I've Run Out of Clever Titles...

Well, this week was pretty good. I got my new companion and he's pretty cool! He's from Eastern Cape, South Africa, and he is both a crazy good dancer, and very good with the scriptures. I'm really excited to see what the future holds! 

One crazy thing that happened this week was when we were at church. I was just looking around at everybody, and I was like, "Man, I love this place." and I don't know how to explain it, I'm kind of at a loss for words, but I realized that I really truly belong here. Life is good here in Kenya. Life is good as a missionary, and I really don't want life to change. For a pretty long time, I dreamt of home on a regular basis. I desired to be around friends and family, and share in the good times that we so often had the opportunity of enjoying. But now, even as I write this letter, I just have a desire to go out and work. I want to forget myself out here, and I really think I'm beginning to. I love you guys, but I can't really say I miss home. As much as I love Utah, I just don't long for her embrace much anymore...

Anyways, outta the deep stuff! 

This week was good, good! We taught a bunch of awesome people and have quite a few on line for baptism! It's exciting! 

Also, when we were driving in one of the matatus, we realised that there was a huge bus lying sideways in a dug-out sewer. It wasn't quite as crazy as it would be back home though. If we were home it be all over the news, and plastered everywhere. But here, there were just a bunch of guys trying to tip the thing back over. little to no success... It was a school bus sized van... But yeah, Kenya, great! I love it here. I miss you, but the work is making up for it.

I heard about Aanika's trip to Texas this past week. Please tell her "boom boom clap, boom de clap de clap" for me. I sure hope she understands where it's from. But yeah, love you all. Hope everything's good! Say hi to Conner for me! Miss that guy! 

Anyways,

Aidan

NNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

May 15, 2017

NNNOOO!!! The Petersons are going home :,( and I've only just gotten to know them... Seriously, the coolest couple missionaries in the entire world. I've only met them a couple of times but Sister Peterson is just so nice and Elder Peterson is just so chill! And ya wanna know what makes them even better?! THEY CLIMB! Elder and Sister Peterson used to climb sooo much before the mission! IN FACT Elder P even made an attempt to climb the nose on El Cap! He got rained out on day two though... But seriously they are so cool and I'm going to miss those guys... 

ALSO it was so awesome to talk to you guys yesterday! It seriously just made my day. I have the best family in the entire world. And along with that, I have the best MOM in the world! CATHERINE SUEANN MCDONALD FRAGA, I LOVE YOU! Thanks for birthing me and carrying me around in your body for nine months! I just do not know where I would be without that wonderful woman in my life. I cannot even find words to express how thankful I am for you. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

The work over here is going well. We continue doing our best to invite others to come unto Christ, and it is just the best work I could ever ask for. I'm gonna miss it when this is all over :(

Now on a spiritual note, I would like to share a little thought from my mission. When me and the fam were talking on the phone they asked me "What is your favorite part of being a missionary?" My answer to that question is that I am honored to stand worthy enough to suffer through whatever difficulties may arise in my mission for Christ. In the book of Acts we find one of my favorite stories in the Bible. It is in Acts 5:40-41. This is the story of Peter and John preachin' the good word and their attitudes when going through really hard times, it says:

"40 ...They had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41  And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."

Missions are hard. Missions are freakin' hard. But I'm so grateful, just as Peter and John were, to suffer shame for His name. Because, after all he did for us, it's only fitting that we give as much as we can back. I love this gospel more than anything in the entire universe. I know that it blesses lives, because I've seen it bless mine, and I am so grateful to be a missionary, to have the opportunity each and everyday to share it with others. I love God, I love my family, and I love you all! I hope each of you have an amazing week.

Much love,

Elder Fraga

Guernica and Uno

May 1, 2017

This week was boring. We were not allowed to leave our flat for most of it. I discovered a new passion of mine, making puzzles. I'm working on a puzzle right now and its a real beast. It's 1000 pieces and it's black and white. It's of the painting "Guernica" by Pablo Picasso. and might I say, it's growing on me. I went from thinking "hmmm, Pablo probably took some crack cocaine before drawing this." to "Hey, ya know, Pablo Picasso really revolutionized art! He did things on his own terms. His art was unique, and I don't think any guy off the street could REALLY do what he did." It was kinda cool. 

I also got to study the scriptures a lot. The scriptures are always nice and my love for them has really grown since coming out here. We can learn SO much from them. I've been recently studying the Old Testament and might I say, the passages in Psalms are AWESOME! I start reading and I can't walk away, it just sucks me in! It's cool. 

After we were released from being coped up for a few days, we went and bought a lot of ramen to add to our food storage, because eating beans for breakfast lunch and dinner three days straight made us really gassy. 

We finished the week well, but we were still very cautious of all the riots and stuff. So it was thrilling. Got tear gassed again and it still sucks, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it was last time haha... Just a runny nose and itchy eyes. 

We had 3 baptisms this week, but they were for children of record, not investigators. still pretty great though! 

After church, we visited members and I got to play guitar for the first time in 7 months! :') We also played Uno which was great... I won every time. And there was a 3 year old who stole my harmonica and started playing it and it was so cute and funny. It was just awesome. 

Today was nice. We went and played futball with the other elders and it was fun. When we were on our way back there was the poem from What about Bob on the window and it made me smile:

Roses are red

Violets are blue

I'm a schizophrenic

and so am I.

Now as a challenge to all back home, I challenge EVERYONE reading this to get up and bear your testimony next fast Sunday. In fact I dare you I TRIPLE DOG DARE you to bear your testimony. Just do it. There's nothing to lose, only things to gain! It'll be great!