Picture Post #1

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