Flashback#25: "In the Details"

Today I want to talk about happy things! Just a quick update on Sister McKee- Thursday at 12 noon Tennessee Time (11am MST) we had a prayer for Sister McKee. My companion and I each prayed for a very long time. From what it looks like, we had many other wonderful Saints join us. We received an update that she did make some great improvement yesterday surrounded by her family! Please to feel free to visit President's updates with us here.

"The Lord is in the details of our lives," President Monson so lovingly said last October in General Conference. From the miracles and improvements we have seen in Sister McKee, I know that is true. I also know that from many other experiences on my mission, and this story is a portion of one of those.

Coming from the beginning of January 2012.

Let me tell you a little bit about my week!!

 Last Saturday night: I was surprised, very surprised, to find out that I would be moving from Clarksville, Tennessee, to serve in the Hopkinsville ward and Fort Campbell branch. I was expecting to be serving in Clarskville for a long time, but I suppose the Lord has other plans for me.
 Sunday and Monday: Regular missionary life in Clarskville /slash packing and getting ready to leave.
 Tuesday: One of the weirdest days ever. I decide to leave everything in Clarksville as opposed to taking it all to Franklin and back just to move 20 minutes away. A recent convert named Courtney was awesome enough to drive us down to Franklin for this whole proccess. We held transfer meeting, and old missionaries went home and new missionaries came in with bright eyes and fresh ties! (and skirts). I met up with Sister Warwood and a sister from the Fort Campbell branch and she took us out to lunch then we headed back home. We stopped in Clarksville to pick up all my stuff... and I still managed to leave some things there...
  That night we visited some people on post. I haven't met a single unkind person yet! Everyone is so welcoming and awesome to the missionaries! It is wonderful!
 Wednesday was great! We worked on the Hopkinsville ward. It was Wednesday night that I started realizing that I "knew" more people than I thought here! I had a missionary companion who had served in Hopkinsville/Fort Campbell area and she told me about how amazing the saints are here. She truly loves the people, and I am quickly seeing why!
 Thursday and Friday was back working on post, and it SNOWED!!! Holy cow it was cold! We weren't anticipating that. Thank goodness on Friday we bundled up a lot more! Saturday was more work in the Hopkinsville ward. We even attended a Catholic Mass- first time in my life! My goodness... it was different!

This is very much a middle portion of the story. One event that I know was divinely inspired started on my Sunday in Clarksville. I met a family that sat on a bench near the back row. They soon told me that they lived on Fort Campbell, and the very night before was the call that I received telling me that I would be transferred there. I set up an appointment with this family by faith, hoping and praying that it would work out in the new area I was assigned with a new companion.

My companion and I were very blessed to teach this family about the gospel. The mother was already baptized but had not attended church for a long time. As we continued to teach them, the Father and two sons old enough accepted the invitation to be baptized. Their twin girls just under a year old were blessed the Sunday following the baptism after the confirmations. This is a family that I have really grown to love so much. I continue to pray for this family and I think of them often. This family taught me so much and I believe that they were a gift to my life from God.

There were so many other miracles and blessings that took place in the area, and I learned powerful lessons from so many others that I met. Last Friday, just over a week ago, I discovered that lessons from that time are not over yet! It just so happens that Sister Tauoa has a cousin that lives in Clarksville. It so happens that her cousin's best friend lives on Fort Campbell. It so happens that I know both of these sisters and look up to them a lot! We received permission to go to lunch with them while they were in Franklin. We all had a wonderful time and I am grateful beyond words that I got to see both sisters and I know that Sister T. was as excited and happy as I was!

Dear friends, I don't think that coincidences are without consequence. I believe that they are more often blessings in disguise. Sometimes we call them tender mercies. We may not see them at the time, but God has a purpose for everything.

What are some tender mercies that you have seen in your life today?

Have an action-packed day!
Love, Sister Franson

Flashback #24: I Believe in Family

From a long time ago when I was in Nashville:

I've been having a bit of trouble composing my posts lately. My plan is to have one post about each of my family members and talk about a Christlike attribute that I see in them. To me, there are few things in this world that can teach better than example, and they all come from Divine guidance.
   It's not that I've been homesick (sorry, Mom and Dad), but when it comes to family and home, it's hard for me not to share the most exciting experiences and the times when I have learned the most from this family member, and I want those experiences to stay special.

In my own life, there are similar times when I have learned specific lessons from my Heavenly Father. What I have learned is so great that I want to share what I know with the whole world! I am so grateful that I am able to do that to a small degree by serving a mission. I want to tell everyone that their life, their family, and any weakness they may have can be healed through obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It really is that simple.  

 And then I think of my heavenly home, and my Heavenly Father. I want to stand spotless before Him one day and tell Him that I did ALL that I could to fulfill what He has in store for me.

I'm not entirely sure where I was going with this one either. I do know that I really wanted to make my parents proud. Two weeks left. Yikes. I actually said it. I don't have long. However, with the short amount of time that I do have, I know that the Lord is not wasting any time in trying to teach me the value of family and what it really means for a family to be made eternal through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This week has been a tough one for sure as I have had many thoughts and concerns that have been pressing on my mind.

I believe that I have talked about President and Sister McKee before. Last week we received some very sad news that Sister McKee is in the hospital as they are treating her for a heart attack and a stroke and a number of other things including at least two surgeries that have all taken place within the last seven days. I truly do believe that the only thing that is sustaining her other than the carefully trained physicians are the many prayers and fasts that are being offered for her sake.

My companion and I were also sad to hear on Thanksgiving, the same day that we were informed of Sister McKee's condition, that one of our very dear and remarkable sisters from our ward (congregation) passed away suddenly, leaving behind a 13 year old son, 18 year old daughter who was at college, and her husband and extended family. She was young, just 47, and a very healthy, active, energetic, and enthusiastic woman. We need more wonderful people like her in the world.

It was just a few days later, that Sunday, when we also found out that there is another dear family who welcomed a new son into the world who is fighting for his life in the NICU. It was just a month or so ago when she bore her testimony about how much she values family and that it has been a trial for her and her husband to have their own family. My heart and prayers truly go out to them as well.

I really must admit that this past week with all of this going on has really been hard for me, and there have been many nights and church meetings and a memorial service filled with tears. Selfishly I have thought to myself, "I can't leave these people now. I would feel like I am walking away from them and not supporting them at all." I have suffered loss before, and I have faced hard trials, but not like this. I do know that missionary work goes on, and God's Plan of Salvation goes on. I know that these challenges aren't intended for me. Call me crazy, but I do feel so blessed to be part of them and to witness the miracles that have come and are continuing to be poured out upon the family and friends that are involved with these three situations. I have seen great courage and character and leadership happen on levels that astound me.

There was a night, I think it was Monday night, when I really was having a hard time. I feel helpless. I did talk a little bit to a dear friend of mine. That usually helps. Right before bedtime, there were some words that came to my mind. My favorite motto that I have said over again,

Everything will be okay in the end, and if it's not okay, it's not the end.

I also recalled some overheard words of wisdom from a few weeks ago, that sometimes we don't let present trials shift and change us to be the person that God intends us to be.

My dear friends, I want you to know that I KNOW that through the gospel of Jesus Christ, families can be together forever.

No matter what happens to Sister McKee, no matter how painful it may be for the family to lose their young wife and mother, no matter how challenging it may be for the family with their child's life hanging in the balance, I KNOW that it will all be made right because of Christ.

This is what is bringing me comfort. I know that God will provide a miracle and through these trials many of us are presented with the opportunity to know Him more, and to know His plan.

My prayer is that each of you, if you have not met with the missionaries before, if it has been a long time since you have had a strong relationship with God, or if you are looking to improve your faith that you already have, or for any reason at all, I hope that you will find the missionaries to find out how it is possible to receive comfort and learn more about God's plan for families in the gospel.

I promise that you will never forget or regret your experience.

Please, go out, and have a miracle-filled day.
With much love, Sister Franson

Also please feel welcome to visit this blog (click on the picture) to learn more about Sister McKee's condition. All are invited to pray tomorrow, November 29, 2012 for her at 12 Noon Central time.

Flashback #23: Learning to Face Reality

This was from way way back towards the beginning....
 
A few days ago I asked what it means to be blessed. When it get's right down to it, a blessing is 'something good.'

Well friends, now I have come to see how a blessing is so much more than simply a good thing. It truly is a gift from God. I know that my mission has been one of the greatest blessings I have ever been given in this life.

I have a dear friend of mine- actually my very first mission companion from the days of the Missionary Training Center- who asked if all of us sisters who came to Tennessee together at the same time could write a post about our experiences and what we've learned.

Well... she just HAD to remind me.

I've kind of been in denial in some ways. I have so many mixed feelings about going home. Regarding what I could post, I have thought about it, and thought about it, and thought about it. I think that even if I wrote the most elaborate, tear-jerking, emotional post, it really wouldn't do justice to my whole experience as a missionary.

Over this process and pondering, I have come up with a small handful of gems:

There are some things in life that cannot be gained in any other way but by experience. I can testify that a mission is one of those things! Gaining a testimony and spiritual knowledge of the Jesus Christ and His gospel is another. I am told that motherhood is another one, and I know there are many other examples. If you have the opportunity to go on a mission, I can promise you that serving a mission will bless and positively influence every other major life event you will encounter. Ask the Lord, and you will have your personal witness testify to you of the importance of your call to serve.

People are real. This might come as a shocker to some. I have been able to see real people, living real lives, overcoming real challenges. Having a companion 24/7 has also taught me a lot about myself and how I build relationships with others, and I am so grateful that I have learned how I can build and strengthen relationships with friends, family, and others for the rest of my life. This principle has also taught me much about Jesus Christ and how real He is, and how He thinks about us. Think about what you are doing right now, or what you will be doing ten minutes from now. How would Jesus Christ do it? How would the home of the Savior look? How would He feel if he saw what you have done so far with your day and with your dealings with others? The Savior is more than just a man who died for our sins. He knows each of us, and He knows us well. So does our Heavenly Father.

The Gospel is TRUE. I have also come to know what it means to be true. I have heard many philosophical comments and I have read many talks and listened to sermons that say truth is subjective and relative. I am here to testify that truth is NOT subjective, nor is it relative. There is indeed perspective in this world, but actual events and reality cannot be altered. I don't know if many Christians realize what they are saying when they casually say that the church is true. I can't even do it justice to describe what it means. I suppose that the adjective that I go to most is real. God is real, He is tangible, Joseph Smith really did see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in 1820. The Book of Mormon is an actual account about a real ancient American civilization. Faith is an actual principle given to us by God. Repentance works, baptism is essential and powerful for the remission of our sins, the Holy Ghost does in reality communicate and protect us, and once a man or woman knows this, the gospel cannot be forsaken, neither should spiritual progression be stopped. That is not the plan of God. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints truly is God's church and has the authority therin.

There is always a choice. I love to change. I can also testify that change can be difficult. It can require the difficult challenge to humble one's self before God and sometimes our fellow brothers and sisters. Try to change though! If you are upset, just smile. Try to sincerely smile. President McKee has often said that we can change our attitude as easily as we can change what we wear. I KNOW that we cannot always control what happens to us, but we can control how we react to what happens to us, and when we do that in a manner pleasing to God, then we are on the path to mastering and overcoming the natural man.

Only the Savior knows how we feel. This kind of ties back in with the first point. I have come to... strongly dislike the phrase, "I know exactly how you feel." No one does. Our lives and personalities are so unique that no one can possibly know but God. There are some that may be able to empathize or relate, but it is not possible to know exactly how someone else feels. Instead, I have learned that the best way to handle a delicate personal situation is to just say to the person, "I can understand why you feel that way" or "I have felt similar (not to be confused with exact) feelings like that before" and then you can bridge that situation to the gospel. This default in life is part of God's plan. We need to turn to the Savior and no one else to feel completely consoled and light from our burdens. Time is also an essential part of God's plan. If we could go back in time or remember things perfectly, we would learn much less and rely on the Savior very little.

I have learned so many other things. My understanding and knowledge of Christ's church and His gospel has expanded in a way I couldn't have predicted or understood a year and a half ago. I understand better the why of the gospel and how I want to exercise and use each principle in my life and with my family. I have also learned how I can have greater faith, and I have learned the importance of waiting... a lot.

So, dear friends, this post isn't goodbye. Yet. I still have a small handful of weeks. As a dear friend of mine reminded me, although my service as a full-time missionary is coming to an end, I am not going back to my old life, but I am looking forward to a new life with many wonderful opportunities, and many more blessings to look forward to and be grateful for.

Dear friends, the church is true. I can promise you that. I hope that you will take the time to find out for yourselves.

I pray that each of you will have an action-packed, blessed day!
Love, Sister Franson

Flashback #19: Have you heard???

HAVE YOU HEARD????

 

GENERAL CONFERENCE IS TOMORROW!

How great is that?!

  Sister Franson, what is General Conference?

This is a time when we get to listen to men that can be compared to Moses and Noah and Abraham. They give us personal guidance, and it is a time that we can receive personal revelation or enlightenment for us on an individual level or for our families that we give care for. What better choice can you make than to turn to the servants of the Lord to receive answers to life's questions?

So, take a question! "Prove me now, herewith!" See if it doesn't happen!

The big point is that God speaks through a prophet today! He hasn't left us to fend for ourselves or take the best guess at what his gospel really is or what the scriptures mean. I have felt the Spirit of the Lord testify to me that these men truly are inspired, and I know that as I follow their counsel, that my life has been blessed, and I have stayed protected from spiritual and physical danger. I am so grateful that I have these men to receive guidance and counsel from! See? Don't they look happy?

It doesn't hurt to have a peek :)

"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the  Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that  wait upon the Lord shall  renew their  strength; they shall mount up with wings as  eagles; they shall  run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31

*Scripture thought found from November 1, 2011

Have an action-packed day! And take good notes of General Conference!
Love love! Sister Franson

Flashback #16: With a CHALLENGE!

From... last Fall... obviously, when I was in Gallatin. 


It's time for FALL!!!

And that's all I said! Plus this nice picture. This year, as I am looking outside, seeing the leaves fall, the weather cooling down, Halloween and other Fall decorations going up, I think to myself, "NOOO!!!!!!"

Partly because I love summer time. I REALLY love summer time. This year though, Fall means something else:

It means that I am going home soon.

Yep! Home. Back to Idaho. I am really sad to know that I am leaving soon. I am trying hard not to think about it, but it is VERY hard not to. Last week, I did something that I have never done before.

I counted the number of days until I go home.

I DID! I can't believe I did that! And do you know what I found out? I have less than 100 days before I am on an airplane home! Yikes! So, instead of this number making me homesick and want time to pass by faster until I go, I did something special with this number. The number was 82. (I can't tell you how many days from today and I don't want to figure it out!). I have 82 specific things that I need to do before I go home. I won't tell you what it is (yet), but many of you may figure it out, I hope!

I think I can do it! But you know something? I can't do it alone. Most importantly, of course, I have the Savior. I am praying that he will help me with this goal. I also have a wonderful, obedient, and supportive companion that is willing to help me to accomplish this goal. There are also great, strong members of the congregation we work with that support us and give us so much help! I couldn't do it without them! And of course, there are many other dear friends and supporters for the missionaries. You are so important. We pray for you every day.

So, dear friends, do you want to be part of this miracle that is about to take place? Here is what you can do to help:

Invite the missionaries over to your home.

That's all you need to do! No matter where you are or who you are, invite the missionaries to their home and listen to what they have to share with you. WILL YOU DO THAT? When you do, tell me about it.

"By small and simple things are great things brought to pass." Alma 37:6

The best way to make the day action-packed is to invite the missionaries over! :D
Love, Sister Franson

Flashback #9: Children

I wrote this GREAT post on June 28, 2011!!

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." Romans 8:16 

And that was all. Pretty profound, huh? We are all children of God! I love it!

Speaking of children though.... We teach them lots of different things they need to know in this big world we live in. Heavenly Father has also given us tools that will help us along the way. We need to make sure that our young people know that we can always turn to the scriptures, prayer, gospel study, and finding strength in going to church and so many other things.

I was impressed one time when I was visiting a family. They invited us to sit in their evening family prayer, and their son, five years old, gave a very articulated prayer, and I remember him praying for everyone, and also praying that he would get along with his brother. He also prayed that Heavenly Father would forgive us of all the bad things we do. I honestly was surprised at the humility of his prayer. I sometimes find that my own prayers aren't as sincere as that young boy's.

As many of you know, often it is in this process of trying to teach children, or maybe we aren't even trying anything at all, that WE can learn from THEM. So, dear friends and family, what are some gems that you have learned from children over the years?

Have an action-packed day!
-Sister Franson