Querida familia!

Yo, what's up? This week has been a blast. I am pleased to report that the Redsox won last Monday. Boston is still the most beautiful city in the world, and I didn't get sunburned! It was blazing hot, our tickets were VERY cheep, so naturally we were sitting in direct sunlight. But we found pieces of cardboard to shade ourselves, and I am not a prized New England lobster. Sweet mercy! There were a lot of VERY drunk people at the game, and one kind sir approached Sister Barney and I and said some very unpleasant things to us... lol. It's cool. Coming out of that experience I just want you all to know that I have a very strong testimony of the Word of Wisdom. Drunk people really aren't that bright, btw. 

This week we had some AWESOME lessons! We had a little "uncovering the iceberg" session with our good friend Juan, and we found out what has been holding him back from baptism all these years. The kid has been scarred by the example of his parents! They've been in and out of activity and in and out of churches and he knows it's all true but he doesn't want to be like them. He realizes the gravity and seriousness of the covenant, but doesn't completely understand the atonement of Christ. We all make mistakes, we all have our doubts. And hopefully it doesn't seem like I'm condemning his parents- his mom is the sweetest lady and one of our strongest members now. What I'm trying to get at I guess, and what we need to help Juan understand is that baptism isn't an end point. The atonement of Jesus Christ is very much real. Dad referred me to a really cool talk by Dallin H. Oaks that also talks about this subject. He states: 

"Every follower of Jesus Christ knows that the most powerful ideas of the Christian faith are the resurrection and the atonement of Jesus Christ. Because of him we can be forgiven of our sins and we will live again. Those powerful ideas have been explained in countless sermons from this pulpit and a million others. They are well known but not well applied in the lives of most of us." 

I'm thankful for the atonement of Jesus Christ and the role it has played in my life, and the role it will continue to play. I don't claim to understand this powerful idea fully yet, but I plan on studying it and learning about it for the rest of my life. Also, I plan on helping others begin their own journey unto Christ. Please pray for our good friend Juan as he is trying to sort things out in his mind and striving to become a dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ. He's an amazing kid and a really deep thinker. He will make a wonderful missionary one day! 

I love this gospel and the hope and happiness that it brings into our lives each and every day. I love you all and have a great and blessed week! 

Con amor,

Hermana Frei