"Roads?...Where We're Going, We Don't Need Roads" ---Last Email from Elder Sean Farley!!!

Three Amigos...Elder Tavana, Elder Warnes and Elder Farley

Momma!

Seriously, what the heck just happened?  I'm going to be hugging you, dad and the family in two days.  My emotions are so mixed up and confused at the moment, this email is guaranteed to be a little odd. Ha-ha

This last week has been really great.  I've been able to see so many wonderful people these last few days.  It's hard for me to realize I won't be seeing them in a few days.  Saying goodbye to the mission is going to be one of the hardest things for me to do, but it will be overpowered with the joy of seeing my beautiful family again.  

Transfers are in sight and I'll be joining part of my MTC crew in the big transfer in the sky... "There's not enough road to get up to 88 Doc."  "Where we're going, we don't need roads!" Ha-ha. What is going to be the hardest part; saying goodbye to the Cookes.  They have really all become brothers and sisters to me, and Pres and Sister Cooke like parents, in a sense. Elder Warnes will be staying in the area and receiving.... Who knows!  But I'm sure he will do fine.  I think he is a little nervous, but he is such a good kid.  It has been such a blessing from Heavenly Father to allow me to train again, especially to finish my mission out this way.  

My heart hurts for Jonny and his family.  What a hard loss.  And to hear that Alex Morrow passed away as well was so sad.  I will be praying for both families.  It is really hard in life when things like that happen.  I have seen a lot of things out here on the mission that have forced me to take a step back and look at things in a eternal perspective.  Being mortals here on earth is such a limiting thing in many ways.  Our minds are so focused on this moment, and this mortal experience that we often don't see the full plan.  I know Heavenly Father loves all of His children.  He wants us all to return to Him and to be eternally happy.  Life is hard, there is no question in that.  However, I am extremely grateful for the knowledge of the gospel that brings so much peace and comfort in our lives.  My love goes out to both families for their losses.

I really don't know what else to say... I can't put these two years into just one email. I do know that what I have shared for two years in the absolute truth.  The Lord, Jesus Christ has restored His church through a prophet, and continues to lead it through Thomas Monson.  The Book of Mormon is scripture from God, written by prophets who lived in the ancient Americas. God loves and knows us perfectly.  He cares about us has always been in our lives.  There is a reason for us to be here on earth; we came to experience mortality, overcome trials, keep Gods commandments and live our lives to the fullest.  As we do so, I know we can return to our Heavenly Father because of our Savior's Sacrifice.  His Atonement has made it possible for all of mankind to repent and be cleansed through Him.  We ALL can become better, day by day.  I know that I have changed and most importantly, I've grown closer to the Lord, Jesus Christ.  

I hope to continue to share my testimony with others even after this mission!  I love this gospel and know it's for everyone!  

Can't wait to see you mom! Be healthy, happy, and safe!

Love,

Elder Sean Farley

Hey Dad!

Sorry about not emailing you last week :( it was surprisingly busy.  It's great to hear from you though!  I can't believe I get to see you so soon!  I don't even know what to say.  It hasn't been what I expected, but I know it was what God wanted me to experience.  It has been a wonderful opportunity for me.  Thank you Dad for all your support, both temporally and spiritually!  I owe so much to you and mom, and I am beyond stoked to share all about my mission win you two.  

This week has been great.  Just starting to pack today.  Should be able to fit everything just fine.  Visiting everyone and especially enjoying this last little bit with the Cookes, some of my missionary brothers and the Blewetts.  It will be hard to say goodbye to this mission family, but it's time to come home.  Don't really know what all will happen when I'm back, but it will be okay.  It will be fun to see the family and old friends!  I feel like I just left on a really long EFY.  It seemed so short, but it's been a while.

It's super sad to hear about Jonnys dad and Alex Morrow.  What a weird thing to happen.  I feel terrible for his son, wife and family.

Thanks for all you do and have done for me Dad.  I can't express myself right now.  I'm sad for this to be over, but you're right... It's a start to my next step in life.  And we still get to see Brian continue on in his mission journey 

Love and miss you Dad.  Can't wait to give you a hug!

Love your son,

Sean

Elder Sean Farley & his 'boy" Elder Warnes! 

10 Days to go!

Specialized Training

Hey Mom!

Oh my gosh!  We just got out of the city and I don't have tons of time to write,
but I will try to write all I can!

This week went great!  I mean, how can a visit from a President Eyring be
anything but amazing!!  It was honestly one of the most powerful experiences
I've ever had.  He spoke to us about how we can most effectively teach when we
are working with investigators, and really anyone we meet.  He talked about the
spirit of discernment and how we should pray constantly in lessons for this
ability.  Since the Lord knows everyone perfectly and knows each persons
thoughts and hearts, He can help us know the needs and concerns of those we
teach.  He even explained that he too uses this even when speaking to us.  He
then stopped and said that he was looking into our eyes and asking the Lord to
help him know something about a few of us, so that he might know what to say to
help us.  It was amazing.  Words can't explain the feeling that the a Spirit of
God brought to that meeting.

This week was great for other reasons as well: We were able to meet up with the
Bible study group this week, and there were even more people this week!  We are
continuing to sit back a little and not scare everyone who is seasoned in the
group.  However, the ring leader of the group, Rusty, asked us a few questions
in which he agreed with us.  One was on the topic of the importance of Agency in
this life, and the other was the topic of multiple heavens.  I was able to teach
about the Celestial kingdom and two lower kingdoms and to share how we can get
there.  The best part was that he agreed with what we shared!  These people
really have a desire to come closer to Christ and I feel that over time we might
have an opportunity to share the restored gospel with them!

Thanks for the Gift Cards!!

On Sunday I was able to speak to the Kentlands Ward.  It was an fun to be able
to speak a second time there and share about missionary work.  It wasn't
recorded, but don't worry...  I'll just give the same one to everyone at church
when I come home :'D hahaha! Just kidding!

This week we will have interviews, departing dinner w/interviews and the Why I
Believe!  What a great last week.  I am so confused at how time seemed to fly
by.  It doesn't seem even close to two years that have passed since I've last
seen you.  But it has been... And it has been two years well spent.  I'm glad I
have one more chance to email you before I return home, and I'm sure I will
share my feelings about my service to everyone.

It sounds like things are going well at home.  It will be such a blessing to be
able to talk with you in person and share all the wonderful things that we have
both experienced in the last couple years of our lives.  What a blessing it is
to know that we have been learning and growing in this life, and most
importantly the Gospel of our Savior.  I hope you have a wonderful week and I
will see you soon!  Love and miss you!

Love your son,

Elder Sean Farley

Departing Temple Trip

Departing Temple Trip Elder Thornton, Elder Bodda, Elder Farley & Elder Warnes

Hi Mom!

What a week it's been!  We had zone conference and departing temple trip all in the same week!  It was quite the experience being able to visit the temple and sit with the other 6 departing missionaries this transfer(3 being MTC buddies: Hansen, Peterson, Owens) and listening to the 1st councilor of the temple presidency speak to us.  President and Sister Cooke were also present for the meeting before the session.  He talked to us a lot about just beginning our missionary work and how serving a mission was like a warm up for the rest of our lives.  It was a really neat experience and then of course the whole day at the temple was so peaceful and uplifting.  Zone Conference went well.  It was mainly about becoming fully converted and being a purified missionary.

It has been fun being with Elder Warnes.  He is adjusting well to the mission and seems to be learning a lot.  This week we have been tracting quite a bit and he is beginning to speak up more and use different approaches when asking people if we can share our message.  "That's my boy!"

NYE with the Chinese speaking Elders

Okay, so I sort of already told Dad this but, we get to hear from President Eyring of the First Presidency on Saturday!  The Eyrings (current VC President) are leaving on the 17th and there will be new Visitor's Center President and wife, so I guess big bro Henry B. is coming to town to welcome them home! Idk! It's cool either way.

This week we will also be having the 2nd round of specialized training, which is for the 1st transfer trainees and their trainers.  That is where Elder Warnes will be getting his iPad.  That will be a nice change.  I'll then be able to better teach him to plan and teach with the iPad in our missionary work.

We have done a good amount of tracting this week and found a lot of potential investigators!  Hopefully they will we willing to listen to our message when we visit them again. We had a pretty sweet miracle this week where we stopped by a members house before checking on a potential that we tracked out two weeks prior.  The members let us in and we shared a New Years message with them.  As we were leaving we explained that we were going across the street to go visit their neighbor and see if they were willing to let us in.  He then explained that a couple weeks ago he had talked to his neighbor, who had many questions about the church, and gave him a Book of Mormon! So it must have been around the same time we stopped by.  Anyway, the brother said we could have the lessons at his house is his neighbor, M. would be interested or if he still had questions. So, we went over and knocked the door- M. answered but was busy and couldn't meet with us.  However, he was willing to make an appointment for this upcoming Wednesday and even agreed to meet at our members home!  Boom!  Awesome miracle!  Hopefully that will go well and we will have more investigators through member referrals.  We also have that bible study, which should be fun!  Sister Mayer was very excited on Sunday to hear we were coming back and even went over to bishop to explain how it all came to be.

Speaking of Sunday... It was Fast & Testimony Meeting so I was thinking about getting up, since it was my last one as a missionary(dang... mind blown!).  Time passed and a lot of people went, including Elder Warnes, but I didn't want to get up, just to get up.  The testimony meeting went great and there were about 3-4 shout outs to Elder Tavanā and a few to us as well.  I sat there thinking... "Well, if God really wanted me to get up and talk, He would have had me speak or something." Well, as we believe, God knows not only our actions but our thoughts too!  Brother Bond, one of the councilors to the Bishop, came down after sacrament to ask us both to give talks next Sunday!  Haha! Heavenly Father has a sense of humor for sure.

I am really happy to hear about the good week you had, being able to see the other Farley's and go to the ABQ temple!  It will be so great to go to the temple with you all again!  I hope you have a great week momma and enjoy this new year!  I can't believe it's 2015 already!  Time flies.  I miss you and love you.  Keep staying healthy, happy and safe!

Love your son,

Elder Sean Farley