Chula Vista - Week #38 - Jan 21, 2014

Quick update

Familia!

 

I don't have much time to write today because we just got back from the temple! Wahoo! I love that place so much. We get to go every 90 days. I'll send another picture. 

 

A few quick updates:

 

--Manuel, our recent convert, went out with the missionaries for 4 hours yesterday! He's only been baptized for a week and he's already a solid member-missionary. What a stud!

--I've never eaten so much food in my life this week. The 20 pounds I will have gained when I get home will have been from this week. We eat so good.

--Played the piano at the Mission President's fireside!

--We had a really powerful lesson with some investigators, Ivette and Freshte, about the Spirit and how to receive answers. The very next day, we had the Mission President's fireside, and every single thing that was sung and said was exactly what Ivette and Freshte needed to hear. It's amazing, the way the Lord works. Tender mercies all around.

 

Well, I love you all!! I hope you have a wonderful week!

 

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Barnes

Chula Vista - Week #37 - Jan 14, 2014

Manuel's baptism--wahoo!! Tennis miracle, etc.

Hola familia!

 

Manuel got BAPTIZED!!! Wahoo!!!

 

The baptism went SO well. So much support from the ward. He's already a super solid member in the Chula Vista 4th ward, holy cow. He was incredibly prepared by the Lord. He received the Aaronic Priesthood the same day he was confirmed a member and will bless the Sacrament this Sunday. Our bishop told us that Manuel is an answer to his and many others' prayers in the ward who are in need of more strong priesthood holders. We're so excited to see the difference Manuel will make in this ward!

We had to drop some of our really great investigators last night--La familia Sanchez :( It was so sad, especially because they had been progressing so well and were about to get baptized, but they are going through a severe pride cycle right now and won't keep any of their commitments. It is so heart-breaking... espeically when it happens to a whole family.  That right there is the hardest part about missionary work for me. Andres, the father, got a new job and is putting that before everything else. I know they will come back around when they are ready again and they will be baptized. I have a lot of hope for this family. It's interesting to see the pride cycle so apparent in the lives of these people, including missionaries (myself included). We always need to watch ourselves. Pride is the root of all evil and it's everywhere! Hel. 4:11-13! Watch out everybody!

 

Tennis miracle: So Hermana McBride and I play tennis every morning for morning exercise. Look out dad and the boys, I WILL beat you when I get home. Practice up! Anyway, there is this French couple that plays every morning as well on a different court and they are super good. A few days ago, we decided to go talk to them and see if they had talked to the missionaries before. The wife was like, "Hey, our son was baptized Mormon and lives in Utah with his family!" What?! Sweet! So we talked to them for a little bit and then they said, "Well, we would love to have you over for dinner this week!" Booyah! So we went over and had the most delicious meal I have ever had on my mission! It was all French and fancy. We weren't sure if we would be able to teach them at first because we didn't think they spoke Spanish, and then they were like, "By the way, we speak 4 languages, Spanish included!" Sweet!! They told us they wanted us to come over for dinner every week... added investigators right there. It was so stinkin' cool.

 

Moral of the story: Use all your talents to find people to teach! (Tennis is still a talent in the developing phase... developing talents work too)

Les quiero a todos! Espero que esten bien y que esten orando por las oportunidades misionales! Cuidense mucho!

 

Con amor,

Hermanita Barnes

Chula Vista - Week #36 - Jan 7, 2014

Solid Semana

Hermosa Familia!

What an emotional week. I was very saddened to find out about dear Aunt Glenna. She was an exceptional woman and has blessed so many lives. I love her and she will be missed. My gratitude for the Plan of Salvation increases ten-fold every time a loved one passes. I know there was a party in the Celestial Kingdom when she passed, that's for sure.

Manuel is set to be baptized this Saturday!! Wahoo!!!! Please, please, please add him to your prayers. He is so solid and so converted. Another cool fact about him: He speaks 6 languages and probably knows the Book of Mormon better than most members by now. The other day, he told us he finished the Book of Mormon and started over and is making sure he really studies it and understands the doctrine. Who is this guy?! That is one prepared soul right there.

I'm staying in this blessed place with the wonderful Hermana McBride for another transfer!! Hallelujah!

Remember what I told you last week about member missionary work? Well, Chula Vista is getting lit on FIRE with member missionary work this week!! We have a few member families who are fellowshipping our investigators like crazy! We don't even have to  tell them anymore. They have basically been setting up appointments with them by themselves and then letting us know the plan. Now that is member-missionary team work right there! Wahoo!! So sweet.

Something hit me this week. I was studying 3 Nephi 11, when Christ comes to the Americas, and something really caught my attention. In verse 17 it talks about the people falling to their knees to worship. I asked myself the question, "Am I helping my investigators get to the point of 'falling to their knees' to worship instead of just going through the motions?... Am I 'falling to my knees' to worship instead of just going through the motions?" This week I am going to ask myself that question every day and make sure I am really worshipping, really serving with all my heart. It's going to be a good week. I invite you to do the same!

I love you all! I just want to send out a huge THANK YOU to all the cute Christmas cards and packages! I loved every single one of them! I will work on writing individual thank you cards to you, but if that doesn't happen until next year, just know that I love you and appreciate all of you so much. Tengan una buena semana!!

Les quiero,

Hermana Barnes

Picture:

1) Nellie, a recent convert, and her brother with his solid family who we are going to start teaching. They look like they're from Utah, right? They're both from Mexico and they rock!

2) Willy! Funniest old hispanic guy in the world who loves to dance and sing for us every time we go over there. He will get baptized someday.

Chula Vista - Week #35 - Dec 31, 2013

Feliz Navidad y Año Nuevo!!

Familia!

Semana loca! I loved talking to you lovely people on Christmas!! It was fun to hear about all the good changes happening, including hearing the changes of puberty from some of you, sheesh! Blew my mind! Haha Christmas here was wonderful. After we talked to you, we all went to our bishop's house and opened the packages from our families. Then we went to a Veteran's hospital and sang to the residents. It was probably one of the most touching experiences I have ever had to see their faces light up as we sang the Christmas hymns. There is so much power in music, especially on Christmas to people who don't have many loved ones near by. All of us missionaries scattered and talked to the residents one on one for a little while after that. So much love in that hospital on Christmas.

After that, we visited a few of our investigators who didn't have family around.  I have never felt the true spirit of Christmas so strong in my life. This Christmas was a Christmas I will never forget. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Christmas with the family. But a Christmas as a missionary is such a unique, spiritual experience to be able to totally forget about yourself and serve others.

We've got a few investigators on baptismal date right now. The Sanchez are going through a rough patch so their baptism will be postponed for a little while. But please, please, PLEASE pray for them, that they'll be able to overcome the temptations and obstacles that Satan keeps putting in their way. Also pray for Manuel! He is super solid and so excited and ready for his baptism on Jan. 11. Siga fuerte Manuel, siga fuerte!

All of the missionaries taught the 5th Sunday lesson to the entire ward on Sunday, super cool! We talked all about doing member missionary work, and after the meeting, several of the members came up to us and asked when we can go visit their friends with them. YEEEAAHH!! That's what I call instant application!

I hope you all have a wonderful New Years! What are your goals for this year? All of the missionaries have to be in by 7:00 p.m. tonight to ring in the new year by doing a long study assignment given by President Clayton... Wahoo!! I'll try not to party too crazy! Feliz Año Nuevo! Love you!

Hermana Barnes

1) My district and a little girl that played the piano for us at the Veteran's hospital! (this picture is from my artsy district leader's camera, hence the black and white)

2) Manuel! Coolest Cuban ever!

Chula Vista - Week #33 - Dec 17, 2013

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... or should I say springtime...

Hola familia!

 

More miracles! They just keep coming!! I love missionary work. I wish I could just tell you everything. So the Sanchez family are progressing so well, it's insane. They act like they're already members, it's so cool. They've come to church every week along with all the activities and they're even feeding us tonight. We had a lesson with them last night and they asked us, "Can you sisters come over every day? We really want be as prepared as possible for our baptism because it's coming up!" We were planning on telling them that we needed to come over every day anyway but they were just one step ahead of us. So solid.

 

Manual is another one of our super solid investigators. We had a lesson with him last night as well and the first things he said to us was, "Hermanas, I read the chapter you assigned me, and then I loved it so much that I read the next chapter. Then I read it again."  What?! Haha I have never witnessed such prepared people in my life! We invited him to a baptismal date and he prayed about it right on the spot and then accepted it. He is so awesome, he's this super intelligent 54-year-old Cuban guy that has traveled all over the world! His family lives back in Cuba. But this guy knows how to dance! We had our ward Christmas party this past Saturday, and he came and showed everyone down! It was so cool! I'l try to send a video. But he told us that right when he walked in the church building and saw the painting of Jesus Christ, he thought to himself, "This is my place!!" Haha so prepared. So solid.

 

Randon stuff this week:

--I got to go on exchanges with Hermana Hughes last week!! It was quite the reunion! It was cool to see each other's progress since we were companions two transfers ago. We saw a lot of cool miracles with her investigators. Loving investigators and everyone is the most important and most effective way to be a missionary. Hands down.

--We went Christmas caroling to some of the members' non-member friends last night and it was so powerful! So many of them cried! Spreading the gospel through music around Christmas is the best!!

--The weather has been so perfect lately! Last week it felt like Utah but this week it feels more like Spring or Summer. Try not to get too much frostbite up and Utah and I'll try not to get too sunburnt down here in Chula!

 

During this week, I want you all to imagine yourselves being present at the birth of Jesus Christ. What gift would you have given him? What would you give him this Christmas? My amazing companion asked this question to a less-active family in our ward and they committed to coming to church one time before the year is over as their gift to Jesus Christ. So cool and powerful! So I just want you to think about what you want to give Him for Christmas this year. Maybe more time? More service to others? Jesus Christ lives! I love you all!

 

Hermana Barnes

 

Pictures:

1) My awesome companion and I.

1) My awesome district at the ward Christmas party!

2) Some people leftover after the dancing showdown (no missionaries allowed). Manual is the tall guy in blue in the back'

Chula Vista - Week #32 - Dec 10, 2013

There can be miracles when you believe!!

Familia!

 

WHAT. A. WEEK. Oh man! I don't even know where to start. Things are getting lit on fire down here in Chula Vista!!! Even though it is much colder than you all think... sometimes it feels like good ol' Utah. So we had been struggling the last couple weeks to find new solid investigators so we started praying very specifically that we would find the people that God had prepared to receive the Gospel at this time. Ready for this? 

 

Miracle #1: We contacted the Sanchez family last week and they are so solid!! They came to church on Sunday and participated in all the classes. They accepted a baptismal date last night for Dec. 28!! Wahoo!!

 

Miracle #2: The Casto Family are friends of a member in the ward, and they've come to church twice and they participate in all the classes as well. I totally thought they were members at first. Wait for it...

 

Miracle #3: The Enrique family. We contacted Alberto Enrique and this is basically how the conversation went:

Alberto: "Is there a way I can get a Book of Mormon?"

Us: "Yes, Alberto, yes there is."

Alberto: "Okay great, I need to learn more. Can you hermanas teach me what I need to know?"

Us: "Yes, Alberto. Yes we can." 

Alberto: "Perfect. Also, I need to go to church. Do you have a church nearby that I can come to?"

Us: "Yes, Alberto, yes!!"

Ahh!! WHAT?!?! We have an appointment with him tomorrow and I am stoked! Haha I've got a lot of hope for this family.

 

Miracle #4: Manual! Oh man, basically the same scenario as Miracle #3. Where are all these prepared souls coming from?! Prayer is so real, people. Coolest week EVER!!

 

Love you all! Que tengan una buena semana!

 

Hermana Barnes

 

Pictures:

1) Mi componera Hermana McBride y yo

2) Our ugly sweater family district photo on p-day!

3) We got to take some investigators to see the temple lights! So beautiful and spiritual! I'll send more pictures later

 

 

Chula Vista - Week #31 - Dec 3, 2013

Lupe and Estreya's baptism!!, Guess where I got transferre​d..., Thanksgivi​ng, and other great stuff

Hola familia!

 

Lupe and Estreya got baptized on Saturday!! Happiest day ever!! They were both so happy. Just watching Lupe's face when her daughter was getting baptized was priceless. I love the happiness the Gospel brings to families. It's been so amazing to see them grow. Whenever Estreya gets in trouble, she reads from the Book of Mormon. That is her punishment but... she told us she secretly enjoys reading it so maybe Lupe should change punishments and take The Book of Mormon away from her instead... Haha.

 

I'm in... Chula Vista baby!! Wahoo!! It is 100% different from Ramona but I love it! I'm serving in the exact area that "The District" was filmed, how cool is that? We are even teaching one of the investigators from The District, Ofelia! She's the lady the sister missionaries were teaching and gave a church tour to. You'll have to watch it. She's so awesome! She's been investigating the church for a couple years and has been dropped and picked up again and again over the years. She has so much potential but has problems commiting because of her husband, it's tough. But she is going to get baptized this transfer, I can feel it :) My new companion's name is Hermana McBride, she rocks! She's from Holiday, Utah and has been out a little longer than I have. We graduated the same year. The area we're serving in is super cool, one part of our area is super duper rich and the other part is super duper poor. We're 10 minutes from the border and the ocean. There are so many awesome/crazy people here it's great!

 

It sounds like Thanksgiving was wonderful for you all! I hope you ate a lot of extra turkey and pie for me! I know you're all wondering what Thanksgiving was like for me so here you go. We ate at a member's house, The Gallegos, for Thanksgiving. It was great. Definitely not normal, but still good. We had fettucine alfredo, little bit of turkey, potato salad, and Flan... haha too good. Gotta love Mexican Thanksgivings! I was surprised we didn't have tacos. Maybe for Christmas with the Tamales. That night, my district went and Christmas-caroled to the people waiting in line for black Friday at the mall and gave out millions of pass-along cards and tried to teach the Gospel! It was actually pretty successful.

 

Well, I sure had a lot of gratitude on Thanksgiving for you guys and the fact that we have the Gospel. I love you all so much and I hope you have a wonderful week full of miracles!

 

D&C 78:19

Hermana Barnes

 

 

Pictures:

1. Lupe and Estreya's baptism! Cutest mother and a daughter ever.

2. Thanksgiving at the Gallegos! Hermana McBride was pretty hungry

3: I wish I could take you all to meet this investigator, Maria. She's from Spain and she is the most insane lady I have ever met! I love her so much! Just imagine the craziest, funniest, sweetest, oldest Spaniard grandma that you would see in the movies and that's Maria. Please remind me to tell you stories about her when I get home.