So much to say, so little time! Where to start .....

Week #2
Wednesday, August 7th, 2013

So much to say so little time! but where to start? Basically the days are all the same. It's class lunch class exercise class dinner class, pretty much all in class all the time, but class is awesome! The teachers are amazing and I am learning so fast! I can understand pretty much everything but my conjugation of verbs needs some work. My companion and I are very different people, but I know the lord gave me the people in my district to help me through these hard times. My district is just amazing!

Hermana Crandall is just the best. She is always so supportive and always knows what I need to hear. Also, the Elders have taken us under their wings as their little (older) sisters and it is so cute. Elder fonseca is awesome. The other day I was really having a hard time and he was the only one who could tell something was wrong. At dinner, he ¨called¨ me on a fake phone so no one would hear us talk. it was so dumb but so nice and it just showed someone cared and was really watching out for me. I know the Lord puts people in our lives to learn and to grow and I know all these people are in our lives for a reason.

Last week we went to the center of Madrid for pday. It was so beautiful. Mom, you would love the architect of the buildings. We saw gypsies curse people and we saw crazy people dancing and trying to get money from you. We also saw accordian players everywhere dad! I took a picture for you. we also went to the old castle and it was amzing! I have pictures, but we don't get to upload until the last week so you're gonna have to wait. Cool story about one building in Madrid. There is a huge bell tower on top and on Christmas eve it rings 12 times and every ring the people standing outside and eat a grape. I don't know why, but they do and I thought it was kind of cool!

Last week the park was a disaster! I was so confused and nobody wanted to listen to us at all! This week was a different story. I was with Hermana Hasset and she knows less spanish than I do so I had to be the translator and talk the most. It was amazing what I was able to do. We got a reference and we handed out things to so many people. Also, there is a man named Manuel. I can't remember if I told you about him, but last Saturday he taught us how to play chess and told us to come back this week. When I went over to say hi he jumped up and gave me the biggest hug and said he had been waiting for us hermanas all week. He also got us a present!!! It was one of those Russian doll things but Spain style. It is beautiful! He said he was going out of town, but when he got back he was going to look the hermanas up that were by his house! It was amazing to be a part of it!

Random stories! A teacher here named Hermana Giorgino was companions with Shelly Russon in Texas!!! small world right? She sent a picture to Shelly and told me to tell my family! Also, I told dad this, but an elder in my district named Zack Giforos said his mom knows you guys! They are from American Fork. We started putting all these puzzle pieces together it was awesome. Aslo mom, I can't find either of the elders you mentioned in your last email so either they already left the mtc or they are in Provo.

Today at the temple the temple presidents wife came and found me and said hello from you guys! It was awesome. I felt so special so thank you for that!  

Side note, Elder Ward from the train wreck went home becuase he was having numbness in his hands. Keep him in your prayers for me.

One cool story from this week. On Fast Sunday (by the way we fast from lunch to lunch and considering most meals are fish i am totally ok with this!) Elder Giforos got up and bore his testimony. He was talking about how we have people in heaven who are watching us and cheering us on. This may sound crazy but in an instant I was in tears because I could feel papabear sitting next to me and telling me that he was proud of me and then in an instant it was gone! It was crazy but It was so amazing. The love and support from everyone everywhere is what gets me through the day. I read and reread letters I printed and it is just amazing to know that my family is the best family ever and they support me more than I could ever ask for! I love you all so much!

I am glad you guys get to see some pictures of us singing. ps mom I get told all the time that I have the cutest clothes so good work!! If I look sad when you see video of us singing, it's not because I am sad. It's either because I am consentrating on the Spanish hymns or I am just mentally exhausted! My brain has never worked so hard in my life.

Tell Miranda I got her letter and it was so sweet! I don't have her email and she told me not to reply to that address so just let her know I got it and am sooo excited for her and can't wait to hear more about what is going to happen! Tell her she really helped in my decision to go.

Also tell Bishop he's not missing much yet. We aren't in the most beautiful part of Madrid and I hear Barcelona is much more beautiful. Tell him i'll see him September 4! haha

Well I don't have much time, but I love you all and honestly look forward every week to hear what is going on! I hope dad isn't telling you all a play by play of what I am doing anymore :) I love and miss you like crazy and know I think about you all the time! Love you with all my heart!

love Hermana Barker

ps sorry about the sporadic letters. I just want to say it all before I run out of time!

(Ron happened to be on the computer this morning at 6am and Rachel was on the computer in Spain.  He sent an email with questions but her computer time was up so this was her response):

I'm sorry that I don't respond much to all the questions! There's just so much and so little time, but I am so glad Collette Crystal actually found you guys on facebook! I ran into her in the middle of Madrid and she told me she would write you guys! It means so much that she did that! I am doing great.  I can print letters so emails are good. If I don't respond to yours I will respond to moms with everything, but I will print yours and read them. I have them from last week too so either works. Thank you for sending my other set of scriptures. I know it probably wasn't cheap.  I love you and miss you so much! iIthink about you all the time and tell people I have the best most caring dad in the world. I know i give you a hard time but you are an amazing example to me! love you dad!

love

hermana barker

ps I cant remember if I told you this so sorry if its a repeat, but my night teacher (who is soo funny by the way and makes us laugh so hard and his English is terrible!) calls me Hermana Sassy. One of the elders in my district told me I was sassy and my teacher Hermano Gallegos asked what that meant so we explained to him and now whenever he sees me he snaps his fingers and says hola Hermana Sassy haha. Basically I am known here as the sassy old sister, but it is awesome.

Also on a side note I never thought I would like having so many 19 year old girls here all the time, but I have found it to be a blessing. Missionary work is hard. Being away from family is hard and not understanding is hard. I know the sisters that are at this mtc are here to be a help and companion to each other to help each other through it. I never thought I would say this, but I am so grateful for girls! They are a blessing in disguise. Well I love you so much and I tell everyone i have the best dad ever!