enough to provide me with happiness and relief, how I love him. This gives me such a sweet relief, and a sense of eternal gratitude. 

My knee is almost 100%. I am now able to walk (with my crutches), but I can walk and feel very little to no pain. Which is awesome. People: Appreciate your blessings, no matter how simple and insignificant they seem. Since I am usually in the mission home or out with Hna. George I dont get to do much contacting but the other night the mail man came to the door and I half taught a lesson with Hna. Westbrook, it felt very nice. 

During this week I have had the chance to run into several different hermanas, all of which are struggling with different things here on their mission and I always council  them to Forget Themselves and Go To Work. My mind this week had repeatedly turned to Matthew 10:39 "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that looseth his life for my sake shall find it." I have found this to be sooo true here in the mission field. The more I think of others, the more my soul is filled with joy, and the times I do find myself thinking of "Hermana Coronado", I am never happy, funny how that works out. I know that time here is cut tooo short. 

My amount of patience has (hopefully, I would like to think) expanded widely in these past months. A quote a friend once shared with me has stuck with me for, forever. It says: “Patience is tied very closely to faith in our Heavenly Father. Actually, when we are unduly impatient, we are suggesting that we know what is best—better than does God. Or, at least, we are asserting that our timetable is better than His. We can grow in faith only if we are willing to wait patiently for God's purposes and patterns to unfold in our lives, on His timetable.” -Neal A. Maxwell

How true this. This week I am going to try to be more patient, to accept and eventually, in due time, understand the Lord's will. This is my invitation to y'all too... Open your ears so that you may hear, open your eyes so that you may see, and open your hearts so that you may be able to feel the promptings from the heavens. 

Lots of Love and Prayers from Chiapas,

Hermana Coronado

Hermana George enjoyed removing my stitches (Hna. George and Pdte. George are literally like my parents here in Mexico, they take Very good care of me)

 My trainee: Hermana Ortiz (she also had knee surgery....and survived)

 I love Hna. Hernandez like no other! She is the best.

 The bags be bought in the market.

 I fulfilled my "mini dream" and rode an electric wheelchair around walmart, it was too fun, and too funny

 My mexican native women Hymn Case

Tal como un fuego se ve ya ardiendo...♫

Since you all know me, you should know, I love helping others feel happy and not really having people help me too much so at times is can be a challenge to actually accept that in this time in my life: I need a bit of help. I have been using crutches every day since my operation and sometimes it is a little challenge. I have learned to appreciate being able to do "the little things" in life, like getting up, walking down the stairs and drinking a glass of water, carrying my own plate of food to the table, and even standing up. I always feel quite exhausted just going up and down the stair cases, crutching through the church building, my forearms, and biceps are much stronger than they were before. I made it past the "i'm sore stage" which means Im gaing muscle, i think... haha. 

Luckily I will get to begin my physical therapy and start putting pressure on my right knee on Thursday. I am so excited. I always feel a bit goofy with my crutches. My recovery is going very well, which gives me a lot of comfort. I know the Lord has truly been with me through this whole process.

I spend my days here trying to focus on what the Lord wants me to learn through this phase in my life, and in my mission. On Tuesday we had our Super Consejo de Liderazgo (all the zone leaders/district leaders/capacitadoras) it was super funny because I am suppose to have my leg elevated for the first week post surgery to decrease inflamation, so I took 2 pillows and used an extra chair and had my knee elevated throughout all of consejo, it looked hilarious. The best was that I was given 20min to lead on La Ensenanza Eficaz ahhh, it was wonderful. Me encanta sentirme útil. After consejo we went to the temple and I felt such a sense of peace. 

This week has been quite an adventure. Until I am fully recovered I will be here in the mission home, Hermana George has become my new companion. She is seriously super funny. Her bluntness (idk if thats a word) is too grand. I thought I would have a lot of time to be studying in depth the gospel, and memorizing scriptures, etc. Which i have been doing, but wherever Pdte. George goes, Hna. George goes, and I go too. Like on Friday we went to San Cristobal, it truly is just as beautiful as everyone says it is, and it is Cold! I felt like I was in provo again. They took out 5 sister missionaries to eat at a chinese restaurant that was delicious.

Saturday was incredible. We spent the entire evening attending baptisms: The first were with the elders from Lomas and they had a family of 4, they looked so happy and the spirit was ever so present. The second were Hna. Juliana and I here in Mactumatza, 19yr. old Jose and 12yr. old Anna, they were radiant, even being around them you could feel just how happy they were. I love Anna so dearly, i don't know why but I see myself in her. She is a ray of happiness. During their baptism they both bore their testimonies and that was the best because Jose talked about how he would one day serve a mission and Anna shared her feelings of purity when she was immersed into the water. It was also cool because the room was filled with investigators, and part member families. Pdte. George gave the most sweet closing prayer. The third baptism was a 25+ yr old man, he is the pioneer for his family, the highlight of this baptism was the special musical number by the secretarios and the ap's.

The spirit is so incredible. I feel so lucky to be a small part of Such a Marvelous Work and  a Wonder.

On Sunday we went to church in Chahuites, Oaxaca and it is a whole other world down there. I tried to capture it with photos but a camera doesn't do it justice. I wonder if one day I will be serving here. The people are so humble, so beautiful.

Pdte. George is awesome at keeping me busy at work, he calls me his "secretary" because I translate quotes and stories that he wants to share with the mission, and help him learn how to use his iphone, it's pretty fun. Presidente George and Hermana George truly are some of the most incredible people I know!

Animo mi querida familia. Gracias por sus cartas, me fortalecen mucho y me hacen tener el deseo de ser mejor. Sigan esforzándose por preguntarse: ¿Que es lo que el Señor quiere que yo haga?! y HAZLO. 

Les Amo MUCHO,

Hermana Coronado

Only in Oaxaca. I love this place. 

 Hna. George found lemons on the tree in the back of the casa de oracion in Chahuites and we helped her get them drown from the trees, daily trip to Oaxaca and we came back with a real coconut, lemmos, and MANGOS. There are a bajilion mangos in Oaxaca, literally EVERYWHERE.

 Hna. Grover is one of my favorite Hermanas, I love her dearly! 

 En el Super Consejo - Mis queridas Hermanas 

 Me, Hermana Cook and Hermana Briscoe

 Rays of sunlight on our way to San Cristobal

 Chinese Food in San Cristobal con Hna. y Pdte. George, Hna. Van (crazy hilarious), Hna. Rangel, Hna. Leon and Hna. Westbrook and I

 Hermano Jose: Futuro Misionero

 Anna Karen

 We Love Anna so much!

When in your own Gethsemane, Turn to Prayer

This week was definitely the most intense one throughout my entire mission. These past, casi 8 meses have flown by and I have learned more and more the importance of relying on my Savior, Jesus Christ and understanding His will for me, and for those who I am called to serve. 

This past week I have learned more deeply than ever before that I truly am a Representative of Jesus Christ, and if I ask the Lord for His blessings to be poured down from the Heavens, He Will shower them out onto us, more than we could possibly imagine.

I realized this profound truth on Friday evening the night before I would be going to have my knee surgery. It was an incredibly normal day, the main difference was that more than ever before I believed that there would be more miracles, and there were. We met an Hermana named Paola who has felt very strongly that she needs to join the mormon church, she knows what a temple is, and has gone to church a lot of times with her cousin from the moctezuma stake. We found her one evening when we realized we still needed 5 contacts for that day. Her family is beautiful, and she has the desire to join the church, talk about GOLDEN. 

The next miracle occurred with Anna Karen, a 12yr old girl who hasn't been baptized, and whose mom has been completely inactive for the past 6yrs. Ever since the second I met her I felt something so profound for her. I simply cant explain it, but she is SUCH a special soul. I can feel it, and she is SO receptive to the spirit. We took her to walk the temple grounds and have a lesson in the waiting room, and the spirit was there, she felt it, and simply told us, "I can feel something special in this church, something I can't feel anywhere else". When I asked her where else she felt it, she said, in church, when I pray, here in the temple. I know she is a wee bit nervous to get baptized but I have the faith that she will be baptized soon. This Saturday! She is a sharp girl and will be what leads her mother into re-activating, and her father to be baptized. Doubt not in the power of the Children.

I would also like to share one of the most profound, if not the most profound experience I have had throughout my entire mission. Saturday morning (Doctor Moreno and his wife, Hna. Fany, along with me, my companion Hna. Juliana and Hna. Cook) headed off to the hospital at 11am so that I could be treated for my right knee plica removal operation; to say the least:| I was scared, un buen... Well more than anything I felt nervous because as you all may know, I have never been operated on, and wasn't looking forward to having this 1st operation done here in Chiapas, nevertheless everytime i prayed and asked the Lord if I should do it, He always let me know it would all be okay, to trust Him, and just do it.

So I did as He counseled me. Hna. Fany took, a lot of photos throughout the whole process, it gave us all a good laugh, and helped me be a little less nervous. After they put the IV in my hand, and gave me three needle injections of anestesia I was taken to the operating room. As I lay there I felt like I was in a movie where the lights shined so brightly it hurt to open my eyes, yet I felt calm, and safe. (It definitely helped having Dr. Moreno in the room with me and that the entire operation I was praying). As the operation began I felt no pain, but as the plica was being cut I felt it, and it hurt. Immediately the scripture in Luke 22:41-42 began to repeat in my mind: "And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."

As I began to turn my heart to my Savior in prayer I felt the strongest impression that He was with me in that operating room. I couldnt help but have my eyes tear up with gratitude for His eternal love and sacrifice for me. "When Christ was suffering in Gethsemane, He did not just look at or watch the pains and torment of makind, He experienced them. He was there. He felt the soaring pains of all our sins in His own flesh. He felt the anguish, the fear, the terror. He truly did descend below all things, and the reason He comprehended them all was because He was there."

In the same way that my 2, maybe 3 hour operation felt like it extended for what felt like a long time, His few hours must have extended into what seemed an eternity of suffering on our behalf. As I sat in the operating room, thinking of this very thing. My perspective completely changed, my eternal gratitude for what Christ did for me in Gethsemene grew. It was a far greater price than any of us can imagine. By his stripes, we are healed, by His wounds we are made whole. And I know that when the day comes that we stand to be judged of Him, and we comprehend who He truly is, and what He truly did for us, every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess that indeed, He IS the Christ. 

I cant await the day in which my knee is healed and I am able to serve him with a greater devotion than I ever have before. Being able to feel a speck of the pain He felt for me makes my heart turn to Him, and swell with the strongest desire to Serve Him.

This is my small time to gain a deeper relationship with Him. I hope you all take the time to pray and thank our Savior for his endless love. He is the Christ. He is our Savior and I love him more than my words can express. Expect miracles. 

Les Amo UN BUEN,

Hermana Coronado

ps. Please pray for me tomorrow, I have been given a bit of time to capacitar in our Super Consejo de liderazgo and would love yalls prayers.

Zona Mactumatza, half of our girls are new

  I love the fields in Teran, que paz

 And so the fun begins...

¿Hermana Coronado, me amais? !Apacienta mis ovejas!

This has been the reoccuring question in my mind all week. I love the Lord so much, even to the point of only wanting to please Him. This week we had intercambios with La Salle, and I was able to stay here in our area with Hermana Dansie. I love Hermana Dansie very much! She is one of the other 3 sisters that arrived with me here to Tuxtla Gutierrez back in June. It is truly amazing because on every companionship exchange i understand why I am here for these sisters. With Hermana Dansie, we tried visiting as many less actives as we could. We found one Hna. who was on our ward list, and after finding her realized she has a twelve year old daughter who loves the gospel, and coming to church. It was perfect because we took a JAS from our ward (who is the only member in her family) and she bore her testimony on her conversion to the gospel. Arely is still a wee bit unsure about coming back to church, but i know her daughter Ana wants to, so bad. From the second we stepped into her house and began to sing a hymn with them I felt something really special for Ana. We invited her to be baptized and she accepted for this upcoming Saturday. Miracles NEVER Cease.

Jose is also progressing very well, he comes to church Every Sunday with his white shirt and tie. He asked us when the temple store is open so he can go buy a hymn book and his triple/bible, he says he really wants to have his scriptures during church. He truly now understands the importance of repentance, of being obedient, and being an example of Christ. He is so excited for his baptism on the 7th of February. I truly feel and know, he is now converted to the Lord, and is developing a sincere, lasting testimony.

This has truly been a beautiful lesson for me on learning to rely on the spirit, and finding MA's. When we love the Lords sheep He will trust us with finding more and more, until we have brought them back to His fold. I love the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 16:4-6 "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And whe he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost." I love that every single one of us represent the lost sheep, and knowing that He will always recieve us with unconditional love and joy, and will take us to our family and eventually lead us home (to the temple). 

Every single person here in Chiapas to me means so much. I truly love the people here and yearn to help them understand who they truly are. I have felt this overwhelming gratitude this week as I have been able to teach others the importance of a modern day prophet. Before during my mission i would teach the restoration and felt the spirit while doing it, but this week, as we have taught it more slowly, really trying to help each investigator, and less active to understand it has helped me gain a deeper conversion for the necesity of a prophet. 

I love Thomas S. Monson. I know he is a man called of God. I know this is the Church of Jesus Christ. My favorite quote of this week is by Elder Eyring: We are under covenant both to lift up those in need and to be witnesses of the Savior as long as we live. (We are those in need of the Savior) (under covenant to lift up and to be witnesses as long as we live).

Apply this every day. We are all witnesses of the Savior!

LES AMO UN BUEN,

Hermana Coronado

freaking out over my colored pens

 Hna Dansie, find a rock so we can knock on this gate" .... and this happens, oh how i love her!

Una Semana Loca CAMBIOS!

HOLA Mi Familia,

I dont have much time to write today, Pero....

Esta semana fue tal vez la mas rara que he tenido en toda la mision. 

This week we had a 5 stake zone conference with Elder Valenzuela, and I went to my first Consejo de Liderazgo, i hadnt realized that there are only 8 companionships of Capacitadoras in the entire mission of 100+ hermanas. As I was sitting in the meeting Elder Valenzuela asked everyone who had a year+ on the mission to raise their hand, everyone raised their hand Except for me and Hna. Juliana, we sat there, looked at each other, and said, "whoah, were the young ones."

I dont think i will quite ever be able to understand the confidence and trust the Lord has in me. These past six weeks have shown me and given me MANY many opportunites to grow and feel love for my sisters here in Mexico. We truly are the hands of the Lord here in this small part of the World.

I love my Father in Heaven so much. I love that He cares about each of His children so so much. I simply can't put into words my gratitude for Him. He truly is everything for me. My father, my best friend. I love and admire His son Jesus Christ with my entire soul. At times I reflect on these 7mths and think and pray and ask, Have I done enough, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude to know He is pleased with me.

I look forward to continue serving him and my Sisters here in Teran! One of the things i hopé to begin is to truly find and understand the personal revelation the Lord wants to give me when I pray, and read the Book of Mormon.

On Sunday we had a MIRACLE, an hna. named Angelita came to church, and she knows nothing but has a 100% desire to get baptized, February 21st is her day.  I am thankful for these tender miracles of the Lord.

Use this week to spread the gospel, to do your family history, OUR family history, attend the temple, show the Lord your love and gratitude for Him. 

LOS AMO UN BUEN,

Hermana Coronado

suchiapa

 Farewell Elder Gervais and Elder Peterson

 Consejo de Lideres

 Adios Elder Peterson, fantastic 4 has come to a close.... It's been real, it's been fun, it's been real fun!

 I love these people, UN BUEN!