This Week was AMAZING! - September 18,2016 - Week 99

This week was amazing! We have been Finding people like crazy! So the highlight of this week is last night Elder Francisco and I went to the Bingco Family they have been members for almost two years. Except for the father. Last night Brother Bingco called us and told us to come over. So we went. When we walked in, right away brother said I am going to be baptized! We were shocked because we have been working with him and teaching him ever since I got here and the missionaries before me as well. He set his own baptismal date for Oct 22 which is my last week of the mission. I can't express how happy it made me. I just want to testify "to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven". I know that this gospel is true! If we just humble ourselves and submit our will to the Father and except his Gospel, we will be eternally blessed. 

This week I have been studying 3 Nephi 11-26 about Christs visit to the ancient Americas. It has strengthen my testimony of God's love for ALL His children. It doesn't matter what our situation is, where we are, how wealthy we are, if you have a broken family, or not. We are ALL God's children and he loves each and everyone of us. He has given us a place to come and feel happiness, joy, sadness, peace, comfort, and most of all love. We ALL have a purpose. Its our job to go and find out who we really are and why God sent us here. ITS ALL TRUE! 

Love you guys and hope you have a great week! :) 

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Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission

Where do I Start? - September 12, 2016 - Week 98

Alright where do I start...Okay so on Tuesday we went to Iloilo to have a special MLC with area presidency. It was super cool. We learned what prayer is and really how to pray. We were all over the scriptures to find out really how to pray sincerely. Then on Wednesday we had a huge mission tour with a bunch of other zones where the area presidency taught us about obedience and FINDING scattered Israel. Then we headed home and did our best to apply the things and are still working on it. So this week was also transfers. I didn't think anything was going to me because I only have 6 weeks left. Once again I was WRONG!! On Sunday night the AP's called me and told me Im transferring back to Bugasong Antique, my second area. I was like what!??!!? But I told em Ill go where ever the Lord wants if it was true revelation I will go. But I didn't want to leave Buenavista Guimaras. About 20 minutes after I hung up the AP's called me back and said President had been receiving revelation ever since I had hung up. He said Its not time for me to leave Guimaras. So long story short I am still here and my new companion is ELDER FRANCISCO...again! haha I could not be more happy with what happened. We will both be zone leaders as well as I will go back to my first area here in Buenavista!! Elder Francisco have been working our tails off and I told him its gonna be this way for the next 6 weeks. He is by far my favorite companion iv'e had out here in the field. When we are companions, I don't know why, but good things just happen. So yeah thats about it for this week. Time is starting to go by to fast. I'm not ready yet for these two years to be up. It's time to give it my all. Love and miss you guys! You take care! :) 

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Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission

Can't go a day without Scriptures - September 4, 2016 - Week 97

This week we focused really hard on talking to everyone. We were able to find a couple of families that we feel are pretty interested. Lately we have kind of been struggling with getting our investigators to church and to be progressing but we are feeling pretty good about these families. On Sunday I had the opportunity to speak in sacrament meeting. I chose to speak about families. Because right now some families in the branch are struggling. I shared the scripture Alma 43:47. I think it hit a couple people and really brought to the table really how important it is to stick together and be a united family. And to literally do everything in your power to defend the family. Then after church Elder Francisco and I were asked to speak at a devotional. So we put together an awesome discussion about powerful scripture study. Its weird because before I left to come on the mission I wasn't the kind of person that just sat down and read the scriptures but now I can't go a day with out em. Well that's about it for this week. On Tuesday and Wednesday we are going to have a Mission Tour which means the Area Presidency will be coming to talk to us and train us to be better more effective missionaries. I'm pumped. Ill take notes for yall. Love yall and take care!!

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Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission

New Companion/Big Goals - August 21, 2016 - Week 95

Alright so it'll be a short email today because iv'e got lots to do today. So this week Elder Crook and I have a set a pretty tall goal to have 20 baptisms on October 22 before I go home. We set this goal to keep me focused and not trunky as well as to push the other missionaries in our zone. The highest amount of baptisms that has happened in one area in one day in this mission is 10. I want to raise the standards in this mission before I finish so that missionaries behind will be driven to break those goals. If you are in a comfort zone...get out! If you are comfortable with where you are at, there is probably little to no growth or progression. God gives us all challenges and hard things to overcome because he knows our capabilities. As we overcome our fears and challenges with the help of our Savior we will grow everyday of our lives. I'm excited to see what comes in the next few months. And pumped to work hard to the end.

That's about it for this week. Love and miss ya'll. Take care! :)

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Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission

Another Great Week in Buenavista - August 15, 2016 - Week 94

This week was another great week out here in Buenavista.

Monday and Tuesday: We had an MLC (Mission Leadership Conference) in Iloilo. This one was a little different then the ones Ive been to in the past. We did it in Presidents home which was awesome. After the first night we had a FHE with President and his family. We made homemade ice cream and had so much pizza. I was fun just getting to really know president and his family better as well as the other missionaries. On Tuesday after MLC we came home and went to one of our investigators to do her baptismal interview.

Wednesday-Friday: Those were just normal working days nothing crazy exciting happened in those days.

Saturday: In the morning we got up and went to rosadels baptism. And as we all know all baptisms never go as planed. So when we woke up there was tons of rain and wind. Like a little typhoon. But we went to the place where we planned to do the baptism. We were about 15 min late but we were still the first ones there. Little by little the members started to show up and we got things rolling about an hour late. Better late then never. After the baptism we went to the branch activity where the missionaries did a kind of a mini mtc. It was pretty successful. We had a lot of people there. After the training we played some games and ate lots of food. It was a great day.

Sunday: MY BIRTHDAY!!! At church all of my recent converts and members invited us over to eat. So we pretty much spent the whole rest of the day going and visiting members and eating food. It was a great 20 birthday!

This week was all in all a pretty fantastic week! :) Love yous all and take care!  

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Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission