A week of miracles!

Greetings to my treasured family!!

This week was sure a treasured one. A week of miracles! My heart is brim-full of joy!! I'll do my best to try to express everything to you, and I hope that the Spirit can speak to you as I do so!

On Tuesday & Wednesday last week, we did exchanges with the sisters in Rutland. So Sister Hatch and I were with a new missionary named Sister Nelson from Utah. She has so much fire, and we had a wonderful time together! After lunch on Tuesday, we went to contact a referral named Linda. We visited with her, but for the most part, she wasn't interested. HOWEVER, our car was parked across the street, and as we were getting inside, we thanked the lady in the yard for letting us park in front of her house. She immediately put down what she was doing and came to talk to us! Her name was Linda too! She's Catholic by tradition, but doesn't really believe anything that they practice. She said she doesn't believe in infant baptism or purgatory or anything like that. We shared some Book of Mormon scriptures with her and prayed with her. The Spirit was strong, and she invited us to teach her more later that week! So we came back on Friday and had a beautiful lesson with her and her husband. As we shared Joseph Smith's experience, tears filled their eyes, and the room was peaceful and warm. Linda expressed how wonderful and true that is! She isn't willing to come to church (because she's determined to stay catholic by tradition), but she is going to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it!! (So that means that she eventually WILL come to church, if she prays with a sincere heart and real intent! hehe). So Linda is our wonderful new investigator! YAY :)

On Wednesday,

we finally went to the JOSEPH SMITH MEMORIAL with Nancy!!!!! She was super excited to go. We drove about 2 hours to get there, and when we drove onto the property, the Spirit spoke peace to our souls. It was incredible.

We got a tour of the visitors center by the senior missionaries, and then watched the Joseph Smith movie! Every time I watch that movie, my testimony of Joseph Smith is strengthened. I remembered a question that a man asked me a few months ago back on Temple Square. He asked why the Joseph Smith movie doesn't show or talk much about Jesus Christ. As I watched, I noticed that the movie doesn't show much of Christ directly, but it really is all about Jesus Christ! He is reflected through Joseph Smith- his whole life was centered around Him and lived FOR Him. I want MY life to be like that. I want others to see Christ through me. I want my life to be centered around Him and to be lived FOR Him. Anyway, Nancy loved everything. As her testimony grows, the light around her grows brighter and brighter. I LOVE being able to see that happen. She is a lot different from when I first met her. She is closer to her Savior. I am SO fortunate to be able to see all of this take place! I LOVE IT! :)

It was quite an eventful week for Nancy. The day after going to the Memorial, she had an interview with President Wilkey!! Our mission president!! We all got to drive down to Middlebury and have our own interviews with President (SO AMAZING. I love that man!!!), and then we waited while Nancy had her baptismal interview. I am SO glad she had the opportunity to be interviewed by him. She really needed it. He was able to help her feel forgiven for some past transgressions that have been weighing on her for more than 40 years, and he helped her feel more prepared for baptism. She came out and screamed "I made it!" and then ran into our arms. She was saying "Thank you, thank you" as she sobbed tears of joy. All three of us surrounded her in a big group hug as we cried and rejoiced with her. I cannot begin to express to you the joy that filled our hearts that day (Alma chapter 29 might give you an idea). It was a moment that will forever be etched in my memory.

The moment we walked into the door of our apartment after returning from interviews, the phone rang. Private number. I answered it and a lady named Cathy was on the other end! She said she had a card with our number on it. She had met with missionaries before years ago, and wanted us to come back and teach her again! She also wanted to come to church that Sunday!!! Sister Hatch literally fell on the floor in amazement, and I was trying to act calm and collected as I was jumping for joy! :) We set up a time to teach her, and a time to meet her at the church and give her a tour. We rejoiced, and THEN got a call from JASON!!! He's the EMT guy that we met in Sister Acosta's house, while he was putting her on a stretcher and taking her to the hospital! We then tracted into him a few weeks later and he said he would discuss it with his wife. We weren't sure if we'd hear back from him, but alas! He called us saying he went on mormon.org and saw that he could get a free Bible, so he decided just to call us instead! He has crazy work hours, so the only time we could meet with him was at 8:00 on Saturday morning, in the LDS church parking lot! We met him there, and gave him a Bible, and of course a Book of Mormon. We listed some of our favorite scriptures and wrote a little note for him. He and his family were going camping to get away from the world, and Jason was thinking that he could read from the Bible to his family!!! It was SO CUTE!!! He is definitely the future bishop of the Burlington ward... seriously. We are SO EXCITED for him!!!

Yesterday, we met Cathy at the church! Such a sweet lady. She brought her Book of Mormon and was ready to go! She loved the tour, and already knew some people in the ward! She seriously seemed like a member already. We are teaching her this Wednesday! One of the members didn't know who she was and asked her if she was getting baptized this Saturday (lol), and she said, "not yet, I'm working on it"!! She is so ready and we're so excited for her! That day at church was so crazy and hectic- in the best way possible- because there were so many new people and nonmembers to talk to, and we set up so many dates to go teach them! The work is progressing incredibly! We came home "tired in the Lord" and ready for bed! lol. I LOVE days like that.

That's only an overview of the entire week. So much has happened. Hearts have been changed. The gospel is spreading. I LOVE IT! Sometimes my spirit is like POPCORN... it just wants to pop because it's so filled with happiness and excitement! lol :) haha

I know this email is already super long, but I came across this little analogy that I want you to read......

It is so easy to get caught up in the rat-race of life, and sometimes neglect that which really matters most.

THE CELLPHONE VS THE SCRIPTURES

I wonder what would happen if we treated our scriptures like we treat our cell phones? What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we spent an hour or more using it every day?
What if we used it to receive messages?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to other kids as gifts?
What if we used it as we traveled? What if we used it in case of an emergency?
This is something to make you go...."Hmmm..Dude.. where is my scriptures?"

Unlike our cell phones:
One Plan does fit all.
Unlimited usage. No roaming charges.
You always have reception.
You can use it in the mountains and in a tunnel.
It's free with no hidden costs,
AND you don't ever have to worry your scriptures being disconnected because CHRIST has already paid the bill!

FEAST UPON THE WORDS OF CHRIST!!!

I love you all so much!

Love,
Sister Rochelle Frogget!!! :) :) :)

HAPPY BELATED FATHER'S DAY!!!!

I ate a lot of cake, pie, and ice-cream for you, Dad!!! Our ward had a huge spaghetti dinner and cake auction on Saturday night. It was hilarious and fun. And yesterday at church there was (of course) a special focus on the importance of fathers. (I LOVE YOU DAD!). Not only our earthly fathers, but also our Father in Heaven. I was reading yesterday morning in 3 Nephi 11 when Christ appeared to the Nephites. Heavenly Father introduced His Son to the people by saying, "Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name- hear ye him." God was so pleased with His Son, and I know that He is just as pleased with each one of us as His sons and daughters. I feel so privileged to be a daughter of a King, and I am determined to live up to the high expectations that He has for me.

God is pleased with us, He loves us, and He is anxious to bless us and answer our prayers. He has sure done that for us this week, despite the difficulties and challenges that came our way. We were at a doorstep, talking to this young, single mom named Jen. I have noticed in the past few months that Vermonters are pretty cold and short at first. It takes a while to break them. That's how this lady was. It seemed that she really didn't want to talk to us and was waiting for us to leave. But we didn't let that scare us off (which it can easily do). We continued trying to discern her needs, and as we testified of the sacredness of families, she slowly opened up to us and even cracked a smile! It was neat to see the change in her as she felt the Spirit. And we will be teaching her later this week! :)

The next day we were doing service at the Senior Center, and we met an old man named Gil! He is the cutest 90-year-old man I've ever met! We took him on a walk outside in the beautiful weather, and then went back to his home as he shared precious memories and pictures. He had come across many LDS missionaries in his life and so he immediately loved us. We were also able to clear up some concerns he had about the church. Gil is such an example of sincere, Christlike love for all people. And happiness no matter what stage of life you're in! My heart was lifted and I was brought closer to Christ through him :)

Things with Nancy continue to move right along. We had our final lesson with her last week which was very powerful and Spirit-filled. We will be taking her to the Joseph Smith Memorial tomorrow! (we didn't get a chance to last week). Then she'll have an interview with the mission president, and before we'll know it, her baptism will be here!!

My testimony continues to be tested and strengthened. I love this work and I love this gospel! Being a missionary is a responsibility, a joy, and a privilege. And this is my Commission:

I am called of God. My authority is above that of the kings of the earth. By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my Master and He has chosen me to represent Him. To stand in His place, to say and do what He himself would say and do if He personally were ministering to the very people to whom He has sent me. My voice is His voice, and my acts are His acts; my words are His words and my doctrine is His doctrine. My commission is to do what He wants done. To say what He wants said. To be a living modern witness in word and deed of the divinity of His great and marvelous latter-day work (Bruce R. McConkie). HOW GREAT IS MY CALLING!

MUCH MUCH LOVE--

Sister Rochelle Frogget!

The fruits of our labors

Hallo!!!

Another week has passed, and more and more people in Vermont are being brought closer to Christ! The fruits of our labors are starting to spring forth- I love it! We have taught basically all of the lessons to Nancy now, and she is just the sweetest thing on earth. She was bearing her testimony of the Savior in one of our lessons last week, and it brought me to tears. It was so fresh and sincere. Then she reminded us of back in February when she prayed and asked God what her standing was before the Savior, and what she could do to become better. A week later, the sisters knocked on her door. And now, 4 months later, she will be entering into the waters of baptism. She found what she was looking for. She's nervous and happy at the same time. She knows the responsibility that will come from being a member of the church, and she's ready to jump in with both feet. I felt such a connection with her and love her so much! I now have a renewed testimony of the reality of Jesus Christ and the depth of His Atonement.

Not only was Nancy found from tracting, but so were ALL of our investigators that we have right now! Tracting really is successful- whether you find people to teach right away, or plant seeds for missionaries to harvest later down the road, it works miracles! Last transfer, we were street-contacting and met a Peruvian young woman, Regina, by the bus-stop. We've been trying to get in contact with her ever since then, but haven't until this week!!! We finally found her at home and had a great lesson with her (I even got to use my Spanish!! YAY! It's been a while!). She's Catholic, but doesn't really believe in memorized prayers or things like that. She believes prayer should be a sincere conversation with God. She's been REALLY busy lately- with 2 jobs, and she doesn't really feel close to anyone here, so her strongest friendship right now is with her Heavenly Father. I really admired that. We were SO excited to hear that and we'll be teaching her again tomorrow!

We also have a lot of potential investigators to follow up with, and so far they've been promising and successful! I find the most success when I give my whole heart to my Father in Heaven. I love Him so much. I know that He lives. I know that He is shaping me into the woman He knows I can become. Christlike attributes are not easy to develop! It takes one step at a time, but He knows we can do it. My greatest desire is to become like my Savior. Jesus Christ. As I study about Him, I come to know Him more. As I bring others closer to Him, I come to know Him more. There is no greater joy or happiness! I pray for you, each individually. I pray for your happiness. I pray for your safety. I know that God has you in His hands. I know He lives.

I love you with all my heart!

Talk to you SOOON

<3 Sister Rochelle Frogget!

Hello, Family!!! LONG TIME NO TALK!!!

Last week we tried to find a place with a computer that was open for Memorial Day, but we didn't. So it's been a while since we've emailed! It's SO great to hear from you all! I love you so much :)

I don't even know where to begin! I guess I'll start off by saying that it's my second transfer in Burlington! No transfers, thank goodness! I'm still in a trio... however, Sister Rust got transferred, and Sister HATCH came and took her place! We were sad to see Sister Rust go, but I am SO HAPPY to have Sister Hatch. I served with her for 5 days in Manchester, New Hampshire before I came up here to Burlington. I was really sad that I wasn't serving with her for a whole transfer... but now I am!! I have so much to learn from her. She's such a great missionary. We are trying our best to familiarize ourselves with this area and find God's prepared children. Our area covers so many spread out cities and country-sides, so it's hard to keep organized and decide where would be the best place to proselyte. We really have to follow the Spirit and go where He leads us.

We started out the transfer on a funny note... we got home from transfer meeting; Sister Hatch unpacked all her stuff; we ate dinner; we were just about ready to go find some people to teach. We shut the door behind us, and then realized that NONE of us had the keys! We called the landlord, but there was no answer. We paged his emergency phone... still no answer. Luckily, there's a young woman in our ward that lives right below us, so we went to her apartment. It just so happened that she had a lock-picking kit!!! She had no idea how to use it, but we figured it out and finally got in our apartment, after 3 hours... what a day.

The next day was a bit more successful! We had a GREAT lesson with Nancy, now known as the ice-cream lady LOL. The whole ward knows her because of that. Everyone loves her. She is making friends and really connecting with everyone. Her baptismal date is still July 2nd and I'm so glad to stay in Burlington to witness it. She will be a stalwart member of the Church. I am overjoyed for her!!

Life out here in Vermont is quite different! I wish I could take a picture of a typical "Vermonter" and send it to you. The men look like mountain men with big, scruffy beards and raggy clothes, with a cigarette and a beer in their hand lol. There are also a lot of farmers. We met a family outside in their huge garden (mom, you would have loved it). They had their pitch forks and shovels. The husband and the 2 boys had long, scraggly hair and cowboy hats. Their country music was playing and they had spent all day out planting and taking care of their crops. It's such a different life style! But no matter what they look like or the way they live, they're still children of God, and we still have the responsibility to love and serve them, and bring them the good news. We still need to help them find what they don't know they're looking for!

I don't know if I've told the story about Kaitlyn and Jeremiah yet. So I'll tell it here. Weeks ago we were tracting in a mobile home park (the best areas to tract, really! I love them). We were about ready to head back home, and we felt impressed to turn back. There was a man that we passed by and didn't see- outside by his truck. We ended up talking with him and setting up an appointment to teach him and his family! Before Sister Rust left, the 3 of us went and taught them the Restoration. It was incredible. They're the cutest little family. Kaitlyn and Jeremiah are in their late 20s and they have 3 ADORABLE little boys. They had little religious background, so we taught pretty simply, but they loved it. We taught them again this week, and they're reading the Book of Mormon. Kaitlyn even prayed for the first time. It was so precious! I love hearing those sincere, heartfelt prayers. It melts my heart :) They will be attending church with us next week!! And eventually enter into the sacred walls of the temple!! ... one step at a time!

The Lord tries you and tests you to see if you will be faithful to Him. The only way to make it through this life is with a Set Apart Heart. "The Lord requires the hearts of the children of men." We need to serve Him with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength. I have found that when I put my heart into this work, and do it because I love Him, we have so much more success and so much more happiness.

I'm looking forward to another transfer in New England! And then I'm back to Temple Square!!!
Talk to you SOON my friends!!! I love you so much.

Live, Laugh, Love <3

Love,
Sister Rochelle Frogget

Spiritually-packed week

What a spiritually-packed week it has been! I wish I had time to share it all with you. We began the week with an incredible ZONE CONFERENCE down in Sharon, VT at the Joseph Smith Memorial! We were an HOUR late because of car trouble, but we were still able to get most of the conference. President Wilkey is an amazing man. I look up to him and admire him so much. He actually served his mission in THIS mission! (Including right here in Burlington!) It is fun to swap stories with him. In his weekly letters to us, he sends little excerpts from his journal, which is awesome! During the conference, we learned all about doing is not enough; we must become. We discussed ways that we can become more like our Savior in our missionary efforts. I wish you all could have been there- seriously. President Wilkey showed us a DVD of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, who gave a devotional speech at the MTC in January. He shared the story of Jesus asking Peter if he loves Him. Three times. The last time being the most powerful, since he had to think about it profoundly, and ask himself if he really loved the Savior more than his fish, nets, oars, or boat. He said yes, and at that moment he had committed to the Savior to be His disciple, and there was no turning back. Then the Savior told Peter to feed His sheep. Elder Holland then turned to us and spoke for the Savior with a firm voice: "Do you love me? ... DO YOU LOVE ME?" Tears swelled up in his eyes, and in all of our eyes. "Decide TONIGHT if you really love God and the Savior." ... "and if you do, then feed His sheep." I think every missionary at that moment started crying as we all contemplated our true love for Jesus Christ. Do I really love God? with all of my heart, might, mind and strength? If I do, then what am I waiting for? I need to forget myself and feed His sheep. He went on to say, "Your course needs to be truel. You're going to see Him through. You CANNOT go back. You are in this for ETERNITY." I am in this faith for GOOD. I always have been, and I always will be.

I love Zone Conference. After the conference, we went to the memorial and took some pictures, and then Sister Steinbeigle and I went down to Rutland for 2 days on exchange with Sister Bond! That was a fun change. I learned so much in just 2 days. But it's nice to be back in South Burlington with Sister Rust again. And to our wonderful surprise, we found out that Nancy decided to be baptized on July 2nd!!!! That is TWO days before I go back to Temple Square! I am SO excited. She is finally coming to know this is true, and she's acting on it. I admire and love that woman so much.

We spent our entire Saturday tracting a street called Lincoln Hill... talk about boonies!! It was a LONG dirt road with huge houses, few and far between. There was lots of land and LOTS of trees. And BUGS. Then it started downpouring rain (which conveniently happens every time we tract lol). Sister Rust and I sang our little hearts out as we walked, while Sister Steinbeigle walks silently behind us... I think we embarrass her a little haha :) We continued to walk... and walk... and walk... and walk. We found many people at home, but no one was interested. After many hours we were completely exhausted and weren't sure how many more houses were left on the road. My companions were starting to head back the other way, but I felt a compelling force pushing me to keep going. So I told them and they hesitantly followed. We stopped for a break, resolved conflicts, prayed for help, and moved forward. Let me tell you- miracles happen when sacrifices are made. I have seen it time and time again- when you're ready to go home and go to bed, but you keep on walking anyway, the Lord blesses you. The next 2 houses that we knocked on are now people we will be teaching!!! One was Sheila (who visited Temple Square 20 years ago and got a Book of Mormon but lost it! Now she wants another one and wants us to teach her! YAY) and the other is Jason Cummings- who recognized us immediately when we walked up his driveway! Turns out that he was one of the paramedics who came to the rescue when we called 911 for Sister Acosta a month ago!! He is one of the nicest men I've met, and we're excited to bring the gospel to his home and family. Imagine if we had turned around at that moment when we wanted to go home. We wouldn't have found these new people to bring into the fold of God. "Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven" (hymn #2). It's SO TRUE!

We finally got home that night, and Sister Rust saw blood on the back of my neck- and then found 23 bug bites all along my neck! The black flies really got me. And they're terribly itchy now. But at the time when we were tracting, I didn't even notice! lol. The bugs out here our a nightmare. Yuck!

Yesterday we had another spiritual feast for Stake Conference- it was a broadcast from SLC, and we had the privielge to hear Sister Ann Dibb, Elder Russel M. Nelson, and President Eyring!! What a wonderful conference (and what made it even better... a random man rode his bike past our church building, and decided he wanted to come see if he liked it! We got to meet him and many members welcomed and befriended him. Miracles are poured out upon us! I love it!)

One more story and then I must go! (I hope this email is long enough for you, Mom! haha). Yesterday, we had prayed to be instruments in God's hands, and to be an answer to someone's prayers. We tracted an area (right next to the lake- it was beautiful!) and found an old lady- Janan. Instead of talking about the gospel right away, Sister Rust was prompted to say, "We are here in the area, and we came to see if there's anything we can do for you today." The lady was a little surprised and said, "Yes, yes I do need some help." She later mentioned that she had been praying for someone to help her with all the things she needed to do that day, and an hour later, we showed up at her door- offering help! She was so relieved and couldn't thank us enough. We will now be teaching her the gospel! :) I love being God's mouthpiece and instrument. We are angels, proclaiming the truth and spreading the good news! I LOVE IT!

and I love all of you.
God bless you!
~Sister Rochelle Frogget

The floods came

Querida familia,

As the days and weeks fly by, the rain keeps falling, and the floods keep coming.... The rain came down and the floods came up, and the house on the sand washed away... And the house on the rock stood still! I've seen all of that happen up here in Vermont! We drive by houses that are half way in the lake! It's really sad to see so many families being driven out of their homes, leaving all their damaged belongings behind. It reminds me of the scripture in 3 Nephi 14. "Therefore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock-- and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon that sand-- And the rain descended, and the bloods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it." We must prepare ourselves by building our house and our testimony upon a rock. The storms will come, and when they do, we won't need to fear. It will be a "sure foundation, a foundation where on if men build they cannot fall." Christ must be the center of our lives. He is our Foundation. I love that!

We are trying to make Christ the center of our teaching and finding. Not many people around here care to hear a message about Him- they're either strong in their own faith, completely atheist, or believe in the energy of the universe. It's interesting to try to find a connection with them and help them find out that there really is a God who knows and loves them.

It's especially hard when they're chasing you out of the neighborhood! We knocked on this lady's door, and the moment she saw us, she yelled at us, saying she's calling the police and that the neighborhood was private property. As she was yelling at us to go away, I told her to have a great day, and she said she wouldn't until we were gone. She followed us all the way out of the neighborhood in her fury, and watched us drive away. Crazy people! Luckily, we fulfilled the purpose of even going to that neighborhood in the first place. Right before that happened, we met a wonderful lady named Maxine who loves us, loves the Book of Mormon, and wants us to come back to teach her more! So we'll be going back next week! (hopefully the angry lady doesn't see us!! lol)

I absolutely love teaching out here! We continue to find investigators- on the street, in the mall, at the store, and in homes. This place is full of people waiting to hear the truth. It's our time to open our mouths and declare this beautiful message!

All the best to you, mis amigos! Until next week- work hard, play hard, love hard.

xoxoxox

Love,
Sister Rochelle Frogget