Excuse me sir...you're naked...

I've been out seven months this week! Crazy...
Okay, funny story. So we got a referral from church headquarters. So of course we go over to the house and knock on the door. This man answers...naked. Not just mostly naked...but birthday suit naked. HA! I'm use to people answering the doors in their underwear or in a towel. No biggie. But this was a first for me! I've heard missionary stories like this before, but it was always in a foreign country! Oh Texas. I love you. So yeah, this guy is naked and Sister Trusty's face. HA HA HA! That moment was priceless. I tried to keep it cool and still invited him to learn more (while staring at the ceiling). He was interested and I was so GRATEFUL he wasn't! HA HA! I couldn't stop laughing. You know I'm cursed with that laughing disease...

I've recently read 3 Nephi 11 again and I. Love. It. Something that I think a lot of people skip over in this chapters is the phrase "one by one." Christ loves everyone but He loves each of us on a personal level. I think that's very important to remember.

I can't believe y'all went to Washington DC and NYC!!! I'm a little bit jealous but it's coo. I like it here in Texas. :) Do you notice how I say y'all? Yeah, I don't know if I'll ever learn how to not say y'all. HA! Just call me "Texas." :)

I know this gospel is true with all my heart and I love it!!!

Life. Is. Beautiful.

First off...can I just tell you how much I love participating in God's work? There is NO place I'd rather be. I will NEVER regret the decision I made to go on a mission. Of course it's not butterflies and roses all the time (but who's life is?) but it's worth it! There will never be another time when I can give 24/7...every second of everyday working with my heart, might, mind, and strength for God! It's a beautiful blessing that I have and it truly gives me the greatest happiness. I have learned so much, felt so much, and overcome weaknesses. How. Great. Is. My. Calling.

Second...thanks SO MUCH for the package! Y'all know me too well. Everything is sooo me. :) It made my day! But question...what the world is the green thing? I wear it around my head (not out and about don't worry) but I'm really not sure what it is. So could someone please enlighten me so I can stop looking like an idiot? Thanks. :)

Oh funny story...I kind of hung up on President Ames the other day...on purpose. He was calling while we were on a doorstep. Sister Trusty didn't think anyone was coming so she answered it and threw it to me...RIGHT as they answered the door! President starts talking and I just say "President I have to go!" Click. Talk about terrible Sister Barnes! We got in to the house. ;) So I didn't end up calling him back for about 45 minutes. HA! Oh man. Good thing he's so cool. Anyway..I thought it was kind of funny...

So we have two baptisms coming up! A twelve year old boy named Cadence who is just amazing and so ready to be baptized. And Robin...still. She is so ready to be baptized, but the only reason why she hasn't is because she doesn't think she's ready, but she just needs to recognize that she is. But no worries...she's still progressing well and it WILL happen! The Gray parents have accepted baptism but not a date so we will keep working with them! Also, we've been working a lot with the less actives and some are FINALLY coming back! The church is SO TRUE that I can't even handle it!!! Oh man. Gotta love it.

Well...the elders are glaring at me because I'm taking too long. Sigh. Ha! So I gotta go but I love y'all so much!!!!

Love,
Sister Barnes

UNDER HOUSE ARREST....dun dun dun...

Oh man...where to start. How to even answer these emails! AHH! Y'all are stressing me out! Ha. Joke. First of all...HEATHECLIFF (Autumn) IS ENGAGED!!! AGHHH! I was dying laughing here in the library when I read all about it. I can not even wait for them. I am freakin' out! This is the second ring that she has stolen...just sayin...How is my CTR ring treatin' ya Aut? ;) HA HA HA but seriously..I want my ring back. Okay...kidding. Love ya.

I actually didn't realize that Chatty Cathy was a doll. I just hear that term all the time. Ha! But yeah...that's one thing that I've learned out here...how to talk to people. I loooooove people. Every person has their own uniqueness, their own story, their own history, their own way of thinking. I love getting to know them and just chattin' with them. So sorry if I talk y'alls ears off when I get home. It's a Texas thing.

Okay...I've been trying to avoid this subject...and I thank you for your lengthy letters and emails trying to convince me that I'm being dumb. Ha ha I know y'all are just watching out for me. I AM scared to tell you because I DO think y'all will freak out. But just know that I'm feeling a lot better.

Mom, I will TRY to be honest. :) I'll start with zone conference...No I did not give my training. President Ames called me the night before and gave my training to someone else ( :( mine was good too!)..he also wouldn't let me drive...and then I had to leave early to get an MRI. Sigh. I was in pretty bad shape that day. I was really sick for awhile there but since the whole "house arrest" thing, I feel sooo much better. It makes me want to just get back out there because I feel fine!!! But then I just fall apart all over again when I try. But yes, Sister Ames told me that I need rest and even told me that they would take me to the mission home. Nah...It's bad enough being in the apartment all day! This is by far been the hardest week of the mish. :) Not just the physical pain...I can handle that...but just because I'm so miserable staying in the apartment. I just feel bad because I have so many duties and responsibilities that aren't being met. I feel bad for putting people out of their way because of my weakness...and my poor companion!!! Oh I just feel so bad for her. I just feel bad. :( I want to be out and about! :)

I truly am grateful for trials in our lives though. I know I talk about this all the time, but it's because it is oober important to me...and should be for everyone. I am so grateful for my Savior and His atonement. I have come to such a better understanding and a knowledge of the atonement. And it's times like these when I understand more fully the enabling power of the atonement. If life was all breezy good all the time, we would never understand! So I truly am grateful for them... :) And what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger! Ha ha! :) Love. This. Gospel. Love my Redeemer.

To comfort my dear sweet mother. I am letting people help. I don't think this is appendicitis and I'm hours away from dying! Ha ha :) But I've been trying to take prescriptions and listen to Sister Ames and the doctors, etc. Man, I must be stubbornly prideful because it is HARD. I hate letting people help! My ward mission leader scolds me everyday because of my pride...no worries. He's just as stubborn as I am and won't let me leave his house until I'm honest! Ha ha also, his son is a doctor and is constantly checking up on me. So no I'm not dying. Yes I am getting help. And I feel sooo much better! I go to the neurologist on Wednesday so we'll see if we can figure anything out. But I think I know what it is...my gut feeling...Hey, my gut has been right before! :) I'm gonna leave ya hanging...I'll let you know if I'm right next week. ;) Dun dun dun.

I'm doing well! :) I love the gospel. And I am truly happy. :) LOVE y'all! Keep the faith!!!! :)

Sister Barnes

P.S. Sorry...I know I still didn't give you anything too concrete, but I DID tell you more so no whinin'!!! ;)

Girdin Up My Loins

Oh boy. Sister Ames told me to gird up my loins. Man! I can't believe y'all called the office!!...but I forgive you. :) Sister Ames was checking up on me everyday, but now since y'all shared the level of pain I can apparently withstand, I got her texting me all the time. But y'all don't need to be worried! I'm doing swell! :) I'm out working all day long so obviously I'm not dying. Just to give you a little update...the doctors didn't really tell me much...but I should know more after the MRIs, the EMGs, etc. I'm being taken care of...so please don't worry about me. :) I'll tell you more when I find out. But seriously, I'm not dying. I am loving being a missionary right now. :)

Sister Meiners literally cried every single day for a week up until transfers. I will miss her but I know she's doing amazing in the ghetto of Fort Worth! So my companion is Sister Trusty from Saratoga Springs, UT. She's a cute girl! She's young. Well I'm young...but you know what I mean. I am doing some follow up training. No training for me this time. Phew! :) Ha ha I'm still wondering when I'm going to have a follow up trainer. Anywho. She doesn't say too much yet...but I've turned into some kind of chatty cathy and it's freaking me out! I'm turning into a Texas Talker. Save me. But things are going well. Robin is still being baptized! (but it's now in September because she's going out of town). We have a few more baptisms that should be coming up! We have found some new investigators with promising potential! I just love being a missionary...I feel like I'm finally getting the hang of things. (Only took six months right?) ha ha but God has been giving me strength. And for some reason, I have been really bold lately. Like it's scaring me. Sometimes, after I say things I'm like "Where in the world did that come from?!" Maybe it's the spirit. I'm just not afraid about anything anymore. I know why I'm here. I know what I have to do. I know the people need the gospel. And I know the gospel is true. BE BOLD BUT LOVING...is my new motto.

Okay, I about DIED when I read about the wasp stinging Dad's tongue. Ba ha ha. "It hurt!" Oh Dad...rub some dirt in it. I HAVE heard of flyboards. I saw them on the news right before I left!!! They look freakin' sweet!!! I am so trying one someday. Wow way to make me jealous with the whole Idaho Burrito thing from Javiers. Urgh. and again with talking about the new temple video which I missed by a few days. Double urgh. (I obviously am still working on the whole "thou shalt not covet thing". I'm sure y'all did amazing in your talks! Y'all are so good at public speaking and teaching by the spirit. It's a good combo. I LOVE Autumn's dress! I was a little worried because I couldn't be there ;) but I approve!

I am giving a training tomorrow in Zone Conference on the atonement. I am so grateful for the Savior's sacrifice for me. I am so grateful for the redeeming power of the atonement, but also the enabling power. He gives me strength that I know is not of my own. He is with me, guiding me, and helping me. He understands what we are going through and how to help us, because he suffered it long before we ever did. I know that through the atonement, not only our behaviors, but our natures can be changed. and I know that "all that is unfair about life can be made right through the atonement of Jesus Christ." If anyone is struggling, please get down on your knees and plead for His help. He can not take your burden completely away, but he can give you the strength to overcome it. How great is our God.

Love y'all!!!!

Love,

Sister Barnes

Transfer Week!

I am staying here in Arlington so no new address! I will get to the country someday...I will...but for now, I'm gonna give everything I got in Arlington, TX. I am going to miss my daughter Sister Meiners so much though. She has become my best friend. But I know this is God's will and I will love my new companion too! :) Ha ha but my bishop and my ward mission leader are very sad. They called me and Sister Meiners "spiritual twins". Also, our ward mission leader said that in all his work in the past 30 years, he's never seen two better missionaries. PFFF! I almost choked. I just feel like that is so far from the truth...but I am grateful for the strength and guidance of the Lord. I know He is with us every step of the way. There is no way I could be out here without His help. I love Him. 

I CAN listen to that CD. :) I have the Joseph Smith album on my MP3 but I totes want the missionary work one! YETTHHHH... More music. :) Thanks!

I went on another exchange this week with my Sister Training Leader. You learn lots on exchanges but the one thing that I always forget is that no missionary is perfect. I think I often assume that every other missionary is perfect and that I'm the only one with weakness...but we are all continually trying to improve. It's just good to know that we're doing alright. :)

Elder Daniel my friend my Philmont is leaving for home this week. Man! I guess that's just part of mission life...there's ALWAYS lots of changing going on. ESPECIALLY lots of change going on inside of the missionaries! Like this one! Man...I won't come home the same person. Don't worry...I'll probably still be dorky and trip all the time, but my testimony has grown immensely...my love for people...my love for the scriptures...my love for missionary work...my love for this gospel...my love for my family...my love for my Savior. I understand more and more each day about what life is all about. It gives me an eternal perspective and things are just...better. Let us not forget the eternal perspective of things. Let us remember why we are here and what is most dear to us. Focus on the important things in life and don't be upset over the little things...it's not worth it.

Sorry...I know my updates are scatter brained/weird but it's Lisa...so really I assume no one is surprised.

I love y'all SOOO MUCH!!! Hold fast to the iron rod!

Love,

Sister Barnes

Dun dun dunn...

I don't know why my email is titled this...I thought people might be more excited about reading my update...

First of all...I had two epiphanies...Peter in the Bible Videos is Joseph Smith in the Joseph Smith movie! That one was a big one for me. Also, the dad in Everything You Want (Maybe only Aut knows what I'm talking about...) is in the mormon message Enduring Love and is also Governor Boggs in the Joseph Smith movie! Okay...really not cool...but I'm proud of myself.

Remember how I was supposed to be working at Disney World this summer? Weird. Life has a way of playing out differently than one plans. :) All I know is we must put our trust in the Lord and lean not unto our own understanding! Everything will be okay if we do that. :) Butttt.....I am SO going to Harry Potter world when I get home. That is still one of my dreams! ;) Dad yeah? Okay. Thanks. Tangent. Okay. Stopping.

So I heard something new concerning our religion...Apparently, only GUYS can be mormon! Wow...I had no idea. Ha ha this lady was trying to convince us that our church only believed that men could be members. Lady...we have both been members for a looong time. I think we would know. At least she didn't ask if we had horns...

This week was a little bit slower. Good things are still happening though! Robin is preparing herself to be baptized pretty soon here! Transfers are next week though so I might barely miss it. That's okay...as long as it happens. I love her. :) We teach a lot of black people and they are my favorite....Boneeshia...gotta love her...and Jermaine...Jermeeshia...Jercadence...Keanna... I can't even handle them because they are sooo cool!!!

Wow. My favorite part about being a missionary (I'm pretty sure I say that every week about something different...) is bearing my testimony a bzillion times a day. I just LOVE testifying! It strengthens my testimony. It strengthens other people around me. The spirit is felt. So yes, I simply love bearing my testimony. I know God loves us and this is His church! This is His work and His glory! Follow Him. Keep His commandments. Trust Him. Love Him. Become like Him.

Love,

Sister Barnes

P.S. I mention jet skiing...so you just have to go jet skiing. Ironic. ;)

P.P.S. I'm glad Mom won in 5 crowns. As long as it wasn't Dad! Ha toodles!

TEMPLE!

I got to go to the temple AGAIN! I am so lucky. Some missionaries from the mission don't even get to go once! It was amazing as usual. I hope y'all make the temple a priority in your lives because wow...just wow. But that is why I didn't email yesterday...sorry!

We had interviews with our new president this past week! Wow. He is a truly inspired man and very excited about the work. His goal is to eventually do away with tracting. Woah. That's kind of a big deal! He wants us to be so busy that we don't have time to tract! MAN! Sister Meiners rubbed that one in my face! I just think it's fun sometimes.... Ha ha but members members members. If the members AND the missionaries were doing this together, the work would soar! That is President Ames's vision. Now we just need to motivate the members! :)

You truly do come to love a lot of people on your mission...especially your investigators. You love with them, you cry with them, and sometimes you cry for them. I think it gives me just a slight taste of how Heavenly Father feels about me. Sometimes love really hurts! You truly are devastated when your investigator/friend chooses wrong. It just tears you apart. If that's how my human heart feels, can you imagine how Heavenly Father feels about us?! It's mind blowing. I've learned a lot out here, but love is definitely a big one.

I love this gospel oh so much. I wish people could and would understand just how truly important it is. Can't we just like take away their agency? Oh wait.....awkward. Ha ha! Joke. Agency is wonderful! :) But I am still coming to a better understand of just HOW important it is. It is EVERYTHING. The Doctrine of Christ is EVERYTHING. It is beautiful and it is true.

I'm sorry this is so short! Just know how much I love y'all and how much I love this gospel!

Love,

Sister Barnes

P.S. Mom...have you by chance watched the Walking Dead at all lately?