the spirit guides us...and sometimes little girls too! July 28

Querida Familia                                     July 28, 2014

Hi! Ok WOW I have too much to write I already know that I won't be
able to say everything (what's new though...)  haha so things are
really good in the new area! The week went by slower than most, we
don't really know why because it wasn't a bad week but... Anyway. So
last Tuesday was pretty crazy. Hna Klivans and I drove all the way to
Naperville and I re-united with all my companions except for Hermana
Hungate! It was so great. I love all of them so much. But shortly
after being there I was told to find Hna Cadd and then go to some
extra meetings with her regarding the new missionaries that were about
to get their trainers. It was a very cool experience! President Fenn
really dedicates his heart and soul into leading this work the way The
Lord wants him to. The transfer meeting was great and Hna Cadd and I
were able to teach a lesson before we went to the departing
missionaries dinner and devotional at President's house. It was very
spiritual. President Fenn talked about the abrahamic covenant and then
each departing missionary gave their testimony. It was very special
and crazy for me to see, because I remember seeing/working around
those missionaries 3 transfers ago and they're already gone, it was
just a reminder that my remaining time is precious and small. Scary.

So, I've just been learning the area, learning from Hermana Cadd and
we've been seeing some miracles! I'm really excited about the people
we are working with. It is such a privilege to be with Hermana Cadd.
She is so dedicated and hard working, I'm honored to be the missionary
to "kill her off"- she goes home in October. She is an amazing person
and missionary and I just feel like a trainee again just learning
learning learning. Basically she is awesome! We have an investigator
on date for August 23 named Lucas, he is in a part member family and
just recently got married to the member he was living with- Carolina.
They are SO great, I love them so much already. We had a really great
lesson about eternal marriage and I could just feel the spirit so
strongly testifying that the sealing power has been restored to the
earth. I know it has and it is a HUGE deal. We are so lucky. Please
pray for Lucas that he can overcome his alcohol addiction and make the
goal he has set to be baptized the 23rd!

Here is a pretty sweet miracle- ask me to tell you it in person one
day because I can't really act it out through email.
So we were in this weird neighborhood of town houses looking for 
two investigators that Hermana Cadd found last week. There's a lady
and her friend, and Hna Cadd knew where one lived, but not the other.
They both lived on the same street. So we were walking down the street
towards #150, and we get to #116 and she just stops and says "let's
knock that one" so I'm like ok. The people there don't answer so we
are like, huh. So we walk a little farther down and a little girl
(like 5 years old) on a bike stops and then points to the house she
was in front of. Her face was totally serious too, it was hilarious.
So we're like, do you live here? Yeah. Is your mom home? Yeah. Does
she want to learn about Jesus? Yeah. So we knock the door and it's
Miranda! The friend that Hna Cadd didn't know where she lived. She let
us in and we taught the Restoration! She really wants to be closer to
Christ and have burdens lifted from her life through him. She said
"when I feel in my heart that it's true! I will be baptized". We gave
her Moroni 7 (a kind of long chapter,) for her to read, and when we
returned yesterday morning she had read it all and loved it! She
prayed and felt the spirit and wants to come to church this week.
Miranda is so ready, this experience really was just another testament
that the Holy Ghost will guide us to accomplish the Lord's purposes.

Another cool story! So I think I talked about my exchange with Hna
Cadd in my letter a few weeks back. We had put 2 awesome ladies on
date after teaching them the first lesson. So I got to the area this
week and I asked if Violeta and Paulina were still on date, and
Hna Cadd told me that despite trying and trying and calling them, they
had had no contact with them since that lesson. They had stopped
trying to see them these past two weeks. So yesterday we were on our
way to somewhere else when Hna Cadd says, let's just stop by
Violeta. So we do, and she is home! She was cooking but she let us
in. She had the Book of Mormon on the table and she told us that
Paulina had just barely brought it to her to give her a turn reading
it. She told us that she loved the introduction that she read. She was
just as solid that she was the first time. We taught about the Book of
Mormon more in depth, and she understood, had good questions,
committed to read and pray and with help, rides, faith and prayers she
will probably come to church this Sunday!! :D Wow it was really cool.
It makes me wonder if Hna Cadd and I are meant to teach her together.
Who knows what The Lord has in store for her!

So I'll tell you a little bit about the area. We cover a few different
cities and they are all really fancy. There are fancy houses and
stores and it is definitely a city area- there is one street where we
can see Chicago in the distance. We have a little groupito of Spanish
speakers! The ward itself is huge, well attended and very strong. The
Chapel was filled to the back. We are really trying to work with
less active Spanish speakers to strengthen the group and work from
there. The goal is that It will turn into a branch! It's very
exciting. This week we will start doing exchanges, starting with the
Aurora Hermanas! I will most likely be going to my first area so that
is exciting! I will let you know how they go next week :)

Today I finished reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish. I LOVE the
Book of Mormon! It amazes me. I truly feel the spirit when I read it.
It inspires me in how I can personally strengthen my relationship with
and follow Jesus Christ. I love Moroni 10, the very last chapter,
where "speaks by way of exhortation" and exhorts us to do few very
important things. Most of all we need to remember. Remember what it
says there, and remember Christ. I love it, it changes me each time I
read it and I know it's true.

I love you all! This week President Fenn said that "our testimonies
are as elusive  as moon beams. It's something we must re-capture every
day." Don't forget to re-capture your testimony each day. Don't forget
about the Book of Mormon and don't forget about Jesus Christ and his
atonement.

Thank you and cuídense!!
Hermana Barlow

Area 4 photos!

Semana 54 getting transferred July 21

Fam                                                                                                       July 21, 2014

So after Alexander was baptized, if Hermana Simmons and I were ever having
hard times we'd say "it's ok. Alexander was baptized." Haha so this week
was one of those weeks where I was saying to myself "it's ok. Alexander
got baptized!!!" Hahaha

So, we finally taught Rosa, who is from Peru and has accepted
a baptismal date but hasn't exactly been preparing for it. She has
been listening to the tapes of the Book of Mormon and has been loving
them and understanding them. She mentioned some doctrines that she
learned and now loves (such as The Fall 2nephi2). She says she has
been feeling the spirit while she listens and reflects on what they
say. That was a happy moment! I know the Book of Mormon is true and
the spirit that testifies of those true doctrines is undeniable. She
committed to come to church which was exciting.

Later in the week we saw Maria y Paola, those investigators that I
love, and they were having a hard day. They are going through some
rough times but we don't know what it is. We testified of the power of
the book of Mormon in answering prayers and bringing the spirit in
their life, and also in bringing comfort. That's something I know is
true! I have felt it and experienced it. They hadn't read since the
last appointment :( but we gave them Mosiah 24 and Alma 7 to read and
re scheduled for Saturday.

We had other lessons and other things that happened haha but they all
end up not exactly how we wanted them to be so I will just... Not
write about them hah. one was with a lady who looks like Drew Barrymore and has a lot of family problems... so we were there to help her.... but she wouldn't commit to do anything haha! it was crazy but ya that's just a random story.

Saturday we were invited by our district leader to pray and do all we
could to get investigators to the baptism of this amazing family that
the Hermanas have been teaching in the north area. So we are calling
EVERYONE, and we call Maria and Paola, and the husband answers as
usual. He is a nice guy. But this time he was like, no we can't, we
are catholic and we aren't changing religion. I was like... don't worry im not inviting you to be baptized today, but to come see a baptism. So after some
conversation, we were totally dropped!! I was bummed. I love them! Ah
I have hope for the future though.

But the good news was that the baptism of that family was the cutest
thing!!! Oh wow I think next week I can get you a picture of them.
They are adorable. It was such a spiritual service and it was
definitely one of the highlights of the week. I know that this is the
true church and that families are very very important to our Heavenly
Father!

So that night, we got a transfer text that said: you WILL be getting a
transfer call. So after about an hour of waiting and kind of freaking
out, President Fenn calls us. He told us that Hermana Sharp will be
coming here with Hermana Klivans. Then he said that I will be an
Hermana Training Leader with Hermana Cadd in the Wheaton ward- which
is an English ward where we will do Spanish translation. It's in the
Naperville stake. Who knows, but it will probably be my last area...
Which is crazy. Hah so since that phone call I have been more nervous
then I was right before I trained Hna Lopez. Like I said last week (I
think it was last week...) I know that President Fenn is inspired and
I know that The Lord has a plan for me. I'm just going to do my best
and trust in The Lord. For those who don't know, an Hermana Training Leader is a leader for the sisters and we will do exchanges with a lot of hermanas and teach at meetings and stuff.

I truly have grown to love the Rockford Branch. Hermana Klivans was an amazing companion and I love her very much!! We are sad to be separated.

I have been studying a lot about Faith, Desire and Attitude this week. I love in Alma 41 (I think verse 5?) where it talks about how we will be lifted up to happiness according to our righteous desires. So basically we can't loose with righteous desires as long as we act on them.

running out of time, but I love you all! thank you for your support and prayers!!!!

con Amor

Hermana Barlow

"Oh no muchachas..." July 14

Bueno bueno good things have happened as always!                                July 14, 2014

So Tuesday we taught Fiorella- the lady I mentioned last week, the one
that we have seen a change in. WELL so we go back and she is like "why
didn't you come get me on Sunday? I got up, I showered and I waited
and everything!" And we were like are you kidding me? You said
you would call us!! She said she forgot to call us from her daughters
phone on Saturday and when Sunday morning came her daughter had left
with the phone. So, she assumed that we would still come to
get her. Ughhh we were bummed. She says she can come this Sunday, so
now we just have to find a ride for her which could be very difficult
:( but will happen!!!. But anyway the lesson went really well. She had read the
Gospel of Jesus Christ Pamphlet and 2 nephi 31. We taught it and she understood
it all. So well that she was like "oh no muchachas (girls)....." And
she was making this interesting face. So I said "do you believe this
is true?" And she goes "I know it's true. I say 'oh no' because there
are a lot of really big changes to make." She said her family and
friends have noticed changes in her too, saying that she is basically
Mormon now. (Which.... Idk if they even know what that means really)
so yeah. She is now praying for a baptismal date in August because she
wouldn't accept one right there. But the spirit was really strong. I
know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and that it changes
lives!!

We also saw Maria and Paola again with one of our members! It went
well, I love teaching and testifying of the Book of Mormon, especially
about moroni's promise. Paola was so attentive and she understood
everything so well. She committed to do what the promise asks, I know
as she does it she will receive an answer. Please pray that they will
come this week to church. Please pray that someone will come.

Another cool miracle! So last Sunday we found a woman named Micaela
outside her house and we got a return appointment with her. The next
day we go to our members house and she goes "wow Hermanas I had this
really great conversation with this lady at the pool today. I really
just have a good feeling about her!" And she basically said that she
wants to invite her to listen to us etc. Then she said, her name is
Micaela and she lives over there on so and so street. And I'm like no
way... And yeah it was the same Micaela. We are going to see her
tonight with that member hopefully! It's just really cool how The Lord
prepares people for us, as well as for all members of the church.

This Friday we had a really awesome Zone Conference. I definitely felt
the spirit and I have felt changes in myself as a person and
missionary. I know I have said it a million times but President Fenn
is amazing! At one part he spoke about baptizing- to help us raise our
vision to baptize here. He said "Baptizing is a matter of attitude,
desire and faith. Attitude can be changed, desire can be kindled, and
faith can be increased." Later on he said "You have the capacity to
change the world. Change yourself first." We as missionaries need to
utilize the atonement to repent and to make these changes. There are
more sacrifices to make, so now is the time for me to make them, as
many of them as I can, before my time runs out. I also received help
from The Lord in changing my attitude about my current area. I was
reminded by some things said at the conference- that President Fenn
really does put us where The Lord needs us. He is a very inspired man.
I know I am here with these people for a reason! I love my mission, we
are opening our mouths and seeing tender mercies and miracles.

Hermana Barlow

ps.

fun thing: Paola has a two year old who is so so cute! he runs around and chases this big white Goose hahaha hilarious

another fun thing: i found a cat mailbox!!!! shout out to Brooke Waltman!!

another fun fact: if you get caught behind the train... bad news.. it goes, then it goes backward, forward, backward and finally moves. we were there for more than 15 minutes

hi I'm Hna Barlow, I wake up @ 6:30 cada dia and I'm a Mormon July 7

Hi family                                                July 7, 2014

Ok so today we had a zone activity. We played some sports so for this
reason you might not see many emails from me! Also sorry about last
weeks email coming late, I sent it when I had wifi but I guess the
wifi went weird so there were a few emails that sent on Wednesday when
I got wifi again.

But yeah! It was a good week. The weeks this transfer were going a bit
slower till this week. This week went super fast. Soo much happened
that I want to talk about- but I don't have time!

Last week we served this lady that we met on the street. She
treated us from the get go like she had already known us, so I assumed
that she was a former investigator. This week we stopped by at their
trailer and it was a perfect time for them! Her name is Maria and she
has a daughter Paola who is 20 and has a cute little son named
Andres. We had an awesome lesson of the restoration with them, while
explaining the Book of Mormon, Paola interrupted and said "can I see
it?" It was great. They are super awesome, did I mention that? Haha we
taught them again on the 4th of July. They were getting ready to go to
fireworks and we knocked while Maria was getting out of the shower but
Paola talked to her and they had us come in anyway. That's a sign
that they are pretty solid, most people would use that as an excuse.
Maria came out when she was ready. She had read and Paola had read
from the introduction through till 1 Nefi 4! They are in the middle of
moving houses right now so they said yes to church at first but later
said no. :( I really really hope and pray they will come next week.

I don't know what it is, but this transfer and last transfer it has
been very difficult to get people to church! This week we had about 8
people give us a "yes we'll be there 9:00!" But, no show. Ahhhhh! Haha
I am feeling more and more that I am doing all I can though! After
each Sunday that no one comes, we double our efforts and we have
made progress. The next step I think is being bold with our
members because as Gordon B Hinkley says, we missionaries simply
cannot do it alone. Pray for our members please. We baked a lot of
cookies today to give to all of them this week to show our love.

We taught the lesson in relief society and it ended up being really
awesome. We taught chapter 5 from preach my gospel about the role of
the Book of Mormon. There were two comments/testimonies in particular
from the Members that brought the spirit so strong. I was just like
wow, they inspired me so much. One of the Hermanas was testifying that
there is doctrine and stories about Jesus Christ but even more, his
spirit comes into our lives when we read that book. There isn't
anything that describes it. And there isn't any way to know that till
we read it. Till we try it. After her testimony I just wanted to hit
my fist on the table and be like YES THAT IS IT!! Let's fill the world
with that book. Let's fill the world with that spirit. It is no joke
that it is true and that it brings the Holy Ghost into our lives. In 3
Nefi this week I read about the coming of Christ. I read about how the
people prayed for what they desired MOST. They prayed for the spirit.
The spirit changes people. There was another woman Fiorella that we
taught the first time this transfer this week. My companion says that
she didn't seem super super interested before. She really amazed us in
this lesson. She had read all of Alma 42 and she loved it. She said
"it's true what it says in this book isn't it? Wow how amazing" my
companion said that there was a definite change in her, a spark that
wasn't there before. Peoples lives and natures are changing! Thanks to
the Book of Mormon that brings the spirit, that brings a change to our
hearts.

"The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside
in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the
slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums.
The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes
men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human
behavior, but Christ can change human nature."
(From "Born of God" by Ezra Taft Benson)

I loved this talk. Later he says, talking about people who have been
changed by Christ:

"Not only would they die for the Lord, but more important they want to
live for Him."

Living for him and his work has been the most amazing thing I have
ever done in my life. I am at my highest peak in all aspects of my
life because I have given myself up to Him to help me. I love my
mission. It means more to me than I can describe! In interviews last
week President Fenn told me "the last part of your mission will be the
best." I'm doing my best and I love all of you and thank you for your
support. Do all you can to live for The Lord and I promise your life
will turn out better than you could've imagined!

I LOVE YOU!
Hermana Barlow

Ps. Random story. This little five year old girl walks up to me with a
perfume bottle while We're talking to her neighbor and I hear her mom
ask her to bring the perfume to her and then she asks me "will you
hide this in there? Will you hide this in there?" Pointing to my bag
ha hahahhaha idk it was just a hilarious attempted secret combination

God will answer us and take away our confusion July 2

Hola Fam fam                                               July 2, 2014

Hi! Ok wellllll not to be negative, but this week (particularly this
past Saturday) was potentially going to be very happy and exciting but
that happy miracle day has been postponed to who knows when.... Haha
let me explain.

So Thursday night I get the news that Josefina and her kids Sophia
and Valery  (from my last area) will be baptized Saturday the 28th of
June! So I'm just so excited, thinking wow how am I going to get all
the way out there. I got permission to go but we aren't allowed to
drive our car out of the zone for a baptism. So I call a couple
members from this area and they couldn't. Arlington heights is like an
hour away and, yeah that's a big sacrifice for them to do for a
missionary they barely know! So I get on Facebook and ask Hna Medrano
and Talia from my last area how they'd each feel about taking me one
way. Talia couldn't but Hermana Medrano right off the bat was like "of
course Hermana!" What an angel! I got permission for them to have my
number here too. So Friday morning I get a call and it was Hermana
Padilla!!! She was calling me to tell me she would gladly drive all
the way out to take me to the baptism and that Hermana medrano would
take me home. They are angels, wow. I love them so so much and I was so
excited to talk to them. It truly was a miracle for me! Even more I
was just so proud of Josefina for following the spiritual prompting
she had received. I was so excited for her and her family to have this
amazing new start. It's something that they desperately need, like
I've talked about in past letters. To say I was excited for them is an
understatement!

So Saturday morning Hermana Padilla calls me and says that Josefina
backed out the day of because she didn't feel she was ready. Even
after the interview and everything. Something about opposition in her
family. She wasn't answering her phone either so I really hope and
pray that everything is ok :(. Ah wow what a bummer. So their baptism
is just being moved to a later date... At least that's what I am
saying! And hoping and praying.


So this week was good, we had a zone meeting where we heard from
President Fenn about the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum smith because
the anniversary of that event was this week. It's so true that if they
had made the whole religion up, there is no way they would die for it.
They died for the cause of God's church and work. I know it's true! I
know Joseph Smith was a prophet. Hearing the story from President
really strengthened me.

I also had my interview with President this week. He is so awesome, I
honestly don't think that there is a better mission president out
there.

I went on exchanges with Hermana Cadd too! She is awesome I love her!
I went down to Wheaton and we taught the first lesson to two
ladies and they accepted a baptismal date! It was really cool, they
were awesome. We also taught a member family and they have a Morkie
dog- and he reminded me so much of buddy- so it was fun to play with
him! Haha random fact.

So yeah, our investigators are tending to drop us lately due to
listening to their own pastors who say "don't "confuse" your faith by
studying another book". Which is totally ridiculous!! I know
personally that God will answer us and take away our confusion. He
will do it through prayer, the Holy Ghost, and the Book of Mormon. The
Holy Ghost will only testify of truth and I know it testified to me of
the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. We are trying our very hardest
out here inviting others to come unto Christ! A lot are being blinded
though by false information. We are trying our best and I think we
will see a big miracle soon.

This morning I really loved this scripture in 1 Nephi 13:39-40 about
the purpose of the Book of Mormon and the other books of scripture
that we have. WOW it is SO CRUCIAL that we know how we might come unto
Jesus Christ to be saved. It is so important that we know his word,
and have all his word that we can. Then, we need to live it. Also I
read this morning in 3 nephi 12:20 Therefore come unto me and be ye
saved; for verily I say unto you, that except ye shall keep my
commandments, which I have commanded you at this time, ye shall in no
case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (3 Nephi 12:20)
So... Know the commandments and keep the commandments! I know this
work is true and I also know that God will give us the answers we
need... if we humble ourselves and have faith.

Love you all! Que tengan una buena semana 
Love Hna Barlow

tentacles and unidentified seafood objects June 23

Hi fam                                                                                       June 23, 2014

Hey it was a pretty good week full of ups and downs. The first few

days we barely taught at all! Just trying and trying and trying and

that's never fun! Its hard for me to go a long amount of time without

teaching, I'm thankful that we get to teach pretty often here. 

Anyway so by Thursday things were falling through and I was just like

PLEASE and then we stopped by this investigator and his wife's place

(or 

girlfriend?)  His little daughters were there and they let us in!

Blessing!! It was really great. The wife who didn't seem very

involved at first was like "oh yeah I never realized that before!"

when we were talking about the great apostasy and all the churches

that emerged. I have really high hopes for them because they are a

great family and seem pretty interested. I love them already!

Saturday was pretty funny!  We were in this town in our area that we only

go to a couple times a week because it's 20 miles away. Our plans fell

through so we had chosen a street to knock doors. It was raining

lightly and we were like "meh we're fine" so we start going down the

street and with each house we go to, it rains harder. It was raining super

hard and we just had one more house and so we went to it and finally

someone was home but they didn't have time :(   As we are walking

back to our car it is just monsooning and the rain is just blowing in

our face and the thunder was loud and we were laughing so hard! We

were SOAKED!  

 Then it was time

to go to our appointment -soaking wet.

 Luckily they were there and they

told us to sit down because they had food for us! Which was good

because we were hungry... she says it's shrimp tostadas or

something.. and I'm like sweet I love shrimp!  But she puts the food in

my bowl and I just laugh so hard inside because I see a few different

little tentacles and unidentified seafood objects hahahhaha ah man so

yeah! I love that family though they are pretty great. 
We put on the

restoration movie and as were watching it I'm just thinking.... You

put in your papers to serve a mission and you didn't know where you'd

go, what the physical conditions would be or what the people would be like

or what the

food will be like but you settled it in your heart that that you

will go wherever and do whatever.  As the first vision was shown, I

just felt the spirit so strong! They were really into the movie too

they were like "oh wow!!" It was so great. It was just one of those

moments like, I'm soaking wet and I just ate some un-identified and

barely chewable seafood objects but it's 100 percent worth it! I love

it, I love being a missionary. That family promised to go to church

next week so we are hoping and praying for that.

Yesterday we also had two lessons where we were dropped. I really

don't like dropping lessons no matter who is doing the dropping, in

those moments I feel an even deeper love for them and this restored

gospel and an even greater urgency that they know it. In one lesson our

investigator didn't want to accept it because he only accepts the

Bible. We did all we could, we let the Book of Mormon speak for

itself, we responded to his doubts, etc. But in the end we were left

with our testimonies. I felt my testimony of the Book of Mormon come

from my core and I know they felt the spirit. Although hard, these are

special moments that I will remember and cherish! They still didn't

want to continue learning right now but both the lessons ended with

them coming up with a way to "leave on good terms" and they promised

us to read the Book of Mormon and do what the promise says and later

call us. I hope that our testimonies left a mark on them and I know

that The Lord has a plan for them. Sometimes I just want to see where

they'll end up but, I'll have to wait. Or maybe they'll call in a

couple weeks.

In preach my gospel I was reading the referenced scriptures under "the

great apostasy" and it references us to chapter 40 in Jesus the

Christ. I started reading that today and WOW it's just mind blowing

how clear it is that there was an apostasy. It's cool to see how The

Lord has prepared his children throughout history to receive his

Gospel and especially how he prepared the Earth for the restoration. I

know it's true! I know Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of

Mormon is true. And especially that Jesus Christ lives!

¡Cuídense esta semana!

Hermana Barlow