"This Country is Killing Me" -SR

Sawadeeka family & friends!

I hope you are all feeling fantastic and had a wonderful week! This week was challenging, but we saw so much progress! The coordination between the ward and the missionaries continues to tighten. The vision SR and I prayerfully gained at the beginning of our time here has been realised by the leadership in the ward. And the best part is, we have goals and plans of what we will do to actually achieve this vision. 

I'll try to keep my sermon short this week. I just love our Saviour. He has never failed me. His Atonement is more than enough for us, no matter how great our weakness, mistakes, or trials may be. He has conquered! Sin, death and whatever you are facing right now have all already been overcome by Him. I'm so grateful for the moments when I have felt hopeless, alone, or broken, because these are the times when I have seen a loving Saviour heal me. I testify that I have felt the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ relieve me from pain. This is a tangible experience that has ingrained my belief in Him into a part of who I am. But this experience is only made possible through initial Faith in Jesus Christ. I invite all of you to trust Him just a little more. Please let Him help you a little more fully. He wants to help. He is there. Give Him your load and He won't fail you either.

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS! 

-We had an awesome lesson with Andrew this week! A member came (from another ward but has a class with Andrew) and we were able to all teach together in unity! I was the question ask-er, Dana was the question answer-er, and Sister Ruengurai was the testifier (along with the Spirit lol). It was a powerful lesson that allowed us to understand Andrew more. I'm not sure how long it will take, but I know he will be baptised one day. 

-My crazy companion. She is so lovely, so funny, so caring, so happy. I just love her! Funny story this week: We were walking to the train station from the chapel as a group of missionaries and investigators. I was walking a little ahead of SR talking to someone and she was behind me talking to Sister Chao. Up ahead, I could see two wild turkeys. Some of the missionaries began pointing them out. I know my companion loves turkey and is crazy. I sighed and said to the missionary next to me "She is going to chase that turkey." 

I literally slo-mo turned around to see my companion slo-mo beginning her run after this turkey. Sister Chao accompanied her of course. It was so funny. P.S. She did not catch the turkey. 

-One day this week Sister Ruengurai and I had a strong feeling to change our morning plan. We had a feeling we needed to stay in the flat and work on the crusty, old, former area book full of people who were taught years ago. We prayed about it a lot because we really would rather go outside haha, but our answer was clear. So we began to work on the area book and call people. It was mostly just cleaning up old records (ex. number disconnected, moved, STILL not interested, "will contact us"). 

After 3 hours of this, we reached an old teaching record for a Vietnamese man name Hue. We called and a woman answered saying no one by that name lived there. We felt like we should keep trying so we began listing off information we had from our teaching record trying to identify him. Finally after reading his wife's name which was listed on the record, she realised who we wanted to speak with and somehow connected us with Hue. 

He. was. so. excited. He doesn't speak English very well, and is 74. He said "wow thank you to remember me!". We asked when we could visit his family, and he said, "2 o clock today. I will wait for you." It was already 1 o clock so we quickly began travelling to his home. When we got there, he was literally waiting outside for us. It was so cute! We talked to him and it was difficult to teach because of the language barrier, but it was amazing to see that God is so aware of His children! He provided a way for us to visit Hue and be able to brighten his spirit and teach him the Gospel!

-Telle got baptised!  It was such an exciting day! We have come to love her so much even if she's not our investigator. #wardunity. She was glowing and her testimony was so cute! I love watching people accept the Gospel here. It's such a leap of faith for those who were taught their whole lives that God is not real. She kept saying "I am a Mormon! Life is full of surprises." hahah, she is the cute girl in the red dress in the picture of all of us. 

I love you all so much! Have a great week.

Rak na,

SF

Hi From Heaven aka Eastwood

Sawadeeka family & friends!

I hope you are all doing well and had a great week! Honestly, every week I just fall a little bit more in love with Greenwich. Work with the ward is getting better and better! We are starting to understand more where our help is most needed. Also Sister Ruengurai & I are really getting the hang of working with the Spirit and teaching more effectively in our finding. SO FUN to improve with the Saviour's help. 

This week we had interviews with President Checketts. He taught me a principle that I would like to share with all of you. 

He said something like "Sister Froemming, if you want to help the people, you need to focus on more effective prayers. I don't necessarily mean you need to pray longer. Think of when you were a kid, and this mostly applies to Elders, but let's say you broke something and you need to admit what you've done to your parents. You will ponder what you are going to say before you approach them. You will plan how you will tell them, how you will apologise, you will try to map out how they will react. In a way, a similar principle applies with prayer. A 2 minute prayer that you've thought about for 5 minutes can be much more powerful than a 5 minute prayer that you've thought about for 2 minutes." 

I listened to President's council and pondered. It seemed very simple. So I made a decision to make a conscious effort to really ponder my prayers and what I wanted to talk to God about before I said them. 

I have been amazed at the effect it has had on me. Each day, especially in my nightly prayer, I review in my mind what I have done, what I am grateful for, where I need to improve, and who I would like to bless. I have found myself in tears before I have even addressed my Heavenly Father. A deeper understanding of Who I am talking to has begun to sink in to my heart. When we pray, we are literally addressing our Creator, our Father, our greatest Friend. The love I have felt from Him and for Him has grown so much. 

As our faith and love for God increases, it changes the way we approach Him. We don't care so much for the blessings we need or the eloquence of our speech. Prayer becomes more about just being with Him. It's like just sitting before a fire and feeling the warmth. Sometimes you don't have to say anything at all. 

I know God loves us. Please consider what that actually means to you and please consider the effort you are putting into your prayers. 

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." - John 17:3

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS!

-Last week when visiting a less active, we walked by a man doing yard work in his back yard. We  had a prompting to go back and talk to him. He was friendly and open. He is from Uganda and is Christian. He graciously allowed us to teach him a bit of the Restoration over his backyard fence. A few days later, we received a call from him (first time a potential has called us first on my whole mission lol) wanting to set an appointment with us! At our appointment we taught him the message of the Restoration and he accepted it so well! We are so excited to keep working with this miracle. Please keep David in your prayers. 

-My crazy, wonderful companion. So thankful for her. The happiest girl I know. We laugh together all day as we work. 

                   

 --The Partons! An amazing family in Penrith Stake that I briefly met a year ago in my Claremont Meadows trio. I've been hearing about this family from missionaries I love pretty much my whole mission, and I didn't realize that they've also been following my mission blog. I got to see them this weekend at a baptism and it was such a great experience! I know how much they have blessed and brightened the lives of so many missionaries, and I got to receive the same blessing from meeting them again! 

-Going to the temple. It was probably the best experience I have had in an endowment session. Our Heavenly Father's Plan of Love is more than I can express my gratitude for. 

                   

-So fun celebrating Sister Chen's birthday with her this week!

-Sister Chao is the little sister I never had. She absolutely loves bugging me but is also the cutest person I know so she gets away with it. 

Have a great week everyone!

Rak na,

SF

Sister Froemming's General Conference Address LOL

Sawadeeka family & friends! 

I hope you have all had a fantastic week! Another amazing one here in Greenwich. 

The work is moving forward. We are increasing in vision of what to do, and trusting the Saviour who goes before our faces to know how to do it. I love serving Him. When we serve for the Saviour, we are never alone!

I remember a time I watched a sad movie about someone who passed away. After I watched this movie, my emotions were raw and I couldn't stop crying! I thought of my own family and how devastated I would be if this situation were my own. To console myself, I decided to watch bible videos (while eating chocolate obviously). As I watched my heart burned and I continued to click, video after video, scene after scene, watching how the Saviour lived His life. And then finally, I clicked on a video portraying when the Resurrected Saviour appeared to His apostles. 

As I watched, I felt something like a lightning strike go through me! It was as if my chest was full of hot air and fire was running through my veins. Fresh tears overflowed from my eyes. 

"He lives!"

It was more than a thought, more than a feeling (don't you dare start singing that song ahah), it was a knowledge that pierced my very being. It went right through me. Of course I had already believed that Jesus Christ was my Saviour, of course I believed that He lived, died, and rose again. But for some reason as I sat watching this video in Spanish Fork, Utah, I was absolutely aware in every way that He was somewhere near right then. That He actually knew my name. That He truly understood my feelings. That He loved me. It was suddenly so much more real, suddenly so much more personal. I don't really know how to put it into words, but I cannot forget the feelings of that moment.  

I hope that we have all had similar feelings as we have watched General Conference. The theme I personally saw as I watched was knowing, feeling, and trusting the reality of Jesus Christ and His saving Gospel. We must be deeply converted to Him. We must recognise the battle we are fighting and Who's side we are on. We must allow the Gospel to become woven into who we are. The love we have for our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ should be an anchor to our souls and influence each decision we make. 

I testify that we are truly Children of God. That the Plan of Salvation is real. Each day we make choices that determine our destiny. As a missionary who lives each day to serve God, who has seemingly sacrificed (but really just received more in return) a worldly life to more perfectly represent Jesus Christ, I can testify to you that it is worth it. No matter how hard living the Gospel may seem, no matter how inadequate you may feel, no matter what you may be withholding at this time from giving your all, I invite you to put your soul into this. Sacrifice what you must, forsake what you may, nothing is more important than living the Gospel of Jesus Christ and allowing His Atonement to heal us.

He lives. The Spirit has witnessed to me that He is real, and I have witnessed His power changing me and others. He absolutely lives. I know it.

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS! 

-FINDING! SR & I are getting soooo much more effective. We really gave our all to our finding efforts this week. We are seeing the work move much quicker as we are constantly seeking the Spirit. A lot of the time it's easy for us to pick and chose who we want to talk to, but only Heavenly Father knows who is actually prepared. Following His promptings has brought so much joy! 

-Last week I had trade off with Sister Spainhower. It was a dream. And it literally felt like a dream cause I was burning a low fever the whole time lol. But we went to all these beautiful places in Sydney and shared the Gospel with people. It was absolutely the coolest. We also had a sweet lesson with one of SR + I's investigators who we are referring to the City. They have this awesome set up in this big building right in the City where they converted a whole floor to be the chapel and a floor to be a teaching centre with fantastic reverent rooms. It was such a powerful lesson. We could see that David really understood and had desire to follow Jesus Christ. An experience I will never forget. 

-Watching everyone we meet who asks where I'm from as their face drops and they tell me about the hurricane. Everyone in Aussie thinks Florida was like wiped off the face of the planet! Sending prayers to those who lost their homes and their lives wherever they may be from. 

-GENERAL CONFERENCE! A real game changer. So much revelation was received! So much spirit was felt. It was an amazing experience and it just renewed over and over again my love and appreciation for the Saviour, Jesus Christ and His Gospel. We were also so happy that our investigator Andrew stayed for all 4 hours on Sunday! :) 

-Being a missionary is the greatest. And the best part is, we don't have to have a badge to live a consecrated life and to partake in the greatest work in the world! I hope you all are having meaningful experiences taking care of your Heavenly brothers and sisters (especially those in your family). It's truly the best!

I love you all heaps! Shout out to all of you who made it through this long email! #GeneralConferenceFinallyMadeItToAussie

Have a great week!

Rak na!

SF

Are You Keeding Me?

Sawadeeka family & friends!

I hope and pray all of you are doing great! What a wonderful week in Greenwich. Sister Ruengurai and I are fantastic! 

Everyday we are so grateful to be missionaries! I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ so much. I'm in awe that I know about it, understand some part of it, and have the opportunity to live it. To feel the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, cleansing, enabling, and healing me each day. 

I was very, very, mildly sick this week. As a result, I felt a little light headed and not as enthusiastic about the work. As Sister Ruengurai went out to go visit less actives, I really didn't feel I had the strength to open my mouth along the way. But Heavenly Father put people in our path, and I found that I couldn't keep my mouth closed. As I looked at people, it's like I could feel their need for the Gospel. And I couldn't deny them. I know that this was not from me, but a fruit of the Spirit. How wonderful is our Father in Heaven to look upon our hearts and not just our imperfect actions. He strengthens me so much. I know we all need this power and can have this power in our lives if we will but come unto Him.

"Come unto Him" is something we hear a lot. But what does it mean? For those who feel far from the Saviour, for those who feel they are not doing enough, for those who feel a Christ centered life is out of reach, it can feel difficult to come. It doesn't need to be complicated. Singing a hymn, saying a prayer from your heart, reading a scriptures, or simply continuing when they journey is hard. These things invite our Saviour to walk with us. He is eagerly waiting for us to come.

"Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me." -3 Nephi 9:14

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS!!!!!!!

-We had our first YSA FHE in Greenwich and it was so fun! Our investigator Andrew came and loved it! We felt the spirit, played games, and fellow shipped with one another. I also dominated at Ellen's game Head's Up. 

-SR & I gave a training during District Meeting. She loved it! We made a decision to only share experiences from our transfer together, and it was amazing to see how many miracles we had to share! We love the Greeno district! #whereyagoing? 

My District

-We also had a district service this week and we met the most adorable part member family! The wife is an Aussie and is 89. And the husband is from Estonia and is 90. His name is Peep. They are so cute and were adorably overwhelmed with gratitude for our service. We went hard because we love them so much and weeded like crazy people in the rain. (hence the cold). But it was so worth it for them. 

-A cute moment with Peep:

He was so funny and got some juice from the fridge and starts shaking it up and asking if we want any. He didn't realize that the cap was off though lol so cute. So he made a mess and my companion ran to grab paper towels. And Peep takes them from her and starts cleaning it up. I say "No, no! I'll get it!", grab the towels from him, and start cleaning up. Then he just looked at us lovingly and said "I wish I had more daughters." It was so cute. Grandpa Peep is my favourite. 

-Taiwanese night market with my bestfriend/daughter/companion. 

-Sister Chao tries to lock me out of our flat all the time, so I have to try to catch her as we run up 6 flights of stairs several times a week. She is killing me but it's so cute and funny. 

-Chinese BBQ activity with like ridiculously expensive high quality meat, investigators, and recent converts! So fun! #NotARedneckBBQ #LemonThymeInsteadOfKetchup

A Little Cold

-I'm obsessed with the Sisters we live with. We have a weird little family dynamic.

-We are loving the work! Every day is a new adventure! Greenwich is just so fantastic! 

I hope you all have a great week! 

Rak na,

SF

Mandarin + Miralces + Bday = WOW

Sawadeeka family & friends!

I hope you all are having a great week! 

It's been another FANTASTIC one here in Greenwich. Sister Ruengurai and I are enjoying every moment here. We have adventures and meet wonderful new people everyday! It's amazing to see how Heavenly Father is preparing people and putting us in each other's paths.

My heart feels so full being a part of this great work. The world would love to dim our feelings of love and gratitude and thwart our promise of the Spirit as our constant companion. But if we can remember who we really are, if we can trust God, if we can have faith in Jesus Christ, we can give our hearts to God and experience real happiness. That is what I know. Happiness, sacrifice, and service are eternally intertwined. The happiest moments of my life have been spent in the service of God and fellowmen. I have begun to cherish every opportunity I have to speak Christ's holy name and to testify of His reality and divinity. 

I invite you all to be a part of this in anyway you can. Please just look for someone to love and serve today. I know that God wants you to be His hands. For their gain and for yours. 

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS!

-Sister Ruengurai's birthday was this week! It was super fun to surprise her with little things but the best part was the work! We set some really fun goals and just went for it! We talked to heaps of people and saw some awesome miracles: finding an investigator that the elders hadn't been able to contact in weeks and inviting her to come back to church, having TWO people ask US for OUR number. One even asked "Would it be okay for me to invite you to my house for dinner to teach me and my wife?" 

-Sister Ruengurai and I literally meet the world's best people everyday. We have too many funny, amazing, miraculous stories for emails. 

-I learned like two sentences in Mandarin and now when we meet Chinese people who speak no English, we teach them with Chinese pamphlets and these two sentences and they literally begin to glow and be the happiest people in the world. It is so fun! 

-Casually seeing the Harbour Bridge while visiting less actives. #impromtuphotoshoot 

-I SAW SISTER SPAINHOWER AND IT WAS THE BEST! Crazy miracle:

One year ago, in Emu Plains, I left my quad (scriptures) engraved with my name on the bus. I spent another 4 months in that area after losing them and never found them. When Sister Spainhower arrived to our flat for trade off, she whipped open her suitcase and pulled out what else but my QUAD FROM ONE YEAR AGO. I immediately fell to the ground in shock and starting laughing/crying. "HOW DID YOU GET THIS!!?!?!" 

She said that while she was on a trade off in Penrith, as she was getting off the bus, a bus driver pulled out my scriptures and said "These have been on my bus for one year, do you know who's they are?" It was the funniest, craziest miracle. Of all people, this bus driver gave it to Sister Spainhower....Heavenly Father has a sense of humour for sure. 

-We finally had a lesson with Daisy! She is an investigator who comes to church. She is so wonderful. Sister Ruengurai and I could feel so much love for her. Not quite a miracle but also worth mentioning, Daisy took us to get drinks and I accidentally ordered black tea. Good thing my comp is a convert and stopped me from drinking it after she tried it. But only after I also gave a sip to our investigator who is trying to keep the word of wisdom. Oh, Sister Froemming. #RepentanceisReal

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

Rak na,

SF

Moon Cake 4Ever!

Sawadeeka family & friends!

I hope you had an amazing week wherever you are! It's been great here in Greenwich!

Sister Ruengurai & I are absolutely loving the work and seeing miracles! 

I am learning about the importance of keeping ourselves sanctified. As the Lord's servants and representatives (this applies to all of us who have made baptismal covenants, not just missionaries) we must be prepared at any time to be His hands. To call upon the powers of Heaven. To be divine instruments!  

I do not understand everything about sanctification. But what I do understand has deeply impacted me. I believe that sanctification is something like being continually completed by and cleansed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. A constant change of heart. A concerted effort to live according to the spiritual knowledge that we have, regardless of the circumstances. 

It may sound out of reach, but I know in my heart it is not far from us. I know our Saviour has provided every resource for us to be able to be in His constant care! He has taught us the Gospel, given us covenants that unite us with Him, given us the words of ancient and living Prophets, given us the bounteous gift of the Holy Ghost, and given us the sacred, renewing ordinance of the Sacrament. 

I know that if we simply give our all in living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we can become sanctified through our Saviour's Atonement. He's not asking for immediate perfection. Mistakes, trials, doubts, and fears are not what hinders our sanctification, but what makes it possible. 

I love the Gospel and how it changes us. I love our Saviour. And I know that He needs us to sanctify ourselves for His work. 

"We do not need to be perfect, but we need to be good and getting better." -Elder Kim B. Clark.

https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages-for-youth/sanctify-yourselves-2

weekly highlighs! 

-We gave talks yesterday at church. I had such a powerful experience during the Sacrament because I was so desperate for the Spirit! A good reminder that I should always be that dependent on the Sacrament. But the Spirit helped me so much! And my companion did a great job.

-David Li! We had another lesson with him this week. His real intent is so amazing! He definitely doesn't believe everything yet, but the faith he has is rock solid and growing fast! He kept his commitment to pray all last week and it was amazing to hear him pray with us after our lesson. He happily accepted to come with us to church next week. He is exercising his faith in big ways! 

-We went to Milson's Point on PDAY which is basically the side of the Harbour Bridge opposite the city, which luckily is in our area! YAY! It was soooo beautiful. I love Sydney with my whole heart. 

-We had our first dinner appointment here! Sister Brooks is this amazing french lady with beautiful kids and a wonderful testimony! It felt so good to be back in members homes! 

-My adorable companion who is constantly a ray of sunshine. #thaifood #toneslol

-Andrew Houseman is doing well! We had an awesome lessons with him this week about the First Vision and Book of Mormon. We had a little testimony meeting with his member friend, and the Spirit was so strong. Andrew said he's not ready for a specific date, but when he gets his answer, he will be baptized. Please keep him in your prayers! He is very busy/stressed with studies right now and it's difficult for him to read the Book of Mormon every day. 

-Sister Ruengurai is amazed because I can eat Durian. It is a Thai fruit that all the white people hate because it has a strong smell and taste. But I ate it and was like "yeah, pretty good." All day she tells me I'm an Asian born American LOL.

-The sisters had a beautiful baptism this weekend. Also after the baptism they had an activity and I was involved in teaching the members from the Chinese ward the Boot Scoot Boogie. It was a proud moment for Bay County. 

-Sister Money and Sister Chao scared the absolute tar out of me last night. They told us they were visiting someone far and would be home late. Then after Sister Ruengurai had been home for a few minutes, Sister Money came out from around the corner and scared me and I screamed for like a full 60 second without stopping. It was so funny, we were just looking at each other while I was screaming and she was like um when are you gonna stop. What lovely flat mates I have!

Hope you all have a great week!

Rak na,

SF

Miracles as Plentiful as the Rice I Eat!!

Sawadeeka family & friends!

It has been wonderful here in Greenwich! (Which I feel the need to tell you is pronounced gren-ich not green witch). 

Sister Ruengurai have had some transformation moments this week! Each day we are trying to break through the barriers and become more effective. We are getting a lot bolder in our approaches to talking with people. We are learning how to contact in a way that allows the person we are meeting to feel comfortable, to teach doctrine that is relevant to them personally, and to extend invitations that are tailored to their needs/interests. 

For the past two weeks, a simple scripture has been running through my mind: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." -Philippians 4:13.

 I believe wholeheartedly that this is true. There is no commandment, task, or situation that cannot be kept, completed, or overcome with Jesus Christ. My love for Him deepens continually. I know He loves us for who we are, but sees us for who we can become. He's always urging me to try a little harder, to be a little better. Not because He needs me to do His work, but because He wants me to experience the joy of His work. Because He wants me to see miracles, because He knows that the things He asks me to do will help me to become like Him. 

I bear my witness of His reality and of the perfect love He has for you. 

WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS!

-Sister Ruengurai found a few really fantastic, really prepared people this week! We are in the follow up process, but we are so excited to see people progress! 

-We had an awesome lesson with our investigator Andrew Houseman! Before our lesson, he met a member at school who was so excited to fellowship Andrew and come to our lesson. Turns our this member was also a RM who's mom is an investigator who I taught in Winston Hills!!! 

-Sister Money's constant baking/life saving advice/amazing stories/laughter.

-David Li! His number was in the phone but missionaries hadn't been able to contact him for a while. We gave him a ring last week and he set an appointment with us! We were able to teach himon Friday and he recognised that our meeting was from God. We found out he lives in the City sisters area, but we are so grateful for the lesson we had with him. 

-One of the other companionships in the ward (there are 6 companionships total. SR & I are the only sisters) had a baptism! One of our favourite people, William, got baptized as well as the adorable Stephanie! Such a wonderful day. 

-My lovely companion. Honestly I am so blessed with this sister! She helps me more than I can say.

-This one #neverbored

-Life is great! The work is moving. People are prepared. We are always tired lol. & the food here is always good. 

I hope you all have a great week!

Rak na,

SF