I Really do Love Being a Missionary ........

Week # 14

HI FAMILY!!!!! I hope you know how much I miss you all! I show you off to everyone I meet. They all tell me how beautiful my family is and of course I have to agree! Who wouldn't!!! The costumes are...AWESOME!!!! I am seriously so proud of you all. Now for my claim to fame…Halloween here is like a long lost tale. They know what it is, but that's about it. Basically, Hermana Walker and I had this brilliant idea to throw a party for the three wards in Valencia. It's been sooo stressful! but so much fun! The party is this Wednesday and we are super excited about it. I'm a little nervous, but all of the other missionaries have been super helpful so slowly everything is coming together. The only problem now is that I don't know how to speak Halloween words in Spanish...so that's what I'm doing today and tomorrow! haha. I will send pictures of costumes because I bet they are going to be interesting. Pray for us hahah. 

Congrats Court on your solo!! The locotorio I am in this time doesn't have headphones so I can't listen, but I will try next week!! I really am so proud of you though, good work! I brag about how amazing my family is all the time! I really do have the best family ever. Speaking of family, there are a lot of families who have "adopted" Hermana Walker and me into their families. Mama Africa, I'm pretty sure her name gives her away, is the best. She feeds us all the time and gives us a million besitos (little kisses) every time we see her. I am going to get a picture with her this week for all of you! 

Sorry this email is going to be a little sporadic. I have a lot of different things to talk about so hope you don't mind my crazy mind. I FINALLY had paella this last week. It was really good until I found out what was in it….I was more than half way done eating it and not thinking anything of it when an Elder leaned over and said, "you know what's in that? It's chicken heart!!!!" I was so grossed out! I looked close and you really good see every artery and vein in the heart! It was great haha. Hermana Walker and I have a motto about the food, "Eat now and ask when it's finished". I'm still not sure what exactly I eat, but its amazing how much I can eat now and how much my taste buds have turned off for me during my mission haha. A blessing from above I would say.

I'm glad everyone enjoyed my pepper spray story…I hope you included the picture as well! It's not the same story without it! haha. Nothing like that happened this week so I don't have any good stories for you this time. The work really is dead, but Hermana Walker and I cry laughing every day. We are having a blast. We realized that this transfer may really just be about finding and making bonds with menos actives (less active members). I am learning a lot about myself and about patience that I never knew I had. I also realized every day that no matter what, we see miracles. Today we went to a burger place for lunch. There wasn't anyone else in there, so the waiter talked to us for a little bit. When we walked in he said, "hello misioneras". We came to find out that his family are members and he has been to the church before! We invited him this Sunday and he said he would pass by. It was a little miracle that we see every day during this hard work. 

I really do love being a missionary. Every day I miss family and friends and America in general, but I would never quit because it´s hard. This really has been one of the best experiences of my life. Speaking of missionary work, Rosemary is doing well. She can't afford to move out, and there are difficulties in getting married, but she has gotten her own bed in a different room, and she reads and prays all the time. She is a very special woman, and I have no doubt in my mind that she will someday be baptized. I may not be here to see the day, but I know that day will come. Thank you for all your prayers for me and for my investigators. It really does mean a lot to me. 

I am starting another letter home for you all, but it might not be for a week or two. I need more to write about. I'm glad you enjoy them though, becuase they are much easier for me than email to write details. Also, i heard through other missionaries that packages at christmas can take up to two months...just a heads up if you were going to plan on sending anything to that special someone in Spain :) maybe something like fruity pebbles....or reeses cups...or american food haha. 

well I love you and miss you all. I seriously LOVE the pictures so keep them coming. I will send more soon. It's hard sometimes because some of the locotorios are a little on the ghetto side and cameras don't connect to the computer.  Be safe and keep praying and know that I am using my special missionary powers (and yes thats totally a real thing!) to pray for all of you at home as well!

Con todo mi amor

hermana barker