the twelfth day of september.

This lovely lady was one of the first people I met when I arrived in Virginia. Jeanie Sanchez. And the first time I met her, she told me that my hair was too long and I had too many siblings.  

By the end of my stay in that area just outside of Richmond, which was just a short six weeks, Jeanie and I had become great friends. 

One great contributing factor of that was that we discovered that we had the same birthday! September 12. (Yep, we just had our birthdays!) After that, Jeanie believed that she knew me inside and out. We were both Virgo's! She "knew" what I liked and disliked, how I handled stressful situations, and that I liked my 'alone time'...

The picture above was my last time seeing her before I left the area. And it's a good thing she doesn't have a computer because she wouldn't be happy if she knew this picture was up here.

Jeanie met with missionaries for about six years before she finally felt ready and understood how the gospel could really help her in her life and wanted to get baptized! Luckily, I was able to be there on that very happy day! It was great and, of course, she was so happy!

This is her house. I raked ALL of the leaves around her WHOLE house one time. It took forever. Over 30 bags. haha This was Christmas Day, 2010. She and her husband shared their Christmas dinner and evening with us and we listened to the Josh Groban Christmas CD on repeat for about four hours.

I talked to Jeanie on the phone yesterday to wish her a happy birthday! I called her on our birthday day but she didn't answer. So we chatted yesterday and it was wonderful. She is still just so great and special to me. I love her.

It's been a great birthday week. I'm 23! But as Michelle would say, I've been 23 for the past three years.

But the week has included: Surprise and planned visits from loved ones. Good food- very important! Dancing. Alice in Wonderland. Picnic (tomorrow). Shopping. Nice notes. PUMPKIN PIE. Being with people that I know and love and those that I don't know too well but want to get to know better. Almost fall weather.

I love September.

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!

Big changes.

Ok, I guess I always knew it was too good to be true. I was just so happy and excited about it! My sister and I in the same mission at the same time! It would have been awwwesome.

So. Here is the update. Julia is now going to the Maryland Baltimore mission! Which is so great. I have spent a whole summer in that area and absolutely LOVE it. It's so beautiful. And the mission home is in Elicott City! A beautiful little old town, that has a great candy shop. I am a little jealous because it is my aunt's and uncle's mission! So, they are bound to see each other at least once, maybe.

The other big change is that instead of leaving December 15th, she is now leaving November 10th! The same day as me! haha we just can't be separated I guess. That kind of stressed Julia out a little bit but then we decided she's pretty much the stage of readiness as me, so everything will be great!

We're speaking in church on Halloween!

So there you have it, now you are updated. You're welcome.

Julia's a missionary too!

After much waiting, (Bishop told Julia the status for her call was 'sent' on Friday, the 17th.) it finally came ONE WEEK later! On the 24th. We were all very excited. I couldn't wait where she was going to be and when she was leaving. I really wanted her to be there with me in the MTC, mostly because I don't want to be 'alone' (or as alone as you can be in the MTC with hundreds of other missionaries around you) on Thanksgiving. Anyway, once everyone who could make it for the opening had assembled, she opened it.

I will now illustrate what happened next with the pictures taken on my handy dandy camera:

 so excited ... can't wait to find out ...

 Dear Sister Barney ... hereby called to serve ...

 ... you are assigned to serve in ...

Virginia, Richmond mission.

'yeah right, Julia, come on ... where are you really going' ...

no. really.

oh. my. gosh. Virginia, Richmond!

 i just can't even believe it! this is crazy!!

 all of the Richmond missionaries! Brandon (brother-in-law) went there too!! so excited!

 can't believe it, but we're still so happy! hooray!

Right now, I still can hardly believe it. We're all still kind of shocked. haha This just isn't something you hear about every day... two sisters going to the same mission at the same time! Well, a month apart. She leaves December 15th. So I will be alone in the MTC on Thanksgiving. But Julia will be there for Christmas, and won't be able to call home. So that is more sad for her.

This is what I wrote in my journal that night:

Julia got her mission call today. You'll never guess where she's going. 

RICHMOND. 

Yes. It should sound familiar. Same Same. 

I still can't really believe it. We're going to the same mission. It's just so crazy! 

So many people have asked and joked about us getting called to the same 

mission and I've always just dismissed it. That could never happen. That sort 

of thing rarely happens and would NEVER happen to Julia and me. Especially to 

Brandon's mission too. Never. But it happened! And it's so right. It's not up to 

anyone but Heavenly Father. And He knows exactly what we need and what the 

people in that mission need. And it's both of us! I, personally, am so excited! Thrilled,

you might say. Julia, I think, needs to warm up to the idea a little bit. But I'm sure 

she will be so excited very soon. Once it sinks in more.

Since Friday, I think we've all gotten more used to the idea. It's still super crazy, but more familiar. So. Today in church Bishop announced that Julia had gotten her call to Richmond and that we were all excited about it. Then added how it's even more interesting and exciting because her sister, Rachel (me), is reporting about a month before her to the same mission. You can imagine what followed. Everyone's excited murmuring and inquisitive glances around to the Barney family... they've gone and done it again! Two girls in the same mission at the same time! Yes. That's us

I hope I get used to 'Sister Barney'...

Hello World!


It came yesterday! And what a joyous occasion it was. Thank you so much for everyone who came and called and got excited with me! I love you all. 


I'm going to the Virginia Richmond Mission leaving November 10th.


As many of you know, I looooooove the East. And though I have never been to Richmond specifically. Or any area in my mission for that matter, I am sure I am still going to love love love it!! Williamsburg is in my mission!!! Holy cow. Oh man. I'll get to VA around the first week of December. Just in time for Christmas decorations!!!! I know. It sounds like I'm going on vacation. But I really am going to be serious missionary.

The only problem I have seen so far is that my little booklet thing that came with my call said 'No jeans.' . . . . . . . . What the heck am I supposed to wear?? It says I need full length pants. What else is there? Other than dress pants..... khaki... I was getting frantic! But, then my mom came to the rescue and reminded me that corduroy exists!! Thank you, Mom!! I want a pair in dark brown, I think.

Anyway, here are some photos for your viewing pleasure:

I was kind of hyperventilating.

   
 Thanks for coming everyone!! And thanks for making cookies Shell! Everyone obviously enjoyed them.

ahhhh.....the lovely Huber sisters.

soooooooo excited! and attractive.....

talking to Tucker on the phone!!

dinner with the fam and missy! at jdawgs!! i love those hotdogs! and i love my family! and missy!

thanks for the pretty sunset, Utah!

we ended the night going to my cousin's son's wedding reception (which was so great and i got to see more great family!!! And then we drove up to my Grandma's in Marion to watch the meteor shower (which was great!) and sleep under the stars. When we arrived, the thermometer read 55 degrees outside, so Missy and I were a little worried about being warm enough. So, we pulled some hats, scarves, and sweaters off the hooks for protection from the cold. Then we realized we looked like old men.

I had a very warm, good night's sleep. outside, all night. under the meteor shower. on my Grandma's front lawn, with my dear friend, Missy.

Dreams.

Well so far, I've dreamt that I was going to Morocco, Australia, and southeastern Arizona. I woke up this morning actually thinking that I had already gotten my call and really was going to Australia! And I was really excited! Then I remembered it was only Monday, not Wednesday. And that I didn't have my call yet. So, I'm not going to Australia.

Also, someone in my ward asked me if I had made a facebook page yet so that people could make their guesses as to where I'm going. And answered in the negative. Sorry folks, I just don't do that... But, if you reallllly want to take a guess, go ahead. The world is yours! Really.


I had an absolutely lovely week last week that lasted all the way to this morning, when I had to return to Provo, sadly. I went camping for work, went home to Arizona to attend my best friends wedding reception and hold my dear new niece, Lillian, then I came back up to Utah for a family reunion! It was the best ever!! I had so much fun and my dear mom and Aunt Irene did such a great job planning it! It was hard to come back. But also good because I don't have much time left here in dear old Provo! I have to move out of my apartment on Saturday! And then I'll be gone the week after that or so. This summer has flown by. But I have so many wonderful memories.

They're in!

Check back in a couple weeks to see where in the world I'm going!