Week 48: Still, Still With Thee

It was a weird week this week. Not that there are very many "normal" weeks on a mission... but some weeks have even more variety than others. And this week was one of those! No complaints from this quarter though.

The big news is from yesterday... We set a baptism date with one of our investigators! She has been investigating the church since I came to Paris, and she's married to a less active member. But last week, she really felt like she wanted to get baptized, so we invited her to pray about a specific day. Well, this week when we sat down, one of the first things that she said was "I've been praying about getting baptized on this day" (and I immediately started praying in my heart) "and I really want it to happen that day." AH! The Spirit is so amazing. It really does help so much. 

Other fun things from this week...

Last Monday, we went and played volleyball with other missionaries. Good news: my seventh grade volleyball adventures have really paid off. I held my own :) Bad news: I may have been too intense.  I had an impressive number of bruises from volleyball. ​And an impressive number of bug bites from when we had a lesson with a less active outside at 8 pm. NOT MY FAULT. I was wearing bug spray, I promise. 

​I mowed our yard one day, and it was SO HOT that I felt like death. And my hair did all sorts of crazy things. You might be able to notice that I'm a little pink! Haha. 

​One of these very hot days, we made a pineapple slushie. It was delicious. I wore the lei to get into the spirit of things. 

​And for the last very inspiring picture... There are tons of these cricket things in our yard, and one of them invaded our house! In the sink! I screamed. Sister Edgel killed it. She's my hero--she has saved my life from many bugs who were intent on taking my life.

I would have had a couple of pictures of Sister Edgel and I, but we took them on her camera and she left it at home. So if you want to see them, go stalk her blog! She's pretty cool, so I'm sure it's good reading!

I gave a training for district meeting this week... District meeting was awesome. It was a "funeral," because one of the missionaries in our district was "dying" (going home). We all wore black, and little pins that say "Gone Soon, But Not Forgotten." There was a musical number, and then afterwards a member who really likes the missionary made us funeral food (funeral potatoes, ham, green Jello...). My training was on the Book of Mormon, and I think it went pretty well. I had some of the missionaries practice teaching standing on a chair like old-time missionaries stood on soapboxes :) 

The other amazing thing this week! Ok, there were lots. Sometimes I just forget. We went to Annie's earlier this week. She pulled out the Book of Mormon and started reading portions of 2 Nephi 4 and 5, and talking about how she applies the verses in her life. She pointed out 2 Nephi 5:5 "And it came to pass that the Lord did warn me, that I, Nephi, should depart from them and flee into the wilderness, and all those who would go with me." Annie started talking about how she could apply this to her children at school, and that the Spirit can warn them about dangers. We started talking about likening the scriptures. She also loves the video "Stop It" with President Uchtdorf. Man, it's amazing. But we asked her, "Do you believe that the Book of Mormon is true?" And it took her a little thinking, but after a few minutes, she said, "I believe that this book is true." I was amazed. I know, I keep using that word! But it applies!

There was a crazy thunderstorm this week too.

Anyway, not that everything was perfect. Unfortunately, while three people were committed to come to church, all three had to cancel Sunday morning. That was rough. I just want to help people have the blessing of church! It's awesome! Come!

Just remember, miracles happen. The Book of Mormon is true. It has the power to change people's lives. I have witnessed that on my mission--it's changed mine.

I love you all. Today is an emotional day for me: as of today, it's been four years since Dad died. But I know that this verse is true:

"I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead." D&C 138:57

We're all doing the same work, just on different sides of the veil :)

Sister Barret

Week 47

We had a week with a lot of miracles! It was great. First miracle: I caught up in my journal last Monday. I had been trying to for weeks, but I have so much that I want to make sure I write down, that if I get a little behind, I end up a lot behind. But I caught up and I have promised myself that I will do better from here on out!

Annie, our investigator with two daughters, is just doing amazing. She had heard some anti-Mormon things from her brother, and was concerned about what she had heard. But Monday night we had an amazing lesson with her, where at the beginning she was talked about all the things that she heard, and then by the end she was saying, "I know that this is the right path for me. I know it's what my family and I need." On Friday, she told us that she and her daughter have been reading from the Book of Mormon together--family scripture study! Without us even inviting her to do that! I love when the Spirit works so strongly on someone when the missionaries aren't even there. We are working to help her to come to church next.

We had two branch activities this week, a Relief Society activity on Tuesday and an activity (ice cream social) for the whole branch on Saturday. So Sister Edgel and I determined to use this opportunity to its fullest, and invite everyone! And we had some really great turnouts. Tuesday, two less active women we invited came to the activity. Then on Saturday, we had three investigators, two potential investigators, and a less active member at the activity. We were super excited to have the chance to see them in the building and fellowshipping with members. 

Another miracle this week: So, on Wednesday, we visited a little town called Brocton in our area. We were trying to track down a less active family. They weren't home, so we decided to go try some of the old potential investigators in the area. We came up to a house that had a big sign: Beware of Dog. I used my old "rattle the fence to see if any dogs come running" trick (no dogs came running) so we went up to the porch and knocked. At first, the woman who came to the door wasn't too interested, and she said that the woman we were looking for was very ill. Well, the Spirit prompted us very strongly, "You need to talk to this woman!" We asked her if she had ever had much religious experience, and she was kind of like, "no, I wouldn't really be interested, I have Native American beliefs." We asked, "Oh, do you have Native American heritage?" She did. "Well, we have a book that talks all about God's dealings with some of your ancestors!" And she got really interested! She asked, "Where can I purchase that book?" Oh, we give it away, don't worry. "Where's your church at? What time does it start?"

We didn't have any contact with her the rest of the week, but then! Sunday! She's the first person we see when we walk in the door! :) She had already read through 1 Nephi 17, and had questions and was interested in the services. It was a real testimony to me that the Lord prepares people.

Sunday we also had a lesson with a part member family, and the nonmember wife (who we've been teaching) said that she feels that she is closer to God than ever before in her life, and that God is showing her that this the right way. We invited her to pray about a specific day for baptism, which is really exciting!

Basically, tons of miracles this week. We have been finding new investigators, teaching, and inviting! One of our new investigators said that we caught her at the right time because she's been looking for a new church, so she thinks she might come visit ours :) 

In my personal study this morning, I was thinking about courage, and I read President Monson's talk from this April's priesthood session. One of the principles he taught that really stood out to me is that it takes just as much courage to be brave in our beliefs as it does to defend our lives. I don't really think often about it, but I have been working on my courage my whole mission. It's scary going up to random people and asking them if they want to learn about the Book of Mormon! It's scary inviting someone to be baptized! But the Spirit supports us so strongly in those endeavors. I can't believe it sometimes. I love being a missionary! 

Love you all! I promise, I will be better about pictures this week. It's getting embarrassing :)

Sister Barret

Week 46

I can't remember if I told you all this story before, but I'll tell it again if I did...

One time, Sister Edgel and I were visiting a less active member of the church and we were talking about what we do as missionaries. We were explaining our schedule (wake up at 6:30, exercise, study, go out and work, etc.). And she asked us, don't you ever get bored? Same schedule every day... Isn't it boring?

I didn't know how to reply really, so I just said something about how even though the schedule is similar, every day we see different people and we're striving to help each of them move forward. It's exciting to see people move forward in the gospel. But later, Sister Edgel and I were talking about it after a particularly crazy day, and we were just laughing. Boring? Missionary work is a lot of things, but not boring! 

We were playing a get to know you game in district meeting, and one of the questions was "What do you like to do when you're bored?" And honestly, I thought back, and I couldn't think of a time on my mission when I've really been bored. Not even during church. Not during lunch or dinner time. When we have "down time," when we're not out proselyting, I usually have just as much that I want to get done as when we're out! Now that I'm more aware of it, I am appreciating my lack of boredom more. (I know, kind of a weird sentence) It's just something that I want to hold on to. it's not so much about being busy as it is being productive... always having something to accomplish.

So, on that note, this week was anything but boring, as usual! We did a lot of service... Food pantry, cleaning, and shoveling some gravel. It was fun. One of our investigators decided to build herself a patio, and she can't lift more than five pounds, so we helped her with that. It was good especially because she hasn't been too serious about investigating, so we're hoping that she will see from our service that the Church we represent is one of love, service, and helpfulness. 

One of the tough moments this week was that one of our most progressing investigators ran into some anti-LDS material and we haven't had a chance to sit down with her in person since... Prayers!

I have been very lame at taking pictures lately! I am so sorry! I will repent. Here are the pictures I did take

​Giant zucchini and squash someone gave us! It's a squash family :) We made zucchini bread. Those big ones are bigger than my forearm.

​This may look like nothing... but some of those trees in the distance are Indianian trees! We went to a tiny town named Vermillion, and Indiana was only about a mile and a half away. I wanted to go spit into Indiana, but Sister Edgel said no :(

​We picked more wildflowers and Sister Edgel arranged them. Super pretty, and they just grow wild :)

We found three new investigators this week! Two former investigators, and the daughter of one of our other investigators. It was great. And we taught a lot of lessons. It was really great to see almost all of our investigators... There are some weeks that we don't get to see everyone. It's difficult when that happens, because you don't know what's happening with them, if they're reading or studying, or getting exposed to negative material. 

The gospel changes lives! I am so lucky that I get to be a part of witnessing people change their lives.

Lots of love to everyone,

Sister Barret

Week 45

Good morning! For some reason, I had more emails today, so I will be typing as fast as I can to try and squeeze in as much as I can about this week :)

First, the miracle of the week: we had an investigator come to church this week! It's the first investigator (other than the son of the Primary president) that I've had come to church in Paris so far. I don't know why church attendance is the main struggle here, but there it is. We invite invite invite, and then we just have to wait on Sunday morning... The worst part about being a missionary at church is sitting near the front and getting a crick in your neck from craning it to see if the people you're expecting are walking through the door.

But! The son of a less active member, he's 18 and has been investigating for about 2 months, came! Sister Edgel and I were pretty darn excited :)

I just realized that I left my camera at home. Sorry Mom! 

Tuesday was zone conference. Our schedule was as follows: Wake up at 6 AM (half hour early :P). Leave at 6:30. Arrive at 9:00. Get our cars inspected. Meeting started at 10. Ended at 4. Left. Got home at 6:30. So 12 hours total from start to finish. It was a lot of driving for me! But it was a really good meeting. The theme was sacrifice, and I really liked the part where they talked about the sacrifices of early members of the church. They went through a lot of persecution. We were challenged to read "Our Heritage." So, I reread it this week. I really enjoyed the story of Vincenzo Di Francesca. Check out his story here: https://www.lds.org/ensign/1988/01/i-will-not-burn-the-book?lang=eng

What an example of faith and strength in the face of trials! I love his testimony of the Book of Mormon, and it just confirms to me the importance of the Spirit in conversion. When an investigator truly feels the confirmation of the Spirit, to know that this is true, then it doesn't really matter what else gets thrown their way--anti material, opposition, etc. 

Fun story of how small towns work! So, at zone conference, we found out that our car's tires's treads are low, so the vehicle coordinator told us to take our car in. Well, we went in. Turns out that the owner's father-in-law is our next door neighbor! Then, on Sunday, the branch president was talking, and he said that his son took his car in to get a tire replaced, and the owner of the car place happened to know the sister missionaries by name! Yup, really small town! Cracks me up though. I love it. Everyone knows each other. It can make it tough sometimes, but it keeps things interesting!

We worked hard to talk to everyone this week, that was the focus :) No new investigators, but we had some really great lessons with the people we're teaching, and we've contacted a lot. The big hope for us is to help less actives come back to church. Many of them struggle to get there, but they know that it's true. That's the hardest.

Love you all! Hope you have a wonderful week! Keep being great missionaries :)

Sister Barret

Week 44

Not that I knew which day was Pioneer Day until I came on my mission. I feel bad that I didn't know that this was such a thing. Oh well...

This week was pretty great! Sister Edgel is discovering the joy of visiting old ladies! There is one house we visit and the A/C is always on BLASTING HIGH and so we sit there and shiver the whole time. It's pretty funny. We also alternate which person sits on which side, because one side gets the full blast.

We also went on exchanges this week and I got to enjoy being with my trainer's trainer, aka my mission grandma. She helped me a lot--she opened her mouth and shared the gospel with everyone, and then I taught her how to catch fireflies :) I am becoming quite the expert. 

We taught a new investigator who's a member's friend, and that was a lot of fun! He seems really sincere and interested in reading the Book of Mormon. 

We also taught an older member how to update and purchase things on her new iPad mini. (That's a lie, Sister Edgel taught her. I know nothing about technology anymore. If our mission does get iPads, I'll be in trouble)

Alright, Mom asked some questions about Paris, so here goes... No, the weather has actually been quite pleasant here in Paris! There was one pretty hot and humid day this week, but today is actually gorgeous: Sunny, breeze, 71 degrees... Nothing to complain about here! And there was a pretty good thunderstorm the other day, so I'm happy!

Paris is small! One high school, one middle school, and they do their elementary schools weird, so there're two elementary schools, but they're divided so one's K-2 and one's 3-5, so everyone is at the same school in the same grade.

It is definitely a lot of farming here, corn and soybeans! A lot of people work at factories too, like NAL and GSI. Factories are probably the biggest employers here. We shop at Wal-mart! There's a Walmart and a Kroger, and those are our grocery shopping options... There's also a Goodwill! :)

The yard work's really not that bad, because we don't do a ton of it... We mow every week though!

Sister Edgel's pretty awesome, not going to lie! She is rocking missionary work already. 

​Also trying to crack coconuts. Finally I just smashed it on the step, and it opened right up! We also made a fantastic peach cobbler with some peaches that the food pantry we volunteer at gave us.

Quick spiritual thought: You can really tell when people have the light of Christ and the Spirit in their homes. They become holy places when you walk in! 

Love you all! Have a wonderful week!

Sister Barret