WALSH RANCH ROCKS - Oct 24, 2016

Hello everyone! I hope your week was absolutely fantastic, and you
felt the spirit in abundance!

Wow, we have had such an incredible week here in Walsh Ranch, I
absolutely LOVE this area. I am so thankful for the chance I have to
serve here with Sister Rueda, we have already seen so many blessings.
We were doubled into this area last Tuesday, AND WE ARE ON FULL BIKE!
It's seriously the best thing ever, I LOVE being in a biking area!

This week I've been studying a lot from the Christlike Attributes in
Preach My Gospel, and the more I read and study, the more I recognize
there are things I need to work on. I'm really focusing on the
attribute "Patience", it's something I really need  to work harder at.
Our Savior is the perfect example of having perfect patience with
everyone, and it's an attribute I'm fervently praying to have help
developing. I'm so thankful to have Jesus Christ as a perfect example,
I'm striving as hard as I can each day to become more like Him.

Walsh Ranch is absolutely FANTASTIC, I love this area so much! (I hope
I get to stay here for a long time😉) The members are so incredibly
involved with missionary work, I can't even believe it. They have also
shown us an incredible amount of kindness since we've been here; I can
just tell it's such a great area! We are definitely doing a lot of
finding right now, when we got into the area last week, we only had
about two potential investigators. We are for sure trying to work with
them, but we're also trying trying to find more people to teach. I'm
continuing to learn to trust and rely in the Lord's promises; I know
that we will be led to the prepared people of this area as we are
obedient and faithful!

My companion Sister Rueda is so sweet. Wow, she is one of the kindest
most patient people I have ever met! I learn so much from the love she
shows to the people we come in contact with; she truly cares so much
about everyone! We are still learning how to teach together in unison,
but we are working together really well. I'm so thankful for her and
for her testimony.

I'm extra excited for this upcoming week, because we have a General
Authority coming to our mission on Thursday to talk with us! His name
is Elder Benjamin De Hoyos. He has given a few General Conference
talks in the early 2000's, they are incredible; I'd definitely
recommend looking them up! But I'm so excited to hear the words of one
of the Lord's servants, I know I will be so spiritually fed.

I'd like to close with my testimony in Spanish again today:

Yo sé que esta iglesia es verdadera. Sé que Jesucristo vive. Sé que Él
es nuestro ejemplo perfecto. Sé que Él sufrió para cada de nosotros.
Yo testifico que El Libro de Mormón es la palabra de Dios y también
que José Smith fue una profeta muy fiel de Dios. Estoy muy agradecida
por este Evangelio, estamos tan bendecido. Yo sé Dios nos ama
muchísimo. Él es nuestro Padre Celestial. En el nombre de nuestro
Salvador Jesucristo, Amén.

I hope you all have the best week ever! I pray that you can feel the
love of the Savior in your life more abundantly. He's there, and He
loves and knows you! Remember that His timing of things in our lives
is perfect, He has the Eternal Perspective. I love you all!


Con todo amor en el Mundo,
Hermana Freeman

PICS:
-Hermana Rueda and I on our bikes!!!
-Our roommates, the Palm Valley Sisters, we love them!

GREAT WEEK, TRANSFERS, ALMOST 7 MONTHS OUT, WOW - OCT 17, 2016

Hello Everyone! I hope your week was absolutely incredible, and you
saw the hand of the Lord in your life!

I don't even know how this is possible, but transfers have arrived yet
again! I am indeed leaving Riverside. I will be headed up to the top
of the mission in Round Rock. My area is called "Walsh Ranch", and my
new companion will be Sister Rueda. WE ARE BEING DOUBLED INTO THE
AREA! Wow, I'm so nervous, but it will be so great! I don't know too
much about my new area, but I'll have more details next week! Hermana
Gonzalez will be staying here in Riverside.

Wow what a great week we were able to have in Riverside. The Spirit of
the Lord is incredible in the lessons, I absolutely love teaching with
the Spirit. I've thought about teaching with the spirit a lot this
week. And I know in order for this to be possible, we must be living
our lives in such a manner that the Spirit feels comfortable to dwell
with us constantly. I've strived very hard to do this by being as
obedient as I possibly can! I know and testify that a heart with the
intent of exact obedience can bring miracles! The Lord is so
incredible, and is so involved in this wonderful work!

Riverside is doing well! The area is most definitely in a huge finding
time right now, there aren't too many progressing investigators. But
we are trusting in the promises of the Lord and striving to work as
hard as we possibly can! The members here are absolutely great- they
are very kind and loving. We are still trying to find out how we can
get them more involved with the work though. The ideas and prayers
will continue on!

Hermana Gonzalez is doing well. I think she's very excited that she
will be in Riverside for another transfer, she loves it here! She's
been here for almost 9 months! WOW. I am in awe about her passion for
this Gospel, she has the most rock solid testimony! Her love for the
gospel really is a beacon for others, especially during lessons; she's
a great example for me and for the people that we teach.

This week we were able to go and do something called "The Mobile Food
Pantry" for the FoodBank. It's where we go out to a certain location,
and help hand out food to those who need it. WOW, it was the most
incredible experience! I absolutely love serving the wonderful people
of Texas, they are all just so kind!!

I am very excited to be headed up to the Round Rock area to serve with
Hermana Rueda. I know I will be able to learn many incredible things
from that sweet sister. I'm a bit nervous to double in to an area, but
I know that with the help of the Lord, everything will be okay!

Se que la iglesia es verdadera. Sé que fue restaurado por medio de
José Smith. Sé que El Libro de Mormón contiene la plenitud del
Evangelio de Jesucristo. Sé que por medio de las ordenanzas en el
templo y el sacerdocio de Dios, podemos ser juntos con nuestras
familias y nuestro Padre Celestial para siempre. ¡Este evangelio me da
gozo! Estoy muy agradecida por la obra de misional. Sé que Jesucristo
vive. En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amén.

I hope you have an incredible week! Remember your Heavenly Father
loves you. Remember to read The Book of Mormon!

Con mucho amor,
Hermana Freeman

Pics:
-3 from The Mobile Food Pantry (I'm wearing the Polka Dot Dress), the
one with Elders and Sisters is of our District! We had such a great
district!

-Last Pday a member took us to Buffalo Wild Wings, and Hermana
Gonzalez got the VERY SPICIEST ones on the menu! Our waitress was
like, "Darlin' are you sure you want that one? You might not be able
to eat it." But she did! She's a Champ.

-B&W; Finding on Sunday

KEVIN'S BAPTISM-NEXT WEEK'S TRANSFERS - Oct 10, 2016

Hello Everyone!!

I hope y'all were able to have an incredible week! I have really felt
the Spirit in abundance this week, and I am so grateful! As I've gone
back and reflected on the things I learned in General Conference, I've
come to realize that I have a lot of things I could be better at. I
have learned to LOVE being humbled and called to repentance by the
Lord. It just shows us our incredible divine potential; the way He
sees us with Eternal Eyes. Our loving Heavenly Father has so much in
store for each of his beloved children.

This week was good in Riverside. We were able to have many great
lessons! I have really come to realize just how much I LEARN while I'm
TEACHING. The Gospel is so incredible and it encompasses SO much; we
will never stop learning and receiving witnesses from the Spirit. As a
mission, we've been asked to study "Revelation Through The Book of
Mormon" this month, and I have already learned so much! I testify that
The Book of Mormon really is the Keystone of our Religion. Our
investigators MUST read from The Book of Mormon, ponder on its
teachings, and ask in fervent prayer if the book is true. I truly know
and testify that any person who does this with a sincere heart, will
receive a personal witness from the Holy Ghost of the truthfulness of
The Book of Mormon. I have also come to learn through my studies, just
how important it is that we are using The Book of Mormon throughout
our teaching! I can most definitely be much better with that.

Kevin's baptism on Saturday was incredible! I cried a lot. He is just
so incredible and so ready for the gospel! He was REALLY nervous at
first, but after he was baptized he said he felt "warm and fuzzy". AH!
He was feeling the Spirit so strong! I am so happy for him. His
confirmation on Sunday was also incredible! Baptism and the Gift of
the Holy Ghost are such an incredible gift from our loving Heavenly
Father. AH, I just love the work!

Hermana Gonzalez and I are trying to work hard here in Riverside! I
learn from her example of dedicated and devoted service to the Lord
each day. I can clearly see how much she LOVES the gospel and the
work!

I'll close again with my testimony-

La Iglesia de Jesucristo de Los Santos de Los Últimos Días es
verdadera. Sé que El Libro de Mormón is verdadero y es muy poderoso en
la conversión. Sé que el Espíritu Santo testifica de la verdad. Sé que
Dios es nuestro AMOROSO Padre Celestial. Sé que Jesucristo vive, y él
es nuestro Salvador. ¡Amo este Evangelio y la obra de misional! En el
nombre de Jesucristo, Amén.

I I hope you all have another wonderful week! Watch for the hand of
the Lord in your life. And read The Book of Mormon daily. Your. Life.
Will. Be. Changed.

I love you all!

Con amor,
Hermana Freeman

P.S. I don't even know how this is possible, but next week is
transfers! The time is FLOWN by. But next week I'll let you know if
I'll be staying or going!


-PICS FROM KEVIN'S BAPTISM!!!
-Hermana Gonzalez wanted a pre baptism selfie
-We went to P.Terry's after to celebrate

General Conference!! - Oct 3, 2016

Hello everyone!!

Wow, what an incredible General Conference we were able to have
yesterday and Saturday. I know many people who watch Conference say
things like "Wow I feel like the talks were specifically for me!" And
I have to say, I feel this way too! Many of the talks were addressing
things I personally, needed to hear! The reason that millions of
people watching General Conference can say, "Wow, that talk was really
just for me!", is because the Holy Ghost carries the words of the
talks into the each person's heart, the exact way that individual
needs to hear the message. We were not only taught by Prophets, Seers,
and Revelators yesterday-but we were taught by the third member of the
Godhead, the Holy Ghost. How blessed we are to have a loving Heavenly
Father who has given us modern day prophets to lead and guide us in
today's world and challenges! I am in absolute awe from the things I
was able to learn Saturday and Sunday from the mouths of God's
servants, and of course the Holy Ghost.

The topics I felt were really addressed this weekend are:
-The Plan of Happiness (or Salvation) that our Heavenly Father has for us
-REPENTANCE
-The Atonement of Jesus Christ
-How to get more out of our Sunday church attendance

I would invite each and everyone of you to go and read and reread over
and over the talks we heard this Conference. IT WAS SO INCREDIBLE.

This week in Riverside has been pretty good! We've been able to have
some great lessons with investigators and less actives. On Friday, we
finished teaching all the lessons to our investigator Kevin! We are so
excited for him, his baptism is this upcoming Saturday at 7 PM! I know
without a shadow of a doubt that he has been prepared for the Restored
Gospel by our Heavenly Father. I am amazed to see how he takes and
understands the principles we teach him with such grace and happiness,
the Holy Ghost is really working with him. Kevin has turned absolutely
everything over to the Lord, he has such a love for the Gospel and its
teachings. Kevin's testimony ALWAYS strengthens mine. The Gospel of
Jesus Christ really does bring such joy into the lives of God's
children. I just have such a burning desire to share it with everyone!

My companion Hermana Gonzalez is doing good. Her testimony in the
gospel is so incredible, it's such an example for me and my testimony!
She willingly submits to the will of God always, and absolutely LOVES
missionary work. She is an example to me about not giving up- there
has been many times where we were talking to someone, and I personally
thought that they just didn't seem to be that interested. I would
think, we should just move on to someone new. But not Hermana
Gonzalez! She truly wants every soul to hear the message of this
incredible gospel, and she tries so hard to share at the truth with
everyone! It's so incredible for me to watch her love for all of our
Heavenly Father's children. We are working very hard to have a unified
companionship.

Before I close, I'd like to share a few of my thoughts and notes about
President Russell M. Nelson's talk from yesterday. President Nelson
talked about having joy in our lives! We learn from 2 Nephi 2:25 that
"...Men are that they might have joy." We are meant to have joy in
this life! President Nelson said a quote that I wrote down, and will
remember forever and ever. He said, "Joy has nothing to do with the
purpose of our lives, but the focus of our lives. When we focus on His
plan for us, we will have joy!" He tells us that "We can feel joy
every day of our lives, even when we are having a bad day." I know
that we all have trials and hard things in our lives, and things can
get hard! But as we are focusing on our Heavenly Father's perfect plan
for us, and the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ, we can feel joy
each day! He also said, "Anything that opposes the Doctrine of Christ,
will block joy." We have the secret to feeling joy right here! I pray
that we can keep our focuses in the right direction, especially when
we are going through something hard. Our LOVING Heavenly Father is
there, please turn to Him! Lay your burdens at the feet of your Savior
Jesus Christ- He already suffered them for YOU. He knows EXACTLY how
to help YOU. He loves YOU. Wow, joy is such a powerful word. The
gospel is just so great!

I'd like to close with my testimony-

Sé que La Iglesia de Jesucristo de Los Santos de Los Últimos Días es
verdadero. Sé que tenemos profetas de Dios en la tierra hoy, porque
Dios nos ama. Y Él nos quiere dar dirección por nuestras vidas. Sé que
las profetas reciben revelaciones de Dios para nosotros con esa
dirección. Sé que cuando escuchamos y seguimos las profetas, estamos
haciendo las cosas Dios nos quiere hacer. Estoy muy agradecida por la
oportunidad yo tuve escuchar a las profetas en Sábado y Domingo.
Necesitamos recordar las cosas aprendimos mediante el Espíritu Santo
durante La Conferencia General. Este es revelación personal de su
Padre Celestial a usted. ¡Dios nos ama! El Libro de Mormón es
verdadero. Podemos saber el libro es verdad, si leemos, meditamos, y
oramos a nuestro Padre Celestial. Yo testifico necesitamos leer El
Libro de Mormón cada día. José Smith es La Profeta de La Restauración.
Él fue un hombre muy fiel de Dios. Sé que él vio todos las cosas el
nos digo él vio. Sé que El Sacerdocio de Dios es real y muy poderoso.
Estoy muy agradecida tener El Evangelio Restaurado en la tierra hoy.
¡Somos tan bendecidos! Tenemos un Salvador, Jesucristo. Él sufrió para
mí, y para usted. Él nos ama muchísimo. Yo sé todas de estas cosas
porque el Espíritu Santa ha testificaba a mí la verdad. En el nombre
de nuestro amoroso Salvador, Jesucristo, Amén.

I hope you all have an incredible week filled with joy! Remember to
watch for the hand of the Lord in your life daily! He loves you.


Con mucho amor,
Hermana Freeman


P.S. Sorry for the lack of pictures, we didn't do so well this week
with remembering to take pictures... Next week will be better
hopefully 😉

Hello from Austin!!! - Sep 12, 2016

Hello everyone! How are y'all doing? I hope you were able to have an
incredible week!

Wow what a week it has been here in Austin. I'm excited to serve in
the Riverside Ward, and improve with my Spanish! It's funny how much
each area has a special place in your heart- I really love and miss
Palo Alto and all the people I served with there! But I also love it
here in Riverside, and I can already tell that the members are so
incredibly kind here. I am sure learning that the Lord really knows us
and what we need WAY more than we do. I'm learning to trust in Him and
His eternal perspective.

So I thought my Spanish was pretty good- until I came to Riverside.😉
I'd be absolutely lying if I said I wasn't SO CONFUSED about what was
going on this week. But it's okay! I'm learning more and more each
day. Between my companion and the members, I'm surrounded with the
language constantly! The Ward is doing really good, we had a lot of
people attend church yesterday. I'm still trying to learn who everyone
is, and how things run here. The members are so incredibly kind, but
sadly we don't get a lot of help with the missionary work. I'm trying
to come up with ways to encourage members to come out with us more to
lessons, we really need their help! Missionary work is SO strong when
the full-time missionaries and members work together to build up the
kingdom. I've been praying and thinking a lot about what I can do to
uplift them while also asking for their help.

My companion Hermana Gonzalez is from Mexico, and she doesn't know
English :') I'm trying to help her learn it though! She is a very
powerful teacher in lessons! I can tell she really knows the doctrine,
and loves to teach it. We are definitely trying to learn how to work
together- I know that a huge part of the difficulty is my lack of
Spanish- I know it must be hard for her to have a companion who can't
talk more in lessons, and I feel really bad. But I'm doing all I can
to learn the language and help out! I know that each day I'll learn
more and more Spanish. The Gift of Tongues is real!
I am turning to my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ a lot.

We have an investigator named Kevin, and he is working towards a
baptismal date! He's so incredible, I've been able to teach 2 of his
lessons. He absolutely loves the gospel, and has a testimony that's on
fire!

Being in a Spanish area is definitely different, EVERY singly lady in
the Ward that I go to give a hug to, kisses my cheek.. I'm still not
really used to that, it's a little weird to me..😉 But we already have
a Fiesta de Barrio on Friday, and I'm so excited for that! This area
is also incredibly beautiful. Also I'm the companion who drives this
transfer- okay. Can I just tell you. DRIVING IN AUSTIN IS SO SCARY!
Ah, pray for us. 😉

I hope you have an absolutely incredible week!

I'd like to close again with my testimony.

Tengo un testimonio que este Iglesia es verdadero. Sé que José Smith
fue un profeta increíble de Dios. Sé que tenemos un Salvador-
Jesucristo. Él nos ama muchísimo. El Libro de Mormón es verdadero. Y
cuando leemos este libro, podemos sentir muy cerca a Dios y podemos
sentir su amor también. Estoy muy agradecida por las enseñanzas de la
iglesia, me dan mucho paz y consuelo. Tengo tan mucho gozo puedo vivir
con mi familia para siempre en la Reino Celestial. Este Evangelio es
perfecto! En el nombre de nuestro Salvador, Jesucristo, Amén.

Con mucho amor,
Hermana Freeman

Pics:
2 of me with Hermana Gonzalez
1 we taught a lesson to a member who has been sick, but is doing much better

Transferring to Riverside Austin - Sep 5, 2016

Guess what?! I don't have much time to write today.....

I'M BEING TRANSFERRED!!!!
AND GUESS WHAT ELSE?!

I'M GOING TO A SPANISH AREA- AND MY NEW COMPANION DOESN'T KNOW LIKE
ANY ENGLISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😂😂😂😂 I'm literally so excited.

Can you believe it?!? I'm actually going up to Austin, and the Area/Ward is
called "Riverside". I AM LITERALLY SO THRILLED!!!!! I also literally
weeped tears of joy when I found out this morning. I am SOOO thankful
to the Lord!

I texted the Riverside sisters and asked for the apartment address so
I can send it to you, but they haven't texted back yet. When they do,
I can send you a quick email with just the address.



P.S. I am writing a very quick mass today, I'll send it to you in a second!
Also other P.S. Look at my very sad legs from ALL THE MOSQUITO
BITES!!! I'm dying here in Texas ;)

Also here's some pics from the Alamo a few Pday's ago :)

His Work, His Mission - Aug 29, 2016

Hello everyone! I hope your week was absolutely incredible and you
were able to see the hand of the Lord in your life. He's always there!

What another great week in the Mighty TSAM! The Lord blessed us with
many many wonderful lessons. I am becoming more and more grateful for
the incredible tools and resources we are given to further the work.
One of these tools that I've really come to rely heavily on, is Preach
My Gospel. This morning I was studying from  PMG in ch. 4 (Recognize
the Spirit), and I felt as though the words were speaking directly to
me. On the bottom of pg. 97 there's a section titled "Relying on the
Spirit". I'd like to share with you a piece of what I read and learned
so much from-

"As the Lord’s servant, you are to do His work in His way and by His
power. Some missionaries feel confident that they know how to be
successful. Others lack such confidence. Remember, however, that your
confidence and faith should be in Christ, not in yourself. Rely on the
Spirit rather than your own talents and abilities. Trust the Spirit to
guide you in every aspect of your work."

WOW.  The words spoke directly to me. Sometimes I have felt as though
I don't have enough confidence in my amount of knowledge of the
gospel, or how to be a "successful" missionary. Sometimes I have felt
that I know "exactly how to be a successful missionary". But I was
looking at the confidence in the wrong person! My confidence
absolutely must be in Christ. I also love how it says we "are to do
His work in His way and by His power". During my personal studies this
morning I was able to receive an incredible amount of light- this
REALLY is His work. This is not my mission, so things are going to
happen in my way and my timing. It's all Him. I love the words of
great wisdom that President Gordon B. Hinkley's father shared with
him- "Forget yourself and get to work!" The Lord most definitely
needed to show me that I have some humbling to do. I will strive
throughout the rest of my mission to remember that this is truly His
work, and His mission.

Our area, Palo Alto YSA is doing great! We were able to have so many
lessons with less actives this week; the Lord is blessing us so much!
I have had the blessed privilege to see many of the lost sheep return
to the flock; and it is so beautiful. I absolutely love the members of
the branch so much, I can just see the desire they have to do
missionary work. We are shown so much kindness and love from them, it
really makes me tear up sometimes. I am beyond grateful.

My companion Sister Stenquist, is such a leader! I am in awe when I
watch her teach the restored gospel truths. I can tell her testimony
is on fire. Her faith in the Lord and his promised blessings is rock
solid. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to learn and grow from
her. I look up to her very very highly. We get along incredibly well
too, and have lots of fun together.

Every Tuesday and Friday we go to the San Antonio FoodBank, and do
service. I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THE FOODBANK. I absolutely love to do
service there, it is so fun! Well this last Tuesday, I had an
experience that wasn't exactly 100% fun, but more of a terrifying one.
😉 We were putting labels on cans of Spinach, and I knelt down to get
the ones on the bottom rack. All of a sudden, I felt what I thought
was just an tickle on my shoulder. When I went to scratch my shoulder,
I felt a huge bump under my shirt. Very quickly realizing that bump in
my shirt was causing the tickling sensation, I jumped in the air, let
out a horrid high-pitched scream, and grabbed my shirt and squeezed
the heck out of the bump to trap whatever it was in my hand. I HEARD
THE MOST DISGUSTING AND LOUDEST CRUNCH SOUND THAT HAS EVER OCCURRED ON
THE EARTH. I looked over to my companion and screamed, "There's a bug
in my shirt, HELP!"😂😂 (Looking back now, we laugh because I was an
utter fool!) But she yelped, grabbed my sleeve and turned it inside
out. Out fell a huge, nasty, scary, black beetle and crunched up and
dead from my death squeeze! Wow, I thought I was going to die. Daliah
(the lady who works at the FoodBank), had to come over and calm me
down because I was freaking out just a "tiny" bit.. ;) I guess the
beetle had fallen from the ceiling into the back of the collar of my
shirt as I was kneeling on the floor. It was an absolute terrifying
experience, and I told Daliah that I had just pretty much lived the
movie, "The Mummy"- she laughed really hard. Anyways, I am all better
now, and I am still alive ;) After it happened though, everyone at the
FoodBank kept coming up behind me and using pencils and little feather
to swipe my back so I'd think there was another bug! It was horrible,
I jumped so many times! But there was so much laughter that day 😉

We have a few new investigators! Mark, Diego and his family, and
Linda. All of them are absolutely great, I will keep you updated on
their progress! Right now Linda is working towards baptism, and we
will be setting her with a goal date this week- we're so excited!

Our Mission President and his wife, President and Sister Polley, came
to our Sacrament Meeting yesterday. It was so wonderful to have them
there, they bring such and incredible spirit everywhere they go. I
absolutely love and adore them so much!

I'll close again today with my testimony in Spanish.
La iglesia es verdadero. José Smith fue un profeta fiel de Dios.
Quiero seguir el ejemplo de su fe. Mi misión es el misión del Señor.
Todo ocurrirá en su manera y su tiempo. Estoy muy agradecido por las
escrituras. Yo sé que cuando leemos las escrituras, podemos sentir más
cerca con nuestro amoroso Padre Celestial y su hijo, Jesucristo. En el
nombre de Jesucristo, amén.

I love you all so much! Thank you for your love, support, and prayers.
I pray for each of you and your happiness. Remember the Lord is
all-knowing, and blessings will come in His way and His timing. Watch
for His hand in every aspect of your lives this week, He's there.
Have an incredible week!

Con MUCHISMO Amor,

Hermana Freeman

Here's a cute picture of our little branch :')