Dengue Fever

Dear Sister Barton,
I enjoyed seeing your daughter last week for Mission Leadership Council. I will see her again on Monday when we fly to Palawan for interviews. She is still doing a wonderful job!
Unfortunately she has contracted dengue fever. She is the first missionary to get dengue during this season. Right now she is one miserable little girl!
Fortunately we have a very loving senior couple serving very close to her. They are taking her for her daily blood draws and taking care of her. Sister Holzworth and her apartment mates and all of the other missionaries are also there to help her.
We have had quite a bit of experience with dengue. She is currently experiencing up and down fevers, body aches, nausea and vomiting. The symptoms are very similar to having the flu but she will also probably get red rashes on her body for a week or two. The reason we do daily blood draws is to monitor her platelet count. The platelets always drop during the first week or two of the sickness and then start to climb back up to normal levels. We want to watch to make sure that they do not drop too low. If she gets very dehydrated we will probably put her in the hospital temporarily to get re-hydrated. We have had to do this with several missionaries. All of our missionaries have recovered completely and have served the rest of their missions very well. They just have to go through the misery of the first week or two.
We will give her lots of love when we see her on Monday. She is very precious to us.
Please let me know if there is anything you think would cheer her up. 
With love,
President Creg D. Ostler
Philippines Manila Mission

12 Months aka 1 Year

Family & Friends,

Sooooo this week on Friday I turn 1 year in the mission.... So that's insane to think that exactly one year ago I left my beautiful family and started this crazy, hard, wonderful, lonely, beautiful, exciting, emotional, spiritual, one of a kind, life changing, difficult, funny, amazing experience going on a mission. Honestly, deciding to go on a mission was the best decision I have made in my entire life. Without a mission I really think I would've turned out as a different person. Before my mission I loved the gospel and things, but I took so much for granted. Going on a mission and being here and concecrating myself to the Lord and his work has really changed my whole life. My mission will be the biggest U turn I make in my life for the better. To learn more about the gospel, serve others and not think about myself, and to really learn how to become more like the Savior and really know Him. 

This last week was wonderful because we were able to go to MLC. Being missionaries and members we are true "followers of Christ" Moroni 7:47-48. We were able to really ponder and realize that what we do as missionaries is just a little glimpse of the work Jesus Christ did here on Earth. Then we watched this amazing video about the power of a missionary and why missionary work isn't easy. As Jeffery R. Holland stated, "Because Salvation is not easy" Wow that is a powerful video, if you guys can find it on LDS.org I would highly suggest you watch it because it is amazing. One thing that really impressed my mind was how perfect the Savior was. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we are constantly striving to magnify ourselves and become more like Christ. One thing President Ostler asked us was to describe Jesus Christ in 3 words. Then to chose one of the words your wrote down and try your best to acquire that attribute within yourself. It was such a spiritual, motivational MLC that I will never forget.

I love that all this work and effort I put into this mission is for Jesus Christ. Why am I here? Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. To help others realize that they can come to know Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. Not just know about Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for the gospel in my life and for the decision I made to go on this mission. It has and forever will have changed my life.

One story, quote, poem thing I absolutely love and want to share with you is called, "The Fellowship of the Unashamed" By Bob Morehead as quoted by Elder Henry B. Eyring. It says, "I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The dye has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, color-less dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, positions, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for the cause of Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My banner will be clear." 

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I will do everything I can to be the person He wants me to be. I will be faithful and diligent until the end. When I come home in 6 months I will be able to say I gave everything. I love my mission with my whole heart. I'm ready for the trials, hardships, excitement, and beautiful times to come within these next 6 months. I love all of you with my whole soul and I love this gospel and my Savior and Redeemer with my whole soul. Continue to look up and stand up as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Thank you for all that you do. You are beautiful examples to me and I appreciate you all so much. So read the Book of Mormon with diligence, Pray with real intent, and Chose the Right everyday. Thank you for being you.

Mahal ko kayo,

Sister Barton 

PS. When we went to Manila we also got to get SUBWAY. So that was so amazing! We bought selfie sticks too.. we are so white talaga and we thought the airplane pic in the back was gonna work out a lot better than it actually did sooooo... haha but going to Manila was really really good. I loved it. 

The Day Has Come

Family,

Hello to you all! This week has been absolutely fantastic wanna know why...? Because THE DAY HAS COME!!! I am officially companions with the one and only Sister Holzworth!!! Ahhhh I don't think you guys even understand how happy I am. After everything that has happened I am finally with my pre-mortal bff. My MTC companion. My cool ascent Australian.. Sister Holzworth. If you can't tell i'm just a tad bit excited!! We are going to have the best transfer ever. Like literally I think this transfer will be the best transfer of my mission. We just kinda get each other. We are like completely opposites, but the same in a lot of things as well. Ahhhh i'm just excited cuz I think this'll be a really good transfer. So that's the cool news of this week.

The other cool news is that my area got split so we also now have new Sister's in our branch, they took most of my progressing investigators... but that's alright, cuz we will work hard and find some more. Now we have 5 companionships in our stewardship, but it'll be fun cuz it just means some more exchanges and things. 

Some more really great news is that it was the most wonderful time of the year, CONFERENCE!! I got to watch general conference and it was in English and it was wonderful and I was really happy. So that was awesome.. Some highlights of Conference that I really liked (not really quoted cuz all I had was a notebook so my thoughts/ their words)

1. I loved how much they talked about missionaries and the importance of Member Missionary work. Living in Utah it's a little bit harder... so I invite you all to move out of Utah for 5 years and work with the missionaries everyday. Just kidding cuz you can't do that, but Jensen told me a cool experience of still being a member missionary so I like that, but just remember we are all missionaries even if we aren't wearing a missionary badge. Member's are lifetime missionaries. (Dallin H. Oaks 7 points were really good as well, especially the last one. "loosen their thumbs" hahaha so get at it Kels Bels because you are like social media queen)

2. We need to love everyone with our whole heart. No matter who they are. Skinny, Fat, Black, White, Short, Tall, Doesn't matter, everyone! I loved Robert D. Hales talk. One thing he says is something like, "Serving God's children will help us suffer less spiritually... Help them come converted by being filled with the Savior's love... We loved Him, because He loved us first.." That one was just really great.

3.The importance of understanding Prayer, Faith, The Gospel of Jesus Christ, The Plan of Salvation, and the need and importance of the Restoration. It is so important for us to study these things so when we all have the opportunity to share the gospel we are prepared. Ahhh I love being a missionary and I know you do to. Just gaining the knowledge I have gained has been awesome. I was talking to Sister Holzworth earlier this morning and she was like when I first met you, you knew nothing. haha I remember in the MTC I had told her I hadn't read the whole Book of Mormon cover to cover in my whole life. She was like "what the heck? are you serious and you were born in the covenant?" One thing was for sure, I didn't value the gospel nearly as much as I value it now. I don't think anyone even realizes how blessed we are to have the gospel and to be able to know the things we know through all the resources Heavenly Father gives us. Wow. And with a living Prophet on the earth we just receive that much more everyday. It is amazing. 

4. Lastly, all throughout conference we kept hearing many inspired talks about Repentance and the importance of being clean. No unclean thing can enter the kingdom of God. We are all unclean because we all make mistakes every single day. Big and Small. No matter what mistake it is or how big of a sin it is, it doesn't matter. It is still a sin. And a sin makes us unclean, so it is so important for all of us to repent every single day to feel peace in our lives and to know that we are clean and prepared for the day Jesus Christ comes again to the earth. (I really loved Dale G. Renlund's talk, SO GOOD)

But anyway those are just some good things I like during conference. I received so much revelation and it was absolutely amazing. Can you believe next conference I will only have 2 or 3 weeks and then I will be coming home... crazy how fast time is flying...! 

How blessed we are to have a living Prophet. To have the Book of Mormon. To have a perfect gospel, and the only true gospel of Jesus Christ. We are so blessed. I am trying my best everyday to live the way the Savior lived. I am trying my very hardest to work as he worked and be as he was. I am doing everything I can to be the best person I can. I have seen many things on my mission. Wonderful, marvelous, beautiful things and I am so grateful I get this chance for 18 months to be a full time missionary. I love you all and I invite you to continue to read the Book of Mormon, to chose the right, and to value the wonderful gospel we have. 

Mahal ko kayo,

Sister Barton

These are some pics of me with my cute friends in the area I gave to the new Sisters... 

Killing Off the Companions 1 by 1

Hello Family,

Well it looks like it's already time to email you again... but you guys are going to die when you hear about my week. i killed another one of my companions...

So just like Sister Laug Laug, Sister Greer headed to Manila this week so she could go to the MRC to get some help with some things she is going through. So at this time, i actually don't have a companion... so that's sad. But on Wednesday i will get a new companion so i'm just companionless for 1 week. 

This last week has been insane with everything that has been going on. On Thursday Sister Greer headed to Manila to go to the MRC because she has been sick for about 2 weeks now. She has had very bad anxiety her whole mission and honestly has just kind of had a rough start. So hopefully she will get better at the MRC. So then on Thursday i was companions with Sister Holzworth and Sister Rimando, but then another thing happened with one of the Sisters so we helped her while Sister Rimando (sister holzworth's companion) went with other sisters. So we had a crazy busy day on Thursday. 

Then for the last couple of days i have worked with Sister Tekanene and Sister Gabriel in both of our areas to be able to finally start working again. That was awesome. i also got to attended both branches. Branch 1 (my old branch) and Branch 2 (my new one) so that was really awesome cuz i got to see all my friends and stuff. :) 

Transfer day is on Wednesday and i haven't received a text or anything yet saying that i'm transferring so i'm thinking i'm gonna stay, hopefully! But really i love my area and i just really can't wait to work work work. My area has so much potential it just needs quite a bit of work, but once i get my new companion on Wednesday that's what we are going to do WORK. Work so hard until we can't stand anymore. haha i miss working like that.

it's crazy all the stories i've had so far on my mission. Man, i really really love being here and serving these people. After all the hardships and all the trials i've faced it just really goes to show we can't do anything without the help of Heavenly Father. One of my favorite scriptures is John 5:30. it says, "i can of my own self do nothing... i seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." As Jesus Christ says these words, it made me really think... Jesus Christ the most perfect individual to ever walk on this Earth says how he cannot do anything without the Father, it just really makes me think, how much more nothing are we. We are nothing and we can do nothing without the help of our loving Heavenly Father. Everyday i strive to seek not my own will, but the will of the Father who hath sent me here in the Philippines Manila Mission. A lot of the time on missions we want to do what we want to do, but that is wrong. i know that if i ever think that, i need to repent and really seek to know what the will is of Heavenly Father for me. i know that every opportunity, every trial, hardship, happy moment that has came to me in my mission is because that is the will of the Father for me. He knows me perfectly and He is giving me all these things to help me grow and help me be better. As hard as this mission has been, i have benefited so much from it. i grown more and more everyday. 

i really am trying to be like Jesus. Each and everyday. i learn of Him, i read of Him, i follow Him, and i try to be like Him. i'm excited for this next transfer to face whatever else Heavenly Father wants to give to me. i will forever be grateful for this wonderful opportunity i have to serve Him with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. i love this work. 

You are all amazing and i love each of you so much. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for the prayers. Thank you for the support. Basta, thanks for being you! Keep being great, read the Book of Mormon everyday and CTR. 

Mahal ko kayo,

Sister Barton

ps. i got stuck in the mud.. right before a big family home evening so i went into their house all muddy and that was gross..

pps. we also had a brown out (no electricity) at the church during sacrament, so everyone had to yell when sharing their testimonies hahaha classic.

ppps. i get to watch conference this saturday and sunday and i'mso excited so yay!! :) i hope all your emails don't ruin it for me... ;) joke lang

"Oh the Drama" -Sister Holzworth

Hi everyone,

Man has this week been INSANE. Literally that is the only way I can even kind of describe it. hahaha but on a positive side of the week I got all your wonderful letters for my birthday, so that was really nice. As well as I received a birthday package from the one and only ALS :) So thanks so so so much, I LOVE YOU AND I LOVE M&M's haha and I even got some happy half way ones... (they came a little late considering i'm now 11 months) but that was really good so thanks for that.

So we had a sister's activity and went island hopping so that was awesome! So i'll send some pics of that... sorry i'm wearing the same shirt from my last activities but I don't buy pday clothes often.. haha but anyway the rest of my week consist of zone conference which was indescribably amazing and then drama, drama, and more drama.

So Zone Conference was really amazing and spiritually uplifting and awesome, but they always ask me to sing in it and I don't think they understand that I don't know how to sing hahaha but they had Sister Greer and I sing Come thou Fount of Every Blessing and it was actually really solid. Like not gonna lie we did pretty well. So that was cool but the next day we had the weirdest, craziest, most dramatic thing that has ever happened as I have served as a Sister Training Leader. We go to these Sisters home. They were having some drama feeling like they weren't open enough to each other and they weren't having unity and all that stuff. So I call Sister Holzworth and I was like okay let's go and do a companionship inventory with them so they can learn how to open up with each other. So we headed over there to talk and say hi and do our duty.

It started off great. We told them the reason we were there and our purpose was to get them to open up so they could have unity as companions. So we started and one of the Sisters was so open saying everything that was bugging her and asked what she could fix to be a better companion and all those things, while the other sister couldn't have a care in the world of what her companion was even saying. She would get up and go to the bathroom or grab food or find anything else to do while we were trying to do this inventory with them. Honestly, it was the weirdest thing. So we finally got her to sit down and listen and then we asked her some questions on how she felt and how she thought her companionship was doing. All she kept saying was fine. It's fine. I'm fine. Fine, fine, fine. They are both English speakers so I was like, "okay, well define fine. Fine as in like we are doing great, i'm happy, i don't see a problem type fine, or like fine as in I wanna cry on the ground life is terrible time of fine." and she just said "Sister Barton you know what fine means. If you don't know what it means get a dictionary and look it up." So I was just kinda like okay... so much for trying to help you. Like what the heck. Then luckily I had Sister Holzworth there to back me up. She just started saying things like we were there to help them have better unity and because we love them and stuff so that she would not be so mean and just listen and open up to her companion. Then the Sister we were talking to kept rolling her eyes at Sister Holzworth.. At this point I was just kinda annoyed at the Sister cuz I was like what the heck.. are you serious?! So I was like, "Okay well obviously your not fine because you look like you are about to burst into tears, you keep rolling your eyes at sister holzworth and you just really don't seem fine." Then she didn't say anything. She got up. Went to her bedroom and laid on her bed. So after a short minute or two for me and Sister Holzworth to become chill and calm again and not freak out and want to yell at her, we walked into the room and calmly told her all we wanted to do was help her and her companion so that they could have unity in the work and move forward stronger than they were now. Then.. this lovely sister, wonderfully, awesome sister, decided to play a game. This 20 year old sister wanted to play the quiet game and she pretended like she couldn't hear anything Sister Holzworth and I were saying to her. 

Oh my gosh you guys... she ignored us for 3 HOURS!! There was no way we could just leave and say to her companion, "well you got this, we are done. See ya later" like there was no way we could do that... so Sister Holzworth was getting so so so angry hahaha she was getting so riled up because of the sister ignoring us. So she left the room and I just tried to talk to her. Oh my gosh I can't even explain how weird this whole experience was. She would just stare at me and then look away. It was like I wasn't even there, but she just kept on ignoring us. But I finally got her to talk just enough so that she would talk to Sister Ostler and get it all settled. 

Finally after she talked with Sister Ostler she started talking to us again and just said "well that was a waste of time and a fun game I got to play.." So that was a little bit messed up and Sister Holzworth and I were so angry afterwards. But you know what I learned from this experience... that everyone has hard times in their life. 

Literally that is what I learned. I remember being so angry that we helped her. I remember feeling like that was the biggest waste of the Lord's time when I could've been out working and helping people and helping my area that is really struggling right now. I remember showering that night (I receive revelation in the shower just fyi) but I was showering just so angry that we wasted so much time for a girl that obviously just had no respect and I sat there in the room with her for 1 hour by myself trying to get her to open or just talk to me and it was so rough and I just remember being so angry that we even went over there in the first place. But as I was in the shower I just got an overwhelming thought that just said, "You helped. She needed to hear what you said to her." And honestly after I got that thought my whole body and mind relaxed and I just felt a sense of peace come over my whole body. 

So I don't know why I shared that whole thing with you, I guess so you can know how crazy my life is right now, but I love it. I love everything about my mission. Even getting ignored for 3 hours.. I love it all. My companion Sister Greer is struggling a little bit more than usual and it has been a little bit rough this last week, but hopefully we can figure it out this next week and help her even more. I love Sister Greer though. It's really weird speaking English all the time and being with an American, but she is awesome. And I love love love being back together again with my half co sister training leader companion Sister Holzworth. I literally don't think I would be able to do this without her. So I am very grateful for her. 

So I guess no true joy comes if you don't have gratitude. I am grateful for my mission and for the crazy experiences I get to have every single day. I AM FILLED WITH GRATITUDE. This mission is like something I have never experienced before, but I love it with all my heart. And I love all of you with all my heart. Keep doing what is right and keep the commandments. Read the Book of Mormon, Chose the Right, and Be Happy.

Mahal Ko Kayo,

Sister Barton 

11 Months

Family,

Okayyyyyy... this is getting ridiculous. I'm getting SO OLD in the mission... like what the heck eleven months all ready? Ahhhh it's too much for me to handle. I don't wanna talk about it, so i'm not going to.

Anyway, my week was absolutely fantastic, crazy, but fantastic.. why? BECAUSE JANELLA GOT BAPTIZED AND I GOT TO SEE!!! Ahhhh On Saturday Janella walked into the waters of baptism and made a beautiful sacred covenant with God. And it was just that, beautiful. Last week I received a text from President Ostler that said I had permission to attend her baptism and I was jumping up and down for joy because I was so excited. I have really tried to be exactly obedient on my mission and I have tried my very hardest to do the best I can, but yet I am the planter. I plant the best people in the world and work and work and work on helping them and then right as they are about to get baptized... BOOM I get transferred. This time, even tho I got transferred I was able to attend and see how happy and filled with faith Janella was on Saturday. Ahhh she is such a special person and I really love her so much. So that was a really really neat experience.

This last week has been crazy trying to figure everything out with working, to planning and coordinating with Sister Holzworth for meetings, to helping the other sisters, as well as helping my companion. Man so much stress.. But over these last months if there is one thing I have learned it is that I AM NOT ALONE. I have learned more than ever in my whole life that I need to completely trust in the Lord in everything I do. If anyone would've asked me if I thought within 10, well I guess 11 now, months of my mission I would be able to train a foreigner who doesn't know how to speak Tagalog and be a Sister Training Leader at the same time, I would've laughed in their face, or I would've fallen on the ground and started crying, but I NEVER would've thought I could do this. Really, if you think about it, I can't. I can't do any of this. But, if the Lord and the Spirit is with me, I can. Because I can do anything the Lord wants me to. I can do it with His divine help.

I remember when I first got into the MTC. A bunch of the missionaries were writing down weaknesses that they wanted the teachers to help them with before they got out to the field. Things like, learning more of preach my gospel, or knowing the scriptures better, or being better at Tagalog, etc. For me, what I wrote down, was my weakness was having faith, completely and utterly trusting in the Lord in all things. When we talked with our teachers one on one we shared with them what we can do to make our weakness become a strength. I remember just crying to my teacher telling her I had such little faith and I really don't know how to make it stronger. I remember her asking me when the last time was that I really showed my faith. I told her when I came on this mission. I said when I left my family and actually got on the plane, that is was the first time I think I really showed Heavenly Father I had faith. 

Now, as I look back on these last 11 months. I really am so different. The fact that I had such little trust and such little faith in Heavenly Father is really sad, but I can honestly say now, my weakness has become a strength. I think that if anyone asked me to take on any challenge I could do it, with the Lord by my side at all times. Without the Lord, we are nothing. We can do nothing. If we think we can become more without Him we are so far off, we need to repent and rely on Him ALWAYS. He is the Lord. He is our Savior. He is our Master. He is here for us always to lift, guide, and help us in all things. 

I love this work. I love how much I have changed and how much this gospel can really make you stronger. To think how much I have grown in these last 11 months is incredibly INSANE. I love it. I wouldn't change any part of these last 11 months for anything. I have learned so much and I can't wait to continue to learn and continue to become the person Heavenly Father wants me to be. 

As hard as it is we just gotta keep on keeping on. haha I love you all and I appreciate your love and support to me so much. Continue onward and Trust and Faith and the Lord will always help you. Thank you for everything. Continue to CTR and be happy always. 

Mahal ko kayo,

Sister Barton 

Ps. pics of Sister Janella and me, also with Sister Greer and Sister Tekanene

Pss. The other pic is of us doing our service. They cut their plants with a Macheti? Idk how to spell that, but I totally cut my finger bad soooo that was cool. hahaha I LOVE THE PHILIPPINES.

The Right Path

Family!!

So I have some really big news... again. Before that, I just want to say thank you for the Birthday gifts! Mom, I loved my bday package and you are the greatest person. To all my cute cousins, thanks for all the cute notes. I loved it. I haven't gotten cards and stuff yet, because they accidentally took those to the Narra zone.. So I won't be getting letters and things until next week at Zone Conference.. lame, but what can ya do? haha So thank you, thank you, thank you! I love you all. 

Now for the big news... So this week has been crazy in my stewardship (which was kinda rough considering I was the only STL to figure it all out) but lets just say a companionship in my stewardship really DID NOT get along too well.. so needless to say there was an emergency transfer and now I have a co partner who is not my companion, but is my co Sister Training Leader. Thank goodness.. It's way too big of a job to do alone, but guess who my co Sister Training Leader is... SISTER HOLZWORTH!!! Right? haha who would've thought I would've been with her again?! Ahhhh it's so funny cuz after going what.. 10 months without seeing her, now I am going to see her like every other day so that's awesome! :) I'm so happy, you guys have no idea! hahaha so that's the news for this week. I swear I have a new companion or new news every week... haha but hopefully it'll stop at least for 3 weeks until the actual transfer.

This week has been great, crazy, dramatic, busy, but great. It's so awesome to be with a foreigner. It's so weird, but it's awesome! She like get's what i'm saying and can understand things before I have to tell her and it's so cool. It's also neat cuz I getta look at what I was like when I first came out to the mission field. Like of course I was a lot different than her, but in some things quite the same. It's so cool to see how much you grow on a mission. Even when it comes to people. When I first came on my mission I HATED to OYM (open your mouth) and talk to people on the street and things, but now I literally have no fear. It's incredible. It doesn't make any sense to fear the people you are trying to help save. I love training and helping her understand some of the things that took me a long time to figure out. 

We had so many incredible experiences and miracles this week. Including our new investigator who is such a seeker of the gospel came to church as well as one of our long time less actives. She even brought her non member father to come to church with her. Wow, the Lord really gives a lot of blessings to those who try their best to do what is right.

I am really trying my very hardest to do everything I can to be a full time missionary. We always say we are, but I really want to be one. Full time, not just here and there or sometimes, but always. With my words, actions, and thoughts. Always in the missionary mode. I was thinking a lot this week on how important it is for us members of the church to really endure to the end. We need to be constantly evaluating ourselves to see where we are in life. And continue to walk in faith on the straight and narrow pathway. 

One scripture I was thinking of a lot this week was the scripture in the New Testament. When Jesus tells them to hold to the plow and not look back. How we need to follow him and not wait for the "right time" and not wait for when we are so lost to come back, but now. 

As we were riding in a tricycle the other day, our driver kept looking back. I think he thought something was behind him so he continued looking back and then would glance and the road again then look back again and he did this for a good 10 min. Every time he would like back we would swerve and it was so annoying. Then the other day I was writing some goals down for our area. I was trying to look at the area book and board at the same time while I was writing and then when I looked down at the paper my writing was all crooked. As these few examples happened over the week it made me think about our lives. If we are always looking back (or at worldly things) and our eyes aren't fully focused on the Savior, we will be going crooked. We will not be on the straight and narrow path, but we will be swerving and having a hard time. So I guess my point is, we can't look back and assume to go straight. We have to have "an eye single to the glory of God" and do everything we can to keep moving forward, keep going straight, and walk on the straight and narrow path of righteousness. It is straight and it is narrow and if we look back, even a glimpse we will fall and we will get lost. 

I know it is so important for us to always look at ourselves and evaluate how we are doing. Not judge others for their imperfections, but look towards ourselves and try to be better. I know we need to endure to the end to receive eternal life. As we help ourselves and help others we will feel the blessings come into our lives and we will feel that happiness the gospel brings to us. 

I love every minute of my mission. I'm grateful for what I have learned and for what I still continue learn each and everyday. I pray for all of you everyday and I love you all with my whole heart. Continue living the gospel and help others if they seem to struggle. Read the Book of Mormon, CTR, and be happy while doing it. Thanks for all you do and for the love you give me every Monday haha 

Mahal ko kayo,

Sister Barton