The night that followed the day

The other night was everlasting due to the fact that I was tossing and turning, wrestling from the heat in a failed attempt to focus and ignore the suffocating air and simply fall asleep.

Finally, 6:30 am, the alarm went off, and I sat up anxious and exhausted, calculating in my mind that probably a total of ten minutes of sleep was realistically accumulated.  I spent the morning trying to recuperate before personal study - but all was lost at 8:07 am when the click of the electric fan sounded, and I heartrendingly watched as the blades began to slow - before coming to a complete -

stop.

Brownout.
In an instant the world became silent.  The next 3 hours of study were a mix of emotions with the combined efforts from all 4 missionaries to keep our sanity and the hopeful prayers on our behalf for a miracle of power restoration.

We saw no such luck.

The day of work was painful to endure.  It was nearly impossibly to shake our bad attitudes.  Nevertheless, by the time we walked home that night, the slightest wind picked up for the first time in 24 hours.

We mutually picked up our pace and triumphantly marched home to the apartment.  We defeated the day, and the thrill of seeing our reward (electricity at last!) was overwhelming relief.  Indeed, we do believe in miracles.  The rest of the night was bliss in comparison to our previous hours.  We planned and accounted followed by my nightly routine, and by 9:40 pm, I was on my back porch brushing my teeth with the optimism that I would get a better night's rest.

But what I noticed on the balcony just to the right, left me jaw-dropped, hand frozen mid 'brush' and drooling the foam of my toothpaste.  I was breathless.

I've always loved lightening storms - they have been on the top of my list (along with Disneyland, fireworks, candy and Simon and Garfunkel), but I'm almost hesitant to even try to explain this one, because my words will never do it justice (I will, however, make an attempt for the sake of the story that I have already begun).

There was a storm a few miles to the right of us.  Far enough away that I could see the entirety of it - top to bottom and side to side.  It was close enough to where it still illuminated the whole portion of the sky I was blanketed under.

I felt like I could see the roof of the universe and the heavens open with each crack of lightening - which was fortunately as frequent as every .0023 of a second.  There wasn't a moment that passed by that didn't have magic in the sky!  The world had become a permanent strobe light and the electric bolts and sparks of colors squiggling from one corner of this storm to the other became a symphony of natural fireworks.  The thunder was no where near close, but the echo of it in the distance gave the earth its own pulse of a heartbeat.  I watched it for hours, going late into the night just to absorb it all - taking a "heaven pic" of my reality.   The bright light that revealed the silhouettes of the surrounding palm trees with each flicker will forever be imprinted in my mind.

I remember thinking, "This was so worth it!  The heat and pain of this day - I would relive it 100 times over just to experience this."  Again, the recurring lesson confirmed that the reward usually comes after the sacrifice.  The thought that dominated my mind over and over again was, God is so good.

Seriously people, take a look around.  Absorb it and realize....life is so good.  I'll admit I was pretty much the most negative person in the state of Idaho before my mish.  So sassy, but I've been hit with some seriously humbling moments - and in the end, I've just recognized the need to be grateful.

We have a trillion things to be grateful for.  No matter who we are or what our situation in life is - Heavenly Father surrounds us every day with miracles and moments that if we choose to be grateful for - can bless our life.

I've learned that the attitude of gratitude will take me so much further in life.  I'm trying to apply it even in the harshest of situations, but it's something that will take time to master.

We are all so blessed.  I mean....we have the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  What else do we need?

- Sister Frame

Jacob 5

The Lord loves us.

This is an adventure, with roadblocks, surprises, sublime moments.

The Spirit is here.

Bravery.

Valiant acts.

Eternal relationships.

Testimony from some so young.

Beauty.

3 Miracles.

So thankful for the Book of Mormon.

The Priesthood is real.

This is His vineyard.

The Lord is watching over it

and loves it.

He loves his children. 

Is this Heaven?

No transfers! and honestly we were all so thrilled.  The 4 Cabatuan sisters are staying put....They are my family.  Cabatuan has definitely become my 'home away from home.'

On Saturday there was a baptism.  This baptism was so special....incredible.  J. was baptized.  It is one of the most spiritual experiences I've had my whole mission.  To see J's face,

                                             it was pure happiness.  

I can replay the image of him coming out of the water and cry.  It's imprinted on my heart for eternity.  The veil is thinner around J.  When you are with him you can just feel a piece of Heaven radiating around him.  It's totally real.

I got a new pair of proselyting shoes...they really are just rubber flats.  Every sister wears them because they cost about 50 cents and they are comfortable and water proof.  This pair is glittery gold, and since it was the first day I was wearing them, I had some excess glitter on my feet whenever I took them off.

So, we are teaching a lesson to some of the I. kids, and one of my favorite girls was sitting next to me.  Whenever she is near and gets bored she will start touching my arms or feet.  She's intrigued by my white skin.

But this last time we were sitting on the floor and she was rubbing my feet with just one finger as I was talking.  I watched as she touched the top of my foot and then looked at her finger now covered with specks of glitter.  Her jaw dropped, and she turned to E. and exclaimed with pure enthusiasm that my skin was magic.

I'm grateful that I get to stay here a little longer.  I'm happy.  I'm happy to be here.  You guys, I love this Gospel.  with my whole heart.

Easter

             
                Easter is incredible, right?  WHAT a special day.  I'm disappointed to admit that it has taken me 21 years to actually and more fully understand the significance of the day.  But really - 

                                                     What a Special Day!

This mission experience of mine has seen it all.  The highest of highs and the lowest of lows - But through it all, it has equated to one thing:  a personal knowledge of and relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ.  I can firmly say that I know Jesus Christ knows us.  

He has felt the things we feel

ALL OF IT.

Not just the parts or portions of our feelings.  All of it.  For me.  For you.  For every single person.  In the past 11.5 months, I have been exposed to the most vulnerable feelings.  Being a missionary has stripped me of all ability to escape through my cell phone, social media, friends/family, or other forms of virtual "protection" or entertainment.  But - it has let me straight to the arms of my brother, Jesus Christ.  And I've come to understand that He's the only one that can truly carry and truly comfort us.  With real peace.  Not just the imitated and masked worldly peace that we all get so immune to and reliant upon.  The truest and purest form of peace and comfort only comes through Him.  And that's Because of His Atonement.  It's infinite.  It's beautiful.  And it's for us.  The most peace that I've ever felt in my entire life has come through applying the Atonement.  And for myself, I can so confidently say that I know it's real.  And how grateful I am to say that.  I long for others to feel of its power too.

My words do little in expressing the true testimony and feelings I have toward our Savior.  But, He's there for each of us.  To heal our broken hearts, to bandage our wounds from sin and mistakes, to strengthen our weaknesses and to carry us when we feel abandoned and alone.

The Atonement is the means of improving ourselves, having hope when days are tough.  The Atonement means we only have to answer to the Savior - meaning, I want to focus my thoughts and make my actions pleasing to Him.  And where I fall short everyday, He's there, close by, to help me along.  He never turns away, never judges my efforts, only shows mercy to me and my imperfect self.  Because He loves us.

- Sister Frame

SMALL WORLD STORY:  So we had a zone conference this week.  I got a special surprise delivery.
Some Elders had to go to Manila for a day to do visa work and fingerprints before they go home.  They were in the airport when someone recognized missionaries and approached the elders.  They just had small talk before making the connection that these Elders were from the Cauayan mission, and that this random foreigner, RICH SWENSEN, was from Boise, and knew me.  Cool right?  Bro. Swens sent these Elders back to Cauayan with a small note and a dozen krispy kremes.  Thanks Rich Swensen!  It was much appreciated.

The Book of Mormon

"I'm so happy, I could fly!"  Those were the exact words R exclaimed to me as I met her outside of the baptismal font.  The look on her face was priceless.  It is branded in my mind forever.

Our whole mission is doing a Book of Mormon 'Power Read.'  It's a 60 day read and started earlier this week.  I'm reading it with a new fresh Book of Mormon and circling anytime it makes reference to Jesus Christ.  Also, I'm highlighting certain things about His mission here on earth.  The whole thing is focused around the Savior, which is incredible because I have that focus in mind.

 The Book of Mormon

The heat is creeping back.  You know it's hot when you step outside and it's deathly quiet.  as in absolutely no sound.  The dogs are too exhausted to bark.  There are no people in sight, no kids playing in the streets, nobody riding their bikes down the road trying to sell balut.  The commotion starts around 6 at night when people finally come out of their homes because it's air that is refreshing enough to breathe....90 degrees...

On Saturday, Sister S and I hit the streets.  We traveled far to one of our areas and expected a lot of appointments.  We walked until 7 pm and had absolutely no lessons.  That's never happened before.  It was frustrating, but we made the best of it.  We cracked jokes the whole day, and by 3, we turned everything into one big fat game of who could sweat the most.  It was one of the longest days of my mission.  Heavenly Father blessed us yesterday with the success that we needed though.

This week especially, I've focused on my relationship with Jesus Christ.  I can't say a lot because some of the experiences I have been fortunate enough to have are so sacred and dear to me that I can't express them.  All I can say is that the Atonement is real.  That Jesus Christ really does love us.  And knows us.  He is our brother.  If there is one thing in life that I desire for anyone and everyone - it is for them to truly understand that.  and have that true knowledge of their Savior.

That's why I'm here.
I don't think we always fully recognize what we have
and how lucky we are to have it.

Did you guys know that I'm a grandma?   My kid is training a new missionary now.  cool right?

Sister Frame

Pure and Simple Faith

people, it's about the people

Hi all,

I was transferred to the Cauayan Zone.  womp womp womp.  I have just come from Solano...the zone that taught me now to love the people.  This area is actually pretty great, and the people are sweet.  The place is green and has lots of palm trees.  So, I'm happy.  I can be myself here - goofy with all the members.

My comp is Sister S.  and she's pocket sized.  She's been out about a year, and she's Filipina (holla!) and super fun.  We live in new apartments right next to two other sisters in our branch.

Sis. S is a super hard working, which I love.  I've met some incredible incredible people in the area - like the recent converts D.M. and the Powderpuff girls.  No really, that's what we call them.  That's what the whole town calls them.  They are four best friends and they all just got baptized.  I love teaching them.  They are the happiest, simplest little girls I've every seen.  They've taught me a lot.

Our branch is awesome.  They are so supportive and so funny.  Church was comfortable for the first time.  I had the COOLEST job yesterday during Sunday School and Relief Society.  There is a 17 year old girl in our branch who is deaf.  And since there is no such thing as Tagalog Sign Language, she knows American Sign Language.  So...technically, she's fluent in English.   I got to sit next to her and translate the lessons from Tagalog into English writing words in her notebook.  She is the cutest little girl, and had so much light to her.  I can't explain it.  It was the most spiritual, humbling church block I have been to on my mission.  Her energy and happiness were illuminated from her face.  It was just so sincere.  You could see the spirit inside of her.  I felt privileged to sit next to her and translate, and hope I get to do it every week.

I love you all.  Thank you for the updates.  Keep reading the scriptures.

Heavenly Father has given us everything we need.  Don't take it for granted.

-Sister Frame