Monday, August 04, 2014
HEEEEELLO.
Hi from the sunny Bensonhurst, NY!
We have had quite the spectacular week.
Let’s start with... how awesome my companion is. I'm learning
things from her every day. Sister Williams and I are still just the best of
friends. I appreciate her faith-- she has taught me about the perfect amount of
faith vs. realism. We talk a lot about that in the mission, and in no way do I
have it down. But she sure has been a good example of that.
So, Monday. Bien- great day. Played some basketball... and
got the usual done. :) That evening we were able to fellowship a family who
hasn't been to church in quite some time! They were excited to have us over.
The mother is so excited to have us coming, and wants us to come on a weekly
basis-- which is what we want too. So we are excited :) She has high hopes for
her family to be a part of the gospel and church, they would need to be
baptized, but we will definitely bring them the love!
Then on Tuesday we were able to have a WODNERFUL
lesson with a woman who is easily the sweetest person that I have ever met. She
is having some big trials, but man-- the Lord is sure blessing her as she is
obedient. She is making such an effort to do what is right, and she is
progressing SO well! When she is able to be baptized I would love to come back
for her wedding and baptism. That would mean so much to me :) I love them a
lot. She knows as much as any member, and so our lessons are more like a Sunday School
class, we have some good discussions! We talked about the differences between
the temple and church, and she is so excited to be married to her fiancé!
Wednesday I got to spend my day in Staten Island! It was
SUCH a fun day for us all. Wednesdays are our mission's service day. So the
sister I was with and their district, had 2 service projects lined up. One was
with a post Sandy clean-up crew, and the other was helping a member paint her
house. The first one was both the Spanish and English district helping. We had
weird jobs-- but it was my kind of labor, digging holes to get out a stump and
we cleaned up some garbage from the farm landfill..... Yes. A farm. :) We
were able to get a lot of painting done, and the sweet member made us Filipino
food. There were many missionaries there that I had previously served in
districts with so it was fun to see how they were all doing.
That night, the sister and I were able to teach a lesson with a
woman that is battling between two different churches. It was so hard for me to
see her struggle. When you know what is best for someone you wish they didn't
have their agency so that you could decide for them what will be the best. But
we understand that being able to choose shows God our love for him when we
choose righteously. Right now, she is just trying to look for a confirmation of
the spirit. But it will come-- all in God's timing. Sometimes we just have to
be patient with that.
Thursday we had a meeting in Zone 1, continuing to teach
about Preach my Gospel. Our mission is really trying to be grounded in that :)
It was cool to see the district leader’s ideas of how they choose to implement
it in their districts.
After the meeting we were able to teach 2 cool lessons. One, we
tried to help her to come to church. Her health is poor and so she struggles to
come. But the other lesson is a RC who is now pumped after the lesson to do
Visiting teaching. We are so excited. She sees its importance now :)
The people we are working with are so special. They all mean so
much to me. I have been thinking a lot about the people that the Lord is having
me meet, and I can honestly say that I feel like I am being so blessed by them!
Ward members too... they are great.
Alright, Friday was the big day. We were able to have
the sweetest meeting EVER! It was MLC, with the NORTH mission! They came down
to the island and we had a meeting with their mission president and all their
leadership. I learned SO much. Everything was on the Doctrine of Christ, and
Preach My Gospel. Sister Calderwood spoke on the Love of God. President
actually gave the same training that he did for the Sisters conference. But I
learned WAYYYYY more the second time around.
The thing that we continue to learn is that the doctrine of
Christ is circular. Imagine faith, repentance, baptism/covenants, the Gift of the
Holy ghost and enduring to the end on a big circular wheel-- we are learning
that we need to live this 'real time' is what it is called. Where, like on a
car, we move forward in a continuous motion. Not 'stop-go, stop-go' so that has
really changed my life. Starting to grasp the importance of 'real time
repentance' and not waiting for an event to repent. It is so fascinating. All I
study is the doctrine of Christ in my studies now. It’s EVERYWHERE.
We had an awesome training from the North Mission President
[President Morgan] on how to do online pros... so-- that should go a teensy bit
better. I hope. I have been pathetic on it.
We had an awesome council on how to find, and we got some great
suggestions. We hope to implement some
of them :)
We are having lots of miracles! I love you all!
Sister Freeze
