August 22nd, 2016 - Week 65 "She's So Close!"

Hey! 

This week was great. We definitely passed through lots of trials of our faith but that's a good thing. I have gained an appreciation for life's trials here in the mission. 

Rosalia wasn't baptized this weekend. To make a long story short, we moved earth and heaven to help her get her baptismal interview, just for her to tell us that she didn't want to be baptized till the next week. If she doesn't meet her goal for this weekend we might have to stop visiting her for a while. We have been praying quite a bit to know what to do. But shes so close!!!! 

We found a new investigator this week Juana. She is the most humble person I have ever met. Her story is pretty sad. When she was 14 she was forced by her now parents in law to marry. She had her first baby at age 17 and she died 2 months later of fever. Her mom passed away shortly after. She was abused by her husband and they separated but a few months later she had her second baby. She now lives with her daugter in Chile. She has 6 step siblings and lives with a step sister and since she has nothing, she works for her. They have a salad business so when we go we always help her peel celery and then teach a lesson. She is so prepared to receive the gospel. This Sunday she had it all planned out to go to church but when we went to pick her up her step sister wouldn't let her leave the house. 

This week I had exchanges with Hermana Reneer who is the sweetest! I love living with 2 more Hermanas. Finishing our exchange we had a zone attack [I think this means all the missionaries concentrate their efforts in one area] in Los industriales (another ward in our zone). I was able to keep working with Hermana Reneer and we set 3 baptismal dates! It was an afternoon full of miracles. 

Today we played soccer as a zone and then had lunch with Familia Vasquez and it is so fun seeing people from Costanera! 

Also today I was reading in Jacob 4 and verse 3 stood out to me. 

 3 Now in this thing we do rejoice; and we labor diligentlyto engraven these words upon plates, hoping that ourbeloved brethren and our children will receive them withthankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learnwith joy and not with sorrow, neither with contempt,concerning their first parents.

After reading that my heart was filled with gratitude for the scriptures. I know the book of mormon is true and I feel so grateful for such convincing evidence of the restauration of the gospel. I am also grateful for prophets and all they do for us. I felt specifically grateful for the book of mormon prophets and their sacrifice writing and protecting the gold plates. 

Les quiero! Que les vaya bien en su primera semana de clases! [I love you! I hope that everything goes well in your first week of class!]

Hermana Freedman

August 15th, 2016 - Week 64 "Onions and Lemons"

Hey Everyone! 

Another great week here in Zapahuira. Hermana Gemin and I are doing well and lots of strange things have happened. First the bad news, I have fleas!  We are pretty sure we know where they are coming from but my legs are covered in flea bites....

Also this week Hermana Gemin and I were both sick with colds. We went to a members house and she and her husband started talking about medicinal foods. Her husband left and ran to the store and came back with 4 onions and some lemons. As we talked to his wife he chopped onions and put a salad bowl in front of us and told us to eat. Haha Hermana Gemin and I didnt know what to, but the hermano had just spent 10 minutes chopping onion, was crying, and so we just started eating spoonfuls of raw onion....I definteliy wouldnt suggest it and in case you are wondering we woke up the next moring with worse colds.

The work is going well here. Rosalia wasn't able to meet her baptismal goal for Saturday but we are trying to help her prepare for this weekend. She came to church yesterday which was great! Paola also came. We also have another investigator Andrea. She is so ready to receive the gospel and Hermana Gemin and I always thought she wasn't married but the other day as we were talking about the Law of Chastity she started telling us all about her wedding! We were shocked but so excited because now she can be baptized as soon as she wants. We are helping her quit smoking but she understands everything really well. She even asked if she could come to church in a skirt which is a big deal here.  Sadly her daughter woke up with a fever yesterday morning and they were in the hospital when church started. The great news is she's working towards her baptismal date!!!

It's been fun to see people from my old ward. Yesterday Isidora, Maria Paz, Hermana Vasquez, and Jael came to church to visit me. They haven't changed at all and everyone seems to be doing well.

Today is a holiday here. Something for the Virgin Maria. Our papitos took us to the beach, then to lluta valley, and then playa de los corazones which is a beach with lots of caves and stuff. It was fun and I'm glad to be back in Arica, where its always spring!!!

Hope you all have a gerat week!

Love,

Hermana Freedman

Aug 8th, 2016 - Week 63 "44 Hours, Am I Still On a Bus?"

Hey everyone! 

This week was crazy. I spent 2 days in a bus which was super fun.  On Monday afternoon I traveled to Arica. I got here Tuesday afternoon at about 4 and Hermana Gemin and I left to work! The sector here is great! The ward is also super awesome. We had mission correlation and I was able to meet some of the ward members. On Wednesday we left for Antofagasta. I was exhausted and it was another 12 hour bus ride, but it ended up being longer because my companion forgot her documents!!! In Iquiqe they separated us and almost made Hermana Gemin stay the night in the police station. It felt pretty weird to be without my companion and I never want it to happen again but after about 30 minutes they let her go and we got going to Antofagasta again. 

Leadership council was super great and we talked a lot about repentance. Everytime we go there are more and more changes in the mission. We have started working with a new activity. Every companionship has a sign that says #todoelespíritumisional Every time we leave to work with members we take a picture and they post the picture. It's been fun and the ward members have started to participate!!!! We came back on Thursday night (after 12 more hours in a bus) and got here Friday morning. 

I've been so tired all week but the Lord always helps me keep working with energy. 

We have some great investigators here! Rosalia has a baptismal date this weekend and we were able to visit her with the bishop this week. 

We also are visiting a couple, Paola and Edgar. We went on Friday with a ward member and talked about eternal marriage. Hermana Gemin told me that Edgar wanted to get married and Paola no. The spirit was really strong and in the end they committed to be baptized and get married!!! But the best part was at the end they said ¨but we can't get baptized without our kids. We want them to start listening!!!¨ They want to be baptized as a family! We went again yesterday to talk about setting goals and then we found out that they can't be married because Paola is waiting for her divorce....so that might make the process a little longer but we are all praying for a miracle that her divorce can move quickly. 

Its great being back in Arica and I can't believe that a year ago I was sitting in the same ciber writing you all, but I hardly spoke Spanish, and was just starting to learn how to be a missionary, and was in the process of strengthening my testimony. Its been great to reflect on this past year, and everything that has happened.  I love this gospel and I love my Savior!!!

Hermana Freedman

August 1, 2016 - Week 62 "Arica Siempre Arica, Mayor es mi Lealtad"

Hey!!! 

Wow, I definitely received an unexpected transfer call this week. I will be heading back to Arica! The same zone and stake but the neighboring ward Zapahuira! I am so excited and the only downside may be the 20 hour bus ride. I will be with Hermana Gemin from Peru and we are the STLs. I'm loosing hope that I will speak good english when I get back. Haha

This week was really great! We had 6 investigators at church again! Sandra and Maria Jose have baptismal dates for the 20th of August as does Aurora!!!! We started working more with the members to help Sandra and Maria Jose in their progress and members work miracles!!! 

We also have a newer investigator Andrea who came to church yesterday. She attended a baptism in Pimientos on Saturday and is making big changes in her life. Her process will be a little bit longer than usual but I am so happy that I could take part in her conversion. 

We also have been teaching a less active man, his wife, and daughter. Yesterday they came to church and in the afternoon we had a great lesson. It was amazing to see how Juan has started to find his tesimony again and he and his wife have really started thinking about having an eternal family.  

Looking back, my time in Maray was definitely one of the best parts of my mission. We may not have had a baptism, but I grew as a person and feel that Heavenly Father is proud of the work we have done together. I am so grateful that I could be with Hermana Chamorro. 

Love you all and sorry for such a short email! 

Hermana Freedman

July 25th, 2016 - Week 61 "Servicio"

Hola Familia! 

Today was another great p-day. As a zone we went to Caldera and played soccer at Bahia Inglesia. It was a blast and it's starting to warm up here in Copiapo. Winter is starting to come to an end. Hermana Chamorro and I are still working our hardest. 

We had 6 investigators at chuch again, and Maria Jose and Kiara are really progressing. We are hoping to set a baptismal date with Maria Jose and Kiara soon since we now have permission from President Ferreira. They went to primary for the first time too and loved it! We are trying to focus on getting the ward really involved so that when they are baptized they will stay active in the church. 

Aurora is progressing slowly. She has a hard time making choices and it's hard for her to see the need to look for the spirit outside of her house when she can more comfortably feel it when we come over and she doesn't have to leave her comfort zone. But the Book of Mormon is a powerful tool and as she reads more and more her testimony will start to grow. We had a powerful lesson on baptism and confirmation this week but there's still something missing. Maybe a member...but it's been difficult since she told us it's not ok to bring members with us to her house and she never accepts invitations to family home evening.

This week Hermana Chamorro and I looked for lots of service opportunities and it made me so happy serving others! There are so many small ways to serve and I don't know why but I feel like mostly everyone asked us to wash their dishes this week. Haha but Hermana Chamorro and I had fun washing dishes together. I was really impacted by the difference in my animo (or excitement?) throughout the day when we had done service. I have a strong testimony that God blesses us when we serve his children. 

We will be receiving transfer calls this weekend. I'm not sure what will happen but it might be time for me to leave Copíapo....we will see what President thinks. It will be sad working with a different companion since Hermana Chamorro and I get along so well but I'll be happy with whatever happens. 

I hope you have a great week!

Love,

Hermana Freedman

July 18, 2016 - Week 60 "Surprise..."

Hey!!! On Thursday the office called telling us that interviews and the get to know you conference with President would be Saturday and Sunday so P-Day was changed to Monday again. This week was good, we found quite a few new investigators who are super great but also were challenged quite a bit. 

Rosa has been progressing tons. The other day we went to finish teaching her the lessons for her baptism on the 23rd and she told us she had had a dream that she was baptized in a river. Hermana Chamorro and I started thinking that maybe it wasn't a dream and that she actually was a less active member. So...we looked for her record and SUPRISE!!! Rosa is already a member. So...our baptism for this weekend fell through which is a bummer. But, at least we were able to reactive Hermana Rosa. 

We also have a young woman we have been working with who is progressing lots. Her name is Sofia. She was a reference from a recent convert in the ward. Well we started working with Sofia and her mom, but her mom lost interest but told us it was alright to keep teaching Sofia. Long story short we received permission to baptize her, set her date, she came to church, and...then  her mom called us and told us she can't be baptized until she's 18 and then can make the decision. To keep from being too Debby Downer, all our other baptismal dates fell through this week...

Soo....we are starting over again. But with lots of faith. We have made lots of plans to work better with the ward and BAPTIZE!!! 

I was also able to work in Caldera this week with Hermana Challco. It was so great to see all her progress and teach with her again. At one point we found a new investigator and started teaching the Restoration. The woman was seated next to me on the couch and Hermana Challco in a chair on the other side of the woman. She taught the first part and when it came to me to start teaching about Christ's life on earth I started teaching and testifying. Hermana Challco had a water bottle and started drinking water (but the woman had her back to her at this point and was looking at me). As Hermana Challco was drinking water squirted out both sides of her mouth and I tried to keep going but I lost it laughing. All 3 of us started laughing and it took us a good solid 5 minutes to get under control again and invite the spirit back. oops. 

With the Elders we planned a ward activity this week which was really fun. We talked about virtue and played lots of games. 

Another highlight of the week was the conference with President and our interviews. President has lots of excitement and its contagious. He was able to give me some good advice and I'm excited to have the opportunity to learn from 2 presidents. The Ferreiras also came and played soccer with us this morning. It was a blast!!!

On Saturday I was honestly feeling a little down with everything that had happened during the week, but the Relief Society had passed us a ¨message box.¨ It was a little box with rolls of paper inside. Saturday night I prayed and decided to see what the box was all about. I ended up pulling out a quote by Elder Uchtdorf that I loved! It said, 

"Sometimes in life we become so focused on the finish line that we fail to find joy in the journey."

In spanish it translates a little differently and says that "sometimes we become so focused on the goal that we fail to find joy in the journey. "

That was exactly what i needed to hear. And I felt lots of peace, knowing that if I work hard, do what i have been called to do, and have fun, the Lord will bless me! 

Entonces....everyone remember to have fun and find joy everyday! There are so many blessings that sometimes we overlook, but we are so blessed and Heavenly Father loves us!

Love,

Hermana Freedman

July 11th - Week 59 "Moronis Ark"

Hey everyone! This week was super great!

Here are some of the highlights this week...

Aurora- Aurora came to church yesterday!!!! Thats a huge step! This week we had a few lessons with her. The first was with Hermna Pebbles during a companion exhange. Aurora had read about Lehis vision of the tree of life and had lots of questions. We were able to compare it to her life and talked a lot about faith and she committed to come to church! Later in the week Hermana C and I went and taught her the Word of Wisdom. She has a few doubts but we were able to help her see that it is a blessing not a rule. She is reading her BOM almost daily (and we would be calling her to check up...but our phone broke)! 

Rosa- Rosa wasn't able to make it to church yesterday and we aren't quite sure what happened so her baptismal date will have to be changed. We were able to have a few lessons with her as well. Her situation is a little hard and she is always in and out of the hospital but she shared her testimony with us of the Restoration this past week which was really powerful. 

During my intercambio with Hermana Pebbles this week the Carrion family came and dropped their washing machine off before moving to Chillan. When Hermano Carrion set it up he pulled out a filter and water started pouring out all over the floor. And it smelled like a rotten egg. Poor Hermana Pebbles had to help me clean the floor for a good while and our small apartment smelled so bad. We were breathing through our shirts all night. 

Church yesterday was pretty great. Besides Aurora going an investigator of ours Hector went for the 2nd time. His cousin is a recent convert. We also were asked to help in the primary yesterday. When we went they were playing a picture guessing game. At one point the teacher showed a picture of Noahs ark and she asked who it was, a cute little boy raised his hand and shouted, Moronis ark!!! Then she showed a picture of the first vision and asked who it was, another boy raised his hand and said, When Nephi had a vision and saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ! The girl sitting next to him turned her head and said, no....its when Heavenly Father and Jesus went to help the boy who fell down and was sad. We all got a good laugh. 

Also...P-day next week will be on Wednesday since we have interviews and a special meeting with President Ferreira on Monday and Tuesday. Love you all. You are in my prayers!!!

Hermana Freedman