i hit 6 months.... yikes!

 This week has been, well, interesting. Our new Relief Society president Hermana Vasquez (fantastic) gave us referral of a lady that she works with named Araceli. I guess Hermana Vasquez was praying to know who she should share the gospel with and Araceli's name came to her. We went over to teach her and she is so fantastic! She is Christian and says that she is very open to learning about what other people believe. After we had a short, but powerful lesson about the Restoration she was like, "Oh, that makes so much sense!" We are going back this week to see her. She is so great! I am excited to teach her :)

     We also taught Daniel and he is still praying and reading, we just have to get him to come to church! His mom is super nice to us and she loves that her son is getting more into praying and church. He is so great! His faith is increasing more and more each time we go over and I can tell that he is happier. His countenance has changed since the first time that we went over. Isn't it so amazing how the gospel can help people?

     On Thursday morning Hermana Carlson got a call from President and she has her visa! She leaves on the 22nd. That is next week! I am excited for her, but sad at the same time that she is leaving. It will be just me and Hermana White...weird that there will only be 2 people again. Especially for Hermana White because she was in a trio the transfer before I even got here. Hermana Washburn also received hers :)

     We did two exchanges this week...sort of. Hermana White was given an English companionship so she just decided to leave us in our area while she went to English work for a day. I was so shocked when we drove into their area to drop off Hna White. I am so used to my Spanish culture and living in the city. They live in this nice little tucked back area with a bunch of very nice houses and they live in a palace! I don't think I can convey to you in words how weird it felt being in a house like that. The only thing that Hna White could say at the end of the transfer was, "I'm glad to be back in Spanish." On Saturday I went to Elk Grove to work with Hna Griffith. She is in her third transfer and she is fantastic! Her and her compaion Hna Cosby live with Hna Naatjes (still in English work) and Hna Sharp (who recently returned from a quick surgery). It was nice to be with all Hermanas :) Hna Griffith and I were able to teach quite a few lessons and we had a lot of fun. She is a fantastic missionary and will do great things!

     We are doing pretty well in our area. We have some new investigators that are great! I feel so blessed to be able to help them come closer to their Heavenly Father. Sometimes I wonder why the work is as hard as it is, but then I remember what Elder Holland said about how we can't expect it to be easy for us because it was never easy for Jesus Christ. This is His work, not ours. :)

     On a lighter note: I hit 6 months this past week...yikes! That was slightly weird. It is just astonishing to me how fast the time really flies by. You cannot take one second of a mission for granted because you don't get do-overs. I want to work even harder and keep coming closer to my Heavenly Father. I am building a relationship with Him out here that I don't know if I ever would have found it had I not served. I am truly blessed! I love this work so much!

Love always, 

Hermana Freestone