Weekly Update: October 21-27, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been one crazy week. First off my schedule was thrown off because of how transfers are happening now with weekly planning on Wednesdays and transfers on Thursdays, I could never remember what day it was. But that's okay. It's better now.

I feel like a big change has taken place within me, not only since I became a missionary, but since I've started training. I can recognize the spirit better, and don't worry as much if it is the spirit or not, I just go and do. I feel the spirit with me more and I'm learning so much. I know this church is true. It has changed my life and will continue to change my life. I'm grateful for all the experiences I've had on my mission. They are awesome!!!

This past week we taught a new investigator our zone leaders passed off to us. She was a referral to them either by the stake president or area seventy, but because she is older than YSA age, they passed her off to us. We had a great lesson and with the help of the spirit we were able to put her on date to be baptized. She has a Roman Catholic background, but stopped going because she didn't like a lot of things about the church. As she talked about those things, we realized is her beliefs match with our beliefs. On Sunday she just came to Sunday School. After the class she told us she's not sure if she wants to make the changes necessary in her life to become a member. She tried to drop us, but we told her to pray and think about it for a couple of days. We will stop by sometime this week and talk about how she is feeling. As for one of our other investigators Bernard who was on date earlier, he came to church on Sunday and stayed the whole time! He has never done that since I've been here. Maybe that means he's feeling ready for baptism. We will see, he says he wants to surprise us with a date. Whatever that means!

We have been trying to work more with less-active members, so that started off with getting a new list from our bishop. I have noticed in the ward the members are starting to trust us more. They are thinking more about missionary work and are not afraid to talk to us. One example is the family we are eating dinner with. It's a part member family and the husband was taught back when there were Elders in the ward. On the teaching record it says don't go over there unless invited to do so. We met him at his nephew's baptism on Saturday, now we are eating dinner with them. I love to see the ward opening up to us and welcoming us.

 

I've learned a lot about the spirit on my mission. I really like this scripture John 16:13 "Howbeit when, he the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will shew you things to come." This scripture is a good summary of missionary work. Everything I do and say is guided by the spirit. If I am following the spirit then, I'm fulfilling my calling. I know the Lord lives. This is his true church. I love the gospel so much!

 

Love Sister Barton

 

Weekly Update: October 14-21, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been one crazy week. First off my schedule was thrown off because of how transfers are happening now with weekly planning on Wednesdays and transfers on Thursdays, I could never remember what day it was. But that's okay. It's better now.

I feel like a big change has taken place within me, not only since I became a missionary, but since I've started training. I can recognize the spirit better, and don't worry as much if it is the spirit or not, I just go and do. I feel the spirit with me more and I'm learning so much. I know this church is true. It has changed my life and will continue to change my life. I'm grateful for all the experiences I've had on my mission. They are awesome!!!

This past week we taught a new investigator our zone leaders passed off to us. She was a referral to them either by the stake president or area seventy, but because she is older than YSA age, they passed her off to us. We had a great lesson and with the help of the spirit we were able to put her on date to be baptized. She has a Roman Catholic background, but stopped going because she didn't like a lot of things about the church. As she talked about those things, we realized is her beliefs match with our beliefs. On Sunday she just came to Sunday School. After the class she told us she's not sure if she wants to make the changes necessary in her life to become a member. She tried to drop us, but we told her to pray and think about it for a couple of days. We will stop by sometime this week and talk about how she is feeling. As for one of our other investigators Bernard who was on date earlier, he came to church on Sunday and stayed the whole time! He has never done that since I've been here. Maybe that means he's feeling ready for baptism. We will see, he says he wants to surprise us with a date. Whatever that means!

We have been trying to work more with less-active members, so that started off with getting a new list from our bishop. I have noticed in the ward the members are starting to trust us more. They are thinking more about missionary work and are not afraid to talk to us. One example is the family we are eating dinner with. It's a part member family and the husband was taught back when there were Elders in the ward. On the teaching record it says don't go over there unless invited to do so. We met him at his nephew's baptism on Saturday, now we are eating dinner with them. I love to see the ward opening up to us and welcoming us.

 

I've learned a lot about the spirit on my mission. I really like this scripture John 16:13"Howbeit when, he the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will shew you things to come." This scripture is a good summary of missionary work. Everything I do and say is guided by the spirit. If I am following the spirit then, I'm fulfilling my calling. I know the Lord lives. This is his true church. I love the gospel so much!

 

Love Sister Barton

 

Weekly Update: October 6-14, 2014

Dear Family and Friends :)

Happy Thanksgiving!! Canadian Thanksgiving that is!!!!

It's transfer week this week, but I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right where I am for another transfer. This week will be weird though because transfers are now on Thursdays instead of Wednesdays because the new missionaries coming in don't have enough time to get training from my mission president before they go out into the field.

This week has been a roller coaster of a week. It was a struggle, just because our area is struggling and I don't know what to do. I know I need to be patient with the Lord's timing, I was just having a hard time working really hard trying to find people to teach and find less-actives, but we haven't had much success this week. Then we decided to get priesthood blessings and that was just what I needed. In my blessing it said the Lord knows there is speedbumps in the work right now, but if I turn to my scriptures and prayer I will learn how to overcome them. That is something I'm working on trying to do right now.

This week my testimony was strengthened in the power of the priesthood and praying with real intent. When we went downtown street contacting this week Sister Jensen and I had 10 BOM's between the 2 of us. We made a goal and prayed for Heavenly Father's help to pass all of them out. And we were able to do so. We gave 7 away in the last half hour we had! It so amazing!! One guy I gave a book of Mormon to was reading it later as I walked by him again. The last person we gave a BOM to was actually a member who promised us he would give it out. When I got my priesthood blessing this week it was just what I needed. There were things said that helped me with things I hadn't told anyone I was struggling with. I know the God lives. That his priesthood power is here on the Earth and that he loves me so much. I know my prayers are being heard. I love this gospel so much.

I love you guys! :)

Love Sister Barton

Pictures:

1. the man who was reading his BOM we gave him

2. my district

Weekly Update: September 29-October 6, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

Wasn't General Conference amazing! I love general conference so much, it
was just what I needed. I love being spiritually fed and given the
knowledge and advice for what I need to do for the next 6 months and the
rest of my life. It is great! I hope our investigators watched it, or will
watch it soon. They both said they were going to, we just haven't heard
from then since. My family is doing okay. I think they watched general
conference and enjoyed it too.

My area is doing alright. This past week many of our appointments fell
through, especially with our investigators. During weekly planning we
created a vision for a "missionary minded ward." We plan to do that through
sharing messages about missionary work with them and working as hard as we
can to find investigators to bring to church so they can see we are working
and then they will hopefully want to participate.

I don't know what to do with Bernard at the moment. We haven't been able to
teach him because he keeps postponing. I want to drop him, but then he will
call us on the phone and bring up baptism saying when he feels ready he
will let us know. Maybe we will drop him. Rocio is doing good, she was
going to watch general conference at home. She forgot about our lesson last
week, but rescheduled. We are working with our ward mission leader to teach
Jordyn the new member lessons, but they are currently out of town for a few
more days. Then we are just asking for referrals and tracting in all our
free time.

I just love being a missionary so much, and a trainer. I am learning so
much, but I'm also helping Sister Howard learn. I have to remember it all
happens line upon line, but it works out. I know this church is true.
Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet who leads and guides this church in the
right way. He does speak with God. I know the BOM is true and has the power
to change lives. I love being able to share this message with others.
Lately during my personal study I've learned of many reasons why I needed
to serve a mission. Each time I learn why, I have a greater desire to serve
and work harder. I love the gospel so much. Thanks for all you do for me
president.
Love Sister Barton

P.S. Every wednesday afternoon we get to go downtown street contacting. We
ride the C-train down and just go talk to everyone we meet. I used to not
find it very fun, but last week we had a lot of fun, and success. We talked
to atleast 5 people who were really interested in learning more about the
church. We also saw some cool things, like china town and a head statue.