Holy Moses!

January 26, 2015
Hey everyone! I would love to say that I don't have a whole lot of time, but...... oh. crap. I actually don't have a whole lot of time. I thought I had like a half hour or something, but I was a bit off. My bad.

So we're going to go a bit quick-like!

This past week has been pretty good, College is back in session, so the city's population has at least doubled! The work is definitely different when they're in town because now we get to work with people our own age! It's quite interesting.

But anyways, we've been trying to work a lot more in and around the college campus, and around the dorms and stuff. It's been pretty effective, lots of people have accepted a return appointment or something. So we're loving it!

Earlier this week we gave a Church Tour to a man named Allen, he's a very intellectual guy and takes everything you say literally, so it's hard to formulate all your sentences perfectly. But he's learning and reading and praying, he brought his whole family to church yesterday too! So that was really cool, definitely a blessing!

We have a few people that we're working with who are praying about Baptism as well, so we're praying extra hard for sure, and doing our best to follow the Spirit and act as true representatives of Christ. Of course, we shouldn't need any extra motivation, but it definitely doesn't hurt to have some.

Anyways, I gotta get to some other e-mails and stuff. But I think that about catches you up!

Love you all so much,

Elder DeFreese

P.S. I would invite you to set a goal for this week, or for this coming month. A goal for how many people you want to invite to come to Church with you. Then, with that goal, pray for the strength, dedication, and direction, as to how you can best fulfill that goal. Make a plan with Heavenly Father, and then diligently strive to achieve it! I know that the Lord will bless you, and you will see miracles!

1. We found a coooooool elevator :)

2. ...hehe :)

Greetings from Syria, and Jordan!

January 19, 2015

Hey everyone! So, the title of this e-mail is a little funky, right?

And as a preface, I would have to say that I'm sorry I don't have any pictures as evidence.

But, this week has been awesome!

We have been knocking doors like crazy, and we met a total of 9 different Muslim people from all over the world! (They're going to the local college here)

So I suppose I'll tell you first about Mohammed, he's a friend of one of the members here, and he's getting a double major here at the college! Super smart guy, really nice, loves to learn. Anyways, we took him on a Church Tour and talked all about the Plan of Salvation, the Restoration, and a few other things, it was really cool to see him just soak it all up. (Oh yeah, and he came to church with us too, no big deal)

Next, we met a big group of guys from Jordan (I can't honestly remember how to pronounce all of their names, let alone spell them... but there was at least 8 of them). And they were all super excited to see us and learn about what we believe. We ended up staying so long answering questions and stuff that they invited us to eat with them! We were so happy because we hadn't been getting fed very well recently, and we were about to go home and eat something super cheap and not healthy for us. However, I didn't know that when it comes to eating with these guys, they have a lot of customs and stuff, aaaaaaaand it took about 2 hours to cook the meal. So in total we spent a good 4 or 5 hours there. It was great though, we loved it! Chicken and rice, nothing better!

THEN, the next day, a totally different apartment complex, we met another group of guys, 4 this time, and they were all from Syria. They were just as enthusiastic and excited to learn and such. Well, they had a ton of questions and stuff, and we ended up staying long enough for them to also invite us to dinner! (because our original appointment cancelled while we were there, and they overheard the conversation). So they graciously offered to feed us as well! It was sooo neat, I loved it! Chicken and rice as well this time, but seasoned differently. It was really good, I loved it!

So anyways, this week has been really cool, getting to meat so many different people, and learning the culture of some of them as well, I love people! They're the best!

Love you all so much, talk to you next week!

Elder DeFreese

P.S. Did you invite someone to church this past week? How did it go? This week, try setting a dead-line for when you will have invited someone. Then, promise Heavenly Father that you'll do it, as you put your Faith and trust in Him, He will either lead you to someone, or someone to you. I promise!

1. This is a drink that they gave us (I had like, 3)..

I think it's Guava, can't remember for sure.

2. I think it tastes good :)

3. Another weird cookie thing they gave us, it was OK. Haha

4. Since you're all dying to know, this is what I look like right this very minute!

SORRY!!!

January 14, 2015

Soooooooo.... tons of people e-mailed me and I'm down to just a few minutes. So I'm going to tell a story with pictures!

1. Full pound burger...

2. Me Eating the Full pound burger!

3. And it was good.

4. I found Irelands athletic field!

5. Somebody is totally there...

6. BIG FRIKKIN' NACHOS!!!!!!!

So this week has been full of tons of good food! I'm having a lot of fun out here, and I love it! Talk to you next week everyone!

Love ya!

Elder DeFreese

P.S. Please remember to study your scriptures, as you study daily, the spirit will enter into your lives, and you will feel God directing your paths. I promise!

Happy New Year!

January 5, 2015 I'm going to steal a page out of my Brothers Playbook, and give you a couple bullets about how this week has went for me!

1. Tuesday we had our last District Meeting of the Transfer, and it went really well.

2. Elder Christensen was sick for a couple days, so I got a lot of studying in.

3. I started and finished reading the book "The Power of Everyday Missionaries" and invite every single member who loves Jesus Christ to purchase and read this book. Pretty strong language, right? Well, I know that if every member in the Church actually practiced the things presented in this book, the Gospel of Jesus Christ would be far more widespread than anything on this planet is.

I have literally 2 minutes left, OK actually, 2 minutes and 15 seconds. So... sorry my time is running out so fast.

OH! Transfers is this week, and Elder Christensen and I are sticking around for another transfer! So this should be a good one!

Love you all so much, please remember me in your prayers, and make sure to invite your friends and family to church and or church activities! Love ya!

Elder DeFreese

April Fools!!!!!!!!!

December 29, 2014
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, for those of you who haven't heard. My "death" date is April 1st. And I hadn't told any of my family until I called them on Christmas! They weren't happy.

So, yes! I got an extension, I would be going home in the middle of February, but now I've got an extra transfer. Another 6 weeks to do some good! I'm so dang happy, and really excited to see what the Lord has in store for me in the coming weeks.

So this past week was a bit slower as far as the work goes, what with it being Christmas and all. Tons of people were out of town, and a lot of people didn't really want to listen to us because they had family and friends over.

BUT, the highlight of the week is this.

The Bells are doing AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!

Ashley and Slade are doing great, they are really enjoying learning and praying and reading. It's so great! Ashley and the kids actually came to church on Sunday too! THEY LOVED IT!!!!!! I don't know if I mentioned last week, but Slade has completely given up alcohol and smoking and everything! It's SO great! We're so blessed to be able to teach them and help them come closer to the Savior.

Another highlight was on Sunday, Elder Christensen and I spoke in Sacrament Meeting! He spoke about the trials that Joseph Smith went through, and enduring to the end. And I spoke about the Gifts that we have because of the efforts of Joseph Smith. He ended up speaking for about 20 minutes, and the choir took up another 5. After all was said and done, I had about 8 minutes to give my 25 minute talk. But it ended up great, and I learned a lot preparing for it. So, yeah!

Anyways, I gotta run. But I love you all so much, and I hope you had a fantastic Christmas!

Now let's start the New Year right, and invite someone to church this week, OK? K. I know you'll be successful, why? Because we find success in the invitation, just get out there and get it done! God will smile upon you, and He will be pleased with your efforts. Love you all!!!!!

Elder DeFreese

1. This is me with a new tie!

2. This is what I look like 25 seconds ago!

So...

December 22, 2014
SORRY!

Super quick e-mail. We have a TON of stuff to do to get ready fro Christmas and everything. But I'll give you one solid highlight!

So, on.... Friday at about 7ish, we were out knocking some doors. We were just about to go to a different area because we weren't having any luck in this particular trailer park. Then I looked down and saw a penny, heads UP! So, jokingly, I was like, "Dude, we have to stay here, there's good luck to be had!" So we decided to knock a few more, on the last one... it happened.

The door opened to a whirlwind of 3 young girls playing games and stuff, the mom on the couch clearly exhausted, and the dad running around trying to get dinner made. Well, the mom (Ashley) invited us in, and we started talking about the church! It went great, turns out they've been looking for a church, and they know that God loves them and wants something more for them, but they weren't sure what.

Enter. Missionaries.

Quick side note, I had previously opened up my Christmas package for want of food, and found it. I also found 2 copies of the Book of Mormon that my parents had written their testimonies inside, and a note that said, "Hand these out before you come home" Challenge accepted. (OK. Back to the story) So I reached into my backpack for a normal one, and then the Spirit told me, "No way, get the one with your Mom's testimony inside" So I did. After a brief explanation of everything, I handed them the Book. The Spirit was so strong, they know that they need to read it, and the testimony inside it created a deeper desire to know if it was true.

SO. In summation. The Book of Mormon carries power with it. The testimonies of further witnesses only adds to the Spirit, and allows even further light and knowledge to be had. Christmas packages should be opened early, just in case. I love my family with all my heart.

Doritos are the bomb. Love you all! Talk to you later!

Elder DeFreese

P.S. I hope this past Christmas Sunday was a good one for ya, it was awesome for me. If you didn't invite someone to Church this past Sunday, REPENT! (Which means change, i'm not trying to be mean) and invite someone for this Sunday! It'll be great! Love ya!

1. Elder Kempter, Elder Walton, and me :)

2. Reindeer poop, courtesy of Elder Kempters parents :) I love them!

Christmas Party!

December 15, 2014
Hey everyone!

This past week has been a pretty good week, lots of stuff happened and I'll try to make it a bit short but still real sweet. K?

K.

So, on Tuesday we had District Meeting, and it went really well, I talked about a few of the fundamentals of being a Missionary, the one that we focused on the most was "The Role of the Holy Ghost in Conversion" and I related that to how we need to be converted before we can help anyone else. The course of the training was great, everyone was very involved and we learned a TON! 

Then on Thursday we had a Zone Conference/Christmas Party!!! It was really good, we started off with the training and focused on The Questions of the Soul, and how we can use the Book of Mormon to answer such questions. It was so great, we did some practices and really felt the Spirit. 

On Friday, we met with one of our investigators named Chen, he's from mainland China and he's studying here in Emporia. He's a really cool guy and loves to learn. He knows the gospel is true for sure, and he's right on track to be Baptized this coming weekend! We're super stoked for him, and he's really excited too! 

To close up so that you can get on with your busy lives, I just want to say that I know Jesus Christ is real. He made the ultimate sacrifice for you specifically. What are you going to do now, because of the gift that He has given you? Please don't waste it. 

Love you all so much!

Elder DeFreese