WEEK #61
 This whole baby waiting thing is really going to kill me....I almost freak out every Monday morning because there could be a baby picture waiting for me. My companion is going to get sick of me saying "maybe today!"  But I hope he comes soon so Kel can relax again and gain her strength back...of course he's a fighter though. just like his momma :)

Well as for Castellón, it's going. It's been raining SUPER hard here lately so of course no one goes outside...just the crazy missionaries who get soaked and try to talk to people in the rain...yea that's me! But it's been good because they have needed rain here as well. How is California? Any rain at all lately?

It sounds like all is well with everyone in California. I can't believe how fast time is going by. It feels like it was just summer in Tarragona. And yes Hermana Wallace and I are definitely a short companionship, as in height.  It's funny though because she is shorter than me! finally!  The only problem is that neither of us can reach some things in our piso. But we have stools so we get by. 

 

 

Speaking of piso...we're moving! Our president gave us permission to move closer to the church and our area. We found a nice little piso about 10 minutes from the church (instead of 45). It'll be nice once we move and don't have to walk so far...especially if the rain continues. I think we will move in this week. That means no more cucarachas either!! YAY!

 

 

Also this week I had a great experience. Like you said mom it's really lucky that I have been able to go back and see some people from Valencia. I really think that it was inspired to come back here to help Rosmary and Manuel. I also have been able to talk to Sara. She was a girl from the ward with anorexia and after I left she stopped going to church. I talked to her a few weeks ago and I just heard that she has been going to church for the past month. The Lord really does know what we need and then provides the means for that to happen.   I am so grateful to have had the chance to come back and help these people. 

The great experience though was with a man named Santiago. When Hermana Walker and I were together, in December of 2013, our Bishop told us to pass by Santiago and his family who hadn't gone to church in a year. We passed by and to be honest I don't really remember much of what happened (probably because I didn't understand them since I was still new). But before I left Valencia they were coming back to church and to the activities and all. I didn't realize how much of an impact we made though until this week. On Tuesday we were in Valencia for a district meeting and Santiago walked into the church. When he saw me he almost started crying and just squeezed my hand. He looked me in the eye and said "you saved me". Then he went around to all the missionaries that were there and told them Hermana Walker and I were the ones who saved him. It was a super spiritual moment. He is now the president of the young men organization and he has helped 4 youth come back to church and start preparing for their missions. It was incredible!!! He said his little girl reminds me of the missionary who can't eat strawberries because of her weird tongue (Rachel's tongue gets huge red welts on it when she eats strawberries). It was so cute. At that moment I realized that we really never know how much just a friendly smile and love can change not just one, but many lives. It was an experience I will never forget. And one that helped build my testimony a lot. 

We also had a miracle last night. We were in the church for choir practice and a woman and her niece came in to see the church. They live next door and have seen the church but have never found it open. They just wanted to look and they said there was a sweet spirit there. She said she was going to come on Sunday for conference so we are crossing our fingers!

The work is going stong here in Castellón. I don't know if I said this last week, but the closer I get to being done, the more my desire grows to help the people. Time on the mission (and in life in general) is precious. Time is something you can't get back and I have realized that I have wasted some time on the mission and I want to try my hardest to not waste anymore. A boy named Diego just left on his mission this week to Argentina and my advice to him was to take every moment and every person like it was a precious gift. Enjoy every moment and be yourself because YOU are who people need. 

I hope you are all happy and doing well...Kelli give me a nephew soon please!  and keep staying strong. Mark keep being an example. Tay and Court love you both. Dad and mom miss and love you and I am so grateful for your words of encouragement always. They really do mean the world to me. you have no idea how much your simple statements help me get through the tough times.

CON MUCHO AMOR
Hermana Barker

ps It's funny mom that you said I look more Spaniard now. I have gotten a lot of people lately  asking where I'm from. They all think that I'm from Europe somewhere. They are never shocked when I tell them I have Italian blood...it's come in handy lately...I'm being grateful for my roots!