ONE YEAR/TYPHOON - October 19, 2015 - Week 51

So last week we had the best weather I've had my whole mission. Turns out it was the calm before the storm...This week we had a Typhoon blow in and it hit pretty crazy hard making it a little difficult to do missionary work. But we managed to just endure and work through it. Not gonna lie...sometimes it was pretty scary and kinda dangerous. But it was also pretty fun to just watch.

(This is a note we also got from him in another letter..."hey! Crazy week with crazy weather but im still alive! Last night my comp and I were walking home and out of now where winds and rain was super crazy worse than I have ever seen! So we stood there and said a prayer with lightning and thunder and winds and rain all around us and i couldnt even here my comp speak. But we walked home and we are safe now! How is every one doing there?")

Anyways this week I had an interview with President which was good. He told me a few things that I can do to be a better missionary and help out our District. 

Right now here in Bugasong Elder Puig and I are seeing so many miracles and blessings happen daily! Right now we have 8 full families with a baptismal date for the end of November. And if thinks work out we will have a baptism on the 31st of October and also another one on November 14th. I just want to testify if we do our best to do everything we can to fulfill our purpose as missionaries and just GO TO WORK everyday. Our Heavenly Father will put people in out place that are prepared and ready to receive His Gospel! Missionary work is so discouraging sometimes but its important we don't focus on the challenging things but that we remember this is our Heavenly Fathers work and "...NO unhallowed hand can STOP the WORK from PROGRESSING." Well thats about it for this week.

Love and Miss you guys...have a great week! 

P.S. ISA KA TUIG NA LANG!! :)

      (ONE YEAR LEFT)

-- 

Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission

Great Week - October 11, 2015 - Week 50

Hey Y'all!

Okay so since I've been here in the Philippines this past week was amazing as far as weather is concerned! Everyday was a bright and sunny day. We only had just a little bit of rain on Sunday. And when the weather is like that the work is fantastic!! 

Also this past week we had the opportunity to watch General Conference! Which was as usual... GREAT! 

Right now here in Bugasong Elder Puig and I have 12 investigators that are on track to be baptized on October 31 and November 14. We are super excited and hope they all work out. 

Right now Elder Puig and I are working on not just being the average missionary but doing our best to become a preach my gospel missionary that our Heavenly Father wants us to be. 

Hope y'all had an awesome week. Love and Miss you guys! 

-- 

Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission

Iloilo - October 5, 2015 - Week 49

So this week was a week full of training's and meetings for me. Tuesday morning I headed to Iloilo with the District leaders in Antique Zone. And also with Elder Dorman who is our new AP! So Elder Dorman and I have been in the same zone for pretty much my whole mission so far. He is a super inspiring missionary. Anyways so we got to Iloilo that evening. I had the opportunity to work with a couple of the office Elders thin their area. That night I slept at the AP's apartment, we had a really good discussion about what this mission really needs to do to step up and become better. And one of the things that were mentioned was, if we want to be solid missionaries just follow PREACH MY GOSPEL in every aspect. Anyways the next morning we had District leaders council. Both the AP's Elder Craythorne and Elder Dorman gave outstanding training's! I learned so much on how I can use my time better and how important it is to just to what the leaders of the church say in PMG. After the meeting I went out and worked with Elder Craythorne (AP), it was awesome! Then that night I stayed with the APs again and the next morning we had trainers and trainees meeting. I learned how I can better help my companion which was good for me because for some reason lately i feel like I could be doing something more to help him I just didn't know what. Then after that we headed home back to Bugasong. We arrived late that night and then got up the next morning and got right back to work. On Sunday, Elder Puig and I had 8 investigators at church. And right now we have 2 families and 3 other people on track to be baptized on October 31. And then another family on November 19th. We are trying to focus more on baptising full families rather then just single people. Its important for the whole family to be all on the same track and have the same goal as far as going to the temple and being a forever family. All in all this week was great and can't wait to keep pushing myself to work harder and serving more. Love you all and have an awesome week!

-- 

Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission

This Week in Pictures (Because I'm Too Lazy to Write an Email) September 27, 2015 - Week 48

We all have these weeks!  We got these pictures from Jake this week.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words so we'll just let them do the talking! :)

September 20, 2015 - Week 47

Awesome week! This week we went to Iloilo for our mission tour. Elder Bowen from the quorum of the 70 came and spoke to us. Here in the Iloilo mission there are quite a few missions that aren't the most obedient or hard working. And slowly as those missionaries train new missionaries, the new missionaries do what there trainers do which isn't the best. So a lot of what Elder Bowen talked to us about was WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE ARE,  and HOW IMPORTANT WE ARE. It was kind of a slap in the face to a lot of missionaries. There are so many missionaries around the world...don't get me wrong that is FANTASTIC! But so many of us don't know how important we really are. We all know our purpose which is to invite others to come unto Christ. That is the "PURPOSE" that all missionaries are familiar with. But for me if we really want to know our deeper purpose and how crazy important it is we can read it in Jacob chapt 5. Our purpose as members and missionaries alike is to gather Israel. Why do we need to gather Israel? Well just ask yourself what covenants you have made with our Heavenly Father in your life. Baptism, When we were baptized we take upon us the Abrahamic covenant. Now what promises come with that? His seed, or descendants, would receive the gospel and bear the PRIESTHOOD. Through the ministry of his seed (MISSIONARY WORK) “all the families of the earth would be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal”

So very simply, If there are no missionaries, how are Gods children going to receive His gospel and achieve Exhalation? They can't. It is our job, that our Heavenly Father has entrusted us with for two years to bring the message of the true gospel to our brothers and sisters. I don't know about anyone else but when I heard that training, I thought about it and I kicked it into gear. 

Missionary work is great! I know that this gospel is so true. I have seen the blessings and happiness that comes from it. That is why i'm here, because I want as many people as possible to have that same joy I have received. 

I love ya'll like crazy! Have an awesome week! Ya'll are the Bomb! ;)

-- 

Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission

September 14, 2015 - Week 46

Hey yall! So this week iv'e still been trying to get over the sickness. So we didn't work crazy hard like I wanted to but we got out and found a few new investigators and had a couple awesome lessons. This past Saturday I had the privilege to baptize a two of mine and Elder Francisco's investigators Kin Kin and Brent! The weather managed to stay okay for about an hour so we could have the baptism. It was an awesome experience for all. We hope to have a family and a couple more young men baptized in the month of October so we are excited for that. Its crazy how fast time goes by in an area! Iv'e already been here in Bugasong for almost three transfers. But there is so much that needs to be done here and I don't ever want to leave! Elder Puig is doing great! He is teaching me a lot. Its so fun to see what our Heavenly Father does to us to shape us into the best people we can be. We should be so grateful for every trial that we are given to overcome. Because as we over come those trials our testimonies grow so much stronger! I love this gospel and all the blessings I enjoy because of it. Love you all and keep being AWESOME!

-- 

Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission

My Sakit Gid Week 45 September 7, 2015

So this week was probably one of the worst weeks Iv'e had my whole mission so far. This week started off great Elder Puig and I got out and were doing so great missionary work. Then Wednesday came around and I got sick. Nothing crazy just the normal allergies and congestion. But when I have bad congestion it makes it really hard to breath. So yeah Sister Aquino told me to stay home and rest till tuesday of the following week! I was kinda blown away that she said that long. Because for me I am not the kind of person that can just stay home and chill or sleep or what not for a solid week. Especially here in the mission, with so much that needs to get done before our baptism on Saturday. But I stayed obedient and did what she said so we'll see how things go. When you get sick on the mission it is the worst thing EVER! Time is so limited and when you want to do your very best and you can't it kills. But its alright its a new week and time to get back to work! I love you and thank you for your support and prayers!

-- 

Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission