Another Day of Sun in Sunny St. George

The title is a shout-out to my sister who loves the movie LaLa Land.

Not a whole lot happened this week, but we did go to Gun-Lock Reservoir for P-day and that was soooooo much fun!

I can't believe that April has already flown by. It seems like time just keeps flying by. It is also getting hotter here. Almost everyday was 90° outside. As it turns out, it is not a whole lot of fun to bike outside when it is that hot and you are wearing pants.

In my last area, one of the people I was working very close with were able to get baptized. His name was Jordan and I have a picture of him and the person who baptized him below. I mention this because it teaches two important lessons. First, someone is not converted by a missionary or missionaries, he is converted by the spirit. Our job as missionaries is just to help the spirit be present so that He can teach them. Second, a missionary is called into or out of an area for specific reasons. Though I worked very closely with this family, I left the area trusting that everything will work out because the Lord was watching over them. 

I wish I could have been there for the baptism, but I am so incredibly happy that he was able to make that decision to be baptized. I have grown so much in my faith and trust in the Lord because of this experience.

I hope you all have a great week!

Elder Francis

Pictures:

This is some bread I made.

This was a big wolf spider we found outside our apartment.

This was Jordan at his baptism.

This is a gila monster (I think)

Those are some pictures from our hike.

Happy Easter!

This week has been super good... but not a lot has happened. This week has actually gone by super fast. 

We went on exchanges with our District Leader, and that's about all the really notable things that happened Haha. 

Easter Sunday was super cool! It was my first Easter on the mission and so it was very different than what I expected. My entire Easter was focused on the Savior and what he did for us. Though we always talked about the Savior during Easter time, it was never as much as on my mission. 

Sorry for the short email this week, but I got a few pictures to compensate

I hope you all have a great week!

Elder Francis

Pictures:

A member took a picture of us on our bikes.

Another member took a picture at dinner.

We had a district p-day last week which was super fun.

Me holding my packages from my mom.

8 months already?

Today is my 8 month mark! I can't believe how fast time has flown by!

This week has been kind of busy, but really good and really rewarding. 

We had interviews with our mission president this week and they were uplifting and good as always! I can't get over the fact that I get to spend time with and receive advice from a truly inspired man. Before he was a mission president, he was a seventy, so he has some experience with revelation and the spirit hahaha.

After that, we had a fun experience where we were in a trio for a day or so. Elder Kitchen was with Elder Wood and I for a day while his companion had to go up North for some medical stuff and so we got a car for a whole 24 hours! Best 24 hours of the transfer, hahaha just kidding, but it was really nice. 

We also had a baptism this Saturday for a young boy named Jaerick! His dad was able to baptize him which we were really happy about. They had over 70 people, both family and ward members, attend the baptism. It was a really cool baptism and I'm glad I got to be apart of it, even if it was just the last few steps.

Elder Wood and I have been getting along very well and we are working hard together! I feel so happy about the work which I am able to give to the Lord. I hope you all have a great week!

Love,

Elder Francis

Transfers and Conference

This week has been crazy busy!

So, transfers were this Wednesday and I got transfered to the Washington stake!!! That's right, the neighboring stake to my first area!! I didn't think I would be so close to my alma mater, but I'm not complaining! My new companion is Elder Wood, he has only been out for one transfer which means that this is a new experience for the both of us.

It was hard saying goodbye to all the great families I got to work with in Richfield, but I am so excited to be down here in Washington! Elder Wood and I are very excited to work hard and teach repentance.

Speaking of teaching repentance, how did everyone like General Conference?!?! I loved President Nelson in the priesthood session when he said, "We all need to repent." Haha! It seemed like there was so much needed chastening this conference which makes me think that the second coming is near! Although conference was great, it was not what everyone was expecting, but that's because everyone was expecting a major change to missionary work and nothing happened Haha! 

Overall, I have had a pretty great week! It has been a lot different because we are now on bikes and this is my first biking area, but it has been really good.

Turns out, the church is true! I hope you all have a great week!

Love,

Elder Francis

Pictures:

That is my new district.

That is a goodbye picture with the Steele's and elder Harper.

That is my new companion.

That is my new mailing address.

Those are our bikes.

18 month missions?

How is everyone doing?!

We have had a great week here in Richfield, Utah! We had a baptism for Braxton and it went very well. He is such a fun kid to teach!

So transfers are this Wednesday and I have a feeling a might be getting transferred. We won't find out until Tuesday what is going to happen, but I have a sinking feeling. I would love to stay in this area, but I'd also be okay with leaving. I have been here for 4 and a half months so far and it keeps getting better. If I stay, I will get to see some of the baptisms that I have worked so hard toward. If I leave, I will get to see some change and I won't have to worry about a lot of things anymore. So, it's a toss up hahaha.

General Conference is only a week away! I am so excited to hear from inspired Prophets and Apostles of the true church of Jesus Christ. We have heard many, many rumors about big announcements that might be made at conference. The biggest of which is that Elder will serve for 18 months instead of two years. This is still a rumor, so we don't put a lot of trust in it, but it is possible. 

We have seen many miracles this week and it has taught me a few things that I want to share with you. First, the Lord blesses Diligence and Obedience. Elder Harper and I have been working hard this week and it is because of that that we have seen many miracles. Second, the Lords ways are not our ways...

I have a story. So, we stopped by this non-member household to see if they would be interested. It was a good contact, but they were super busy and so we left. As we were driving away, Elder Harper and I looked at each other and we said, "Are you feeling like we need to go back?" We pulled over and prayed and felt like we really needed to go back to that house and knock it again... so, we did. We had no idea what we were going to say, but we did it. As we made the contact again... nearly the same thing happened and they were still not interested hahaha. So, why were we asked to knock on the door again? Well, I do not know the exact reason but I do have some theories. We were showing Heavenly Father that he could trust us and that we would listen to his promptings even if they seemed illogical. It also might have been to give that family another chance to accept the gospel in their lives. It was still a good contact, so I know that it was inspired, but it wasn't what we expected hahaha.

Other than all this, the work is going good!

I hope you all have a great week!

Elder Francis

That is Elder Harper and his Chinese food.

That is Braxton at his baptism.