THE CRAZIEST WEEK SO FAR .....

WEEK #52

Sara Acre, Hermana Barker and Hermana Caicedo

Well I don't even know where to start for this week. Let's just say it has probably been the craziest week I have had on the mission! 

I can't believe that Courtney is driving. Seriously that blew my mind!!! What is happening at home?? Stop growing up please! But also she looks soo pretty in that picture! Good work Court...much better than I did on my permit test...

Also the bathroom looks great! Look at your all fancy style! I love it ha. I still want to see the other bedroom too if you get a chance. We also painted a house this week. It was a service project for a family that is moving. It's not as fancy as the bathroom though...it's just white walls ha.

Now for the craziness of this week! Where do I even start! First of all we have a baptism date for Rosa in August! She finally made the commitment and came to church this week!!! Hopefully everything will work out with it all and we will be able to see the miracle of her baptism this month! Also Maria Jose is MIA. She is always making excuses not to see us. I think she's just afraid of what her parents and everyone else is going to say. One day she will accept this gospel. I just don't know if she's ready right now.

So as for this week. Let me start on Tuesday...We found a ton more bed bugs in our piso...finally I had enough so I called the mission office to ask if they could do something more because obviously the spray wasn't working at all. So they said I needed to call the dueño (landlord) and have him come look. On Wednesday morning they sent someone to come look and the man said we needed to fumigate our piso! So we called the office on Thursday morning and told them everything that happened. OH also, the man who came to look at our piso threw out our mattresses so we were sleeping on the couch that night that also has bed bugs...so anyway I called the office and told them everything that happened. They said that I needed to try to find someone to come fumigate on Friday morning and we could go to a hotel. So Thursday evening we had to pack up everything and move to a hotel...On Friday I found out that I was going to have to go to Cornella to be with another sister whose companion was also leaving. So I had to go back to piso and pack all my stuff as well. On Friday night we were sitting in a hotel with all of our stuff. Sunday morning we went to go check out and the hotel said that the room hadn't been paid for yet. So we had to pay IN CASH for the hotel room. Luckily we had enough personal money to pay for it all. So we had to run to the bank and then come back and pay and go to church. After church we ran to our train and now I'm sitting in Cornella with Hermana Gittins and I don't go back to my area until theA5th of august for transfers....IT WAS CRAZY!!! 

As you can tell its been a crazy week and not only because we had lots of citas (appointments), but because we had personal problems too. Now I'm not only known as the hermana that sprayed herself in the face with pepper spray, but I'm also the hermana that has bed bugs!!!!! What a great reputation I am making for myself!

We had some amazing citas though with less active members this week and guess what?? Three of them came to church who haven't been to church in years! It was incredible. They were so happy to be there and they said they were going to try to make it a habit from now on. It was so great. I love more than anything seeing the testimony of a less active member start to grow again. They always tell stories about what they remember feeling when they were at church. One of them told me that she dreams about church things every night. She knows its God's way of reminding her what her path is. They are incredible people. They all just have these road blocks that have stopped them from progressing. But it's incredible to be able to help them grow and come back to church!

As for everything else, I am doing great. I am healthy and happy and loving life as always. We find out about transfers on Saturday night so you won't hear from me until Tuesday next week. I am sure I'm going back to Tarragona, it's just a question of who with? I was so glad to hear from all of you this week. Thank you for picking the same week to email me! Some of you are probably going to have to wait for a response because I don't have enough time to email everyone back sorry!! But thanks for the love and support always! I am always thinking of you all. 

Con amor,

Hermana Barker

My one year mark celebration. How fortunate that we were able to celebrate in a nice hotel and not in our bed bug infested piso!

I'M AT ONE YEAR !!!!!!!

WEEK #51

Wow it looks like you all are having a great time. That is so awesome that you and grandma went zip lining...coolest grandma haha. I am so glad that Tay and Court had the opportunity to go to EFY...Everyone here loves it. They all look forward to it every year. I wish I had gone more, but I am definitely going to go back as a counselor.

You asked about the bugs...well my companion is getting eaten alive. We finally had to go to the doctor because we thought she was having an allergic reaction. The doctor gave her medicine and she is finally getting better. As for me, it's now mostly just the mosquitos because its hot and super humid. They are everywhere! The bugs though, we're still working on it. The dueño (landlord) won't do anything about the piso because he says we brought them into the piso. So we have to talk to the mission office to see if we can get someone to come and fumigate the piso...what an adventure on top of everything else!

COURTNEY IS DRIVING!!! that is not possible! are you kidding me? Stop growing up please!  I'm a little happy that I can skip the first few months of driving! No offense Court :) That's crazy though how fast the time goes. 

As for me...I'M AT A YEAR!!!  I seriously can't even believe it. I can't believe that a year has gone by. The truth is, it doesn't feel like a year at all. It feels like a semester of school. I'm on the downhill slope now. What a crazy year it has been though. I have passed through some of the toughest and happiest times of my life. It's been an emotional, physical, and spiritual roller coaster to tell you the truth. I am so glad though that I decided to serve. I know that I was meant to come here to not only help others but to grow and learn myself. I have done things that I never thought I would be able to do. I have found myself in a way that I never knew possible. It's incredible. and to top it all off...I have eaten seafood and tuna more than a thousand times and I'm still living! Oh and I'm speaking Spanish...what more could I ask for! 

Honestly I could go on and on about what I have learned this last year, but I don't have time for that. I am happy and still tired, but so happy. This transfer has been super fun. It's my last week with hermana Caicedo. Next week I am going to have a new companion and a week after that I will have a new companion. I think it's a record...4 companions in one transfer!  but it's definitely been fun. 

We had interviews with President Pace this week and I am always so uplifted talking to him. He wanted me to tell my family and my parents thank you for the daughter they have raised. I told him I would definitely tell them. I am so grateful for the family that I have. I know I have said that more than a million times, but every day and every situation makes me more grateful for what I have. Thank you to everyone.

How did Grandma Daisy's surgery go? Give her all my love and tell her she has been in my prayers. Love you Grandma and of course grandpa Bob too :)

Well not much this week, but it's getting super hot...is that deodorant in the mail by chance? and the super floss? Really miss some American things...hint hint :)

See you in 6 months!!!

Con amor,

Hermana Barker

THIS WAS A REALLY SUPER WEEK ………..

WEEK #50

Well it looks like all of you are just living the life right now! All of you are having fun adventures. Sorry dad that you're stuck at home...hopefully it's some peace and quiet for you though right? And don't worry about your talks! Everyone loves your talks and they will never get sick of hearing them! I gave a talk yesterday for the first time in this ward...the bad thing was that I kinda forgot about it until the last minute...I didn't really have anything planned, but it went super well. The spirit of the mission I guess. There were some tears shed, hopefully because they felt the spirit and not because it was awkward! But I can't wait to hear some of these famous talks that you're giving dad!

Mom give Tiffany a huge hug for me and tell her that she's the best!! I'm super jealous that she gets to go to lunch with MY MOM! Don't forget me mom! I'm still your second daughter! hehe. We better go to lunch when I get home...

How is EFY for everyone? Here in Spain they only have one session for everyone. It's super different. A joven (young person) in my ward told me that I should come back and be a counselor here for EFY...not a bad idea eh?  

As for me, I'm doing super great! I am loving the mission as always. Hermana Caicedo has so much love for the people. It's weird though because she doesn't know a lot of the mission rules, and so things that are really important to me to be a successful missionary, she doesn't really get why we have to do them.  I have to remind myself that she started from scratch! No MTC, no missionary training at all.  But we are working hard and we are definitely seeing miracles. Remember Rosa from the very beginning of my time here? Well she is an older woman from Honduras. She dropped us for a while, but about a week ago she called and asked if we could come by. Now she has a fecha (baptism date) for August! The only problem is she has to get married...I may be planning a wedding! SO COOL!  So pray for that. 

Hermana Caicedo and me in the garden of the Cathedral

Most of our time this week has been consumed with trying to kill bichos (bugs) in our piso (apartment)! There are sooo many and they just don't die! I don't know what kind of bug, but when you smash them I'm pretty sure it's my blood that comes out, not theirs! But we rearranged everything and sprayed and cleaned a bunch this week...if the biting doesn't end...I'm living on the streets. 

Funny story about bichos.  One day I laid down on my bed and was looking at the ceiling. In the light cover there was a giant...and I mean GIANT cucaracha (cockroach)!! Of course Hermana Caicedo and I were not going to kill it...so yes, we were those sisters that called our district leader and made him come kill the bug! It was HUGE haahah. But he helped us and was a man...good work Elder!

La Cucaracha!!!!!

Okay now for the real stuff. We have been really getting close to Maria Jose and Eduardo (12 years old). This week Eduardo and I had a deal that if he read the Book of Mormon every night, I would play soccer with him. Well he read, so we played. It was super fun and Hermana Caicedo had a chance to talk to Maria Jose and get her to open up. It was perfect. Eduardo opened up about things and he said that he has never been so happy. His mom also said that since we have met them Eduardo is much more relaxed and has a lot more respect for everyone. It's amazing what a friendship can do for some people.  They are changing and it's incredible. 

Also, there is this old couple here named Rosario and Jose. They remind me exactly of Grandma Daisy and Grandpa Bob. All the missionaries call them Yayo and Yaya (grandpa and grandma in catalan). They always give us cookies and they are so cute and loving to everyone. This week when I was talking to them, it made me miss my grandparents. It also made me realize how lucky I am to have grandparents that care and are a part of my life. Thank you to all my grandparents who love me and my family so deeply!

Well things are starting to happen here in Tarragona. We have interviews with President Pace this week so I am going to ask about details for you all coming here and all that. I know it's a little early, but I want to give you all time to figure out the flights and things. I will let you know when I hear more. 

LOVE YOU ALL!!! Keep smiling and enjoy every moment. We never know who is watching or who just needs a smiling face to make their day. 

CON AMOR

Hermana Barker

ps my investigator Yadira had a baby this last week...we went and bought a little dress for the baby and I was looking at little boy clothes too...KELLI I AM GOING TO SPOIL YOUR CHILD SOOOOOO MUCH!!! I hope you dont mind! ps how are you? how is the health and everything??

This is the dress that my friend Ola  made for me.  So Cool

The Human Tower Competition.

The Garden of the Cathedral 

THIS WEEK WAS CRAZY ......

WEEK #49
WHAT A WEEK! 

I think I am so exhausted I may not make sense. So forgive me in advance. This week was crazy! Lots to share so get ready...

Hermana Tineo left already. I have a new companion named Hermana Caicedo. She is from Sabadell and will be with me for the next three weeks. (Hermana Caicedo is also on a mini mission, which means she is not a full time missionary like Rachel but someone who is interested in being a full time missionary so they go out on mini missions to see what it is like).  The reason that my companion got changed was because there was an opening in the zone of Sabadell and Hermana Caicedo can't serve in her own zone. (You cant be a missionary in the area where you live).So my companion and her got traded! It was a crazy week. We had to go to Barcelona on Tuesday morning, do the switch, and then travel back and get to teaching appointments. The next day we had to travel back again to Barcelona for a conference. Let me tell you, traveling wears you out!  Hermana Caicedo is great though. She has a great love for the people and she's almost as crazy as me. We get along great. 

That's one reason why I'm tired. The other reason is because people here in Tarragona know how to talk!!! They could talk forever if you let them! We have some people who, if given the time, would just talk for hours. The truth is, it wears me out trying to pay attention for that long and catch every word. But it's a good test of my Spanish skills and patience. 

This week has been great though. I think last week I talked about Maria Jose, Eduardo, and Noelia? Well they are friends of a recent convert and we have been trying forever to get to know them more. They just never had time. This week has been amazing though. We were able to see them and talk and have citas (appointments) 4 times this week! They came to a baptism and invited us over for dinner. Noelia had an operation and so the Bishop and some other men gave her a blessing. Maria Jose said it brought her so much peace of the situation. She also said she loved that the baptism was a small and simple thing. She liked how we didn't need a big party to celebrate because the party shouldn't be what the baptism is about. It was awesome. 

Last night we were contacting in the Rambla (a Rambla is a series of streets in a small area mainly for pedestrians, no vehicles are allowed on these streets)  and we ran into them. We ended up talking to them for a while. This week though, we have been praying to find a way to talk to Maria Jose and Edu separately because they need different things. Somehow, the Lord made it happen last night. Hermana Caicedo (who has had some of the same family issues) was able to talk to Maria Jose while I was talking to Edu. I asked him why he is so angry sometimes and what makes him so stressed. He opened up a lot and talked about things that have happened with his dad and how it makes him angry. He also said that its hard because he doesn't want help. I told him I wasn't here to help just to listen. He (with his 12 year old self trying to use adult words) said, "hermana sabes que usted es la única amiga que tengo? Sabes que tengo confianza con usted y usted es como una hermana mayor para mi?" (hermana do you know that your the only friend that I have and I have a lot of confidence with you and that you're like an older sister to me!) It was sooo cute. I almost cried. He has so much hurt in his eyes and to know that just talking to him made him feel better really touched me. I want to help him and his mom so bad. I know that the gospel would change their lives forever! I hope that they come to realize that too. They are special to me.

Well I'm running out of time to email! Tomorrow I am going to try to send some pictures. We saw some cool things this week! I hope Tay and Court have or had fun at EFY and at Aunt Michelle's house! That's awesome! I also hope that this week brings many blessings and lots of love!!! 

LOVE YOU ALL!
Hermana Barker

ps: for fourth of July it was a fiesta here too for a Catholic Saint...we got to see fireworks from our piso! it was awesome!  I just said that they were for America of course :)