Week 68: You Know It's Cold When....

...you get in the car and say "Wow! It's 14 today! Sweet!"

...your hands and face are super chapped from the wind

...you've experienced -30 windchill

...32 degrees feels toasty. Who needs gloves?

Yeah. We had a couple of really, really, really cold days this week. WHY DIDN'T THEY SEND ME BACK DOWN SOUTH FOR THE WINTER???

Just kidding, I love Springfield! But it was very, very cold. This may be disgusting, but I've never experience actually having your nose hairs freeze when you breathe in through your nose! That was a new one. (Calvin and Hobbes, anyone?)

Other than the SUPER COLD WEATHER, it was a great week! I wish I had some pictures! I didn't take any this week. Sorry. I'll repent and do better this week on that... 

Monday night, it snowed as we were heading to our dinner appointment. Actually, this week, I've gotten quite a bit of experience of driving in wintry conditions. It's great! One of my goals for this winter was to learn how to drive in snow. Life skills you learn on the mission! Sister Martinez is a little terrified for her life, especially when I remind her that this is pretty much the first time in my life that I've ever driven in snow, but a little healthy fear is good for the soul, I think.

Tuesday and Wednesday, we went on exchanges with the sisters in Rantoul. That was fun! I had visited Rantoul last transfer too, so I got to see a couple of people that I had met the time before, and meet some new ones! It's always a good experience to visit a different area. If I have one favorite thing about being a sister training leader, it's being able to spend time with sisters that I normally wouldn't get to spend time with, and visiting areas that I normally wouldn't get to visit.

Thursday was our zone conference! It was so much fun. Our zone carpooled up to Champaign's stake center. Sister Martinez and I organized a "pre zone conference breakfast party." :) Because we had to meet at 7:30 to get to Champaign in a timely fashion. This was my last zone conference in the mission, which really made me sad to think about. These meetings, where we get together with a lot of missionaries, and lift one another up, really bless your life as a missionary. Sister Martinez and I did a training on the power of the Book of Mormon in conversion, which went really well. The bulk of our training was people testifying of how the Book of Mormon has deepened their testimony of Jesus Christ. The Spirit was super strong. The whole mission is going to be reading the Book of Mormon together by next April General Conference, which is really exciting. Reading the Book of Mormon is the best! :)

Of course, another one of those moments... I'll be home by April General Conference. I keep having these moments where it strikes me anew and I turn to Sister Martinez and I'll say something like, "Is there really only one more transfer after this before I go home?" or "Is it already Week 3?" I think it weirds her out. She probably thinks I have a terrible memory ;)

Friday, we invited two of our investigators to be baptized and they accepted! Then one of them came to church with her three kids! (the other one was sick). Another lady, Lori, we've been working with a long time. She is so great. Amazing testimony of Joseph Smith. And she came to church, for the first time, even though she had been in the emergency room until 1 am that morning. She was determined to make it though, and faith really does bring miracles! And prayer. The power of prayer is real.

So, a good week! Tough times, for sure, but that's okay. We don't appreciate happiness until we experience sadness, and so forth. Opposition in all things is a good thing.

Lots of love,

Sister Barret

Week 67: And A Happy New Year!

Speaking of New Year's, I am resolved to do better this week :) Budgeting my time and all that. I think the problem with the computers at the Lincoln Library is that it automatically updates your amount of time if there is nobody waiting for a computer, so you get way comfortable and think that you have lots of time... and then you are given a notice "5 minutes until you have to get off!" :P 

Anyway, this week was pretty darn good! It was transfer week, but whenever you stay with your companion for the transfer, and you don't go to transfer meeting, it doesn't even feel like transfers. So I have to remind myself that it's a new transfer!

We found three new investigators this week, and they all have pretty cool stories. 

The first is a woman named Krystal. We met her when we were out street contacting the day before Christmas Eve. She asked us if she could borrow our phone because she had missed our bus, and we ended up talking for a few minutes, and it turned out that she has been looking for a church and she said that we could come visit her in her home! There is no such thing as a coincidence ;) She missed our first appointment, but this time we were able to sit down and introduce the Book of Mormon and talk about church. She has the cutest three little kids... 

Then, that afternoon, we were out contacting less active members of the church, and we met a family where the mom was baptized back in 2010. She said that the two reasons she hasn't been to church much lately are "procrastination and transportation." Sounds about right for a lot of people! But better that than "I don't have a testimony anymore" or "I was offended." We have started teaching her 13 year old daughter though, and we're excited about that!

And then, Sister Martinez and I had an awesome experience driving home from our Missionary Leadership Council (MLC) actually. We had just left the Highland sisters' apartment (because we carpooled) and grabbed dinner at Subway, and we were deciding where to go next: home, or to try this potential that lives kind of far out from Springfield. And I said, "You know what? I'm super tired, I have a huge headache, and we haven't even thought about what we're going to do for exchanges. Let's go home and exchange plan instead of trying this potential." Sister Martinez said okay, and then we prayed over our food and before we started driving, and I just felt the Spirit say, "No, Sister Barret. Go contact this person." We finished praying and I turned to Sister Martinez and said, "Well, I just got super rebuked. Let's go see Kelly." And we did, and it was amazing. She is so prepared for the gospel: she's looking for more peace and for the truth. She accepted the Book of Mormon and the baptismal invitation. I am so grateful for the opportunity on my mission to have these experiences of recognizing the promptings of the Spirit.

Springfield is a great area! The biggest struggle we are having right now is helping these amazing people who want to get baptized to overcome addictions/fears/problems that are holding them back. We have several people who are just on the edge... the brink of coming into the church. They'll get there though! I have faith! 

At MLC, we had a really great training on goal setting. I've been thinking about my goals for this upcoming year, and really pondering what I want to accomplish. It scares me a little bit... This time last year, I knew exactly where I'd be at the end of 2014: Here! On a mission! So my New Year's goals were all about becoming a better missionary. Now, who knows what'll happen in the next year? I definitely know this much: I am going to do everything I can for these last couple of months of being a missionary. I can't believe how quickly time really does fly.

Sorry that I failed to get any pictures of our New Year's Eve! We spent it at our ward mission leader's mom's house. She made us lasagna, and we just hung out and enjoyed the evening. It was a good night. And then I slept through the New Year. 

I hope you all are enjoying the start of your year! 

Sister Barret

Week 66: Merry Christmas to All!

A little late, maybe, but hey, Christmas all year round! Or at least until the end of the year, which is only two days away! So maybe it would be more appropriate to say "happy New Year's Almost!"

Just got told I have five minutes until being kicked off... sorry for the abrupt ending...

We went and visited Lincoln's Tomb on Christmas Eve. The people of Springfield are really proud of Lincoln!

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Thanks for the presents :)

Great week, slow for the work, but I made it through! Remember, He is the Gift! I'm so grateful for the power of the Atonement!

Lots of love,

Sister Barret

Week 65

Sorry, this is going to be a short one. I got the email this morning that my grandpa passed away yesterday, so I haven't been moving quite as quickly through my emails, and we're at a public library this week instead of the university. But I'll just share a few scriptures and such that have stood out to me this week:

Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

"Immanuel" means "With us is God." How comforting! God is with us. That is what the gift of Jesus Christ means to me. When He came to the earth, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, dwelt with mortal man. And after he ascended to His Father, He sent His Spirit to be with us, so that we can always be comforted and guided. Christ can be with us. And where Christ is, miracles follow. 

"Ours is the responsibility to be worthy of all the glorious blessings our Father in Heaven has in store for us." -President Monson, in the priesthood session this last General Conference

I forget sometimes how many glorious blessings Heavenly Father has prepared for each one of us in heaven. Do we remember our divine destiny when we make our daily decisions? Do we realize that the things we do now show whether we will accept the gifts that God is preparing? We're the ones who stop Him from showering blessings on us.

And of course, one of my favorite scriptures, about the real gift and meaning of Christ's birth:

"Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow." Alma 40:11-12

Merry Christmas everyone! 

Love

Sister Barret

Week 64: At This Point I'm Kinda Regretting Starting the Count

But it's too late now. For consistency's sake. 

Also, for once, I'm the slower companion in emailing, because Sister Martinez just told me she's pretty much done. I'm sorry! I was slow in responding, and I'm not sure why, so I'll try to be speedy now.

This week we tried a horseshoe from a place called D'Arcy's Pint. Look it up. It sounds disgusting, I know. A piece of Texas toast, topped with breaded tenderloin, topped with fries, topped with cheese sauce. Actually, it's delicious. Oh man.
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Contacting at night can be a little sketchy... especially when it's dark and you realize that you are coming up on a ditch in the middle of a road. Guess we're not trying that house!
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I am sending a picture of our Christmas decor :) I finished building it this week. In case you can't tell, that's our family portrait over the mantle haha. I was getting tired of not having any Christmas tree, so I spent last night (instead of writing in my journal... I know, I know) making the tree.

Our week went great! Not as many exchanges as last week, so that was more relaxing, for sure. We also had President interviews, our once-every-three-months opportunity to sit down with our mission president and talk one on one. It's the best. I know for sure that President Morgan was called of God to lead our mission. 

Okay, some highlights...

We are teaching some amazing people, by the way. I'll summarize. Lori is a woman who has been investigating the church off and on for YEARS, with a big gap there in the middle. She has cancer, and isn't in the best of health, but she loves the Book of Mormon. We think she's nervous about coming to church, but she REALLY wants to be baptized, and hopefully she will be in January!

Tim is married to a member. He loves the church since he's been introduced to it, and he wants to serve in the church also! He has been reading the Book of Mormon, and he has such a strong desire to be an example to his three kids.

Sheila's son joined the church, and so she began investigating the church also. She loves it. Her only reason she hasn't gotten baptized yet is that she hasn't given up smoking yet. 

Crystal is an older woman who really wants to get baptized by water and by fire, just like Christ taught.

Kassie LOVES the church. She had a strong experience with the Spirit one of the first times she attended church, and so she knows that it's true. 

There's more, but those are probably our top progressing investigators. Our biggest problem right now is that most of our investigators have maybe ONE concern or struggle that is keeping them from progressing to baptism. Many of them want it! They just need to take that next step :)

I probably should have put this last week, but I forgot. I finished the Book of Mormon last week! I prayed about it, and guess what? It's true :) But also, it was such a joy to read through the Book of Mormon this time highlighting the scriptures relating to the Atonement. There were so many. And as I focused my study on the Atonement, I found that my testimony and my understanding grew so much. It's not that I learned new facts or anything like that. But I understand it more because I was able to focus on it. It sunk deeper into my heart. It's hard to explain. But I know that the Atonement can give us so much more strength and power than we even understand. It is amazing. Jesus Christ is just waiting there, to reach out to us, to bless our lives, and to help us in EVERYTHING that we struggle with. I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for the gift of His Son and I am so grateful to Jesus Christ for being that sacrifice on our behalf.

#DiscoverTheGift #EmbraceTheGift #ShareTheGift

Now I'm reading the Book of Mormon looking for Christlike attributes :) I was inspired by my favorite chapter of Preach My Gospel! 

Let's see, other fun things that happened this week... Um. We visited an investigator even after she texted to cancel (she'd been cancelling over and over again, so we wanted to talk to her in person). She started by saying that she wasn't sure if she had time, then invited us in and we had a forty-five minute lesson on the Atonement. It was awesome! 

We had our "powwow" with the assistants to the president, which is when we share the insights we have about the sisters to help the APs know what they need in order to progress for transfers. From what I understand, we give our insights, but in the end it's mostly following the Spirit. I know I have been where I'm meant to be each and every transfer, even when it's been tougher!

Happy Christmas everyone! Only 10 more days :) I don't know what we'll be doing for email next week, since I think that the college is going to be closed, so it might be a shorty next week, but we'll see!

Love

Sister Barret

Week 63: Now How About the Fact that Christmas is in 17 Days?

What a crazy week. I don't even know where to start.

Well, last Monday we went to the Lincoln museum, and I learned all about our 16th (I think) president.

​There were some fun exhibits with models of him and his family and the different things that happened in his life. It was also cool: A lot of the background/overhead music was MoTab! Woohoo! 

I went on three exchanges this week. I stayed here in Springfield for one.

I went to Champaign (with Sister Edgel!) for another.

​That was so much fun. She is such a good missionary :) I loved spending the day with her and seeing how much she's grown over the last couple of months.

And then I went to Paris for another. ​Which was kind of surreal! Being back in an old area is weird. 

So yeah. Lots of driving this week! And lots of meeting fun people that I probably won't see again. I learned a lot from these sisters, and I definitely had a good time. It was exhausting, but fun.

Let's see... It's just been such a busy week, and I don't know what to even talk about! We did service on Wednesday at a place called Bread Line, where they serve hot meals to those in need. Good news: if I need a job as a cafeteria lady, I should be in. ;) I aced handing people desserts.

Saturday was our ward Christmas party. It was huge! I think someone said about 150 people showed up. Very impressive. They served a nice dinner, turkey and all, and had a really fun Christmas video where they "interviewed" different members of the ward about their feelings/traditions with Christmas. It was sweet.

And we had some investigators come, which was great! Activities like that are a great way for people to mingle and get to know each other.

Sunday, one of our investigators came to church who hadn't been in about 2 months, so that was great. He really needs it! We've been praying for this, for sure.

In my studies and in general, this week, I feel like a big theme has been light. I have been reviewing last General Conference, and this week I read President Uchtdorf's talk about gaining a testimony. It's all about how to gain light! And there was a similar message this week in the Christmas devotional. One of my favorite quotes from President Uchtdorf was this: "The more we incline our hearts and minds toward God, the more heavenly light distills upon our souls. And each time we willingly and earnestly seek that light, we indicate to God our readiness to receive more light. Gradually, things that before seemed hazy, dark, and remote become clear, bright, and familiar to us." Sometimes we have questions or uncertainties. But the way to find truth? Keep the light and truth that you already have! 

Hope you are all enjoying the He is the Gift video... and sharing it with all your friends! Remember: tis the season for missionary work!

#seasonofmiracles

Love

Sister Barret