Saturday, December 19, 2015

Transfer 6 . . . . Area 2 Companion 4

15th December  2015

Today I said Goodbye to My Second Companion Elder Gustafsson from Iceland. Who leaves at 9pm tonight to go to Denmark.

Its amazing how time flies.
This last week has been excellently superb(I am trying to cut down the amount of times I say awesome) it has been great being able to go out with some of the Young Men, and also to go and be with some of the amazing members of this ward.


(No offence but they are amazing) Don't worry you are all amazing


This transfer is going to be full of carolling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Can't wait, although I may need to teach my companion how to sing....

It will sound egh, good enough I guess.

Tis the Season to be Jolly And Decorate the Halls with Holly (No idea what that is....)  And go and make of ourselves a Folly.

Which is exactly what I plan to do with my Santa and Reindeer selfie tie. ( Ill take a selfie with it and send it!)



Elder Jackson Fankhauser.

Photos


                                           Elder Acevedo Crespo and Elder Fankhauser

                                               Photobombing

Luke 2:11

7th December  2015

For unto YOU was born this day, in the City of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.

Unto Each and every one of us over 2000 years ago was born a babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, that would fulfil a divine mission which he was fore ordained to do. He would learn and grow much like all of us and come to know His Heavenly Father, and it is given to each and every one of us to Discover Why, He is our own personal Saviour.

This week I have shared this christmas message so many times, and I know each time I share it that I feel the Holy Ghost telling me that it is undeniably true, and it deepens my understanding every day that I do this about His divine role in my life and helps me see the importance of coming unto him, and denying myself of all ungodliness so that his grace be manifest in my life and help me overcome my personal weaknesses, and I know there are so many that it isn't even funny.

I have loved these last few days of Christmas and I cannot wait for the next 24 days to remember this glorious time of the year and to Remember Him



Elder Jackson Fankhauser.

T'is the Season

30th November  2015

Picture a stable in Judea, Picture a Sacred Silent Night, And can you hear, The angels near, And see the star so bright?

My Favourite time of the year starts tomorrow and what a great opening we have with a baptism on Wednesday. This is a time for miracles and love, and a time for peace from the world around.

One of my goals is to as soon as this transfer has ended me and my companion (whoever it is) are going to go out carolling :D Sorry for him if he has other plans. But definitely going to work with the ward to set up some carolling at members and investigators alike. And to be honest, I am just going to do it for a whole day while knocking on peoples doors.... Can't wait.

Also excited for the prospect of seeing a lot more miracles of baptism or at least being able to help others to commit themselves to be more like our Saviour

#ASaviourisBorn https://www.mormon.org/christmas

Elder Jackson Fankhauser


Friday, November 27, 2015

Meeting the Toyman

23rd November  2015

This last three days since I emailed has been pretty interesting

But Yesterday was probably my favorite.

While we were out knocking on people's doors we came across this Oldish man working out in his shed. We called out to him and he came out and said, I am an absolute Atheist and I don't want to hear anything about what you have to say. instead of doing the normal "OK have a good day" I just started talking to him, and my opening line was this... "Well We know you aren't interested in what we have to share, and we know it's a little unfair of us that we come to your door and expect you to listen to what we are interested in, how about we listen to what you are interested in, like those things with wood." And from there we got to know more about the Toy Man. After asking where I got my salesman skills and my answer McDonald's he said "You know what I'll go there every day now" Hopefully he meant it as a joke, because I would not prescribe Mcdonalds for a diet.

But After a long lengthy discussion and a few doctrinal topics thrown in here and there, (And after a game of Towers of Hanoi) he told us that we were good men and if we needed a reference to come and find him if he was still around. As well as that, he gave us a Good-Luck Dragon, and a game each ( I Got the Towers of Hanoi and Elder Acevedo got Last Man Standing)

Overall it was a great encounter, definitely going to keep him in mind for the future.

So Basically, As a missionary I have learnt that the best way to get to know someone is... To focus on them, and try not to think about your own personal experiences

(Pretty Keen on the sales man Idea though)

Elder Jackson Fankhauser.

Photos

9th November 2015




Pictures from when he was in Cleveland Zone

Go Forth and Teach All Nations

19th November  2015

This week we were asked by a lot of people this question....

Why Doesn't God come down and stop the bad things from Happening?

I would like to give my brief explanation as to the reason why.

God has given all men the free agency to choose right from wrong, he, like us, is held by certain laws that bind him from personal intervention on a grand scale, If God broke these rules that he set up from the foundation of the world then he would have to undo himself and cease to exist because there is no way he can break a law and still be God. It just wouldn't work. So he has left us to do what we may please to do. We can choose to follow God's Commandments and live a good life. (If everyone did this the way God wanted us to do then there would honestly be peace everywhere.
Or we can choose to ignore and go down a different path. If we do this we will go down a much easier road it is true, but what will we learn? Temporary pleasures that last only a little while. Greed and Hate and Envy are all part of this "easier road"

So God Does this so that we can have our free choice and Learn from our own mistakes, so we can be better


Elder Jackson Fankhauser.

Dora's Cousin Deigo The Missionary is coming

9th November  2015

Buenos Dias Amigos

This week has been a Spanish filled week, with two of us (Myself and Elder Dunlop) Learning Espanol


It has been interesting Learning about Puerto Rico and the People there.

This week was good, however I definitely know that it can be better so we are planning to thrash it this week and smash an area Goal. And Hopefully not just one!  As Senior Companion I have found that I basically have the ultimate choice whenever doing or saying something, but it has been good sharing a little bit of that responsibility with Elder Acevedo Crespo.

This Week I sort of learnt about budgeting it wasn't a big thing that covered the week but it was something that we talked about.

Basically the Budget for your average Church Member goes like this 10% Tithing 10% Savings and then 80% Expenses
However I would like to modify it and make it 60 - 70% Expenses, 10% Tithing, 10% Savings and 10 - 20% Medical Savings, because I have found that medicine costs a....loT! At least for after the mission anyway,.

Love you all and Thank you for even the tiniest piece of influence that you have had on me coming here on my mission, and if you think that you have only had a small piece then I can tell you that it is probably one of the biggest.


Elder Jackson Fankhauser.

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

The Beat of the Drums go on

3rd November 2015

This transfer is.... A new Companion. Which Makes 4 from 5 transfers now.

This week we smashed it. It was awesome

We were able to do alot of things and even though we had some bad parts of the week we had some amazing miracles.

Because of this we parted ways on an overall high. I'm Going to miss Elder Bullock but now I get a new Peurto-Rican Companion. And he speaks spanish so get ready Senors and Senoritas for some Espanol occasionally.

Not too much time left so I leave with words of Wisdom from The Prophet Joseph Smith.

When the Lord Commands. Do it.


Elder Jackson Fankhauser.

Push It To The Limits

26th October  2015

We are currently getting the ball rolling...

We had a good week last week and found three new investigators. And all of them are pretty keen to learn more about the Church and the Gospel.

I am continuing my PONDERIZING and this week I Ponderized John 17:3.
This week My Scripture to ponderize is Phillipians 4:13
I learnt last week that the reason why we are here on earth is to increase our understanding and knowledge of God and Remember the relationship that we have with them, God is our Eternal Heavenly Father, like a literal Father, not in the physical sense of the word but he is the Father of our spirits that dwell within us, and so the relationship is that of a brother. Like how awesome is that, we have a brother and a Father that we can get to know more fully and perfectly and they are willing to help us out on the way.

This week has been one of those times where you don't know whether you want to eat the dessert or leave it ( I mean this literally) Because I don't want to get Fat gosh, I have already been there and I am not going back.

Working on Coming back a changed man. (hopefully a man and not a boy:) ) But definitely keen to carry on, Carry On, CARRY ON.

Love all of you stay safe be awesome be spiritually minded.

SMILE - 2 Nephi 9:39

Elder Jackson Fankhauser.

Friday, October 23, 2015

Miracles are on the Earth Once More

19th October 2015

This week was AWESome

A - A New Part-Member Family That is looking for a Church
W - We found a Family that is interested in Learning More
E - Everyone we talked to was generally nice (Even the Australians)
S - Saw an Investigator at church

It has been awesome this week to also have been able to go and participate in a Zone Conference.
Where I literally discovered that I have a TONNE of things to work on to even be a fraction closer to who God wants me to be.

 This week has been an opportunity to learn What I need to improve, and How I do improve.
With Larry R. Lawrence's Council What Lack I yet? I am doing some introspective thinking and looking at the example that the Saviour has set for me.



Elder Jackson Fankhauser.

Monday, October 12, 2015

6 months almost gone where is the time going

12th October 2015

These last almost 6 months have been crazy exciting, exhausting, Frustrating and probably every other emotion you could think of.

These Last few months have taught me some of the most Basic Truths of the Gospel, I will now proceed to share with you some of them.

1) Satan Does not take a rest on you.

To Explain this I will use a parable of Sorts
The tortoise a slow moving creature was challenged to race by a hare. The Hare fast and quick thought that this was going to be easy, the tortoise could never beat this fast moving hare. The race started and the Hare took off leaving the tortoise behind to slowly race after it, the Hare knowing that the Tortoise was slow decided that He could take a nap. So he did.

While the Tortoise raced slowly behind the Hare Slept, and Slept, And Slept. Upon arriving at where the Hare was sleeping the Tortoise decided to carry on and let his rival sleep while he went to gain the glory. Still the Hare Slept and Slept and Slept.

A passerby who knew of the race walked past the Hare and Woke him up, and said "Why are you not in the race?"
"I am" said the Hare, "And I am quite a fair way in front of the Tortoise for you know he moves slow"
"Yes that is true but look here,... Can you not see the Tortoise tracks which are before your eyes?"
The Hare realising his mistake quickly raced off to try and catch up, but unfortunately he came to see that the Tortoise had attained the glory that was to be his. And this because he decided to stop for a while on the side of the road. Whilst the race continued on.

Now let me liken this story to that Of Lehonti in the Book Of Mormon.
If you are not familiar with that name then I will explain.
Lehonti was a Lamanite that did not want to go to war. Remember Amilickiah? Well this guy Riled (Bought to anger) the King of the Lamanites to declare war on the Nephites. There was however those that did not want this, instead they joined together and camped on the top of a Hill proclaiming this Lehonti as their Leader.

Amilickiah Wanted to have the whole army to go against the Nephites so he devised a plan.
He sent ambassadors to Lehonti saying, come down the mountain, I want to talk with you.
Lehonti said no
Again Amilickiah said come down the mountain, I want to talk with you
Lehonti again said no
Amilickiah decided then to go up the mountain, when he had reached halfway he said come down the mountain, I want to talk with you, you can even bring your guards with you
Lehonti this time Agreed
Amilickiah gave him a plan that would give Lehonti charge of the whole army, however Amilickiah's condition was that he would be second in command. Lehonti Agreed

Back in these times If you wanted to be Number One when you were Number Two then you did it the easy way. You Poison them by degrees so that they die.
We can apply this to our spiritual life.
When our spiritual life is poisoned by degrees our light gets duller and becomes less bright than what God wants your light to be.

I now Implore you as Jesus did in the Sermon on the mount.
LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE before men that they may see your good works AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN
Taking the bold words we can see God's true purpose for us, in the things that we need to do.


2) Even when the work is hard it becomes easier when we focus on the saviour.
We may get distracted by the things of this world but remember the story of Peter walking on the water, all we simply have to do is to ask our Saviour and Redeemer for the help to pull us out of Life's stormy seas.

3) Choose the right

In all times , In all things, In all places, we are Children of a Loving Heavenly Father who has sent us here to Earth to learn for ourselves through our own experience the divinity and grace that we are offered through the Saviours Atonement, It is not there only to fix our mistakes but also to improve ourselves. We are in a refiner's fire that is continuously moulding our lives

I share these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

I thank all of you for the things which you have done and contributed to my life in whatever way you have.

Elder Jackson Fankhauser.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Polynesian Area Confirmed. Companion = Canadian

28th September 2015

So this last week we had transfer meeting and I got the call on Sunday night that I was being transferred. My first 6 days in this area have been pretty good and have been getting to know the area a little better, although I, as expected am still going to get lost

The week ahead looks promising with a zone meeting tomorrow and then Interviews the day after.

This week I read Jacob 5 and it really hit me this week that it is all about Missionary work and Labouring diligently to gather in the "good fruit"

Week has been awesome other than that
Elder Jackson Fankhauser.

Friday, September 25, 2015

The Results are . . .

22nd September 2015


I have been called to the Australia Brisbane Mission, and within that calling I have been moved to the Bellbird Park Ward in Centenary Stake

But Other than that I'll give you a quick overview because we have to go soon to unpack.

My last week in Cleveland was awesome. We smashed it and we did our best to keep the good times rolling.

My Last day in the area (yesterday) We went finding, now when I say we I mean that we had a little trade-off when Elder Hassan and Elder Gustafsson went to the Doctors. So I was with Elder Andon for 2 and a half hours, and we thrashed it, we met 44 people and met some really good solid potentials, and we even taught a lesson!

So I left Cleveland on a pretty good high, it was unfortunately also a sad time because I was not able to see Yoon-Geun get baptized this weekend. We have been working with his family well, since I came into the area actually.

He's an awesome and challenging person to teach but it is definitely because of him that I have found new fun ways to be able to teach the lessons to children.

My new Companion is Elder Bullock who is from Canada. (He's my first Non Islander companion (Iceland is an Island) )

The plan this week is to snap Gravity (Exercise as hard as possible) because this ward loves the missionaries to be fed.



Elder Jackson Fankhauser.

3 Transfers. The Drumroll Please.

14th September 2015

So this is now the end of Transfer number 3 in the Cleveland Ward and I am currently wondering whether or not I will stay here another Transfer to clock up 6 months in Cleveland Ward. 
This Week has been thrillxciting, (It is now a word) This week has also gone by so fast, a lot of finding, a lot of lessons, and we have done some super duper planning that we hope will be able to go through, but the most important thing is to work at it.
We had a few awesome miracles this week. One involved a new investigator Tarmara, she is from NZ from somewhere by the name of Te Kowhara, I felt a little embarrassed that I didn't know where it was, but hey it is alright. We taught her a little of the restoration but mainly just got to know her a little better and answer some of her questions. We gave her a pamphlet on the restoration and we got a message back not even an hour later from her asking for more! How awesome is that!
We also while finding knocked onto a ladies door, who thanks to the wonderful power of Netflix and the Internet had seen 'Meet the Mormons' She said just from watching that she wanted to learn more because how we were portrayed to her was not how she saw in the Movie/Documentary.
Our last miracle this week.....
Is that we are celebrating Halloween this year
But... we are going to be dressed up as missionaries...... that are baptizing an awesome guy named....... Tony!!!!!!!!!!!!
We saw him on Friday and set the Baptismal Date for Halloween
So before I finish, If you haven't seen "Meet the Mormons" you need to watch it... because it is really informative and... Well I almost cried watching it, and if it almost makes me cry then it'll definitely pull on some of those heart strings of yours.


Elder Jackson Fankhauser.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

The Good, The Not so Good, and the Not really Good

7th September 2015

This week has been a roller coaster, Started off on a little bit of a low but through the week we rode quite High and then yesterday it came down again.
Miracle this week was Tony. Who came to Church again and told us that he really wants to be a stronger man, both physically, and mentally.

Something that has been Frustrating me throughout this week has been the constant "no" that we have gotten from almost every door, some people were nice about telling us to go away and other's weren't (must be something in the weather. All we are simply trying to do is to show a happier way of living that we know works.
It reminds me of a scripture in the Book Of Mormon (there's actually a few but I'll just add the references later), this one is one that I want to write out
I am going to use a Method known in our Mission as BREAD
This scripture is Nephi talking to his Older brothers. Nephi had been commanded by God to build a boat. And His brothers mocked and ridiculed and basically denied that he (Nephi) could even build one.
Nephi then recounts many of the miracles that happened to the Israelite's as they Journeyed through the wilderness.

1 Nephi 17:40 - 41
"And He loveth those who will have him to be their God. Behold, He loved our Fathers, and He covenanted with them, yea, even Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and He remembered the covenants which He had made; wherefore, He did bring them (The Israelite's) out of the Land of Egypt.   And He did straiten them in the wilderness with a rod; for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them and after they were bitten He prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished"


 Nephi begins with this fact: That God loves everyone.
He then goes on to talk about a time when the Israelite's had rebelled and chosen not to follow them, and the ensuing punishment. But he loved them enough to prepare a way for them to be saved.
This same deal still applies to all of us. God Loves all of us, no matter what we have done. We know from the New Testament that our Father which is in Heaven is Perfect. Which means he has a Perfect love for all of us.
For us in this Day and Time when there is so much confusion in this world God has prepared a way. The literal thousands of religions out there all claim Truth, and in one instance they do have truth, just not all of it. God has prepared a way, that everyone in the world can know, if they choose to accept, that Jesus is the Christ and that he has Established his Church once again on the Earth today. The evidence that we have is The Book Of Mormon. It has been prepared for us in these days to help us to know the whole truth. All you have to do is to follow the evidence. Do what any good Detective would do. And ask if it is True.
This Restoration of His Church all started with a simple question. This could essentially be your own question. But I know that The Book of Mormon is true, I challenge those that have not read it yet to read it. To Pray. To read the Testimonies of The Prophet Joseph Smith, The Three Witnesses and the Eight Witnesses.
I give you this council from Alma " If ye can more than desire to believe, let it work in you"
And from Nephi " If ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ"
In Moroni's word I will conclude this. "Yea Come unto Christ and be perfected in him.... and if by the Grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in Nowise deny the power of God.



Elder Jackson Fankhauser.

Monday, August 31, 2015

Soo . . . Funny story

31st  August  2015

On Thursday Two weeks ago I "lost" my wallet, I spent the next couple of days trying to find it and to no avail. I on Monday then emailed my wonderful mother and informed her of the situation. She apparently took it well.
Unbeknownst to me at that time my.......wonderful.... Companion was arranging for us to pick it up from the member whose car I had left it in. He said to me Elder Lets go.
I said Ohk and signed out. we get out of the Library and the first thing he says to me after I ask where we are going "We are going to get your wallet," For literally 2 seconds I wanted to slap him around the back of the head. "Elder" I said to him.... "I just told my mum I lost it...." "oh" was his reply. On Thursday still wondering if my mum had cancelled my cards. We get in the car and go to the mission office. In which the proceeding drive the Redland bay Elders (who we were in the car with) proceeded to ask if I had found my wallet (My reply in the affirmative) they then continued how my Nana had been talking to them and that my mum was (as she said) "Deeply concerned." When we arrive at the mission office I decide to ask the wonderful Sister Mickelsen to inform her (my mum) about the "One coin" being found.
That's the end of that saga, unfortunately not as thrilling as some movies but entertaining all the same

Elder Jackson Fankhauser.

Words of Wisdom

31st August 2015

This week Has been awesome, busy and entertaining. Normally I would not put those three words together in a sentence but it was... Busily entertainingly Awesome. There we go perfect description. 
This week we had the opportunity to.... Baptize!!!!!!! These two Awesome Girls Skye and Michaela Doyle. They are 11 and 8 respectively. They are so pumped and energetic and awesome. In our first lesson they blew me away with some of the questions they asked me. A lot of them I just couldn't answer because.... well let's just say I have had to adjust my teaching to a Submarine type teaching. And the submarine has to start in shallow water. They even sung a song at their baptism.
We are currently working with their mum Jo, and their dad Tim (Tim is well he was Less Active not now though) to get her baptized and to get them in the Temple next year to be sealed!!!

We also met Tony Renwick last week, he is quite a guy, awesome and in a way inspiring (the inspiring as to not go that way). Shared with him a pamphlet and we have seen him about 8 times so far. He even came to Church yesterday. The first time we met him he told us a little of his story and so far we have learned about, three years of his life. 
Words Of Wisdom
First of all Keep the Word of Wisdom (Its a life Saver.. (literally))
Do UN-Two others as you'd do unto you (Karma EXISTS it just isn't called Karma)
Thirdly Don't Forget to Sing your way Home
Arise and Shine Fourth
Five Watch out for Wasp's hives
Six Learn from others mistakes not your own
The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven is  being  happy and hea7thy in the gospel
It isn't to L-Eight to chan8e
Don't walk close to the Line Put a Wall in Between and you'll be fine IX
TIN -   Try   It    Now
Always look towards the "light" and build upon the "rock"

Elder Jackson Fankhauser.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Wallet stress relief

28th August 2015

So on Friday 28th August we received this.


Sister Fankhauser,

I am writing this in behalf of your great son – he has found his wallet!  So no more worries!!

Sister Mickelsen

Mission Secretary



Having spent 4 days contemplating what to do regarding money, I.D., and other things I was an extremely happy missionary mama. 

More photos

25th August 2015

After being starved of photos, I was absolutely delighted to have received some more from his Aunty Kris who was over on holiday.




Below is the email that accompanied the photos

Hi Stephanie we googled Cleveland chapel & found out it was 20ks north east of here & their ward met at 9 so we drove up & got there early, two missionaries were standing out on the roadside waiting for someone so I walked around to where they were but as I approached they started to move off so I called out excuse me elders, & they waited, I realized he hasn't recognised me so I said we're investigators & we're lost, can you help? Wasn't until I was right in front of elder F that he smiled with recognition! He said when he heard my voice he thought he knew it. Only had a few minutes before their ward started so took some photos which hopefully I can send from my phone. Gave him a homemade chocolate cake that made them both smile! Hope you like the photos! Asked him if he had a message for you, he said, love you guys, & wait for Christmas! He looks good looks like he's lost weight xx

Feeling blessed.

Losing yourself .... And Your Wallet, in the work

24th August 2015

This week has been some examples of spiritually losing myself in the work, and some pretty funny literal losing not only myself but my companion who is brand new to the area as well.

The Spiritual motivation for this last week has been to be Better and to Push Harder. Both Physically and Spiritually.

After Taking a wrong turn down into a park which, (I very wrongly assumed would lead to a shortcut to a street) took us to one of the outlying streets of our boundary, to say the best thing out of it was that I found a short cut to avoid the main road, the unlucky thing was that I did something to my bike and now it is buckled, so looks like we may be walking a little bit, until I can get someone to fix it or until I fix it myself.
Pushing Hard on Saturday as I not only battled the Heating element that hangs over Australia, (Sometimes too close, and it's not even summer) but also dealing with a fever (I missed out on staying at the flat for the day by .2 of a degree Celsius) Knocked on about 100 doors and we clocked over 60 contacts and got free oranges and chili's out of it.
Still suffering the effects of the "Fall" (Fever Australia Loopdy Loop) I typed in the wrong address into the GPS and went the wrong way, Facing the possibility of Riding into Thornlands (40 minutes) and back, a miracle occured, and the Capalaba elders arrived back, we took the car and drove into the night
The Fever came to a bitter end on Sunday when The Sweetness of Chocolate Chip Cookies were "given unto them that Hungered" and Pizza was "Given to the Servants of the Lord" Great way to finish the week
Also Included on Sunday was a surprise-ish visit from Aunty Kris who well she couldn't hug me so she gripped my hand as tight as a normal hug.
Other than that I lost my wallet sometime on Thursday. Still trying to find it. We are told not to engage others in Fasting for a special cause but I do think I am going to need a miracle to find my wallet.

We had the oppurtunity to be able to stay for an hour of Roadshows here in the Cleveland stake.
And I shall leave you with a short little quote from one of them before I finish, and I am pretty sure this is how most people view missionaries (we actually had one guy say this to us in a more drawn out way)
You Gringos (Mormons/Missionaries) are Crazy!

The Church is True. The Work is Hard. The Weather is Hot. But the show Must go on!


Elder Jackson Fankhauser.

Photos finally !!!!!!!!

19th August 2015

Finally today we received photos. It has been 3 months since we have physically seen our missionary. And as his mother I have yearned to see him. My prayers were answered by not only a photo but another one also taken this very day at the Brisbane Temple. Thanks to Emmeline Sunnex who happened to be there the same session as our missionary. 

The first photo shared is Elder Fankhauser, Lennox and Elder Tupou at Lennox's baptism. What a special day for Lennox as she made her first steps to enter the Kingdom of God.


Elder Fankhauser, Lennox and Elder Tupou


Elder Gustafsson and Elder Fankhauser Brisbane Temple

Vision is Paramount

19th August 2015

Yesterday we had District meeting (Basically a group of missionaries reporting to the District Leader and then given a training by one of the missionaries on how to be better missionaries)
And it was My turn, or at least My Companion who is the District Leader had the Inspiration to get me to share the Training this week


Successful plans lead to Successful time management and when you master time management you can Master your life.
I focused on Planning by the Spirit and in the Mighty ABM (Australia Brisbane Mission) we have a Motto it goes like this
Vision Is Paramount
Obedience is the Price
Faith Is the Power
The Spirit is the Key
Love is the Motive
Christ is The Reason
And I Applied these things to how to Plan effectively and there are 8 steps that lead to successful plans.
1. Prayer - All things begin with prayer, through prayer we can ask for guidance and Direction on the things that we need in our lives
2.Outcome - Knowing what you want the outcome to be, can help you determine how well you are doing in your goals
3. Date - Setting a date for when you want this to be completed by, as Henry B Eyring said "Someday means Not This Day"
4.Obstacles - These are things that are going to stop you or things you need to overcome before you can achieve your desired outcome.
5.Resources - These are the skills that you have, the people you know, and the things you know
6.Detailed Plan - A detailed plan is one that has every detail worked out as to how you can use the resources you have to overcome the obstacles you may face.
7.Massive Action - A plan requires action to be taken Upon it. You can't expect a plant to grow if you won't water it.
8.Leverage - Something that will help you to continuously push to achieve that goal, a driving force that helps you accomplish it.
So To pair up these Principles of Preparation and Our mission Motto
Prayer  = Spirit is the Key
Outcome + Date + Vision is Paramount
Obstacles + Resources = Obedience is the Price
Detailed Plan + Massive Action = Faith is the Power
Leverage = Love is the Motive
And why do we make plans? To be better than before.
And one of the Things that Christ Said is Be ye therefore perfect even as My Father  and I are Perfect
Christ is the Reason
The Reason  we can live again with our Father in Heaven is because He Loves us so much He was willing to lay down His life for His Friends.



Elder Jackson Fankhauser.

New Companion, New Vision

12th August

Yesterday was transfer day!!!
It was the first Transfer meeting I got to go to because my previous companion Elder Tupou went up to Cairns to become a ZONE LEADER!! Im super excited for him. 
A little Story on how I met my new Companion is;
On Monday afternoon Me and Elder Layton were together because Elder Layton's companion went to the Mission Home(He was finishing His Mission) and so we were companions.
On this fine Afternoon we went to pick up Elder Gustafsson, who had just flown down from Innisfail, and so we were in a 3-way companionship until Yesterday at transfer Meeting. 
At the transfer meeting we were sitting down next to each other we were sitting next to each other and then President Henderson called out our names, up we stand look at each other and almost start laughing.
Elder Gustafsson is from Iceland (yes thats right Iceland, you know the greenish country next to the Icy Greenland) He is awesome!!! and I can not wait to start working more with this Australian Sounding Icelandic.
Scripture for this week is Matthew 6:19-21(New Testament)
also look at Jacob 2:18-19(Book Of Mormon) and also Doctrine and Covenants 11:21 (Doctrine and Covenants.)

Well sorry guys have to go for today. Have fun and Enjoy Life

Elder Jackson Fankhauser.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Put Your Shoulder to the wheel

3rd August 2015

The world has need of willing men (and women).
This week I had the opportunity to see the spirit in action as a Father watched his daughter get baptized. The family at the moment is less active but not only him but the little girls sister also felt that power of the spirit. I hope that this is a key factor in helping them return back to the fold and continue on their path and endure to the end.
This week was also a time of reflection and gaining of wisdom. Especially from one Brother Jerry Brown. (DJ Jerry). He is such a great motivator and delivers such a great spirit whenever he talks. This weeks lesson in Priesthood was about two questions. The first: What brings light into my life, and the Second How does my light shine and What does it look like?
These two questions got me thinking about the scripture in Matthew 5:14-16 And the basic message of this is that we need to let our light so shine. Jesus Commands us to be perfect even as I, or your Father in Heaven is perfect (Book Of Mormon 3 Nephi 12:48) This light that we need to shine is the manifestation of the Light of Christ within us. The light of Christ is truth. And Truth only comes from, either His voice or the voice of His servants (Doctrine and Covenants 1:38), who know his secrets (Amos 3:7)
Search these Commandments for they are True and Faithful.(Doctrine and Covenants 1:38)

Engaging Members. By the Spirit

 27th July 2015

This past week we have had a specialized training from our mission President to more closely refine the things that we were taught by Elder Pearson.
He organized it using the Equation to Success for a missionary and added the very important fact that: It has to be by the Spirit.
This week we have had some pretty good miracles while out finding and teaching, but one of the biggest miracles was getting 10! member present Lessons, in each of these cases the members were able to help explain or add their own knowledge to what we were teaching.
We also had the privilege to have two of the young men in our ward come out with us for trade-offs on Saturday. Together we were able to be more effective in our area, but as well as that I got to teach the young man I was with a few things, as well as being able to build up a better foundation for the relationship between members and missionaries, I also invited him to share his experience with us this upcoming Fast Sunday to share how great this Latter-Day work is.
Another miracle was that Lennox our recent Convert who got baptized last week helped us open the door again to teaching her cousin Jade. Jade shared with us a few concerns and with the Help of Chris (an RM of the Philippines) and Talia we hope to be able to help her Come unto Christ.
Yesterday Me and Elder Tupou were invited to a training session of the ward leaders and according to both Elder Cooper and Elder Tupou that means that someone is going to become a  District leader or Elder Tupou is going up to Zone Leader (My guess is in the Brisbane stake)
Well we will find out soon enough. Transfers are only two weeks away!
If you ever want time to go by quickly serve a mission or start getting busy with the gospel because the days literally fly before your eyes.
Farewell and Salutations