Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Baptism pics

Baptism went well! "R" is relieved of a lot of stress! Unfortunately, her family wasn't too happy with her decision. When she got home from the baptism, her mother kicked her out of the house. We have some members taking care of her, so everything is alright. 

Elder Dayton and I were the witnesses and had to go into the water with them so that we could hear haha. It was a neat experience. 

It's actually Elder Dayton's birthday today! We're going to surprise him by taking him mini golfing today! 

Love,
Elder Fraley
















The beach is basically in our backyard. 2 minute walk from the church at Trinité







I can't get enough of it

Eating our celebration lunch at the beach 
"R's" Baptism!

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Cool experience

Week has been good! some interesting experiences. 

Investigators are coming well. "R"s baptism is this Saturday! We're super excited! We met a cool family! We were actually in Robert, getting pizza, when a car pulled up to us, asking if we preached the gospel. We said that we did and she went off about how much she wanted us to come teach her and her son, who's 18. She said her son is starting to hang around the wrong crowd and she wants to keep him on the right track. We said we'd love too and said that we were his age. She freaked and thought it was the coolest thing that the Lord has such young, faithful servants. She said she wanted to feed us and be our "mom" here in Martinique. Haha She's great! We taught her family and they're really cool, definitely going to baptize them! 

I've gained a new respect and understanding for all the traveling Dad does. It really takes a tole on the body and mind. I'm am truly grateful for his selfless sacrifices. They're is a good mormon message and talk given called, "Let Us Be Men" :

Years ago, when my brothers and I were boys, our mother had radical cancer surgery. She came very close to death. Much of the tissue in her neck and shoulder had to be removed, and for a long time it was very painful for her to use her right arm.
One morning about a year after the surgery, my father took Mother to an appliance store and asked the manager to show her how to use a machine he had for ironing clothes. The machine was called an Ironrite. It was operated from a chair by pressing pedals with one’s knees to lower a padded roller against a heated metal surface and turn the roller, feeding in shirts, pants, dresses, and other articles. You can see that this would make ironing (of which there was a great deal in our family of five boys) much easier, especially for a woman with limited use of her arm. Mother was shocked when Dad told the manager they would buy the machine and then paid cash for it. Despite my father’s good income as a veterinarian, Mother’s surgery and medications had left them in a difficult financial situation.
On the way home, my mother was upset: “How can we afford it? Where did the money come from? How will we get along now?” Finally Dad told her that he had gone without lunches for nearly a year to save enough money. “Now when you iron,” he said, “you won’t have to stop and go into the bedroom and cry until the pain in your arm stops.” She didn’t know he knew about that. I was not aware of my father’s sacrifice and act of love for my mother at the time, but now that I know, I say to myself, “There is a man.”
Reminded me of Dad. Really inspiring talk. 
We're hangin' in there! Everything is great! We are very blessed. 
Love you too! 
Elder Fraley

Monday, May 12, 2014

Mothers Day!

Yesterday we all got to talk to Elder Fraley on skype! We had a 3 way call going on so that Emily could be a part of it too! It was great to see him. He looked so happy! He's having a great time. He sounded amazing to us when he spoke French, but he says its still pretty tough at times. He loves his companion, Elder Dayton. They get along really well! He took time to talk to each one of us. One of the things I thought was neat, is that Emily has been doing a lot of missionary work in St. Martin. Apparantly some Sisters and Elders that have met her, have talked to Aaron about her. One Sister even told him that she had one of her most spiritual experiences on her mission with Emily when they were teaching one of Emily's friends. Aaron said that pres. Mehr has even told him that he would send him there if Emily found some people to baptize! Pretty neat. Aaron said that they would make a great team! 

Elder Fraley was pretty emotional at the end of the call and said that he's been emotional lately. He said that there is a family that recently was sealed in the Temple. Last time they went over there though, the couple was fighting and are talking about divorce. It was hard for him to see that and made him sad. He expressed how thankful he was for parents that have a loving marriage and love their kids! He is grateful for the example of our parents! 

Anyways, this email is short since we got to speak with him yesterday, but he did send a bunch of pics. Martinique is beautiful...Enjoy! 

It was really good to see and talk to you too! I apologize for getting so emotional myself! I've become a baby on my mission! haha. Real men cry, right? 

Our Heavenly Father is molding and shaping me out here. Definitely the hardest thing I've done. But definitely the most rewarding. 

I'm so very grateful for each and every one of you; for all of the support and all your prayers. 

We went on an adventure last Monday, so I'll send a bunch of pictures! 

I love you all! Cross your fingers for the 24th! and 7th! (that's when they have baptisms scheduled!)

Love you Mom! Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day.  

Elder Fraley













So this is the town of St. Pierre, The whole town was destroyed by the volcano eruption in 1902. Lots of cool ruins.


















Mont Pelé


Carter, our hermit crab. He does tricks! Had to get rid of him though...