Weaknesses and Trials to reach the Promise land

Family!!

This week has been an awesome week. We were able to have interviews with President Ostler to receive guideance, revelation, and inspiration and boy did I receive it all. We were able to have interviews as well as classes and we taught one of them which was awesome cuz whenever you teach you learn so much more. So that was really cool.

One of the things that is awesome about interviews is learning what we as missionaries need to change to become better. To become the person Heavenly Father wants us to be. To realize we are nothing and need to change. One thing I noticed about myself this week is that I have been enduring my mission. Which really sucks. I have been going through all the hard things and challenges in my mission and I have just been enduring. Even with my companion right now I've been thinking how I just need to endure until the transfer, then the transfer came and it turns out I am still with her and at first I honestly thought, "okay, I just need to endure until the end of August, until the next transfer" but, honestly during interviews I really had a really strong impression to stop. Stop the negative thinking, stop the put downs, stop thinking things in my head that are just making it worse. Instead, I need to seek and look for the positive. I need to recognize my own weaknesses and change myself before I expect others to change. So on Wednesday night I actually apologized to my companion. I just said I am sorry for the person I have been and I will strive to change and strive to help more. I have been really looking for the things she does right instead of the things she does wrong and honestly it has changed my outlook on things a lot. She is really awesome. Honestly she is a really amazing person. I know Heavenly Father has a specific plan for her here on her mission. I can learn so much from her and I am, especially about being humble. She is such a humble person. Just this last week by reflecting back on how much more I enjoy our companionship and how much more unity we have because I am looking at the positive sides.I really do love my companion Sister Tekanene. If you guys met her you would love her too and know exactly what I am talking about. She is beautiful inside and out and of course there are times where we don't get a long and it is hard, but by looking at the positive and reflecting on how I can change it has really changed my outlook on everything. 

Ether 6:4-12 is honestly a really great scripture passage. I challenge you all to read it and apply to yourselves. I have done this and it really helps when you are going through hard times or struggles or just the challenges of life. So read it huh? :) 

I am learning that enduring without enjoying really sucks. I kept looking at the hard things that was happening and how I just need to endure, but I shouldn't just be enduring my mission, I should be enjoying and learning and getting stronger because of the trials and be praising and thanking the Lord for each trial and test he is giving me. I have learned a lot this week personally. And I just thought I would share my thoughts with you about what I am learning on my mission. So enjoy don't just endure. 

This week was really cool too because we were able to also talk to Brother John Edwards, he is the Australian in our ward. He was able to go to the temple to do baptisms, his endowment, and his sealing for the first time. He was only baptized a year and a half ago, but he is a huge example. We talked to him about his experience and wow. He is an amazing man. He really is the definition of humble. He continually said "I never would be here if it wasn't for God. God has lead my life ever since I was a boy. I have been through a lot of hardships, but everything was well worth it because of the temple." It was a really cool experience talking to someone who has had a really hard life, but looks for the joys and praises the Lord. 

Thank you for everything you do family. You are all so great and I am so EXCITED FOR JENSEN AND QUINCIE TO GET MARRIED!! Ahhhh so when the going get tough keep on keeping on huh? haha Just kidding. Enjoy your marriage don't endure it hahaha I love you both and i'm excited for you. So remember to chose the right and read the scriptures and be happy. I love you all. 

Mahal ko kayo, 

Sister Barton 

9 MONTHS!!

Family!!

Okay I officially turn 9 months on thursday... soooo that's CRAZY!! Everyone says the first half will go really slow and the last half will fly by, but I feel like the first half flew by so i'm kinda freaking out about how fast this next half is going to go... but whatever i'm not thinking about that so neither should you ;) haha

This week has been great! I'm glad you got the pictures of my cool adventure on a boat. It was actually kinda funny because we were trying to go to a place called 100 caves, but the tour guide man lead us to the wrong place that was bawal for us to do as missionaries.. so we ended up just having to go home. But it was fun because we got to ride on a boat so that was cool. haha :) Palawan is beautiful. I really hope I never get sent back to the Mainland. I really really love being on the islands.

I also realized that the life being a Sister Training Leader is so much more stressful than I thought. I thought they were just the sisters who kinda looked over the other sisters, which is true, but there are SO many more responsibilities that are required of us and it is so stressful, not to mention I am still in the same difficult area, with my same foreigner companion, but going on exchanges a lot and having different things I have to do everyday... haha it's rough, but it is a neat experience and I am thankful for the opportunity I have to serve as a Sister Training Leader. I think I am really going to learn a lot more on how to lead, which will be good for me now and for the rest of my life. 

This week I had a really awesome experience with our investigator Marjourie. It is difficult to teach her sometimes because she does live with a Less Active and she only wants to go to church if she has a friend and the members are really busy and seem to have every excuse in the book as why they cannot work with us.. so it is difficult. Marjourie is also very busy so it's sometimes hard to find time to teach her. 

On Saturday night we got punted hard and we had a prompting to go to Marjourie's home to see if she was there. Once we reached the house we saw a lot of alcohol, men, and smoke. So we decided maybe it would be best to try another day. As we turned around, surprisingly we found Sister Marjourie and her Mom sitting on a bench across from their house. We greeted them and asked them if we could teach them. They brought over some chairs and we just taught them there. As we started though, there was so much worldly things going on around us it was honestly really hard to feel the Spirit. The TV was on in the house next door and music was playing really loud and drunk men were singing and there was just a lot going on around us and it was hard to focus. So as we were singing the Opening song I said a prayer in my heart. I remember specifically asking Heavenly Father if he would remove the distractions around us, so that we could share the important message we had planed to share to them at this time. About 3 min after I had closed my prayer, all the lights and power went out. Boom. No music, no tv, no distractions. We had to use the flashlights we had with us in order to see, but honestly it was a really amazing spiritual lesson. It really strengthened my testimony as well that Heavenly Father does answer prayers. 

It just goes to show Heavenly Father answers prayers in his own way. He has all power and He will do anything. All we have to do is ask. It was a really spiritual experience for me. To know and to see the power Heavenly Father has. To even see how mindful he is of each and everyone of us. Some may just think it was a coincidence that there was a brown out, but I know it is because Heavenly Father cares. He cares about that one simple lesson we wanted to share to Sister Marjourie. He cares about each person individually and their growth. 

The experiences I have each day on my mission are unforgettable. It's so cool to see how much I am growing and changing. I keep hearing about all the things changing over there in the US, but things over here in the Philippines are changing too. The small amount of missionaries in the world are making a HUGE difference. I feel blessed to be apart of it. It's only been 9 months and i've changed so much for the better. I'm still myself, just a better version and I still have 9 months to change and become an even better person. 

So here is to 9 months down and 9 months to go. 9 months more to experience, to grow, and to become the person Heavenly Father wants me to be. I love you all with my whole heart and I am grateful for all you do for me. Thank you for your example and for your love. Remember to share your light and do what Jesus Christ would want you to do. Be safe and Be Happy.

Mahal ko kayo,

Sister Barton 

Keep on Keeping on...

Family!!

Hi everyone, first of all I just want to say I love you all so much. Like truly I feel so blessed to be apart of this family. I have grown up with loving parents who helped me become who I am today so really just thanks. I love you all with my whole heart. Seeing some of the people here in the Philippines has really opened up my mind and my eyes to the way some people are raised and the way some people live and it is just really sad.. It actually kind of breaks my whole heart.. So thanks Jay and Tina for being the best parents alive :)

Sooooo TRANSFERS!!! We found out transfers yesterday! (for some reason I always find out early...) But last night as we finished planning I receive this text from President Ostler, "Sister Barton, after much prayer, you are being called to serve as a Sister Training Leader. The other Sister Training Leader will be Sister Laug-laug. You will continue to be companions with Sister Tekanene but you and Sister Laug-laug will do exchanges with the other sister and will teach zone meeting together. You will also come to MLC together while Sister Tekanene and Sister Laug-laug's companion work together. I know you will do a marvelous job. Love, President Ostler"

So I have been called to be a Sister Training Leader!! I'm so excited, but i'm kind of freaking out because It is a really big responsibility and I'm not quite sure if i'm ready for it. But if the Lord thinks I am, then I guess I am. Sister Laug-laug is in my kabahay (she lives with me) So usually the Sister Training Leaders are companions, but this time it is Kabahay so that's a little weird. I'm very excited tho and I know I will learn a lot. 

This week has been really good. I don't have much time because we had an activity and it ran really late, so I will email more next week, but I had amazing experiences today and I feel blessed for the many tender mercies and miracles Heavenly Father shows me everyday. 

I love being a missionary and I love you all so much. Thanks for the example you show to me. I will email more next week, but remember to chose the right and be happy! 

Mahal ko kayo!

Sister Barton 

Firework

Family,

Happy FOURTH OF JULY!! Wow I can't believe I'm not home for this amazing holiday.. ahhh my I hope you all enjoy the food, parades, fireworks, festivities, and family time. The fourth of july/ Independence Day is the best time of the year. I also am going to do something really cool and I'm going to relate the fourth of July to my area. haha But for real, my area is somewhat like a fire work. It's just sitting there waiting for someone to light fire to it so it can explode and bring forth many people who are just sitting, waiting, ready to hear about the restored gospel. 

My area started out with nothing. Literally nothing. A bunch of Less Actives and that's pretty much it, but I am happy to announce that things are starting to slowly look up. The fire is slowly starting to light. This week we had the opportunity to have Zone Conference and it was all about working with Members and really finding those who are ready, or those who are "white". It was such a great conference. Honestly I say this all the time, but I am so blessed to be in this mission because of my Mission President. He is such and inspired, worthy, honorable man of God. I was able to have the opportunity to speak to him one on one and talk about my next steps as a missionary and how I can do better and better. Wow. The inspiration he receives is amazing. So Zone Conference was wonderful. 

The next day after the spiritually high day at Zone Conference, boom I got super sick.. like 103 degree fever sick. It was terrible.. Two days I was super sick and just laid dying in bed. So that was awesome...

On Friday we were able to have a FHE with the Revemonte Family. We were able to teach them and help them bond together as a family. Everyone in their family is a member, besides the Father. It is sad, because the wife has so much faith and is full of love and really has a strong testimony. More than anything she wants her husband to accept the gospel and to get sealed in the temple for time and eternity. So being missionaries we are trying our hardest to make him feel love from us. Make him feel welcome in everything we do. It was a really neat experience to see him in the FHE participating and showing faith by being apart of the lesson and everything. It was really nice, because I know one day he will accept the gospel and the Revemonte family will be able to go to the temple to be sealed for time and eternity. (little bit of fire)

Sunday was probably the best day on my whole mission. I have been fasting and praying so hard for my area, for my people, for everything to start happening, just start progressing here in Puerto. I pray SO hard. I have never felt so close to Jesus Christ and to my Heavenly Father than I have in this area. I have to really rely on them everyday. So Sunday was amazing. After weeks with no one coming. No less actives, no investigators, nothing... the Lord brought a miracle to us. He brought Marjourie to church!! Marjourie is one of our investigators who we recently found through a Less Active Family. She is so prepared for the gospel in her life and I am so excited to see what happens to her and with her conversion. She also had one of her friends from the Less Active family join her in coming to church. So wow, I really testify that the Lord can work miracles through the weak and simple. I am about as weak and simple as they come, yet we were able to experience a miracle yesterday. Ahhh I really feel so happy. (boom one firework went off)

The fire works are coming. They just need more fire, more work, more love, more prayers. I love this work and I love being a missionary. One thing I really feel like the Lord is trying to teach me in this area is to rely on Him, as well as try as hard as I can to reflect His love to everyone. So when people see me or meet me, they don't see "the white American" or "Elsa/Barbie", but instead they recognize me as a disciple of Jesus Christ, or better yet, a reflection of Jesus Christ. I know I am nothing without the Lord helping me. I love love love the scripture in John 15:5 "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." I think in this area I have really learned how much I am not. I really am nothing without the Savior. I can do nothing. I have learned that I truly need to rely on Him every single day and be worthy of the Spirit in order to get through the day and do the work he has called me to do. I really love the word abideth too. It shows that we need to be interlocked or interconnected with the Savior at all times in order to have His power to do His work. I really really love being a missionary. I love the experiences I am having and the miracles the Lord is showing me. I have changed so much in just the short 8 months I have been here. I still have so much more to experience and so much more to do here. I hope all of you are doing what the Lord would have you do. Make good decisions, help others, and chose the right palagi. I love you all with my whole heart. Have a Happy Fourth of July and eat lots of watermelon for me. 

Mahal ko kayo,

Sister Barton

Ps. I really have changed... I sang a solo in Zone Conference and I suck at singing.. that just shows you how weird I've become hahaha