Monday, November 12, 2012

November 12


Mother,
How is it going?? Welll It sounds like you guys had quite a good week. I also had a good week too. I am so glad that you were able to go to the Zolls. They are awesome people and they really helped out the Kumasi and Cape coast mission so much. He is the reason why I came to South Africa, and I am so grateful for that, because I really know this is where I need to be. My rash has gotten a ton better, but most of all I have grown so so so much since I have been here!!! The way I have loved my mission has increased so much since I have been here. I don’t know why it is but I am just loving it. I love the Gospel, and I have become so much closer to the Savior and our Heavenly Father. I have so much Joy!!! I love it!! I met Lexi and the Brother once they came to our District meeting!! I knew elder Alba, I know most of those people in that picture. I love those guys Alba is a nice guy, but I know elder Briggs the most!
So yeah we had a good week we worked hard, we had some cool experiences. WE actually were able to go to a school this week, we taught like 12 to 13 year olds about the For Strength of Youth. They really loved it especially the teachers, and actually one of the teachers invited us over for dinner on Tuesday so hopefully, something will happen out of that even though she Hindu. This week we set up an interview with the newspaper, so next week we are going to have an article in the paper of us! So we are really working hard trying to find some people to teach and get this area going. I am so close to all the members they love us!! We are just really working hard in this area trying to get things going because we love the gospel and know it can bless so many lives. The members really trust us a lot cause they have seen our hard work, so I think that they are really going to start helping the work a lot they already have its awesome, I wish to stay in this area for a while I want to see it grow I know it will!!!! I am sooooo happyyyyyyy!!! I have been so happy since I have been in South Africa!! It’s incredible, my life has totally changed, my desires my everything!! I just love teaching the gospel so much, I can’t even imagine my mission ever ending!! It won’t! So yeah anyway it’s crazy I feel like this every single day so happy!! Even through the hard times I try and stay happy!! It’s amazing what the gospel can do in your life. This is truly true happiness I have never felt this way in my entire life!!
Well talking about this just makes me so happy!! Anyway I get my new companion today he is from South Africa he is fairly new on mission. He is a good guy he is such a nice guy. So Yeah I am loving my mission and I am so happy!! I don’t really need anything for Christmas, maybe just like a small envelope of candy. When is Thanksgiving anyway? have a good week.
Love 
Elder Francoma 

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

October 29


Hello Mother, 
Well we had a pretty good week things are going well. I guess I will tell you first some things that went on this week. Well we had a zone conference this week!! It was incredible.  It was so good and just gave all of the missionaries a strong desire to be better and evaluate our selves. So President talked about a few things that really stuck out me. He talked about the Anti Nephi Leis how when they were converted they never fell away again. And the reason why they never fell away again, is because they buried there weapons of rebellion. Which in their case was the sword they buried there sword, and never took it back again even when the Lamanites came they just stayed back and let them slay them, but it was a sign to God that they truly repented and were converted. It is incredible the faith and the strong desires they had to do good, even to just lay back and let them kill them. In our lives we need to do the same, we need to bury the weapons of our rebellion. We all know what those things are, if we have a problem falling in sin, we need to do everything we can to stop every single way we can fall into that. Or as missionaries we have problems and we are not being as good as we should we need to fix those things in our lives, and lay those things down and replace them with something else. When, I think about that, someone like the Anti Nephi lehis they were truly converted in all that they did. It is so hard to be like that, we all have worldly things that are kind of weighing us down that really we need to get rid of but just can’t seem to do it. But to be truly converted and humble, we must lay these things down and change and repent. So I really loved the message we learned, there was much more, but that is the thing that really got to me the most. It really got me thinking of things I really need to improve on this year so that when I come back, I will have these things buried and they won’t be a distraction in my life and in my goals. Well the missionary work is going really slow. The good thing is I am super determined to help this area out so we are really working hard. This week we have like 5 appointments with members to help the work going. Right now we are trying to start a bible study class and we are trying to get it in the paper as an advertisement, so we are working on that one, and also trying to get an article on us, me and my companion to help people know what we do, and stuff. Then we are working on starting to have like assemblies at schools, at a high school. The students really have bad habits with drugs, stealing, drinking and all sorts of crap, so we are kind of trying to get through the kids to get to the parents, with the strength for the youth. All the schools would really be willing to have us come cause it is a serious problem. So are working on coordinating that and other things. Here in Chatsworth you can’t just go and knock on doors and try and be successful it’s not that easy, kinda have to think outside the box. So that is what we are trying we are still knocking and stuff but just trying to get some other good finding ideas and stuff so I will let you know how that goes. The last recent convert that was baptized that is now active was 10 years ago!!! And that is the Bishop!! So yeah we are enjoying out here!! hahah But anyway well this next transfer I know my comp he is a white guy from south Africa we get together next week, and our areas are combining cause both of our areas are just suffering and don’t have too much workHello Mother, 
Well we had a pretty good week things are going well. I guess I will tell you first some things that went on this week. Well we had a zone conference this week!! It was incredible. I have never seen something organized like that before on my mission. It was so good and just gave all of the missionaries a strong desire to be better and evaluate our selves. So President talked about a few things that really stuck out me. He talked about the Anti Nephi Leis how when they were converted they never fell away again. And the reason why they never fell away again, is because they buried there weapons of rebellion. Which in their case was the sword they buried there sword, and never took it back again even when the lamanites came they just stayed back and let them slay them, but it was a sign to God that they truly repented and were converted. It is incredible the faith and the strong desires they had to do good, even to just lay back and let them kill them. In our lives we need to do the same, we need to bury the weapons of our rebellion. We all know what those things are, if we have a problem falling in sin, we need to do everything we can to stop every single way we can fall into that. Or as missionaries we have problems and we are not being as good as we should we need to fix those things in our lives, and lay those things down and replace them with something else. When, I think about that, someone like the Anti Nephi lehis they were truly converted in all that they did. It is so hard to be like that, we all have worldly things that are kind of weighing us down that really we need to get rid of but just can’t seem to do it. But to be truly converted and humble, we must lay these things down and change and repent. So I really loved the message we learned, there was much more, but that is the thing that really got to me the most. It really got me thinking of things I really need to improve on this year so that when I come back, I will have these things buried and they won’t be a distraction in my life and in my goals. Well the missionary work is going really slow. But the good thing is I am super determined to help this area out so we are really working hard. Its crazy the ward hasn’t helped the missionaries out, but it seems like we are getting them more and more excited and they are really willing to help we just have to find the ways they can and want to. This week we have like 5 appointments with members to help the work going. Right now we are trying to start a bible study class and we are trying to get it in the paper as an advertisement, so we are working on that one, and also trying to get an article on us, me and my companion to help people know what we do, and stuff. Then we are working on starting to have like assemblies at schools, at a high school. The students really have bad habits with drugs, stealing, drinking and all sorts of crap, so we are kind of trying to get through the kids to get to the parents, with the strength for the youth. All the schools would really be willing to have us come cause it is a serious problem. So are working on coordinating that and other things. Here in Chatsworth you can’t just go and knock on doors and try and be successful it’s not that easy, kinda have to think outside the box. So that is what we are trying we are still knocking and stuff but just trying to get some other good finding ideas and stuff so I will let you know how that goes. The last recent convert that was baptized that is now active was 10 years ago!!! And that is the Bishop!! We get fed quite a bit which is nice, I have had so many different types of food on my mission, and right now I am eating all Indian food which it is quite nice. But yeah that is pretty much how the week went it sounds like you are having fun with Anna and Shawn, I am so excited to talk on Christmas it is much better then emailing anyway have a good week Love you! 

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

October 22


 Mom!! 
You are pretty funny, I forgot what I said in my email last week, I was about to punch the computer screen!! I could totally see you guys doing it, that is the thing!! (I told him we went to the 49ers game in San Francisco because of his last email about the cruise.)I am glad that you were able to spend a lot of time up with Shawn and Anna. I bet that was hard leaving them again. That is what is hard about vacation. You never want to go back home, well at least that is always how I feel!! Now you’re back to normal life again!  I already told you details about my new area!! Everyone is Indian and Hindu! They all have huge dogs, and they try and bite your hands off. These dogs are seriously scary cause there is so much crime, and stealing here that everyone has a guard dog that sits behind the gate all day and if it opens, then sorry to the person that is by it. People get bitten by dogs all the time, so that is my worst fear right now!! Well it’s not really like Ghana most of the houses here are just for 2 missionaries. Which makes it really lonely, but there is a lot less of goofing around at least since of Lemor, me and him used to have so much fun at night. Now I usually just study the scriptures and stuff, so that has been really good for me! I have grown so much more since I have been in this mission.  The spirit really has testified to me that this is where I need to be especially when I was at the doctor’s office. The spirit is something I just cherish now, it guides me and protects me every day, I am so grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Something I really have learned on my mission is setting goals, and improving on the bad! One thing I really like about myself is I dunno if I was this way at home but I am now. I know you would probably make fun of me if I didn’t say that. Anyway, I am always striving to improve; nothing is ever good enough for me. Well the way I am. I always want to become better, and that is what life is all about improving while we have this short period of time in mortality. We all need to become better each day and become more like Christ even tho the world gets hectic we really need to improve and not go back!! Well right now we are visiting with a family of less actives the father has 5 kids and they all have kids and they are all less active. Like 16 of them,. so pretty much half of the ward. But they got really offended with someone in the church. But they might be! But I received two packages!! One from Shelly or whatever and from you they were awesome!! I don’t really miss anything too much, so everything that you send is good, thank you so much! But we drive about 30 to 40 miles each day. The area is pretty spread out it’s, probably like the whole Centerville maybe little bit more I dunno! But the family in Ghana is going to be baptized this Sunday I am so excited for them. And also the other family was already baptized and Morrison! So that was pretty good to hear!! Well I am doing well, I don’t really like to email! So sorry if my emails are boring it’s much easier to call, and then you can just answer all your questions! But anyways love you!! Have good week!

Friday, October 5, 2012

New Mission

Elder Francom has been transfered because for medical reasons to the Durban South Africa Mission.
Keep him in your prayers. He was sad to leave Ghana, but he is adjusting well and has a good attitude as always!

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

September 24


Mother Dear,
Well i hope that you had a good week!!! I had an okay week, i am super happy about the news! I DID NOT WANT TO COME TO THE USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would have gone anywhere, but this is a huge blessing. So this is going to be a huge change. I am going to paradise!!! They have McDonalds!!!!!!!!!!! That is all that i need!! I don’t have to eat rice and stew and fufu with monkey every day anymore!! I am excited for the change I think this is really going to make me a better person!! I know that everything is done in the Wisdom of God. This is his work Mom, don’t doubt that he knows exactly what he is doing. Honestly as hard as trials are, they are for our benefit. Through the trials back at home, it has taught me so much! I wouldn’t be here today if I didn’t go through them and life was just easy. So when times are the hardest make sure you rely upon our Heavenly Father Mom. That is when he is going to be there for us, especially when we get what we need out of the trial.  I am doing well, its been a hard week saying good bye honestly I just kind have not let myself think about it to much  and I haven’t told to many people cause its to hard leaving these people so a lot of people I am just leaving without saying goodbye. But we’ll have a chance a again to meet. I know. One of my recent converts in my first area  is probably going to get married again. I am so happy for him, he is going to bring the lady into the church before he marries her though. They have told me he is one of the most solid members in the branch that he comes every single week. So that always makes your day when you here those type of things. Tomorrow Ihave to say good bye to some of the families and members cause I will be leaving early Wednesday to Kumasi and won’t be back. I am going with the aps for 3 days. Joel and his family are so sad they couldn’t even believe it. It is amazing to see what has happened to that family especially his father, who just loves coming to church now and has become such a better person in just three weeks!!! Oh yeah the mission president called me this week, and asked if I knew how to drive, I said yeah. Then he was like okay good the new mission president plans on having you drive as soon as you get there, so, most likely I will be having a car!!!! That will be really sweet. hahah all of this walking everywhere on dirt roads now to have a car. I heard they drive on the left side of the road, and the cars are stick so the driver side is on the right hand side which means you will have to shift with your left hand so I will have to try and get used to that one. I am glad that you are doing well, and are having fun with Anna and Shawn that will be sad to have them leave. It will be hard mom I will be praying for you so hard. Keep busy in life and hang in there I will only be away from home for 1 year more then you will have your best friend back at home!  Rely upon our Heavenly Father, they know what we go through, Christ suffered for all of our afflictions troubles pains and everything, he knows how to help us I promise you that one! So keep doing well, I am going to south africa for a reason, this is not my work but the Lords, it will make me the person I need to become! Have a good week Love you!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

August 27


Mother,
Hello, how are you doing this week? That is good that you met Elder Smith!! He is so sweet I love him; I hope that he is doing well.But anyways I am glad that you were able to get to see him and know him some. How long did he stay at the house for? It’s true I used to have a big bucket full of food. Now I just have a bag hahah. I still have a lot but not as much as I used to. He is such a nice an awesome guy. As you can see I’m still a crazy guy sometimes. I really have changed a lot and am loving my time here. This week they split the branch where I am at. So now they are having two branches in Obuasi. We are going to get to open the new branch when they find a building but until then we will still be in he same place. President took us out for dinner at this really nice place it was awesome!! I love the president and the Zolls. One of the branch members just went to the mtc he is there with Elder Hintze, the member emailed me and sent a picture of all of them. He is looking like he is doing well. So everything is going really well. I will now share some experiences I had this week. So this week was the most spiritual week of my life. I have worked really hard on my mission but this week we worked extra hard we stepped up to a new level. I don’t know something really changed in me my whole mission I have tried to become better each week. But this week it was different I really was determined to have an awesome week, and become better. These last couple of weeks I have read my patriartical blessing everyday. I have a lot of blessings that it promises if I am faithful will come out of my mission. I felt as some of them haven’t really happened yet.  Like I said last week to be extra ordinary you have to do things extraordinary or prepare that way or practice that way. The spirit really touched me and helped to know these things will all come to pass I just need to make it happen and allow them to happen. So it all changed on Monday. I cleaned everything. I folded everything and just cleaned up my whole place. Then it went on to Tuesday. I had one of the best personal study times I have had my whole mission. So that all led in to the whole week. We were exact obedient to the T. We were teaching seven lessons a day, getting 10 numbers a day of new investigators. It was funny one night my companion was so happy we were just rejoicing for help that God has given us this week. We were walking home and it was dark he was singing I think called to serve loud and like snapping and dancing it was funny these guys probably thought we were crazy.  we were seriously so happy, and full of the spirit of God. The whole week it was like this just happy as ever, knowing that God is blessing so much and it wasn’t us doing this but we were instruments in the hand of God. Then something happened Friday. We had scheduled 8 appointments that day. That morning I was by six like always and we did a hard leg work out and I was just dead tired. Well that day everyone failed us but 2 people, what a crappy day it was we were trying to walk around and to contact but we were just so tired. It was a rough day. I wondered why this would happen. We being exact obedient missionaries and still all these people are failing us. After being a little angry and impatient I realized this is happening for a reason. I needed to know why this trial had come. God gives us trials to make us strong. Sometimes are disobedience brings us trials too. But for this we were being obedient. So really thought that whole night why. I didn’t get it. The next morning something hit me and I knew exactly why that happened. I really learned a strong lesson out of this that morning. It changed my attitude again I was full of the spirit and ready to go out and work. We were seeing my favorite investigator we just contacted. His name is David he just finished college is very humble and smart. I have been praying for him hard to be touched by the spirit. Well this day a miracle happened. One thing I know is when you are exact obedient miracles happen. WE were teaching him about God and Christ and his baptism. We were teaching him the spirit was so strong bearing testimony and you could see that he was feeling the spirit. All of the sudden I look and one our members, was down where we are. I asked him to come and sit with us and help us teach. He came and heard our teachings and was like wait elder francom I want to bear testimony. So he did and it was strong and David really felt the spirit that day, later that lesson we invited him to church. Then after we invited him to be baptized. He accepted both. I know if we keep our faith he will progress and with the help of our heavenly father he will be baptized. The crazy story about the member is he lives 7 miles away from where we were. He was waiting around for his interview which was coming in about 2 hours at church. But the place we were wasn’t even close to the church and we were in a corner, in this house which is in the middle of nowhere. It was truly a miracle God really blessed us that day and if I wouldn’t have learned that wonderful lesson it wouldn’t have happened. The member used to be a catholic to so he bore testimony about that. David came to church and loved it. We are just praying and hoping he will continue to exercise his faith. I know God is with us when we are obedient especially when we are exact obedient. I had the most spiritual week of my life. It was amazing. The church is true and I am sorry this email was so long but I hope you understand how powerful of an experience it was. God truly led that man to us. We never called him or anything that was the first time he said he has ever been to that place before. Well anyways I love you all!!! Thank you for everything I haven’t got the package yet but I might get it tonight when we go to Kumasi.

Monday, August 20, 2012

August 20


Mother,
Mom how are you doing? How are school preparations going? How is traveling the world without me? I am doing well, things are going good.   I always play Come Thou Fount on my music player Sue sent me, I love that song. I am happy that you were able to go to Elder Briggs homecoming, He is a sweet guy. It was funny Elder Smith emailed me this week. He sent two pictures. One was with him hugging a white girl, the other one was of a plate with steak and mash potatoes and stuff. I was laughing pretty hard. Elder Hernandez is definitely the funniest guy on my mission. He didn’t tell you any of the funny stories we had together? My area is about 2 to 2 and half hours away from the mission home. It’s the second farthest area away.  So I am training a Ghanaian. He is awesome his name is Elder Appiah. He is a nice and humble guy.  It’s funny he lives like 2 hours from the area we are in now. He has already seen one of his friends and he saw his mother. She was riding away in a car but he got to say hi to her. So I got the packages from you and Cindy! They were all really nice and loved them and appreciate them. Tell Cindy thanks.   So things are still going, some are tough some are sweet. One thing I know that is very true though, is when you are going through trials and hard times it’s when you are closest to our Heavenly Father. He doesn’t just leave me alone. All though sometimes I just have to get through things by myself to test my faith, but at the end it strengthens me and helps me to grow. One other thing I was thinking about a lot this week too is, in order to be extra ordinary in anything you do, you have to do something extra ordinary. When you see missionaries come back home some have changed a lot and some changed small and some not at all. I thought when I came that mission was just going to change me and my life. But as a song says, change doesn’t start with the letter C it starts with me. Anyway in order for me to grow up and be extra ordinary it starts with me to do something extra ordinary. I have to work at it all I can to change, change just won’t happen. Anyway I am working on becoming the best missionary, man, and future father I can be. It’s going to be me, and how dedicated I am will be what I am. I thank you for everything. I love you mom. Have an awesome week!!!


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