Two Called To Serve

Monday, August 15, 2016

2016-08-15T16:25:00.001-07:00

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...

Hijole.

2016-08-08T13:13:00.002-07:00

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

2016-08-08T13:13:00.000-07:00

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

July 25, 2016

2016-07-27T18:09:00.000-07:00

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

July 18, 2016

2016-07-18T16:27:00.000-07:00

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

July 11, 2016

2016-07-11T15:41:00.000-07:00

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

July 4, 2016

2016-07-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

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

Specialized Training

2016-06-28T07:24:00.005-07:00

2016-06-23T13:42:00.001-07:00

Monday, June 20, 2016

2016-06-21T07:42:00.001-07:00

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

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

2016-06-13T17:26:00.001-07:00

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!

I'm Out of Clever Titles

2016-06-07T06:49:00.000-07:00

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

LOVING IT!

2016-05-30T18:16:00.000-07:00

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

"sprinting to the finish"

2016-05-23T16:15:00.001-07:00

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!

A few photos!

2016-05-16T19:28:00.004-07:00

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!!!

Hey everybody.

2016-05-09T15:58:00.002-07:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about what the purpose of life is. Deep right. So anyways here's some study things that I've been chewing on all week long.

1- John 17:3 "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." The only thing that we need to worry about in life is getting to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. How do we get to know who they are? By learning about them. By being like them. Experiencing what they do and what they think is how we become more like them. That is why it is life eternal.

2- So why is it so hard to just be like them? We should just be constantly reading, constantly upping our "be-like-god" game. Why can't we just always choose to be better, be like Him? Two reasons: First reason: Satan. Second, "The natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the Atonement of Christ the Lord......" (Mosiah 3:19)

3- Mosiah 3:19 connects my first two study points. The Atonement. AT-ONE-MENT. Literally the joining, the at-oneing, of two things that were estranged. We can never on our own "at-one" ourselves with God. You see these parallels. We needed someone to ATONE for us. We needed someone to AT-ONE us with God. Jesus Christ. We all want life eternal with God. Jesus Christ made that possible through His Atonement. We just have to choose through our obedience and repentance that we truly do want it. Think about it. Repentance is the process through which we access the Atonement to intercede for our bad actions. As we repent, or in other words change our actions and will to be more like Gods, we use the power of the Atonement to at-one us with God. Each time we repent we get a little more closer to God. Not only spiritually, but in who we are too. This is what Hugh Nibley has to say about that: "It should be clear what oneness is meant by the Atonement-- it is being received in a close embrace of the prodigal son, expressing not only forgiveness but oneness of heart and mind that amounts to identity, like a literal family identity as John sets it forth so vividly in chapters 14 through 17 in his Gospel." We literally are becoming as God is as we repent. It not only cleans us but exalts us through the process.

I could go on for a lot longer and I did have more I wanted to say, but I'm out of time! I love you all!

Elder Frame

1 My companion was bored during planning, thus this pic was born.

2 A small tortuga that I held.

May 2, 2016

2016-05-02T21:21:00.000-07:00

Thoughts of Elder Frame Right Now

2016-04-25T17:16:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody!

It's been a great week! Always is and always will be! I hope it's the same for you all! Attitude right!?

So this past week we've been working like mad and finding those who are prepared and doing our very best to bring everybody we see to Christ. The reactions to us as always are far wide and in between. So crazy the different paths of life that we all walk in this life.

Elder Matienzo is still a super good companion! He really just wants to learn English. Haha we had a great conversation the other day about how to say can and can't. There are no abbreviated words in Spanish so he thought that can't was just another way to say can. That turned out to be interesting a couple times during our lessons this week. I never caught it before because he generally got it right and I just assumed that he knew. But anyways he told our investigator that they couldn't come to church on Sunday. They then asked why and he said, confused thinking they were talking about the temple, "well, you have to be baptized first." So yeah, it was funny. They were cool about it, but it was funny when they didn't come on Sunday. He told me that he ruined them for us and that they'll never talk to us again because of him. Haha we'll meet with them on Wednesday to find out what happened. He's got a super loving heart. I'm learning a lot from him.

Anyways. I love missionary work. I'm more concentrated on the work than I have been so far on my mission. Not because I was less focused before, but because the more I learn, the more knowledge I have to impart and the more I am able to help others into the work. Agency is still there for everyone I talk to, but that doesn't mean I can't get as much spiritual power and persuasion behind my words as possible! If any of you are thinking about a mission, I tell you again. YOU GOTTA GO. God will provide. You will never regret it. You will learn so much about yourself, the gospel, Jesus Christ, the world, God. Everything. It's the best experience I have ever had. I LOVE IT!

So yeah. I love God. I know he loves me. I know he loves you. Go and affect somebody for good wherever you are right now. Random ending, pero ni modo.

Elder Frame

Spiritual Splurge

2016-04-18T18:57:00.000-07:00

It's been a great week out here in Kerman California!

I think I start just about every letter like that but it's true!

I'm just going to jump into it. I have a lot of things I've been studying on my mind lately so hopefully this all will make sense to y'all!

No matter where we are in our path of discipleship Jesus Christ is there to urge us forward. We could be going backwards, flat lining, or forward on our path but his call is the same to each and every one of us:

"25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.

26 And now for a man to take up his cross, is to deny himself all ungodliness, and every worldly lust, and keep my commandments."

We all need to take up our crosses and follow him. Just as he defined "taking up our cross," we are to follow Him and keep our covenants that we have made with Him. We need to lose ourselves in His will. Do what He wants us to do. We know what he wants us to do through revelation. If you are not a clean conduit, revelation is harder to receive. Over all, God just wants us to come and live in His presence again in a glorified, exalted state as forever families. Taking up our cross is how it is done. D. Todd Christofferson wrote an amazing article in last months Ensign about this and to end I want to share a quote from it:

"A thoughtful professor offered this insight: 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, God’s work in your life is bigger than the story you’d like that life to tell. His life is bigger than your plans, goals, or fears. To save your life, you’ll have to lay down your stories and, minute by minute, day by day, give your life back to him.'"

So we need to "take up our crosses" and follow him and I promise that you will become who God intends you to be. Something so much more than we could ever imagine.

Sorry for the abrupt ending. I'm out of time! Hopefully this helped one of y'all in some way!

Love.

Elder Frame

Great Week!

2016-04-11T20:18:00.000-07:00

It's been another great week here in Kerman California!

We've got some great people coming up to be baptized!

CJ: He's the Kerman High School football running back. He is surprisingly spiritual and reads the book of mormon every day. It's been so fun to teach him because he just soaks in everything that we teach. He's really searching for some spiritual answers in his life.

Elian: He's CJ's best friend and started taking the lessons because CJ told him about us. He acts really thuggy but in reality he's starving just as much as CJ is because he gets really serious and quiet in our lessons!

They both have dates to be baptized on the 24th of April. It's going to be such a great day.......

So great to be a missionary! I'm sorry, but I just wasted my emailing time on the phone with an investigator haha. I gotta write this letter first next time.

Until next time!

Elder Frame

Photos…

My companion and I and then all the boyz we play ball with every week to find new investigators. All of them in the picture are non-members except for my companion and one of them. Crazy awesome right!

4-4-16

2016-04-04T21:14:00.003-07:00

A Matter of a Few Degrees

2016-03-29T04:59:00.005-07:00

Hey!

It's Elder Frame!

So, it's been a super great week!

One of my favorite people got baptized on Saturday! In Visalia Jose Luis Hernandez and his wife Miriam were married and baptized! It was AMAZING! I have so many great memories with that man! He's been in contact with missionaries for 10 years! It's a long story but in short, he changed A LOT and he's one of the strongest members of the church that I know of now! Their baptism and wedding were one of the best memories I have in this life now. Quoting Preach my Gospel "this is the most satisfying work that [I have] ever participated in." To top it all off Jose Luis told us that he and his family will be sealed for time and all eternity next year on the 26th of March so we'd better come back! It will be my pleasure. The blessings that come from missionary work are just the best.

We also had a super awesome training on Thursday about a matter of a few degrees and Alma 37:6 "...by small and simple things are great things brought to pass....." It's the small things in our lives that will make or break them. President Uchtdorf's talk A Matter of a Few Degrees given a while back was a huge part of the teaching also. Prayers said on a daily basis, scriptures studied, a kind word spoken are but a few small things that can be done to correct our course to put us on the straight and narrow path that leads to eternal life. Every single thing we do in our days either invites or doesn't invite the spirit. The small things add up quickly and if we don't make sure the adding us positive we could be in for a lot of trials. So the invitation to us as missionaries was "will you correct your course by changing the small things you do every day?" We committed to it and it's something we've all committed to do by being baptized. Continual progression and improvement is what we promised to do to become more like our Savior. Will you commit to correct your course by the small things? Put yourself on the path just those last few degrees? It's going to be hard. The spirit will be honest with you and it might be things you love. But if you do it, I promise you you'll see a new light in your lives. You'll feel God's presence in your life more. You will develop charity and love.

Love you all.

Elder Frame

So awesome!

Great member we knew!

Almost selfie with Sister Clark.

Work

2016-03-22T13:25:00.001-07:00

How is everybody? (Not a hypothetical question. You should really let me know.)

So it's been a great week here in the California Fresno Mission in the Kerman ward and branch! I love it so much! Great members! Great investigators! Great area! I'm really enjoying just working!

That's something that's been on my mind lately. As thoughts have been on home with Madi arriving and the date of my release looming in the not too far distant future I've thought about work. Why work? The thing I've learned on my mission and that I've come to know is that by work we are converted. We have to put our faith into action to have any type of converting experiences. If we don't act or do, or in other words work, we don't have any converting experiences and leave the way open for Satan to enter in. Idleness is the devil's playground is a true statement. We choose what we are through what we do. If we don't choose ourselves, than Lucifer has more than a couple of appetizing suggestions for us. So what do we do? We work! We work on reading our scriptures because we know therein lies protection. We work on our prayers because those who pray "come off conqueror." We work on our attendance at church (being there physically, mentally and spiritually) because we know we are nothing without the sacred bond we share with Christ created through covenants. We work on serving others because we know that by emulating The Master to the best of our ability, we will eventually become like Him. These are only a few, but big, things we do to become converted. They are things that I've learned to do better than ever out here on my mission. I promise you that as you do(work on) those things willingly and with an open heart that you will become who God wants you to become. You will have God's presence in your life more. You will love who you are and what you are becoming. You will be (quoting Brother Parry my old Sunday school teacher) "bigger and badder than you ever have been before." You just gotta work.

There's my little shpeel for the week. I hope you felt the spirit reading it.

I love my mission. I love who I am and who I am becoming each day. I hope and pray you do too.

Elder Frame

We went to Yosemite National Park! It was AWESOME! So many friends and great memories to be had!

I got spilled on by our member’s daughter haha. It's all good though, I still have 4 other long sleeve shirts to use.

The Ultimate Ending to 1.5

2016-03-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

Well, I can say that I have been putting this blog post off for a while now. It has been QUITE the adjustment coming to the United States of America. I love my country so much but you better bet... I LOVE PERU. But, its normal for a missionary to say that about where they served. But until you have done it, and came back... It is a real thing.

But as for this post I wanted to end with a bang and show you how our last week in the mission was, and all the emotions and craziness as I have been able to come back.

Well, lets just say the last week was very up and down. I was so excited to come home and actually be able to see my family in the flesh, but at the same time my heart was being ripped out... As I would walk out of lessons, say goodbye to members and investigators I had to hold back many tears. My companion and I had a great time though. To do it together was probably the best thing that could have happened. We both could talk and get through it together... It was different at times because she would be excited and I would be sad, and I would be excited and she would be trying to cope with the fact of going back. But WE DID IT. We did it people. And here it is in action.

This is us in a family home evening that we had with our pension and their family. It was SO hard because we became very close to them in our few transfers there in Puno.

My last division that I did with Hermana Ganan! She is an incredible missionary... In this picture you can see we are holding a ball of thread. Well, we sat there for 2 hours for a service project unraveleing an old sweater so that the mom could then crochet a new one. Oh the things that I thought were so monotonous but really were useful in peru! We had fun!

Hermana Miceli, and Hermana Tirrell threw a going away breakfast for all of us "dying" missionaries. It was an awesome breakfast but hard because we knew our district would be changing soon. 3 of us... my compaion, Elder Lundell and I were going home. But I will never forget the bond we shared, the unity we had, and ALL the fun we had together in Puno:)

This girl though. I mean look at her... My cute white peruvian missionary. And yes those shoes and the apron are classic peruvian accessories.

Two of my really good friends in the mission. And this picture explains why.

As a team, the elders and us as sister missionaries worked a lot to help Martha get baptized. It required many visits from the both of us, and encouragement from the ward to get her here. But finally...... finally the saturday before we left she was baptized! Yay!!!

But an amazing experience that we had that day was one I will never forget... We packed and cleaned all day the saturday before we left but we had 1 lesson, our last lesson. She was a reference from a returned missionary in the other stake in puno. We ended up going with a member, and teaching a simple and powerful lesson and invited her to the baptism of Marta and she said she would come! Like what??? Awesome! So she ended up coming and it was one of those "end your mission, realize your leaving moments", and I wanted so bad to just stay and keep helping in the work here. Help her on her journey to konwing our savior and just to see her, barely beginning to understand, to feel the spirit, and to see the members fellowship her brought tears to my eyes because I seen all the people I was able to meet, and introduce the gospel to... and it was my last day it was a rough but precious moment for me.

And then... the day we left. It was a hard but wonderful day. We ended up leaving sunday in the morning right after the first hour. But it was pretty hard because the ward had no clue we were leaving and it was like a bomb that the bishop threw when he said that it was our last day, and that we were leaving right then... it was a day of many tears, and hard to say goodbyes, but such a peaceful feeling knowing that the ward loved us and appreciated everything that had happened in the last 3 months. Each family that we came to know, all the members in general. It was hard... but we ended up taking pictures and saying our last goodbyes at the church. It was a special day for me.

And then... we loaded up the car, said goodbye to the bishop and his family and got into the taxi and for the last time I had to say goodbye to the last peruvian church I would attend, in the last sacrament meeting that was all in spanish, and all the wonderful people that I so dearly loved.

We took our last picture with Lake Titikaka, waved goodbye and tried not to freak out on the way to the terminal. Yes, you better bet we were somber on the ride there. It was the moment I just wanted to soak it all in, and not forget anything from our Puno.

And, once we got there, all of the missionaries from our zone and our pension with her family came to say goodbye. We exchanged cards and photos, hugged, cried and just tried having every last second we could. In a mission, you develop relationships not only with the people but even more, the missionaries you serve with. They become your family, a bond that goes far beyond the mission. As we got on the bus it was a rollercoaster of excitement and sadness. We just couldnt stop looking out the window until we couldnt see them anymore. I teared up again, but then a peaceful feeling came over me... It was Heavenly Father telling me that yes, I would see them again. Even if it was in a really long time.

We ended up arriving in Cusco after a 9 hour bus ride at around 8 at night. At this point we still had monday and tuesday to be in cusco until our flight home. So, on monday we had personal interviews with president, and a little bit of paperwork to do. But, it was pday for everyone and that day was changes. It was crazy to see so many in the office and then I was able to meet up with my daughter and my grandaghter as well as my beloved Hermana Hansen. It was so sureal to be there, having to say goodbye. I couldnt cry at this point. I was becoming super numb to everything... But oh so happy to see them right before I left. It had been a long time since I did see them and it was such a blessing to catch up, and to say our last goodbyes.

I also got to see Hermana Minaya and she just cried and cried. Oh how my heart was breaking in two. How was I going to leave some of my best friends clear in Peru and I was going to the states. So unfair at this point. I wanted to stay, to be with the sisters, to talk with them about the work, love them, serve them, continuee encouraging them... It was easier than I thought but now that I am home I miss them 10x more than I ever thought.

At about 4 or 5 we made our way to Presidents house to have a final dinner and testimony meeting. It was beautiful. I was with so many that I loved, ending the mission, but even more we were able to really see and feel the difference it had been since we stepped foot into the mission. We shared our powerful experiences and testimonies, and just as president said it is his favorite meeting every six weeks for him. And amen to that. I cried and laughed, felt pure joy and accomplishment, but remembering all that we had been through... President spoke to us, advising us and leaving his last and final testimony. It was one of the most spiritual nights of my life. In that moment I could understand and feel all that I had went through was all for a reason. I knew that the Lord had been there through it all, and that it is HIS work. It was such a validating feeling.

And, our last day together... I will miss this girl.

Some of my best friends. They will forever hold a special place in my heart. And yes, Hermana Campoverde will kill me for putting this picture on.

This is all of us that ended together. It was an incredible night. President and Hermana Harbertson will always be like 2nd parents to me. They have taught me so much, and have truly given their lives to the Lord. To cross paths with them has been such a blessing and forever will be as I continue moving forward.

The next morning, Tuesday morning, they made us listen to a training about getting married, finding a job, and basically being normal when we get home. I was so distracted the whole time as I was now thinking about how close I was to coming home... But yes: I have it down. Get back, go and study, date, get married, and be happy. It was definitely straight forward.

This is us in the office playing the waiting game... waiting until they would pack all our bags into the car and arrive at the airport.

And then we arrived... And it all started happening... You could see it in our faces. We realized we were leaving cusco. But, we took pictures, and chatted with President and his wife. And then the moment came.

We shook their hands and then started to walk to the security. There were all the elders from the office and the assistants. They all made a line and I was able to shake all of their hands as they said thank you. Thank you for the service that we had given. But as they were shaking our hands I just felt like a band aid was being ripped off, I was being forced out of a country that I love, I was starting a new journey when I didn't want to. But I smiled with tears in my eyes, knowing I would miss each one of them.... as they all represented all the missionaries I had met my whole mission. But I got through it. I got through security and the journey of returning home began...

Us in the airport getting ready to go to dallas!

1.5 hours to Lima

7 hours to Dallas Texas

3 hours to Utah.

Let me just tell you. I tried sleeping. I couldn't. I was thinking of everything I was leaving behind. The people, the food, the culture, and most of all the missionary work. But yet, I was so antsy to see those that I had not seen in a year and a half! I couldn't believe it was actually here. Every missionary thinks about that moment. And when I was in that moment. It was something I could never had imagined.But every second was worth it.

I walked off the last plane with my heart almost coming out of my chest. I walked through the terminal with one of the elders from my mission and I turned to him and said... You ready? He then asked if I was and I said YES LETS GO! I have waited so stinking long! I couldn't get to the escalator fast enough at this point. And as I got to the top of it.... I saw my mom crouched down with the two littles and I was overwhelmed with happiness. I began to run as I got off the escalator, and just the feeling of being there again.... In the Salt Lake airport with my parents, my siblings and my grandparents felt like it was a few weeks ago that I said goodbye. It was an incredible feeling that is unexplainable, only one can experience it.

Pure HAPPINESS.

I loved every second. It was so amazing, and wonderful. It was so precious to hug my mom for the first time in a while, see the tears in my Dads eyes, as Taft is running to me to say hi even though I was like a brand new sister, and just to physically be there, content and happy with people that I care about, I love, and have loved for my whole life.

The whole crew waiting as my flight was delayed about 20 minutes... The littles were a little anxious... and ready to leave even before I got there haha!

Seeing the house again was like I never left... The same with a few welcome home treats. My cute mom.... I sure did miss her!

And... the homecoming last Sunday. It was craziness! But I loved every second. Seeing friends that I haven't seen for 3 years, and those that supported me the whole time I was out, to old companions and leaders in my mission and their families, to a ward family and extended family. It is such an incredible day full of so many emotions. I know some of you are reading this now and I want to thank you for being there. No matter if it was one email or 100 that you sent. Whether it was a package sent, or a recording that I received. From paying for preparations before my mission to encouraging me before, during and now after. My heart is full. I cant thank you all enough. It was the best 18 months of my life, and even though now it feels like a dream it will always be real. It happened, and it changed my life. So, thank you for helping me along the way, and to finish a work that the Lord needed me to finish.

I am going through a really weird time right now adjusting... I wont lie. But it is because the mission impacted me in a way that yes, it was, and still is hard to have left. I am trying to fit my new me into the same place I left. I am not completely different, but there is so much I have learned. The Lord loves His missionaries, and even though I am not on a mission physically, it is all okay. the Lord is mindful of me.

To end, I would like to share my testimony of missionary work. It is the way we find true joy. Whether you do it on a full time misison, as a young full time missionary, as a senior companionship, in the walls of your own home, or at work... You are a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. We work together to help the work of the Lord keep moving forward. It will always bring hope. It will bring pure happiness. And I am a fan of being happy.

I love my mission. I love that it was hard. I love that I got to serve in Cusco Peru. I loved every second.

Thank you for sharing in my journey.

And if you are really feeling up to it... Here is my homecoming talk.

https://sites.google.com/site/2called2serveblogspotcom/
*copy and paste this into a new window, click on the tab mp3 and then dowload the talk and wabam! You can listen to it!

But after everything has happened... Yes there is still a hole. I miss you my brother but you are right where you are supposed to be. I missed you in every moment these last few weeks but these last 6 months will be the best months ever. Give it everything and we will go through all this craziness soon. It wont be two out in the field any more but its your turn to finish strong. I love you Jackson, Elder Frame.

Hey y'all!

2016-03-14T20:48:00.000-07:00

Quote: "How is it that we are immediately blessed for our obedience? Generally we think that blessings are realized only over time. For example, the prophet Ether said: '...ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.' (Ether 12:6). Another example of how time, diligence and patience play a role in realizing the fruit of your labors is found in the teachings of Alma about the seed. Here Alma compared the gospel to a seed and said that we can realize the fruit or benefit of that seed only after a season of caring and nourishing the seed. (Alma 32). Moses said that the people of Enoch were exalted "in process of time" (Moses 7:21). How then are you blessed immediately for your obedience? 'The answer is that there are blessings and then there are blessings. Some blessings you wait for; others are immediate and invariable. One way that you are immediately blessed is that you are changed, and change may be the greatest blessing of all.'"

That quote is from a talk called "The Fourth Missionary." It is amazing. Read it. It's applicable to life too.

There is so much I could talk about just from this quote in the talk, but I just want to talk about change and obedience.

There is purpose in being obedient even when it may be illogical. I've been discussing this with one of my friends out here in the mission. Why do we have to be exactly obedient? I've been in areas where I've seen disobedient missionary's baptize or, in a different way to say it, I see people having fun that don't obey perfectly the commandments. Is it so important?

The answer to all missionaries and normal people everywhere is: yes.

We are here on this earth to learn, grow, and become. Guess how this is accomplished. Change. That's right. When life takes a wrong turn, when you get blind sighted, when you just get a swift kick in the rear, it's just life telling you it's time to become. Now, what you become is up to you. You choose. We "work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling." How we react to change will either make us more of disciples of Christ or more followers of the devil. Everything we do has an impact on us, it changes us. Again, we choose how it changes us though. As we choose to be more exactly obedient to God's commandments, we react to change in such a way that it makes us something more.

As I've striven to be more exactly obedient this week I've felt the power of the Atonement in my life. Only through the grace of God that he gives us through His Son's Atonement can we change and become something bigger than we could ever imagine. I promise you that the more you align your will with that of God's that you will become something you never knew was or could be there. You will literally find your true self, thus the scripture in Matthew 16:25 " For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it."

I could talk about this for forever but my time is really running out! Gotta go!

Love y'all!

Elder Frame