Only 4 weeks left ......

WEEK #73
Well first off, FELIZ NAVIDAD or BON NADAL in Catalan :) I really can't believe that a whole year has passed already! It's insane to think that a year ago I was just starting to get the hang of the mission thing and of the spanish language and now I'm trying to prepare myself to come home. It's incredible how time flies and how many blessings and miracles I have seen in this last year. Christmas really is an incredible time of year. I love being home with my family and spending time together, but I think I have finally learned what Christmas really is, here on the mission. I have finally spent a Christmas as Christ would have; in the service of others, and let me tell you it's incredible. Christmas in the mission is hard of course, but it's so rewarding to bring families closer together and to see the joy on people's faces from something so small as brownies or a Christmas carol. It has really opened my eyes to the true meaning of Christmas.


Well I know that this week has probably been a crazy one at home getting everything ready and making plans. It's been crazy here too. It's incredible how many blessings the Lord was holding out on until my last 6 months of the mission! Maybe it was just because now I'm finally ready for them. We had the opportunity to finally see Jonathan enter the waters of baptism...and let me tell you it was incredible! I have been fighting with him (or for him) for 5 months now. All it took was a change of heart. He is incredible. He is facing hardships right now from all his friends who tell him he's crazy for joining the cult, but he is so proud to be a member of the church. He tells everyone! It's so cute to hear him talk about how much the church has helped him find real happiness. Just last night he said, "I'm just so happy you know?? and I don't understand because I have like no friends anymore and I do nothing at night, but I'm just so happy and I can't deny it! I smile all the time!" it was so cute! It's been a Christmas miracle that's for sure!

We also had my last zone conference yesterday and it was definitely bitter sweet. There are a few people in my zone leaving with me in January and it was a hard time for us. At the very end of the conference President Pace goes around and shakes everyone's hands. When it was my turn, like always, he had tears in his eyes and said, "Hermana Barker you have had a great mission. Your Heavenly Father is proud of you and I will never forget you." I just lost it and another Hermana and I just cried. All the Elders were making fun of me, but I didn't care! I know I'm going to just be a mess when I say goodbye to people, so just get ready for lots of tears!


This week was a special week and they are just going to keep coming. I got to sing in the zone conference and also in the primary program.  It was so fun to be back in the primary again for a day. It made me really miss my sunbeams who are no longer sunbeams at all!! I know these next four weeks are going to fly by. I can't wait to talk to you all in two days..I don't really know what I'm going to say, but just get ready for some screams when I see Mason!

Have a great Christmas and remember to share the gift we have been given. Love you all and see you very soon! Get ready to help me out of my awkwardness that I know is going to pass.

FELIZ NAVIDAD CON MUCHO AMOR
Hermana Barker

ps tell Brother Rutledge thank you so much for the Christmas card. That was very thoughtful of him! And tell everyone else thank you for the support and love. Tell grandma and grandpa bob thank you for the oreos...they know me sooo well :)

Ward Christmas party.  We were Mrs Claus and an elf. We did Rudolf in a rap with beatbox with the Elders in our district.

This brother makes paella for all the missionaries every Christmas and it is the best paella!

WEEK #72

HI!!!

First I have to say...HOW CUTE IS SANTA!! Oh my gosh I died when I saw the pictures. Santa is the best! He looks so happy and like he loves his job. And Mason looks just as cute as ever! I wanted to sit on Santa's lap, but seeing as he's a man, it's not allowed this year. Next year for sure haha. Don't worry mom about the Christmas package (we sent a small Christmas package this year knowing she would have a large wish list of items to purchase in Spain before we head home).  I don't have room for more stuff anyway so it's perfect. And plus the best Christmas gift is going to be having you all here soon! I seriously cant wait. I mean I may have cried the other day when a returned missionary was giving her homecoming talk and was talking about taking off the chapa (badge). She said it was the hardest few words she has ever had to listen to when the stake president told her to take off her chapa. I can't imagine life not as a missionary, but it's gotta happen at some point right? You'll just have to forgive me ahead of time with the awkwardness :) 

I'm so sorry to hear that Hermana Mahe is leaving. That's amazing that you have made such an amazing connection with her. I would love to meet the sister that has impacted my family so much. She sounds like an amazing girl. Keep writing her mom. The smallest messages really can affect someone. And keep loving the sisters. It really means a lot to us when the members take us in as their own. Then it's not as hard to be away from home...especially during the Christmas time. 

As always I'm doing great! Jonathan unfortunately couldn't get baptized because last minute he got called in to work and if he didn't go they would have fired him. That's been one of the hardest struggles here. People have to work on Sundays or they don't have jobs. But he is getting baptized tomorrow! He told his boss last week that this week he won't be able to work because it's "the week for God. He has important things to do". It was so funny and it just showed how much he has really changed. You will have to meet the crazy Dominican Jonathan when you come. He's great, and someone I have put a lot of time and love into. 

Things are going strong here still in castellón. This last weekend we had the festival of choirs in Valencia...it was awesome!! I got to see EVERYONE again! It really made me feel good that people still remembered me from Valencia (even though when I first arrived in Valencia I didn't speak a lick of Spanish haha). It was a big party and there were so many besos haha. I got to see Mama Africa and the Mambos and Obispo and everyone. Rosemary and Manuel moved back to Bolivia so I didn't get to see them. It was fun though to see how much everyone has grown and how much I have changed. They all commented on my Spanish so I'm hoping that's a good sign. It seems like just yesterday I was there though. They all said "wow how fast the time goes!" I was like "you're telling me"! It was great though and a fun little last hoorah!

The mission is still incredible. I wouldn't trade this time for anything. Every day I learn more and every minute I see blessings in my life. If any youth are reading this and trying to decide if they should serve a mission I would say, "DO IT". Its incredible. Yes its hard and there's a lot of tears, but it's worth it to see the change you can make in someones life. And it's worth the change you can make in your own life. Pray and search with real intent and I promise the Lord will guide you on where you need to go and what you need to do. Don't be afraid to take a leap of faith :)

Well not much else is going on. Its cold and raining here too. And Christmas is coming!!! Love you all. Stay warm and remember that the most important gift you will ever get came not in a box or from the internet; it came in a humble stable. Christ is the best gift you can receive. Give back this Christmas.

Alright enough of my missionary speech! love you all and laugh and smile often!

con amor,

Hermana Barker

No transfer! I Will Finish My Mission in Castellon. YEA!

WEEK #71
You definitely said right...this week FLEW by!! I can't even begin to describe how I'm feeling about being in my last transfer. The truth is it doesn't feel any different. I am just working hard and I'm still the same missionary. The only difference is that every person keeps saying "wow you're almost done"...as if I didn't know that!  It's okay though because it's CHRISTMAS!!! They finally turned the lights on in the streets and everything is all ready for Christmas. It's great!!! Really though I'm freaking out that I only have 6 weeks left. If it goes any faster than this last 6 weeks then I may just crawl under a rock.

This is Sarah, she just moved to England this week.  I was super sad

This week was good though. We had a lot of good lessons and Jonathan came to church!! He has his interview tomorrow and his baptism on Thursday. Let's just pray all goes well. It's been a long and tough 4 months with him, but so worth it. His change has been inspiring. He's incredible and so ready to make these changes in his life. It's been incredible to watch him choose to change. And it's also been incredible how the gospel has impacted his life. He is going to be a great member I just know it.

Truth is I can't even really remember what happened this week.  It's all going into a blur. Today we went to a castle for the last hurrah as a district. It's kinda been weird because Elder Westfall and I have been in the same district for the last 8 months...almost half my mission. It was definitely weird to see him get on the train. Now we have a trio of Elders so we will see how that goes as well.

We threw a baby shower (I bet you've seen pictures already) for Maria Laura's mom on Friday night. It was super fun! Not many people came, but we played games and I know she appreciated it. Also we had stake conference in Valencia and I got to see so many people again! It was awesome. And you better believe I've already made plans with a bunch of them. Get ready to eat a lot and hear a lot of different accents!!! I'm SO EXCITED for you to meet all my Spain family from the last year and a half of my life. There  are some amazing people here.

Well I don't really have much else for you. But I'm happy and healthy and ready to work! Ill see you in 42 days! 

Con amor,

hermana Barker

ps I wanted to share something from an email I got from President Pace this last week. This was a response to my weekly email that I sent him:

"Of all the things in your list for which you are grateful, this one really hit me: "Overall, I am grateful to be Hermana Barker."

You should be grateful to be Hermana Barker! You are terrific and it is good that you are comfortable with who you are... comfortable in your own skin, so to speak. That is a great way to be. Not arrogant, but at peace. I like it, and I really like serving with you in El Faro."

Mom and Dad, my Christmas package was delivered!  (the last package we sent sat in the mission home for 4 weeks before someone brought it to her)

On P-day we went exploring an old castle

WEEK # 70
HI!!

It looks like all of you have been busy this week with Thanksgiving and family get togethers! So fun! I can't believe that November is already over though. If December goes just as fast, I might cry! The table looks incredible mom!! Seriously beautiful! And you did it?? Superwoman! I can't wait to see the house...truth is I'm forgetting small details...like the color of our front door, but no worries. You better leave the Christmas decorations up as long as possible...aka until I get home :) I can't believe that Mason was blessed! How special. It's crazy to think that all this is going on and I feel like real life is on pause. Sometimes I forget that you all are still moving and living life, Sorry! It makes me happy though to hear that all is well and everyone is safe and happy. I couldn't ask for a bigger blessing in my life right now.

 As for Thanksgiving, it was great! Wendy and Herlan (a couple from the ward) invited us over for Thanksgiving dinner. She said she wanted to make the Americans feel special. It was super cute. We ate well and we shared what we were thankful for. We made apple cider and the Elders made Apple pie. We had a lot of fun and I was very grateful for Wendy and Herlan and their love and desire to make us feel special and at home. It was a very special day. Also as thanksgiving was passing, I was very grateful for the family that I have. The more time I spend away and with other families, the more I realize how amazing my family really is. Thank you for always supporting me in my dreams and goals. Thank you for always loving me even when I was difficult (which I still am by the way :) Most of all, THANK YOU for being the best family anyone could ever ask for. For raising me in this gospel and helping me find my faith in God.

Our American Thanksgiving Dinner made by Wendy and Herlan

Hermana Solos, Hermana Barker, Prescilla who is going on a mission in January, and Wendy

Wendy and Herlan

 Well the rest of the week was a little more difficult than usual because it was raining. Here they don't like the rain at all. The minute it starts raining no one leaves their houses....so as a result, we had lots of fired citas and lots of walking in the rain to do. We somehow always find fun things to do though so it wasn't too bad. Jonathan is officially set for the 12 of December to be baptized! He is changing more and more every day and it's incredible what the gospel has done for him. He even wrote a song about his change and the Mormons.

 Every email I write I panic a little more because I realize that it's down to one of my last emails...the time is just flying by. We have transfers next week and if I get transferred for whatever reason, I will cry haha. There is nowhere else that I want to spend Christmas than right here in Castellón. (or maybe Martorell). We will see what happens though. It's amazing how much is still happening here in Castellón every day. We are seeing more and more miracles every day.

Story of the week isn't a miracle but its a small tender mercy that the Lord gave me this week:
Juan Carlos (the recent convert) is so amazing. Every day he is more clean and more prepared. He is working towards receiving the Priesthood right now and he is really fighting against the temptations of the world. Anyway, he is just so cute and sooooo happy and nice. Every prayer he says, he mentions his "angels". His prayer this week really touched me when he said, "Padre gracias por mis angeles. ¿Que tienes allí? ¿Una escuela de angeles?" (translation: Father thank you for my angels. What do you have up there? A school of angels?) And then he just laughed and kept going with his prayer. It was SO cute haha. He really has made an incredible change both inside and out. He looks cleaner and dresses nicer and is always willing to help with everything. He is the type of person that makes the hard days worth it.

Well truth is I really don't have much else for you. I'm happy as always. It doesn't even feel like the time is going until I sit and think about it. I miss you all, but not enough to end yet haha. I hope this week brings blessings and love in every minute. I want to challenge all of you, just like dad challenged me, to do something in this last 6 weeks that will be worth sharing when I get home. Give a gift of the gospel for Christmas, or share your testimony of the family with a friend. LOVE YOU ALL!!

Elder Westfall and I have both worn out the soles of our shoes

con amor,
Hermana Barker

ps did the missionaries end up coming over for thanksgiving??

 pps what color is masons room??

WEEK # 69
WEEK #69
HELLO AGAIN!

Another week down and the time just doesn't stop flying. I feel like just yesterday I was writing my last email and all the weeks are blurring together.

As for Castellón, it's doing great. I really love it here. The work moves forward every day. Hermana Solos and I work hard together and we are always focused on what we're doing (when were not telling jokes and dying laughing). She is great and she is so quirky and fun. MIRACLE: Jonathan came to church this week. He walked in with a white shirt and tie and everything! It was so awesome. And he just kept saying "I'm flippìng out, everyone is just so nice and I just feel so good". After he said that he had found his family. It was so awesome! His baptism is going to be in the first week of December we hope. There are some complications with stake conference but he will be baptized soon. Let's just hope I don't randomly get transferred for my last transfer and miss his baptism! But he really is a miracle. He has done a complete 360 and you wouldn't even recognize him from before. Its incredible how much the gospel and finding faith has changed his life. We're working hard...Time may be flying fast, but I'm working harder than ever.

Hermana Barker, Maria Cristian who is leaving soon to serve a mission in England, and Hermana Solos, my companion.

Also this week we had the amazing opportunity to hear from Elder Quentin L. Cook of the 12. He came for a stake conference in Barcelona and we were invited to a special conference for all the missionaries. It was incredible. And my favorite part was that he was so normal. He was telling jokes and laughing and it just made me remember that they are just normal people like us. It was a very spiritual experience. The most spiritual part for me was when he said, "Because of the sacredness of my experiences, I won't tell you about them, but I will tell you that I am a witness of Jesus Christ. I KNOW He lives and that He is the head of this church." At that moment I knew that he had experienced very sacred and incredible things and that he truly is a disciple of God. It was incredible. 

Truth is I'm sitting here sweating and tired after a long day of sports with the zone and my brain is slowly shutting down...good thing I have another 3 hours to work right? haha but I really don't know what else I got for you all. I am loving every minute of the mission. Of course I'm sad to pass another Christmas here without my family, but don't worry. I have my Spain family with me. That is sooo awesome that you are inviting the sisters over for Thanksgiving. A woman named Wendy invited us over for a real American Thanksgiving. She's so cute and sooo much fun! She lived in Utah for a little bit and has some of the cutest kids I have ever seen. She's hilarious and has been a really special part of my time here in Castellón. We are definitely spoiled here. I really hope I get to pass Christmas here. I would be sad to leave now. But I'll go where The Lord wants me to go...right?

Love you all. Don't worry about me, I'm doing great! Keep being the most amazing family ever and keep Jonathan in your prayers! LOVE YOU!!!

Con amor,

Hermana Barker

On P-day last week we went exploring abandoned houses!