Fear NOT

"I’m sure that you must feel like you're on a bullet train heading towards a brick wall yourself." 

Yes sir, 100%. 

Going home from my mission is seeming to be a lot harder than actually leaving in the first place... There is a lot waiting over on that side of the world, and I am not quite sure I am ready to accept it all... In a bit of a simpler way to put it: I'm scared as heck. I guess I've been able to handle everything thus far, and *knock on wood* I don't think going home could be any worse than being shot at, or going to prison, so... I've got a thing or two going for me, haha. But it's still daunting. 

This is from 2 Kings:6,

15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compasses the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! How shall we do? 
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17  And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

If there is one thing that I have come to KNOW through my mission, it is that "they that be with us are more than they that be with them.". At times I have not seen-or perhaps overlooked, the help that I was in need of, but it has always been there, and it has carried me from the beginning of my mission to this point here. i know as i have said countless times before that:

1) God loves us.

2) The church is so stinkin' true.

3) And, that so long as we stand with God, NOTHING can stand against us.

I love you guys a whole lot, and I hope you know that I saw some miracles this week, through the priesthood. It will be a glorious day when I can tell you all about it.

-Elder A.H.F

Small and Simple Things

September 17, 2018

Here are some thoughts on small and simple things:

This last week we had an investigator receive the Holy Ghost and be confirmed a member of the church. Funny enough that same sister, whose name is Linda, taught Relief Society in the third hour, and the topic was on small and simple things! It's amazing to see how far she has come in this gospel.

Almost nine months ago, my companion (Elder Ngele) and I were out working in an area called Kahoya. Some investigators had just bounced us, so what we decided to do was a little bit of tracting- going around and knocking on people's doors. We had been working for sometime and after having gone through all the doors in a specific compound, we decided to head back to the church. As we were leaving, we were approached by a man named Andrew. He had seen us walking around, and was interested to find out what we had to say. After telling him in brief about who we were and the message we had to share, he told us to come back another day so we could talk, and asked us if we could get any material in braille... We weren't too sure, but we told him we would try, and kinda shrugged it off, looking at it as just another contact.

About a week after that as we were following up with some of the numbers we had received, we called him up. He was happy to hear from us and we made an appointment to meet, and of course, a couple of days later, we were there at his home. We met, along with him, also a sister named Nelly, and Linda.-(by the way, I'm sorry, I'm trying to make a long story short 'cause I don't have a lotta time...)- But Linda was blind. As we began, she started asking us a whole lotta tough questions.... She was asking us why she had to become blind, and why life was so hard. We did our best to share some thoughts with her, and even talked a bit about the Book of Mormon, using Ether 12:6. After the lesson, we weren't too sure if we had much of an impact on her, or if they would progress very much.

We had met with them a couple more times and then decided to focus our efforts elsewhere at that time, and time went on. The small contact that we had, and the simple lessons, slipped out of our minds. BUT they didn't slip out of Linda's.

 

One day, as Elder Ntlebi (my current companion) and I were doing what seemed like a pretty simple thing, which was following up with some people we had contacted, we met Linda and Nelly on the road and they told us to come back and visit again. We again had a simple lesson with them, but it was powerful, and Linda could remember every single thing we had said about the Book Of Mormon. It was crazy. To make a long story short, we ended up talking and sharing with her, about a nice simple spiritual experience we had at MLC in Nairobi, along with the mission president and the assistants. The assistants happened to have the complete set of the Book Of Mormon (which is about 6 big binders full) in braille at their apartment! They hadn't thought much of it, but now we could see that through all these small and simple things: a contact, a scripture, a follow up, and a misplaced braille copy of the Book Of Mormon, GOD had done something great, and He had prepared a way- In fact, a perfect way for Linda to embrace the gospel fully and find the hope and peace that she has been yearning for, for the last 6 years. 

I know all my words are just mumbled up and i wish i could have had more time to put these things together, but, Linda has been reading the Book Of Mormon. She says she has more peace in her life than ever before, and she has been sharing the gospel with friends and family ever since. 

Actually, I'm trying to write this as fast as possible, because we are going to her home tonight! It's her birthday! But, this story, if you know all of it, is just super, super, crazy and there is no way- ABSOLUTELY NO WAY, that it's coincidence... It was the hand of God through small and simple things.... 

I'll tell you the full story when I'm home so that it can make a little more sense and stuff, but I love you guys, have a good week.

Matthew 11: 28-30

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your sould. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

Dinner Time!

Final Words for The Kenya Nairobi Newsletter

September 10, 2018

This letter is a missionary's final words. They go out in the Kenya Nairobi mission newsletter every transfer.  Anyways love you! And by the way, we had two baptisms this last Sunday and one of them was our blind investigator! I've got a whole lot to tell you when I get home! Have a good week! I love you very much! 

-A

An Infinite Atonement 

By Elder Fraga 

I know Christ suffered for the sins and pains of the world, though I can't comprehend it. And I have called upon that sacrifice far too many times. Though it gives me comfort to know that Christ knows not only the pain I've felt in sin, but also any pain that I have been through in His name(Acts 5:40-41). In the mission field we all experience trials, even on a daily basis, and I don’t want to speak out of turn, but I've had my own fair share.

Christ knows what it's like to be lonely. He knows what its like to shake because of fear. He even knows what tear gas feels like, haha… He knows me. And I know Him. To quote Job 23:10- 

“but He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” 

This is His promise; and my prayer and testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Companions: 

Elder Ngabonziza, Elder Covarrubias, Elder Mayekiso, Elder Jack(sugarbuns), Elder Sunu, Elder Ngele, Elder Mahanzu, Elder Ntlebi

Areas: 

Chyulu, Nthongoni &Yumbuni; Nairobi, Zimmerman; Kisumu II; Eldoret, Huruma

I would like to thank each of my great companions for teaching me and helping me stay true to the faith, and our great president, President Msane, for everything he has done to change and fortify this mission- To the new missionaries, you will never really now how much good that man has done for this great place.

To stay in contact: Email- aidanfraga80@gmail.com Instagram- @aidanfraga

I'm Back!

September 10, 2018

Sorry for not writing last week. No I was not in jail, and I'm still moving strong... 

The last two weeks have been busy kidogo. Two weeks ago, it was transfer stuff, so for those of you who I was not able to reply too, it's cool. Don't worry. When we were in Nairobi things were good. We had another meeting, talking about mission stuff, which was cool. But the highlight of the week was our correlation meeting with the Eldoret district president. It was me and my comp Elder Ntlebi and the zone leaders up in Kitale, Elders Merz and Bigirindavyi. When we were with him, we talked about a number of things, but the majority of the conversation was about what we can do as Eldoret grows into a stake. It should become one in November! But, we talked about a YSA thing, determining what the role of members is vs missionaries, and have you ever thought about this one: a Book of Mormon book club! Kinda cool eh? That's what I want to be doing to keep myself busy in October. Anyways, other than that, I'm pretty sad because out of the next four weeks before i go, only one of them is a full week... Can you believe it? I only have one full week to work... :( 

But I am excited to see you guys, so yeah. 

Love ya all! Gotta go. 

elder frags

I'm Feelin' Good

August 27, 2018

Man, I'm feeling so fine! We got transfer news yesterday and I will be finishing my mission here in Eldoret! This is just awesome! I'm happy, I'm motivated, and I'm ready to go on in the work! I feel like emailing today has really filled me up to the brim! Although it is pretty weird, because it seems like there are waves that come and just hit me in the face and I'm like, "man I'm ready for this to be over...", but I love being a missionary. This is the best work. I'm determined to stay alive. 

This last week was pretty good. I was able to go on exchanges with Elder Christensen, who is the first missionary that I met on the way here! We came together and even on top of that we almost ran into each other at the youth conference down in Moab! Funny enough, also TC ran into his mom at Lowes! And btw TC, I'm super bad at emailing. I'm sorry, please forgive me. But you are the man and we are going to be cruisin' up Bell's real soon man! But- Elder Christensen and I went on exchanges and had an awesome time! Super awesome miracles that we saw, which I'll tell you at home, and also super awesome/kinda scary story to tell you also when I get home! Man it was an exciting day! But one thing that was on our minds throughout it, had to do with "What is missionary work?", but it was a lot deeper than that alone... after a lot of thinking we came to a final question, and of course there were a whole lot of things we covered in the discussion, too many to name in this email alone, but the final question is "What is the purpose of a saint?". I want you to think about that, what it really means.

I'll say, it's a loaded question... And I don't feel like I got a complete answer yet, because it may very well be grander than this life alone can tell. I love this gospel though. The gospel of eternal progression and love. The gospel changes lives and I've seen that. God cares about all His children, I've seen that. True peace is found in Christ, I've felt that. But I love you all very much, and I can't say that enough, I love you guys. And I hope you all have a better week. and a great week!

elder fraga