Week 70 - November 11, 2019 "Laredo!"

Hey! How's it going! This week was great and pretty crazy. To start, Osvaldo was baptized! That was super special! This week we have transfers and we are actually picking up the new missionaries today. I have been here in this area for the last 5 transfers and my time here has come to a close. Saying bye to all of these members and people here was pretty sad, they did so much for me. I'm so thankful for these things though. The experiences here on the mission are priceless. I am now going to be going to Laredo (3 hours away) and my companion will be Elder Bentley from Pleasant grove. I will be in the 5th ward, which I have actually served in before. The only difference is that I will be in a different area with a different assignment but it will be the same members, etc which should be fun! I will miss the surprises that come every day from working in the office. I definitely could say that I've learned some things while being here. Both President Ocampo and President Torres taught me different things and it was the coolest experience to learn from both of them. I don't know if I can exactly pinpoint one thing that I've learned - there have been so many things but it's such a blessing to have been here! And even though sometimes it's insane what happens out here, I don't think I would change a thing. With Laredo, I am a little nervous because that is the same zone that I served in when I was a greenie almost a year and a half ago. That was definitely the hardest part of my mission this far so I'm a little anxious about that. The truth is though that I can either let it kill me or I can kill it and I get to choose how I see it. God gave us that power to choose as his children. If life seems crazy back home, just remember that "all of these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."

This is true. So I guess the question is that we can ask ourselves every day is, "even though life is hard and things don't always go my way, what's stopping me from being happy today?"

The answer should be nothing.

God has a plan for you. You're his child and if you put him first, he will take you places you've never been before. You'll find happiness in ways you've never felt before.

Although I'm still working on it, being a missionary has opened my eyes to this.

Have a great week!

Elder Freedman

1.victor and Joanna 

2. gonna MISS this little baller. he called me his big brother. 

3. Michael and Dulce 

4. Israel's kids 

Week 69 - November 4, 2019 "Julianna and Rosa!"

Hey! This week was sweet! Julianna and Rosa were baptized and confirmed. It's crazy. Julianna grew up in Utah (what are the chances) for 18 years and then moved here. That was super awesome and they had us over for a superrr good carne asada after. A few weeks ago Arely and Martin got baptized but the dad, Osvaldo, wasn't quite ready yet. A few nights ago we went over and he seemed so changed. He said that he's been praying and feels like now is the time for him to be baptized so he's going to be baptized this Saturday! We're super excited for that. Hopefully Reynaldo will be baptized this Sunday - if God permits he can be ready.. 

This last week we also had MLC and trained about stewardship, consecration, and this new way that we are going to be doing exchanges in the mission. We also presented a new district leader training that elder Johnson and I helped make. It was pretty stressful but went well! I also got to go on an exchange on Halloween with my boy elder Gardner. Good times! I have been in this area for 5 transfers so I think with these next changes I will be leaving! but who knows! hope everything is good back home. Sure love you guys!!!

SHOUTOUT TO ANDREW FOR BAPTIZING IN COTE D'IVOIRE! Let's stinkin GOOOOOOO!

Elder Freedman 

1.rosa y Julie 

2. with the Zls and STLs from Laredo. 

3. late night MLC office grind ahaha