Week #42 - New Sector -- Quevedo Norte 2

Hola como estan?

Well, I bet you are all wondering why I haven't written to you guys yet, and that is because I have had changes!!!!! I am NOT in Orquideas anymore.  I am now in QUEVEDO NORTE 2.  This sector is the farthest away from the mission home!!!  I love it already.  We changed and now my compañero is named Elder Torres.  He is from Peru and he is from my same group!! That's cool!

Well I will answer your questions!!

1- This week I studied in 3 Nephi 11 and wow that is full of great doctrine.  I learned so much about Jesus.  Man, I loved studing that!!

2- No I wasn't called as a Zone leader but I don't need to worry about that because I just need to focus in baptizing.

3- Well I forgot what the other questions are!!

Well my week has been pretty standard--

Tuesday we went to zone meeting and then we just worked.

Wednesday we just worked.

Thursday we did the same. 

The truth is that I can't remember what we did in specific but I do know that I worked!!  Well this week was pretty standard. It was a normal week and the only unnormal thing we did is that we got switched and I moved to QUEVEDO NORTE 2.

Really that is my week and I can't remember anything else that happened!! 

I am sorry this letter is bad but I just can't remember what else happened!!

My questions;

1- How much did the cows sell for?

2- How can you guys tell the difference in me?

LOVE

Elder Farley-

Fun Facts about Quevedo, Ecuador:

Quevedo is one of the most important agricultural centers of Ecuador and is the geographical point where all major roads (including the Pan-American highway) in the region intersect. The area surrounding Quevedo mainly produce bananas, corn, rice, and soybeans.^[3] The alluvial soils in the region generate excellent harvests year-round. Many banana producers complement their banana plantations with fields that produce corn, soy and rice in the wet season. In the city, this produce is often industrialized into super-market ready products, such as instant-meals, pre-packaged products, noodles and other traditionally Asian foods. In recent years, Quevedo agro-industrial complex has added value to its output by developing a strong presence in the organic product's niche both locally and overseas.

Mostly populated by the mestizo ethnic group; Quevedo is also known for its prominent Chinese immigrant population and has even been called the "Chinatown of Ecuador". This gives it a distinct reputation and cultural feeling in relation to other Ecuadorian cities. Quevedo is also the center of the "montubio" folklore, a sub-culture that emanates from the customs of the early settlers of the region, who lived in the "monte", a word that describes the agricultural fields.

The city celebrates its foundation on October 7.

Week #41 - Mother's Day Skype Call

We were able to talk to Garrett on Skype on Mother's Day.  It was wonderful!  He looked and sounded very happy, content, confident, mature, and humble.  He shared some missionary experiences, told us about life in Ecuador, and laughed a lot.  We could tell how much he loves all of us, but he is certainly over any homesickness he may have had, and he is working very hard.  The "English" part of his brain has completely turned off because he is so immersed in the Spanish language and culture.  He has no opportunities to speak English and so he really struggled on remembering how to say some things in English.  That was funny to us.  Garrett admitted that it is his goal to "forget" English completely and to become totally fluent in Spanish.  He is such a cool guy.  We loved talking to him but 45 minutes just isn't enough time. :-)  We are so proud of him!  

Hayden and Garrett

Best. Mother's. Day. Ever!

Everyone is anxious to talk to Garrett

This was his email this week.  I guess he thought this was enough since we talked yesterday.  Boo hoo!


Hey,

I know that this email will be short, but just know that I am ok and I just love being here in Ecuador serving the people!!

Well, the other day we had a baptism so I wanted to send those pictures.  Other than that I don't know what to say because we talked yesterday!!

LOVE 

Elder Farley-

El Guapo!

Baptism of Filomena Phillips from Haiti

Week #40--Working Hard

HOOLLAA!

I hope that when we speak English I can remember!

Talking about talking to you guys... I will Skype Sunday at about 4 in the afternoon so you guys can be ready!

Well to answer your questions:

1- Well now that I think about it, I have been a little more shaky lately and a little more dizzy lately.  But, I don't think much of that because I have a sacred and difficult work to do but because I am a son of God and I was called to do this work because I can do it!  And I LOVE IT!

2- No, we do not have a mission doctor or nurse.  We just have to deal with it and if it is really bad we go to the doctor and then call the President.

3- No I haven't received your Easter package yet.  It is like the second coming--I am still waiting for it! Ha ha ha ha...was that joke too much?


Well now about my week...

On Tuesday we went to district meeting and honestly I felt like my teaching at the district meeting was really good but no one listened to me.  So I felt like I couldn't teach them because they weren't listening.  But oh well, its not important!  Then we had another training meeting with president Amaya.  I liked it, it was way cool and very inspired.  Then we just worked like normal.  Tuesday we found a lady from Haiti and her name is Filomena Phillips.  She doesn't speak a lick of English, just French and Creole (the native language of Haiti).  So that day we taught her about Joseph Smith and she was very receptive.  She even accepted a date for baptism for this saturday! That is so awesome!

On Wednesday it was a normal day nothing too exciting--we just worked!

On Thursday we had exchanges so I was in the other sector with a different Elder.  It was cool!  I met a man who served his mission in Utah so we got to talk (in English and Spanish) and he gave us lunch which was really good! He shared with me a talk from Bruce R. McConkie called "Agency or Inspiration". HOLY COW THAT IS A COOL TALK! You guys need to look that up.

Friday was just another day at work.  Nothing too exciting.  We worked to find somebody new to teach but unfortuanly we didn't find anybody!

Saturday we tried and we tried to find someone to teach but nothing.  That day I felt very bad.   In a prayer, I said to the Lord, "tomorrow I need someone to teach, please guide me to who you need me to find."

Sunday we went to the church and that was very vacant.  After church we had divisions and then I went working with a young man.  The whole day we were looking for someone to teach and nothing! The young man and I were in a park and we decided to pray for help.  When we finished the prayer,  he and I looked at a house and decided to go there.  We went to this house and the girl who answered the door allowed us to make an appointment to teach her.  Her name is is Christina Vera.  That experience was very awesome!

Well that was my week!

Now for my questions:

1- Kendall is almost done with school?

2- School is almost done?

3- What are your plans for the summer break?

Well this is my week.

LOVE

Elder Farley

Bruce R. McConkie - Agency or Inspiration Speech

Week #39 -- Unsuccessful Week!

Hola!!! Como están.

Well I will start by answering your questions like always!!!

1- When is Mothers Day?  That is the day I will Skype you guys but I need to talk to my compañero and I need to know when is Mothers day!! So the dets on that will come next week.

2- No I have not received the package from Easter yet but hopefully I will tomorrow.

3- Well I am at the point where I am always tired but i just push through it.

4- Elder Arellano is good.  He is just a normal compañero but he's cool--I like him.  He reminds me of Paul our cousin.

This week was really hard!  We didn't have much success at all.  But its okay because we might have a baptism this Saturday!!

Tuesday we had the district meeting and my training was okay--not the best, but not the worst.

Wednesday we worked as hard as we could but we didn't have much success.

Thursday we did the same but we didn't have much success.

Friday we had a training meeting with Presidente and that was really good.  I learned a lot and we heard that in May we will have a training with a general authority.

Saturday I had a prayer in my heart to find someone to teach, but nothing happened.

Sunday we went to church and then we worked super hard, but again nothing!  BUT, we did find this lady who is from Haiti and she doesn't speak Spanish, she only speaks French so we taught her and we have a possible date for baptism with her this Saturday.  She is scared about the language, but we explained to her that her family is there to help her understand. So please pray for her.  Her named is FILOMENA.  Thank you!

Well that was my week.  I did find a scripture that says that we lost our memories through the veil.  Its found in Ecclesiastes 1:11.  That is what I found!!

Now my questions:

1- Do you know what my wife's name is?

2- We are going to sell the cows?

Well that's all I have.  Chou y recuerden que les amo mucho!!! tengan existo en la semana. (Bye and remember that I love them very much.  Have a great week.)??? I think he might have had some typos so the translation doesn't really make sense.

LOVE 

Elder Farley

Week #38 - My future wife: A curly, black haired girl from the Sexual Purity Mormon ad :-)

Hola como estan? 

Quote: "Well, I will start by answering your questions:" end quote.  This was given by Elder Farley. :-)

                                                    

1-Yes I am opening a sector, but it is not new.  It is my sector but I haven't been able to work in my sector for 2 months because my compañeros estaban enfermo (were sick), so when I got my new compañero we had NOTHING to do.  So yes, we are opening a sector, and we do have a few investigators.  They are all awesome!  Some of them even have a baptismal date.  We are also working with the menos actives (less actives) so that's kinda cool.

2- Yes I bought two new pairs of Sunday pants which fit really well.  I just need to sew the bottoms because they haven't been sewn yet--but they are cool.

3- I love my Sanuk boots!  They are the most comfortable shoes I have ever had.  Thank you so much!

4- I believe that when Presidente Amaya goes home in two months that an apostle with come down to the mission and help with that switch so that's way cool.  Also, did you know that Elder Holland knows a little bit of Spanish?

5- No, I haven't been sick with a cold or the flu.  I have been worried about my health and had a freak out because the three elders that I was directly working with went home for problemas de las rodillas (knee problems) and that got me worried that something might happen so I have to be sent home.  Then about a week ago I had a dream that I finished my mission in the States--NOT Ecuador!  So that kinda freaked me out!

6- The only mission rule about things we can't eat in Ecuador is that we can't eat food from the garbage. Ha Ha Ha! jk Yeah, we can't from the street. :-)

Well as for my week it was pretty standard. 

Tuesday we had training with the Presidente and that was really good because he talked about obedience and everything that he said is exactly what I taught in my District training a couple of weeks ago, so i thought it was way good!

Wednesday, well I can't really remember what we did but creo que fue un día (I think it was a normal day) normal.

Thursday we gave service to a brother because we painted his house.

Friday?  I can't remember.  But remember that I am a good missionary--we didn't just waste our time--I just can't remember what we did.

Saturday we helped at a baptism and that was really cool.  That makes me want to baptize the world!!  Then in the night we had the priesthood and adult sessions of stake conference.  It was awesome!  This member named, Hermano Vaca he spoke about historia familia (family history) which was awesome.  He also talked about the eclipse and he said that there was a red moon for about a week and later this year there will be another and that there will be a solar eclipse where the moon covers the sun and that this will happen for two times a year for the next two years. CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THIS???

Sunday we went to stake conference and Richard G. Scott and Elder Holland talked to us through satellite and they spoke in SPANISH which was cool.

So this was our week.  I hope that you enjoy what I do as a missionary!!  I love it!!

One thing that I learned this week in my studies is that in the scriptures there is ABSOLUTELY no scripture that says through the veil we forgot the pre-mortal life. So, how do we know that?

Also I learned that we as members of the church NEED to work with the missionaries and with the menos actives (less actives) because the day of the Lord is nigh at hand and we need to help everyone come unto him or remember him.  So,  please WORK WITH all of those people that we love who are far away from the Lord. NEVER give up on them!  They are our brothers and sisters and they are also children of GOD.  They need the help of the Farley Family so please do everything you can to help them find their testimony again.  That is what I want the most right now, so please in the words of Nephi, "as long as the lord lives and as long as I live we will keep the commandments of god." 

I love all of you!  There is not a day that goes by where I don't think "I am doing this for God, my family, and my brothers and sisters who are waiting for my message".  I love you all greatly!

LOVE

Elder Farley-

(Garrett and I had a few back-and-forth emails today and I thought our conversation was funny, so I am including it.  My emails are in pink and his are in black.)

Oh man, I love all of the pictures.  Thank you!  It sounds like you had a great week of lots of work and lots of service.

How are you feeling?  Are you still very tired?  

How was Easter for you?

We love you Garrett and are so happy for what you are doing as a missionary.  We will NEVER give up on our friends and family who have lost their testimonies.  We look for opportunities every day to reach out to them.  We will do more though and talk about that at FHE tonight.  

Mom

Yea, no I am great!  I feel fine.  I am perfecto!  I just need to work on my Spanish now.  BTW- that picture with the wedding cake--I want you to know that is my goal when I get back. :-)

Oh really?  With whom?  If that is the case then you better get up to BYU Idaho as fast as possible so you can start working on that.  :-)  You are too cute Garrett Dino.  I am glad you are feeling fine.  Is the fatigue getting better?  Is it getting hotter there?  What are you doing today?

Also, where did you get that knitted, blue tie?  I got you 4 new CTR ties.  I will send them once the General Conference edition of the Ensign is printed.   Then I will send all of that to you in one package.

Mom

Yes, it's hot down here.  It's always hot, but I am fine.  Today we are going to go play paintball again.  I know who I will marry.  I don't know her name, or where she is from, but she is in a video from the church.  It's a video to the youth and in this video two girls are talking about how sexual purity brings confidence and the girl I will marry has black curly hair!!  But I got to go so know that I love you a lot mom.  Just know that you are loved greatly! 

A convert made the blue tie for me.  Thanks for getting me more ties.  When you guys come pick me up after my mission we can visit my converts.

I love you too Dino!  Have fun today and drink lots of water.  Okay, I will keep my eyes open for black curly haired beautiful girls.  BTW-Do you want us to come pick you up from your mission?

Mom

If you guys want too--it's up to you.

Talk about the loaves and the fishes!

"This is my goal when I get home"

Week #37 - New Companion - Elder Arellano

HOOOOLLLLAAA!!!

Well I just wanted to say sorry for writing so late today.  We had a fun filled day and this is why I am writing so late.  I am also a little bummed because we ended our p-day a little late so we won't have as much time to work!! Oh pero todo es bien! (Oh but it is all good!)

To answer your questions:

1- Yea Elder Arellano and I get along just fine. He is one of my better compañeros!   He is from South Guayaquil so I might have to watch out for that because it could effect him in some way being so close to home.

2- My week honestly was a little hard.  I have been so tired all week and today made it worse.  I am SO tired right now.

3- No, I have not met Elder Garrett Dean Taylor yet but I am sure that some time here soon I will meet him and when I do I will take a picture of him and send it to you.

4- Um half of the time I have no idea what I am eating so I might have eaten something weird, but I just can't remember!! But this week I don't think I have eaten anything weird.

OK now for my week:

Tuesday we just worked and worked and worked!  Right now we are opening a new sector because mine has been closed for about two months so its kind of hard to open it up.

Wednesday we just worked and worked and had our district meeting.  I gave my training about obedience and afterward my zone leader was like, "give me your hand that was amazing" and then we shook hands so that was pretty cool (D & C 105:5) is a great scripture that I learned this week.

Thursday we just worked and it was a normal day.

Friday was really hard because nobody was home so we ended up walking the entire day which was so tiring.  But in the night a member took us to a new area in our sector that no missionary has been to in years so I felt that there was success in that area.

Saturday we just worked like normal. 

Sunday we went to church and then we worked and then a member helped us teach people which was cool!!

Monday we went to the market to buy some new pants because I only have like two good pants left so thats why I took out some money--for the pants and for the week. Also we played paintball so that made me super tired but it was fun so this has been my week in a nutshell.

My questions

1- who is Bryce?

2- Are they dating?

3- How is Morgan?

4- How is the situation politically between Ecuador and the US?

5- Does anyone in the family want like a soccer jersey from Ecuador?  What size and who?

Well this has been my week!  Just know that the Lord loves each and every one of you guys, and know that I love you guys!! ALOT!

LOVE

Elder Farley

Garrett and Elder Arellano

P-day Paintball

Week #36 - I had 4 companions this week!

MAMA i love you:........

Hola como estas?  I have been super awesome!  Thanks for all the prayers and all of the thoughts--I can feel your prayers and your love as I work to bring souls to the truth of the everlasting gospel!!

Well here are the answers to your questions;

1- YES, I have a compañero!  His name is Elder Arellano and he is from Ecuador Guayaquil.  He was originally going to serve in Venezuela but because of the situation down there he can't go, so he is serving here in Orquideas conmigo (with me).

2-  My week was a little crazy!  During this week alone I had 4 different compañeros.  From Monday till Tuesday I was in a trio with Elder Caballero and Elder Guzman and then on Wednesday until Sunday I was with Elder Steele.  Today I have Elder Arellano, CRAZY huh? And yes I have had some faith promoting experiences this week and they were awesome.

3- We taught a few lessons this week--maybe like 15 or something-- it was awesome!!

4- Mom honestly I have no idea when the transfers are, I just go with the flow.

Well this week was crazy!!  

Monday I was in a trio with Elder Caballero y Elder Guzman and it was a normal P-day.

Tuesday I was on splits with Elder Steele and Elder Diaz because the Zone leaders had a meeting the whole day and we had fun.  We were teaching and helping people know the truth about the gospel.  This was a pretty legit day.

Wednesday we had district meeting and during the district meeting Elder Diaz received a call from the president and he told him that he needed to go home to Honduras because he has problems with his knees.  So Elder Steele (from Utah) was left without a compañero so we were put together and it was a really cool because he was my first Gringo compañero. So that was cool to be with Elder Steele, but sad because Elder Diaz went home.

Thursday we worked really hard and we taught this family that was going to get baptized the next day and they were super excited and super cool to teach.  Their names are George and Bryan Ganchoso, but other than that it was a normal day.

Friday we spent the whole day getting ready for the baptism so in the night they could be baptized.   It came to pass that on the night of the 4th day of the 4th month of the 2014th year of the reign of President Amaya, George and Bryan Ganchoso were baptized, and there was much rejoicing in the heart of the people!!

Saturday we watched General Conference and that was super amazing!! I was inspired to do everything that I need to do!!

Sunday we watched General Conference and I thought that President Monson's talk about love was amazing!  It was awesome!!!

WOW this week was awesome! I loved this week because I have been studying the plan of salvation and that has been awesome.  I have learned so much it has increased my faith and my understanding of the scriptures.  One thing I learned was that we as missionaries receive forgiveness of our sins as we bring people to baptism.  But we can all receive forgiveness (James 5: 20) the last verse of James.  I thought that was awesome that we can receive forgiveness by preaching forgiveness.

Well this has been my week:

Questions: 

1- Can you send me a copy of general conference in English and Spanish?

2- Can you send me more CTR ties?

3- And always send me pictures.

LOVE 

Elder Farley-