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!

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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

Baptism Sa Bucasong! - August 31, 2015 - Week 44

First of all I want to testify that when there's a will there's is a WAY!! In my last email I said we rescheduled the baptism for Monday night. But we still weren't sure if it was going to happen. But all day on Monday the weather was pretty good so we went forward with it. When we started the service the waves weren't to big so we just kept moving forward. It came time for the baptism and we all looked at the ocean and the waves had gotten bigger. So we asked Jousha and Romeo what they thought. There reply was "Lets do this, I don't want to wait any longer." So we didn't argue. We started out with Romeo. Elder Francisco baptized him. It was crazy difficult! We all got knocked down like three times before all four of us missionaries were in the water and had to help, but we got it done. Then it was time for me to baptize Jousha. The waves were getting bigger every minute. So I asked her again if she wanted to do it another day. She said "No" again. So all four of us missionaries got back in the water and no more then 5 seconds later a HUGE wave came and knocked all of us the the ground super hard. So we all got out of the water and said a prayer on the beach to figure out how we were going to do this. So what we did was went out and after I finished the prayer I told the three other Elders to make sure she goes all the way under. So an other wave came and she fell right back into the wave and was fully immersed. It was a success. Afterwards they both bore there testimonies and brought the spirit so strongly. Even though it wasn't the ideal baptism. They felt the spirit.

On Tuesday night I got a call from the AP's. I was told to go to Iloilo on Wednesday and be at the mission home no later then 5:00. I'M TRAINING!!! On Wednesday I got to the mission office and found out that there is only one new Elder that came in this batch and I have the privilege of working with him. So my new companion is Elder Puig from Mindanao Philippines. He is super soft spoken which is like the complete opposite of me. But yeah so that's that. I hope to learn a lot from him and teach him a few things along the way.

We have two more baptisms planned for Sept 12. They are both on schedule! Two young men, Brent Nair and Kin kin. They will be awesome priesthood holders! Right now Bugasong Branch needs strong priesthood holders. 

Well that's pretty much it for this week. Thank you everyone for your support and prayers. Feel free to send me a quick email or whatever. Love you all and have another awesome week!

-- 

Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission

Baptism thawarted by Typhoon INENG - August 24, 2015 - Week 43

This week wasn't the best, but we all have not so good weeks here and there. So this week we had Romeo Nietes and Jousha's baptism scheduled for Saturday. Everything was going as planned. They both past the interviews and everything was on track. They were super excited. And then INENG happened. We had another typhoon come in and destroy our plans. Here in Bugasong there is one place we can baptize and that is the ocean. But when a typhoon comes in the waves in the ocean become huge and not safe. So we rescheduled the baptism for today so we'll see how it goes. 

I just want to say how much I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! MISSIONARY WORK IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST!! I know this church is true. I know that if we strive everyday to follow our Savior, he will help us get through whatever obstacles that may come our way. The gospel is true. I love you guys so much and hope you all have an awesome week!

-- 

Elder Jake Frandsen

Philippines Iloilo Mission