Ok, I like that idea about the emails- I just felt really bad about
not replying to one or two of the kids and having them feel left out or
something. But with this I will just write one big one to you and have
some little things for each of the kids inside of it.
First, Kayla idk how much you use my Facebook, but Hermana Jackson
(pres wife) doesn´t like it when the family uses their Facebook to post
pictures and stuff. She said either always put that you are the one
writing and posting, or delete it...so whatever you want to do. I don´t
care ha.
P.S. Did a missionary in columbia get shot? I heard something but I just wasn´t sure.
P.S. Did a missionary in columbia get shot? I heard something but I just wasn´t sure.
Mom, I just want to say real quick how sorry I am for being lazy at home, not wanting to do the stupid little chores that you needed me to do. I am so mad at myself for not bucking up and helping you and dad and the family out more. I hope you will forgive me for all those times. I have the best mom and dad and love you both so much. How can I thank you enough?
So...in my planner I keep a giant
list of stuff I want to tell you that I add to every week so I´ve
whipped it out and got a lot for today haha. So, first of all, Kayla you
asked about my comp Elder Pugh. He is a year and a month into his
mission, said it has gone by way too fast, and is super super funny. We
are worried we might be having too much fun and it's taking time out of
working harder haha. He will be that super awkward RM when he gets home,
he can´t even talk to girls around here! haha He is the district leader
and at our meeting he was trying to assign one of the hermanas to do a
spiritual thought but spent about 30 minutes one night holding the phone
having a moral dilemma about how to talk to her and about how scared he
is hahaha. Sooo funny.
Levi and his trainer, Elder Pugh.
Anyways, I want to tell you all about some of our investigators. I
think I told you about Javier right? Venezuelan, body builder, way cool
guy. Anyways, he started to get really hard to contact and get a hold of
and we were having a hard time. Elder Pugh had had some suspicions of
him living with a girl or not but we weren´t sure. One day, we ran into a
lady and talked to her for a sec. She recognized us so we were trying
to figure out how she knew us and she told us that we have been teaching
Javi, and that she's living with him... awkwardddddd. So what do we do??
Idk, we´ll figure it out.
The next is Sandra, I challenged her a couple days ago to be baptized and she accepted!! I was so happy! But she's kinda weird as well, hasn´t been giving us all details. Yesterday we ran into her in a bar, well outside of a bar, and she told us that she has 3 kids back in the peninsula! Gosh. But her baptismal date is the 26 of October and I´m praying for her to keep up with it and pull through.
Every September 14 they have a HUGE Jesus Christ party. At first you may think, as I thought, that it was a good thing, they´re recognizing him. Only nope nope nope. They somehow manage to have even MORE beer stands and cigarettes all over and they have a huge parade and drums and fireworks all night long that kept me awake. It was really sad to see. We had one more hour of the day to proselyte, so we walked up near it but not that close--I could see a crowd of people. As soon as I turned the corner and was in range of that, I felt the spirit leave so dang fast and I actually felt sick. We went back down and from then on we decided to try to stop the people going up in that direction (because everybody was going up there) and at least just tell them that we´re representatives of Jesus Christ. Then they could see the difference. I kind of felt like one of those men in the Book of Mormon who was amongst so many wicked people just preaching his hardest. I was trying my best--even though I didn´t see any immediate success I feel like I did just what God wanted me to do and that I may have planted some seeds.
There have been a bunch of times just in this week that I´ve felt
the spirit incredibly strong and then something happens and I feel it
gone. We were in a lesson with a member and inactive guy and we watched a
movie that brought the spirit and a calmness into the room. Then
right after the less-active just started making some stupid comments
under his breath about his wife not doing her part (she has throat
cancer and is scared to get it removed, so she's basically slowly dying)
and the member just started chewing him out about bucking up basically
and being a man. It went on for probably 30 minutes and I was just
sitting there staring at them haha. Gosh it was crazy. I think God
wanted me to have those experiences and to feel the difference. We as
lifelong members have always had that spirit in our home and lives and
don´t really know exactly what it's like to live without it, at least I
don´t. But after having those, there is no way I am giving this gift I
have up. No way. I feel so safe with it, it comforts me when I´m
discouraged or sad, I can feel your love through it, and the love from
my Heavenly Father. I cherish the gift of the Holy Ghost and I hope
every one who has it will too. It is so wonderful to have, and I don´t
ever want to lose it.
Now to the funny stories haha.
The next is Sandra, I challenged her a couple days ago to be baptized and she accepted!! I was so happy! But she's kinda weird as well, hasn´t been giving us all details. Yesterday we ran into her in a bar, well outside of a bar, and she told us that she has 3 kids back in the peninsula! Gosh. But her baptismal date is the 26 of October and I´m praying for her to keep up with it and pull through.
Every September 14 they have a HUGE Jesus Christ party. At first you may think, as I thought, that it was a good thing, they´re recognizing him. Only nope nope nope. They somehow manage to have even MORE beer stands and cigarettes all over and they have a huge parade and drums and fireworks all night long that kept me awake. It was really sad to see. We had one more hour of the day to proselyte, so we walked up near it but not that close--I could see a crowd of people. As soon as I turned the corner and was in range of that, I felt the spirit leave so dang fast and I actually felt sick. We went back down and from then on we decided to try to stop the people going up in that direction (because everybody was going up there) and at least just tell them that we´re representatives of Jesus Christ. Then they could see the difference. I kind of felt like one of those men in the Book of Mormon who was amongst so many wicked people just preaching his hardest. I was trying my best--even though I didn´t see any immediate success I feel like I did just what God wanted me to do and that I may have planted some seeds.
They walk this road a lot.
Now to the funny stories haha.
1. The male police officers here
wear skinny blue pants and boots that very closely resemble moon boots
like Napoleon Dynamite.
Our toilet has something wrong with it (4 of us living in this piso with only 1 toilet, maybe thats why...) but it won´t completely flush the contents down. I´m trying to explain this in the best terms possible, bear with me. Anyways, one of the elders went in the morning and I was quitely eating cereal at my desk, and I hear a flush...then another flush...then a third flush. Then he comes out and said "Elders, I'm so sorry, but it just won´t go down." So it´s been sitting there all day, hopefully it´ll have softened enough to go down tonight. Oh boy I´m screwed.
This mission very well could be one where missionaries gain 20 pounds, the members feed you soooo goood. An older couple feeds us twice a week, and if someone else fails us she insists that we go again. So I´m basically in heaven haha. But I´m walking a ton, from 11:30 or 12:30 to 2, then from 4 to 10 at night. Constant walking. Unless in the blue moon that we get a lesson and I get to rest my poor skis. (We are basically opening up a new area, hardly any members and only 1 or 2 less-actives). One elder has gained probably 20 or 30 pounds since being here for 3 transfers and has had to have his mom send him 2 new pairs of pants because he can´t fit into them anymore!! hahahaha ohhh boy.
A few people have told me I have a really young looking face...not sure if thats a compliment or nooot.
Our toilet has something wrong with it (4 of us living in this piso with only 1 toilet, maybe thats why...) but it won´t completely flush the contents down. I´m trying to explain this in the best terms possible, bear with me. Anyways, one of the elders went in the morning and I was quitely eating cereal at my desk, and I hear a flush...then another flush...then a third flush. Then he comes out and said "Elders, I'm so sorry, but it just won´t go down." So it´s been sitting there all day, hopefully it´ll have softened enough to go down tonight. Oh boy I´m screwed.
This mission very well could be one where missionaries gain 20 pounds, the members feed you soooo goood. An older couple feeds us twice a week, and if someone else fails us she insists that we go again. So I´m basically in heaven haha. But I´m walking a ton, from 11:30 or 12:30 to 2, then from 4 to 10 at night. Constant walking. Unless in the blue moon that we get a lesson and I get to rest my poor skis. (We are basically opening up a new area, hardly any members and only 1 or 2 less-actives). One elder has gained probably 20 or 30 pounds since being here for 3 transfers and has had to have his mom send him 2 new pairs of pants because he can´t fit into them anymore!! hahahaha ohhh boy.
"The smallest car I've ever seen."
An
old guy was walking on a cross walk and in the middle just as the light
for the cars turned green. So the impatient driver revved his engine
really loud and honking and the guy jumped so high! Hahaha then started
taking frantic small steps to get across the road. So funny!
I walked into a members home, the dad opened the door wearing his Gs and some camo pants. He let us in, I took two steps and saw their living room wall. I´m not joking at all when I say there were over 200 knives, guns, swords, all hung up on the wall. Funny, I felt like I was right back in the good old ´murica. Haha gosh it was ridiculous! He had 4 legit samurai swords too.
Some of you have asked about Pday--we study in the morning til 11:30, then go to the store to buy our weekly groceries (Dad I bough some awesome looking bread for 1.27 euros that looks like yours! I´ll attach a pic), then go back to the piso and cram in all into the fridge and cupboards (don't worry, I took pictures), then walk to the internet cafe where we write, then after this we will probably go back to the piso and do something, not sure haha. Depends. One of these days we´re going to go up and hike to the top of Teide (the volcano) I´m super stoked.
Every morning we workout for 30 minutes. There are some yoga pads and some elders get out of bed and unroll them out to start exercising but end up just sleeping on the yoga pad haha. I do a bunch of ab stuff and push ups because I am not getting chubby. Nope nope nope.
Cady! Congrats on volleyball!!! I am so proud :) Don´t worry, I´ll practice my setting so when I come home I´ll set and you´ll hit it like no one's ever seen before :) When is your next game? Let me know how they go!! The weather here is perfect, the hottest day its been here is around 80 I think. But theres always a breeze and almost always some clouds. Yesterday it looked like it was going to pour but it just drizzled. I guess there are hardly ever thunderstorms or pouring rain here. Oh and P.S. I wanted to tell you that so many people here ride vespas! There are some cool ones. Every pizza delivery guy or anything being delivered (the mailmen) ride vespas haha.
Leah: good luck with school! How were the blood tests? Still going? I love you lots, be smart, thanks for the letter with the pictures, it was perfect.
Porter--did you get the postcard I sent you?? I hope you like it! How is school going? Who is your teacher? I met a boy in the branch who reminded me a bit of you. You are the best brother in the whole world, no one else is as lucky as I am to have you as a brother.
Mom--thank you so much for finding out about the drivers license. It sounds like a pain but I´ll try to get it done as fast as I can. I have 1 passport picture that I saved from Paul but not two, ughhhhh. But I´ll find somewhere. Oh, and we´ll only need to do it for 1 year, because after I leave the Canaries I won't need to drive again I don´t think. Idk, we´ll see. There aren´t cars in the peninsula. Hahaha thanks for that story about your workout, very good. But hey, you probably got super stronger from it! :)
Dad: I bought some apples from the store, they are called Royal Gala. SO GOOD! I dont´know if they have them in the states, we probably do and I just haven´t tried them. but these are so good, I might just bring home a bunch of food for you all to try haha. I got that bread, I´ll try to eat it with some oil and vinegar later today and let you know how it tastes.
I walked into a members home, the dad opened the door wearing his Gs and some camo pants. He let us in, I took two steps and saw their living room wall. I´m not joking at all when I say there were over 200 knives, guns, swords, all hung up on the wall. Funny, I felt like I was right back in the good old ´murica. Haha gosh it was ridiculous! He had 4 legit samurai swords too.
Some of you have asked about Pday--we study in the morning til 11:30, then go to the store to buy our weekly groceries (Dad I bough some awesome looking bread for 1.27 euros that looks like yours! I´ll attach a pic), then go back to the piso and cram in all into the fridge and cupboards (don't worry, I took pictures), then walk to the internet cafe where we write, then after this we will probably go back to the piso and do something, not sure haha. Depends. One of these days we´re going to go up and hike to the top of Teide (the volcano) I´m super stoked.
Every morning we workout for 30 minutes. There are some yoga pads and some elders get out of bed and unroll them out to start exercising but end up just sleeping on the yoga pad haha. I do a bunch of ab stuff and push ups because I am not getting chubby. Nope nope nope.
Cady! Congrats on volleyball!!! I am so proud :) Don´t worry, I´ll practice my setting so when I come home I´ll set and you´ll hit it like no one's ever seen before :) When is your next game? Let me know how they go!! The weather here is perfect, the hottest day its been here is around 80 I think. But theres always a breeze and almost always some clouds. Yesterday it looked like it was going to pour but it just drizzled. I guess there are hardly ever thunderstorms or pouring rain here. Oh and P.S. I wanted to tell you that so many people here ride vespas! There are some cool ones. Every pizza delivery guy or anything being delivered (the mailmen) ride vespas haha.
Leah: good luck with school! How were the blood tests? Still going? I love you lots, be smart, thanks for the letter with the pictures, it was perfect.
Porter--did you get the postcard I sent you?? I hope you like it! How is school going? Who is your teacher? I met a boy in the branch who reminded me a bit of you. You are the best brother in the whole world, no one else is as lucky as I am to have you as a brother.
Mom--thank you so much for finding out about the drivers license. It sounds like a pain but I´ll try to get it done as fast as I can. I have 1 passport picture that I saved from Paul but not two, ughhhhh. But I´ll find somewhere. Oh, and we´ll only need to do it for 1 year, because after I leave the Canaries I won't need to drive again I don´t think. Idk, we´ll see. There aren´t cars in the peninsula. Hahaha thanks for that story about your workout, very good. But hey, you probably got super stronger from it! :)
Dad: I bought some apples from the store, they are called Royal Gala. SO GOOD! I dont´know if they have them in the states, we probably do and I just haven´t tried them. but these are so good, I might just bring home a bunch of food for you all to try haha. I got that bread, I´ll try to eat it with some oil and vinegar later today and let you know how it tastes.
The bread that looks like Dad's.
Love you all, thanks so much for the stories and the advice and prayers. I feel your help and love and comfort everyday.
Love,
Elder Franson
Ah, Levi. I love everything about this letter/post. Okay, except for the toilet information. But I love the descriptions of the people, the place, the bread and apples, the adventure of it all.
ReplyDeleteAnd especially that you wrote "nope nope nope" two times.