Quarantine week 478516930

 Another week in the good blairsville apartment! Some updates on the mission!! 40 missionaries are going home & 15 of them went home this past week. Yes tons!! We also will be getting between 70-100 new missionaries!! There are changes EVERYDAY here in the Georgia Atlanta North Mission & its definitely keeping me on my toes!!

Tuesday: all the days seem to all blend together but we've started two facebook pages so if you havent already go join those!! Ones calles Family History for Everyone & the other is Joy in Christ!! These pages have been a fun way to get missionary work progressing & i hope it continues to go that way!

Wednesday: Its very different to re learn how to do missonary work online. We are constantly finding more ideas & ways we can get ourselves out there so people know about us & we can help bring the gospel to them to bless their lives!!

Thursday: we were still able to have district council & it was the last one of the transfer :( after district council we were able to do a live scripture study on facebook with the missionaries serving in Murphy NC so that was fun!! We also found out 3 missionaries in our district are going home :( ohhh yes I cry everytime a missionary says their leaving because my heart breaks for them! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!

Friday: we did a video call with the Taylors who are members in the branch & we talked about Enos & Prayer. I love in the book of Enos where he says my soul "hungered". Enos wanted so badly to communicate with God & be forgiven of our sins. I think back to all the times where I have felt so Hungry for the spirit & how ive literally wanted nothing more than to feel the spirits presence & then when I recieved it I never wanted it to leave. I imagine Enos felt something like this!

Saturday: we had a call with Valarie and went over the gospel of Jesus Christ. She had forgotten the covenants she made at baptism so we went over those with her. One way I like to remember my baptismal covenants is by CTR. C- keep the Commandments. T- Take upon the name of Jesus Christ. R- always Remember him. As we remember these covenants and keep them we can have the Holy Spirit always with us. Ohhh what a blessing that is!! Ive been learning more about the life I want/need to be living in order to have the Spirit with me more abundantly.The spirit wont dwell where Hes not comfortable. We need to live in harmony with gospel teachings & have our life centered on Jesus Christ! Ohhh how i love the Godhead & what a blessing to know each of their roles!

Sunday: we were able to go to our Branch Presidents house for the sacrament!! It was so nice to get out of our apartment & actually SEE people!! Wow i just wanted to hug them & talk because i miss people hahaha but dont worry i kept my social distanct!! It really is special to be able to have the church in our homes! We sang, had talks, bore testimony & did come follow me. It was a great experience & Im so grateful to still be able to partake of the sacrament even without being in a church building! These are definitely moments that need to be cherished. We also participated in the world-wide fast that president Nelson encouraged & I am so grateful for fasting. There is so much power that comes when we let our spirits become stronger than our bodies!! And how cool is it that we all got to be united in this together!? After we made more videos & did more stuff on Facebook & uplifted lots of people! YAY!

Quarantine has been a unique experience! Re learning how to do missonary work completely online was not something I thought I would be doing here in Georgia!! I'm learning a lot of new ways to be a missionary & learning more than ever that we can do hard things!! I am soooo thankful to everyone who has shown me soooo much love over my whole mission & especially this week!! I love all the packages & letters I recieved this week! It lifted my spirit so much & brough extra joy into my life!! Love yall & keep being healthy & safe!!

Expect the unexpected

 Yay for a crazy/weird week. This week has felt like 3 in one just because of all the changes & the unexpected!

Tuesday: tuesday was really weird because we were still told to go out and do normal missionary work but people didnt want us. We had 3 lessons that all fell through. Sister flowers let us come over & share a message with her so that was probably the highlight for Tuesday!

Wednesday: we went and did FHE with a family in the branch that has 5 little girls & it was so fun!! We played the game "dont eat pete" (thanks makell) and they loved it!! We related it to the holy ghost and how we need to listen carefully to the promptings we receive. It was so fun & i love kids so it made me sooo happy!! In the evening we had a zoom call with the ENTIRE mission!! President Marsh told us we are in "Modified Isolation" so basically we are in quarantine unless we absolutely need to leave. We were able to call our families after & wow that was much needed. Ya i had a lil breakdown about being stuck inside all day with 1 person. But ya know life goes on.

Thursday: Im not sure how but we were still able to have District Council which was a much needed miracle!! It was soooo good & helped me realized i would survive even if i can only get out & see other people once a week! We spent the rest of the day in our apartment doing studies & all that stuff!

Friday: we had a meeting with all the trainers & new missionaries that we did over zoom call so that helped to break up our day! It felt good to see people even if it was just over the phone 😂 we also did lots of facebook finding & its actually kinda fun!!

Saturday: ok staying inside really got to me this day i felt like i was going insane but i didnt so dont worry!! We went on a walk & that kept me mentally there. But wow ya Saturday was long!

Sunday: the Kucks (hes the 1st councelor in the misison presidency) came & brought us lots of food & gave us the sacrament! It was soooo good to see them & they definitely uplifted our spirits!! Yay for the sabbath!! then we went & drove around for a little break from being inside! In the evening we went on a walk & yes thats my new favorite thing!! Being able ro get outside is a HUGE blessing!! Sunday was a much better day!!

Missionary work is still continuing & im just thankful i dont have corona! Hahaha this week has been an adjustment and a totally different way of doing missionary work but i am still so thankful to be a missionary and to be able to serve my savior.

Corona

 Yay for another good week!! Dont worry Corona hasnt hit the mission field yet so we are good! :) i got to see lots of missionaries this week so lets say success! Haha

Tuesday: wow this day was so full of lessons!! We had 4 lessons in 1 day! Yay!!! We met with Olen who is a JW who randomly decided to read the verse in revelations 20 (i think) that talks about how we will be judged by two books but had a totally different interpretation of this verse. He shared his thoughts and we shared ours back & he says "oh ya i guess that makes more sense." YAY!! Hopefully we can keep teaching truths that will keep clicking with him. We then met with Mark who had his friend Eve living with him so we were able to teach both of them!! We got to know both of them real well & ended up talking about prayer. Eve was very concerned with why God wasnt answering her but we were able to share our own experiences & it seemed to help. Ahhh im excited for them!! Then we met with Harry!! Ok so Harry had a friend in High School who was a member that told him some crazy things. HA. Like mormons have to buy their food 20 yrs in advance & they arent allowed to drige cars thats why theres always the boys with the white shirts on bikes (missionaries) HA! Tbh i love hearing all these things because they give me a good laugh! Harry really is interested though. He asked about the trinity & we explained our beliefs and talked about Jesus's Baptism and he loved it. He said he always thought it was confusing that they were considered to be one. Its really so cool when you teach someone and you watch the lightbulb go off in their head & they connect the dots! Yes its the best feeling!!

Wednesday: we taught Darlene but she talks a ton so we basically heard her life story! (Typical Blairsville) HA. It was good getting to know her though so we have a relationship before we start teaching :) we also met with Sister Flowers. Ok if yall dont know yet... her & Teresa are my people!!! I LOVE THEM!! So ya it was real good to see & visit with Sis Flowers!!

Thursday: Zone Conference!!! This was probably one of my favorite zone conferences on the misison because all of my past companions were there!!! (Except sis collins cuz shes home) It was soooo fun to be able to talk to all of them and catch up!! The only way to communicate with other missionaries is by letter or in person & everything is better in person so this was just amazing!! Sister Marsh talked about loving ourselves & had us all think of 3 attributes that we had as a kid that we are proud of. It was cool because those attributes that a lot of us picked are actually a lot of the time still present in us today. LOVE YOURSELF!!

Friday: we had exchanges!! I think this was my fav exchange! I stayed in Blairsville & a Sister thats been out for as long as me came here but i didnt know her all that well. I learned sooo much from her & she is a great missionary! Being a trainer you kinda get stuck in your ways so it was really great to see someone else do missonary work & learn from them!! Ahhh exchanges are the best!!

Saturday: we had district council & i gave a training on being courageous. A quote that i found that i love was "Discouragement doesnt come from lack of adequacy but by the lack of courage." (Idk where i found it, whoops) i love this because if we have full trust in God & are courageous enough to do what he asks we will not be discouraged because through him anything is possible!! Nephi didnt hesitate when God asked him to do hard things he was courageous and trusted that God would follow through with what he asked him to do. HAVE COURAGE!

Sunday: this sunday felt very strange as a missonary. Missiong church as a missionary just doesnt go with the plans. Hahaha but we were able to partake of the scarmanrt!! We went to the church with the branch president & 3 other members who performed the ordinance for us. It made me realize even more how important it is to partake of the sacrament & renew our covenants. All of these members all around the world are going out of their way to help others partake of the sacrament. Its truly incredible & a great testimony builder.

I love being a missionary even through these crazy times! I know God is aware of all his children & we need to trust in him & his timing!! Not much has changed with the work other than no church so here we are continuing to bring people to Christ! Yay!! Love yall & dont get corona!!
Xoxo, Sister Barton

Hello everyone!!

 

Yay for another week! My heart is full of happiness & im not 100 percent sure why but lets blame it on the womderful sunshine in Georgia!! Yay its supposed to hit 70 this next week! Wooo

Tuesday: it was a little bit of a rough start. We had a lesson with a referral that lives 45 minutes away & we confirmed the appointment but drove there and she wasnt home. So that took 2 hrs of our day HA. In the evening we traveled down to Roswell for the temple trip on wednesday so that was fun!

Wednesday: Temple Trip!!! Wow this day was sooooo good! I love the temple!!! We were able to do emdowments & sealings! I had never done sealings before so that was pretty cool! Also we saw some members from the Murphy branch there & they took us to Red Lobster after so that was a bonus!! We also went to a come follow me class in the evening with all the missionaries in our district!! Yay i love seeing other missionaries!!

Thursday: we had interview's with President and Sister Marsh. Ahhhh they are the best. President Marsh & i talked alot about the atonement and how if we make more specific and qualifiable goals we will better be able to access the atonement in our life. This is something i have been working on. I love my savior & want him to be apart of every aspect of my life. He has felt everything we feel and loves each of us perfectly so who better to go to for guidance & help? No one!! Haha Interviews always take a while so that was the majority of our day!

Friday: friday was pretty slow. Our phone stopped working & we had no way to call our friends HA the only people we could call were other missionaries. So weird. We were able to meet with a less active though & we talked about prayer with her. The power of prayer is so incredible. Through prayer really anything is possible if we can be humble enough to just ask. There are so many basic things that i have taken for granted like praying. We are so lucky to know how to communicate with Heavenly Father. So many blessings await for us if we will just be humble and ask!

Saturday: we met with Bessy & talked about baptism. Hopefully she will be able to understand the need to be baptized again soon because its not really clicking hahah. After Bessy we went and stopped by all the people we found to teach last week. We were able to talk with 4 of them!! It was awesome!! One of them was even outside when we pulled up!! Gods timing is so good!! We were able to teach one lesson and then set return appointments with the others! Its so great when people want to talk to us! Even if there not all interested & their just being polite because its the spirit that teaches so if we can have the spirit with us when we teach they will just want us back and back!! Yay!

Sunday: we met with our friend Valarie the less active again! Shes so funny & wants us to set her up with a husband HAHA. After we had a full day of tracting but it was good! Tracting is actually one of the best things because you never know whos going to be behind the door. It can be someone sooo nice or soooo mean. Its just an adventure but its fun meeting all types of people!!

Blairsvile is good, im good, & the mission is good. This week i was asked why i came on a mission and whats keeping me on a mission. I don't think theres even words to answer this question. I LOVE being a missionary!!!! To have others notice me as a representative of Jesus Christ is truly a privilege.( I LOVE MY NAME TAG ❤) There is so much joy from doing the Lords work & i never knew i could love people so much after meeting them for .045729 seconds. If i could i would be a missionary forever! (& thats coming from someone who didnt ever want to be a missionary.😂) i want to challenge all yall to find a way to align your will to do the Lords work more fully. If its by reading the scriptures and gaining more knowledge so you can be better prepared to answer a question a friend might have in the future, or finding time to go to the temple to do an ansestors work, or maybe looking for a way to serve to be that light that someone might be looking for. There is so much work to be done and so many ways to do it. Lets all participate and feel the everlasting joy it brings!! I love yall & would love to hear how this goes if yall take on my challenge so feel free to email me :)

Everyone pray out load

Another week in the life of Sister Barton as a missionary!!

Monday: zone p-day and as yall know i love those kind of things!! Being able to see old companions & mission friends is the best!!

Tuesday: we met with Minnie!! Minnie is hilarious she always tells funny stories & definitely gets off topic but its so funny so its ok! We taught her the beginning of the restoration but didnt get through even half of it because she had so many side stories hahaha
We found two new people to teach too so that was good! We also got some ice cream for the newbie because missions can be hard. If any of yall got any tips for transitioning hmu!

Wednesday: we met with Shirley who used to be a member but is now a Jehovah Witness. We were able to talk about the restorarion and she actually seemed really interested to learn about it again!! We hope to continue to help her feel the spirit so she can come back to church!
We also met with Valarie who is a less active with lots of health issues. She is eo funny and basically our whole "lesson" was about trying to find her a husband! We meet the funniest people here in Blairsville & honestly thats whats keeping me sane hahahaha

Thursday: we met with Bessy!! Bessy is honeslty the cutest lady!! Shes real old & real small & has real health issues. She is just so dang cute though! She has so much faith in christ and is always wanting to come closer to him! We have taught her everything more than once but she still thinks her baptism was valid soooo ya were still working on that.
Then we met with Luke!! Luke is a cool guy!! He believes in the book of mormon and knows its true but we can't get him to come to church because hes scared he will feel out of place. We are working with him though!!

Friday: it snowed again in georgia & was real cooled so it was kinda a bummer day. Our appointments fell through & we felt kinda discouraged until.... sister flowers texted us and wanted us to come for dinner with her and Teresa!!! Yes the Teresa from my emails back a while ago!! We went over had dinner & Teresa told us how she has felt so strongly that she needs to find things to help her come closer to christ because she needs to find peace. I told her a way i find peace is through praying but not just in my head but out loud. Its a way that helps me feel like God is even more aware of me. She really liked that idea said she will try it.

Saturday: we went to a baptism in Murphy North Carolina with Sister Flowers and Teresa! When we got there Teresa was so excited to tell us about this amazing thing that happened. She told us with tears in her eyes that she tried praying out load and she got this feeling of peace that she hasnt felt in over 15 month. It was amazing to see that God really is aware of all of us. The baptism started and Teresa just kept crying. She said she felt so much peace and knows this is where she needs to be. Aweee it was so incredible!! Yay the gospel changes lives!!

Sunday: we had church YAY! Then we got to go with the elders to take the sacrament to Valarie so that was fun! The rest of our day was full of tracting with not much success but the sunshine was out and it felt like spring so im not complaining!

I am so thankful to be a missionary. Ive said it once and ill probably say it 2572927 more times but MISSION LIFE IS THE BEST!! To see the gospel change lives right before my eyes has been incredible!! I would trade the experiences ive had for anything and i hold them so close to my heart. I love representing my savior everyday and im so grateful i still have 9 more months yay!!

I want to invite yall to look for christs hand in one thing this week because he will always be there we just need to look. I LOVE YALL!

- Sister Barton