Farewell Training Center!

Sister Rachie Barney is leaving the MTC Wednesday, December 1.

Crazy.

Her mission home mailing address is:

9327 Midlothian Turnpike
Suite 1-B
Richmond, Virginia 23235

I will update her address as soon as she lets us know what her first area will be. So exciting. 

Week Two

Thanks family!

 

You da best. And thanks mom for that update on Korea. It sounded very informed!! Good job!

 

Today was good. The provo temple closed today at 12 and our assigned time to go is at 1. So we were very sad that it looked like we weren't going to be able to make it because this was our last time and the DC temple isn't in our district. So, we just went around 1130 and did initiatory. It was SO wonderful. I love love love the temple. So many wonderful blessings.

 

Elder Malm of the 70 spoke at the devotional last night! Yes, the one who was mission pres in Norway! he told a story about some elders taht were there in Bergen and how they passed by an 'atheist rally' and were just going to leave but then the spirit told them they had to go back, so they did and walked up on stage and each bore a strong testimony, being led by the spirit and how that dispersed the crowd. it was really amazing. Did that sound familiar Erica? It was a really cool story. Just another way to show that with the Lord's help, anything is possible. We just need to do our part.

 

Also, funny story: yesterday at dinner, I was waiting and waiting for Julia to come in because I hadn't seen her all day, and when she finally came in, it was closer to when my elders left and the new shift of missionaries came in to eat. Well, Julia and her comp sat down by my sisters and me to eat their dinner and talk to me. Then some other elders I've never seen/talked to before sat down at the other end of our table. One of them, sitting a few chairs down, says to me, "You have beautiful hair!" haha I laughed and said thank you.... then he said he's noticed it from a distance and just had to tell me. my sisters were all laughing really hard and telling the elder he was crossing the elder-sister line and being to forward. hahahah it was SO funny.

 

also, Julia and I saw Brad Dellrie at the fireside on Sunday, so mom if you want to text Janet and tell her that. He is doing great! Just waiting for his visa to come! \

 

I got a package slip tonight after dinner and thought it would be the package from the fam that dad mentioned, so we ran to the mail office and picked it up and it was from Aunt Ilene and Uncle Doug!!! They sent me some chips and salsa!!!! Bless them! They must have been really in tune with the Spirit becuase I just wrote in a letter today how much I missed mexican food! And Sister Nerdin and I just today! talked about how we are going to make salsa in the field if we ever live together again! it was heaven sent!! Thank you thank you!!!

 

I am definitely going to enjoy it tonight!

 

Sorry this is short. The internet was down half of today and just started working again twenty minutes ago, but it will close me down in 4 minutes because taht is when my p-day ends. So, I'm going to go. I love you all!!

Thanks for the support and prayers!

 

Have a wonderful day!!

Love Sister Barney

Week One

Hello dear family.

 

I only have 30 min to write so please excuse the many spellng/typing errors i will probably make.

 

thank you for all of the letters/ cards! They are grrrrreat!!! ALSO. if it is too much trouble to write a letter, put it in an envelope and send it off, you can write me emails on DearElder.com. Ask Kate if you have any questions, but basically they print off the dear elders every day so i don't have to wait for wednesday. Please do that! Or just write a letter.... those are good too.

 

Anyway, this week has been crazy! I like the MTC. I never thought I would say that. ever. But it's a really good place here. I LOVE my district! They are all really great. even though they are 19 year old boys. most of the time, they are really great. And the sisters in my district are really cool. and funny. we are all in the same room in our residence hall so it's always a party. haha

 

I have learned a lot so far. too much to tell you about. sorry. But we did have a fireside on sunday from brother Lusvardi. he is in charge of church.... uh. something. i can't remember. teaching... doesn't matter. Anyway, he spoke about the importance of love. And as we know in Preach my Gospel, Love is one of the Attributes of Christ. it is SO important to everyone but especially in missionary work. And that is what I have been focusing on this week. Increasing my love for the Lord, my companion, some of the elders in my district who are especially immature, the "investigators" we teach here, and the people in Virginia! it's been a good thing. Especially today because we went to the temple this afternoon and I was just fillled to the brim with Love. And I was looking around in the Celestial Room afterward at all of my elders and I just loved all of them. And I am going to work on showing my love to my whole district (in a missionary appropriate way, of course) this week. I am called to represent Christ. And so I need to be Christlike and love everyone I come in contact with. And that is something, if you remember, that was mentioned in my setting apart blessing. That the people of VA will feel my love and the love of the Lord and their Heavenly Father as I serve and teach them. It's quite the responsibility. And I am going to take it seriously. 

 

We had a meeting yesterday about "Finding Those who will Receive the Gospel". basically learning the importance of working to find those who are prepared to accept the gospel and come unto Christ. And what I personally have to do is find people by showing them my love. I cannot be afraid because "love casteth out all fear." I think that scripture is in 2 Ne. but I'm propably wrong. Sorry. I'll look it up later. But if I just focus on that. I will be able to talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime. (That is our new motto from the meeting.)

 

wow. I need to get faster at typing!

 

Also, it is SO good to have Julia here!!! I LOVE it so much! Everyone thinks we are twins. it's really fun. she is doing So good! And everyone in my district thinks I know everyone here at the MTC because I keep seeing people I know. AND I know one of my teachers from before the MTC!! haha it was so weird the first day when he walked in and i was like, "Todd!! what are you doing here??" haha He dated my friend, Missy's sister, Ashley and i would see him a lot and I actually showed him my figure drawing work one time... weird. but he is a really good teacher. It's been fun.

 

Also, I saw Rubie's brother at the temple on Sunday. we get to go up to the temple and walk around every week after Sacrament meeting. it is really fun. we all go up together as a Zone. My zone is funny. And my branch presdiency is REALLY great! The presdient is so nice and the night we first met them, he said that i smile all of the time and it made him want to have whatever I had. haha He is really great! And the 2nd counselor looks like Uncle Doug. Which is great. it made me love him even before I talked to him. haha But then on Sunday he told me a really great story about his tie, so he's really cool. They are just great and I'm so grateful for them.

 

 

well, that's about everything... I'm running out of time and still need to print off the email I got from mom. Thanks, MOM!! what a great blessing family is. And the gospel. I lvoe you all! write me on DearElder, please! If you want. I would love to hera from you. I love you!

 

Bye!

Love, Sister Rachel Barney

 

 

[please disregard the grey highlight. it came like that in the email and i just left it. and sorry i'm behind. i hope everyone has possibly heard something of how Rachie is doing and that this wasn't the only form of communication. i'm going to try getting in a routine with this business. best wishes to me...]

Over and out.

Goodbye, World! 
see you in 18 months. I love you ALL!

and thanks to michelle who will be updating my blog while i'm gone. check the side tab to get my address to write me!

Time is slipping away.

I took my seat on a plane last night at 10:20 pm last night. Then I went through a crazy vortex of stars and clouds for five and a half hours, -with little to no sleep- and was awakened by the beautiful colors above (please try not to notice the extremely dirty window. I tried to clean it with a wet napkin but it wouldn't clean. gross.) and landed in home sweet home around 7:30 am.

All in all, it was perfect. Except I have a serious cold. Which I hope is gone by Wednesday!! Yes, THIS Wednesday!! I can't believe it. Really. It's really hard to believe.

Anyway, yes, the trip was SO GREAT! And I just want to thank the dear Bailey family. They are the greatest and I love them all. Thanks for inviting us!
It was totally awesome.