September 2, 2013 - Last Day at the MTC

Right now we are just doing some last minute items at the MTC. I just finished packing my bags and getting my room cleaned up which was so weird . . . just yesterday I was unpacking . . . that is how the mission is going to go! It is a bittersweet time here at the MTC- comparable to the end of the school year. We are all so excited to go get to work, but sad to leave the friends we have made! The rest of the night we are packing, eating DOMINOS and KFC, then having a testimony meeting. My alarm is set for 4 40 tomorrow morning so I can get up, showered, and ready. At 5 45 our bags need to be loaded onto the bus and we head to the bullet train which departs at 7. I hear it is about a 3 hour train ride, so we will see how that goes. I don´t really know what to expect, but I couldn´t be more excited to get to Málaga, meet President Deere, my companion, and begin serving my mission. Time is flying, and I am loving it more everyday. ¨We will be the Lord´s missionaries to bring the world His truth.¨ Tomorrow I will be doing just that! I love you all and pray for you everyday. This gospel is perfect. ¨Come what may, and love it.¨

Until next Monday!

Con Amor,

Élder Farrell

August 29, 2013 - Last Week at MTC

Madrid Temple - view from MTC

Well family, another week in the books from this most amazing time of my life! I am loving every day more and more, it is incredible how that works. It is so crazy that this is my last week and e-mail from the CCM! I leave to the field next Tuesday morning! I couldn´t be more excited and nervous to get to where I have been called to serve. Here we come President Deere. Here we come Málaga!! First of all thank you to everyone who wrote me letters this past week, once again, a definite highlight! Please keep writing, and I will try my best to send them back your way. Well another amazing week here at the CCM, I cannot believe it is already P day again... now I know why they say missions are a year and fifteen minutes. Here we go:

Thurs. After e-mailing time, all of the Málaga missionaries were taken to an instructional meeting about applying for residency... next week, I will be all over that! For our excursion we went to a mall, which was about a 45 minute bus ride away from the CCM. It was such a sweet mall! I was able to print off some pics, buy some European ties, and some scripture studying supplies. I am really starting to get settled in here, I love it! It was SO weird hearing American music!! I have decided that everyone wants to be American, even if they say they don´t... That night we watched one of the best devotionals I have ever seen: Characters of Christ by Elder Bednar. Please look it up! ¨Character: Moral qualities strongly developed, strikingly displayed, and consistently lived¨ Be like the Savior and rather than looking in, ¨turn out¨ towards others.

Fri. DOMINOS PIZZA!! Haha enough said. Today we had our first American meal, the comidor was silent! We had pizza to celebrate President and Sister Sitterud´s 43rd wedding anniversary. I love them. Haha... something funny, every time Elder Adamson, Allsop, or I see something American, we immediately put our hand directly on our heart. We love America, that is why we sing the National Anthem every morning is the showers. Mom this is for you: After pizza I looked down at my pants, and I had spilled grease all over them... I was convinced they were broken. BUT with the help of some Hermanas, they told me how to fix that... Yeah they are just fine;) I thought you would be proud.

Sat. Park day! This week I was partnered with Elder Morgan from Orem. We experienced some success and had some very neat experiences. We met with a sweet lady from Romania on the metro, a nice Spaniard gentleman in the park, and a teenager that was riding his bike. I pray they will come unto Christ and enjoy the fullness of this gospel.

Sun. We start every Sunday with Priesthood. President gave a great lesson that really got me excited for the field. During district meeting, we reflected on our families. I am so so so blessed to have the family I have. I am so grateful for the knowledge that I can be with you for time and all eternity. Two years is nothing. Sunday Night Devotional: ¨Don´t you Dare go Home¨ by Elder Holland. Enough said. He is such a powerful speaker; I love EVERYTHING he has to say! If you are going to say you are a disciple, you better have some evidence. You better spend some time in the garden for yourself”.  SALVATION DOES NOT COME CHEAP

Mon. Work hard, give it your all.  BBall is where it is at during exercise! My team is Elder Wison, Allsop, and Adamson. We do work.

Wed. I finished Our Heritage. That is such an incredible book, please read it!! I love reflecting on the history of this amazing gospel. The early saints sacrificed so much.  I also loved reading about the Prophets and how they lead their lives. Some themes I loved, ¨Lengthen your stride¨, ¨Do it¨, ¨Christ like living¨, ¨Forget yourself and get to work¨, ¨Carry On¨  - It is time to get to work!

Today is just a day to get work done! I packed a bag already, mom you would be so proud of me! Thank you Betsy for the packing advice, I think I will be helping the Elders the rest of the day;) I think I will be able to write again on Monday before I head out on Tuesday, but I am not sure, so please stay posted. I love you all so so much and pray for you daily!

This gospel is perfect.

Con Amor,

Élder Farrell

August 22, 2013 - Madrid Park - Elder Smith

The concentration on their faces! :)

Elder Farrell - Elder Smith - Elder Adamson

Semana 4-One Month!

I can´t believe I am already saying it, but I have been here one month! I am loving every single day even more, it is a privilege to be here in Spain. Thank you to everyone who has sent me letters -  those are always so nice to get and to hear everything that is going on back in the good old USA! Please keep sending e-mails, and handwritten letters, they help me out so much! Starting THIS Sunday, please send your handwritten letters to the Málaga mission home so they can be there when I arrive in just under a week and a half... crazy! I will use that address until I can give you the address to my first area. This week has not been extremely eventful, but I have learned so much and have had some pretty neat experiences.

Thurs. -  Last week for our P day, we went to the Prado, which is one of the biggest art museums in Europe. It was very large and very interesting. It was a cool thing to do, I just don´t need to go back for a while;) That night, we watched a devotional from Provo from Elder Scott on prayer. It was so good, it was EXACTLY what I needed to hear. There are three ways the Lord responds: 1) Peace, comfort, assurance 2)sense the unsettled, stupor of thought and 3) no response. I love the last because as Elder Scott put in, it means that the Lord trusts you in your decisions; such a good devotional.

Sat. -  Another day at the park! This week, I was matched up with Elder Josh Wilson from Logan - I have so much respect for him.

Sun. -  My favorite day of the week. I love Sundays because they are relaxing, yet we learn SO much! This week, my favorite couple spoke, the Giorginos. They are from Italy, and they are the cutest couple I have ever met! Hermano Giorgino spoke on becoming missionaries. He shared 1 Cor. 13:11 with us. I love that scripture. We are learning things that are eternal here; we can apply these principles for eternity. ¨"Nobody is perfect, but we must always do our best with a perfect purpose in mind."

Mon. -  Pres. Sitterud started the day off with an incredible devotional on boldness. This message is true; we must be bold with it. A couple of quotes, "For whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. For boldness has power, genius, and magic." "Overbearance is boldness without love" We have the best news on this world, share it!

On Wednesday, I saw Elder Tanner Smith!! It was the highlight of my week! We were up in the comidor when Elder Adamson came up to me and told me that he thought he saw Elder Smith outside on the Temple ground. I checked, and it was him!! I left my tray where it was in line, told Elder Burnett to grab my food for me, and then I ran down with Elder Adamson. Right when we made eye contact, he put his arms up in the air in triumph and ran at each other and embraced each other in a big hug! We talked for about twenty minutes. Steve and Maren, he looked and sounded SO great! It was so nice seeing him.

Today we are going to the mall, which is about an hour away. I hear it is comparable to City Creek, so I am excited for that. Tonight we are watching a devotional from Elder Bednar, Characters of Christ; I can´t wait.

I love this work with all of my heart, and can´t wait to hit the field in a week and a half. Here we come Málaga.

Élder Farrell

Madrid MTC Missionaries 'Onward Christian Soldiers' - August 18, 2013

Thank you to the Zimmermans for sharing these pictures and videos with missionary families!

August 15, 2013 - Real Madrid Stadium

I am more than half way done with my time here at the CCM! I cannot believe how fast time is flying! Days go by so fast here, I am loving it so much! I have so much to say, so I will get to work, and try to tell you all of the highlights.

Thurs. - Last P day was incredible! We did a morning session at the temple.  I honestly love this temple so much, and am learning so much each week. Later that day, we went to the Real Madrid Stadium. It was unreal!! I took a lot of pictures, so I will try sending them your way. We were able to see the panoramic view, club room, trophy room, presidential box, changing room, the players tunnel, and the press room. It was such a neat experience; I could feel the energy in that building.

Sat. - Our third visit to the park. I was matched up with Elder Sorenson (Elder Adamson´s comp).  We were blessed with an opportunity to talk to an older lady from Thailand for about an hour. I am grateful she could speak some English... because my Español is no bueno... yet;) The spirit was so strong when we were talking to her. This gospel is true. Every Saturday night, we have a testimony meeting to tell about our park experience. There was a quote I loved, ¨"Nobody was rejected more than Jesus Christ or Joseph Smith, if you are rejected, you are in good company."

Sundays are probably one of my favorite days here at the CCM. The spirit is so strong, and I learn so much! In sacrament meeting, two of the teachers spoke and I loved the message they shared.

Reach your full Potential

1-Take responsibility for who you are, and who you want to become

2-Stay focused, use your time wisely

3-Have courage to be different

4-Lose yourself in service

5-Keep your testimony burning bright

It doesn´t matter what stage of life we are in, if we apply these principles, we will be happy and be on our way to becoming the son´s and daughter´s that God intended us to be. Another quote that I loved, "Don´t live life missing things, you will get home from your mission, and miss your mission. Take advantage of every day and progress."

Mon-Elder Teixiera and his wife (The area 70) came and spoke to us.  They shared such a great message. Be bold, fear not, we are messengers of the Lord.

"It wouldn´t be called missionary WORK if it wasn´t hard"

Tue-Elder Schmidtlein and I had a great day, we are setting good goals for ourselves and learning so much. That night, my district had a little reflection time about home to rest our brains a little bit.

Wed-Elder Schmidtlein and I were released as Zone Leaders. I am grateful for the opportunity we had, and for the things we learned.  Elder Allsop and Elder Brownell were called for these last three weeks. I love them, they will do great. Good news, our investigators are progressing, and my Spanish is improving significantly. Oh and I decided to play basketball for exercise time because I am sick of not feeling athletic... at ALL in soccer;)

Today we went to the Temple again. I love it more every week. After our session, they took us on a tour. We were able to see the sealing rooms, the baptismal font, and a beautiful hall with a picture of Christ at the end with His arms out stretched. He is there for us. The spirit was so strong. Today for our excursion, we are going to the Prado, the second biggest art museum in the world. It should be neat.

 Élder Farrell

Real Madrid Stadium