Im going to be a senior campanion...that poor girl

So...transfers this week...this whole week Hna Hanson and I have been saying that we are going to just stay together because, yeah, it would have been epic. However, she had to go and be all righteous...or super apostate...(quien sabe?) and she's going to be a Sister Training Leader with Hermana White in North Sac. SO CRAZY! Hermana Arntsen is going to Argentina, so you guessed it! I am staying here in my beloved South Sac! Hermana Gigger is going to come up here from Tracy. She just finished training so I am going to be senior companion...that poor girl :) Naw. It's going to be fun! I met her at Zone Conference last week and she is super chill. And, according to Hermana Arntsen, she already knows Spanish. That's half of the battle :)

     So, Temple Conference was uh-mazing! It was so nice to go back and just feel the peace that is there. I love the temple so much! If anyone reading this is going on a mission listen up: go as much as you can before because you don't get to go very much during! We wanted to go today for P-day but President told the mission that we weren't going to go because everyone was just there...bummer. Funny story: we did a nativity as a zone and I got to be an angel (first time in my life). So that's how I met Hermana Gigger because she was an angel too! :)

     We are still teaching Carlos. He is progressing slowly, but steadily. We are really hoping to try and get his wife to come and listen with us because I know that her would be more receptive if another member of his family was with him. I can't even imagine being the only member of my family. I am so blessed to have this gospel in my life!

     We are also still working with Brianna and Natalie. More so Brianna because she is just soaking it all up like a sponge. We are doing a Nativity activity with her and her siblings tonight so we are hoping to talk to her mom. I say that all of the time, but we really need to do it. It's hard because she always makes a bee-line for the door when we walk in. So, pray for us! She is so cute! I absolutely love them!

     We finally were able to teach Marta and Arturo again. This time, their three boys Arturo Jr, Ezekiel, and Isaac came in with us because we watched "La Restauracion" and they loved it! I think that Marta and Jr. have a lot of promise. We just need to get them to church. That seems to be the problem with a lot of people...they want the blessings without the work. But we are going to help them see the blessings of going to church!

     We had an amazing activity here in this area. Every year they have a display of nativities at the church in Elk Grove and it is HUGE! Like, the church is shut down for the weekend. Church services have to be moved. It is the best thing in the world. There were about 519 nativities. People come from all over the place. We did a turn in one of the rooms talking to people for a few hours on Saturday night. They also have a display of Salt Lake Temple Square so we took pictures in Temple Square :)

     We, seriously, had so much fun this week but I don't have the time or space in an e-mail to write it all. Plus, people might think that we never work. Pretty sure Elder Nelson said it was missionary fun not missionary work :) I love my comps so stinking much and, I won't lie, I cried when I found out that Hna Hanson and I were going to be separated...however, I know that the Lord has good things in store for both of us. I am also really going to miss Hna Arntsen! Maybe she and Hna Syphus will be comps...that be funny! Because Hna White and Hna Toro were comps and now Hna Hanson and Hna White are going to be comps. All of my old comps are comps! Ha! 

     Well, I love you all and I am beyond words excited to see you all next week! Sister Lesley is going to let us use her computers :) Well, Stay classy and know that I love you with all of my bum! I would say heart...but my bum is bigger :)

Love, Hermana Freestone

There's Nowhere Else I Would Rather Be Right Now

FAMILIA!!!

     So, I hope this e-mail is finding you all well and healthy...unlike things on this end of the line. Hna Hanson and I both nos quedamos enferma el Sabado...no bueno. We are just coming out of it, but it's no fun. I feel like such an apostate sleeping in, but there's no way I would have the juice to get out of bad at 6:30. Thankfully, today was P-Day so I didn't feel near as bad. I am slightly drugged, so if anything I say doesn't make sense...well...just go with it. 

     This week has been full of fun and many good things! We had an amazing zone training on Thursday where my companions and I taught a "lesson" and the spirit was so stinking strong! En Serio! Our ZL was in tears. We talked about it after and worked out a plan of how to make all of our lessons that way. It's good. We are really starting to get a hang of this trio...and transfers are next week. GAH! I secretly hope that nothing changes here. I love my comps! However, fun news for the day: After 6 1/2 months of waiting Hermana Arntsen finally got her visa! She is leaving for Buenos Aires on the 18th! She and Hermana Syphus are going to be in the same mission! So cool! Up to this point on my mission, half of my companions have gone to Argentina :)

     So, we taught this amazing woman named Laura on Saturday. I know the lesson was amazing because I felt the spirit. However, I was so sick I couldn't even tell you what was said. Props to my companions for bringing the Spirit :) Ha! But I am really excited to teach her!

     We've been doing a lot of practicing for the Christmas temple conference this week. Our district is going to sing and I am really excited. However, I'm even more excited that I get to go to the temple! It's been a few months. That is one thing I miss a lot, but I guess I am doing something else that is just as worth it. :) We are going to see a few of the other Hermanas too!

     Last night we went to a member's house for dinner and before we left she gave us some adorable beanie hats that she made for us! We were all 3 loving our lives last night. I absolutely love being a missionary! There is nothing better. And, there is nowhere else I'd rather be right now :)

     Sorry there's not a lot to write about this week. I love you all SO SO SO SO much and hope you have a fantastic week! 

Love, Hermana Freestone

Feliz Dia de Gracias

     FELIZ DIA DE GRACIAS!!! I hope you all had just as fantastic of a day as I did here in Sac-town! We started off right today with a Turkey Bowl! Holla! WE played football for a good hour and then ended with some touch-rugby (they were scared I would hurt them ;) ha). We did some shopping around town and enjoyed our all-day P-day! Woot! After our shopping we went over to an English member's house for dinner. They were the sweetest things ever! They are actually the members that the English Elders live with so we played some pranks on them and had a great time! We also sang for them (mom and dad should have got the video of it) in Spanish because they both have Spanish heritage, they just prefer English. It was so nice! Thanksgiving away from home really makes me think of the things that I am grateful for. However, I love my mission so much and I wouldn't trade where I am for the world :)

     We have had a very interesting past 10 days...that's for sure! We almost burned down the apartment...for realz. We have been putting candles on the burners on the stove (on low, of course) so we can have a holiday scent in the house. Well, Hna Hanson accidentally put the burner on high and walked away. Well, the wax caught on fire. Note to self and all others: don't pour water on burning wax. The flame has a tenancy to shoot up about 3 feet and THEN the fire goes out...I must have been asleep during that Chemistry lesson or something? Anywho, we got the fire alarm to stop sounding and put the other candle outside. I got a pretty sweet video of it :) God protects His missionaries...that's for sure! JA!

     Last Tuesday I went on an exchange with Hna White. It was so much fun because we got to talk about our time together and reminisce a little. I am slightly jealous that Hna Hanson and Hna Arntsen got to stay in Sac with Hna Toro because this is her last transfer :( However, I did still get to see her a little bit, so that was nice. I really enjoyed the moment when we were switching back because all of my companions (sans Hna Carlson) were in the apartment with me. I can say that I love every single one of them so much and wouldn't trade my time with them for anything. They are just like family to me :)

     Last Thursday we had zone conference and Elder David Baxter of the Seventy came and gave us a marvelous training! He was a little intense, but the Work of Salvation is no joking matter. He talked a lot about our relationships with the members and how important it is. I wish that the members of our branch could have heard it as well. It got me really pumped to do missionary work! I was sitting right in front of him while he was teaching and there was a point in his lesson about how no one "jumps into success." He asked if anyone was an athlete so I raised my hand. He asked me which sports I played and I told him, "Soccer, softball, basketball, and rugby." He did a semi-double take and was like, "I'm tired just hearing that." He then went on to ask me if I was good overnight at those sports or if I had to work hard. Obviously, I said I had to work at it. He went on to describe how missionary work is the same. We have to practice the basics over and over again and keep going in order to be a successful missionary. I really liked that part :)

     So, we met this new guy named Carlos. Apparently, he was going to church hace algunos anos atras and he went for like 6 months. I guess he dejo de ir porque su esposa no le gusto la iglesia mucho...we are trying to teach her too. He is more than happy to let us teach him. He wants to learn and I know he can feel the spirit because he never wants us to leave. His wife really warmed up to us last time we went because we were helping her with her English and she wanted us to help her with some vocab for her citizenship test (which is a complete joke, by the way. I'd be willing to bet that 80% of Americans couldn't even pass it). She really liked that. We will see how it goes. We extended him a date as a goal, but Hispanics are REALLY antsy about picking dates. They don't want to fall bad with anyone so if they don't think that they are ready then they won't commit...but he did agree to pray about Dic 21 so we will see. I've got a god feeling about this one!

     We were going to drop Daniel, but while we were doing it his friend came over and they both got-all of a sudden-interested in the Word of Wisdom...so we took that as a sign (yup, I'm becoming Hispanic) that we shouldn't do drop him just yet. Jose, the one that had to go to San Fransisco to work has been reading in the Book of Mormon and he even went to church there! YAY! I hope that I am still here when he gets back so that I can teach him again! We haven't been able to see Briana and Natalie for a while. I guess Natalie, who just turned 8, asked her mom if she could be baptized and she said no and that she was crazy! So, we are going to fast this Sunday for her mom's heart to be softened...por lo menos for Briana to be baptized. 

     Oh! We also had a miracle! We went over to see this family that we haven't been able to see for a while: la Familia Camacho. Well, the daughter just barely got her papers after 10 years and was so excited! But, she also wasted no time in telling us how unfair people are treated. She seriously went off for like 1 1/2. Then her mom was telling us her story of how she got to this country for another 45 min. It was rough to listen to, but none of us felt like we should interrupt them to leave so we just stayed and listened. After 2+ hours the daughter was telling us that we were something special to sit and listen to her and still be contect. She took it as a sign from God that we had something that she needed to hear. Long, amazing story short, we get to go back and read the Book of Mormon with her and her mom next week! I am so glad that we stayed. And Hna Hanson said it best, "Jesus wouldn't look at the sun and say, 'Oh I have an appointment. I'll catch you all later.'" She's right: He would listen. Obviously, we won't have 3 hour lessons every day, but this one happened to work in our favor :)

     We went over Blanca's house to decorate their tree with Nuno and Danielle. It was so much fun! I absolutely love them! I am totally going to come and visit them after the mission. Blanca asked me again for President Lewis' number so that she could ask him to keep me here for Christmas...we'll see :)

 I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving and ate some pecan pie for me. Ja! I love you all and look forward to your e-mails on Monday! LOVES!

Love, Hermana Freestone

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