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

It's another great week out in 강릉!

Hello all!

We have a meeting to get to in Seoul tonight, so this email will be short.

We have a cool investigator, LOO. He's 22 and missing his pointer, middle, and ring finger on his right hand. He's way cool and super nice, and this week he accepted the invitation to be baptized!  He'll be busy with work this next month, but we're still planning on July 20. He's a great kid, and I'm really excited for him. He's absolutely hilarious, but super sincere at the same time. After explaining the kingdoms of glory to him and bearing testimony, I asked, 'So, where would you like to go after you die?'
'....Uh. I have a question.'
'Sure, ask away.'
'This resurrection thing. After you have a perfect body, do you need sleep?'
'*caught off guard* Uh, I guess not, you won't get tired if you're perfect, why?'
'*sigh of relief* Good, I guess I'd want to go to the Sun Kingdom. If I needed sleep, though, it'd be too bright. I'd probably want to go to the Moon kingdom.' ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
He's hilarious.

We had a lot of miracles this week, but they all include meeting ladies that were interested, so we referred them over to the sister missionaries.
It's another great week out in 강릉!

Love you all,

Elder Franchina

P.S. It's not my first area, just the same zone, but I'll go back to
Sokcho on exchanges in a week or two!

2 Gingers in Kangwondo? Absurd!

Hey! 

One of our investigators is named DVD. He is Korean, adopted at 8 months into a Jewish American family. He has been doing well.  Elder Farr and I are doing the 40 day fast together, and I feel like that really affected our meeting with him. We felt the power of our words testifying to him that he can give that 100%, that it's needed, but it won't be in vain. You could feel the spirit in the tips of your fingers and in the atmosphere as the words lingered and rang in his ears. If he really wants his answer, he needs to do it. He couldn't deny the spirit, especially when we pointed it out to him, and he committed to come to church.

Jordan and Elder Sullivan

We had a great week, we were able to make great progress with current investigators, and pick up new investigators as well.  We picked up YWO, a 22 year old kid we met knocking doors last week.  He wasn't too interested in God, he just had a lot of free time, but after meeting with us he talked about how afraid he was of death. We met with him again, and helped him begin praying. He can't believe in things he doesn't see, but we're helping him recognize God in his life, and how he can feel God, not see him. His first prayer was so sincere. He said, 'Dear Heavenly Father. I don't believe in you,.....but I really want to. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.' He has that desire, and that desire will work in him until it develops into faith.

On Wednesday we went on exchanges with 동해, and I went with Elder Sullivan (He's from Sandy! He went to Alta and knows a lot of the youth in our ward). We met GMGI, who's nice, and very curious about the Book of Mormon. He might have a form of ADD, because it's hard to get him focused, even though he's over 40. But he's nice, and we'll continue to meet with him if he progresses.

We met an old 80 year old Jehovah's witness, SHSK, who was really interested in meeting. When we met, he expressed his beliefs, and that he goes to that church because they actually practice what they believe. After the first lesson, he admitted that if the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and we live according to both books, he would need to believe it and come to our church, and he said he'd read and find out. He's quite a nice old man, we're really excited for him, but he admits to not remembering everything well, because he's so old.

I love meeting with old people.  I just think old people are absolutely adorable. He speaks the 'high form of Korean', like calling us 'sir', and he wears a suit and hat when he meets with us. I love old people.

We also met a convert on the street the other day. He was baptized 2 years ago, but now he's doing 군대 (army), so he can't come. But he has free time every day after 7:00, and he said he wants to meet twice a week! We met and talked about prayer, and not just prayer, but petition and supplication. He's a fantastic guy. He trusts God so much, and has a great relationship with him. He has a lot of faith, and exercises it daily. We'll continue on and talk about scripture study, and hopefully when 군대 is over, he'll still be a strong member.

I've been thinking recently how much I don't know about the Book of Mormon, and have been having the thoughts that I need to have it more cemented in my life, so I've been reading it more deeply in personal study. During Sunday School, one member taught about the power of the everyday missionary book, the process of studying, and the 7 step process. He said to pick our favorite chapter and do it, so I studied 2 Nephi 4 this morning. I prayed hard to receive help and guidance in order to know how to help people with what I would learn through it, and for help to apply it today in my missionary work. I also came up with some questions that I wanted answers to, and when I read it, I felt like I found just what I needed. I found a few verses that I called and shared with TRA, because it was comfort to Nephi right after his father died.

I take courage from the Psalm of Nephi, knowing that if I'm humble and always rely on the Lord, through daily petition and scripture study, I can be strong, and that if I teach my children the way they need to go, 'they will not depart from it.'  Take some time to read the Psalm of Nephi. Psalms are meant to be read out loud, so take the time needed to study it well. It will have a great impact on your life.

I know this Gospel is the happiest and safest pathway for individuals and for families, and I'm grateful to be able to know it and share it with others. I know that I'll need help along the way, but I know I'll be able to receive it when I need it.  Thank you for your example and for your unconditional love for us missionaries.

Elder Franchina

P.S.
I love these old people. They just walk around everywhere collecting recyclables.

Gangneung... It's home. I'm back home. This is where I belong.

Jordan and Elder Farr

It's home. I'm back home. This is where I belong. I love the bustling streets of Seoul, but I LOVE the people of the countryside. The views, the clean air, the warm hearted people.

We got here Wednesday afternoon and went right to teaching this wonderful 20 year old guy.  We taught about a few commandments, set a return appointment for Friday. On Friday we taught a few more commandments, and set an appointment for Saturday. On Saturday (yeah, it's a bit redundant, but it's getting somewhere, keep reading), we went over prayer and revelation. He was preparing for his baptismal interview that day, and while we were teaching him I had the feeling that we needed to go deeper. He said he believed everything we were teaching, including the restoration through the prophet Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon, but I felt moved to ask him if he'd ever prayed about it. He said that he hadn't, which really surprised me. But he was able to logically figure this was true, and then through experience he knew this would help his life. But we talked about receiving an undeniable witness from God that it's true. That is the only witness that is undeniable, and that will sustain him throughout his life. Most people end up going less active because they never got that sure, spiritual witness from God, or they choose to forget it.

So after talking about that, we left him alone in the room for a few minutes to pray about our message. He came out a few minutes later, absolutely beaming. He's a quiet kid and kind of shy, but he was just radiating. He said he got an answer, and as we prayed he thanked God for speaking to his heart that it was true. He passed his interview and was baptized yesterday.  He is here for school, and goes home today for a few months, so we gave him the gift of the Holy Ghost right after baptism, and we'll see him off today. It was all so fast and crazy, but everything worked out perfectly. I'm so glad I was able to notice that subtle tug of the spirit, telling me he needs that extra witness.

We have a few other investigators that are doing well, but we're also seeing a lot of miracles when we walk down the street and meet people that are really interested. Every missionary says this zone is the hardest part of the mission because there's just no one to talk to, but I think it's all about perspective. If you think it's going to fail, it will, but if you have a vision of this area being the most successful part of the mission, it will be.

I keep saying it, but I know that this church is the church of Jesus Christ, because there's no way any other company, business, or even church would stay afloat when the entire future is funded and fueled by 18 year old kids paying their way to go preach the gospel. We have the help of angels on both sides of the veil, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve with them out here.

Elder Franchina

A Zone Leader is Born

T is still doing really well. She didn't come to church yesterday because she came down with whatever her daughter had, but she still plans to be baptized on the 22nd of June, or that Saturday. She's really excited and couldn't stop talking about how great church was. She was trying so hard to use 'Mormon vocabulary' by saying teachers, deacons, apostasy, etc. She's great. I was on exchanges with Elder Hone, who's our Zone leader, and he goes home this week. He did a fantastic job. It was a very spiritual lesson, ending with a blessing with consecrated oil. We taught about priesthood and she really needed a blessing, and afterwards, she and sister DMG embraced with tears, and she said that she already felt better.

We also met with Dr 홍, and Elder Hone and I tried so hard to get him to come to church. He wouldn't commit, because of previous engagements, but he came to our ward picnic, and became best friends with a recent convert, our ward missionary.  He said he'd see them a church this Sunday, but didn't end up coming. Maybe next week?

This week we met quite a few new people and had great first lessons, but are not able to count them as new investigators, because they weren't able to commit to a specific date. We met with a professor
here named Mr. HSN, a guy from Egypt named T2, and a various set of other foreigners.

The most important aspect of missionary work is Love. Don't try to 'win' their arguments and answer all their questions to convert.  Lovethem enough to have them search for their own answers some times, and always try to help them, not to beat them or win the conversation.  Just imagine how the Savior would have treated that conversation, and you'll feel the love that God has for that person.
I'm so grateful for all of your support everyone.

I'll be transferring this week, back to a familiar land! Kangwondo! Up in the Boonies. I'll be a zone leader up in Gangneung, and I've been there many times. Just about every Wednesday, back when I lived in Sokcho. It's a beautiful city, and I'll be serving with Elder Farr (yes, dad, his dad is the guy that makes Farr ice cream.) He goes home this next transfer, so I'm looking forward to working hard with him.

God bless.

Elder Franchina