And Then There Were Three...

Well our first transfer was coming to a close and Sister van Langen and I made lots and lots of goals and plans for this upcoming transfer...I was feeling SUPER great about the things we were going to try to accomplish...Feeling pretty dang confident, and ready to get out there, dive in and get to work on my goals.

Then. We got a phone call.

Yes. The dreaded phone call. It was the office elders telling us they would be bringing by "an extra bed for the new missionary". WHHHHAAAATT?

News to us, we were going to be in a trio this transfer.

...............

President called us shortly after to inform us that the missionary who would be joining our companionship is a brand new missionary from the MTC, and in fact, a visa waiter... she could be here for pretty much any amount of time between 6 and 12 weeks. Here's the thing... she's waiting for a visa to go to BRAZIL...so she doesn't speak Spanish. She speaks Portuguese...unfortunately Brazilians are a little scarce around these parts. Haha.  (There's a few in our ward luckily...so they should be able to help her with her language...I most certainly can't.) We'll do the very best we can to make sure she has a good experience here. But we'll hope for her sake that her visa goes through soon.

So there's the update on my companionship...trioship? Haha...Needless to say, all my goals require a different plan of action now.

Funny how life does that to us.  Just plan to be surprised. :)

On a completely unrelated note...We had a FREAK rainstorm on Saturday. I've never been that soaked in my life. Haha. Nothing more pitiful than two girls in nice Sunday clothes walking around in "raining cats and dogs" weather. On the topic of weather I've had a couple previews of the summer days ahead. HOT and HUMID. Pretty sure I'll have to carry an extra shirt wherever I go...Sheeesh... It's awful.

Everything is good though. Honestly, I couldn't be happier. I got to talk to the best padres en todo el mundo ayer, and I'm preaching the great news of the gospel in this wonderful place, serving in a great ward with soon to be TWO awesome sisters, and we have 4 of the greatest elders in the world...... WHAT MORE COULD I WANT?

Well, I do want one thing... And that is for everyone else to be as happy as I am. I hope you will help me in my efforts to share joy with others. Everyone could use some joy, right? And EVERYONE can use the atonement. Invite your friends to church, invite your friends back to church if they're not active, invite others to invite OTHERS to church, invite someone over for dinner, be a good example of righteous living to those around you, share a smile, write a note, help someone weed their yard or paint a fence, pick up trash at the community park...  WHATEVER! There's always something we can do to help. :)

Love y'all so much! I hope all you mothers had a great day yesterday, thanks for ALL you do! I know I'd be just about nothing without my dear mom.

Have a great week!

Hermana Tara Franklin

PS. ENJOY THE PICTURES.... FINALLY. :)

MTC Pictures...

   

    MTC District Sisters

   MTC District Elders

   MTC Companion Hermana Dean

    THE Map Pictures

   One of Tara's best friends -- On her way to Russia

    

   BYU-I roommate Brooklyn and Hermana Julie Dean

   View from the Brooklyner

   View from the Brooklyner

   View from the Brooklyner

   View from the Brooklyner

   

  

 

   

   Radiating happiness as usual

   Zone Leaders -- Elder Heaps & Elder Hogge

   Elder van Mondfrands & Elder Nielson

   Hermana Franklin & Hermana van Langen

 

Tara didn't send any captions but if you have been reading her letters here on the blog you will be able to recognize some of the people and places.  I tried to add what I think they are.