Today while the sun shined.....I smiled and smiled and smiled

Last night as we were going to an appointment, a young man who was visiting the ladies next door asked who were were and she told them we were some nuns.  We laughed and thought we ought to buy some different clothes."

This was a very good and interesting week. I continue to meet more people and really love each one I meet.  I am just so interested in their reasons they stopped coming to church.Last Sunday on St. Patrick's Day I ate my first meal of 'corned-beef and cabbage' and found it delicious.  We actually had two invites for the same meal so we felt very loved.

Monday was our p-day.  The Senior Sisters from Kent drove here and we rode the light rail (again) to Seattle  where we again went to Pikes Market; yes, we had crab again at the Crabpot and we sang with some gospel singers on the street.  We were greeted by 13 people people who were excited to see Senior Sister Missionaries.  It is a great testimony that "one must always live what they believe because someone will be watching."

Tuesday we spoke with Sister Mattos, a less active member.  She has been in the hospital having test that show she needs a stint for her heart.  Her surgery can't be done through the femoral artery so she will have an incision in her chest.  I asked her if she would like the Elders to give her a blessing and I think she really was surprised to be reminded of something she has forgotten.  She will tell me when  I call next week.

A great day this week was the "Plan of Salvation "and part of "The Gospel of Jesus Christ" which we gave to Dick and Annabelle, our practice figures (whose lives are being changed without them knowing it).  We sang a song with the ipad music and then Dick called on himself for our opening prayer.  We were stunned.  It was a simple work of art by an 86 year old who probably hadn't prayed in 70 years.  The Spirit of the Holy Ghost radiated the entire room and and our hearts and minds and did not leave!  Sister Carter and myself were mouthpieces of our Heavenly Father in teaching these sweet people.  It was incredible!!

Thurs we  visited a woman who finally returned our 4th phone call.  She has been active but when released from the R.S Presidency 3 months ago, has just not returned to church.  Our visit was delightful and we sang "I am a child of God" and had a prayer.  Hopefully she will soon return.

We love the Folk Family who are refugees from Burma;  mom, dad, David 19, Peter 18 and John16.  The Elders are teaching them and we went to visit.  I had met her in RS and visited with her so we were familiar.  As we visited she said she just was not sure she knew enough to be baptized.  Then the words were spoken, "You don't have to know everything before being baptized but you will know the sweet feeling in your heart as you are taught".  Esther, the mom, then said she could not deny how she had felt and loved the teachings of the Church.  Later she gave the Elders all her tea and coffee.  Wow!  You just have to be here, but please believe my words and know the beauty of Missionary Work!

Friday we had a simple and magnificent miracle.  Our GPS took us to the wrong area.  Then we received a call from Jerry Templeman whose wife we have been visiting at a care center.  We really were guided to her because Bishop did not know of her.  She is paralyzed in the legs and part of her arms.  Bro.Templeman wanted to know how he could get her to church.  We had seen some white vans come to Church but we were not sure, saying we would find out and call him.  Well, in this area where we were totally lost from the address listed in the GPS we drove into a parking lot and 3 ACCESS Transportation Vans were parked.  They drive handicapped individuals and others for $1.25 each way.  We called Jerry with this miraculous information 5 minutes after his call.

This work is incredible and Father walks with us daily.  I know Heavenly Father loves these people in Tukwila, WA but no more than those in Alpine, Nephi, America Fork, Orem, Highland and all other cities.  We are His children and He is just waiting for us to ask in faith and He will guide and direct and support us (Ama 36:3)  He did not say he would remove the trials, but he would support us through them. 

I love my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  I am so thankful for the Holy Ghost.  I love working with these wonderful people.

Thanks so much for all of your love and prayers and support for me.  Also, for the prayers for the thousands of Elders and Sisters throughout the world.  They work so hard and need your prayers more than you will ever know.

May the blessings of Heavenly Father be with you daily.  Love, Sister Frame

**This sunny day we went to Seahurst Park on the east shores if Puget Sound.  Great break.  I know this picture looks like the one in Seattle, but oh we'll...I am happy!
 

What a week!!

We are busy in this part of the Northwest.  We continue to dodge raindrops, drive in the rain, visit people, eat p-nut butter sandwiches, observe ALL the beautiful flowers and blossoms coming into bloom and we sleep very well because we are exhausted!

This week was very busy.

Monday we went to Verizon to get Sister Carter's new phone to work the way she wants it to.  It is a new Droid and she is having a few issues so the 2 hours in the mall seemed quite long.  We had to shop and do some errands.  Then at 6:00pm we went to the church for FHE and waited in the rain for 40 minutes.  Our 'lady with the key' was t-boned in an intersection on her way and ended up in the hospital.  Not too serious but her car is totaled and she is extremely stiff.

Tuesday our zone went to the Bellevue Temple and experienced a wonderful session.  I felt so at home because the Endowment Rooms and the Celestial Room are just like the Provo Temple.  This is hard to understand because the Provo Temple is constructed round and the Bellevue Temple is tall and rectangular.  Anyway, it was a good day and when we arrived home at 2:00 we went to Dick (86) and Annabell's(81).  They were baptized as children in Salt Lake and have never gone to church.  Their names are on the records of the church so we sought them out and we dearly love them.  We have become dear friends so we asked them if they would act like non-members and allow Sister Carter and myself to practice the Mission Lessons.  We taught them The Message of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. and it was a wonderful experience.  They felt the Spirit of the Holy Ghost and so did we.  After the lesson they invited us to dinner Friday evening at Hong's Gardens...a Chinese restaurant that was delicious.  As we took them home, we went in for pie and ice cream.  At 8:50 we told them our curfew was 9 so we left after a fun evening.

Wednesday we drove to Renton to have a meeting with Pres and Sis Miller, 1st Counselor in the Mission Presidency and also the 2 other sisters on the same mission we are on, only in another city.  Great Day with excellent training and ideas exchanged and I came away feeling I was really doing a pretty good job as a missionary.
Thursday we went to Irene's home, a non-member with a severely broken arm.  Her good friend is a member and we told her we would like to do some service.  Irene did not want Mormon's in her home preaching but we promised we would not say a word (which is hard for both of us) so we just cleaned and smiled.  If was such a good time and we were invited to come back in a couple of months for some barbecues and games and fun times.  Service is the best way there is to show the love of Jesus Christ.

Friday morning we invited the 2 Elders in our ward to come to Sister Purcells and clean the yard of her mobile home.  She is the one in the car accident.  After 2 hours and 4 people working, it really looked GREAT.  We then drove her to her bank and helped her arrange for a car rental.

Feels good to physically work and it feels even better to serve!

We spent 1 1/2 hours listening to one of our less-actives who is trying to come back from drugs and addiction,  also her husband.  Well, they both crashed this week!  It is incredibly painful to suffer the consequences of our choices...and running will not help.  So, we listened and listened and listened.  I hope they can make wiser choices with the help of their Heavenly Father.

As I live each day I am extremely thankful for the blessings I have.  I live in this beautiful land of America and the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored in these latter days.  I just know Heavenly Father's desire is that all His children would come unto him.  This city in Tukwila where we live is most diverse. Often we never see another Caucasian in this area.  People are from Somalia, Ethiopia, Burma, Philippines, China, Japan.  I went to a barbershop to place a sign about the english class we are going to teach.  The barber and owner was very kind and gracious and as I reached to shake his hand, he said, "No, I can not touch you.  I am Muslim".  I learn many things daily and respect of others is at the top of my list.

Thanks to all of you for your notes and thoughts and support and prayers for myself and all the missionaries throughout the world.

I Love my Heavenly Father and I am so appreciative to serve him.

Make your day a great day!

The Standard of Truth...

I want all of you to know that the following words are repeated every morning of every day in companionships in the Washington, Seattle Mission, and probably all over the world.  They are:
         The  Standard of Truth has been erected;  no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing;  persecutions may rage,  mobs may combine, armies may assemble and calamity may defame but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly and independent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every climb, swept every country and sounded in every ear;  till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say, "The Work is Done"!
These are powerful words!   I love them and have them memorized along with D&C 4.  These remind e and all missionaries why we are here for 18 months and teach us it is possible to do the work we have been set apart to do!
          Saturday evening we attended Tamirat Yirgulem Ayana's baptism.  He is an incredible 21 year old Ethiopian attending Highline Community College.  What a beautiful hour we spent in this service and his testimony that he loved Jesus Christ was very tender and also he was thankful for his new-found family of brothers and sisters in the gospel.
           We are carefully loving Karen N. into coming back to church after a 15 year hiatus because of hurt feelings.  She is such a lovely lady and we pray she will 'let go' of her hurt feelings and the fear of coming back.  She was in the Stake Primary Presidency when she decided not to come to church.
And guess what, we just returned from church....and Karen was there.  It was so good to see her and she liked how she felt.  Many that know her were kind and visited and made her feel good.  It the hall after Sac. meeting she came to us and said, "Please don't stop visiting me just because I came today".
This made my heart so happy!  It was wonderful  to know that she wanted to return and brought herself back!  She had listened to the promptings of the Holy Ghost to be able to do this.
Today Penny G,  Amy C. (mama cracker) and Roberta were also there.  Last week we had 11 less-actives so today the numbers were smaller (daylight savings time probably made a difference) but we were happy with who were there.  Roberta's eyes dripped tears in RS as we sang I am a child of God. She told one of our members that the reason Sister Carter/Sister Frame were sent to Seattle was to find her.  Oh, what Joy!!  All her upper teeth are gone so one of the goals of our mission is to see her with both sets of dentures before coming home.  We are also going to start planting seeds of The Endowment for her.  This will be incredible.
          P-day we took our DL and his companion to Sizzler for dinner.  They are such fine young men and they did appreciate some food.  We can't have them in our apt. so this is the best we can do.
          Tuesday we went to an address we did not recognize until arriving...and it was a dark, uncomfortable feeling mobile home.  We did not want to go but then changed our minds.  The door opened with smoke wafting out the door, no lights on and an older lady cracked the screen.  She said Machelle R was not there.  We did not leave.  Then she said she could not talk because she was in a bad place.  So, we gave her our card with our cell # on it and gladly left.
That evening our phone rang....it was Machelle.  She thanked us for coming by a month ago to give her a Birthday card and said she needed help.  She was in a bad, very bad place and needed us to pray for her.  Would we please come back.   We quickly called the Bishop, he knew her and she had been a member for abt 5 years and had some emotional problems.  He was unable to come with us so the Elders drove their car and followed us.  Upon our arrival, a boy answered the door saying she could not come to the door because she was sick.  We did not leave.  Then he said she was in the shower so she could not come to the door.  We did not leave.  Our DL who is 6'4'walked over to the door so they could see more than women.  Finally Machelle came to the door apologizing.  We invited her outside where it was really quite cold and had her sit on a chair so they could give her a blessing.  She had a black eye.  This is so hard!  She is a Child of God and he loves her.  Why do these things happen?
            I love doing this work for my Heavenly Father!  This week went by quickly.  We did a 4 hour service project for Mah's;  visited 47 people and saw a miracle today.  I know we are doing good things for this Seatac Ward.  When we knock on doors to visit, no on is intimidated or uneasy by these '2 little ole ladies' and we have made some incredible friends.
I know Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers!  I know He wants His children to be happy by making wise

"It rains as we walk and walk and walk....."

This week has been the wettest of our two months in Tukwila...but we love it.  Really, we never use a umbrella because we were told we would look like tourists....so, we either walk without or flip our hoods over our heads.
Monday we rode the lightrail into downtown Seattle, to Pikes Place and Market Pier 57 where we ate AGAIN at the Crab Pot.   SOOOOOOO GOOD!!  We walked the streets and foud little stores, enchanting eating areas under pergolas lined with green leaves.  Oh, how Fun!  The ride into Seattle was 30 min and the return ride was 20 min.  The 'exclusive' ride was $1.50 for Seniors for all day and we could have gotten off at any of the 12 stops.
District Meeting was Tues and with Transfers last Tues we were introduced to our new DL...Elder Buckway from Centerville.  He is very tall and attended Viemont High.  Fine young man with great leadership skills.  Sister Carter and myself came away with new challenges to perform and we still feel such a strong desire to 'rescue and love' those that are less-active.  If we don't bring them into activity, who is going to fellowship all those new converts brought in by the thousands of new missionaries?  Really, this new program is vital to the success of membership involvement in fellowshipping new converts.
Tomorrow is Sunday (I am writing early because we are too tired to stay out any later)  Last week we visited 77 homes.  Not sure this is the best way to do this work so the last 2 days we have prayerfullyconsidered  what we are doing and how to improve.  Yesterday and today we spent all of our time visiting with fewer people and learning more of them and realizing we need to do this more.
Tomorrow we expect Tracy, Sue and Matthew;  Betty Jo and Jonathan;  Dick and Annabel Powers...he is 86 and is a stubborn ole sort (kinda like by dad used to be) and we just love these two people.  He just loves these 2 ole ladies and is really starting to soften!!  This will be 2 Sundays at church.  Also, we expect Vicki and Charlene.  Not a bad addition to any Sac. meeting.
I want all to know how much I love serving my Heavenly Father and standing as a witness of Jesus Christ.  Yes, it is hard work, but my family gave me some wooden blocks reminding me, "I Can Do Hard Things!"  And yes I can!!!
I just know Heavenly Father loves His children.  He wants all of us to be taught the Doctrine of Christ and to follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized by someone holding the Priesthood Authority of God.  I feel it a honor to be called as a missionary to spread this message.
Thanks to all for your love, support and friendship.  I Love all of you!!
(Five of our children went to Salina to spend a day, a night and a day with their grandmother Bird on her 92 birthday.  Can you believe that?!?  This kinda makes my eyes sweat and I love them for their kindess and unselfish behavior).  This also makes me homesick!!

Love,
Sister Frame

Where has the time gone???

I am just amazed that the calendar will roll over to March in three days!  Where have the days gone?
When did the time tick away?

We all often speak of events  held in the Stake Center....and there is no meat served?!?
We visited with Charlie and told him we were doing Missionary Splits with the ward missionaries and he was surprised that ladies as old as we were that limber and could stretch that far!!!!
So, I guess it is just a bit funny the things we speak of and think everyone else understands.

We visited with Kathleen Alvarado this week.  Her husband is a no-member.  She said she had been thinking lately about coming to church but her husband did not want her to go.  These are the things we pray for...that hearts can be softened.  That he will encourage her to go to church and not treat her differently when she does.

Brother and Sister Mah who are Chineese (about 75-80) invited us to their home.  NO ONE in our ward has ever been in this home.  He is the most impeccably, organized HOARDER I have ever known of.  They have little money, he says?!?  He says they want to move to a condo with less space so they can afford it.  BUT, they must sort through the STUFF.  Well, we went;  we took a costco chicken and a pineapple;  we were stunned!!  We told him we would help tell him how to do it, but we know we cannot discard his personal property.  We are going over Tuesday with a contract so he can see what is really expected.  We want him to start in the living room.  (Please wish us luck!)  We can go for 2 hours each week for service hours.  We will take away 5 boxes of stuff each week.  We will guide him...for example.  He can keep 2 boxes of books but he must dispose of 4 boxes.  You just can't believe what he has collected.
The home has no heat in it and we just about froze to death.  They wear coats and use a little space heater.  Oh MY.  My children are welcome to start discarding of my stuff...right now!!

I again must say how much I love my Heavenly Father!  If you could feel the spirit of all these young Elders and  Sisters, you would stand amazed!!  They are wonderful.  They lead with the Power of God and are such incredible examples.  We had District Meeting Wed and I was asked to lead D&C 4.
I can't say it as fast as they do...but I did it perfectly.  What a thrill and an accoomplishment for me

Home to Tukwila

I arrived home from Utah Monday morning about 11:30.  Brother and Sister Sasser and my companion, Sister Carter  were waiting for me at the airport.  I had spent just 48+ hours at home and I want you to know it was very hard to come back to the Northwest....but i was extremely glad I was about to go home and I had made a promise in my heart to 'hustle back to the mission field and get back to work!"  So I am.
There is no lack of understanding of the reality of miracles in my life and also personal revelation.
We had prayed for the opportunity to be able to touch people's heart as we teach the words of truth.
A month ago we had gone to a young lady's home, 20 years old whose mom died when she was 15.
An older woman had answered the door and was very rude.  We were standing in the rain (what's new) and she closed the door and hollered "It's those Mormons".  Melia came to the door and said she had not been to church since her mother had died and really did not want to talk.    We left, but the name of Melia stayed in our minds and hearts.  Well,  we called the Elders and asked them to go over and see if they could speak with her about what she had believed and see if she would talk about her sad heart.  We  could not get her name from our minds so last Tuesday we returned to the home of Melia.  A very kind 'older woman' answered the door and very graciously invited us into her home.  Melia was not home, but she was polite and visited with us for over an hour.  She had fallen in the rain and broken her arm.  We enjoyed our visit and went home, returning again 3 days later to see how she was doing.  After another extended visit, we invited her to our Ward Party and dance that was to be held Sat. Feb 16.  She said she would like a ride and would come with us.

Tuesday we went to the home of Denise Marie.  This was our 2nd visit.  This middle aged lady was very sad as she answered the door and we could tell she really did not want us to come in, but she opened the door and asked us it.  Her story was the same often heard.  She was so lonely.  Her husband had died 10 years ago and only 4 Ward members had come to her home.  She wanted no part of the church.  Do you blame her?  After we visited and shared feelings and love and tears she was a bit softer and happier.  We must all remember the Doctrine Christ Teaches is wonderful and often we as people do not do all those things He would have done had He walked the earth at this time.  We just ended out visit with a prayer and a sister who felt loved and a bit happier.  It will take some time for her to return to full fellowship, but remember ALL of us have the responsibility to serve and love whether it is convenient or not.  We are the Lord's hands and feet on this earth!!  Yes, she did come to the party Sat. Night but did not come to church.  Yes, she had a good time!  We will keep working with this wonderful lady and hope and pray she can have the faith and forgiveness to come back and feel the love and happiness she once felt.

Saturday we went to Marissa's home and scrubbed everything....walls, windows, bathrooms, kitchen and vacuumed rooms.  She is moving from and apt to a nice rental home to live with her Father and her son.  It saved her money and was a good service experience.

Betty Jo and Jonathan continue to be a strong part of our lives.  They are trying so hard to stop smoking....they have eliminated all other addictions, are working with the Bishop and come to all their meetings.
Charlie is again changing his mind about baptism.  This is his decision and we must let him go.  We love him and he knows the power of the Holy Ghost he has felt is real....but,  he must make a choice.
If he ever decides he has the courage to be baptized, we told him to call us.

Friday at 5:00 pm we met in a Firside with Elder Shane Bowen who is a Seventy.  This was held for the entire mission and it was incredible!!  One of his main emphasises was that of obedience.  If the missionaries are obedient, God cannot withhold  blessings and personal revelation.  He will guide us to those that are seeking truth and light.  The power of truth in the chapel was overwhelming.  What a privilege it is to serve my God and to be in is servic,

My life is so busy you would never believe I could run this fast!  I am not kidding you.  When I am horizontal at 10PM I am asleep.

May all of you experience the love and blessings of Heavenly Father this week,   Take time to pray and ponder and serve and know you will be blessed for your efforts.
I love you so much!!!!!!

Love,
Sister Frame











   

"Home is Where the Heart is"

Families are priceless as all of you know, but extremely so when the Mission President gave me permission to fly home Friday afternoon, returning early Monday morning, to attend the wedding of our first grandchild...Amanda Grace Call who married such a fine young man!   He is Cole Peterson and currently attending the Police Academy at the Point of the Mountain.  Pres Connely married them in the Mt Timpanogoes Temple.  What an incredible event!!!!!

The events of the week in Washington were incredible.  We have been called as missionaries to
"Rescue " those that have become less active because they basically have forgotten those things they believe, have forgotten how loved they are by our Heavenly Father, and  have stayed away long enough that coming back to church frightens them.  I think we can all understand this.
Well, we met Alice 4 weeks ago with a dog in her arms, a scowl on her face and a door opened about 10 inches.  We introduced ourselves as Missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and asked if we could visit with her. She said no.  Well, we are two  'tough ole ladies' and we continue to visit with her....and the door did not close!  She then asked us to come in for 5 minutes!  She has received her endowments, was in the Stake Primary Presidency 15 years ago when the Ward boundaries were changes...and somehow her feelings were hurt.  Her husband is a nonmember, she has few friends....so, she has chatted with herself for 15 years probably with negativity as her main focus.  Well, our 10 minutes expanded to 75 minutes with her tears rolling as she explained her unhappiness.  BUT, she said, she  was not coming back!!!!!!!  However we had planted some seeds of  love.   Three weeks later we returned to a friend who was glad  to see us.  She does genealogy and loves it.  Her attitude was softer.  She radiated a different light.  The Spirit of the Holy Ghost had bore witness of truths she knew...and was reminded of.  As we left about an hour later she asked,
"What time does Sac. Meeting start?  I just was wondering...not that I am coming...just wondering".
Will she be there today?  I don't know because I am in Orem, but my prayers are for her to have the courage to be bold in the face of Satan.  I will tell you next week.  Take the time to read Mosiah  28:3
And know this shares my feelings, and hopefully all of us as we...stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places.
Sister Carter and myself went to Seattle last Monday on P-Day.  We went to Pier 54 and ate 2 pounds of absolutely DELICIOUS snow crab!  Great event and rode the Ferris Wheel on the  pier.....and the SUN WAS SHINNING!!!!!!!  We could see the city and the ocean!
Thanks for being with me as I visit with you.   I love what I am doing.  I love these dear people, in fact I just love people because we are all the same, whether in Rome, Italy,  Orem, Utah or in Dallas, Texas, and I know God loves each of us...we are his children.

I love my Father in Heaven and I hope He is pleased with the work my companion and I are doing in the Washington Seattle Mission.
Please take the time to ponder on your own beliefs and to set a goal this new year to study more, serve more, love more and mutter less.  We all are so blessed to know what we know about the Plan of Salvation and we need to improve our committment to Him and His plan.
Talk to you in a week, and as Steve taught me..."Make this a Great Week!"