I am just an Instrument in the Lord's hands .........

Week #3
Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

I miss you guys mucho! Its so weird not seeing your faces every day. That is just amazing about Sister Lloyd! That truly is the hand of The Lord!

Also tell Kelli and Mark I thought of them on the 14!! Hope they had a fun anniversary!

I'm glad everyone is doing well and that you all are safe and progressing! I am too don't worry. This email may be a little short because we got out of the temple late so I don’t have much time but where to start?

To start with a story...last week at the park was very interesting to say the least. I was with Hermana Dunn who doesn't know much Spanish so we didn't talk to that many people, but there was a group of 4 guys that were walking around and said hi like 3 times. So finally hma Dunn said lets go talk to them, but no flirting haha. So we started to talk to them and two of them spoke Spanish and two spoke English. So she talked to the two in English and I talked to the two in Spanish. We were talking about Joseph Smith and the Pope and one of them started talking about the angel visiting and the first vision in Spanish. I looked at him and said "you know a lot more about this church than you say you do don't you?" They just started laughing and then said they are from America and they are all members except for the one I was talking with. We started to talking in English and I asked why he wasn't baptized and he just said he never really looked into it. He said "I live in Queens, New York so I told him I was going to send my cousin (Jacob is serving a mission in Queens right now) to his house and he had to listen to him. So he agreed to meet with the missionaries!  It was so weird but so funny. After they were walking away his cousin turned to me and said thank you. I asked what for and he said it was the first time ever that his cousin had agreed whole heartedly to meet with the missionaries. It was a weird experience but I felt like I actually may have helped someone.

A funny story, we were teaching our investigator and I asked him to pray to know if our message was true. He just started laughing and I was so embarrassed and after I asked why did you laugh at me? He said because when you smile and how you say things reminds me exactly of one of my companions on my mission and I can't take you seriously haha. It was so funny. Also during this lesson, my companion told him she wants to get married around 13 and 14 instead of 23 or 24. I was dying!! The gift of tongues doesn't always work hah.

This week has been crazy and weird but so much fun! I am progressing every day and talking much more in our lessons. It is an amazing experience and I have already seen the blessings in my life.

Spiritual thought for the week Alma 26:12. I am just an instrument in the Lord's hands and all I say and do is just Him working through me. I know this is the Lord's work and every time I teach I know more and more in my heart that this is the whole truth and that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God. I am so thankful to know that I can be with you all forever and I get to share more experiences with you throughout my life. I wish sometimes that I hadn't been afraid to share my testimony more to people because now I see that words can never hurt people if they are of the spirit. Don't forget that as you go throughout your day, Tay and Court, never be embarrassed to stand up for what you believe, share with your whole heart what you know because you never know who is listening!

Today we are going to the Praudo (not sure how to spell it) but its an art museum and it will be fun.

Last story, the girls in my district have become known as the CCM (MTC in Spanish) quartet.  We sing all the time and we serenade people every night. Its so funny and so fun!  We actually sound pretty good too!

Well I love you all and I know there is more I can write but im down to my last few minutes. I hope you enjoyed the pictures! Also mom if you could attach the picture of me with my sunbeams? I think it should be on the computer but if not its no big deal!

love you with all my heart! Tell everyone hello and I'm sorry I couldn't respond to everyone. I had a lot of time last week but not so much this week. Half way done and 3 weeks to go!!!

love always

hermana barker