Love, Meekness, and Spicy Chicken Feet

This week has been great. Elder Gardner and I have been working really hard. He got a little sick this weekend (we had some REALLY spicy chicken feet, and I think we were all a little queasy) but we're all doing good now. Elder Farr came to church with his parents, sister, and brother in law, and now they're heading back to Seoul to do some more travel, then they'll go home on Thursday.

I'm so happy to be serving out here, and I wouldn't trade this for serving in Italy, Mexico, or anywhere else.  I know I'm supposed to be here, serving with President Christensen. They've said that sometimes they assign missions based on where they feel like we should go, but it's usually based on which mission president they feel like you should be paired up with. I LOVE president Christensen. He has such a great love for Korea and the missionaries here.

We had a pretty hectic week, but our first few days together were great. We haven't met with many of our old investigators, but we were able to meet with 률건박, and the lesson went really well. We talked a lot about the Book of Mormon and prayer.  Elder Gardner bore a really great testimony, and we could tell it affected him. After Elder Gardner's prayer, he had tears in his eyes. We think he'll really start progressing from now on. 

When we contact people, it's changed from just introducing what we're doing (just a sales pitch) and giving a card to actually having a conversation, getting to know and love the person we talk to, and then the commitment to meet again or get their phone number is easy!

In my studies I studied more about the Sermon on the Mount, and today I thought a lot about Meekness. It's a quality I am really searching for, because the meek qualify for the grace of Christ and receive forgiveness for their sins, becoming the Sons of God. To me, meekness is a lot about humility, and not because it is forced, but because it's desired. It's a choice, because the individual understands the benefits of humility. Meekness also includes aspects of obedience, submission, and love, and so I am still seeking to obtain these qualities as I progress as a servant of the Lord. I can start to clean the inner vessel, so that my whole body can be full of light. I love the light. I enjoy dwelling in the light, and I love serving the light.

This week we saw a great miracle when we visited a less active sister.  She wasn't able to come out to church, but in front of her door we talked for about 15 minutes and shared a message about God being her father, and how she's always worthy to receive his help. We shared D&C 112:10, and talked about how Christ is beside her, holding her hand.  It's a more comforting notion, than a savior that exists above us, doing his own work or working with us from a distance. Christ is beside us, with his angels, lifting us up, and we helped her realize that. It was a very good message for her.

Some friends and scenery pictures! We had some crazy cool clouds, pure white, then blue sky, then a typhoon storm cloud just over the mountains.

Thank you for your prayers and for all that you do, I love you all!
Elder Franchina

The Elder Franchina-Elder Gardner Team Returns

Our investigators are doing alright, but progressing slower than we think they can. But it's good, they know we love them, and we go at the pace they can.  No baptisms planned for the next few weeks in our area, but we have a lot of hope.
'Why?', you might ask
The reason is, there's a great missionary coming to our area to be my new companion.
'How do you know he's a great missionary?' you might ask.
It may or may not be because I served with him a year ago.
That's right boys and girls, The Elder Gardner-Elder Franchina team was so great last year, they decided to put us together again, ready to take down all of Kangneung.

Old investigator in Sokcho!

It might not sound so cool to you folks at home, but serving with this Elder is a privilege. Elder Gardner is so nice and a really great guy. He was a great missionary when he was just a wee greenie, and now he's a Zone Leader! It's going to be so much fun.

The weather is getting hot, but we're trying some creative ways of staying cool (those refrigerator pants work better than you think!). Don't judge me, y'all, I'll be rocking these grandma pants at home.

It's really sad to see Elder Farr go, but it's good to see his example of sprinting to the end. Literally, we run everywhere. This morning for exercise we ran to the beach, and whenever we're going from place to place we sprint there. It's a lot of fun. You realize on your mission that when things get harder, they get more enjoyable and fun.

We did some service at an old folk's home. They're adorable.

 Missions are great.

Elder Franchina

Fun Hike Today

We went on a fun hike this week, so we don't have much time to email, but here's a few pictures from the hike.  무릉계곡, in a city called 동해, literally meaning the east sea. We might come back later to
go to the famous caves here.

We had Zone training meeting, which was good. We did some fun demos, regarding teaching and building relationships with investigators.

We met with MAT, a Korean, just two days after he got out of jail, and he's really looking for a way to relieve those burdens and sins. It's nice to meet someone who's genuine and sincere about coming unto Christ. Some of the time we meet people that end up only having interest in practicing English.

일이우 is doing well, we were on exchanges, so I didn't meet him this week, but Elder Farr says that he's doing well, showing a great desire to come unto Christ.

We also have 김태, who almost came to church this Sunday, but wasn't able to due to a bad headache. But he's really excited to come, and when he drives by us on the street in his dump truck he always honks.

I need to go take a bus to SOKCHO! We're going there for exchanges^^

Love you all,
Elder Franchina

PS Make sure to give someone a compliment today! You really can make a
difference!

Some fisherman taught me how to cast their nets

Hello!

Not much time today, but I'll update you on the news here.

We went to pick up trash at the beach and these

fisherman taught me how to cast their nets.

It's getting hot here, but we're staying cool with 30 cent ice creams sold next to our church. (God certainly does watch over his missionaries!)

LOO is busy, but is still planning on getting baptized at the end of this month.

We met a new guy, KST, and he's absolutely ready to accept the gospel. In our first meeting he accepted the invitation to be baptized, and he's excited to meet with us later. He got busy with work (construction), but one day we're walking down the street, and this BIG 18 wheeler truck carrying building debris started honking and stopped in the middle of the street (that's only okay here because it's the country side). It was him, and he rolled down his window - (HEY!!! HEY GUYS!!!). I like him.

Elder Farr's mission is winding down (Only 2 more weeks), but we're working harder than ever, and we're getting pretty close as companions. I love Gangneung, it's a great area.

We had Mission Leadership Council, and so we get to train our zone on what president taught us this past week. Although it took 2 days out of our week to travel to Seoul and back, it's great to spend more time with President and Sister Christensen. As I was on the bus, I read 2 Nephi 26, like you asked. I loved it. I continued on and read Jacob 5. Something I really liked this time was the insight we get to the attitude, personality, and character of the Lord. Multiple times he says, "내가 이 나무를 잃게 됨은 내게 슬픈 일이라." (verse 11) Which I love in Korean. It shows us how much he cares about the individual trees, not just the welfare of his general vineyard.

Naturally, you can't care for the entire vineyard without individually caring for each tree. He also states that the Lord of the vineyard worked WITH the laborers, promising to those that share the gospel, that the lord will be with them, working side by side, not just supervising.

I love this gospel. It's the safest and happiest path for individuals and for families.

Elder Franchina