Am I a total weirdo for loving human anatomy?

The answer to that question has yet to be figured out. I really loved the experience that I had. It was such a privilege to learn about the human body on real human bodies. We got to use human cadavers and I would say it was sometimes a spiritual experience. I have a greater respect for what God has done in creating us. More than that, my testimony has increased. Only a loving and perfect Heavenly Father could have gone to such great lengths to make our bodies the way they are, each one of us different and unique in our own ways.

As the semester is winding down, and finals commence, I have been reflecting on my total, or sum, happiness. At this point in my life it would be really easy for me to give in to negative feelings and let myself be continually unhappy. However, not one to take the easy road, I know there is greater, more pure joy in choosing happiness. That being said, I know how hard it can be. Some might disagree with me as well. It might seem like we cannot choose our own happiness - and I certainly understand that point of view. Something that has become very clear to me over the last four months, however, is that I have to choose for myself. It may not always be easy, but as the scripture in 2 Nephi says, "Men are that they might have joy." I know it with all my heart. It may not always come right away and sometimes we have to work at it, but it is our purpose.
Happiness is...

a cute niece (wearing a bonnet!!!) and nephew on Easter




helping a dear friend prepare for her bridal shots by doing her make up (that caption should definitely say bridals, not brussels....)






serving with the Brigham Young University Student Association in putting together a wonderful event in recognition of those in our BYU community who give back




attending a friend's engagement party with another dear friend




and finally, a niece and two nephews escaping into the muddy yard despite Mom's attempts to prevent  them from doing so (those looks tell you they are guilty and they know it ;) )

My blog is NOT very pretty and how yoga saved my life this semester.

Did that title feel dramatic to you? L-O-L, it felt a little dramatic to me too. Whatever. It's true! I promise.

OK - to my friends who have been involved in yoga for a while now, I UNDERSTAND NOW. I thought running was going to be the thing that really helped me feel generally better ever since I got home from my mission. NO. My knee still hurts when I run sometimes and I find it difficult to find motivation to go run for really long distances. So sometimes I go run a mile, maybe two. But, let me tell YOU. YOGA. It's rockin'. It all started when I got home from Christmas break this semester. I came back a week early to start my new job. That whole week The Yoga Underground (a local yoga studio) was offering free classes everyday. Naturally, as someone who has never done yoga, I decided to try it out with my buds. And thus the addiction began! (Not a bad addiction, I think!) Anyway, it wasn't long until I realized how GREAT it made me feel. I was also surprised. I'm going to be honest with you - I did not think yoga would give me such a great workout. It was really, truly embarrassing how much I was sweating the first time I went. Seriously, it was gross. Since I cut my hair short, the sweating hasn't been quite as bad! I digress.
You may be wondering why on earth I'm talking about yoga so much right now. I already said it saved my life. I've been open with a lot of people previously about my struggle with depression and anxiety. It's been a journey learning to treat it since I've been home from my mission. I was so disappointed when I came home and realized all my mental health struggles were not just going to go away. What the heck? Wasn't that just going to be a trial on my mission? Well, no, it was not. Let me tell you, trying to throw myself back into school and a full blown social life made me realize how uptight with anxiety I had become. It was not pretty. There was some seriously painful nights my first semester. On Halloween, I remember, I had a lot of chemistry homework and a midterm to study for. I had been feeling it coming on all day. My stomach was a little sore. I wasn't able to focus on much. I turned to my phone screen a lot, making me seem like a shy, withdrawn introvert (which I am not). By the end of the night, I called a good friend who I felt like I could trust. She brought me soothing herbal tea and some melatonin. By the time she got there, I was holding on by a thread. I felt like my insides were collapsing and my heart would burst at any moment. (It's really difficult to try and put anxiety into words. I'll try to learn how. I want to share this experience, I really do.) I was STILL trying to do all the homework sprawled out on my floor, but by this time the tears were freeeeeee flowing. She walked in and took careful control of the situation. Her arms wrapped around me. I think I was shaking a little. She helped me put my homework down and get into bed. She made me tea and gave me some melatonin. I felt PATHETIC. Truly, so low. I told her to go and continue enjoying her halloween, which I had swiftly ruined with my meltdown. She comforted me for a little while and left. I remember praying until I fell asleep.
If you've ever had experiences like this, just remember, they always end. Often times it takes sleeping and eating for mine to end. I've learned to use Yoga to really help with my anxiety. I'm not really talking about channeling and meditation either. I am really bad at meditation. Usually, during the last ten minutes of my yoga class, when I am supposed to be meditating, I just (secretly) open my eyes and stare at the clouds. If I have something important that deserves some sort of serious thought, I'll think about it. However, I purposefully do not think about anything that will make me upset or stressed. Usually, by the end of yoga, I'm so warm, stretched and centered, that I can think about anything with clarity and peace. And then...I just let my mind wander. I've come to believe that yoga helps me in the sense that when I know I am having an emotionally rough day and going to a hot, sweaty and smelly gym will probably just make me feel self conscious, I make yoga a priority. I've never once regretted that because it's allowed me to find more balance in other parts of my life. And that, my friends, is why yoga saved me this semester. I'm stepping off the soap box!
I am now taking offers for someone to re-design my blog and make it cooler than I can. I can pay you in homemade meals!
Finally, Happy Easter loved ones. If there is one element to this entire post that I mistakenly left out, it's the element of spirituality. Yoga is essentially spiritual in nature and, (as many of you know) I am religious and believe in a Savior who lived and died for us. I also believe that He lives again and LOVES us. He loves us so perfectly and He knows me and He has helped me in every possible way. He serves and loves you too. I whole-heartedly believe that.


*Want to talk more about anxiety? I'm here. Feel free to reach out.

Week 71

Yes well, you can tell by the subject line that this week has been highly unusual.

If you are not aware, violence, protests and other things have been running rampant in America. Baton Rouge is no exception and given that part of our area is in a particularly unsafe part of Baton Rouge, Friday morning our mission president evacuated us to Hammond (back to the homeland haha) with the Sister Training Leaders, who live in Hammond with the Hammond Sisters. (this was a winner of a situation because I got to see my trainee, Meador who is serving in Hammond now). We are still in Hammond now - and it is unknown to us as to when we will be allowed to go back. So that's been crazy. It's hard because we can't see any of these awesome people we are teaching. :( Pray for all these police officers who are working so hard. We drove back early Sunday morning for church and had to come straight back afterwards. It's been weird. 

That being said, there isn't a lot to report on. We found a really cool couple last week right before we got evacuated, but other than that we have just been switching off with exchanges with the Hammond and Albany sisters. I have been able to see some beloved members in Hammond that I miss like crazy. 

This week I have been reading a lot in Mark and 3 Nephi. Christ's teaching style is so interesting and I have been trying to take notes and learn how He teaches, so that I can be a better teacher. 

This month I am spending quite a bit of time studying and praying about and for developing the gift of faith. It has been really cool so far. This morning, in Mark 4, I was reading about the time when Christ and some of His disciples were out on the sea and there was a storm. The Apostles were so concerned and couldn't understand how Christ could sleep through the whole thing. When he was awakened to calm the storm He simply said:

"Why are ye so fearful? how is is that ye have no faith?"

This really struck me to the core. Why should we fear in times of trial or times of trouble in the world in general? The natural man screams at us to be fearful and act accordingly. We should, in reality, turn to the giver of peace. It is never more important to continually build our faith than at this time right now. It's so simple! Turn to the scriptures - these people in the scriptures experienced these things and have helped us to understand how we can rely on the Lord. 

Alright, I love you guys. If you are going to send me mail before I go home, send it to the mission office. 

Otherwise, I will see you in 30 days! 

Love,

Sister Ellen Frederickson

25367 Riverton Drive

Denham Springs, LA 70726

​

Week 70

Ok so FIRST. Shainna did get baptized a few weeks ago in Lafayette, so that was pretty cool! Yay! I will attach a picture! Now she and her family are in Texas. I know the missionaries and the ward are going to take really good care of her down there. I love her so much! 

And now I am in Zachary, Louisiana. It's a cute little small town with a great family ward. It was good to see so many new faces on Sunday, the people in this ward REALLY like the missionaries, haha. My companion and I tend to be really bubbly together so that helps our case a lot. It's really hot right now -  there has been a heat advisory the last few weeks, so I have been sweating up a storm, which has been pretty great. Powerade and water are my best friends, next to my new companion, Sister Toner!! She is so sweet and cute. We have a good time together. Yesterday for the 4th we went a BBQ at a member's house and they made ribs and oh my gosh they were so good. Yes. :) It was a good 4th of July. 

Well, I only have a few more of these emails to send out now. So this is weird. I am going to send on a few more pictures from the 4th of July and such. Love y'all so much! I will try to send out a more spiritual email next week. :)

-Sister Ellen Frederickson

9442 Angus Ave #7

Zachary, LA 70791

Week 69

Sister Ellen Frederickson

9442 Angus Ave #7

Zachary, LA 70791

Surpise! I got transferred. My new address^^

12 transfers down, one to go. 

Love y'all! Have a good week. 

Week 68

Another week has come and gone. There isn't a lot to say about this week. Sister Nelson and I laughed A LOT. Which was way nice. 

Shainna is now getting baptized/married on Friday. Final answer. It has to be because we announced it that way on Sunday. Sooooo that's happening. Pray for her, team!

We found several new and awesome investigators this week. I will probably have more to report on that next week. For now, I feel like we have to much going on - it's hard to try and fit it all into one email. 

We also had zone training meeting this week and exchanges so only ended up working about 5 full days in our area. It's a miracle we were able to get so much done!

Picture is of me and Sister McMullin from ZTM. She goes home next week! I love her so much!

I have to start MyPlan this week - this is for all you missionaries who know the struggles of going home. 

We had great instructions on ZTM on the Atonement. We were learning about ordinance and how ordinance allow us to access the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It was cool. Although these were things I knew before, it's cool to have a new understanding of them now that I am a missionary and I am almost done. The coolest thing for me was learning about forgiveness. All around, forgiveness is an essential part of life here on Earth in more than one way. Basically we have to learn to forgive others. If we don't, we cannot expect Jesus Christ to forgive us for our sins. He has paid the price already; but our forgiveness is dependent upon our actions in relation to the Atonement.  Finally - one of the hardest things - is to learn to forgive ourselves. Often times the Lord has already forgiven us for something and has shown us the way out of trials and hard situations. He does not tell us it will be easy. Giving up sin is not always easy. But it is necessary. And as we do so we must remember that perfection is not something we will achieve here on the Earth. We have to forgive ourselves along the way and remember that justice and mercy are perfect laws, designed as part of the perfect Plan of Salvation.

I love y'all!

I may only have one transfer left - I still like emails and mail though. :)

-Sister Ellen Frederickson

915 s. college road #223

Lafayette, LA 70503

Week 67

Dear family and friends,

What a week! First, a brief review of my week. Second, a special testimony.

This week was pretty exciting because we had a mission conference with Elder Kopischke of the Seventy. He also spoke at our stake conference yesterday. It was pretty cool because I got to see all my friends from the singles ward in Baton Rouge and from the Baton Rouge Second Ward. I sure love all those guys. :) 

Our mission conference was excellent. Elder K let us set the agenda for the conference and so we ended up discussing how we can more fully submit our will to Heavenly Father's will. We also talked about member missionary work, which was way awesome. Both were things I needed to hear about. We touched on subject ranging from Celestial obedience to temple marriage. It was awesome. 

Some thoughts from Elder K:

1) Be as obedient as possible

2)Be as pure as possible

3) Plan as good as possible

4) Work as hard as possible

Good mission rules; good life rules.

Shainna should (hopefully) be getting baptized a week from today. We had a pretty good lesson with her last night. We discussed obedience and following God's commandments. Their family took us out to dinner Saturday night at a cajun dancing restaurant. It was pretty fun to watch. :) Today, one of my favorite members here is taking us out to get pedicures, which is super sweet of her! We really have amazing members in the Lafayette ward.

Those were a lot of the amazing things from this week, but really, this week was hard. So hard. I knew when I got an email from my Mom last Monday that this would be the last week for my dear Grandma, Mary Clayton. I got a call Tuesday night from my mission president that she had indeed passed away. After 96 years on this Earth, she was called back to her Heavenly home. And back to my Grandpa. While it was hard to imagine that I won't see her while I am yet on the Earth, I know that our family is eternal. She really lived a long and blessed life. There will be opportunities after this life to be with her. I am so blessed to have been raised in this gospel. It all starts with pioneers. Not just pioneers of old from the 19th century, but pioneers today who join the church when no one else in their family supports them. Those who know that, despite opposition in this world, truth is truth. The Lord has a great Plan of Happiness for each of us and part of it involves coming to know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's church on the Earth today. His priesthood is restored and because of that priesthood, I can see my Grandma again. I get to meet my ancestors who bravely left their homes and accepted the gospel many decades ago because we are all connected as an eternal family. I invite each of you reading this letter, member of the church or not, to ask for yourself if God has restored His church today to the Earth. It has made all the difference for me and my family. 

I wouldn't trade this mission for anything. This work is so great. It's hard sometimes. Friends, I have SO many weaknesses. But, Moroni had it right in Ether 12:27.

  27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

Love y'all! 

Sister Ellen Frederickson

915 s. College Road #223

Lafayette, LA 70503

an old friend from the singles ward! Josh is going on his mission in August. So proud of him! 

I <3 awkward missionary pictures.