Week 3

3 weeks have passed, but in MTC time, it´s "week 4"! So only 7 weeks left! Not too bad, compared to 3 weeks ago. I love it here. The growth I'm experiencing is amazing, and its still hard, but it's worth every second. So last week I had my first TRC (Teaching Resource Center), and It is where I go and teach random volunteers (2 of them) for 20 minutes each. The first lesson we gave was to a native Russian girl, and we taught her the importance of prayer and how it can help her answer her questions. I admit, Elder Grover and I were pretty nervous, but the lesson ended up being the best lesson we've had yet! The gift of tounges was definitely with me that night. The next volunteer we taught was an older man who was learning Russian and only had English scriptures, so he spoke English to us some of the time. Even though it wasn't as good as our first lesson, we learned that the TRC was to help us experience brand new investigators, and help those investigators strengthen their testimonies, and to also help us get better at teaching in Russian.

I really love my teachers, and this language. Sometimes I wonder what in the world I'm learning, but thank goodness for the endless hours of study time I have!

I also have never grown facial hair this fast... I'm pretty sure they put growth horomones in the food... Thanks for the fan, and the cushions too! Everyone is my district in jealous of our prized possesions, and sitting in a chair for 7 hours isn't too bad anymore!

All is well here at the MTC, i'm used to the missionary schedule now, and I love it. Thanks for the letters, and emails! I'm sorry I didn't have much to say in this email, but i promise to put as much as I can in next week!

-Elder Farnworth

Week 2

This is Brian's Mission Photo taken by Kali Poulsen.

Well another week has come and gone! It's amazing how time flies here. After 14 days i'm finally starting to understand Russian. Even though I have a lot to learn, I'm making significant progress. Every day, my companion and I like to remind ourselves how we are in 3 bubbles; the Utah bubble, the Utah County bubble, and the MTC bubble. And because of those bubbles, I sometimes forget how close to home I really am. I can't remember exactly what I said about Boris (our investigator) in my last email... But he's getting baptized! The really cool thing though is that Boris (Brother Holt) actually ended up being my teacher! And you know what's even cooler than that? He went on the exact same mission I'm going to go to, and he says that I'll be working with the "Boris" that he pretended to be! ...Small world... So last Saturday, I asked Brother Holt about my mission and he said that out of the 100 missionaries in the Romania/Moldova mission, only 8 speak Russian. It's so great to know that I'll be a part of that small group in 10 weeks! Hmmmm, what else? Singing Hymns, praying and bearing my testimony are getting a lot easier, I read the Russian BOM, and it took me TWO hours to read the first chapter of first Nephi.

Sundays really are a day of rest here. No studying of new Russian material, we get to go to sacrament and priesthood, AND we get to go to the temple grounds to sit around and "chat" with the other Russian districts. Oh yeah! I also got to say the opening prayer in sacrament meeting this past Sunday. I was nervous, but I nailed it! My companion also freaked out because he thought he was going to have to give a talk (they randomly call on Elders/Sisters to give talks, so EVERYONE thinks they're going to have to give a talk)

Ummmm still haven't played basketball yet. Shocker, I know. But sand volleyball is a fun alternative! I'm still studying ALL day, and on Mondays and Fridays, I sit in a classroom for 7 straight hours. Someone please send me a cushion!

Okay, now to the missionary moment...I am closer to God than I have ever been in my life. Yesterday, Elder Grover and I went on a PSTC (Plan Study Teach Cycle) with Brother Adams (another teacher of ours) and I don't think I've ever felt the spirit so strongly than when we did this. "There's a spirit here that is undefinable." That is so true. I'm REALLY studying the scriptures here, I'm REALLY praying to my Heavenly Father here, and I'm REALLY feeling the love of our Savior here. Tell all the young men to REALLY prepare for the MTC. This is hard work. I'm having a lot of fun, but at the same time, I'm learning so much on how to grow and develop spiritually.

I hope all is well with everyone back at home! Thanks for the letters, emails, and support! I love you all!

- Elder Farnworth

Week 1

My wonderful family! I hope you're all doing well! P-day is finally here, and oh how nice of a break it was! I atteneded the temple this morning with my district and it was so peaceful. I'm always nervous that I'll see someone I know though! I can't believe a week has already passed. Just last week I was a new elder just getting to the MTC ready to start a new life, but now I "kind of" know Russian, and some more new Elders are getting here. "The days go by painfully slow, and the weeks go by fast." This past week has been the best week FOR my life though! You have all seen a picture of me and my companion, right? Well. Last Thursday, after being thrown into a new language (one of the most difficult ones to learn at the MTC) we had our branch welcomed by the presidency, who is full of great men of God, so right after that meeting I was told I was being transfered to a new district because an Elder in my room decided he was leaving the MTC that night. It was sad to see him go and leave my companion after the first day, but I love my new district AND my new companion! My new companions name is Elder Grover. He's from Orem and he's hilarious! The other two in my room are Elder Kennedy, and Elder Brooks. Great guys. Elder Grover has taken a semester of Russian, so he knows a lot more than the entire class. As far as learning the language goes, I can pray, bear my testimony, and kind of teach in Russian. IT'S HARD. But I'M preaching, and the Holy Ghost is teaching.

 

As of last Friday, I've sat in a room for 48 hours, and taught an investigator named Boris 4 times. My companion is amazing when it comes to teaching the gospel. The MTC makes me want to be better and better every day. A typical day here for me consists of  breakfast, study time, class, language study, lunch, gym (different time every day), TALL (more language study), dinner, "additional study time", class, more "additional study time", daily planning sessions, then I end my day unwinding and writing in my journal. 

 

The temperature here isn't too bad, but all the Elders in my room wouldn't mind a nice fan :) I have so many things to tell you, but my time is limited to 30 minutes... Thank you for the hidden letters, written letters, and emails! I love reading them, and I hope you're getting my written letters as well! My time here has been an emotional rollercoaster, but it's worth it. Even though I'm here for a LONG time (12 weeks), I look forward to my spiritual progression, and getting better at teaching in Russian! Hope you all know that I love you and that many blessings will come from Heavenly Father because He knows of the sacrafice these many missionaries and I are making. I have the best friends and family in the world. Your support is felt and I pray for everyone back home.

 

PLEASE LET EVERYONE KNOW TO SEND ME LETTERS, CAUSE I LOVE GETTING THEM! Love you guys! I'll email you next week.

 

- Elder Brian David Farnworth

 Brian and his New Companion - Elder Grover. Courtesy of Aunt Connie. :)

First Update

Brian got to see his Aunt Connie today in the MTC. He says the first day was hard, but he has a great companion! Here is proof! :D

Classic Brian face! 

It is sure fun to get to see a picture of him so soon after his departure!

Entering the MTC

Brian officially entered the Missionary Training Center at 12:55pm on Wednesday July 18, 2012. It was quite the quick experience dropping him off. Not at all like it used to be! We pulled up to the curb a Host missionary welcomed him to the MTC. We gave hugs and then he left! Not much time for him to even get emotional. 

Here he is packing up his room! It'll be weird to have him gone...

 Luckily his friend who is currently service his mission gave Brian the heads up, and he got to fill his iPod with pictures of his family and some church music!

 His friends and little bro joined in watching the MTC preparation videos...I don't know if he watched all 3...

 One last pic of the 4 musketeers.

 All packed and ready to go!

 I think these two will secretly miss each other. :)

 I would not want to pack around these things! They are HEAVY!

 One last pic with Lucky...not sure if she will be around when he gets back. :( She's gettin old.

 We stopped at the Temple to take some more family pictures and say our goodbyes before...

 the drop off which took maybe 2 minutes! The bl

 Heidi's goodbye

 Dad's goodbye

 Matt's goodbye...it could be 4 years before these two see each other again!

Lindsay's goodbye.... oh wait... actually 5 seconds before the goodbye...haha...oops

  

And he's off...for the next two years!!

 He is going to be ONE FANTASTIC MISSIONARY!! We'll miss him!!

Last Meals

As a family we had two..oh wait three last meals with Brian. #1 occurred at Brick Oven on Saturday Night. #2 at Ashai (best sushi!!) and #3 the morning he entered the MTC at Mimi's Cafe.

Below are some pictures from those meals.
(Sorry no pix from Brick Oven)

Farewell!

On the 15 of July 2012 Brian gave his Farewell talk. He did a spectacular job! :D He was surrounded by lots of family and friends! We had a brunch afterwards. Enjoy the pictures below.