I'm Glad They Called Me On A Mission

     Sounds like you all are doing pretty swell at home. I am sorry to hear about the snow. I would say that I miss it, but I would be lying and I'm a misionera so I can't do that :) It is still in the 60's here and it's hilarious to watch people running around in long pants, sweaters, coats, scarfs, etc. I'm loving my life in shorts and a t-shirt (only on P-day, of course). 

     Things this last week were a baby bit bumpy getting going, but we finished the week out in style! A trio is really hard teaching-wise, but we have all been in trios before. We just had to start to mesh and it was good after that. 

     We went to visit Daniel this week...grrrr. Yeah, I don't think we will be teaching him much longer. We taught him the Word of Wisdom and asked if he would be able to keep that and he said no because he likes to drink with his buddies. Ohmigrsh!!! Alcohol should never have been invented! Ugh! He said he would try to go a week without it. He also doesn't want to come to church. It is just hurts because I know that what we have can help him but, as Hermana Arntsen would say, "Adam ate the fruit," so he has agency to chose it or not. It's like Lili all over again :(

     On the flip-side, that guy Jose that we found last week came to church! He really liked it too. The bummer is that he is going to San Francisco for work for 2-3 weeks and won't be back. So we left him a Book of Mormon and a few things to read. But he did ask for the address to the church there :)

     We also went to see Briana and Natalie this week. We taught them the Law of Chastity. Since they are little we had to get a little creative so we used the "head, shoulders, knees, and toes" demo (it will take too long to explain-just know it's more age-appropriate). They really liked that. They also wanted us to show them the teabag lesson again, but as of this week, we are no longer allowed to use object lessons in our teaching. That means no more cup lesson, teabag lesson, bridge lesson, toothpick lesson, nor any other analogies like the ice cream truck to explain authority, or the pen to help people understand prophets, or the ring to explain the Holy Ghost. Sorry if you have no idea what any of that is :) But yeah, it really makes things complicated. However, it came from Elder Ballard so I guess it's probably important. I am going to be a scriptorian when I get home :)

     Oh! Ha! We went to do a pass-off lesson with the elders (they found someone who spoke Spanish so we all had a lesson together) and we rolled up a baby bit late. As we came up to the door some lady yelled through the screen, "As God as my witness I curse you all!!!" And then she told us to come on in. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little creeped out. Thankfully, her parents were super nice :) We had a lesson with them but we won't be able to teach them because the man isn't really interested and the woman has Dimentia...o algo asi. No se...

     So, the thing that really capped off our week: we had 7 investigators in church! No lies! And there were like 4 less-active families there too! Briana and Natalie, Jose Andres, other Jose, A guy named James that we are teaching, Wendy (Hna Sanchez's friend), and Isaac. Also, la Familia Garcia, la Familia Vasquez, Hermana Islas, and la Famlia Suarez! I was just on cloud 9! :) Seriously, we all just looked around at each other and had to laugh. Hna Hanson got to bear her testimony in sacrament meeting and she did such an amazing job. The Spirit was so intense!

     I'm looking forward to this week because we are having zone conference with Elder Baxter of the 70. He spoke at my single's stake conference last year and I really like him :) It will be good! Oh, Mom, we don't have P-day next Monday. It will be on Thursday and we get an all-day P-day! Boo-yah! I'm not entirely sure what we are going to do yet. I think we will be going over to Hna Vasquez house to help them put up their Christmas tree :) Oh my, funny story! So we went over to eat at their house on Thursday and she turned to me and said, "Hermana, who do we have to call to keep you here for Christmas?" (because transfers are the week before) We told her President Lewis and she wanted me to give her his number. Ha! Not a chance because I know she would really do it. Though, I never want to leave this area because I love it with all of my heart! I love my companions and I love our investigators! It is a great time to be a missionary! I'm glad they called me on a mission <3

Love, Hermana Freestone

A Week Full Of Milagros!

     So, this week had been really fun! On Tuesday Hna White and I enjoyed our last day together in style with just being crazy and having a ton of fun! I already miss her as a companion, but she and Hna Toro are my sister training leaders so I will still get to see them :) Can't believe this is Hna Toro's last transfer...the sisters are going to start leaving in hoards in the Spring. Hermana Romero left on Thursday and I was a bit sad about that. She is from mexico and so adorable! I am never leaving...I have just decided! Sorry. 

     On Wednesday we met up with everyone at the mission office to see the new little missionaries come in. We have two new hermanas. I felt like I was just there getting paired up with my trainer...nope...that was almost 6 months ago...gross! So, I don't know how we did it, but we managed to get Hna Hanson and Hna Arntsen's stuff piled into our little car and then they unpacked and we went out to work. We have been blessed to see many miracle this week. I am so grateful for my new comps!

     On Friday we went to go and see a potential named Jorge and his nephew Omar answered the door. Well, we got to talking with him and he was almost baptized about 4 years ago. He showed some interest so we started to teach him. He's kind of a party guy, but the gospel has a way of changing people! We are really excited to start teaching him some more! Miracle #1. Another miracle we saw this week was when we went to see another potential named Jose. Well, he wasn't home so we were going to jump back into the car and go to our next place. Well, as I got in the car some truck rolls up and a guy gets out and start walking to the house. I yelled out the car, "Usted es Jose?" Yup! He was! We went into his house and started to teach him the Restoration and the Spirit was SO strong! He's leaving for San Francisco really soon so we are hoping to send him as a referral and still teach him when he gets back in January. :) Miracle #2.

     Daniel cancelled his appointment with us and I was like, "Alright...you have a life...ok." Well, then he ditched out of church too. I'm getting slightly frustrated, but I know that that is what Satan wants so there is only to be patient. I have learned a lot of that here. We were also able to teach Briana and her sister Natalie, who turns 8 on the 13th :) We are wanting to talk to her mother about baptism, but her grandmother wants to do it first so we will have to be patient with that too. 

     Oh! Miracle #3 of the week: Hermana Islas has a cousin that just moved here from Mexico that really wants to get to know the church even more so she came to church yesterday and I think she really liked it. I imagine that it was a little overwhelming at first, but she is super sweet and willing to learn. Also, #4, another member, Hermana Sanchez has a friend named Wendy that has come to church quite a few times and we were finally able to get a return with her for this week. She really enjoys church and so do her kids. #5: La Familia Andres-where all of the family is members except for the dad Jose-has been coming to church too! And we had a fantastic lesson about eternal marriage in Sunday School so we are going to follow-up with them tonight! This week has just been a week full of milagros!

     We have visited a lot of our less-actives, who are starting to have that flame re-kindled and want to come back. Poco a poco I know that they will be able to do it. Our ward is getting more and more excited about the work and more of them are willing to help us out. I feel like things are really going to pick up-which makes sense because the holidays are a season full of miracles...especially December.

    Oh, funny story! Last night we rolled up to our apartment and realized that we left the back sliding door open. We were all joking about how there was going to be a rapist in the closet or the shower or something. Hna Hanson went back into the closet and yelled, "OH MY GOSH!" and ran out of the room. I told her is was only going to be effective if she threw something and then yelled. Well, apparently she threw her planner and I turned around just in time for it to nail me right in the face! We were all laughing so hard! 

Love, Hermana Freestone

I Get To Be Comps With My "Mission Sister"

     So, transfer week has been crazy! I had feeling in the middle of yesterday that Hermana Hanson was going to be my new companion. I don't know why...I actually didn't think we'd ever be comps, but I had a feeling. Well, we got our call and Hermana White is going to North Sacramento with Mami Toro and Hermana Hanson is coming here to work with me! I get to be comps with my "mission sister." If You recall, we were both trained by Mami Toro! This will be fun!

     For "Noche de Brujas" on my end of life was pretty great! Hermana White and I were the only two misioneros in our distrito to dress up...lame. But that was probably due to the fact that we had a zone training right after. OUr mission president is pretty strict, but I love him. Anywho, some blessed members of the RS in some English wards were kind enough to make some food for us and then we watched the movie "Ephraim's Rescue." I absolutely loved it! And, as we all know, Hermana Freestone is a crier, so my eyes were completely red and bloodshot for our zone training...yeah...I looked like a goob. But it was so great! And I was happy to watch a movie :)

     So we taught Daniel a couple of times this week. The first night we went over to his house and we read Moroni 7 with him and he was all, "I've been thinking about getting an answer and I think I need to go to church so I can know." Um...every missionary's dream! Yes! He gets it! We were so happy! We also went over on Friday night and he had tons of fantastic questions about baptism, the Bible, the Holy Ghost and..............wigi boards.....what the random? Yeah...that was fun :) On Saturday the elders had a baptism so Daniel came to that too. It was great! The Spirit was so strong and he was even a little teary-eyed! He was really excited to come to church on Sunday...and then his mom bailed on giving him a ride...yeah, no bueno. Next week! Por seguro!!!

     Briana is doing well also. We went over to her grandma's for dinner and then we taught her the 10 commandments using the finger signs. She absolutely loved that! She is so adorable. She spent half of dinner trying to guess our first names. I think it's funny because only one person here has ever guessed it. I told her if she keeps reading the Book of Mormon and praying then I will tell her :) We are going to, hopefully, talk to her mom about letting her get baptized soon. We taught Briana the Plan of Salvation and she asked us if she could get baptized soon :)

     Last P-Day we had to go to a doctor's appointment for Hna White outside the mission in Roseville. So yeah...left the mission boundaries...I'm such a rebel! HA!

Love, Hermana Freestone

One Short of the 3 She-Fites

     It has been a really good week here in Sacramento! It is starting to get a little colder now. It was 70 and I had to put on a jacket. Can't complain too much, though. It beats the heck out of working in snow! It's getting windy, though. I've had a couple of close calls with the "Marilyn Monroe Moments." Got to love wearing skirts. 

     I will start by saying that Hna Carlson headed to the mission home last night so that she could leave this morning. We are now one short of the 3 She-fites...sad day. :( However, She will be a fantastic missionary and she is going to love Argentina!

     We were able to meet a lot of good people this week. There is an Hermana that moved into our area from Palm Springs and she lives with her three children and 4 nietos. Her nietos aren't members, but her nieta, Brianna, has 10 years and she really like coming to church. We are teaching her and her hermanitos. They are reading in the Book of Mormon...like, the legit blue copy and she understands it when she reads. It's so great! She loves Primary and loves learning more and more about the church. 

     We are also teaching a family. The padres names are Arturo and Marta. They are really open to learning more about the church and they love us! I can honestly say that the Hispanic people, as a whole, are the nicest people I have ever met! They love so easily and they always welcome us in like we are family. I am definitely well taken care of. We are going to teach them the Plan of Salvacion and I know that it will be something very special.

     Daniel is doing really well! Still not coming to church...I kind of want to beat him with a stick but I love him so much that I couldn't bring myself to do it. I know that he is ready and he has accepted a date to prepare to be baptized. He's like a little brother to all of us. 

     We also went to visit the familia Islas. She is the absolute sweetest lady ever! En serio! I adore her! She can't come to church because she has to work on Sundays and so does her husband. Her kids are still able to come. She always gives us breakfast and we teach her English. We are going to have scripture studies with her every week now. Um, she is recently having family problems so if you could just keep Hermana Islas in your prayers that would be so great!

     Also, the familia Vasquez. That is the one where she was in jail and got all cleaned up from drugs and now she is coming back to church and talked to Pte Beus about preparing to go through the temple. She is like my momma away from home. She loves us so much and would do anything for us! Plus, her kids are so great too! Her daughter is Mollie's age and actually reminds me a lot of her. Her son is about 7 and he is a stud! Every time we go over for dinner he gives me a big hug and says, "Misionera, will you play soccer with me?" I absolutely love him! Pray for their family because they are the best!

     I really love this area! There are lots of people to teach and, even though most of the members are less-active, they love us so much. I seriously don't want to leave-which is good because I will most-likely be staying. I am really learning how to love other people here. That's one thing that I can't say I was ever very good at. The mission is the best thing that I have ever done. I am changing in so many ways and I am developing an amazing relationship with my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I love my companions, now companion, and I love the work. Someone made a comment to us yesterday that we haven't had much success in this area because we haven't seen baptisms. I'm not going to lie: if you think that success is measured in baptisms then you seriously need to change your attitude. That is one thing that I have learned. I know that Heavenly Father is happy with me and the work that I have been doing and that is true success!

     I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week! LOVE YA!

Love always, Hermana Freestone

Good Things Are Right Around The Corner

     So I read mom's e-mail about Stan Rees. My heart goes out to the family. I can't even imagine...isn't it so great that we have the Plan of Salvation? It is such a blessing in our lives. 

     This last week has been really good. I went to do another exchange with Hna Cosby in Elk Grove. That was fun! She's a transfer older than me. She's a little shy, but we got talking about Avenger's and life was pretty good. We had dinner with a family that moved out of Lodi the same week that Hna Toro and I got there so we were able to chat during dinner. It was really fun! Hna Cosby is really sweet and we had a good day teaching and contacting.

     Oh! So we decided to start teaching Isaac again. He is the one that is Seventh-Day Adventist and has been coming to church still. We taught him the Plan of Salvation and he was okay with most of it except the pre-earth life. If it is not found in the Bible then he really isn't okay with it. I'm just glad we have the Book of Mormon to clarify the gospel! We also found out that he has a wife and 4 kids in Guatemala and he is here working for them! He is 23! It was crazy! I think you would just have to know him in order to understand just how big of a bombshell that was! He's super great though. I have high hopes for him.

     We also visited Daniel this week! Again, my heart broke when he couldn't come to church, but we had a fantastic Plan of Salvation lesson with him! He had a ton of great questions and he really understood it. He really likes the idea that we can be with our families forever. He really gets it-which is more than I can say for a lot of the other people that we teach. We can see a difference in him and his family is always really sweet to us when we go over. They are super Catholic, but I think they can see that we only want the best for him and that he is slowly making changes. He is praying about baptism! I can't wait to see him again this week!

     In terms of new investigators, we added new people but it was while I was on exchanges so I don't know them yet! I'm going to meet them tonight! Hna Carlson isn't leaving until the 28th so we get one more week. We are basically planning for a miracle this week before she leaves :) 

      Things have been a little bumpy lately-but I know that it is the storm before the miracles! We are working hard here and I know that good things are right around the corner! Until next week! MWAH!

Love, Hermana Freestone