Easter!

4/21/14

Hola Familia,

I hope you all had an awesome Easter. And felt the Spirit very strong. It sounds like all of you have been doing really good.

 

This week has been really cool. We had a way good meeting in West Columbia on Thursday. It was way fun. President Holm was there and we just had a really good time. I learned a lot from that meeting. The thing that impacted me the most was at the end when president holm was kinda giving the last training befor the meeting was over. He showed a clip. I think it is from a movie called "face the giants" i think a christian church made it. Well anyways, the clip was about a football team, and there was this kid that was kinda being negative and the other kids listened to him. so the coach called up the kid and blind folded him and he told him to do a bear crawl with a kid on his back. he didn't say how far he had to go, but just to give him his best. The kid thoght he would probably get to the 30 yard line. so the whole clip was the coach motivating this kid to keep on pushing to not give up, and to give him his best. Well the kid made it all the way to the in zone. Then we talked about how that applies to us as missionaries. Sometimes we don't give our best, we think our best is something, but god know that its not. It just really impacted me, and made me think to leave it all on the field. Sometimes it is way hard, and you get a little discouraged but its only for a small time. I came out of that meeting with some ideas. I already work hard, but sometimes i work hard at not the most effective thing. so i am going to be smarter with my time, because time does go by way fast.

 

My Easter was also way good, it was a good church service. While at church a family invited us over for dinner. we had a good time with them. They have a little girl her name is joni, she is like 9 and she hid some eggs for us in her living room. so we had an easter egg hunt. It was funny because when i opened my eggs there was nothing in them. She didn't want to give us her candy. IT was pretty funny!

 

Also yesterday President Holm left us a voice mail. so me and elder Montgomery heard it together. and it was president holm and he said elder franco can you please call me as soon as you can. Elder Montgomery was like shoot man, i hope no one in your family died. I told him not to say that. haha He sometimes thinks of the worst thing possible. But i called president holm and he told me that he is giving me another companion. so we are gonna be in a trio. This missionary had to go home for a little bit but is coming back today. President holm just asked if i could be a good companion to him and let him know how it goes. He is coming tonight. I am excited. We have a tiny apartment, i don't know how all of us are going to be able to live there. But i know that we will make it work.

 

Family I thank you so much for all you do. I really do feel all your prayers, they help me so much. sometimes i don't know how i get through somethings but i know its because of your faithful prayers. I hope that all of you have an awesome week. I love all of you so much, i hope and pray that as you do the small and simple things, you come closer to our savior and our father in heaven. you all take care. I love you.

 

sorry for such a short email. I just don't know what else to say.

 

Elder Franco

Busy Week

4/14/14

Hola Familia,

Como estan? Its been a way fast wek. I cant believe it. A lot of cool stuff happened this week. Right when i sit down to start writing an email, i feel like my mind goes blank and i can't think of anything that happened. haha

It was just a good week. I felt like i was pulling a lot of the weight in everything, but we had an exchange this week and it really helped my companion out. he just built confidence and got excited about the work. So it has just been a great week, i haven't had to get on him or anything like that this week. and we have just been really unified and we have put someone on date everyday this week. I think we will keep it up, it has been a lot easier since the exchange. Good things will continue to happen.

On Saturday we went and did a service project. It was way fun. The project was to tear down and replace the shingles of a roof for another church. We got there early and when i was right about to start working, i heard someone yell at me and when i looked up at the roof to see who it was, it was President Acosta. he had come down to help. I was so happy to see him. We were able to catch up a little and talk about the branch. After we finished cleaning up all the shingles that were all over the floor we got up on the roof and started putting shingles back on the roof. I got to build better relationships with the members, and have a good time with them. After we finished, the members of the other church made us lunch, and then President Acosta gave us a ride home. He is coming again in two weeks to finish the other side of the roof. I forgot my camera that day, but if i go next time, i will make sure to take it.

This sunday was Elder Montgomery's birthday, so on saturday when we went to the Marinos to teach an english class they fed us tamales and we kinda had a little party for him. But as we were leaving they gave him gifts, and they also gave me gifts. There were three families there the marinos, the andres, and the tolentinos. and they all gave him and me birthday presents. I don't know why they gave me stuff but i was way grateful. We both got two ties and 20 dollars. I told them thank you so many times but i don't think that showed how grateful i was for what they did. I love that family so much. Those three families are related. they are three sisters all married. they are awesome.

Yesterday after church we went on splits with two members that speak spanish. I went with Brother Chipman and Elder Montgomery went with brother Youngkeit. We got a lot done. It was funny because brother Chipman took me out to see some family that was like 25 minutes away and he took me there like at 8:30. So we got talking and we didn't leave till like a little after nine. but we forgot that the car was still at the church and i had the keys. And on sunday nights you have to come in early so you can report key indicators. and the district was calling me while i was with brother Chipman trying to give me there key indicators. It all worked out good though. I wasn't late in turning them in or anything. Brother Chipman was laughing he just told me to blame it all on him.

We didn't have the biggest turnout at church we only had three people show up, but next week will be better. i know we will get a good amount of people to come next week.

Family i am doing really good, i am having a blast here on my mission. Things are starting to pick up and we are seeing the hand of the Lord in our work. I hope that you all remember our Savior especially during this Easter season. I hope that you all have a fantastic week, that you all may be able to enjoy Easter, and feel of the special spirit that is around us this time of year. I love all of you. You all be safe.

Elder Franco

Not getting transfered

3/31/14

Hola Familia,

I am emailing way later than i usually do. I bet you thought i wasn't gonna send one this week. What happened was that one of the Elders had a Doctors appointment in Columbia. So we had to get up early and drive up to Columbia. It is like a 45 minute drive up. it is not too bad. So we were up there all day and we got back to the apartment got in our car and came here to email before we have to go back and go to work.

 

We had fun in Columbia, we ate pizza at sams club and then we went bowling.  Some other missionaries there in Columbia came as well. It was way fun.

 

Well i am not getting Transfered. I didn't think i was but i was still a little nervous because i wasn't sure. I am here at least one more. I am happy, there is still quite a bit of work that i want to get done here. We had a pretty good sunday yesterday. We had a pretty good group of hispanics here. 2 of them were non members. Bishop is really excited that we are helping bring more people to church. This Sunday was Fast and Testimony meeting, translating wasn't too hard. I also taught gospel principles, i like doing that i learn a lot as well when i teach.

 

I am trying to think what other stuff happened this week. I gave two baptismal interviews for the sisters investigators. That was pretty cool, you don't get a ton of opportunities to do that. What the interview is, you just ask certain questions and determine if they are ready for baptism or not. It was cool. They both passed and were baptized this weekend.

 

We are doing pretty good on investigators, we haven't been able to see them as much as we want to because we have been really low on miles, and they are pretty far away to be biking. So we have had to find members to take us. We are working with a lot of really cool people. There is the obsticle of having to get them married. It is hard for people who don't have papers to get married here in Orangeburg. You have to go to another county and get a marriage lisence. That is some of the stuff we have to figure out and deal with.

 

It has been a way fun week. It has been going way fast. I am way excited for general Conference this upcoming weekend. they are just awesome and you learn so much. I hope that all of you have some of your questions answered and recieve some personal revelation. I know that the men we are going to here from have been called of God. I know that the message that the Prophet is going to give comes from our father in heaven. Amos 3:7. I love you all sorry for the short email this week. Be safe , and enjoy your week.

 

Elder Franco

March 2014

3/24/14

Hola Familia,

Como estan? This week flew by. I don't know where the time went. We had a meeting and i also went on an exchange in West Columbia. Thats Probably why time went so fast this week. We have been keeping ourselves pretty busy.

 

So on Wednesday we had a Spanish Training meeting. Those are my favorite, all the spanish missionaries come from our mission. It is a way fun meeting. I think right now we have the most spanish missionaries than we have ever had before. We have like 26. One goes home this transfer and also one comes in. Me and Elder Montogomery had to give a training. It was fun. We weren't super prepared because they didn't tell us untill the night before, and in the morning we didn't really have time to prepare either because we had to get up early to drive to Irmo. The Whole meeting was in Spanish and so was our training, it was cool. We gave a training on "Teaching when you find, and finding when you teach." It came out good. I like giving trainings, you learn a lot, and they are just fun to give.

 

After the Meeting i went Back with Elder Manwaring to West Columbia to have an exchange. I was so excited to go back to my old area for a day. I saw president Acosta for a little bit and his family they had to do something at the church, so i couldn't talk to him for long. I also saw Mari and Rafa, and some other members. IT was awesome to see them again. We taught some lessons and i introduced him to some people that i used to visit. IT was way fun. They all told me the same thing to make sure i go back and visit. I love that area so much.

 

It is the end of the month so we are super low on miles. So we have been biking a ton. WE have been pretty tired some days. And Yesterday when we were biking, i jumped a curb and did something to my bike and its not working. So Yesterday we were gonna walk everywhere, but the people we visit would just take us to our next appointment. so it worked out good. It was a tender mercy, because we were gonna walk a long ways. Today we will probably get our fair share of walking though.  I am going to try to fix my bike, but if i can't i will probably take it in somewhere so they can take a look at it.

 

On Sundays i am still translating and i am still teaching the gospel prinsibles class. That is good though, because that means we got less actives and investigators to come. The group was suppose to be a lot bigger yesterday, but we still had some. Next sunday we are expecting and really good size group. The Hispanics are starting to get excited here and are inviting people out as well. I know that good things are gonna start happening. WE are excited. We are also going to start English Classes this week. A lot of people have expressed interest in that. That should help us find more hispanics and build good relationships.

 

Family i am doing really well. There isn't really anything you have to worry about. i am doing way good. I am having fun, and i am still working hard. I love my mission and i love being a missionary. You are always in my prayers, and i love hearing from all of you. I am very gratefull for all your prayers, they honestly give me streaghth everyday. You all take care, and be safe. I love you.

 

Elder Franco

 

P.s. I forgot my camera at the apartment, maybe next week i'll send some pictures.

Holidays

12/30/13

Hola familia,

It was awesome being able to talk to you on Christmas. Time flew by, I wish

that i could of talked for a little longer. I had a good Christmas though.

I enjoyed it very much. It is a Christmas that i probably wont forget. It

was my first away from home, I can't believe how fast time is going. It

honestly just blows my mind. It was fun to see all of your faces, not much

has changed about you all except Davie and Klaras Height and Davies voice.

That was funny!

We did a pretty good job keeping our emotions in. The last minute or so

were pretty rough, but it was cool. I was worried that the next day it was

going to be hard to get back to work. and to regain focus. But it was bad

at all. The next day it was right back to work.

I don't think i have told you about any of my investigators. Well this

Sunday Elizabeth came to church with her two children. that was awesome!!!

What is funny is she grew up a Jehovah's Witness or But she was met with

missionaries before and when she started reading the book of mormon she

liked the name sariah so named her daughter that. She is awesome though.

Her kids were starving at church yesterday so she walked across the street

to a McDonald. she went really quick and came back and stayed for all three

hours. She and her kids loved it. We are excited to keep working with them.

We are also working with another family, Alfredo, Isidora and Henry. They

are sweet. They are from Mexico. and they love us. It has been a little

difficult to help them keep commitments, but i love that family so much. We

had a awesome lesson with them yesterday.

The Work is going good. We are finding new people to work with, and also

having some success with less actives. I just love my mission. I learn new

things everyday.

Well the next time you hear from me, it will be a new year. 2014!!! And you

will also be hearing from an old man. I will be 20 years old. That is

crazy! Some how a member that i don't know to well found out it was my

birthday and he is having us over for dinner. He said he is gonna hook me

up with some good food and chocolate cake.

I hope all of you have come up with some good goal for the upcoming year. I

pray that you just dont have fitness and education and financial goals but

you have also  Spiritual goals. A question that you should ask your selves

at the end of each year and frequently throughout is, Have i grown closer

to my father in heaven? I know if we focus on what really matter this year,

everything else will fall into place.

Family, I love you, i am grateful for you. You all are awesome! I hope that

you all have an awesome New Years. Please be safe, make 2014 the best year

yet.

Don't worry about me, i am loving it out here, and i am having fun.

Elder Franco

Training Again, Happy Thanksgiving

11/25/13

Hola familia,

Well i am pregnant. haha I am going to train again. President Holm texted me Friday night and said to call him in the morning. I kinda already knew what it was about, but it was hard to wait. So on Saturday morning after personal study i called him. he Asked me if i know how much fasting and praying goes into transfers and i said yes. Then he asked me if i would be willing to train another missionary and i said i would love to. So tomorrow i go to pick up my new trainee. i am kinda excited, because i actually kinda know what i am doing now. and by Pregnant i mean i am training again. haha

Oh yeah, and President said we can also do some english work, but try to focus on spanish. I was happy about that, because if it were strictly spanish, it would of been hard. President Holm also released me as district leader, he said he wanted me to focus on my trainee. That was nice, it takes a little responsibility of my shoulders. I did have to do two interview this week though. As district leader i have to interview the people that want to get baptized here in sumter, and make sure they are ready. I thought that was fun. they were brother i think they were like 11. They passed. haha

Elder Malcom is getting transferred, me and him got along really well. But he has been in a zebra for a while so thats good they got him back to full english. It was hard for him to stay awake while i was teaching a Spanish lesson. haha 

We were suppose to have a really good Sunday yesterday, but non of our investigators came to church. it was very disheartening, but we just enjoyed church, and worked hard after. We are just gonna have to try something new next Sunday. I know that some of the people we are working with right now have some potential. 

I don't know if i have told you, i have been running into a lot of Colombianos. A lot of them were not very interested. They are way easy to talk to and it is easy to become there friends, but they just haven't been interested. We do actually have a appointment with a family from Colombia Tomorrow. I hope and pray that that will go well. They are awesome. It is a family of three, i have only met the mom. I am way excited for that lesson. 

 I know it is crazy that Thanksgiving is this week. It feels like it has came by way fast. I am excited for it. We are aloud to play in the Turkey ball here. but they are doing it the saturday after thanksgiving so we might have to ask for permission. I hope they say yeah because i have been inviting a lot of investigators. 

The weather here has changed fast. Yesterday was freezing. Luckily we didnt have to bike. but if it stays like it was yesterday man its gonna be cold. We have a car, but we have to do a ton of biking because we don't have too many miles. but it will be alright. 

well i can't think of anything else to tell you. I don't really know what you want me to tell you. I am doing fine, i love my mission, i am having tons of fun. I think that is all that matters. I hope that all of you have an awesome thanksgiving. I hope that you realize all the wonderful blessing that our Father in Heaven has given you. and i hope that your grateful for them. I love you all so much, thanks for all you do, i do appreciate your prayers and am so very grateful for your support. i love you all tons. Be safe, have fun. 

Elder Franco   :)

p.s. If your wondering why i haven't been sending pictures its because i haven't taken any in a long time. I need to repent, and do better. love ya. 

Visit from Elder Bednar

11/18/13

Hola Familia,

It was a fun week. i loved it. I had my interview with President Holm, and also David A Bednar came to the mission and he was with us for three hours. We could ask him whatever we wanted. except questions that won't really help us on the mission for example, where is the sword of Laban? or like where is Kolob? haha

This week we honestly knocked a ton of doors. Sometimes its kinda hard because its during the hours when everyone is at work or at school and no one is home. I don't really mind knocking i have gotten pretty good at making conversation and even getting into homes but sometimes i feel like it is very ineffective. But with our faith and persistence the Lord led us to some really cool people that i think can progress. We have been struggling with investigators falling off date and not keeping there commitments. especially church it has been hard to help people to come to church, because it is not fully Spanish, and there is not to many Hispanics so they just don't feel comfortable coming. We are praying and looking for a solution. I know one will come. 

I have been teaching a lot of lessons by myself since my companion speaks no Spanish. And i have been feeling that i am talking to much, but i didn't know what to do because the things still had to be taught. I found myself explaining it and not testifying of it. I realized i am not using my other companion which is the holy ghost. I realized with Elder Bednar that i was in the way of the spirit. I was letting the spirit do is job. I learned a ton from Elder Bednar and i am way excited to put it into use. I feel like i will become a way better teacher because of the great experience i had from elder Bednar. 

Well the Elder Bednar meeting was Saturday night from 6 to 9. It didn't feel long at all. The time flew by. I was watching the door as he walked in and right as he walked in I felt the spirit so strong, and i knew it was testifying to me that he was really an apostle of the Lord. I was an awesome feeling. It was a mission wide meeting so all missionaries in all of South Carolina was there. I think there are about 230 missionaries in this mission. Well he talked about a lot of things. he talked a lot about a pattern of teaching. it is the same pattern that Jesus Christ used when he taught. When we would ask a question he wouldn't just answer it, he would ask us super inspired questions and helped us receive an answer from heaven, and then he would testify of the answer that we received personally. He also talked a lot about faith. He compared it to jumping out of the boat. like in the bible when peter saw Christ and jumped out of the boat and was able to walk on water, but then when he took his gaze of Christ he started to sink.  

He compared that to our faith. How sometimes we don't know what to say or do. Or sometimes we are scared, fearful or doubtful. and we don't jump out of the boat. We are scared that we will drown. He testified that God will never let us drown, but he will let us choke on some water. I loved that. As missionaries we are put in some situations that we just don't know how to handle. His advise was just jump out of the boat, and you will know exactly what to do and say. Blessing and revelation come after the trial of your faith. 

I am probably butchering all of this i can't explain it nor say it like he said it. I just know that the spirit taught me so many things that day. He told us that he is not teaching us anything the spirit is. 

he also promised us many things that if we did, we will never fall away. He said in his home he has a bookshelf with a ton of the paperback inexpensive copies of the book of Mormon. He said that each one has a different topic or keyword that he has read through and only looked for that. He said if we did that we would never fall away. He promised if we pray in faith looking for gods will not ours, we will never fall away. I know that is true. At the end we all had the chance to shake his hand, he looked right into everyone's eyes. I was a little nervous, but when i shook his hand and he was looking directly at me. i just felt loved, and peace. He was Truly an apostle of the Lord. 

I am doing great. i have had a great week. This week we will get transfer calls already. we will see what happens. I love you all and hope and pray that you feel the Lords love and blessing in your lives everyday. 

Elder Franco

New Area

10/21/13

Hola familia,

Well it sounds like you already know where i am. I was transferred to Sumter. I was put in a zebra. What that means is, i have an English speaking companion. So we do both english and spanish work. When we teach in spanish i do all the talking. Sometimes i ask him to bare his testimony and i will translate it. So my new companions name is Elder Malcom. He is from new mexico. I have been out like a month longer than he has. He is a good missionary. He is really quiet, but we are getting along really well. 

Well about Sumter, its probably the most ghetto place in south carolina. There is some streets that they ask us to stay off of at night. haha. Don't get worried its not to bad. Well there is a lot of work to be done here. They haven't had much success here in the past while. They haven't had investigators to church for over six weeks. The ward roster has over 1000 people on it. and we only have about 150 active members. So we have a ton of less active work to do. I am really excited. I kinda feel like i have been white washed into this area. Because Elder Malcom speaks no spanish, and he takes me to these spanish investigators, and i just have to figure it all out. Its been fun though. i feel like the lord is going to bless us. We have been working really hard, and being really obedient. We have been inviting everyone we can to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized. We have seen some success. I haven't been able to meet any of the english investigators that we have. I have been trying to, but we just have not been able to catch them. 

Well i finally was able to ride my bike again. Its fun. i kinda missed it. but its harder to get stuff done. We still have a car, but we only have 200 miles for the rest of the month. so we are going to have to be biking a lot. it actually kinda been cold. nothing horrible. Like yesterday i was teaching a lesson to this lady outside, we couldn't go in because there was no man in the house. when i was talking i could see my breath.  Everyone is saying its gonna be a cold winter, it ok, i got a car. 

About west columbia. Man it was hard to leave. I knew everyone there, and here since it is a ward. It is gonna be hard to get to know everyone. President Holm said that the Bishop here was begging him for a native speaker. The Bishop here is way sweet. i do miss west columbia, but i am super excited about this area. Its gonna be tough, but i know there will be tons of miracles. 

Oh yeah, i am a district leader now. I really have no idea what i am doing. I am just kinda making it up as i go. On Thursday we have district developing meeting. And i am in charge of that. I am not to worried. im pretty sure i will figure it out. My district is pretty small. 

Well, i am still loving my mission so much. I cant believe that Lars is back. That just blows my mind. I love you all so much. And i am way grateful for all of your support. You are always in my prayers. Please be safe. love ya.

Elder Franco

Transfer News

10/14/13

Hola familia, 

This week has been crazy. Well i got the news on Saturday that i am getting transferred. Earlier Saturday morning i got a call and i was called to be a district leader. When they told me that i was pretty sure they were going to transfer me. A lot of Saturday me and Elder Barker spent at a laundry mat. We washed all of our clothes to make sure we would not take bed bugs to new house. We weren't even sure yet if we were leaving, but we were given hints. so we tried to get all that done. we didn't so we are gonna have to do a ton of stuff today. So like at ten o'clock that night i got the for sure news that i am getting transferred. 

Yesterday was a great Sunday. President gave me a little time in sacrament meeting to bare my testimony. It was kinda a surprise to everyone that i was leaving. so i get up there, and i start talking and i looked up and almost everyone was crying and it kinda shocked me, and i got a little emotional and i just told everyone that i love them and i thanked them for all there support. the spirit was very strong. And my heart was just touched to see how much everyone cared and loved me and was sad to see me go. After that we just kept going on with the regular sacrament meeting and at the end President Acosta gets up. and he just starts talking to me and the other missionary that is leaving and he thanked us for our service and called us part of the family, and then he got really emotional and said " as president of the branch i thank you, and i just want to say that, i love you". And when he said that the whole branch started to cry again and all during the last song. It was really touching. It was one of the most spiritual sacrament meetings i have ever been to. After sacrament meeting, sister Vasquez she is kinda new doesnt really know much of the missionary rules came and gave me a hug. President acosta saw and just laughed. There was also this one girl, its actually Jairos sister. She was crying a ton, it reminded me of when julie used to cry and coulnt stop. When i went to talk to her, it just melted my heart, she is such a good girl, i am going to miss her. All the acosta kids were way sad, especially the oldest, he is 9 years old and he did not want me to leave. The acosta family gave me this angle Moroni pin, it was really nice of them. Sister acosta thanked me for everything. It was a hard sunday. i never would of thought, that it would be this hard to leave. it hurts just like its hurts saying bye to family. For six months i have labored as hard as i can for this branch. and now it all comes to an end, the lord needs me somewhere else. I have so many mixed feelings, i am excited, but at the same time i am really sad that i have to go. it is hard to explain. This morning i was studying Charity and i feel like i have grown a little in this christ like attribute. I would of never thought i could love people so much. 

I am doing really good though. I am sure i am gonna love my next area as well. I am gonna just as busy over there than i was here. I was getting to the point here, where on p day i can walk into walmart and see a hispanic and know where he lives. they recognize me quickly land then avoid me. Because i have knocked on there doors so many times. 

I have been really good. Its hard to leave my investigators. Especially Mari and Rafa. that is gonna be hard. I already have an appointment with them tomorrow night to go and say bye. it will be alright though. 

Elder silva is now out of training and he will lead this area. I think he will do just fine. He is probably gonna get a experienced missionary, so they are going to do good things. 

Family it is hard to express to you how much i love my mission. Time is going by way to fast. I can believe that i have been here in west columbia for 6 months. i dont even know where the time went. I love you all so much. i hope you are all doing good. Thanks so much for your support and love. be safe.

Elder Franco

Sep 23, 2013

9/23/13

Hola familia,

it sounds like all of you are doing really good. it makes me happy. The pictures you got from mari and rafa were not from the noche de talentos. It was from a zone conference. The mission has a facebook page and they post a lot of pictures of the missionaries. so that is where they got the pictures. Rafa was kind of embarrassed because he sent you a bunch of random pictures by accident. he only meant to send one. 

about the bugs. So we spent almost a whole day cleaning the whole apartment you have to do a ton of stuff to prepare for the treatment. It was this huge list of things that we had to do. it was annoying. Well anyways we did it. and the next day we waited for them to show up and they never did. so we called and they rescheduled it till the 24th without telling us. We were a little upset. but we got it done and now it is all prepared for Tuesday. 

This week went by way fast. it was fun though. we got a lot of stuff done. We have been having trouble finding new investigators, just because everyone is so busy and they don't let us come into there homes. we have been switching things up. This week, we did put someone on date. his name is Eliezar De la Rosa. He is way cool. he is young, he is only 17. he loved what we taught him and accepted everything. He couldn't come to church because he was with his sister. we are going to try to get his family more involved, so he can have more support. 

The branch is doing way good. i think this week, we had 45 people come. We had a ton of less actives come. that's good. we have been working really hard with some of them and trying to help them regain there testimonies. It so cool to see their progress, and when they start feeling the holy ghost again in there lives. It is awesome. I love the members of this branch they are so cool.

Also this week. I feel like everyone. well less actives and investigators are seeing and having experiences with la muerte. I have heard some really crazy stories this past week. We have been blessing a lot of homes lately. It is a great opportunity to talk about the authority of god. 

I dont know if i told you. but do you remember Estrella and Yair. my recent converts they are doing really good. Yair now has the priesthood. and they both have recommends to go to the temple and do baptisms. They are doing way good. they love it, it is so cool to see them still coming to church and there testimonies growing. I love them so much. 

Mari and Rafa still doing really good. coming a lot closer to god. still stuck on weather they should get married or not. I feel like mari is having trouble forgiving rafa for past transgressions. but with the atonement of Jesus Christ she will be able to overcome it. It just will take a little bit of time. I told them yesterday that the chances of me leaving are really high. They were a little shocked, and they both said that they feel like i am going to stay. I love them and wish i could stay, but if god needs me somewhere else i will happily go. I know how much heavenly father loves that little family. I know with all my heart that he has a plan for them. They will be baptized one day. Hopefully it will be sooner than later. 

I just want to share my testimony of the atonement. it is real, i have seen it so much here on my mission. I have seen it change peoples lives for the better. I am so grateful for my savior Jesus Christ and his sacrifice that he did for all of us. It is only through him that we can live with heavenly father again and receive eternal life. I love this gospel, true happiness only comes by living it. I hope and pray that everyone understands that. 

I love you all. I am so grateful for your support. I am truly blessed to have a family like you. I hope that you feel the blessings of having a missionary out in the mission field working his hardest. I love what i do so much, i will forever be grateful for this opportunity. be safe. I love you. 

Elder Franco

September 2013 updates

9/16/13

Hola familia. 

It has been a good week this week. a lot has happened. Yeah i know Elder Billings I forgot he went home, i didn't serve a ton with him, but we knew each other pretty good. Yeah he is from Hurricane, he was a way good missionary. oh and about not remembering my dads second last name. I knew it started with a B but i just couldn't remember. I was thinking about for a long time, but it just didn't come to me. They were about to call you, i told them if they did i told them to tell you that i wasn't with them. haha. They didn't though. They are still doing really good. they came to church. I was actually quite surprised because they had a little party at there house to watch the Canelo vs. Mayweather fight. and over here it didnt start till eleven, so they didnt go to bed till like 2:30 in the morning. But they still came, i was way happy. 

Also yesterday we had our noche de talentos. It came out way good. We had a lot of people show up. it was fun. We were at the church early setting things up. It kinda took a long time. for the first hour i was just blowing up balloons, i got a headache from doing that. Then we set up tables and we had to hang the balloons from the ceiling so i had to climb up the latter it was way high, it was scary, i forgot that i am not a big fan of heights. haha It all came out way good though. The talents were pretty sweet, there was a lot of good ones. my favorite was probably president acostas and his wife. they danced like some 80's song. and president acosta was picking up his wife and throwing her and stuff. they did way good. I went to the activity with the intention to take a ton of pictures, but i didnt take any. Please forgive me. i was busy. sorry.

We had a lot of meetings this week. we had the all spanish training meeting. it was good, it was pretty long, but i learned a ton of stuff, that i have been using in my missionary efforts. President Acosta was the special guest invited by president holm. He gave a really good training. He was pretty bold, and he was really honest about every question. something that i loved that he said was "investigators won't receive a message from a stranger, but they will receive a message from a friend" It is so true, once you become there friends is when they start listening and progressing and coming closer to god. 

Family i have been working hard, i get tired at times, but i love it so much. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else. It is so crazy to be in the world but not part of it. It is amazing to me that my wants and desires are completely different from what they used to be. I love being a missionary so much. I know i say that a lot, but i hope you understand how much it means to me to be able to wear my name tag every day. Yesterday at church was the primary program, and a group of primary children sang "I hope they call me on a mission" the spirit hit me so strong at the moment, i remember how much i used to want to come on the mission, and it hit me that i am now on one. How blessed am i. I hope you are all doing great. I love you all so much. and so grateful for all you have done for me. be safe.

Elder Franco

September baptisms

9/12/13

Hola Familia, 

It was a really good week this week. we had two baptisms. Joseph and Mecal were baptized. it was awesome. i had the opportunity to get in the water with them it was way sweet. they loved it. It was so spiritual. It was a really good baptism. and yesterday they were confirmed and received the holy ghost. it was cool, in Josephs blessing the brother that gave it said he would hold a lot of leadership positions in the church. I know he will he is so solid. Mecal was crying like the whole time, she is really sensitive to the spirit. I am so happy we were able to baptize. I got to baptize with my trainee. that was something i prayed for, i wanted elder Silva to experience a baptism with his trainer and he did. He was way happy as well. I will send some pics of the baptism.

Also Jairo got baptized, it wasnt my baptism but i still feel like one of his missionaries. I think i still got credit for it as well. It doesnt matter though as long as he got baptized. His brother performed the ordinance, it was funny they didnt really have any idea what they were doing in there. it only took them like three times. the spirit was really strong there, at the end Jairo bore his testimony it was really powerful. I was so happy for him. He will be a great member of the church. His baptism was kinda a miracle, they just told him if he pays all his tickets his record would be wiped clean. so he did it. it was a blessing, i knew there was a plan for Jairo.

Mari and Rafa didnt come to church they went to Myrtle Beach. They invited us, but they knew we couldn't go. They are coming along they love us coming by. they love the church, they are just still uncertain about marriage. I love them so much and want them to be members already. They will be,  hopefully it can happen while im still here. 

Transfer calls were Saturday, im still training. i have another six weeks of it. so most likely i will get transferred in six weeks. I don't like to think about it, i really dont want to leave. I love it here.

I love my mission so much, i am learning so many things. Its so cool. We are still working really hard, the last three days have been way hot, but it doesnt bother me to much. I love seeing my testimony grow each day. I hope and pray that your testimonies are growing as well. I love all of you. sorry for such a short email, but we don't have much time today. be safe .

Elder Franco

On the mission August 2013

8/19/13

Como esta mi Familia? 

I had a really good week. I enjoyed it. i learned a ton this week. A lot of small miracles. Elder Silva is doing good. he is picking up everything quickly. Right now i am helping him him get a filter in his mouth. Sometimes he says things in front of investigators and members that they really dont need to know. He has gotten a lot better. He doesnt take offense when i tell him either. He is gonna be a really good missionary. 

You asked about my cooking. Well this last month, i have turned into a master chef. I have cooked mole, tortas, Sheperd's pie, and some other way good stuff. Thats only if we have time. If i do, ill cook for the apartment. 

You also asked about our apartment. I didnt tell you, but for like a month we were being attacked by bed bugs. haha I didnt want you guys worrying. I think its all taken care of now. We havent been bit this week. But at first it was way bad. One of the roomates Elder Barker got destroyed one night. i felt way bed. We soaked the place with chemicals and alcohol. Its was crazy and it kinda sucked but its all good now. haha I didnt even know bed bugs were real until i got here to SC. it was insane. 

On p days i havent been playing basketball. Sister Holm told me not to play because my groin has been hurting. for a little over a week. Dont worry though. its nothing serious. i am gonna start playing again next week. 

My talk on sunday went way good. I didnt really struggle with my spanish at all. Elder Barker told me to record it. so he let me borrow his voice recorder and i just had it in my suit pocket while i gave my talk. Its sounds good. I will try to send it to you. so you can hear my spanish. haha. Dont make fun of me. The talk wasnt that long it was only like 15 minutes. I liked giving it. I had some bullet points on a piece of paper, but when i got up there, i didnt even use the paper, i kinda just went by the spirit. It was cool. 

Mari and Rafa are doing really good. They love us, they love the church and the people in it. It is just hard for them to get married. I have seriously seen a huge change in there lives. for some reason they are a ton happier then they were before. I honestly love that family. I was thinking a lot about them last night and i was thinking what if i cant help them further. It almost brought me to tears. I love them so much. I love there kids. i want them to be an eternal family so bad. I pray that i can help them progress in the gospel.  God has a plan for them, it will soon be revealed. 

Yesterday We got to go have dinner at the mission home with president holm and his wife. Our whole district did. Because we hit our goal last month. it was way cool. We got to spend like three hours with president holm. He asked me a lot of questions about my area and my investigators. It was way sweet. He also told me i needed a hair cut. haha sister holm gave me some clippers and i cut  there at the mission home. it was sweet! They werent mad, they just asked if i wanted to cut it and i said yeah. so i did. 

I am so happy that you are all doing way good. i want you to not worry about me. I am doing great. Everyday that i am out here is a blessing. I love it. I am so grateful that i have this opportunity. I honestly wouldn't want to be anywhere else. My mission has changed me for the better. I will forever be grateful for that. I know that i am still fairly new on my mission. but i loved every second of it so far. I hope ya'll now how much i love you. and how much you mean to me. Thank you for all you do for me. I love you. Take care, be safe. 

Elder Franco