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!!

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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.    

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Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission

Recent Pictures from Guimaras - March 21, 2016 - Prepping a Garden in the Philippines :)

Thought these would be fun to share.  Looks like a project was organized to prepare a garden plot.

Easter! - March 28, 2016 - Week 74

First of all Happy Easter yall!!

Okay, so I thought this week would be a very challenging week because of Filipino traditions. So last Sunday I fasted that we would have success this week. Especially with me being brand new here. So long story short we went out and worked hard...like really really hard! We found new families and many other people that are more then prepared to receive the gospel! We extended 11 baptismal dates and 11 were excepted. And out of those we had 5 at church. So I have set a goal this past week. I have about 7 months left in the mission and starting April 23 I am going to do my best to have a weekly baptism. This week my testimony of fasting and prayer has been strengthened enormously! 

That's about it for this week. Hope yall have a great week! Love and Miss yall!!

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Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission

Expect the Unexpected - March 21, 2016 - Week 73

This week was an awesome week until I got a text from President on Thursday. When I read the txt I felt like I was hit with a bullet! It said Elder Frandsen thank you for everything you have done for Roxas and your service as a zone leader. Pack your bags you will get on a bus tomorrow morning and be transferred to Guimaras. Please do everything you can to help the branch there. It needs you there now. And you will be serving as a District Leader again.

Right after I got the text I went straight to the Alejaga and Lago family's to say goodbyes. It was super sad to have to say goodbye to them. I wasn't expecting to be transferred this transfer, and its not even transfer day yet. So it was a very unexpected and random thing.

 But I will go where the Lord wants me to go. So after a bus ride, taxi ride, boat ride, and tricycle ride I am now here on a completely different island called Guimaras. 

So just a fun fact, if you go to the store and get mango jam 90% chance the mangoes are from here. This is a way different area then the others iv'e been in. It will take a little adjusting and lots of Faith and Prayer. There aren't really any stores or anything here, just a lot of jungle and beach. 

I was super sad to leave my friends in Roxas but I am even more excited to see what Guimaras has to offer. I will do my best to serve God and his children here. There is a good chance this could be my last area in the mission but we'll see how it goes. That's about all for this week. Hope ya'll have an awesome week. Love and miss ya'll guy's. 

  
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Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission

Busy Week - March 14, 2016 - Week 72

This week was another busy week. I have set a goal to try and write every week even if nothing crazy happened. So sorry if I bore yall a little bit. 

This past week I had the opportunity to go on splits 3 different times. On Wednesday I went with Elder Smith, one of the APs. I learned heaps of things to better love and serve the people. Then on Thursday I went on splits with Elder Andeo. He is a little bit newer missionary. He has been in the mission for about four months now. So I took the opportunity to teach him a little bit but also learn from him. Then on Saturday I went on splits with Elder Faamoe from New Zealand. We went to his area which was super far and we walked a ton to teach the people. It surprised me that people really came that far every Sunday just to come to church. We visited a couple members and I was blown away by how strong their faith is. Splits are so awesome especially if you go into it with an open mind and try to learn something from the person you are with. No one is perfect at missionary work they're are always things we can do to improve. 

Then to close out the week we put together a zone activity at the beach where we just hung out, played volleyball, rugby, football, capture the flag, and ate really good sea food. We all had a blast. And now its time to get back to work and see what the next week brings.

Love you guys and have a great spring break! :)  

-- 

Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission

Successful and Eventful Week - March 6, 2016 - Week 71

So this week on Tuesday we had another zone training. We changed it up a little bit and decided to have a testimony meeting. It was super cool to hear testimonies from the missionaries especially because a lot of them are from all over the world. But it doesn't matter where we came from or our background our testimonies are simple and strong. We all know that we have a loving Heavenly Father and that he has a plan for each and everyone of us.

 The testimony helped a lot of missionaries remember their purpose and why they came out here to serve the Lord. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were pretty normal. We just worked hard and taught a lot of people. Then Saturday we had a meeting with the stake leaders and bishoprics. President Aquino showed and we were able to go over a lot of goals and plans on the stake level. So now us as missionaries we know how to better help the wards and units meet those goals. Then after the meeting President took us out for lunch at a super classy restaurant. On Sunday we had church and we were able to see the effects and blessings that came from our home teaching the week before. We added a solid 30 people to the average attendance. Which is a huge deal. So we are continuing to make plans to have more effective home and visiting teaching. I just want to testify that every member in the church needs to have a friend in the church. It is essential to have fellow shippers for every less active member and investigator. Also this week I was able to pass the sacrament with Rohan.

 And last night I got a text from bishop recommending Rohan to go to the temple in Cebu for the temple trip! That might not be a big deal for people in the states but people here sometimes save money their whole life to be able to go to the temple just once in their life time. Because he was recommended by bishop he will be able to go with everything paid for. So getting that text was such an awesome feeling. It really makes missionary work awesome when you can see the people you taught really progress and grow strong in the church!

Well that's about it love y'all and take care! 

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Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission