Spiritual Week!

Hello family and friends!

This week was so incredible! We had a few exchanges this week and lots of fun spiritual times. I will start out with our Zone Conference! We had Zone Conference on Thursday and it was so amazing. President Johnson and Sister Johnson
shared so many inspirational and motivational insights about the gospel. The theme was Diligence and AH I loved it! I had to give my departing testimony at Zone Conference along with all the other missionaries leaving this transfer and that was so emotional! I am so grateful for my mission. Reflecting on my mission filled my heart with so much joy! It doesn't seem real that I'm leaving!!!! It literally doesn't feel like it is going to happen! I am so glad that time is not here yet! I love the mission so much! I love testifying of our Savior. I love testifying of the hope and peace our Savior brings and that is something I will always strive to do.

Yesterday was so special! We had 'Why I Believe' at the Visitors' Center and the speaker for it was Mason Wells. Some of your might remember, but last year there was an attack at the Brussels airport that was very fatal and tragic. There was a group of missionaries transferring to new areas at the airport during the attack and Mason was one of the missionaries who was at the Brussels Airport when the bomb went off. He and the other missionaries he was there with were all injured pretty badly but they all survived it. Hearing his story was so neat. He has such a strong testimony of God's plan. His testimony of peace and comfort during hard times filled the room with the spirit and it was so neat to be able to feel of that. Before 'Why I Believe' started, President Johnson asked for the mission leadership to meet by the temple so he could offer a dedicatory prayer for the mission. So the Zone Leaders, APs, and Sister Training Leaders got to attend and it was probably one of the most spiritual experiences of my life. The spirit was so strong as President Johnson offered the prayer. I know that God can and will and has been helping our mission and that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we all can become better missionaries! It was so cool to be able to witness that.

Update on some people: Lauren is doing SO GOOD! She came to church yesterday and loved it. She accepted to be baptized when she found these things to be true. She is so amazing! Lauren just radiates the light of Christ! We need more people in the world like Lauren!:) I love her so much! Carter found some family history names to bring to the temple!!!!!! That was so exciting! I love Carter so much!! We have a new investigator named Tyler! He is dating a girl in the ward and has been surrounded by Mormon friends his whole life and wants to learn more! He is really awesome and just soaks up everything we teach!

I love you all so much! I hope things are going well for you all! Let me know if there is anything I can do to help any of you!! Or if you have any questions about anything! Have a great week!
-Sister Freeman

 Yao Chen came to church last week! She was SO COOL! A member in our ward brought her to the

Visitors' Center and we got to take her around, and then she came to church the next day! She lives in San Francisco,

so missionaries there will be teaching her!

 

Sister Gomez and my 18 month pictures... hahahaha!

 

 Perks of being a missionary :))

 

Our nature walk today! It was so pretty.
 

 Azaleas!

CARTER!:)

 

 

4 Weeks To Go!!!

This beautiful girl comes home in exactly four weeks from TODAY!!  I have loved her mission experience and have SO enjoyed living it right along with her!  In a sense, her mission has been our mission as we've gone through these last 18 months!  I can't wait to see her, but there is also a part of me that wants her to stay out...she's doing so well, she's protected, and doesn't have to worry about any other thing except for preaching the gospel.  I'd say that's a pretty good life!  But, missions are only 18 months and there's a reason for that, so it's almost time for the next phase in Megan's life.  I can't wait for our joyous reunion!!

18 Months and VC Tour with Donald Trump's Secretary :o

HAPPY EASTER!

THIS WEEK WAS SO AWESOME!! There were so many miracles in the Visitors' Center and in our area!

Something really exciting we got to do this week was we got to have a lesson on the roof top of the Kennedy Center!! A member in our ward, who is interning at the Kennedy Center,  brought one of her intern friends to church last Sunday! We got talking with them and scheduled to have a missionary discussion together at the Kennedy Center! IT WAS SO COOL! Her friend's name is Javier and he is the nicest person ever! They are both really talented! The lesson went really well! We talked a lot about the Book of Mormon and how it has blessed our lives! He had so many good questions! We are excited to work with him!

Another REALLY SUPER AMAZING thing that happened this week was Sister Escobar and I got to give a tour to Donald Trump's secretary, who is a member of the church, and his co worker.  We walked into the Visitors' Center to come onto shift and the VC director rushed over and frantically told us Donald Trump's secretary, Layne Bangerter, was bringing his co worker, Beatrice, to the VC and he wants the sisters to give them a tour at the Visitors' Center on the Restoration! The VC director said he would like Sister Escobar and I to give their tour so we gladly agreed! Beatrice came in first and so it was nice to be able to get to know her and answer some of her questions before Brother Bangerter came in. Brother Bangerter was such an amazing member present and is probably one of the most spiritual people I know! It was such a great lesson!  Beatrice, during the tour, told us about how she has had dreams about our church. I won't go into too much detail with them because they are really neat personal experiences that she had. But basically her dreams told her this was the true church of Jesus Christ and that she needed to be a part of it. She said when Brother Bangerter first introduced himself to her at work, she said that the Mormon faith was her favorite religion! Haha Brother Bangerter hopped right on that and has helped her every step of he way!

It was such a neat experience to be able to a part in this experience. She asked Brother Bangerter if he would baptize her and we all set a date in May. Brother Bangerter is such an amazing member missionary! I love the example he showed us! Her local missionaries who get to teach her are so lucky! She is so amazing and so prepared. This was probably one of the most spiritual experiences I've had in my mission! We started the tour at 6:30 and ended right before closing at 9! It was so awesome! Ah it was so cool! Afterward, Brother Bangerter gave us big hugs haha! He said he knew he was not allowed to hug us, but he just wanted to thank us! He said he LOVES missionaries! It was really sweet! We asked him about his job being the secretary for Donald Trump (It's crazy because nothing gets to Donald Trump without Brother Bangerter!) and he told us it is crazy but so good! He told us how he and Donald were talking one day and Donald Trump goes, "Man, Mormons just HATE me!" And Brother Bangerter told him how we all have our flaws and he pulled up a scripture of the Book of Mormon to share with him!! Ah it was so cool to hear that!!!! It was great to hear a REAL viewpoint on him. And how even the President of the United States needs encouragement and prayers. After the tour Sister Escobar  and I just looked and each other and asked... what just happened???? Haha

We have a new investigator named Cassandra!! She is amazing! Her boy friend is a less active member and she recently has shown an interest! We taught her the Restoration and she LOVED it! She accepted our invitation to be baptized and she is just so excited to change her life to live more in line with Gods will! Lauren is another person we are working with! She is the nicest person I have ever met and has such a deep understanding of Jesus Christ. She was contacted on the metro and wanted to learn more! Her uncle and grandpa are both active members of the church  and have sparked her interest. This week I have gained a strong testimony that God places people in each others' path to help them learn and grow!

We were out checking up on a referral and we knocked on the door and it was a wrong address!! We asked the guy who answered the door if he would like to learn more and he said YES! He has a Buddhist background and told us he has always wanted to learn more about Jesus Christ. He is originally from China and he said all of his friends here now believe in Jesus Christ and he wants to too! It was really cool how we were led to him!

My final experience I wanted to talk about is an experience I will never forget!! We were at the Visitors' Center and a member from the Annacostia Ward came in with a friend. The member said that he was going to go inside the temple and that we should take his friend around! We gladly agreed and began to take Eric around the VC. We started at the temple model and began talking about everything we do inside the temple. He was so intrigued. He opened right up to us and he told us how he felt like he has been carrying a lot on his shoulders. He asked me how he could remove that burden from him. We talked to him a lot about repentance and then took him into the Because He Lives room. We talked all about our Savior and how if we let Him, Christ will take away our burdens. It was so neat to be able to testify of these things. Eric told us he wanted what Rodney, the member that brought him, had. He wants the light and peace Rodney has. We testified that he COULD have that. We told him about how missionaries in his area could help him. He gladly accepted the offer. We felt prompted to invite him to be baptized in three weeks, and he gladly accepted and said he needed that. He said this is the time that God is telling him to change. I am so amazed at Eric's faith to completely change his life. Visitors' Centers work miracles! We showed Eric the Restoration movie and at the end of the movie, Eric said "This is where I need to be". He got all choked up, and said this is where God needs him to be. It was so amazing to be able to witness this! We called the missionaries right up to inform them of Eric and his desire to be baptized on the 30th of April! Eric came to church yesterday and seems to be doing really well! Ah I can't wait! :) When Rodney came back from the temple to pick Eric up, we told him all about what happened and Rodney was SO HAPPY! It was so amazing!:)

I just want to end with my testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ. Yesterday we got to watch the Savior of the World performance at the Visitors' Center and it was so good! We were in tears the whole time! It was so neat to see the life of Jesus Christ visually. I know that the life of Jesus Christ is real and that it is essential in Gods plan for us. I know Christ is our Savior and that He resurrected and that He lives. We are so blessed and I am glad that I can continue to learn more and more about Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!

The mission is just getting better and better and the experiences that I've had this week have given me so much joy that I cannot describe. Missions are the best! I really do not want to leave, but I know the work will continue to hasten and move forward. "Every knee shall bow and every tounge confess that Jesus Is the Christ the Son of the Living God"

Have a wonderful week!

- Sister Megan Freeman

 

 HAPPY EASTER! I think tulips are my favorite flower now!!:)

 

 

 Roof top of the Kennedy Center where we had our lesson.

 

The Kennedy Center! :D

Tagged On Missionary Mommas...

So this picture popped up today... but I probably would not have seen it if it weren't for Emily Kealer, who tagged me and I got a notification.  So I looked, and here's what some nice missionary momma posted on there today!

Megan and her companion Sister Escobar at the VC today!

"Sister Freeman Sends Her Love"

Here's a couple of pictures that brightened my Wednesday!  I love it when members send pictures! This is Megan's friend April who used to be in her ward back in Bethesda-- caught her at the VC doing her missionary thing there today!

Goofy girl!

Update from DC

Hey!!!

This week was full of lots of tears but also full of lots of joy!

We had transfers on Wednesday and Sister Larson finished her mission and went back home to California. There were lots of tears and sadness but I know she is going to do great things. She has impacted my life so much and I am so grateful for her. My new companion is Sister Escobar!!!!!! She is so awesome! She is from Arizona as well and is the sweetest person ever! It is going to be a wonderful transfer! We are looking forward to all the tender mercies that are ahead!

Here are some highlights of our week:

ALL THE MISSIONARIES IN THE DC NORTH MISSION GOT TO VOLUNTEER AT THE NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM PARADE! It was so much fun and a great experience. We got to help last year as well! It was awesome! I'll send some pictures from it!:)

Miracles in the Visitors' Center:

1. During Festival of Lights, a diplomat from India came into the Visitors' Center. A sister in the Visitors' Center took him and his family around and he agreed to meeting with missionaries. WELL just last week he and his family were baptized in the Bethesda ward!!! Our Visitors' Center director told us that he is the one that helps giving Visas from America to India and that will help greatly with missionaries going there! That was such a huge miracle!!

2. A sweet Japanese lady came into the Visitors' Center last night and she was telling us how three years ago, she came to the Visitors' Center for the Festival of Lights and she was telling us how much she enjoyed it. She told us how a day before she came to the Festival of Lights her husband died and so every year she comes back to the Festival of Lights on the same day to remember her husband. She said she felt so close to him there. She told us how sisters took her around the VC and taught her the Plan of Salvation and she chose to meet with missionaries and to get baptized!! She said that this is where she goes to feel peace! It was so inspirational to hear her conversion story!

3. This one man from Afghanistan came in this week. He said he was driving on the beltway and saw the temple and wanted to know more. We began to take him around and showed him the temple model. He was so intrigued by everything! He said he was looking for more light and knowledge! We gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon in his language and it was so sweet, he kissed it!!! He agreed to missionaries going over to teach him and his family! It was so awesome!

I have such a strong testimony of Visitors' Centers being amazing missionary tools for the world! Visitors' Centers help the work move forward so much! I feel so blessed to get to serve in the DC Temple Visitors' Center! It truly makes me so happy!

Love you all! Have a great week!

Sister Megan Freeman

 

Deanna (one of our investigators who got baptized when I was in Montgomery Village) got engaged to Pier!! He is a wonderful member in the ward! I approve 100%!

They are working towards a temple marriage!!!!:)

 Betty and her husband got sealed!! For those who do not remember this story, so at the beginning of my mission, Betty called into Mormon.org wanting a Finding Faith in Christ DVD and so I sent her local missionaries over to drop it off! She ended up getting baptized with her husband and got sealed a couple weeks ago! Here is the picture from their sealing!

 Saying goodbye to Sister Larson:(

 

National CHERRY BLOSSOM Parade!

 

It was on TV so you all could probably watch it somehow! 

 

I SAW BROTHER AND SISTER LEE, WHO USED TO BE IN MY HOME WARD, AT THE VISITORS' CENTER!!!!! IT WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL SURPRISE AND IT MADE MY NIGHT!!!!!!!

 

Sister Lee

AH I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!!! THEY ARE THE BEST!!! 

My new companion Sister Escobar!

I Love DC!!!!!!!

Hello family and friends!

First, I just want to say that General Conference was SO GOOD. It was such a huge testimony builder to me. I loved the strength and courage it gave to us all. I hope you all got the chance or will get the chance to watch it!!

This week has been so good! I just wanted to share this one experience that changed my life. On Saturday night, Sister Larson and I had an experience I will never forget! We were driving back to our apartment from General Conference and Sister Larson told me how she got this pinching pain in her stomach and could hardly move. Sister Larson is a trooper and insisted we keep going for the night. We had planned to go metro contacting that evening but thought it might be good to stay in the car and drive to check up on some potentials due to the pain Sister Larson was feeling. She took a couple minutes to think about what she could do and prayed and then instantly said, "Nope we have to go metro contacting." So we parked and went. We got on the metro right in time as it was coming. We both felt prompted to sit near this girl named Mary. She was from Cuba and was so nice. She was 24 and looking for direction in her life. Sister Larson started talking with her and told her about General Conference. She got super excited to hear that the prophet would be speaking to us and agreed to come for the Sunday session! She said she really wanted to learn more and was anxious to learn more about God's plan for her. We got her contact information and were grateful for this miracle. As they were talking, I kept looking over at this other sweet old Hispanic lady. I noticed she had lots of bags and a small cart with a broken wheel. I wondered how she would be able to carry all that she had. I got a sweet prompting from the spirit to offer help. I saw her get up at the metro stop and Mary ran over to her to help. We went over as well to help her with her bags. We got off the metro and placed her bags down for her near the elevator. Sister Larson and I both felt we needed to keep helping her all the way to her destination in the city. So we did. She must have been carrying rocks or something, those bags were not light haha! We asked her if she'd ever met missionaries and she mentioned she did in Bolivia. She told us she had been to the Visitor's Center over Christmas time. We tried sharing the gospel with her and haha, in the middle of the journey, the sweet little Hispanic lady stopped us. We put down our bags and she broke down into tears. She said in her cute broken English, "Sisters, I am a member of the church in the Mt. Pleasant Spanish branch. I was just so embarrassed I needed all of this help. I didn't think I needed help but after the wheel on my cart broke, I realized that I desperately needed help." She then went on and said she needed to tell us something, she said, "The whole time I was on the metro I was praying with my whole heart that God would send me someone to help me with these bags. I knew I could not do it alone. I am so grateful God sent you to help me!" At this point we were all just feeling the spirit so strongly. We kept walking and I suddenly remembered that Sister Larson had not been feeling well. I looked over at her and I will never forget the look of deep pain that was on her face. She kept going to help this lady. She put her pain aside, and the needs of this lady over hers.  The spirit was so strong and I felt Christ so close to us helping us. Prayers were flowing to help Sister Larson and all of us make it to Clara's destination. When we finally got there (after many wrong turns haha) she sincerely thanked us. As we were walking back, I felt an overwhelming peace and gratitude towards my Savior. I felt so happy to be a missionary. So happy to be able to serve others. We were reflecting on our night. What if we never went on the metro? Our agency depended on that sweet lady's answer to her prayers. We were thankful all night for the promptings we received to not only talk to Mary, but to also be able to help Clara. Sorry I don't mean to make this super deep, but our thoughts then were drawn to the Savior and His Atonement. What if He never atoned for us? We, as missionaries, are here to be Jesus Christ's representatives. We are here to do HIS work, not to stand in the way, and to be His instruments. A lot of times in life we have bags we feel we cannot carry, but as we pray for help, Christ has already chosen to help us. Sister Larson's face of pain gave me a glimpse of how the Savior felt as He carried our bags that were much heavier --heavier than I could ever imagine. That lady could not physically carry those bags alone, haha we were struggling just carrying one bag haha. Similarly, we physically and spiritually cannot get through life alone without Christ. Christ is waiting to carry our load. I will forever be grateful we chose to go out despite Sister Larson not feeling well. I am so glad we were able to be an answer to that lady's humble prayer. Never doubt impressions.  Go and do. God answers prayers as we act on our agency. This life is not about us. I am grateful for the example Sister Larson has been of this! She will have completed her mission on Wednesday and I am so grateful for all she has taught me. She is such a great example to me! I love her so much and am going to miss her immensely. The Sisters in the Mt. Pleasant Branch told us yesterday that Clara (the lady we helped) told them all about our journey on Saturday night haha! They said she was so grateful! Ah I love the mission so much! I love everything about it!

I hope you all have a wonderful week and remember to pray with the faith that your prayers WILL be answered because Jesus Christ IS there waiting to help. He has already chosen to help!

Love you all!

Sister Freeman

 

 All of our sisters

 

  I LOVE SISTER LARSON

 

DC 2nd missionary (and Mary Clare) family picture!