Monday, October 13, 2014
Hi!
Another
wonderful week in the mission field.
Miracles
for days.
I was able
to have an exchange this past week on Wednesday. I was able to go with Sister Slaugh. I was learning A LOT. I don’t know if you have ever had days where
you learn so much you are on overload. But that is what happened to me. A few
things were confirmed to me, one is I need to recognize my full potential...
recognize it-- but not become overwhelmed in trying to reach it. I was learning about study habits and things,
and how to improve them... Right now I am trying to ask questions to myself and
the Lord; that way I can have a more direct study. Still such a hard thing for me. I don’t know how to be taught how to study...
so I guess just trial and error. I was
able to get pumped on accountability and being more accountable. It was a great exchange. I was able to go back
to Plainview again for my last exchange. It was nice to be able to be there again.
Today I am
with Sister Benavidez in Lynbrook-- where I started my mission. We are eating
at a popular restaurant there to celebrate a sister’s birthday. We are going to
say hello/goodbye to a few people. Mainly the old branch president-- the Andersons.
This is my first time back here, aside
from a meeting that I came to once. So it has been special to be here. It’s all just sacred ground. Makes you realize how much you grow when you
can come back and see what has changed. I just got back from seeing Sister Anderson.
Her daughter just got home from her mission 4ish days ago and she was just
having a REALLY hard time transitioning. I felt terrible.
This week
we were able to have 3 incredible lessons with our investigator who is progressing
incredibly well. I had someone tell me
the other day that you come on your mission for someone particularly, and I
know that is true for Judith. She was
found through Mary-Ellen, a less active that is in a facility. She was the one that introduced missionaries
to Donald. She has only been learning
for 4 weeks, and let me tell you- she knows basically everything. She asked if she could set a date for baptism
now, since she had declined setting a date a while back when we had talked about
it. When we told her she couldn’t drink
coffee, she said that it is going to be so hard. We reassured her and when she
realized she could still drink caffeine she relaxed a bit. I literally have
never had an investigator so prepared for the ordinance of baptism before. She read 37 chapters in Alma in 2 nights, and consistently
reads daily. She has been cross referencing
the bible and asks WNODERFUL questions. She
made a comment about how someone invited her to do things with her, but when
she heard it was on Sunday she said "Oh! Sorry, I go to church on Sundays."
At church she made comment after comment that was perfect! She is really
getting involved. This Wednesday she is coming to the Relief Society activity! We
are decorating cupcakes. :) Judith is working on not drinking coffee, if you
want to add anyone to your prayers right now, it’s her-- she needs this so bad,
and wants it so bad. Addictions are just hard to overcome.
There was a
neat fireside that happened Sunday L. Tom Perry came to the Lincoln Center by
the temple and spoke. He grew up in New York. But he commemorated the 50th
anniversary of the World Fair in Flushing Meadows. This was the reason that the
church really grew, and shortly after, there were many converts and they built
the Rego Park chapel where the mission office is :) It was a great little
fireside. It was broadcast to our
building in south shore.
THE WARD
HAS BEEN SO INVOLVED! We are seeing so many exciting changes with the ward.
Good things are happening. We were able to have members come to 8 of our
lessons this week..... We are having people talk to our investigators and
fellowship them. :) Things are so exciting!
We set
quarterly goals with the ward council and we are looking forward to this last
quarter. It is still possible to keep
our commitment to the Lord to bring the souls unto Christ that we committed to.
We were
able to go to a member’s house for dinner, and they were just talking about
their missionary on his mission. He is
in Santa Cruz California and has some funny stories. It made me wonder what you
say about me. :) Ha-ha
We were
able to have a special experience seeing Mary Ellen in the hospital, she is
doing well from what we know. Visiting
people in the hospital is such a spiritual experience.
We are now
starting to knock in the neighborhoods of members so that we can go report to
them if we have met anyone in their neighborhoods. :)
I am doing
well-- lots of things are hitting me harder than I thought they would.
Good to
hear things are going well. I love you
all.
Sister
Freeze
