From Vancouver Back to Gresham, Lots of Changes

Sister Lavaka, Sister Johnson, and Sister Frisch

 Sister Richards and Sister Frisch

 Momma! I love you!

So, lots of things have happened in the last week. Sister Richards went home. She had been thinking about it for a while. Last Sunday through Tuesday she wasn't able to even get out of her bed because she was in so much pain. I was a solo sister for a while going on splits with the sisters in the ward. On Tuesday, the member we live with- Sister Stephan's had the prompting for Sister Richards to receive a blessing from our bishop in the Mountain View Ward. The spirit said she should! At first Sis. Richards was hesitant because she had already had 9 priesthood blessings for her pain. But, after much prayer and scripture reading, she decided she would. After the blessing, she decided she would tell President the next day (we had interviews with him) that she needed to go home. Well, after the interview she told me he had said to let him know in a week. She prayed and read a lot of scriptures, and by Friday morning she decided she was going to go home, get better, and then come back out. So, Friday morning she called president, they made arrangements for her to fly home Saturday, and Friday was full of packing. Saturday I joined my two new companions, Sister Johnson and Sister Lavaka, back in Gresham zone in Oregon! Sister Johnson is training Sister Lavaka, so I have become a step-mom:) 

I learned another aspect of the enabling power of the Atonement this week. Mom, during my time with Sister Richards I never used my happy lamp because she was so sensitive to light and sound. I never became depressed. I'm not afraid of this winter. This is what I learned, I loved my companion enough to forget about my own pain and fears. I wanted to be able to take away the pain Sis. Richards felt. She wanted to finish her mission so badly. She loves it out here. She loves the people and was such a hard worker when she could work. She felt so much pain that for three days she only slept for three hours. I wanted so badly to take that away from her. And I forgot about myself. I realized that I was willing to give up everything if just Sis. Richards would be okay. One day as I was studying diligence I realized how much Heavenly Father gives to us. He just asks for my 100%. As I strive to give Him my all, He allows me to give my all and receive so much more in return. As I gave my all to help my companion, I was okay and wasn't sad. He enabled me to be happy and to be a help to my companion. He enabled me and allowed me to have charity. I can't quite explain it correctly, but I felt that part of the enabling power of the Atonement. Leaving Sister Richards on Saturday was bittersweet. I feel at peace with her going home, but I wish I could have served much longer with her in Mountain View Ward. She was awesome.

Columbia River Ward is awesome too, plus I'm HOME! I'm in Gresham! I love it here! Last night the zone leaders called me just to say, "Hi!" because I was back and these are my friends! Today we went on a hike as a zone and it was so fun to see my friends again. I love you so much!

Love,

Sister Savanah Frisch 

The Last Photos from Columbia Ward

 Sisters from the apartment: Sister Staker, Sister Arbon, me, Sister Jacobs.

I'm a grandma again! Sister Nilson is training again! So, generation pic!

The Croft family from Columbia Ward.

Sister Beckman and Jetta from the Columbia Ward. Love them!

Gresham

This picture is with Sis. Privrasky on Saturday.

It's An Awesome Day!

Momma! I love you!

This week we lost our car, so now we are walking! Woohoo! Actually, I love it because it is beautiful weather! Though my shoes are...wearing down. Haha. I would love boots with good support, water proof, black, size 10 or 11. Yeah. That would be awesome! Especially, because rainy season is right around the corner and we'll be walking in it. Luckily, we have awesome members who take us to appointments, so we probably only really walk 3 miles a day, which really isn't that bad. It's nice
because it's more exercise and I just feel happier!

Also, would you guys like to come take a trip to the Pacific Northwest in February and pick me up from my mission and I can show you everywhere I served? I could set it up with past members to house all of you :)

Today our Bishop and his wife took us to different waterfalls down the Columbia River gorge. It was beautiful. They invited you guys to come stay with them when we visit.

This week was awesome! Sister Jacobs and I have really learned to communicate with each other. We are so different. Haha. But she's awesome. The work is progressing here immensely. We see so many
miracles!

Also, we went on exchanges this week and I was in Kelly Creek with Sister Staker. She is from Mesa, went to Mountain Veiw. Graduated there the same year I graduated. Went to BYU for a year. Lived in
Chipman Hall the same time I did, just on the second floor when I was on the third. And we never knew each other. It was so fun getting to know her! She is so awesome! It is so fun living with her and Sister Arbon.

I've realized what I write in my emails has changed a lot through out my mission. Haha.

I just want to conclude with how the spirit witnessed again to me yesterday the divinity of our Savior Jesus Christ. I know He lives. I know He loves each and everyone of us.

I love you!

Love,

Sister Frisch

True and Lasting Joy

Sorry for the lack or no emails for a while. Hopefully this emails makes up for all the writing I haven't been doing... And really there isn't much of an excuse except here in Gresham zone we work hard and play hard, so p-days are full of fun adventures that don't leave much time for writing.

Columbia Ward is the Ward of miracles. Here I have found the greatest joy! And it makes me smile and talk to everyone and just feel so happy.  As I was reading in Mosiah in the Book of Mormon, King Benjamin (he's a super cool guy) tells the people what an angel told him to share about "the glad tidings of great joy." (Mosiah 3:3) King Benjamin goes on in the rest of the chapter talking about Jesus Christ and His sacrifice and how great our joy can be as we continually "yield to the enticing a of the Holy Spirit. (Mosiah 3:19)

I love that! Every day, about 10 hours a day, we go around proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, or the good news and joy that comes from knowing what our Savior has done for me, individually. We share the peace that enters our lives as we accept Christ by following His example and living His gospel. It's done through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost by proper priesthood authority, and enduring to the end. It's through living the gospel of Jesus Christ that we develop the character that makes us comfortable and happy living in the presence of God.  This "becoming" thing or conversion doesn't happen instantaneously either. It takes a continual, conscious choice to serve the Savior and follow His example.

The Columbia Ward is full of miracles. I already said that. But it's true! And it's true because I finally made that decision to choose to follow the Savior- whatever He asked of me. It took about 10 months on my mission to decide that, but I know that the almost three months I have spent here in Columbia have been the happiest months of my life as I place the Lord and His work first. Missionary work is still hard. I don't think it will ever be easy, but I know I am on the Lord's side.

I know His grace is sufficient for all those that are weak that come to Him. I know that placing my faith in my Savior has helped me overcome fears. I saw how faith replaces fear as an investigator, who hasn't stepped foot outside of her apartment for 10 years, took a piece of hope she had felt from a priesthood blessing, along with her testimony of the Book of Mormon, and went outside in a warm summer rain with us. I saw peace return to a man's broken world as he started the repentance process. Light filled his eyes and hope of a brighter future illuminated his soul. I saw how as we follow the promptings of the Spirit, we become others' tender mercies. I'm still an imperfect servant of the Lord. Every day I still have to choose the Lord's side. But I've realized, as I do, I'm happy, despite what is happening.

My favorite scripture right now is in Isaiah 40:31 "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." I have a testimony of grace- the enabling power of Christ's Atonement. I know it's real and works as I've called upon my Heavenly Father in prayer. I know this is His work and it's not finished yet.

I love you all! Thank you for all of the hand-written letters and things!

Love,

Sister Frisch

Time to Leave Seaside...

"We aren't human beings having spiritual experiences. 

We are spiritual beings having a human experience." -Unknown.

Just think about it :)

Half of this week I was sick, so we didn't go out and about doing missionary things, but I have had time to reflect on my first half of my mission. (My nine month mark is on Friday). I've also had time to reflect on things here in Seaside. (I'm getting transferred on Wednesday).

Transferring is always bitter sweet. I'm excited for a new adventure, new experiences, and new people, but I am going to miss all of the people I've met here.

Like the Erdt's.

Puppy Love!

Dnice was baptized.

 This Huge Dog. It is a Saint Bernard and Poodle mix.