To Leena

A Letter From Leena:

“Coleman, what did you get for Christmas?  And I LOVE you!  Thanks for the Monster High doll.  It’s fun to play with.  Do you miss me so much?  I lost a tooth and the Fairy gave me a silver dollar and 2 quarters.  I miss you very much dear Coleman.  Dear Coleman, do you know how to bike ride over there?  And Coleman, do you know something new?  Tell me what you look at.  A farm, or a pig?  What does the butterfly look like?  What did you name her?  Dear Coleman, you miss Mom and Dad right?  I am sick and I have an ear infection.  Love, Leena”  

Leena,

I got a printer thingy and some PJ's and some candies and stuffs. Love you too and you are welcome, I picked that doll out special just for you (because it looked like you). Stop loosing teeth you crazy girl how are you supposed to eat? Leena guess what? (What Coleman?) I can ride my bike and I don't even have to hold on with my hands (Wow you're so cool Coleman!). I look at another dude all day, me and my friend drive in a car and look at cows with big horns. The butterfly is still in his cocoon. His name is Heimlich (like from bug's life). Ha ha, sometimes I miss mom and dad hahaha, jk all the time. Don't get sick Leen, feel better.

Love,

Cole

Happy New Year

Hey guys, happy new year (in 2 days). Ha ha things stay pretty fresh up hear, fresher than a white pair of teeth out the orthodontist. I'm so fresh I don't have to fold my laundry. The week was pretty good, we went caroling on Christmas day. The rest of the week was just pretty normal, I dunno ha ha, it's all the same. Ha ha, I guess my letters sound depressing or something? I dunno, I just giggle my way around all day. That is pretty sweet about Jamaica though, but you shouldn't go without me. ha ha. How is Jordo doing? Ha ha he sounds like the same old Jordan though ha ha. But that printer thing is super cool, and I have had some great ideas so far hehehe... Thanks again for everything, love you guys so much!

Love,

Cole

Merry Christmas

Hey guys, so, to explain everything- Yes, I have gotten/am getting/ will get everything you sent to the old apartment, it just takes a little more time. I have gotten a few packages and whatnot, but I haven't opened anything yet because I am waiting for Christmas.

I'll call home arounds like 10-11ish here time, somewhere in there to the home phone. We had a cool mission conference. This email is gonna be shorty cuz I'll talk to y'all on Wednesday. 

I had a great week and everything is going cool. I like the car and whatnot. I feel bad because y'all never told me who I had for Christmas, so I didn't get anyone anything. That sounds like a pretty well done work by Samson, but I could do way better... Anyway, sounds like you all had a fun week making Christmas cinnamon rolls. All the kids wrote me saying how much they were all jealous that I didn't have to do it, but I actually liked doing that always ha ha. 

TALK TO YOU ON WEDNESDAY,

Role

Enjoy Your Joys

Hey guys, as always it's pretty great to hear what's goin on in the real world, and I love to see pictures and whatnot. So, some quick announcements- I got moved to a new area- long story short, we had to be moved because some stuff came up. I'm still in Denton, still in the same Spanish ward, but my area is different and all the investigators and all that mischief. Here's my new address- 

3232 N. Locust   #1521

Denton, Texas 76207

Anyway, we have 2 bathrooms in this apartment, so it is just beautiful, also we have a car, so it isn't too bad of a change, even though I liked the bikes, I definitely can't complain. We're still teaching Maria and her family, so at least that is the same.

Monday- In the morning, woke up and the Zone Leaders called and told me that I would be staying in my area with Elder Long, so I wrote that to you last week. Then, we rode our bikes over to the church and watched dumb church movies for p-day, it was kinda crappy but whatever. Then, we went out and did some missionary stuff. At night, we went home and planned and everything, when the Zone Leaders called us at like 9:45 and told us that we would be changing areas on Wednesday. We were pretty sad and whatnot, because we basically rebuilt this area from nothing and now we had to go somewhere else.

Tuesday- It was pretty weird to go and work in an area that isn't going to be ours, but we did it just the same, giggled around all day and taught some lessons, then packed everything that night.

Wednesday- Woke up, studied, then rode our bikes to the church, got our car, went back to our apartment, grabbed all our stuff, drove to the new apartment, and dropped it all off. Then, before unpacking or anything, we got back in the car and went to work. 

Thursday- still we're just tryin ta find where everything is and whatnot, it is a huge area. Basically, the whole city of Denton is split in half, and those are the two bike areas, and then we have everything else in the stake, just a massive area. 

Friday- we went to a missionary meeting, just fun as always, then we did studies until dinner. We went out and taught this lady, who liked us a lot, so after we talked for a little, she asked if we wanted some tamales. Of course we said yes, and she gave them to us and they were super delicious.

Saturday- We had to get some stuff on the car fixed (sister missionaries had it before us...) and so we went to pep boys for like the whole day, then more missionary stuff after that.

Sunday- Church and studies until dinner, then we were asked to usher for the stakes "Evening of Christmas Joys." So, we stood at the door, and told people to enjoy their joys. Then, we sat down, and listened to everything. It was pretty great, this stake is super official. They have an official stake Brass Ensemble and whatnot.

Anywhey- so for Christmas, I can call you guys on the phone for like 30 mins. I'll probably call mom at like 11 or 12ish (here time) if that is ok. If not, tell me what to do/who to call. So yep, that was my week, pretty weird. Thanks for the packages, but I got the one for the gifts to little kids, and I would feel way too much like a pedophile giving toys to little kids and I'm too scared of that, so I don't know what to do with those. 

Love,

Cole

Biking in Ice Storms

This week was pretty crazy. Denton kinda shut down for like 2-3 days because of an ice storm, but there is more about that later. 

Monday- P-day, played pool and whatnot at the institute building with the zone leaders, it was pretty fun. Then, we went over to the ward mission leader's house with an investigator (Maria, haha of course), and had a family home evening.

Tuesday-We went and did service at Our Daily Bread (you never told me if you saw me in the newspaper?) which was great because we got to wear service clothes. The we went over to Maria's house and raked up roughly 29,000 pounds of leaves, there were like 40+ garbage bags full of leaves, it was insane. 

Wednesday- Maria had her baby! Fun story- we had district meeting, and Elder Long had dry-cleaned his suit, so we had to go pick it up before the meeting at 11am. So, we were riding over there, and I was just singin' to myself as usual( the song was, umm... not missionary appropriate. But I wasn't really thinking haha), and we got there pretty fast. Then, when we came out of the dry cleaners, Elder Long's tire was flat. So we walked back like 3 miles to the apartment to try and quickly patch the tire so we could make it on time, but there was 2 holes, so we were late and had to have the sisters come pick us up. Anyway, while walking to the apartment, it was soo dang hot, I was sweating and I was kinda mad because it didn't feel like Christmas/winter at all. Then, later, we went to a super old members house and put up Christmas lights/ helped them decorate for like 5 hoursish.

Thursday- It was so freakin cold this day. We went early in the morning and a member fed us breakfast, then one of the missionaries had to go to a meeting because he is training, so his companion stayed with us during studies. It was weird. Anyway, it was so cold, and we were riding our bikes to our dinner appointment with a member(they live at least 5 miles away from the apartment), and it started to rain. Long story short, by the time we got to their house, Elder Long and I were covered in a thin layer of ice, our bikes were pretty frozen over and all that mischief. So, after dinner, we started riding home, and after like a mile, the Zone Leaders called and told us to get inside ASAP because it wasn't safe to be outside. So they came and picked us up, and we were in the apartment for the rest of the night. 

Friday- We couldn't ride bikes because it was too bad outside. There was like 4-6 inches of Ice covering everything. So, we walked around all day, like 10 miles at least in the freezing cold. But, it was good because all of the Mexican people who work everyday were at home, because basically the whole city was shut down. 

Saturday- Same as friday

Sunday- These Texans are a bunch of wussies. They cancelled church haha, it was great. Hahaha, there was just no church for a sunday, I thought it was so great. So, we walked around all day again, then watched the Christmas devotional at a members house at night. 

Anyway, there's my week, from Sweatin' Bullets to Too Cold For Church. The last package I got was the one with all the thanksgiving treats(The pumpkin bread was super good) and the one with bike stuff, so thank y'all so much for that! The patches came in handy when E. Long had a couple holes. Before those patches, we were reduced to patching with pieces of an old tire and superglue, which may have contributed to the having more holes thing. Haha, I think I finally am set with everything I need here. I do pretty well with the sweatshirt/raincoat combo I have, so no need to send me a coat. Also, I don't know if I am desperate enough to wear a sweater, but maybe one day. This week is transfers, so I am staying here with Elder Long. He goes home after this transfer so that is cool. We've been trying to find new people, and there is a ton of potential here right now, so hopefully something works out here. Have a great week and all that mischief!

Love,

Cole

Thanksgiving

You changed the Email address? What the heck, why is everything changing?

Anyway, here we go-

Monday- We had p-day, played pool and ping pong at the institute building, then tried to meet some investigators, but without any luck
Tuesday- We taught a sweet lesson to Maria, and met with some Recent Converts and whatnot
Wednesday- We had a district meeting and I had to give a training on Prayer, so that was fun (not). Then, we went to go talk to people but nobody was home.
Thursday- So we went to a white person's home for dinner, which was great because I didn't want tortillas for Thanksgiving, then we worked some more, but no one really wanted to talk to us because it was Thanksgiving.
Friday- We went to Maria's house and raked up leaves (more leaves than I have ever seen in my life) for like 3-4 hours, then came back later that night and taught another lesson.
Saturday- We searched for some new investigators, without much luck
Sunday- Same as Saturday, but with church

So that was my week, pretty fun right? Ha ha Elder Long kinda reminds me of Colin, he is super cool and laid back and whatnot. He goes home after next transfer. The weather warmed up a lot, so it hasn't been super cold here for a while. I speak Spanish a lot still. Anyway, sounds like you guys had a way fun week and stuff, so that is great. Have another fun week this week too.

Love,
Cole
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