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
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