Popcorn popping all up in here

Querida familia y amigos,

This week has been such a great week! Right now we are teaching several families, and I love them all so dearly! We had such a tender experience Thursday night with a Guatemalan family. They have 2 little kids, a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old, and they are the cutest little family EVER. Hna Martinez and I were over there when the dad came home from work and it was a super precious and tender moment. He took time to hug and kiss the kids and make them laugh. Afterwards I felt that we should digress from our lesson plans from earlier that morning and share a Mormon Message with them. We watched "Earthly Father, Heavenly Father" and the mom was crying afterwards. 

BAZINGA! 

The Spirit was SO STRONG, and hung tangibly in the air. I probably could have cut it with a knife, but I don't think that would be an appropriate way to treat the Spirit. We were able to bare testimony that what they were feeling was the Holy Ghost, and we read a little bit from the Book of Mormon and invited them to take Moroni's challenge. I hope and pray that they will do it and be able to recognize the promptings of the Spirit as they read and pray. Walking out of that house that night I felt like the Joker from Batman walking out of the exploding hospital. 

Mischief Managed.

In other news, aside from preaching the gospel and bringing forth tidings of great joy, spring is FINALLY upon us! Flowers are out, the trees are budding, and popcorn is most definitely popping on the apricot tree. And when mother nature is lookin' good, we all are lookin' good. So we had some pretty rad photo ops. Gotta love it. 

Also this week we had interviews with President Packard! On Tuesday we got to go to the mission home for the first time since I flew in to the MBM! I got to play on their baby grand piano, eat delicious American food, get trained by our wonderful Sister Training Leaders and Zone Leaders, and have a personal conversation with my awesome mission president and his wife. They are just the coolest people ever. I will miss them dearly when they leave in July. One day I hope to be as awesome as them. And probably one day we will be seeing President Packard speaking from the pulpit at the conference center. No big deal. 

Anyways, I want you all to know how much I love you. I do. I really do. Also, I know that this church is true, without a shadow of a doubt. I am so grateful for all the many blessings I have received and all the miracles I have witnessed as I have been an emissary of the Lord. I love you all, and I hope you have a great week!

Con amor,

Hermana Frei

Well friends, it's been good times. 

Highlights of the week in the Worcester Spanish Branch of Zion:

I was present in the best restoration lesson I have ever witnessed in my life. Nuff said. So 2 weeks ago we contacted a Dominican man cleaning his minivan in the parking lot of the projects, so naturally we contacted him. We've taught him and his family a couple times, and this past week we taught the restoration and we had our branch president and his wife with us at the lesson. They bore powerful testimony of how the gospel has blessed their family, and they shared several personal experiences that brought the spirit SO STRONG. I've never felt the spirit so strong in a lesson before. It was loco. 

Also, I acquired 2 new abuelitas in 2 days flat. Through my own good looks and charisma obviously. Let's be honest, Sister Martinez goes to Mexican town with all the people we visit, and I just sit there and smile and wave. Just smile and wave, boys. Just smile and wave.

In other news, we became the district taxi service since the Elders and English Sisters are both completely out of miles. It's been good times having extra bodies in the back seat... That was weird phrasing. To be clear, we don't usually have bodies in the back seat... 

To top it all off, we served so hard core. We probably had like 5 million years of community service this week! It was great! We went to a soup kitchen, the bishop's storehouse, and the #Working4Worcester cleanup throughout the course of 7 days. That's right, folks. 7 days. 1 week. 5 million years. You do the math. 

Anyways, I love life! It has been such an amazing and miraculous week. The church is true. You know how I know that? Through the power of the Holy Ghost. See Moroni 10:5. Never take for granted the companionship of the Holy Ghost. Do whatever possible to make sure that you are worthy of that companionship. 

I love you all!

Er-min-uh Frei

Marathon Monday Madness

Well folks, happy Patriots Day! 

I've been up since 2:30 this morning to kick-off the New England festivities. We went to a re-enactment of the Battle of Lexington in Lexington, MA (hey, who would have thought that the Battle of Lexington would be in Lexington?? weird) And there is still more to be done! Soooooo yeah I don't really have time to stay and chat, because I've got a world famous marathon to attend! nbd... 

One day I will be running in it, not just spectating. 

Also, if anyone ever wants to spot me a few bucks so I can go to a Sox game that would be sweet. No? ok... It's whatevs :) 

Love you all!

Con amor,

Hermana Frei

Welcome to Woostah

Hello Hello! 

It has been a crazy and wild week my friends. Whoa. 

It is so hard to leave a place that you know and love so much. And then you think you'll never be able to love people the same and BAZZINGA! All of the sudden you love people EVEN MORE. Whatever. 

But whoa. Spanish is mad real. Is this real life? Yes. Yes, it is. The first few days that Hermana Martinez and I had together were SO BUSY. And I went home with a super crazy headache. My friends, my Spanish is not what it used to be. But it is becoming so much better already. It hasn't even been a week and I'm already a million times better than I was. I love Hna Martinez. And not just because she is a beautiful Mexican woman. (But she totally is) Haha, anyways, it has been super rad. 

Yesterday was super wicked warm and after church we went to stop by a potential investigator's house... AND! they weren't there. But never fear, there was a park across the street that was hopping with Latino families. And you best believe that we took advantage of that. We met a really awesome Ecuadorian guy there and taught him about the Book of Mormon in one fell swoop. We set up a return appointment and BAM! New investigator? I think yes. 

So yeah. Has the day of miracles ceased??? That's right. I say unto you nay. 

I love Worcester. I love my companion. I love my roommates. I love my area. I love my district. I love my zone. I love my mission. I love Spanish. I love Hispanics. I love their food. We talked to two Puerto Rican ladies on the street yesterday for LITERALLY 20 minutes about food. That was loco. I LOVE LIFE!

Also, you already know how much I love this gospel and my Savior Jesus Christ. But let me reiterate it to you again. I love my Savior. I love, love, LOVE being his representative. 

Have a great week!

Love,

Hermana (eh? EH?) Frei

Beloved Boston

Well, Boston. It's been good. But it's time to break up. That's right. The Worcester Spanish Branch has a lot more potential, and I think we will probably be soul mates. So yeah. Deuces. 

Whoooo. Glad I got that off my chest. That's right, folks. It's the most wonderful time of the year: transfers. Ugh. I really have mixed feelings about this change. I love Boston with all my little, baby heart, and even more, I love the people here. There have been so many miracles wrought here, and I have the best companion in the entire world. So what. Ever. Get out transfers. And don't come back! But on the flip side, I'M GOING BACK TO SPANISH!!! My native tongue! Haha lol. I'm probably gonna look like a fool out there and embarrass myself, but that's fine. It's just like riding a bike, right? :) 

Hahahaha. Ai ai ai ai! 

This week was awesome! I wish that I had a cool story for you guys to make you chuckle... But honestly every day is a hoot and a holler. Sister Thompson and I probably have too much fun. 

But in other news, how about that general conference?! No big deal, just the modern apostles and prophets of our day talking to us and letting us know God's love for us. Coming in MAJOR clutch. My insights from it all: families are SO important. Like, whoa. If I had a dollar for every time someone mentioned families I would have more than one dollar, that's for sure. :) Another theme: perspective and priorities. It's all about that eternal life, am I right, folks? God loves us SO MUCH and He wants us to become like Him. But life is crazy and people get distracted so don't forget what is actually important! I am so guilty of that sometimes, but I am striving to be better. From how I pray, to how often and intently I read my scriptures. 

Anyways, you heard the men! Let me know what you guys thought. What struck you? What nuggets of gold did you pan out of there? What changes do you plan on making in your life to align your will more with God's? 

I love you all! I love this gospel and I know that this church is true! I sustain our prophet and apostles with all my heart! They are truly inspired men of God. 

Have a fantastic week!

Love,

Sister Hermana Misionera Libre Gratis Frei

Chin-easy

Hello!

What a great week. Wow. Yesterday our good friend Harry was baptized! It was a beautiful service and half the ward came to support him! It was a super touching moment. One of the men in our ward that served in Taiwan way back when baptized Harry in Chinese, so that was cool. Man, Chinese is a weird language. Haha. Also, Harry invited 2 of his Chinese friends to attend, so it was good times. 

Lately we have been seeing so many miracles with the members of our ward. In every private and public prayer we pray for increased Zion between us and and the ward, and God has answered our cries. We have had the opportunity to meet with the ward leadership and now they love us. And they call us and ask us to do things to help them in their callings! It is awesome!! I just love these people! Gahhh. Has the day of miracles ceased?!?! Feel free to fill in the rest... :) 

Anyways, like I said before, this week has just been a super solid week. Sadly, on Friday we find out who will be getting transferred next week, and I am pretty scared. I don't want to leave this area or my companion, but I guess we will see what the Lord has in store, eh? :) I am so grateful for this church and the many blessings that I have received in my life. You guys are all the best in the whole wide world. 

I wish you all the best! Have a Happy Easter! Check out this rad 2 minute video: helives.mormon.org 

Love,

Sister Frei

"If you could be any T Station which one would you be and why?"

So you know you are a missionary in a big city when the "Get to Know You Question" (G2KU?) during District Meeting is the one listed in my subject line. And my answer? The New England Aquarium T station. It's pretty rad. There are some really sweet geometric/trippy tiles on the walls. And the Aquarium isn't half bad either :) 

Anyways, this week has been wicked great. We picked up several new investigators, including the husband of a lady who recently moved into our ward! They are super awesome and she is officially Sister Thompson and my new mission mom. We are super stoked :) It's gonna be good times full of the restored gospel and Dominican/American food. Mmm mm. 

This past weekend was the Boston Stake's Stake Conference and we had 3 investigators attend! It was so perfect and we were able to introduce them to President Packard and President Rawlins (our millionaire stake pres). #Welcom2theBigLeagues. Stake Conference was all about the importance of councils and deepening our conversion. I loved it. All my wildest hopes and dreams were addressed. I just love asking questions and getting answers. God hears and answers prayers, folks. 

I love life. 

Furthermore, I know that God loves us all. When we come before Him and admit our weaknesses He will help us to become humble enough to apply the atonement in our lives. He does this so that one day we can become like Him. I am so grateful for God's love and the many expressions of His love for me in my life. I know that because He loves us He sent His son. Because He loves us He gives us prophets, seers, and revelators. Because He loves us He allows us to participate in family units. Because He loves us He has provided ways for us to communicate with Him. 

Always remember that salvation is a process of becoming. Not just a place we get to go to. What are you willing to do to become more like Him? 

I love you all!

Tenga una buena semana!

Hermana Frei