Hola Familia!
How is everyone doing? Once again, it's so great to hear from you all each day, I love your letters and all the support I feel from you. I just got back from another session at the Provo Temple and it's FREEZING outside! Which makes the walk even longer. It snowed only a little here, members of the MTC presidency have warned us to be careful because of the big storm coming and so far its been a wimpy storm here, I hope and pray you are all safe and well. Well this week has been super interesting, so many amazing things have happened I don't quite know where to start. First off I guess I can start off with sunday, My companion (Elder Bagley) and i have been called as Zone Leaders for our branch, It's a big responsibility but I'm happy and willing to serve as a leader of the Zone. Our first night as zone leaders we were having some problems with the Russian missionaries on the floor upstairs, and we went up there with the other zone leaders (Bourgeous y Wixom) and the whole floor of russian and other european missionaries wanted to start a fight with us, I was so scared and worried, but luckily Elder Bourgeous is a big man and he is super tough, luckily nothing happened and all is well, that was just my first scary experience being a zone leader. The Lord definitely wants to make a change inside of me, and It's time for me to step up and make that change for him.
Also, on Sunday my distrito sang MY FAVORITE hymn, in spanish in front of the zone. Come Thou Found in Espanol, it was a great experience, also, I blessed the sacrament in spanish! Crazy because I had only blessed it once in english and now I'm doing it in spanish, the Lord truly blesses my life and I can feel it every single day.
With Thanksgiving I have SO MUCH to be thankful for, I think about you all everyday and I'm so glad to have that support system back home, thanks for the package! And all the letters, everything arrived safe and I can say I am truly spoiled! I loved your turkey letters! They almost made me cry, It was great to hear from all my grandparents, my parents, siblings, cousin and my beautiful little niece! I also got a package from the allens on the same day, man, am I one lucky missionary to have all this support back home. I love you all! And I am so thankful for you! Have a great thanksgiving! Remember I love you, never forget it.
So mom, to answer your questions my days at the MTC are all pretty much the same, my companion and I go to bed at 1030 and wake up super early at 6 to get a shower before everyone else wakes up at 630 and then depending on the day we might do service, go to gym, go to class or go to the temple. It's so fun here, and I'm really enjoying all my amazing experiences. And yes, I see zayn and jana ALL the time, we always greet each other in spanish it's so good to see some familiar faces from home. Also, my district and I have lots of time to talk, we are always getting to know each other, and they are seriously my good friends now, I enjoy their company and their strong testimonies. Thanks for the quote book mom, an Elder in my distrito and I love quotes and we are always sharing them with each other, so that is good that I have that.
So yesterday, we had our usual tuesday Devo and Elder Per G. Malm from the Seventy came and it was so spiritual as always. What was special about this meeting was It was my first time singing in the choir, I sang come thou fount (if you couldn't tell its my absolute favorite song :)) And it was so special, I love that song so much, it has such a great meaning, and it made me realize that I need to give my heart to the Lord, so he can seal it for me, and make me a stronger person, missionary, friend, and disciple of Jesus Christ.
My spanish is coming, I struggle often with it because I want to express myself the same way I do in English, I love talking and bearing testimony in spanish, and I do it as often as I can. We've been teaching in Spanish all week in preparation for today where we teach an investigator in Spanish. I don't feel as ready as i want but I know the Lord and the Spirit will fill in the gaps. I love being a tool in the hands of my Father in Heaven and I cannot wait to get out of this cold and go to the warm tropics to serve the people of Costa Rica!
Dad! I love you a lot, thanks for your letter it was so good to hear from you, It's alright that you get emotional, I talk about you often here and I get really emotional, I miss you, stay strong and give mom a hug for me!
Mom! I am so grateful for you, you mean the WORLD to me. The other night I walked out of class and looked at the sky and the song that says "When I look to the sky, something tells me you're here with me, and I can ALWAYS find my way where you are here" And I immediately thought of you, how you're with me now, we're having this journey together, and no matter the circumstances with you by my side I can ALWAYS find my way, and now every night after class walking back to the dorms, I sing that song and think of you, not only as my amazing mother, but as a daugher of our Heavenly Father, I have so much love for you, I can't imagine the love our Father in Heaven has for you. It's truly amazing. Thanks for all your support in writing me, It really makes it easier to carry on with you there.
Grandma and Grandpa Long! Thanks so much for your letter! Take it easy on thanksgiving and remember I love you and am so thankful for you both! Stay safe and strong! Love you Lots!
Grandma and Grandpa Falor! You have no idea how grateful I am to hear from you, It is so special to have those little turkey hands with me, I've read them several times since I got them. Grandpa, stay safe and in good health and remember I love you a lot! Grandma, I know you're doing a great job taking care of grandpa, you're an amazing woman and I love you as well.
Chelsey and Mason! I love you both! I can't wait to get your pictures, thanks for being so awesome, keep writing me I love to hear from you. P.s Chels! your spanish sounds great :)
Holli and Andrew! You two are so awesome! Thanks tons for all you do! It's great to hear from you, please keep me updated on the baby and all thats going on, good luck! Have a great thanksgiving! i'm so thankful for you and I love you a lot!
Kory, Amy, and Parkie! You are all so amazing! Thanks for setting such a great example to me and being great siblings, thanks for having parker, haah, she is so cute, i brag to everyone about her, because she is probably the cutest child anyone will ever meet. Haha, but really, I love you all, stay safe!
And all others who are supporting me, remember I love you, remember you're Father in Heaven Loves you, remember that, and don't ever forget it. It's what keeps me going each and everyday.
I love you all, beyond my capability to express, and I pray for you (in spanish :)) And I am constantly thinking of you, you are the reason I'm here, you're the reason I am who I am, and I'm so thankful for that.
Love you all,
Your favorite Elder (jk)
Elder Falor
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Half way through the MTC!
Dear Family,
I love you all so much! I can feel your love and prayers each and everyday, and what a blessing that is. It was amazing to hear from you all this week, I absolutely love getting your letters, it brings a little piece of home with me on my mission. I am doing fantastic! The work here is going great, I am now at my happy halfway mark! The MTC is great, but I am so excited to be on the field in four weeks. Mom, thanks so much for the ties, they are awesome! I'm wearing one now actually :) and thanks for the banana bread that tastes amazing! The MTC is so empty now but today we will be getting 700 new missionaries! Crazy! And we will be getting 8 new Elders and 4 new Hermanas in our zone to make up for the loss of so many missionaries. I love my life as a missionary, I'm really getting used to the schedule and loving it. The blessings the Lord has in store for his worthy servants are unimaginable, he has blessed me so immensely I can't even explain it. I think about each of you every second of everyday and how important this gospel is in my life and how important it is in the lives of many. Dad, I thought about you a lot this week, and I just want you to know I love you so very much! You are such a great dad, I am constantly telling the Elderes in my district about how funny you are and your jokes are always being told by me. They think you're really funny, and I tell them that your awesome! :) This week has been splendid, my spanish is coming so much easier and I can really feel the Lord blessing me in my studies and in all I do. We are teaching a lesson today, our last lesson in ENGLISH! and next week the whole lesson will be in spanish. We will be teaching about the plan of salvation, and how lucky we are to know of this great plan and to have it. I often think forward to the time that we will all step back into the presence of our heavenly father and how excited we will all be! It's truly a great blessing. Yesterday at our Tues. Devotional we had Elder Pearson come and talk to us from the Seventy. He had many great things to say and I learned so much, and I feel much more fully prepared to go forth and serve my heavenly father from his words. So this week I have thought a lot about you all as i have said, my district and I watched a mormon message video about thanksgiving and it was so good, a quote that I got from it said this: "Because we see things so often, we SEE them less and less." That quote hit me like a ton of bricks, because that is exactly how i've felt since I've been here, I see things around me, I have loving people around me so often that too often I take no time to thank them and express gratitude for them and REALLY SEE them. I'm so thankful for each and everyone of you. You are all such a blessing, and I cannot emphasize that enough, you are my family, that my loving father in heaven sent me to earth with, you are children of our heavenly father, and He along with my self LOVE YOU! So much, it's undescribable. We should live in thanksgiving everyday, and I believe that if we do we will be SO blessed. I really realized how much I love to teach this amazing Gospel, I've felt the spirit in such great abundance I wonder how I ever went without it for so long in my life, I love carrying this message of happiness even though our investigators in the MTC are all mormon :) it still brings happiness. So I've recently began playing four square at gym, let me just tell you that is amazing, haha, I enjoy it so much and our zone pretty much dominates it. Don't worry about me, I am having the time of my life, and I am truly so thankful for this opportunity to serve.
Holli -
Sorry I didnt bring your email with me to the temple so I dont have it with me now, I just want to tell you CONGRATULATIONS! FELICITACIONES! I am sooooooo happy for you, I KNOW this is a blessing from the Lord, I know it! From the bottom of my heart! You will make an amazing mom, I love you so much and am so happy for you! I almost cried right then and there when I read your letter, we're not supposed to open our letters until 9:30 but something told me I should peak at it and when I did I was overwhelmed with happiness for you and Andrew. I've never prayed harder for you two (as well as the rest of my great familia!) as I have now. I have a feeling we will have a new baby boy in our family. And he (or she) is so lucky! I'm so happy for you Holli! I'm sorry to hear about the sickness, but like you said, on the brightside its a sign of a healthy pregnancy! Oh man, I am just so excited and happy to hear about that, please keep me informed and up to date! I Love you both so very much!
Well Familia, I know i said it a lot but I can't stress it enough, I LOVE YOU! So much! You all are the reason I keep pushing everyday, the reason I go through the bad, because in my head I see your loving smiling faces pushing me along.
Well I am about to begin my 5th week here in the MTC and its only been a month here and I feel as though I've learned more than ever before at my time here. I have learned more about myself, my relationships with people, the gospel and my Savior Jesus Christ. As a representative of Him, I feel so blessed to carry his name, to have his message and to be able to spread the amazing news of the gospel and His atonement to everyone. If we truly put our faith, our trust and our EVERYTHING onto the savior, he will handle it. He might not take it from us right away, he might just strenghthen us so that we can be able to carry our burdens. I have a solid testimony of our savior's atoning sacrifice on our behalf. As He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane and Hung on the Cross of Calvary, he had US in mind, every single one of us. He knew the sacrifice he was making, and he did it for us, as long as we would trust and believe on his name. I urge you to trust and believe our savior. If you do, I have NO DOUBT whatsoever in my mind that your lives will be enriched with happiness and love towards all.
Keep staying strong family! Remember I love you, remember the Lord loves you,
Love forever and for always, Elder Falor
P.S. Grandma Long! Happy Birthday! I love you so much! Are you keeping an eye on grandpa? You better because he's a troublemaker :) I love you both! I hope you have an amazing day grandma! You are such an inspiration and example to me! Keep staying faithful and close to our Heavenly Father! I love you both! Give each other a hug for me!
P.S.S Mom you mentioned something about a thanksgiving box eh? Haha, that sounds amazing, I don't know of anything I would want specifically, I trust you that you know what I like, and I would LOVE anything you put in it. Also, If you could send me that Articles of Faith book in it, and in my christmas package could you send me that other journal just in case? That would be splendid! I love you so much! You are a wonderful mother! Keep staying strong, you sound like you are doing it already but I know you can keep it up!
I love you all so much! I can feel your love and prayers each and everyday, and what a blessing that is. It was amazing to hear from you all this week, I absolutely love getting your letters, it brings a little piece of home with me on my mission. I am doing fantastic! The work here is going great, I am now at my happy halfway mark! The MTC is great, but I am so excited to be on the field in four weeks. Mom, thanks so much for the ties, they are awesome! I'm wearing one now actually :) and thanks for the banana bread that tastes amazing! The MTC is so empty now but today we will be getting 700 new missionaries! Crazy! And we will be getting 8 new Elders and 4 new Hermanas in our zone to make up for the loss of so many missionaries. I love my life as a missionary, I'm really getting used to the schedule and loving it. The blessings the Lord has in store for his worthy servants are unimaginable, he has blessed me so immensely I can't even explain it. I think about each of you every second of everyday and how important this gospel is in my life and how important it is in the lives of many. Dad, I thought about you a lot this week, and I just want you to know I love you so very much! You are such a great dad, I am constantly telling the Elderes in my district about how funny you are and your jokes are always being told by me. They think you're really funny, and I tell them that your awesome! :) This week has been splendid, my spanish is coming so much easier and I can really feel the Lord blessing me in my studies and in all I do. We are teaching a lesson today, our last lesson in ENGLISH! and next week the whole lesson will be in spanish. We will be teaching about the plan of salvation, and how lucky we are to know of this great plan and to have it. I often think forward to the time that we will all step back into the presence of our heavenly father and how excited we will all be! It's truly a great blessing. Yesterday at our Tues. Devotional we had Elder Pearson come and talk to us from the Seventy. He had many great things to say and I learned so much, and I feel much more fully prepared to go forth and serve my heavenly father from his words. So this week I have thought a lot about you all as i have said, my district and I watched a mormon message video about thanksgiving and it was so good, a quote that I got from it said this: "Because we see things so often, we SEE them less and less." That quote hit me like a ton of bricks, because that is exactly how i've felt since I've been here, I see things around me, I have loving people around me so often that too often I take no time to thank them and express gratitude for them and REALLY SEE them. I'm so thankful for each and everyone of you. You are all such a blessing, and I cannot emphasize that enough, you are my family, that my loving father in heaven sent me to earth with, you are children of our heavenly father, and He along with my self LOVE YOU! So much, it's undescribable. We should live in thanksgiving everyday, and I believe that if we do we will be SO blessed. I really realized how much I love to teach this amazing Gospel, I've felt the spirit in such great abundance I wonder how I ever went without it for so long in my life, I love carrying this message of happiness even though our investigators in the MTC are all mormon :) it still brings happiness. So I've recently began playing four square at gym, let me just tell you that is amazing, haha, I enjoy it so much and our zone pretty much dominates it. Don't worry about me, I am having the time of my life, and I am truly so thankful for this opportunity to serve.
Holli -
Sorry I didnt bring your email with me to the temple so I dont have it with me now, I just want to tell you CONGRATULATIONS! FELICITACIONES! I am sooooooo happy for you, I KNOW this is a blessing from the Lord, I know it! From the bottom of my heart! You will make an amazing mom, I love you so much and am so happy for you! I almost cried right then and there when I read your letter, we're not supposed to open our letters until 9:30 but something told me I should peak at it and when I did I was overwhelmed with happiness for you and Andrew. I've never prayed harder for you two (as well as the rest of my great familia!) as I have now. I have a feeling we will have a new baby boy in our family. And he (or she) is so lucky! I'm so happy for you Holli! I'm sorry to hear about the sickness, but like you said, on the brightside its a sign of a healthy pregnancy! Oh man, I am just so excited and happy to hear about that, please keep me informed and up to date! I Love you both so very much!
Well Familia, I know i said it a lot but I can't stress it enough, I LOVE YOU! So much! You all are the reason I keep pushing everyday, the reason I go through the bad, because in my head I see your loving smiling faces pushing me along.
Well I am about to begin my 5th week here in the MTC and its only been a month here and I feel as though I've learned more than ever before at my time here. I have learned more about myself, my relationships with people, the gospel and my Savior Jesus Christ. As a representative of Him, I feel so blessed to carry his name, to have his message and to be able to spread the amazing news of the gospel and His atonement to everyone. If we truly put our faith, our trust and our EVERYTHING onto the savior, he will handle it. He might not take it from us right away, he might just strenghthen us so that we can be able to carry our burdens. I have a solid testimony of our savior's atoning sacrifice on our behalf. As He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane and Hung on the Cross of Calvary, he had US in mind, every single one of us. He knew the sacrifice he was making, and he did it for us, as long as we would trust and believe on his name. I urge you to trust and believe our savior. If you do, I have NO DOUBT whatsoever in my mind that your lives will be enriched with happiness and love towards all.
Keep staying strong family! Remember I love you, remember the Lord loves you,
Love forever and for always, Elder Falor
P.S. Grandma Long! Happy Birthday! I love you so much! Are you keeping an eye on grandpa? You better because he's a troublemaker :) I love you both! I hope you have an amazing day grandma! You are such an inspiration and example to me! Keep staying faithful and close to our Heavenly Father! I love you both! Give each other a hug for me!
P.S.S Mom you mentioned something about a thanksgiving box eh? Haha, that sounds amazing, I don't know of anything I would want specifically, I trust you that you know what I like, and I would LOVE anything you put in it. Also, If you could send me that Articles of Faith book in it, and in my christmas package could you send me that other journal just in case? That would be splendid! I love you so much! You are a wonderful mother! Keep staying strong, you sound like you are doing it already but I know you can keep it up!
Good Morning
Hola mi querido familia!
It was so great to hear from all of you this week and I can seriously feel your love from all the way over here. Mom, thanks so much for the packages of candy, fruit snacks and cards, that is so great to get a little card to pick me up at the end of a long hard day. It sounds like things went well with parker, I enjoyed getting the pictures, she is so funny and has such a cute personality. I can't imagine how much cuter she will get in two years.
It sounds like the usual fun stuff for Holli's birthday, I'm glad you all got to celebrate it for her. Well, I love you all very much each and everyone of you, and I really enjoy all your letters and support. I have days here where I feel so inadequate like I was just baptized 2 days ago and how on earth can I ever know enough about the gospel to carry the message to the people of Costa Rica, let alone in Espanol! But i know without a doubt that in the strenght of the Lord, I can accomplish many things.
This week here was great at the MTC, it was full of tough days but rewarding days just the same. Every wednesday we get to have our P-day and go to the temple, do our laundry, write our families, and then at the end of the day we go to what is called the TRC where we teach investigators in spanish and english the lessons we learn. Last week was so powerful, my companion and I taught the message of the Restoration and the spirit was so strong, testifying to me, and hopefully them, of the truthfullness of this message. Sunday was special too, it was my first fast sunday in the MTC and it's amazing, everyone is fasting for a purpose and the spirit is so strong all throughout campus. We had mission conference and got some great advice, afterwards we went to fast and testimony meetings for our zones (which are in spanish!) and I was so close to getting up and bearing my small testimony in Spanish, but I didn't find enough nerve inside me to do it. It really upset me and I felt like it was a change wasted to get out of my comfort zone. The spirit was definitely with me all day though and the Lord truly blessed me in my fast. We had a fireside that evening with Sister Sheri Dew and she spoke about missionary work (obviously) and she said one thing in particular that really struck me, she said as she quoted Pres. Packer "We as children of today have it much harder than the pioneers" and that was such a shock, I always thought that I could never be a pioneer or endure the trials they endured, but she made a good point. She said that as spirit sons and daughters in the pre-existance we showed some amazing spiritual strenght which made us able to come to the earth in the Latter end of these Latter-days. It gave me such confidence to know that I had showed enough strength to be counted as one strong enough to come down here where the adversary is stronger than ever and that the gospel is needed more and more. It was very powerful. Also on sunday we got to go and walk around the temple and just enjoy the sabbath and feel the spirit at the provo temple. It's hard to go to the temple grounds and think about the day i said goodbye to my amazing family. But I am ever reminded of the purpose of why I am here, that's part of making a sacrifice, and I'm starting to realize that I haven't really made a sacrifice at all. I love being a missionary, and I love my Savior. On Tuesday (yesterday) to back up Sister Dew's comments, we had our 4th apostle in a row come and talk to us on Tuesday devotional. That NEVER happens, people are thinking that we must need to hear from these prophets, seers and revelators for the work we are embarking on. And not only that, but the Apostle (Elder David A. Bednar) gave an amazing talk and gave me and the other missionaries our SECOND apostolic blessing! What a blessing it is to receive a promise and a blessing from an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was so spiritual and it left me feeling able to conquer the world and to be able to preach this gospel where it is definitely needed.
Each day I think about my family and how truly blessed I am to have all of you, I think about families in the Gospel and I understand how truly important having a family is, our Heavenly Father must of loved us and still does love us enough to send us to the earth with each other. I don't know where I'd be if it weren't for you my family. I love you all, from the bottom of my heart. I would do anything for all of you.
Mom, I get on the computer around 10 am on Wednesdays but only for a half an hour, after that time the computer logs me off and I can't get on for the rest of the week to answer your question.
Well, I love you all, you all mean the absolute world to me.
I know this work I am doing is right and true, I know that I have been blessed and am continually being blessed each day. I know the Lord will bless and strengthen you as you come to him. He's waiting to receive you, to listen to you, and to love you. I know this.
With all the love I could ever give,
Elder Falor
It was so great to hear from all of you this week and I can seriously feel your love from all the way over here. Mom, thanks so much for the packages of candy, fruit snacks and cards, that is so great to get a little card to pick me up at the end of a long hard day. It sounds like things went well with parker, I enjoyed getting the pictures, she is so funny and has such a cute personality. I can't imagine how much cuter she will get in two years.
It sounds like the usual fun stuff for Holli's birthday, I'm glad you all got to celebrate it for her. Well, I love you all very much each and everyone of you, and I really enjoy all your letters and support. I have days here where I feel so inadequate like I was just baptized 2 days ago and how on earth can I ever know enough about the gospel to carry the message to the people of Costa Rica, let alone in Espanol! But i know without a doubt that in the strenght of the Lord, I can accomplish many things.
This week here was great at the MTC, it was full of tough days but rewarding days just the same. Every wednesday we get to have our P-day and go to the temple, do our laundry, write our families, and then at the end of the day we go to what is called the TRC where we teach investigators in spanish and english the lessons we learn. Last week was so powerful, my companion and I taught the message of the Restoration and the spirit was so strong, testifying to me, and hopefully them, of the truthfullness of this message. Sunday was special too, it was my first fast sunday in the MTC and it's amazing, everyone is fasting for a purpose and the spirit is so strong all throughout campus. We had mission conference and got some great advice, afterwards we went to fast and testimony meetings for our zones (which are in spanish!) and I was so close to getting up and bearing my small testimony in Spanish, but I didn't find enough nerve inside me to do it. It really upset me and I felt like it was a change wasted to get out of my comfort zone. The spirit was definitely with me all day though and the Lord truly blessed me in my fast. We had a fireside that evening with Sister Sheri Dew and she spoke about missionary work (obviously) and she said one thing in particular that really struck me, she said as she quoted Pres. Packer "We as children of today have it much harder than the pioneers" and that was such a shock, I always thought that I could never be a pioneer or endure the trials they endured, but she made a good point. She said that as spirit sons and daughters in the pre-existance we showed some amazing spiritual strenght which made us able to come to the earth in the Latter end of these Latter-days. It gave me such confidence to know that I had showed enough strength to be counted as one strong enough to come down here where the adversary is stronger than ever and that the gospel is needed more and more. It was very powerful. Also on sunday we got to go and walk around the temple and just enjoy the sabbath and feel the spirit at the provo temple. It's hard to go to the temple grounds and think about the day i said goodbye to my amazing family. But I am ever reminded of the purpose of why I am here, that's part of making a sacrifice, and I'm starting to realize that I haven't really made a sacrifice at all. I love being a missionary, and I love my Savior. On Tuesday (yesterday) to back up Sister Dew's comments, we had our 4th apostle in a row come and talk to us on Tuesday devotional. That NEVER happens, people are thinking that we must need to hear from these prophets, seers and revelators for the work we are embarking on. And not only that, but the Apostle (Elder David A. Bednar) gave an amazing talk and gave me and the other missionaries our SECOND apostolic blessing! What a blessing it is to receive a promise and a blessing from an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was so spiritual and it left me feeling able to conquer the world and to be able to preach this gospel where it is definitely needed.
Each day I think about my family and how truly blessed I am to have all of you, I think about families in the Gospel and I understand how truly important having a family is, our Heavenly Father must of loved us and still does love us enough to send us to the earth with each other. I don't know where I'd be if it weren't for you my family. I love you all, from the bottom of my heart. I would do anything for all of you.
Mom, I get on the computer around 10 am on Wednesdays but only for a half an hour, after that time the computer logs me off and I can't get on for the rest of the week to answer your question.
Well, I love you all, you all mean the absolute world to me.
I know this work I am doing is right and true, I know that I have been blessed and am continually being blessed each day. I know the Lord will bless and strengthen you as you come to him. He's waiting to receive you, to listen to you, and to love you. I know this.
With all the love I could ever give,
Elder Falor
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Hola!
Dear Allen Family,
It is so great to hear from you all and to receive such great strength from you. I can feel your prayers and love for me each and everyday. The MTC is hard, the schedule is hard, the spanish is hard, but, I know that with the Lord's help I can accomplish great things. I have grown such a deep love for the Savior in my short time here, I can really sense his presence in all I do here at the MTC. This week was great, we watched all the new missionaries come in and it felt great to not be the newbie's anymore. I love my district, they are all great Elders, and they have a sincere and deep desire to serve the Lord. Today we went to the temple and I didn't want to leave, the spirit in the Lord's house is PALPABLE! I felt so at peace, and I feel safe from everything when I am in there. I heard about all your new renovations and remodeling, congrats, I'm sure the house looks beautiful! How are the puppies, haha, this sounds dumb but I started missing them the other day, (you all as well) but I hope everything is going good and I'm sure you all haven't changed. I miss your sense of humor and your love in my life, but each day I am reminded of the great experiences I;ve had with you and i wouldnt trade them for the world. Jeff - thanks for the quotes you wrote, when I open up yours it always leads to an intense scripture study and I learn so much, thank you! Also, thanks for your dearelder letter, those things are gold each night when i get them, I get butterflies, so thanks.
Jeff, Anneli, and Family,
thanks so much for the dear elder letters, they mean more than you know. I saw Ben and he looks like he's doing great, he has helped me a lot when i see him around he always makes sure that i am doing okay. He is really a great Elder and I can tell he will do a lot of good in Puebla. The MTC is difficult and thus far the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, but it will all be worth it. I'm so thankful to have you all in my life, you bring such a joy and happiness into my day when I think of all the fun memories we've had together. Keep staying strong and active in the Gospel, it is the greatest thing we have in our lives and it's so important that we treasure it everyday.
i miss you guys a ton! you are all in my prayers specifically everynight (lets just hope heavenly father understands really broken spanglish prayers :))
I love you all, I love this gospel, and I love my savior.
Love, Elder Falor
PS. Give Alicia a non-missionary hug for me and stay safe in guatemala!
It is so great to hear from you all and to receive such great strength from you. I can feel your prayers and love for me each and everyday. The MTC is hard, the schedule is hard, the spanish is hard, but, I know that with the Lord's help I can accomplish great things. I have grown such a deep love for the Savior in my short time here, I can really sense his presence in all I do here at the MTC. This week was great, we watched all the new missionaries come in and it felt great to not be the newbie's anymore. I love my district, they are all great Elders, and they have a sincere and deep desire to serve the Lord. Today we went to the temple and I didn't want to leave, the spirit in the Lord's house is PALPABLE! I felt so at peace, and I feel safe from everything when I am in there. I heard about all your new renovations and remodeling, congrats, I'm sure the house looks beautiful! How are the puppies, haha, this sounds dumb but I started missing them the other day, (you all as well) but I hope everything is going good and I'm sure you all haven't changed. I miss your sense of humor and your love in my life, but each day I am reminded of the great experiences I;ve had with you and i wouldnt trade them for the world. Jeff - thanks for the quotes you wrote, when I open up yours it always leads to an intense scripture study and I learn so much, thank you! Also, thanks for your dearelder letter, those things are gold each night when i get them, I get butterflies, so thanks.
Jeff, Anneli, and Family,
thanks so much for the dear elder letters, they mean more than you know. I saw Ben and he looks like he's doing great, he has helped me a lot when i see him around he always makes sure that i am doing okay. He is really a great Elder and I can tell he will do a lot of good in Puebla. The MTC is difficult and thus far the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, but it will all be worth it. I'm so thankful to have you all in my life, you bring such a joy and happiness into my day when I think of all the fun memories we've had together. Keep staying strong and active in the Gospel, it is the greatest thing we have in our lives and it's so important that we treasure it everyday.
i miss you guys a ton! you are all in my prayers specifically everynight (lets just hope heavenly father understands really broken spanglish prayers :))
I love you all, I love this gospel, and I love my savior.
Love, Elder Falor
PS. Give Alicia a non-missionary hug for me and stay safe in guatemala!
Week 2
Mom, Dad and Family,
Thanks so much for all your love and support you've given me this past week and both weeks I've been here. Honestly it would be so tough to not here from you all the time, but it's such a blessing to be able to get a letter each night from you. I read it and I don't get distracted, I get more focused and am reminded each time as to why I am here. Being away from you guys has really made me appreciate the importance of a family. It's such a blessing to carry the message of the restored gospel and to be able to have my Savior's name attached to my heart. Mom, your letter after I told you about my confidence was JUST what I needed to go on that day. That day I got your letter I was really having a hard time, I was struggling with just about everything and really considered just giving up. But the Lord has other plans becaue he had you send me that amazing letter that reminded me to just keep pressing on, to keep going even though it was tough. After I read your letter I did exactly as you told me in your poem, I called upon my Heavenly Father and received the reassurance to keep going. And FYI I haven't had a single headache since I've been here, I've been feeling fine, I run about 3 miles a day at gym and I'm keeping myself as healthy as possible. I'm also sleeping really well. I'm one of the few elders in my district who loves the beds and thinks their comfy, I don't know why but I sleep like a baby in it. Dad - thanks for your letter! Your letters are good medicine to me and I love to hear from you, thanks for taking the time about of your day to let me know that you love me. I think about you a lot out here and how happy I am to have a Dad like you. You bring so much joy and happiness in to my life and I apologize for the times i failed to tell you that.
Oh, about my extra stuff you sent, don't worry I will probably just mail those home befor i leave like my suit, my sweats and other things that will be unnecessary for Costa Rica, but i can also take my carry on as well as my backpack so that should take up less space. Thanks so much for all you do, you are the reason I'm out here, you are the reason I am the way I am.
So this week was great, it was rough in some parts but that is part of the Sacrifice. I can feel satan pressuring me to think negatively about myself and about why I'm out here, but without fail the spirit of the Lord steps in and reminds me of my purpose, to Invite others to come unto Christ and to experience the love that this gospel brings to us. We had yet ANOTHER apostle come and talk to us last night at our Devotional, Elder M. Russel Ballard came and spoke to us and gave us some great advice about missionary work. On Monday night some of the elders in our zone were leaving so we got the entire zone together in one dorm room and sang God Be With You Till We Meet again in spanish. It was so powerful! The spirit is so strong and it comes through music a lot of the time. The rest of the week was just lots of studying and practicing teaching. I've never studied so hard in my entire life but it will be worth it.
Well I love you all so very much and I am so thankful for you. I want you to know that I know the work and reason to why I'm out here is so important to me and all of you. I know it's true and it's right, it's what I'm meant to do at this point in my life. I know that OUR Savior Jesus Christ lives and he is our redeemer and he is welcoming us all with open arms if only we will come to him. I love you all never forget that!
Love, Elder Falor
Thanks so much for all your love and support you've given me this past week and both weeks I've been here. Honestly it would be so tough to not here from you all the time, but it's such a blessing to be able to get a letter each night from you. I read it and I don't get distracted, I get more focused and am reminded each time as to why I am here. Being away from you guys has really made me appreciate the importance of a family. It's such a blessing to carry the message of the restored gospel and to be able to have my Savior's name attached to my heart. Mom, your letter after I told you about my confidence was JUST what I needed to go on that day. That day I got your letter I was really having a hard time, I was struggling with just about everything and really considered just giving up. But the Lord has other plans becaue he had you send me that amazing letter that reminded me to just keep pressing on, to keep going even though it was tough. After I read your letter I did exactly as you told me in your poem, I called upon my Heavenly Father and received the reassurance to keep going. And FYI I haven't had a single headache since I've been here, I've been feeling fine, I run about 3 miles a day at gym and I'm keeping myself as healthy as possible. I'm also sleeping really well. I'm one of the few elders in my district who loves the beds and thinks their comfy, I don't know why but I sleep like a baby in it. Dad - thanks for your letter! Your letters are good medicine to me and I love to hear from you, thanks for taking the time about of your day to let me know that you love me. I think about you a lot out here and how happy I am to have a Dad like you. You bring so much joy and happiness in to my life and I apologize for the times i failed to tell you that.
Oh, about my extra stuff you sent, don't worry I will probably just mail those home befor i leave like my suit, my sweats and other things that will be unnecessary for Costa Rica, but i can also take my carry on as well as my backpack so that should take up less space. Thanks so much for all you do, you are the reason I'm out here, you are the reason I am the way I am.
So this week was great, it was rough in some parts but that is part of the Sacrifice. I can feel satan pressuring me to think negatively about myself and about why I'm out here, but without fail the spirit of the Lord steps in and reminds me of my purpose, to Invite others to come unto Christ and to experience the love that this gospel brings to us. We had yet ANOTHER apostle come and talk to us last night at our Devotional, Elder M. Russel Ballard came and spoke to us and gave us some great advice about missionary work. On Monday night some of the elders in our zone were leaving so we got the entire zone together in one dorm room and sang God Be With You Till We Meet again in spanish. It was so powerful! The spirit is so strong and it comes through music a lot of the time. The rest of the week was just lots of studying and practicing teaching. I've never studied so hard in my entire life but it will be worth it.
Well I love you all so very much and I am so thankful for you. I want you to know that I know the work and reason to why I'm out here is so important to me and all of you. I know it's true and it's right, it's what I'm meant to do at this point in my life. I know that OUR Savior Jesus Christ lives and he is our redeemer and he is welcoming us all with open arms if only we will come to him. I love you all never forget that!
Love, Elder Falor
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Hola mi querido familia!
Hello my dear family,
It has been so great to hear from you all this week, I have definitely felt your prayers and love all the way here in provo. I kept thinking all week long about how lucky I am to have such amazing support back at home and how much love i feel from each and everyone of you. I have realized being away how much family is important, I want you all to know how much I truly love you from the bottom of my heart, you mean the world to me, and I wouldn't be here without a single one of you.
Mom - Man, it was so great to find those little surprises for me in my scriptures, everytime I'm struggling or something I stumble upon them and feel so grateful to have a loving mom at home who is pushing me along and making sure I know I can do it. Thanks for being on my shoulder! I couldn't do it if it weren't for you there, people probably think I'm crazy always looking at my shoulder but I just keep checking to see if you're there, and you always are, I love you so much! Thanks a ton for the package, it was well wanted, some other elders in my district got packages and I kept thinking, "All i want is candy" And you answered my prayers! Thanks for writing me on DearElder, don't worry you're not embarrassing me, I love getting a letter, even if it's just a Hi. It is so great! Tell Dad I love him a lot and I think about him everyday and the amazing example he is to me. Tell all my siblings and everyone how much I love them! I'm so grateful to everyone!
Maddy - Oh my goodness, thanks so much for the quotes, I don't know how I could go through my day without a little piece of you in it. We are best friends forever, and you mean the world to me. I can feel your support and strength each and everyday. I really appreciate the DearElder letters, they mean so much, I can't even express my gratitude. Poppy, thanks for your letter, it was so great to hear from you, thank you for your prayers and all the support I feel from you, I love you all!
Well this week has been crazy, I know everyone says this but I truly understand the statement that here at the MTC the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days. The first week was long, but full of learning, laughing, getting to know people, getting to know more about myself, and my Savior Jesus Christ. The spirit at the MTC is PALPABLE! It's so strong and so uplifting to see thousands of people just like me, embarking on the service of our God. We all have one thing in common and that is to Invite others to come unto Christ. How important is that message and I'm so grateful that I am able to carry it. I love the elders in my district as well as in my branch they are all so great and so nice. My companions name is Elder Bagley from Star Valley, Wyoming, and the other elders in my district are Elder Kemp, Larsen, Hall, Thorum, Shelley, Ricks and Brown, they are all so awesome and I have 8 new friends now. Me and my comp have a room to ourselves so we are really lucky it's not too crazy. 4 Elders in my district are going to my mission, 4 are going to Nicaragua and 1 is going to Spain, they are awesome. My zone leaders, Elder Sewell and Phelps have been awesome! I feel like i've known them for years they help me out so much. So this week was a lot of class, a lot of studying, a lot of eating (the food here makes legacy house food taste like a delicacy), we had a fireside on sunday after church and that was so inspiring, and yesterday we had an Apostle of Jesus Christ come to the MTC for the 2nd week in a row, Elder Richard G. Scott came and gave a marvelous speech on seeking to bring the spirit. The cool thing was that he gave each and everyone of us an Apostolic blessing, which is equivalent to him laying his hands right on my head, he said that we will have the gift of tongues, confidence and constant guidance of the spirit. Which is a huge blessing, I need each and everyone of those blessings, my Heavenly Father was definitely aware of me last night, because i'm nothing without the spirit. Today we went to the Provo Temple and just got back IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL! I love the temple, and even though I don't understand it all I know the meaning is divine and that it is perfect. They keep us spiritually well fed here at the MTC and it is so great. Spanish is coming a long, it's more difficult than I thought but I know I will get it down. We sing all our hymns in spanish and all our prayers are said in spanish as well as all our meetings on sunday are in spanish. Today is my p-day and will be for the next 8 weeks until I leave the MTC. I'll admit i've been a little homesick this week but it always helps to think about the people back at home constantly supporting and loving me each step of the way, and as soon as I remember my purpose as a representative of Jesus Christ, my soul settles and all is well again.
Before I go I want each and every one reading this letter to know that I love you more than life itself, you are all so crucial to me, and i'd surely be lost without you. Each of you hold a spot dear to me in my heart as well as you Mom on my shoulder. I love you all, and I love this gospel, I know without a doubt this is where I am supposed to be, this is the place I'm meant to be and Costa Rica is where I'm meant to serve. I love my savior, Jesus Christ and I know He lives because I can feel it in my heart, I know God knows me and each of you and He is aware of all that is going on in our lives, I know this gospel can bless us beyond measure as long as we come unto Christ and allow Him and His atonement to heal us.
I love you soooooooooo much!
Good luck,
Con amor, your son, grandson, brother, adopted son, and forever friend,
Elder Falor
It has been so great to hear from you all this week, I have definitely felt your prayers and love all the way here in provo. I kept thinking all week long about how lucky I am to have such amazing support back at home and how much love i feel from each and everyone of you. I have realized being away how much family is important, I want you all to know how much I truly love you from the bottom of my heart, you mean the world to me, and I wouldn't be here without a single one of you.
Mom - Man, it was so great to find those little surprises for me in my scriptures, everytime I'm struggling or something I stumble upon them and feel so grateful to have a loving mom at home who is pushing me along and making sure I know I can do it. Thanks for being on my shoulder! I couldn't do it if it weren't for you there, people probably think I'm crazy always looking at my shoulder but I just keep checking to see if you're there, and you always are, I love you so much! Thanks a ton for the package, it was well wanted, some other elders in my district got packages and I kept thinking, "All i want is candy" And you answered my prayers! Thanks for writing me on DearElder, don't worry you're not embarrassing me, I love getting a letter, even if it's just a Hi. It is so great! Tell Dad I love him a lot and I think about him everyday and the amazing example he is to me. Tell all my siblings and everyone how much I love them! I'm so grateful to everyone!
Maddy - Oh my goodness, thanks so much for the quotes, I don't know how I could go through my day without a little piece of you in it. We are best friends forever, and you mean the world to me. I can feel your support and strength each and everyday. I really appreciate the DearElder letters, they mean so much, I can't even express my gratitude. Poppy, thanks for your letter, it was so great to hear from you, thank you for your prayers and all the support I feel from you, I love you all!
Well this week has been crazy, I know everyone says this but I truly understand the statement that here at the MTC the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days. The first week was long, but full of learning, laughing, getting to know people, getting to know more about myself, and my Savior Jesus Christ. The spirit at the MTC is PALPABLE! It's so strong and so uplifting to see thousands of people just like me, embarking on the service of our God. We all have one thing in common and that is to Invite others to come unto Christ. How important is that message and I'm so grateful that I am able to carry it. I love the elders in my district as well as in my branch they are all so great and so nice. My companions name is Elder Bagley from Star Valley, Wyoming, and the other elders in my district are Elder Kemp, Larsen, Hall, Thorum, Shelley, Ricks and Brown, they are all so awesome and I have 8 new friends now. Me and my comp have a room to ourselves so we are really lucky it's not too crazy. 4 Elders in my district are going to my mission, 4 are going to Nicaragua and 1 is going to Spain, they are awesome. My zone leaders, Elder Sewell and Phelps have been awesome! I feel like i've known them for years they help me out so much. So this week was a lot of class, a lot of studying, a lot of eating (the food here makes legacy house food taste like a delicacy), we had a fireside on sunday after church and that was so inspiring, and yesterday we had an Apostle of Jesus Christ come to the MTC for the 2nd week in a row, Elder Richard G. Scott came and gave a marvelous speech on seeking to bring the spirit. The cool thing was that he gave each and everyone of us an Apostolic blessing, which is equivalent to him laying his hands right on my head, he said that we will have the gift of tongues, confidence and constant guidance of the spirit. Which is a huge blessing, I need each and everyone of those blessings, my Heavenly Father was definitely aware of me last night, because i'm nothing without the spirit. Today we went to the Provo Temple and just got back IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL! I love the temple, and even though I don't understand it all I know the meaning is divine and that it is perfect. They keep us spiritually well fed here at the MTC and it is so great. Spanish is coming a long, it's more difficult than I thought but I know I will get it down. We sing all our hymns in spanish and all our prayers are said in spanish as well as all our meetings on sunday are in spanish. Today is my p-day and will be for the next 8 weeks until I leave the MTC. I'll admit i've been a little homesick this week but it always helps to think about the people back at home constantly supporting and loving me each step of the way, and as soon as I remember my purpose as a representative of Jesus Christ, my soul settles and all is well again.
Before I go I want each and every one reading this letter to know that I love you more than life itself, you are all so crucial to me, and i'd surely be lost without you. Each of you hold a spot dear to me in my heart as well as you Mom on my shoulder. I love you all, and I love this gospel, I know without a doubt this is where I am supposed to be, this is the place I'm meant to be and Costa Rica is where I'm meant to serve. I love my savior, Jesus Christ and I know He lives because I can feel it in my heart, I know God knows me and each of you and He is aware of all that is going on in our lives, I know this gospel can bless us beyond measure as long as we come unto Christ and allow Him and His atonement to heal us.
I love you soooooooooo much!
Good luck,
Con amor, your son, grandson, brother, adopted son, and forever friend,
Elder Falor
Thursday, October 7, 2010
"It's like walking in sunlight, when the whole world is covered in rain clouds"
Well, I've got just under two weeks before I say goodbye to ol' CV for 2 years...
It's a weird feeling, knowing the place that has been a home to you for twenty long years will be far out of my sight for 24 months, 730 days...
But lately, I have had a question roaming through my mind: "Why do I want to serve a mission?"
I have thought long and hard about this. Why would I, someone who is such a homebody and hates leaving home, is super shy, and hates change, want to leave for 2 years to a foreign land and Preach to people who may not even understand me. why would I submit myself to many hours of walking in torrential downpours of Costa Rica, or face the dangers of many poisonous critters that creep and crawl practically EVERYWHERE?
Because I KNOW...beyond a shadow of a doubt that what I'm about to embark on, IS the Lord's work. This is HIS church, and He needs people like me everywhere to sacrifice their time, their everything to serve Him.
But not only that, it's because I also know that this Gospel, has brought me more happiness, more joy, more courage, more strength and more everything, and I believe everyone should have that same opportunity.
It's because I am shy and scared of change that I want to serve a mission. I want to experience real true service, real true heartache and sadness, so I can grow, and progress.
I want to because I want to be a better husband to my future wife.
It's because I know in God's eyes I am a part of the bigger picture.
"there's so much more to me, he helps me see that I have so much to offer"
Choosing to follow this path was THE best decision I've ever made, and will probably ever make, it will lead to future decisions that will lead me to happiness that I can't quite comprehend.
THAT'S why I want to serve a mission. To bring others BACK to where they know, deep down inside of them, that they should be. So they can live this life here on earth with true happiness and self-worth.
Yeah..
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