Week of March 10, 2014

hey hey

How is my family? I'm good, we are working hard and this weekend we should be baptising a family of four and as a district we should have eight. So I hope all goes well this week. Well alittle about me, um well I love being a district leader. I love I think more than anything is doing interviews. I feel the spirit so strong and I love just being one on one with the people. I have been able to really see the power of the atonement work as well. I like getting to know better the missionaries in my district, but as a leader you have alot more responsibility, but its all good. So this week I'm keeping it short because I'm sending pictures..... whoa

anyway love you guys just bunches and talk to you next week.

Brit write me please. 

love from >Santa Marta

Elder Franks

Goodbye my old companion, and elders I used to live with and the ward missionary leader

Hello new companion

everything is a thumbs up

This is for McKell---she loves goldfish crackers

Me and my little buddy

Week of March 3, 2014p

Hey my dear family.

Well  guess you all want to know about the big news with transfers... so I am still in the same area hahaha no just kidding I'm now in Santa Marta again and I'm also district leader so that's cool.  Some of my responsibilities are to do baptism interviews, I have to give capacitacion or like I have to teach my district stuff, I don't remember what its called. but ya and I have to verify with everyone everyday so ya I'm excited about that, it will be a change. My companion is named Elder Mason, he is from Chile but yes I know his name is not Latin but he is from Chile and well he is good and super nice but we are completely opposite and he strives for attencion and is just really weird, sometimes he acts like he's training me and I'm the one who has been here for 2 months oh ya he's new in the mission, so sometime my patience is tested but that's alright. Well  I'm happy and healthy and excited to be here, we have alot of people to teach and so that should be good. anyway ya that's the big news.

It's super sad to hear about Elder Bailey that really hits home. I will be extra careful, but mom you told me once that sometimes there are other things more important for him and other to do in gods kingdom. but it would still be super hard. 

I would have like to send some pictures but I didn't bring my camera today, I will try next week. 

Well I love you guys and I can't wait to hear from you next week.

with lots of love

From Santa Marta,

Elder Franks

Added notes from Elder Franks by his mother,

When we were chatting he said that his companion's family was from England and his grandparents moved to Chile and he is white.  He also told me that he is coming home on September 24th.  Not that he is looking forward.  It sounds like he is doing better, I asked if he was in the same area than he was before but he did not answer me back on that one.  He also didn't say anything about the Carnival that is happening there right now.  So I will asked next week about that one.

Elder's Quorum Party 

 This is the last baptism he had in Cartagena

Week of of January 6, 2014

Hi my familia,

So this week was good, things are picking up with missionary work, so that's all good.  It was good to see you guys for Christmas. I want to know if I looked fat or not. I want you all to know how proud I am of you all and all that you are doing. Mel you and basketball, Brit you and your call.  Mom I'm doing good with my health. I have an ingrown toenail but I think I will be able to get it out myself. Things are good here in Cartagena, oh mom transfers are NEXT week ha, so don't worry but I really think that I will be here for another 6 weeks. My companion still has alot of problems, the president told me a couple weeks ago that my companion is the most difficult situation that there is in the mission, so I think he will keep my companion with me, which is alright. There are alot of things changing in the mission, we are starting to focus more on less actives, there are so many people that gets baptized and then become inactive, so we have work to do.

I'm happy, I'm healthy, and I'm doing what I should be doing. I can't believe that I only have 9 months left. I believe that I will be coming home in September.

Anyways have a good week and I will talk to ya next week

love Elder Franks

Week of December 23, 2013

Brennan did not say much in his E-mail because we get to skype on Thursday....YEAH!!!! so excited to see him.  He did send pictures of him.  He also wanted me to tell you all 

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

and that he loves you all.

Here are pictures of his Christmas Party with the Mission President and his wife and Elder Franks zone.

Week of December 16, 2013

Dear Family,
Hey it's super good to hear from you guys.  Boy what a week we've had.  So this past week we went to Barranquilla Monday and Tuesday, we went to a clinic there all day.   My companion has been pretty sick but more than anything its been his mental state.  I've called the president almost every night to talk to him about Elder D, he the good thing is he is doing much better.  I believe that he has decided to stay but we will just have to see what Christmas brings.  He is a really good Elder and has a good spirit. So on Wednesday it was normal day, Thursday we went back to Barranquilla for my toe and returned the next day. The rest of Friday and Saturday we worked normally and yesterday was Sunday. It's been a little of a challenging week and to top it all off we have like 5 investigators. I know I shouldn't be but I've been a little stressed. So I hope that this week will be a little better.  I've just got to keep working, there is just not any other solution but work work work. 
Well thanks everyone for telling me that I'm fat ha ha, no I am but I've also lost alot of weight in the past week or so. Everyone tells me including some of the missionaries that I came out with, have said that I'm skinner.  I'm really trying to go back to the way I was before. 

Yes the girl got confirmed and we are teaching another lady named Maria and she is doing really well, she has stopped completely drinking coffee, but she needs to go to church, so we are working on that.

So with skyping.  I would really like to do it on Christmas but I'm not sure if there is a place that is open that day,  Mom I will talk with you more about that and we have till the beginning of January to skype.  I want to be sure to see you ALL there.

Anyway's I know that this is not the best letter in the world but I love you all.

Love Elder Franks

Week of December 9, 2013

Hey my grand family,

So first off I want to say that we had another baptism this weekend but the girl didn't get confirmed. She had alot of problems with her family and she didn't want to do it, but after alot of help from some members she is ready and we are going  to finish next Sunday. Her name is Brigite Piñeros.

We had a big meeting and all of the missionaries met with a general authority but he is just the president from the area it was really good. With transfers well my new area is........Cartagena buenos aires......haha its the same. I'm still in the same area after 6 and a half months.  

I'm training. my "son" is from Guatemala. which is sweet. He is 22 years old and he is a man of faith. He has been struggling alot, oh his name is Elder Diaz. Anyway I say that because he and his grandpa are the only member in his family.  His mom passed away one month before he came out and he doesn't have any support from almost no one. its been a good learning experience for both him and me.

So I wanted to send some pictures of the food we eat here. So one is of some chicken that I ate in a passion fruit sauce. It was really good

and the other of fish, it is probably my favorite food here.

I also ate one of a fish fillet, it was incredible.  And this is my "hijo" too.

love you guys and I'm always thinking about you.

Week of December 2, 2013

Dear Family,

Hey so how is everyone doing? First off I forgot to tell you that we had a baptism like two Saturdays ago, it was the mom of the two teenagers that we had taught and baptized. She was sooooo ready ha and the cool thing was she asked me to baptize her. She didn't even ask her son which would have been better but it was still really neat. They are almost an entire family baptized, a family that can one day go to the temple. I really love this family a ton, it's going to be hard to leave them.  

Another thing this week is transfers, I don't know if I'm staying or going but we have them and for sure my companion is leaving, hes super!!!!!!!!!! trunky. It's been hard to work this past week and he just doesn't care about any of the rules anymore, so it's been hard. 

Oh ya so our big thanksgiving here........ oh wait we didn't have one haha,  they don't really celebrate that here, everybody knows what it is but its not important, that's alright I really don't need a whole lot more food, I'm already fat as it is, I don't know how much I weigh but I have a neck chin thing like Elder Holland, haha maybe it just for those people who are super wise. Today we are going back to the restaurant to eat again and then we are going bowling. Should be fun.

I love you guys and I

will tell you all about transfers next week. love you lots

LOVE from Cartagena,

Elder Franks