The Lord Wants to Forgive

So, we met a lady this week named Antonia. She is a really old lady and her daughter is a member in the El Dorado English ward here. I guess that the elders used to visit her a lot but that was a long time ago because this has been a sister's area for several years with one quick 6-week exception last year. So, we went to visit her the first night and we were both struggling to stay focused. She had the tv on-volume off-but with subtitles (yeah...it's still a huge distraction), she was talking in circles, and it was really warm, and we had just eaten a nice Mexican dinner :) However, we were able to share the message of the Restoration at the end and she really liked it. She lives with her son who is super Catholic and says that going to another church would make her two-faced. Grrrrr...I love family :) It turned out to be really powerful! Yay! Then, on Saturday night we were able to visit her again. And this time we brought her daughter. Unfortunately, her daughter was running on Hispanic time and showed up 45 minutes late and we had to leave. So, we shared a super quick, but powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon and committed her to read it-well, the first chapter :) She said that she was going to read it. Then, much to our wonderful surprise, she came to church yesterday for sacrament meeting! We were floored because she said that she wasn't going to be able to  come this week but she wanted to come next week. We never had a chance to talk to her after because she took off like a bandit on the run. But we are going over tonight so we'll see!

     We are still working with Erik, of course. He is a champ. We are working with him to get the Priesthood. We have a ways to go, but he really wants to change so we are starting step-by-step. He keeps telling us that he is going to quit coming to church when we leave, but we are really working to involve the leaders. I knew before my mission that leaders were important (I can think of a few YW leaders/teachers/coaches that saved me growing up) but I really like seeing how they affect a person from the outside looking in. Brother Potter has really taken him under his wing and it's been a huge help. We are working on getting the bishop more involved as well. Last week Erik and I were just friends, and now I have graduated to best friend :) Hermana Dando is his best-best friend, but I will graduate again once she leaves. Ha! He is like the rock in his family right now. His mom had to work yesterday, but his dad and his younger brother and sister came to church as well. AND, his little brother got up and bore his testimony. Erik was so cute, he went up and helped him. :) Porfa! Keep the Acosta Family in your prayers! I love them so much! Hermana is super sassy and likes to tease me so I tease her right back. She told me the other day that she is going to miss arguing with me when I leave...good thing I'm here until July! Ha! 

     Also, really cool thing: with Erik we caught a snag this week so we decided to try a new tactic. We made him sit down and write down ten things that he wants to do with his life. Among other things he wrote down serving a mission, get married, and become an architect. WE then went over what he has to do do get all of those things. It opened his eyes a little bit. We also shared a Mormon Message with him. It's called The Lord Wants To Forgive. You should check it out because it's super legit. It really hit him.

     We had to drop Teresa...I was so sad! She was so gold! However, some people just need their space. The Lord has plans for everyone. Maybe we were just supposed to be the missionaries that planted the seed and then the other Hermanas in the future will be able to reap the harvest?

     I have had lots of ups and downs on my mission, but I wouldn't trade theses experiences for the world. I have learned a lot and I can't even imagine my life without having served a mission! 

Love, Hermana Freestone

In preparation for Cinco de Mayo...it's gunna be big!