We have been going like 100 miles a minute (2/17/14)

This week was a good week, I had a lot of fun. I am really starting to enjoy it here in Linköping. Last Monday we moved the other elders out of our apartment so now we have this huge apartment all to ourselves. It has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a dining room and then a huge family room. I am not complaining. However, I still sleep on a twin size bed, so yeah my life isn't completely perfect...

We have gotten a ton done this week. We got 3 new investigators and we just have just been going like 100 miles a minute. I am super proud of this week. The work here is just like super different. In Skövde was just different, not saying that either are bad just like can't be compared. I really am starting to love it here. This last Sunday was really crazy, we had 7 members at church. It was really crazy. So I taught Sunday School, that was really interesting and I taught about the Abrahamic Covenant... I had no idea what that even was. I first had to prepare the entire lesson in English then start the fun process of switching the language to Swedish. That was pretty crazy, I ended up only teaching about 6 people and 3 of them were missionaries. So that wasn't that scary but I really just didn't like that. Then after church a guy comes up to me and asks me to talk next week in church. That is the thing that is pretty cool about small branches, the missionaries are treated like members of the ward. It is super cool because it makes you really care about the area more.

I went on Splits with Elder Hills on Wednesday, that was a ton of fun. We got 2 new investigators and just really had a good time. We just really get along really good.

I am sorry I haven't taken any pictures of this place. Elder Hills and I are going to take picture this week I promise. I will also take them of the apartment. This week is going to be so good. Sorry this email is a shortie again, I just sit here and get so distracted. Next week I will really try to be focused and get the email done. I promise. I love you all and I will be writing more next week!

Äldste Farnworth

I really like Linkoping... (2/10/14)

This week was full of a lot of change. I am not in Skövde anymore. It has been really good though! I love it here! It told a little bit to get over all of the change but once I put more trust in the Lord he helped me find peace right away. It has been great. The area now is a bit slower, but Elder Landeen has done a bit of good stuff to set up the area to be really amazing. So yesterday was the first time I had been to church here and it was weird because the church isn't like a church, it is in the basement of a building that has a dental office in the upstairs. I really think it is cool, because I really learned a lesson from it, I learned that is doesn't matter where you are or how you are receive the gospel, like the spirit is all the same.

Church is church. The branch is really cool here. I really am excited about it! We have a really strong week planned. I just can feel that the Lord is going to guide us to those who will give us success. I am super happy. On Friday, we were doing weekly planning. I wanted to set up a lot for this upcoming week. So I just called a ton of potential investigators and set up a ton of stuff, so I am thinking that this upcoming week is going to be freaking sweet. I am really going to push my hardest to be the best I can be here. I see a ton of potential here.

 I live with 3 other Elders and I really like them all. We have a ton of fun. We talk a ton and I am really getting to know them super good. Their names are Elder Hills, who is my district leader, Elder Steen, his companion, and then my companion Elder Landeen, who is my old history teacher's nephew... So that is weird. ALSO do you remember that girl named Holly that I was friends with? She got married to that guy?

Well ask Jacob if you don't know her. Well the guy that she married is my companion’s cousin. We found that out the first night. That was pretty funny. We have gotten along super good. I am really happy.

I am looking forward to the package. I can't wait to get it. I am totally fine without the picture, I don't know what else I need. I am pretty happy. I really like Linköping. It's gonna be a blast. I don't a ton of time for email, but I love you so much and I am sorry but I haven't taken any pictures yet but I will take some this week and get them to you as soon as possible. I love you and hope you have a GREAT week. I am praying for you!

Äldste Farnworth

Transferring to Linköping (2/3/15)

First off, Happy 48th Birthday Dad! I am so excited that I will be home for your 50 birthday! That will be fun! Hope you are feeling better!

So I will be transferring to Linköping. Before you go around telling people, let me tell you how to pronounce it. In Swedish the "i" makes the "ee" noise AND the "köping" sounds like "shiping" SO like in English it's Leenshiping. So you can know correctly tell people that your son is in Linköping. Okay so I think you should send me an audio file of how you pronounce it. That would be funny.

So this week has flown by so quickly I can barely remember what happened. It was a great week. We have worked very hard to do all that we could to help the next missionaries have a smooth transition. We had something really cool happen. We have this man named Issa, who has been investigating the Church for some time now. We went and saw him this last week for the first time in a little while. He was very nice as before, this time when we got to his house he told us that he had friends that he had been "preparing for the Mormons." We are excited to meet his friends and see if they were interested in the church. We met a little Armenian family. The mother is the only one who can speak English or Swedish. So as we taught she translated key points to the rest of her family. She said that she was very interested in learning more, and being baptized. When I asked if she would want to create a baptismal date as a goal to work toward, she said that she needs to read the Book of Mormon first, but she said that she is thinking that she would want to take that step to come closer to Christ. It was so exciting! I am so happy to have been able to found her and then allow the new missionaries the chance to teach and bring her and her family to Christ. It was a great reminder that the Lord is preparing people out here.

In my personal studies this week I had some really great experiences. Last week, I made the goal to really put 100% into my studies for this week. I went out and bought a new study journal that I could place my thoughts and in the first day I could feel the difference. It was super cool to see that when I put in a little extra work the Lord see's that and really helped me feel so much better with everything. I am really excited to go to my new area.

Just to help you understand what kind of branch it is. It's small, Skövde has about 35-40 active members. Linköping has about 15-20, It's gonna be a lot smaller. I am really excited to get there and start working. One of my friends is becoming a assistant to the President so I am so excited for him. He has like 6 weeks left so that is really cool! I don't have tons of other news -  just that! Hope you all have a great week! Love you all so much!

Äldste Farnworth

Sister Berggren, My other Swedish Grandma. Seriously love her

The Lord is Mindful of Me (1/27/15)

I would like to start this out with a big HAPPY 14th BIRTHDAY TO MEGAN!!

This week has been a really good week. I just feel like I wrote my
last letter. So much has happened this week. The time is just speeding
up because the Skövde chapter of my mission is coming to an end! I am
super nervous and really excited to get a fresh start in a new area. I
really have been working on the trust that I have in the Lord. This is
a huge amount of change. I know that the Lord guides all the transfers
so that is comforting to me.

So let me just tell you that I have the best companion in the world.
It was Wednesday, I have been sick all week. It was the worst on
Wednesday, and we went to the middle of nowhere to do some service.
When I say the middle of nowhere I mean a hour ride on a dirt road to
a small ranch. It was insane. Anyways, I was just not doing good. The
long ride didn't help and after that I was not in the best mood. So when we
got home I had the plan to get in the shower and go to bed. So I got
home and went straight to the shower. When I was finished. I could
hear Elder Simmons in the kitchen and I thought "How sweet would it be
in he was just like making me a Kladdkaka (Swedish Brownies)?" I
dismissed the thought right about and figured he was making himself a
snack or something. Then I walked into the kitchen and he was making a
Kladdkaka! When I asked what it was for, he says: "I thought you would
want a Kladdkaka tonight." Yes this is a true story. He is pretty much
amazing. I am so lucky. We have a ton of fun. I am sorta sad that we
only got to be companion for a little while.

I have been super sick this week! It is terrible. On Thursday and
Friday I lost my voice. That is something that has never happened. I
am sure Elder Simmons was sort of happy about that. He got a few days
of quiet. Teaching in Swedish is hard enough, then if you add on
having to do that with little or no voice it's just almost impossible.

We had a super fun Swedish lesson this week. It was all about Swedish.. duh. I have been telling the members that I will be leaving and it is making me really sad to see this place go. I feel like this is my family. I love them all so much. I can't think of what it will be like with other members. At the same time I am so excited to be able to go to other places and see what other wards and branches hold! I just feel very positive about the future! I can't wait to see what the Lord will do with me.

I feel like I am growing so much spiritually. I have my Father in Heaven and my Brother Jesus Christ to thank. As well as my amazing family. I feel so lucky. I could spend a whole day writing down all the blessings and miracles that I have seen while I have been out here.
There is one thing I KNOW. The Lord is mindful of me. He is mindful of all of us and wants us to be happy and grow! Trials are blessing! Hard
times are growing opportunities. I love this gospel. I love my mission. I love all of you. I pray for you daily. I hope you pray for
me, I pass on the blessings for me right onto those who need them
here. We have the chance to do so much good through prayer. It works.
He is listening.

Have a great week. Dad, I hope you back feels better. You need to
remember you aren't Superman, and you have limits! Just kidding. You
basically are Superman. I love you so much.

Keep on Keeping on!

Äldste Farnworth

The Single's Family Night Group. Left to Right, Henrik, Elder
Simmon, Me, Pouyeh, Ståle.