Ramona - Week #30 - Nov 26, 2013

TTFN... Ramona :( But Happy Thanksgivi​ng!!

 

Hola!

 

I just got the news that I'm getting transferred out of Ramona tomorrow... :( But right when the Zone Leaders told me, I felt right about it. It was cool. But I'm going to miss everyone so much! All of the members and investigators here aren't just members and investigators. They've all become such good friends and I love them all too much! I also love Hermana Contreras to death and we only got one transfer together... so... that'll be a tough separation. Haha it'll to be hard to leave, but I know that the transfer is right.

 

What a past couple of weeks! Sheesh! Hermana Contreras and I have been having some crazy weeks full of a lot of hard work and success. What a great way to end the transfer.

 

--Such good news: Lupe and Estrella had their baptismal interview on Sunday and they're all set to get baptized this Saturday!! Wahoo!!! I am so grateful for the revelation we have received for them. It's a pretty big miracle this is happening this week. I'm so happy for both of them!! Depending on whether my new area is close enough, I'll be able to go to the baptism so that'll be awesome.

 

--Miracle: one of our investigator's brothers, Carlos, was completely closed off to listening to us last week. He doesn't like to talk at all and he seems pretty stand-offish and doesn't believe in God. He loves to play the piano though, so one day we went over there and just jammed with him at the piano. He would play one song, then I would play one, then he would, and we would just keep taking turns. It was so cool because he started opening up to us! He started asking us questions about what we believed and told us how he felt and said he wanted us to come back. WHAT?!?! Haha miracle! It was confirmed to me that it is SO important to build a relationship and show the people that you really do care and have interest in their lives so that they trust you and have the desire to listen and accpet the Gospel. So cool.

 

--I've had a lot of opportunities with music lately, it's been so sweet. The branch is going to sing at the Mormon Batallion for Christmas so they've been having choir practices the past couple weeks... and they basically put me in charge of teaching everyone their parts. Haha it is the funniest thing, because a lot of the members have never sung in a choir in their lives. So it's been a challenge, but also so cute to see them get so excited when they learn their part. They are so grateful for my piano playing, I didn't realize how grateful these people would be. I feel so bad that I won't be able to help them out anymore! But I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father has been giving me so many awesome opportunities to share that talent with others. I got to play a special musical number in sacrament meeting with an Elder and some others that left to go home today. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside to see Heavenly Father bless others through our talents. Don't hide your talents!! Heavenly Father gave them to you to bless other people so go bless other people already!

 

Well mi familia, I just want you to know that I am so thankful for each and every single one of you. I love you all so much. I hope you can feel my love and gratitude, because I can barely contain it! Have an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving! Eat some extra turkey and pie for me, because I might be eatin' tacos instead! Haha les amo tanto!

 

Alma 34:38

Hermana Barnes

 

Pictures:

1 & 2: Some of the members were able to take some of the missionaries to Barona, a super sweet buffet/casino, for dinner (totally looked like the great and spacious building in the midst of all the wide open land space and fields in Ramona) to celebrate a birthday... I'm surprised we were allowed to go. We only did a couple slots ;) Just kidding mom and dad, we were obedient I promise!

3: Last district picture in Ramona!

 

 

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Ramona - Week #29 - Nov 19, 2013

Continue staying tuned...

Hola familia!

Good news... We went to the temple today!!! One of the members in our branch (Cesar Chavez) got his endowments out because he is leaving on his mission soon and we were able to go!! Missionaries are allowed to go every 90 days. Wahoo! It was incredible, and always is. The temple is my favorite place to be in the world, hands down.

Bad news... I don't have any time to write again. Sorry! Next week for sure! Keep praying for our investigators! Every prayer matters! Les amo con todo mi corazon! Sigan fuerte!

Hermana Barnes

Ramona - Week #28 - Nov 12, 2013

Stay tuned...

Mi familia!

There have been problems with the computers so we don't have any time to write today. I will write next week! Be good! Love you!!!

Hermana Barnes

Ramona - Week #27 - Nov 5, 2013

Wonderful week in Wamona!

Mi familia!

 

Wonderful week in Wamona!

 

I told you already about the member in our branch, Hermana Chavez, who was just diagnosed with stomach cancer and had to have intensive surgery last month. Well, they're having three big fundraisers this month to raise money for the surgery and chemotherapy and everything else they need. So we've been able to help out and it's been so amazing to see so many people come together for this great cause. We washed cars for 4 hours on Saturday! I'll send a picture. Pray for the Chavez family! 

 

A few days ago, we brought their son, Cesar Chavez, out with us for some appointments. One of the investigators we taught, Adrianna, had a best friend that just barely got diagnosed with cancer. What a blessing directly from God to have Cesar with us to testify of trusting in God through hard times because his mom had just been diagnosed with cancer too. It's amazing to me to see how much God really is in the details. Miracles, big and small, are happening people!!

 

Have I told you that the majority of the people we talk to are illegal? Haha I love them all. Most of them are just trying to work and save money for their families that still live in Mexico. It's hard for me to see them struggling like that without their families and security, but it's such a blessing to be able to teach them and help them see that there's more joy, peace, and blessings for their families they can find through the Gospel. We are so blessed to already have the Gospel. My testimony of that grows every day, it's insane.

 

Les quiero tanto!

 

Hermanita Barnes

 

Pictures:

1. Hermana Contreras, me, and Hermano Pastor Salmoron: the cutest old man in the entire world! He gives us dulces every single time he sees us.

2. Part of the branch and some of the missionaries at the car wash fundraiser for Hermana Chavez. Mucho amor!

Ramona - Week #26 - October 29, 2013

Consecrati​on, hope, love for loving people

 

Mi familia amada!

  

I loved this week. President Clayton's wife invited all of the missionaries to read, "Becoming a Consecrated Missionary" and then apply it. I invite all of you to read that talk, it's intense! And it doesn't just apply to missionaries, it applies to every member. Becoming consecrated is such a process, but is so possible. I've been setting small goals to help me get there. I've learned so much this past week to just enjoy every moment--every chance to love someone, every chance to learn something, every chance to serve someone, every difficult trial to overcome. Time is just going by too fast to take any moment for granted here. I don't even want to say this but it's already been 6 months... Dad stop praying for the time to fly! Haha.

 

I had to give a talk on hope in District Meeting the other day. Hope is such a deep word. Man, I love hope. Hope is what has gotten me and what gets me through everything. Having the opportunity to give people hope is one of those things that just melts my heart. I don't know if it's just part of wearing the plaque or if this part of me has been uncovered more on the mission, but my heart has been so sensitive to people--their feelings, their situations, everything. I'm so much more emotional, it's embarrassing! Haha. I feel like I've been able to love and understand people more in the way that Christ would. Yeah okay it's definitely not me. Haha but I don't want this gift to go away when I come home! I have a love for loving people. It's amazing how much God can expand our hearts as missionaries. I love this work.

 

3 of our investigators, Lupe, Estrella, and Oscar have a baptismal date for November 23! Pray that Satan leaves them alone. Haha I'll keep you updated on them. One of the members in our branch got his mission call to the Utah Salt Lake City West mission! Speaking Spanish! Wahoo! Everyone was totally making jokes that he'd get sent to Utah and it totally happened. Mwuahaha. Keep a look out for an Elder Cesar Chavez, he'll be coming in with a boom at the end of December! Shout out to Debbie Byrne who enters the MTC tomorrow! Wahoo!! Brazil is not going to know what hit them! Happy Halloween this week! Love you! 

 

Hermanita Barnes

 

Pictures:

1. Check out that sunset!! Ramona has some of the coolest sunsets in the world!

2. If this isn't a cowboy town, I don't know what is.

 

 

Ramona - Week #25 - October 22, 2013

I felt the 'influenza​' of the Holy Ghost yesterday.​..

Hola familia!

 

It's been a crazy week! Guess what? I got the 24 hour flu yesterday... no bueno. I definitely felt the 'influenza' of... something opposite of the Holy Ghost. I still felt the Holy Ghost though. Haha we had to stay in all day yesterday, it was the worst!! I wanted to go out and work especially because we had appointments, but I was forced to stay in by my district leader, the mission nurse, and the mission president. Haha I didn't win. It was probably best too because it got worse and I probably would've gotten everyone sick... that would've been bad. My advice: don't get sick on your mission! It's bad news. I'm good now, no worries parents.

 

My new companion is so wonderful!!! I love her so much. Her name is Hermana Contreras. She is a Mormon Batallion sister too! (Every Mormon Batallion sister gets the chance to be a full-proselyting sister for 2 transfers) So it's been a learning experience for her to not be serving at the Mormon Batallion. AND to be serving in Ramona! Haha she did NOT see that coming. She was born in Mexico, but grew up in LA. It'll be good to get some extra help on my Spanish :) She's so stinkin' cute though! And guess what?! She's shorter than me... SHORTER!! That happens once in a blue moon. She's been out almost a year and I am so excited to serve with her...  she rocks. It's also crazy because the first night I got here in San Diego I slept at the Mormon Batallion and it was in Hermana Contreras' apartment! It was meant to be that we'd be companions some day :) I wasn't expecting to get her as my companion now though because everyone had been telling me that I would be training but there haven't been any new Spanish-speaking sisters come in the past 3 transfers! So I guess I might train when there are Spanish-speaking sisters.

 

We've witnessed quite a few changes of heart in some of our investigators the past few days, it's been AMAZING!! One of our investigators, Isidro, that dropped us a couple weeks ago, basically told us the other day that he wants to keep learning. WHAT?! Sweet. That rocks. Also, Rita's husband who is very closed off and says stuff like, "I'm Catholic and I'm going to be Catholic until the day I die" told us the other day to pray for him and he might change his mind and join this church... WHAT?!?! Haha so funny/awesome. I love seeing miracles. Go look for miracles this week! They're everywhere!

 

Hermanita Barnes

 

Pictures:

1. My new companion! (I don't have any good pictures of the two of us yet... stay tuned)

2. We carved pumpkins last week on p-day!

3. Hermana Hughes, me and part of Pablo Rodriguez's family! She had to say good-bye :(

4. Hermana Hughes, me, and the ward mission leader and his wife (I missed the memo that we were smiling for the picture, apparently)

5. Me and part of the Mendez family

 

 

 

Ramona - Week #24 - October 15, 2013

BAUTISMO de PABLO!!!

Familia!

 

What a maravillosa week! PABLO. GOT. BAPTIZED!!! Wahoo!!! It was such a beautiful and powerful baptism! Man, I didn't know it was possible to be this happy for another human being!! Haha I love Pablo so much. He is going to be a stellar member. He bore his testimony after he was baptized, and it seemed like he had already been a member for years. He has such a solid testimony. The picture doesn't show it very well, but he was beaming with joy that whole day (It's pretty rare to see a Hispanic person smiling in pictures) It was so touching to see the instant countenance change. This Gospel is true! I wish you all could have been there! Hermana Hughes and I got to sing/play a couple of special musical numbers too. His confirmation at church the next day was so powerful. One of the branch presidency members confirmed him and told us that the spirit was telling him that God has huge plans for Pablo. I believe it!

 

Well, we just got the news of transfers and... I'm staying in Ramona!!!! Yeehaw!! This is such a blessed little cowboy town. But, Hermana Hughes is leaving :( We're both so sad. We have grown to be the best of friends, basically hermanas (Wait, or were we already hermanas separated at birth? People ask us if we're twins 5 times a day). I'm sure going to miss her a whole ton. We've seen so many miracles together out here in Ramona and learned SO much from each other, it's insane. She has changed my life. But, it's all about the prepared souls, not the missionaries, and God needs us in different places for different people at different times.

 

Well, thanks for all the love and prayers for my investigators! If you're going to pray, pray for them :) Love you!

 

Hermanita Barnes 

 

Pictures

1. Pablo's baptism!

2. Dysfunctional zone picture at zone meeting

3. Rockin' our raincoats in the biggest rain storm EVER in Ramona! We almost broke a mission rule by accidentally swimming in the streets, sheesh!