Back to the Path of God .....

Week #20



Helllloooo my favorite people in the world!

I surprise myself every day with how much I miss you all. I talk about my family all the time and I show pictures to everyone!  But don't worry, I'm focused on the work, but I'm also bragging about the coolest family ever! As you can see by the pictures, Rosmary got baptized on Saturday! There were a few stumbling blocks along the way, but it was a beautiful baptism none the less. Manuel  bore his testimony at the end about how he saw the Elders out one day and decided he needed to come back to church. He then went on to say that through the Elders, he and Rosmary found three angels: Hermana Tuttle, Walker and Barker. It was so cute. He looked right at me and said that I have been a great blessing and angel in his life to help him get back to the path of God. It was beautiful. I finally can say that I have a recent convert! It's great.

Manuel, Hermana Allatore, Rosemary, Hermana Barker

Manuel, Hermana Allatore, Rosemary, Hermana Barker, Hristo

Manuel and Hristo.  Manuel wanted a scripture case and Rachel found him one.

As far as the Bulgarians, don't worry. Hristo is AMAZING! 

(When Rachel sent us a letter about these 2 Bulgarians showing up at church on a Friday asking for help and Rachel and her companion were the ones helping them, it made us a little nervous.)  He doesn't understand Spanish very well, and yet he is at every meeting, every activity, every devotional trying his best to pay attention and listen. He is a great member of the church. We found out this week that he has no family. His parents both died when he was younger and his wife's family doesn't like him because he is poor. He told us in broken Spanish / English that he was grateful for the  church and for his "parents" Rosmary and Manuel. He calls Manuel "papa" its so funny! He's great so don't worry.

The Wardells leave tomorrow. It's so sad, but they are excited to get home. Thank you for sending her the email mom. They both told me about it. That was very nice of you. If you could, could you find a way for her to get the weekly emails? That would be great. (Brother Wardell has been on a sebatical in Spain and have been  Rachel and her companions American family away from home.  They returned to the states on Dec. 16th.)

I received the package! It was awesome, thank you so much! I put the presents under our little tree and it makes it feel so much more homey in our piso. Hermana Alatorre was very grateful that you sent her something as well. Thank you for that. We have permission from president to eat as a district at houses for Christmas and for New Years. We have 2 meals each day on 24, 25 of December and the 5, 6 of January for their Three Kings Holiday! (The Three Kings Holiday in Spain is really where they open their presents.  Christmas day is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.)  idk how I am going to eat all the food! I may die haha. It'll be so fun though. I am excited for Christmas. 

Rachel requested we send Fruity Pebbles.

The companionship is going. It's not the most fun, but it is the most obedient I will probably ever be on my mission. Hermana Alatorre is a great teacher and she really loves the work. The only problem is she doesn't know how to have fun while working. Slowly though, she is cracking and I am teaching her how to have fun. She tells me every day how good I am with members. I love watching her teach, she is so fluid and they are captivated every time. It truly is amazing. Sometimes it's hard because I don't do much teaching. I don't talk much during lessons unless I tap her so she knows I want to talk, but it's ok. It is showing me what not to do as a senior companion. 

We are seeing miracles however. On Friday we got a call from man named Julian. He said we had given him a target (missionary card) and that he wanted to be a missionary so he decided to call us. We were shocked! So yesterday we went to visit him. We thought it was a younger guy, because neither of us could remember talking to a Julian, but when he answered the door he was about 35. He said he had read the card and wanted to find out how to be a missionary. We gave him a lesson  at the door and gave him a Book of Mormon. He told us he was going to read it and that he would be at church next Sunday at 10. We never told him what time church started, so he must have really read the card. We also made a return cita with him and he must have reminded us 6 times what day and when. He asked if we were really going to remember or if he needed to call us. He was doing our part! It was truly amazing! HE CALLED US! Hermana Alatorre said it's the first time in her mission that someone has actually called from the tarjeta! It was truly a miracle that we had been looking for, keep Julian in your prayers!

Well there's not much else to talk about. Hermana Alatorre and I put together a Christmas program for our ward dinner this Friday. Hopefully all goes smoothly. The good thing is that she does take my ideas to heart. I have a lot of ideas for the ward, but sometimes I don't know how to put them to use. She helps me make my ideas a reality. The program hopefully will be an idea that turns out well! 

Spanish is coming along great. I understand a lot more than I can speak, but slowly I am getting there. Hermana Alatorre is a great help. She can explain in English too which is great because then I actually understand why a sentence is structured how it is instead of just memorizing phrases. It is great. 

As for Skype, yes it would be at 8pm. between 7:30 and 8:30 probably.  Will that work  for Mark and Kelli as well? I can do it later or maybe earlier  if needs be. We have a dinner appointment but they know we have to leave to Skype so let me know. I know there will be tears from my end too. I tear up just thinking about hearing your voices! love you all! 

Thank you to everyone for all the emails and  letters I receive. I really feel the love and support form everyone. Did you get my letter for the young women? Also can you ask grandma and grandpa if they got my card? thank you!

Feliz Navidad! Love you and miss you all! 

Con Amor

Hermana Barker