February 23, 2015

This past week has been such a great week. Last week I mentioned that as a mission we had a goal of setting 250 baptismal dates throughout the mission. With a lot of hard work and faith the Lord allowed us and blessed us to reach our goal and then some. We are thrilled as a mission and are happy to work with those who have fechas!

A lot happened this past week. I would have to say that it was definitely the best week Elder Wiley and I have seen together. We feel so blessed. 

This past week a lot happened, but the best part was for sure meeting with our sweet investigator and her two sons. They are doing so well and progressing so much for their baptism. She should be baptized this upcoming Sunday; we are hoping that her sons follow her example as well. They are all so prepared.

Some of the highlights from our lessons with them this week:

Every time we went over she was always doing something, whether it be cleaning or packing the house up, for their move. Every time we went over she was listening to the Book of Mormon on her phone. She loves the app from the church.

On Friday when we met with her, she told us that the previous night (right after teaching about the Word of Wisdom) a friend came over and gave her a big bag of coffee mints. She just laughed and told her friend gratefully that she was all right. The following morning a friend she hadn´t talked to in awhile invited her to coffee. She went and ordered chocolate milk. Her friend asked her what she was doing and she just laughed. After she told us, grinning ear to ear... "I got more chocolate milk anyway" haha

This past weekend we had stake conference. After the meeting she wanted to go up and meet the Stake President, President Deere, and Elder Obando (Area 70). She was so happy and they all made her feel like an all star. It was so nice. Midway through talking to Elder Obando, she excitedly cut him off and said, "me bautizo el día 1 de marzo". She is so excited.

We are so happy for her, and grateful for her progress. Thank you for all of your prayers.

I love you all.

Elder Farrell

February 16, 2015

Hello and Happy Pday fam! This past week was a pretty good week. We had a longer week, but we were blessed to meet with our investigator and her sons a couple of times, which made it all worth it. 

It started on Wednesday when we went by to visit with them. In the morning we dedicated our studies to making baptismal calendars to help them focus and prepare for the 28th of this month. They turned out really well and before our lesson was over the 11 year old had already hung his calendar up on the wall. Bless their hearts. 

On Saturday we were able to meet with them again and to read with them from 2 Nephi 31 about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They loved it and understood the clarity of the path they need to take. Our investigator told us that her son is always asking her if they can read together from the Book of Mormon.

We were so happy to see her at church yesterday. She loved it and made so many friends. I don´t think a smile left her face. I am so grateful for the members that went out of their way to make her feel welcome. Those are good members. That is what each of us should do whenever there is an unfamiliar face. I know it is different in Utah. But it still happens;) It was sweet, during Sacrament meeting, they announced a primary activity for the 28th of Feb. and she leaned over "That is when I am getting baptized though!"  We explained that it would be for the evening. Bless her heart. 

On Wednesday we had the neat opportunity to hear from Brad Wilcox here in  our zone. He shared a neat message on the children of the promise and what that really means. It really hit me hard and gave me a greater understanding of the 12 tribes.

This past week Elder Wiley and I were talking about the atonement and the crucial importance it has for each one of us. We compared it to a basketball game. If we didn´t have the atonement it would be like playing a basketball game to 100. The only thing is, if you messed up and missed a basket, you lost the game, but still had to play to 100. That analogy really helped me realize how crucial the atonement is and how much hope it gives us. . . even when we "miss the basket". 

I am so grateful for the atonement.

I love you all, have the best week!

Elder Farrell

February 9, 2015

Concilio February 3, 2015

Well, Happy Valentines Day to all my family, friends, and loved ones! 

This past week was another quick one full of miracles and growth. I think that is what I am most grateful for out here on the mission - the opportunity to learn and grow.

This past week was a busy one with Concilio on Monday and Tuesday, a meeting with President Deere and Anta on Wednesday, Zone Meeting and Interviews with President on Friday, and Intercambios until Saturday. To say the least, the week flew by and with the time we had to work we were blessed with miracles.

This past week we had very little contact with P. It was frustrating but on Saturday we were finally able to get in touch and meet with her. It turns out this whole week she has been trying to find a new place to live. Like I mentioned last week, she is receiving so much opposition right now. She is still progressing and wants to meet with us. While we were there we found out that she has two sons.  She told them that she had been meeting with us and that her father was a member. She is so excited for them to meet with us as well and we are praying that we can teach this message to the whole family. We invited her to church on Sunday and were able to show her around the church. She loved it and felt the spirit so strongly and we showed her the paintings of the first vision, when Christ visited the Americas, the Madrid Temple and all of the others. She got pretty emotional as we showed her the baptismal font. As she was leaving she began tearing up. "Everyone seems to get along here. It is so peaceful. I don´t understand how we can leave such a noisy world behind just by entering the doors." That is all it takes. We are looking forward to meeting with her more frequently this week and inviting her children to be baptized with her.

On Saturday we were able to meet with E again. This time her brother was there and so we invited him to listen to our message. We had planned to teach the message of the Restoration and the spirit was so strong. After the lesson, we were able to invite them to baptism and they accepted for the 28 of February. In his closing prayer her brother said "Father, I feel like these things are true in my heart, please help me to know that these things are true so that I can be ready for my baptism on the 28th" I am grateful for prayer and for a Father in Heaven that listens.

These are just a few of the many blessings we received this past week. We make a lot of mistakes, but for some reason the Lord continues to bless us. His work is always on the forward march. 

I love you all.

Elder Farrell

February 2, 2015

Well dear family another quick week, month, and fast Sunday behind us. Time is going quick! It was so great to hear from you and to hear all is well. I am continually impressed by the lives you lead. I know that it is because of the principles of the gospel in our lives that bless us so richly. We are so very blessed.

This past week Elder Wiley and I had a very good and FAST week. It feels like I was literally just writing. So a little follow up. Last week I mentioned that we as a mission had our Diamond day. We set the goal of finding 2015 new names and we as a mission after a long day of work were able to find 2426. The Lord really blessed us. Now we just need to be diligent on following up and finding those that are really prepared. We have already seen miracles from this day.

Near the end of the day, Elder Wiley and I were so tired. It was cold and dark, and at this point we were really desiring to finish up the day. As we were heading home we were able to talk to a mother who was out with her child. We were able to talk to them in the street, and it turns out that they had actually had a previous connection to the church and had a positive experience. We were able to set up a cita on Saturday and pass by and meet with them. It turns out that she lives there with her husband, son, brother, and mother.  The funny thing is that they lived just 2 stories above our bishops home. That is a good lesson. We never know who lives around us who might be prepared to hear the message of the restoration. We always need to pray for opportunities, keep our eyes open and then ACT. The lesson went well and the spirit was so strong. She asked us, crying, which church is true. We are so excited to follow up and visit with her again this week.

The most exciting part of the week was easily our cita with P. She works a lot, so it is hard to meet. But every time we do, it is so incredible and the spirit is so strong. This past Wednesday we were able to meet with her and teach her the lesson of the Restoration. The first thing she asked us was "Which of all of the churches is true" we as missionaries obviously love that question, and are always able to respond with certainty. We continued teaching her the lesson and shared with her the story of Joseph Smith and how the Book of Mormon came to be. She was leaning on her knees the whole time. She felt the spirit so strongly and felt that her story was very similar to that of the Prophet being that her mother was of one religion and her father another. When we presented her with her Book of Mormon, she literally jumped out of her chair and was shaking she was so excited. Her explanation was "I don´t take gifts well" haha it was sweet. After the lesson she did not want to leave, she wanted to read from 3 Ne 11. We invited her to record her impressions in a journal so that she didn´t forget the strong spirit she had felt. After the lesson she mentioned that she had dropped coffee and had replaced it with Aquarius (Gatoradelike drink) She also shared a really special dream that she had of us. It was a very special lesson and week to say the least. 

We are excited to see what this next week brings. Please keep her in your prayers, it is crazy how much opposition she is receiving. 

I love you all. Have a wonderful week!

Elder Farrell

January 26, 2015

Dear family and friends. It was so great to hear from you this week, like always. I told my mom that I feel like I am just as excited as ever for Monday to roll around so that I can hear from all of you! Thank you for all of your support and updates. Bless all of you.

This past week was a fairly good week for Elder Wiley and I. We felt that we were busy all week, which is always a good sign as a missionary. Once again, this area is huge!! We spend a lot of time on the bus, so one of our focuses right now is to really open our mouths and talk to everybody. This Wednesday we have a día de diamonte (diamond day) where we have a goal of receiving 2015 or more new names so that we can continue seeing miracles and sharing this message. We are looking forward to it. We will be working with the other Elders here in Sevilla. Dean and Day.

This past week we started strong with a great lesson. Usually every Monday evening Elder Wiley and I head to a pueblo just outside of this area to work with some recent converts. It is two families from Bolivia, and I love them so much. This past week we shared a lesson on Moroni and the Title of Liberty. We were able to discuss why they did it then, and the importance to do it NOW. On a ripped up white shirt we were able to write the reasons why we are fighting today. It was a special lesson; I feel like we all really learned a lot from it. They are hanging their Title up on their wall. El Estandarte de Libertad.

This past week we also were able to meet with P. The spirit was there and she really is progressing. I know that this message is the life style and strength that she has been looking for.

Right now we are also working with a menos activo YM. Every week Elder Wiley and I go over to his house for an hour or so to teach him English. He is such a good kid, and has the cutest little brother. He likes punching us.. haha I enjoyed sitting by them at church yesterday. The little guy did not stop handing me his toys. It sure made the meeting go fast! We shared with him For the Strength of Youth. That is such an inspired pamphlet. It doesn´t matter what age we are, those principles apply to making our lives happier.

This morning I listened to a fireside with Elder Wiley - The importance of having purpose in our lives, and real intentions - It is all in the daily discipline. 

I love you all!

Elder Farrell