Week of December 16th

Dear Mom,

Esta Bien si no habla espanol... My week was great! How was yours? We have to drive in the dark so I listen to the CD every night, but other than that we are on bikes the rest of the day. I really do hope that the house is bought so that you guys do not have to deal with it anymore! I can only imagine Bryn trying to swab Luna! That is a really cool project!(Bryn's science fair project) I am excited for Jordan and Trevor (told him I actually witnessed them on a date! ;) and for those Christmas presents! He recieves a lot more things than me (my companion) This is his last transfer in the mission so it is expected. I like the tree and I loved the cookies! We are teaching this girl named Josie she is a Less Active's girlfriend and she is slowly progressing. I love Pampa a lot more than Spearman, the members are awesome and Active here! There are a lot of Baptists here who think they know their stuff but that should be expected. I really do hope the restaurant opens soon! I get 1 hour to skype with you guys!

I saw the Jurassic World trailer at a less actives house and you guys better buy that DVD when it comes out! I am staying in Pampa another transfer! We got antied for the wierdest thing because we believed that Adam and Eve were the first people on earth and that Eve wasn't an adulteress??? I honestly have no clue but I am assuming the guy was crazy. I love the spanish members here because I can always count on them to help us out with lessons whereas the white members seem to be more "busy" They also bear the most sincere and sweet testimonies! I love them to death!

Anyways, I hope all goes well and I will write you guys tuesday and skype you guys thursday!

Love, Elder Farley

I LOVE THIS YOUNG MAN!!

December 8th

Dear Mom,

First off, I answered Caden back, he just hasn't emailed me ever again. I am doing great, not so many things happened this week too interesting. Christmas is coming up so that is awesome! Thanksgiving was awesome! Emails are preferred but it is your choice, I am fine with both. Have you seen the He is The Gift video? It is a really great video! I encourage you to watch it side by side with Because of Him. I Love the Redeemer CD! My favorites are Pilate's Wife and What manner of man is this. Very interesting sides of view that aren't really touched on. My least favorites are John's Song and He is Risen. John's is too gospelly for me and He is risen is sort ove cheesy but the rest of it I love! He is coming is good, What a Saint Should Be is awesome! Blind is ok, Apostles is cool, and David Archuleta's is awesome!

Yes I sadly do need another one because I did not do anything to have broken it, it just stopped working so that was dumb! A MP3 player with the scroll option is preferred. Well I guess if we are moving than I will just go to both wards maybe? At least it is still in Huntsville! Please do not lose my stuff while you are moving... Speaking of which, have you managed to find the Letter for Sadie that you guys misplaced? Because of preparations for winter and repairs I have run out of money but I won't ask for money until I absolutely need it so don't worry until then. I will send a letter if I can but first I have to please the Grandparents.

I have just been helping with getting Pampa ready for Christmas so that should go really smoothly hopefully!

Love you guys and I wish the best!

Elder Farley

Dear Mom,

I am excited for my first Thanksgiving on the mission! It is super cold here too! In Utah there isn't as much wind as in the panhandle! That is really awesome and I am so proud of the girls!(Soccer) You should really send that Album to me for Christmas!(Nashville Tribute to Jesus Christ - Redeemer) That sounds really cool! Our plan is to eat dinner at a members house and go to this ward function called the Turkey Bowl where the ward plays football so that should be really fun! And I honestly do not really know what I need for Christmas, maybe more ties, a French to English Dictionary and a How to speak french book, and letters from everyone in the family as well as Hyrum. We are teaching this girl named Josie who is a Less Actives girlfriend and she is doing well and reading so that is good.

That sounds like a really fun game! I should definitely try that! (Rollick) That would be weird to go back to a new house but if you do move, MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT MY BOX OF STUFF I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IS NOT LOST OR DAMAGED POR FAVOR! I don't want to turn out like the RM in the movie haha! I will be skyping you guys on Christmas! So what happened this week is that I am learning French again with the French Book of Mormon because there are French Immigrants in a nearby town that I could possibly get sent to so I don't want to be caught off guard, I am also learning Sign Language because there is a member who can't speak so he speaks using sign language. We taught this lady named Summer the Atonement because she is going through hard times and she cried and was definitely touched by our lesson. There is also something called the HE IS THE GIFT Initiative which is a Christmas way for missionary work! It should get a lot more interested people for sure! I also ran into a Guatemalan Bishop Yesterday who knows Elder Young in Quelzaltanango! so I got a picture with him and sent it his way! Then while we were teaching a 10 year old kid he said that people keep antiing him for his LDS beliefs, that just made me sick that people would target them so young! Dennis got baptized so I now have my first baptism so I am excited!

So how is everyone doing? I hope all is well! Love all of you guys and wish the best!

Love,

Elder Farley

Short but sweet!

Dear Mom,

I will definitely keep you guys in my prayers! That sounds like a really awesome Family Home Evening! Pampa is going well, Members are feeding us and taking care of us. We are having a great time here, It snowed and they cancelled church and I was like WHAT A BUNCH OF PEE-WEES!!!!! (It only snowed 3 inches!) We love to go to Hastings and play the "Who can find the most appropriate music game" Haha did you tell the boys to write me? We are having a great time and I have seen a lot of miracles with Less Actives coming! Plus I have the potential to learn ASL, French, and Italian along with my Spanish as there is this deaf less active, and there are french immigrants in Dumas which is nearby. Tell everyone that I love them and wish the best! Sorry it is so short! I forgot my journal and I am forgetting a lot! But I promise it will be better next week! By the way, I love you guys so much and thanks for the great example even if I wasn't the best son. Love you bunches!!!!  Para Siempre Dios estoy con voz!

Love,

Elder Farley

Week of Nov.10th - New area Pampa

Dear Mom,

I am loving Pampa and I am having a blast with my companion Elder Barnett, he is from Connecticut and he is just like me haha except not as crazy and he doesn't hunt. 

I am not going to lie I am a little agitated that my letter to Sadie was lost... Just have her send me her e-mail and I will write her on the computer. That is good that Brie loves them, I love hearing from her too! The boys need to write me so I can write a good letter back to them. I am not hearing from any of my grandparents. Tell Grandpa I will make my rightful claim on them (great grandpa's guns) when I get back haha. 

I hope Dalton progresses too!(This is his investigator who lost his wife in a car accident)

Don't worry, I write in my journal every night! I love studying the scriptures a lot! I haven't run into many pastors in Pampa so that is good! Texas is beautiful in it's own way (especially sunsets!) and Luna is just so excited that she gets to go into the mountains haha! I am glad that Caden could get back in touch with Dexter.

 I heard that the senate finally got cleaned out of all of it's filth (I wish :)and Obama is nearly helpless in regards to political power. That is a huge blessing for once!

Pampa is a cool city, I like how it has rolling hills instead of just flatness.

 I think that is a great idea for FHE, hey if you don't mind, next package you send include a THT craft if that is possible.

 I have obtained an Apocrypha and it is interesting, now I just need to find a Lectures on Faith and then I will have a complete library! Pampa also has a Farley Street which I claimed! We even have a new investigator on that street who is pretty legit, he asked us a question that led us to teaching the Plan of Salvation and he loved it. His name is Tom Granger. Some people have the idea that we worship Joseph Smith but they just don't want to listen to truth and that is fine I guess. This less-active named Mendell Garcia has Gold Coins that depict events from Christ's life that is worth 240,000 in american money! Then we taught this guy named George Davis where we read 1st Nephi 3 and he compared Lehi with Moses and he enjoys reading the Book of Mormon now!

I also have the potential to learn 5 languages on my mission, English, Spanish, French, Italian, and ASL. I had this 30 minute fluent conversation with someone from Honduras about Honduras so that was fun. I was asked to give a talk an hour before church started which I gave about how we can draw closer to our Heavenly Father and the Bishop said I did a really good job so I gained his trust there. Anyways I am really loving my mission and I hope to hear back! Love you!
Elder Farley
(The pictures below are his farewell to Spearman pictures.. unfortunately, I have no idea who any of them are!! Maybe he will clarify next week for me?!)

Week of Nov. 2nd

Dear Mom,

My week was good, I am getting transferred to Pampa, Texas with Elder Barnett. Pampa is the city I always went on exchanges with when I was with Elder Williams (the black elder). I already know a lot of the Less actives there so I think it will be a good opportunity. I went to Jacqueline's funeral this week as well to show support to Dalton.(these were investigators, she died because of a car accident where she fell asleep at the wheel) I can't believe I went to a Baby Blessing, a Wedding and a Funeral all within my training! The mission really is a cataclysm of life. Halloween was great! We spent it in Lubbock listening to Elder Pino of the 70 and having our mission tour! It was a great day! Elder Pino was talking about "Getting out of the Boat" like Peter and told us stories about when Thomas S. Monson was a mission president. It was really inspiring!

I also finished the entire Bible! From Genesis 1 to Revelations 22, I am finished with the book! Now I am studying some gospel topics and then on to the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, Preach my Gospel, Jesus the Christ, Our Heritage, Our search for happiness, True to the Faith, and then start over again! It has definitely taught me a lot and if anything, the Bible supports our beliefs just as much as the Book of Mormon does, the only reason that Baptists, Catholics, First Christians, Church of Christ, and other denominations say Paul the Apostle contradicts Jesus is because Paul contradicts their creeds and doctrines which they believe to be Christ's doctrine so it makes all the sense in the world as Paul truly spoke on behalf of Christ and never contradicted him once!  Estella and Dennis are like freight trains when it comes to keeping commitments for baptism!

Well I tried that Jalapeno Pecan Brittle and honestly it is really good! I also had prickly pears (cactus fruit) which is honestly a very tasty fruit! The only problem is that they are full of hard seeds that you need to swallow whole. So I am obviously getting strange food on my mission still.

Anyways, I have reached the level of fluency that people will ask me if I am from Portugal, Brazil, Spain, or France because I guess I have a really European accent which carries on to my Spanish which makes it look like I speak Portugeuese as my first language or French is my first language! Haha I told them that I learned French before my mission so I am still working on my accent.

Rebecca is doing great and she finally came to church in the 7 months she has been taking missionaries and she said she loved it! Dalton is doing good, He is really letting God work in his life and he is feeling a lot more peace than he said he would if we weren't in his life. I haven't taught Guillermo yet and sadly I won't as I am leaving Spearman.

I am honestly shutting down pastors left and right but they still won't stop. Hopefully it will get better in Pampa. Did I inherit the guns? Tell everyone that I said Hi! The questions that I need you to answer next week are:

1. Did I inherit the Guns?

2. Did you get the letter to Sadie

3. Did Brie get my letter?

4. Does anybody else want me to write them?

5. Will you have Luna in front of the computer so I can freak her out from Skype?

I feel great! I don't feel homesick and I don't feel any regret! I just feel as if the mission is just part of my life! Don't worry, I haven't resorted to Ramen yet, I mainly eat staples like bread, eggs, milk, salad, beef, chicken, and every week I make a big meal like Meatloaf, Sloppy Joes, etc. Next week for example, I am making Taco Salad for my companion and I. I find the fact that none of the other missionaries will contact an attractive college girl pretty hilarious, because I just go up and get to know them and then see how interested they are in the gospel and so far 2 college girls have been interested and are progressing so there you go. I just love sharing the gospel to all these wonderful people that will listen! PASTORS... Pastors are the things that frustrate me the most, It is a miracle that I haven't pinched that nerve that knocks a full grown adult unconscious yet. My goal is to become fluent at Spanish, get at least 5 people to church every transfer, have 1 progressing and or baptized every transfer, and finish the entire standard works by the end of my mission. I want you to pray for Dalton for comfort, Dennis for protection from evil, and Elder Barnett for enthusiasm.

Anyways I love you and wish you all the best!

Love Elder Farley

Dear Mom,

 I did not check my e-mail before shopping so I already bought a coat!!! I feel really bad because it was literally the only coat that the entire store had and It is getting really cold down here so I bought it and it was 80 dollars, I feel really bad!!! I honestly do not want to ask you guys for money if it is causing that much stress for you guys!(it's not... I just told him I deposited what I had at the time!:) I got the bag and I love the ties! Just a lot of heavy things in it during the MTC but now that has been resolved and I don't see the other bag breaking for a long time!(Reason the bag ripped in the first place)

I am having a few doubts about the restaurant as of now but if it is what dad wants to do then that is fine. I know it is something he loves to do and hopefully it is opened before I get back! Have you had the chance to look at the music I told you about? I really want to see that treehouse now! that sounds so legit! That is such a great place to put the old X-box. Yeah, Tasha and Jason (the newlyweds) are pretty solid, just need to get them to church! I love speaking Spanish more than I did when I was back home. Haven't had the chance to teach Chastity and her family, just haven't been able to catch them yet.

Tell Chandler and Alec and McCade that I am glad that they are doing great! Did I inherit the Guns by the way? Just a curious question, and if not, where did they go?

So what happened this week is I went on exchanges to Pampa, Texas and had a blast with some less actives there! When I got back to Spearman, we taught a former named Tony Ortiz and he was having some problems with separation and all and I read him the Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail scripture and the Will Smith quote in my Journal and that turned him around, after I bore my testimony and he prayed, he started crying and hugged us. We watched as he put pictures of Christ and the temple around his house!

We are having a lot of success with our Formers, they are not having good lives right now and are now being more humble to listen and progress! There is this guy named Dennis who is a new investigator who is just awesome! He pretty much taught us the Great Apostasy, The Restoration, and the Book of Mormon. The night we visited him, he read the Book of Mormon and visited Mormon.org and asked us who he needs to talk to in order to become a member! He is a really sharp guy!

I have perfected the Mexican Handshake and it puts more Mexican guys in a better mood to talk to us when I introduce myself with it so there you go! I am also teaching a guy who looks exactly like Guillermo from Jimmy Fallon who is ironically named Guillermo!!! I always teach him with a smile!!!

I had quite a migraine yesterday so I am feeling a little under the weather! Anyways, tell everyone I said hello by the way!

Anyways! Love you and the rest of the fam! Tell Brie that I will write her a letter today!

Love, Elder Farley

October 15th... finally got a letter!

Dear Mom,

People here don't really take heed to Antis unless they are one. So I am not worried about that, I am just worried about why people hate us so much. Oh well, I will keep dad in my prayers for sure! I would appreciate you guys sending me a coat because there are no clothing stores in Spearman! I thought it was supposed to be opened last month?(the restaurant in Ogden) Thank you for your gifts! They really help, and a Big Yes to that.(I assume putting money in his account) I need a coat and a NEW BAG. That is right, it broke completely, Here is a picture! I would also like pants that match my Khaki suit. (not really crucial) I have been talking to Hyrum...
 I have been spending my money on laundry because the mission didn't give me a pin for the other card until barely!

So what happened this week, I am improving on budgeting so that is good! I (I'm sure he meant The Lord through the priesthood power) healed 2 people within 10 minutes of a blessing and they were 100% free of an extreme fever and flu after I gave the blessing. There is this CD called "They saw our day" which is highly interested that I got to listen to in another companionship's car. It is about how the Native Americans relate their history to the Book of Mormon. If you find one, please send it my way. We are teaching these Methodists who want to be baptized but claim that they already received the gift of the Holy Ghost which is quite the curveball from the usual! I have learned that the quickest way to shut down contention is to ask them to bear their testimony and then bear yours in a non-bashing way. This one guy we found claimed that the Book of Mormon was false because although it may not have been written by Joseph Smith, it was still written by the hand of man because the Nephites wrote it, I then asked him who wrote the Bible and he said that God literally wrote it with his own hand so I left him right then and there...

Elder Barona asked me what Oz stands for when the Pampa Elders told him that they were still in Kansas and not Oz because they had a tornado warning but were perfectly fine. I couldn't stop laughing much to Elder Barona's dismay haha. I can now fully understand scriptures in Spanish and can read as fast as they can speak. Met a cute girl my age named Chastity so that should be fun when we teach her the law of Chastity haha, very awkward. I went to one of my investigator's weddings which was awesome! So life is going good. So make sure my bag is sent ASAP!

Oh and if you could get the e-mail addresses of Brigham and Lily, that would be great!

Love you guys!

Elder Farley

Not sure who this is... one of the Pampa Elders who he apparently really likes!! :)

The destroyed bag... not sure what happened - thankfully the awesome people at International luggage replaced it for free!

At the laundromat!

Maybe not his best week so far....

Dear Mom,

Life here in Texas has been pretty normal. I got to see the movie "Meet The Mormons!" It is such a good movie and I really suggest that you guys watch it! It is about 6 different people who are LDS, 1. A bishop in Atlanta, Georgia. 2. The owners of the largest martial arts gym in Costa Rica. 3. The coach for the Navy football team. 4. The Candy Bomber. 5. A humanitarian in Kathmandu, Nepal. and finally 6. A missionary mom! Very good story and one thing. Please send me a CD with these approved songs on it.

1. Glorious or Symphany (not sure what it is called) By David Archuleta

2. The fall by two steps from hell

3. Ezios Family by Assassins Creed 2

4. Assassins creed 3 theme song by Assassins Creed 3

5. Mortal Gladiator by I am not sure

6. If you could hie to kolob (this really fancy piano cover)

7. Protectors of the Earth by two steps from hell

8. I am Lincoln by something Zawoski

9. something appropriate from the Civil War soundtrack

10. Hey Brother by avicii

11. anything else you would like to put on it

Feel free to review them but I went over it with my companion and Zone Leaders and they think it is fine. We are also doing a lot of service projects this month for some reason. Most of our investigators are waning because commitment and Integrity just don't seem to be existent here. We started teaching the English Class and I never knew how long and hard it would be to teach the Alphabet! Our recent converts are getting stronger on the other hand so that is great!

I also walked away with more respect for Muslims than I ever thought I did. So many misconceptions about so many good people are ruining the world! I also got to eat Helal (blessed meat) at his house and it actually is pretty good. So I guess I can add that to my list of weird but delicious foods! We also got anti-ed by a Catholic and were given a prayer pamphlet which I looked at and noticed one thing. They took the 2nd commandment out and replaced it with thou shalt not covet your neighbors car!!!!!!!!!!!!  That is the most Blasphemous thing I have ever seen in my life and trust me! I would never join Catholicism no matter what!

We are teaching a lot of receptive people though, like this couple named James and Rosie who want to best for their children and they loved the Restoration. Getting them to church is a challenge though! Reggie's friend didn't believe us when we said that baptism has to be in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost because the trinity is a huge thing down here in the bible belt. It is starting to get colder up here and we have been hailed on multiple times! General Conference was Awesome! My favorite talks were by Jeffrey R. Holland, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, and D. Todd Christopherson and Thomas S. Monson. I also love the Lemon Juice story that Dieter F. Uchtdorf told. I also appreciate the Native Language thing because now we got to hear from people from Hong Kong, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Sweden! We are really improving on becoming unified in this world!

Anyways, I also need Lily Naumu and Brigham Mckay's Email addresses because I promised them I would write or E-mail them.

Love you guys and wish the best of luck!

Elder Farley

September 29th... short and sweet!

Dear Mom,

I have not tried it nor am I planning too haha, I don't think that is natural in the slightest.(referring to the jalapeno pecan brittle I sent him! :) He already told us that this was the church he was going to get baptized in, he just hasn't settled on a baptism date. We actually don't eat with members that often. Tell the siblings that I love them and want them to make good decisions. We get to watch general conference as well.

LUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!! Make sure when I Skype for Christmas she will be within hearing of my voice, I want to see how she reacts!

Hyrum, Marlee, Lindsay, and Molly all wrote me so thank you so much for that! One thing I didn't realize was so hard to teach was baby baptisms. It just won't click with these catholics that their baby does not need to be baptized because they don't have sin. Plus we were given a Catholic ten commandments and they completely took out Idle worship and replaced it with do not covet your neighbors house. I will have to write more later because I have no more time!

Elder Farley

Dear Mom and Dad,

First off, I am staying in Spearman. I received the package and appreciate all of the things you gave me. I am a little skeptical about the Jalapeno Pecan Brittle but the rest is awesome! D.... is straight up awesome! I can see him being baptized really soon! He is kicking the habit right now and only chews once a week at most. I have cooked lasagna, cookies, sphagetti, and german pancakes using the cookbook and I continue to make healthy meals for Elder Barona and I. Elder Barona is now hooked on Tennis so I would think that is a big success there! I love the mission, I see a few problems here and there and I face challenges but I am glad to be out here nonetheless. I normally just do the usual on P-day, shopping, writing, laundry, cleaning, tennis. Just a day to relax I guess. We have had zone conference and let me tell you, President Heap and I talk every week. I don't know I just trust him a lot and he trusts me to do things. Like earlier last week, there was this investigator who wanted to know something about the Book of Abraham. So I asked President Heap and he gave me permission to get on a computer on a Thursday and find out what I could. I did find the answer and President Heap texted me a few times to see how the thing was going. I really think he was meant to be my Mission President.

Hopefully Bryson will not make the same mistake I did and get a whopping "I don't even know how that is possible" (while me and Bryson are laughing of course) 2.1 on his GPA. Stay on top of him but not in the way you did me because that will not work. Find a more gentler approach, especially with Bryson. I had to figure it out on my own and obviously that ended up working out with me. Maybe Bryson is the same? Maybe not? But I know he is a little hard-headed at times and that is just him. At least Caden is having fun, Is he still blaming me when he gets hurt even though I am more than 600 miles away from him? haha! Tell Bryn and Brie that they are doing a good job and tell Brie that everytime she cries over nothing I either get Bible Bashed or Crash on my bike and hopefully that will work out.

Right now is harvest so that means that there is a ton of Corn everywhere, you got to love the Midwest right? Send me a picture of the Cow Elk when you get it. How big is Luna getting? Dustin Mizell e-mailed me and offered me a big job offer for after my mission where I own my own booking agency because he probably feels like he can trust me with it since I have this much dedication and he respects the fact that I chose to serve a mission so that is cool.

Elder Barona and I are now officially English and Spanish Teachers. We are now teaching English to Spanish members and Investigators and teaching Spanish to English members in order to improve our branch and improve Spearman in general. We will see how that goes. I also tried Octopus for the first time at a Mexican restaurant and in all honesty, It was really good. I don't know about you guys but there hasn't been a single weird food that I didn't find tasty. On my mission I have had Menudo (soup with cow intestine) Octopus, Calamari, Pakistani Food, and Elder Barona said he will hook me up with some Cuy (roasted guinea pig) by the end of the transfer.

I also found out that the Book of Mormon has been written side by side with the bible throughout all of history because the Book of Ether starts out with the Tower of Babel (which is in the beginning of Genesis around 3000 B.C) and even goes further than the Bible because the Bible ends in 100 A.D while the BOM ends in 421 A.D. We also taught our first Muslim named A.... He is from Pakistan and he is open to talk to us but brushed off the first vision because to Muslims Jesus is not the son of God and God has no physical body. He also taught me a phrase in Urdu "Ha da a a fes" which simply means God be with you or Have a nice day. We found R... again as well! And he is just as legit as he was before he left to Alabama so hopefully that works out!

Some Spanish investigators and Brother Swearingon, who is fluent in Spanish, told me that for being out 3 months, I am more fluent than anyone else with the same amount of time that they have ever met and none of them would have guessed that I only started speaking Spanish 3 months ago! That is a huge confidence builder! I am staying in Spearman by the way. I also got to translate during Sacrament meeting but the problem is that the people were speaking too fast! I got so confused that I started reading the Young Women Values that were on the wall beside me and then started reading Helaman 5:12 and explaining the verse. While I was saying the First Vision Elder Barona walked in and asked what the heck I was doing as he had headphones on to check my progress. So that is my life right now haha!

Anyways, Love you, Tell everyone to write or E-mail!

Love,

Elder Farley

This weeks letter!

Dear Mom,

I heard that the Texas BYU game was great! And the People are awesome! I haven't seen a single BBQ joint up here in Spearman (I am about 20-30 minutes from Oklahoma) But they sure do love their country gravy! We are actually thinking of doing that in our ward, we only have around 35 members in our branch so it is a little difficult. The work needs to progress and I see that as an opportunity. I got the package and I am intrigued by the Italian Ice flavors, and I need to write the Boys, Girls, Jesse Hancock, Sadie Thompson, and Hyrum! I will write you guys a letter as well but it is hard writing you when I already tell you everything! Maybe I will write it in Spanish?

I have been praying for you guys to be able to open up the new location and have it run smoothly, who of the original workers since I have been there are left? I got the suitcase so that is good. With V the only problem is that his family is not letting him go to church and they don't want to sit down with us, so it is hard to progress with him. M and her family are doing good. They still are a little catholic but I think the blessing with her sister opened them up more. They just have a hard time understanding that their baptism is not with authority. D and J are awesome, they are cutting down more and more and D fasted! He got a job after that and his kidney stones passed. He always wants to come to church and is a contributing person in lessons, he just had an asthma attack this Sunday so he couldn't attend but he called us and told us to come over right after church so he could still have a lesson. He is a really funny guy and understands the doctrine and principles. Like when he was talking about his blessings he said that he didn't believe that everything would happen to him if he didn't do anything, He said " I doubt that Jesus Christ is going to come down to Earth, unleash the second coming and the rest of the plan of Salvation, just so he can fix my pickup truck..." So I am glad he understands his part in receiving blessings!

Elder Barona and I also noticed something! We are living in the War Chapters of the Book of Mormon right now!

We are in a war for righteousness against evil. We rely on God and as long as we are obedient, the Lord will help us in all that we do. We have been blessed to bring his purpose to all men. The odds seem against us, but that doesn't mean we will give up. We have strong leaders and they are guided by God to help us in this great mission.

Apparently there is also something here called Lamanitis, where missionaries get nervous or tense up when talking to beautiful Hispanic girls. I noticed it first-hand with Elder Barona talking to this 20 year old girl named Lupita. Granted she was pretty cute, but I didn't know that was a problem haha. I also saw this dog at an investigators house that no-joke could have been a werewolf. I kept my distance from it when talking to the person haha. We also did this service project at the food bank and that was fun, moving watermelons and bread. We also had this great moment happen to us where we prayed specifically to find a middle-aged man who was carrying something heavy that was going to accept our message. First person we met was a 40 year old man carrying a Jackhammer. He accepted our message and became an investigator.

Our branch does something awesome on Fast Sunday called Break the Fast, where the branch cooks food and eats together after church! Got to eat a lot. There is also this girl named C who utterly impresses me! She is active although the rest of her family is addicted to drugs. She sees Sister P as her mother in the branch and is very nice. So instead of her own mother taking her to Mother Daughter night, Sister P took her. This lady named E also told us that whenever we come over, her blood pressure would rise and she would become enthusiastic when we read. We told her that this was the Holy Ghost. So hopefully everyone is progressing! I also ran into a guy an hour ago who came up to me while I was alone in the store grabbing an Onion for Sour Cream Lasagna from the Missionary Meals cookbook (thank you by the way) And he invited us to dinner because he lives with a Mormon family who just barely moved in! It was awesome

Anyways, I love you guys and at least tell everyone I have previously mentioned to at least E-Mail me! Love you guys so much! Wish me luck!

Elder Farley

Dear Mother, 

I know you hate being called that but I feel as if it respects you more. Things are going great in Texas. A lot of miracles! 1st miracle was during exchanges with Elder Heaps, I forgot to mention we needed gas so we noticed out of the city that we were on the E for empty and needed gas. We ended up making the 60 mile trip on the E! God obviously wanted us proselyting instead of stuck on the side of the road! We got a few more baptism commitments so hopefully that turns into something. The ...... family is slowly moving, they listen to us but still don't see baptism as necessary for them. Another lesson got disrupted by Walker Texas Ranger... And this other man we taught said he had extreme respect for mormons because of a man in his troop of soldiers in Vietnam was Mormon and he said he was one of the best soldiers in his troop. However he was very learned and thus did not accept our message on flaws that he viewed himself. We also met a member randomly because I decided to go to the bathroom in a gas station. He is from Dallas and talked to us. Very non-coincedental in my opinion.

Lessons are going well. J and D are progressing slowly, and this other man named A... finally let us talk to him because he asked us to send missionaries to his dying sister in Amarillo and was very grateful for it. So now he is listening with his wife and daughter to our lessons. I also found a scripture in Micah Chapter 3 that only talks about how bad paid ministry is as a sin. Strange how the men who claim to know the bible "miss" that scripture. I also met a man who had a really great backstory about how God helped him get a really high paying job when he was homeless so he was humbled. I also realized that I miss hunting as Dove and Deer season is commencing and our male investigators want to talk about that a lot. I also see pronghorns nearly everyday! Big Pronghorns! How was Labor Day? How is School? How is the Restaurant? We also got a baptism commitment within 10 minutes of meeting someone! so Super Legit!

Feel free to tell me everything!

President Heaps made it ok to visit the Temple once every transfer! He wants us to bring recent converts to the temple as often as that! The work is hastening!

Love,

Elder Farley

Elder Farley and Elder Barnett on splits

The beautiful mountains...

Elder Farley and Elder Heaps on splits

A Jim Shockey quote - for missionaries... (not sure what the list behind it is?)

Dear Mom,

 I love the bike except for the fact that it doesn't have a kickstand. Yeah, I will get the suitcase I guess on September 2, what is in it by the way? My apartment is actually way nicer than the rest of the zone areas I have visited so that is a blessing. President Heap is cool, he is the one that is getting me my suitcase for me. My companion is cool, we get along except for one thing... he takes 50 minute showers so getting ready for the day is a trial haha. I keep bringing it up with him but he always forgets.

I have been learning how to budget so hopefully that works out. I learned that fast food restaurants like Dairy Queen replace ranch and BBQ sauce with country gravy with your order so that is a bonus! We got 6 baptism commitments so far so hopefully that works out.One thing I learned about Texans is that they will try to find a loophole with anything!

For example, we were teaching a couple the law of chastity and the man said that Pornography helped him a lot because it taught him how to do stuff, I ended up being blunt with him by saying instead of finding a loophole, we should follow God's commandments the way he intended. They ended up accepting to live the law.

They also have one thing in common, no matter what race, young or old, male or female... no one stops talking... like ever, the members we take out to lessons always take over the lesson and it frustrates Elder Barona a ton! So many miracles happened as well, such as people wanting to be baptized just by reading one verse in the Book of Mormon or saying that they have been waiting for an answer to their prayers. Elder Barona also told me this funny story about an Elder who got an infection on his butt from how dirty the apartment toilet seat was. So the doctor gave him cream which the best part is... his companion had to put it on for him. So his bottom line was, WIPE, CHECK, and NEVER GET IN THAT SITUATION!!! haha

I also was last minute asked to teach the Elders Quorum 2 minutes before class started. Luckily I knew the subject rather well and they said I did a very successful lesson. I also had to teach the Sunday school class with my companion as well about eternal marriage. It is a really small branch.

So anyways, how is the ward doing, how is school? How is the second location? Anything else?

He is not super informative... but he did say that the families he is teaching are doing well. I  have no idea who has committed to baptism?! He is enjoying cooking and learning new foods. I think what he is learning about 'Texans' is mostly something new he is learning about most people!! Funny kid!

First letter from Texas!

Hey mom!

So they changed the rules so that they won't forward mail so you need to send it directly to my address which is 417 S. Roland St., Apartment #2, Spearman,Texas. I am in Spearman, Texas right now and it is a little town of 3000 north of Amarillo. I am 20 minutes away from the Oklahoma border so it is extremely flat! I really like my Mission President and I am getting along with Elder Barona who is my companion. He is from New York City. My big suitcase didn't make it to the mission office before I left for my district so I won't get it for an entire month. What a bummer...

I ran into Elder Shaw a week ago and it was really cool, apparently he has been sharing a lot of good things about me to everyone in case I end up being their companion. It was awesome getting to talk to him after so long. He is in Odessa which is on the opposite end of the mission so he told me that he would write me a letter so just waiting on that! The families I am teaching are awesome. There is this one family named the Munaz Family, They own the butcher shop and they are really nice and receptive, the dad is awesome but is confident he can just be fine being catholic. The mom and the kids love the Book of Mormon and are reading. Elder Barona taught me how to make El Salvadorian and Ecuadorian Food like Papusas, Traditional Tacos or Burritoes, and Cow tongue. Very Interesting!

I met the Branch President and his family and they are very nice. Their oldest son is a year younger than me and loves to play Tennis. Sadly, there is this mission rule that you are not allowed to play sports with Members or Investigators. The reason this sucks is Elder Barona told me that he has never played Tennis in his life! Their next son loves hunting and talks about it a lot, then they have this daughter and two other sons. One thing I have noticed while here is that there are a ton of Catholics and Baptists. It makes me really sad that very few realize that their churches aren't true. They also, if they choose to listen, have serious commitment issues. So yes, it is a challenge.

We also taught this kid named Victor the Word of Wisdom and he accepted it, he wants to join the church but his parents refuse, so hopefully a miracle will happen! Then we talked to someone named Izekial who claimed our church wasn't true because we didn't dance during sacrament meeting or play instruments like the banjo and guitar. I was very close to strangling him because he would not stop talking. But I held my peace and let him go his way. There are a lot of people who do agree to listen, but it is the Mexican people because they in my opinion are more humble and less against learning more. We taught this lady named Manuella and her family and her husband doesn't like to talk about religion because of his family (they make fun of him attending church) So she and her daughter listened to the restoration and they shone when we said the First Vision. We also met a man who although he was of a different faith, claimed that Mormons have an interesting talent of staying together and he said that was a rare jewel in this world today. He immediately accepted a Book of Mormon when I asked if he wanted one.

I also saw our church (more like a seminary building) Only around 50 members in the entire branch, so a lot of work needs to be done. We had quite a few recent converts and less actives come and that was awesome. I was asked to bless the sacrament with the only priest in the branch, the Branch presidents oldest son. I feel like I am really converting myself right now because when I bore my testimony to people about the truth of the Book of Mormon, I almost couldn't stay still at one point. We recently taught this couple named Dalton and Jacklyn who want to join the church but have a problem with tobacco. So I shared with them my experience of addiction (replaced the source with over-eating for personal reasons) And they lightened up and I told them that I was with them every step of the way and they agreed to half it every week until the point where they do not need it anymore. Our most recent find, was the brother of the wife in the Munaz family. He offered us beer and we politely refused and started to walk away, then he begged us to stay and then ran back and grabbed water so we would talk to him. He told us that he respects us and referred to us as "God People" because of our ability to abstain from the bad things in the world and he told us that although he was drunk, he would attend the next lesson. His name is Juan.

So how is life back in Utah? Excited for school to start? Tell me everything that you can!

Some Elders from Weber I assume - I recognize Elder Montgomery

Elder Finlinson and Elder Farley... so glad these cousins were able to be together in the CCM!

First view of the mountains of Texas... not!

First picture with mission President and arriving group

Elder Shaw with Elder Farley

Elder Farley's Companion - Elder Barong

Latest and Last Communication from the CCM

So this is what is going on in Mexico.
* I got to be a host for the new missionaries... during a hurricane... needless to say we all got miserably soaked     on their first day at the CCM.
* I prayed for the longest time ever for something, about 30 minutes.
* I ran for a whole hour without stopping at a faster pace than the track kid in our district and he got mad when he   asked if I ever have ran before and I told him no and he got angry saying that there is no way that someone has   that much endurance without training haha.
* My spanish is good as I have memorized over 500 words and phrases.
* Another tropical storm (soft word for hurricane) hit us and we had to run through it to shut our windows back at     the house, only Elder Chatterton's stuff got wet. 

 *I got to give my first blessing as a missionary and I was asked by my teacher to give him  a blessing for his         illness, at first I had no clue what to say and then it got more fluent. I could really feel the spirit!

* I also saw a moth the size of my hand! They get huge here! I thought it was a bat until I got closer!

 Anyways that is what is happening here...

I am on, so who is Brysons girlfriend? How was the high adventure? Send me a picture of the Treehouse, did the letters get to them? Can Bryson send me the lyrics to waving flag by Knaan spanish version, and ask Caden to tell me what classical music song plays during the Aragorn vs. Sauron Video something like heroes on earth but I need the real name. How is today going?

(Ashleigh Klos is her name, they went to Youth Conference, they had fun. I will send pics of the tree house next week. The letters probably arrived yesterday or today. Bryson said the name is Protectors of the Earth. Are you going to write us an actual letter so we know what is going on with you? 

Something else I was thinking of today was to make sure you know that you can be honest with us about how you are doing and how you are feeling always! It makes us happy to hear you are happy, but we also know that it isn't easy and want you to feel like you can tell us anything.)

Why does life hate me so much that Bryson gets a girlfriend before I do? haha

My roommates haven't really let me write in my journal because they completely mistranslated the quiet time at 10:15 to lights out and go to bed and I shower at night so I try to write with Elder Arrington in his room and then they get mad. Some days I am glad I am the only one going on my flight and to my mission. Is it possible to meet your future wife in the MTC because I hope not. I hate the rainstorms haha

(So it sounds like you are having some room mate issues? Of course it is possible... but nothing can come of it for a few years so nothing to worry about! That is one nice thing about a mission - you don't have to worry about school, dating, or jobs - just learning and teaching the gospel!)

Yep. My companion bugs the crap out of me and so do the sisters in my district as does this other elder. I do not let it show but they bring bossy, strict, and insane to a whole new level so there is my 2 cents. Any questions? Plus I got that awesome but kinda disappointing news bulletin from the ward :/

(I don't know what news bulletin you are talking about... I know it can be hard to deal with people especially those that you have to be with a lot. Just do your best to be obedient and to be kind. I am glad you have others in your district that you can talk to and have fun with. I also know that you can get bugged easily, so make sure that you are always being honest with yourself and Heavenly Father. Pray that you can be patient and understanding and have love for those that make you crazy. Do your best not to irritate them. Sometimes it helps, and sometimes you just have to wait it out! Even in Marriage that advice helps!! :) Example... Dad bought tickets to Paul McCartney for Thurs. awhile ago and I just found out about it. Bryn has a soccer game at the same time, that I would rather go to. I love your Dad, but hate Paul McCartney - but I am going anyway and will be as pleasant as possible!! :)

Haha very funny, I would have gone with him if I hadn't of been in another country that I honestly love to be in more than Utah haha. Ok sounds good, so any questions you want me to answer?

(Yes, What have you done this week? What lesson has been your favorite? What have you learned in the scriptures? Do  you listen to any of the music I sent? Anything you want me to send in your suitcase besides Mike and Ikes? I think I will let you buy your own coat down there!)

Ok, first the funniest thing just happened. It was quiet until Elder Tew saw a family picture that his family sent him and he immediately said about his brother "wait, he is wearing my shirt, That Jew!" Haha entonces, I told you what I did this week, pretty much endured 3 hurricanes. My favorite lesson is Subjunctive because I can understand it whereas no one else can and It is the last lesson in Spanish that we need to learn! I learned that the Old Testament is by far the most difficult book to read although extremely necessary. I try but President Pratt banned listening to music in the MTC :/ I would like my Tennis equipment if possible, Milch Bars, and a few more songs that are appropriate but not exactly secular, like classical, Josh Groban, or Into the West. 

(I don't know how to get you music unless you send me home your MP3 and I load it and send it back?(when you get to Texas) What are Milch Bars? The Old Testament is hard, I think because it is somewhat subjective depending on who is reading it and you have to look a little harder to understand what you need to learn. I a not sure I have ever read all the way through it other than in Seminary?! I will sent some Tennis stuff, not sure if you will be able to use it though? I'll attach a couple of pictures from Park City - did you take any pictures this week? Are you still happy to be there?)

Hola? Que pasa? La convercación es continuando... ¿piensa estoy aburrido?

Hello? Are you there? Is our conversation continuing? Am I boring you? (something like that?!)

I am still loving Mexico. Milch bars are a Mexican Candy that I love! I sent you a picture of one. You can only get them at Mexican stores in Utah so start looking :) I learned a lot from Jeremiah and Isaiah and Ezekial! Did you get my last email in Spanish?

Quiero hablar un poco español entonces puedo apprender la lengua más rapido

I want to talk in Spanish so I can understand it better or faster(I need to learn Spanish!)

He said a few more things in Spanish and then ended with...

Yo necesito salir porque mi tiempo es corto, yo amo todos los familia y esperanzo  ustedes tengan más divertido y seguridad. Llamo ustedes cuando yo llegar en la airporte de Dallas proximo semana. Hasta luego! Yo Amor!

I need to leave because my time is short, I love all the family and hope you have more fun and safety. I call you when I arrive in Dallas next week airport. Bye now! I Love You!