An Interview with Elder Farr:
Tell us about your mission and the people.
I have been in Denmark for a little over two months now. I have learned a lot about danish culture. The food here is great! Danish people eat a LOT of pork and potatoes, but they eat other things as well. One of my favorite things to eat since I have been out is bread covered with butter, then cheese, then jam. Many people have had the opportunity to try what is referred to as a “danish” back home. I can verify that they taste WAY better here in Denmark. Europe is a great place, with lots of interesting people. I am serving in Kolding right now, which is home to several international colleges. Because of this, we speak with people from all over the world every day. The people are usually very friendly, and many are open to discuss what they believe. Right now, me and my companion are teaching a man from New York, two from northern India, and hoping to be able to meet with a guy we met from Japan and a few native danes as well. The missionaries that I have the opportunity to serve with out here are some of the best people that I have ever had the chance to meet.
In Denmark they speak Danish. In Danish there are 3 extra letters in the alphabet, making 29 total. The hardest part of the language is the pronunciation, because many words have letters and sounds that are simply not pronounced at all. As I have learned how to speak and understand, I have realized how much God is helping with the language. After three years of studying Spanish, compared to 3 months studying Danish, I am WAY better at Danish. I know that the gift of tongues is a huge blessing in my efforts to learn Danish.
What led you to the decision to go on a mission?
I have always planned on going on a mission. My parents and older sister all served missions of their own, and have all highly recommended it. Another important reason that I serve is that I want to share the gospel with other people. I have seen my life and the lives of others blessed in so many ways because of the influence of the gospel. The opportunity to spend all of your time serving the Lord is an amazing thing, and I am grateful for it.
What advice do you have for the youth and YSAs members of the stake that are contemplating serving a mission?
Serving a mission is a big thing, but I can promise that the positive impact on both the lives of those you touch and your own will be huge. You will strengthen your testimony, and be blessed in so many ways that it will be hard to count. You cannot even imagine how much serving a mission will change your life for the better. I am grateful that I can be out here, and I am learning so much every day.
Elder Farr
What advice do you have for how best to prepare for the mission for those that have decided to go and are just waiting to put in their papers or for the call?
Study the scriptures and Preach My Gospel lessons. Before I came out, I felt like I had a fairly solid understanding of everything that I would be teaching, but I have learned so much from my daily study! If you feel like you understand something, try teaching it to a friend or family member. Someone who is not familiar with the church would be the best, because they can give you solid feedback on how to simplify what you are trying to explain. Studying the scriptures every day has blessed my life and strengthened my understanding. I would also recomnend learning to buy groceries and cook a few simple meals. There is always more to learn!
How have the changes allowing for contact with your family impacted you personally?
No one that was out serving when we heard about the change saw it coming. It was completely unexpected for me as well. I have had the chance to call my family several times now, and I can see how it is a great opportunity to not only talk, but to help them get involved in missionary work at home, as well as learn more about what I am doing here in Denmark.
Were there any fears that you had when you were considering serving a mission that you found were simply not warranted or melted away after you began serving?
I don’t know if I had any specific fears when I was thinking about it. There was just a lot of things that were unknown. I had no idea what to expect or really how to prepare for what I would be doing. I do remember being a little worried about just going up to strangers and talking to them about the gospel. I had no reason to worry! Everything was very organized and planned out, and the MTC has a lot of great resources available to help people learn and adjust to what they will be doing. All of my worries are gone. A mission can seem like a really scary thing, but it is not. Of course there are times when you must learn how to do things that are out of your comfort zone. For me, talking to random people on the street took a fair amount of effort, but in the end, it is really not that bad. There is really no better way to find out how great a mission is than to go.
