April 27, 2015

Dear family and friends,

Well, this past week was a good one. It was a little bit more difficult with the famous feria here, but it ended well with a lot of blessings and miracles.

The highlights of this week,

On Wednesday after District meeting, we were able to head to the feria as a District. We only went for about an hour 1) Because it was so hot, 2) We only had a short amount of time. It was really fun to see though.

Besides working hard, the obvious highlight of the week was with the sweet family here. I sure love them so much. On Saturday morning we went over to have our weekly cita. We were surprised and excited to see that the mother was there also and really wanted to hear from us. We were able to teach about the Book of Mormon, and gift her one. It was sweet to see her over in her corner reading it on her own. Anyways, after the lesson, they mentioned that they need to have us over for Papusas. It turns out that they invited us for that night. We were able to go back, enjoy papusa and also meet their other sister that lives nearby. I love that family. We had a good night full of laughs, papusas and a nice message. We were able to invite them all to church. 

Yesterday was very special. [A] was confirmed a member of the church and was also ordained to the Aaronic priesthood. He is going to do so many great things.

Anyways, we are excited to see what this week brings.

I love you all.

Elder Farrell

Feria - (April Fair)

P-day in Córdoba April 20, 2015

    

April 20, 2015

This past week was a busy one, but it ended perfectly. Yesterday we were blessed to participate in the Baptism of [our investigator]. It was so so neat to be able to watch all of his progress over the past 3 months. He was so prepared, and was so happy for this day. His family members came to support him, which was so sweet. It is so neat to see him adapt and be involved in the ward. The young single adults already love him. I am grateful for this work, and for the great friends I have met along the way. I love you all.

Elder Farrell

April 13, 2015

District

Dear family and friends. Thank you for the nice emails and for the continual support. I sure love you all! This past week was a really good week for Elder Quispe and I. The best one we have had together. This past weekend, we received transfer calls and it turns out that I will be staying here for at least 6 more weeks! I am so excited!

This past week we saw a lot of blessing and miracles.

I have written a lot about our investigator these past few months. It turns out that this past week we met with him with a purpose in our mind and in our hearts. (That is a big President Deere phrase). We asked him to pray about a definitive baptismal date and then to act. On Saturday we met with him again and he told us that this next Sunday he knows he needs to be baptized. He and his sister have been listening to us for a few months now, but he decided that he wasn´t going to wait anymore. He came to church with us yesterday and told all of the members about his baptism next Sunday. He is really excited. The young single adults have helped so much with him and his progress. He is such a good kid. Once again... I wish you could all meet him!

This past week we were also blessed to find an incredible family of four. They were a reference from some of the other Elders investigators. We were able to go out to their pueblo and visit them on Saturday. We invited them to church and they said that they would put forth a valiant effort to try to make it the next day. As Elder Quispe and I were walking through the church, he looked into the Relief Society... and there they were, the mother and two daughters. After pulling them out and going to sacrament meeting, they told us, "We loved that! We will definitely be here next week. Please come visit us this week. Any night." I don´t think there is a better thing to hear as a missionary... ha

Speaking of the young single adults, last night we had a very impressive meeting with their leaders. They are putting forth an effort to reach out to their friends that have left. I was very impressed by their concern and love. It made me want to be better and to apply all of these things throughout my life. 

Anyways, I love you all so so much. Have the best week!

Elder Farrell

Barcelona vs. Sevilla 2-2

April 6, 2015

Elders Adamson, Allsop, Rasmussen, Farrell

I am trying to think of the things that happened this week to write in a big letter home... haha but I can´t remember anything. (I forgot my agenda)

I do know that we began the week in Málaga for concilio. This past concilio was so special - it was my favorite one yet. I am so grateful for this time of year and for this time of my misión. I truly feel so blessed.

Apart from concilio and General Conference, which I LOVED, Elder Quispe and I had a big week with the focus on finding. We were blessed with many miracles and are really excited for this upcoming week. We are hoping that this week we will be able to visit with them again.

Like I mentioned, conference was so incredible. I loved all of it and am looking forward to re-reading the talks and really feast upon them. Our brother investigator was able to come, which we were so excited about. He is a good kid. He continues to progress.

We will have transfer calls again this week, so I will keep you posted on what happens. Hopefully I can stay here to finish out the misión. We will see.

I am so very grateful for all of you and for your continual support. I love you all!!

Elder Farrell

(sorry this is a boring note. It was a good week, I really just can´t remember;))

Concilio

March 30, 2015 - Happy Easter and General Conference

Hello there family and friends, what a special week we have ahead of us. I am so grateful for the opportunity that we have to listen to the Prophet speak. We are truly so blessed. I am also so grateful for Easter and for the true meaning of it. May we all remember the true importance of Easter. It is such a privilege to be a full time missionary of the Lord and testify that He LIVES. I am grateful for that knowledge.

This past week was another very quick one. I know I have said it my whole mission, but it continues to be true. E. Quispe and I have been working really hard to find new people. That is key to missionary work, nothing happens in the work until you find people to teach. Also... it is a lot better to find people when you and your companion get along. I sure love Elder Quispe.

A couple quick updates from the week.

Our sister investigator didn´t end up getting baptized yesterday, but she continues to prepare herself and is so excited. It truly is humbling to see her desire. She is receiving some opposition, which is tough but we know that the Lord will provide a way. Please keep her and her husband in your prayers that he may understand. 

On Friday Elder Quispe and I had a neat experience. Each month we have a noche de hogar de barrio here. We ended up going to the church a bit early to help a member and her friend with English. It turns out that this was the member’s friend´s first time in the church. After teaching English we were able to take her on a tour of the church and invite her to the activity. The member was stunned at how much her friend enjoyed being there. Yesterday at church she came up to me crying and said, "We have been friends our whole lives, I never knew she would be interested. I feel so bad for waiting so long" We helped her understand that she did a great job and that it is never too late. Bless her heart. I learned a great lesson though. We never know who is prepared. It is never too late to share the gospel with a neighbor, loved one, or friend. It brings the greatest of happiness.

It is really warming up here. We reached 97º on Saturday.

Once again I love you all and pray that you may be inspired from conference. President Deere challenged each of us to find two things from conference and ACT. There is so much power in action. I feel like if we all do it, we will all be the winners.

Have a wonderful week,

Elder Farrell