Week 3

Alright. As per usual, there is so much that I want to say, and I have no idea if I'll be able to say all of it or remember half of it, but I will do my best.

Thank you so much to whoever sent the rice noodles! I opened the package and just started laughing. It's awesome. I'm planning on making my roommates Pad Thai this week now. I'm not sure what pan I'll use, because our apartment is pretty limited on kitchen supplies (only two knives!) but we've got enough to do it, I'm sure. I might have to modify the recipe a little, because I'm not going to buy a ton of ingredients for it, but it'll be delicious, I'm sure.

 Thank you also for the letters and the emails and the pictures. It's actually kind of hard on P-Days. Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't think too much about you guys during the week. That's not super accurate--I think about you every day--but I am so busy doing missionary work that I forget about other stuff. But then on P-Day I remember that I miss all you a lot! And I'm jealous that I missed out on Utah trips, and Quinn's first time at the Cannon Center. I'm sad that he was feeling sick so he didn't get to eat as much as he should have... And I'm glad that we won the volleyball game. Does Lyvia have a lot of new clothing or was she just wearing Chelsey's? Also, the reading photo was adorable... Lyvia's hair is super cute, and she looked really tall! Have you grown since I left??? I love the photo of Quinn regretting the burrito. He should have known! That they are super delicious!

I'm proud of you all inviting a non-member friend to go with you. Missionary work is the bomb :) I invite non-member friends to go with me all the time.

Gosh, I miss you all so much. Lyvia, tell Charles thanks for getting me the Divine Comedy ticket. Did you meet some of his roommates? Also, I expect Homecoming pictures! When is it? If you want to mail me some of those pictures, that would be fine by me. Or any pictures. I want to keep the ones I've got updated. Charles's Book of Mormon teacher was Brother Griffin, right? You should have told him that you were my sister! I worked for him for two years, after all! And took three classes from him!

Ok. I'm going to try to respond to letters by hand today (we've got a long drive, I'll explain later), but I think I've written to most of the emails. It's kind of difficult to keep up with everything and remember who's written what, but don't take that to mean stop writing! And yeah, I don't have any clue if some of my emails go through or not. I've sent some to some people who haven't responded, and I don't know if that's because they just don't want to respond to me or if they haven't received them. Awkward.

 This week has been crazy! And awesome. But mostly crazy.

 So, Monday night we got a call from the Assistants to the President (APs). They asked for Sister White, and we thought that it meant that she had got her visa! It wasn't, but they wanted to take her away from us anyway. A sister in Illinois's companion went home, so she needed a companion for a week. The next day was President Interviews, where we meet with the President, so Sister White had to pack for a week and leave the next day!

We drove up to Cape Girardeau for President Interviews, which is about an hour and a half drive. Blech (lots of driving this week). During my interview with the president, we talked about Poplar Bluff a little. He told me that, in the mission, there are 8 stakes. The Cape Girardeau stake, per capita, is the poorest of those 8 stakes. And Poplar Bluff is one of the poorest areas in Cape Girardeau. I wasn't exaggerating when I said that it is really poor! A lot of government housing.

Anyway, so Sister Richardson and I left Sister White and went back to Poplar Bluff after our interviews. From Tuesday to Saturday I was in a two-panionship! It was totally cool though, no real problems. It doesn't make a huge difference if you have two or three, except more space in the apartment. And I could move the front passenger seat back further in our car.

 I'm trying to remember everything that happened this week and it's hard because there is so much! I'll just tell you all the exciting parts, I guess.

 We met with some new investigators, two older women who are sisters. They were a referral from some former investigators. One of the women is so awesome. She has already been taught the first two lessons (the Restoration and the Plan of Salvation) and she just nods and says, "Yep, that's right." It's great! It's like she already believes and has faith, she only needs to know that this church is Christ's kingdom on the Earth. She has read the Book of Mormon before, and she said that she read it and the Bible and they say the same things, so she believes that it's true. We've extended the baptismal invitation, and she is praying about it. Yay! She and her sister also came to church this week!

 We are also teaching a family of three who are living with a less active member. They are such a great family. There are two kids, a 12 year old girl and a 13 year old boy, and they are both so interested in the gospel and learning about church. We invited them to be baptized, after they've been praying about it, and the kids both said yes!!! The dad is a little more cautious, since he's had some doubts, but he said that he's ready to start preparing to be baptized. After that lesson, we were practically dancing on our way to the car. They've learned so much! That lesson was the lesson on the Plan of Salvation, and one of the kids said, "I always knew that there had to be more than just a heaven and hell! God couldn't be that cruel. This is what I always thought." It was a testimony to me that we are teaching eternal truths, and that the Spirit can help people to recognize this.

We are teaching another 13 year old, a girl, and she is so excited to go to church. She came with us to Conference and to Young Women's! She and the other girl we teach are in the same grade at school and one of them told us that they talk about church for a couple of minutes before class starts. Isn't that so exciting? And adorable?

Ooh, and one more miracle for the week. We were coming out of an awesome lesson with one of the two sisters, and we were walking back to our car when a lady stops us. She said, "Hey! Are you two from church? Will you come talk to me?" She had a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. We looked at each other, and said "Of course!" She was kind of taken aback: "Even though I've got a beer in my hand?" "Yep!"

It's amazing that we were actually recognized as representative of Jesus Christ. I thought that they were kind of joking in the MTC when they said that some people will recognize you on sight as ambassadors of the Lord, but nope. No joke. I have no idea if she will be interested in learning about the Church more, but we were able to help her and offer some comfort, which was amazing.

 In my personal study, I'm reaching the end of the Book of Mormon (Mormon, Ether, Moroni). I love reading these chapters. Each of these men were among the last living of their people. The only thing that they had left was their record on the plates. As you read, you can just hear their desire to make sure that they are leaving SOMETHING worthwhile, and to make sure that their last words are powerful. I love Moroni's plea in Ether 12:23-25, and the Lord's response: "If they have not charity, it mattereth not unto thee, thou has been faithful; wherefore, they garments shall be made clean. And because thou has seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father."

 Stay faithful! Take care of your own salvation, and help others as much as you can, and the Lord will bless you.

I love you all so much, and I miss you extra much after seeing your awesome photos. Keep me updated on everything though!

Love,

 Sister Barret