Karaoke, and Lots of Love!

This week has been SO fantastic. It's hard to pin it on any one single event, but it just rocked for some reason.

We were able to meet with a LOT of people and most of our plans went through! Wooo!

One story I think everyone will appreciate:

We do service every Friday at a local senior citizen center. We serve food, help out in the kitchen, and get yelled at in Spanish frequently. Every week is pretty much the same and all the local elderly folk recognize us. It's great. Haha. This last Friday was fairly different from our usual experience...They had someone there running a Karaoke party! Well...Sister van Langen decided to deviously volunteer Sister Mann and I to sing a song. (Don't worry, they ended up making her sing too. Haha! Karma can sure bite ya, ehh, Sister van?) So to help you picture this, it was three Mormon sister missionaries wearing hairnets and disposable plastic aprons singing Amazing Grace with an 80 year old black lady named Gloria...to hundreds of senior citizens.  Yeah. That's right! Haha... Sometimes I just have to laugh at my life.  

Something else... We were looking up a family in a fairly large apartment complex, but the problem was we didn't have their apartment number. We felt pretty strongly that we should just go in and start searching even though that seemed like a pretty impossible task. As we wandered about for only a couple of minutes we faintly heard someone singing..." O, Elderes de Isreal con migo venid!"...(Ye Elders of Israel, join now with me). We followed the singing up the stairs and found the family we were looking for! Haha. Music has a crazy way of showing me the way. It's truly the language of my soul. :) 

We also had Patriarca Miranda (Patriarch Miranda) come and teach the spiritual thought at English Class this week. (I love English Class. It's a way to help people, teach the gospel and get people to the church building all in one evening!)  Patriarca Miranda is amazing. He taught a fantastic lesson about communication with our Heavenly Father and about the importance of "listening".

The truth is, I've never been very good at "listening”...to anyone, really, (Haha) particularly answers to prayers. I think sometimes I don't realize the answer to my prayer is right in front of my face. I'm just not looking for it. Heavenly Father is answering my prayers and I'm not "listening" for the answer. So my goal for the coming weeks is to really search through the resources that Heavenly Father has given to me that will help me find answers to my prayers. A good friend of mine, namely Jared Hassler, reminded me that there are 3 places I should always turn to. 1.) The Book of Mormon 2.) Preach My Gosepl 3.) Words of the Living Prophets. There's one I would like to add to the list... 4.) Patriarchal Blessing. It's amazing what you can find in your Patriarchal Blessing. It's the Lord's personal scripture for you, and there is much revelation to be found. I'd encourage everyone to get their patriarchal blessing no matter how long ago or how recently it's been since you last read it. And find scriptures that go along with the spiritual gifts/warnings/blessing you've been given. (I'm working on that right now, and it's SO COOL!)  I know these are things that seem obvious. But when I turn to them with the intention of finding an answer to a question or turn to them for solace in a time of worry or anxiety I've been able to find what I need.

Wooo! I love spiritual enlightenment. :)

Random side note.... real Brazilian food IS SO GOOD. We went over to a Brazilian member's house so that Sister Mann would have someone to help her with her Portuguese... man oh man, I'm a tiny bit jealous she's going to Brazil for the food. Haha.

Anyway much LOVE and prayers to all of you!

Keep the faith!

Hermana Franklin

It's Raining! It's Pouring!

Hey y'all.

Rain, rain, go away,

Come again... Never.

Haha. It's been raining SO much. Too much. Being from the desert, I'm just not used to it.

Here's a TOP 10 for you to enjoy:

"Top 10 ways you know it's REALLY raining in New York City"

10.) You have no need to use an umbrella anymore. It's become completely pointless.

9.) There isn't a single pigeon in sight…ANYWHERE. (Unless you're under a bridge...in that case, you might want to pick up that useless umbrella of yours, being soaked in rain is one thing...bird crap is another. Haha. Elder Nielson took the hit this week.)

8.) You can wet yourself and no one will notice...(Sister Mann...)

7.) You have to wring your skirt out before you go into someone's home.

6.) You and your two missionary companion's are the ONLY people outside. (On purpose!)

5.) The Taxi's don't even attempt to pick you up. In fact, they avoid you because you're so soaked that they'd rather not have you ruin their upholstery.

4.) "Waiting out the storm" would require a sleeping bag because it will NEVER stop raining.

3.) The local Rastafarians all have trash bags on their heads to protect their dreads.

2.) The disgusting, rat-infested sub-way stations suddenly become some kind of safe-haven.

1.) Sister Franklin is wearing Crocs. Yes, It's true.

Well, All these things are based on actual events. (I promise the crocs were actually kind of cute... like, not the typical CROC...You know, like the... Okay, I'll quit trying to justify my newest fashion necessity. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Haha.)

This week was a little rained out. But you know what, I LOVE helping people. And rain, as much as I despise it sometimes brings GREAT opportunities to help people. For example, one night when the rain was particularly bad, we knew the Astoria Elders really needed some help... They'd been given a HUGE assignment to find and contact all the less actives on their ward list in one week... and let's just say, there were A LOT. They'd been outin it all day long, and we decided to take on a few names that were the furthest out of their way, to take help ease the workload. And you know what. We had a blast. We got soaked and tracked down quite a few people in the process.

Sister Mann also had a mishap with her scriptures because of the rain. She wrapped all of her books in plastic bags to protect them from the rain, but her scriptures still managed to become SOAKED. We spent a couple hours drying them out with a blow dryer. It felt good to help my companion with that... So, thank you rain, for giving me that opportunity.

Complete turn in topic:

I don't know if I've mentioned Luz Marina in my weekly emails before, but either way...

here's her story:

She's a woman who was baptized as a young teenager, but was inactive for most of her life. She began attending an Evangelical church about 25 years ago, and was quite active in that church for the past couple decades. This is where it gets good. About 3 months ago, in March (right before I arrived in New York), she had an experience at the evangelical church. She said it was almost like her heart rejected the doctrine. She just had a huge realization that this was not where she should be. She walked out of the church services and never returned. She came to church with us the first week I was here. And she's come every Sunday ever since. She gave up coffee and hasn't touched it for over a month. She's working on getting a temple recommend to go to the temple with some family names. She asks for help with sharing the gospel with her less active and non-member children. She has been called as a Ward Missionary! I'm honored to serve alongside her. The best part about it is that she did it all on her own. The spirit and her faith made that change... Not us. As we've invited her to make changes in her life, she has agreed not out of obligation to us, but because she loves the Lord more than herself. Luz herself is a miracle.

We talk about "change" all the time in this mission... Our mission culture is "Forever Changed"...We are forever changed by the Doctrine of Christ. And it is evident that we have been changed and have become converted to the Doctrine of Christ by our obedience.

I hope that one day I will be an example of what it means to be "Forever Changed".  Just like Luz Marina. :) She, and people like her, have taught me more about true conversion than I ever thought possible.

Pocahontas really was right when she said, "When you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you learn things you never knew, you never knew!"

I hope everyone will join me becoming "Forever Changed" and be "forever changing" for the better! Remember, obedience to the commandments is evidence of our conversion.

Thanks for your love and support. Remember that you've got more power than you think. :)

Love Always,

Your soaking wet missionary,

Hermana Franklin

P.S. There are a few pictures of one of our last ward activities... A few ward members/investigators. Me and my companions eating Serrano Chiles (lit my entire digestive system on fire and nearly died. Enjoy!)

Thanksgiving in June

Well, the one word that comes to mind when I think about this week is "gratitude".

I'm grateful that I live in a country where I can worship my God the way I choose.

I'm grateful for my heritage-- I look forward to the day I can shake the hands of James Lindsay, Clifford Reseigh, Henry J. Franklin and many others like them. One day I can thank them for the lives they lived. And thank them for leaving this world better than they found it.

I'm grateful for my Grandma Jean and Aunt Jane-- for the many, many sacks of potatoes they picked that day. That one act of faith and determination changed the course of eternity for my family.

I'm grateful that it rains sometimes. I wouldn't appreciate the sunshine half as much if it didn't.

I'm grateful for Temples and for the decision that my dear parents made to be sealed for time and all eternity nearly 25 years ago.

I'm grateful that sometimes an empañada makes EVERYTHING better. Haha.

I'm grateful that plans fall through and lead you to a better plan the Lord put in place for you. (Story of the week...)

I'm thankful for the Woodside Spanish Ward. I will never be able to repay them for the way they've made my testimony grow.

Estoy agradecido para el idioma Español.

I'm thankful for the power of prayer--Heavenly Father is there. He listens, and he cares.

I'm grateful for Sister Mann-- she makes me laugh every single day! She'll never know what a miracle she was in my mission.

I'm grateful for Sister Van-- I'm pretty sure she wants to kill me sometimes, but she doesn't. Haha. We'll always be sisters.

I'm thankful for the investigators that we have and for their progress-- no matter how small it may be sometimes. I'm grateful for the faith they have and for their open hearts.

I'm thankful for little miracles that happen daily.

I'm thankful for all the love and support I get from home-- from my parents, my friends... all of you!

What are you grateful for?

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!

La Rubiacita (The Little Blonde One. That's what all the Hispanics call me. Haha.)

Subway Singing and Such

Hey, I apologize there will not be a very lengthy weekly update this week...

I've got NO time today.

But I will mention a few things...

The family I talked about last week…Is FANTASTIC. So solid. We've been meeting with them and their 15 year old daughter is attending Young Women's activities with the ward! Next step... getting the WHOLE family to church... Please pray for us.

I can't remember if I've ever talked about Bishop Yanez (Yawn-yez) (Mom! He's from Chile! Along with half of the ward... Haha.). Due to experiences with irresponsible missionaries in the past, the bishop hasn't been too fond of the missionaries. I've always personally been a little terrified of him. BUT guess what... We got invited to WARD COUNCIL this week for the first time in a long time... ALL 7 of us. Pretty cool right? The bishop was on FIRE. He spoke very passionately about how we missionaries desperately need the help of the ward to do as much teaching as we should be doing. It was awesome. I think he's been really pleased with the work my district has been doing. At least, I hope that's what that means.

Another interesting thing that happened... Sis. Van Langen got pretty darn sick. So we went on Splits with the Sisters serving in the Young Single Adult Queens ward. That way Sister Mann and I wouldn't both have to be cooped up all day.... SO AWESOME. I love the YSA ward. I have a feeling I might end up serving in that ward at some point... Who knows?

We started doing a thing where we go sing hymns in the train station. That's pretty darn cool. Watch for me on Youtube folks. All the Asian tourists video us. Haha. But really it's amazing how music brings people in and lifts everyone's spirits.

Speaking of singing...I got asked to sing at the Mission-wide Sisters Conference next week. WOOO-whoo. Haha

Uhh... I'm running out of time!! But I love you all! Keep the faith, and remember to be an example of the believers!

Hermana Franklin

 




The Three Musketeers

 We Love NYC







 




 Outside the apartment!

I Knew You Were Different

Alright everybody. I will apologize in advance... I'm not really sure where to begin with this update. SO MUCH HAPPENED THIS WEEK.

As I informed you last week. I'm in a trio!

I LOVE IT! It's been super great. Turns out, I had absolutely nothing to worry about. Sister Mann is the BOMB. She's from Logan (Hyde Park), Utah. Another one from "La Fabrica" (The Factory... as the Hispanics call it. Haha.) We get a long SO WELL. Too well, actually. Haha.

She adds so much to the companionship. Seriously, it doesn't even matter that she doesn't know Spanish. Her ideas and her positive attitude have blessed us so much. We've started getting used to having 3 people in our tiny studio apartment... and things are going well. :)

We had a Mega-Zone Conference this week with Elder Koelliker of the 70. Such a great conference. He talked a lot about our need to teach our investigators how to pray and how essential it is that our investigators pray with us all on our knees. It was good to think about what prayer means to me, and what role it played in my conversion.

President Calderwood also upped our standards of excellence. He made a couple of changes, but the one that made my eyes widen a bit was "1 baptism per companionship each transfer". AHhhh!

Well, it may take some time to achieve this. But the bar has been raised. If we're looking at this from a high jumpers point of view...the Bar's at 6'. I've never even been able to jump 5'8"... So I've got a lot of jumping to do. As my strength increases I'll be able to reach the bar. If I have to knock the bar off a thousand times so be it. One of these days, I'll make it over the bar!

We're all on board and we're ready to work harder than ever before so hopefully I'll be able to tell you about a baptism this transfer. :)

Let's see... what else is new?

We found a new family to teach, and they're pretty great. They have two very sweet daughters and haven't lived here that long. We've only taught them once, so I'll keep you updated on how things progress with them.

I also changed a tire for someone on the side of the road this week. Yes, in a skirt. Haha.

We had stake conference this week and guess who was there!? JOSEPH! The Egyptian guy I found a few weeks ago! He came up to me and thanked me for being in the right place at the right time that day. He said, "I saw you, and I knew you were different. There was something special." He told me that I couldn't have presented the church to him at a better time. And he was ready to accept it. Even though I didn't get to teach Joseph, I'm so grateful I had a small part in his life. And I'm grateful that I had the privilege of seeing him change. I'm grateful Heavenly Father has a perfect plan.

The last thing I want to share with you is a message from Boyd K. Packer (from stake conference)... the message is this: It's NEVER too late to change. It doesn't matter where you've been... As long as you know where you're going. Heavenly Father provided EVERY man with a way back. And for this, I couldn't be more grateful. I'm grateful that the almighty God, the creator of a universe, provided a way for all of us. You, and even little ol' me. Remember that the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. Never assume it's too late for you, or someone else to change and come unto Christ. No matter how rough and dark the past may seem... The future is bright!

Keep the faith! I love you all! 

Hermana Franklin

PS. Here is a lovely "self portrait" of my companions and me.

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. 

Cast Not Away Your Confidence

Howdy!

Well this week went by like a rocket... But from what I remember it was pretty good. 

Things are really taking off here in Woodside. The ward is just getting stronger and stronger. I love all the members so much. I know I say that ALL the time. But honestly, I never realized that by leaving my family behind for a year and a half I would gain another one. :) (Don't worry family, I'm not replacing you. Just adding on.)

I would love to talk for a moment about my district. I LOVE MY DISTRICT.

I truly have the greatest District Leader in the mission field. Elder Van Mondfranz is the best of the best. He's such a good example to us.... He works hard ALL day, EVERY day. He knows how to get the job done. He would kill me if he knew I was publicly boasting about his awesomeness... but I don't really care. Haha.

Elder Nielson is ROCKIN' it like he always has. He's always got a smile on his face. I've actually never heard him make a negative remark of any kind.  He's improving so much in the language... and he works hard. He's just a gem.... Everyone's "little brother", if you will.

Elder Heaps and Elder Hogge (Zone Leaders) are the bomb. Elder Heaps is going home after this next transfer. I'm not gonna lie, I'm pretty sad. He's one of those people that just drives you absolutely NUTS in such an endearing way...(??) I hope you know what I mean. I dare say, Elder Heaps speaks the best Spanish of any Gringo I've EVER seen. Funny story about him:

He bought a brand new suite to wear home from his mission. It looks great on him and he bragged about it plenty, so we were all aware he was wearing a brand new suite...

One word. PIGEONS. Haha. Hahaha.... Haha.....Ha.

Well... You can all guess. He had bird crap in his hair, on the front AND back of his jacket, pants, AND his backpack. NICE. Pretty sure he made it through 2 years of serving in this pigeon infested land and never took a hit till that. Haha. Life is just too great sometimes.

Elder Hogge is such a good Elder. He's super enthusiastic and is always ready to help out wherever he can. If you would like an accurate Disney character comparison... he's Flick from Bugs Life. Haha. Seriously. It's spot on. I hope he serves here in Woodside with me for a long time.

There you go. Now you have a little bit of inside info about the missionaries I'm with day in and day out.

How is the actual MISSIONARY WORK going, you ask? FANTASTIC!  I love the nice weather. It's starting to be warm every single day and all the greenery is out! BEAUTIFUL. Lot's more people are out on the streets during the day and there's always someone to talk to. Things have started to take off with some of our "finding efforts"... which has been awesome! 

Guess what, y'all. I draw (Charac-a-cher... NO idea how to spell that...) caricature (correct spelling inserted by Mom) pictures of people in the park, to get them to talk to me for a few minutes. SO great. Haha.

We've been working with several less actives and WOW. It's truly been a miracle to see some of the changes they have made in their lives. We've had a lot of success in my companionship (as well as all the other companionships in my district) with reactivation. We're all really happy about that.

My spiritual thought for today... Read Hebrews 10... 32-39 are the best verses.

Remember.... We are not of those who "draw back"! We are of those who believe in the saving of souls!

In honor of Elder Heaps and the Timpview Cross Country team... Some days you're the pigeon, Flyin' high, with everything goin' your way. Some days you're Elder Heaps. Haha. On those days... remember who you are and "cast not away your confidence"! You're a child of the most high God. And he loves you very much.

And so do I.

Con todo el amor puedo dar,

Hermana Tara Franklin

P.S. Congrats to my beloved sister who is now a college GRAD!!! WOOOO WHOO! What a smart cookie. LOVE her.

Congrats to Tommy-Ray and Laura on their engagement... I knew it!

Congrats to Uncle Jeff! An IRON MAN!? What a boss!

Way to go Uncle Scott!  You will be a great Bishop!

And to the best mom ever…I always thought that you should be the Relief Society President.