Don't worry about me! I am always busy and don't have enough time to be sad or homesick .......

          Week #1
Wednesday, July 31st, 2013

So where do I even start? I guess I will start with sorry about the grammer and stuff. The computers are different and we don´t have a lot of time so I'm not gonna waste it on that! haha But basically this week was insane! It was non stop going and going. There were about 15 of us on the flight from New York to Madrid but only one other hermana. It just so happens that that hermana ended up being my companion!!! It worked out so nicely! Also the first day they asked all of the girls who were younger than 21 to stand up....me and one other girl were the only ones who stayed sitting! My district calles me abuela Barker! haha great right? Also the first night we ate swordfish and gespacho. First of all I am going to start loving fish because thats all we eat,  and gespacho! SO GROSS!! It's like a tomato and cucumber smoothy thing, seriously sooo gross!!! We no joke eat fish at least once a day  (Rachel hates any kind of seafood) I've lost one pound (sorry Kel doesnt look like I'm gettin fat).

Also we are the only room that has a bathroom in it instead of the community bathroom. Only problem is the toilet paper is too far away so I can't reach it! haha Little girl problems. We also had a temple session the first day and barely made it. We woke up about 10 minutes before we had to be there and I didn't shower or brush my teeth for like three days!!! (Between traveling for 24 hours straight and exhaustion, they didn't have time for personal matters) It was so gross. (Rachel brushes her teeth 3 -4 times a day.  She is a fanatic about good oral hygiene).  

We already aren't allowed to speak in English and it is pretty hard. Speaking at the park was so hard.(On Saturday, 3 days after entering the MTC, the missionaries went out into the park in Madrid to practice what they had learned).  Me and Hermana Bangerter (my companion) were a little discouraged, but we teach fake investigators and we got a baptism yesterday!! It was the best feeling ever!!! I know it wasn't a real thing but the feeling I had was amazing. My spanish is nowhere near as good as hermana B, but my teacher said my spirit and my faith are so strong and that is what is going to move mountains. 

So you saw the picture of us singing? I swear Mr. Abrams followed me here (her high school choir director). The director sang in the motab (Mormon Tabernacle Choir) for 8 years and he is just like Mr. A! hha It's a nice little piece of home ha.

I got your letter! Thank you much Tay and Court for the shoutouts.  It was so nice, and getting a letter was so amazing! I was one of the first to get one! I will write you back about my companion and district because there's a lot to say and I don´t have time to write it, but yes p-day is on Thursday and we have half an hour in the MTC (to read and write emails). In the field we get an hour so I'll write more.

Did you hear about Elder Ward? He was in a train accident and almost became paralyzed? Well he is back and hoping to go back into the field soon. He spoke to us the other day and it was so powerful! (On the day that Rachel entered the MTC in Madrid, there was a train accident further south of Madrid where 80 people were killed and another 80 or so were injured.  One of the injured was an Elder who was leaving the MTC in Madrid and heading to his first assignment.  After being released from the hospital he was sent back to the MTC where he will stay until his recovery is complete).  I love it here! It is hard and my brain is fried by the end of the day, but it is totally worth it. I can already have lessons in Spanish and I am improving so much.

I'm sorry this letter is so sporadic! I have so much to say and so little time. But I love all you so much and I am so grateful for all the support you have given me! Tell everyone that they have all made a difference and you are all in my mission prayers (which are supposed to be more powerful) ha.

I hope I covered the basics but I will write more next time! Don´t worry about me! I am always busy and don't have enough time to be sad or homesick! Sorry if I seemed a little insensitive at the aiport…I just didn't want to go through crying! and sorry to all of you that dad talks about me all the time! I'm just the favorite! hahah just kidding, but I have no time left so I have to go.

Can you by chance send me my scriptures? I didn´t think I would need them but they would be super nice!

Well I will write next week! Please keep the love coming and know that I am safe and well!!! I love you all sooo much!

love forever

hermana barker

ps this is for you dad...

yo sé que la iglesia de jesucristo es verdadera. yo sé que jose smith es un profeta de dios. yo sé que el libro de mormon es verdadero. yo sé que jesucristo es el hijo de dios he el amarnos ye guiarnos. me encanta este evangelio y me encanta much me familia. yo sé que families son eternas. te damos gracias por mi familia y el evangelio de jesucristo. en el nombre de jesucristo amen.

(Edited by Heidi)