I Really do Love Being a Missionary ........

Week # 14

HI FAMILY!!!!! I hope you know how much I miss you all! I show you off to everyone I meet. They all tell me how beautiful my family is and of course I have to agree! Who wouldn't!!! The costumes are...AWESOME!!!! I am seriously so proud of you all. Now for my claim to fame…Halloween here is like a long lost tale. They know what it is, but that's about it. Basically, Hermana Walker and I had this brilliant idea to throw a party for the three wards in Valencia. It's been sooo stressful! but so much fun! The party is this Wednesday and we are super excited about it. I'm a little nervous, but all of the other missionaries have been super helpful so slowly everything is coming together. The only problem now is that I don't know how to speak Halloween words in Spanish...so that's what I'm doing today and tomorrow! haha. I will send pictures of costumes because I bet they are going to be interesting. Pray for us hahah. 

Congrats Court on your solo!! The locotorio I am in this time doesn't have headphones so I can't listen, but I will try next week!! I really am so proud of you though, good work! I brag about how amazing my family is all the time! I really do have the best family ever. Speaking of family, there are a lot of families who have "adopted" Hermana Walker and me into their families. Mama Africa, I'm pretty sure her name gives her away, is the best. She feeds us all the time and gives us a million besitos (little kisses) every time we see her. I am going to get a picture with her this week for all of you! 

Sorry this email is going to be a little sporadic. I have a lot of different things to talk about so hope you don't mind my crazy mind. I FINALLY had paella this last week. It was really good until I found out what was in it….I was more than half way done eating it and not thinking anything of it when an Elder leaned over and said, "you know what's in that? It's chicken heart!!!!" I was so grossed out! I looked close and you really good see every artery and vein in the heart! It was great haha. Hermana Walker and I have a motto about the food, "Eat now and ask when it's finished". I'm still not sure what exactly I eat, but its amazing how much I can eat now and how much my taste buds have turned off for me during my mission haha. A blessing from above I would say.

I'm glad everyone enjoyed my pepper spray story…I hope you included the picture as well! It's not the same story without it! haha. Nothing like that happened this week so I don't have any good stories for you this time. The work really is dead, but Hermana Walker and I cry laughing every day. We are having a blast. We realized that this transfer may really just be about finding and making bonds with menos actives (less active members). I am learning a lot about myself and about patience that I never knew I had. I also realized every day that no matter what, we see miracles. Today we went to a burger place for lunch. There wasn't anyone else in there, so the waiter talked to us for a little bit. When we walked in he said, "hello misioneras". We came to find out that his family are members and he has been to the church before! We invited him this Sunday and he said he would pass by. It was a little miracle that we see every day during this hard work. 

I really do love being a missionary. Every day I miss family and friends and America in general, but I would never quit because it´s hard. This really has been one of the best experiences of my life. Speaking of missionary work, Rosemary is doing well. She can't afford to move out, and there are difficulties in getting married, but she has gotten her own bed in a different room, and she reads and prays all the time. She is a very special woman, and I have no doubt in my mind that she will someday be baptized. I may not be here to see the day, but I know that day will come. Thank you for all your prayers for me and for my investigators. It really does mean a lot to me. 

I am starting another letter home for you all, but it might not be for a week or two. I need more to write about. I'm glad you enjoy them though, becuase they are much easier for me than email to write details. Also, i heard through other missionaries that packages at christmas can take up to two months...just a heads up if you were going to plan on sending anything to that special someone in Spain :) maybe something like fruity pebbles....or reeses cups...or american food haha. 

well I love you and miss you all. I seriously LOVE the pictures so keep them coming. I will send more soon. It's hard sometimes because some of the locotorios are a little on the ghetto side and cameras don't connect to the computer.  Be safe and keep praying and know that I am using my special missionary powers (and yes thats totally a real thing!) to pray for all of you at home as well!

Con todo mi amor

hermana barker

There are Always Miracles Around Us ......

Week #13

Wow, so where to start! It sounds like you all are having a good time in Danville. That's awesome that you saw Kayla! How is she doing? Also that's great for Steve and Molly! It seems like she's been pregnant forever! Ha! I am glad everyone is doing well. Like I said, Court looked amazing at homecoming! Did she have fun?  I am so proud of her getting a solo at the concert choir! Let me know how it goes! (even though I know she will be great!)

 Tell Grandma Bev I miss her and I love her and I hope she is doing well. Wish I could be there for her visit! Also I heard Kelli is in Hawaii..she's so spoiled :) haha. I miss Tay and Kendal! How is everything at SR?

Tay buenas suerte with the PSAT and all that...worst time ever, but I know you're going to do great so I'm not worried!

I'm glad to hear I can make Bishop Orgill laugh...just wait for my story this week. He'd better laugh!  Things are still hard here becuase there is nothing! We search and talk every day. I know things are waiting for me though...and I'm in SPAIN!

                                                                       (Segunt Castle)

 I gotta be positive about that! I can't complain. The Spanish is coming along and the members are amazing! I am making friends left and right and people are laughing and joking with me now.

 Speaking of which, I had to give a talk on Sunday!!! I was a little nervous, but it was so good. I felt confident and I even threw in a few jokes for you dad! They always joke about Utah being the fabrica of the church so of course I had to throw that in there. I dont think I'm as funny in Spanish as I am in English, but I'm pretty funny :) hahaha just kidding. It was fun though and it was a good first experience with a Spanish talk.

So as for mission slang...when a cita fires it means that we go to our citas (appointments) but no one is there or they call like five minutes before and cancel on us. That's the worst because our area is pretty far (45 minutes bus ride from where they live) so we travel and then have nothing to do. We have been doing a lot of contacting of old investigators and a lot of finding new investigators. It is fun though, becuase we get to see places and meet people. 

One thing I have learned while I have been out is that no matter what happens, there are always miracles around us. We have seen miracle after miracle every day. It may not be our miracle, but we are witnesses to miracles every day. We have so many members who are willing to help, and we are having fun doing the work of the Lord. Nothing is better than that! The greatest reward is just to see a smile on someone's face. We have been doing a lot of work with Sara. She is the girl who is anorexic. She has now gained 4 pounds. It may not sound like a lot, but for her that is huge. Also, she just told us that she wants to try to return to her mission that she previously had to leave because of her health. We are helping her every day to one day be healthy enough to return. Her smile is one thing that keeps me going. I know I am helping and that is exactly why I am here. 

As for the story this week that goes with those pictures....so don't be mad at me ok mom? You all know that I am a curious person. If I don´t know what something is, I will find out. So we were all in the office the other night and Hermana Walker was in the shower. She had that little silver thing sitting on her desk. We were curious as to what it was so I was looking at it.

The next thing I know I find a little button. I pushed the button and.....PEPPER SPRAY CAME OUT!!! in a matter of 3 seconds I was at the sink with water on full blast. I couldn't breath or swallow or see at all for like 10 minutes. Finally when i could open my eyes I thought I was going to throw up so I ran to the bathroom.  Basically the burn and the swollen redness lasted for about an hour. We definitely didn't get to bed in time that night haha. In the midst of all this as well, I turned to one of my roommates and asked if she would get my camera. She looked at me bewildered and said, "How can you be thinking about a camera at a time like this?"

It was hilarious. Don't worry I'm ok now. None of the elders were surprised that it was me that it happened to. It definitely is a story I am going to remember. Also, we had to open all the windows in our apartment because everyone was coughing. I always have to make a scene where I go and that's how I decided to do it here! And let me tell you something...pepper spray hurts more than anything I have ever experienced in my entire life. 

 Well other than that the days are pretty much the same. It's still really hot down here. The people are nice but not really interested. Hermana Walker and I are having fun though and so that's good. The ward loves us and calls us the twins. I hope all is well at home. I love and miss you all so much and I hope all is well with the ward. Oh and Kel...feel free to add friends on facebook that are from Spain so they can access my Facebook. Thank you you're the best!!!!!

                                                         Les amo un montón!!!!!

                                                               Hermana Barker

Eating Peeps from my Halloween Care Package

Our Room - Sorry Mom

Flower Center

Fish Market - YUM!

Hamster Balls on Pday - Fun!

 

Train station in Xativa

Mini Golf - Impossible to win

the Lord is trusting us and we need to trust in Him as well....

Week # 12

TRANSFERS!

I am so sorry I forgot to tell you all that I don't email until Tuesday during transfer week.  Don't worry, I'm safe and happy still! Tay looks BEAUTIFUL as always! I'm so sad I missed her first dance! Did Court go to hers? (Rachel is referring to Homecoming.  Taylor and Courtney are at different high schools so their dances are on different nights).  I'm so glad to hear everyone is well and safe. I pray for you all every night one by one. I show your picture off to everyone I can because my family is just the most beautiful thing ever!  Tell everyone thank you so much for the love and support. It's amazing to know that people are cheering me on both in this world and in the spirit world. I know I have angels watching out for me everywhere I go. D&C 84:88 its my favorite! And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face.  I will be on your right and and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.

I teared up when I read that josh is doing so well! He is an amazing missionary and I had no doubt that he was going to tear up Pennsylvania! The Barker missionaries are doing work around the world! I love it! 

As for me it's the same old stuff. Citas fire (appointments cancel) every day and we are still eating A TON! No weight gain yet, but I definitely am losing all my muscle. I work out every morning and Hermana Walker calls me her personal trainer. It's awesome. As for transfers...it's a crazy time right now trying to figure things out. Hermana Tuttle got transferred to Barcelona so Hermana Walker is now my trainer until I am done with training in 6 weeks. It's a little scary because both of our Spanish is at the same level so we are definitely going to have to push ourselves. Sometimes neither of us understand so we just laugh. I'm excited though because it shows that the Lord is trusting us and we  need to trust in Him as well. It's going to be a hard, but so rewarding transfer. I know many miracles are in my path right now and I am going to do all I can to find those miracles along the way. 

A couple things I haven't written about yet about Spain:

-there's no carpet...ANYWHERE! I hate it. I never thought I would miss carpet but I definitely do. our piso is always dusty and dirty because the dust has no where to go. 

-this last transfer we had three beds in one room which was crazy. I took a picture but the computer I am on isn't working to upload pics so I'll send them as soon as I can

-we eat a ton of rice...and other unknown meats. I haven't eaten anything that was really gross...yet!

-this next transfer there are going to be 6 girls in our piso until they find a piso for the new sisters. We are getting 2 new Hermanas for ward 3 and they don't' have a piso yet...6 girls should be interesting for sure

-last thing, the men in Spain have no shame...it makes things a little awkward but we never have a dull moment haha

As for the serious stuff. We have citas fire every day. What I have come to realize though, is that no matter how many times our citas fire, we always see a miracle out of it. We either find people on the street who we wouldn't have talked to otherwise, or we meet with a member family and find out that its exactly what they needed that night. A mission really has made me open my eyes to the miracles all around us. I never realized how much I took for granted before this. I have never been so grateful for my family and friends and the church.  I have never been so open to seeing the Lords hand in our lives. I could never do this without His hand every day. There are times when I know I shouldn't understand what is being said because I don´t know the words, but I somehow understand everything. I know that is only possible through the Lord. 

Also, if you all could keep praying for Rosemary that would be amazing. She is so ready, she just needs a little push. You are all in my heart and prayers all the time.

Also, mom I got both packages! Thank you so much!!!! My companions were like, your moms the cutest! I just nodded and said of course she is! Where do you think I get it from? :) haha love you all with all my heart! I will send pictures as soon as possible. I'm sorry if I didn't email everyone back this week. We don't have the full time to email this week because of transfers but I appreciate every email! They mean the world to me. 

With all my love from Valencia!

Hermana Barker

OH ps: if you send packages, they have to say Hermana RACHEL Barker so that I can prove It's me. I know it's weird but just future references! LOVE YOU ALL UN MONTÓN!!!!!

"Doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith" - President Uchtdorf

Week #11
Mi familia bonita!!!

I just want to start off by saying that every day I am gone I miss you all more and more! I cannot believe it is October! It's crazy! The time is honestly the weirdest thing on a mission. It's slow and fast and both at the same time. I don't even know! haha. I hear being in Valencia for Christmas is supposed to be the best because the members spoil you so hopefully I wont get transferred right before Christmas. 

Letters are getting here. I want to send a shout out to grandma Daisy and grandpa Bob, aunt Michelle and uncle Mike and Robbie, for the letters! They got here this week because they were in the mission home so I had to wait for my companion to go up to Barcelona to get them. but I got them all so don't worry! I hope I will be able to get your package next week from the mission home during transfers but it just depends on if someone is coming down here from Barcelona. If not I will have to wait until we have interviews with President at the end of the month. Mail is safe to send to this address in Valencia though so don't worry. We don't live in the ghetto we just teach in the ghetto! haha. 

So a little about this week. The work as literally stopped....talk about a slow week! We had a baptism with Rosemary scheduled for Saturday but things happened between her and her novio (boyfriend) so we had to postpone it. They are going through a lot so if you could keep Rosemary in your prayers for me that would be awesome. We did find some potential investigators this week though. The Bishop is pushing to get the members to start helping in the work. So a young woman, one of three in our ward, invited  a friend to FHE (Family Home Evening) with us. The friend is named Viviana and she is the cutest! She is 16 and she came to English class and to a session of General Conference! We asked if she was interested in learning more and she said that she loved how she felt in the church and loved the people of the church so we have a cita with her this week! Also, she has leukemia so she said she wants to find hope. It was so sweet and truly a blessing in our lives. It really is true that after the trial of our faith comes blessings. 

Also this week I finally ate paella! it was really good...until one of the elders told me that the little meat ball was a chicken heart. It was rice and chicken hearts! Let me tell you about chicken hearts. They are really chewy. ha but not bad! I am learning every day that you eat and then ask. If  I ask first then its really hard to force food down. I'm getting really good at eating without tasting. it's quite the talent if you ask me! We have eating citas with two American families this week so I am so excited! America really is the best! haha I am slowly starting to realize how spoiled I am. Not just in material things, but in growing up in the home I did. There are so many situations here that just break my heart. The children raise themselves. No one is married so the family unit doesn't really exist. It is so sad, but is such an eye opener for me. 

  

The members are starting to be my friends. They all laugh at me and my Spanish but they all talk to me now and its awesome! They call me and Hermana Walker twins and Hermana Tuttle is our mom. It's so fun.

I LOVED conference. It is crazy how different conference is when I am actually awake and paying attention. Believe it or not I actually learned things! As always my favorite was Elder Holland. Because I have been trying to learn how to help Sara with anorexia, it was perfect to hear about people with sickness. Also, I loved Elder Christoffersons' talk about women. I just want to thank all the women in my life. All my grandmas and mom and Kelli and Tay and Court and all the other women who have been in my life.  You all are great examples of strong women. Thank you for showing me what I want in my future family. I really am a better woman because I have seen what great women are made of.

Love you dad. I have never been so grateful than I am right now to be raised in a strong family home. You and mom really do so much for us and you have taught me what being a family really does mean. Just know that even when I have attitude and sass, I really am learning. (also I learned those from you too so I did learn something!) You are a great example to me and to all the youth of the ward. Thank you for everything!

Enough with the gushy stuff... one thing for uncle Mike. So there is an Elder Parker Shumway in my zone and he had you as a teacher in middle school. He doubts you'll remember who he is but I told him you were a smart guy...so hopefully you remember! 

I hope Clay and Jai are doing well! Tell them hello for me! Im glad people enjoy my blog, I try to keep my personality in it so its not too boring! haha

Also, what is happening with Miranda Koutz?? I haven't heard anything!  Does she have an email or anything? That would be awesome!

This is my quote of the week. A friend who just got home from his mission sent it to me! ¨Being happy is a CHOICE, so be HAPPY!¨ -Brandon Morris ( just in case he reads this he deserves a shout out!)

Love you all with all my heart! I think about and pray about you all every day! Pray always and love the Lord with all your heart. "Doubt your doubts, before you doubt your faith" -President Uchtdorf.

nos vemos en 16 meses!!!

con amor

hermana barker

ps next week i will send pictures!

We see miracles everyday and I wouldn't change the hard times.....

Week #10
(Rachels email to Heidi)
Mama' I miss you and family as well...obviously!

So Sister Mardell is the cutest! (I am on a missionary moms page and I met Megan Mardell on that site.  She said she was currently living in Valencia, so I emailed her about Rachel.)  The first thing she said was that she talked to you! She also had to take a picture to send to  you so you should be getting that soon I hope. It's so nice to be in an American home! We had pancakes! I don't even love pancakes but it was the best meal in the entire world!!!  We had real syrup too! That's a rarity. She's awesome though. Brother Mardell  is working at the university in Valencia. He is a professor so they travel a lot. He supervises or something like that. I'm not exactly sure. I'm so glad you're on that site though. it sounds like its awesome!

Megan Mardells response to my email about Rachel serving in Valencia:

September 24th, 2013

Hi Heidi,
We met Hermana Barker last Sunday at church. She is coming to comida/lunch this Saturday and we are so excited to get to know her better. They are actually serving in another ward, but attend our ward often if they can get investigators to attend then with them. We don't have a set of Hermanas in our ward so we are delighted to spend time with those from the other wards. I think they are serving in the 1st ward and we are in the 3rd ward. I will tell her I met you on MMs. The Hermanas are working hard and we love them!

 Megan Wardell
Valencia, Spain
MM to Elder Justin Wardell
AZ, Tucson Mission, 7/2012 to 7/2014

Megan Mardells email to me this week about her cita (lunch appointment) with Hermana Barker: 
September 28th, 2013

Dear Heidi,
We really enjoyed having Hermana Barker and her companions for lunch today. They are all delightful. It was really great to get to know Hermana Barker a little better. They are working hard and had appointments this afternoon after we ate. They left us with a message from Mosiah in the Book of Mormon. They said all we have to do is believe in Christ and then if we believe we will do the things that we believe in. We talked about how simple it is, and yet how easy it is to think we are just busy and will read or pray tomorrow or later. So we all just need to do the things we believe we should. They have a great spirit with them and it was a pleasure to have them share their spirit here with us in our home. I will try to send a photo later, it is on my husband's phone and he has gone to bed. Hope you are all well in your family.

Love,
Megan Wardell

I hope my letter home didn't sound too sad, because I am definately not sad. It's been hard but it's been rewarding as well. We see miracles every day and I wouldn't change the hard times. I grow so much from them. Also, we had intercombios (planning meetings) this week so Hermana Tuttle went to another area to see how the sisters were doing. She's a sister trainer leader so kind of like a zone leader for the sisters. Anyway, Hermana Walker and I flew solo. At first I was a little scared, but our citas (appointments)were awesome and my Spanish was so much better that day. It was definitely a blessing. Not having Hermana Tuttle to rely on really made me push myself to talk and understand the people. I am excited for next transfer to maybe have to push myself in the Spanish.

Also we had an exciting story a few weeks ago that I forgot to write about. The police came to our door!!! They said an old man had slipped because our air conditioner is leaking water off the side of our balcony. Basically he was yelling at us in Spanish and I couldn't understand anything!! I told him my Spanish wasn't very good so he asked who we were and we told him we were missionaries.  His whole demeanor changed. He stopped yelling and told us that he would let us off with a warning, but that we need to be careful because what happend could result in a fine of 500 euros and getting kicked out of our piso! It was crazy. The Lords hand was definitely in that!

I want to share a short (I hope) story about a girl in the ward. She is from Spain and she is 23 years old. She has severe anorxia and has huge problems with her health.  She went on a mission to Malaga (southern Spain) but was too sick and had to come home. She meets with the missionaries every once in a while because she likes to talk to them. She doesn't have much support at home because she's the only member in her family. I met her the first week we were in church but we never met with her as missionaries. When I asked the other sisters why, they said its hard because we can't help in any way so its kind of pointless to meet with her a lot. That first sunday I went up and talked to her and befriended her. Now she is like my best friend ha. She sits by me every Sunday and calls like 3 times a week just to talk to me. She doesn't speak much English so our conversations aren't super in depth but they're awesome. She also eats now 3 times a week which is the most she has eaten in 2 years! She called me today and said she was having a hard time and asked if I would pray with her on the phone. It was so sweet. It really has helped me to not get discouraged about not having a lot of investigators because I know I am helping her. It shows me that we're not here just to baptize, we are here to help as well.

Well not much else has happened. We had a birthday party today for an Elder! Sister Walker and I made brownies with oreos on top (of course). The Elders are awesome! Our zone is awesome and I love p-days when we just get to relax and talk about investigators and families. I get to brag about how cool my family is to everyone.

Well I love you all so much! I am going to send pictures next week. I forgot my cord today but next week for sure. Transfers are in two weeks! I have almost made it through my first transfer! Crazy right. idk about all of you, but it feels like I have been here for years already!  The weeks really are flying by. I hope all is well with school and work and health. Love you all and miss you all a ton. You have no idea how much I miss you and how much I am thankful for such a strong family. It truly is a blessing to be born into a family that is close and so supportive. The mission has really made me grateful for where I have come from, and all the great examples in my life. Remember that no matter where you are and what youre doing people are watching. Be an example and remember who you are!

¡con todo mi amor!

hermana barker

(Rachels email to Ron)

I'm starting to think the rain is coming. It's getting colder and darker every day! Hopefully it won't be too miserable, but at least I don't have to sit through football games in it! 

I am doing well. This last week was just tougher than the rest, but the good times still overcome the bad. I will try to write detailed letters more often. It's just to hard to write details in emails because I don't have a ton of time. Tell mom to feel free to put anything in the written letters on the blog as well if she feels like she wants to. The hardest thing about the investigators is exactly what you said…there's nothing we can do but pray for them. It's hard for me because it's out of my control and I like to be in control of things in my life. The hardest part is watching them slowly fall away and doing all I can without success. One thing this week that I heard that really hit me was that there is a talk somewhere that talks about investigators falling away. It says that no matter what happens in this life, every investigator you teach will find you in heaven and thank you or give you a hug. I thought that was so cool to think about and it gave me a little bit of comfort.

Transfers are on October 15. I am 99 percent sure I will stay in this area to finish my last 6 weeks of training but anything can happen so we will see. After the next transfer I could possibly train! That would be crazy but such a good challenge for me!

As for General Conference it is weird here. It is broadcasted in our chapel in Spanish and English. The Saturday morning session is on Saturday night here and then we have three sessions on Sunday, but the last session is shown after we have to be back in our room, so we will watch the last session on Tuesday at district meeting. Please feel free to send links to talks that you like! I would love to be able to talk about conference with you all so that might be a good way to do it. We get the Ensign after and I would love to read the talks that stuck out to all of you!

What is General Conference?  (Click for more information)

General Conference can be seen on BYU TV, 
Saturday  & Sunday 9:00am - 11:00am and 1:00pm-3:00pm 

Well, I hope everyone starts to feel better! I love you all and have missed you more this week than any other time in my life, but I know I am supposed to be here and everyone I meet solidifies that I have a reason to be in Spain! Send my love to all and tell grandma and grandpa I sent a letter so it should be coming this week!

Love you, you really are the best! Your words and your apoyo (support) really help me a lot. So thank you for that! Feel better and be safe

amor para siempre

hermana barker

www.mormonnewsroom.org/additional-resource/what-is-general-conference