Week 26 - November 23, 2020

 Familia na rafiki,

This week has been up and down like crazy!  As a missionary, there are great days and there are hard days.  This week was a mix of both (you wanna hear more about it--email me lol). But, God is so good and honestly guides us with the Spirit in everything. 

Classic mirror selfie from a happy sister missionary:) 

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One of the coolest experiences I had this week was on exchanges.  I was in an English area for the day, and we had a Zone Meeting (all missionaries in Twin Falls) about how many new people we could find to teach in one day!  My companion and I talked about a goal of three.  It sounded great, but I had a thought come into my mind that it needed to be four.  So we changed it to four, not questioning the Spirit.  That whole day, we knocked doors and talked to as many people as we could for about four hours straight with rejection after rejection.  We prayed all day long for help and it just wasn't working out.  We finally found one person, and then another, and then another. We were at three people five hours into our contacting for the day.  One away from our goal.  We wanted to reach our goal so bad.  We needed to get back for a dinner appointment, so we didn't have much time and were ready to call it, but me and my companion at the same time had the thought to go back to a house we had been to earlier.  Earlier in the day, we visited this house and no one answered, but I had a thought that we needed to come back in the evening.  We both remembered that thought and went over to that house.  A man answered the door and we talked with him for a little bit.  We found out he has read the entire Book of Mormon and wants to go to church!  AMAZING.  The Lord prepares people, we just need to listen to the whisperings of the Spirit to know how to find them.  Everything the Spirit had told me that day led to us meeting that man.  So cool. 

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Another thing that was cool was on Sunday.  As Swahili missionaries, we were trying to figure out what wasn't clicking with some of our friends.  We talked for like two hours and finally decided to look in the scriptures for help.  Sister Hyde eventually opened up to Jacob 5, the allegory about the vineyard.  It talked about how when the branches were bad, they had to first make sure the roots were solid so the roots could help the branches bring forth good fruit.  Then it clicked. We need to strengthen our roots.  We figured out who our "roots" were and decided to focus on their progression this week.  We are hoping it goes well, but we definitely know those ideas and thoughts were from the Spirit. 

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We had Zone Conference this week and President Southward talked to us about "getting on the train."  There's one train that leads us back to heaven and that's Jesus Christ.  Are you on that train?

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We finally started teaching a Swahili class!  Some members wanted to learn, so once a week we will teach them the language!  We are blessed with such amazing people who want to help us.

English class! (They call me #1 teacher♡)

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The greatest compliment I received this week:  Someone asked if I lived in Africa before America because he said my Swahili sounded really good:)  I laughed and said, "No, I've only been learning for six months."  He was blown away and I was proud of myself haha.  Couldn't have done it without God though! 

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Spiritual Thought:

Because most of my email has been spiritual thoughts, I'll keep it short.  But this week the Prophet spoke about the power of gratitude.  I can testify that that is true.  I have been keeping a gratitude journal for about a month, and it's amazing and has made me so much happier to see how much the Lord blesses us.  Give thanks to him in prayer daily!!!  We could never thank him enough for all he does.  Watch President Nelson's video if you haven't yet!

The Healing Power of Gratitude

 

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Well, that's all folks!  Thanks for following along in my life and caring about what I'm doing!  I'm grateful to be a missionary and wouldn't rather be anywhere else!  Tell those around you you love them and be thankful this week! 

-Sister Copeland ♡

#givethanks

We put up our Christmas tree!!  And no, it's not too early...

Week 25 - November 16, 2020

Jambo familia na rafiki yangu! 

Wiki hii ni Nzuri kabisa! 

I have had another GREAT week here in the Swahili area of the IPM.  It's been seriously so good.  We always said that the Swahili Ward would progress our work, and we are finally seeing that promise come to fruition.

Elder Lundgreen came back for a day!

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The biggest and best event of the week was:  ESTHER IS ON DATE FOR BAPTISM!  She has one of the strongest and best spirits I've ever seen IN MY LIFE, and I'm so so happy for her. She will be baptized Nov 28th.  She's so excited and we are, too.  I've never seen a testimony of the Book of Mormon like hers.  I have seen that book physically, emotionally, and spiritually change her, and I'm so happy that she's taking this step toward her Heavenly Father. 

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Now, to describe why I put "car accident" in my subject line. Don't worry, I'm fine.  But, there's a backstory to this said car accident.  First off, the exciting part!  The church is accepting videos for the Christmas devotional, meaning that anyone around the world can send in a musical performance to Salt Lake and they will pick a few to be featured in the WORLDWIDE Christmas devotional!  So, of course the mission decided to film one.  Out of all 300-ish missionaries in our mission, I GOT PICKED TO DO A SOLO.  So, the song is "O Come O Come Emmanuel," and I sing a verse as a soloist. We have an Elder who's like a professional film maker who filmed the music video and stuff, and the whole world might have the possibility to hear me sing... ahh!  Anyways, the car accident.  The first day of filming, we drove to this large beautiful field.  It was FREEZING, and the chance of rain was 100% all day.  So its raining (well, sleeting) and nothing is going right, and at some point we decided to call it for the day. As we were getting ready to go, an Elder in our car is like "Ooo, they're really close to us," and right on cue, SCRAPE. The truck for the film crew full on banged the back of the car I was in (not my car thank goodness).  The Elder who was driving gets out and was MAD, but luckily no one was hurt and things were all good by the next day!  But yeah, the video's done and maybe you'll see me sing in the Christmas devotional👀

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I wanna tell you all how powerful obedience is.  I swear since I have completely consecrated myself to the Lord, people have randomly started progressing and deciding to come closer to Christ!  We almost had like three other people on date this week, and it's all because of God.  I could do absolutely nothing without him.  Wow. 

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Ujumbe yangu kwa wiki hii ni katika kiswahili kwa sababu nataka kuwa bora ni kiswahili. Ningependa kushiriki andiko kwa ninyi katika Kitabu Cha Mormoni, Kitabu cha Alma, sura ya tano, mstari ya kumi na tisa (Alma 5:19). Kinasema:

"Ninawaambia, mnaweza kumtazama Mungu siku ile kwa moyo safi na mikono safi? Ninawaambia, mnaweza kutazama juu, mkiwa na mfano wa Mungu umechorwa katika nyuso zenu?" 

Naupenda mstari hii kwa sababu unanionyesha kwamba nahitaji kuishi maisha yangu ili naweze kuwa kama Mungu na Yesu Kristo.  Nahitaji kuwa na Yesu Kristo "umechora katika nyuso yangu".  Lakini, Tunaweza kufanyaje hii?  Tunafanya kwa kufuata Yesu Kristo na mfano yake na kwa utiifu amri zake.  Najua kwamba ukimfuata Yesu Kristo, utakuwa na furaha zaidi.  Najua kwamba kanisa hii ni kweli, na Kitabu cha Mormoni ni kweli pia.  Nakualika kusoma Kitabu cha Mormoni na kuishi kama Yesu Kristo katika njia yote. 

Asante sana kwa kusoma ujumbe yangu.  Nakupenda kwa milele. 

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Well, if you wanna hear more stories from this week, let me know because I've got way more than I could fit it in this email. But, I love you all and pray for you always! ♡

- Sister Copeland 

Pictures of the Week

1-2. SNOW! ❄❄❄

3. The only way to eat a cinnamon roll is on the floor.  Duh. 

Week 24 - November 9, 2020

 This week was such a good one! 

I came up with a new motto:  "I can rest in 2022."  I have heard so much about how the time I have as a missionary is short, and I decided this week that I'm DONE wasting that time!  Hard work 24/7.  Not that I wasn't working hard before, but this week we kicked it into high gear.  And it's gonna be that way 'till I'm home!

TWIN FALLS ZONE👀

This new fire that was lit inside me came because of a comp study me and sister Hyde did.  We read the entire Missionary Handbook in one sitting and truly evaluated how we were doing.  We wanted to be EXACTLY obedient, because there are rules for a reason, and when missionaries follow those rules, we are blessed!  So, here's to me being completely consecrated to the Lord.

Other than my new enlightenment, we had lots of good days this week.  We had a Zone Council on Wednesday where we played a big game of Kahoot to get to know the missionaries in our zone.  It was fun!  We also had a big testimony meeting with all the missionaries, and it was so good.  A testimony is truly a living, growing, changing thing, and it was cool to see the truths everyone holds so dear. 

We, also, got to have Swahili church again this week!  And I found out that they want me and Elder Pitcher to start translating from English into Swahili LIVE.  So as people are speaking, we are translating.  It's gonna be wild and nerve-racking, and it's gonna put my language to the test, but I'm excited. 

We had lots of success on Saturday!  We taught 7 lessons, found 3 people to teach, and asked for 16 REFERRALS!  And we got lots of good ones.  Our teaching pool is constantly growing, and it's amazing. 

On Friday, I was with Sister Pierce in Kimberly, because Sister Hyde had a leadership conference.  We did this huge service project where we raked THOUSANDS of leaves.  I swear we filled so many trash bags.  But it was so good to help!  Serving is the BEST. 

I would say that's the main stuff.  I'm so happy to be here in Twin Falls in this area with the refugees.  I wish I could bring all of you to meet them!  They have such sweet spirits. 

Spiritual Thought:

I've been reading a book called "The Infinite Atonement."  It is so good!  It talks in depth about Christ's Atonement and the ways we can use it.  One of my favorite parts talked about how a child is drawn towards a parent by some strong spiritual force when the parents arms are open, waiting to embrace the child.  The scriptures talk a lot about how Christ will encircle us in the arms of his love.  God and Jesus Christ are consistently waiting with their arms wide open waiting for us to run and let them surround us with love.  Just as a child cannot be forced to run into a parent's arms, doesn't mean the parent does not wait there with arms outstretched.  Same with our Savior.  He is there waiting for us to come to Him, we just have to make the decision to run towards Him.  So do it.  RUN to your Savior.  His arms are outstretched.♡

Thanks so much for supporting me on my journey as a missionary!  Let me know if there's anything I can do for you.  A prayer, a message, a spiritual thought, etc.  I'm always ready to love y'all! 

Nakupenda kabisa rafiki yangu:)

Na upendo,

Sister Copeland♡

P.S.  Also, I forgot to mention, it snowed this week!  Welcome to winter here in Idaho. 

Pictures of the Week:

1.  Baby Onore:) those CHEEKS tho

2.  Baraka, Batina, na Mimi

3.  Sofia's birthday party! 🎉

Week 23 - November 2, 2020

 This week was CRAZY compared to last week. 

We did so much this week.  We got right out of quarantine and started working.  It's so good to have the ability to visit and teach people! 

One of the best lessons we had this week was with a girl named Esther.  She said she has been reading the Book of Mormon every day!  She would bring it to school and instead of going on her phone after she was done with her work, she would read it.  She would even sit alone during lunch so she could read it.  She says she knows it's true, and she gets so many answers for questions she didn't even know she had! Her faith is so strong!

Another awesome lesson was with a lady named Vasta.  She loves to sing so we sang some songs with her, and then read her a short scripture from the Book of Mormon.  We then gave her a restoration pamphlet in Swahili, and she loved it.  She started reading it and then didn't even listen to the rest of the lesson because she was still reading.  So we left and she kept reading!  She's amazing. 

Maria, a girl we had been teaching but her family kind of stopped wanting to listen to us, messaged us this week!  She said she really wanted to learn more.  We are so happy the Lord softened her heart and made it so she was open again! We brought her a Book of Mormon with some of the best parts marked, and she already started reading! 

We also had a trunk or treat with the ward!  We got tons of refugee kids to come, and even met this lady who is from Kenya and wants to help us learn Swahili!  Amazing! 

We also got like 14 people to church this week too!  And so many people want to come back.  So good! 

My Swahili Gma giggling with me at church! 

We also did a service project with a Sister in our ward, where we planted some plants in her backyard!  It was a lot of fun and it turned out beautiful! 

Anyway, that's honestly all I can think of right now, but it's been an amazing, fun-filled week! 

Heres a spiritual thought:

I was reading in 2 Nephi 28 this week, and I noticed a section that talked about how in the latter days, people would say that God doesn't give us revelation or perform miracles anymore, and then they would also say that things were done "by the hand of God."  The chapter was basically like:  You literally say there's no miracles and then turn around saying that God performed a miracle!  I know for a fact that God performs miracles today just as he did in biblical times, including having a prophet who receives modern revelation.  This is because God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and he loves ALL his children! 

Well, that's about it! 

Najua kwamba Yesu Kristo anakupenda na ukiomba kwa msaada, atakusaidia kwa sababu SISI NI WATOTO WAKE!

Kwa heri! NAKUPENDA KABISA!

♡Sister Copeland 

Pictures of the Week:

 Saying bye to Babas who moved:(

Mini giving me the cutest little kiss