Merry Christmas!

This week was not too shabby. It went by really fast. Monday was really quick, didn't do much though, then Tuesday I was on an exchange with the zone leaders. I was in my area leading out with Bohne. It's nice doing exchanges with English missionaries because then I have to do 100% of the talking so it is not bad at all. Wednesday was Christmas conference. It was really fun. I was however disappointed. I was expecting for lunch there, a nice old ham maybe some mashed potatoes and some rolls. Instead we had American tacos.... talk about a let down! Other than that the week was kinda normal haha

Wow Bella's 7! That's crazy talk. At least she can talk with Santa without being scared haha.

The Christmas package was great! I loved it and the cards inside! Tell everybody that I loved it and thank you. You'll have to tell Jessica thanks for the tea tree products. It was a surprise that's for sure.
Tell her I really appreciated it.

Emily emailed me the other day and she doesn't think I can skype so let her know so she can be on the call too haha.

Since you haven't sent my pants can I have a request of you sending my black dress shoes from home? I would like them to wear them on Sundays because they are nicer than my pros shoes haha. They are black and slim. Would be great thanks. And go ahead and add anything else I may need haha ;)

My winter clothes are great! They all fit good. One thing though is I wish I got more sweaters haha. So if anyone still is going to send something, another cardigan would be much appreciated haha.

That's all for this week. I'm not sure what I have going on for Christmas. Hopefully someone feeds us haha. But anyways Merry Christmas fam bam!
-Fray

Update

Goood morning!

Yep I'll get my packages on Wednesday! Christmas conference should be pretty fun. We get to go to Baytown. This year they changed it though. It used to be everyone together from the whole mission, but now it's split half one day and the other on a different day. I will get to see some friends though so it will be great.

Sorry to hear that you haven't been feeling well. If it makes you feel better, neither have I! Haha.

-Fray

Crawfish Huntin'

Helllllooo folks 

Wasn't able to see the devotional. We could only go if we had investigators with us, and we baptized all of ours ;) This week was full of adventure. Was a really fun week. Me and Elder Johnson have some good stories out of this one!

To start offf, Tuesday we had interview training. Just when we get some training and interview with president. Our district went out to sonic after it was a good time. 

There has been a torrential downpour the past three days. Started on Saturday and rained non stop all day from late Friday night till Saturday night. Then rained all day Sunday and is raining so far today. The rain is good because then we just bum rides off people so we can stay dry. We are the one companionship here without a car. We have had to go out if the rain a few times though. Luckily I have a pretty good rain jacket and a good umbrella! 

Since we have had this rain, one night Elder Johnson and I went out with some flashlights and went crawfish hunting. The ditches here have tons of crawfish mounds so we just wait till it rains to go lookin! They come out at night, and just swim around really. We found a lot. None of them were really big though just little guys. It was super fun though! 

So for a member (who will remain nameless so this cannot be divulged) we are stashing secret Christmas presents in our apartment. They are some wiggle cars they are pretty cool, wheels light up and everything haha. 

Those are pretty much the highlights. Not much is new. Have about two potentials, hopefully they start progressing. Good to hear things are going well. Sounds like you guys are having some fun. Hopefully I'll get my box soon! Might get it at zone meeting this week. Haha funny story so the clothes I got online I sent them to the right address, but didn't put the building number haha. But it should be okay. They will figure it about because they deliver there all the time so it should be all good! 

Have a good week mom! Say hi to everyone for me! Love ya guys!

-Fray

BAPTISM!

I'm feeling a lot better this week! And don't worry mom. I'm a germ-a-phobe. My comps know it, I'm always using hand sanitizer. Which reminds me I'm running low!!

Ivonne got baptized Saturday! And she was confirmed yesterday. I got the opportunity to confirm her a member of the church, in Spanish. It was pretty nerve wrecking... first time haha. But it was a cool experience. I also spoke at the baptism. In Spanish, which was funny because when I got up to talk I looked out and I was like,"well everyone here speaks English and my talk is in Spanish oh well" haha. Our branch combines young women and young men primary, etc with the English ward so there was a lot of English members there haha. And a lot of people from the branch speak English really well haha. We don't have anyone else really solid to teach right now. We have one family that has potential but only have met them twice, taught the dad once. We will see how it goes.

Thanksgiving was great! Spent it at the Keffers. We had all the goodies just like home! Turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls, sweet potato casserole, etc. it was good. There was about 30 people there because it was Graciela's side of the family and Brother Keffers side. Plus Francisco, Arely, Ivonne,etc. Oh btw, Ivonne, Francisco and Arely are Graciela's nephew and nieces they live with the Keffers. Elder Johnson made a pumpkin pie and we sat down and ate it all with Francisco and Ivonne haha. Kept it to ourselves haha. I had like 7 pieces of pie within 13 hours of Thanksgiving and the next day haha. Love pumpkin pie. Did dad make his pie? I missed his pumpkin pie this year. Nothing beats it.

I already miss snow haha. After being here, only for a little bit, I already realized how much I like Utah and miss it haha. Utah is the best.

This week was really fun. Me and Elder Johnson got along the moment we got together. He is such a goof! He is from Idaho and loves fishing, hunting, and all sorts of that stuff. He's funny! We snagged a nice rocking chair, leather and everything for our apartment yesterday! We were biking around and saw it on the side of the road, so we asked the guy that lived there if we could take it and he said of course! We ended up teaching him too haha. Hopefully he gets an answer that what we shared was true and calls us back haha. We put the chair in the apartment it fits nicely. Nice and comfy. Our mission apartment is getting better! We were biking around one time and Johnson stopped and said,"woahhh look at that sweet jump." We found a jump off a sidewalk and he went off it and landed on a sharp part and his tired popped. It was funny.

It kind of stinks that I will be killing Johnson too. Two in a row. It's a little hard because they get trunks and then I start missing home.. but oh well I'll be okay. Miss my siblings, and parents , so much! Realized how much I'm close with them! Haha

That's all this week! Love you mom!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This week has been pretty good actually. My companion is Elder Johnson. He is from Idaho, and he's pretty funny! He goes home after this transfer so I'm killing him too so that's a bummer. Killing both my dads. 

Yeah I've been pretty sick. Not going to lie that part of the week has been miserable. I am and have been sick since Wednesday. 

Ivonne is solid. She's so cool! She is getting baptized this Saturday. There really isn't anyone else that's solid that we are teaching right now. This week hopefully we will get another though. Cross them fingers. 

Speaking of cold, it's getting cold here right now it is 45 degrees. This is a problem because I have literally no winter clothes at all. Not prepared for the cold. So I will need to buy some out here. There's a Kohls and a JCPenny out here and some other stores, so that gives you some ideas of what prices will be. But I'll need sweaters and a coat, etc. so I will need some money to go do some shopping! oooh also you should send over an extra blanket, like the brown one I used back home! To keep me warm! 

For thanksgiving we are going to the Keffers! Our home away from home! It's funny, their family is just like family! Love them. Hermana Keffer is so funny, reminds me a bit of you Mom. I'm close with em all really. Francisco is like a brother to me haha. 

Nothing's new here in Beaumont! Just the same old same old. Have a good week back home. Have a good thanksgiving and eat a lot of Dads home made pumpkin pie for me... cuz that's my favorite! Love y'all

-Fray

New Investigator

Hey mom!
I'm doing good. Bummed that today is the last day with TukuAfu. I loved having him as my comp. he was the perfect trainer for me. Hopefully I get someone cool so I don't go crazy.

Yeah I heard about Trump. Pretty interesting

Well that's pretty cool to see Eli growing up so quick! Seems like he was born yesterday. 

Got a new investigator, her name is Ivonne, she is Francisco and Arely's sister. She is 14 and is a solid investigator. At first she didn't want anything to do with us, but she warmed up and she is taking the lessons after I asked her. She's on date for baptism the 19th, but with conflicts with the church it might be the 18th or the following week.

Nothing new this week. Just going along Day at a time. It's pretty good. Love Beaumont. I spoke in sacrament yesterday, all in Spanish. It went pretty good, I talked on the atonement.

Have a good week mom. Love ya
-Fray

Home Cookin'

Hello hello!

Yep I'm doing good! I found out that yes the Carolina reaper is in fact the hottest pepper in the world... our buddy Julian grows them, he's in the branch presidency. We have seven more dried peppers here at the apartment. I'll probably have another. Maybe I'll send a video haha.

Woah Christmas is coming quick! For ties you can get whatever brand just make em be super cool! Employ Aaron if needed haha;) for food down here we eat anything from McDonald's, Subway, Chick fil a, Wendy's, ooooh Whataburger. Whataburger is a Texan burger joint that's pretty good. Burgers are huge! But don't get me one for there I'd get fat haha. I have a DVD player so yeah I a cd would work here!

Cool to hear about Simon! Tell the Fresques fam I miss em! 

Woahh Eli is already turning one... its like it was just yesterday when I was driving down to the hospital and he was born! That went fast

Idk if I'll have anything going on Thanksgiving. Hopefully someone who will make turkey mashed potatoes and rolls... yum. Not likely though cuz I'm Spanish.. which reminds me last night we ate at brother Paul's house and we had roast on mashed potatoes and rolls and a yummy salad and then a caramel filled brownie after.. man it was so good. Reminded me of home! You were right I miss yours and dads home cooking!

Had another baptism Saturday! Francisco! He's super cool! Now we have nothing really. More finding now. My comp goes home the 15. So I'll get my training finished out with someone else, hopefully he's cool cuz I loved my comp.

That time again mom where I'm broke... haha. I talked to some other missionaries and asked how they deal with the money situation and they all suggested having like a weekly fund. Like every week have at least so and so much money in the account and just put enough in to refill to that amount each week. But idk just thought it was an interesting idea because here in Texas, they don't give us enough for the msf. Still have a bunch we need for the apartment especially.

I think that's all for this week. Not much going on with me other than workin. Keep me up on the details! Love y'all

-Fray

Carolina Reaper

Hey mom!

My week was great actually. Wednesday was new missionary training so I got the iPad, and met up with my friends from the MTC. Saturday was our trunk or treat too. Three wards were there and all the Beaumont missionaries came. I'll put pictures. Our recent convert got baptized on Friday, Arely. She's real cool. She's ten, Francisco's little sister. He was going to be baptized with her Friday, but conflicts came up so he'll be baptized this Saturday. Well anyway she was at the trunk or treat too.

For the question: People here will say all the time "I came because someone influenced me or I had a great example" which is true, but they really came because they had a change of heart. At first I thought I came out because of my seminary teacher, and Aaron's example but I've realized I really came out because of me. I changed and actually wanted to come. Wanted to be a missionary and serve.

I have some bad news about Christmas and Skype. So with this mission president, Skype-ing is only allowed on Christmas and not Mother's Day. On Mother's Day only a 30-45 minute call is allowed. And my companion told me that now not even the Christmas Skype is even allowed. So I don't think I will be able to. Only a phone call. I'm honestly so upset that I can't Skype and hope that it's not true and I will be able to. But I guess I won't know until later...

So not to end on bad news, two weeks ago I ate a Carolina reaper. It is a pepper. I was told it's the hottest in the world. A ghost pepper is ten times hotter than a habanero, and a Carolina reaper is twice as hot, or hotter depending on the pepper, than a ghost pepper. So dad I've got you beat on the heat scale cuz I know you've had ghost pepper stuff before. But to share the experience, I ate a whole pepper. Swallowed it whole and everything. At first it had no taste and I was fine, but in about thirty seconds my whole head was throbbing like someone was shaking it around as if it were a jar of candy. I started sweating non stop and crying all over. My whole body started to tingle and shake I was bright red. And my body felt like it was on fire thought I was going to die haha... but anyways that's what it's like to eat a Carolina reaper. Terrible experience...but I would do it again hahahaha.

Not much is new with me. No new investigators really. Just enjoying the families we teach. The Keffers are really cool. Hermana Keffer is so funny! Araceli is her sister and Francisco and Arelys mom. They all live together and are so cool! Love going here. Also love Nahum and Dulce. Always a fun time. They are so cool.

I think that's all for this week. Looking forward to the pictures!

Love you guys! Love you mom!

A week of Adventure

This week went by really quick! It was really busy, full of adventure that's for sure. Sounds like you guys are doing pretty good. Y'alls should have a dance party in my name haha. 

White washed is when you put two missionaries into a new area that neither of them have been too before. When I got here they just opened Beaumont for Spanish so neither had been in the area. 

Sorry about pictures. It will be a lot easier and I will send many more when I get my ipad. Don't worry.

Members feed us quite often. We go to the Nahum's (they are the ones we just baptized) house twice a week and they feed us pizza, wings, popeyes, all sorts of normal stuff haha. Other members have us over too. Lots of Mexican food... Which I hate but oh well. Aaron said before my mission that the mission would cure me of my germ-a-phobe but if anything its worsening haha. So much grosses me out! Weirdest thing I had was this one soup, forgot the name, but it had a bunch of weird ingredients. 

We Got to go to the temple Saturday because our branch was short on priesthood. Pretty temple. I have a pic but it isn't a good one haha​​​​​​

So we have two more baptisms this Friday. Francisco and his sister Arelly.  Then we have another on date for November 5th. We are ballers. 

Heres more about Tukuafu: He is from Salt Lake Utah. He plays football, played for east, and has a bunch of D1 offers. He doesn't know what school he wants to play for yet though. BTW when he comes home after the transfer he wants to visit y'all! He is cool and we have fun! We play what are the odds and I always lose... We were at a members house once and I had to eat a whole bowl of frioles cuz I lost.... 

I think thats it for today! love you!​

Better Week with 2 Investigators

Hey Mom!

This week was way better and went by really fast. My comp is from Salt Lake but his family is Tongan. There are other missionaries in Beaumont but they are English. Our district has two sisters who are Spanish, and four other Elders. The branch is okay. It is really small but growing. Sacrament has about 30 people in it. We are really close to the second counselor Julian, he is a convert and was a gang member but he is really cool. 

That game sounds fun. (the BYU game) Heard about it from the Keffers. They are one of my favorite families. Hermana Keffer is really cool and funny.  

It has rained a little but it is mostly just hot and humid... I got the letter and loved it. Tell Bella I liked her picture. I carry it around in my front pocket and look at it every once in a while. But one time I was leaning over the toilet cleaning and the picture fell in.... so it got wet but I dryed it haha. 

So here is some info on some investigators:

Fransico: Fransico is a 16 year old and really legit. He is really interested. He was asking about how to become a convert so and we have been teaching him, in English though. We have him on date for baptism on the 28th. It is a Friday. He is really excited and we have become his friend as there aren't really kids his age that he knows in the branch or stake (because the youth is combined with English youth). It'll be neat to see him progress in excitement.

Nahum: Nahum is really cool. He is 24 and has a family, with a less active Dulce. But she is coming to church and really excited. He was wanting to be baptized when we got here but they weren't married so we have been working that out. They are getting married this Saturday and he is being baptized right after. We love their family and have been going over a lot for food. Lots of pizza haha. They prefer English too so I don't speak too much Spanish these days haha... 

That is a little bit about who is progressing around these parts. New missionary training is on the 26th and I will get my ipad then. We have to buy our own cases though. I was thinking maybe you and dad could look on amazon at some cases to send me. I was thinking a life proof case because they are waterproof and it rains a lot...

How are things back home? how are my beloved bro and sisters? I miss em! miss being with the family. The Mission has really reminded me how much I Love my family. Also has reminded me how much I love Utah!!! I miss the weather and the mountains. It is so flat here...

Thats all for today. Love you

Rough Week

Hey mom! Things are good here. Nothing too crazy. The weather kinda sucks, I hate it. It is so hot. I am in a biking area so I am in the heat all the time. I'm getting pretty tan cuz of it haha. My area is Beaumont central. I have the ghetto part, the avenues and south park. There's a ton of hispanics and black people. I hardly see white people haha. I'm in one of the roughest parts of the mission. It gets really sketchy and we will see prostitutes walking around and people selling drugs. Its rough.

Not going to lie, first week was really tough. I got here and I feel like I can't understand anything. My Spanish hit a wall and I don't know whats going on. I'm really frustrated and hating the language right now.

My companion, Elder Tukuafu, is pretty cool.

Keep me in your prayers though because I'm having a hard time right now..

My apartment is nasty. When we got here there was dead cockroaches all over and dead lizards. There's stains everywhere and its gross.

Here's some pics from the email that was sent out after Elder Fraley arrived at the mission home on the 3rd: 

Your Missionary has arrived safely to T.H.E. Mission! Upon arrival we met your missionary at the airport.  They went to the Kingwood Church, had lunch and focused on training and interviews were conducted by President Drake.  Then they met their new companion and were transported to their area of service. They are now out diligently searching for our Heavenly Father's children and doing the work of the Lord. Thank you for sending your daughters and sons to us, they have added great strength to our small army here in the Texas Houston East Mission. We love them and are so grateful to have them with us. 

Travel Leader

Hey mom! Yeah I leave bright and early Monday morning. I have to be at reception at 4:30. I was called to serve as travel leader so I have to be there early and I am in charge of everyone, airport stuff, making sure everyone is there, talk to local authorities in case of missing stuff, etc. Kinda a big responsibility but I got this! So excited to get to Texas. From being in Mexico I am so grateful to go back to the states. Soooo pumped.

I get to watch it all!  I am pretty much done because tomorrow I have meetings all day and then conference!

Happy anniversary! I love you guys. Miss you and Dad!

Elder Fraley: Shoe Shiner Extraordinaire

HEY MOM!!

First off, thanks for the donuts. I was the last one to get a package, everyone else had already got two or three, so it was a good pick me up. If you do send more, don't send donuts though haha. All together as a district we have received almost 200 donuts since we have been here. haha

Wow that sounds really cool and neat you got to go to that game. 

The temple sessions are in Spanish. The first time we went my translator didn't work though.... but this second time they did so it is all good. 

We have had tons of rain. It rained super hard last night and I forgot my umbrella at the casa. So I got pretty drenched. And there were puddles everywhere, so my shoes were soaked.

Little fun fact here, I am known in the district for giving the best shoe shines. Elders in my district will line up just for a shoe shine haha. Only take three clients a night though ;) 

Spiritual experience: We were teaching an investigator as a district, so we were all in a circle teaching as one, but the spirit told me and two other missionaries, Elder Gundersen and Hermana Postoian, to take the lesson in a different direction than what the others were teaching. We felt like he needed to hear something else and not what was being taught. He was recently divorced and felt lost. He felt like no one was there for him. The spirit urged me really strong to find a scripture, so I found D&C 24:8. "Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days." I read it in Spanish and gave my thoughts about it in Spansih, but when I was reading it, when I got to the part where it says but lo I am with thee even unto the end of thy days, which in Spanish is says pues he aquí, the spirit hit my like a truck. I have never felt it so strong in my life before. It brought me to tears and I dont know if it was just something I needed to hear or the investigator, but I love the Lord Jesus Christ and the holy spirit with all my heart. He is with us. Always

Well thats about it for my week. have a good one mom! I love you. Keep my updated on what is going on back home

"My boy Elder Bishop and I. Started out as our hermanas having a crush on him so I went and talked to him as a joke, but he is way cool and we became friends haha. They were disappointed when they found out he has someone back home haha. Weeks have been swell. Time is flying and I'm almost going to be in the field. The grind"

Tender Mercy

My week has been good! I heard Monday that they talked to doctor Brady and he doesn't think it will interrupt my mission. Tender mercy. While my knee was really messed up it is a miracle it wasn't worse. We didn't do much this week. We had TRC last night and it was cool to talk with some locals. I actually go to the temple Again today. It is also Mexican independence day so we have a HUGE celebration tonight. Will be cool!!!

 That sounds so fun!! Happy anniversary and have fun at the game!!!  

I'm liking Spanish and it is coming okay. We have a new favorite candy here in mexico. My district is in love with Sponch. It is good. My district is basically the best EVER. My district leader and I don't really get along, well he doesn't get along with anyone, but its not because I'm being disobedient it is just because he is really... yanno. Elder Gundersen, Lesa, Johnson, Burdsal, Miller, Love, and Paulsen are so incredible. Love them so much. 

For my time I have been playing volleyball and Foosball. My knee is feeling much better and I wear a brace when I play sports. I am not being competitive though so don't worry. Doc said I can take sports easy.

Let me know how this week is and how you are doing! LOVE YOU

​

Here is my duistrict and our friend Elder Aguirre in the Middle. Top is Elder Gundersen, elder Johnson, Aguirre, Miller, Love, then im sitting with elder Lesa , and Elder Burdsal next to us

Week 2 and already injured!

HEY mom!!! How are You!!! I have some bad news today so bear with me. I don't want you to be worried or upset or disappointed. But I re-injured my knee here playing basketball. I dislocated it and had to go to the hospital here to get an MRI. The doctor here is working with Doctor Brady to find out what needs to be done. I don't however need to go home, at least while I'm in the CCM. All that is wrong is inflammation and a slight fracture of my lateral femoral condyle. I have a ruptured MCL but he thinks that is still from my previous injury. I will be fine but I wanted you to know what was going down. The food isn't better. I surprisingly have a good diet and am eating all kinds of food. Even though it sucks. I have rice for almost every meal. Even eat veggies. I also have fruit all the time. I'm  going to tell you about my teachers. Hermana Pitiño is my morning teacher. She is really cool and funny. Hermono Villalobos is my night teacher and I love him!!! We are mejor amigos (best friends)!!! He is a great teacher and has a really deep voice like an angel haha. I got to go out of the CCM for my MRI and it was soooo ghetto. This week wasn't too exciting other than still learning. I am going to the temple today though. I will let you know how it goes because I can probably email after.. how are things? Things still good at home? How are you feeling about the house still??? I love you mom Talk to you soon. 

1st Week in the MTC

 Elder Burdsal and Elder Fraley (on the right)

Hola Buenos Dias mom! Things are good here. My companion is Elder Burdsal. He is so funny. My district is really cool. I am closest with Elder Lesa, Johnson, Gunderson, and Burdsal. We have so much fun. The first week was really tough. There was so much we had to do, and our schedule was always full. But now in the second week it is flying by. Can not believe that it is already Thursday. How are things at home? I have been praying for you guys! It is so pretty. But dad was right. It is really ghetto here. Well let me know how this next week is. How are you doing?

 I have time to write more so I can explain here a little more. The Spanish is coming along alright. The CCM is amazing. It is ridiculously pretty here. It rains everyday though so I get wet a lot. The food is terrible but it is okay, I will survive. Gym time is awesome, me and Lesa, Johnson and some friends that we made always play basketball. It is hot and humid during the day. we sweat a lot haha. But at night and mornings it is super nice. 

I got some really cool souvenirs here. I figured you're only in mexico once and I'm never coming back so, why not? I got leather Latino scripture covers for my BOM and Bible. You can see one in the picture is sent. The food is horrible. it is like Americanized Mexican food but it isn´t good. Sometimes I will go to la tienda (the store) so i can have better food. Ill try not to spend it though because we have a 100 peso allowance. But it isn't a lot at all. I'll bring back some cool Mexican items!!!  Well. Gotta go. Adios!

This Picture is of Elder Lesa, on the left, and Elder Johnson on the right. They are my FAV! and they are both in my mission. 

See you in 2 years!

We sent Elder Fraley off to the Mexico MTC on August 23rd (Which also happened to be Mom's birthday, so sad!) bright and early. My parents, along with Aaron, Abby and their spouses, were able to go with him to the airport. It was hard saying goodbye, but we know it was the right thing to do. I'm grateful that he has made this choice to serve the Lord and teach the people of Texas the gospel. See you in 2 buddy! 

Photo cred: Kathrine Fraley