Happy New Year, my dears! Don't worry, Mom and Dad, I slept through it as well and didn't even see one firework. But I'm perfectly ok with that.
We had a sleep over with the other sisters in our district on New years eve because we were going to do exchanges the next day. It was super fun! We had to be inside by 6 so we got some pizza and ate and played speed scrabble and talked and laughed and then read a little bit out of the missionary handbook. haha perfect missionary new years eve! It was a party! haha
Thanks again for all of the support everyone! I couldn't do it without you! And mom, I LOVE my black skirt. Let me just tell the world. I love it. Thanks.
Well, we had a good week! We did do exchanges, like I mentioned and it was fantastic! I think I have really gotten more comfortable this past week. And I think doing exchanges really helped because I wasn't afraid to talk to these random people on the street and ask them if they want to learn more about Jesus Christ, because I knew I would never see them again because I wasn't in my area. haha does that make sense? I don't know. I just felt like I could do anything. And it was really great. Then I came back to my area Saturday evening and we went to talk to some less actives and I was the old-unsure-quiet self again, but not AS much. So, it's getting better. I'm just trying to be myself. And letting people see that I am happy and I have something important to say. Does that make sense? I hope so. It's getting better.
Lewis didn't come to church yesterday. I was sad. BUT! We taught Jeanie the Word of Wisdom and she said she would give up coffee!!! Hooray! She said it was really great and interesting! haha I wish you could all talk to her. She is hilarious. She's the one who said I needed a haircut and that we had too many kids in our family the first day I met her... haha I love her.
ALSO!!! Another miracle, there is a big family in our ward... like the parents, and their kids and their families and such... and one of the daughters has a husband who is not a member, and they have a little baby girl (like one) and another baby on the way (in March). I've been over there a couple of times and both times the husband, Robby, has never really participated or shown any interest. And S. Dickson told me that one time he told her that he wouldn't join the church because his family wouldn't let him work in the family business anymore.
But, I really like them a lot. And, yesterday, they were at church! (First time I've seen them there) And then they called us last night, and Sister Parrish (that's there name) asked us if we could come over this week sometime to teach them! And we said of course!! And she said great, Robby wants to be baptized before March, before the baby comes!!! He just wants to learn everything as soon as possible and he is just so excited! And he said he had a dream and he really wants to tell us because he thinks it's symbolic!! We're going over on Thursday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We were f-reaking out!!!! Isn't that just wonderful!?? I am just so excited! I can't wait to go over there! I love there whole family! :)))
There are so many miracles every day.
Also, it was in the 60's two days ago. And now it's in the 40's again.
Oh! I something I had to tell you. Vera, our beautiful black recent convert, gave us black eyed peas on new years eve because she said that's a black tradition. I told her on Sunday that my mom always used to make black eyed peas and she said, "Really? I thought that was a black thing?" hahaha I love her so much. She is just so great.
We are having a Family night tonight at the church with all of our recent converts and some other people from the ward. We thought it would be a good idea becuase our recent converts don't know how to do FHE or they are single and it would just be really great! The lesson tonight is on Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life! We're going to draw it on the chalkboard! haha it's going to be good.
I'll find out if I'm being transferred this coming up Sunday night! So. I'll let you know.
have a great week! Loves
Sister Rachel Barney
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
December 20. 2010
I hope all are doing well. Christmas is this week! Hooray! I hope you're all excited!
This week was good. Kind of weird because we couldn't go outside on Thursday because it snowed and stuck! There is still ice/snow in out parking lot and on some of the roads out in the boondocks. We had to cancel all of our appointments, which is really sad because we were going to have a first lesson with a man named Lewis, who we tracted into the first day I was here! But, we'll get him.
Jeanie is wonderful. We were able to teach her more about the gospel of Jesus Christ (faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost, Endure to the end) on Sat and at the very end of the lesson, Diego came home, se we talked with him for a bit. He LOVES S. Dickson because she can speak Spanish. haha I think he'll come around eventually. He was just a little scared off when he got anti-ed with a bunch of temple stuff. BUT!! We found out that S. Dickson and Diego are both Leos AND then we found out that Jeanie and I have the SAME birthdays!!! Crazy huh?? They were really impressed, astounded by that. haha I think they took it as a sign or something. haha Whatever works! Just kidding... the Spirit is the only way to conversion.
But I just love Jeanie. She is probably my fav right now. And we are going over there on Christmas!! Which will be great!
S. Dickson and I are volunteering at the Nativity at the ZOO this week! Some of the members of our ward own the zoo here and every year they put on a nativity with real people AND animals!! haha it's going to be awesome! I just pray it doesn't snow all day before. It can snow half way through the performance-- that would probably be pretty magical. :)
We were at a members home last night for dinner (the Doyle's) and they had the Christmas radio on and Bruce came on!! It was a tender mercy. I love him.
Happy Christmas to all! I love you and thank you for everything! Have a supa great week and holidays!!
Love Sister Rachel Barney
Saturday, December 18, 2010
White Christmas!!
Here are snippets from the email we got from Rachie this week, on Monday. She is loving it and so funny. I love her.
Hello hello!
"White Christmas!" -- That is what Sister Dickson told me we were going to have on the day we met. I replied very enthusiastically that "I hoped so!! I love the snow!!"
She wasn't talking about snow... hahaha. She was talking about Baptisms!! (Get it? i hope so.)
Anyway, it was funny. We still laugh about it. haha
BUT!! Turns out, it's both! We got about three more inches this morning!!! And we had a baptism on Saturday. Kathy and her daughter Sarah were baptized!! They are SO wonderful. Sister Dickson and Sister Stoehr (pronounced Steer) taught them and set them for baptism before I got here. And so when I got here, I just had to help teach a few of the commandments and get them even more pumped for their baptisms! It was wonderful. I love them so much! They live in our apartment complex so they are super close and just great. The Spirit was SO strong on Saturday. It was a "blessed day." [Everyone says that out here. Like "Have a blessed day." It's wonderful]
The ward here is SO great! The YW room was packed for the baptism. They are so supportive and loving. Kathy and Sarah are going to be just fine.
We've been teaching Jeanie a few times since I've been here. She's actually been being taught for like a year and a half but just hasn't progressed very much. Then she had a major surgery over the summer because she had a tumor in her liver!! yikes. She has recovered miraculously and we raked her leaves last week for service. [That is a story of itself!! We thought we could just do it quickly no problem... wrong. We went on Thursday with a blower from a ward member and it took us two hours to blow the leaves in the back. We had the BIGGEST pile of leaves ever. So we jumped in it and then left because we didn't have time to bag them all. So we called the deacons and met them there on Saturday morning and did the front yard and bagged all of them. There is a BIG pile of garbage bags on her driveway! And I mean big. like 50 bags or something. It was really fun. And she and her husband really appreciated it. her husband, Diego, works all week in DC and comes home Sat-Mon. He was anti-ed but hopefully he'll come around to learning more soon.]
Anyway, Jeanie is now making lots of progress. She says she can't commit to a date but she wants to get baptized. She just wants to know EVERYTHING beforehand. So, Sis Dickson and I are picking our own date and teaching her accordingly so she'll be ready. Jan 27th. Pray for her, please.
Sister Dickson is still THE best. I love her. She has such a great heart. And she relies so much on the Spirit. I love working with her and learning from her. We've kind of planned trips to Cali, Hawaii and Arizona together after our missions. haha She goes home in February and I've already kind of started hoping that we can stay here together until then. I really don't want to leave this area. I just love this ward so much.
The Cahills (members) took us to Jeanie's last night to give her a blessing because she has to have another surgery sometime soon to put a stint or something in her arm for dialisis... I don't know... But I just LOVE the Cahills!! They are just the perfect couple. He is really funny and she is so cute and funny and they are just wonderful. They brought us back to their home afterwards for hot chocolate. It was great. They have a son who just came home from Peru and we all chatted about missions and stuff.
We went to Cici's pizza buffet the other day after our Zone Meeting. It was pretty good. Good deal, at least. And I tried the Mac and Cheese pizza. Totally weird. I didn't like it. haha
Ok, have a great day! Thanks for the support and prayers! I love the scriptures and the gospel and YOU!!
Love Sister Barney
Hello hello!
"White Christmas!" -- That is what Sister Dickson told me we were going to have on the day we met. I replied very enthusiastically that "I hoped so!! I love the snow!!"
She wasn't talking about snow... hahaha. She was talking about Baptisms!! (Get it? i hope so.)
Anyway, it was funny. We still laugh about it. haha
BUT!! Turns out, it's both! We got about three more inches this morning!!! And we had a baptism on Saturday. Kathy and her daughter Sarah were baptized!! They are SO wonderful. Sister Dickson and Sister Stoehr (pronounced Steer) taught them and set them for baptism before I got here. And so when I got here, I just had to help teach a few of the commandments and get them even more pumped for their baptisms! It was wonderful. I love them so much! They live in our apartment complex so they are super close and just great. The Spirit was SO strong on Saturday. It was a "blessed day." [Everyone says that out here. Like "Have a blessed day." It's wonderful]
The ward here is SO great! The YW room was packed for the baptism. They are so supportive and loving. Kathy and Sarah are going to be just fine.
We've been teaching Jeanie a few times since I've been here. She's actually been being taught for like a year and a half but just hasn't progressed very much. Then she had a major surgery over the summer because she had a tumor in her liver!! yikes. She has recovered miraculously and we raked her leaves last week for service. [That is a story of itself!! We thought we could just do it quickly no problem... wrong. We went on Thursday with a blower from a ward member and it took us two hours to blow the leaves in the back. We had the BIGGEST pile of leaves ever. So we jumped in it and then left because we didn't have time to bag them all. So we called the deacons and met them there on Saturday morning and did the front yard and bagged all of them. There is a BIG pile of garbage bags on her driveway! And I mean big. like 50 bags or something. It was really fun. And she and her husband really appreciated it. her husband, Diego, works all week in DC and comes home Sat-Mon. He was anti-ed but hopefully he'll come around to learning more soon.]
Anyway, Jeanie is now making lots of progress. She says she can't commit to a date but she wants to get baptized. She just wants to know EVERYTHING beforehand. So, Sis Dickson and I are picking our own date and teaching her accordingly so she'll be ready. Jan 27th. Pray for her, please.
Sister Dickson is still THE best. I love her. She has such a great heart. And she relies so much on the Spirit. I love working with her and learning from her. We've kind of planned trips to Cali, Hawaii and Arizona together after our missions. haha She goes home in February and I've already kind of started hoping that we can stay here together until then. I really don't want to leave this area. I just love this ward so much.
The Cahills (members) took us to Jeanie's last night to give her a blessing because she has to have another surgery sometime soon to put a stint or something in her arm for dialisis... I don't know... But I just LOVE the Cahills!! They are just the perfect couple. He is really funny and she is so cute and funny and they are just wonderful. They brought us back to their home afterwards for hot chocolate. It was great. They have a son who just came home from Peru and we all chatted about missions and stuff.
We went to Cici's pizza buffet the other day after our Zone Meeting. It was pretty good. Good deal, at least. And I tried the Mac and Cheese pizza. Totally weird. I didn't like it. haha
Ok, have a great day! Thanks for the support and prayers! I love the scriptures and the gospel and YOU!!
Love Sister Barney
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Welcome to VA
Hi Hi Hi! I love you all!!!
My new address is:
5310 Hunt Master Dr. Apt E
Midlothian, VA 23112
There you go. Thanks. Please spread it around, if you could.
Being in the real world again is strange. :) That's all. But really. Everyone DOES notice me and look at my tag and avoid me. It's crazy. haha
By area is called Manchester. It is wonderful! I love the houses and the trees and the leaves on the ground and the people! It is great. Did Brandon serve here?
Could you have Brandon write down a list of the areas he served in and then send it to me, please? Thanks.
Anyways,
Wednesday, Dec 1:
We landed in Richmond and there were so many trees!! Pres and sis Perry met us at the airport. I love them. Sis Perry is an artist. And she is good. And wonderful. I really like President. He is so nice and approachable and real. And very encouraging. It was really fun being in his home and talking with him. haha I hope you liked that picture!! haha I was SO tired by that time! haha Sis Perry had gone to the store or something and we were trying to wait for her so she could be in it too but we just couldn't wait any longer. We were all so tired. But, earlier, we had lasagna and green beans with bacon for dinner! So good. I forgot about real food in the MTC. haha
We were told breakfast was at 730 and that we would also be having our real pictures taken for the mission board at 730. So, we three sisters set the alarm for 630 and went to bed.
Thursday, Dec2:
We woke up at 721 to President knocking on our door!!! The clock was 12 hours off! So when it was really supposed to be 720 am, it was really 720 pm!! Does that make sense? The alarm wasn't going to go off until that night. Yeah. We freaked out. I knew I looked like a garbage can because that is how I felt so I had to take the fastest shower of my life while the other sisters jumped into clothes and started getting ready. It worked out ok. We just all felt bad because we wanted to make a good impression and look good for our pictures...
I think they turned out agreeably. haha We ate breakfast and took our pictures and then left for the Transfer meeting. We had a little orientation and then we were assigned out to our trainers!
My new companion is Sister Dickson. She is Wonderful! Very happy and nice and we are perfect together! [Sister Alyssa Dickson is from the Bay area of California. She has two sisters and one brother and one neice and one nephew. She went to school at BYU-I and Hawaii and will go back to Hawaii when she is done. Which will be in February. She can surf. (super cool) She loves eating healthy! And she loves the trees! And she has brown hair. And today, I gave her a shirt that is too big for me and she looks SO good in it! And she talks kind of like my friend, Hannah Denzer. haha It's Wonderful!!! haha And she wants to meet all of you. :) And she will.] any questions?
I was so nervous! But it's been wonderful! That day, we got back to our apartment and went to Walmart to get some essentials (bread, clothes detergent, milk) and then ate lunch and then went tracting! It was scary. But fun. Sister Dickson is really good at it. And really encouraging. We met a man named Lewis. He broke is arm in Feb and just had another surgery to take the plate out of his elbow and he was really interested in learning more about the prophet! So we are going to see him tomorrow. That will be great.
Since then, it's just been a blur. haha I've met a lot of people! Church yesterday was really good. The ward is really nice! But everyone I met, right before welcoming me, would say, "Oh, I'm so sad Sister Stoehr (pronounced Steer) is gone." or "Wow! Brand, brand new! Great." hahaha Oh well. They will learn to love me. haha
We have some really wonderful recent converts. One of them, Vera, is so great. She makes everyone feel like a million bucks! She is so funny. I love her a lot.
And we are having a baptism on Saturday. Kathy and her daughter, Sara are getting baptized! Kathy is just wonderful! She fed us pizza on Friday and she is so nice! I am so excited for her!
My apartment is really nice! I get my own bathroom! Crazy! I am so blessed.
OH! And it snowed!!!!!!!!!! It was wonderful! And magical! I love the snow. It snowed Sat night and lasted pretty far into the morning on Sunday. So wonderful. But it is reeeeeeaallllly cold. But that is ok.
I forgot my camera cord today so you'll have to wait another week before I can send you more pictures. I sincerely apologize.
Any questions for me? I hope so!
That is pretty much everything. We had dinner last night at a member's house (first one for my mission). The Mackay's. And she is a ward missionary and they have two children and one on the way. And she made us enchiladadas! They were so good! They met on their mission in Phoenix. haha And I shared the message (first time) and it was really good. I shared a scripture about the Holy Ghost (John 14:26-27) and turned out that it was totally inspired! We had a really great conversation about it and the Spirit was there. It was good.
And please pray for our investigators. They are so great. All of them will be great members some day. I love you all! So much! Thanks for everything that you do. Really. I am so grateful for your support and love and prayers. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve and for everyone I am meeting. I love the gospel and I love Christmas and the Atonement and I love the hymns. They are so powerful.
Have a great week!
Love Sister Rachel Barney
My new address is:
5310 Hunt Master Dr. Apt E
Midlothian, VA 23112
There you go. Thanks. Please spread it around, if you could.
Being in the real world again is strange. :) That's all. But really. Everyone DOES notice me and look at my tag and avoid me. It's crazy. haha
By area is called Manchester. It is wonderful! I love the houses and the trees and the leaves on the ground and the people! It is great. Did Brandon serve here?
Could you have Brandon write down a list of the areas he served in and then send it to me, please? Thanks.
Anyways,
Wednesday, Dec 1:
We landed in Richmond and there were so many trees!! Pres and sis Perry met us at the airport. I love them. Sis Perry is an artist. And she is good. And wonderful. I really like President. He is so nice and approachable and real. And very encouraging. It was really fun being in his home and talking with him. haha I hope you liked that picture!! haha I was SO tired by that time! haha Sis Perry had gone to the store or something and we were trying to wait for her so she could be in it too but we just couldn't wait any longer. We were all so tired. But, earlier, we had lasagna and green beans with bacon for dinner! So good. I forgot about real food in the MTC. haha
We were told breakfast was at 730 and that we would also be having our real pictures taken for the mission board at 730. So, we three sisters set the alarm for 630 and went to bed.
Thursday, Dec2:
We woke up at 721 to President knocking on our door!!! The clock was 12 hours off! So when it was really supposed to be 720 am, it was really 720 pm!! Does that make sense? The alarm wasn't going to go off until that night. Yeah. We freaked out. I knew I looked like a garbage can because that is how I felt so I had to take the fastest shower of my life while the other sisters jumped into clothes and started getting ready. It worked out ok. We just all felt bad because we wanted to make a good impression and look good for our pictures...
I think they turned out agreeably. haha We ate breakfast and took our pictures and then left for the Transfer meeting. We had a little orientation and then we were assigned out to our trainers!
My new companion is Sister Dickson. She is Wonderful! Very happy and nice and we are perfect together! [Sister Alyssa Dickson is from the Bay area of California. She has two sisters and one brother and one neice and one nephew. She went to school at BYU-I and Hawaii and will go back to Hawaii when she is done. Which will be in February. She can surf. (super cool) She loves eating healthy! And she loves the trees! And she has brown hair. And today, I gave her a shirt that is too big for me and she looks SO good in it! And she talks kind of like my friend, Hannah Denzer. haha It's Wonderful!!! haha And she wants to meet all of you. :) And she will.] any questions?
I was so nervous! But it's been wonderful! That day, we got back to our apartment and went to Walmart to get some essentials (bread, clothes detergent, milk) and then ate lunch and then went tracting! It was scary. But fun. Sister Dickson is really good at it. And really encouraging. We met a man named Lewis. He broke is arm in Feb and just had another surgery to take the plate out of his elbow and he was really interested in learning more about the prophet! So we are going to see him tomorrow. That will be great.
Since then, it's just been a blur. haha I've met a lot of people! Church yesterday was really good. The ward is really nice! But everyone I met, right before welcoming me, would say, "Oh, I'm so sad Sister Stoehr (pronounced Steer) is gone." or "Wow! Brand, brand new! Great." hahaha Oh well. They will learn to love me. haha
We have some really wonderful recent converts. One of them, Vera, is so great. She makes everyone feel like a million bucks! She is so funny. I love her a lot.
And we are having a baptism on Saturday. Kathy and her daughter, Sara are getting baptized! Kathy is just wonderful! She fed us pizza on Friday and she is so nice! I am so excited for her!
My apartment is really nice! I get my own bathroom! Crazy! I am so blessed.
OH! And it snowed!!!!!!!!!! It was wonderful! And magical! I love the snow. It snowed Sat night and lasted pretty far into the morning on Sunday. So wonderful. But it is reeeeeeaallllly cold. But that is ok.
I forgot my camera cord today so you'll have to wait another week before I can send you more pictures. I sincerely apologize.
Any questions for me? I hope so!
That is pretty much everything. We had dinner last night at a member's house (first one for my mission). The Mackay's. And she is a ward missionary and they have two children and one on the way. And she made us enchiladadas! They were so good! They met on their mission in Phoenix. haha And I shared the message (first time) and it was really good. I shared a scripture about the Holy Ghost (John 14:26-27) and turned out that it was totally inspired! We had a really great conversation about it and the Spirit was there. It was good.
And please pray for our investigators. They are so great. All of them will be great members some day. I love you all! So much! Thanks for everything that you do. Really. I am so grateful for your support and love and prayers. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve and for everyone I am meeting. I love the gospel and I love Christmas and the Atonement and I love the hymns. They are so powerful.
Have a great week!
Love Sister Rachel Barney
Saturday, November 27, 2010
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.
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...]
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
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!
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!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
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.
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