Its hard to listen to the spirit when we arent paying attention

. This letter may be a bit short today, we have a TON of stuff to do with transfers! Speaking of which, I am leaving Lodi. Hna Toro is going to be staying here with Hna Pitcher and they are both Sister Training Leaders. I am going to the Sac 7th branch with Hna White and a visa waiter that will be here tomorrow. Yup, I am going to be in a trio and living with a member :) Hna White is also a Sister Training Leader. I was telling Hna Toro last night before we got the phone call that the one thing I won't miss being her comp for is all of the exchanges she had to do (we were almost positive that she and Hna White were going to be put together). Well...PSYCH! The Lord was probably laughing really hard at me...He has a weird sense of humor that way :) 

     We were able to finally find Esperanza this week and teach her and her "esposo" and his son. However, they were going to separate shortly and, when we went back to teach her two days later there was a moving van in front of their house and she was in the hospital with stomach pains...what the random, right? So yeah, we are going to try and find her tonight (I will leave for Sactomorrow). Our investigator Anselma is no more. Que triste! Her husband is just super controlling and a little abusive and he doesn't think that she needs to be baptized so she has lost all desire to keep learning. We were super bummed! We have visited a few other people this week, but nothing too amazing. We visited with Alejandro though! He is just the sweetest person ever! He said the sweetest prayer before we left and when we walked out I just turned to Hna Toro and said, "Can we keep him?" I am really bummed to leave him behind. I hope he and his wife go through the temple in a year so that I can come back and see them! We also have another member that I just love! Every time that we call her she practically yells, "HOLA MISIONERAS!" It's just so great!

     We also had a chance to teach the sister of one of our members. She lives just a couple of houses down from them so we like to visit her from time to time. She tells us things that she is confused about and we do our best to help her understand. The problem there is that the gospel principles and truths that are confusing in the Bible can be made more clear using the Book of Mormon, and she really won't let us use it. We taught her two days in a row and she finally agreed to let us come by and just tell her what we believe and why we believe it. I think she has heard so many things from her sister and brother-in-law that just confuse her. We are going to go back this week. Teaching her just built my testimony on the book of Mormon. I'm SO glad that we have it so that things can be made more clear for us!

     A couple of funny moments. Both involve our zone training last Thursday. The first one is that I had to put the bike rack on the car so we could take the Galt sisters their bikes. Well, I put the wrench on the back of the car and thought that Hna Toro grabbed it. Come to find out-she didn't. We heard a loud noise driving to the conference and thought that the bikes had slipped off the rack...nope! We lost the wrench-so guess who gets to buy a new one...yay for my seemingly endless blonde missionary moments :) The other fun story was an object lesson. Two elders were blindfolded and given a ball. They had to walk through an obstacle course in the gym and put the ball in a bucket. I was "the spirit" for Elder Idso and Sis Oliphant was "the spirit" for Elder Ruiz. The tricky part was that each of them had 7 or 8 other missionaries yelling at them and trying to trip them up through the obstacle course. Our team dominated! I was yelling at the top of my lungs practically (which is totally contra the idea of the spirit) and it was really hard for poor Elder Idso to hear my voice. He really had to pay attention. It was all good fun though! It made me think of how many distractions we have around us and how it can be really hard to hear the Spirit if we aren't paying attention. I know I really need to work on that.

     Well, I am excited to see what this week will bring with all of the transfers and such. I can't even begin to describe how much I am going to miss Hna Toro, but I will get to see her again at the giant Spanish activity we are going to have on the 2nd of September. And today we are going to "la pulga" aka the flea market. Be jealous mom! Actually don't...that's bad. I love you all so so so so much! I'm so blessed! The church is true, the book is blue! Work hard, have fun, git 'r done! MWAH!

Love always, 

Hermana Freestone

Once we were lost, but now are found

 So this week was very interesting. We started to teach a lady named Tayde and her daughter Cassandra. We have met with her once before, but she was always working. A few weeks ago she fell off a tractor while she was working and messed up her back and all that fun stuff so she can hardly walk right now. It just looks painful. She is home every day so we go over as often as we can to teach and help around the house. Sometimes the teaching is hard because she REALLY likes to talk! It makes sense though. She is a single mom that can't work right now and all of her kids are in school. I would want someone to talk to as well. We taught her and her daughter most of the Restoration. I have a good feeling about this one :) In fact, we went over there one night and a guy was working on her car. When we showed up I guess he told her that he had his Bible and he was going to come over to "prove us wrong." She told him that she likes listening to us and she always hears people say bad things about the Mormons but she never has heard us talk bad about anyone else. She also said that she sees a lot of bad things on the news about other religions, but she has never seen something bad in the news about our church. Then she told him that if she were to convert to any religion it would be to ours. How fantastic is she?! We also started teaching another lady named Theresa. She is a friend of one of our members. We were hoping that bringing a member to the lesson with us would help us out because Theresa like to talk a lot too. Well, if you want the member to help out you probably shouldn't bring the investigator's best friend. We had a hard time getting a word in edgewise and when we finally did the member took it in a completely different direction...oh the joys of a mission! Ha! But they both learned something about the Spirit. Theresa mentioned something about seeing people on tv "feeling the spirit" and yelling and fainting all over the place. Hermana Toro quickly corrected her and told her that that is not the Spirit. The Spirit should make us feel at peace inside and shouldn't make those around us feel uncomfortable to be there either. I'm not sure how willing Theresa is to change right now, but we will have at least planted a seed for future missionaries :)

     One funny thing that happened this week: we were going to a member's house for dinner and I plugged their address in Hna GPS (the gps-our amazing 3rd companion) and we took off. Well, it was taking us a really different way than usual so we checked the address and it was right so we kept on driving. We started to get into unfamiliar territory so Hna Toto checked the address-still good. We kept on driving and just about got to out destination when I checked the address for the third time. Well, our members live in a town called Acampo. When I put the address in Hna GPS I put that they lived on Acampo road-which is clear out in the sticks of Acampo. Yeah...we drove like 20 miles out of our way. Both of us were just laughing. We joked that we once were lost, but now are found! Thankfully we had extra miles and it was the last day of the month :) We were literally so far out in the boonies!

     Hna Toro had another leadership meeting on Friday so I spent half of my day in Sacramento with Hna Cardullo and Hna Sharp who are from Provo and West Jordan respectively. They are in a trio with Hna White-the other sister training leader. They are so great! They have both been out just a transfer more then I have. One of them had to go and get some work done at the clinic so we spent a lot of our morning there. They are both 20 I think. I love being able to meet new sisters! At this point there are 21 Spanish sisters-2 are visa waiters-and I have spent the day with 14 of them. So, as much as I don't like my comp being gone all of the time, I enjoy meeting everyone else :)

     This week I learned some more about a few other cultures. While I was with the sisters in Sacramento we met a super sweet little Muslim man! We learned all about their Ramadan (I think that's how you spell it) fast for 40 days and a little bit more about their culture. They invited us to come back when they had their big feast to break their fast. It would have been fun, but we're not allowed. Actually, we have to get permission to teach anyone who is Muslim due to some of their beliefs. It's not really safe for them. Anywho, I also met a man yesterday who was a Jehovah's Witness growing up and then left when he was 20. He told us a lot about their religion and some of the things that they practice. I kind of enjoy learning about other people's beliefs. 

     We are really pushing to get our less actives back to church. We are still working with Dulce (got to love teenagers) and we are also visiting a man named Hno Rivas. We have visited him a few times and he finally came to church last week. When we went to visit him on Saturday we found out that he was able to find a new job where he doesn't have to work on Sundays. Um...BLESSINGS!!! He was very happy about it and he came to church yesterday again :) I love this work! I really love seeing how happy it makes other people too :)

     Well, I love you all and hope that you are all having fun and enjoying life. "Men are that they might have joy." So work hard, have fun, git 'r done! :) MWAH!

Love, Hermana Freestone

Pues...Como Fue Mi Semana?

 Ok, so last Monday night we were tracting and I saw these two case-looking things on top of a house (I'll send a picture) and I asked Hna Toro what they were. Without skipping a beat she turned to me and said, "Alien pods for when the aliens come." I think it took a couple of minutes for both of us to stop laughing! So we start tracting down this street and come to a house that has one of those little "no soliciting" signs. Well, we're not solicitors so we usually ignore the signs. We knocked on this door and a lady opens the door, looks at us, and before I can get anything out she just yells, "Uh! No! Don't even start! I don't want to hear it. Can't you read? Get off my porch!" And then proceeded to slam the door. Um...yeah, I was super bummed. We just had to laugh about it. However, my day was made when we met a lady like 5 doors down named Linda. She yelled at us from her yard, "My first sister missionaries!" (People treat us like we are such a rarity...they point to their kids ans whisper in church...I feel awkward) Anywho, it turns out that she has talked with missionaries before and she is a DIE-HARD David Archuleta fan. We're talking posters, autographs, CDs, DVDs, she follows him on Twitter, FB, and e-mails him back and forth (before his mission). It was pretty crazy. By the time we got out of her house we had a copy of his Christmas DVD with the Tab Choir and his new CD-deluxe edition. It kind of made my day!

     I also had the privilege of spending 3 consecutive days in Tracy this week. Wow...let me tell you. Areas and companions are definitely inspired. I love meeting the other sisters, but after 3 days I was SO ready to be back with Hna Toro. We did have some fun there, though. I ate at a Taqueria (my new favorite-don't be too jealous Daddy), I met some crazy members and one of the sweetest investigators ever that we taught about temples and eternal families, we talked about girls camp and all of those good times *cough* snipe hunting *cough.* I also got to go to district meeting with them. Well, their District Leader wanted to use a game of dodgeball as an object lesson. I don't remember exactly how it was supposed to tie together, but the first round we only used one ball. The idea was that one team wouldn't win because there was only one ball. Well, you know me, it doesn't really matter if I 'm in a skirt...dodgeball is dodgeball! After I got both of the elders out in the first minute (I made a sweet diving catch) their district leader soon realized that his object lesson wasn't going to work out :) My bad! But it really was a great lesson about goal-setting! We drove there with Hna Crane and Hna Naatjes...that was fun! I love those two!

     So, since the 24th was Pioneer Day, Hna Maroquin and I felt that we needed to celebrate. So, that night we pulled out some sparklers and Pop-Its (thank you grandma) and had ourselves a mini celebration by waving sparklers around and have Pop-Its wars :) Ok, funny story. This world really is so small. The Tracy West Sisters live with the Robinson Family. I met Brother Robinson the last night I was there (they were all at girls camp) and I told him I was from Morgan. He asked if my kindergarten teacher was Mrs. Stevens. I told him yes and asked how he know that. News flash! Sister Stevens is his AUNT (side note: Sister Stevens lives in my ward)! What the random!? So there you go. 

     By way of investigators, we added a lady this week named Marilu. I have met her a couple of times and Hna Toro was able to teach her this week with Hna Dando...or maybe it was Hna Arntsen...I can't remember. Anyway, I'm super excited to teach them! She is the nicest lady and her son seems pretty interested too. They were taught by sisters about 10 years ago and then they brought the elders in and they totally muffed it up so now we are having to do some serious damage control with the Dad. Our other investigator can hardly ever come to church because her husband doesn't really let her. It's super triste. We are going to have to find some more people to teach. I know that they are out there, we just have to find them!

     Well, I love you all so so much family! Bummer about Grandpa Jake...but, he's in a better place. I'm excited for Kris and Lori! Wish I could be there! I'll be there in spirit though :) Keep on being amazing! I love hearing from you and about all of your adventures! Work hard, have fun, git 'r done :)

Love always, Hermana Freestone

I will do what he wants me to do

     This week, to be totally honest, was really rough. We had 3 exchanges and all of our investigators just kept bailing on us and, for some reason, people think that they have better things to do on a summer afternoon than listen to the missionaries...the nerve of some people. Ha! However, the Lord knows us and knows what we can and can't handle. Tuesday was probably the hardest day, but I was working with Hna Crane. She is from Grantsville. Oh my goodness. She just kept me laughing the entire day! Seriously, I just love her so so much! I didn't get any pictures with her, but I think I am going to be with her and Hna Naatjes for the next three days so I'm sure we will have a few Kodak moments for you. On Wednesday a I was with Hna Pitcher again. We had a miracle that day! We were teaching Alejandro y Susana (our recent convert) about obedience. We had them watch the conference talk that President Monson gave (quick note: if you think your children misbehave, just remember that a prophet of God almost burnt down Provo canyon as a boy-that should lift your spirits a little). They thought is was super funny! As we were about to wrap up the lesson one of Susana's friends came over to chat. We found out that she has been praying for more guidance in her life, and then she found us. I have seen too many miracles to believe in coincidences any more. We got her contact information and we are, hopefully, going to see her this week. The Lord works in mysterious ways! Funny story, her name is Esperanza (hope). On Saturday I was with Hna Naatjes. We did a LOT of tracting! Thankfully, the weather is staying around the 90's and out of the 100's so we get a small break. How's the weather at home? I heard it rained last week...wouldn't that be nice? :)

     We have been having a hard time getting the members to give us people that we can visit. I am officially challenging you all to think of someone you know that could benefit from the gospel in their lives so that when the missionaries ask you who else they can visit, you know! You all have friends, family, or neighbors that could benefit from the gospel. Now ask the missionaries, they can help! Thank you Elder Nelson! Sorry, soap box moment. For reals though. Try to think of people. And maybe see if you can go out with the missionaries to appointments. The numbers of people baptized is ridiculously higher when members are willing to help out and go out on visits. Help bring souls unto Christ! That's part of your baptismal covenant, btw. 

     The most exciting thing that happened was during one of our lessons. We asked the Elders to come and give one of our investigators a blessing. They did a wonderful job and were getting ready to take off. Well, one of the Elders (they were on exchanges) isn't supposed to be on bikes because he has high blood pressure and it is super hot outside. We sat down to start our lesson and I looked back just in time to see this Elder pass out on the lawn. That was fun. We got him into the shade, gave him some water, put a cold washcloth on his neck, and all that jazz. I got to play CNA on my mission. Fun! It took about 20 minutes before he was able to stand up and a member came to pick him up. Oh the joys of a mission!

Love always, Hermana Freestone

Hello Plan Of Salvation!

  There hasn't been too much to write about this week. One thing that is really neat is one of the girls in our ward who is 19 turned in her papers this week! She has come out with us a few times and she is the sweetest girl ever! Hna Toro and I have placed our bets on where she is going. We decided on El Salvador since that is where her mother is from. We'll see I guess. She kept asking us about how long it takes to get a call and I got a little nostalgic about putting in my papers. That seems like forever ago. I feel bad for her now because she is just having to wait...ugh! It's the worst!

     We have found a few new investigators this week. One of them is the wife of one of our investigators. We finally met her last week and she had questions like "what is my purpose here" and "where are we going after we die?" Um...HELLO PLAN OF SALVATION!!! Yeah, we were pretty excited about it! It's my favorite lesson to teach. I am SO my father's daughter! We started to teach them on Thursday. We never finished (they LOVE to talk) and we found out that she doesn't believe that families can be together forever. Like, how sad is that? Why would a loving Heavenly Father send us to earth with out families if He intended to break them up after we die? Seriously? That is so sad! So we are working on that one. Another one of our investigators we found tracting in a trailer park. Yup...that was fun. But she has a lot of potential and she agreed to be baptized if she finds out our message is true! Good times in Zion! We also finally got another investigator to church this week. It's like pulling teeth! Dulce never came again, but she lost her phone so it was really hard to contact her. She also told us that every time we come over she gets really excited and starts to pray and read her scriptures and she decides to go to church...and then her family and friends make her second-guess herself. Like, her friends always tell her that the Mormons are evil and all that jazz. It doesn't make sense to me how a people who are so centered around Jesus Christ and families can be so bad, but hey, we all have our agency. It is sad how some people use it though...

     Hna Toro went on an exchange on Wednesday so I spent the day with Hna Fullerton (p.s. sis, her brother served in the Guatemala City Central Mission-know him?). Funny story. We got to their apartment before they did to do the exchange so we hid around the corner of their apartment and I may or may not have scared the living daylights out Hna Pitcher. LOL! It was Hna Toro's idea. I was a little worried about this one because last time we were together I practically had a meltdown, but we had a really good day actually. We contacted a new family on their doorstep. Thankfully, we had a member with us who is a convert from the Catholic church. Pretty much everyone and their dog here is Catholic so having a convert on the doorstep with us really helped. And, we are going to see them this week. YAY! We also went and talked to a less-active member that night. The Spirit was so strong and he has the desire to come back to church but i don't think his wife and his kids do. We tried to call him to invite him to church, but he didn't answer...sad day. Church does wonders for you. I wish everyone could see that. Oh! She also had a meeting last Tuesday for Sister Training Leaders so I stayed with the sisters in Galt. Both of them are crippled due to knee injuries so we just hung out while one of them was in a drug-induced coma (she fell and hurt herself pretty bad and the bruise on her knee was insane). Well, one of the girls in our branch came to pick me up so we could go and meet Hna Toro and the members' house we were at had a gate in the front. I didn't know how to open it so I had to hop over the fence in my skirt. Let's be honest...it was really funny! Brenda got a kick out of it :)

     Well, I love you all and hope you are having fun and enjoying the summer. I see yard sales everywhere and everyday and just think that Mom would be in heaven if she were here :) Lodi is so small town and I love it! Stay classy! The church is true...the book is blue :)

Love, Hermana Freestone

     

     

Spanish Missionary or Stalker??

    Since it was transfer week we still did a bit of proselyting, but at 6 we had a zone activity. Hna Toro doesn't like sports all that much so she kinda just hung out on the stage with another sister while I took the liberty of getting as many elders as possible out in scatterball. It's like dodgeball, but every man to himself. I was diving all over the place...and I have the raspberries and bruises on my knees to prove it! Ha! It was so much fun to just let loose like that again. We played chair soccer after. Let's be honest, me vs. a bunch of Hispanic elders....I didn't have a snowball's chance in the bad place of winning, but it was fun just the same!

     The weather is finally starting to cool down here. The other day it was only in the low 90's and yesterday it was in the 80's. Beautiful! It made tracting not near as bad. We've had to drop quite a few of our investigators and the work is kind of at a stand still, but we are praying and searching really hard to find the people that the Lord had prepared for us. We visited Dulce again yesterday and, as all 14 year-old girls, she talked our ears off! She's so great though. We even got her to say a prayer with us. I had to tell her my first name in exchange for it, but hey, whatever gets the job done. It felt super weird to say my name though. My name is Hermana! We are also teaching a lady who is pretty solid, but her husband is super lame and won't let her do anything with religion. I've noticed that it is a common problem here. Whatever happened to equal partnership in a marriage? Oh, well. We keep praying that the Lord will soften his heart and let her come!

     On Thursday we had our district meeting and Elder Gaskill had us take about 10 minutes and write down why we are serving. It was really nice to reflect on why I am out here. Basically, it all comes down to the fact that I love my Heavenly Father and I love this gospel! I want to share the joy that it has brought in my life to as many people that are willing to listen. True happiness is found with the Savior. I just wish that I could shout that to everyone here in Lodi, but I'm not that loud so tracting will have to do :)

     Hna Toro is still the Sister Training Leader and so are the two new sisters that moved in with us: Sister Oliphant and Sister Langi. Sister Oliphant came from Deaf work and Sister Langi is Tongan so it makes for a lot of fun! However, there is a trio in Tracy so now Hna Toro has to do 7 exchanges this transfer! Wow! On the positive side, I get to go down to Tracy 3 times because she can't send 2 people to our apartment here. I am definitely going to have to learn a lot more patience. Always patience...that was one of those things that when they were handing out gifts in heaven I didn't grab. The line must have been too long or something. But really, I am learning so much out here it's ridiculous. I used to think I knew some stuff about the gospel, I have since been corrected. However, I love learning and I love teaching! Seriously, a mission is the BEST!

     One funny thing we tried this week was an "English Fast" for like 3 hours. Oh my goodness! Hna Toro was really trying hard to say things that I understood and I was...well, I was trying. We were laughing so hard by the end of the night that I was crying! She even kept going when we got back to the apartment and I had to translate to the other sisters! We have too much fun! We are also getting good at stalking people. We are Spanish-speaking so we have to stalk the Spanish people. I am pretty sure that they forgot to put "stalker" in the job description. I am learning that there are lots of little "signs" to know if a house is Spanish or not. Hna Toro even resorted to memorizing a license plate number so we could find the car. My job is, if we see Spanish people while we are driving, to pay attention to which direction we go. I think I have might have a promising career in the FBI when all is said and done here! But, hey, it really works. We've found several people to teach this way :)

     Yeah, the food here is fantastic! We found a Hispanic food store just down the street from our apartment and it is the new joy of my life! I may actually learn how to cook now so that I can have this food whenever I feel like it. Who am I kidding? I eat tortillas every day for lunch.

Love, Hermana Freestone

sisters...EVERYWHERE!

! Things are pretty swell here in Lodi. I seriously LOVE this place! This week was transfer week so we got our calls last night. I get to stay here and finish my training with Hna Toro. I 'm SUPER stoked for that! The members are starting to get a little more excited about the work and we have found a couple of new investigators. It really hard to get appointments with them though because everyone is so busy in the summer! Seriously. If only they knew how important our message is! Well, that is why we keep on trying to talk to people. Last Tuesday we had a sisters meeting. It was fantastic! They have every sister in the mission come and we have little break-out sessions where the sister training leaders taught us. Hna Toro had to teach a section so we planned that for a few days. It turned out really well. I feel bad for President Lewis having that much estrogen floating around...he was pretty out of place LOL! We are getting even more sisters and no one in Spanish work is leaving. I love it! There are sisters everywhere!

     We saw Alejandro later on Tuesday and talked with him about the Priesthood and eternal marriage. He received the Priesthood on Sunday! I was sooo excited! Also, I hope they go through the temple in a year because if they do I can go with them! How awesome is that?! We have a few new investigators, but none that are super close to baptism. One lady, Selma, told Hna Toro and I that we were her angels that she asked God to send to help her. Um, many many tenders. She is such a sweetheart! We also have a lady named Lupe that we have been working with. She has a son that is 14 month-old son that is like the Energizer Bunny on steroids. Seriously, he bounces around the place so fast I get whiplash watching him! He likes to crawl all over us and try to rip our scriptures. He also is a distraction during lessons. Last Tuesday I had to pretty much babysit while Hna Toro taught. Problem: yes. Solution: bring the members :) Like I said, they are getting more excited to come with us so that is a big help! If you get the chance, totally go out with the missionaries. Having that 3rd testimony is so powerful! We even took out a girl with us who is leaving for her mission in Irvine, CA in a couple of weeks. It's a great experience for pre-mi's. Oh! And we took another girl with us who is turning in her papers! We've only been here 6 weeks and 3 of those Sundays have been farewells. Nifty, eh?

     We have been doing a lot of tracting. The other night it was really slow and we were exhausted and we saw a van with a BYU sticker on it. In Utah-no big deal. In California-GOLD! We met the Campbells and they gave us a referral. Praise the heavens! :) I told Hna Toro that, although I really can't stand BYU, I have never been so happy to see a BYU bumper sticker in my life! The other day we knocked on a door where no one was home, but they had a bird on their front steps. As we walked by, it whistled at us. I don't know why but I thought it was hilarious and started to cry because I was laughing so hard! Oh the joys of missions!

     Yesterday we went to teach a girl in the branch who is less-active. Her name is Dulce and she is 14. She was baptized 2 years ago but is just now coming back to church after 1.5 years of being inactive. She decided that she wants to be a sister missionary. She thinks it is just the coolest! Seriously, she called us superheros for God. I don't know if I would go that far. She is so sweet (go figure-her name is Dulce)! The only problem is that she is 14 and her life is one big novela so we have to listen to a bit of drama before we actually get to teach. Oh the joys of being 14...said no one. Ever. Ha! But she is beyond excited that there are finally sisters in Lodi :) I am looking forward to teaching her some more. Seriously, I love it here!

Love always, Hermana Freestone