Comfortably Numb

October 23, 2017

A pretty good description of how I feel. I don't think things are too good here. But I'm coping well. I wish that things could be a li'l different than this, but I guess that it's all part of the journey. 

I do feel a little down. Kisumu isn't helpin' a whole lot, but that's the condition of the whole country so I'll hang on. I'm trying my best to be an optimist! Haha it may feel like hell, but at least it's not cold! 

It's hard not to think about home though... Especially being inside for so long. I don't know if you heard about Madagascar, but almost all of the missionaries have been taken out. I don't want to spread rumors or anything, but if it can happen there than... Well, ya know.

About Bednar, yeah he came, but he was in Nairobi, so not a chance of meeting him. :( It would have been cool though..

And about moving around for elections, the people up top seem to think it's gonna be okay around here this time around. So we stayed here in Kisumu. HA. We will see.

And the work is good, though we don't have much time to teach. It makes the work difficult, it's not easy to find investigators, and when we do, it's not likely that they stick around, because they are either participating in the ruckus, or they are running away from it. So we all hope and pray that things will cool off, and perhaps people will be ready to learn and accept the gospel, and reap the blessings in their lives. but yeah :(...

Anyways, oh gosh Portland sounds nice right now... When you talked about Sizzle Pie, my mouth was literally watering. And getting lost for hours in Powell's Book store sounds like a dream. I hope everything is amazing for you back home! I pray the business is finding success! And I hope those new love birds are lovin' life! I'll hopefully talk to you next week! Lots of love!

elder fraga

YELLO! Yellow?

October 17, 2017

I come from a land down undaa... duh duh-duh duh where women roll and make thundaa... 

bababa-bababa can ya heya can ya heya tha thundaaa? 

I bet ya can't guess what song is stuck in my head right now..

Anyways, that doesn't have anything to do with... really anything so,

Things here are goood... Not much has been happening because of certain things that are happening but it's all chill because we are still safe and alive!

I have had an ABUNDANCE of time to study as of late, and I have learned many many things, and my testimony of the Book of Mormon really has grown! It's great! I would like to say this to all: Read from the Book of Mormon. In fact, read it EVERY SINGLE DAY. And if you don't want to hear it from me, a lowly 20 year old hippy living in Africa as a representative of Jesus Christ, listen to the big man himself, cause thats the message he's been givin' his prophets since the book came back nearly 200 years ago. When we read from the Book of Mormon, we find solutions to problems that confront us, answers to questions we both know we have and didn't know we have, and most importantly, grow closer to God and Jesus Christ through it! Take a chance, and dare I say? Carry it around with you everywhere. Whether on your phone, or as a small paper copy, keep it on hand boys and girls, that's our weapon in these latter days! Use it!

Love ya all, U R da best.

Elder Fraga

P.S. A member showed us somethin' about Eminem blasting Donald Trump? Can I get an update on the statehouse? Seems like things are going to "ashiz"...

 a Ether 15:25

Say My Name... ELDER OAKS!!! ELDER OAKS!!!

Man, general conference is just the best! And is it just me or is Elder Oaks lookin' a little more like Heisenberg each and every day?... dang dang dang, I LOVED his talk! I really enjoyed his talk on the family, Holland's talk on not beating ourselves up, and Christopherson's talk on holiness! Those three were gold! Unfortunately I was only able to watch the Sunday morning session because it was like this:

Saturday morning- downloaded, English

Saturday afternoon- downloaded, only Swahili...

Sunday morning- downloaded, English

Sunday afternoon- downloaded... the session from last year... -_-

I don't know what they're gonna do about priesthood session, but I hope we get to watch it! 

And I don't have a lot to say, but I'm alive and I'm safe, and I may as well add my testimony that the church is true! The Book of Mormon is the word of God! And our loving Heavenly Father speaks to us today just as in times of old through his chosen prophets! 

I'll work on giving you an update of the area next week, but for now, my comp is really cool. His name is Elder Sunu. He is learning English fast, and I'm happy to serve with him!

Love you all! I'm happy for Aanika and Adam! And I hope you all have an awesome week!

Elder Fraga

Aidan's post for his sister's wedding

Aanika, Aanika, Aanika... The day you have been waiting for, for all your life, has finally come! Wow, Wow, Wow... Today is YOUR day, and I hope it feels special.

I remember the day Adam asked me if he could marry you!... I was nervous, shaky, excited! You probably felt the same, eh?... the good news is, that I said YES!!! But... the even better news is that you said yes, and because of that you are sitting next to the dude you are going to spend the rest of time and all eternity with. I am so happy for you two, and I am so excited to have such an awesome brother-in-law, to join in all the crazy Fraga family stuff...

Aanika, you really have been there for me throughout my entire life. It’s like you were my life guru! You were the one that I would always talk to when I was wanting advice on all the stuff I was going through, and for that I am forever grateful. I remember the loooong car rides that we would have late into the night talking, about what was going on in our lives. Me talking about things that at this time are not important and you talking about life, and school, and your mission, and Adam. You really have had a crush on that boy for a long time! And it is so awesome that after all these years, things have played out perfectly! Woo-hoo! Blessings!

Thanks to your witty character, your personal charm, your good looks and your loving personality, you were able to get the guy, and Adam, you're cool. Haha here comes an awkward part but uh... You’re strong, handsome, and intelligent... good for my sister! I’m happy that you guys are the way you are, and that because of that, you fell in love. But I will forever take credit for the catch phrase "Imma pray for the double A" and I know that the faith and hope that our families had in your guys' relationship had something to do with this glorious outcome!

So, obviously I'm not going to be there for your guys' wedding, but at least I can imagine it! And in the depth of my twisted imagination I was reminded of this: 

[Eva's dressers:]
Eyes, hair, mouth, figure
Dress, voice, style, movement
Hands, magic, rings, glamour
Face, diamonds, excitement, image

[Eva:]
I came from the people, they need to adore me
So Christian Dior me from my head to my toes
I need to be dazzling, I want to be Rainbow High
They must have excitement, and so must I

I hope with all my heart that just like Evita, you feel "Rainbow high" Haha, sounds psychedelic... But also that you feel dazzling and that you recognize that you are an Argentine Rose! Adam, I hope you feel like an Albanian rose or something. But, your wedding must be exciting, and filled with love, and ultimately, the best day of your entire lives so far.

Now for the missionary part, heheheee.... *rub hands together*... So if I have learned anything from my mission, it is that the scriptures can apply into every part of our lives, so here is some wedding advice from the prophet Alma to me to you:

 "Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass"

What a truly GREAT thing it is to have a marriage that will last for eternity. What a joyous thing to celebrate on this happy day,. Let us all remember that if we want success in our relationships, we must do the small and simple things, saying "I love you" everyday, being each others sense of happiness even if the world seems to try to make your day feel like crap, and most importantly extending a simple invitation to Christ to strengthen you both, to lift you both, and to develop more and more love for the rest of your lives!

Now, I only have one thing left to add... God loves you, and I do too! I can’t wait to be with you in a year! ‘Till then the glass of filtered water is once again raised to the sky for an abundance of joy in your guys' relationship! Haha! Amen!

-Elder Fraga

That's What I'm Countin' On

KISUMU

Life is crazy.  I have been through a lot here in Kenya. I have seen so many things that I never wanted to see, and often times I'll find myself in a situation where I'm like "Geez..." and then I think back about it and i'm like "GEEZ.". Life. Is. Crazy.

I don't know what to do, but I hope I find some rest one day!

I still have a year left on the mission, and a year is a very long time, but I have been thinking a little bit about what I want to do after, and an idea came to mind! I was talking to Elder Torrie the other day and there was something that we talked about that just has not been able to leave my mind since! Obviously things aren't set in stone (It doesn't really seem like anything ever is in life...). But I was thinking about how cool it might be to go to BYU Jerusalem for a semester after I'm back? I know Jerusalem is sketchy and all, but I promise you, that after living in Nairobi for 6 months... nothing can scare me. As I said before, I don't know exactly what I'll do, but I'm sure things will get a li'l easier. I just wish I could hug you guys and hear you guys say "everything is gonna be alright, you're home now." But for now I push on! a"I keep rhymin' I keep writtin' the next cypher, best believe something the something the pide piper." I don't know what else to write. You don't need to post this one on the blog. I was just writing to write... Excited for conference though! It should be good!

Elder Frags

a eminem song