Count Your Blessings

Hello one and all! Some things I did this week: Ate pig skin, got locked out of my apartment (don't worry, miraculously someone was there to let us in), held a PYTHON, invited an Oscar De La Renta wedding dress designer to be baptized (WOO-Whoo!), got bible bashed, taught English class (with 5 NEW people!), FINALLY met "Dave the Painter", taught an Egyptian (he is SO cool), sang in Sacrament Meeting with Elder Hogge and played the piano A LOT. One that I would like to elaborate on is "Dave the Painter". Dave is a guy who does service for the community day in and day out. He's known as Dave "the painter" because he paints over graffiti around the town. He is such an awesome individual. And he loves our church, he's not a member (yet), but he asks for our help with big projects and what not. We talked for a minute about how every bit of help no matter how small, is helpful. He said, "I know I'm just one guy. I know I'm just Dave. But this one guy, Dave, can leave this place better than he found it." That's practically a direct quote from Preach My Gospel. Haha. I thought a lot about that conversation and about the wonderful example "Dave the Painter" is to me. Even if I never baptize anyone here in Woodside, I'm determined to leave the ward and the community better than when I found it. There is work to be done everywhere. I love the opportunity to help people! Speaking of helping people... We as a district teach an English Class free for anyone to learn English. It's a pretty awesome way to get to know people. And we usually have a couple new faces each time, and tons of "regulars". Well, we're really trying to make some of our regular attenders into investigators. This is much harder than it sounds so...I could use some prayers. Speaking of prayers... Teresa has been reading and praying! She's one of our only investigators who is REALLY progressing. We invited her to be baptized and she said that she wants to keep learning and studying, but that she feels good about what she's been learning with us. Teresa is super cool. She's from Ecuador and she's a designer for OSCAR DE LA RENTA. (What the...? Who knew we'd find one of those right around the corner from the church!) She's very intelligent, artistic and curious. (I relate to her pretty well.) :) I have really, really high hopes for Teresa. I'd appreciate your prayers on her behalf too. I've had a lot of reminders this week that I live a really good life. I have a good family and good friends who have guided me and helped me make good choices. As a result of those choices, I've avoided a whole lot of pain. Others have not been so blessed in their lives... I can't even express to you all how grateful I am for the COUNTLESS blessing I have. One of MANY, many examples:  We were given two big bags of food by a less active family after an appointment one night, as we walked home from the appointment I saw an old man digging through the trash looking for something to eat (sadly, that's not terribly uncommon). I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude to the Galeanos for providing us with the food, and gratitude to Heavenly Father for providing us with the opportunity to give someone a much needed meal. SO MUCH TO BE GRATEFUL FOR! Keep the faith family, keep being awesome, and count your many blessings! LOVE you all, Hma. Tara

And if You Endure it Well...

"Hey, lets go this way today."

"Okay, why not."

I never thought that this simple exchange of words would mean EVERYTHING, but this past week it has.

The week before was hard. Really hard. Our appointments were dropping like flies. And people had no desire to listen to us. I'll admit I was really discouraged by the time the end of the week came and we had almost nothing to report to our district leader.

I thought to myself, "So this is what it's really like being a missionary."

I had a decision to make... give up, and assume that I'll never get the hang of it. OR just decide that tomorrow is a new day.

I bet you're all wondering which one I chose...Haha.

I was done being discouraged, I was done feeling sorry for myself. This week WAS going to be different.

And guess what, it was!

The Lord blessed us so much. We found several new families to teach! I'll never cease to be amazed by how the chain of miracles link us to our investigators... How seemingly small things make a WORLD of difference. Things like doors being left unlocked, giving us access to floors of apartments we normally can't get to. (Just one of MANY examples.) Lessons with members present just fell into our laps! We found people everywhere we went who wanted to be taught. 

My testimony of the "small things" grows stronger every day. The small successes REALLY are what make up the big scale of success. Often I overlook the miracles that occur in my life daily. And what a huge mistake! Elder M. Russell Ballard says, "Great and marvelous events seem to motivate us, but small things often do not hold our attention. Noting that the Liahona worked by faith, Alma stated, 'Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means…[the people of Lehi] were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased' and they did not progress in their journey. Is our journey sometimes impeded when we forget the importance of small things? Do we realize that small events and choices determine the direction of our lives just as small helms determine the direction of great ships?"

I testify that "coincidences are (not) God's way of staying anonymous". He is in the details of our lives. He knows what we need, and the spirit will prompt us, making His will known to us. We just have to listen. Next time you feel inclined to do something, if it's a good thing... DO IT! Blessings will come from it.

Something else that I've learned this week is that people are good. Sure, there is a whole lot of bad going on in the world right now...the Boston Marathon bombing, for example. There are individuals out there who desire to hurt and to harm others. BUT I know that the majority of people are good. I've been truly privileged to come in contact with people who even though they live in the humblest of circumstances have a love for life that I admire SO much. The people here are amazing.

Well... My time is about up but I love y'all so much. Keep the faith and keep praying for me!

Thanks for your letters and emails! Keep 'em coming!

Lots and LOTS of Love,

Hermana Tara Franklin

Guardar La Fe

Well, my friends... It's been a CRAZY week.

I actually will be sending a very short update today... because I don't have much time to email.  A surprise lesson ended up taking most of my email time.

So to water it all down for you... This week was "all over the place" if you know what I mean...

For something comical: We were "Street Sweeping" on Saturday when a rather... eccentric, drunk woman came up and looked into my companion's face and said, "You have a POWERFUL face. Your face contains power.... I mean, WOW! What power. Man, I'm a mess." And walked away... Yeah. The New York Crazies. We love them. The greatest thing about it is was that we saw her an hour or so later on the other side of town when we were on our way to visit a less active.  This time she had with her a teddy bear the size of my dad. (?????) Who drags a giant teddy bear around Queens?? As we passed by we said hello... of course her response was, "Who the heck are you?" Haha....life is quality entertainment.

For some good news...We were able to do some really, really great work with the less active members of our ward... there are A LOT of less actives. We had 6 people come to church with us who haven't been to church in many many months. That was such a blessing and I was so glad they all came. We're going to try to continue our efforts and really concentrate on helping the less-actives REactivate. I hope you'll do this with me and invite your friends who don't make it to church very often to come with you!

I'm finding that I'm really struggling with the language. Part of this is my inability to be patient with myself, and the other part is...well I don't really know. Maybe I'll never figure out why it's so hard for me. Either way, Spanish is definitely not my strength when I'm teaching the gospel. BUT, as I've struggled to find Spanish words to say to people I've figured something out... And that is that I HAVE strengths. I have SO many other ways of communicating and expressing my deepest feelings. I've been able to bear my testimony and spread the gospel through song and through my gifts as an artist. I've used drawings to teach people all the time and I sing for people every time we're let into a home. I play the piano for every sacrament meeting, relief society meeting, primary singing time, choir practice/performance and every baptism that happens here in the Woodside Ward. I know Heavenly Father didn't give me these talents so that I could keep them for myself. It took me 20 years to figure that out. But hey, later is better than never. I hope you will all think about the talents you've been given and try to use them more to benefit others. You WILL bring others closer to Christ.

Thank you for your prayers and continuous support.

You're all amazing... Anytime you see either of my amazing parents give them a HUGE hug for me. They're doing a pretty great job and deserve a hug. Haha. HUGS to all of you from me!!

Hermana Tara Franklin

If I can make it here...I'll make it anywhere

Hola Familia y Amigos!

GREETINGS FROM NEW YORK CITY!

It's NYC alright... Lot's of crazy people, lots of small business, restaurants of EVERY KIND, taxis, metro stations, dead cats, live cats, dead pigeons, live pigeons, LIGHTS, Let me fill y'all in.

Last Monday, I left the MTC and flew to NY. Had a few missionary opportunities in the airport/on the plane... Pretty fun. Actually, I sat between two brothers on the first flight... Who just happened to be the cousins of our good friends the Van Wagoners! SMALL WORLD.

After we got off the plane in New York the Mission President, Pres. Calderwood and his wife were there to meet us with the A.P.'s. What nice people. Seriously, I'm fairly certain I have the best mission president in the world. (I'm also certain EVERY missionary says that... whatever. I really mean it. Haha) They took us up the highest point in the mission... the roof of "The Brooklyner". Wow, what a BREATHTAKING view of Manhattan. I took some good pictures (I'll try to get them posted) but I can tell you, the picture doesn't come close to doing it justice. We ate REAL New York pizza and learned some new things about our mission. I'm also fairly certain I'm in the BEST mission in the world (again, I know everyone says that. Haha).  Something really cool happened in that meeting... the President dedicated our mission. He offered a very powerful dedicatory prayer blessing this land and all who live on it. I feel SO lucky to be a missionary here.  We slept at the mission home and then went to orientation/transfer meeting in the morning.

Orientation.... Well... Umm... nothing interesting. They just have us watch a video about driving mission vehicles made in the 1990's. And they said something about ibuprophen and keeping our apartments in tip-top condition. Haha... Obviously I was thinking about my new companion.

So, my new companion/trainer? AWESOME.

Her name is Sister Van Langen... She's originally from Georgia. Ironically she knows my mom. She was an intern 5th grade teacher at Franklin Elementary in Provo. (Taught AT Franklin, now teaching A Franklin... Meant to be.) Excluding her Crocs.... We're practically soul sisters. Haha... Don't worry she rocks the Crocs better than most. We enjoy a lot of the same things and we definitely appreciate each other's sense of humor. She's hilarious...keeps me laughing. Good thing. After Sister Dean... I don't know what I would have done if I got a companion who took themselves too seriously. She's been out for about 8 months. She's been in our area since she got to NY. So she's an expert...No need to worry about me, I'm in good hands.)

Oh, speaking of my area.... I'm in Queens! My area is called Woodside. Super great area... Beautiful View of Manhattan and A LOT of people. LOTS. And it's so diverse. This place is absolutely the definition of a melting pot.You know you live in New York City when your neighbors are Irish, Muslim, Turkish Mausqe, Evangelical Rock Church Clergy, and well... Pretty much any race/religion you can think of. It's AWESOME.  Speaking of diversity the Woodside Spanish Ward I serve in has someone from every single South/Central American country in it. How cool is that? I LOVE this ward. The members are so amazing, so giving, and so humbe. I LOVE Hispanic culture, it's like I've been adopted into 50 families.  They've all welcomed me with open arms and a whole dang lot of FOOD. They seem to think I have 14 stomachs or something... they've got way too much faith in my ability to eat a whole rotisserie chicken.... 

My district is pretty great... It consists of Elder Heaps (from Cedar City UT) and Elder Hoage (from Sacramento, CA), Elder Van Montfranz (from Salt Lake City, UT) and the ONE AND ONLY.... Elder Nielson, from my MTC district! I was so overjoyed to find out we would be together for the next 12 weeks. Pretty sure Heavenly Father did that on purpose. He knew I would need a familiar face. Oh, another random thing I like about my area is that I don't have to drive. I spend a lot of the time on the metro train/bus. LOVE that.... Perfect opportunity to talk to people.)

As far as the Spanish goes... I thought I knew Spanish, at least a little bit. Turns out I don't. Everyone talks about 246 million miles a minute. So... Yeah. That'll take some getting used to. Buena Suerte a mi. Haha.

Missionary work is tough stuff. I'm not going to lie. It's full of a lot of disappointment when your investigators don't follow through or they decide they don't want to take the lessons anymore. It's just plain sad. And I can honestly say, I love all the people I meet.... Even though I hardly know them. It's kind of a cool thing to experience. And it's straight up sad when they don't accept your message. They just don't understand what they're missing. I understand more and more with every passing day that missionary work requires a lot of patience and a lot of FAITH.

Conferencia General fue muy bueno, no?! I loved Elder Anderson's talk... "Faith overcame doubt, and THOUSANDS were baptized." I know that applies to me. Faith must overcome doubt.

Well.... P-Days are proving to be one of the busiest days... So I've got to get off the computer now, but I love you all! I hope all is well with you, and that you enjoyed General Conference. How blessed are we to have a living prophet and apostles who guide us!?
Keep the faith!

Con Amor,
Hermana Tara Franklin

A Note to All My Future Missionaries and-- Hasta Luego Utah!

Well, this is my last time emailing from the MTC. Next update will be coming from NEW YORK CITY! AHHHHH!!!! WOOOOOOO-WHHOOOOOO!!!!

I'm not really that excited or anything... (Haha.)

Thank you so much to Mom, Dad, Jaycee, Grandma Jeannette, Julie, Franklin, Drake and Cameron Palmer, Leslie Stilson, Tara and Savanah Poulsen, Kyle Martin, Elder Christensen (Thanks Sheila!), Miranda Champoux, Sis. Shelby Frampton, and.... Am I forgetting anyone? Lots of letters this week...Sorry if I didn't mention your name! I appreciated all the letters SOOOOOOO much!

Thank you also to Julie and Mom for the packages! SO much fun stuff. We all appreciated the treats and entertainment. Haha. :)

From this day forth start writing to my actual mission address... said address is off to the right, on the sidebar.

I can't believe it. I've been here for 6 weeks already? Really? No way...

I came through the door with a smile on my face, ready to work. And I'm leaving here with a smile on my face ready to work all over again.

This place really broke me down and built me into someone better. I know I will continue to change and be made better throughout the next 17 months (SEVENTEEN!).

A message to all my young friends... 

If anyone is wondering if a mission is right for you... I would like to be bold and say YES, it is.

Boys...you have been given the responsibility to serve a mission. I promise you, it will be one of the greatest things you will ever do. When the elders in my district came here to the MTC they were boys...Boys who had no idea how to teach a gospel lesson, let alone teach a gospel lesson in Spanish...Boys who didn't take anything seriously or even care about being taken seriously. Now they walk a little taller, and when they speak, people listen. They have a glow about them that is unmistakable. (That sounds cheesy, but it's true.) They've grown up so much even in just a few short weeks. I'm so proud of them. And to all you young men who are wary of serving a mission...Don't be afraid. Don't pass up this opportunity in the form of responsibility that you've been given. It will bless your life more than you can imagine.

Ladies...If you decide to serve a mission, GREAT!! The Lord needs you right now. The work is rolling forth quicker than ever. And we have been blessed to be on the earth right now, when many more of us have the opportunity to serve that may not have before. Don't doubt yourself, you can do this! The whole experience...everything from turning in your papers, to the MTC and being in the field (obviously...I'm assuming at this point...I know I've only been wearing a tag for 6 weeks...haha) will prepare you for other things you will undertake in your life...education, marriage, motherhood, careers...everything! I've changed for the better. I hope you will find similar changes and similar happiness in your own mission experience.

Here are a few pieces of advice about the MTC for my future missionaries out there...

(These are things I wish I had figured out much earlier in my MTC experience.)

1.) If you are called to speak a different language, you might get here and feel like you are drinking out of a fire hydrant. May I recommend this...DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. You may not know if what you're saying is correct half the time...You might even mess up and testify that you ARE Jesus Christ rather than testify OF Jesus Christ. (Yes. I speak from experience...) It's OKAY. Don't worry about it. You'll learn. Give yourself time and have patience with yourself. The Lord will bless you as you try your hardest. You'll get the hang of it. You'll have to learn your language all over again when you get to the field anyway. So, just be patient and enjoy the language you're called to speak.

2.) Love your companion. Your companion needs your love, your support and your example. They will be with you 24/7 and they'll drive you crazy sometimes. But as you pray for them and love them (especially when they drive you crazy) the Lord will bless you and your companionship will be strengthened. My companion has taught me things I never knew I never knew… and our differences are what made our companionship so amazing.

3.) Love your district. Look for the specific strengths of those in your district and appreciate each person. Your district is your family. So, love 'em no matter what. :) 

4.) Stick to the wrap/salad bar if you find your digestive system being eaten BY what you’re eating. That's usually the safest option.

5.) Get to the laundry room at your assigned time or even a little earlier. Trust me, it's a mad house. People turn into blood-thirsty Lamanites when there is only one empty washer left.

6.) Trust your teachers...they are the best of the BEST. Learn as much as you can from them while you have the chance.

7.) Learn to love sitting. You sit. And then eat. And then sit. And then sit. And then eat. And then sit. And then sit while eating. Sometimes the schedule varies slightly, and that's nice........

8.) Pray. Pray. Pray. Pray. You will find yourself on your knees more than ever before. That's the best place to be

9.) Just enjoy it. The MTC is unlike any other place...You'll only go on a mission (for the first time) ONCE. So make the very most of your experience at the MTC. Soak it in!

10.) If you're wondering what you might do to better prepare yourself to start your papers, or if you are still trying to decide about a mission...read Preach My Gospel. Study the scriptures in the "scripture study" sections in LOTS of depth. You will find out a lot about the gospel, and it will bring you closer to Christ. Consult talks from general authorities about missionary work. I promise if you read scriptures and pray daily, along with the other two suggestions I just made you will find yourself more excited about missionary work and you'll have a clearer (Is that a word...?) vision of what kind of missionary you want to be. 

11.) GO TO SEMINARY/INSTITUTE. 

12.) Learn scripture references (I highly regret not doing this before I came to the MTC). 

13.) Prepare to go to through the temple... always be worthy of a temple recommend, and you'll never go wrong. Obviously depending on who is reading this you may be going through the temple to receive your endowment sooner rather than later, or vice versa... Read the Pearl of Great Price. (The whole thing.) That helped me a ton.

I thank you all for the support you have been to me at the beginning of my missionary adventure... and my journey as a Disciple. I know that there is no better work I could be doing right now. Even though I'm fairly terrified, I can't wait to be in New York finding those who so desperately need the truth. Carry on as missionaries wherever you are...We need all the help we can get.

Over and out!!

"Hasta ver para siempre Dios este con vos!"

Hermana Tara Franklin

He Lives

Hola!

Thanks are in order:

1.) Thank you to Page Edwards, Elder Christensen, Julie Franklin, Mom and Dad for your letters! Keep 'em coming! (I hope I'm not forgetting anyone...)

2.) Thanks to Mom and Julie for the packages! SO GREAT. Julie, you should know that we play with the pirate puppets on a daily basis.... The Elders can't get enough. Haha. It was incredibly ironic that they were pirates because we talk in "pirate Spanish" quite frequently. My companion and I also used them in a lesson! So you're getting your money's worth out of those. :)

3.) Mr. Shelton- I absolutely am on the RIGHT side. Haha. But thanks for your support anyway.

Ummmm... It's snowing outside. Those poor tulips.

Wow. That's about all I can say. Wow.

This week ROCKED. I can't really pin point any one thing that was so wonderful... just a grand combination.

Coming off of last week was tough... but I started out by watching The Character of Christ by Elder Bednar. Unfortunately the MTC owns the rights to this talk... otherwise I would encourage EVERYONE to watch/read it. It put so many things into perspective for me. And it helped me realize why I'm really here. If we want to represent Christ we need to develop the characteristics of Christ. And essentially KNOW the character of Christ. Elder Bednar encourages us to put off the natural man by "turning out" when our natural instinct is to "turn in". I made a conscious effort this week to "turn out" and serve others instead of thinking of myself. It has made all the difference...every day just gets better and better.  I've made so many breakthroughs with Spanish and with teaching, and I've been able to help a lot of people along the way. My mind has been cleared of worries and doubts and that has made it possible for me to discern the promptings of the spirit and be able to allow the spirit to work through me. Let me tell you, the spirit teaches a lot better than I do. :)

My district is my family away from my family. We decided to make a "Strength Box" where we place anonymous notes (not really all that anonymous because we recognize each other's handwriting... Haha). Every time we recognized a strength in one of our district members we wrote them a note. It helped us to realize what a wonderfully diverse bunch of missionaries we are. I've certainly learned more than I ever could have imagined from these amazing people I spend every day with. :) I'll admit I might shed a tear or 200 when we have to go our separate ways. Luckily I'm taking six of them with me to New York.

I can't believe I'm coming up on my last week here at the MTC. It's been a wild ride. And I'm sure grateful for every moment I've had here...even the really though moments. In fact, I'm especially grateful for the tough moments. The tough moments are the ones where my testimony was strengthened. I promise you that if you exercise faith in the Savior, He will carry you in your times of need. I know this because He has carried me. And I know He will continue to do so throughout my mission and throughout my life. As we are approaching the Easter holiday I hope we will all think about the example that Christ has set for us. And remember that He, the only perfect man who ever lived allowed himself to be crucified for our sake. He never stopped to think of himself, He never ceased to do the will of the Father.

My thought for this week is simply: I know that my Redeemer lives. He LIVES. He will return to the earth once again in all his glory. I hope that when He comes he will say "Well done, my good and faithful servant." I know that through His grace my weakness will be made up, after all I can do. I hope one day I can be like Him.

He is Risen. He is Risen. He hath opened heaven’s gate! We are free from sin's dark prison, risen to a holier state. And a brighter Easter Beam... On our longing eyes shall stream.

I love you all SO SO much! Thank you for your prayers and support!

Hermana Franklin

Quit Taking the Hard Route

Hola!

Week 3 completed. Can't believe I'm more than half way through my MTC experience! It's been a wild ride.

I would like give a vote of thanks to Torre, Laura, Julie, Franklin, Tristan, Cameron and Elder Christensen for the letters/emails! And of course thanks to Mom, Dad and Jaycee for your weekly love and support!

Julie, thanks for spoiling me once again with the package of treats!!

And thanks Mom for saving me from wearing the exact same thing AGAIN on P-Day. Haha...

If anyone would like my address, or email address... Please consult my beautiful Mother, Mrs. Jill Franklin for information. :) I'd love to hear from you! 

All of you Utah/Salt Lake County folk... How about this AMAZING WEATHER!!? Let's enjoy it while it lasts...It could snow any day now. Haha... Gotta love Utah.

This week was… well, it was hard. I'll just be honest.

First, I got sick. Of course. I was a fool thinkin' I would avoid the notorious plagues that hit us at the MTC.... but alas, I was wrong about that one. I came down with a sinus infection a little over a week ago and let me tell ya, health IS happiness. Being in a classroom for 9 hours a day is difficult as it is... but teaching and learning become somewhat impossible/miserable when you're sick. I finally gave up thinking it was a cold that would go away within a few days and decided to go see a doctor. I had a fairly high fever and my head was feeling like it was going to explode... So I decided it was time. Haha... Just call me Jon Franklin. Of course by the time I decided to go to the clinic it was Friday night and the doctors would not be back until 8:00 on Monday morning. Brilliant. But never fear they are prepared for just about any kind of crisis here at the MTC so they sent me down the road to the BYU emergency room. It was quite strange to walk around in the real world (BYU campus is SO "real world", I know....haha) for a few minutes wearing my missionary tag. People honked and waved and little kids pointed, "It's the missionaries, Mom!!" I felt pretty special. I highly doubt I'll be that popular in New York City... But it, like the weather, was fun while it lasted. They sent me down to the local Rite Aid pharmacy to pick up the Steroids and Antibiotics I'd been prescribed, and let me tell you, hearing music... Like regular world MUSIC, was SO weird. It surprised me at times how offensive some of the words were to me. I know that sounds hilarious to those of you who know what kind of stuff I listened to before I left, but I'm not kidding! I've become more sensitive to things like that, even in just 3 weeks. I would like to get on a soap box real quick and just encourage everyone to be selective about the music you listen to and any other form of entertainment you participate in. I know I wish I had been more careful about things I listened to and viewed on T.V. Anyway... Not trying to preach. It was just a great reminder to me that I shouldn't listen to or watch anything that takes the spirit away from me. :) 

Anyway... The drugs worked well and I'm on the mend! The only extremely unfortunate thing is that I gave the illness to almost everyone else in my district... despite the gallons of hand sanitizer we use daily. Haha... Almost everything has been cleared up, my cough is gone and I'm practically at 100% once again! Most of the other Elders/Hermanas are on the back end of the sickness too, so that's happy news. Thanks for your prayers and love, that always helps.

As the week progressed I was not only struggling with physical heath but spiritual health as well. I've just been down on myself about my "lack of progress" in Spanish, the tension in relationships within our district, and in my mind --my overall inadequacy.  I was relying far too much on my own abilities, and refusing to let the Lord help me. It's a pride thing. We all struggle with it. On Tuesday Elder Johnson of the Seventy came to speak to us. His talk was FOR me. I'm convinced he wrote it for me, actually. It was all about submitting our will to the Lord and its purpose was to set straight our false ideas about "perfection". My purpose as a missionary is to "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them to receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost and enduring to the end." Nowhere in that sentence does it say "AND be perfect." We cannot be perfect on our own. It's just a simple fact. WE ARE NOT, AND NEVER WILL BE PERFECT. That is, not without the help of our Savior. After hearing his talk I decided I needed to take the opportunity to change... and to get rid of the chain that I carry around. It's a chain I made for myself... and it's a chain I've had for a long time. Long before I came to the MTC. I needed to quit taking the hard route. The hard route meaning, carrying a heavy chain and insisting I do it by myself. Honestly, how stupid is that? It's unnecessary and it's not the way to ultimate perfection anyway... All it is, is a waste of time. I woke up the next morning and I made a decision. I was only going to focus on the positive things about my experiences here. I was going to take notice of all of the blessings I received throughout the day. And you know what, it was the best day I've had here thus far. The sun was shining brighter than ever, we even did our studying outside. :) And our lesson went smoother than any lesson we've given. They even had my favorite thing for lunch! I have a good life. When I humbled myself and relied on Heavenly Father to prompt me I didn't worry about my Spanish being perfectly correct, I didn't worry about what others might think of me, I didn't worry about a thing. 

The spirit WILL lead and guide us. We all fall short, and we'll make small mistakes, and big mistakes. But it's okay. As long as we utilize the atonement fully, and think less about ourselves and more about others, we will never go wrong. :)

My scripture shares this week are 1 Peter 5:1-11 (Thanks Tanner).... "Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you."

And Ether 12:27... "I give to all men weakness that they may be humble... And if they will humble themselves before me I will make weak things strong unto them."

I love and THANK you all for your prayers and your support. I feel it daily.

Much Love Forever,

Your Missionary, Hermana Tara Franklin