May 16, 2016 - Manggahan Festival - Week 81

Another great week in Guimaras!!

The highlight of this week was on Saturday, we had an awesome branch service project and activity. It was a whole day event. In the morning at 6am we cleaned the church. Then after that at around 11am us four missionaries gave a teachers training on how to be more effective and prepared teachers. Then at around 3pm we just had a huge activity were we ate and played games and just enjoyed each others company. We had the Sararana family show up. They are new investigators. 

Then we went back to them on Sunday with some members and put them on date for baptism on June 18. They are so excited to go to the temple someday and be sealed as a family. 

Then today for Pday we had about 60 missionaries come over to Guimaras for Manggahan Festival. It is a festival all centered around mangoes. So we had a mango eating contest with all the missionaries. I came in second place to one of the AP's Elder Tracy. I stopped after eating 5 kilos of mangoes. It was awesome because all the mangoes here are soooo good!! 

We look forward to this upcoming week. We have plans to put more families on date for baptism.

I love and miss you all and have an awesome week!! :) 

-- 

Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission

May 9, 2016 - Mother's Day Skype - Week 80

No letter this week.  Fantastic visit with Jacob and even a rock solid connection!

May 2, 2016 - After an Intense Battle with the Adversary... - Week 79

Hey yall! So it was another amazing week in Guimaras. This week was all about just preparing our investigators for baptism. And its a lot easier said then done. We had their baptismal interviews on Wednesday. At that point we had a few that had a couple small concerns. But Elder Cinco said he would just interview them or talk to them anyways to help resolve some of the concerns. And that is exactly what happened. Through the spirit we were able to work out the concerns and they were ready to go. On Friday night we were faced with another concern about the baptismal clothes because there simply weren't enough. It has been awhile since there have been baptisms in this area and there have never been this many so we were freakin out trying to figure out where we could get 9 sets of baptismal clothes. 










Long story short we got it figured out. Next morning everything was smooth rolling until we got to the church and found out there was NO WATER! 

We had a huge turn out for the baptism so we were so lost on what to do. 


But because we are on an island we are very blessed. So we headed to the beach. We all got on motorcycles and in the back of a truck all in our white clothes. It was a site to see. Haha. 

So we arrived at the beach and everything was awesome from there on. We had a massive turn out from the members and even the APs came to show their support. 

Then yesterday we spent like the whole sacrament meeting confirming the people that were baptized. I couldn't be more happy and excited to tell you some of the newest members of the church are the Singson Family, Fernandez Family, and Sister Tajanlangit. Thank you for all the prayers. It wasn't easy but it was so worth it! We have family's that are preparing right now for the first or second week in June. Well that's it for this week! Love ya'll and have an awesome week!   

-- 

Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission

April 24, 2016 - 18 Months - Week 78

Sorry I don't have lots of time this week to write but I just want to share something small with you that I taught in a district meeting awhile back.

So there are  things called SPIRITUAL HABITS and SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES. SPIRITUAL HABITS are things like daily scripture study, prayers, service, etc. And you already know what SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES are. As we do our SPIRITUAL HABITS we prepare for and are more likely to have those SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES that we so often desire for but don't happen as much as we would like. Then at the same time as we have those amazing SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES because of the SPIRITUAL HABITS we have formed it encourages us and testifies to us that through those little habits great things will come. You can't have one without the other. They are inseparably connected. It is a never ending SPIRITUAL circle that will strengthen our Testimony and Faith. Its so important that no matter how busy we are that we don't forget the little things, sometimes they are the most important.

The work is great and we are having lots of success. Love and miss you guys. Have a great week!! :) 

Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission

April 18, 2016 - Interesting Week - Week 77

Dont have much to say. Just kinda a rough week as far as the comp goes...he is still here. But the work was good we had 10 investigators at church. the work is good thats all that matters :)

-- 

Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission

Forget Myself and Work - April 11, 2016 - Week 76

This week we had the opportunity to listen to General Conference. It was amazing as always. Elder Hollands talk really hit home for me. I like when he said that if we have a TRUE DESIRE to be better and to follow our Savior Jesus Christ we will receive blessings from our Heavenly Father. We don't need to perfect we just need to continue to have a desire to be better and then through the Atonement we will obtain the blessings and love our Heavenly Father desires for us. I truly know without a doubt that we have a loving Father in Heaven and he wants the very best for each and everyone of us. Love yall and have a great week!!

-- 

Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission

Another Week in Paradise - April 4, 2016 - Week 75

Ight so this week was awesome. The highlights of this week were (1)We did something that has never been done in the mission ever. We had a SUPER MLC. So all the DLs, ZLs and STLs in the whole mission went to Iloilo for two days and just talked about different things we can do to improve the mission. And how to better help our missionaries in our designated areas. (2)We had 4 investigators at church this week. (3)We have 10 progressing investigators with baptismal dates. (4)The work is good! (5)We went to Iloilo this morning. We played sports and just hung out. I got to chill with Larson and Swanton. Its always a good time with those guys.

So that about covers the highlights and my week. I am still trying to figure out the food situation. I've only been here about two weeks now and iv'e already lost quite a bit of weight. But we will figure things out. :) 

Hope yall have a great and eventful week. Love and miss yall.    

-- 

Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission