It was awesome seeing you all!

*We enjoyed talking to Zachary on Christmas Day!  He skyped us from an internet cafe in Iquique.  He only had a little over an hour, but talked with Megan, Jacob and Jordan and then Dave and I.  He was then able to talk to Kaleb!  It was cool to hear them say things in their languages and see the similarities.  They talked about their goals each week, and those were very different because of the different countries they are in:)  It made our Christmas to be able to talk to these boys, they are loved and missed! 

*This is Zac's letter on Monday, December 30, 2013

Yeah Grandma told me whats going on with Grandpa Shepherd. I hope he gets better, sounds like hes in pretty bad shape. But Grandpa's a tough guys he will get through it,  we will definitely be praying for him.

It was awesome seeing you all!  We had a good Christmas day. I don't  know if I ever explain how they celebrate Christmas here but they do it in the night. They stay up til 12 and open all there presents and then play will them all night. Then sleep in the morning on Christmas day. So we went to a dinner with family and then at like 9 00 Then waited in the pension from 1030 til 1200 and we opened our gifts. We drew names, us four and everybody bought sweet gifts. I got a cup to drink mate. Its pretty sick I don't know if you know what mate is, you should look it up, I know it exists in the states. Its this drink that gives you energy, it's good! Then Christmas night we went and taught an investigator. This week we have dinner for New Years with our ward mission leader. Hes a really nice guy and served with a bunch of gringos so he knows how to make American food :) 

This week went well! We found new people to teach. We found this guy in the street that told us he wants to change his life and be baptized. So we told him to meet with us at the Church Tuesday but he was a little drunk, but hopefully we can change him. Ha then we found this Colombian who was really interested. She told us about how she doesn't believe there's a true church and that each person finds there own true church. We told and testified that God would not be an artist of so much confusion. So she committed to read and pray and go to Church to see if she feels its true. Than this other girl, Maria, was planning to go to Church. Her dad is a member, but she isn't. Anyway she didn't go to church, but during sacrament came to church and told us sorry. I was like, wow she really wanted to come. We want to put a date for baptism this week. That's about it, I'm used to this sector and I feel like were good friends with the members. The members gave me 3 references on Sunday. They all came to me haha, I thinks its because I talk a lot to everyone. It was cool tho. We're working with members :) 

Well I love you guys!  Thanks for skyping, it was awesome. Miss you,  but time flies ;) 

Love you!

Elder Farnworth

FELIZ NAVIDAD!!

This week we had a pretty good week. It’s kinda of been hard because the majority of our investigators sell things for week in like swap meets, so we weren’t able to find them and also we couldn’t get anyone in church. It was one of the weeks where you look back and say "good thing next week will be better" But I think it was cause we just have a lot of people that aren’t that interested. It’s a interesting sector, everyone is from different countries. But we have some solid references and a ton of families helping us out in the work.

We had a sweet lesson with the guy Rodrigo with the Bishop. It was cool because we were just walking and we felt we should go visit him. Well actually it was my comp, I was being a little less patient and said I don’t know, he’s kinda of an eternal investigator. But we went and had a super spiritual lesson. He had told us that he didn’t know why he needed to be baptized. I shared John 3:3-5 and said straight up we are not here just to get people to go to Church or just to get baptized cause we want them too. It’s to open the doors to the Celestial Kingdom... And he sat there thinking. Then said but I haven’t gotten an answer. I said how did you feel when you prayed. He said calm.. The bishop started talking a bit explaining how he will feel when he feels the spirit. But I felt like that was his answer, so I shared D&C 6:23 I think it is. That says I spoke peace to your heart, what more of an answer do you need from God? And he just sat there thinking. Then said know what, I did feel a lot more peaceful that night than any other night... So we said will you be baptized, but he still said not yet. But said he would, just doesn’t know when. The spirit was so strong though. Were going to keep working with him, he's an awesome dude, It was cool spiritual experience for us.

Then we had a ward party Saturday and brought 3 people. They liked it and made friends, it was good. There’s this thing they do here in Chile where Santa drives around in like trucks and takes presents to kids houses and throw candy out. It’s kinda of annoying cause they honk a ton all day but its cool for the kids ha. I took some pics. Its weird thought because it doesn’t feel like Christmas still... it’s too hot and there’s no snow haha. Anyways I’m stoked for skyping. I’m going to get on at like 3:30 to have a half hour with Kaleb there too. Would that be all right? 

Well, love you all take care and FELIZ NAVIDAD!!

Elder Farnworth 

Feeding pigeons on p-day morning while we ate bread for breakfast, haha we're poor

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Probably My Last Area

Here are pics of my new place. This week were able to find a lot of people. We have a lot of eternal investigators. or people who have been investigating the Church forever but won't get baptized. We got him to go to church and we want to get him to get baptized Christmas day for his family. It would be a cool surprise. But we have a baptism on the 28th looks like. It's not for sure for sure. But we have a lot of people we just need to get them progressing and keep looking. We have this lady Sophia who used to hate Mormons and now she asks a million questions and is really interested in knowing if the Book of Mormon is true. Also we have that young couple who we are working there papers out and they should get baptized next month. Other than that we are in the finding process. But we got 10 referrals this week so we can;t complain much. The work is moving. 

Gizile, from Paipote, got baptized and wrote that it was one of the best decisions she has made and that she felt a calm feeling. She loved it and now wants to help her family. And when she gets back to Brazil she'll live close to the temple so she will be able to go. Like I told dad, it's awesome seeing less actives and converts going to the temple! 

Funny story. This week we taught this kid who was like a punk. I guess hes been a rebel his whole life. But we shared Mosiah 2:41 with him and I told him that really this is the way to TRUE happiness. And he said, "Man you guys gotta be here for a reason and I want to change I just don't know when I will." I told him now and he was stoked to have us keep coming. He just couldn't go to church. He's 25 and I think he is a drug dealing because his house is unreal. ha ha But he's awesome. 

Anyway that's about it from this week. We had to go to Antofagasta because my comp was sick but now he's good. Hope everything is alright at home. I haven't checked this area out for Skype but we can do it later. Like 4pm would probably be good for us. I would imagine there will be no problems but I will let you know next week. Thanks for the packages and for the pics. Love you guys!

Elder Farnworth

These are all pics of where my apartment is. Sweet!

New Area ... Lot's Of Work To Do

My new comp is a stud. He is from Argentina and he's a goof. He jokes non stop. Elder Levi. The town we live in, Iquique, is right on the beach. Literally a walk across the street, Climb over a few rocks and I would be in the water ha ha. It's an awesome place. The work is getting better ...  well going to be getting better. We are downtown. So there isn't a lot of houses. But there are a ton of people in each house, People come from Bolivia and Peru a lot and live in my sector. So we don't have any Chileans as investigators. Which is good because all of my converts are Chileans. Ha. 

Our week was good. We didn't have very many lessons because my comp was sick. I'm actually in the President's office because he is sick but we should be back in our sector tomorrow. Too many bus rides ... I feel sick. To get from Copiapo to Iquique is 15 hours. Then to come to Antofagasta for my comp is 6 hours both ways. I hate bus rides. haha That  is something I probably won't miss. ha ha I know a bunch of elders in my zone and know some members up here that I met in Copiapo. They invited me to their house, but I cant go. Ha. 

I guess in Paipote, my investigators are having a tough time adapting to the new missionary. I felt bad like I made them more attached to me than the gospel. But I wrote them just now telling them they need to keep listening to him to have an eternal family. Honestly I've missed my last sector but have to put it behind me. I am stoked to do the same thing here. I want to find families. Nothing beats baptizing families! And remember Pia? She wrote me and is finishing up her personal progress. Just has to finish her project. She tells me her favorite hymns and stuff. It's funny. It shocks me to see someone who didn't want to take her headphones out the first time she went, to knowing and loving the hymns and finishing her personal progress. Ha I hope to continue the work here. 

We have good people. My comp said a lot of people got used to the last missionary, and that it would be hard for me. But this investigator who said she never liked sharing with us starting asking about the Book of Mormon. And she said "Why haven't you shown this to the catholic church? Someone should try to show them this if its true." I responded I'm sure they've tried. But they don't believe it. But she promised to pray and read the whole thing. She wants to read it all. ha ha

Oh also we have this couple who only lives together right now. But they want to get married. There names are Cindy and Gonzalo, They want to get married on the beach and baptized in the ocean the same day. So in the next two months, once we get past all the marriage papers Chile has we will have a baptism in the ocean. They are an awesome couple. But that's about it on the work. I like my new sector just getting used to the new way of work here. It's different than any sector I've ever been. 

Jordan looks like a bum. ha ha He looks famous though. And tell Jake he is a preppy boy. And tell Megan she isn't allowed to talk to boys. Instead she should just take Max on walks :)

Thanks for everything and tell Kaleb to send me pics of his baptism. 

Chau :) Love you!

Elder Farnworth 

The Saddest Sunday

Well I don't have a ton of time. My comp is waiting for me. But next week I will tell about this week. The saddest Sunday of my entire life. Everyone cried. I bawled in my testimony. I don't cry a lot but dang, I couldn't help it. My investigators all cried and the worst is that all six of them that went wanted me to stay and teach them! 

And Gizile was like I hope you stay to be able to baptize me. But I'm in a new sector now. They have people but not very many. So I'll just do the same I did in Paipote.

I'm in Iquique with Elder Levi. He's from Argentina. He's really chill and this is a cool sector. I'm downtown so its like buildings and stuff.

Took me 15 hours to get here. And I will most likely finish my mission here. I don't know what I'll do for Christmas. When I meet the members and stuff I will let you know. 

I'm stoked Kaleb has his first baptism, He is a stud! My last day a ton of members gave me a bunch of presents. I almost didn't have space in my suitcases. It was nuts running from house to house saying bye. It was sad day.  I'll send some pictures real quick. But we've gotta to go real quick.

I hope all is well and love you all, Keep me updated and know the Church is True :)

Elder Farnworth

I burned pants for a year an a half

Gizile's family who gets baptized the 14th

My mamita and Nelson who is getting baptized soon

I Could Be A Missionary Forever

I loved the pics. Everyone looks so different. That’s good things are good in school. I’ll let you know when I get my package. I bet I’ll get it in my next sector because this weekend we have transfers. Our president wants every missionary in his sector for 6 months. So I think that’s it for me. I would assume that I’ll be in a different place for Christmas. If I stay that would be soo much time.

Tell Jake and Megan they’re studs!! I’m impressed. Tell Megan to send me more songs, Her song is my ringtone also the other missionaries in my pension stole it and it’s now their ringtone too. Has been for like 3 weeks. haha.

It’s all right that she left, We made up for it this week. We have Nelson getting baptized this week :) This week was incredible. My comp and I we were work horses. haha We found awesome people.

First the story of Nelson. He’s been through a lot, He used to live in Santiago and other parts. But he came here to live with our mamita, his aunt. He said he came to basically change his life. He used to be Catholic but he wants to start over and have a fresh start. He’s a stud! So this Saturday at 6 he’s getting baptized and I’ll be doing. Probably my last Saturday here. I have never cried leaving a sector but I think this will be my first. I have seen the progress of everyone here so it’ll be hard to say goodbye. 

But before setting the date with Nelson, we brought the Brazilian girl, Gizile, who I told you about to a baptism. We had to get there early to bring the dress for the other elders. So we had like an extra half hour so we took a member from the other ward and had a lesson with her. We talked about baptism and how it’s a new start and asked if she would like that. She said yes and then we asked which day would be better the 21st or the 14th. She said the 14th and then went around telling all the people from the other ward that she’s getting baptized the 14th!! She later told us that when she was in Brazil she felt empty. She felt like she needed to have something else in her life. She was deciding since June if she should come and came a week after we found her sister and brother-in-law both who are inactive. And the way we found him is we were walking and he saw us and felt bad for us because it was so hot. haha. So he took us to our lesson. And yelled us his address as we were getting out of the car. We found his house and a week later Gizile got here. Now she’s helping us reactivate them and she wants to help her family in Brazil when she goes back. It’s unreal how our Heavenly Father set everything up so we could find her. She will be a strong member. 

Oh and also we have Cristinas family. Long story too. We found this young 21-year-old guy a while ago doing contacts. When he opened the door at first he wanted nothing really to do with us. We felt we should just talk about him and his family. So we just started talking about his car, house, family and whatever. He showed us his house and his stereo system and because we were just friendly he invited us back to his son’s birthday party. We thought "That is going to be a waste of time. We doubt we will go but we will see." So we told him yeah we will see. The night of the party we had nothing else to do. Our lessons got cancelled so we thought well let’s go to the party. So we went and we met the mom. She offered us cake and then introduced me to her daughter. She said "My daughter’s beautiful right?" It was a bit awkward but they liked us so they told us where they live. So we went. She then invited us to lunch and promised to come to church. So yesterday just her and her daughter came because the other sons and the Dad we dead asleep. But they liked church and we taught the restoration in the afternoon with the whole family. They loved it! I mean like LOVED it. They thought it was awesome so we challenged them to baptism. They all responded "I’m Catholic, But never go to church. So yeah I’ll do it." haha Then they told me they wished we would have found them earlier because I’m probably leaving. And the coolest thing is the neighbors all tell us this lady has helped all of them. She’s the nicest like truly sweetest lady I've met. I didn't get a pic with them but this week for sure. Our president is stoked with all our success and the ward is more excited to help in missionary work. Gizile, the Brazilian, I didn't even talk to her at church because all the members were around her so much. It was like perfect. When we leave she’ll have people to support her.

This week is one where you think "I could be a missionary forever." I love this work and know we are blessed to be the instruments of the Lord. That’s all. Love you all, Thanks for helping me get here!

Elder Farnworth

Gizile, the Brazilian

My mamita

Claudia, She's going to the temple this week!
When we met she said I'm never going to church.. :)

This Mission Has Saved My Life

The mission has been great! This week has been a very adventurous week. We just have had Satan working against us. We had a baptism date move to another city with a guy. It was a bummer but the rest of our pool are progressing.

We had three people who came to church with us. He is the nephew of our mamita and wants to know more about the Church. The mamita is so funny – she keeps telling him "You need to get him baptized" And he says were working on that right now, So he’s set! He’s a nice guy. Then we have a girl from Brazil. Haha This week was kinda funny. We had a lesson with her Tuesday, And she lives with her sister and brother in law. They were talking to us and the brother in law started speaking English and said "She likes you." And some other things that I didn’t understand. I quickly responded "She likes my accent in Portuguese? Awesome!"

But later we talked to her and she says she wants to know about the Church not just because she likes us. She’s unreal and is teaching us Portuguese. After  church she said she felt a peace and that she will keep asking to know if she should be baptized.

Then we found this other family that has helped a ton of people where we live. I guess they are quite well off and have found people who lived in the street and have took them in and helped them get on their feet and get working. We met one guy named Joel, Who was living in their dog house, They helped him to the point where he has his own house and is now helping others. They’re like the most amazing family I’ve met in my mission. We shared with them about our church and they liked our morals and what we believe in. They weren’t able to go this week, But next week they promised they would go to church. Oh and the mom offered me her daughter but as a joke, Ha That’s actually how we found them. But they’re incredible. 

We have a few families we might stop working with. It’s a bummer because they are awesome people just not interested in learning more. It’s like we talk about eternal families and they don’t want it. Its sad more than anything, It’s like you said it breaks your heart. But you can only keep loving them and have the faith to help them change.

I felt like this week Heavenly Father has blessed us a lot, We have been finding, We just have to stay focused and obedient and see it through the end. I love this work, And love this gospel. It’s saved my life and now I’m here to save others. Love you all thanks for everything. :)

Elder Farnworth