Wednesday, March 30, 2016
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!!
That's about it for this week. Hope yall have a great week! Love and Miss yall!!
--
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.
--
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!
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!
--
Elder Jake Frandsen
Philippines Iloilo Mission
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Always Room for Improvement - February 29, 2016 - Week 70
This week went by way to quick! Tuesday we had district meeting where we learned how to better teach lesson four about commandments. After that we got right to work. We had a member work with us like all day so that was pretty sweet. Then on Wednesday morning Elder Ramos and I headed down to Iloilo a little early before MLC. We got a bite to eat with Elder Swanton and Crichton at Zarks (an american burger joint) Then we headed over to the church to get somethings taken care of before MLC.
The first night of MLC we had accounting which went really well. Then that night Me, Larson, Swanton, and our comps went and stayed the night at Swanton's place. We had a little bon fire and just sat there and talked and sang songs while Larson played the guitar. We also ordered Mcdonalds! We stayed up "a little late" that night. It was fun getting to catch up with those guys. Then the next morning we headed back over to the church for the second part of MLC. After that MLC I officially have a new favorite in the Book of Mormon. Moroni is one awesome leader and servant. We studied Alma 43-62. And we took out all of the cool things Moroni did with his people and armies. The goal is for all of the leaders in the mission to be that kind of leader. I would strongly encourage y'all to read and ponder those chapters. Thurday night after the MLC we headed back up to Roxas. I received a text from Bishop asking me to speak on Sunday. So I started to think about what I could speak on so I chose Repentance. Then after church on Sunday the bishopric went on splits with us to go home teach less active families. It was awesome just watching them take control of the lessons and really fulfill their callings. So all in all this week was great. That's about it though so have a great week y'all! Love you guys!
The first night of MLC we had accounting which went really well. Then that night Me, Larson, Swanton, and our comps went and stayed the night at Swanton's place. We had a little bon fire and just sat there and talked and sang songs while Larson played the guitar. We also ordered Mcdonalds! We stayed up "a little late" that night. It was fun getting to catch up with those guys. Then the next morning we headed back over to the church for the second part of MLC. After that MLC I officially have a new favorite in the Book of Mormon. Moroni is one awesome leader and servant. We studied Alma 43-62. And we took out all of the cool things Moroni did with his people and armies. The goal is for all of the leaders in the mission to be that kind of leader. I would strongly encourage y'all to read and ponder those chapters. Thurday night after the MLC we headed back up to Roxas. I received a text from Bishop asking me to speak on Sunday. So I started to think about what I could speak on so I chose Repentance. Then after church on Sunday the bishopric went on splits with us to go home teach less active families. It was awesome just watching them take control of the lessons and really fulfill their callings. So all in all this week was great. That's about it though so have a great week y'all! Love you guys!
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK!!- Rohan Alejaga, From the baptism on Christmas received the Aaronic Priesthood on Sunday! And we will pass the sacrament together this upcoming Sunday!! :D
--
Elder Jake Frandsen
Philippines Iloilo Mission
Hey Ya'll - February 21, 2016 - Week 69
So sorry its been kinda a while since iv'e written a solid email. Iv'e just been crazy busy out here. But anyways this week was full of great experiences. Elder Ramos and I stepped up the work this week and really just hammered down on finding solid investigators. It was a success. We tracted into somebody on the street and they invited us in to teach them so we taught them and gave him a Tagalog Book of Mormon. He gave it back to us and said I want English. So he came over late on Saturday night so he could get an English Book of Mormon. But yeah besides that it is just the same. Just working hard and staying focused. We put a few investigators on date to be baptized in March.
That's about it this week. Love yall!
--
Elder Jake Frandsen
Philippines Iloilo Mission
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