Yeah, Take That, Uganda!

April 3, 2017

"i wonder where we should put the next temple?... Maybe Uganda since the church has 3 stakes in that country and East Africa needs one?... NOPE lets put one in Kenya with their two stakes, cause the missionaries and the saints are way better." Just kidding... i think a temple would be better in Uganda... but YEEESSSSS! We are getting a temple! AAAHHHHH! It’s so exciting! I was literally on the verge of tears when i found out, but I had a major headache so I didn't cry....

But this week has been good! I’ve been sick for a good amount of it. I won’t tell you the details or anything cause they're pretty nasty, but don’t worry! It’s not malaria...

The work has also been going well! We were getting a little discouraged with the work and then BAM! A temple hits us in the face! I’m still so stinkin excited... I cannot even begin to tell you... We may not have cars, or washing machines, or running water/electricity half the time, BUT WE"RE GETTING A TEMPLE! YEE-YEE! so excited...

Now, at this time, I don’t want to talk a lot about Nairobi, because frankly I’m just not much of a fan when it comes to talking about the type a things we see over here, BUT... I will tell you about this awesome adventure we went on today... we journeyed to a place called "Paradise Lost" and just hung out for hours and hours. It was super awesome and I was completely in my element! We got to go into these stone age caves that were literally behind a waterfall (dream come true) AND flippin heck! I GOT TO SWING ON JUNGLE VINES LIKE TARZAN! LIKE LITERALLY SWINGING FROM VINE TO VINE! IT WAS SO AWESOME. AAAANNNNNNDDDDD, I finally saw my first monkey! After 6 freakin months.. I FINALLY saw my first monkey and it was just as awesome as I'd ever imagined... dang... good times good times.

I love it here, I totally want to come back for the temple dedication... But I hope it’s not for a while after I get home... I need time to "recover"... I don’t have a bunch to say this week, If you have any questions, feel free to just shoot ‘em on over to me at aidan.fraga@myldsmail.net but as for now, eh, I do like this place.

Elder Fraga

p.s. I’m totally going grey! I have so many grey hairs now!

WHAAAAAA?????

March 27, 2017

HOLY CRAP! Conner and Amber are engaged!!! Holy holy crap! That is awesome! And it sounds like Europe is just as awesome as ever! I’m glad you guys are having a good time and the pictures of Copenhagen just look sweet! I can’t believe that you actually got to see the legit statue that the church copied! I’m jealous! But ya know what’s even better than the pictures of Copenhagen and better than the pictures of Paris?... The pictures of Dad’s long hair!!! It’s lookin’ good big boy! You should seriously consider growing it out even longer! It’s not lookin’ bad one bit!

Also, I can’t believe that Lenny is the new bishop! It’s crazy! I think he’s gonna do a really good job though!

Ya wanna know what else is crazy?... this week marks 6 months! So flippin’ crazy to think that I only have a girls mission left! Wow! time is flyin by!

I seriously miss you guys... But things are going alright here. It’s been a somewhat busy week with little work... Of course last weekend we had Stake Conference , then it was p-day, then it was Zone Conference, then it was companion exchanges with the one and only elder Nyanhamo from Zimbabwe, whose first name also happens to be Aidan! Kinda cool... He is actually a way cool guy. After that we spent the next couple of days working. but on Sunday, Elder Cova got sick so it was just studying in the flat for a few hours.

Something crazy happened though... We were just sitting in the flat and then BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! A bunch of loud consecutive gunshots go off! People were screaming and we just hear this giant riot taking place right outside of the apartment complex! Kinda crazy! and its all because of the elections!... its not even August yet! The same type of gunshot thing happened when we were sitting in Zone Conference, but don’t worry. We are all good and there is no need to worry. None of us are actually in danger. We take precautions to stay safe. But, at the end of the day, its kinda just like, "Really Kenya? Chill!... geez."

I have enjoyed the last six months though. All the meetings went well, and I felt pretty good about what was going on this last week, so that’s good. There isn’t alot to say on my part... I got some glasses to keep the dust out of my eyes? i don’t know?... not a lot to complain about here!

I love you all!

Keep on keepin’ on,

Aidy Cakes

Working Hard and Rockin' the Lessons

March 20, 2017

This week was good. Lots of mixed emotions. We've been working really hard lately and we have seen some big changes and a load of success. In the past three weeks, we have increased our teaching pool to thirty-four people, and there are at least nine that will most definitely make it to baptism, which is really cool. We have also had some really rockin' lessons. One of which was to someone named James. James is a really cool guy. At first he was a little skeptical of hearing our message, for a big reason that I will address later on in the letter, but after some consideration, he decided to let us in. We taught him a little bit, he asked some really good questions, and the spirit was super strong. We felt the conversion in the guy taking place, and we were just super happy altogether. Then he almost made us freaking bounce off the walls when he told us about how HE IS A FREAKIN PASTOR OF A CHURCH AND WANTS US TO BEGIN TEACHING HIS WHOLE CONGREGATION SO THAT THEY CAN COME INTO THE CHURCH WHEN HE DOES! What the literal heck?! That is so flippin’ awesome! The congregation is just about 50-60 members and if everything were to work out, it would split the ward that we are currently serving in! Holy cow! Can you freakin’ believe it?! I am so happy to have the opportunity to be an instrument in God’s hands in bringing these people to this wonderful restored gospel. Just to see the way that God works in these people is truly humbling as well. James is very, very, excited and we are too! We will have to work a few things out, but there is a possibility that President Msane will come to teach the whole congregation with us! Awesome!

Talking about President Msane, we had stake conference this past week and it was awesome. In fact, an area seventy came! It was really cool. We will also be having a big ol' zone conference this week, which means I’ll be able to see my second companion ever, (from the MTC) Elder Brown. It’s gonna be awesome. Anyways, things are good here.

I love you all,

Elder Fraga

Holy Cow!

Another thing that I forgot to mention in my weekly email is that a cow came to church this Sunday... It just wandered into the church and we had to drive it out... That's what the city lyfe is all about yo.

I'm a Rebel Just For Kicks

March 13, 2017

Well, another great week in the beautiful land of Kenya. Honestly, so much has happened in my life in the past week, it’s crazy. So much in fact, that if they don’t make a movie about my mission experience to go along with the Saratov approach, Freetown, and The Other Side of Heaven, I’m going to be thoroughly disappointed... Literally, just a few seconds ago as we were typing, a bus crashed into the building next to us. We all seriously thought that it was a bomb, but nope. Just your run o’ the mill bus hits brick wall kind a situation ya know? Oh, wait. You probably don’t because you are in America. Luckily no one got hurt and they all walked away with just a really beat up car pretending like nothing happened... WTFetch?... Seriously... Ridiculous... Life is crazy here, but I love it. A couple of elders went into the national park today and saw 6 lions, 10 rhinos, and over 30 giraffes! Isn’t that crazy?! It’s crazy to think that that is literally in our backyard.  Now, before you go thinking that Kenya is a paradise, I want to help you guys realize that I would much rather take ANY boy scout kaybo over the toilets that we have to use here... We have a river that runs around our apartment building!... But it’s so black that it looks like tar. And before you think you need to run up to the mountains for fresh air, just think about the type of nasal sensations I get to experience on a daily basis. But, in all seriousness, I do like Kenya. It is so awesome and I wouldn't trade the opportunity to serve God as a missionary for anything in the entire world! I can’t even begin to explain how humbling this experience is and how it makes me into a better man each and every day. If you have ever thought about serving a mission, DO IT! Seriously. DO. IT. Nike it up big boy! Just DO IT! It will be the hardest, and best most terribly amazing experience you will ever have.

Now to get into the juicy stuff. I had an experience this week that was FAR different to any other I have EVER had before. Not just as a missionary but as a human being, and a son of the big guy upstairs! Honestly, it’s another story that’s gonna have to wait till I’m home, AND unfortunately it’s not for everyone’s ears... Only a select few will be able to hear it. So, start showing me some love through email so I can decide who I’ll tell... Just kidding. But seriously, it was that good. Like woah! I’m getting shivers just talkin’ about it... Awesome. They need to make a movie or something about this. WOW.

Much love,

Elder Fraga

The Bee-Gees and a guy smoking a cigarette backwards

February 27, 2017

This week has been quite eventful... First of all, BOOM! Eleven pounds down the drain! That’s right, I have officially lost 11 whole pounds! I do feel like I should mention that because I had gained 16, I am still 5 pounds over my starting weight... But BOOM! I can’t believe it! 

We also had another baptismal service for an awesome guy named Joash! I can’t tell you why there is an A in his name... It’s a little weird... But we are also having ANOTHER baptismal service in a couple of weeks for a lady who spells her name Ardrine, but pronounces it Audrey?... Weird...

Another thing that happened this week: Sitting in the flat late at night, playing darts and listening to The Lower Lights, when all of a sudden the phone starts to ring, I walk over to see who it is? Turns out it’s none other than PRESIDENT MSANE! I pick up the phone, greet him, kinda just see what’s goin’ on ya know? After all that was done, he said, "Elder Fraga, there are being some changes made in your companionship." So, yeah Elder Ngabonziza is headed off to be a zone leader in Kayole, and I am staying here in Zimmerman to be companions with a guy named Elder Covarrubias! Seems like a cool guy! I don’t know why they put me with the missionaries with the long names but... Anyways, he is from Arizona and funny enough we used to message each other over Instagram before we came out on our missions! He has had a pretty crazy mission so far... Apparently he was arrested one time, and he was kissed by a drunk man twice... But I’m excited to be companions with him!

But in other news that happened, I got to listen to the Bee-Gees in a matatu this week and I saw a guy smoking a cigarette backwards, or at least trying to, the other day. It was seriously so funny. I just watched and watched and couldn't look away...

And now, again, I would like to reiterate how amazing the book Jesus the Christ is. James E. Talmage is just awesome. If you haven't read that book, PICK IT UP. Seriously, if you have time to read it, you will not be disappointed. It has given me such a greater understanding on Christ and such a deeper appreciation for what he has done for us. It’s amazing. He’s amazing. And I know he loves and cares about each and everyone of us. Really, read it.

I love you all and have a nice week!

Elder Aidan Hamilton Fraga