Email #16

E-mail #16
9-19-11

Hello all!!!

Well this week was a COLD week, which was GREAT!!!! I love that the weather is FINALLY changing and I survived the 100-110 degree summer!!! So that is an accomplishment in itself! Well this week was SUPER busy, we had so many appointments it was just insane. We ran around and taught a lot but it was great. People that we are teaching really are coming closer to the Gospel and to their Savior and our Heavenly Father! I love seeing when people embrace that. It just changes their lives and strengthens them so much! We got a new investigator this week that is just amazing, we have done family home evening with her twice and talked with her and she's came to church 3 times now!! She is great!! Her boys go to primary and LOVE IT!!! They told me yesterday as they were showing us their missionary fund jars they made in primary that "before I wanted to be a snake keeper, but since I met you I want to be a missionary" HOW CUTE IS THAT?!!??!!! I wanted to just die, and then turn to their mom and say....so will you be baptized!!?? lol. It was great, their family is WONDERFUL! Saturday we did lots of tracting, and it was really good in the beginning then really rough in the middle then good in the end. We met a lot of people who were willing to let us come back in a really big apartment complex in Junction. Then we went out to Chapman a side town and had an appointment then tracted there, and those people are not the warmest people, but it was a good challenge to keep my head up and push myself. Then the last place we went to, we were seeing if someone still lived in a apartment and they didn't but the girl that answered the door, her son who is 4 came out and it was SO CUTE....he walked out struck a pose and then flexed his muscles so hard he was shaking....then he pulled up his shirt sleeves to show us his muscles....then he struck a pose again and said "you wanna mess with this" and I LAUGHED so hard.....then he kept flexing....then a pose again...and said "what you lookin at" his mom was so funny, her response was "they are looking at you" hahaha. It was great I was laughing SO HARD!! We have an appointment to go back and see her, if anything I am looking forward to seeing that cute little kid, but I also know the message we share with her will bring her family so much joy!!! It was super funny though, I thought I was going to die of laughter! OHHH and I have to tell you about this member that we had dinner with on Friday. They live like a half hour away from junction and in their TINY town they have one diner that is only open on Friday evenings. They serve a steak big enough for two, so they took us to that. Well after we went back to their house and he has the COOLEST BIRD EVER!!!!!!!!! I am going to save up money to buy me one, because the bird is BOMB!!!! I will attach a picture, and try to send the video. but I think the bird had a crush on me, because I was sitting next to the member who owns it and the bird was hanging out on his shoulder, but kept walking along his arm over to me, then the bird would get on my shoulder an say "hello" so I'd say "hello" then it would walk back and I'd start laughing, then the bird would laugh with me. It just kept doing that over and over and over again. Then at one point it was dancing on my shoulder, and it kept walking down my arm by my chest and would cuddle with me by laying against me so I could pet it.....IT WAS SO AWESOME!!!! Yep, I am SO going to get a pet like that one day!

Well this week I have Zone Conference which I am super excited about!!! We have some REALLY good follow up appointments happening this week and hopefully we can get some baptismal challenges at those appointments. We have exchanges and all sorts of craziness going on!!! But it is going to be a blast!!! The week will fly by, speaking of flying by, can you believe September is basically over?!!!?? holy macarolllie.......I have almost hit my 4 month mark.....I make myself so proud every time I hit a new month, because its one more month I was able to stick it out through the HARDSHIPS of being a missionary, because let me tell you what, I have never done anything this difficult in my LIFE!! But I am so proud of all the things I am learning, and the growth that is happening. I hope I never go back in progress and just keep growing.

Welp, I think that's all I've got to say this week. I hope you have a joyful week, and remember

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!!!

Love
Sister Barnum

picture is of me and Sister Dent with the GREATEST BIRD EVER....peaches!

E-mail #15

9-12-2011

Hello everyone!!!

Junction City....i am here to STAY!!! another 7 weeks this place gets to have me in their presence....are they not the luckiest people in town?!!?

Well this week, it has been a good week. I only had like a day and a half of home sickness....not even the 'i want to go home' kind.....just the 'i want to hear my families voice' kind. I tell you what, I've never wished so much in my life that there would be some kind of tragedy so i could hear my family......awful i KNOW!!!! but its true. :)

Well yesterday was ward conference and let me tell you what....ward conference PLUS being a missionary = NOT FUN AT ALL!!!!! It was such a crazy day, the first hour into it i felt like i was going to loose my brain....like it would just fall out and i wouldn't be able to function anymore! It was crazy. But president Knapp spoke and if you don't remember from zone conference forever ago...he is AN AMAZING SPEAKER....he focused A LOT on families and really got into depth about it, it made me want to be an amazing parent when i get to that day, and just never forget the things he said. That is one thing i realized that i love, is that if you go to church regularly and study, and listen, and general conference and all of that stuff they have to help us, IT HELPS US....when we need a reminded to be more thankful, or the be a better parent, or WHATEVER...i just love it. because i don't have to remember all of it right now, because i can keep learning as i go. So i love that. We had a lot of people who we've been working with show up to church yesterday which was GREAT!!! we loved it, but again it led to CRAZINESS!!! and GUESS WHAT?!!? I understood every single word they said in the Spanish branch on Sunday....EVERY WORD!!! and they didn't speak in English...i guess i am really starting to learn Spanish, its amazing....i never knew i would learn so much in a short amount of time, but it was great. it was like i could hear another voice translating it into English.....oh wait....i was wearing a translator headset.....man, maybe one day i will understand Spanish!

So funny story time!!! we were out following up on some former investigators....seeing if they were wanting to learn again and guess what?!!? we stopped at this one apartment, and the notes on the file said they weren't sure how 'accountable' she was. So we knocked in the door, and she yelled through 'who is it?' and said the sister missionaries and she said who is it, and we said the sister missionaries, so she opened the door and said 'oh okay' very nicely(seriously) and then closed the door and locked it!!! while she was closing the door sister dent tried yelling in to her to find out if it was the person we were looking for, but she just locked the door. I walked over to the wall and leaned against it because i was laughing so hard. Sister dent was just standing there like what the heck just happened. It was SO FUNNY....the best part is her window blinds were open and we could see her sitting on her couch watching TV. It took everything in me not to walk up to her window and knock on it to find out if she was who we were looking for! It was such a great moment i wish i had it on video because it was just HYSTERICAL!!!

Well its been a pretty good week. I am glad i get to stay in junction city and keep working with the people that we are working with. Me and sister dent have a goal to have a baptism every weekend in October!!! I think it is possible, we have a lot of people on that path right now and 2 people already planning on getting baptized in October. So hopefully it will be a MONTH of MIRACLES!!!!!

Well i love you and and am so thankful for all your love and support and remember you can send me MAIL!!! :)
104 W 4th St #207
Junction City KS


much LOVE LOVE LOVE

Sister Barnum!

E-Mail #14

E-Mail #14

Sept. 6th, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello all my wonderful amazing supporters out there....well it has been one heck of a week, very busy.

This week we had back to back exchanges, which always makes things crazy. I was on exchanges with Sister Coplan who works in Manhattan, but she came to junction city with me, and i GOT TO DRIVE....for the first time in 3 months!! It was amazing!! We had a good exchange. I really enjoy Sister Coplan, she is awesome and has so much energy and is great. She has only been out one transfer, but we realized that we go home the same transfer which is really exciting, I'm excited to know someone i will go home with. After that exchange we went straight to Lawrence for that exchange. I spent all day Thursday in Lawrence....and we had NO VEHICLE...we walked in 104 degree weather, and I SURVIVED!!! i was super proud of myself, i didn't even get snappy or grumpy about the heat and being in it all day. So go me! I really enjoy being in Lawrence the people there are very nice, there were LOTS of the lords tender mercies. First thing in the morning we ran into a member who gave us a ride to our appointment, which made it so we were not late for the bus. Then later after service we had lunch and realized we didn't have time to walk to our appointment so we called a member who was near by and she came and gave us a ride. And then later when we were waiting for the bus ANOTHER member asked if we needed a ride. It was great!! I love knowing the lord is taking care of us, he is so aware of us and is making sure that we don't die in the heat, and that we can keep our heads up and work hard!

Last week i also passed off lesson 5, and i am now a LEVEL 5 TEACHER!!! WOOT WOOT!!! I know you probably have no idea what I'm talking about, but it is way exciting, that means i have memorized the main points and a scripture for each main point in preach my gospel for each lesson, and that means i get driving privileges!!! Which i am SUPER EXCITED ABOUT!!! Last Monday, and yesterday we had a district pday, which was WAY fun, i love our district. Attached is a picture of our district they are so fun. We went on a 'hike' to the top of Manhattan, its a really pretty view from up there! then we played some games and went and got a treat. Then yesterday we played basketball and hung out with the district and with some non-members who love to play basketball with us. I MANAGED NOT TO BREAK ANYTHING!!! How great is that?!

This week is transfers and I'm not sure whats going to happen. We get transfer calls tonight, so I'll find out whats going on. Yesterday my zone leader said he thinks that I'll be staying. So i believe him. Which i really hope is true because there is the Fernandez family that we are working with, that i LOVE with all of my heart, and when they found out transfers were happening they were not to happy about it. So i hope we can keep seeing them progress. Sister dent might and might not go....we will find out tonight. Heck i might even go, but i really doubt it. Which is good because i don't know if i have room in my suit case to move. So make sure if you send any mail this week it goes to the mission home

517 W Walnut

Independence MO

64050

Until next week when i can tell you if i stayed....or went somewhere new. Next transfer will be 7 weeks instead of six because of the fact that this transfer ended a week early. So that will be nice to have a little longer of a transfer. So on Sunday we got the relief society book that they are giving to every woman who is a member....and if you haven't got yours yet, or have got it but haven't read it....WOW IT IS GREAT!!! i have started to take a few minutes out of personal study each morning to read it and i LOVE IT!! its so fun, and you learn so much about the relief society in it. Its great. Well i think that's all i got for today. But i love you all and hope to get mail from you soon!!! :)

Love

Sister Barnum.

p.s....don't worry i still sleep walk and talk....its great....NOT!

E-Mail #13

 E-Mail #13

August 29th, 2011

 

 

Hello everyone!!!

 

Did you know on Thursday the 1st marks me being away from home for a entire 3 months.....who knew it was possible?!!? I DIDN'T!!!! This week has not been as crazy awesome as last week, but it was still a good week. I had some really big struggles this week, and really had to find a way to work through them, I'm glad to say i came out a better and stronger person. Its amazing how quick mission life can change you, and sometimes it is SUPER hard to deal with, but i know its for the better and i know i have my Heavenly Father supporting and helping me. Last week i went on exchanges to Lawrence. That was fun, it was fun to work with another sister that i haven't met before and to spend time with her. It was nice to be in Lawrence on a car week, but this week when i go it is a walking week, so on Thursday say lots of prayers for me....lol. Actually this week i will be doing back to back exchanges, i will be exchanging in Manhattan tomorrow until wed, and then from wed to Thurs in Lawrence. So it will be crazy. I guess its just prep for upcoming transfers. I honestly cant think of much to write about today. I don't know why. I guess this week was not as eventful. But i did learn a lot this week. I learned the importance of being strong in weak moments and how i need to rely on the lord better. I find myself not letting the atonement work fully in my life because i feel bad putting all my pains and struggles on the lord, which i know sounds dumb, but its true. I've realized that there is no point in me carrying all the stuff i feel around with me every day when someone so amazing has already suffered for me, and is willing to remove that. Its still a struggle and I'm not good at it yet. But i am trying. Today we are having a district PDAY and me and sister dent are off to Manhattan to have fun with the elders and sisters down there. We are looking forward to it! It will be lots of fun! and on Sept 8th is transfers so I'm excited to see what changes are made and if there are indeed elders coming into junction city to join us. Sorry this is super lame and short, but know i love you all and hope you all are doing good. Thanks for all the continued prayers and love and support it MEANS THE WORLD TO ME!!!!!

 

Love you all,

 

Sister Barnum

 

 

(P.S. this is Brittney, her sister, and she e-mailed me this picture while we were talking this morning to show to my boys and I am not sure if she wanted it on here or not but it is a cute picture and I know that I LOVE getting to see pictures of her so I thought I would share. Enjoy!!)

 

 

E-Mail #12

 E-Mail #12

August 22nd, 2011

(Again sorry a week behind...one more e-mail and we are caught up...thanks for hanging in there waiting for us. Enjoy.)

 

 

 

Hello Family and Friends!!!

 

Well do i have one heck of a week to tell you all about!!! But to start off i have to tell you why its been a week of miracles! Last Sunday the Spanish Branch started a 40 day fast for missionary work!!! That does NOT mean one person will fast for 40 days, but that means for 40 days straight there is someone in the Spanish branch fasting for us!!!! So that is pretty awesome! The day the fast started we received our first miracle. We got a call from the Elders in Manhattan who said a guy had showed up to their ward and wants to take missionary discussions and be baptized. YEA...I KNOW!!!! He is engaged to a LDS girl who has set the standard that she is getting married in the temple! WOOHOO!! So the week went pretty amazing. We went to Interviews and training on Wednesday. I was able to sit down and talk with President and Sister Keyes. I love them so much!!! President Keyes and i had a great interview, we even have top secret stuff that wasn't to leave that room, and we will check up on each other next time we have interviews!! I LOVED IT!! i feel so special having a secret between me and the president. lol. I also so Elder Christensen from the MTC at the interviews so that was pretty fun. NOW.....lets get to the week of MIRACLES, this all happened between Thursday and Saturday!

Thursday, sister dent and i had a goal to find a new investigator, it was 830 and we had to be back to our apartment by 9....we had to run to a appointments house and reschedule. So while we were driving i was making a few phone calls and sister dent noticed this big group of apartment buildings we drove by and felt like we needed to go there. So after we canceled our appointment we went back, We were guided by the spirit which building of all of them we needed to go to, then we couldn't decide between two buildings. So we prayed, and choose one, and went to the very top and choose a door and knocked! A girl came out and was SUPER NICE and very interested. We gave her a book of Mormon and she said she was going to go straight in and check out mormon.org and she said she'd think about coming to church(but she didn't come) and we have a appointment with her again on Friday! IT WAS SOOO COOL!!!! sister dent and i were like on cloud 9!!! It was awesome! Then Friday we had a appointment with a Less Active, Part Member Family. Who we have been trying to see for a WHILE, and we finally were able to go. So we went and had dinner with them and we talked about the gospel and everything. The wife and daughter and super receptive and became investigators. I know it will be a really slow process with them, but i KNOW they will be members eventually because they are GREAT! I feel very passionate about this family and feel like i was meant for them, so i LOVE IT!!! We also go a new investigator when we had a appointment with another investigator....we were reading a few scriptures from the book of Mormon and before we knew it, this other lady just kept reading and reading as we were talking and she was super interested so we gave her a book of Mormon and set up a time to go back! Then we also had a appointment with the guy who went to the wrong church last week and he is AWESOME and is so ready for the gospel!! We also had a appointment with another referral who's husband is a member and she has been around people in the church all her life, she is awesome, and her and the other guy showed up to church yesterday and we have another appointment with them this week. So between Thursday and Saturday we got 6 new investigators!!! INSANE!!!!! we are so excited!!!

 

So everyone out there, look for missionary opportunities and have your own miracles because they DO HAPPEN!!!!

 

To end, i will finish with a sleep talking story for you all!!

 

So Thursday, i woke up and i thought, wow i had a good nights sleep, it felt GREAT!!! Went about our morning routine in silence because we just don't talk in the mornings....lol, not cause we don't like each other, we just are quiet in the mornings, which i like! ANYWAYS....so we sit down to do comp study and pray and all that, and sister dent tells me about my sleep talking that night and how i woke her up. She said she heard me talking and was thinking what the heck, so she rolled over and i was sitting on the edge of my bed......PRAYING.....OUT LOUD!!!! she was giggling, she said her favorite part was my leg was hanging off the edge of my bed and it was just bobbing up and down like a little kids. She just laid there and watched me and listened to my prayer, which i guess was pretty clear to hear, it wasn't even mumbling. Then she said i finish 'in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen....then sat there for a minute and crawled back under my blanket and went to sleep!!! HAHAHAH!!!!! I was laughing SO HARD!!!! So there is your funny story for today! I hope you enjoy!!

 

Have a good week

Sister Barnum

 

 

 

I attached a picture of the primary class we teach in the Spanish branch. I LOVE THOSE KIDS!! They are awesome and so adorable.

Left to right: Lilly, Rebekah, Gabbi, Behind me is Danny, Me, Tomas(my little heart melter), and Jose.

E-Mail #11

 E-Mail #11

August 15, 2011

(this is Brittney and sorry again for being so far behind...we hope you enjoy the e-mails and photos.)

 

 

 

 

Hello everyone out there!!!

 

Well i survived another week. Last week we found out that they moved transfers and that this transfer is only 5 weeks instead of 6...so we will have transfers the first week of Sept on the 8th. Its really weird that they are happening that soon. But I'm okay with it. We are getting a TON of new people in our mission this transfer, so there will be LOTS of changes, and we found out from our WARD that we are getting ELDERS in this area....I'm guessing at the transfers they will be putting Elders out here, along with us. They want the elders to work on post (Fort Riley) but the ward and us sisters don't quite understand that idea because a lot of husbands are deployed so elders would not be able to get in the home. But whatever is meant to work out, will!! It will be fun to have 2 sets of missionaries out here though. The work could for sure us it!

 

Last week we were....you know....out and about doing missionary work....crazy i know. But we stopped by a part member family home. The sister was outside, so we went up and talked to her. She was super up tight and not to nice to us, but i was like DETERMINED to break down her walls and talk with her, so i just ignored her attitude and kept talking it up with her. It was a fun experience. By the time we finished talked to her she had warmed up to us, and i THINK she MIGHT have thought, maybe once or twice about going back to church. Either way, it was a good experience, and one step closer to the right timing for her to come back into the gospel! We have spent a lot of time on post the last couple weeks. Its been great, i love working on post and wish so bad we could knock doors, because you know there are people on there ready for the gospel and comfort it would provide them in such a tough place, of army and deployment. But we do our best to try and find people without breaking rules they have. We met a referral on post, and she is a super awesome person and i really look forward to continuing to teach her, and i know she will take to the gospel if she lets it happen. She will be awesome to share the glory of the gospel with. This week we also stopped by an elderly womans house who we have stopped by before, and she is just AMAZING. I love her. She is not active due to a few things, and her husband is suffering from cancer. But she is AMAZING. She is an immigrant from Germany, and she is this strong willed and amazing woman. I love listening to her stories, and she cares for us so much, is always giving us advice on which side of town to stay away from, and not be out after dark, and gives us food. She is super cute. I am going to attach a picture of me and her to this email. Because i just adore her!!

 

OH FOOD ALERT!!!!

For those of you reading this and aware of my picky eating habits. I mean, I'm still a picky eater. But you wouldn't believe, i have had AUTHENTIC KOREAN food TWICE since being out here, and its YUMMY!!!! also mom....and dad.....you have NOT experienced carne asada(not sure if that's spelt right??) until you have come to Kansas and had some amazing Spanish ward members cook it for you!! you have no idea what you are missing out on...i could eat it ALL DAY...EVERY DAY!! AND we have FHE with some Spanish ward members tonight, I'm praying for some AMAZING FOOD!!

 

 We also are teaching a cute little guy in our ward, he is 9 and hasn't been baptized yet, so we made some cupcakes with him and taught him. Then on Saturday we went to a little town about 20 minutes away called Milford and went tracting, we knocked 3 houses in a ROW that were interested in what we had to say gave some book of Mormons away, and all that. It was so fun i look forward to seeing where that goes! One lady was SO CUTE!! her husband went and got her, and when she came out she said OOOH I LOVE YA'LL I CAN FEEL YOUR SPIRIT.....it was SO CUTE!! i loved it! So i am looking forward to seeing her and her husband progress it will be fun! and then as far as Sundays go, it will be super weird the day that i only go to church for a 3 hour block....instead of 730AM to 400PM!!! man church is great, but by the end i just want to fall of my chair and go to bed. lol.

 

PS thank you singles ward for the letters, i loved them!!! thanks for all your support and love!!

 

 

Until next week!

 

Love Sister Barnum

Email #10

E-mail #10
Aug. 8th, 2011

Again, I am sorry for posting this almost a full week late. Please forgive me.

Hello everyone!

Well the big news is....I'm still in Junction City with Sister Dent. I am way happy to still be in Junction City, I don't know if I could have handled change very well AT ALL! So I know Heavenly Father is watching out for me. I am the first companion that Sister Dent has had for more than one transfer. I feel bad that she has to deal with emotional me for another 6 weeks, but I guess we will both grow and learn from it. I don't really have that much to tell this week. It has not been to busy, Sister Dent and I were struggling a lot this week because we just are not finding people who are willing to progress! It's very frustrating, because people are willing to hear what we have to say, but they just DON'T keep commitments, it makes me super sad because they are all such GREAT people, if only they would keep those commitments and feel their Heavenly Fathers love SO STRONG in their lives! So that's been a bummer. Sister Dent avoids tracting at all costs, which I understand why, its not the best way to find people, most people just hate us for knocking on their door. But because we were feeling so stuck, we went tracting out in a little town out of Junction City called Chapman. Well the first door we went too.....very cute old lady, super friendly....BUT when we told her what church we were from and that we wanted to share a message she was not so nice anymore. And she was SO EAGER to close her door on us, that she SQUISHED her dog in between her door and screen door, we could see it and heard it yelp....it was so sad....and yet kinda funny, but mostly sad. Then we went to another house, again, a very cute older lady...and AGAIN when we told her what church we were from she just walked away, like AS we were talking to her, and started closing the door, it was super awkward! So Sister Dent and I were not a fan of how things were going, so we went to a members home. They were way nice and made us dinner because we didn't have dinner signed up for that night. While she cooked, we went tracting some more in her neighborhood. THANKFULLY that time was much different. Every door we knocked on they were super nice. Some didn't want to hear from us, but they were nice anyways. We even met a guy who was very clear that he had different beliefs than us, and didn't want us to come back, nice but very clear with it.....and when we went to leave he offered us a glass of lemonade....i thought that was wayyy nice! So tracting started off pretty rough, but it ended on a good note. Other than that, not too much has gone on this week. The heat has FINALLY had a break in it, we have had some good storms roll in, and let loose, so the humidity has been crazy, but the heat is SO MUCH BETTER!!! Last night there was an INSANE storm, literally lightning lite up the sky not even 3 seconds apart from each other. The lightening here is crazy. Like lightening that I am used to will like strike once and go away, but the ones here are like crazy.....I swear they stay lite up in the same spot for...ever! lol. It's pretty intense. But its fun to watch from the comfort of our apartment, now walking out in that....NEVER GONNA HAPPEN!!! Speaking of, I realized the importance of a rain coat, and I need to go buy one....lol. We also have been working really hard on our Part Member families list. We have met some great people that I just KNOW are ready for the gospel in their lives! There is one particular sister who we met that I feel VERY strongly about helping her feel her Heavenly Father's love! I really enjoy being around her and can just feel His love for her when we are at her house. I want her to know that so much, and we started her off my committing to pray about starting the repentance process to get closer to Heavenly Father again, and hopefully going to the temple! like she said she wants too! Anyways. I'm keeping things kinda short today. But I am doing well. and love you all! PS you can keep writing me to

104 W 4th St #207
Junction City, KS
66441

I will be here another 6 weeks!


I think this week I'll end with a little testimony....

Well, as a missionary life is HARD!!! I can not tell you how crazy I was to think that it would be easy, and when I say easy, for some reason I thought as a missionary that I would be free from Satan, like doing the Lord's work and I am GOOD TO GO! But I have NEVER in my life had to fight Satan as much as I have as a missionary. Through all the struggles and the words of advice from others, and blessings, telling me to rely on the Lord, I would always think, I already am, how am I supposed to rely even more?! But I have found myself putting EVERYTHING in Him, my worries, my concerns, my being so tired I don't want to talk about the gospel right now, my I'm struggling with reading my scriptures, I am homesick....I just want to find people to teach...everything, I talk to Him about EVERYTHING and He helps me SO MUCH. I feel Him carry me SO MUCH and I am so thankful for that. I couldn't do this without Him. I know that. And I am thankful for this opportunity to learn so much about the gospel that I never knew. And to change peoples lives, show them happiness they have never felt!! I love knowing that my Heavenly Father KNOWS who I am, what a great and strong thing! I love this gospel with all of my heart, and I want everyone to know of it's beauty. I love you all!!

Love Sister Barnum.