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

I Love Chile!

This week was a lot of teaching. Not so much finding. We have Gabriel and Patricia a young couple who doesn’t like any other religion besides ours because we are the most normal. They love us and they invited us to have a BBQ on Saturday, We went then after we watched families can be together forever. They liked it, Just they’re not married. So we have to help them get married. Then we have the other lady who reminds me of mom, She went to church and liked it. She’s getting baptized at the end of the month. After her is Gizile, the Brazilian. She’s awesome, but she got sick and didn’t go to Church. I think she got nervous because she’s only been in Chile for like two weeks. But we talked to her and she was like "I liked reading the Book of Mormon, And how exactly does the answer come?" She’s sincerely looking for an answer! She’s awesome. We haven’t even really been able to teach her either. We told her what the Book of Mormon is, Then gave it to her to read it. We have an appointment Thursday. Then we have a few other families and another lady who wants to be baptized. I love the mission, the people, the spirit. I want more success and more people but this week we just have to keep talking to people. 

This lady offered me her daughter this week. She was like "This is my daughter, isn´t she beautiful?" I said Yeah then got her direction to go teach the family. Because they’re married!!! In Chile it is rare when you find a married couple. Everybody here hates commitment. Almost everyone cheats on each other. It’s sad. But were changing that. 

I feel blessed though, I have felt like this place has changed me a ton, We’ve helped a lot of people and in helping we’ve been blessed to be stronger, More love instruments in our Heavenly Father’s hands. I don’t know if anything better than that exists? Literally helping God save his Children. I appreciate all you’ve done for getting me here. Helping me from a delinquent into a missionary. Thanks for everything, With much love from Chile.

Elder Farnworth

I Totally Love Success Stories!

Well this week was a blast! We found a bunch of people! We found this family who love us they live together and aren´t married but they loved our message about how families can be together and they liked church. We have been working hard. Then we found a guy who used to share with the missionaries and like it.

Then we found a Brazilian girl and her sister is a member and she got to Chile like a week and two days ago. But she liked what we shared with her and she went to a Halloween activity with us. I had pics but my companion was messing with my camera and deleted them... But she’s teaching us Portuguese.. It’s sick! She’s awesome. She’s 25 and her sister and brother-in-law want to know what they need to do to get sealed!! Awesome! Then what else ... oh Claudia quit smoking and she’s going to the temple!!

We went to the Gonzalez house (the family we baptized) for Halloween and found out her sister lived in West Jordan for a while. We lived right by her but she’s inactive. But we are helping them out, even though they aren’t in our area. When they’re there we talk!! Also we met the son of one of the 33 miners that were stuck in that mine tragedy. I think we might be getting a pic with him this week. Someone famous!! I’ve been hear so long I feel like I know everyone! hahah

But we’ve felt the Spirit a lot this week. We’ve had to stop going by some people and its always sad but we felt inspired to use our time focusing on people that will progress while we are here, ya know what I mean? So we are still looking and working with the families we have.

Hey you remember when I was in El Salvador? It was tough but a family who were like our best buds came down to Copaipo to see me. They told me a bunch of people got baptized. And I was like what … who!? And they were almost all the investigators that we found!! I thought my time there was basically a waste but I thanked my Heavenly Father for having them come and let me know all that. I was so happy!

Then Pia from Arica wrote me saying how much her life had changed and said, “Thanks for pushing me to make good choices even when I was stubborn.” I totally love success stories! hahah :)

Anyways that’s my life this week. We played football and soccer … oh and we got some sick jerseys for Paipote.

Love you all!!!

Elder Farnworth

Here are the SICK jerseys! 
(Editor's Note: I am pretty sure sick means good)

We Challenged 9 People But...

Well I don't have a lot this week. We challenged about 9 people to baptism but they almost all slept in for church except for one. The ward still loves us. 

We didn't have water for a week haha and finally got it Thursday. We had to shower in the house of a member for a week straight. But the new missionary in our pension is cool, His name is Elder Storey and he's from Cali. 

Our Claudia this week fasted so she could stop smoking and go to the temple. She went from telling the missionaries she's never going to church (and even said once she doesn't believe its true) to knowing the church is true and getting ready for the temple. Ha I feel like she's a convert because she got baptized twenty years ago and never went after. The other day she said, "You guys are changing my life so much!" (in a voice like geez haha). 

Then our converts are doing good. Not much going on just working with the members and consistently finding new people. We're teaching this sick lady who is like rich and always says when she's committed she's committed, And she said yes to getting baptized at the end of November. We have a lot of potential, just have to live up to it this month. 

I love you Mom and Dad and everybody. Hope all is well, Keep the faith :)

Elder Farnworth

Im Staying!

IM STAYIN! I'll be with Elder Golpe for one more transfer. And I am still in Paipote. I guess there is someone who needs me here. It'll be good to stay here one more transfer!

Sounds like you had fun in St. George. How come Jordan didn't go? Isn't Brandon home from his mission now? It's better with more kids haha 

This week was good. We haven’t had water for the last four days. The office said they would pay it automatically but haven’t been doing it.. So we haven’t paid the bills in 3 months. But we are working to get it fixed.

We found people this week. We found these two girls Valeska and Dyan who are awesome and want to know more about the church. And then we found this other family who’s interested but mostly their daughter Javiera and her friend Camila. They all want to know if what Joseph Smith saw is true and stuff. They’re all really cool. They’re awesome people.

Our district is killing it. We got people to church and have a ton of potentials. We just need to get them baptized, Ha but we really have the best district I’ve seen in my entire mission. Hard workers!! The mom of the family we baptized just got a calling. And the girl we baptized gave a talk yesterday. It went well! She’s awesome. Then this lady Claudia who, before I met her didn’t want anything to do with the church but I baptized, is taking the classes to get ready to go to the temple to do baptisms. I don’t think the family is ready yet/ They want to wait. 

I’m not sure what else to say. I’m still loving it, we just have a lot of work to get the branch to become a ward!! But were going to get it!!

I love you guys and appreciate you all! I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you!! Keep me updated CHAU!!

Elder Farnworth