Hello!:)
This week was so humbling! We had so many growing
experiences! Before I share some highlights of my week, I just want to share a
couple scriptures with you that have really helped me through this week. The
first one is Alma 26:27, "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were
about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy
brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will
give unto you success." The second scripture is Alma 34:41, "But that
ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye
shall one day rest from all your afflictions." I love these two
scriptures. These are always scriptures I fall back on when things get a little
rough or when things seem hard! Missionary work is definitely not easy, but if
we are patient and handle and go through (not around) our afflictions, then God
promises to give us the success we seek.
This week, this sweet lady named Ketesha called into
Mormon.org! She was telling me how she feels super lonely. The whole time we
were talking, she was just bawling. She said her house burned down and she
moves hotels every two weeks while she is finding a place to stay. She said
because of the fire, she has to live off of oxygen now. Despite all of
Ketesha's trials and hardships, she has such a strong connection to God and to
Jesus Christ. Her faith is so strong. She called Mormon.org because her friend
invited her to church and she just loved
how everyone was so nice to her. She wants to learn more and she wants this
church to be a part of her life. She told me she was so afraid of dying alone
with no one even knowing. It was so humbling to get to talk with and help
Ketesha. I left her with a prayer when we were done talking and she said she is
finally starting to feel that peace she has been searching for. I know with all
my heart that as we offer our broken hearts to Christ, that He will make them
whole.
So on Friday our ward had this BBQ at the church
building and before it started, all the missionaries came and contacted all
around it to invite neighbors to this BBQ! It was so great! A lot of the people
were able to come that we just invited on the street! Some of the people that
came were even interested in learning more! It was such a huge miracle!
On Saturday, Sister Wilson and I received a referral from
the traveling APs. (Assistants to the President) They met this guy while they were out tracting and said he
was so golden! So we went and visited the referral! The guy's name was Kareem
and as we were teaching him we were thinking, "Man this guy really is so
golden!" and then a few minutes later he told us he and the rest of his
family are members.... they just haven't gone to church in years!!! So we are
going to work with them!:) They want to come back so we are super excited to
see how it goes with them!
Yesterday during sacrament meeting, it was missionary
focused! We had recent converts get up and share their testimony with the ward.
It was so incredible. Recent converts have the strongest testimonies! One of
the recent converts that got up was Bruno. He is from Peru and was baptized
November of last year! He told us all to remember three things-- to have faith
in Heavenly Father, to be persistent, and to be patient. These three things really
hit me! As we follow this pattern during our life, everything will play out!
Another recent convert named Gavin gave really good advice on making time for
missionary work. He said if we give the excuses that we don't have time.... then to remember who gave us the time that we have. This also hit me! God has given us the time we have and He wants us to
serve Him! Every member a missionary. He shared a quote from Elder Neil L. Andersen, "If you’re not a
full-time missionary with a missionary badge pinned on your coat, now is the
time to paint one on your heart--painted, as Paul said, 'not with ink, but with
the Spirit of the living God.'" This is so true! I promise that as you make
time to share what you know about Jesus Christ with others, you will not only
bless their lives, but your life as well! I hope your week is full of happiness
from our Heavenly Father!
Love, Sister Freeman
The Sisters got a private tour of the Capitol building 2 Pdays ago from someone
who came into the Visitors' Center who works there!!
Our tour guide! He took us inside the hearing room!
A view of the Capitol from the underground pathways.
The "exact center" of Washington DC!
A cool hallway we went through.
Our tour guide took us into Senator Hatch's office!:D
We got a picture with Brigham Young ;)
The Rotunda! It is under construction but it was still cool!
Some of the Sisters, haha there were a ton of protesters!!
Left to right- Sister Capson, me, Sister McArthur, Sister Luna Chico, Sister Klaas, Sister Parabirsing, and Sister Larson.
This is The Mayflower Hotel. We stayed here when we visited DC when I was 9!
