October 17th - "And Then There Were 3" Week 73

Como esta familia??? This week was absolutely crazy and took lots of unexpected turns. The biggest change is that I will be finishing this last week of the transfer in a tripanionship. On Thursday afternoon we had a zone attack [this is where all the missionaries work in one area] in one of the elders sectors and while I was out working with Hermana Reneer, Hermana Gallardo from Simon Bolivar called me telling me she had been admitted to the hospital because she had an infection and a few complications from a prior surgery. We thought they might put her on antibiotics and something but the next day called us she would have to go into surgery! I just happened to end up being on an exchange with Hermana Walstrohm (an hermana I live with) helping her with her visas papers when President Ferreira called from Argenitna (where he was at an area conference) telling me I needed to go pick up Hermana Larson (Hermana Gallardos companion) because we would be finishing the transfer in a tripanionship while Hermana Gallardo recovered from surgery. To make a long story short at the last minute they decided it would be better for Hermana Gallardo to go to Santigo for her surgery so she flew home yesterday. It was insane how quickly everything happened and it was really sad to see her go but she's going to work on getting better to get back out on her mission. 

The work (that we were able to do in-between time in the hospital, etc.) this week was good. On Tuesday we visited the Avendaños and we had such a fantastic lesson. They haven't been reading their scriptures so we keep reading with them every time we go. We were in 1 nephi 2 and it was so interesting to see how we were able to apply the chapter to their lives being that only a little while back they were sent to the desert, leaving their life in Santiago behind. Paula Mauricio's mom was really touched and this week they came to church!!!!!! They still are reluctant to accept a baptismal date but we are seeing progress with their family which is so exciting. 

We also found a new investigator Micol this week. He is in college, likes music, reading, and is buena onda as they say here in Chile. As we got to know him a bit he opened up that his mom had died when he was 1 month old and that his dad raised him. His dad passed away 3 years ago. We talked about the plan of salvation and I love being able to testify about the eternal nature of families since it is the blessing I treasure most! 

This week I loved Isaiah 55:9

 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are myways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

With everything that happened this week, I felt so comforted to know that gods plan is always the best plan. I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week! Transfer calls this weekend! I will be sad to not be with Hermana Gemin anymore but at least we will see each other pretty soon...

Love,

Hermana Freedman

October 10th - "The Good Samaritan: Live Action" Week 72

Hola familia! It was a good week here other than the fact that Arica has decided to skip spring and go straight into summer. IT IS SO HOT! But other than that Hermana Gemin and I are doing well. 

Yesterday we were working with a member and we were walking down the street. There were 2 little boys on a bike near the 2 groups of people and they fell over. One of them was on the ground screaming and crying and was scrapped up pretty bad. We ran to help them and ended up taking them back home. As we walked away I realized I had lived the parable of The Good Samaritan. Haha we all got a good laugh out of that, but it was also a good learning experience for me. Charity is the most important things. Its not a bad thing to be out in the street trying to help people come unto Christ but it isn't enough to just preach or sing it. We have to live it! If we want people to come unto Christ we have to act like Christ. 

Anyways this week was really great and we have started cleaning out our stock of investigators again. We found lots of new investigators a few of which have baptismal dates and also ended up leaving a few investigators. One of them being Rosalia. We visited her to explain that we would write in her teaching record that missionaries should pass by in a few months, stuff like that. She was so sad but Hermana Gemin and I feel like it was right and hopefully what she needs to really understand our purpose as missionaries. 

The Avendaños are honestly so close to being baptized but there are just a few barriers keeping them back. Mauricio (dad) is scared to stop being Catholic and Paula doesn't like going to church. Those are our 2 big obstacles for now but we are trying to work more with the ward to help them feel the spirit and also have desires to come to church. 

Pablo and Annet are doing so well. And we are in the process of teaching them all the lessons again. 

This weekPpresident came to Arica and we had a mini conference and interviews. It was great too see him and he always has the greatest advice.

Cuídense!

Hermana Feedman 

October 3rd - "1, 2, 3 Be A Missionary" Week 71

Hola famila!

Wasn't conference incredible!!!! I love general conference, its a weeked of inspiration and blessings. I loved that during conference they taught all the missionary lessons 1, 2, and 3 and invited everyone to be a missionary because in the long run that's what we all are! Missionaries!!! I was also touched how they talked about prayer and repentance. This morning as I was studying in Alma I was touched by the examples of The anti nephi lehis

 5 Now when Ammon and his brethren and all those who had come up with him saw the preparations of the Lamanites to destroy their brethren, they came forth to the land of Midian, and there Ammon met all his brethren; and from thence they came to the land of Ishmael that they might hold a council with Lamoni and also with his brother Anti-Nephi-Lehi, what they should do to defend themselves against the Lamanites.

 6 Now there was not one soul among all the people who had been converted unto the Lord that would take up arms against their brethren; nay, they would not even make any preparations for war; yea, and also their king commanded them that they should not.

Repentance is the process that makes it possible to change, and once we have changed we must be firm in our decision to keep choosing the right. We must make our plans of what we will do when temptations come our way, and then stick with our decision, never looking back, nor planning ifs or buts. 

This week we had exchanges and I went to Simon Bolivar with Hermana Larson. But she's confined to the pension since she is having medical problems so we spent the whole day in the house....that was definitely a bummer but we were able to talk and hopefully she felt a little more excited by the time i left.

We also had leadership council this week. President really focused on the importance of talking with everyone. Hermana Gemin and I have set lots of goals to get better at that and it has been so fun. Before i always felt like there were few people in the streets in our area, but since we started talking with everyone the streets are OVERFLOWING with people. Funny how a change of attitude can change things, and I'm sure the Lord is putting more people in our path after seeing our effort. Coming back from leadership council our bus broke down in a small town Maria Elena. It's an hour between Tocopilla and Calama. It was 11:30 at night and was pretty cold, but we and the zone leaders decided to make the best of our 2 hour wait and walked to the plaza. There was a little boy playing soccer who asked to take a picture with us. We got back to Arica at 10 in the morning and left straight to work. 

The biggest miracle this week was that Mauricio and his family the Avendaños came to conference! They are progressing little by little, and everytime they call they've read a little more of the book of mormon. The hardest thing has been helping both the husband and wife feel the same things about the gosel since they come from distinct religious upbringings and always seem to have differing opinions but hermana gemin and I

are super excited about their progress!!! 

have a great week!

Hermana Freedman