Hello everyone! Just me again!

 Another week in quarantine!!

Tuesday: we had district council IN PERSON! WOO! it was so fun! I had never actually met any of the missionaries in my district before so that was CRAZY! It was so fun tho & i met lots of new friends so woo! After District Council we made treats for the sisters in our zone & spent the day visiting them!! It was so good to talk to others sisters & talk to more people that relate! A lot of the sisters are reassigned & they have some CRAZY stories about going home & everything so that was interesting! It was such a good day tho!

Wednesday: we had a lesson over the phone with a less active & that was fun! We got told we can only find new people to teach by posting & hoping people comment so we can reply & start talking to them. This has been a big challenge & not what i think is the most effective way but obedience brings blessings. Right? Hahaha were still working on the best & most effective ways to do missionary work online.

Thursday: we finished our cookie deliveries to the sisters & had a zone activity! We all got on a zoom call & played kahoot! It was kinda fun hahaha

Friday: we spent the majority of the day heart attacking members! We really are doing what we can to stay occupied. In the evening we had a lesson with a recent convert & remember i havent taught an actual lesson for over 2 months now. Sister Steven's & I literally felt like we were in training all over again. It was awful. I felt like a terrible missionary & really felt like I had no purpose out here. Sister Stevens whose been out for 15 months & me whose been out for 12 & we cant even teach the first lesson. Yes it was a mess. I wanted nothing more than to be home that night. I felt soooo useless & that i really was doing NOTHING out here.

Saturday: in my personal study I was reading in Preach My Gospel & I read a line that said "if you feel the spirit working through you, you will know the Lord is pleased with what you're doing." I immediately thought about that lesson & remembered how I did feel the spirit & even tho it was a disaster the Lord was still pleased with me. This line helped me feel sooo much more content about what happened & that I really did have a purpose for being a missionary during quarantine. I know it wasnt a coincidence I read that when I need it the most! GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS! Saturday was just a good day all around! We planned more with the elders & had another zone activity where we played pictionary over zoom! So fun! & we even had a bonfire at the church!! Ohhh so good!! Sometimes tho I feel like im not a missionary im just with 3 roommates where were are all losers & do nothing. HAHA but this is where God wants me so ill take it!

Sunday: we had a ward activity where all the members drove through the parking lot & we were standing outside with the bishopric & got to wave & say hi to everyone!! It was so cute!! The members here are great!! Also later that day a missionary who used to serve here came & knocked on our door!! It was sooo fun!! She went home a transfer after I came in & stopped by with her husband! We talked with them for about 45 minutes & wow it was sooooo good & soooo fun to see an unexpected familiar face!! Ws also had a zoom call where President Marsh went over Yellow Pad Prayer & thats always good! Yayay a great end to the week!

I am so grateful to be a missionary & for everything im learning during this time. Its definitely not easy & some days are much better than others. But i know heavenly father is aware of me & my feelings & i know he is aware of each of you!! When you ever feel lonely, PRAY! It works! Trust me! Prayer is one of the best ways to feel closer to God & find comfort! Yes i LOVE prayer! Love yall & have a great week!!
Xoxo, Sister Barton

1 YEAR!!

 NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY!!

This week was one of the greatest weeks of the mission!!

Monday: p day was eventful! We spent it with our district but the elders got a call to pick up a new missionary in the middle of pday so ya that was funny! We played lots of games tho & it was real fun!! Monday night we got transfer calls!!! Ahhhh so scary but so good!! President Marsh is putting Elders in Blairsville so we all left the area!! CRAZY!! Tbh i love Blairsville sooo much it breaks my entire heart to leave but i guess my new area needs me! Right?

Tuesday: we packed & cleaned all day to get our apartment ready for elders! Crazy! It didnt seem real that i was actually leaving Blairsville! In the evening we had institute over zoom call so we got to say bye to the Branch & ohhh that was so good!! I LOVE THEM!!

Wednesday: we packed all of our stuff in our rav 4 & off we were!! Yes 3 missionaries stuff in 1 car!! It was incredible!! Because of Corona we werent able to have a transfer meeting so we arranged how we were all going to get transfered ourselves! Ya crazy! We met a lot of missionaries at a church building & off we went. It was sooo fun to see people again!! It was one of the sisters birthday & we went to the first councilor in the misison presidents house & made dinner with some sisters!! It was the best day of quarantine yet!!

Thursday: First day in my new area!! Its called Winder & its so cute! There was a huge increase of missionaries in our mission & my companion & I are over 16 sisters! Yay! Im so excited tho! We live with two other sisters who were both serving in Brazil before & lets just say i couldnt be more grateful for this change & the sisters im serving with! We did lots of planning with the elders & i unpacked my 158397 pound suitcases & then we went to the store! So it was a pretty chill & good day!!

Friday: 1 YEAR MARK!! Yay! Im not sure where the time went but somehow it went without me! I feel as if i have been serving for maybe 5ish months??!?! Its absolutely crazy to think ive been here for 1 year! WHATTT! i couldnt be more grateful for this past year. I have been so blessed by the opportunity to serve & i wish i could be a missionary forever!!

Saturday: we did lots of facebook finding!! Facebook has been way more successful here than in Blairsville because people actually use it! I am really excited to be able to find people again! The work will always continue!

Sunday: we went to a members home for the sacrament! The members here our soooo sweet! We have 3 sets of missionaries serving in only 1 ward & they care for each companionship like family! Its so cute!

Im very grateful for change & the opportunity we have to keep progressing!! I am so excited to be serving in Winder & for all the relationships i will be able to make here! I love serving my Savior!!

Xoxo, Sister Barton 

Yay for Change!!

 This week was ohhh soooo good!!

Tuesday: the Murphy Sisters came over & we made more videos!! It was fun & we all knew we were getting more missionaries but no one had recieved a call yet so it was a day full of suspense!! We went to bed tuesday night & got woken up by a phone call telling us we are getting a new missionary & that we need to be at the airport at 3pm! Ohhhh i was SO excited!! I didnt go back to sleep for two hours because i was anticipating all the good things with this new missionary!! Yes wowza this change was definitely an answer to Sister Bartons prayers!!

Wednesday: we woke up & rearranged the apartment so our new missionary would feel welcomed!!! We then drove to the airport & i got to drive right through Atlanta!! It was so cool!! We picked up our new missionary Sister Olson & then headed back to Blairsville!! It was a long day in the car but SO worth it!! Sister Olson is so fun & so ready to be back in the mission field!! She served in South Korea before but now we get her! Yay!! Shes also half korean so thats cool!!

Thursday: we had district council in person for the first time in what feels like 57385 years!! It was SO good!! I gave a training on obedience!! I LOVE obedience! I think its easy to see obedience as rules or limitations or basically not being able to have "fun". But when we truly understand obedeince we learn that is soooo not true!! I have strived to be obedient & let me tell ya... ive never had more fun & loved life so much!! God asks us to be obedient so we can learn, grow, become responsible, & be safe!! Being a missionary I have been able to see the blessings that come when we are obedient with exactness. Obviously we arent going to be perfect but if we strive everyday to be better than we were yesterday thats what matters! God blesses all his children but there are so many more unique & individual blessings when we do what he asks of us. A quote that I LOVE in our missionary handbook says "God loves you. Choose to keep the commandments because you love God." This hits me so hard every time i read it. Being obedient is one of the best ways we can show our love for God & that we really do appreciate all that He & His son Jesus Christ have done & continue to do for us. I would do ANYTHING to show my gratitude. I want to invite y'all to find something you can be more obedient on & focus on achieving it everyday this week! Yay obedience is awesome!!

Friday: we went to a members home because the church wifi doesnt work & we cant do much without wifi so now we get to be with members! Hahaha it was good to see people & they even sent us home with sooooo much food!! Hahah so much for 7 months to sexy hahaha! We also had a zoom call with John Bytheway!! He talked about how we need to have our routine in life so when distractions & temptations come we already know our priorities & whats most important. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission so I can create habits to set the pace for the rest of my life!! He also talked about having your own mission statement & how patriarchal blessings can help us to know what MY purpose is. We know everyones purpose is to learn & grow & become more like our Heavenly Father what exactly is it that God wants ME to do? I have thought about this a lot & think patriarchal blessings are so important!! We are able to have such specific blessings from God & we can learn so much about our pure selves! I learned so much from John Bytheway & im so thankful for technology to still be able to have amazing experiences like these!

Saturday: we laughed sooo much!! Ive laughed the most this week than i have the past 2 transfers & i am sooo grateful for that! Sister Olson has brought so much life to our companionship & ohhhh im so blessed!! We found a book in our apartment that has a bunch of personalities & we all picked the one that was like us & learned sooo much about each other!! It was soo fun & i mean whats better than getting to know your comps when you're in quarantine??

Sunday: Mothers Day!! We went to a members home to have the sacrament & call our MOMS!! I am SO blessed to have the mom that I do. Aweee my mom is soooo cute, strong, selfless, understanding, dedicated, funny, motivated, loving, pure, & christ-like! She is the best example to me of everything I hope to be. If I could bring anyone on my mission it would be her!! Ive missed her sooo much & it will be the best reunion in 7 months! Shes the best & the most incredible human being!! Love you tons mom!! 💗

This week got better & better everyday!! God is so aware of us & what we need & when we need it!! Missions are the best!! Ive learned so much & cant wait to learn even more!! Yay for still having 7 months wooo!!

Quarantine Day 46 woooo

 Another week another year! Same thing hahaha made it all the way to 46 days in the apartment!! Yay!!

Tuesday: the Murphy Sisters came here & we "tried" making a video HAHA props to jens for being a videographer because we had no idea how to do anything... even film it, let alone put it together. Ya it was bad. We had good laughs though & we just keep trying new ideas for ways to share the gospel!

Wednesday: we both met with the mission therapist & she thinks ive almost graduated from that so woooo lifes getting better #1moreweek
We had a lesson with a family in the branch & talked about service & how we can show our love to others by serving them! We've done more service to our members lately because when you can't see people you still gotta find ways to show your love!! Lots of doors have been heart attacked haha

Thursday: we went to Murphy North Carolina & spent all day trying to put our video together! It was a long day & hurt my brain but its so fun to be with other missionaries. I am soooo grateful for that!!

Friday: honestly this day was a disaster hahaha lots of things didnt work out as i would've wanted but i just keep reminding myself i cant control everything! Wooo i am definitely learnin lots!

Saturday: we planned during the day & had sisters night in the evening where I taught everyone how to braid over video call hahah!! It was hilarious & no one could understand! Ohhh the little things we take for granted! We also had a mission wide zoom call where President Marsh told us we are getting 100 reassigned missionaries!! Crazyyy!! We got a new bed delivered to our apartment & we already have an extra so were probably getting 2 more missionaries!! Ahh im so excited! I get so excited for change but also dont like it because what if its actually worse hahah but as long as i trust in God itll all workout. Right? The mission continues to amaze me everyday!

Sunday: our branch President gave us the sacrament & then we had our zoom call where we teach how to memorize the Book of Mormon! It was a pretty slow day but also a good day!

I love being a missionary & have felt the spirit many times this week confirm to me that I am exactly where I need to be & that my Heavenly Father & Savior are aware. I have felt so much more content & as if there really is light at the end of the tunnel!! I am so grateful to represent my savior & be learning so many life lessons!!

I love y'all & stay sane for me during these crazy times!
Xoxo, Sister Barton