College life

So far college life is very busy and the best part is that I am getting my education.  Sure it is hard and a struggle but I know that I will be successful when it comes to getting my education. 

My freshman year of college I have been to a couple of tailgate parties, the docutah film festival, the writing centre, career center, and many other events. College life is great. 

Wow what a great weekend

A couple days ago my mom, sister, and I went to my uncles wedding and was great. I have the best uncle and plus great nephews. 

Just the other day we also went to my half brothers wedding and it was good. Out in the middle of nowhere. 

Funny story. 😃

Funny story the Internet won't work at my house cuz well it crashed. So mom canceled the Internet today good bye acn till next time.

We will be without internet for a couple of days and plus we will have to watch movies the old fashioned way. Ugh dang Internet. Rant over.

Youth conference 2015 #Embark

On May 29 and the 30th, I had the chance to go to youth conference with the other youth in my ward. We did youth conference up in Salt Lake City on temple square. It was fun even though some of the youth had some sweets on the way up. Sure we had bananas and the car that I was in, we laughed, talked, and well we had bananas and someone kept throwing them. 

By the time we got to the temple square well the bananas were no more, they where squashy and stinky. One girl put in the bananas in a cup and left their in the cup and by morning it left a smell that smelled like rotten bananas. 

We visited the Joseph smith memorial building, church history library, the visitor center, going to the prophet cemetery, and the family search building, and the conference center. Needless to say youth conference was a blast.  Snow canyon 6th ward you rock!!!!!! #Embark. 

Weekly Update: March 30-April 10 THE END IS HERE!

Dear Family and Friends,

I'm at a loss of what to say. I will be seeing many of you very soon (later this week). What I want to say to you now, I could just say to you in person.

I will share with you my testimony. I know this gospel is true. I know God lives and loves me! He loves each of you as well. God answers our prayers, not in our timing, but in the His perfect timing. I couldn't ask for anymore than what I've gained as missionary. This has been the best decision I have made for my life so far. It has truly changed who I am and what I want to become. I know where I stand. I am a DISCIPLE of Jesus Christ. I will follow Him for the rest of my life and for forever! 

I'm so grateful for a living prophet on the Earth today. He truly is inspired of God. I loved watching General Conference. Every talk was so perfect for what I needed. I hope you all enjoyed it as well. I plan to study each talk individually because they all answered something I was searching for. I know Jesus Christ is directing this church. I want to invite all of you to study the talks again, and set goals for the next 6 months of what you can do to be better. 

I have loved so much being a missionary. I will never stop being a missionary, I just won't be a full time missionary. I will always try be an example of Jesus Christ in everything I do. I know life will be harder as I am living in the real world again learning how to take care of myself, but God will bless me. I love the gospel so much.

Thank you for all the love and support you have given to me. See you soon! :)

Love Sister Barton

Weekly Update: March 23-30, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been a hard, but great week! I have had struggles, something as simple as not being able to find someone to come to a lesson with us until the last second, to miracles.

This week I had the opportunity to see someone I found and began teaching get baptized. His name is Atif (Awe-tiff). In December my zone went down town and caroled. My companion Sister Jones at the time talked to Atif on the street and he wanted to know more. We were not sure if he lived in our ward, or another ward because it was really close to the border. So we began teaching him. On the second lesson he kept saying that the BOM was true. We passed him off because he was not in our ward. I saw in almost every Sunday at church and he always made it a point to come and say hi. 

Atif's baptism was the best baptism I have been to on my mission. When he came out of the water, he had a light in her eyes. He felt the spirit and knew what he had just done by being baptized was right. His emotion overcame him and the tears rolled down his face. He embraced in a hug with the member from our ward who baptized him. Never have I seen anyone else who understood as well as Atif did of the covenant he was making with God. It was powerful! 

That is why I came on a mission! I came to help others come unto Christ. I have seen many people do it. It makes me smile when people make that choice. I know God is smiling as well. I want to invite all of you, to think of someone you know who needs God more in their lives. Do something, share something, with them that will help them come closer to Christ. I promise if you will do that, the blessings that come not only to them, but to you will be unimaginable. 

I love you all!!

See you soon!

Weekly Update March 2-9, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

Lots of miracles are happening her in Calgary. I'm learning a lot and helping lots of people come unto Christ. One miracle happened when a less-active named Benjamin decided to come to church. He's been struggling to overcome his addiction to alcohol. He had been sober for about a month, then relapsed. He was drunk when we went over for a lesson, so we didn't stay long. He didn't expect us to call back, but because we care about him and know that only the Atonement of Jesus Christ can help him, we called and rescheduled. At the next meeting he was dedicated to receiving all the help he can get, including coming to church which is something he was always hesitant to do. I feel like this time he has more hope and a better outlook. It is the best!

I had an experience on Saturday that helped me recognize the small and simple ways the spirit can speak to us. We were trying to find parking before an appointment (it is very difficult here). I found a place, but it was near come townhouses that were under construction. I didn't feel right about parking there, so we drove around the block and found another place. As we were parking we saw two city trucks pull up and park where I had first parked, then proceed to make some quick patches to the road. If I had not moved, I would have been in their way.

I hope all of you have been able to see lots of miracles in your lives as well. Stay strong, listen to the spirit, and believe Jesus Christ when he says he can help.

Love Sister Barton

Weekly Update: February 22-March 2, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

 

I just wanted to send you a quick email about some of the miracles I have seen this week. It was transfers so I got a new companion, Sister Prochelo from Arizona. We are excited to start working together.

 

This week I have seen small miracles of God guiding us the places we needed to be. One day while trying to contact less-actives in the ward, I felt like we should go tracting. I felt we should knock on the door of a specific house. An older man answered who told us all about serving in the war and his experience with God out there. At the end of the conversation he took a Book of Mormon and welcomed us back. I'm excited to start teaching him about God's true church on the Earth.

 

We also taugth an investigator named Vi. She really wants to know more about God and is looking for a church to join because she feels like she needs to do more work. She loves our lessons and always has great insights and questions. She understands that only God can tell her what is truth, she is just unsure of how he will tell her.

 

The second picture I included is of my planner. I created that cover because I really liked the pictures, but as I was putting it on my planner I realized a deeper meaning for myself. A few weeks ago I got a priesthood blessing in which I was told to develop and pray for more Charity and to look for opportunities to serve. Our Saviour Jesus Christ provided the perfect example of charity for us. He loves us and as I show love to all those around me,I can develop more charity. I love that I will see this planner cover multiple times a day and be reminded of what God wants me to do this transfer. I invite you all to ask God what he wants you to learn this month, then write it down and make it visible so you see it everyday. If you will do that, God will help you become even better. I love this gospel! I know with all my heart that it is true and that Christ is our Saviour! Thank you for all your support!

 

Love Sister Barton

Weekly Update February 16-22, 2015

So It's transfer week this week, but we won't know who is getting transferred until Wednesday. I feel that I will be staying in my area. I can't believe I'm going into my last transfer as a missionary. Time as a missionary is really short, but it will definitely change lives. My mission has changed my lfie. 

 

Some of you might wonder if you missed some of my weekly emails, but no you didn't. I didn't send any out because I didn't feel like I needed to. I had two reasons. 1. I didn't want to be getting trunky,or thinking too much about going home. 2. I didn't see any point to writing them because I don't know if they help anybody which was the purpose of them. I'm writing today to give a quick update, but don't expect something everyweek, unless you do want me to, then just let me know.

 

I have really enjoyed this week. We have been able to meet with a lot of people and do lots of service, well more service than we usually do here. We also had lots appointments fall thru, but that is usual for missionary work. The people we have been able to meet are doing really good. Benjamin is over 20 days sober and still doing great. He says it is getting harder because his mind thinks because he's been sober for this long, he can handle a drink, but he thinks about the consequences and turns to God in prayer for help to overcome. We haven't taught any of our current investigators this week, we tried to call them, but there was never any response. We decided yesterday to drop both Teho and Margot. Teho hasn't been willing to make appointments to meet with us and Margot called and told us she wants to go back to her other church and thanked us for the visit. It was really sad to do that, but I know that we can't waste our time trying to chase them when others who are more prepared are out walking on the street. We picked up a new investigator, Vi Valley, on Saturday. She went to the nativity pageant and felt moved by the spirit. She wished it was longer and wanted to know more about the church, so we called her and scheduled a time with her. She has lots of questions and is not afraid to ask them during lessons. She wants to read the BOM and some of her concerns are prophets and the sabbath day on Sunday. She is a tough cookie, but wants to know. She understands that God is the only person who can give her an answer of what to do.

Sister Jones and I are continuing to work hard in our area. We are trying to work as effectively as possible and do what God wants us to do. I know that miracles are going to happen soon. I know that this is the Lord's work and it can only be done in his way and time. I know the power of prayer is real because I have had many prayers answered this week. I love being a missionary! Being able to serve a mission has changed my life for the better and I'm truly grateful for God who has give me this opportunity.

Love Sister Barton

Weekly Update January 26-February 2, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

 

For me this week has been a big focus on the Book of Mormon. Many things this past week have increase my testimony of this great book! On Thursday we went downtown street contacting with the zone. We had a goal to as a zone give away 60 Books of Mormon. We gave away a total of 88, my companion and Sister Jones gave away 20 of those in a 1.5 hour time frame. I talked to so many people who at first were hesitant. They didn't want to take the BOM, but then I testified to them about how much it has changed my life. I said that even if they didn't read it at that time that having a copy in their homes would bring them much peace and comfort. It would bring more blessings into their lives. Then they would be touched by the the spirit and take it. I know that even if they don't read it now, they have it now as a resource that God can direct them to in the future when they are a little more prepared to accept his gospel.

 

With the members we meet and teach whether its a dinner appointment or just a visit to get to know them better, we have been teaching them about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Then at the end we give them 2 Books of Mormon to write their testimony in. One of them they give back to us and the other they give away. We will give away the one they give us to someone else. Everyone is pretty excited to do this and we are excited to see waht miracles come from this. It will be awesome! 

 

I invite you all to read the Book of Mormon and share your testimony of it with someone else, wheter it is a family member, friend, or random stranger. I know you testimony will be strenghtened if you do this. You will feel God's power stronger in your life and he will bless you with the specific answers you are seeking. I love this gospel. I know with all my heart it is true. This is the best work we can be doing, to share the gospel. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the light in this dark world. 

 

I love you all!! Have a great week!

 

Love Sister Barton

 

P.S. The weather has been nice and warm, in the picture you can see not a lot of snow! However it did snow on Friday and the rest of the weekend, but just a little, no more than a few inches. :)

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January 19-26, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been a busy one. We have been able to fill our schedule with many appointments and see many miracles from it all. We have been going through our ward directory and calling everyone on the list. This week we called Gordon. On the phone he invited us over Saturday evening for pizza and a discussion. He told us is non-member wife is curious about the church. On Saturday night we went to the appointment with Gordon and his wife Dee. After eating, Gordon bore his testimony about the gospel and asked if we could explain in simpler terms more about the BOM. So we taught the first lesson. The spirit was strong and we could tell Dee was pondering on what we had said. Gordon would bear his testimony of what we said. He's been inactive for years, but still knows a lot about the church. At the end we invited Dee to read and pray about the BOM. She said a few times that she needs time to ponder over what she had learned and pray to ask God what he would have her do. She is a strong Baptist and wants to be sure it is God's will for her to change her religion. 

The rest of our ward is doing great! We haven't been able to meet with our other investigators Teho and Unilyn this week. We talked to Teho on the phone. He said he's trying to decide if he wants to continue on the path of learning more. He's at the critical point where he has felt the spirit and he now needs to make the decision of what to do. He doesn't want to meet until he makes that decision. For now we will keep him in our prayers. 

 

 

"Acknowledge and face your weaknesses, but don’t be immobilized by them, because some of them will be your companions until you depart this earth life. No matter what your current status, the very moment you voluntarily choose honest, joyful, daily repentance by striving to simply do and be your very best, the Savior’s Atonement envelops and follows you, as it were, wherever you go. Living in this manner, you can truly “always retain a remission of your sins” (Mosiah 4:12) every hour of every day, every second of every minute, and thus be fully clean and acceptable before God all the time."

 

I read this quote from a talk in General Conference called "Approaching the Throne of God with Confidence." I love how it talks about we need to recongize our weaknesses, but not let them get the best of us. I've been reflecting on my weaknesses I have been setting goals to make them strenghts. It's hard, but its what life is all about. We have to overcome our weaknesses through the atonement of Jesus Christ and become a better person. I love this gospel so much. I know the atonement is real and the only way we can truly change and receive forgiveness. I know that families can be together forever if we live the gospel her on her Earth. I love my Savior. Thank you for all your support and prayers.

 

Love Sister Barton

 

Weekly Update: January 13-19, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

This week started out amazing. We had lots of appointments and felt like everything was beginning to look up. All that changed by the weekend when all of our appointments, except ones with members fell through. I love teaching the members, but we had a lot of open time and didn't know what to do in that time. It doesn't feel right to go tracting or street contacting and we can't just drive around and contact less-actives because everyone lives so far away from eachother, it would use up our klicks(kilometres) very fast. We did spend some time walking to a few less-actives. Only one of them answered. She was on the phone currently, but was very welcoming and said we could come back another time. We will try to do that.

As for our teaching pool, we still have our two fairly new investigators Teho and Unilyn.  We were going to teach Teho on Friday night but he canceled leaving us with an open schedule that we didn't know how to fill. As we prayed, Teho's name kept coming to my mind. I concluded that we just needed to go stop-by, but I wasn't sure why. We already responded to his text about canceling, but we stopped by anyways. We just asked if we could do anything for him and encouraged him to continue to read. Afterwards as we talked about that experience in the car, we both felt that we didn't do anything wrong and we both got the impression that we were stopping him from doing something bad. 

 Hugo is someone we called on the ward directory. He had not been contacted by the church in 8 years and agreed to meet with us. As we met with him he told us much of his life story and how currently he is going through a job change. He is a smoker and believes it is helping his health. Hugo asked us about church, then was there on Sunday. After church he said he would be back next week as well.

 

I love being a missionary and seeing the Lord's hand in my life. I have learned so much about the power of the Atonement. It truly can change us if we let it. Today I was reading in Mosiah 7. I thought alot about how the Atonement can rescue us if we turn to the Savior and do all he asks us to do. This verse stood out for me as read. 

 

 33 But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.

 

Many of the people I'm teaching right now have to overcome something. I think everybody has something that is keeping them in bondage, myself included. The promise is that if we give up those things that hold us in bondage and turn to our Savior Jesus Christ, in his timing and by his will we will be delivered. We have to follow him and do all he asks of us, which is to keep the commandments. I invite you all to ponder on what more you can do to follow the Savior and read President Monson's talk from General Conference. Here is a link:https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/ponder-the-path-of-thy-feet?lang=eng

 

 

I love you all! Thank you for all that you do. 

 

Love Sister Barton

 

Pictures: Chinook time in Calgary=warmer weather and slush!

Weekly Update: January 6-13, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

I have seen lots of miracles this week, it has been amazing. I've learned more about my calling as a Sister Training Leader as well. Starting with the miracles, we picked up another new investigator this week. Her name is Unilyn. She was street contacted by our Zone Leaders who gave her a BOM and set a time to come back. We went to that appointment yesterday, but she wasn't home. We tried to call, but she didn't answer. About 15 minutes after we left, she called us back and said we come over then. As we were talking with her before we taught her, she said she was intimidated by the Elders, but curious about their desire to share with her their "bible" that she gave us a call back. She also said at the time of the appointment she conveniently had to take out some trash and so wasn't home. She is very funny, but also really prepared for the gospel. As we taught her lesson one she soaked everything in. She was willing to read and find out if its true or not. We were able to help her recognize that she has felt the spirit before in her life, and that is how she will feel as she reads with real intent. It was amazing.

Our other investigator Teho, that we picked up last week, is doing great as well. We taught him last night. We asked him if he had read, but he hadn't, so we read a chapter with him. As we read you could tell by his face that he felt the spirit. He is soaking in everything we teach him and we plan to put him on date this week. We found the perfect fellowship for him. They are his neighbors, who are also around his same age. . .conveniently. They kept offering support and encouragement, even when we are not teaching him. There will be some word of wisdom things he will have to overcome, but other than that he is solid.

 

I also had the opportunity to go to the temple this week. I always love going to the temple. It is always a place where I receive personal revelation and peace from my father in heaven. I invite you all to take an opportunity this month to attend the temple and take in that spirit as well. I love you all. 

 

Love Sister Barton

Weekly Update: December 29-January 6, 2015

Dear Family and Friends,

 

I'm so grateful for all that you do for me. I have big news for all of you. Some of you may have noticed activity on my facebook page, mostly pictures being changed. My mission has been authorized to do online prosyltying, without Ipads. My facebook will be a tool for me to use as a missionary. I will only be having gospel conversations, but feel free to responde and comment on them. If you want to see how I'm doing, still email me through this email.

 

Anyways this week has been a great week. I've seen many miracles and tender mercies from the Lord, but I've also had my purpose in this area confirmed once again. One miracel we had was when we picked up a new investigator named Atif. On sunday when he came to church he told us he feels that there is truth and love in the Book of Mormon. He has been prepared for the gospel. The sad part is he is actually not in our area, barely so we will be passing him off to other missionaries. 

 

We have had so many situations like that. Our investigators or potential investigators just fall off of the face of the planet or are not in our area. This all comes down to my purpose in this area. We have to strengthen the ward itself first, and then we can help others. It is a different purpose than I would normally think of, but I will continue to learn a lot from doing so. 

 

This week as I have pondered over past experiences I've had, I learned that God really is in my life and has comforted me even when I didn't realize it was his spirit. I know that there were many experiences I had in life that led me to come on a mission. Everything we are facing now is preparing us for something better. We have to trust in the Lord and be patient and ask for his understanding, then we will find the peace we seek. God truly does know us and help us. I hope you can all find that knowledge as we begin a new year.

 

I love you all. Thank you!

 

Love Sister Barton

 

P.S. It's been snowing again!!