Tag: missions

Forever Friends

Catherine and Tim Frodsham

It has been one month since we completed our missionary service in Athens, Greece. As newly weds, we came into the relationship and our mission with separate friends; his and hers. During our 18 months of service, we have made numerous mutual friends, friendships that will last forever, friendships that we have forged together.

Here are missionaries at our last zone conference.

We made many friends in Athens. Catherine befriended Kelly, a sales clerk on Monastiraki Square in Athens, and invited her to share dinner in our apartment. She came, and listened in on a missionary discussion with Kostas. Though she hasn’t attended church yet, she has been attending institute every week. We fed Mahmoud many times in our. apartment and worked with him on self-reliance and finding a job.

Her hair dressers and her nails lady have become fast friends, and cried at her last appointment.

Even at our favorite local restaurant, Catherine always gave the waiters a hug and a large tip each time we came for dinner. They would see us through the window as we approached, and give a hearty wave. It was more than just the money, we spent the time to laugh and talk with them.

Catherine is always on the lookout for those in need on the street. At a strategic intersection on our way to the church, a refugee offered to wash windows while one waited at the stop light. It was a long light, so he could wash two or three windows during the wait. We had the cleanest windshield in Athens. There was also a man who waited outside the grocery store, and was there every time we came to shop. He was the kindest man, with a jovial smile and would tease me every time we came to the store entrance. It was winter and I was always in a polo shirt. He would hold his arms and shiver every time he saw me, and I would feign excessive heat, wiping my brow and fanning myself. Catherine left him 50 euros the last time we shopped and he was nearly in tears.

There were three apartments in our building. Our Landlady lived on the first floor, we lived on the second and the daughter and son-in-law lived on the third. We conversed well each time we met on the stairs or in the ground floor parking. They even invited us to share their Easter meal with us, which we mentioned in our Easter post.

We befriended many members of the branch. Aliki was baptized not long after we left Athens. Gogo is the oldest member of the branch. During one of our branch celebrations, she did a traditional Greek dance. Normally, dancers would throw glasses or ceramic dishes to the ground, shattering them during the dance. Gogo was throwing plastic cups during the dance. Jimmy is an excellent pianist, but his mother could never get him to play for Sacrament meeting. Catherine just needed to ask him once. He played the Sacrament hymn that Sunday, and has since played for the services.

We love the missionaries, whether in our home or at church

One of the greatest joys of serving a senior mission is working with other senior missionaries, and for us, both in the mission and in the area office in Frankfurt. We love these dedicated couples and senior sisters and look forward to many reunions after we return.

On our last day as missionaries, we hosted an appreciation event for all of the people and organizations we had worked with over the last nine months, and who collaborated with the church over the last two years. We have to come to love these dedicated people who follow the light of Christ, even though many of them do not really know what this means. Many we have invited to visit us if they ever make it to the western United States.

We love these new friends. We have served by them and with them. They remind us that, even in a world in turmoil, buffeted by the adversary and his legions, there are many stalwart people who follow the light of Christ and are his hands of comfort and service.

Tags athens, Greece, Mission, missionary, Missionary work, missions, service

Mission

Returning Missionaries

Senior Missionaries

Catherine and Tim Frodsham, 12 May, 2025

We hear of more and more missionaries who are returning early from their missions. According to Jana Riess, that number is approaching 30%. I don’t have statistics on the number of returned missionaries going inactive, but those numbers are rising as well. Why?

Here are some thoughts, not backed in any way by studies or statistics, just my personal experiences. When I returned from my mission 50 years ago, the culture and values of the church were not very different from the societal values and culture of the day. If our values were not accepted by society, at least in general, they were respected.

Missionaries today are returning to an environment when traditional marriage is on the wane, and in many cases mocked. Cultural values are the very antithesis gospel values. We as friends and fellow members need to be actively engaged in welcoming these missionaries home. We need to accept them, integrate them into ward membership and activity, and to love them.

The church is being attacked on multiple fronts, from monetary policy to church history, blacks and the priesthood, the LDS concept of the Godhead, polygamy, the Book of Mormon and even the concept of gender.

America was built on the concept of equality. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (The Declaration of Independence).

In this divinely inspired document, equal was equality in opportunity, equal treatment by the government and in the law. Within this framework, all were free to utilize and magnify their diverse talents and ability. Today, the emphases has shifted from equality to equity. All outcomes must be the same and there is no room for diversity in thought or belief. It is amazing to me how often the great deceiver promotes his failed plan to “save all” and keep the glory, and how compelling that plan appears to so many. Returning missionaries struggle with this and other tactics of the adversary which have gained so much traction in today’s society.

The tide of morality is ebbing and the ten commandments are regarded as obsolete in today’s culture. Many of the doctrines and practices of the church are seen as intolerant, and the arguments of acceptance, tolerance, diversity and equity seem compelling, especially to one who is struggling with the churches seemingly unyielding positions on agency, sin and doctrine. Returning missionaries have to contend with this prophesied perversion of right and wrong. More than ever, they need our strength, support and love.

Images from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Modern technology has been a two edged sword. Social media has isolated us as much as it has brought us closer together. Algorithms designed to cater to our thoughts, tastes and desires are designed to keep us online as long as possible by stroking egos and feeding us information that reinforces views espoused by social media moguls. The bitter political and moral divide, fueled by the internet and social media, pits family members against each other also places us at odds with the Church and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The adversary is working as never before to separate us from our Lord and Savior. The technology he uses to lure us away from a celestial life was not created for that purpose. It was created by our loving God to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and bring families together across the veil. The fact that Lucifer hijacks this technology does not mean he owns it.

Returned missionaries have a vast array of resources available to them to strengthen testimony and transition to post-mission life. The church has such programs as “my plan for returned missionaries”, leaders who are trained and care about the the sons and daughters of god under their care, and for every anti-Mormon website there are a plethora of resources to build knowledge, faith and testimony. To start, go to churchofjesuschrist.org and search for “Returned Missionaries” or “Early Returned Missionaries”. All can help them find and use these resources.

Society is not simply drifting, it is accelerating towards evil. There is a constant re-hash of anti-Mormon sentiment on the internet and social media. In addition there is more openness about the humanity of our church leaders, past and present. All of this forms a perfect storm for a crisis of faith.

In this toxic, noisy, intolerant environment, one cannot simply drift. During Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life, he struggled through darkness before arriving at the tree:

1 Nephi 8:5 And it came to pass that I saw a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and he came and stood before me.

6 And it came to pass that he spake unto me, and bade me follow him.

7 And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.

8 And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies.

Lehi had an Angel of the Lord to guide him through the darkness. Most of us, me most definitely included, do not have the faith he had to summon an angel, but the Lord, in his tender mercy, planned even for the least of us:

1 Nephi 8:19 And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.

21 And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I stood.

23 And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost.

24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.

In the history of mankind, the mists of darkness have never been greater. Throughout history, the adversary has attacked the church through violence, with former saints leading the charge. Today, he has augmented his tactics, using God given technology to twist the truth, deny the faith, and lead an army of apostates to denounce His kingdom through lies, doubts and fear. His attack is fiercest on those most detrimental to his kingdom. Serving and returning missionaries.

Missionaries must prepare themselves before their missions, and returning missionaries must work to maintain and grow their faith and testimonies. Yes, leaders and programs are not perfect. Yes, they will be tried, offended, bewildered and confused and at times, simply lost in the mists of darkness. They must remember to doubt our doubts, use the resources available to us to search for truth and cling to the iron rod the Lord has so purposefully prepared for these latter days. We as members and friends need to be sensitive to the struggles these returning missionaries face, and to project the love that the Savior Jesus Christ has for them.

We have returned home and joined that ever increasing throng of returned missionaries. We love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We love this restored church, led by Apostles and Prophets called and ordained through priesthood power. Fifty years ago, I served as a young missionary. Catherine and I have both served temple missions and we are now completing a senior mission together.

We served for nine months in Lyon France, strengthening members, teaching leaders and specialists about the self-reliance and emotional resilience programs. We spent the last nine months of our mission in Athens, Greece, shepherding the humanitarian work so desperately needed there. We have been blessed to serve with people of many denominations and all walks of life, who follow the Light of Christ in the service of their fellow man. Their example has humbled and inspired us. Our prayer now is that this great work will continue and the donations of the members of the church, great and small, will continue to bless and improve the lives of all in this historic land.

All missionaries, seniors in particular, must invent their mission. The Lord never tells in minute detail what we must do. As a result, missions can be tumultuous, but the rewards of seeking inspiration, serving Him full time and leaving our comfort zone small in the rear view mirror, are vast. For a time, we leave the world, and returning home from such a spiritual oasis is a change, even a shock, but is a bold and beautiful step for each of us.

Welcome home.

Tags bible, christianity, faith, jesus, missions, returned-missionaries

Mission

An Apostle in Greece

Catherine Frodsham 28 March 25

In October of 2024, Elder Stevenson of the Quorum of twelve Apostles visited Greece, speaking with members and missionaries. During his visit, Elder Stevenson shared a meal with an official from the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR). Elder Stevenson explained in profound detail the four pillars of the Church of Jesus Christ: Live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Invite all to receive the gospel, Unite families for eternity and Care for the needy. He ended with care for the needy and bore powerful testimony of the humanitarian work done by the LDS church.

Elder Stevenson and the young missionaries on Mars Hill

Pres. McConkie of the Central Europe area presidency came a few days before Elder Stevenson to set things up and meet with priesthood leaders. His wife Lauren came and she is delightful as well. Tim and I were asked by our Mission President to please pick up the McConkie’s from the airport and take them to their hotel. It was fun to meet them and visit as we drove them from the Athens airport. They asked about us and our mission and how the seniors are treated and the blessings of serving as senior missionaries. They had not been home more than 4 days in Frankfurt Germany in the month before they came to Greece. They are very busy and do many things for our Area. They came to church with us in Athens and both of them spoke. Sis. McConkie is such a pleasant, beautiful, kind and loving sister. Everyone loves to listen to her because she is like your best friend. Pres. McConkie is the same. That night all of our missionaries came from Cypress, Crete and Thessaloniki to be here to meet President Stevenson on Tuesday. Monday our mission rented a bus to take all of us to Corinth. Isn’t that so cool that we live only an hour away of CORINTH where Paul taught the Saints.

We had to drive up two missionaries that needed to do a medical exam to renew their visas. So we met every one in Corinth. Then we had to leave early to drive our mission president and Sis. Nelson back to Athens. Tim and I had been working with a man named Manolis from UNHCR -. Pres. Stevenson wanted to know if there were any Humanitarian projects that he could be involved in by giving them a plaque or a thank you, etc. So we had given them several ideas and waited to see what he wanted to do.

Manolis of UNHCR has been working with the church for several years, but Elder Stevenson’s visit opened doors we had only imagined. Not long after his visit, two ministries of the Greek government, the Hellenic Police (National police force) and the Ministry of Migration and Asylum approached Manolis for help from the church. As a result, we are implementing a series of projects to bring bedding and hygiene supplies to tens of thousands of refugees.

Members came from all over Greece to meet with Elder Stevenson

Elder Stevenson ended up wanting to have dinner with Manolis (who is not a member of the church but has contacts within the government) The church likes to establish friendships with the governments so that down the road, when we want to build a temple they know we are friendly, kind and helpful to a country. So at the dinner was the Stevensons, the Nelson’s (mission president and wife), The McConkie’s, Tim and I and Manolis. It was so interesting to listen to Elder Stevenson bear testimony to Manolis about our church and why we do things. He bore testimony about family and our Savior Jesus Christ. Why we do humanitarian work throughout the world. I wish I had a recording of all that he said. I was in awe. He looked right into Manolis’s eyes and touched his soul.

We had to hurry because Elder Stevenson was supposed to drive across town to our church building and speak to all of the members and missionaries in Greece. There were about 30 missionaries young and old and about 40 members and friends that came. So Elder Stevenson, the Nelsons and the McConkies got in their car with their driver. I wish they would have taken Manolis. I think he would have felt so special. But Manolis , Tim and I got a taxi to drive us to the church. They beat us but they had a driver and one thing we have learned in Greece is – if you hire a taxi they get paid by time and distance- ugh. Our taxi driver was going so slow because of time. We should have thought to pay him 20 euros more to get us there quickly. So we rush in about 9 minutes past 7:00 and the missionary choir that I AM LEADING had just stood up. I run up to the front and Sis. Christensen handed me my binder. I smile and we begin! hahah! It was great. We have very talented missionaries.

(Note, we are nearing the last month of our mission and are cleaning up and publishing posts that have been languishing in the drafts folder. Since Elder Stevenson’s visit, we have worked extensively with Manolis of UNHCR and have developed a fast friendship. We will miss him and many others we have worked with in Greece)

Tags christianity, church, leadership, missions

Mission

Our Area Presidency

Catherine Shaeffer Frodsham. 14 March 25

Tim and I have had the wonderful experience of meeting and talking with all members of the European Central Area Presidency in the last few months. They are President Ruben Alliaud, Jack Gerard 1st counselor and James McConkie III second counselor. They are all wonderful men with wonderful wives. It is a joy to be around them.

Elder McConkie was the first to come just before Elder Stevenson and his wife came to Athens. He came to make sure everything was in place and ready for the visit of our sweet Apostle. Tim and I were asked to pick up the McConkie’s from the airport and take them to their hotel. We had a very pleasant chat in the car as we were traveling. They are such kind and engaging people. Sister McConkie made me feel as though we had been friends for awhile. They came to church the next morning and both spoke to our little branch. They have such a way with speaking and motivating people around them and bearing testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ. Sis. McConkie spoke of being thirsty and what that feels like. She told some sweet stories of quenching our thirst and then related her talk to how we should year to quench our thirst of the Savior and knowing Him and seeking Him. I wish I had her talk to post here. I need to take better notes….

President McConkie

Then we get to President Alliaud. Tim and I got a call right after we had just returned home from visiting a refugee camp near Ioannina. We spent a couple of days there visiting the Habibi group that our church funds to help refugees with food, clothing and teaching languages and skills so they can learn to be self-reliant. We were tired and we thought we have nothing his weekend except church so we can just rest and catch up on sleep and some projects we were working on. Late that night, our mission president, Pres. Nelson, calls us and asks are you guys home? We said yes. “I need you to pick up Elder Alliaud from the airport and then go pick up our branch president and take them to a sisters home so he can bless a room in her home. She will be translating the temple endowment in Greek.” Pres. Alliaud had been given a letter from Pres. Russel M. Nelson, our prophet to do this right away. So Tim picked up our branch president and then went to the airport to get Pres. Alliaud. They then went to this sisters home and Tim watched as they blessed a room in this sisters home. She can only use that room to do the translating. The Lord has things done in such a special way to keep the endowment sacred and special. We have a room in our church building upstairs that had also been dedicated for the translation of temple ordinances. Then Tim took our branch president and Pres. Alliaud around to visit members of our branch.

The next morning was Sunday and Tim and I picked up Pres. Alliaud up from his hotel and took him to church. He spoke to us and it was so touching. I wanted to write things down to remember them. Here’s what he said:

He said that he gets to see the Apostles and the first presidency often and they attend the temple together. The leaders were having lunch together. President Nelson our sweet prophet was eating soup. President Alliaud said President Nelson always eats soup. Pres. Alliaud said that was amazing you announced 20 temples in Conference. He said Pres. Nelson didn’t even flinch or stop eating he just said, you haven’t seen anything yet. The best is yet to come.

Pres. Alliaud said a lot of older people look back at the past and talk about things long ago. The First presidency looks to the future! He said when they sent to the temple he saw 4 wheelchairs lined up – the first presidency and one for Elder Holland. He said sometimes they act like they are racing each other. Elder Alliaud said Elder Bednar calls Elder Holland “Lazarus the 2nd”. Because he was brought back to life! He also said Elder Holland gets up at 4 am and has a two hour dialysis treatment every morning then he goes to work. Elder Holland is amazing. We have such strong leaders in the church.

Elder Frodsham, President Stimagkiotis, Gogo, President Alliaud

About 6 weeks later, Pres. Gerard and his wife came to visit Athens on a mission tour. We all met at Mars Hill for a testimony meeting. It is a tradition in this mission that all new missionaries and those going home bear their testimonies on Mars Hill right next to the Acropolis. It is special to be there on that high mountain near the Acropolis and know that the Apostle Paul stood right there to preach his sermon “The Unknown God”,

It was that time that Aubri and Ben were visiting with us and they were able to go to Mars Hill and hear the testimonies and meet our fellow missionaries!!

How blessed we are!! I am grateful to be a member of this church. It is true and we are led by men of God.

Tags christianity, Greece, Missionary work, missions

Mission

Zone Conference Feb 25

Tim Frodsham. 2 March, 2025

Every six weeks, give or take, the Athens Zone of the Greece Bulgaria Mission gather for a conference. This comprises all of the young missionaries in Greece: Four young missionaries in Thessaloniki, six young missionaries in Athens and four young missionaries on the island of Crete. Also attending are senior couples and a duo of single sisters who run the office in Athens. The conference is small, but this thin leaven does incredible things. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” Romans 1:16

President and Sister Nelson, Hornbarger and Christensen

We start out at Mars Hill to hear from missionaries who are arriving as well as departing.

The young elders and sisters provide most of the training, focusing on precepts from “Preach My gospel”.

Our mission president Nelson focused on building branches and eventually wards and stakes in a sustainable way. After decades of missionary work in Greece, there is one small branch in Thessaloniki, and another in Athens. Several decades ago, there were five branches in the country.

Recent converts have been migrants and asylum seekers, who have been led to receive the gospel where they could not in their own country, but most are transient and bring little long term strength to the latter-day church. What is needed is strong, permanent members who serve as branch presidents, bishops, relief society presidents and other leaders. Leaders who prepare the this country for a temple.

This is The Church of Jesus Christ. We are commissioned by our Savior to spread his gospel: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”Mark 16:15

Tags bible, christianity, church, Greece, history, jesus, Missionary work, missions, Zone Conference

Mission

Calling Senior Couples

Catherine and Tim Frodsham. 14 February, 2025

Happy Valentines Day! When I married my first love, LaNae, we planned from the beginning to serve a senior mission, something I had contemplated even since my young mission service in Quebec, Canada. My financial plans, retirement funds, timing for retirement, revolved around serving missions. We wanted to serve at least three, with a year or two in between to visit children and grandchildren. The best laid plans of mice and men. Just a few short years before my planned retirement, LaNae passed away. At the time, single men, well aged such as I, were not allowed to serve missions, and I started looking at other options.

I considered serving as an ordinance worker at the temple. Again, the single man question reared it’s head. A young acquaintance of mine with some disabilities and never married, served at the temple. On his 30th birthday, he was told he could never serve in the temple again. It turns out that at the time, single men over thirty could not serve as ordinance workers. One exception was men that were married in the temple and then widowed. I fit that exemption, but in good conscience, I could not serve knowing that other single men, much more worthy than I, could not work as ordinance workers in the temple..

I did work as a temple engineer. Each Saturday, to allow the full time staff weekend time with their families, I would come to the temple early, greet the night shift guard at the temple door, and then wake up the temple. Turn on and check lights, monitor and log the air conditioning and heating systems, check the chemistry in the baptismal font, wake up and check the audio visual systems for each endowment room and continue the checklist. The walk through took about 2 1/2 hours, and I would spend the rest of my shift indexing, answering the phone, responding to problems, and if all was quiet, walk the temple and converse with the temple workers. At that time, it was the best way for me to be His hands.

Ten years after loosing LaNae, I am on a full time mission with Catherine. From the time I met my second love, we talked about serving a mission. In fact, no desire to serve a mission would have been a deal breaker for each of us. We submitted our mission papers as soon as Catherine finished the semester teaching seminary and were well into our mission on our first anniversary. I wonder at times why it took 10 years to meet Catherine. We could have several missions under our belts by now. I have asked the Lord many times why it is that those who are the most willing to serve, who would make wonderful leaders, missionaries, mission presidents and bring about much righteousness in His kingdom cannot due to circumstances beyond their control, request the call. He has a much bigger picture of His children than I, and though they cannot serve a mission, He will use them and challenge them in other ways.

In the first years of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith and Brigham Young would call missionaries from the pulpit during church meetings, even during General Conference. These were not 18 year old boys, but fathers and husbands. They were expected to depart within weeks, or even days. These missionaries left wives, children, farms, businesses, civic and church responsibilities to answer the call. Many had no idea how their families would survive financially while they served. I have nothing but admiration for these early missionaries. It was their mission and their faith that converted my ancestors in England and Switzerland.

Would we have such faith today? How would you, a senior couple surrounded by comfort, children and grandchildren, respond to a call from the pulpit? Could we, with a notice of a week or two, pack up and travel to the other side of the world? “Could we?” is the wrong question. For most of us, the more relevant question is “Would we?”

Humanitarian missionary training conference in Vienna

According to the unofficial statistics I found, about 1/2 to 1 percent of eligible seniors serve missions. Increasing that to even 5 percent, one couple in 20, would mean 5 to 10 times more senior missionaries serving the Lord around the world. In Athens, Greece, we had a humanitarian couple, yours truly, and two senior sisters serving in the remote mission office (the mission president and the official office are in Sofia, Bulgaria). Last month, two more senior couples came to serve in Athens and the whole dynamic of missionary service changed. These wonderful senior missionaries have been called to branch positions, providing a rock of support to our faithful but inexperienced branch president. Visits to members, active or not, are bolstering the faith and the faithful in this historic part of the vineyard. There is a synergy and a spirit of camaraderie and dedication among we seniors.

Rather than a surprise call from the pulpit, we have options to choose when we are going to serve, the length of our service, and to some degree, where we are going to serve. We have cell phones and internet to stay connected with our families, and jet planes to take us home for those events that cannot be missed. I listed all the reasons to serve a mission in my “Serve Now” post, so I won’t list them again. The delightful senior sisters in the office, whom we lovingly refer to as “The Angels of Athens” say it best. “Who wouldn’t want to be us?”

Bulgaria Greece senior missionaries in Ioannina, Greece

However, I need to add a word of caution here. You have no set schedule and few set responsibilities. You are your own boss and you have to be self starting and self-motivated. There is more work to do than you can imagine, but you have to find it and make it your own. Our own mission has been divided into two parts: Serving in France as WSR or welfare self-reliance missionaries and in Greece doing humanitarian work. Very different missions, and in both cases, we invented our mission. We dug in, looked around, asked around, and most important, we laid it before the Lord. If ever this verse of scripture is relevant, it is while serving a mission. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs, 3:5,6. Our paths have been directed as we have served as His hands.

Souliers, Miners, Hardys, Dinkelmans, Frodshams
Life Long friends – Senior missionaries in Lyon, France

We are not assigned over the pulpit to serve missions, but the obligation and the need is no less paramount. Over the years, the church has and is moving away from obligatory assignments. Home Teaching is now ministering. Ward budgets, building and temple funds come entirely from tithing funds. It is easier to attend temples than ever before, and attendance is neither required nor tracked. The church is following the council of D&C 58:26-28:

“For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.”

The Frodshams and Snyders in Paris, France

Serving a senior mission is not compulsory, and we are all the more blessed for following the wise and gentle council of our Brethren and choosing to serve.

Cathy here, I can’t even imagine being called over the pulpit. That was definitely a sacrifice. Our mission is a sacrifice but not like the early saints. Tim and I have thoroughly enjoyed serving our mission(s). At times we have had to be very proactive and look for ways to serve. Our mission presidents (Pres. Lepore in Lyon, Pres. Soulier in Lyon and now Pres. Nelson in Bulgaria/Greece) are so busy with all of the young missionaries. We Seniors need to be offering time and talents and helping to further work of gathering. It takes prayer and an open mind to see what needs to be done and to be available to answer a call at 10:00 pm to go give a blessing or pick up a missionary or mission president at the Airport. Service is never convenient whether you are serving a mission or serving at home.

I can honestly say yes, I have had bouts of homesickness- even with tears but then I look at my sweetheart and know we can do this and we can do it well. We are giving ourselves to our Savior Jesus Christ at this time and happy to be here in Greece. Now that we are about 4 months from returning home, we feel as though there are so many things we want to do before we leave. It is going by fast. We hope our children and grandchildren have been blessed by our service. That was one of the reasons we came to the mission field.

Both Tim and I had talked for years with LaNae and Zane about serving a couples mission. Our children all knew how important that was for us. We are grateful each other wanted to go right away after we were married. WHAT A HONEYMOON it has been!! Serving in FRANCE and then in GREECE; this was a 2 for 1 mission and we are so grateful to be disciples of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Seriously – WHO WOULDN’T WANT TO BE US?

Note: We wrote this post before learning that Jason Soulier, President of the Lyon France mission had passed away. We love him and pray daily for Sister Jennifer Soulier.

Tags christianity, church, faith, france, grandchildren, Greece, lyon, Mission, missionary, Missionary work, missions, Soulier

Mission

Returning to France

Catherine Shaeffer Frodsham. 19 January 2025

We loved having our young missionaries in Lyon over to our apartment and having their “Amis” (friends) over to have dinner and talk with them. We loved being able to testify of the truths they were teaching. Oh how we loved our missionaries. We consider them our grandchildren!

We kept in touch with them when we moved to Athens, Greece. Elder Tate Last and Elder Enzo Patelo messaged me to let me know that one of our friends who I love with all my heart named YeBei was going to be baptized. I was so excited!!! I had told YeBei that when she was ready for baptism we would fly back. So in October they said come back. I would do anything for YeBei.

I contacted our mission President , President Soulier to see if we could stay in our old apartment that was still vacant since we left. He said check with the office and its OK by him. So we bought out tickets.

A few days before we were to leave for Lyon, the missionaries called me and said there might be a problem. YeBei needed to ask her husband for permission to be baptized. We knew that might be a problem because he was not happy about YeBei meeting with the missionaries and attending our church. He referred to it as a cult. In Preach My Gospel missionaries are told to try and keep peace in families and harmony in the home. When YeBei asked her husband he said no. We were so sad for YeBei. But we went anyway because we had our tickets and our friends were going with us. We had friends from Oregon, the Petrowskys that were coming to visit us in Athens the same time. We said come for a day to Athens and then we are flying back to Lyon for a baptism. They agreed and we were grateful. We rented a car and after we landed we went back to our apartment. I must tell you that it was a bittersweet moment! It was like going home – kind of a weird feeling. I love Lyon, France and we have some very sweet memories there and wonderful friends.

I called our sweet missionaries and they said come to the church building we are meeting with YeBei. So we surprised YeBei and went right to the church, walked in the chapel behind her and she jumped up and we hugged. She apologized for making us come all the way and there was no baptism. We were happy to be there and to let her know we loved her and would support her in anyway we could. It was so wonderful to visit all together.

We went to church the next morning and saw our wonderful special friends in our old ward! It was so nice to see them again. It was wonderful to see Machilo and Munashe and little Elsie! Oh how we love them. Then we say our sweet friend Jeannine Roux who Tim and I love so much. Martine Meyer is so special to me and Teresah and her kids and my sweet Relief Society President Laeticia! Laeticia said her daughter Helena had some news she wanted to tell us. She got her mission call to Washington D.C.!! She is so excited to go. Laeticia and Patrick her husband are going to pick up Helena after her mission and take her to BYU. We are looking forward to having them to our home in Bear Lake when they come. Segolene my sweet, beautiful friend was there! So nice to see her. So wonderful to see our young missionaries there in Lyon!

Then that night I had a dinner at our old apartment and invited the missionaries (6 of them) and YeBei, Machilo, Munashe and Elsie, Martine, Teresah and our friends the Petrowskys. It was a wonderful visit to feel the spirit our good people that we love. I know that YeBei will be baptized. In the meantime, she is involved in the Porte Des Alpes ward and the ward loves her. I am so happy to have met my wonderful friend YeBei. I look forward to the day that we can go to the temple together.

The experiences we have on our mission have taught us how thankful we are to have been able to get to know wonderful, kind, loving , interesting, strong, spiritual people wherever we go. We LOVE YOU OUR FRIENDS IN LYON!!! THE RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE MADE ARE ETERNAL!!

Tags Baptism, christianity, church, faith, france, grandchildren, lyon, missionary, Missionary work, missions

Mission

Our Syrian Refugee

by Catherine Shaeffer Frodsham 5 January 2025

December 27, just after Christmas, we met a pleasant, quiet young man, a refugee from Syria, who joined our church last May 2024. Here, we will call him Zain. When he was in Turkey he found Jesus Christ. It wasn’t with our church but he found Jesus. At that time his Dad disowned him. You see in the Muslim religion, leaving the religion can be a death sentence, literally. He can NEVER go back to Syria. He has had no contact with his father since then. He does secretly contact his mother and a couple of his sisters and sends his mother money when he can, but dad will not accept anything from him.

Zain was just laid off when he talked to our branch president, who sent him to us as Welfare Self Reliance missionaries. In some countries where we have more members and leaders, we have self-reliance groups that can help people get help getting resumes up to date and how to get a better job. In Athens we only have a small branch of about 30 members and do not have the man-power to have self-reliance groups. Through the Central Europe Area, WSR couples are teaching 3 self-reliance groups or classes online, starting Jan. 16. Tim and I will be teaching “Emotional Resilience”. All of Europe and even in the world can join through QuickReg online. Although the time difference would prevent some from taking it outside of the Europe Area.

Zain came to talk to us. Before we looked at his resume or his CV as they call it in Europe we sat at the table and I started asking him about his family and his life in general. Here is his story. He is 23 years of age and has lived in Athens for 5 years. At the age of 16, with his parents, two older and three younger siblings, he left Syria for Turkey. While in Turkey he attempted a boat crossing to Greece. He was put in jail for 20 days and deported back to Istanbul. He tried again in 2018 at age 17 1/2 and paid $700 Euros for a place in a crowded dingy with about 45 people on board. They helped each other throughout the voyage, including the landing on the rocky shore on what we think was the island of Leros. The boat included families and teenagers, with several unaccompanied minors such as himself. After several hours at an army base, they were put in a camp for refugees. There, they gave up their passports to apply for asylum. It is better if you are age 17 or younger as you get more help and there are more programs to help unaccompanied minors. He was there for about 4 months.

During that time many more refugees from other countries came to the island. A large group of Palestinians came and caused riots in the camp which had been very peaceful up to that point. He said some of the Palestinians told them to climb to the highest part of the church – the bell tower and jump to kill themselves. It was very dangerous and Zain was moved with other children off the island to the mainland of Greece.

He was welcomed into a shelter for unaccompanied minors called HomeProject and had a safe place to live. They also helped him receive surgery for his cataracts. He later worked at HomeProject as a caregiver, night guard and translator. He learned English from Habibi. (an NGO that the church has funded for several projects). He then learned more English at Global Connect and received his GED certificate there. Global Connect was started a few years ago by Carolyn Rounds. She served as a full-time senior mission for our church in Greece, fell in love with the people and culture and saw a need that she could help. She held English classes and invited the full-time missionaries to come and help teach and tutor her students.

Zain was one of those students. He felt the Holy Ghost through Carolyn and the missionaries and asked to learn more. He was taught and was baptized in Athens 8 months ago. He worked as a translator, care giver and night security guard, but was recently laid off. He gets a small stipend since he does have his papers and is legal here in Greece.

It has been a journey for us, learning about the refugee situation in Greece, visiting soup kitchens, community centers and refugee camps, and then working personally with a young man who has survived it all, been disowned by his family and yet looks at the church and his future with optimism and hope.

He wants to serve a mission, is trying to save money to pay his living expenses and was looking at a start date of late 2025 or 2026. He did not realize that he could get help from the church to serve a full-time mission and would not necessarily have to work a year or two to save up enough money to do that. We are talking to the branch president on Sunday about Zain starting his mission papers. Can you imagine a Syrian missionary preaching about Jesus Christ. He is a strong, powerful young man. He said, “do I need to know a lot, so I can teach?” He speaks English, Turkish, Arabic and a little Greek. What an asset to the Lord’s Army in Gathering Israel!!!

This young man is in Greece with no family, only members of the church who love him. He just went in November to the Frankfurt Temple to do baptisms for the dead. He loves the temple. How special Tim and I feel to be on a mission in this beautiful country of Greece at this time and to be able to help Zain in any way we can. We are in awe of his courage, his strength, his love of family, even his dad who has disowned him. He loves his Savior Jesus Christ and wants to serve as a missionary. He has had many tragic events in his life but says he learns from all of his experiences, even the bad ones.

We met again today January 1st, 2025 with Zain. Tim helped him get his CV or resume all up to date so he can go find a good job. Tim talked to our branch president, Pres. Anastasios Stimagkiotis, and a new MLS senior missionary couple who just came last month. They are the Kannels. He is a wonderful man who has lots of experience in leadership in the church and is now in the branch presidency. Tim mentioned that Zain wants to serve a mission so they are both taking him under their wing to help fill out mission papers and get him on a mission. That makes us VERY happy. Sometimes we have the feeling that we came to Greece for certain people. Zain is one of those reasons. We love this kind young man.

Zain said today as we ate lunch that the difference in our church and any other church and especially the Muslim religion is “LOVE”. We have love in our church. He felt it and wanted that in his life. What a powerful thing to recognize. May we love all people, all religions, all races, the way Jesus would.

May we all be more like Zain!

Tags bible, christianity, church, missionary, Missionary work, missions, Refugee, Syria

Mission

Thank You President Soulier

Post author By Tim Frodsham
Post date December 29, 2024
1 Comment on Thank You President Soulier

Catherine and Tim Frodsham. 29 Dec 2024

Late last night, Catherine was scanning Facebook, something she rarely does, and found that President Jason Soulier, Mission President for the France Lyon mission, had passed away in his sleep early that morning. We were shocked.

The Souliers started their mission service in June, and we served under them for several months before our urgent transfer to Greece. In that short time, we became fast friends. Catherine, in particular, formed an instant bond with Jennifer Soulier. The couples in the mission office were new, and although we were WSR (Welfare and Self-Reliance) missionaries, we were the most experienced senior couple in Lyon and developed a warm relationship with the Souliers as they began their mission.

In an earlier post, I compared the three mission presidents under which we have served. I love and admire all three of these couples, capable and humble servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. We pray for Sister Soulier, far from home, with so many missionaries under her care. Abruptly losing a spouse is scary, heart wrenching and extremely painful. It leaves one numb and in a fog for a time. Tim and I pray for Sis. Soulier as we know how that feels. We wish there was something we could do to help or relieve some of the pain. Tim and I both know there are no words that help but we want Sis. Soulier to know we care for and love her and are praying for her and her family. We pray for their family, children and grandchildren who have lost such a powerful and worthy father and grandfather. We are also praying for our sweet senior missionary friends and our young missionaries serving in the Lyon Mission. They are in our hearts. We love them and are asking angels to attend to all of them. This news has ripped the rug out from beneath all of us and they need our prayers.

Thank you President Soulier for your example. Thank you for you dedication, love, compassion and passion for the work. Thank you for your devotion to, and focus on each and every missionary in your care. Thank you for genuine friendship and Christ-like Example. Till we meet again, till we meet at Jesus’ feet. We love you President and Sister Soulier!

Tags christianity, church, faith, france, grandchildren, lyon, Mission, Missionary work, missions, Prayer, Soulier

Mission

Changing of the Guard

30 September, 2024 Tim Frodsham

Last July, our mission president, Roland Léporé. And his wife, Amie, completed their three years of service to the people of southern France and returned home. They were replaced by Jason and Jennifer Soulier. They could not be more different.

President Léporé is a quiet, soft spoken man whose spiritual presence dominates the room. In zone conferences and other meetings, he stayed in the background for most of the meeting, speaking occasionally and allowing his missionaries to conduct and present. Many missionaries told us that when they were in the presence of President Léporé they felt they were in the presence of Christ. He was true shepherd. The young sisters and elders knew he was a true servant of the Lord, and they loved him.

President Soulier was a salesman in his former life, and exudes the confidence and energy of a motivational speaker. Where President Léporé’s meetings were quiet and thoughtful, those of President Soulier tend to be more loud and boisterous, They both work. I understand there is little overlap as one president replaces another. One president and his family leave before the other arrives. I think the brethren do that for a reason. They want the incoming presidents to follow the Savior, to use their own talents, and that of their companions in their sinngular manner, to move the mission forward as servants of Jesus Christ, using the talents unique to them.

Both couples are powerful men and women. Both are servants of Jesus Christ. Both have a mantle of leadership. Both focus on the work of the Lord and bring that work to fruition in utilizing their unique talents and gifts endowed from on high.

Unfortunately, we served with the Souliers for just a few months before we were transferred to Greece. During that time, I was impressed with their insight and problem solving abilities. Like their predecessors, they are people of faith. They are called, and are responding to that call to the best of their abilities and more, abilities that are magnified by the power of the spirit.

We are now serving with President David and Emily Nelson of the Bulgaria Greek mission. Not many missionaries have the experience of serving under three mission presidents. We are just getting to know them, and they too have a unique style of leadership. He is gentle, thoughtful and willing to listen to even the smallest need. They love the missionaries, love of the Lord and the Lord magnifies their talents as well in His infinite, intimate way. We are truly blessed.

Tags bible, christianity, church, france, Greece, jesus, Missionary work, missions