Elder Austin Farley: First Week in MTC

Dear Everyone,

That is great to hear! It is really awesome that the restaurant is doing that great. My companion is named Elder Pemberton. He is from Blanding, Utah and is going to Manchester, New Hampshire. The other roommates are named Elder Tew and Elder Moon. They are all great to be around and we laughed so hard about stuff last night that I didn't get much sleep at all haha. The water is completely safe to drink so I rarely use my filter. The food is fantastic and It is sometimes even better than my cooking. However, there is this fruit that looks like a Marachino Cherry but is definatly NOT A CHERRY!!!!! It was possibly the worst fruit ever as it tastes like rotten apples. I am also loving a Mexican candy called a Milch bar. I also have obtained a full collection of Mexican Pesos except the ugly dude on the $500.

The first day was awesome and it started with this group of sisters coming up to me and telling me that I looked like Justin Timberlake from back in the 90's, this happened 5 times that day and even some elders said that so I guess I am more attractive than I thought. My first investigators seemed to like my message and my Spanish is really coming along to the point where I only needed to look in my guide once for a grove of trees translation in an entire 30 minute session. We got here in the middle of the rainy season and it has rained hard at 5:00 everyday so I guess bringing a waterproof suit and an umbrella wasn't as dumb of an idea as you thought. My district is awesome and we all bonded a ton! My companion and roommates tell me that my role in the district is as the bizzare guy who keeps everyone happy and laughing. My companion and I are also the district leaders and that is fun although hard. We sung the Star Spangled Banner in the comedor while the elders chanted U.S.A over and over and the lunchroom was decorated in American Stuff so they actually did remember! I met an elder who lives in Lubbock and he personally apologized to me that I have to go there. He told me that if I see a mountain then I need to take cover because it is most likely a dust storm. He also knows about the boring city list and supports it! I can really understand Spanish well and I can read in it too, but talking is a little bit more difficult. I have seen Hannah Hedges everyday and it is fun talking to her.

My companion doesn{t share the same comfort of talking to Sisters as I do and I guess that is both good and bad! They also have a lot of Mangoes here and it is fantastic because I get a whole mango to myself every other day. I heard the most inspiring talk in my life on Sunday from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland about how our missionary work is more important at this time then it was before, and that we need to drop everything to feed Christ's sheep. My umbrella broke but I fixed it so I do not need a new one sent. We watched the Joseph Smith Story and I love it so much and I truly believe that Joseph Smith did more for the salvation of man than anyone save for Christ. I am always picked as team captain in every sport we play because I am usually the one who scores the most whether it is Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball, or Basketball. Guavas have an interesting taste and I am starting to get used to them. I received the package and am grateful for the care package! Except for the fact that I spilled part of my Arizona all over me because the lid on my bottle wasn't secured enough, It was a great gift! I miss you guys a lot but I am not homesick fortunately. I do miss Luna a ton though! I need monthly pictures to see how much she grows!

Please tell Bryson that this is the best decision I have ever made and that I wish that he makes the same decision to! I promise that he will make friends that will last longer than Anthony and that he will become happier and maybe even meet his future wife! There are elders and sisters that have given me their address so I can keep up with them on their missions! There are still some things I find unusual about the church, but I still want to serve the Lord as much as I can and I hope he does! My favorite part of everyday is companion study because it always ends with me teaching the class a Spanish lesson. Here are some pictures!

1. A view of Strawberry Reservoir from the plane

2. me with the list of mexican candy

3. The Bahamas World Cup Soccer Team

4. Mexican Cola and Wafers, made with real sugarcane

5. My companion and I

6. A MILCH bar

7. My house

8. The MTC square

9. All the Missions in the Americas

10. Tiancum Painting

11. Stripling warriors painting

12. A view of the City