It's time...

Well. I have some really exciting and really sad news for all of you. Moldovan transfer calls were this Sunday, but I wasn't sure if it was going to be my last Sunday in Chisinau since we hadn't been called about where we were going until after church, so I didn't officially say goodbye to members and investigators..... So that is what I'll be doing with week...... On Thursday the 14th of November, I will be leaving Chisinau for the last time. President Hill is sending me to Balti to serve with Elder Westover again which I'm really happy about, but at the same time I can't believe that the time has actually come for me to leave these incredible people that I've come to know so deeply over these past 13 months. They're like a family to me, and I'm going to miss them A LOT. I've never been good with goodbye's, but I'll see them again!

Elder Brown and I on an exchange back at the good old Botanica apartment where I spent 6 months of my mission.

As far as the work goes, Elder Hollist and I did a lot of knocking. One night we were walking in center and I thought to myself that we should go back to a building that we passed and knock it. We didn't find anyone that was interested, and so we went to the next section. We kinda just stood outside staring at the building to see if there were a lot of lights on, and while we were standing there a man in a car drove up and asked us what we were looking for and who we were. Good questions! Elder Hollist told him about the Book of Mormon and gave it to him. He wasn't really interested, but the decision he made to take the Book of Mormon can change his life forever if he chooses to read it. Later in the week, we decided to use a survey while knocking, and it worked out really well! It had been a long time since we had found someone who was actually interested in what we had to say, and earlier in that same day I thought to myself, "God, if it be Thy will please guide us to someone who will listen to what we have to say tonight." We knocked on many doors, and got a lot of "no's" and "not interested" but the last door was a man in his 30's with a wife who answered every question of the survey. One of the questions was: Do you believe the Bible to be the word of God or just a history book? If you knew there was another book of scripture written by prophets that testifies of Christ, would you read this book? (Side note: I had my Book of Mormon hidden underneath the survey.) He said that would totally read it, so I "revealed" the Book of Mormon, brought his attention back to question 6 and said, "There IS another book of scripture that testifies of Christ, and you will find all the answers to the questions I just asked you in this book." He held it in his hands, opened it, and said, "Wow. Can I have it?" So we gave it to him, exchanged information, and asked him if we could could back. He said we could, so we're going to stop by before I head up to Balti. On our way home that same night, I looked up to the starry, night sky and said, "Thank you....." Tender mercies are what keep us going.

Elder Hollist and I knocking. It's that very same night where we found that man in his 30's.

A lot of really great things are happening here, and I'm excited to see how it all turns out while I'm gone. There are a lot of great investigators who are keeping their commitments, well-planned activities that are helping less-actives come back into the fold, and huge English classes that are helping us to find those who are willing to listen to the message of the Restoration. I am so lucky to have been able to serve here and I will never forget the experiences that I have had. Next week I'll be in Balti, a city that I've been wanting to serve in for a while now, and the work will continue here. Thank you all for your emails, letters, support, and love. I am so blessed to have such amazing family and friends. Always remember that God has His own time frame and it's not only His will be done, but in His own timing. I love you!

-Elder Farnworth

A chess board just magically appeared in the Lake Park, so we played a quick game. I lost... But only because my companion is a genius.