This is Elder Francom. He is one of my best friends I've made out here. He's super tall and so funny and just a blast to be with. Plus he's an incredibly talented musician. Please listen to some of his songs!
This week we had a giant ASL missionary Devo where they told us a little bit about how ASL missionaries can now be transferred between certain missions. Brother President Smith (my previous mission President) kinda gave the whole presentation so that was neat.
Then we made an Easter Video- start to finish in 1 day. Very stressful but luckily I have Indians and sister missionaries to help me.
On Easter Sunday we had lunch with a somewhat new-to-the-ward family, the Johnstons. In December she gave a talk about our Christmas gift to Jesus that had significantly struck me and helped me to take some steps I needed to. This lunch was kind of my first time ever talking with her so I let her know that her talk kinda changed my life.
She was a little shocked- she thought she did awful and was amazed I remembered anything or could have even learned anything.
I know that giving our sins and pains and frustrations to Jesus Christ is good! It's what we're supposed to do. It's at the top of his Christmas list. When we give our garbage and darkness to Jesus it shows that we trust him and that we love him. If we love Jesus enough to repent then naturally we will love him enough to be a true disciple. True repentance is how we come to know who the savior really is…and he wants us to know Him.
So. That was a really special moment. I'm glad I got to thank her.
I went on Exchange to the Chinese area. On our way out of my apartment some lady yelled at us to help her find her dog. So we did. We ran into an Indian couple who had the dog, told them we had just met the owner a few minutes ago and then led them to each other. Pretty cool miracle. Plus I spoke hindi to the couple and they almost gave up the ghost. We actually had a decent conversation! The exchange was actually so good. Elder Tien is a legend and he inspires me to be better.
We dropped some letters off to some sisters in the zone and we got there at just the right time. They had a service earlier where they got like over 3000 dollars worth of beauty products. So we each got a little goodie bag with all sorts of stuff. So now Elder Lewis and I both smell like women.
This week I read Esther, which means ‘star’ in Persian. It's a pretty neat story. One lesson I would share with you all is the foolishness of Haman. Haman was incredibly successful and had every reason to be happy and pleased with his life. However he decided to focus on everything that was wrong with his life-which was literally like…1 thing…Mordechai.
He let 1 person destroy his joy and peace….and ultimately….kill him.
You'll have to read the story, it's in….Esther.
Mordechai is kind of an example of the opposite. He was surrounded by non-jewish people who persecuted and hated him yet he never let go of his faith. Even when other Jews would bow to Haman-he never did. When the awful news was posted all around saying all jews would be destroyed- everybody just cries and mourns. Of course Mordechai does too- but he was the only to ACT. He strategically mourns outside the palace so he can start a series of messages to Esther. He gives Esther the charge to talk to King Thesaurus. (That part is a joke. You'll have to read it to see his real name)
Haman is killed.
Mordecai becomes the king's right hand man.
Basically, don't let small things that don't actually matter and that you can't control anyways bother you!
And when everything goes wrong and life is awful, do something, act with faith! Be wise and never give up.
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