High Speed Mission Life!

Seeing the language mission Elder's off! 

Hey Moms!

Thanks for the updates each week- it really is nice to be able to hear how the whole family is doing :)  I saw those pictures of Dad and the Bachman men at the Old Time photo place in Durango.  Looks like it could be an old western gang... the LB gang ha-ha.  It is also good to hear Brian is getting to Cali TOMORROW!  Talk about a fast six weeks!  I am super excited for him to get with a trainer and help TONS of people come closer to Christ!

This past week has been really interesting because President has had his whole family in town.  Howard was home for the week to spend his week off before going back to school at the U.  He ran a Sparta race in Virginia with his little brother, Joe.  With all the family in town we had time to catch up on some work with the iPads and other mission updating!  This upcoming week is packed with interviews and exchanges with President and other missionary companionships!  Our mission is so high-speed!  We have Facebook, iPads, online areabooks and planners, and we are also doing a Family History initiative!  Of course it's because we are the best mission in the history of life with the most obedient and diligent missionaries (not pride, just the truth ha-ha)!  Anyway, it should be a very productive and exciting week.

Elder Malugin and I have been having a great time together and are really enjoying the time we have to spend around President and assisting him in Hastening the Work of Salvation.  It is such a blessing to be able to work with the missionaries throughout the mission.  I learn so much from the elders and sisters who have dedicated this time in  their lives to serve the Lord in this duty to share His message.  Being around them helps me see that there really is nothing better that I could be doing at this point in my life than serving here in DC/Maryland.  Isn't the Gospel just the best?? Whenever I get distracted by the world it is always so great to take a step back and think about my family and the chance we have to be together forever.  Honestly, what is better than knowing that?!  It is really good to hear about how you and Dad are reading from PMG and of course being involved in the missionary work in the ward.  I hope and pray that the missionaries and members there will be able to mesh and work in unison- aiding the Lord in finding His lost sheep.  I KNOW that the work of God is hastening and that these latter-days are truly the last days preparing for the return of our Savior.  The key to keeping up with this work is to work together.  The missionaries and members must be one! Missionaries need to work hard and trust in the members and the members must trust the missionaries in their sacred calling (which they have been set apart to do) and to also aid them in teaching and testifying!  On my mission, the best lessons I have ever had, have been when we are teaching in the home of a member with them testifying of the things that we teach the investigators!! It's the best.  I hope you and the family (and everyone, really) keep looking for chances to teach and ask the missionaries to come teach friends, neighbors and family!  I know and can promise you that Heavenly Father will place people in your paths.  I see it everyday :) We realize very little concerning the involvement of the Lord in our lives...  He is working people in and out of our lives allowing us to affect them and them to affect us- all we have to do is be the best people we can be and "let (our) light shine!"

I love you mom!  Tell everyone I miss and love them- you are the best , thanks for everything :)

Love your son,

Elder Sean B Farley

Best Mission in the History of Life!

Hey mom!

Can you believe we are halfway through this month?! Time is flying! It was really cool to hear that you saw Landon now that he is back from his mission.  Tell him that I say hi :) but the thing that is really trippy to me is hearing that Caiside has finished her first week at Ladera!! That's what I am talking about! I was there 11 years ago!  Elementary alumi represent! Give her a big hug from uncle Sean.

Sounds like life at home is still exciting no matter what time of the year or who is home!  Oh, and thank you for the packy! We love our ties!  Funny thing about those Stance socks... Former AP/Elder Miyasaki is the brother to the guy who started that company!  Pretty cool, right?

This week the Cooke's oldest son, Howard, is back for a week!  He is a great guy and plans on playing some basketball with us this P-day and maybe some early morning lifting as well!  He will be running a Sparta race over in Virginia as well. This last weekend we also had a visit from the Miyasaki family so that was a great reunion for everyone.

This past week we had Zone Training Meetings and now this week we are a little more free to get everything scheduled for interviews, Specialized Training, iPad checks, and even transfers... It's a never ending process. Haha

Elder Malugin and I are working together great and we are loving the time we have to be with President and all the rest of the missionaries!  Since we are part of the "Best Mission in the History of Life," we also have the Best Missionaries in the History of Life.  With the leadership of the mission, and under the direction of President Cooke, this mission is always moving forward and striving to be the most diligent and obedient mission ever.  (Side note to the world:  we challenged the DC south mission to a football game, but the denied our invitation... But I guess I would too if I saw elders Tavana, Herring, Bodda and Thornton on one team! Haha!)

It's funny/scary to see how fast the weeks go by. Writing emails is spread apart but each week goes faster and faster.  I honestly love all of it... The good, the bad, the hard and the hardest times are all worth it.  I look around at the world and I see so much potential!  There is heartache and sadness all over as people strive to find happiness with the temporal things of this earth.  Satan is working extra hard and is distracting so many people with things that will not last.  Our challenge is to share the lasting happiness we have with others :) then their potential will become reality, allowing them to receive the same blessing we have.  I love talking about the truth!  I am grateful for the courage Heavenly Father has given me as I have just taken the step of faith to talk with others.  I know that if I can do it, then anyone can.

I hope you are still reading PMG along with your regular scripture study! Keep pushing yourself to learn everyday and share your testimony :) I feel like I repeat myself a lot, but I uses it's mainly because my feelings will never change about learning and sharing the Gospel.  I love you and miss you Mom... And I can't wait to be with you and all the family again.

Love you lots!

Your boy,

Elder Farley

Two Weeks in One

Elder Malugin, Loveless & Farley

Dear Momma,

First off, thank you for being so patient with me in responding!  I feel really bad about last week and not sending a real email to you and the family.  We are always busy(which is of course GOOD) and so it just seems like we never have time for anything besides taking care of the mission.  However, I promise I will do better in prioritizing my mother first with my p-day time!

Lets see... where to start?  These last two weeks have felt like two days!  With transfers, a new assistant, getting our car towed and all the other miscellaneous things, it has just been flying by.  Elder Malugin and I are having an awesome time together.  He is super fun to be around and we have a lot of similar interest.  He, like many other missionaries, loves playing basketball and is very good!  Obviously that is one thing I am not good at, at all!  But he also loves to lift and so we get some good workouts when we have time to workout. :)  Too bad my elbow(or wrist/or shoulder) is still semi messed up so when I get home we will have to figure that out.

Anyway,  we have Zone Training Meetings this week and we are also going "air-mobile" with President Cooke!!  It is always great being around the Cooke Family and being able to work closely with them.  We are still working hard to support all the missionaries to teach 20 lessons a week, whether that be to an investigator, less-active member, or even and active member of the ward.  We have already seen so many miracles from the elders and sisters who have truly taken on this challenge and worked with all their hearts to succeed.  The members who are being taught are more excited to learn and to reach out to friends!  In fact,  Elizabeth Cooke(the youngest daughter of the Cooke family) built up the courage just a few days ago to ask her friend if she would be willing to learn from the missionaries!! What a boss, right?!  She was nervous, anxious and worried- just as we all are... but when she went forward with faith, knowing that Heavenly Father would support her, she was able to invite and succeed in doing so!! That is all we are asked to do... simply: invite.  I hope everyone who reads this can learn from the example of the youth of the church.  It is the duty of us ALL... no one is excluded because of race, age, or for any circumstance!  Everyone can invite one way or another :)

Mom, I love the gospel so much! I am so grateful for Heavenly Father and the great plan of happiness.  I am so happy that we can be together forever :)  The best TRUTH that I have heard, which I know.  I love you and miss you!  Thank you for all of your support, love and prayers.  I can feel them and I will continue to pray for you and of course for Brian!

Love your son,

Sean