Week Ending November 4, 2013

This week was full of fun and laughter as well as hard work. It was unfortunately a slower week but it was a huge testimony builder for Sister Mullins and Myself. We have been averaging 30 lessons a week and we figured that would be our standard every week. This week we only got 15 lessons. So that was very humbling for us and we tracted for hours this week. Ha so we decided that we would only get the number of lessons we are meant to get if we truly work our hardest. I believe if we work our hardest we will know and there will be no room for being upset. Even though we would have liked more than 15 lessons I know for a fact that the 15 we did have were exactly the lessons we were supposed to have.

Monday 9/28

This day was incredibly slow. But then again most P-days are. I loved being able to chat with Mom and dad while I was emailing. That was soooo fun! (We usually email between 2-5 so be on the lookout for that ;). If you get email on your phone do it so you can chat with me ;) ) Our appointments all fell through for the day so we mostly did area book updates.

Tuesday 9/29

This was our Slow day #2. I went on exchanges with the STL’s (Sister Training Leaders) and it was a blast. I got to stay in Normandy park with one of the STL’s. Her name is Sister Mcbride and funny story. We are pretty much the same person. She is a dancer too and guess what she was engaged. And she got engaged the same month as me, and broke off her engagement the same month too… because she was prompted to prepare for a mission. Hmmm. The only difference is she is an age change missionary and I am not. Other than that we pretty much have the same life which was really fun. And not just major facts a lot of our small facts about the last three years were almost in 100% harmony. Crazy! We went and saw a family named the Gendreau’s (Mom aren’t we related to some Gendreau’s?) Well anyways they are definitely less active ha. She opened the door expecting someone else with a huge glass of wine in her hand. She tried to hide it when we saw our badges which was so funny. We weren’t judging but she obviously felt uncomfortable. We also went and saw Alicia again (On date 9 yr. old) and we covered the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the 10 commandments. It was the best lesson ever! We had visual aids and hand signals and everything ha ha it was a lot of fun! And she really paid a lot of attention!

Wednesday 9/30

This day was so much fun. We were on exchanges till 5 pm so the first part of the day was with Sister Mcbride and the rest was with Sister Mullins. So we went and saw a less active couple that has some health concerns. We found out that they have the following: Schizophrenia, Autism, Agoraphobia, Split personality disorder, OCD, Epilepsy, and Chronic back pain. Whew! It was a lot of fun talking to them but it was hard to share a message with all the concerns going on. We had our ward Trunk or Treat this night and it was an absolute blast!!!! Sister Mullins and I decided to be really creative (as creative as missionaries get) and we became each other ;) I will attach pictures! It was so much fun and we took the opportunity to proselyte and had book of Mormons in tons of languages, Mormon.org cards, pamphlets and the sort displayed in the trunk as well as having the I-pod Bryce gave me playing Mormon messages! It was awesome!

Thursday 10/31

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

This was the strangest Halloween for me. Ha but it was still a lot of fun. We didn’t get a whole lot of lessons and we were not allowed to tract after 6 pm but we still had a good time. We had dinner with our Bishop this night and he made us AMAZING salmon! It was sooooo Gooooood!!! He invited his less active son and his non-member Girlfriend. We had a lot of fun chatting with them and we were able to share a message on faith with them… Then we went to a less active part member family home and guess what?!? They used to own a jewelry store and they gave us Jewelry! I got a necklace that has a mustard seed in it! And Matt. 17:20 is on the back about faith being like a mustard seed. I love it! I also got REAL opal earrings that are BEAUTIFUL! They said it was our Halloween and Christmas present ha! It was so sweet of them. After seeing them and helping them hand out candy to little kids we went and saw Alicia again. (Once people are on date for baptism you are supposed to see them more than one time a week) We reviewed the 10 commandments with her and then we taught her about the law of the fast. She really seemed to understand it which is great since this Sunday was fast Sunday.

Friday 11/1

It is November! That is so crazy! I can’t believe I have almost been out for 3 months. Time is going so fast! We had Zone conference on this day and we made a zone flag. We have a zone challenge to get 26 baptisms before the end of the year! I am excited about it and know we can do it! Our recent convert bailed on our lesson again today L We were really bummed about that. We are not sure exactly what is going on but it stinks. :/ Oh ha we witnessed a drug deal today! We were headed to go tracting and we drove by a man on a bike and another man. They were talking and acted really suspicious. We watched them in our mirror and we both some them exchange something. We turned to each other and said “I think we just saw a drug deal!” ya it was super crazy. We went to see the Wilcken family that evening and we had a blast! We decided to play scripture charades which was soooo fun! We picked tons of stories from the scriptures and had the kids act them out. I think my favorite was when their sons played Joseph leading Mary through Bethlehem ha ha way funny. It was a blast.

Saturday 11/2

This day was SO windy! There was a huge storm and branches flew everywhere! We tracted in the storm which was kinda fun… and dangerous. We saw a part member family unexpectedly which was great. It was a really great day.

Sunday 11/3

Sorry running out of time so this will be short. Great fast Sunday. We had an awesome lesson in Relief society. We saw the Wilcken’s again and gave a lesson on the Holy Ghost. It was really good. Then we got to eat dinner with a family in the Ward. We visited with a nonmember named lee tonight. We got to share the differences/similarities of the Book of Mormon and Bible. It was a great time.

Other things this week:

I may be allergic to egg. Awesome one more for the list ha ha

Elder Ballard gave a challenge at Christmas that if every person in the church will reach out to one person between now in Christmas that we will be able to touch and affect thousands of lives! Do IT!!!!

Scripture of the week: Alma 32:27-28 Just a particle of faith will work miracles in our lives!

It was a week full of singing and praying for miracles. I am thankful for the experience I had this last week because I was able to use it this week. We visited the Wilcken family again and I discovered that Brother Wilcken had been feeling alone and abandoned by the spirit. I was able to testify to him that we are never alone and that as long as we do the things we are supposed to we WILL have the spirit in our lives. When we are praying, studying the scriptures, going to church, and looking for opportunities to bless other people we are inviting the spirit into our lives. It says in Corinthians 12:3... "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost". So now I say this by the power and gift of the Holy Ghost: I know that my savior lives. I know that he loves me and would NEVER leave me alone. I am promised this each week as I partake of the sacrament: "...That they may ALWAYS have his spirit to be with them" (D&C 20:77) I know that my savior suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane for all mankind but specifically for me! I know that He suffered for me so that I would understand that someone always understands what I am going through. I have a testimony that because of our loving savior and friend that the Plan of Salvation is true and works! I know that families are eternal and I am so thankful for this. I know that I will see and be with my little sister again whether it is in this life or after we leave this earth. I find so much joy in this plan and I am thankful that I have the opportunity to proclaim this joy to the world (Of Washington Seattle). I love this gospel and I love that I get to be a missionary during this time of my life. I say these things in the name of my savior, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

I love you all!

Love Sister Franzen

Us dressing as each other. Her fav. Outfit and my fav. Outfit.

Week Ending October 28, 2013

So this week was really crazy! We didn’t get as many lessons as previous weeks… but we know that we went and saw who we were supposed to. Sister Mullins and I are glad we recognize and respond to promptings like this but we are trying to do better at ending appointments on time.

A woman in our ward passed away on Monday. That was crazy because Sister Mullins and I went to visit her a week ago and she was as healthy as a horse. So we were really shocked. Here was the amazing thing though! Instead of mourning the loss of their mother, the Children called us and asked us to turn her passing into a missionary opportunity. They asked us to provide plan of salvation pamphlets and Book of Mormons for her memorial. Then they invited us to the Luncheon to walk around and answer questions people had, that was really great! I was so floored by the missionary mindedness of her children.

Our Recent convert Latrece fell off the face of the Earth on Monday and her phones were both disconnected. We went by her house and she was clearly home and ignored us. We were so worried that her family had been trying to Anti her but she called us last night and was apologizing and asking when we can come and visit! I am so thankful for this because We were so worried that she didn’t want to have anything to do with the church!

We also felt like we should go visit a LA member due to health problems. Her name is Sister O’sullivan and she is SOOO sweet. She fell and literally shattered her arm right before I got here. She is still in a sling and it gives her soooo much pain. We felt bad because we woke her up, but she was happy to see us and even told us “I had a feeling it would be you two stopping by”. She also told us how our singing last time we saw her had brightened her day and she had told her Catholic friend all about us and was going to try and have her over one day to hear us sing! So great! I love when we receive promptings from our Father in Heaven and we are able to respond and reap the blessings of it! (1^st Corinthians 9:16-19) I preach the gospel because… how can I not! I have seen the blessings of our Father in Heaven, his son, and their plan in my life and I cannot deny it! Instead I can share it with all the energy of my heart! My reward for teaching others is far greater than any material reward!

I LOVE CHARITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am developing such strong love for every single person that I teach and I cannot wait to see them again and see the Lord bless their lives even more than the previous week! One Investigator in particular is doing great! Her name is Valerie and she committed to try and stop smoking this week! She is not on date for baptism at this point but we have asked her and she told us she is seriously considering it !

Favorite scripture of the week… Deuteronomy 31:6. Sometimes missionary work is scary but we have NO need to fear! God is ALWAYS watching over and protecting us!  

Well that was my week! It was crazy wonderful and fun. Sorry there are no pictures. They will come this next week with some Halloween fun ;) I love you all so much

Remember to rely on more than sight when we walk in a dark world! (2 Corinthians 5:7)

P.s. you should all watch Patterns of light by Elder Bednar. It is a three part series and it is amazing!

Have an amazing week! KYI

Love Sister Jennifer Franzen

Washington Seattle Mission

10675 NE 20^th St

Bellevue WA 98004

oh ps I auditioned to sing a duet with my comp. at a mission fireside ha so nerve racking ha ha they asked who could play what instrument in addition to singing. I wish they would ask for dancers haha I would NAIL it! ;) Doing great in Seattle!

Week Ending October 22, 2013

Okay Transfer number 2!

I am staying! Wahoo!!! I am so happy about this I absolutely love Normandy park and I was actually a little sick at the idea of leaving. I felt like I would have to say “no not yet!!!” If I was asked to transfer ha. But luckily I wasn’t. So I normally look at my planner/journal to give you a recap of the week but I accidently left it at home so wish me luck remembering ha ha.

This week was really good. Sister Mullins and I did not have as many lessons as last week but that’s okay we both felt as though we saw exactly who we needed to see. We have more investigators progressing than we have ever had before and for us that is a huge miracle. We had all but two of our investigators at church this week as well! It was so good to see them there and it was even better to see God bless their lives because of it. One of our investigators is really into family history… we had a talk on Family history. One investigator is a young mom… there was a talk on eternal families. Finally one of our investigators found out on Friday that her husband may have cancer… our last speaker got us and shared a sweet message that seemed to be catered to a focus family in our ward and then he closed by telling us that he has cancer! He went on to tell us how he knows that it is okay because the Lord is watching over him. He also said how he knew he had an assignment to be in Normandy park that morning and asked God for strength to make it there. Our investigator Valerie (The one who’s husband may have cancer was floored, she told us that was for her and she knew it!)

We also saw miracles in the sense that people came up to us and said they felt as though they needed to speak to us right then and there! One woman was at a dinner appointment at an investigators home and she told us she didn’t want to talk to us but that she felt a little voice telling her “Talk to them… they can help… talk to them”. It is so sweet to see the spirit is other people’s lives even when they don’t identify the source prompting them as the spirit. That made this week so amazing! There was no doubt in our minds that God was sending specific people to us!

Friday was a wonderful day! We had Paul V. Johnson of the seventy here to help give us guidance on how to work better with the ward and auxiliary leaders. He had some really great insight and I am excited to see it in affect with the ward here in Normandy park.

Not sure if I mentioned this last week or not but we have another baptism scheduled!!! Wahoo! It is for a 9 yr. old little girl named Alicia. We are meeting with her twice a week now to teach her the rest of the lessons.

We have 4 investigators who we are going to try and put on date this week please keep us in your prayers for that! The area is booming and the ward is a big part of that. We have a awesome ward missionary named Melissa that comes everywhere with us so we can get into more homes!!! I got to teach another lesson in Spanish this week which was great except… he was fast!!!! It was really hard to understand but I continued to smile and make it look like I knew what was going on ha ha.

So we have to all get flu shots in the mission which I am not looking forward too. I swear I get sick every single time I get a flu shot… but the mission president asked us to and he sent 1^st Nephi 3: 7 with it ha how can I not… so I am getting one. We tried to go and get them this morning at the mission office and this was our Tuesday p-day/transfer day fiasco. We got lost. Like really really lost. We gave our GPS back to it’s original owner this last week as we don’t need it in our area. Well the mission office is in Bellevue. Ya we were stuck somewhere in seattle for 3 hrs. L It stressed Sister Mullins out really bad. So to d- stress us we went to the temple. Shhhh don’t tell. We aren’t supposed to go there unless it’s a scheduled temple day… but we were so lost and the only landmark we knew and recognized was the temple… so we decided to go there to get our bearing and calm down and then go home. So we really took the light house analogy of the temple to heart. We would not have gotten home without it! We bought maps and everything but we were on the wrong island and couldn’t find a way back that didn’t involve toll bridges. It was a mess ha but… we survived! So that was the stress for today. In half an hr. we are headed to Melissa’s house to paint pumpkins with her and her little sister Jackie who isn’t a member. Awesome P-day activity. I will send pics later.

Well that is all my brain can remember right now but I promise next weeks letter will be longer with some great photos! Love you all!

Love Sister Franzen

P.s. Either Sister Mullins or myself will most likely be here till Christmas now! They don’t usually white wash an area and the next transfer is Dec. 3 so I may be here through the new year! Pray for that please! I LOVE it here!!!

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