Family and Friends,
Even though it hasn´t been long since we talked, there are still some great stories and experiences to share.
But first, thank you so much for that skype call, it was amazing to see you all and be able to share fun stories and moments. You guys are amazing and taught me a lot. I hope you continue to have a great Christmas break and are able to start the new year with good goals and plans. Like Preach my Gospel says a thousand times--set goals and make plans :) first you can set the goal and then make a plan on a way to accomplish that. I know I could do a lot better in that as well, which will result in a very productive and happy year for each of us :)
Our contact with Charlie has really been struggling, and it´s so hard to see. He´s been working and hardly ever picks up his phone now, which is so frustrating to see. Ugh. I know it´s not because he doesn´t want to come to church or anything, it´s just that right now he´s super busy. He was so close to being baptizeddddddd. Don´t worry though, he will be soon. Just as soon as he stops working. Pray for him please, he needs our help. But yesterday night we met with this family, I´m not sure where they are from now exactly what there relationship was to each other between the four haha, but they were all there and anxious to listen to us. We had a great lesson with them in which we fel the spirit really strong, and I pray that they will continue with that interest.
Sometimes I´m reminded of truly how many people really are ready and waiting for us. It´s easy to forget at times when you get a lot of rejection.
I love you all so much!! Thank you for everything that you do for me. Mom and Dad I love you, thanks so much for your love and example.
Have an amazing week!
And talk to you next week :)
Elder Franson
Monday, December 29, 2014
Monday, December 15, 2014
andrea's baptism
Good morning!
You guys are the greatest support group every, thanks for everything you do :)
We had an amazing week, Andrea got baptized on Saturday and it was so beautiful. I think she was a bit stressed/overwhelmed at the beginning because everyone was giving her orders to go change, take pictures, Do her hair. It would have stressed me out too haha. It reminded me a bit of someone I know...I won´t say the name. :D haha. No but it was really cool to see her baptized and the happiness and peace on her face. She proved her family wrong, they were all saying to the missionaries for a while that Andrea would never choose to get baptized, that she wasn´t really like that. But here we are, and she´s a member now. She´s so awesome, and you all might be able to meet them when we call on Christmassss! We want the branch start a zumba class thing at the church and call her as the instructor...and see if we could get permission to attend haha. We´ll see, it may not actually happen but sounds like a ton of fun.
We are teaching a new girl named Raquel, from the Dominican Republic and has so much potential. Walking out of a lesson I was so speechless and amazed. In the middle of the lesson she asked what the process was like to be baptized, and later after inviting her to be baptized she said she would. I´m really excited. I honestly feel like the Lord is just putting so many great and wonderful people in our path. The ratio of the people we actually teach out of the total number of references that we receive I don´t think has been quite as high as it is now here in Fuenlabrada. There is tons of potential here in this area. Elder Schwenke and I are working super hard.
We´ve been teaching quite of few Spaniards lately, which is super cool. It´s never been the majority but I love talking to them and teaching them. They are very very different than any other nationality here. I would say that if you stopped a Spaniard who was around my age, more or less, 90% of the time they would be atheist. The older generation would be 90% Catholic, but it has kind of flipped flopped here in Spain. Weird how that worked. But I´ve learned a ton as I talk with more of those people who don´t believe in God and figure out how I can help them, how to let them see that God really does exist. Sometimes it stumps me, but I know it´s not impossible to teach someone with that background. Lots of times though they just have a completely closed heart and mind to things like that, I´m sure their parents tried to push them in the Catholic direction for a time and they changed directions. They need a humbling experience...like a storm or something...haha just kidding, that´s rude of me. But it´s for a good cause in the bigger picture. Like in 3 Nephi, I would like the Lord to send a famine or something, to help them turn their hearts unto the Lord again. I want these people to have a chance to accept this great gift that the Lord is freely presenting to them.
We stopped this one girl in the street, I thought she was around 21 or 22, but as we started talking to her we found out SHE IS 14!! I felt a bit weird haha, she doesn´t believe in God, but told us about her sister who actually does, who is a bit older, and we´re going to teach her. Funny/weird experience.
All in all, great week. I´m loving this mission--each day I love it a bit more. Also, we get to skype in like a week, which is BLOWING MY MIND. I´m so excited, it´s going to be awesome.
I haven´t heard much about the snowflake making, hopefully you´re keeping up the tradition. I´ve been teaching some members how to do it, won´t be too long before their housed are covered with them as well.
I love you all dearly, and am so thankful for the things you write me, the support and love you give me. I couldn´t do this without that. Tell everyone in Soda I say hi, and that I miss you all.
Have a great week!
Love Elder Franson
You guys are the greatest support group every, thanks for everything you do :)
We had an amazing week, Andrea got baptized on Saturday and it was so beautiful. I think she was a bit stressed/overwhelmed at the beginning because everyone was giving her orders to go change, take pictures, Do her hair. It would have stressed me out too haha. It reminded me a bit of someone I know...I won´t say the name. :D haha. No but it was really cool to see her baptized and the happiness and peace on her face. She proved her family wrong, they were all saying to the missionaries for a while that Andrea would never choose to get baptized, that she wasn´t really like that. But here we are, and she´s a member now. She´s so awesome, and you all might be able to meet them when we call on Christmassss! We want the branch start a zumba class thing at the church and call her as the instructor...and see if we could get permission to attend haha. We´ll see, it may not actually happen but sounds like a ton of fun.
We are teaching a new girl named Raquel, from the Dominican Republic and has so much potential. Walking out of a lesson I was so speechless and amazed. In the middle of the lesson she asked what the process was like to be baptized, and later after inviting her to be baptized she said she would. I´m really excited. I honestly feel like the Lord is just putting so many great and wonderful people in our path. The ratio of the people we actually teach out of the total number of references that we receive I don´t think has been quite as high as it is now here in Fuenlabrada. There is tons of potential here in this area. Elder Schwenke and I are working super hard.
We´ve been teaching quite of few Spaniards lately, which is super cool. It´s never been the majority but I love talking to them and teaching them. They are very very different than any other nationality here. I would say that if you stopped a Spaniard who was around my age, more or less, 90% of the time they would be atheist. The older generation would be 90% Catholic, but it has kind of flipped flopped here in Spain. Weird how that worked. But I´ve learned a ton as I talk with more of those people who don´t believe in God and figure out how I can help them, how to let them see that God really does exist. Sometimes it stumps me, but I know it´s not impossible to teach someone with that background. Lots of times though they just have a completely closed heart and mind to things like that, I´m sure their parents tried to push them in the Catholic direction for a time and they changed directions. They need a humbling experience...like a storm or something...haha just kidding, that´s rude of me. But it´s for a good cause in the bigger picture. Like in 3 Nephi, I would like the Lord to send a famine or something, to help them turn their hearts unto the Lord again. I want these people to have a chance to accept this great gift that the Lord is freely presenting to them.
We stopped this one girl in the street, I thought she was around 21 or 22, but as we started talking to her we found out SHE IS 14!! I felt a bit weird haha, she doesn´t believe in God, but told us about her sister who actually does, who is a bit older, and we´re going to teach her. Funny/weird experience.
All in all, great week. I´m loving this mission--each day I love it a bit more. Also, we get to skype in like a week, which is BLOWING MY MIND. I´m so excited, it´s going to be awesome.
I haven´t heard much about the snowflake making, hopefully you´re keeping up the tradition. I´ve been teaching some members how to do it, won´t be too long before their housed are covered with them as well.
I love you all dearly, and am so thankful for the things you write me, the support and love you give me. I couldn´t do this without that. Tell everyone in Soda I say hi, and that I miss you all.
Have a great week!
Love Elder Franson
Andrea's baptism.
Monday, December 8, 2014
so many baptisms!
Good morning or evening to everybody!
Wow, Christmas is coming up so fast I can´t really believe it. I still remember last Christmas so well, being in the nice warm climate haha. It´s been pretty cold here, no snow at all. Sometimes rain. I realized it´s basically been 2 years now since I´ve had snow, except that one time when we climbed the volcano. But it sounds like there isn´t much there in Idaho anyway, that´s too bad. There is actually a big mall here that has an indoor ski resort so that people can go, sounds pretty cool.
Ok, do you guys remember the lady I talked a lot about back in my last area--Barrio 9, named Jessica? She's from Peru and was always coming to church and we could meet with her quite often but she didn´t really want to get baptized, didn´t understand it. Her main concern was the reason we have the law of chastity. Well, on Friday night I got this random call, turned out to be her! After talking for a bit, she invited me to her baptism!!!! I couldn´t believe it, didn´t know what to say haha. She told me she realized it´s time to take it seriously and to do the right thing, that she´s known it was a good thing. I am so happy!! I don´t think it´ll be possible to go to her baptism, but I´m going to try one of these pdays to go over to that area and see some of those people again.
Another amazing blessing was seeing Charlie grow, we weren´t able to meet him during the week (he had some jobs and didn´t have time) but he came to church and loved it like usual. He leaned over to me at one point and told me "I´ve found the church now, I´m not going to leave!" Bam! I´m so happy seeing that. He continues to progress towards his baptism which will be the 21 of December, after the church meetings. He´s so excited being there with us and all of the members. That is something that this branch does really well in, fellowshipping the new people. It´s easy to notice the new people and they always go over and introduce themselves. Please pray for Charlie as he continues to work for his baptism, he needs lots of support and love.
Andrea is getting baptized this week, one of the daughters of the family that got baptized about a month ago. At first, she didn´t seem interested at all, even refused to pray, but now she´s completely changed. She´s so weighed down in her studies but she still likes to meet with us and read the Book of Mormon. This weekend will be very special for her and her family, and us of course. She´s amazing, so spiritual and such a hard worker too. To be honest she reminds me a bit of Leah--she´s independent, works so hard, studies a lot. She could use your prayers as well to continue strong on this path.
The work is moving forward so fast a feel like, and I love being a part of this great army. I again encourage everyone to serve a mission, there is nothing I could be doing better at this time of my life than being here.
I hope you all take care and and have an amazing week. I love you all so muchhhhh.
Elder Franson
Wow, Christmas is coming up so fast I can´t really believe it. I still remember last Christmas so well, being in the nice warm climate haha. It´s been pretty cold here, no snow at all. Sometimes rain. I realized it´s basically been 2 years now since I´ve had snow, except that one time when we climbed the volcano. But it sounds like there isn´t much there in Idaho anyway, that´s too bad. There is actually a big mall here that has an indoor ski resort so that people can go, sounds pretty cool.
Ok, do you guys remember the lady I talked a lot about back in my last area--Barrio 9, named Jessica? She's from Peru and was always coming to church and we could meet with her quite often but she didn´t really want to get baptized, didn´t understand it. Her main concern was the reason we have the law of chastity. Well, on Friday night I got this random call, turned out to be her! After talking for a bit, she invited me to her baptism!!!! I couldn´t believe it, didn´t know what to say haha. She told me she realized it´s time to take it seriously and to do the right thing, that she´s known it was a good thing. I am so happy!! I don´t think it´ll be possible to go to her baptism, but I´m going to try one of these pdays to go over to that area and see some of those people again.
Another amazing blessing was seeing Charlie grow, we weren´t able to meet him during the week (he had some jobs and didn´t have time) but he came to church and loved it like usual. He leaned over to me at one point and told me "I´ve found the church now, I´m not going to leave!" Bam! I´m so happy seeing that. He continues to progress towards his baptism which will be the 21 of December, after the church meetings. He´s so excited being there with us and all of the members. That is something that this branch does really well in, fellowshipping the new people. It´s easy to notice the new people and they always go over and introduce themselves. Please pray for Charlie as he continues to work for his baptism, he needs lots of support and love.
Andrea is getting baptized this week, one of the daughters of the family that got baptized about a month ago. At first, she didn´t seem interested at all, even refused to pray, but now she´s completely changed. She´s so weighed down in her studies but she still likes to meet with us and read the Book of Mormon. This weekend will be very special for her and her family, and us of course. She´s amazing, so spiritual and such a hard worker too. To be honest she reminds me a bit of Leah--she´s independent, works so hard, studies a lot. She could use your prayers as well to continue strong on this path.
The work is moving forward so fast a feel like, and I love being a part of this great army. I again encourage everyone to serve a mission, there is nothing I could be doing better at this time of my life than being here.
I hope you all take care and and have an amazing week. I love you all so muchhhhh.
Elder Franson
Monday, December 1, 2014
the kid learns to whistle
Family and Friends!
Ok I have a huge accomplishment i want to tell everybody... I can whistle. Yep, I´ve learned. Ok well it´s not very good nor loud but I can make a sound! haha, Dad you´ll be proud. I´ll continue practicing to get better.
This week went by really fast, we did 2 intercambios- one with the APs, and another with our district leader here. When I was with the AP I learned so much, and had such a great day. His name is Elder Anderson, from Boise, and he´s hilarious. It definitely reminded me of a lot of things I could try to do better, like many of the intercambios we do. I was grateful for that opportunity to see how he worked. Also he said that his grandma and some family are from Grace, who are Rasmussens. Dad, do you think you know her?
Funny all of the connections there are with the church.
Charlie is doing amazingggg. I am overjoyed to see him so willing to accept these things and how much he loves what he hears. He came to church again yesterday and during the 5th Sunday thing, the guy talked a bit about tithing and about doing the settlements now. Charlie turned to us and asked if he needs to go to that, we said not until he´s a member, and he said oh, and then after I´m a member I can pay tithing and go to that? Sounding pretty excited about it haha. Sometimes it´s just a little difficult to meet with him during the week, he´s got a really crazy boy, but I know he´s loving it. Continue praying for him please, to continue progressing and being able to continue to his baptismal date for the 21 of December.
Another little cool miracle we had was Sofia. On Saturday night we wanted to pass by some African investigators to invite them to church, but instead of them being home, we found another lady who a couple days before had just moved in, renting a room there. I felt something pushing me to continue talking to her there in the door way instead of just saying bye. After breaking the ice for a sec, we invited her to church and she surprised me with saying yes and agreeing to walk with us. Surprised me even more when she actually came with us that morning and enjoyed church!
I read the email from Rachel talking about how they don´t really teach in their mission language, and laughed as I realized my mission is pretty similar. We teach a ton of people from completely random countries, and a mix of Spanish and English. I don´t really like teaching in English, it feels super weird. I can´t say a normal prayer in English either, just not used to it. But it´s great, those people are amazing.
Oh this is the last week of the transfer, just wanting to let you know. I got the shoes! Thanks so much for sending them! They´ll be perfect.
I love you all so much, thanks for everything!
Elder Franson
Ok I have a huge accomplishment i want to tell everybody... I can whistle. Yep, I´ve learned. Ok well it´s not very good nor loud but I can make a sound! haha, Dad you´ll be proud. I´ll continue practicing to get better.
This week went by really fast, we did 2 intercambios- one with the APs, and another with our district leader here. When I was with the AP I learned so much, and had such a great day. His name is Elder Anderson, from Boise, and he´s hilarious. It definitely reminded me of a lot of things I could try to do better, like many of the intercambios we do. I was grateful for that opportunity to see how he worked. Also he said that his grandma and some family are from Grace, who are Rasmussens. Dad, do you think you know her?
Funny all of the connections there are with the church.
Charlie is doing amazingggg. I am overjoyed to see him so willing to accept these things and how much he loves what he hears. He came to church again yesterday and during the 5th Sunday thing, the guy talked a bit about tithing and about doing the settlements now. Charlie turned to us and asked if he needs to go to that, we said not until he´s a member, and he said oh, and then after I´m a member I can pay tithing and go to that? Sounding pretty excited about it haha. Sometimes it´s just a little difficult to meet with him during the week, he´s got a really crazy boy, but I know he´s loving it. Continue praying for him please, to continue progressing and being able to continue to his baptismal date for the 21 of December.
Another little cool miracle we had was Sofia. On Saturday night we wanted to pass by some African investigators to invite them to church, but instead of them being home, we found another lady who a couple days before had just moved in, renting a room there. I felt something pushing me to continue talking to her there in the door way instead of just saying bye. After breaking the ice for a sec, we invited her to church and she surprised me with saying yes and agreeing to walk with us. Surprised me even more when she actually came with us that morning and enjoyed church!
I read the email from Rachel talking about how they don´t really teach in their mission language, and laughed as I realized my mission is pretty similar. We teach a ton of people from completely random countries, and a mix of Spanish and English. I don´t really like teaching in English, it feels super weird. I can´t say a normal prayer in English either, just not used to it. But it´s great, those people are amazing.
Oh this is the last week of the transfer, just wanting to let you know. I got the shoes! Thanks so much for sending them! They´ll be perfect.
I love you all so much, thanks for everything!
Elder Franson
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)