1st Christmas on the Mission!

Elder Farley, Elder Gomez and Elder Bodda

Hey Mom!

What a great week!  I couldn't have imagined a better Christmas away from home.  Brother Weitzner of course treated us well and the King family also made Christmas very special and fun!  I was so stoked to be able to Skype and see all of the family.  It has been wonderful to get pictures of you all over email and of course through Facebook but actually getting to interact via Skype was really special.  I am very glad President Cook is allowing us to Skype home now for Christmas and hopefully Mother's Day.  The only thing I wish we could have had this Christmas was snow.  Being down in the southern part of the mission we are in a lower elevation and close to the ocean so it is actually warmer than the areas closer to DC and the surrounding areas.  So a lot of people got snow but we just got rain. And then it was in the 70's last week so that was lame. ha ha But besides that it was great.

The work in the area has been going back and forth.  Elder Gomez felt inspired to just start calling all the members we have no clue about.  Because what could calling hurt if we never see them anyway!  So far we have been making progress so hopefully we will be able to get a few families back to church and excited for the 9am church schedule of 2014! Woohoo! ha ha We also have had a couple opportunities where we have run into our investigators Curtis and Chelsea.  They are really great people.  Chelsea is finished with 1st Nephi I think already and Curtis is in 1st Nephi right now.  She seems a lot more interested while Curtis seems a little more skeptical and more interested in investigating to start up his own church or something.   But we are going to continue to pray that his mind and heart will be softened along with hers so that we will be able them to both find their own answer to the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of the Gospel.  The really cool thing is that they are always over at the home of the Douglas's home to work on their business that they are starting up.  

Something sort of sad that has been hard for us is that the P. family has not been to church for a while.  They have had some family situations that seem to be holding them back each Sunday even when they commit to coming.  So pray for them that they will get back on track and come to church.  I know they have testimonies, they are just letting Satan get in their way of the things that are most important in their life.  

I am very excited for the new year.  2013 went by so fast, and I know 2014 will be a great year for sharing the Gospel.  The Lexington Park ward is getting excited for the new year's Ward Mission Plan which is: Pray, Share, and Invite.  It is so simple!  I love it.  All in all it is to have courage and faith in what you know is true.  Do not be afraid to pray for those who you care about and pray specifically for them to have open hearts to the Gospel.  Share:  Never hesitate to share what you believe or what something means to you, especially when that something is the Gospel which has brought you so many blessing.  Invite: Reach out to others and invite them to church, FHE, Dinner, Dessert, Movie Night or really anything!  Just show that you love them and want to become better friends.  It seems really simple, but I know it is going to work.  If we all just are friendly and Christ-like people will enjoy our company and want to know why we are so cheerful and friendly.  I love this Gospel!  We all need to unite as members and help our brothers and sisters come back to our Heavenly Father and we can do it by taking simple steps!  It can start any way... Invite, Share or Pray in no specific order.  It just takes that first step.

Keep sharing the Gospel and working hard to unite the ward and love the people around you.  Love you and Miss you!

Love your son,

Elder Sean Farley

P.S.  Merry Christmas Everyone!  Thank you to everyone who has sent out Christmas letters and packages!  Thanks to Mom, Dad and Brian.  Grandma and Grandpa. Summer, Jonny and the Kids.  Rachel.  The Lacey Family. The Marcums. And the Tanners!  Thanks so much everyone you all are great! :)  Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Love you! 

Two days until Christmas!

Hey Mom!  

Dang... Two days until Christmas! I am so excited.  I think you put those Whoppers on the top of my stocking on purpose.  I want to look so bad.  But I am even more excited to Skype you all!!! It is going to be the BEST!  Also, for Christmas we get to watch a movie.  It is sort of like a mission tradition.  We get to watch Monster's University, and I have never been so stoked to watch a kid's movie in my life.  So Christmas should be pretty fun. 

Sounds like all is well at home! Is it going to snow there?  It has been warm here so it looks like NO for us :(  Oh, well.  We will pretend. 

This week at church was the ward Christmas program.  All four missionaries were in the choir and it was really great for the North elders because their investigators came on the best Sunday of the year!  Everyone was full of the Christmas spirit and one of their investigators has Thor hair.  But seriously, I thought a small Thor walked into church, it was awesome!  Also, at church we wore bow-ties to support the young men in the ward that all made a decision to wear them this one Sunday.  Even the Bishop supported them.  Needless to say, it was the coolest day of church ever.   

Later Sunday evening we went over to visit a couple who a recent convert had brought to church the week before.  They were both super receptive.  They had some different religious ideas, but they are super open.  When we asked what they knew about our church they said that they only knew what our recent convert had told them and also what South Park said- Haha!! But it all worked out!  We had a blast teaching them and they are very kind.  They are really just looking for the truth and where they can feel God's presence the most.  We hope that they will continue to come to church as we teach them so that they will feel the Spirit of the Lord multiple times in their lives!  Sharing the Restoration with them was so powerful.  They seemed very curious and are willing to read and pray about the Book of Mormon with open hearts.  So that was an awesome miracle to see!!

R. is still super stubborn.  But we realized this past week that he really does know that the church is true.  He just has been atheist for so long he is too prideful to change.  We talked to him about waking up after death in the Spirit World and he just said that if that does happen then he will do all he can to fix what mistakes that he has made to get to the top.  It makes me really mad, but I wouldn't dare fight the guy... apparently he was Golden Gloves back in the day! I don't remember where but this guy is a champ! haha.  So work will continue on there... hopefully the Spirit will guide us to help us know what to say or share that will help him.

I am so excited for this holiday season!  I love this Gospel so much and the truth that it brings.  Sometimes I think people make things too complicated though.  The great thing about Christmas is that we can all, no matter what race, age, or Christians we are, we all can come together as one and remember the life of our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ.  I love Him so much and I am eternally grateful for His sacrifice that has allowed me to become better each day.  And more importantly, allowed me the opportunity to return to live with Him, Heavenly Father, and my family again- forever.  

I wish you all a happy and safe Chirstmas!  I will see you on Wednesday!  Can't wait to see all your smiling faces!! :D  Keep sharing the gospel and looking for opportunities to serve!  Love you!!

Love your son, 

Elder Sean ("Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color") Farley

P.S.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! <3

Festival of Lights - Washington D.C. Temple

Dear Mom,

Thanks for the email!  It is good to hear that everything is going great for the most part.  Except for people being sick... Hopefully everyone gets better for Christmas!  Being sick on Christmas is the worst!  
Anyway, things here are going great!  We have been decorating different homes in the ward and I am really starting to like it! So when I am home for Christmas in 2 years I will put up all the lights :)  The ward is also doing a Christmas program next week that all four missionaries are a part of... it's just the choir but we are having a fun time at the practices.  We also have gone to see the Festival of Lights twice this year with our Recent Convert, Robert and a second time with our ward!  The ride up the second time was awesome!  It was all four Elders in the ward and Sister M.  She is an older lady who carries all her stuff with her and can talk A LOT!  She is really nice though and she talked the whole way up!  We got to see the Mormon Choir of DC perform and they did an awesome job! 

It is pretty cool to have the split of the area because we can focus more on the people in our own areas.  We are really trying to focus on the less actives and part member families to strengthen them and bring them closer to the Savior.  The President(of the Mission, not Obama.) is really stressing working with the members.  I LOVE the members here.  I have grown to love this area and I am really happy President Cooke is keeping the missionaries in their areas for longer because it makes working with the ward so much easier when they know you and are comfortable with you.  Elder Gomez and I are having a blast working in the area.  It will be interesting to see if he gets his visa this transfer or if he will stay another.  I guess time will tell.  

Can you believe it is almost Christmas time?  Adam Morrow is home too!  So weird!  I feel like he just gave his farewell.  And Tyler is out for a year already!! Wow!  Time flies by when your having fun!  I really am excited for Christmas out here, even though I will miss you all so much.  But getting to Skype you will make it a very merry Christmas :)  I am so excited to be serving in the greatest mission in the Universe and more importantly, to be serving my Master and my Savior, Jesus the Christ.  It is such a wonderful time of the year that we get to spend focusing even more on our Lord.  I love Christmas.  Not just because of the presents and the lights and all the rest that goes into it... but because I get to share about my very best friend who died for all of us so that we can live again.  

I wish you a merry Christmas and hope during the Holiday seasons we can all be more Christ-like and look for opportunities to share the Gospel and help out those who are in need.  Keep on sharing the "good news" and being a light for the whole world to see! 

Love your boy,

Elder Sean Farley

Keep spreading the good news and bringing people closer to Christ!

Hey Momma!

First off... (for the last time..)  FOOTBALL!  SCORPS WIN STATE!  That was the greatest news ever!  I was freaking out.  It is the coolest thing in the world. I am so happy for the whole team, bet even more I am happy for my brother.  Elder Gomez was saying yesterday something like, "Now that your Brother won State he can rub in in your face... that's what I did to my older Brother."  He wanted to see if I was jealous or something.  But no way. Brian is so awesome.  In his email to me,  instead of praising himself and the team, he praises the players we have played before him.  The teams that have built up to this game-to this Championship.  I am more happy for Brian than anyone else in the world could be for their little brother.  And I am even more happy that he is a great man of God.  I know he will be such an amazing missionary.  I love our family so much!  I am so thankful, and I cannot say it enough!

Besides the awesome news of FHS winning the State Championship, another amazing thing happened here is Southern Maryland.  Robert got Baptized!  Wohoo!  It was such an amazing experience.  After he came up out of the water and they shut the font doors he just stood there.  He look petrified at first, so I asked him how he felt. He said, "I feel like a new person... I feel amazing!"  The whole baptismal service went great!  Elder Gomez and I gave talks and the fellow-shipping family gave the opening and closing prayer. And yesterday (Sunday) he was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints :)  and he received the Gift of the Holy Ghost!  He also received the Aaronic Priesthood and he had me ordain him.  (So could you send out a copy of my lineage to give to him.  So this week was amazing!   AS for teaching people we are still teaching the 88 year old eternigator and atheist Rocky... he is amazing though.  I love that guy to death.  Now if only we could get him to READ AND PRAY SINCERELY.  But I have faith in him!  I know he feels the spirit!  

Besides that, we are working to find new people to teach.  It is a little different not having the WHOLE ward boundaries, so now we are working a little differently to find and teach new people.  But I know the Lord will help us! 

To everyone:  I love you all!   Keep spreading the good news and bringing people closer to Christ!  Plus its Christmas time!  So lets all catch that Christmas spirit and pray, share, and invite people to come closer to the Lord. :)
Merry Almost Christmas!

Elder Farley and Bishop's son

Love your missionary,

Elder Farley

Thanksgiving in Maryland

Elder Farley and Elder Gomez - Turkey Bowl 2013

Momma!

I cannot believe it!  Scorpions going to the STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!  My mind is blown!  I am so excited for Brian and the team!  Its a good thing I wasn't in that game because I would have chop blocked the crap out of the guy that hurt Bri.  He would have been DONE!  But Brian is a stud and I know he will do okay no matter what.  I will keep praying for him and the team so hat they can play their best this upcoming week!  Lets win it SCORPS!  

Anyway,  this week has been super great!  Four missionaries down here in Lexington Park and we all had Thanksgiving at Brother Weitzner's home.  It was super good!  Of course it wasn't like Thanksgiving with the family but Bro. W made an amazing feast!  So I was well fed and had an amazing time!  As for the work, it has been pretty tough in the district since Lexington Park and Patuxent both split and now have 4 missionaries each.   So we are busy organizing and meeting members and trying to get the new maps up.  But everything should get finished this week and the work here should explode!  Our ward is starting to get really stoked and are making amazing ward mission plans and goals for 2014!  I want to stay here forever!  I love this ward.  And I love the people in this area!  Robert is good to go for baptism after his interview yesterday and will be getting baptized this Saturday at 10:00am!  I am so excited for him.  He is making such an amazing change in his life.  I love the Gospel so much!  I love seeing how people can change and their lives can become so much better because of how much closer they grow towards Christ.  I know that this Gospel is the ONLY way we can find true, lasting happiness.  The world provides what many think and find to be "fun."  But it is only temporary happiness... only through the Savior Jesus Christ and His perfect Gospel. 

I am super excited for Christmas and the Holidays.  At least during this time of the year people are more welcoming and perhaps even some of the less-actives will be willing to have us over. Then we can help them feel loved and welcomed and realize that this gospel is really what they need to come back to and be a part of. So we are going all over to members homes to strengthen them and get them excited about missionary work!  Because it is not all that frightening.  All it takes is the courage to invite someone.  Just an invite.  It could be to come over for dinner, to come to a ward activity, or even to go see a movie with people that share the same standards as you.  So everyone can do it!  EVERYONE!  I love missionary work!  Keep on spreading the good word and enjoying this Christmas season where we get to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! 

Happy Holidays everyone!! I love you all and I hope everyone is going great! :)

Love,

Elder Farley

Lexington Park for ALL of the Holidays!

Hey Momma,

Wow!  So this week kind of snuck up on me.  It is already transfers this week!  For the first time in about a year they did call-in nights on Sunday night to tell us if we are leaving or staying... but not only that... They told us who is going where and who our new companions are!  Pretty cool.  So it looks like no more transfer meetings.  But we will go up on Wednesday to trade out our car for a new Chevy Cruze :)  Yay!  Also, the iPads should come in around the 9th and then we will get them on the 10th I think. iPad mini's with 32 Gigs! That is what I heard anyway.  And I guess because of the expenses we will not get iPhones until next year.  But I am not complaining!!  So.... next transfer I will continue to train Elder Gomez but we will be splitting our ward.  Also, our roommates who are in Patuxent's ward will also be splitting so they are moving to a new apartment and we will be staying in the old one.  Kinda bummed about staying in the old one... it's been here since the dinosaurs.  But we are happy to have more elders down here!  I guess they need more elders to help out with the work.  Now the Members just have to get on board to support the change.  But they are great people and I know they will.  So our District also changed too.  It will only be Lexington Park elders and Patuxent elders. 8 Elders still in the District but we will no longer have the Calvert Elders there.  

It is so cool to hear that the Scorps are going to the Semi-Finals!  They have to go ALL-THE-WAY!!  I am very proud of Brian and excited for him and the team.  Such and amazing year!  Just stay motivated and STOKED everybody.  I know if they stick to it and give it their all they will never, ever regret this year!  Lets kick some Belen butt!! 

Everything here in Lexington Park is going great!  I am very excited to know I will be spending Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years down here!!  And I get to stay with my "boy" so I am happy.  We are going to the turkey bowl this Thursday morning... I will be wearing my Scorp gear to support my boys back home!  And we also went to the Mall to do a missionary turkey bowl for P-day today.  It was a blast! The team that I was on beat everyone!!  Our team was stacked.  But missionary work wise everything is very good.  We have been teaching a members friend named Robert.  He is awesome!  Really quiet and shy but such a spiritual giant.  He is on date to be baptized the 7th of December.  :)  Now we just have to find more people to teach so the ward can grow and everyone can have plenty of friends :)  I am so excited. Bishop has set a goal for 20 baptisms for this upcoming year of 2014.  I know this ward can do it.  They have so much potential... not its just time to utilize their abilities and come together as a team!

Well I just want to tell you all that I love you so much.  It was really great to see some of the football games and pictures and videos of the family back at home.  I am so happy everyone is doing well.  Tell everyone I love them and miss them.  Oh and tell Jonny I am going to come home yolked!  So he better get jacked :) ha-ha   Keep up the great work everyone... and remember to always put God first.  I know that the world gets in the way a LOT, but if we just take a step back and remember what matters most in this life we can CTR and find lasting peace and joy while we are here on earth!  

Love your boy,

Sean or Elder Farley :)

More Baptisms in L.P.!

Hello Momma,

Things here in Lexington Park are going well.  We have been working with the Ward Council and the Bishop to help reach out to every person in the ward to help people come back and feel loved here.  We are seeing the ward slowly come closer and become more unified.  Also, Chris and Daniel got baptized this week!!  And Chris also got the priesthood!  It was so great to be able to see how far they have come and the dedication they have to go forward even through hard times in order to stay close to the Lord. We are really hoping we get to stay together for another transfer, Elder Gomez and I, so that we can keep the area going and to be able to see more miracles!  

I am so blessed to have a supportive family who has always helped me in everything I do.  I am also very grateful for the blessing it is to be sealed to a family that I know I want to be with forever.  It only makes sense to me that God wants our lives to be this way.  I am serving this mission to bring my other brothers and sisters to the same knowledge that I have.  I want to help them develop their own testimonies and to come unto Christ so that they too can have an eternal family and find the path that leads to eternal life.  I love this gospel and I always want it to be a part of my life! 

I love you and hope all is well!  :)  Keep spreading the word!

Love,

Elder Farley

The Work Continues to Move Forward in L.P.

Hey Momma!

It was a happy day for me when I got to hear that Farmington not only beat PV, again, but also is ranked #2 in state! STATE! Woohoo!  Ha ha I am very excited and happy for those guys.  Take it all Scorps! I am also glad to hear Jacob and Danny's family came to Farmington and did so well in their game!  Too bad the politics had to get in the way of all of it.  Oh well... at least they know they are still the best.  :)  

This past week has gone very well!  Chris and Daniel are still working towards their baptism this weekend and are very excited.  It was really awesome this week because Chris has really changed a lot and has received a lot of support from his non-member family as well as his wife's parents who are LDS.  He has explained all these good things that have happened since he has been working towards baptism and he understands and is learning the doctrine very well.  His son Daniel is doing great too!  He loves primary and is really fitting in there.  He might even get into the scouting program here! So Elder Gomez and I are SO happy for them and for the opportunity we have to be part of their lives and the wonderful decision they are making.  

We also met a really cool investigator who is currently dating a member of our ward.  His name is Robert and he is investigating the church and has already accepted to be baptized once he has prayed and asked God if what we are sharing with him is true.  Yesterday was his second time coming to church and he seems to really enjoy it!  He says the feeling that he gets when he walks in is a feeling like being home!  When he said that I really felt the Spirit and knew that the Spirit had touched him when he went!  So we testified of the Spirit and helped him understand that it was letting him know that where he was, was where God needed him to be.  So he is amazing and he seems to be moving forward towards baptism soon :)  Pray for him and the P. family!  

I love sharing the gospel and I am so thankful for those members and even non-members who guide us to the ones they know who are ready to receive the message of the Restored gospel!  It really is amazing... and even better... IT. IS. TRUE.  And I know that.  Although we are hit with doubts throughout our lives may times in may different ways, there is nothing that can be more assuring than the Spirit of God touching our hearts.  I know that we have a Savior.  I know that He loves us and died for us so that we might live again.  I know that this work is His work, and that we can all pitch in together and help spread this GREAT news to the whole world!  It may sound very hard to take such a big step, but it is really just a small one.  Reaching out to friends in need.  Being there for someone and just showing that you care.  Ultimately showing how the gospel of Jesus Christ has changed and blessed our lives and being the example we need to be so that others will want to share in these wonderful blessing.  We can ALL do it.  We all share the gospel... We can invite people to be touched by the gospel.  But it all starts with the first step... so do it.  I know the Lord will bless all those who do His will by participating in His work.

I love you all and pray for you always.  :)

Love your boy,

Elder Farley

All is Well in this Small Part of Zion We Call Lexington Park

Hello Mom!!

Wow!  This past week was so great!  We have been having such an amazing time here in Lexington Park.  The trees are full of color.  The leaves are falling.  It is getting very chilly.  Our investigator got Baptized!  It was so awesome.  She was just beaming the whole time, especially after the ordinance.  Bishop asked her how she felt and all she could say was, "I am just so very happy right now."  And yesterday during church I had the amazing privilege of confirming her.  And then her husband got up and bore his testimony in front of everyone and it was LEGIT!!  I love that family a ton!  And they are always so happy to see us whenever we stop by.  As for special things we do at baptisms... I can't really thing of any.  Snacks at the end?!  :) That's always good! Ha ha

Okay.  Now its time to talk about football.  I AM SO STOKED!  Brian is killing it!  Same with the others in the ward.  All you Farmington 5th ward guys congrats!  Elder Farley loves you!  Ha ha keep on working hard and don't lose "THE STOKE".  Keep on fighting to the end, because you have to get the District and STATE title!  It is so sweet that we are ranked #2.  Mind blown.  I am very proud of those guys. Especially my little brother.  Good thing I am taller or I would have to call him a BIG brother ha ha.  and... Destroy PV.  Enough Said.

The ward here seems to be slowly picking up on the missionary effort, but they ARE!  Which is the important part.  We are starting to do role-plays with them, showing them how easy it is to share the gospel. And when you role-play you are able to get the awkwardness out a little bit and feel more confident in inviting you friends, families and strangers.  And I know it works because missionaries do role-plays all. the. time.  ha ha.  Elder Gomez and I are having a great time though.  We are getting along and working hard to improve the area and stay accountable as the Lord's servant.  He is just a little green still, so he doesn't understand and like all the rules. ;)  But he will get over it ha ha.  Oh!  And the P. family are on date for the 16th of November still so pray for them and us so that we can teach them according to their needs!  We are hoping for a lot of success in the near future here!  So all is well in this small part of Zion we call Lexington Park.  Keep up the GREAT work in Farmington and everywhere else!  I love you all so much and am so happy to be part of this Gospel.  It is SO true and everyone needs it in their life.  Even if they don't know it yet. :) 

Love your Elder, 

Sean

Hey Dad!

Thanks for the letter with all the good news!  I am still so stoked that we beat Aztec.  And it sounds like we had a good win against Kirtland. How was Kirtland this year anyway?  I am pretty excited for Facebook on Saturday to hear how the Scorps do!  We must beat PV!  I will be wearing the shirt mom sent me for the white out to bed Friday night!  And Brian is tearing it up!!  14 TDs already!  Wow.  He is a stud.  I really think Brian has the natural talent, desire, and ability to go further with a football career.  He is a stud!  And tell Kyle Reynolds to put Clafton on his butt for me :D  It looks like PV needs their annual reminder of who runs F-Town!  Go Scorps!

Go Scorps!! 

The missionary work is going well. The baptism went really well and it was a real blessing to be able to confirm her. I have never done that before, and honestly I felt pretty calm when giving the blessing... not to nervous at all.  We are still teaching Chris and Daniel P.  They are on date for the 16th of this month so we are hoping they can BOTH be ready for that date.  We are also teaching a 86 year old man who goes by Rocky.  His wife is very active but he is atheist.  However, he has a three book series called "the gun of Joseph Smith" and he can defend the Book of Mormon better than most people I know with pure evidence and proof!  Not even with a testimony from the Spirit.  But I believe that the Spirit has touched him in many ways.  He just hasn't fully recognized it yet.  So pray for the P. family and Rocky C. 

I am very happy to hear that all is going well with the missionary work in the ward!  Keep being the good example you are for them.  I know that You, Mom, and Brian are such great examples for our ward.  Just keep up what you are doing and don't forget to do the little things.  Because when we get away from daily scripture study, family and personal prayer, and other things like that- we tend to not have the Spirit with us as strong as we used to.  But I know you are all doing so great :)

The weather here is getting chilly fast!! But we are enjoying the opportunity to be wearing sweaters a lot!  I love the leaf colors out here!  SO many trees and really amazing colors.

Thanks again for emailing me Dad!  I am so thankful for your strong testimony that keeps me going strong and helps me never lose hope.  I love you and our family so much.  Let them all know that I do.  Keep doing the Lord's work and I will too!  :)    I love you Dad.

Love your boy,

Elder Farley

Fall in Southern Maryland!

Baptism in the Calvert Ward

Hello Momma!

This past week has been very eventful and very fun!  This past Saturday I was able to baptize a lady from the Calvert Ward.  She and her friend got baptized on the same day at the Calvert chapel.  It was a really awesome experience. We also have been teaching our investigator from Peru a ton as she is getting ready for her baptism.  She had he baptismal interview last night by Elder Loveless and she is still doing great and is going to be baptized November 2nd at 10:00 am.  Another miracle has been the P. family.  We watched the Joseph Smith restoration video with them and extended a baptismal date for the 16th of November and they accepted!  Also, Chris P. told us that he has felt like Joseph Smith before, wondering which of all the churches here on earth is the true church!  

Elder Gomez and I have been seeing a ton of miracles.  It just goes to show that working hard with obedience and faith really is the best way to do this work.  Work can be fun!  Dad was right :)  I am loving it here.  I hope I get to stay in this ward past Christmas.  Now that our Bishop is back the ward is really starting to come together.  Work is getting done.  

I am loving the fall season.  So far we have already carved pumpkins, scraped ice off our windows, and are listening to Michael Buble's Christmas album.  And its funny because I remember last year at this time my roommate Jacob Parker was starting to listen to Christmas music and I was ticked! Ha ha I did not want to listen to Christmas music until December because I knew it would ruin it for me if we started listening to it early.  But now I love it!! Sorry Jacob!!  Ha ha.  Anyway, the leaves are changing and we are having a wonderful time down here in Southern Maryland, serving in the best mission in the Universe! 

Southern Maryland in Fall

Keep on sharing the gospel and looking for missionary opportunities!  You all are the best!!!!!  

Love your son,

Elder Farley

ps:  We went out to a ranch for P-day.  Fed some horses too :)  This big guys name is Buddy!

Buddy & Elder Farley

Monday P-Days!!

Laser Tag in Lexington Park

Hey Momma!

This week has been really great.  Our bishop in the Lexington Park ward is home from deployment in Afghanistan, I have already done two baptismal interviews, our investigator is ON DATE!, and I have not single-handedly destroyed the mission yet as District Leader. :) But being District Leader has been great! Weird because my roommates salute me every now and then.  But awesome because I get to know the missionaries in the district a LOT better.  I love the missionaries here :)  They are all super great.  The other cool thing is that I get to go to leadership meetings and see President and Sister Cooke more along with the other leaders in the mission!  Dang, a lot of the leadership has left to go home and more will be going soon.  It is weird because so many missionaries are on different stages of their mission and then all of the sudden they are DEAD! But not really dead just dead from missionary life. The only down side as a district leader is when they call in super late and I get less sleep.  But it doesn't matter because I am always tired!  Ha-ha Missionary life will do that to you though I guess.  My new companion, aka my son/Elder Gomez, is doing great!  He is really picking things up and working hard.  He also likes to work out and get JUICED!  So we are going to be giant! 

I will be honest though, I really don't have a ton to write this week.  But I just want to bear my testimony to everyone on missionary work and this gospel:
I know with all my heart that this work I am engaged in is the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I know that He directs it through Thomas S. Monson and that this work "shall go forth boldly, nobly and independently" and it will NEVER stop until Christ comes again and says that this work is finished.  This IS Christ's church and I know with all my heart that it was restored through Joseph Smith.  Not reformed, not changed in anyway... But restored exactly to how it would have been when Christ was in His earthly ministry.  And that same priesthood He had, is here on earth again.  I know this is true.  And it is because God has answered my prayers over and over again, reassuring me that it is the TRUTH.  

Never let up.  Never give up.  Reach out to others as Christ would.  Love others as Christ would.  And you will never go wrong.  :)  I love you all.  Keep working hard to invite others to this great gospel :)

Love your favorite missionary,
Elder Farley

A Trainer & the DL in Lexington Park!

Elder Farley with Elder Gomez

Hey Family and friends!

Well, this week was another transfers meeting and today I got to meet my new companion!  Elder Gomez! He is from Tyler, Texas and he is a country boy!  He is great.  And he is actually a visa waiter, who will be going to Belem, Brazil.  I am really excited to train.  I am nervous, but I know Heavenly Father will help me out.  On top of all that I am now the new District Leader for the Lexington Park District. Freak!!!  SO pray for me.... but mostly my district.  I hope I can be a good leader for them.  I will do my best to follow Christ's example. 

Family Photo- Papa Anderson, Son Farley and Grandson Gomez

As for the work in the area, we actually had a break-through with our investigator. She is married to a recent convert of about a year and she is from Peru.  She kept saying she would maybe get baptized once I got married... ONCE I GET MARRIED??? So that was quite the barrier for us helping her towards baptism. But out of nowhere she messaged me on Facebook and said she is ready and wants to be baptized soon! Like in a month!  So I am super excited to hear that :)  We are going to see her tonight, and what is very helpful is that Elder Gomez speaks Spanish!  SUCCESS!! 

Well, I will keep you all updated on how everything goes!  I am so excited for the area. I really love it down here.  Our bishop is back this week from his 6 month deployment and tonight we are eating steak at brother Weitzner's. Oh! our new roommate with Elder Fuller is now Elder Lanham! Wohoo! :)

I love the gospel, and I love missionary work!  It is the BEST thing I could ever do and I plan on doing it for the rest of my life :)

Love you all!

Let the Lessons Begin!!

Love,

Elder Farley

Conference...it was the Bee's Knee's

Elder Jensen and Elder Farley "October Twinin' Ties"

Hello!! 

Conference... it was the Bees-Knees.  That is all that needs to be said.  Ha ha but seriously all the missionary work talks were legit!  All I want to do is go around saying "Exclamation Point!" after everything when I heard S. Gifford Nielsen's talk.  BAM!  And then Elder Bednar's talk about Tithing was super awesome too. He laid down the law like a champ.  Needless to say... conference was great. Anyone who hasn't watched General Conference needs to go watch it on LDS.org!! Now!  Ha ha.

Anyway, the work here is going great.  We had four investigators watch Conference and we picked up another investigator last night.  She is a non-member who is married to a less-active member and they have a 7 year old son.  They are awesome!  They are very nice to us and are welcome to us sharing the Gospel with their family.  Last night we watched "Finding Faith in Christ", which is a wonderful shorter film that depicts Christ's life wonderfully, and they seemed to really enjoy it.  Afterward we bore our testimony of Christ and how reading the scriptures and praying would help their family come closer to Him.  When I testified of the scriptures, I was only going to talk about the Bible since I supposed she had no clue about the Book of Mormon yet, but the Spirit told me to testify of the Bible and Book of Mormon.  So I did!  We then got to explain to her about the Book of Mormon and what it is and where it came from.  Then we set up a time to come back and share the Restoration lesson with them!  I am so STOKED for them!  I really hope they all come to accept this great message and decide to come into the Fold :)  I just love doing missionary work.  If anyone wanted to know.... The Missionary life is the best.  Hands down.

I am super excited to hear about the win over St. Pius X!!  Ha ha, I just can't get away from football.  I love hearing how Brian and the team are doing.  Keep it up Scorps!

Okay everybody.... So Facebook is officially being used in the Washington DC North Mission!  Crazy right! But that doesn't mean I can just chat it up with everybody... unless its about the GOSPEL :)  Then we can chat all the time!  If anyone has any questions or interests in our religion and would like to know more from their friend Elder Farley, then hit me up on the FB!  

The work is hastening.  And this IS the Lord's work.  I know this gospel is true and that the Book of Mormon is true.  I am so very thankful for a Heavenly Father who has provided a Plan of Salvation for us so that through Christ and His Atonement, we can live with Him again.  And not only that but we can live with our families forever!!  And that is just the greatest gift I could ever imagine!  

I love you all and am so thankful for your prayers and support!  You are so great! :)  Keep working hard and sharing the gospel with the world!  

Love, 

Elder Farley

Building a Mini City of Enoch

Hey there Momma!

Looks like a lot is going on back at home!  Conference this week, Dad is Ward Mission Leader now, we beat Valencia and have St. Pius this week... Things sounds great!  I am really excited for you all to go to conference this weekend!  I cannot wait!  My second conference on the mission and its only been a year since President Monson announced the missionary age change!  That is so crazy.  I am so grateful for the experience I have had with Conference on the mission.  It is so awesome to be 100x more focused when watching it ha ha!  I am especially excited for Holland to throw down like usual :)

It sounds like the Halloween decorations this year will not be limited in any way.  I love seeing all the Fall/Halloween decorations up!  It reminds me of all the fun parties we had back in Farmington at our home.  Good times... plus Brian is going to be THOR!... I am stoked to see those pictures.  Oh and I cannot wait for G-ma famous cookies :) 

Well WAAAAY down south there is a couple Elders named Elder Jensen and Elder Farley and they are building a mini-city of Enoch!  And they don't care how long it takes!  Last Friday we had interviews with President and he told us that he wants missionaries to be in areas for a lot longer than they have been in the past so that the trust in the ward can increase a lot more.  I am excited.  A lot of progress is being made here.  It may be slow... progressing from a walk to a jog.  But soon we will be sprinting like Usain Bolt up in here!! I love this area/ward!  This past week we got three new investigators!  Two are a father and son who are having a pretty rough time but they are turning to the Lord instead of the world which is a GREAT first step.  Also a recent convert's wife is starting to show interest and we are teaching her tonight about what a blessing is and how it works then we are going to give her a priesthood blessing of comfort since they are also going through a tough time.  I am so STOKED for the work that is going on down here in Southern Maryland.  Also, our WML(Ward Mission Leader) is the man!  He is helping us so much.  We are doing a lot of member work, trying to help them get pumped about the work and become missionaries in their everyday lives.  So things are going great!

I KNOW this gospel is true!  I love serving as a missionary and recognize the blessing it is to serve at this time where the work is moving so quickly.  I KNOW this Church is the true restored church of Jesus Christ and I know that He runs it through the Prophet Thomas S. Monson.  I love the Gospel.  I love my Father in Heaven and the blessings that He has given me.  I love you all and am so thankful for all that you do for me.  Never get discouraged.  Never lose hope.  Keep strong and put your Faith in the Lord and His might work :)  

Love,

Elder Farley :)

This Is the Work of God, people!

Hello!!

Today was a pretty great day!  We went to the Temple and so the whole ride up, which was two hours, I tried to catch up on letters.  So it looks like a three year old was writing them... eh.  Oh, well.   The Temple was great, as always!  I love the Spirit that we are able to feel there.  It is so great to be on a mission and to be able to grow closer to my Heavenly Father and to participate as a missionary for our Savior.  I love it so much!  As for the work here, it is going well.  We are working with this less active family whose kids are not members.  They are really sweet and hopefully we will be able to meet them soon and teach them about the Plan of Salvation!  We are also doing a lot of work to get this area organized and running well.  We are also striving to get the member work going and to get people STOKED!  This is the work of GOD people!  Lets get the message out to our friends!  As soon as I get to use Facebook I will be joining all of you as a member missionary :)  

So one of the days this week we were went out on bikes to save our miles since we were coming short.  We started biking to dinner and these people rode by yelling, "JESUS! JESUS! JESUS!"  Then we rode up to them at the stop light and they were super stoked about how we were on missions and stuff.  We wanted to talk more but the light turned green and we had to move.  Right after that we see this guy poke his head out of his car and he yelled, " GET A REAL LIFE!"  I don't know why it was so funny but I started to laugh so hard!   It makes me chuckle a little that people think we are wasting time.  This is the best experience of my life.  I would change it for anything.  

As for things back at home... it sounds like it was a bit of a rough week with the double losses.  BYU and the Scorps :(  But I know we will bounce back this week and destroy Valencia!  I can't wait to hear about it!  Also, tell the Farleys, both Danny's family and Uncle David and Ann, that I say hi!  

Sorry for such a short one.  We have to get going!!  But I love you all and I am always praying for you.  Keep up the hard work!

Love,

Elder Farley

This Work is TRUTH!

Momma!

I feel like I have so much to tell you!!  So yep.  I get to use Facebook in like a month.  Papa (Elder) Anderson called me and told me he got to chat with ya, so that was a fun convo!  All I know right now is that when we get to use it we get to teach anyone and everyone that is interested in the Church.  Our member friends and family can be our "member presents" on Facebook and Skype!  So sweet, huh?!  And around December we get companionship iPhones and our own personal iPads!  Double Mind BLOWN!!  I am so stoked!  But as for right now, same old missionary work... which is the best still!  I love it down here!   We get fed a lot! Now I work out morning and night(sometimes) so I don't get HUGE!  Ha ha.  One of my roommates likes to run, so we do that Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.  The weather is slowly changing and there is a hint of Fall in the air.  I am so excited for it.  It is going to be so beautiful down here. 

I love hearing about all your Halloween ideas and costumes.  I think I will just go as a Missionary Hockey Player.  Take out my flipper, throw some eye black on... BAM!  Easiest costume ever.  Oh, and congrats to the Scorpions!  Another win under the belt and now Durango!  Time to kick some demon butt!  Can't wait to hear how it goes!  Also, Brian is a boss.  He did so good this game!  I love hearing about the games each week. Its the best!

Today we went to Point Look Out again!  (which happens to have the most haunted lighthouse in the U.S.)   It was so fun!  Cold, but fun.  We got some pretty good pictures, even if I did take them myself ;)  So once again a successful trip!  I think I have been enough for one year though ha ha.  The work here is going well.  Oh!  We went to the Nationals game too!  That was the best!  We were on the Jumbo-Tron...again and we were going crazy!  The DC South Mission was there too... so it was like missionary overload!  So awesome!  Oh course when Bryce Harper got up Elder Anderson yells, "GO TO CHURCH!!"  Ha-ha I love that guy... he is crazy though. :)  

We have been doing tons of organizing in the area. And we are doing all we can to turn the missionary work to the members and help them work with their family, friends, and co-workers.  I know this is the way the Lord wants it done.  And I know it will work.  Because it is His way.  I love being  missionary here in the Washington D.C. North Mission.  It is the best mission "In the Universe".-President Cooke.  I know this work is the TRUTH and it cannot be stopped.  I love my Father in Heaven and am so thankful for His wonderful Plan of Happiness/Salvation!  All His children need this message and those who have already received it must share it with all those we can.  It truly changes the lives of all those we meet and all those who accept the message and act upon it.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God and that His Church has been Restored through Joseph Smith.  I KNOW IT.  And I will never deny it.    

I love you all and know that Heavenly Father is watching out for you.  Keep working hard and always choose the right!  

Love your Southern Maryland Missionary,

Elder Farley!

Lexington Park Ward

Hello Momma!

Sounds like everything is going good in F-town :)  Good to hear that the Scorpions did some damage to Los Alamos.  I can't wait to hear about next weeks game.  All I'm saying is that Brian better get more recognition on NMPreps.  

So you all are having some good ol' New Mexican rain storms, huh?  I miss those.  Down here is was starting to cool off but it is pretty warm today.  By the time Friday rolls around it should be pretty cool.  Perfect weather for the Nats game.  I am really excited for the change of seasons here.  With all the trees and leaves it should be very colorful. Southern Maryland is SUPER green.  But already we are seeing some color change in the leaves.  Everyone says the trees look amazing during fall.    

Lexington Park ward is really awesome. The work here right now is pretty slow.  Not really any investigators with tons of potential except for one family who might be interested. I really loved being in a singles ward on my mission... I wouldn't trade it for anything.  But I miss the family wards a lot!  I love little kids.  They are my favorite.  They come screaming and yelling whenever they see us.  "ITS THE MISSIONARIES!!" I love it.  Oh, which reminds me:  Can you look online for fun spiritual thoughts/mini lessons I can use for dinner appointments when we go see families with little kids.  They are so easily distracted...  I need to just go sit in primary and learn how to teach in there. Ha ha.  

So this week we have been doing tons of organizing with the area and going around trying to meet with less-actives.  We have a lot in this ward.  Right not we have one family, the Boothe's who seem to be showing some interest in the church who we are meeting with tomorrow.  Hopefully they will commit to church this week.  It would be so great to see them progressing.  The other ward that shares our building, Patuxent, is super good at missionary work and possibly have a solid potential investigator for us this Sunday.  Keep praying for us to find the ELECT!  I know Heavenly Father sent me down to this area for a reason and I cannot wait to find those brothers and sisters who have been waiting to hear this great message. All I know is that God has called me in this area for a reason.   And I plan on accomplishing whatever He wants me to do.

Now that I have had a full week with roommates as a missionary I can say that roommates are the best!!  It is so much fun to be home at night and to have us all talking to each other.  Now I know why everyone hated going back to two mans.  :D   

Something that I learned this week that I want all future missionaries to know is that is someone is a "Do-Not-Contact"... there is probably a reason.  People down here can get TICKED when you stop by ha ha.  It is such a different environment down here in southern Maryland. 

Anyway, nothing to crazy happening here.  I love doing missionary work and serving the Lord.  I know this is the place I am suppose to be and I know that this is truly the Lord's work.  Keep on looking for opportunities to share the gospel with everyone! I know God will bless you all and you will be able to feel more peace and happiness in your life than ever before.  I love you all!  

Love,

Elder Farley

Sent to the Country!!

E. Farley, Papa AJ and "New Brother" E. Cannon

Howdy folks!

I say howdy because I just got sent to the country of Maryland!  I am waaaaay down here by point look-out in Lexington Park!  Everyone is the mission calls it "outer darkness"  because it is so far away from the rest of our mission areas.  My companion is Elder Jensen and he is from West Jordan, Utah!  He seems like an awesome kid.  I am really excited for this transfer, I'm a Senior! I will miss Elder Broadhead though.  He was such a funny/fun guy to be around and he taught me a lot!  Oh!  And our ward mission leader is awesome!  His name is Brother Weitzner!  He drops banks on the missionaries and is the sweetest guy EVER.  So that is exciting... but I will really miss Jason, Gerald and Kira from Glenn Dale.  They were the TRUTH!  :)

 

Elder Jensen

So I don't have too much news... We get to go to another Nationals game this year.  The 13th of September when they play Philadelphia.  It is for the day of service and President Cooke got all the missionaries tickets.  What a boss. 

I have a good story though.  So this last Saturday we went to Greenbelt Park for a Labor Day festival where a bunch of booths were along with a carnival.  It was super cool!   We were there setting up at 9:30 all the way until we packed up at 4:00.  We were sharing pamphlets, pass-along cards, and Book of Mormons to everyone!  We even got permission from the police and the information desk to do a GIANT plan of salvation drawing on the blacktop/parking lot.  It was seriously the most glorious depiction of the Plan of Salvation ever.  But when we got to the "death" part of the Plan there was some lady that lost her mind and told on us and was saying we were preaching about death and jone... I was.... ANGRY(the way Chris Farley would say it).  So the Lady who was "in charge" came over yelling at us telling us to get rid of it.  Ummm.... what do you want me to do lady?  There is no water anywhere nearby. (we drew it in chalk btw)  So she directed us to some water we could get into buckets and go clean it up.  We kept our cool and did as she said so that we could represent the Church nicely.  Seriously though, people are ridiculous and do NOT no how to deal with situations. 

But on the bright side we had a new investigator in Glenn Dale on date for baptism next month!  Her name is Gabby and she is SOOO amazing!  She literally has the best questions and is so interested in learning about the gospel and making the right decision to follow Jesus Christ and do what God wants her to do.  I know she is a very strong spirit.  Satan has been trying really hard to keep her from getting an answer and so we gave her a blessing of comfort.  That blessing was seriously the most powerful blessing I have ever been a part of!  It was amazing!  The Spirit was so strong!  My testimony of the Priesthood became even stronger and I know even more now, that Heavenly Father really loves us and cares about us!  He wants us to be happy and to know the truth.  When we work hard and follow His commandments we are able to be blessed more than we can imagine.  I know that God and Jesus Christ love us more than we can comprehend.  I know they are watching over us and helping us grow and progress in this life.

I love you all so much and am so happy to be a part of your lives.  Keep on staying strong and remember to be continually FEASTING upon the word of God.  It is really what keeps us strong throughout the day and what helps us stay close to Father in Heaven. 

Love,

Elder Farley