Wait, the transfers almost over?!

That's right everyone. My first transfer with Elder Wood is almost at its end. It has been an amazing transfer full of miracles and growth on both of our parts. We have no idea whether we will stay together another transfer or get moved to a different area. We find that out tomorrow.

I want to talk to you about my experiences this transfer. We are on bikes which has increased my health quite substantially. Because we are on bikes, every day is physically demanding and I have truly learned the meaning of working hard and being diligent. Elder Wood and I have worked incredibly hard knocking doors, making contacts, teaching people, and just trying our hardest. 

What I want to talk about is discouragement and how it has no place in this work. Though we have worked very hard, prayed and fasted often, and been the most efficient we can be, our numbers continue to spiral downward into an all-time low. Many a missionary believes in the saying that "Obedience brings blessings, exact obedience brings miracles" but I am worried they do not truly understand what that means. I know I didn't. 

We have the tendency to think that it means we will convert everyone. We will be a star missionary with the best numbers in the mission and the most "success". This is not true at all, and it is something I have been learning my entire mission so far. Our blessings do not always come in a physical or temporal manifestation. Looking back on the start of my mission however, I can see how those blessings have brought me to where I am. I have been able to grow exponentially spiritually and I attribute that to the ability to repent as well as my sincere desire to be obedient and diligent.

Does this mean I am perfect? Yes. Hahaha just kidding!! I am very far from perfect. There is and will always be only one perfect person.

Other than that thought, I just wanted to give a Mother's day shout-out to my mom. I'm sure most of you reading this can claim to having the best mom in the world, but my mom is the most perfect person I know in this world. No one has shown me more Christlike, unconditional, unwavering love. Even when I am far away, I can feel her love through many wonderful memories and experiences. I pray often that my future family can have a mother as great as mine was to me. I ascribe any success I have in my life to her who truly deserves that credit, my mother. Thank you mom for everything you do.

I hope you all have a great week! Sorry for the long one this week.

Love,

Elder Francis

Pictures:

We had a baptism this Saturday for Braxtyn. Even when everything else seemed to be falling apart, there was light in that moment.

I found an albino Ladybug!