Questioning Life

Felicidades to our good friend Oscar!!

That's right, my friends! He got baptized! The drought in Worcester has passed! Haha! He was beautifully confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Sacrament yesterday, so it's official! It has been a pleasure to work with him and guide him to the truth. Sometimes people are just prepared to hear and accept the gospel, and Oscar was one of those people. First Peruvian prophet? eh? :) But really though, guys, he is that amazing. 

Also! Update on my girl Janise: she gave up coffee! We hadn't had an appointment with her for like a week and a half and her baptism is in less than a month and I was worried that the Word of Wisdom would trip her up. But during our appointment we followed up with her about how the coffee thing has been going and she asked, "What coffee? I gave that up a few weeks ago after you guys told me I needed to." And we were just like WHAAAAAAAAAT? 

BRILLIANT!

We were so shocked and excited for her! This is going to happen folks! She is experiencing repentance and the atonement of Christ working firsthand in her life. It is amazing to see the change in her. 

And now, for the part of the show where I question life:

So the other day we were taking a few pictures and we left Sister Martinez' camera case on top of the car. Note: her temple recommend was inside the camera case. We drive off, go to a few appointments, and then it hits Sister Martinez: "MY TEMPLE REC!!!" We freak out. Lol, ok so we drive off calmly to where we were taking pictures. We re-trace our steps! Nada! Ok, so at this point it is approximately 9 pm and gettin close to curfew. It's pretty dark. So we start driving home, a little sad, but hey, it's not the end of the world. I was pretty sure Sister Martinez could still pass a temple rec interview, so all wasn't lost. BUT THEN!! All of the sudden the police car equivalent of the Spanish Armada goes racing by so we have to pull over. Who knows what kind of shady business was going on up in here...

And right ahead of us like 15 feet away is a small little black object in the middle of the road. 

I turn to Sister Martinez and say, half jokingly, "Hey! Mira! Your camera case!" hahahaha. haha. ha. Then not so jokingly I inch the car forward, put her in park, swiped up the little black thing from off the road, and what do you know? IT WAS HER CAMERA CASE. 

Holy Moley Cow. 

Has the day of miracles ceased? 

God is good my friends and He is ever concerned about us, His precious children. I know without a doubt in my mind that God exists. Many of you might say, hey. That's a cute story, Sister Frei. What a coincidence. But as a representative of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I give my testimony and witness that that was no coincidence. If you need more evidence, look to the scriptures! In the Book of Mormon there are 20 passages that can help you begin to understand the atonement of Jesus Christ and God's love for us. Here is the list:

Twenty Teachings in the Book of Mormon on the Atonement of Jesus Christ

1. Nephi’s record of the “God of Nature” suffering and the first of Isaiah’s testimonies of the Messiah (1 Nephi 19, 21)

2. Lehi’s patriarchal blessing and discourse (2 Nephi 2)

3. Jacob’s two-day sermon (2 Nephi 6-9)

4. Nephi’s final testimony on the doctrine of Christ (2 Nephi 31-33)

5. Jacob’s “few words” (Jacob 4)

6. King Benjamin’s sermon (Mosiah 2-5)

7. Abinadi’s declaration before King Noah, including Isaiah’s prophetic testimony (Mosiah 14-16)

8. Alma’s testimony to the Church in Gideon (Alma 7)

9. Alma’s and Amulek’s teaching to Zeezrom (Alma 11-12)

10. Amulek’s discourse to the Zoramites (Alma 34)

11. Alma’s counsel to his son Corianton (Alma 39-42)

12. Samuel the Lamanite’s prophecy (Helaman 14)

13. Jesus’s introductory discourse to the Nephites (3 Nephi 11)

14. Jesus’s definition of “My Gospel” (3 Nephi 27)

15. Moroni’s call to believe in Christ (Mormon 9)

16. Jesus’s own pre-mortal testimony (Ether 3-4)

17. Moroni’s message to the world on faith, hope and charity (Ether 12)

18. Moroni’s summary of his father’s teachings on faith, hope and charity (Moroni 7)

19. Mormon’s epistle to Moroni regarding little children (Moroni 8)

20. Moroni’s invitation to come unto Christ (Moroni 10)

I apologize for the novel! Have a great week!

Con amor,

Hna Frei

I'd Like to Bear my Testimony That I Know Sticky Notes Are True

Dawgs, 

This week has been another week chalk full of excitement and miracles! Sometimes I think I use miracle's name in vain because there are so many crazy miracles happening all up in here! Explanation: so like Thursday or whenever we took a YW from the english ward out with us to teach Emy, Oscar's daughter... buuuuuuut she cancelled so we took the YW out with us anyways and we tried to stop by some random people. We tried contacting a Puerto Rican family that just wasn't having it and we tried to stop by a less-active family in the projects. Nada. So as we were walking down the stairs to return to our car there was a door that caught our attention. There was vinyl lettering on the door that said something to the affect of: "Welcome! All who enter leave as friends." So we thought, HEY! That sounds great! So we knocked the door.... AAAAAAAND nothing. But we left sticky notes there complimenting their decor and got outta there. 

Flash forward to Saturday:

We get a call from a random woman! She found our card and sticky notes on her door and she wants to come to church! We set up a ride and BAM. Alisia and her son came to church yesterday and they LOVED it! 

Can I get a "HAS THE DAY OF MIRACLES CEASED???" 

Dat right. 

I say unto you nay.

Also, they're Mexican. Sister Martinez and I are already all over that.

Daggum, so many things happened this week. Like we got a new mission president! That's pretty wicked cool. We met him on Wednesday when we picked up Sister Alexander's greenie and he's pretty rad. Everyone says that we have the same personality. And we do. It's gonna be a good rest of the mission. President Miller and I are gonna be besties. No big deal.

On Friday we had welcome conferences and I had to play prelude while President Miller shook everybody's hands and it took like an hour and a half. So there I was playing the entire hymn book and falling asleep. I never thought I would see the day when I would be able to play the piano while asleep, but it has happened. Yes. Call me Mozart. 

Something that President Miller talked about with us that really caught my attention was being full-purposed missionaries. We don't just help people develop faith, repent, get baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost. We teach people how to endure to the end. We gotta perseverar, you know what I'm saying? It doesn't end at baptism and confirmation. That is only the beginning. 

Food for thought.

Thanks for all the support and love on my birthday! I love you all! I am much bigger and wiser now that I'm 20, just so you all know. It's actually kinda freaky. What is 20? Me. Me is 20. What? Weird. 

Anyways! Love you all! The church is true and God loves His children!

Con amor,

Erminuh Frei 

Las Tres Mosqueteras

Welcome, Welcome (Sabbath morning...)!

Ok, you're right. It's not the Sabbath. You got me. 

So hey, this week was a wild ride! We were all over the place! We had a fantastic p-day last Monday walking the freedom trail and having all sorts of adventures in Boston. Complete with a ferry ride/my only experience riding a boat on my mission probably. It felt very rejuvenating and rebellious of me, even though we are allowed to ride ferries. Bottom line: it was enjoyable and reminded me of home.

We had to say farewell to our dear mission president and his wife! On Friday we had a special farewell conference and it was a very emotional time for everybody involved. All I have to say is that the hymn "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" should be illegal. Holy bawl fest. Ugh. But we are SO STOKED for the Millers to get here! Sister Packard talked about welcoming in the Millers with open arms and she had a picture of them projected on the screen and it just felt right. They are the ones for the job! Saturday was transfer meeting and Sister Martinez and I got to go because Sister Alexander is our 3rd companion for 5 days! WEEEEE. And has been so fun.

So. Fun.

Yesterday we had an appointment with an investigator that fell through so naturally we knocked on their neighbor's door... And they were refugees from Iraq who didn't speak a lick of English! Or Spanish... So they were totally out of our area of expertise. But we passed around their smartphone with google translate and we had a great conversation with them! Haha... It was really funny. Good stuff. I love being a missionary. Because you can just walk into a random strangers' home and they will sit you down and bring you juice and listen intently to what you have to say to them. 

De verdad, I just love this work. I love being able to learn new things and grow my testimony. I KNOW that God is real and that He hears and answers our prayers. I know that He loves all of His children. I know that He is my Father in Heaven and that His goal for me is to become like Him to enjoy all the blessings that He enjoys. Keep the faith, my friends! Thanks for all the Birthday wishes! 20 is weird, I know. 

Love you all!

Erminuh Frei

There she goes again

Well folks, 

I've survived another round of transfer texts unscathed! Sister Martinez and I get to work together for a 3rd transfer here in Worcester!! Woot woot! If I come home Mexican, you will all know why. Since Sister Alexander (one of the English Sisters) is going to train and there is a bit of a delay between transfer meeting and new arrivals we get to be in a trio for 5 days! It's gonna be crazy. Sister Alexander and I have always joked about us being companions and here we are. We'll teach her how to pray in Spanish and how to choke down mountains of rice and she'll be an honorary Spanish Sister! Haha, but really though, I am so grateful to be staying here with Sister Martinez. There are so many great things in store for this area! Namely: Oscar has a baptismal date!

After 2 full transfers of flaky investigators who were going absolutely nowhere, we've caught ourselves a live one! Actually more than just one! Yesterday we had 9 investigators at church again, which was wicked sweet! 

Anyways, we are super stoked, and loving life! Yesterday I could hardly sleep because I was so excited. We are going in to Boston today too, so it's gonna be good times! Love you all!

Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Erminuh Frei

Watermelons, Matrimony, and Tender Mercies

Holar!

You know you had a good week when you're just exhausted on Monday. So tired. I....... Help...... Mom? Haha, jk! Ok, yeah, like I'm pretty tired, but good tired! Like I just ran a 1/2 marathon tired! And the good news is: I get to run another one tomorrow! And I'm not even saying that sarcastically! You already know how much I love running! And the same applies to missionary work! I love it!

So last week on pday we got the crew together and carved some watermelons! You heard right! We had a good time as a zone doing what people normally do in October in June. Yeehaw!  Carving watermelons is actually really fun. I recommend. Plus it's a lot more fun to eat the gooey insides of a watermelon than a pumpkin, so that's a perk. 

Also, we had another hispanic marriage at the chapel, and we got the PVC there and picked up some potentials! Meanwhile eating some really good food, and listening to non-approved music. Awwww yeah. (Don't worry folks, I'm actually not that apostate. Not really a huge fan of hispanic music... gross) It was awesome to show people the exhibit about Jesus Christ and watch the "Because of Him" video over and over. I don't think I'll ever get tired of that video. The spirit is strong with that one. Also, we were able to do some member service and help the relief society set up for the reception, and it reminded me of all the wedding good times I've had! I think I'm gonna change my major from Biochemistry to Wedding Planning. That's a thing, right? 

And now, for my favorite part of the show: 

Tender Mercies of the Lord

So this past week we kinda lost contact with our most promising and progressing investigator, Oscar. He cancelled our appointment on Saturday without rescheduling, and didn't come to church yesterday... It was really freaking me out. All I could think about was the possibility that he stumbled upon some crazy anti-Mormon literature on the internet, or he got turned off last Sunday when one of our recent converts went off in Priesthood about how the Bible isn't true.... Ai ai ai ai. (FYI We believe the Bible to be the word of God, as far as it is translated correctly) BUT! I just kept a prayer in my heart that we would be able to see him that day, and, what do you know? God answers prayers, my friends! Turns out Oscar just had car troubles, and we were able to visit him last night and discuss some of his questions and doubts about the Book of Mormon. It was great! We had our branch president with us and he fielded almost all of his questions. Members, folks. Members.  

Tender Mercy numero dos: One of our recent converts has been struggling with her testimony and the word of wisdom, and we have been trying to get her back on the right path. (cling to that iron rod!) So yesterday we sent out a text to her and a few other people in the branch to remind them to read their scriptures, and she immediately called us! She said that she was having a crumby day and was feeling spiritually weird and physically ill and she saw the Book of Mormon on her ottoman and started to read it! And she opened up to exactly what she needed at that moment. Then she proceeded to testify that she knows the church is true and that God loves her. And it just melted my little baby heart.

I know that God loves all of his children! I know that because He has blessed me with a wonderful family that loves and supports me, He has given us a prophet to lead and guide us, and He has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to show us the way home. 

It doesn't get any better than this!

Love you all!

Erminuh Frei

My big fat greek wedding

Ai ai ai. Has another week passed by already? Good heavens to Betsy! SLOW DOWN.

Ok, you're right. I should stop yelling. Man, God is good. I'm glad to find you all in good health. Last week I got like 4 emails including an email about how I was using my monthly funds... So either everyone was too busy partying (in which case, rock, rock on) or the world was ending. But hey, this week was better, so it appears that everyone was just having a good time. 

Party on, Garth? 

Party on, Wayne!

Well, yesterday was a flat out miracle. There is honestly no explanation. Ok, so picture this: my first Sunday in Worcester. We had a good, healthy attendance of 30 people at church. Every week since, the Branch has steadily crept to a solid 45 people in attendance. Not too shabby, right? Usually we have 1 to 2 investigators at church on a REALLY good day. We're talking the stars aligning REALLY good. Real good. (my word, where has my english gone?) And folks, yesterday we had 60+ people there and 9 solid investigators. 

Yes. Please, take a double take at those numbers. And then say a prayer of gratitude in behalf of this very humble missionary. As I was playing prelude I looked out at the congregation, looked back at the hymn book, then did a classic Nacho Libre double take (if you have no idea what I am referring to, please go watch the fore-mentioned classic when Nacho visits the "dead guy"). Daggum. There were a lot of people! Also, testimony meetings in our Spanish Branch are just super tender. I wish you all could have been there yesterday to just feed your souls from the presence of the Spirit in the room. 

I know that God has a hand in this work. Sometimes I think that I'm in this alone, and that's just a big, fat, (greek? no no no) lie! He never forsakes us, nor will he ever. Keep the faith, and never stop being awesome (and attractive)! I love you all, and God loves you more! Food for thought: How are you going to seek the guidance of the Spirit today?

Bueno, hasta luego!

Con amor,

Erminuh Frei

It's True.

My friends, 

this week was probably one of the most memorable of my mission. And since my mission is 100 times more exciting and memorable than real life, it was THE most memorable week of my life. 

Why is that, you might ask? Well, we saw multiple miracles, picked up several new investigators, and the climax was last night at the conferencia latina. Elder Jeffery R. Holland, an apostle of the Lord, came to the Boston Stake Center and talked to all the Latinos in the New England area including several of our investigators and less active members. And it was the most amazing experience of my life. 

I really don't know what else to say. 

I wasn't questioning my testimony or my conviction, but last night as I sat there listening, the Holy Spirit of God testified to me that this is the true church of God on the earth. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to be truly happy in THIS life as well as in the life to come.

It's true. It's all true. 

If you are struggling and questioning the reality of God or the truthfulness of the church, I beg you to come unto Christ. Stand ye in holy places and be not moved. Make your home a sanctuary in this crazy world, attend you weekly church meetings and strive to partake of the sacrament worthily. Elder Holland said, "We need you to come to church because YOU need to come to church." I know that is true. Don't make excuses. Attend the temple. Put God before all else. Literally, before ye seek for riches, seek ye first the kingdom of God.

If you want to be happy He is the truth, the way, and the life. 

It's true.

Con amor,

Hermana Frei