I am a Missionary :-)

:-) Well, it is official.  I am now a set apart missionary.  The Stake Presidency, my bishop, and Brother Bill Daily set me apart as a missionary after sacrament meeting.

:-( I received some sad news yesterday.  My mission companion has not received her visa yet and on top of that she has broken her arm.  She will not be able to travel for another four to six weeks.  Missionaries always go out in pairs (sometimes there are three somes, but never alone).  I will temporarily get another companion at the Missionary Training Center and in Logan.  

#-) Sunday night there was an Open House for me.  It was a wonderful opportunity to say good bye to friends and receive well wishes.  Thank you to everyone who came.  I appreciate your support, love, and enthusiasm for me.
 
B:-) Saturday Carolyn and I head for Utah.  Next week at this time I will be in the Provo Missionary Training Center.  I am excited!  
 

Happy Mother's Day :-)

Next Sunday is coming fast.  The closer it gets the more butterflies I get in my stomach.  After my talk, I sing with the choir.  I am glad we have a lot of altos, because I'm not sure how well I'll do.  The butterflies may be gone, but my knees may still be weak.

When I tell friends at church from Utah that I am going to Logan for my mission, the first thing they say is “It is cold there!” I've also heard that the Cache Valley is breathtakingly beautiful especially in the fall.   I'll be sure to take pictures and post them.   
 

Giving a Talk

Now that I have a mission call and assignment, I get to talk in church on Sunday, May 20th, my last Sunday in Livermore.  Actually everyone has an opportunity to give a talk every couple years; however, for me it has been much longer than a couple years.  The idea of standing in front of the congregation even when I know everyone is not like teaching in a classroom; it can be intimidating.

I've known since January when I put in my mission papers I would be asked to give a talk.  After things settled down with packing and selling the house, I started jotting down random thoughts that came to me.  I am working on pulling them all together into some coherent order.  Of course what I write and what I end up saying may not be quite the same.

It came!!!!!

I received my letter from the First Presidency on Friday, April 27.  I have been called to serve in the Utah Ogden Mission as an employment resource specialist in the Logan Employment Resource Center.  I report to the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah, on Monday, May 28.  I will go through training for two weeks before heading out for Logan.

My address at the MTC is:
     Sister Patricia J. Frahm
     Utah Ogden Mission
     Provo Missionary Training Center
     2005 N 900 E
     Provo, UT  84604

My mission address until I find an apartment is:
     Sister Patricia J. Frahm
     Utah Ogden Mission
     4380 S Orchard Ave
     South Ogden, UT  84403

I have been put in contact with my mission companion Sister Bews.  She sounds like a fun person.  She is coming from British Columbia, Canada.  Sister Bews learned she was going to the Utah Ogden Mission in January and has been waiting for her visa since then.   I guess getting a US visa can be a slow process.  Hopefully she will have it in time to join me in the MTC.

While I am Waiting

Waiting, waiting, waiting to get my letter to find out where I will go.  I am thinking that Mother's Day would be a good time to receive it.  What a wonderful present that would be! :-)

In the meantime, I'm subbing, cleaning house, and sewing.  My sewing projects have to be short and simple since the majority of my supplies are in storage.  My daughter lets me use her machine. 

Our Stake is participating in "Dress a Girl Around the World."  It is a project turning pillowcases into dresses for girls in third world countries.  I have made two dresses so far.

first attempt

I used the armhole cut outs for pockets in the first dress.  Not my original idea; another sister in my ward had done that to one she made.  I thought it a great use of the material, waste not.

second attempt

The second dress is reversible.  It took a bit of thinking to figure out how I wanted to put it together.  The pillowcase seemed a little too sheer so I doubled and thus the reason it is reversible.  I think the rick-rack side looks prettier than the lace side.  I left out the pockets on this dress.  Take it one challenge at a time.

I have some other simple projects to sew that I saved out.  When all else fails, I crochet wash cloths.  How's the old saying go ... idle hands are the devils workshop.

My home sold and escrow closed on April 5, 2012.  It was hard to leave the keys behind since this has been my home for 23 years, the longest I have ever lived in one place.  I took lots of pictures before walking out.  The new owners are tickled pink with the place and told me I could come by anytime.  It was then that I realized I didn't want to go back.  I have said my goodbyes and it is time to move on.

Now my next great adventure, my mission.  Salt Lake has been notified that my affairs are in order and they can consider my application.  The family is making guesses as to where I might end up.  My son-in-law thinks I'll go to Mozambique in Africa.  One of my daughters thinks I'll be teaching in the Pacific Islands, the other daughter and one of my grandsons think I'll end up in the USA.  Another grandson thinks I'll go to Russia.  My oldest granddaughter is sending me to Suriname in South America (I had to look that one up), another thinks I'll be in Australia, the youngest thinks I should go to the North Pole (maybe she is hoping I will meet Santa Claus).  Then there is another adopted daughter-law that is sending me off to Japan.  I think we have covered the world pretty good with guesses. 

I am clueless as to where I would like to go.  I have days when I think I would like to stay in the States; then I have days when I think I would like to be overseas.  Europe would be fun since I haven't been in that direction.  The whole experience is similar to when I was pregnant and didn't know what sex the baby was until it came.  Oooh the anticipation!

 My townhouse is still on the market.  There have been lots of looky-loos, but no offers.  My agent and I met on Monday to discuss my options.  I thought I was leaning toward renting, but I felt inspired to wait longer.  We've dropped the price so we'll see what happens.

 

In the meantime, I'm subbing to keep myself busy and the house available for showing.