Hola Familia,
It has been a crazy week. But one that i will always remember. Leaving Orangeburg was not the easiest thing. There were a lot of people that i loved, but the Lord needed me somewhere else. i said my goodbyes to everyone in Orangeburg Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday Morning i had to be in Irmo. I really am going to miss a lot of people from Orangeburg. I promised a lot of people that i would come back and Visit. So we are gonna have to take a trip down to SC sometime. It will be way fun. haha
So on Wednesday, brother Ostien took me to Irmo so i can receive my new companion and my new area. My new Companion is Elder Dembinski. He was trained by Elder Herrera right after he trained me. We have been wanting to be companions for a long time. And we were finally put together as Zone Leaders. We are serving in Winsor Lake. It is in Columbia. There is quite a bit of Spanish, we are trying to start a branch. it is suppose to start no later than the end of next month. We are way excited about that. I am grateful that i can be part of opening a branch like i was in West Columbia. We live in a apartment with two other spanish elders. Elder Call and Elder Burk. they are awesome. I know them pretty good as well. we are having so much fun together.
Being a Zone Leader is just a lot more busy. Its a good busy, we get a lot of phone calls and have to do a lot of planning. we have 3 pretty huge meetings coming up, and we have to plan all of those. We also have to do a lot of exchanges with other missionaries. Our Zone is not as big as i thought it was gonna be. there is only 34 missionaries. We have a big area that we have to cover though, its fun. We have a car all to our selves now. I haven't had to bike since i have been here, which has been kinda good because my bike is still in the shop getting fixed. They are suppose to call me next week so i can go pick it up.
My second day in the area Elder Dembinski had to go to the temple with a family in his last area. so i had to stay with another missionary. I had no idea where anything was, but we were able to figure it out and still have an awesome day. There were a few times, where we were pretty lost, but it all turned out to be way good. I like it here in this area. There is a lot more hispanics than there were in Orangeburg and Sumter combined. I am speaking spanish all day, so that is way nice.
I do wear the shoes my dad gave me, i am still breaking them in. My first day with them i did a lot of walking a got some blisters, but they are doing the job.
Oh did i tell you that this thursday is my last interview with president holm before he leaves. He goes home July 1. I am sad about that, i love that man so much. He has taught me a lot, and has been a great example to me. He came up to me after transfers and told me that he is excited for me to be a Zone Leader. It meant a lot coming from him. On Thursday i am going to tell him to go over to the house to eat dinner. I don't think he lives that far from us. I want you all to go to his home coming, he is an amazing man. I am so grateful that i had him as my mission President. I still remember my first day when he told me we will be here most of your mission, i can't believe he is going home so soon.
Family i am doing so good. I love my mission, it means so much to me. I loved all that i have learned from my short experience on a mission so far. this gospel just makes so much sense. I have learned a little bit of other religions and they make no sense. I know that this Gospel is true. i know that is the one and only church of Jesus Christ and i am so grateful to be a part of it. I love you all so much. thanks for all you do and your wonderful prayers. I promise i feel those prayers strengthen me everyday. take care. Love ya.
Elder Franco
