Monday, August 15, 2016

Monday, August 15, 2016




It's been a weird couple days.

All the good-byes, good lucks, see-you-later-hopefully's, if-I-don't-see-you-again;s are really throwing off my groove.  I don't like good-byes.  They're pretty lame, but if there's one thing I learned out here on my mission it's that change is the only constant in life.  So, I'm just making the big transfer back to the real world.  There's a saying that was adopted by my mission:  There's no growth in the comfort zone and no comfort in the growth zone.  So yeah, I'm not to comfortable with all the changes coming, but hey, time to grow.  Now, on the other hand, don't think that I'm not excited to see my family again and go to college and live life.  No no no no, I'm way excited for that!  I got my whole life ahead of me!  I guess I'm just saying that it's going to be hard to say good bye to the down right happiest chapter I've had in my life thus far.  That's what my mission has been.  It's been crazy to watch the growth that the gospel provides for other people!  I've thoroughly enjoyed leading and watching others drink deeply from the gospel well.  They all grow so much.  With that, it's been amazing that as I've focused on the growth of these other people I will occasionally look into the mirror and see growth reflected there also.  That is the gospel in action.  Matthew 10:39 "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."  And that's exactly why it's hard for me to leave.  I finally understand why every return missionary says it's so hard to leave and they cry on the way home and stuff.  These people have been my life for two years.  I've made them my life.  I've in effect "given my life for them."  That's exactly what the Savior did for us isn't it?  He suffered for every single one of us in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross at Golgotha.  Every single one of us.  Literally everything he did, every second he lived, every step he took, every word he said, was for us.  That's what the gospel asks of us.  Every second we live, every step we take, we need to give it all back to Him. A mission is the number 1 best environment to learn that.

I am infinitely grateful for the opportunity that I've had to serve in the California Fresno mission.  It's taught me life's greatest lessons and it will forever affect me.

I still have 2 days and I'll be making the most of them as a set apart servant of our Lord!

Love you all and thanks so much for the support, love, mail and everything else!

Elder Frame




pics from my last leadership meeting.  Don't worry, they were taken after the meeting.




That was Elder Valenzuela!  Great guy! Great leader!

Zone temple trip!!!


Also, our district.  We only had us four in it...


Monday, August 8, 2016

Hijole.

This past week has flown by.....


I'm not really sure what to say except the same thing that I've been saying my whole mission:  I love this.  My mission has shaped who I am in so many ways.  I've learned about the Savior, who he was, who he is.  I've learned obedience.  I've learned charity.  I've learned learning and then doing something about it.  I've learned boldness when boldness is needed.  I've learned patience.  I've learned true faith.  I've learned how to truly talk with my Father in Heaven.  I've learned the scriptures.  I've learned how the Holy Ghost speaks to me.  I've learned all these and so many more.  I've been so affected by these past two years.  My mission has augmented the spiritual ripple effect in my life that started when I first gained a testimony of Jesus Christ and His church.  I love my mission.

AND I STILL HAVE A WEEK LEFT SO I'M GONNA SQUEEZE EVERY. LAST. SECOND OUT OF THIS EXPERIENCE THAT I CAN!

We'll see you in a week.

Love you all!

Elder Frame

Here's Alex's baptism!  I forgot to send this one last week!  His baptism was July 31, 2016!  He's so solid!  He just got a calling in young men's and his temple reccomend!  It's gonna be great!

August 2, 2016

Hello hello.

Sorry, we have no time to e-mail because we went to Yosemite national park yesterday and we didn't have time to e-mail, so we only have a very limited time today!  Here's some highlights of the week.

ALEX GOT BAPTIZED! He is so so solid. It was great!  We had so many non-members there to witness the ordinance and I'm so excited to teach all of them!

ZONE CONFERENCE!  Amazing. So much revelation.  So much. Oh and I gave my farewell testimony.  Weird.

GREAT WEEK.

Love.


Elder Frame




Wednesday, July 27, 2016

July 25, 2016

Alex P.

22 years old.  Beast at basketball.  Quiet. Humble. Quick physically and mentally.

No this isn't an obituary.

Alex will be baptized this Sunday.  He has been through a lot during his stay here on earth so far.  We've been teaching him for roughly 4 weeks.  He has progressed so much.  He's come a long ways.  I love him so much.  This is just one of the souls that I have had the opportunity to teach and to lead to the gate of baptism.  I've thought a lot about this amazing calling I've been set apart to this week.  I am a representative of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

I studied John 10 a lot this week.  It talks about the Good Shepherd being Jesus Christ.  At one point he calls himself "the door" of the sheepfold.  That left me wondering who the shepherd were.  Then I realized that I am!  We are!  Members of the church are and we know!  WE KNOW!  We know how all these people can stop the hurt, stop the guilt, stop the pain!  WE KNOW!  Why in the world are we not doing our VERY BEST to find and help these people to come unto the Master Physician?!  We are the shepherds!  Our circle of influence is our sheep herd!  We should all be helping all we come into contact with feel the influence of the One we emulate! John 10 talks about the sheep knowing the shepherd's voice. If we are truly emulating Him, then we are helping them learn the true Shepherd's voice.  I feel so very blessed to be set apart to this high and holy calling.  I get to represent the master Shepherd.  I am His set apart instrument.

Hopefully that all made sense.  Those were all thoughts I had while studying John 10.  You should study it by the way.  So. Good.

To close, I just want to say that I feel a great deal of love for my Savior. I know that he loves us.  I know that he hears us. I know it.  The Atonement is real.  It happened.  Never doubt.  The adversary creates doubt.  The Savior's overpowering, overwhelming love is ours.  It will forever be there.  I've felt it so much this week.  We owe Him everything.  It's my privilege to give Him my everything for these last few weeks of work directly in His service.

I love you all.

Elder Frame


Zone Conference pictures


Monday, July 18, 2016

July 18, 2016


1. 1. Ye elders of Israel, come join now with me
And seek out the righteous, where'er they may be--
In desert, on mountain, on land, or on sea--
And bring them to Zion, the pure and the free.
2. (Chorus)
O Babylon, O Babylon, we bid thee farewell;
We're going to the mountains of Ephraim to dwell.
3. 2. The harvest is great, and the lab'rers are few;
But if we're united, we all things can do.
We'll gather the wheat from the midst of the tares
And bring them from bondage, from sorrows and snares.
4. 3. We'll go to the poor, like our Captain of old,
And visit the weary, the hungry, and cold;
We'll cheer up their hearts with the news that he bore
And point them to Zion and life evermore.
My favorite hymn.  I have hummed this tune all week long.  It is so glorious to be in the work of the Lord.  The whole song makes me want to shout from the rooftops and rain down heaven-fire on everybody.  Blasting people with the gospel is such a joy!  I love it. I. LOVE. IT.  As many times as I say it, it always seems inadequate.  Being a set apart representative of the Lord is but a two year experience.  I'm going to squeeze every single miniscule bit of work into these last 4 weeks of it.  The people of Kerman won't know what hit them (until I help them recognize it was the Spirit of the Lord)!

"[I'll] go to the poor, like [my] Captain of old, And visit the weary, the hungry and cold; [I'll] cheer up their hearts with the news that he bore And point them to Zion and life evermore."

Love you all!

Elder Frame


Monday, July 11, 2016

July 11, 2016

Otra vez les escribo de los innumerable misericordias del Senor con gusto y placer!

Wonderful!  The word to describe the Lord's way of teaching us!  I have had so many experiences this week teaching me to be a better disciple.  I would like to share the one that stands first and foremost in my mind.  It is about a less active member.  I'll call him Jorge.

Jorge is a good-natured, burly, restless man of about 5' 10''.  Humorous in nature he acts like nothing is wrong.  If you'd met him on the street you would expect that he grew up in a normal home and had a normal life. But if you take a look at the life Jorge has had it would tell you a very different story.  Jorge has had many many trials and hardships in his life.  Some by his own making, some by way of others and some without any explanation.  Growing up in gang related activity Jorge has struggled in to find meaning and purpose in a life of hate, revenge and pain.  Addiction dulled the pain occasionally, but it was always there.  He's been in and out of prison for the past 25 years.  I met him when I first was transferred here to Kerman.  He loves the missionaries and feeds us a lot.  We always knew his past life was rough. We didn't ever talk about it because we didn't want to reopen old wounds.  This past week Jorge had many spiritual experiences which all came to a climax while we taught him a lesson from D&C 19:16-19.  After reading those verses Jorge told us his life story and cried and cried.  He told us how hard it was to forgive and forget.  How hard it was to lose friends and family members.  How hard it was to carry so much grief and pain.  We listened intensely.  I found myself praying for Jorge.  I felt heartsick for him.  While he continued to pour out his thoughts and feelings to us my feelings developed into more than just sadness.  I felt a genuine love for this man.  I wanted the very best for him.  I wished I could take it all away from him.  Then the thought came to mind: You can't. But you represent the one who can.  The spirit hit me like a tidal wave and I struggled to keep my emotions in check.  Here I was in a town called Kerman, a place I had never heard of before my mission, listening to an acquaintance of 3 months tell me his life story.  I was overwhelmed with the power of the calling and my setting apart to represent our Lord and Savior.  Most of all I was amazed and grateful for the wonderful experience of having a taste of what our Heavenly Father and elder brother Jesus Christ feel for us.  After Jorge finished his story I bore witness that Jesus Christ knew him and loved him.  I told him that Christ could lift him up, dust him off, give him new life.  The spirit was so strong there it was almost as if you could feel him embracing each of us.  It was so palpable.  That experience is one of many I've had on my mission.

I know that each of us is a loved and cherished son or daughter of our Heavenly Father.  He knows each and every one of us and our challenges.

I love my mission.  It has allowed me to grow in so many different ways.  I am especially grateful for the people I serve. I love them.  I feel so humbled to be able to wear the Savior's name on my chest and testify of Him every day.  The gospel is true.

Until next week!

Elder Frame


Monday, July 4, 2016

July 4, 2016

Whoa.  Let me just copy and paste some crazy wisdom about America my mission president just blasted us with today.

"Quoting from the D&C; “And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I have raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.” (D&C 101:80) 

Having declared America a land of liberty, God undertook to raise up “wise” men who would write a constitution of liberty and establish the first free people in modern times. He declared that the United States Constitution was divinely inspired for the specific purpose of protecting rights and freedom and eliminating bondage and oppression. 

“The framers of the Constitution were part of a special generation of marked political genius, raised up to deal with the issues that surrounded the birth of this, the American nation. That assembly that met to consider the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, but concluded their deliberations by signing an entirely new Constitution, constituted a conclave unparalleled in the political annals of man. This was no accident of history. It was, in fact, essential to the eternal purposes of the Father and the Son.” (In The Lion’s Den, Verterli & Hainsworth, 279)

Because of and by the constitution the Lord would bring forth the Book of Mormon and the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

“Those men who assembled in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787 constituted one of the most remarkable assemblies in human history. They were men of great learning, men of commerce, men of law, students of history and political theory, experienced in war, theology, and politics. Of the fifty-five men that set their hands to the task of writing a new constitution, most were exceptionally gifted… a [significant] number were men of outstanding intellect. What they gave to future generations was a political document like no other– a Constitution that made self-government, in the literal sense, possible.” (Ibid)

And self-government allows men to follow the One, even Jesus Christ. That this document was divinely inspired is of little doubt. Pres. Reagan told this story about the Signers of the Declaration of Independence and how they were struggling about the signing of the document. His source comes from the journals of Thomas Jefferson. 
Remember, their contemplated act was an act of treason against the mother country, punishable by death. Consequently, they had locked themselves in a room, we now call Independence Hall, and were hotly debating whether or not to sign: “The doors were locked, they were meeting in secret, there was contention in the room about signing the document, when an old man stood and told them that this was their greatest hour in the history of this nation and to step forward and sign the document and men would praise them forever. With the spirit they felt, they immediately went to the table and began to sign and when they turned to have the stranger come forward and sign, he was not there, the doors were still locked and he was gone. (Writings of Thomas Jefferson) (President Reagan told this story and one of the church curriculum writers called Senator Hatch and he talked to the President and the President responded with this letter, “I’m sorry to be so late in getting back to you about your request for more information about the unknown person at the signing of the Declaration of Independence who made an eloquent plea that it should be signed. The statement comes from the writings of Thomas Jefferson. I am confident in the validity of the story. I have seen it more than once in a variety of publications, which were not quoting me as the source. In fact, I doubt they even knew I had used it. Again my apologies for taking so long to get back to you. Sincerely, Ronald Reagan)

And then add this from a July 4th 1854 address by Orson Hyde found in the Journal of Discourses…“In those early and perilous times, our men were few, and our resources limited. Poverty was among the most potent enemies we had to encounter; yet our arms were successful; and it may not be amiss to ask here, by whose power victory so often perched on our banner?” 

"It was by the agency of that same angel of God that appeared unto Joseph Smith, and revealed to him the history of the early inhabitants of this country, whose mounds, bones and remains of towns, cities and fortifications speak from the dust in the ears of the living with the voice of undeniable truth. This same angel presides over the destinies of America, and feels a lively interest in all our doings. (See Mormon 8:35) He was in the camp of Washington; and by an invisible hand, led on our fathers to conquest and victory; and all this to open and prepare the way for the Church and the Kingdom of God to be established on the Western hemisphere, for the redemption of Israel and the salvation of the world." 

"This same angel was with Columbus, and gave him deep impressions, by dreams and by visions, respecting this New World…was with him on the stormy deep, calmed troubled elements, and guided his frail vessel to the desired haven. Under the guardianship of this same angel, or Prince of America, have the United States grown, increased, and flourished, like the sturdy oak by the rivers of water.” (JD, Vol 6, p.368).
"

Yeah.  I loved this a lot.  I hope you enjoyed it too.

Anyways.  It's been a really good week!  Our rigorous work this week culminated in nights of hard sleep!  I've been really tired this week haha.  Though tired, after teaching and testifying I feel psyched up to share even more.  There is a palpable energy that you feel after teaching the gospel with power and I love it!  Teaching solid truth and boldly inviting someone to change is one of the greatest feelings your spirit can experience.  It's an even more poignant experience if those you invite act on the invitation given and experience that power themselves.  It's the miracle of conversion.  I've seen it happen and continue to happen in myself and I've watched many many others embark on their own path of discipleship.  It's amazing.

On an ending note I'm so pumped and ready for this last transfer!  I'll be sprinting to the finish in this last leg of my spiritual-emotional-physical-roller-coaster-of-a-ride journey here in the land called Fresno.  And loving every second of it.

Love you all!

Elder Frame


Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Thursday, June 23, 2016






Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Monday, June 20, 2016

Hey everyone!

Here's the update!

I love my mission. The people here are so amazing and I love teaching them the restored gospel.  Day in and day out, eating, sleeping, breathing the gospel and constantly talking about it is one heck of a way to live two years!  It's the reason for the saying "the best two years."  It truly is.

We've set a marriage/baptismal date with Julio and Maria Melo!  August 13th!  They've agreed to prepare for that day and they couldn't be more excited!  They've come to church for the past 3 months and the papers are almost ready!

The NBA finals of the Cavs and the Warriors were this past week and we threw a party for game 6 at our Ward Mission Leader's house.  We had 6 potentials show up and two decided to take the lessons and one of them has a baptismal date!  Finding new ways to find new investigators is paying off!

This work is God's purpose.  I'm so grateful to be apart of it and it's changing so many lives one at a time!  So great!

Hope y'all have a good week!

Elder Frame


Monday, June 13, 2016

June 13, 2016 (I should have thought of putting the date every week earlier.)

Hey everybody!

It's been a great week and I'm loving my mission more than ever!

Eduardo got baptized this week and he's now headed off to Oregon to work up there!  We're contacting missionaries up there to help him out with the new member lessons and to find the church!  He's so great!  A true convert!  We're working with so many great people it would take way too long to update you on all of them!  Just know that more baptisms to come, more converts to be converted, more sinners to repent!!

Just a small observation I've had here on my mission: hard work is the answer to any problem you have! (Except maybe being overworked...)  Anyways, I find that the harder I throw my efforts into the work, the happier I am and the more glorious I feel!  I'm willing to bet anything that it's the same with normal members of the church!  The work of salvation is worked on many different battlefronts! Even Utah, that "zion curtain," has missionary work to be done. The work of salvation doesn't just mean helping somebody get baptized!  Everyone on earth either has or needs to enter into the baptismal covenant.  We need to help those who have made it keep it and those who haven't made it, make it!  None of you can take a casual stance on the work of salvation. The Lord intends us to help each other. The way we do that is through the work of salvation.  Reach out!  Help someone around you!  Lift! Be the person emanating happiness, excitement, love, and concern!  Selfless instead of selfish!  Charitable!  A smile and a positive attitude goes a long way!

Anyways.  I hope you all are having just the time of your lives!  There's no better time than the present!!

Love y'all!

Elder Frame

Baptism!
Thanks for the shirt madi!

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

I'm Out of Clever Titles

California Fresno Mission=The Best Flipping Place Ever

Anyways, just thought I'd throw that out there for everyone to read.  It's good to get some solid truths in our hearts and souls.  Feel free to come check out the Central Valley anytime.  It may not appear it, but it's got SOUL!

Haha it's been another great week out here in the blessed Vineyard of the Lord and I'm loving being with Elder Flores.  We literally are just tearing it up together!  He's got a great personality, loves to run his mouth, and overall just loves being a missionary. It's contagious!  I love trainees!  They always come with such enthusiasm for the work!  Great stuff.

Eduardo Vielma will be baptized this Sunday!  He's committed to be baptized to prepare himself to baptize his aunt and uncle whom we are teaching also.  They have to get married so they'll have to wait a little bit....  He's so solid and loves learning with us and actively participates in classes in church!  What a stud!  So yes, the work continues.  We are working with so many other great people it's ridiculous!  Stay tuned in the coming weeks for updates on their baptisms and conversions!

Interesting tidbit of study I had this week:  Worship.  What is worship.  It's how we show our respect and devotion to God.  How do we as a church worship? You ever thought about that?  How do you personally worship God is another great topic of thought.  I've come to the conclusion through studies this week that worship is imitation.  Being a sports fan, following People's magazine, or movies, whatever, are all small forms of worship.  We want to be like them or have something we've seen from their.  We like how we feel when we read, watch, or listen to them.  The same goes for our worship with God.  When we truly worship Him, we imitate Him.  And since in John chapter 5 verse 19 states that "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do," we are following the Father by doing what The Son has shown us to do.  True worship is becoming like God through our daily actions.  If we truly worship God then we'll show it in how we live.  And since God is a jealous God, he asks us to worship Him over all other things. So anyways, hopefully that all makes sense.  It was a cool topic of study for me this week and hopefully it made y'all think a little.

Anyways, this work continues to roll on filling the whole earth and I'm immensely grateful to be able to be a part of it!

Elder Frame


Monday, May 30, 2016

LOVING IT!

Hey everybody!  Another week in paradise and helping other people to get there!

So.  I got a new companion.  He is the greatest.  Here's some background:

Elder Flores is a Marine!  He's 18 years old.  He came on his mission like 10 days after being in Iraq for 6 months!  How bizarre is that!  He told me about boot camp and stuff and they put you through hell there!  He's got so many stories.  I just listen to all of them with my jaw on the floor.  So anyways, he was baptized at age 13 and went inactive ever since.  He joined the Marines and he had to choose a church to attend and as he looked down the list he saw the Mormon Church.  He thought "I think I was baptized Mormon..."  So he went there to the branch and the branch president told him he felt that he needed to give Elder Flores a blessing.  When he did so, the branch president said some things that Elder Flores hadn't told anyone and he and the branch president started crying. The experience kind of freaked him out and so he never went back to the Mormon Church after that.  He was then deployed and he forgot about it all, but his branch president found his number and called him every day he was in Iraq.  After a particularly hard mission a catholic priest found out he was Mormon and gave him a book of Mormon.  He opened it up and the first things that he read were Moroni 10 verses 18 and 19.  They spoke to him and changed him.  He told his branch president and they ended up talking about missions and he decided he wanted to serve.  He approached his commanding officer to tell him he wanted to serve and it turned out that his commanding officer served one too!  He was mormon!  So in the end some strings were pulled for him and here he is with me serving in Kerman California to bring other souls to Christ!  He is so great and full of energy!  He loves his mission so much!  Haha he's just on this spiritual high all the time and he loves the environment!  I have loved being his companion so much!

So yeah.  There you go!  We've already had some crazy experiences together and we are planning on many baptisms and a lot a lot of finding the prepared!!  Haha I am so excited!  Elder Flores is like I just got a shot of caffeine straight into my veins! Everything is so spiritual and fun to do now!  Man, I hadn't realized how different companions affect different parts of the work!  I'M LOVING IT!  We'll let you know how our adventures continue to roll!

Love you all! Thanks so much for the continued support!  Christ lives!  He loves us!  He is in the details of our lives!  Find Him in your everyday lives!

Elder Frame


Monday, May 23, 2016

"sprinting to the finish"

Another great week on the greatest adventure of a lifetime!
 We had a great baptism for Jose Luis yesterday!  He finally got baptized!  It's been 8 months coming!  We had a great lesson that morning because we received a call from him that morning with him saying that he felt really sick and that he wouldn't be able to make it to church and his baptism.  We went right over after he told us that and we talked to him about his situation.  He said that he hadn't been able to walk straight because he was dizzy and queasy since his baptismal interview the day before.  We talked about faith with him and then asked if he wanted a blessing.  He said that yes and I anointed him and Elder Matienzo gave him a blessing.  Elder Matienzo told him in the blessing that God would take away the pains from him if he showed faith and went to church and to his baptism.  After the blessing we talked again and he kept telling us "but what if..... or what if...."  I told him after hearing a few of those that having faith would mean going to church and just moving forward with what he committed to do:  be baptized.  He decided that that was right and told us that he'd see us at church.  At church we waited to see him and when he walked up he beamed at us and told us that he didn't feel sick at all anymore.  Then he blamed it all on the chamuco(devil).  Haha it was a great day for him and it'll be an even greater day next Sunday when he receives the Holy Ghost.  He's great and he just wants to go to the temple, so we're working on getting that to happen next week after he receives the Holy Ghost!  So great to be in the service of the Lord!!

Transfers also happened this past week and Elder Matienzo will be leaving me in Kerman.  AND I'LL BE TRAINING!  I wanted to do that so bad!  My last two transfers will be with a brand new missionary and I'll be able to help him see how his mission can be such an amazing life-changing experience for him and those he serves!  It's going to be my "sprinting to the finish" for my mission! Just going crazy trying to help this missionary become better than I ever was!  I'm so excited and I hope he's coming ready to work because that's all we're gonna be doing!  So great!!

I love my mission! I love this church! I love my companion!  I love my investigators! I love my members!  I love Jesus Christ!

Elder Frame


Cool Members here in Kerman!

Jose Luis's baptism!


Monday, May 16, 2016

A few photos!



This was a service we did!  It was pretty sweet!

Dear Jackson,
THANK YOU!

From myself and all of the staff here at the Red Cross I want to thank you for the hard work and dedication you showed this Saturday at our Home Fire Campaign Event in Madera.  Together we made a huge impact that morning and I want you to know that your work is greatly appreciated.  By visiting 80 households we were able to install 120 free smoke alarms and replace 14 batteries to families in need.  That means that we assisted 250 people on Saturday, and all with a workforce of 34 volunteers!

Of course, I must nod my head to the most amazing team from Saturday, Team 3, who were our Golden Smoke Alarm Winners!


Congratulations to Lonnie, Alejandro, Jackson, and Jerry—you guys rock!


Temple pic of the zone!


This is when we high centered our car going through a vineyard to find a member's home...  So yeah.
That's Tlayuda.  Mexican pizza original from Oaxaca.


happy birthday carter since it won't get to you until after your birthday!!!






 
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