The Last Semana

February 18, 2013
Hello again, dear family and friends,

This week has been a week full of blessings and joy and love and tears, etc.

Haha I can't really decribe my feelings as I am writing you all from afar for the last time, but I hope you all know that, although I'm sad to leave this place and part of me doesn't want to go home, I know I've worked my personal hardest and I've given it all I've got and I endured (and continue enduring) to the end. I've fought the good fight, as Paul says. 

I don't know what to say really, but I guess I'll just tell you how our week went as always so we don't get too sentimental here. =P

So yeah, the week went pretty quickly because on Tuesday we had district class, which took a bit of time, and then we were on splits with Elder Medina and Elder Lira, from the Altotonga part of the zone. It was my companions turn to go to their area, so I stayed in ours and applied a few new things I had been learning in the past few weeks to get referrals and find new people. We ended up teaching a referral, asking them for more afterward, and from that, we found a person who turns out to be friends with the bishop of our ward! So that turned out well. 

After that day, on Wednesday we did some normal stuff and then around 6 we had to be getting ready to go to Xalapa for a leadership training thing with about half the zone, so we got our bags (to take back some pamphlets and such) and got to ADO and left around 7, got to Xalapa around 9, and my companion and I set apart our cots upstairs to be able to sleep, unlike the missionaries that were downstairs talking all night. Haha

So yeah, then the next day we had the meeting, which went well and we learned a lot, of course they had to sing a song that I'm not sure is in the hymn book or not, but translating one of the verses it goes, ''Goodbye, brothers, goodbye, the moment to leave now is here...'' something like that, and keeps going. And everyone was looking at me and Elder Johnson, who was in the MTC with me, they even starting waving at us in a ''see you later'' fashion. It was a little crazy.

Then on Friday we had the baptismal interview of a few people, but one of them has to wait a little more time. The other one, Veronica, passed hers (after two hours of talking with Elder Valtierra), and was super excited for her baptism on Sunday!

On Saturday we were running around a little nuts doing a lot of things, but it went pretty well for us and then on Sunday we had a LOT of people asking me for my email, my address, etc. and at the same time we were organizing our baptism, so it was a little crazy but it all got done. =D

Anyway, today we played basketball and afterward went to eat with Sister Eliut, who is a sister from Pinal that I've known since forever ago, and she gave us some really good food, just like old times. Then I said my goodbyes with her and we were on our way again. 

Aaaand, here we are! Getting ready to go do a bit of packing, a bit of visiting, a bit of teaching and referral tracking (because this race isn't QUITE over) and then I'll be on my way to Xalapa on Monday morning. 

Again, I can't describe my feelings, but I'm pretty sure that mom described them to me well when she said something along the lines of, on the plane I'll be crying to leave these people and experiences behind, and landing I'll be crying for joy to see my family. So, I hope things go a little like that. I have loved this mission and I definitely invite and exhort EVERY young man to, as Elder Holland says, ''If you aren't worthy, GET worthy'', get your papers in the working, turn them in, and get out there. 

I know that my Saviour lives and have felt his influence more than ever in this amazing 2 year experience. He works miracles today, just as he did in the past. I know that his merciful hands are outstreched to accept all of us, in spite of our weaknesses or faults. He loves us and will help us if we have faith and keep fighting for what we know is right. I love this church, it is the only true church upon the earth, I can say that now without a single doubt. I know we have a prophet that guides us now in these days, just as God sent his prophets in the past, and that if we follow their counsel, we will be able to come closer to Christ, who is the light and life, and the way, through which we may all live again with our Heavenly Father. 

I love you all so much and thank you for all your support, and I pray and hope for your well being. I will see you soon.

Elder DeFreese

 

 

1. Eating giant sandwiches in Xalapa while we wait for our bus ride back to Teziu.

2. Me, wearing a ''Dr. Simi'' (a farmacy brand) scarf that Arlette (the young woman who was baptized a few weeks back) gave us, seeing as how her mom works there!

3. The baptism of Veronica. =D

He aquí, os digo: el fin se acerca.

February 11, 2013

Well, hello there family and friends,

I'm going to be honest here, my feelings are mixed this week. 

I'll explain that in a bit. =)

Firstly I must speak of the first things. So, on Monday night we had to go to Xalapa for our ZL conference thingy and stay the night at the secretaries' house, which was fun. We didn't sleep super well but it's all good. Then, on Tuesday we woke up early and got stuff ready for the President to whip us into gear. Haha it was cool, we had our conference thingy (I've given up on saying counsel/council because I don't remember which one it is...) and President took out a special scripture on us from Hebrews. Remember the one that talks about milk before meat? Yeah, he said, ''this one is for my Zone Leaders''. Haha so we all got a little ''planched'' if you remember that word.

Anyway, he re-taught us the basics and had us do some practices, among other things, so it was good. Then from there we ate food and I had to say some goodbyes to some good ZL buddies, because it'll be the last time I see them. 

From there we went to ADO and took a bus home. We got back around 7 or 7:30, dropped the matierals and our suits off at the house and ran to av very far away appointment which fell through. So we checked a couple other people, went home and planned and prayed, etc. 

The next day, we started out with Zone Class which went well. We did some practices there which turned out well, and after class were on our way to go eat. We had a little time before the food appointment, so we decided to drop by an inactive member's house. We taught her the restoration, and finishing it up these furniture people got there with a GIANT dresser. So we helped them get it in the house, but they had to get it into a tiny room in the back of the house. I will never be able to explain in words just how IMPOSSIBLE that looked to us with the tiny spaces and many things packed into the house already, but we offered our help, because the furniture guys had to go. The sister of course knew that we had a food appointment, so she just told us to come back after.

So, we went and out, went back, and faced the test. To make a long story (that I'll tell you all soon enough anyway) short, it took us two hours, lots of thinking and the breaking of a few items (luckily not valuable items), the exhaustion of body and mind, and a miracle to get that giant dresser in the tiny back room, but we did it. I think that sister was pretty appreciative of that. =)

After that, late but commited, we went to San Juan to help out the Elders there. They've been having some trouble in their area, and I don't know if I mentioned this last week, but we agreed to leave our area behind and go help them out on some splits with the 4 of us working in their area. So that's what we did. We found a few cool people, got some referrals, and taught some lessons on both sides, so it went really well. Anyway, the point is though that when the night ended, we realized that the next day was Thursday already and we still hadn't done anything in our area that week! 

So we put some good plans and goals and got going the next day. We knew that we had to help somebody to baptism that week, but we didn't really know who in that moment. So we ran around with everyone possible on Thursday and found ourselves visiting Iris' dad, because she wasn't home. Remember her? She's been to church about a month now and her dad wouldn't give her permission to be baptized. We'd tried lots of things, but he wouldn't budge. So in that moment, as my companion talked to him, I said a little prayer and felt prompted to simply share a scripture or two with him, be direct, and commit him to talk with his daughter about HER desires to be baptized and to ask her why. He commited to do so.

The next day, we went with her again and lo and behold, she told us that her dad gave her permission! So, we got her interview done, her form signed, and kept working with other investigators until Sunday.

On Sunday we were blessed again with investigators that went to church, and Iris was baptized afterward by her member friend, Erik. 

This week we have lots of possible people to baptize, and I want to sprint to the end working my hardest to help all those that I can to take that important step. I know that I'm not the one who makes the change, it's in between God and the individual, but I hope and pray to be guided to simply show them the path that they should take and that God can touch their heart.

I know this work is true and I've seen miracles every day. I love these people here and THAT is why I feel weird this week. I'm going to miss these people very very much, and I don't think they know or understand how much I love and appreciate them, but the only way I can show it to them is through service. I hope that this last week of my mission will be the best week I can give. 

I love you all and I'll see most of you soon. Don't know if I'll have a chance to write next Monday, but I'll try to send a few lines your way anyway.

Until next time,

Elder DeFreese

1. Baptism of Iris. =)

2. Hangin' out P-Day style with the Teziutecos. 

The Weekly Semana

February 4, 2013
Alright, hello family and friends!

This week has been good. We've been working hard and getting business done, but there are always challenges. 

This time around the challenge was a little bit with the zone because we had some issues here and there and some missionaries that were having a hard time, but we were told by the Assistants (to the President) to do some special splits with the Elders that are in Pinal, because they're struggling a bit. So, we did some unplanned splits on Friday and I went with Elder Torres in Pinal while my companion stayed in our area with Elder Vazquez (the same one I trained in Poza Rica).

The splits went well and I was able to give Elder Torres a lot of advice on his area, mostly things that had to do with his planning and his companionship studies. 

Other than that, my mind is a little blank because today we have to write fast because we have to do lots of things to prepare for another Zone Leader Counsel (council??) tomorrow and when I have to write fast I can't think very well, but it's all good. =)

On Saturday we had the baptismal interview for Arlette, the grand-daughter of Ansberta, who was baptized last week. She passed and was happy to be baptized yesterday. It was a good experience and we let another young man participate in the ordinance, so Eddy, the Bishop's son, did it. =D

Hmm... What else? Who knows, but I think I still have two more Mondays to write you all, so I'll think of more stuff next week, alright?

Speaking of all that, mom just informed me that my homecoming talk will be on the 24th of February, so you're all invited, those who can make it. 

I think that's all for now, sorry for the short email this week, but... Well, many of you will be in my presence soon enough, so I hope you'll forgive me.

I've been praying really hard for all of you and your specific situations, so I'm pretty confident that I'll go home to find you all doing WELL and with SMILES on your faces, alright? Deal. 

See you all later! Love you much,

Elder DeFreese

 

1. In Pinal, they changed houses, and we had to go give the key to the owner, so I had to take a picture of my utter sadness at seeing this, my home for 6 months, empty and abandoned. 

2. The baptism of Arlette. =)