Heartbreak and Tears

G'day Family and Friends,

So I have had lots of "hope the baptism went well" and I want to start off by letting you know it didn't happen. She cancelled it the day before. I will tell you the full story.

We saw Ann on wednesday, we had a great lesson planned. When we saw her she seemed kind of off and then she told us why. She said she had told her Boyfriend she was getting baptized this weekend and he shut her down. He got really mad and told her all these reasons why she shouldn't and looked up anti-mormon literature online. She showed us and we assured her that it isn't true and that the internet is not a realiable resource. That if she ever has questions about anything, first ask God, then read the scriptures, then ask us, then you can check LDS.ORG. She kept asking why this was happening only just a few days before her baptism and we told her because the adversary is mindful! That he does not want her to get baptized! No matter what we told her she didn't seem to sway. We planned to see her on friday, the day before her baptism. I went with one of our recent converts, Bianca. As we walked up her drive I saw a man in the window and I immediately knew it was her boyfriend and that this lesson would NOT go well. I didn't even want to go in, but we did. Ann was crying, telling us that she would not and could not ever get baptized. (This was all said with her boyfriend supervising). She said she never believed in God in the first place, etc. Whenever I went to ask her an inspired question or bear testimony her boyfriend would interupt me. Old Sister Coultrup from before her mission would have punched him, but I sat there calm as I could be. I knew that what she was saying wasn't her. She had such a strong testimony and many spiritual experiences. But she denied everything right there. It broke my heart and when we left I cried harder than I ever have my whole mission. I felt as though I had failed, she has a greater light and knowledge now, but she still denied. I felt horrible. I cried all evening, when my district leader called, I cried. Zone leaders, I cried. It was a really rough weekend.

                                                         Victor Harbour cute town

But I prayed and asked God for some assurance that I had done what I could. That maybe perhaps I didn't fail, I was just searching for some comfort. The next morning in my studies I was reading Preach My Gospel and came across a scripture reference I had written in the notes area. It didn't have anything more but a reference. I felt prompted to look up that scripture, so I did. And I cried some more because it was the answer to my prayer.

"And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said unto the servant: What could I have done more for my vineyard?" Jacob 5:41

"But what could I have done more in my vineyard? Have I slackened my hand, that I have not nourished it? Nay, I have nourished it, and I have digged about it, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it; and I have stretched forth mine hand all the day long, and the end draweth nigh. And it grieveth me that I should hew down my vineyard, and cast it into the fire that they should be burned. Who is it that has corrupted my vineyard?" Jacob 5:47

                                                           Christmas in Australia

I know I have done all I could, I have taught her my whole mission thus far. And as much as I love her, she has her agency to choose. I feel comforted in knowing that one day she may come back, but also comforted knowing I did my job and the Lord knows I did as well. Sometimes things don't work out the way we have planned but our ways are not always God's ways.

Other than that I had a good week. Oh, I experienced 40 degree weather for the first time in my life. It was a nightmare! We were even doing gardening service in that weather! We would spray eachother with the hose outside and in 2 minutes we would be dry again. It was not good.

Last Monday we went back to Victor Harbour! Woo hoo! I love Victor Harbour, you all know that. It is my favourite place here.

This past weekend we also had the Onkaparinga ward Christmas activity. It was the strangest thing, it felt like Canada day. There was a petting zoo, a BBQ and all these games for the Children. All outside the chapel, but this was a Christmas activity! It was a hot day too! So weird, it was fun though! 

                                                                 P day by the sea

That is all for now, I love you all!

Sister Coultrup

--

Sister Bethany Victoria Coultrup

Australia Adelaide Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Satan's Blood

G'day Family and Friends!

This week was a really great week!

This week we had one of our former investigators text us. I haven't seen him since beginning of last transfer, he just dropped off the map and we couldn't get in touch with him. But he texted us and straight forwardly said he wants to be baptized. We saw him the next day and he told us he has still been praying and when things got really hard he read the Book of Mormon. We set a date with him for his baptism. He has a history of being flakey, so I was a little skeptical. He said he would come to church, which he has never been the whole time I have been in this area. But he came this Sunday! It was nice to see him follow through with that commitment and he said he would come next week. It seems he has had a change of heart. Also Ann had her baptism interview this weekend, she was dressed like a Sister missionary! She was so excited as well and everytime we see her she tells us that she is excited. She is being baptized this week, November 21. It was so nice to see investigators really desire to come unto Christ.

 

I went on trade offs this week! I was left in this area with a brand new Sister, she has only been out for 4 weeks. My other two companions got to go to the city for the day and work there. I was so jealous! But nevertheless, I had a great time and this Sister taught me a lot. We became good friends!

Yesterday, the Sisters and I jumped in the car and started on our way to church. It was early morning, since Onkaparinga ward starts at 9. As we drove down our street I looked to my right and there were HEAPS of ducks everywhere! So I took a picture. Looks like they were having their own little Sunday gathering! 

This week I got to see our two male recent converts participate in the Sacrament ordinances, one blessed and the other passed. It was amazing to witness their progression!

A few weeks ago, I think I forgot to say, but I did something really silly. My Ward Mission Leader has this thing called Satan's blood. It is a derivative of some super spicy chili pepper thingy. The challenge is to have a single drop on your tongue. He dips a tooth pick in the Satan's blood and VERY lightly touches your tongue with it. I have seen videos of previous missionaries running around looking for anything to soften the blow of heat, Elders crying, and so on. They have NEVER had a Sister try it before. Me being stupid thought HA I WILL BE THE FIRST SISTER. My companions agreed to join me! It was horrible! So spicy I kept coughing and there was no relief. We had cucumbers and I ate all the cucumber to try and cool it down. It was painful! Not cool! I was a wimp back home and wouldn't even try the Buffalo Wild Wings Blazing Challenge but I did this! I turned red and Brother Watts said that is the most colour I have ever seen on your face! I took a video, maybe you will get to see me suffer sometime soon. 

Being District Sisters is hard work but I think I have gotten the hang of it. (I probably shouldn't say that because no doubt another challenge will be thrown my way). We just have to plan very wisely, and also plan travel time as well, if we didn't we would always be late. Also we have to be sure that we are counting our Ks and don't go over. But everything seems to work out which is good :-)

The work is great, I LOVE being a missionary! The church is true!

Also I bought a mini didgeridoo, prepare for me to come back a master didg player.

With love from Down Under,

Sister Coultrup

--

Sister Bethany Victoria Coultrup

Australia Adelaide Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Teaching in your Sleep

G'day!

This week has been really good! I am heaps tired so that just goes to show it has been a gooder.

First off I want to share an experience we had this week. We went to follow up with a potential we found door knocking a few weeks ago. When she answered the door she was so happy and welcoming and caught us up on everything that has happened in her life these past few weeks. She told us that she has been looking for more peace in her life because she has been quite stressed out lately. I asked her if she prays. She says she does, but not very often so that when she does pray it is more "powerful". We told her that prayer is a great way to receive peace in her life, that God hears and answers every prayer and that it is important to pray often. She started to cry. She told us that she prayed this morning and that she "understands that God is busy so he sends us angels". She said, "I don't know if you realize but you three are angels. You go around, knock on peoples doors and ask if they are okay and if they need any help." She said she knows God sent us to her because of her prayer this morning. We are going to start teaching her now.

This experience strengthened my testimony of prayer, it is so powerful, God is mindful. She was able to recognize us as servants of the Lord. It was a great experience!

                                                    Sleepy Companion at Study

I learned this week that I talk in my sleep! My companions have conversations with me and apparently I teach in my sleep too, waking them up. That is very strange, I have never ever done this before my mission! I am kind of worried that I might say something embarrassing in my sleep because I can't control it. Haha oh dear.

We have a baptism coming up in less than two weeks! I am so excited! She is so solid, we went through the baptismal questions with her and she passed with flying colours. With this investigator I have learned that God always follows through with his promises, those from following the commandments. It is beautiful and it strengthens my faith. Helps me know that I can trust Him in everything and I know that I will be blessed.

This Sunday I had to bear my testimony twice. Once in both wards, I was asked last minute, in both wards. My companions were laughing at me. Apparently the Lord really wanted me to open my mouth yesterday. It was a good experience for me though. I love to bear my testimony, I am not ashamed of my beliefs and my testimony is compiled of things I know to be true, which I have learned for myself. This church is true, God is real and His Son Jesus Christ loves each and everyone of us. The Book of Mormon is true, it is a testament of Jesus Christ and gives us further light and knowledge just like the bible.

I love my mission and I love this gospel.

And I love you all!

With love from Down Under,

Sister Coultrup x

--

Sister Bethany Victoria Coultrup

Australia Adelaide Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Reverse Trick or Treating

G'day!

First off I apologize if this is really short, I will type like the wind!

This week was crazy. First off, we decided (or I decided) to buy pumpkins last Pday so I can teach my companions how to carve one. Neither of them have ever celebrated Halloween before and my heart broke. You all know how much I love Halloween. So we gutted them that Pday and we decided to go over to our recent converts the next day and we all carved our pumpkins. It was a great time. Halloween is not big here in Australia at all.

Then Sister V got really sick this week. We visited lots of doctors and stayed in the flat so she could recover and survive.

We had a lesson with one of our investigators who has been struggling to commit to coming to church and baptism. She was meant to be baptized last month but she dropped the date. Anyways, we committed her to come to last weeks church on Sunday. I told her to pay attention to how her week goes, I said that Heavenly Father will bless her with a great week for coming to church and that he will every week that she does come to church. She agreed she would and we followed up with that this week. I asked her how her week went and she said, "You know what, this week was actually a really nice week for me..." Then she went on to explain all the reasons why her week was great compared to the ones previous when she hadn't gone to church. I then asked her why she thought her week was so good. She said, "because I went to church and I also read some of the Book of Mormon this week." I was SO HAPPY. YAY! It fills me with great joy when people can recognize when God is following through with promised blessings! The Spirit was strong and continued to tell us how she is feeling very confident and wants to reset her baptism date for this month! We are so excited and it strengthened my testimony to see Heavenly Father follow through with a promise, which he always does I just need to have a little more faith. Sabbath Day observance is so important. The Apostles and Prophet have been stressing this topic for a while. I know that we will all receive individually designed blessings from our Father in Heaven when we follow his commandments, one being keeping the Sabbath Day holy.

This Halloween one of my companions ideas was to "trick or treat" at members houses and our recent converts houses, but with a twist. We give THEM Chocolate with a note and scriptures that will uplift them. She would sing: "Trick or Treat, Halloween, Here is something good to read!" So we did that and it was enjoyable and all the members appreciated it.

That is all for now! Hope  you have a wonderful week.

Ps. Found a baby Huntsman Spider at church behind a glass window. *shudder*

Love,

Sister Coultrup
--

Sister Bethany Victoria Coultrup

Australia Adelaide Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints