Hejsan! - August 24, 2017

With my 3rd grade friend, Nathan Fales. He is going to Hungary

So much happened this week! As always! The first big event was getting flight plans! We leave the MTC on Monday the 28th at 3:30 AM. Then we drive to the SLC airport, call our families, and fly to JFK! We only have a one hour layover there until flying straight to Stockholm. It is hard to describe the excitement this district has felt over the past week!

Our clean room!

Our second perfect room inspection sheet!

We had two great devotionals over the past few days. On Sunday, we heard from the LDS music artist Kenneth Cope. He shared some interesting thoughts and some great music. He sang his EFY song "More" which was so fun for me because I have many happy memories listening to it at home with my older brother Ben! Brother Cope's message was focused on how much love our Heavenly Father has for us. 

P-day fun

The Tuesday Devotional was one I will never forget, given by Elder Weatherford Clayton of the Seventy! He recently spoke at General Conference and at my Stake Conference! I loved his message and his wife's message. One thing that they shared with us is that we all have something to contribute to the mission where we will be serving.

With good friend Elder Isaac Browning who is headed to London, England.

We just need to share the strengths we have and trust that we have been called there for a reason. I think that this is applicable to everyone, full time missionaries and member missionaries! We just need to give what we can and trust that our efforts will be of some help somehow.

This was the shortest month of my life! - August 17, 2017

What a great week! I will have been in the MTC for 30 days on Saturday! These 30 days have been full! Full of learning and growing, ups and downs. 

Great study area in T4, one of the new buildings

I will start off with Sunday. At the MTC, everyone prepares a sacrament talk in their mission language each week! For our branch, the topic this week was enduring to the end. After the sacrament was administered, one of the counselors in our branch presidency got up and announced that Elder Francis would be speaking! I felt a shock wave go over my body when I heard that but then calmed down. I was able to give the talk I had prepared and I felt calm doing it. It was a great experience for me. I know that when we are prepared, we have no need to fear. 

How is it Preparation Day Again? - August 10, 2017

Hello Again!!

Another great week at the Missionary Training Center! 

Probably the biggest highlight was Fast Sunday. Apparently, It was the first Fast Sunday in a long time that there was choir practice! The director said that he didn't think anyone would end up coming, but the bleachers still filled up! Choir practice is always a blast, but this one was memorable because the Spirit was so strong. Everyone there was fasting yet still willing to sing. We sang Sweet Hour of Prayer and learned of the amazing story behind the song. Basically, the lyrics were written by a man who had been blind for all of his life. Some people claimed that he had the whole Bible memorized and could quote any scripture he wanted to. This faithful man must have gone through a lot of hardship in his life because he was not able to see, but based on the song lyrics he found great solace in praying. I know that praying can truly "call us from a world of cares" and help us "escape the tempter's snare." 

Hallå! - August 3, 2017

Wow! Another week has flown by!

This week was similar to last week... We had language class, teaching investigators, eating, sleeping, studying, exercising, and all the rest! One new activity this week was called TRC. Elder Wayment and I went and taught two 20 minute lessons to people in Swedish. They were both members. We had a great time talking with them about diligence, one of the Christ like attributes from Preach My Gospel. Our message was simple. We shared D&C 58:26-29 with them. 

Another newish thing this week was that we no longer teach our original investigator, Gabriella. She turned into our second teacher Syster Eborn! Now we teach two investigators named Michaela and Nu! Elder Wayment and I are excited to improve our teaching skills as we learn more of the language and become more familiar with Preach My Gospel. We sing a hymn during each lesson and we have found that it really brings the Spirit! Even though the investigators aren't "real" we know that the lessons are good practice.

Hej hej! - Thursday, July 27, 2017

Elder Wayment and Elder Francis

Wow! I can't believe one week has already passed! The Missionary Training Center has already been a completely unbelievable experience. I arrived on Wednesday and my host Elder Whitehead took me around to pick up my tags, schedule, and a few other important papers. 

We dropped off my luggage in my residency, R8, and then went straight to class. Our teacher, Syster Adamson, spoke only Svenska! I was the third person there. Aldste Justin Butler was there, too. He is in my district! 

Our district has 6 elders: Aldste Wayment (my companion), Aldste Cummings, Aldste Bird, Aldste Steele, Aldste Butler, and myself. There are also 3 systers in our district: Syster Huxtable, Syster Cole, and Syster Bingham. We all have the same classroom. There is one other district of Swedish missionaries and they have their own classroom. 

Elder Francis and his good friend, Elder Butler, from Davis High School

All of the days here so far have had basically the same outline, so instead of sharing every detail I'll give a general overview. We wake up by 6:30 (or earlier just for more study time or to run) then get ready. We eat breakfast in this huge cafeteria then either head off for exercise or to class. We have lunch, have time to study (we usually study in the new buildings! 

We don't have class in them but they are SUPER NICE! There are scriptures all over the walls and huge murals depicting Alma the Younger, Joseph Smith, Moses, and others. We eat dinner and then usually have more class afterwards. On Tuesday, though, we had a devotional. It was by Elder Clarke. His message was pretty blunt and too the point. He encouraged us to set goals and to achieve them 100%.

On our second day here we started teaching our investigator Gabriella. We teach her in only Swedish! Aldste Wayment and I have learned a ton teaching her. We'll get better as we learn more Swedish but sometimes it is really tough! Our teacher speaks only Swedish in class and we have already learned so much! I know more Swedish than Chinese now and I took Chinese for two years!

Hej - Wednesday, July 19, 2017 - First Email from the MTC!

Good evening!

I'll get to the important stuff first...

My companion''s name is Elder Wayment. He is from Gilbert, Arizona. He is as tall as I am and he has blonde hair. We have gotten along really well and I am excited to get to know him more.

It was really organized when we got here. I got room keys, my tags, and other supplies. I have learned to say a few things in Svenska already. We had a great presentation by the mission president and counselors.

 My preparation day is on Thursday but we will not have one tomorrow. So I will email again then. Justin Butler is in the same classroom and bedroom as me! I will now go unpack and get some rest.

I love you all! Good luck at the Jamboree and with everything else.

Aldste Francis

Åldste Francis and Ældste Francis

Sam woke up early the Monday after he received his mission call and emailed back and forth with Ben for a bit.

On Mon, Mar 20, 2017 at 8:42 AM, Sam Francis <samueljosephfrancis@gmail.com> wrote:

I know so cool! Two days before I opened my call, I had a dream that I went to Sweden. I was sure I would go Chinese speaking somewhere, so I didn't even consider Stockholm!!! When I opened my call, I was shocked!!! Did you see the video?

2 other kids from Davis go the same day I do!!!! I actually know them both pretty well. Jace Callor and Justin Butler. I was on track with them both and Jace worked with us at Cherry Hill. Do you remember him?

I leave July 19!!!! The week after you come home!!!! I will see you, Ben!!!!

On Mon, Mar 20, 2017 at 8:45 AM, Benjamin Francis <benjamin.francis@myldsmail.net> wrote:

That is so great!! We are going to have a great week together before you leave. I don't remember Jace, but it has been a long time. Where is the Jepson boy going? Mama sent me a picture with both of you in it.

Danish and Swedish are quite similar, so it will be fun trying to talk to each other.

On Mon, Mar 20, 2017 at 1:46 AM Benjamin Francis <benjamin.francis@myldsmail.net> wrote:

I did see the video. It was amazing!