Prayers and Answers :)

My dearest family/ familia/ famiglia, :) Hola, I said Hola!

I had a great week here in the Countryside ward, I love it here, and I love the members of our ward!!! I also love each of you and am praying for you!

Here is my week of simple miracles:

Monday- we took a relaxing/ anti social day and just bummed around and didn't go to zone sports, it was great, we got two naps, very much needed! Along the way we were able to talk to a bunch of people and invite them to learn! It was fantastic to be able to have missionary experiences, I really love being a missionary!!!

Tuesday- We had a really great lesson with a family; we drew a picture of the temple, and the gate (baptism) and then drew each member of the family on the picture for where they were in the picture. It was awesome and helped them realize what they need to be doing aka get to the temple, and get their families members baptized. 

Wednesday- this week we are going on three exchanges. One of them I was with one of the "trouble sisters." We moved the recliner we have into our bedroom because she hates our hard beds :). In the morning, she was late getting up so while I prayed I asked Heavenly Father to help her wake up. A few minutes later our fire alarm went off for no reason and didn't stop until she got out of bed and looked at it :), it was awesome! Then we were able to have a really good day! We trained at district meeting, and had a great one! Then we met with investigators, both of which had amazing questions! Which was really refreshing!

Thursday- We went to the Gila Valley temple, it was beautiful!!! The session was amazing and the celestial rooms were exactly that, celestial. Before I had been praying to know what questions I should have going to the temple. I came to the conclusion that I should just ask for God to let me know, what I needed to know. So while in the celestial room, I prayed and prayed and prayed. My prayer consisted mostly of gratitude for the people that I love, especially for my wonderful family! I had amazing insights with each of you!!! I will share the one about Emily. I was thanking Heavenly Father for the relationship that we have been able to grow the last few years. When I received an answer I had been waiting for, for a very long time! Years ago, in high school I prayed to know whether to do cross country or soccer. For those who know this story, you know how hard it was for me to make this decision. This experience was one of the major growing experiences for me in my teenage years. I prayed about this for 9 months and didn't really feel like I got a solid answer, but decided to go off of the little feelings and chose to do XC. I never did receive the confirmation that this was right, but it worked out. In the temple I realized that it was because I made this decision, that Emily and I were able to become such good friends! Moral of the story, God will Always answer prayers! Not always in your way or time, but in his way! But just because he doesn't give you a huge answer, doesn't mean you shouldn't act. We receive no witness, until after the trial of our faith. I am so grateful for personal revelation!!! Also I have been reading in Ether chp 2-3. I found a really cool application to my life. In chapter 2:24-25 it talks about why God is going to send rain and storms and that he will steer them through. The reason for the storms (and the reasons for the storms and trials we have in our lives) is so we can make it to the great lands of promise, or our promised blessings. But God will not leave us in darkness in our trials. He will send us light! We gain this light by doing our best and giving it to God, so that he can touch our "stones/efforts" to make them shine! He has certainly done this in my life! As I do all I can, and give it to God, He has made my efforts way more than they could have been and He has lead me through the hard times of life! How grateful I am for the scriptures and for the Savior!!!

Sunday was the primary program, so cute! We had an awesome inspired lesson with a LA guy and his active family. Our lesson went just as we had planned- I love inspiration! And he committed to become active in the church again, we even found his concerns! I love answers!

Anyway I love you all and I love being a missionary!!!

Love, Sister Barnes

Families Can Be Together Forever, Sep 15

My dear Family,

I love you so much! I am happy that our family was able to get some new little foster kids, I already love them!!!

Here are some miracles already from our ward fast! We were able to go to an adoption party for some members in our ward. They invited tons of non members and we met a family that said they would be willing to hear our message! We got to teach them this week in the members home.  We haven't been able to teach the others yet, but will this week!!! Then a few weeks ago we had dinner with a family in an apt complex. They told us about a neighbor they wanted us to try, but didn't know his number. A few weeks later we were contacting and met some people who were totally not interested but said to try this one house. We tried it and it was the same guy! We were kind of confused so we went back and he said he is super busy but if we can catch him at a good time he would love to learn, got to love him! He looks like Thor!

This week was zone meeting. We got to train in the North and West zones! It was super fun! It took forever to plan our training for one topic- desire. As we studied we realized that what builds desire is the gospel of Jesus Christ- so cool! We got a lot of people involved and it was a success, the spirit was so strong! Then we trained on how the gospel blesses families. It was super fun to train in the north, and a really neat experience to go see 5 of our 6 companionships of sisters in the west zone! I believe it went really well, the spirit was there and everyone learned and participated! I love the spirit!!!

I got to go on exchanges this week. We got to go down to the institute and have dollar lunch. What an experience that was! I got to see almost everyone from my old ward, which was great! All of my prayers were answered! What a huge blessing! We went to try a former who was super against the BoM, instead of bashing with her, we just testified, and tried to understand. By the end she committed to read the BoM, it was awesome!!! Also I suggested we go and try a less active YSA girl who lives in my ward boundaries. We did and it was a miracle! I again, love the spirit!

Also cool last experience of the week. We had about 15 minutes left till we had to go in. We prayed and decided to go to an apt complex where some potentials live. We talked to one couple who were kind of rude and shook us off. Also, back story, we had a rough day, but were really trying to work as hard as we could. So this was hard to be rejected. But then! We talked to B! We had an odd conversation but at the end she said that she felt like we had all met before and that it was meant to be that we met that night! It was just what we needed! It is so great to follow the spirit!

I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ helps each of us individually! I also know that the power of the Atonement is manifest even stronger as a whole family unit. I know that my family can be together forever and I hope to be able to give other families that same opportunity! (Alma 36:24-25). I know my Savior lives and loves you and me! I love you!!!

Oh the best thing of the week! Zach was baptized! It was crazy preparing, but his baptism was beautiful and nearly perfect! Except for some tap dancers, tapping in the gym, but we asked them to stop and it carried on very very nicely! His whole (part member) family came, which was awesome!!!! The non member dad after his confirmation checked to make sure no one was looking then took a huge stack of pass along cards :). We are going to invite them all to learn this week, hopefully! What a miracle it was to see him baptized with his good fellowshipping friend Jackson Holman! What a cool miracle!

I love you all!!!!

Love, Sister Barnes

September 8, 2014

My dearest wonderful family, and others,

This week was pretty fantastic! Here is what happened and what I learned...

Tuesday the miracles were with our amazing investigator who we have only been able to meet, have one lesson and briefly see him this week. His life is literally crumbing and falling apart, but he knows what he needs to do to stay close to God AND he is doing it! We gave him a Book of Mormon this week. He promised us he would read it every night along with his dead brothers bible. He is super excited! We are excited for him. His life will be a little more settled in a few weeks, at which point we will be able to teach him! I hope and pray that he already knows the Book of Mormon is true, how cool would that be!  It's also really neat to teach a less active. Part of the reason I am here in this ward is to have this connection with her! We had a great lesson that went from faith to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Which was awesome, it really does connect! She is also slowly but surely having her heart healed and growing her testimony again :).

On Wednesday we kicked off the day by having a combined district meeting in the desert! Yay for allergies and heat! But it was really good to motivate our zone, which as a whole is struggling a bit to be motivated and obedient. So we are excited to have this motivating meeting! Our Zone leaders set some awesome goals and we are excited to try them out!

Here is a super funny story:

We have an investigator who has the crazy grandma with dementia. Well we saw a car parked out front so we decided to go and try them. Here is the catch; because the grandma is insane they have a huge fence all the way around the house that is padlocked closed, so we can't even get to their door. But miraculously the grandma was outside and we reintroduced ourselves again. And she told us to go around the back and jump the 4 ft high cement wall and to come in! We figured the daughter was inside so we hopped the fence! We went inside and the grandma was being her usual delusional self and kept forgetting why we were there and who we were, and calling her dogs that have been dead for 7 years. She also didn’t know who her daughter was, which is normal. We heard footsteps upstairs so we were excited to see her.... but a man came down! oops! He introduced himself as the son in law, then he left and we kept talking. He came back and told us that his wife was on the phone and wanted to talk. She then chewed us out a little bit for pretty much breaking into their house and listening to an insane lady. But after explaining a little bit, we calmed her down and she said that we could come back when she was there and that she wanted to meet us! Yay, new potentials! kind of sketchy, but pretty fun! The Lord blessed us by not having us arrested, which is definitely a bonus!

Zach is doing great and will be getting baptized this week; it is definitely the Lord's will to move it to this week :) Also I gave a BoM to his little sister and her mom texted us and sent a message saying that the tall missionary had given her a BoM and she was super excited- that was me! I am glad to make a 6 year olds day! :)

We had one of the first ever STL meetings with just STLs, president and Sister Passey! It was awesome!!! I finally learned what I am supposed to be doing as a sister training leader and found that sister Walker and I are doing quite well, thanks to the spirit! We were even able to help out and give some suggestions to the other STLs of how to love and really work with our sisters. I have a ton of new things I learned form them that I want to implement! We did them this week on exchanges and with calls, and it went super well. The sisters already feel our love more! Hurrah! 

On Friday, we had MLC. Which was really good as usual! It is fun to see the topics we spend the most time on, and what we learn from each other and from president! The biggest things I took away from it were how to work better with the ZLs and DLs in the north and west zones- we cover all of those sisters. Another thing I learned is that I need to believe that there are people in my area everyday that are ready to receive the gospel, and work to find them! This has already helped us find some awesome potentials! We decided to set a crazy goal of finding 10 news this week, so we will see how it goes!!! I also learned that I need to follow up more and better. When I do so, I really show my love for people! Including our sisters, my comp- whom I love so much, our investigators, less actives, and even members! I am excited to see the miracles that come form our changing!!!!

Sunday was the big ward fast for missionary work. It was awesome! Testimonies were super powerful and focused on the Savior and missionary work! We have already seen some miracles with members with their friends! The Larsen’s in our ward invited us to their adoption celebration- they just adopted the cutest little black girl. They invited a ton of non-members to come and us! We have some sweet potential from it! We should be seeing them this week!

I also had some really cool realizations this week. First is on judging, which I have been thinking about a lot. I kept having all these dumb lies in my head and kept making inaccurate judgments that were just assumptions. I learned that by openly communicating these go away. I also learned that I need to not assume or judge. I just need to think positively and be open.

I also realized this week, that I have become a way better missionary! finally! haha, jk. But really I have grown and changed so much! I am becoming less and less afraid to talk to and invite ALL to come unto Christ. I have really changed and become so much better! I know I still have a lot more to go and lot more work to do before I get transferred :) but I am grateful for the changes I have made and the progress I have felt. I am also grateful that I have been able to grow as a leader, teacher, and instrument for the spirit. Again I still have a LONG ways to go, but it is definitely way better to follow Gods way and receive his blessings! I really do love being a missionary!!!! I love you all so much!

Love, Sister Barnes

Labor Day!!! (D&C 18:15-16)

Sister Walker and Sister Barnes with Sister Malm, Elder Malm of the 70 visited. 

Dear Family,

Oh my goodness, this week was great and I love being a missionary! I wish I could fully express to you how much I love these people and love doing the Lord’s work!!! I am not very good at speaking or talking, but I will do my best to try to explain the miracles that happened this week! 

First off, last Tuesday was a half mission conference with Elder Malm of the 70! Holy cow, it was amazing!!! He talked about so many things and the spirit was so strong. What I want to do based off of his trainings are to have only positive and building thoughts and words, see people as yes-sayers, help families progress, testify boldly, and never let down my expectations, bur rather raise my vision. I will share one cool experience! As a leader and as one of the senior sisters of the mission I decided that I needed to comment and share, which is something I would rather not do. But I did it anyway. He asked a question I felt prompted to answer and testify. So I did! Then he looked straight into my soul in front of everyone but it felt like it was just for me and said something like, "Your testimony is powerful because it is pure. Even though your words are eloquent you can touch lives as you testify because of the spirit." Wow, this is a servant of the Lord testifying to me of the power of my testimony. It answered a lot of questions that I have had. I have always been a little self conscious of my inability to express myself and my inability to teach. But he promised that because I am pure I am able to testify with boldness and the spirit will teach! What an amazing promise! My goal is to not hold back in testifying. I will testify as boldly as I can because the Lord expects us to have miracles and is ready for us. We need to live up to our expectation and never shy away. How cool it is to be a set apart servant and representative of Jesus Christ! I love it!

I went on exchanges with Sister Soren this week, a pretty new missionary. At nightly planning we set a goal to find 9 new investigators, Sister Soren’s idea. So that day we set out to find them! We talked with as many people as we could. The first half of the day we got a lot of rude no's and go aways. But near the end everyone was saying yes! They were yes sayers! In the end we found 10 potentials that we will work to make new investigators this week! It was such a cool miracle!!! We also got a call from S. that her and her friend needed the missionaries. So we went and taught a lesson to them and we think it really helped. It was definitely guided by the spirit! Sister Soren did great! 

A few months ago we saw a guy that Sister Walker always sees walking his dog. So we pulled over and talked to him and found out that he is less active. We got to meet with him this week! Which was a miracle!!! He is super ready to come back, just kind of drifted away. It will take some time to get him back, but he is willing and excited!

A few weeks ago we went to stop by a RC's house. He wasn't home; as we were heading back to our car we heard terrible screaming/yelling/a lot of bad four letter words coming from a house across the street. We wanted to help them and determined that the best way to help was to pray for the people in that house. So we did, the spirit was strong! A few days later, after they could cool down we went and asked if they would like to learn about the church. They said no, pretty rudely. But this week we went to see the same RC and he wasn't home again! Haha, shocker... but as we were getting out of the car we saw a girl walking and went to talk with her. She ended up being open and willing to learn! We asked her where she lived and she pointed to the house that was the yelling house! What a blessing and witness of how powerful prayer is!

We are doing a ward fast on Sunday for an opportunity to invite! It is going to bring so many miracles!!! We are also asking everyone in the ward to pray for missionary experiences everyday in the month of September (they should already be doing this, we just wanted to unify and excite everyone). We were able to train on it in the fifth Sunday combined meeting. We got to share the experience of the girl from the yelling house and everyone was really excited to fast and pray! I can’t wait to see the miracles the members and we have!!!

Last, but not least for the week. Yesterday was p-day and we went spelunking (caving) in pepper sauce caves again! So fun! When we came out we met a bunch of young adults from the institute! And who was there..... KATE!!!!! It was so great to see her again! I got to see a bunch of other people that I absolutely love too!!! I realized that I really LOVE the people that I teach and serve! I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to teach and serve them! I feel so blessed to have been able to be a part of their lives, and continue to be a part of their lives! :) In D&C 18:15-16 it says "And if it so be that you should LABOR (happy labor day) all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me! I realized that I have had so much joy in brining souls unto Christ. All those months ago (nearly 16) when I was on a bike I realized one day that even if I just bring one person to Christ, that my service and time on a mission would be worth it! Yesterday I realized that I have! I have brought souls unto Christ and my joy is great and will continue to grow! What is great is that my missionary service is not over. Not only do I have a few more months in the field, but also I have the rest of my life, the spirit world and all of eternity to invite others to come unto Christ. I know that as I continue doing all I can to bring souls unto Him, that joy will be great in the kingdom of God! I know your joy with also be so great that you will not be able to contain your smiles, tears, and happiness! I love the Lord so much and I love being a missionary! I hope each of you get an opportunity this week to share the gospel in some way. It truly does bring so much joy!

I love you!

Love, Sister Barnes