Farewell talk

Good morning brothers and sisters. What an awesome morning, hearing from two great friends from my ward.   For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Aidan Fraga. I’ve been called to serve in the Nairobi Kenya mission, as I’m sure you probably could have guessed, I have not been able to stop researching the place since I got the call. Some of the things I learned about my mission, is that it includes the whole country of Kenya and the whole country of Tanzania right below it. An interesting thing about my mission is that instead of the nine or ten o’clock curfew that is in regular missions, my curfew is at six, because that’s when the sun goes down on the equator and that’s when the animals come out. I’m excited about that… I’ll start my talk.

I love being outdoors and I always have. I love just being out there. There’s something about being at the top of the mountain or swimming in a glacial lake that I just cannot get enough of. I love being so out of breath after a trail run that no matter how small a breath you take you always end up coughing. Or getting to the top of a cliff after climbing the whole thing and having bloodied hands and bruised feet, and the feeling you get looking over the edge after you are at the top, there’s nothing else like it. I was asked to speak on why I chose to serve a mission. As I pondered the topic over the past couple of weeks, I kinda started thinking about the emotions that I felt over the whole process. Preparing for my mission, turning my papers in, and getting my call. 5 months ago, I was excited, antsy, nervous, a little bit scared. The list goes on. Then I realized, that the feelings I was having were the same emotions that I feel at the start at any great adventure. Just like how I’ve always wanted to be outdoors, I have always wanted to serve a mission. Just like I’m scared to clip the first bolt on any climbing route, I’m scared to see what the mission holds for me. I’ve heard that the mission field can be lonely, but you usually don’t have a lot of company when you are jumping in a freezing cold lake. I’ve heard that when I go out, I’m going to miss home, but when you are only a quarter of the way up the mountain you aren’t really thinking about the top. I’ve never passed up the opportunity to rough it for a few nights or wake up early to see a sunrise when it’s below zero outside, and I’m not going to pass up the opportunity to serve my mission. I do not choose to do these things because they are easy, or pleasant. I do them because I want to, and because I’ve been asked, and because at the end, after it’s all done the rewards are so great. At the end of the day, serving a mission isn’t an option; it’s a priesthood duty. Thomas S Monson said, “Every worthy, able, young man should prepare to serve a mission. Missionary service is a priesthood duty. An obligation the Lord expects of us who have been given so very much. Young men, I admonish you to prepare for missionary service.” I love that quote. “An obligation the Lord expects of us who have been given so very much.”  I have been given so very much. I feel so blessed every time I look at the Wasatch Mountains or go on a trip down to Moab. We live in a beautiful state with so many amazing opportunities right in our backyard. I’ve grown up doing some amazing things with an amazing family. I know it won’t easy to leave that for two years, but Thomas S Monson also said, “The greatest decision I ever made in my life was to give up something I dearly loved, for the God I loved even more.” I do dearly love my family, and I do dearly love my friends and I do really love adventures, but I love God even more. That’s why I’m going to Kenya for the next two years, to preach the gospel and teach the people about Jesus Christ. But don’t get me wrong I don’t thing the adventure will stop there. I’ve heard many things and been told many stories about Africa since I got my call, like how it can make any boy a man, and how it tries to kill you in every way possible.

Kenya is going to be hard, but I find comfort in this scripture that my mother and I were discussing in 1 Nephi 4:1. In this chapter, Nephi and his brothers are getting ready to go and collect the record from Laban. The scripture says “And it came to pass that I spake unto my brethren saying, Let us go up again unto Jerusalem, and let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord, for behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thousands?” Let’s focus right now on the part of the verse that says “mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thousands”. There’s a quote online about this specific scripture, which says “why did it say that? Because Laban and his fifty were the obstacles standing in the way of Nephi and his brothers fulfilling the commandment of God. What is this scripture really about? It is not about the Lord being stronger than Laban, although he obviously is. Laban and his fifty could represent any of the challenges we face today that obstruct or hinder our ability to keep the commandments of the Lord. It could be related to work and keeping the Sabbath, money and tithing, marriage and sealing, sin, addiction, and worthiness. It can be anything. This scripture is to give hope that God is mightier than all problems and able and willing to do the heavy lifting, and assist His saints when it comes to keeping the commandments. Nephi’s comments concerning “Laban and his fifty” are to give hope to all that are on the errand of the Lord, or engaged in His service, whether that be a personal desire to obey, or on behalf of his church. It is the message that when engaged in a just cause, when there is no way, that God will make a way. When a miracle is needed, a miracle can be expected. When help is required, help, even divine help, will be sent. In short, don’t give up, don’t give in.” I really like the thought that God will help me in all of my righteous desires.

I have been blessed with so many great examples of missionaries. My grandpa served in Mexico, My dad served in Spain, My older brother served in South Africa, my sister served in Argentina, I’ve had so many uncles and cousins go, and I have had countless leaders serve. My uncle and Aunt are currently serving as mission presidents in the Resistencia Argentina mission. They have been out for close to two and a half years, and they have had some amazing stories to tell us, and I don’t think we could measure the amount of blessings they have received and that we have received over here. I have also been blessed with some awesome stories in the scriptures about missionaries. Like Samuel the Lamanite standing on the city wall while people shot arrows and threw stones at him. Can you imagine the faith that he must have had? Or, Abnadi who stood before the king’s courts, on trial because of his religion. He only converted one person, Alma. But he changed the history of the whole nation. I could not have made it to where I am today without all of these great examples in my life. They have always been there, and I know they will continue to help me throughout my mission.

Gordon B Hinkley said, “My heart reaches out to you missionaries. You simply cannot do it alone and do it well.  You must have the help of others. The power to help lies within each of us.”

I’d like to thank all my family and friends and leaders for exercising that power within them to help prepare me for my mission. I know I will always be able to rely on you to pick me up when I fall down, and I know if I am having a hard time, I can remember the words of Shakira “When you fall down, get up, oh, oh.  If you fall down, get up, eh, eh. Tsamina mina zangalewa- Cause this is Africa.” I wish I could tell you what Tsamina mina zangalewa means, but I just don’t know. But I know that this church is the true church on the earth today. And I know that Thomas S Monson is the true prophet leading it. I know that Joseph received and translated the Book of Mormon through God’s power, and I know that Jesus Christ suffered and atoned for us. I am so grateful that he would be willing to do that. I love this church, and I love this gospel and I can’t wait to go to Kenya, going home to a place I’ve never been before to teach people I don’t know about the gospel I do know. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.