Transfers!

Big news everyone!!

I'm going to Richfield! It's up north... and it's going to be December... I'm going to be cold hahaha!

My new companion is going to be Elder Lane (I've never met him nor do I know anything about him) and he is the District Leader so I get to be a junior companion! I'm super excited for the change and to see how everything turns out!

Elder Greenwood is staying here and is going to be to the second half of someone's training and staying as district leader. It should be good!

This past week was not super eventful. We had Thanksgiving dinner at a families house in Sienna Hills and they had this huge nutcracker display. Like over a couple hundred nutcrackers hahaha. It was really good and really filling. I didn't really get that homesick. I just kept working and I didn't really worry about it.

As far as work in the Washington East Stake goes, it was slow this week. Many people were out of town and so we only had a few appointments, but, we were able to find three solid new people to teach. It's interesting because that won't really affect me now, but I'm still really happy for the area!

I feel like I am plagued with humbling experiences and a distinct lack of luck wherever I go, so, hopefully, Washington East will start growing exponentially as soon as I leave hahaha! 

I know that President Smith is a very inspired man and I trust so much his decisions regarding my new companion and area. I am so excited to be a missionary! Of course, I am very nervous to see what my new companion is like and what the area is like, but I will not let anything stop me from doing missionary work!

Elder Greenwood and I took quite a lot of pictures this week so I hope you enjoy that. I won't be getting my new address until tomorrow (I have a two and a half hour bus ride tomorrow) so you'll have to wait for next week to get it.

In the words of my hero Nacho Libre, "Life is good, Really good." 

Elder Francis

Happy Thanksgiving

Hey all you people!

This past week has gone by so fast! Though I absolutely love time going by fast, I do hope that I am able to learn and grow as much as I can within this time frame.

We had a baptism for Dan this last Saturday! Dan is 65 years old and has been meeting with missionaries for the past two and a half years. He has been on date for the past 8 months Haha! As you can tell from the picture, he is also like 6'8" and the person baptizing him was shorter than me! Dan's story just goes to show you that you should never give up on people and that everything will work out according to God's timetable.

Dan shared a cool story with us at his baptism. He explained the first time that he knew that this church was true. Dan had been asked by a member of the ward to help do some gardening work at the Temple grounds. He accepted but was fearful because he had not been able to get sleep the past few nights because of terrible pain in his shoulders. The pain was so unbearable that he could not even lift his arms over his head. When they got to the temple, the temple curator pointed at Dan and said, "You're tall. You trim that large hedge over there." The hedge was taller than Dan. He accepted the task, not wanting to tell anyone about his problem. He started by trimming the sides of the hedge until only the top was left. This was the part he feared most. He slowly lifted his arms to start trimming the top of the hedge. Before he knew it, his arms were completely over his head and he was able to reach the top of the hedge. There was no pain. 

He finished the gardening with a firm realization that this temple was truly from God for only God could have healed him. His shoulder never bothered him again. The only reason he wasn't baptized then answering there is because he did not feel he was yet worthy. While standing as a witness for Dan's baptism, I knew that he was not only worthy, but prepared to make that loving covenant with his Heavenly Father.

Also on this Saturday, we stopped by a young girl who we've been trying to talk to for a while. This time, she was home and we were able to talk to her about who we were and asked if she was interested. She said, "Yeah I really want to be baptized but my mom isn't home right now." I was shocked hahaha! Not only did this young girl answer the door, but she has been wanting to be baptized! The Lord has truly prepared people for us to meet and help. We have an appointment with her for this week. Her name is Lizzy.

I might have mentioned last time, but Elder Greenwood has been increasingly pessimistic. Now, anyone who knows me knows that I was never the most optimistic person, however, since I've been out on my mission, my optimism has soared! This leads to a problem though because Elder Greenwood does not agree with my hope filled ideas. In fact, just last night he explained that I needed to lower my expectations. He also described that I should not be so worried about being efficient and effective and worry more about just being diligent. I would like some advice on this. Elder Greenwood is not only my trainer but also my District Leader. I try to humbly accept meaningful council that he gives me, and I know he is truly trying to help me become a better missionary, but I'm confused with the council. Any suggestions or advice from those more experienced than I would be much appreciated.

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving! Remember all the wonderful blessings that Heavenly Father has given you!

Elder Francis

Companion exchanges

This past week went by really fast! However, most of our appointments canceled and we were not able to find anyone new to teach hahaha. Elder Greenwood has been getting progressively more pessimistic. I wish that we could just have a really good week so that Elder Greenwood could see that there are actual, tangible blessings for striving to be exactly obedient. Is that a selfish thought? Maybe, hahaha but oh well!

This past Saturday, we had our first official companion exchange. Last transfer's exchange was kind of weird because the Zone Leader exchanged with us but he was in a trio so he just tagged along with Elder Greenwood and I for a day. It was good and I learned a lot, but I had grown more and more desperate for a break from Elder Greenwood. Being together every hour of every day for three months is a little much. Even if you love someone, being together for that long, you'll notice many different things that annoy you.

Because of this, the exchange this transfer was a refreshing relief! Because Elder Greenwood is the District Leader this transfer, we went on exchanges with the zone leaders again, but this time we went on an actual exchange. I got to stay in our area with Zone Leader 2 Elder Andrew. It was amazing! It made me realize just how much Elder Greenwood has been "babying" me. I got to plan the entire day out by myself (one, because we didn't have any lessons and two, because Elder Andrew didn't know the area at all), I got to control who we called and who we texted, and I got to lead the conversations in door contacts on top of a whole lot of other things!

It really made me realize how little Elder Greenwood trusts me, whenever he is around, and that I am actually capable of running the area without someone more experienced. I know, for sure, that the Lord helped me be confident and sharp to know where we should go. Since we had no appointments, we spent the whole day finding. It was a grind! We knocked on so many doors, most of which didn't answer. We talked to many different people, none of which were against hearing the Gospel, but also who weren't really ready to hear it either. 

I learned so much and, even though Elder Andrew didn't really give me a whole lot of advice, I came out with many different things I want to work on and with a renewed sense of confidence in myself. This, however, sprouted a new problem. Though I feel much more confident in my abilities in being guided by the spirit, Elder Greenwood still won't let me use this confidence. He is a great missionary and is very obedient, but he is very set in his ways and refuses to even consider any of my ideas. 

I understand his point of view because I am far less experienced than him, but, if I am ever going to train, I would do things a little different. I think one of the best ways to learn is to jump right in. Though you may stumble for the first few steps, you pick it up a lot faster than just trailing behind someone who already paved the way. Elder Greenwood is great, but I definitely get frustrated with him sometimes. 

I am learning to love him though, and the more I learn about him, the more I am able to see him as Heavenly Father does. He has great potential. He didn't grow up in the most favorable circumstances and he is going through something with his friend back home that is causing him some heartache. The problem is, whenever I try, even a little, to help, he gets super defensive and shuts me down. It's those times that are the most frustrating for me because he will then refuse to listen to nearly any advice, suggestions, or opinions I give him.

So yeah, those have been some of my thoughts this week. Also, it's been getting fairly cold down here! I wasn't expecting it, but it was 35°F this morning! This is where my Idahoan blood is helping me hahaha! I'll wear my short sleeved white shirts outside without a jacket and be completely fine. If it gets any colder, though, I might have to switch to a long sleeved shirt hahaha.

Hope you all have a good week. Also know that I love getting all of your emails and, just because I don't have time to respond, don't think that I'm ignoring you or don't love you!

Elder Francis

I took this picture on someone's back porch.

Be Thou an Example

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)

For most of my youth, I was constantly told that I needed to be good because many people looked up to me as an example. One specific example of this was during my struggle going to mutual. Mutual was very hard for me to find interest in and want to attend. I always felt I could be doing something better than sitting around and planning for an hour and a half. I would complain to my parents and they would say something along the lines of, "Mutual is where the Lord needs you to be, plus you have to set a good example for your friends and siblings."

I always hated that response hahaha. How could I be an example to anyone? I was, and still am, so imperfect. I didn't understand why anyone would ever even look at me as an example, especially when there were so many better people around me. Honestly, during my youth, I was not very kind to myself. I didn't think I was anything special and I felt like I was either an average guy or below the average, but that question kept coming up. How was I even capable of being an example to others when i didn't even think of myself as very good? 

Now, I am on my mission and I am serving the Lord every day. When I visit members, they often say, "We are so glad to have missionaries that set a good example for our children and members." I again begin to wonder, How can I be an example? Sure I am doing far better than I was, and I am truly serving the Lord, but I am still so far from perfect. I always think that if anyone should be an example, it should be Christ... and then it dawned on me. It hit me why, throughout my whole life people might have seen me as an example. It was, and is, because of the Light of Christ that they are able to see in me.

I am far from perfect. In fact, I am far from even being considered great Haha. However, following Christ and trying to live what He's taught has given me something that I didn't even realize I had. I started to display Christlike attributes. I attest this to no strength or power from myself, but all through the witness of the Holy Ghost. When others need to see someone who can help them know what they can do to get back on the right track, I'm glad that Heavenly Father was able to use my imperfect example to guide them.

I, as well as so many other wonderful members and people, have been a light set on a hill. My good works have been manifested to others, through the Holy Ghost, so that they can see the example of Jesus Christ through me. I am so grateful to be able to help others, even if it is just a little bit.

The reason I share this experience is for all those faithful members and latter-day saints who painfully feel as I did. They feel that they are nothing special. They feel as though their many imperfections can never be used for good. They feel that they can't help others because they might not be able to even help themselves. It is those times that you must turn to Heavenly Father. He will show you, little by little, the amazing help that you have given others. I have found no greater joy than blessing the lives of others, and no greater sorrow from not being able to help others.

To all those who have their lights, no matter how dim, set on a hill, just know that someone may be searching diligently for a light to follow... and your light may happen to be the only thing they can see. I leave with you all my sincere true testimony. I know that Jesus Christ is a living example of how we all should live. I know that Jesus Christ often uses the lives of his faithful saints to impact and help all those searching for him. I promise that, as you continue to do what you know is right, you gain greater joy and comfort than anything else in this life. I write this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Francis