Monday, July 29, 2013

Oh what a Glorious Day...

This weeks begins with wonderful blessings given to me by Heavenly Father!  I am so indebted for His kindnesses and His love and I stand all amazed at the love that He offers me and hope that all of you can have these feelings in your heart this week.
Yes, I flew home for Steve's wedding which you saw last week.  The blessings of seeing my family and my mom and my friends at church were wonderful!  What a blessing for airplanes that enable these experiences!!  I am extremely happy for Steve and Allison and their children!!!!
Upon returning to Tukwila my feet hit the ground running and we have not stopped this week with blessings un numbered given to us.  We had District Meeting, in fact, the last one of this District because Transfers are next week.  
 
 
This picture shows our DL, Elder Buckway kneeling with our Zone Leader, Elder Beetus, kneeling on the right.  Back row is Elder Kimball, Elder Geigle...our Other Zone Leader. Elder Menenega, Sister Carter and Sister Frame with Elder Sasser on the back row and Sister Sasser is taking the picture.  This District will be changed Tuesday so this was a tender meeting and we rejoice in the friendships that have grown as we have served The Lord together.
Sister Carter and I renewed our commitments of PSL...Prayer, Song and Lesson at each home we enter,  whether  they are members or nonmembers, the results this week have been wonderful.  Lives have been touched and testimonies have been strengthened and love for God has grown.  The experiences are those kind that are entered into our journals.
We have taken on a project of helping a couple declutter their garage and their home....and it has been hard work.  In 4 days we have discarded some 47 apple size boxes of "stuff".  The ultimate goal over the next 11 months....when we go home....is to make this home able to put on the market and sell so they can downsize and go to a condo.  They are wonderful people but have just saved and saved until their is soooooo much of little value.  Whew!!  We come home tired and a bit dusty!
Monday a lady called whom we had tracted out and her granddaughter asked us to come back when she was home.  Well, we had returned 2 times with no answer.  Her call asked us to come and talk to her about the church.  What a wonderful visit where the spirit was felt strongly and we will return this week.
One of our friends is getting rid of a very lovely tan leather sofa with queen size hide-abed and also a love seat.  Yes, we found another couple who need a new sofa so the "Sisters" (as we are often called) were able to make others happy by being involved and sharing love.  Just love these experiences.
Oh, Wed as we were knocking a door, I felt a terrible "sting" in my right calf....it REALLY hurt and I even pulled out a stinger.  The pain was intense but I was "Tough" and we kept going.  This bite grew in size to a 3 inch diameter on my calf, bright red and very painful and hard and hot.  Friday night we noticed by ankle was swollen and below my calf the skin was tight and red.  Oh my, I dislike going to doctors.  We called Pres. Miller and he thought we ought to go to Highline Medical Clinic in Des Moines.  Sat morning we were the 1st in line.  Yes, there was infection and I am on 10 days of Kaflex.  This just adds some spice in my life!!
Day after day we are blessed with the privilege of feeling the love of Jesus Christ in our hearts and sharing this with His other children.  No, not every day is perfect but through this opposition we try hard to draw closer to Him.  This week my favorite scripture is 2 Timothy 1:7
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and love
and a sound mind"
May God be with each of you this week and Bless you and please, will you take the time to recognize the Miracles in your lives. I am so thankful for the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in these Latter-Days! I know that even through the knowledge of "Worlds without Number (Ensign Aug 2013) Heavenly Father knows me and loves me and answers my prayers.  I am extremely grateful for this!I love my family with all my heart and was sooooo glad to see Mom looking well and beautiful.
Love to all,
Sister Frame

Monday, July 22, 2013

Families are Forever...

I went home to Utah for the weekend for Steve and Allison's marriage, I now have another beautiful daughter in law.  This was a beautiful event with 8 children involved in the experiences to come.  So, know my blog will come next week with the highlights of a beautiful mission.




May God be with and bless all of you this week and take time to look for Miracles.
Love to all,
Sister Frame

Monday, July 15, 2013

When we are on the Lord's errand....

we are entitled to His help.  Remember that whom The Lord calls, The Lord qualifies".  This quote comes from the words of President Thomas S. Monson and I love what it says.  Whether we are in the nursery, a RS Teacher,  a Scout Leader or the Bishop, this is a promise we can hold to and being a missionary I hold to it every day.  Our titles we wear empower us with Father's blessings and help to accomplish what we were called to do.  I think I repeat myself weekly but I must continue to tell you I love missionary work and this love seems to grown exponentially as the weeks go by.  The miracles we daily recognize just cannot be overlook and the personal revelation to accomplish all that is meant to be done is incredible.
 
I remind all of you that Sister Carter and myself and , maybe 16 other Senior Sisters,  have been called to  eight states to be "Pioneers" in this WAS Mission.....Women's Auxillary Specialitist.  And really, the work we are called to do is much different that the younger Elders and Sisters;  however we still seek for baptisms but mostly do the work of "Rescuing those that have forgotten what they once believed and felt".  It is a wonderful experience.  This week we saught out 71 people and handed a list to Bishop Floyd and the ward clerk of 12 people who have; moved, there is no dwelling  at the location, are deceased, have moved about 11 years ago  and their records came with just the city and no address.  Yes, besides being Missionaries, we are also Minute Men and now Private Investigators.  Such an experience I never expected.  We average about 10 service hours per week and love to visit the elderly and the lonely.
 
This past couple of weeks our District Leader and his companion have had an extremely bad experience with bed bugs.  Yes, it was hard for them but it will be a fun experience to chat about  later on.  We bundled up their suits and slacks and took them to the cleaners.  They call when they need ideas about what to do.  Kinda nice to be a "Grandma" in the mission Field.
 
Last week the Elders asked us to pick up a 21 year old Phillipino sister and drive her to the church for a Church Tour.  This experience guides them through the church:  they see the foyers, the Bishop's office, classrooms, Primary Room, YW Room, RS Room and they explain the beautiful artwork in this room, the Cultural Hall, The Baptismal Font....which is the most sacred room in the building, the High Counsel Room where they hold Priesthood and the Chapel.  The evening was just beautiful and the Spirit of the Holy Ghost was very impressive.   I was extremely touched as these Young Elders stand with the Power and Authority the have been given and teach the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in each of these areas of our church.  I realize that as members we take this sacred building just a bit for granite and forget the sacredness of it..  Julienne loved the hour in the church but mostly she was very touched by the feelings in her Heart and Soul.  This was an amazing experience.
 
This week has been one of the most powerful of our 6+ month out in the field.  Oh, the experiences of entering my Brother's and Sister's homes and teaching them truths and singing with them and praying with them is priceless and I want to never forget the knowledge I have of how much my Heavenly Father loves his children and how extremely thankful I am for Jesus Christ and His Atonement for you and me.  
 
Daily I am reminded of the power that comes from obedience to the Commandments of God and the rules of being a missionary.  As we obey, we are VERY blessed.  We have the privilege of growing and changing as we "forget ourselves and Go To Work".  I am very thankful for our past President Larkin and his wife and now for Pres Choi and his wife for the strictness of the way and the expectations that all the missionaries are to follow.

May God be with all of you and Bless you each day and please take time to recognize the Miracles in your lives and to record them in your journals.  If not, you will forget them.
Love to all of you,
Sister Frame

Sunday, July 7, 2013

"Today I Obey....Tomorrow I Understand"

Elder Yoon Hwan ChoiThese are the powerful words of Pres. Yoon Huan Choi of the Washington Seattle Mission whom we met last Tuesday and his lovely wife, Sister Choi and their 3rd son, a RM from Australia.  Our meeting with the Choi's (Chaa) was incredible and we were counseled with words of wisdom and love.  He spoke of 'technology' jargon which was "gigo"....garbage in-garbage out and asked us to change the wording for our lives to "gago"....gospel in-gospel out.  This was very good counsel in a world filled with many pictures, words, music and marques that 'do not need to be stored in our minds'.  We all have the potential and possibilities to be so much more than we often give ourselves credit for.  So, let's all lear of Him and as we do so we will love Him more and want to be more like him.  Our purpose is to prepare to meet God so we should all 'be on our way' and find joy in the journey.
Last Tues Bishop Floyd called and requested our help.  We were to meet a Russian lady, who had lived in Arizona 5 years, who came to Seattle to see her children.  She had been staying in the Roadway Inn for 7 days but had no money for extended room food and etc. and the Women's Alliance had failed to return the call she made.  So, we got her 2 nights in another hotel, took her shopping for food and we hope all works out well after our 4 hour excursion.
This week we enjoyed three wonderful Miracles and as we record them in our journals, we continue to stand as a witness that God is still a God of miracles and I can't deny this.  He knows us, loves us and helps us constantly.  We just need to take the effort and time to recognize our own miracles.
I love being on this mission and I stand with 70,000+ missionaries (58 new Missions) which are a total of 405 Missions.  173 New Mission Presidents were called in July, more than ever called in one time and I  value the experiences I am having as I love and serve and listen to the Spirit and 'climb this incredible mountain'.

 Most of the blossoms are gone in July but this Magnificient flowered tree was growing against a simple trailer and it is beautiful.  Never thought I would like BLUE flowers.  Are you kidding me now!! Well, may God be with all of you and bless you in everything you do....and please take the time to recognize the Miracles in your lives.
Love to all,
Sister Frame

Monday, July 1, 2013

I'm Glad They Called Me On A Mission.....

Our Washington Seattle Mission is divided today after 15 years in existence and what a beautiful area to serve.  NEVER have I seen such beauty in flowers and some much green in trees and bushes and such!  This is a wonderful place to serve but I don't want to move here  I will be home in one year....June 30, 2014.  No, I really am not counting the day and month because they fly by too fast but it is amazing I have been gone for 6 months.
It seems that another title we wear, along with "Pioneer" is "Minuteman".  I kid you not.  Last week  the Bishop called with a few more errands we feel we are blessed to be able to assist and help him in any way.  Our Relief Society Pres. was in a bind and we were glad to help her.   We were call Tuesday to drive to Kent (20miles) and pick up a food order and bring it to a couple in Motel 6.  The couple loves us and we try to always be nice to them, but 2 days later they asked us to "run and pick them each up a milkshake".  Oh really?  No, we had other appointments.  Tues morning at 10:00 we had a call from our District Leader and told us we were having District Meeting at 1:45 so, in a minute, we called appointments and changed our agenda....yes, with a smile on our faces.
We were fasting on Tuesday because we had a Fireside with the Burmese people.  Only 6 came but there were about 40 ward members and the Spirit was incredible.  Elder Buckway and Elder Kimball gave wonderful messages.  Bishop Floyd spoke with power and the spirit and told these people they were "Pioneers" and the day would soon come that there would be large congregations of Burmese in the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints...mark my words!

Nancy, our newly baptized investigator, was confirmed Wednesday....10 days after her baptism and we are extremely happy for her.  There is still plenty of work to be done to teach and love and help her understand but she is going to do very well.

We have had so many profound and wonderful visits this week with less-active members who have forgotten what they once believed and felt and love what they feel when we come and teach them with the Spirit of the Holy Ghost....and my little ipad with Mormon Messages and Primary Songs.  This is such a powerful tool.  I am told the Missionaries in England are currently using them and I know they will soon be used by all because of the tool they can be.

This week, after tallying tonight, we realized we have visited 68 homes, given 9 hours of service and last week there were 17 less actives to Sacrament Meeting.  I know Heavenly Father was so grateful for the willingness of these people to come to church.

I probably sound like a broken record but I am so extremely thankful for the opportunity to serve a  Mission and to see the growth in myself and to feel the incredible love of these people.  They have been brought closer to the Savior in their thoughts and action and it feels so good to them.
Sister Carter and I have chosen the words by Neal Maxwell to be our Mission Statement:

"God does not begin by asking us about our ABILITY, but only about our AVAILABILITY, and if we then prove our DEPENDABILITY  HE will increase our CAPABILITY".
To all of you at home, "Make each day beautiful and may God be with you and bless each one of you....and take time to Look for Miracles"!

All my love,
      Sister  Frame