{ BELIEVE } #69

February 2, 2015

Hola!

Another super busy week! I wish I could make this transfer into a movie it's been going so well and it's been so fun! This week a ton of eventful things went on.

1st off… We went to the temple. It was the best day ever. I am so grateful for the temple. Going there with the whole zone was a great experience, being inside the temple is indescribable. Just, peace. I read my last years experience from the temple and it was like reading a horror story filled with tears... I didn't understand anything that anyone said! But, this time I felt at home. 

The Zone

2nd... We had leadership council. We always listen to the testimonies of the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders that are going home and this time... it was my turn! I was asked to share some things that I learned and one tip… The hardest assignment of my life! How do I even sum it all up?! But, as I got to thinking, this mission was my mission, it's sacred and it changed me 100%. I'm still the same me but... I changed. Hard to explain but, it's amazing :) Hope to share it all with you when I have lots of time :)

Hermana Gonzalez asked me in lunch yesterday how much time I had left... 3 weeks. And she said well congratulations… you work as if you just got here! That made me feel happy. I wanted to give every second of my mission my all…Especially this time to wrap it all up! Sunday we had to move our gospel principles class into the cultural hall because all the people wouldn't fit. The Elders and us just smiled the whole time out of pure amazement. I cannot express enough that we don't do it, the Lord works miracles. We sat down next to Lourdes who came on her bike with us and we saw Rosa and her grandson walk in and then 5 minutes later Julia and her whole family walk in, Beatrice Acosta came in, Betti came in, and then... Luis came in. Our prayers were answered! We have been so blessed. This is the only time in my mission where appointments haven't fallen through. It's amazing and I can't be happier. I love being able to work in this work with my companion and with these wonderful members who are ready to work and find the prepared people. 

President Pitito ( President Thurgoods counselor) told us a story. 

He said that a boss had two interviews with his employees. He asked them both the same question. "Hey, I'm having a party tonight with my family and I need oranges... lots of them, I'm not going to have time so, could you go get them for me and bring me the receipt? The first one left the office and went and bought the oranges. He brought them back and handed the bag over to his boss and said "Here you go, I just grabbed a bunch of oranges and here's the receipt. I hope it's okay"

The second employee was asked the same question, so he set off to buy the oranges. He returned to his boss without a bag of oranges or the receipt so the boss asked "Where's the oranges?"  The employee said, "Well, I wasn't sure what kind of oranges you needed so I called your wife. She told me that you would be needing to make orange juice, so I bought the oranges for juicing. I wasn't sure how many so I called again and she said that she'd need 4 pounds... You told me that you wouldn't have too much time so I took the oranges to your house and gave the receipt to your wife."  

What's the difference? They both bought the oranges. But the second had the desire to serve his best to really help his boss. 

With what desires do we serve? I have found that with real desires to serve we are the happiest. Well, I know that I am. Sometimes it's hard, not gonna lie, but we can develop Christ-like attributes when we try our best to go above and beyond. My companion is a great example of this and I am learning lots from her!

D&C 58:26-28

D&C 64:29

Do we just want to complete the work or... will we do it with real desires and with love? :)

Hermana Calderon and I are having a great time together! We are enjoying talking to everyone, inviting them to enjoy a better, happier life and teaching and teaching and teaching.

Luis and Sebastiana sell food on Sundays and Saturdays… they just started to sell. As we taught about keeping the Sabbath day holy they hesitated a bit, but the next lesson we had with them on Saturday they told us that they looked in every single store and couldn't find the right corn flour to make sopa paraguaya… just sufficient to make it on Saturday... and then Luis said, "Looks like someone want's us to Keep the Sabbath Day Holy" THANK YOU MIRACLES! 

Here's to another great week! I have no idea what it has in store but I'm ready :) Trying to learn all that I can in these last few weeks that I have left here in the mission! Keep praying for these amazing people! 

Have a great week!! :)

XOXOXO Hermana Barrett

Paraguaya "Chipa"

Sleepy Elder Cobb..the days can be long!

Last Consejo de liderazgo

It's Hermana Diaz! Back together again!

Hermana Harmon...She is Louise Harmon's niece. Louise was my Young Woman's leader in Chandler.

Fresh picked Higos...(Figs) from Hermana Rincon's house

Elder Jackson...My District leader He was on the travel group with me on on our way to Argentina!

{ Loving Living in the Moment } #68

January 26, 2015

HEY! Happy day! How is everyone? Thanks for all the emails and the support! One month to go and we're working hard and having fun! Love this area…love my companion… love it all!

Rosa came to church again this Sunday!! She loves church and she's been progressing so well. We have been finding some great families and I really love being able to help these wonderful people through the blessings of the gospel. 

I had exchanges with Hermana Toala this week. She's in Burzaco and is finishing up training Hermana Cannon from Gilbert. We had a great time together here in Alejandro Korn and I learned a lot from her. She is always wanting to talk to everyone and bring joy into everyone’s life. We both talked about a great goal for the mission... get comfortable with being uncomfortable! When we are out of our comfort zone, doing things that we might not think that we could ever do, that's when the Lord uses our talents to be instruments in the work.

We had a Family Home Evening in the Church on Wednesday and it went so well! We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism, The gift of the Holy Ghost and Enduring to the end. But, we taught it through 4 different object lessons that we often use in our lessons with investigators. We were so happy to see that Luis and Enrique, his son, were there! Their family is progressing so well also! We are praying that they will be able to get to church next week because they are truly wanting changes in their lives and they have the desire to follow Christ. 

We had interviews with President and it was so strange. We always have our interviews in Spanish but he all of the sudden started speaking to me in English and things just got real. He said, “Hermana Barrett... you're leaving us soon... but, keep up the great work!”  It's always great getting to talk to him and having his help to keep improving. I want to improve my teaching skills in this next month and look for every opportunity to teach and find the people that are prepared. 

I love the Scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 64: 33-34

33 Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

 34 Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.

No podemos convertir a nadie si nosotros mismos no estamos convertidos. Preach my Gospel has got it right. I have been blessed to be immersed in this work and although I know I haven't become near perfect, and I don't know everything, I know that my Heavenly Father has made me a little bit more of the person that he wants me to be. I have learned to be willing to change to be better. It makes life so much easier and happier! It all comes from the small and simple things.

I love the story of the sower and his seeds and was able to learn a little bit more about it this week. The seed is the word of God but as we live in a worldy world, we are constantly thrashed with temptation, sin, bad thoughts... all kinds of bad. We need to have a good ground... the ground in the gospel to be able to bear fruit. I know without a doubt that daily scripture reading, daily prayers and temple attendance helps 100%. 

5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

 6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

 8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

I just finished reading 3 Nephi and wow, I had never paid so much attention to the last chapters. The Nephites really did see Christ. He blessed them, wept for them and prayed for them constantly. I know that he still pleads for us every day to accept his atonement, to feel free, to be happy and to live the plan of our Heavenly Father. 

Words can't even describe the miracles that we see daily. Some are big, some are small but they are all sent from my Heavenly Father. The tender mercies are countless and it's what helps me realize that we really do have a Heavenly Father that loves us. He's given us a perfect gospel to live :) Every single step is worth it. He is with us the whole way. 

Sometimes I stop and think... am I really here right now? It's such a dream. It's such a great opportunity and it really is real life! I can't say it's the easiest thing EVER but it's the best thing I could have ever chosen to do! It's all worth it to see these people grow in their love for their Heavenly Father.

Tomorrow is Temple Day! I challenge you all to do all that you can to go and feel the wonderful spirit with me if not tomorrow, this week! I can't wait! I hope to feel that you're all there!

Gilbert Temple

                               Buenos Aires Temple

  

XOXOXOXOX Hermana Barrett XOXOXOXOXOX

Llegar a Ser

Posing after our interviews with President

Out in the Campo with Rosa... Her backyard

Burazco Girls on Exchanges

We love our new Bikes!

{ GREATNESS } #67

January 19, 2015

Other than seeing a legit otter walk out of it's owners house, getting the best looking bikes EVER (Can I bring it home with me?) Having investigators in church that fully participated, having members go with us to visit investigators to teach and make new friends.... Oh and teaching like crazy...it was a totally normal week...not really, IT WAS AMAZING! Simply MARVELOUS. 

So, I love my companion. Period. I could not have asked for a better companion to end it all with a big bang! She likes to work, she's talkative, she speaks English, she's a lot like me and.... she likes to run… a lot! We get up at 6 in the morning to go running for 45 minutes... then we are outside all day walking or biking… We are never out of energy! I challenge all of you to test it for a few weeks. Work out in the morning and you will feel so much more energy physically and spiritually! We talk about everything and the best of all is that we both love to work hard! We were able to find new investigators and help all of our current investigators this week. It was a great week together! I am so glad to be in Alejandro Korn still and it makes it even better to be with someone super happy like Hermana Calderón! She's perfect and sometimes it makes me mad… haha but I am learning lots from her and we have lots of fun. I feel like I've known her for all of my life.

The Lord has been putting great people in our path and really helping our investigators progress. I am so amazed. Rosa, Eladio (Her boyfriend) Mauro (Her grandson) and Valentina (their daughter) All went to church this week! It was so funny because they arrived a little late... Sooo… during the Sacrament I was sitting up front because I'm playing the piano (trying to pluck out the notes) and I see a family walk past the side door. It was them… and they were so lost. So I get up... and try to help them but before I get to the door a random door with curtains opened and they came in during the middle of the sacrament and said out loud "Sorry! This is our first time here!" haha I was like well... they're here! So they sat down and they followed along looking through their Book of Mormon for scriptures and singing along with the hymns they are amazing. Along with the Villalba Family. Lourdes our investigator that turned 18 yesterday came with us! She participated in Gospel Principles as the Elders taught about our Celestial Family... she talked about how thanks to Adam and Eve, we are here and we have the ablility to choose and we will be able to continue on to the Spirit World and one day return to live with our Heavenly Father. Everyone went silent and just gave her a thumbs up because she's just a rock star!! We give pamphlets to all of the investigators for each lesson that we give and at the end there are additional study questions.... in all of my mission she is the only one that stays up at night to finish and think about every question... seriously. AMAZING:

It makes me so happy because I know that these people are learning the truth. They are learning it through their scripture reading, their daily prayers, and their church attendance and through the spirit. We are just guides, we don't do too much, but I love these people so much. :)

So today I was reading in 3 Nephi 19, Doctrine and Covenants 93, and John 1 and they all have a lot in common. I want you to all read them and I want to see what you think! But, I just loved how much it talked about the Sprit. Light. Fulness. Joy. Truth. It all comes from the same source. In 3 Nephi we see that everyone is preparing for the next day when Christ will come. They prepare working diligently, just as we should all throughout the week. Christ’s prayer is that the Nephites could have the Spirit and in verse 9 all that they desired was the Holy Ghost. Really, we do everything that we do because we love our Heavenly Father. All that we do should invite the spirit and if we mess up, we can trust in the Atonement. I love this Gospel so much and I know that it is true. We can have the spirit if we are obedient. We can know truth if we have the spirit, because when we are obedient, we receive light which is the spirit and we will be glorified grace by grace until we know all things (Vs 28)

The Restoration of the gospel has given us the light forever! It is our personal responsibility to work for it in our personal lives. 

We're all Missionaries!

"It is not even enough for us to be convinced of the gospel; we must act and think so that we are converted by it. In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something. …"

Through this gospel we can become something.

Love you all so much! Have a great week and..... see you soon! Keep up all the great work! Happy for another great week in the work of the Lord!

XOXO Hermana Barrett

Romans 8:28

{ Alejandro Korn to the End } #66

January 12, 2015

HI ALL!

Well, looks like I will be finishing this wonderful journey in Alejandro Korn. I have a new companion from Cordoba, Argentina named Hermana Calderon. We are both sister-training leaders and we will be going to Burzaco, San Vicente and Claypole for exchanges with all the sisters! It has been such a blessing to be able to serve as a Sister-Training

Leader! But I know that I do nothing, I can give my best effort and the Lord amazingly does the rest. I know without a doubt that it's going to be a great transfer and then February 28th I'll be in casa! I want to finish everything super strong! I'm so happy and ready to keep working in this ward that's so close to my heart! We're finding those that are prepared, helping those that already know to gain an even stronger testimony and trying to save as many souls as possible. It's all become fun and really just a part of life :)

This week was another amazing week filled with Miracles. 

First of all, we invited Hermana Nina to write her testimony in a copy of a Book of Mormon during our lunch with her so she could give it to someone. She handed it to us and thought that we would be giving it to someone but really, she needed to do it! Immediately, her gym teacher came to her mind. She was so excited to give it to her. We invited her to share her testimony for Fast Sunday about the missionary opportunity that she had. SHE DID IT! She said that her gym teacher was so happy to receive something so special. Go NINA!

This week we had lots of appointments with members. Its amazing how much better the work is with members. This ward is changing little by little into a missionary based ward.  

We have started doing Family Home Evenings weekly with the ward in the church to help them know how to start doing them on Mondays and also to have more opportunities to invite their friends to learn more about the church!

The other day we were walking for a while and we were so tired! We were talking to anyone and it was just draining! haha The sun drains the energy so fast! As we passed a bus stop I got a strong feeling that I should talk to the woman with her two little children. I ignored it... then it came again, so I smiled at her and then passed by. The thought came again so I stopped, pulled out a pamphlet and said “We need to talk to her!” So we went back and introduced ourselves and she said, “I already know who you guys are.. I'm a member… an inactive member.”  We started to talk to her and a lot had gone on in her life but she never felt the need to go back to church. We reminded her of the love that our Heavenly Father has for her and that she is always welcome back. It was something super simple but I have gained a strong testimony that the simple things make big things happen. I'm so glad I didn't ignore the spirit once more... it's so important to follow the whispering. 

Sunday I was able to give a talk about baptism. It is a sacred covenant that really helps us start a new life. The Sacrament allows us to start new weeks and daily repentance helps us realize the grace of Christ and really try every day to be on the road to being the best that we can be. 

So many things happened this week. I truly love this place. I love these people and I love this gospel.

I hope you all have a great week!

We had a ton of people come to church this week! …Including three less actives that have just started to come back to church! I love this work!

Continue reading, smiling and praying!!!! LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!! :)

Hermana Barrett

Romans 8:28

 

My New Companion-Hermana Calderon

Familia Gonzalez

Hermana Carrizo (Argentina) and Vargas (Nicaragua)

Exchanges with Hermana Cannon (Gilbert, AZ)

Hermana Hansen (Utah) went home 

Hermanas Shurtleff and Vargas-Love them!!

The Zone and Helpers

Familia Diaz