I Can Do Hard Things

This week has been interesting. In case you all were wondering, missionary is also another code word for therapist, so that's what we did this week. We had like 5 people just unload their life stories on us it was rough. I learned things about people that I did not want to know, and also things that made me feel a lot more grateful for the life that I do have. Count your many blessings, that's all I'm sayin...

     So, we received a referral from the Elders this week for a Roberto Lopez. We went to visit him and his little family. His wife Kenya, and two daughters Rosa and Mia. Rosa is 13 and she doesn't speak much English because she only came over from Mexico about a year ago. We taught Roberto and Kenya the Restoration and they loved it! Neither one of them grew up with a solid religious background so they are learning like little kids...I LOVE IT! We invited them to be baptized and they said that they want to learn more first, but it is something that they want to do. Then they said that they wanted their whole family to do it. We mentioned that we have our church services on Sunday and they turned to each other and said that they need to ask for work off so that they can come. How precious are they? We didn't even have to ask! Then, we came over Thursday and taught them the Plan of Salvation using the little drawings. We had some fun with them because they want Rosa to learn too! We had a mini Noche de Hogar :) Then, because they have to work on Sundays, we invited them to come to the Saturday night session of stake conference. THEY CAME! We haven't had a chance to talk to them since then because they had to leave early, but we are going over tonight and will extend them a baptismal date. I AM SO EXCITED! They are the cutest little family and the Spirit just radiates with them. We are working on getting some friends over there for Rosa because she is shy and she wants to go to Mutual.

     We have a member in our area se llama Hermana Elizabeth. She hasn't been active because her esposo won't let her come to church. Well, he had to work late so she was able to come to Stake Conference with us on Sunday and that was the first time that she had been to church in about 15 years. CRAZY! She was so excited that I thought I saw her shed a tear when she walked through the doors.

     Stake conference was great! They re-did our presidency. We had 2 members of the Seventy here: Elder Sitati and Elder Bassett. The cool thing: the missionaries had to do translation. Elder Ruiz is a native and he did most of it, but her wanted a break in the middle. He asked me to go up and I was like, "Ya hurt your what? Are you nuts?" Then , Elder LaDuke turned around and starts chanting Elder Villalva's famous line, "Do it and your cool. Do it and Your cool." Dang it. I can't say no to that. I translated one talk and it wasn't awful. I actually thought I did pretty good-all things considered. It made me realize though, I can do hard things :)

     What else? Well, not missionary-related, the the World Cup is in full swing and all of our members/investigators are loving their lives. It breaks my heart to have to tell them to shut the games off. However, we have some pretty dedicated members who are more than happy to keep us updates. Hermana Cardullo is happy that Italia won :) Cheer loud for the red, white, and blue today!

     Well, my time is up. I love you all! I am doing pretty well. Me and Cardullo and getting along super well. I really love her! She's funny! Never a dull moment. We're working hard. Keep up the good work! MWAH!

Love, Hermana Freestone

1. Father's Day with Brother Potter

2. Goodbye Sister Repman...RIP