ADIOS ESPANA ... I WILL TRULY MISS YOU

Week #76

What a weird moment to think that after 18 months I am finally going to be face to face with you all again very soon. The week hasn't even started and I have already cried a few times. This week is going to be full of tears, but happy tears to see everyone again as well. It still feels unreal to thinK that you all are going to be here so soon. I can't really wrap my head around it and I probably won't until Im at home after a few weeks. I don't know what I'm going to do with myself without the stresses of the mission. 

I don't really know what to say on my last email...I kinda feel like I'm trying to write an obituary for when I die haha. But I guess what I really want to say is thank you to everyone. Thank you for the cards and emails and pictures and just all the prayers that have been said on my behalf in the last year and a half. I know I wouldn't have been able to get through this without your love. I feel spoiled at times because of how many letters and emails I have gotten from everyone. It really makes me feel loved. I know that I have had so much support and that is what has kept me going through the hard times. I hope that I have been able to represent the Barker name and Christs name in a way that pleases all. And of course I'm happy to represent  the Alamo 2nd ward!! 

It's definitely bittersweet to be saying goodbye to one life and saying hello to another. Just another transfer though right? As I sit and think about past year and a half, it has given me every emotion you can imagine. But the biggest emotion that I have felt is love. Love is the base of everything. Without love, nothing in this world would happen. So again, thank you for your love. 

Alright if I keep going I'll just start crying here at the computer and that's not really what I want (because then I can't see the screen and it just all becomes a big mess). I thought I'd just remind you of some good times this last year and then maybe you all can reflect on your year as well.

-pepper spray in the face (that's a good one)

-Speaking spanish like a boss!

-baptisms and changing lives one area at a time

-companions (both good and not so good)

-too many emails to respond to

-bed bugs (that's a good one too)

-learning more about myself than I ever thought possible

-coming to know my Savior and what that really means

-growing a real testimony of the gospel

-LOVING THE PEOPLE OF SPAIN
-and of course all the not so tasty food

It's been on crazy year! see you soon!!

Adios España...Hello California

con amor,

(for the last time) Hermana Barker

We had a girls party with some of the Beehive girls in class so that we could invite Enya (an investigator) to meet some of the girls. we danced and sang and ate a lot of candy! It was really fun!

Ivonne and her family.  They fed us every week.  Their daughters obviously did not want their picture taken.

And a great surprise!!! This Sunday right before sacrament meeting in walked Eduardo from Tarragona with my mini missionary Hermana Caicedo!!! It ws soooo fun to see them and they got to stay a little and we got to catch up. It was a great last surprise. Thanks to them for coming to see me and making it a great Sunday!

WEEK #75
Wow what a strange feeling! I only have one more email to send you until I see you in person!! Can you believe that because I sure can't! I just received an email from Hermana Porter. She was my companion in Martorell and she is from my same group. She just got home because she has to start school and her email made me laugh. She said "Stay in Spain!" It was funny. It's all starting to be real every day. We are now making mission plans for February and it's starting to freak me out!! We have been talking a lot about New Year's goals and everyone talks about things they want to do in the mission and I'm making plans and goals for what I want to do at home...but don't ask me what those goals are because I'm still trying to figure them out!

I hope all of you had a great Christmas and new year season. We felt the love of the members here. They fed us a lot! But that should be no surprise anymore...I don't want to hear any chub jokes when I get home alright?! :) I still can't believe that you all are going to come and get to meet the people who I have come to love so much. I have been making plans with everyone and they are all excited, and so am I of course. This last week we had my final zone focus (a meeting with the missionaries of the Valencia zone) and I had to give my 5 minutes of what the Lord has taught me. Let's just say I did really well...until the end when I broke down like a little girl. This whole mission thing has really made me a softy...get ready for some tears when I get home, both happy and sad ones. As I was thinking about what to say, it was hard to find only 5 minutes of what I have learned. This year and a half has been one of so much growth and learning, both personal and relationships with other people. It's incredible how much I still had to learn and still have to learn in the future...we really are never done learning. 

Well the truth is I don't have much for you all. I'm sorry for Tay and Court who have finals...I don't miss that at all, but I totally know how they feel when I try to study this book that I got for Christmas...best present ever :)  I'm working on it though. Let's just all pray hard that the test goes well because I think the only thing that's going to help me is the power of God. 

I'm doing great and am happy as always. The work is moving and every day is something new. I have become so close to these members here in Castellón. It's going to be hard to leave them, but I'm ready to start the next chapter in life (or I'm just trying to tell myself that so maybe it won't be as hard). I'm really excited to see all of you though and especially to hug and kiss little baby Mason!!! I'm going to speak to him in spanish all day so that when he gets older we can have secrets together!!! Get ready Mason here I come!!

Sorry this is kinda short and boring...I'm not really sure what else I have for you all. well...um...thats all folks

Love you all!!

Hermana Barker

 

 Priscilla leaves on her mission this Tuesday!! She's going to be a great missionary. At her farewell her mom spoke and ! just started to cry because it reminded me of what mom said to me. She said the same things about how she knows there is no better place that Priscila could be now than on a mission and of course she's going to miss her, but she knows that it's right for her right now. It always gets me when I hear moms talk about their daughters on missions. I just always think about my own mom telling stories about me and I just feel so special. LOVE YOU MOM!

 

New Years in Castellon

 

WEEK #74
HELLO!
Well truth is I don't really have anything new for you all. (normal considering we just talked like 3 days ago). Christmas was good. It was much quieter than last year, but it was nice to just be calm and spend time with some of the families here. We got invited to do Secret Santa with the JAS (single adults) in our ward and that was fun. It was weird to be at a JAS activity as a missionary, but it was nice of them to include us. It's weird because I've been here so long in Castellón that I am starting to feel just like another member, but with a very different life. It's fun though because I feel so at home and so accepted. I feel like I can ask anyone for help and they would all be willing to help at the drop of a hat. There is nowhere else I would have liked to end my mission but here in Castellón.

Skype was definitely very different from the other times. I just don't know what really to say to you all because all I have to talk about is the mission and I don't want to bore you. Sorry if it was boring. It was the highlight of my week though to see Mason, even if he cried when he saw my face! I'm telling myself it was his way of telling me he just can't wait to see me and he gets emotional thinking about it...so no worries. :)

Well really I don't have much for you. I have my last reunion with my zone this week where I have to share what I have learned...I already am planning on crying because I know I will! Yesterday we ate with Priscilla. She is leaving in 10 days to go on a mission to Madrid. We were talking about missionary life and I started to cry! The truth was that I was really just jealous of her because she has a whole year and a half ahead of her to have these experiences. I'm really excited for her though and I know she is going to do great things out there in Madrid!

OH the best surprise of the Christmas was that Sara Arce from Tarragona came here to surprise me!! She got in on Friday afternoon and came out with us all weekend to our citas! It was so fun to be with her! She has been a great support and she brought me lots of chocolates...what more do I need?? It was a great surprise and we had so much fun being missionaries together. Her brother served here as well so he got to come get her and I got to see Elder Arce again. The cutest part was when she said thanks for letting her do her missionary service because being a real missionary would be hard. I just laughed and agreed that it is hard, but it's worth it.

Missionary Stocking and Christmas gift from Sara

Well I wish you all a happy New Year. One of the things we have been doing this week is we have invited everyone to make two goals: a spiritual goal and a personal goal; but not just to make the goals, but also make the steps needed to accomplish those goals. I want to invite you all as well to do the same. Whether its reading the scriptures every day or working out 4 times a week. Think about something you want to change and actually DO IT!! love you all and ill see you soon! Can't believe I only have 2 emails left!!!! it's crazy!!

con amor
Hermana Barker

Hermana Barer and Maria

Hermana Barker and Hermana Solos

Christmas dinner with Melani, Shirli, Ana and Maria

Rachel got to Skype with Rita, her friend from Castellon who is a missionary in Chili.