Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Successful week!

Elder Pratt and I had a real good week. We worked and walked our butts off. We saw lots of success and set baptismal dates for a family! Anne-Marie's baptism is this Saturday @ 6pm. We're really excited. Our area has only had 1 baptism in the past 3 years. And it's looking like we're going to have 3 or 4 baptisms this transfer! 

Yeah, we went to Maho and watched the planes come in. Standing behind those jets is so much fun! You have to hold on for your life! 

Haha not only is Anne-Marie getting baptized but she got engaged last week to the 1st councilor in the branch presidency! haha They're preparing to go to the temple next year! 

I always have cool experiences! haha. I had a real cool faith building experience this past week, regarding prayer. It will be a story for after the mission though... But my testimony concerning receiving answers to prayers has been strengthened. Our Heavenly Fathers answers prayers. Fact.

The Spirit has led us to some prepared people this past week. We can feel the spirit working through us. 

Speaking of Zone Conference, We were planning on holding the next one here in St. Martin, but we found out that Elder Cornish from the Seventy will be visiting us in Guadeloupe next transfer! I'm super excited!

Wow, a week after me! That would be cool to be there for when he comes back. When does Keenan and Nate Slack come home?

Well I definitely know where my bad back comes from! 

Take care! Stay healthy! Eat some Culvers for me.

Love you!

Elder Fraley

Maho!

Missionary fireside!



Thursday, January 22, 2015

I wouldn't want to be anywhere else!

We had a good week! The Lord has been blessing us. We have another date for the 31st! haha hopefully this one will work out. But we have a good feeling about this one. Her name is Anne-Marie. Really cool lady. She's Jamaican and we're trying to get her married to the new first counselor in the branch! haha 

You're right, we must be doin' good work. There's a reason it's been so long. We've been having some cool experiences. It funny, because I see Sister Derr every week, but they have no idea where I'm living. The Caribbean is an incredible place. This mission is such a unique experience. 

We've met some cool people this past week. Hopefully we can get things going with them. 

Elder Pratt and I conducted another fireside for the Zone up by Pic Paradis. Went to the mountains and picked a place that looked over a part of the island. Cool experience. Elder Pratt talked about losing yourself in the work. I talked about "Starting off Right". We'll see several baptisms in the zone the next couple of months. We're excited.

Today we went to Maho and stood behind the jets as they took off. Lots of fun!

Tonight we've got a cool family to teach. A father who wants to be the best father he can be for his kids. Then we have a FHE planned with some members.

I wouldn't want to be anywhere else..

Love you all!

Elder Fraley


Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Interesting teaching experience...

Week was good! We had an interesting teaching experience this past week. We went to a place called Colombier. It's very secluded and has its own culture. Really weird. People are very kind there. We had a rdv with a guy named Alan, who btw loves the BoM and has shared it with about 5 of his friends. Alan was running late, so we went around, gathering as much people as we could, telling them we were about to share something really important, something they've never heard before, with Alan, down by the shop. Ten minutes later, we arrived at the shop to find about 10 people sitting in a circle, awaiting our arrival. We sat in the two empty seats and started off by introducing ourselves and asked if we could start with a prayer. We prayed, and went into the lesson and with a much enthusiasm and energy as possible, shared our message about the restoration. As we taught this decently-sized group of people, I could feel (as it was a literal feeling) the Spirit speak, teach, and testify through us. It was very powerful. As we taught, I looked around to see all eyes fixed on us. They were content. Happy to be learning. Comfortable. At peace. And (most) were actively engaged in the lesson (even with so much distraction: passing cars, kids playing soccer near-by, etc.). Immediately, the Spirit testified to me that those feelings were the feelings and fruits of the Spirit. These weren't feelings of confusion, restlessness, anger, or fear. But feelings of light, joy, peace, understanding, and comfort. We wrapped up our message by testifying of the truths that were taught. But those feelings of happiness, peace, and warmth, were interrupted by an unmistakable cry for help. Screams from a young-man filled the air. He screamed (for his life it seemed like) as you could actually hear the blows of something striking his body. Nobody knew what to do, because we couldn't find the source of the screams. The screaming went on for about 15-20 seconds. I looked around at everyone in the circle and could only find expressions of fear, helplessness, and confusion. I had felt so happy, excited, and I could feel Christ's love; just minutes prior. The atmosphere quickly went from light and warm to dark, heavy, and cold. I was in shock. I felt anger and frustration and thoughts of revenge to the man or men who attacked what seemed to be a helpless young man. Of course I didn't know the exact situation, but I wanted revenge nonetheless. That man or those men would for bringing harm to that boy. I was so confused. Some men went running toward the sound and we wrapped up our lesson, quickly closed with a prayer and left the community. Apparently the boy wasn't severely injured. which I'm grateful for. But I learned an important lesson about "the fruits of the Spirit". The messages that we shared only brought feelings of love. The evil that that man rendered brought feelings of anger and contention. I've never witnessed such a contrast of the two as I recently had. This message is true. I know it with all my heart. I know that God loves each and every one of us. The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored.

Hope that made sense. 

Went on some incredible exchanges with Elder Rivera and Elder Hardy this past week. Great missionaries. 

Elder Pratt and I are still together. Soon 5 transfers in total! 

We're working hard and the Lord is blessing us! I guess the next time you go to the temple, really focus on how you feel. 

Love you all!

Elder Fraley

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Happy New Year!

Nice and warm! We had a good week! We had a good New Years too. All the Elders slept in Philipsburg @ Elder Hardy and Grange's apartment. We woke up around 11:30 and partied (played cards, ate chips & dip, and drank sparkling cider) for half an hour, until they set of the fireworks over Great Bay. It was jolly good fun. 

We have met a lot of prepared people these past couple of weeks and have been able to set 4 1/2 baptismal dates! (one is still pending) Transfer calls will be this week! 

It's good too hear he went to mission prep. I know he's got a little while, but I can't wait to hear where he's going to get called. I'm so excited for him. 

We should have one or two baptisms in January. We are working hard, trying to prepare them. Marie-Helene is awesome. She comes to church more than most members! she even came to clean the church once! She just struggles with the fear of persecution after her baptism (from family, friends, and old church). Of course there's going to be persecution though! It's guaranteed. It's part of being a disciple of Christ and a member of His church. She's a fighter tough! 

We're working hard! St. Martin is great! Lovin' it! 

Love you all! Have a good week!

Elder Fraley