Adventures in Anaheim

Goodbye, Farewell and Amen.

2011-09-20T16:20:00.000-07:00

Kj, I know you're right. You said, That there is a time and a season for everything, and that to live will be an awfully big adventure... But... I never thought that today would come. or that it would be such an emotional mix when it did come..

OY! that is all that I can say. OY VE!

Today after packing everything away we had breakfast with the West pointers. Menudo and chili reyeno! yum! The mom said a wonderful prayer that had me in tears and then we were off. Check out at the mission office, make sure you have all your cards and information turned in and spelled correctly. Well done good and faithful servant...

WHY AM I DRINKING PASSION ORANGE GUAVA!??!?! It always makes me emotional...

This week we had such a wonderful week! Sadly I left my planner in my other pants, so I can't tell you all the dirty details. But here's what I remember.

We gave a lady a blessing so she wouldn't be hurting so much recovering from chemo.

I gave a blessing in Spanish to a fellow and the words came that I wasn't even sure if they were right but they turned out to be perfectly said.

Had departing interviews with President Bowen and it was a very spiritual meeting. About letting the lord guide me where he needs me.

Watched "Joesph Smith the Prophet of the Restoration" with the west pointers and the spirit was so strong. there wasn't a dry eye in the room.

I found Bloomingdales' Testimony on Mormon.org. Holy cow! She is on fire!

Stake conference was lovely. All about missionary work. Speakers were Recently returned missionaries and a couple ones from some who were going out to the field in a couple weeks. It really was a conference directly to me. I'm not sure why everyone else was there, but i hope they something out of it too. ;)

we walked for a whole day talking to people in the street and sharing the Gospel.

...

I'm tearing up right now...

man... I don't want to leave.

Oh Mr. Frodo I'm torn in two...

...

I've learned a lot out here.

I talked with a return missionary who had become inactive in the church and in my heart I vowed to keep doing the little things to keep contact with Father in heaven. You know, reading the scriptures, praying going to church: the classic three. It's like you said mom, "It is hard to stay in touch if you don't stay in touch! " And it's the Same with God, and I don't want to fall out of touch with him.

This time out here has changed me forever.

I'm not the same.

Nor do I wish to be the same as I was before.

I can hardly believe that I shall be leaving California in less than a day.

Where did the time go!?

Thankfully as I look back over the things I've done out here and the people I've met and the things that I've learned, I can see that although it was just a blink of an eye, I've fought the good fight, and I've kept the faith.

I know that this church isn't just a nice Idea - It's True! And I know that Jesus Christ really is the Son of God, our saviour and redeemer. I know that He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith to restore that which had been lost: the gospel. And I know these things because I asked God to tell me if it was true, and HE told me that it IS!

If you don't know it, or if you aren't sure if you know it- I'm going to take advantage of the short time left that I have as a duly ordained minister and Representative of Jesus Christ himself and say- Find out! Do what it takes.

Come on Guys. I just spent two years of my life proclaiming this to everyone that I could. Figure out why I did it! Why is this something that I would devote my life to?

I can tell you why- It's because I know that it's true.

I hope you can find that out too.

I pray that you can.

You can start by reading in, and praying about, The Book of Mormon. It truly is Another testament of Christ.

I love you all.

Thank you so much for supporting me on this adventure... quest... thing. I thank you for every prayer and thought and letter you sent my way. It made my pathway bright.

well...

this is it.

so long.

and thanks for all the fish.

-Elder Soren J. Barker

Sept 12 And in three...two...one...

2011-09-20T16:18:00.000-07:00

HELLO!

Wow. This has been one of the BEST weeks! Lot's of wonderful things! So... where did I leave off last week?... AH! I remember!

Tuesday Lot's of contacting people.

Wed. WAS SO HOT!!!!! We were both sweating so much. Yuck. But we were able to meet with Army Boy's family and talk about the blessings we receive from God according to our faith. And then we had dinner with The West Pointer family. Great food. I'm going to have to get her recipes Because... Shoot-Dang! Good Sope and Agua de Jamica. Oooo sooo good. In the evening we went to Miss Moon and read a little with her and figured out when we were going to have her Baptismal Service (on Sunday!) and we got her ready for the baptismal interview.

Thursday we had an amazing Zone conference! President Bowen's cousin from the Quorum of the Seventy was there. WOW! It was amazing! Like, we talked about the importance and implications of covenants and alot about the Covenant God made with Abraham concerning his posterity (The saviour would be born of his linage, the gospel and priesthood would be sent by his posterity throughout the world, etc.) and agency and how important it is to choose to use our ability to choose correctly. It was a very spiritual meeting. I learned a lot. Too much to write down. Ask me about it later. In the evening we met with one of our investigators and read some in the Book of Mormon with him.

Friday, we were able to meet with some great people and invited them to the Dia de Hispanidad activity on Saturday. We had Miss Noon's Baptismal interview and She passed! Woo!

Saturday was such a fun day! We taught a couple people in the morning and then we went to the activity! We were there to man the Missionary Table, and while there, we got to catch up with how families are doing in the other wards that I've served in. People getting sealed in the temple, and getting baptized and going on missions and great stuff! It was so great! And there were cultural dances and foods and music and we had some of our investigators come and it was a great activity.

Sunday Church was great. As always. DUH it's Church! It's Always Awesome! But then after church was the wonderful Treat! I was just standing around waiting for my companion when another missionary said, "Elder Barker, follow me!" so I waited for my comp and then went to see what the missionary meant. There I saw a sight I had given up hope of seeing: My dear friend who was baptized a year ago! We embraced and talked and just smiled and it was wonderful to see him. AND he told me that his son is preparing for baptism AND that his wife had accompanied him to church! WOW! So great! THEN we had a wonderful baptismal service (for Miss Moon) And the missionary who first started teaching Miss Moon was there and it was great. Then I got to go attend a baptism in my last ward and it was SO wonderful to see the family who I had taught enter into the covenant of baptism. Wow. AMAZING DAY!!!

And today I mailed home my books and we played soccer in my space cadet suit (ha ha. too funny) But really I played in my Mexico Shirt! MEXICOOOOO!!!!! So yeah. Things are good.

I love you all soooo much!

Catch you next week!

-Elder barker

Sept. 6 How could it possibly be time already?!?!

2011-09-20T16:16:00.000-07:00

So the dreaded envelop came this week. We, in missionary lingo, lovingly call them the "Trunky Papers". It's the flight plans, packing instructions, check out procedure, final interviews and temple trip stuff... Yikes. I can hardly believe that it's time for me to actually be receiving this info. Wow... Time is a strange thing. I'm still trying to wrap my head around he whole "time" concept. Oh well. The time has come.

So Monday we had a funny time with a guy on the street. He was pruning his Chyote plant.

I asked Elder Castillo, "What's Chyote?"

"It's a green thing that they put in chicken stew," he replied. Then added, "It's nasty."

Turning back to the gentleman he said, "Esta Rico no?" (it's tasty isn't it?)

"Si, Esta Ricisimo!" (oh yeah! it's so delicious it makes my mouth water just thinking about it. In fact, I think I'll have some right now, since you mentioned it. Thank you my good man!)

Ha ha ha.

Tuesday we had a lesson with an older lady who's husband had died five months ago and her sister-in-law died recently too. Whew! That's alot to take in a few months. So we talked about the plan of salvation and how God has a purpose for everything and how we will see our loved ones again. In the evening we had exchanges. (This means he and his companion "exchanged" places, or split up for the evening to teach with other members or other missionaries so they can see more people in an area that evening----Anne).

Wed we taught the older lady about the restoration of the Gospel. She seemed, kind of, Eh... about it all. Hmmm... that evening we did alot of contacting of people who had met missionaries in the past.

Thursday we met Sleepy who lived at the home of some people that had listened to missionaries in the past and had some time. So we had a lovely time getting to know him. He was pretty tired from working all day though (hence the nickname). In the evening we talked with that one family that I can't figure out a name for... about the love that God has for them. It was great. Then we exchanged back.

Friday we had a super long dramatic service project helping this lady and her kids (think Calvin times four and that'll give you an idea about this kid) move a truck loaded with stuff into her storage unit (which could only hold 1/4 of the stuff. So we got all this organizing and moving and relocating to a different unit and the Kid had to pee so he went in a bottle then chased my companion around the complex with it.... It was fun.

Later the older lady we'd been meeting with kind of said, "Don't call me; I'll call you." Oy.... Then we talked with Army kid about church and maybe meeting with the YSA missionaries. Later in the evening we met with the West Pointers and talked about baptisms for the dead cause they were going to the Temple the next day. Great stuff!

Saturday we took a stress test survey to see how stressed out we are. I got Green (not stressed out). Surprise surprise. Other missionaries in the district got Orange (Almost freaking out under the pressure) Whoa... I'm glad that the Lord has helped me to deal with pressure out here. We taught some kids who we met last week and the lesson went really well. They are super receptive and they are awesome! They just speak English... so we won't be the ones teaching them. Then in the evening we taught a guy on the street about what the Book of Mormon is. I love meeting people on the street! It's such fun!

Sunday was AWESOME! West pointer's Dad blessed the sacrament, my comp talked me into bearing my testimony cause it's the last Fast and Testimony Meeting in my mission, West Pointer the Oldest got ordained as a priest, and The church is true!

After church we met with Sleepy and he had read and remembered really well what he had read, Cool. So we talked about prophets and the importance of scriptures. Then we watched The Testaments with a family, then raced to a seminary kick off and sang a musical number, then ended the night with that one family that I can't think of a name for... It was a good day.

Monday we had an awesome Family Home Evening with the Westpointers! Life is so great!

I love you all.

I love the Lord!

Things are good but they are getting better.

Catch you next week.

-Elder barker

Aug 29 Seven Days in the Life

2011-09-07T09:07:00.001-07:00

Hey! How are you? Weathering the storm I hope. Yikes! I heard on Tuesday that an earthquake hit NY, is that true? Wow... Then a hurricane?! Sheesh. Well I guess it's one of those signs of the times we read about in the scriptures. You know the whole, "Earthquakes in diverse places and the ocean heaving over her bounds," kind of thing. I guess the figurative fig leaf is budding out and the signs of summer are at hand. But it'll be ok. Hooray for the plan of happiness!

Anywho, on my side of the country things have been dry nd warm. And ths key bord hates me. AD HJSDASKYK WUIL WD. Darn sticky library devices. ragga shmagga....(rumbling of mutiny)

So...

Monday we had a lesson with Miss Moon, Who told us that she had tried to get a hold of us the previous Thursday to have the wedding with us as the witnesses. WHAT?! I received no such call! "I called you guys up but you didn't answer. So we had to postpone the wedding until this week." Nuts... you mean they could have been married already if it weren't for Sprint's lousy phone coverage? We got the plans all together for a wedding at the old courthouse in Santa Ana for Thursday at 1:00.

Tuesday we had a meeting with the whole mission! Wow! That was the third time in two years that we've gotten all of the missionaries in one room. Fun! AND there wa IN-N-OUT!!! SOOOOOO good. yum. My companion ate three burgers. heh heh. Then we had a wonderful testimony meeting. I didn't have time to share mine... oh well. In the evening we tried to contact some people but no dice. Then we had coordination meeting with the Ward Mission Leader who told me, "Elder Barker from Maine!" Yup that's me. "You know that there was a 5.8 earthquake on the east coast right?" WHAT?! That never happens -NEVER! "Well, it did." Yikes... SO hope you are well and not too shock up- if the rumors are true.

Wed we started the day off with a Session at the temple. So wonderful. I LOVE THE TEMPLE SO FREAKING MUCH!!!!! I highly recommend going there for any readers who haven't yet. It's such a heavenly place. We taught some fun people, but contacted a cool couple in the evening. She was sitting outside in her yard and we struck up a conversation and----what do you know! She and her husband are interested in learning more. Cool!

Thursday at 11:45 we got a call. "Elders! could we make the wedding earlier?" um.. we're in district meeting until 12:15... SURE we can get out of it and go to a wedding!" So we ditched the other elders there and we went to the wedding! SO fun! It was sweet to see the Disney shine in Miss Moon's eyes. And as they said, " I do," it was so nice to know that finally they were married and keeping the commandments of God. Hooray for not just living together and playing house! Hooray for commitment and responsibility! Then we went out to eat. Later we met with some folks and some recent converts and helped them get things in order to go to the temple on Saturday.

Friday was a BLAST FROM THE PAST!!!

Dun Dun DUUUUUUNNN!!!!

So if you look in the archives of Letters from Elder Barker You may search almost the exact day last year and you will know who the blast from the past was. Friday was the 26th of August BUT last year on the 25th of august I met a woman who made my blood boil and my car get towed. We were walking around, and were just about to cut through an apartment complex to get to an appointment quicker and a voice from my nightmares rang out:

"WHAT do you think you are doing? Are you on the premises by the invitation of someone?"

NO!!!!! THE WITCH WHO HAD MY CAR TOWED LAST YEAR!!!!

"We are just walking though to get to the other side. We weren't even going to contact any on here in the comple- "

"OH no you don't! You walk around! Don't you see the signs?!"

OH MY FREAKING WORD!!! THIS WOMAN IS OUT TO GET ME!!!

"-oops! Sorry about that. We'll be sure to walk around then. Thanks."

"AND JUST so you Know, 145 C was evicted. SO you can stop going by there!"

"-what? Who... I have know Idea what you're talking abou- "

"There was someone there who was meeting with you people and they've been evicted so you can stop bothering the people there!"

"-Well That's not us... but thanks for the heads up."

yikes....

We had a wonderful lesson with a woman who has a simply lovely daughter with downs syndrome. So sweet. Then in the evening we had exchanges with the zone leaders.

Saturday was a day of much contacting and faith finding.

Sunday was church and the west-pointers were sustained and ordained to the Holy Priesthood of God. WOW! so cool to see they're progressing in the Gospel.

Anyways... that's the long and short of it.

Hope you are well. I love you so much!

catch you later!

-Elder Barker

Aug 22 What a weekend!

2011-09-07T09:06:00.000-07:00

This week was wonderful! The West pointers Got BAPTIZED!!! Wow. So Great! I even got to be part of the ordinance, But I'm getting ahead of myself----

Monday, We had an awesome Zone Activity: DODGE BALL!!!! It was super fun. And then in the evening we had family home evening with Miss Moon. It was a good time, sharing the story about king Lamoni's father from Alma 22. Great stuff; look it up.

Tuesday we had a great meeting with the zone and discussed mission rules and stuff. Lots of good energy. We taught this one guy who came to church on Sunday saying, "Soy Mormona. El Salvador. Jose Smith. Moroni. Soy Mormona." Ok... so he's not all there. And it was super funny teaching him because, A) his conversations would go around and around on repeat And B) His outfit: He looked like a mix between Genie from Aladdin and a pimp. Ha ha. Pink silk leopard shirt and blue paisley pants. Crazy. Then we taught the West Pointers the last few principles that they needed to know before baptism and answered some questions and ate some DELICIOUS flautas. I'm drooling thinking...

Wed. We got stuff together for the baptismal program then met with our one-legged friend who loves soccer and even though he's been learning more about the church for 18 years----still won't get baptized. Then most of the West Pointers had their baptismal interview. The dad couldn't make it cause he works. And they passed! And we met with another family and talked about the gospel for a bit.

Thursday I was on exchanges with this Newbie from Mexico and it was super fun. I wasn't too familiar with the area so we got lost a couple times. I mean, I know this area, cause I served here last year BUT that time it was in English and I never was able to adventure into the heavily Spanish areas, So it was an adventure exploring.

Friday West Pointer's Dad passed his interview and we taught a crazy lady who reminds me of a marionette: Her movements and head gestures were just so over dramatic it was almost comical when she'd talk. In the evening we had a missionary activity, where we watched this movie as a ward. Good movie. Our non-member friends liked it too. It was called, "And Should We Die." It was about when Pancho Villa was about to attack the Mormons in Mexico and at the end a Bishop gets shot because he wouldn't deny that he was a Mormon. Then we had a great organizing/planning/meeting where we got maps and figured out where everyone would go for the upcoming Missionary Stake Activity on Saturday.

Saturday was AWESOME! We started off with the missionary activity where the young men in the stake all came together and we went out contacting people with them. What an experience! It was wonderful. The YM loved it too. Then we set up stuff for the West Pointers' baptism and had an awesome service! I got to baptize the Dad and one of the sons. Very cool experience. When the son came out of the water he commented to me, "I feel lighter." Awesome! After that we all went to a carne asada cook out and had a blast!

Sunday the West Pointers got confirmed. The mom commented after Sacrament Meeting, "Taking the sacrament never meant anything to me before, but now- I can feel it working in me." Cool. After church we attended another wonderful baptismal service in the ward. Great things are happening in Zion these days. Then we contacted and taught two guys on the street in the evening. Great week!

Whew.

I hope your week was as fun as mine was. Man, I love you guys. Thanks for the love and support.

Catch you next week.

WOO HOO!!!

-Elder barker

Aug 15 How awesome can it get?

2011-09-07T09:04:00.002-07:00

Hello! Wow! I am totally loving being in this new area. IT"S ON FIRE!!!!

Like we have so many wonderful people that we are working with, and it's so great to see how the gospel lights up some one's life. I LOVE THE GOSPEL SO MUCH!!! I'm glad that it's true.

Monday we taught a family about the plan of salvation. I don't have a code name for them yet... still thinking about it. And then in the evening we taught a woman who I will call Miss Moon. She is a cool lady. She's living with a member and they are busily arranging things for the wedding, so that she can get baptized. Silly people, living together is for married people. Anywho, she is super excited about the church and getting married and working towards temple marriage. Woot!

Tuesday we had a great day teaching recent converts who are so strong and bearing testimonies at Girl's camp and then in the evening we had a correlation with our ward mission leader. WOW! He's active! And happy about the work! What a difference!

Wed. We taught a crazy born again lady, and a guy who has an issue with baptism signifying being born again, and a lazy one-legged man watching Fivel Goes West, and an undeceive member who comes to church but feels uncomfortable asking God if it's true BECAUSE he knows that he'll get an answer and then he'\d have to change, and then we taught that one family who I don't have a name for BUT who are preparing to be baptized soon. Busy day.

Thursday we met with some great less actives and helped them overcome some concerns. And then we met with a family and taught about the Plan of Salvation. MAN I love teaching about the plan. Is there anything that brings more peace and security than knowing where we are going and where we came from and what in the heck in the world we are doing here? I submit that there is not!

Friday I ate Menudo! (It's that soup that every missionary is afraid of and tells wild stories of trying it and then being told what it was and then becoming violently ill.) It's cow stomach soup! AND IT WAS SOOOOOOO GOOOD!!! I have to learn how to make it because it was scrumptious. The Mexican family were all looking at me and waiting for me to throw up but I was just enjoying every bite! Yum! and we also taught that one family a bit about faith.

Saturday we taught an old man in a cat/ant/parrot-infested apartment. Interesting experience. Smelly. We had dinner with a stubborn christian guy who goes to church with us and accepts Joseph Smith as a modern day prophet, BUT doesn't think that he needs to be baptized by proper authority. We also had a wonderful lesson with a family that is going to be baptized this upcoming week. Crazy part of the story is that when we arrived, they had visitors in their living room. It was the pastors from their previous church who were there trying to convince them to come back and to not listen to us. BUT the family knows what's what and told them that they have found a place where the fullness of the gospel is found. Wow. Then we had a great lesson about the ten commandments.

Sunday we had a boat load of people at church. It's so fun going to the same building as the other ward I served in. I get to see lots of people I know and they cool thing is that they remember me! YAY! after church we went by the one legged guy and talked to him about being baptized. He says that he can't give up coffee. Oy. Then in the evening we met with that fam that's going to get baptized... I'm going to call them West Pointers, cause the kids want to go to West Point. We taught the West Pointers a bit about prophets and temples. Great lesson. Great family. Great area!

I love you all. Hope things are going well.

Happy festivities back home. I hope the bugs aren't too fierce.

Love ya,

-Elder barker

August 8 And so the end begins

2011-09-07T09:04:00.001-07:00

Hello! Wow. A great transfer is about to begin! Saturday we got the call to see who would be going where. Elder Jaquez had been itching to get out of the ward even though he only had just gotten there- but the man Likes English better. BUT he's still in the ward. and that's where he'll finish. I on the other hand have been transferred out of the ward, so I go off into the sunset. Now I don't know what the deal is with me going to areas that I've already served in BUT it happened again! I'm back in the area I was in a year ago! Woo hoo! POLLY World I LOVE IT!!! BUT, this time I shall be in the Spanish ward! YEEE HAaAAA!! I'm still in Spanish! And I'm in my favorite area! AND LIFE IS WONDERFUL!!!!! YAYAYAYAYAY!!!

So this was the week:

Mon. we did the usual Monday thing: ya' know, shopping, emailing, that stuff. Nothing too exciting. In the evening we tried to meet with Tamales but she was busy moving he sister into another apartment. Funny thing about this family There are the grandparents, parents, five of the six siblings and all of their children living in the same apartment complex. Close family! And when they come to church together they take up two rows! It's so cool to see. Anyways, like I said not much happened on Mon.

Tues. we had Chinese food with some less actives and then taught Jean-luc Picard a little bit. It's hard to keep him on track though. He got off o some... ahem... interesting topics. Then we taught the x-boxer and his wife. She had a really weird concern with what she was reading in the book of Mormon.

"They ate raw meat?!" -yes.

"But why?!" -because they were fleeing the destruction of Jerusalem and had they lit a fire in the wilderness it would have been like shouting 'here we are!'

"But, how could they eat raw meat?" -The lord told them that he would make the meat sweet to them so it wouldn't be dangerous.

"But! Why wouldn't they make fire?!" - um.. because it was a commandment at the time because they were running away.

She just couldn't wrap her mind around the idea of doing that. But in the end her concern was resolved---something about beef jerky and sushi... I couldn't quite catch the whole resolution.

Wed we had a lesson with the Peruvians, who, it turns out, AREN'T MARRIED. oy.

So when were you two married?

"Oh, it's been what... seven years now, right honey? yeah seven years."

-Oh that's wonderful! You know my sister is getting ready to get married. what was the hardest part about your wedding?

"Oh.... well... actually we aren't married."

THEN WHY DID YOU SAY YOU WERE?!!! LIARS!! whatever.

I couldn't quite get a straight answer from them about why they weren't married yet. HELLO?? you have a child! What on earth would be keeping you from being married?

"The rings."

-What?

"We're waiting for the rigs to arrive from Peru." -....

Thursday was district meeting. And then we had tacos with the x-boxer and his wife. They have been reading a lot! so cool.

Friday, we went to get our car fixed because the service airbag light has been on for the past 6 months and I was told that it was just a malfunction in the wiring. BUT when that truck hit us head on and the airbag didn't go off I realized that it wasn't just the wiring.

JUST KIDDING ! We didn't get hit.

But we took it in the have the recall thing about the light fixed- but it turned out that there actually was something wrong with the airbag. So... good thing we checked.

Lesson: DON"T ASSUME THAT WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OFF IT"S JUST ELECTRONICS!!!

Later we taught Jean-luc Picard and his wife! Finally I met her. They don't live together. Interesting lesson: She thinks that she's active in the church... yet this was the first time I'd laid eyes on her. Weird how one's concept of reality can be so different from actual reality.

In the evening we had dinner with the Peruvians. SUCH GOOD FOOD! wow. and then we talked about eternal marriage and how that should be a goal for them.

Saturday we helped jean-luc Picard move his stuff From his son's house. Then in the evening we had carne asada and then coordination with our less active ward mission leader. And then got transfer calls!

Sunday I said goodbye to a bunch of people. Had carne asada. Packed my stuff and

Monday here I am! back on the golden streets of my favorite area! WOO HOO!!!!

life is great , isn't it?

Do you realize how much I love you all? Well if you don't, I LOVE YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!

Thanks for your love and support! You rock my world!

HURRAH FOR ISRAEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

catch you next week.

-Elder Barker

Jun 11 Latest Elder Barker Email

2011-09-07T09:03:00.001-07:00

Subject: Four days and seven hours ago--------I wrote you last.

SO! not too too much to report on, Except For the fact that on

Thurs. We met our new mission president! He is so Cool and down to earth, and loving, and Guess what?! He looks like Agent Sunshine from West Wing, Or... What's his name in CSI... But you know who I'm talking about. It kind of makes me think of the time that Dad had an Army General who looked like Patrick Stewart and because Dad respected Capt. Jean luc-Piccard he transferred some of that automatically to his General. It was a lovely meeting with them. Boy, they've had some hardships ever since they accepted the call to be mission presidents. They must have some wonderful mission to accomplish. Why else would the adversary try so hard to stop them? anywho, Good Idahoan folks who love the lord and love each other and are willing to do what the lord asks of them. After the meetin' we had a lovely Curry dinner with the Former Boxer and his wife. She still hasn't read... Nor did she make it to church. oy... We tried talking to a bunch of people we needed to make contact with but with my temporary companion feeling pain in his back and with other people not being home, we didn't talk to too many.

Fri. Elder J. Took his English test to get a cool diploma thing that gives him college credit for English. (Hey! I speak English too. I want a cool diploma too!..) In the evening we had a great meeting with the Peruvian family with the daughter that says the funniest prayers: "Thank you for my cough going away- cause I don't like it. And also we had sandwiches and they were yummy and... yeah- in the name of Jesus Christ Amen!" Peru just beat Mexico so spirits were high. And hey! They read the chapter we gave them (Alma 34) Which talks a little about the purpose of life. But they didn't make it to church either! ARRRGH!

Saturday Was Hot. And we had wonderful meetings with wonderful people. I don't remember if I told you about the family that had us give their 13 yr-old daughter a blessing cause she was scared to go into her room? She felt that there was something not good there. Well we stopped by to remind them of church (they didn't come either) and to see how she was faring. Still scared. So we had a discussion on what might be the cause of it. ("Somebody going to the palm reader and inviting weird spirits home? hmm?") It was a good discussion.

Then we had dinner. And then our coordination meeting fell through. So on the way from the meeting that didn't happen, we got the impression to stop by the family that we stopped by last Sunday. Just as we pulled in the driveway he came out the door. "Speaking of the Holy Ghost! I had JUST said a prayer for help-- And here you are." So here's the deal: The day after we met with him, they had another argument and his wife headed off for her vacation early. So he's been all alone and has been going crazy! So we talked more about avoiding contention and such and then headed home. It's amazing how God orchestrated that meeting: Our Coordination meeting falls through, we get the prompt, and then we go, and Poof! He's just been praying about what to do next. cool.

Domingo- the pianist didn't show, so after hearing the first song A Capella I couldn't stand it any longer so I ran up and played the rest of the hymns for the meeting. Oy... my piano skills are shaky. BUT it was better than the Battle of the off-tune congregation. Yikes! Also I spoke on the plan of salvation--my favorite topic! I love it soooo much, cause it gives me the most hope! Too many friends who have passed on into the spirit world. Too many things that are unfair about life. How grateful I am for a loving God and a Savior who provided a way for us to see our loved ones again. And to be resurrected in our perfect and proper form. Maren- we have a date to go running together in the millennium! SO that was fun at church. Then after church we went to a baptism and "Oh! Elder Barker! We don't have a musical number... could you-" Yeah, yeah yeah. I see how it is. One good deed in church and then I never get to rest. -But I guess it's good to share your talents.

and now it's today. Hi!

I love you so freaking much! I hope things are going great!

YIKES! the time is flying far too quickly.

It keeps doing that you know...

I love you.

Catch you next week.

-elder barker

Jun 27 I just looked at the calander!

2011-09-07T09:01:00.000-07:00

Did you realize what happened 167 years ago today?! The blood of Joseph Smith was spilled in a mobbing of Carthage Jail where was being held on false accusations of treason. "Long shall his blood which was shed by assassins plead unto heaven while the Earth lauds his fame."

Wow. This week was such fun.

Tuesday we were able to meet with Jean Luc Picard's older twin brother. apparently his new leg is not the right size so we helped him put on his old one. It was so funky seeing him without a foot. I mean- the prosthetic isn't a foot-foot-foot thingy, BUT when he disconnected it and all that was there was a wobbly Nub! It was cool and creepy and fun. We also met with the X-Boxer and his wife. It was a wonderful lesson on the importance of going to church as a family. (Unfortunately She hasn't quite been able to put that understanding into action yet... We'll keep trying.)

Then we ran to the church for a meeting BUT! We got Hi-jacked by Obispo to help him cook food for the youth. SO we made HOT DOGS WRAPPED IN BACON!!!!! Soooooo good- but sooo bad. (if you note there are more 'o's in the 'good' part of the comparison So I think that means that they are more good for you than they are bad- right?) Then we exchanged with the district leader because his companion, Elder Park, was in my area about a year ago and he knows the people.

Wed was fun because I was with Elder Park and everyone thinks we look alike. For a few weeks here people were mistaking me for him all the time. We were able to meet with a couple families that hadn't been taught in months and because Elder Park is magical we were able to set up times to go back and teach these families. Dinner was Muy picoso. And when it's spicy it always is a challenging situation. If I say, "WHOA! esta es demasiado picoso para mi!" They will think that I'm a Wimpy White Boy. But if I say, "Esta es perfecto, Que tipo de chile es? Chile de arbol? Ah Mi favorito." Then my mouth burns off and I can't talk for the rest of the day, and then next time they will put more chile in the food....

Thursday we met with one of the families from yesterday and, here's the deal, Sparky: It's sad when the people are converted to the missionaries and not the Gospel. Because as soon as the missionaries are transferred some people don't want to listen anymore. Oy... I hope that by my going by with Elder Park I somehow have made it into the "In" crowd. We also met a really interesting guy and taught him about the Restoration. He was in a coma for 11 months and died 3 times and now is trying to find a path of spirituality. Well sir! We are just the people to talk to! He was so receptive and accepted to learn more and It's GREAT! The one tiny little problem is that- he speaks English... So, That's a good thing for the English ward, but we have to keep searching for the honest in heart and the humble in the Spanish Genre. Oy...

Friday I was Back with Elder Jaquez! And it was weekly planning. and yeah... Friday was Friday. Not to many people were home or willing to listen to us.

Saturday was another one of those days. But hey- Mexico won the gold cup. so that's something.

Sunday was lovely. Church was uplifting, and Elder Mallo (pronounced Ma-show) and I did a musical number in sacrament meeting. We sang and danced to the tune of "there's no business like show business" - ha ha just KIDDING! I played the piano and he sang a fun version of an hymn. Uh oh now the ward knows I can play the piano- Now I'll never have a moment's rest at church. Then in the evening we had a couple lessons with some people. Elder Jaquez is so good. I just wish that I could speak Spanish like him. He says I have a Mexican accent. Oh well. I guess you pick up the accent of the people were you learn it.

I hope things are going good with y'all.

Thanks, as always, for your love and support. It really means a lot to me to have such great friends and family. I love you all.

Further up and further in!

Catch you next week.

-Elder barker

June 6 Old friends in new places

2011-09-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

ello, hello, hello, hello!

Wow, the time is going by so quickly. Too quickly! GAAAHHH!!! (ahem*)

Well, To get down to the nitty gritty-

Tuesday we stopped by this young gal who we've been trying to contact for a while. But she really doesn't have any motivation to do anything at all. She has quite the acne problem and she is quite self conscious about it. We tried to talk to her about how God doesn't look on the height or worldly appearance of a person but looks upon the heart. But she still didn't want to think about letting us talk to her about the God let alone come out to church. It's so sad that our society puts so much emphasis on Looks. I wonder how many people would be active and helping in their communities if they weren't worried about how people would look at them?... This gal has a daughter who is... 9 months... maybe more. But she was just sitting there in her walker thingy and staring up at me sadly. SO I tried to pull my magic and get her to smile- BUT NO! she wouldn't even flinch! I Guess It's like they say, "like mother like daughter." Funny part though- when I decided to just give up and mirror the face that she was putting out to the world, She started crying! "AH HA! So you can dish it out but you can't take it huh?!" Man, she was such a baby. ;)

Wed we taught a lady on her door step but it was a little tricky because her home is actually a front for Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. I swear there were about 50 kids going in and out and asking how much the candy she has hidden in her closet costs. It's actually quite amazing. At first her home looks like a regular home but then a quick as lightning she opens the hall closet and it's like a secret magical room that is just overflowing with candy and chips and toys and do-dads. So... it was tricky teaching her.

Thursday- we had a meeting with this one family and the old Dad who pipes up every now and then actually said something quite profound, "Everyone you ask will tell you that their church is the only true church. How can you actually know which one is true? Are they all true, or are they all wrong?" Well hermano, that is exactly what we help people to figure out. AND the great part is that we'd rather people don't take our word for it. DON'T! Because it's true- I'll always say that the church is true ('cause it is.) BUT if you ask GOD then He can tell you if what I'm saying is true or not and if there is a true church on the earth and which one it is. Profound question, no?

Later in the evening we met with that one man I told you about who looks like Jean Luc Piccard and he said, "Hey! His Spanish is improving! The first time he came by and said a prayer I couldn't understand a word. But now, it's better."

Ha ha. that's nice to hear.

Friday was Friday

Saturday I was on exchanges with the district leader But EVERY person we planned to meet with Wasn't there! Oy.... I hate when that happens.

Sunday was a reorganization of the bishopric. So the guy who was acting as Bishop was released from his position and another was called to fill the position. AND Guess who is the New Bishop?! My Ward mission leader from my last ward! Wow. Small world, big stake. It's interesting to see how the Lord works. I'm excited to see how the New Obispo's energy will help the ward.

And now it's today.

Well, guess what?!

I love you!!!!

Thanks for your love and support and prayers on my behalf. things are going good and they're getting better all the time. a little better all the time (can't get any worse).

You rock my socks! Have a great week!

catch you later.

-Elder barker

A week and a half of Fantastic-ness May 5th

2011-05-09T20:08:00.000-07:00

WOW! It's only been a week and a half but such cool things!

I must tell you everything!

No... there is too much darling: TOO MUCH!

(That is why I must show you---That is why you are here!)

Monday last: a woman came in to church with no pants who asked for to fill up her water bottle in the chapel. We gave her water, and some pants, but as we looked to find some food to give her, she vanished into thin air! Hopefully she isn't in the supply closet. That would be a shock during Sharing Time in Primary.

"Well kids, today we are going to use colored paper to- AAAAAHHH!!!!!"

ha ha ha. Weird.

Wed last: I picked up my suit from the dry cleaners and there was a man doing his laundry who said, "you guys are the Enemy!"

-What?

"I work for the Devil!" and with that he showed us the large 666 tattooed to his neck.

-oh. that's to bad.

"Naw man. it's a Heck of a lot better than working for God. But my work is hard, not like yours. All you do is knock on doors all day. I recruit! I'll probably find 7-8 people today who will stop believing in god and start believing in the Devil."

-hmm... that's interesting. Well, have a nice day!

Now, I share this story because I have found some things to be very true.

1. gas prices are way too high!

2. there is balance in the universe. I can't tell you how many times I have had an amazing spiritual experience that was followed shortly after by a nasty experience. And how many times I've had a run in with evil people and then balance comes through by having a great experience. The same is true of this fellow, because...

Thursday last was a wonderful conference with Elder L. Tom Perry! I love being in the presence of one of the Lord's Apostles. Wow. What a sweep of the spectrum!

Wed: servant of Satan and Thursday: Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It was quite the conference. He talked of many things. Mostly about how we have to help the world understand the importance of The Book of Mormon. Amazing meeting! He is a Man of God and a true Apostle of the Lord. (Do you know what that means?!)

Friday Prince William and Kate got married!

Saturday was a wonderful service project, Mormon Helping Hands style. Fun stuff. Cleaning up at a Cinco de Mayo festival.

Sunday was lovely.

Monday O-bin ladin began pushing up the daisies.

Tuesday was hot!

Wed was too.

and today is... today! HI!

HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO!!! Ai Ai Ai!

Hopefully everything is good in your neck of the woods.

I love you all more than I can put down in words.

I hope you are happy and healthy and all that good stuff.

Things are going good!

AND IT'S ALMOST MOTHER'S DAY!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY

Ma ma! I love you!!!

catch ya all next Monday!

-Elder Barker

Didn't I just read the one he sent last Thursday?

2011-05-09T20:04:00.003-07:00

(Yes, but it wasn't my idea to have Preparation day so close together).

SO! Happy Post Mother's Day! I hope your weekend was good. Mine was.

Thursday we went to the temple. Oh how I love the temple! I seriously could spend a whole day there. I wish I could. I'll just put that in my "things to do when I have time again" list. And then in the evening we taught English class. Fun fun. one of the students explained why Cinco de Mayo is so cool. And I didn't know that it wasn't Mexico's Independence day (shows how much I know): It is a celebration of a battle won by Mexico with the help of a Texan captain/general/leader dude. hmm.. cool.

Friday was lots of planning and then people weren't home so we had dinner at this Mother's Day activity. AND this one family that we invited to come actually showed up! Huzzah! So that made the day.

Saturday we had a couple great meetings. We met with a family that we had been trying to teach for a while who has a son who just got baptized in another ward and it was AWESOME! They were feeling the spirit so strong. And they understood everything that we shared with them and they have great desires to learn more! Hooray! I love LOVE Love it when people actually have a desire to learn! Spiritual progression is hard to motivate when one doesn't wish to me motivated. And then in the evening we met a family who has some good potential. So is was a good day.

Sunday was church and I called home! YAY! I love calling home! Good to hear your smiling voices.

And now it's today!

I love you so much! have a wonderful funderful week!

Thanks for everything.

Hurrah for Israel!!!

-Elder Barker

Happy Day after easter! April 26

2011-05-09T20:04:00.001-07:00

Can you believe it?! 1978 years ago (if my math skills haven't failed me) Christ was resurrected! What a great thing to know! Yesterday our ward mission leader was sick so Elder Tinti and I got to teach Gospel Principles class and we had a wonderful discussion on the Atonement of Christ. How marvelous the promise of resurrection to every single person who ever lived or will ever live! Perfected and glorified bodies that will no longer see corruption or disease! HOORAY! One man in the class bore a wonderful testimony about how grateful he is that through the atonement of Christ he can be with his family forever. Great stuff.

Monday We went hiking. It was great! we saw a rattle snake and everything! I love hiking!!!!

Tuesday we met with this man who tells us that he has seen in vision, "La santisima, la beisima, la hermosisima- virgin de Guadalupe" Ok. cool. Have you read any from the scriptures that we left you last time? no? hm... and we had lunch with some less active members. Man! the salsa here is PICOSO! i think the chili de arbor is about the hottest chili I've tasted. Whew!

Wed I was on exchanges and we taught this one couple. It was funny cause they were so tired and bored, they were falling asleep while talking with us. And the lady had the hairiest arms I've seen.

Thursday was a training meeting for the district. Fun-fun. Tweety called us saying, "I have to meet with you! It's urgent!" -OK we'll meet.. what's up? "I got this paper from the mission office and I don't know what it is! We have to meet!" OK. (later) "What does it mean when it says 'Write your conversion story?" -It means to write how you came in contact with the church and you experiences converting. "Oh, OK." -anything else? "Nope. that's all." -Couldn't you have Asked us This Over the Phone?! ha ha ha. Funny guy. English class was fun too. This little luchador guy was trying to sell me vitamin supplements. HA!

Friday was weekly planning and CALI DOG LUNCH!!! I'm telling you- it's heaven in a bun. Bacon-hot dogs-onions-peppers-tomato-jalapeno-ketchup-mayo-mustard-amazingness... Ahhh so good. We met with The Angel's and Demon family. It's interesting to see how when one little doubt creeps in about not being able to keep fully a commandment of the Lord, it brings spiritual progression to a halt and we are back to square one to motivate them to take a leap of faith. Later we met with Tweety. He's so funny. He shared his written conversion story and testimony with us (the mission asks recent converts to send them in). Good stuff.

Saturday We met with a member from the ward who is struggling emotionally. We shared that the Gospel of Christ brings comfort to the wounded soul and when we turn to Christ we are never alone. We later taught a woman with her twin daughters, She wasn't too interested. Oh well. She has the Book of Mormon and she knows how to find out that it's true. She'll come around.

Well I hope that your week was wonderful and full of Joy.

I love you all!

Keep up the good work!

HE IS RISEN!!!

-Elder Barker

"what's new with me?" you say. Well... April 19th

2011-05-09T20:03:00.001-07:00

Monday We played an awesome match of Ultimate Frisbee! Fun stuff. Tweety called us up and said, "Hermanos. can we meet up tonight?" -Uh sure... is everything OK? "Yes fine! I just want to meet up with you guys, for like 15 min at the chapel." OK!

So he gets there and we say, -Is everything OK? This was kind of last minute. "No, no. Everything is fine. I just wanted to be in the chapel. i feel good here." We started off with a prayer and then he looked up at a painting of Christ on the wall and started talking to it... "you always watch over my kids. You know what's going on. Thank you. You are the best." Ha ha. So we explained how we can pray anywhere and we don't need to pray to a picture to pray. funny lesson.

Tuesday was Interviews with President Watrous. So sad... That was the last formal interview with him. (sniff*) He bore his testimony of the saviour to me. WOW. So strong. "I know that Jesus is the Christ and I know what that means. Jesus, is a name that comes from Greek. In Hebrew it is Jeshua, or God saves. Christ, is also Greek. In Hebrew it is messiah, anointed one. Jesus is the anointed one. He was anointed in the pre-mortal existence. Someone had to anoint him. That was God the Father." So good. Later we had a meeting with Angels and Demons. The Father was like, "I'm ready to be baptized! i don't have any fear or anxiety or anything!" the mom on the other hand, "What happens if he's baptized and I'm not?..." hopefully she can gain a desire soon.

Wed. We had a lesson with Tweety and before the lesson I took down the picture. After the opening prayer he was like, "Hey... where's the picture?" ha ha.

Thurs was Thursday...

Friday We had a lesson with Angels and Demons. He was all excited about his baptism so we taught him a couple more commandments and set a time for the bap interview. Then we met with this Gal who had met with missionaries in the past and we talked to her and she really had read a lot of the Book of Mormon, it was pretty fun teaching her. Hopefully she'll be able to make it to church.

Sat. We went to the temple for a grounds tour. It went well. It was really weird though, because while there I saw two Men who had served in this mission with me who had gone home already. Weird to see them without Name tags... WHAT?! There's life after the mission?! anywho. after that we got together with Angles and Demons and The Zone leaders came and did an interview AND... He's going to wait for another week. He wants to be sure he can be able to keep the commandments and Because of economic stress he's not sure he can pay tithing. So we'll keep meeting with him and help him build the faith in God that even in tough times when we are obedient to the laws of God He will help us though.

Sunday was a Ward conference. Great stuff. Lot's of people were there who usually don't come, so that was fun to see them. Angels and Demons didn't make it though... and we weren't able to contact them by phone or in person... I hope all is well. Later we walked past this guy making carne asada who said, "hey I'm a member of the church! Come have some carne!" I can't turn down food- especially CARNE ASADA!!! But then after that we went to our dinner appointment and the lady of the house Pulled out four plates of food and set two in front of me and two in front of Elder Tinti... Oh dear... Elder Tinti said, " Come on elder! you can do it! it's all mental." So I stuffed myself to the rafters- no it was higher than the rafters. think Geese feeding until every time they lean over food falls from their mouth full. That was what it was like.

And today we went hiking again! And... that's all folks!

Thank you ever so much for all of your support. I need it.

I love you all more and more every day.

stay strong. Keep Cool. Smell sweet and EAT MEAT!!! Ha ha Just kidding.

Love you lots!

-Elder barker

Another week

2011-04-11T16:10:00.001-07:00

This week wasn't too too eventful.

Monday We went hiking up in the canyon. Wow. It is so nice to breath AIR! Santa Ana air isn't the same as real Air. It was quite beautiful up in the trees and rocks. Looking back over the valley we could see the whole mission. It's pretty small geographically. Population wise... I'm sure it beats Maine's with a stick. SO MANNY PEOPLE!!! So little time.

Tuesday: We taught Tweety. Good lesson about the Restoration of the priesthood. Later we taught The Ages and Demon family. (Which I realized as i was walking away from the library last week that I didn't explain why I call them Angels and demons. Mostly it's because their daughter is... Evil. During conference last weekend they made it to the last session and we were able to get a hold of a coloring book for the kido and we got some crayons and expected everything to be fine. And it was... Until she looked up at my companion and promptly snapped each crayon in half viciously and then flipped open the coloring book and scribbled on the page, turned the page- scribbled on it, turned the page- scribbled on it. All the while looking not at the book but At my companion with that scary look that you only see in lame horror movies. Yeah.. Angels and DEMON!!!!! ) It was a good lesson on the plan of salvation. Funny Quote:

"So, do you have any Questions?"

"No we're good."

"you sure? Any questions at all... About the plan... anything..."

"Oh I do have one."

"Ok great!"

"Do you guys have shirts with Jesus on them?"

"..."

ha ha ha. later we taught English class. it's getting better... i think. In the evening we got a phone call from some other missionaries telling us that they saw Tweety Smoking at the park. Oooo Not good news.

Wed We met with Tweety and as it turned out he didn't smoke. It was just an illusion. he was holding a pen in his hand and His Friend was smoking near him. Whew that was a close one. Later we had dinner with a Philippino/Mexican family. Wow. Philippino food is soooooo good.

Thursday: was leadership training. Very long. I heard through the grape vine that Mexico and Japan were hit by another earthquake. Whoa. Lot's of signs of the times.

Friday was... Friday.

Saturday We met with Tweety and talked about the importance of confirmation and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then we had a lesson with a less active member, and later with a man who told us that he had an experience similar to Joseph smith's Vision. But instead of seeing God and Jesus Christ he saw the Virgencita de Guadalupe. Hmm... cool. Later we read with a fam that didn't read... OY! I guess the old saying is true. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. In the evening we met with a recent convert and went over the law of chastity with him. We talked to him about how it's interesting that the world seems to have forgotten some of the commandments of God. Keeping the Sabbath day Holy (by not working on the Sabbath or by turning our foot from doing our own pleasure) The Word of Wisdom (God's health code [after all he designed our bodies: Who would know better what to stay away from?] Alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee, drugs) and the law of chastity (not engaging in sexual relations before marriage and strict fidelity within marriage). What is the world coming too?

Sunday Tweety was confirmed!

And that was that.

I hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

thank you for the cards, letters, emails, prayers, thoughts, and all that jazz.

love ya!

_elder barker

More pics...because Christmas happened and I forgot to post these...sorry guys! -Kj

2011-03-28T18:59:00.000-07:00

Puddle Hopping!

2011-03-28T18:50:00.001-07:00

This has been a wet week. The streets were so full of water that Elder Tinti and I were thinking of pulling out some innertubes and floating down the road. It was a riot having to hide behind traffic light boxes to avoid getting splashed and praying that the driver isn't anti-Mormon. "HA HA! TAKE THAT, MORMONS!" (OK that part didn't happen, but it would have been pretty funny if it did!)

Monday we were approached by this fellow on the street who was really annoying. "Una pregunta- una pregunta- una pregunta" Dude! you've already asked twelve preguntas and we aren't getting anywhere. All you want to do is prove how much you think you know and overlook the truth when it is plainly put before you. So--- have a nice day! After that we had some hot dogs. I can't remember if I've told you about the hot dogs before... They're to Die for! Wrapped in Bacon, with mayo mustard and ketchup on a toasted bun, tomatoes, sauteed onions and a grilled Jalapeno.... Wow.

Tuesday we met with Tweety. Poor guy. he keeps falling asleep during our meetings. Funny story (and I'm getting ahead of myself) on Saturday we met with him again and he was like, "OK! Give me one minute to sleep and I'll be OK-zzzzzzzzzz....zzzzzzz... has it been a minute yet? no? zzzzzzz....... time? no? ....zzzzzzzzzzzzzz....zzzzzzz "OK time" Yeah! See? Now I'm all rested and ready! Ah... much better." ha ha ha. Funny guy.

We taught the English class in the evening. It's so funny. They were learning how to say a prayer in English and this one guy (Who apparently is a famous luchador from Mexico [not because he could fight well but because he got beat up every time]) couldn't say "Heavenly Father" he'd say "Hebemi fadder" No no no... watch my mouth. Heh-ven leeee Faaah Thheeerrrr. Got it? OK say Heh "heh" now Ven "ven" Now Lee "Lee" Now father "father" OK Say heavenly father "Hebemi fadder" Slowly but surely... right?

Wed was the wet day where we had to hide from puddle splashes.

Thursday was district meeting. I always hope that my district can understand what I'm trying to convey. After that we went to Wendy's. Memo to me! Never get the fish sandwiches at Wendy's! I was thinking, "Ooo a fish sandwich! that'll be a taste from home! I simply must try it!" Wrong! It was horrid! they just don't know how to make fish right in the Pacific I guess. After that we met with tweety and helped him learn how to tie a tie. He was so excited to have ties to wear to church that would match his shirts and yadda yadda yadda- It's hard to teach tweety. When he isn't falling asleep he's gabbing your ear off.

Friday was Friday. One kid said something pretty interesting. I asked her, "Do you believe in God?" -Yes we do! We have two gods! One right there! (pointing at the statue of la virgin de guadalupe in the shrine surrounded with Christmas lights flashing on and off in the living room) and one in the back room!

Hmmm.... later we taught a family that has been kind of... I don't know... lazy in their progression. And it's like I want to show them all the great things that will come as a result of praying and reading in the scriptures, but they just... won't. So, we talked about the restoration of the gospel and the mom just was totally not paying attention. So I asked her what she was feeling or thinking, and she opened up and told us that she doesn't feel that she's received an answer from prayer and this and that. So we testified of the truthfulness of prayer and invited them to really come to church this Sunday. (And they Did!)

Saturday Was a crazy day. We tried to get tweety to a baptismal service in the morning, but he got lost and showed up late. So we planned on meeting up with him again later. Then the zone leaders called and said, "what are you doing right now?" -uh... getting out of the car to go talk to people.. why? "We need you to do a baptismal interview in 20 minutes! our investigators came to the baptismal service and they want to be baptized... today." Oh! OK. So I got to interview this sweet old couple and, man they were ready. Then we taught tweety and he fell asleep... so we told him to get some sleep and make it to the baptismal service that evening (he made it). i twas a wonderful service. It was funny because, i was sitting there and then they announced that i was conduction the music. Oh... OK! :D And then after the ordinance harped it was announced that we were to sing songs together, oh.. OK! :D So twenty minutes of conducting. Whew. It was a marathon.

Sunday was pretty cool. That family made it to church. Later in the evening we taught a couple lessons that went relatively well. It's hard to teach when their consumption of Alcohol is clouding the spirit.

And today!

I love you all so much!

have a great week!

-Elder Barker.

Snork!

2011-03-21T18:22:00.001-07:00

Od Dear... By dose is so clogded ub...

Oh well!

Hello, Hello and Hello!

Let me see, what happened this week. OH that's right!

Monday: elder Tinti was trying his luck on one of those games at the mall that you can win stuff if you are really accurate and lucky AND HE WON! An $800.00 watch! (not the best accessory to be wearing around the ghetto of Santa Ana, but still it was cool)

Tuesday: Our sink backed up and we played plumber until we realized that we had no idea what we were doing. (I NEED A BIGGER WRENCH!) Thankfully the apartment maintenance crew knows what they are doing. It was fun. "Hey why isn't this draining?... Whoa... Why is water coming up out of the drain?... WHY ISN"T PLUNGING IT WORKING?!!! AAAAAHHH!!!!" we

Later we taught our most progressing Investigator... I can't remember if I gave him a name last time... I shall call him Tweety! (If you saw his car you would know why.) So Tweety is doing good. If he can keep up the whole staying away from smoking he'll be right on track! But funny thing is that every time I speak his eyes start drooping and hid head starts nodding. I'll say that it's because i have a soothing voice...

Wed: Zone conference was so great! There was a brother who spoke to us. Brother Virgin was his name and when he served his mission in Pennsylvania and the states round about, back in the day, he only had one family during his entire mission join the church. He thought that his mission had been a failure. BUT! Later he found that the son of the woman he baptized had served a mission, marries in the temple, served as mission president, had kids who all served missions and the kids' kids and now serving and one is serving in the California Anaheim mission. Cool! Kind of awesome to think about how many people are affected because of one person doing what's right despite opposition and assumed failure.

Thurs: I went on exchanges with one of the missionaries and we had a grand day out! We taught a man who we met right as we were walking away from his door. We taught a couple others and had a feast of a dinner, and taught another man who we met outside his home! It was a blast!

Fri: Nothing really happened.

Sat: Was a wonderful Temple tour and Tweety came.

Sunday was... Sunday. In the evening we were out in the rain, which we were later told by people we met was radioactive rain from The melt down on japan. So... If I suddenly grow a third arm or I gain laser vision, or turn green and burst out of my shirt when I get upset You'll know why: I served a mission in radioactive rain.

Well... That's the news from lake Wobegon where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average.

Hope things are good for you in your neck of the woods.

Thanks for your love and support.

Catch you later!

-Elder Barker

Heavens He's tasty and expeditious!

Where's Waldo?

2011-03-14T18:07:00.000-07:00

No worries. Sorby's got 'im.

Happy Pie Day!

2011-03-14T17:59:00.001-07:00

Well hello there! It's been a wonderful week of madness!

Well this week We invented an amazing dish! Italian sausage Tacos! Oh man... They are to die for. Simple Fire up the barbie and roast some Sausages, onions, and jalapenos and then while that's cooking whip up some guac and Spanish rice, then have the whole thing in a tortilla! Can life get any better? I submit that it cannot!

We had some wonderful lessons with people this week. One girl who works at El Gallo Giro was so prepared to hear our message. We stopped by her apartment with another member, because we can't teach a single lady without another male present, but she didn't answer the door. So we left a note for her to call us, and we went away kind of disappointed. BUT an hour she called! So we called the member and had a great lesson! So, that was cool. But the catch is that we have to pass her to another group of elders in another congregation, because She's English speaking, and now I am all Espanol. Oh well...

Oh I found out that B, From my last ward, ( you remember B he's the Muslim who read the book of Mormon in a week) got baptized! YAY! good to hear.

On Friday we had a lovely dinner. It's called "Siete Mares" And it has about every seafood creature in it that you could imagine. crab, clam, shrimp, craken, fish, the whole nine yards. It made me think of home... mostly cause it smelled like the bay. ;)

We also met some wonderful people and taught them and they are excited to learn more! Yay! so things are going good.

Well... Wow... Japan... Too intense. There was even rumors of the tsunami coming over to California, so things were a little tense for a bit. Man. But the good news is that the Missionaries in Japan are safe! Hooray! Actually I wasn't too worried about them, I just hope that the people of the world don't do the whole, "HOW COULD A LOVING GOD LET THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN???!!!" To questions like that I think about the Plan of Salvation, and how wonderful it is to know that Death isn't the end of life! It's a graduation to the next part of the plan. My heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones, but the sting of death is swept away by the Promise of Resurrection that is given to everyone by Jesus Christ.

So it goes.

Know that I love you all! thanks for your love, prayers, and support!

I hope all is well with you.

Catch you laters!

-Elder barker

This week's episode of: MISSIONARY MAN!!!

2011-03-07T17:12:00.001-08:00

HELLO!

What fun! This week was pretty great. The Spanish is coming along nicely. I understand a BUNCH but the whole Make a sentence that has the correct conjugations and the subjunctive tense and putting the emPHaSiS on the Correct SilAblE is still a challenge. BUT Life goes on and the perplexed look that says, "Que en el mundo?" on our investigators faces makes me laugh. So, things are good

Monday, Elder Tinti gave props to English speaking missionaries after we knocked a predominately English area. "What?... " "Not interested!" "JESUS DOESN"T LIVE HERE!" Those kinds of phrases don't usually come out in a Hispanic area. I guess the Spanish aren't quite as RUDE as English folks.

Tuesday, I lived up to Obispo Santos' wishes and knocked so many doors that my knuckles became bloody! Don't worry: the doors in Santa Ana are sanitary........I think. I got my shots.......right?

Wednesday, we went up these rickety old stairs to find somebody who had met with missionaries in the past, and Elder Tinti Broke though one of them! Don't worry, it was the second to the last step. Later we walked past the "Tent Church" which in my book is one of the greatest examples of Silliness I've seen. There is this run down tent where every other night, the services go on and on, and the singing is just awful and on Wed when we walked back, I guess somebody was speaking in "tongues." To me it sounded like, "Gla bla beega ble!" So I wasn't edified by it at all...

But the best part of it it the pastor's home next to this run down tent is all spiffy and nice and has new paint and good windows and all that stuff.... hmmmm, I wonder where the money goes from that congregation?

Thursday was district meeting, and my district seemed to understand what I said, so improvements are happening! Yay! I can talk in Spanish!

Friday was a lot of searching.

Saturday we taught a cool lady who said, "that just rings true! I've always known that God is our father and Jesus Christ in the Son of God!"

Sunday was testimony meeting and it was awesome! One hermano got up and started talking about how he was reading in the scriptures the other day where Aaron was blessing the Israelites outside the Tabernacle and he said, "And can you just imagine, Aaron dressed in his robes and wearing the ephod and raising his hands to bless the people and saying, 'AL AHEG LA BLEG A BLEE GLAAAP A BLEWW GAGA BA!" It was just like the tent church! Thankfully, Obispo Santos got up and said to him, "We don't understand what you are saying. We speak Spanish." YAY! Obispo saves the day! It was just too Hilarious.

And that was that.

Things are going great! I'm loving it! And I love you! Thanks for the letters, emails, cards, love, prayers, all that Jazz.

love you much!

be well.

-Elder Barker

HOLA! (Feb 28)

2011-03-07T17:11:00.002-08:00

WOW! One week down!

Wow... that's all I can really say.

Most of the week i didn't have a clue what was going on and the other part I didn't have a clue how to explain myself and get points across. Lots of praying for the gift of interpretation of tongues for those we teach so they can understand me.

ANYWAYS! Tuesday I met the bishop (or rather Obispo) of my ward Obispo Santos. (Cool name huh?) After teaching English class in the evening, he came into the relief society room and asked if we could talk for a 1/2 hour. Sure. It was so cool. He pumped me up so much to work. "Everyone in Santa Ana will know Brother Joseph again! So wear out your shoes and bloody your knuckles knocking and talking to everyone! Camine Commo un Leon! Walk like a lion!" And he said more too, but I can't translate very well, but It was good stuff.

Thursday I was on exchanges With Elder Saxton! Blast from the past! Funny thing: second birthday in the mish, and I was with him for the last one too! Fun Fun! We taught some great lessons, and had a grand ol' time.

Yes, I did get the b-day packages in time! Thank you thank you thank you! That really is too cool that you were picking out all that Spanish stuff mom, and you didn't even know that I was going to be serving in a Spanish area! What an inspired Mother I have.

In church on Sunday Obispo Santos asked me if I would bear my testimony in sacrament meeting. Oy... Miraculously we went over on time so there wasn't time for me to go. YAY! But I know he'll try to get me later. Funny story: after sacrament meeting I was standing in the hallway and an Hermana put her head out of the class room door and said in Spanish, "Elder! I need you to dress up like king Benjamin and come in and talk to the kids about king Benjamin! Can you do that?" ...Uh... sure! So I got to be a king for a few minutes!

Sorry I'm not including too many details about the week. I'm still trying to get down who it is that we are teaching and all that fun stuff.

Wow. The Lord is great! I'm so thankful for your prayers and thoughts and good wishes in my direction. I love you all!

Be well!

-Elder barker

Hola! Soy Un Misionero! (feb 22)

2011-03-07T17:11:00.001-08:00

Wow! What a week! WHAT A WEEK!

First off, Happy President's Day... yesterday... I hope it was presidential for all of you.

The big news from this part of town is that I am no longer a knight who says, "Nee" I am now a Knight who says, "Iky-iky-iky-kapang-I'm in a Spanish area now- zip boing." Wow... Didn't see that transfer coming. But I guess I'm staying true to my usual transfer cycle. 4.5 months in an area. But SPANISH?! Wow.

So Last week (and you'll have to forgive me- I forgot my old planner at the apartment so I don't remember all the details)

We met with B almost everyday. He went to the beach to have a bonfire FHE activity with the Branch. But other than that we met with him everyday and everyday he was further and further in the Book of Mormon. By Friday he came to us and said, "I don't understand this part." And he opened up to the index. -You're all done? "Yes of course. But what is this part talking about?" -That's a study aid that you can look up stuff by topic, but B you finished! "I read until 4am every night. I read more than you do!" -Yes, B that's true. WOW! And he came to Church and he's just doing great! When I told him that I was being transferred he was really sad, "You aren't just my teacher or a friend! you are my brother! How can you just leave me?" So we talked about how the Lord calls us to different places to labor and serve. Man... I'm going to miss him.

We had a great miracle happen! Power of prayer manifest! We were trying to get this TV remote to work so that a district meeting could have a TV to do some training but the code just wouldn't program into the remote. We spent about 30 min. trying to get it to work, using different combinations of buttons and so on and so forth. So we stopped and said, "let's pray." We knelt and prayed and then picked up the remote AND VI-OLA! It worked! Huzzah! So--moral of the story, nothing is too big or too small to ask God to help with.

Well my new area is about 1/10 the size of my last one and the apartment is about that too. My companion, Elder Tinti is very cool and his Spanish is Awesome! Mine on the other hand... isn't. BUT I get to learn! We have some lessons to teach today and tomorrow I teach district meeting so I will have many opportunities to perfect my espanol.

After Church on Sunday Bloomingdale's came up to us and proudly waved her newly issued limited use temple recommend! So now she can go to the temple and do baptisms for and in behalf of those who have passed on who never were able to do that themselves. "I just wanted to thank you for teaching me and getting me to this point and all of that. Now I know everything!" -Well... you don't know everything yet. You're still learning. "Oh... that's right. I'm just getting ahead of myself." Ha ha ha.

Pues... Gracias por sus oraciones y apollo. I love you all so much!

Be well!

-Elder Barker

They're Popping out of the snow! (feb 14)

2011-03-07T17:10:00.001-08:00

LIKE DAISIES!!!

WOW! This week has been amazing!

Recently we've been meeting with Tonks' Father. He's struggling with alcohol problems. We knocked on the door last week and asked if Tonks was there but she wasn't. So, we asked if we could do anything to help, and he said in Spanish, Yes come in. We sat down and he explained that he wanted to quit drinking. So we've been going by. On Monday he said, "When you are here I feel good. I don't know your names, but that doesn't matter. You bring the love of God into this home." And then after the closing prayer, I looked up and his hand was resting on the scriptures. He read the title very slowly, "The Book of Mormon." Then he asked, "You are Mormons?" -yes. "God Bless you! Thank you my brothers for coming into my home! You are always welcome here."

Tuesday we watched The Lamb of God with Ski Cap. It helped to clear up some questions he had about Christ. Then we met with a guy who I'm going to call, Lucky Charms--cause he had a leprechaun tattooed to his arm. It was an interesting meeting. He was very hospitable, and listened... a bit--mostly he was smoking cigarettes and taking a hit on his Bong. He had an interesting view on life: "I'm going to live my life to the fullest and have as much fun as I can--not at the expense of others of course. And the way I see it, when we die it's just a deep sleep. And If there is something after then I got a 50/50 chance of going to Heaven or Hell." Hmmm... It's sad to see what one's mind comes up with when the knowledge of God's Plan of Happiness isn't there. He'd know that his odds are sooooo much better than 50/50 for one thing.

Then we met with Tonks' dad, and when we knocked on the door he asked, "Quien es?" -los Mormones! "Ah- esperaba." I have been waiting. By the end of our evening he said in Spanish, "I only can use one eye, but I will use it--to read the Book of Mormon." Later in the evening we got a call from some missionaries passing the information of a man to us so we could meet with him. He is from Iraq and he was forced to leave because he was interested in learning more about Christianity. The government was going to kill him. And now, because of some unique spiritual experiences, he is interested in learning about the Book of Mormon and joining the church! Wow. I will call him B.

Wed we met with B outside his apartment, he is such a nice man and he is so sincere. We told him that we had to set up an interview with one of the mission presidency for him to be taught. (It's for safety reasons: Too many times a Muslim has joined the church and then they are never heard from again.) But WOW! B is so excited to read and he already received and answer that the Book of Mormon is true! How exciting!

Thursday I was on exchanges and we had some amazing experiences. We talked this one couple on the street who really tried to avoid talking to us: "Oh, no hablamos espanol." -Esta bien. Hablamos! Podamos dar les un- "Oh... Parlez vous Francias?" -Oui! C'a va? ha ha! My four years of French did pay off! And while I was out of the area on these exchanges, B got interviewed!

Fri we got word that B could be taught! And we got a hold of a copy of the Book of Mormon in Arabic! He was so excited to get it! He was like, "The way this is written looks like the Koran!" He was so stoked! Then we were able to get him to an activity and the Branch members did a wonderful job fellowshipping him, and making him feel at home.

Sat I was baby sitting a sick elder. But B made it to a baptismal service and he got so excited to be baptized!

Sunday B made it to church! And he loved it! It was really great! And that's all for this week!

HAPPY VALENTI E'S DAY!!!

I LOVE YOU ALL SOOOO MUCH!!!

WAAAA HOOOO!!!

Life is great!

Catch you next time.

-Elder Barker

Another Week in the life (Feb 7)

2011-03-07T17:09:00.002-08:00

Hello!

Boy this week was fun! Ups and downs: the whole nine yards.

On Tuesday we were on exchanges with the Assistants and We had an interaction with a young man who claimed to be Atheist (In my experience there is no such thing. Only a mere denial of what the heart truly knows to be true). He really was a character. He wasn't very interested at all and he wouldn't accept our invitation to find out for himself if it's true. Oh well. It was just so sad to meet him and talk with him because He truly wanted to not believe. He had grown up Christian but somewhere down the line I guess something happened and he lost his faith entirely. It pains me to see that. Someone so unsure of their way through life and so unwilling to make the effort to grab the hand that can help him through.

I share that with you, I suppose, to urge you to not to lose faith. what ever is going on can be overcome, and whatever will come your way can be endured, and endured well I might add, as you follow the steady hand of our Father in Heaven.

Anyways! we met with Skicap! and talked about the Word of Wisdom! His inactive member roommate came out half way though the lesson and asked, "What are we talking about today?" -The Word of Wisdom. "Yes! I LOVE this part! This is the best! The five words of wisdom man!" So it was good to have his support. And at the end of the meeting he poured out his drink and said he was going to start living it again! Sweet!

Later during that day we met a girl who spoke french. Gahh! my french! WHERE has it gone?!

so sad...

Thursday night we were contacting people and we met a woman on her way out of her home and we struck up a conversation. It turned out that she was moving the next day, and we offered our help. She said no, but after we explained that we are representatives of Jesus Christ and all we do for two years is talk to people about Christ and do service, she accepted. So on Friday, we (and a couple other missionaries) helped her and moved her stuff to her new home. She was so grateful. "You are such blessings! I don't know how you fit all of that in the Uhaul. It's simply miraculous." It was such a great experience.

Later Friday evening we were walking around and we met these four young boys. They were just hanging around, so we sat down with them and talked about the Book of Mormon. At the end of our meeting they each said a prayer asking Heavenly Father if the book is true. Such a wonderful experience to hear from these 13-14year old boys their desire, much like the boy Joseph Smith's, to know what way to go.

Saturday we were blessed to be able to speak with four different Spanish families. It sure was fun. I don't know how they understood a word I said, but I suppose the lord blessed them with the interpretation of tongues. We didn't even have Spanish Scriptures with us. Oy...

Sunday (Superbowl) was pretty good. It was amazing to see the city slow down when the game was on. The streets were empty. The houses were dark, accept for one on the street where you could hear cheers and laughing every time a goal was scored. Not too many people were interested in speaking with us while the game was on. Oh well.

Something that I keep finding interesting is the people that we meet who say, "Oh that's OK. We don't need to talk to you. We have friends who are Mormons, so we're good." That is such a silly thing to say. I think of it this way: If a person is sick and a doctor comes and says, "Here: If you use your medicine and follow this diet you will be well on the way to recovery." And the sick person replies, "Oh that's OK. We don't need to talk to you: we have friends who aren't sick, so we're good."... Do you see where I have a little bit of a disconnect? We met so many people this week who said that.

Anyways. The work continues to move forward. No unhallowed hand can hinder it! Thank you all for your prayers and support and love. You keep me sane.

I love you all!

More than you'll probably know.

Be well! Stay happy. Be strong!

Catch you later

-Elder Barker

BLOOMINGDALES GOT BAPTIZED! (Jan 31)

2011-03-07T17:09:00.001-08:00

What a wonderful week!

Monday was the start of our wonderful goal of finding 1,000 people as a mission this week to share the book of Mormon with. All of us missionaries knelt in prayer at 5:00 to start this wonderful week and It went well. In the evening Bloomingdale's Got baptized! It was such an epic event. It was packed! Like... Standing room only and the Guy who spoke was the institute teacher and he was Wonderful!

So! And... oh, Bloomingdale's' Mom is Jewish! WHY WASN'T I TOLD?!!! Hello!!! I LOVE THE TRIBE OF JUDAH!

Anyways, the speaker brought alot of Hebrew connections into the reason for baptism and the role of Christ being our redeemer (or in Hebrew, our kinsman). Great stuff. And the Refreshments! WOW! Amazing! So.... it was good.

Tuesday Elder Reidhead and I split up for what was planned to be a short exchange (just to pass off a guy who should be taught in another ward) BUT It ended up being the whole day! We just couldn't work out the logistics of switching back. So that was fun. We (Elder Toland and I) taught Bloomingdale's about missionary work and how she as a member can share with her friends! She is so stoked and has a huge fire in her. When Elder R. and I finally met up again it was time for another exchange!

Wed was a fun day. Lots of talking to people. But we didn't really get to teach anything. This one woman who is a Jehovah's Witness was just getting home from ministering. She talked our ears off about all kinds of stuff ranging from, "Oh So you ONLY do this for 18 months?!" well, actually it's 24 months. "That's All?! WE minister ALL our LIVES!" Then she went on about some weird stuff that I didn't quite grasp. Anyways.... You get the picture. Not the most effective day. And then Elder R. and I met up again JUST in time for our NEXT EXCHANGE!!!

Thursday I got to help a young missionary see the importance of inviting every one to draw closer to God, specifically though baptism. And It was a great day to help him grasp that because we met with the cousin of one of the girls on the branch who had attended Bloomingdale's' baptism (Whom I will call McDonald's because she works there). So McDonald's really wanted to learn more about the book of Mormon so we got her one in Tagalog so she could read it better and we taught about why it is important to even have the Book of Mormon and we invited her to pray to God and ask Him if the book is true. Good stuff.

Friday was Friday. On of the Elder's in the zone wasn't feeling well, so we went on splits so his companion could go out. So I stayed and read in the scriptures for a bit.

Saturday I played babysitter again and I caught up in my journal! (It's been 4 months since I've been caught up so that's a good accomplishment) and I read thorough 1 and 2 Chronicles and had wonderful time to ponder and reflect on stuff.

Sunday Bloomingdale's Got confirmed and was given the gift of the Holy Ghost! And Church was great! In the evening we gave...ooh I don't know if this girl has a nickname...I will call her Flower. We gave Flower's Mother a blessing because she will be having surgery on Monday (today) and it was great.

SO! the week was fun! and full of great things!

I hope yours was as well.

I LOVE YOU ALL MORE THAN I CAN EXPLAIN!

Be well!

Love,

-Elder Barker

Did we just do this? (Jan 24)

2011-03-07T17:08:00.001-08:00

Well hello again!

It's good to talk to you again. Even though it's just been a few days. We had some wonderful things happen!

Wed. We had two meetings at the same time: So we had to split up with members to cover more ground.

I went to this one gal who had met with missionaries in the past but because of family tradition (We'll call her "Traditionnnnnnnn____ TRADITION!"), she hadn't really been able to progress in the gospel very much. She feels that it is the right thing for her to do though, and when she reads in the Book of Mormon she feels the peace it brings. So, our meeting was fun. We talked about a bunch of things and answered a lot of questions she had, and yeah... it was great.

Thursday. We had a meeting with that one guy who I can't remember what I called him last week... Beanie? Ski Cap? Yeah that was it! Well we met with Ski Cap and talked about the ten commandments and it went OK. I think. Afterwards we stopped by and talked to our Wolverine Paul Revere Friend and he made us such wonderful limeade. We invited him to come to the tour of the temple on Saturday and he said he would! Woo Hoo! He's been struggling for the past few weeks with his testimony.

Friday was planning... and we met with Traditionnnnn___ TRADITION!!! and we were able to bring a couple members to the appointment and she was very well fellowshipped! One of the members is trying as best as she can to come back to activity, but she's so darn busy.

Saturday we had an amazing meeting as Zone Leaders. This up coming week we are going to work extra hard to help place the Book of Mormon into the hearts of 1,000 people in orange county! That works out to 13 people per companionship! How exciting! It was a very spiritual meeting and I'm so stoked to start and meet people and introduce this precious volume of scripture to them!

We met with Ski Cap and talked about Church and he was excited to come! YAY! Then we rushed over to Wolverine/Paul Revere's and he made us pancakes and we got stuff straightened out to get him to the temple tour. And the tour was wonderful! There were familiar faces from past areas: the best was to see this man we taught in the waiting room of Pep-Boys when I was on exchanges. What a great blessing to see him still learning! Wow... Good day.

Sunday was good. We talked to Bloomingdale's and she is soooo excited to be baptized. TODAY (Monday evening) she said, "My main goal is to help others who are learning now. Maybe I can help someone who is in a position I was in when I was learning. I just want to be a 'Mini-Missinoary!' " Woo Hoo!

And that brings us to today!

I love you all so much!

Thank you all for your cards, letters, Prayers, love, and all those other good things you're sending my way.

Catch you next time!

-Elder Barker

Boy! That felt like a week and a half! (Jan 19)

2011-03-07T17:07:00.002-08:00

IT WAS!

Hello! Whew...

This week has been a good one. we had wonderful meetings with faith-filled persons and great answers to prayers and We are SO BUSY!

Last Monday night Jan 10 after we got all of our missionaries in their new areas and snug and happy and all that jazz We had a wonderful lesson with this Gal that missionaries had been trying to get a hold of for months and We finally did! She is pretty cool. Think Tonks from Harry Potter. Pink hair and all. She has so much faith. Like in her prayer at the end of the lesson she asked for God to let her know if the Book of Mormon is true in a dream. Yes, she requested a vision. Hello Nephi! So cool.

Last Tuesday Jan 11 we played Bus driver and got some missionaries to meetings and then we had a great meeting with a guy who I think I mentioned last week. He's on probation and he is overcoming some stuff BUT he has one of the greatest desires to change that I've ever seen. (Ya know one thing I've learned out here is not to judge. I look back at how I viewed people a couple years ago And hearing the word "Probation" was an instant Judge reflex. Same with Hearing "L.A.'s most wanted" But now I've learned that some of the greatest hearts and nicest people have gang tattoos and are trying to make changes) SO we met with him and we had a great lesson with our friend from Bloomingdale's. (she called us Sunday night at 12:00am With all these questions about "How do we KNOW that Mary was a virgin, and how we KNOW that Christ wasn't just Joseph's son?" and stuff like that. That really comes down to reading the account in the Scriptures and asking God if it's true. Asking if What the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenents, Modern day Prophets, and all that Jazz is saying is TRUE.) So we talked about faith and prayer and a lot about Christ. I mean this gal comes from no religious background so it's understandable that she has questions and doubts. But she is standing strong and she's progressing so well. (IN FACT I'm going to spoil the ending of the email [mostly because I'm already writing a lot and I'm sure you'll get tired if you read through this whole thing {you can thank me later ;) } ] SHE PASSED HER BAPTISMAL INTERVIEW Last night [Tuesday Jan 18] AND SHE'S GETTING BAPTIZED THIS NEXT MONDAY!!!!!!!) So that was our Tuesday.

Wednesday last we knocked on a door of some potentials that were super drunk last time we saw them BUT they wanted us to come back, and when we did none of them were home BUT this other guy (Ski Cap) was. AND he wanted to learn more! Sweet! So we talked with him about God and how he could strengthen his faith and it was a really good meeting.

Thursday we met with Ski Cap again and invited him to be baptized in Feb. He is willing to prepare! Wow! and we met with our Probation friend (gotta think of a better way to remember him...He highlighted the book of Mormon according to what he would want to read when he's in a particular mood e.g. blue when he's sad and yellow when he wants to be happy etc. so We'll call him "mood book") So we met with Mood Book and he's doing pretty good. He has like a million things he's working on. His back got all messed up in an car accident so he's on meds, he's getting his wisdom teeth out soon so his jaw hurts, he's got to go to addiction recovery classes so getting transportation to those is tricky-so pretty much we talk with him and he vents and we help him realize that God is there.

Fri we had a couple good meetings one with Mood Book and another with this busy member who is SUPER cool but super busy too so she doesn't always make it to church. We talked about a lot with her-- mostly about how wonderful it is to live in a time with a Prophet and the Church. Good stuff.

Sat We met with Ski Cap and talked about the plan of salvation and where we came from before this life. He is really grabbing onto the things he learn and reads. Like he totally read and understood the first few pages of the book of Mormon (which we don't see in people very often so this is a nice surprise). In the evening we met with Tonks and her Friend and we talked about the importance of reading a praying to know that our message is true.

Sunday was great! Before church we met with Ski Cap and because he lives/supervises at a home for guys who are trying to change their lives around our lesson turned into a sort of group therapy session, which is good I guess. Church was great and Bloomingdale's made it to church. And after church we watched Finding Faith in Christ (Soooo good! I totally recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it. It helps explain Christ's ministry from the viewpoint of one of his apostles [Thomas] and he's talking about it with his friends. Cool way to tell the story) and then we went to a member's home and ate dinner and taught some more! Woot!

Monday was fun! We met with Ski Cap and it was fun. We talked about part two of the plan of salvation and he really understands and stuff. So that was cool. We knocked on a door and were welcomed in by some Spanish people and they fed us and a half hour later we realized that we don't understand Spanish as well as we thought we did. Wow... they talked fast. They weren't mean or anything; it was just that we couldn't understand them. ha ha. oh well.

Tuesday we trained the zone on how to make our companionship studies more effective. Mostly involving the spirit more. And we met with this cool black guy from Mississippi and we had Bloomingdale's's baptismal interview (Which took a really long time 1 1/2 hours and we were hoping that she was ready and feeling confidant. But really it's nothing to worry about) and she PASSED! Woot!

So that was my week.

long stuff.

THANK you for your love and support

AND HERE'S A SHOUT OUT TO BARKER COUSIN HEATHER! CONGRATS ON YOUR UP COMING WEDDING! Thanks for the wedding announcement. You have my best wishes and my blessing and may you both live a long and fruitful life in joy and happiness. mazltoff!

I love you all!

Be well!

be good!

Be better!

-Elder barker

One more go around (Jan 10)

2011-03-07T17:07:00.001-08:00

Another week gone and that's also the mark of another transfer. Elder Reidhead and I were a bit nervous when the transfer calls came, after all We've been together for two transfers now and he's been in the branch for three. BUT we're still together! WOO HOO!!! Fun stuff!

Dang it! I left my old planner in the apartment so... I'll do my best to remember Good stories from the week.

This week I went on exchanges with Elder Schweinkie! He's such a great Missionary! He's Samoan, but obviously his name is German (His dad is half). Anyways, we had a wonderful day finding people and talking to everyone we came in contact with. We met some interesting people: One guy looked like he just got in a scuffle with a werewolf, and he was going on about how "we're all one and part of the whole... Pass it on," and how creation came from an atom that had an imbalance and then expanded and la-dee-da-dee-doo. So I interrupted him and asked a question that i thought was rather obvious, "What or who created the Atom? Where did it come from?" He stood there for a second, and then acknowledged the existence of a supreme being. YAY!

We knocked on this one door and when they opened it up, there was this Spanish woman and her four CRAZY daughters (maybe they weren't all hers... I never could get a straight answer from her... "something about their teeth falling out...") And when we asked if we could come in and bless her and her home and pray with the family, she said yes, BUT because there wasn't a man home, we couldn't go in (Darn politics). BUT she said we could come back in an hour, so we did.

We talked with some other great people and then we came back and there was a man home! YAY! So we went in, sat down and began with a prayer- BAM- Right when we lifted our heads up from the prayer, they shot all of this anti-Mormon stuff at us. And to make it even better IT WAS IN SPANISH! So although the things they were throwing at us were nothing difficult at all and could be answered really simply, I couldn't form the sentences to sound intelligent in Spanish! So, it was an interesting experience. All we could do was tell them that we know that the book of Mormon is a true record of the word of God that he revealed to the ancient inhabitants of the Americas, and that Joseph Smith truly was called by God to be the prophet of the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, And that Jesus truly is the son of God and our saviour and redeemer. That's all we could do, and they didn't even listen. OY! Oh well...

We met with this one guy who's 19 and has gone through ALOT! Like... near death, on the streets, crazy life, bunch of madness stuff. and He has the greatest desire to change and become clean. We were able to help him get to church this Sunday and one of the members was talking to him and right before the third hour was like, "hey elders! Let's have a lesson right now!" so we skipped Sunday school and talked about God's plan of Happiness for all of us and how Jesus makes salvation possible. Great stuff.

That's all I can remember. Sorry.

This truly is a great work! wow!

I Have to apologize now. I'm going to be cutting back the frequency of letters out. I don't have time to write what I would like and I really need to devote more attention to the work. I'll still be writing the weekly email, but I don't have time to write all the letters I have been writing in the past. Sorry for the cut backs.

I love you all soooo much! You are so wonderful and you keep me afloat! Stay strong in the Gospel and Be wise!

Love,

Elder barker

Another Week in Paradise (Jan 3)

2011-03-07T17:06:00.000-08:00

Happy new year everyone!

Wow... 2011. What a year this will be, eh? I'm excited to see what'll happen. Hopefully all of your new years resolutions will come to fruition. The rain is calming down a bit and my voice is back, so that's good. This week I learned a lot. I learned that answers truly come from prayer and the scriptures. I learned that a person's faith needs to have the confirming feelings and thoughts of the spirit to keep it alive. I learned that Fasting for others and asking that their faith and testimony might be bolstered is more strengthening to my own testimony and faith than I thought it would be. I learned a lot of things. Isn't it nice to know a lot?... and a little bit not.

Monday: Was loverly. We had a meeting with our friend from Bloomingdale's who is doing great! She said that she really wanted to make it to church and, " The holidays are over and God is more important than Bloomingdale's!" Great stuff. After her lesson we moved the rest of our stuff from the old apartment and Now we are Officially moved out! ha ha ha.

Tuesday: We had an awesome day! All of our appointments fell though so we knocked- a lot. We started in one apartment complex and we knocked a few doors and talked with some people and then this golf cart with two Manager dressed ladies drove up. "Oh hey guys!" -Hi. "We're sorry but we're going to have to have you stop knocking in here. It's a private community." -Oh... OK. so we headed out and went to another complex and we met some interesting people: This catholic priest who was getting his new plasma screen put up and who was nice but not interested in learning more about Christ (I can't imagine why. ;-) ),and some people from Iran, and others from India and other places that I couldn't understand. Anyways We were there for quite some time and we were about to head out when this golf cart with two Manager dressed ladies drove up, "We heard that you've been knocking doors around here, Can we help you?" -We're just out talking with people about God and how they can strengthen their faith in him. "Do you have a licence to be here?" -We have a clerical document that was signed by the prophet. "No no. Like a licence." (Are you kidding me?... A prophet of God authorized me and my companion to be here... what more do you want?) So we were cast out of that complex too. Later that evening we went to another complex and the first door we knocked on the lady said, "Are you supposed to be here?" -Yes, we are inviting people to learn more about God. "Well, I'm not sure you're aloud in here." Ha ha! Three Complexes in one day! wow...

Wed: We Had two wonderful lessons! And the second was awesome! They both were awesome, but we didn't have an extra guy to come with us to the second appointment and because she's a single girl we can't meet with her by herself (.....politics) BUT, shortly before the appointment we got a call from Nate Malm (Blast from the past Missionary in Damariscotta back in '05) inviting us to go out to dinner with him. We asked if he'd come to the lesson and everything worked out perfectly. She pretty much is living the gospel even before she knew what it was. Cool beans.

Thurs: We had exchanges and I was on bike! It's been a while since I've been on Bike... at the end of the day I was puffing. Oh well. Fun stuff. Um... yeah it was a good day.

Fri: We had Zone Leader Council and talked and talked and talked about upcoming changes in the mission and about expectations and implementation and goals and it was great! I love meeting with the leaders in the mission. (Sometimes i feel a little intimidated that I rub shoulders with such great Missionaries) we stayed up till 10:30 and said happy new year and then fell asleep.

Sat: We planned and planned. And we met a really nice Hispanic man and we talked about prayer and how he could strengthen his relationship with god though reading the book of Mormon and praying about it.

Sunday: Was great! I love fast Sundays and i love it when investigators are there for great meetings. And it was great. after church there was a baptismal ceremony and it as also wonderful to have an investigator attend. Huzzah!

And in a reader's digest nut shell that was my week.

Thank you soooooooo much for your prayers and love and letters and such. I love you all.

Be well.

-Elder barker

Launchpad! Launchpad! I've lost my voice! (Dec 27)

2011-03-07T17:05:00.002-08:00

CAN YOU NAME IT!??? (besides immediate family of course and Kj if you didn't catch it I WIN I WIN!!!)

So! Hey It's another Monday! Woooo hoooo! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Thank you for your gifts and letters and Updates about stuff. I sure had a wonderful time Christmas morning tearing through letters and cards and yummy food. Awww...

SO! The week! The week! There were wonderful things that happened during the week! Last Monday we had a great lesson with that girl who's been attending institute and works at Bloomingdale's (I hope she can get me a discount--JK). The lesson went really really well. We talked about the scriptures and praying and the Word of Wisdom!

She is so great.

We said, "So, Now that you know about the Word of Wisdom are you willing to follow it?"

Her response "I'll try."

"What would be the hardest for you to over come? Alcohol? Tobacco? Drug---"

"I like meat!"

"What?" "It says to eat meat sparingly... and... I like meat... But I'll try to cut down."

Isn't that great?!

After the lesson we had an exchange with one of the District Leaders. [ this means Soren and his companion switched things up for a bit and taught lessons with the District Leader and his companion ].

Tuesday we met with this one guy who was baptized almost two years ago, who has drifted away from the church. Mostly he stopped believing in a God. He said after his friend's mom died he had to question why. And it's sad to think what the world is like for those who don't believe in a loving God who wants us to return to his presence. It's Not the End! There's more! Your friend's Mom isn't gone forever: We will still exist when we pass on. There were more miracles that happened on Tuesday, mostly with perfect timing and meeting people and showing up on their door and all that jazz at EXACTLY the right time.

Wednesday we were able to meet with this cool gal. She's awesome! She's been going to church with her friend and now she wants to meet with us and come to our congregation. YAY!

Thursday we had district meeting and then we MOVED TO OUR NEW APARTMENT!!! It was like the city of Enoch... except... not quite.

elder griffin says hi!!!!! e. barker is awesome!!!

on Friday we did planning and then we moved more stuff to the apartment! AND we had the most wonderful Christmas eve dinner! Rice Ala-mond! and HAM and then after dinner we had a white elephant exchange! I got a pen... Not too too crazy. But I was able to give it to a poor elder who didn't receive much for Christmas. AND we delivered last-minute packages to the missionaries and Caroled our way home!

Christmas I talked to my FAMILY!!!! YAYAYAYAY!!! And opened packages and letters! AND we had dinner with some members! TAMALES! YUM! and then we caroled with the district and that's when I lost my voice!

Sunday was great! We were able to meet with this great guy who's been coming to church with us for a few weeks but has been hesitant to really meet with us. It was wonderful! He's so curious and eager to learn more!

And we caroled (a day late) and my voice left even more!

Today... is today!

We just watched the video: "How Rare a Possession" SO good.

I love you all!

I hope the New Year brings true happiness and great resolutions to be Marvelous!

I love you!!!

_elder barker

And a partridge in a palm tree... (Dec 20)

2011-03-07T17:05:00.001-08:00

Hello, Hello Hello HELLO!

How are you all on this fine blustery misty moisty morning? Things are going pretty great out here. It's only a few more days till Christmas! WHAT?!?! Where did the time go? It seems like yesterday it was August. wow...

This week was a pretty good one. I missed Santa Lucia... Mostly because there isn't a girl in the apartment who could bring cookies to the household and welcome in the solstice ;-)

So, Monday we cleaned and cleaned and cleaned and cleaned our apartment 'Cause we're moving soon. This Thursday to be precise. Merry Christmas to us! We'll be in a new home for Christmas! We were able to meet with a wonderful Girl that we met last Sunday. I can't remember if I told you about her BUT she is awesome! She has been going to Institute (Scripture studies) for a few weeks and has been loving it and her friend said, "Hey why don't you meet with the missionaries?" And so we met up Sunday evening and then we met with her again Monday Night. Woot! It was after the Multi Stake Family Home evening Activity Ginger Bread house making contest which she won! The lesson was great. and her prayer at the end was priceless: "Thank you Father for my friends and for My Elders and helping me to learn more about you and where I came from and I'm excited to learn more and to be baptized." She is super cool.

Tuesday we had a cool meeting with a man on a park bench who was watching his friend doing some Jackson Pollack-style painting. Is that the right guy? Splatter paint Dribble Master mess madness? It was a good talk though.

Wed. We got to inspect the missioinaries' cars that were at a Zone conference. Fun stuff! After that we me with this one guy who is kind of out there in his beliefs, but It was a really fun discussion. And that was it. We did some knocking and that was fun. We met this guy who talked to us for about 45 min about how the Lord healed him in multiple occasions and it was fun. Fun!

Thursday WE GOT TO HAVE ZONE CONFERENCE! And we acted out the nativity scene, and sang and had a great spiritual meeting. I WAS THE ANGEL!!! Afterwards I got to interview an amazing woman for baptism. Wow. What a wonderful experience. She is recognizing blessings and great stuff. AND we met with our friend from Monday night and it went great.

Friday we planned forever and then we had a couple meetings.

Saturday we had exchanges with the Assistants. It went great. We followed so many promptings and knocked on doors of people that needed us there to brighten their days and it was wonderful!

And Sunday was good too. Church was the Christmas program and it was lovely.

And now it's today! yay!

I'm soooo excited to call home! YAY! I love you all sooo mcuh!

THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH FOR your cards and notes. I love My Christmas gifts! It's the best to hear about your missionary efforts or Church investigating.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Love ya,

-Elder Barker

WHY DO I NEVER HAVE TIME! (NOV 29)

2011-03-07T17:04:00.000-08:00

So this week was a wonderful mixmaster of miracles and fun.

Thanksgiving I was able to go on exchanges with one of the district leaders and have two thanksgiving dinners! One was Mexican! YAY! Pavo con chile! Wondrous!

Saturday we had an amazing lesson with a family that we knocked into. AMAZING! And to add on to it, it was in Spanish! WOW. So we talked about God and Prophets and Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith and Modern Prophets and The Book of Mormon, and they prayed about the Book of Mormon. It was such a powerful prayer. Like at the end we invited them to prepare for baptism and they were all stoked! And at the end we asked the Father who he'd like to say the prayer and he said his wife and so we taught her and she at first wasn't able to start... So he held her hand and prayed, "Heavenly Father, my wife isn't able to pray right now. So I'll pray for her..." So he went on for a bit, then she started up and then prayed for a bit then she broke into tears cause she was feeling the spirit and then they ended the prayer and embraced! Great! Beautiful! Most amazing experience I've been able to be a tiny part of!

Sorry I don't have time to write much. We had transfers and because of all the madness and such I have 6 minutes left to email. YAY!

So. I love you all!

Thanks for being so good. I wish I had time to tell you all how much I love you, but this will have to do.

Have a great week!

Merry Christmas!!!

-Elder Barker

Ho-kay (Nov. 22nd!)

2010-11-28T16:40:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful Week! Wow! So many miracles and tender mercies I'm about to explode with joy!

Monday was pretty routine. Not too much happened to report about (Truth be told, I can't remember what happened. ;) )

But Monday night we started an exchange with One of the elders from my MTC District. So good to catch up.

Tuesday We had a miracle day! First off, if you remember Monday the 25th of Oct. We were able to go to the hospital and give a blessing of health and healing to a fellow in the burn unit. He was told that he'd have severe burning and scars and when we saw him he didn't look pretty. Anyways He called us Tuesday morning to thank us for visiting him and blessing him and he wanted to meet with us and he said that he was healing very nicely. It was great to hear him. Anyways, that was good. And then our day began and it was going pretty well. We met with one of our investigators and talked with him for a while, we're still trying to figure out what is keeping him back. He is like an iceberg: he only shows a little bit and there is more underneath.

We then decided to take the car in and get an oil change. While we were waiting, the guy sitting across from us in the waiting room said, "Hey, you guys aren't from around here are you?" And then we talked for a bit and told him what we are doing here and then we asked if he'd be interested in learning more about God. He said Yes! So we had a wonderful lesson in the waiting room. Man. the spirit was so strong. And the great thing was, had we not received a text telling us we needed to change our oil and had more of our appointments followed through, we would never have gone into the auto place that day, and that never would have happened. Great orchestration on God's part.

Wed was pretty good too. We had one lady who I was trying to talk to, but it's hard to talk through a door to someone. and we were trying to ask her if there'd be a good time to come back and she was like, "THAT'S IT! I GUESS I"M GOING TO HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE!!!" -Whoa... have a good night. (I guess she wasn't interested. ;) )

Wed evening we stared another exchange with some other missionaries and it was kind of crazy 'cause my companion for the next day had just crashed his bike and landed on both of his hands and his wrists were killing him like crazy. So we iced them and wrapped them up and gave him a blessing and started our exchange.

Thursday we went to this GU-HEH-TOE Medical clinic. (someone seriously needs to pick a better paint for the walls. It felt like I was in a concentration camp, Auschwitz eat your heart out. It was bad.) and it turned out that neither of his wrists were broken, only one was sprained. We spent a good portion of the day in the mission office getting things all squared away with accident reports and stuff. Then we had dinner and that was most of the day.

Friday was Friday. We had a great lesson with this one college kid. Great guy. He has so much faith. "Absolutely. When I know that this is true I'll need to be baptized." And we got a parking ticket while we were in the lesson. :(

Our Wolverine Paul Revere friend got Interviewed to be baptized and He passed! Yay! and it was so cool, we were talking a bit to him after about how our other friend who was preparing the be baptized wasn't going to be baptized this week and a little about how he wants to join the military, Or Wolverine friend said, "Some people learn the hard way I guess. He'll be able to learn a lot in the army. But a part of me is like 'Don't go into the military- go on a mission.' " SOOOOO coool!

Saturday is a special day, and it was a wonderful day for a baptism! Wooo hoo! I just love baptisms! It was such a wonderful experience and Everyone felt the spirit. Good stuff.

Sunday our friend from the burn unit in the hospital came to church. And seriously, there is no scarring/ damage or anything! He told us about how after the blessing (not sure about when exactly, but it was after the blessing) the nurse removed his bandages and called for the doctor, who called for his colleague, who called his associate until there were thirteen doctors there all staring at him. "What's wrong?" he asked. "Nothing," was the reply, "Your entire left side is healed." They told him that his lip, eye and ear would be deformed, but when we saw him, if he wasn't wearing a bandage on his ear you couldn't tell that anything had happened to him. He said, "That experience humbled me. And now I'm going to come back to church and make a change in my life. If that experience doesn't affect me for the better, than it was totally a waste of time." Wow. The priesthood of God is real.

We knocked a bit before dinner and nothing much. alot of times rich people are kind of in the mindset of, "I have everything I could ever need, Why would I need to talk to you?" Oh well. We had a wonderful miracle lesson in the evening. We were trying to find one person, and as we were calling him, the Spanish family who lived in the home we happened to be standing in front of came home, and we talked with them and they invited us in and we had a wonderful discussion. Great stuff!

Isn't life grand?

I love you all so much!

Thank you ever so much for your letters and emails and cards. It means so much to me to hear from you.

Happy Thanksgiving! (Now's the part where you say happy thanksgiving back)

"Happy Thanksgiving back."

Knock knock.

"Who's there?"

Orange.

"Orange who?"

Orange you going to have a wonderful thanksgiving, and eat too much and fall asleep on the couch watching it's a wonderful life?

I hope so.

I love you!!!!

Have a great week! Catch you next time!

-Elder Barker

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! (Nov, 15th)

2010-11-28T16:39:00.002-08:00

That's true except for Burger king Whoppers. Ha ha.

Last week on Monday we bought the zone Whoppers, cause we're cool like that and Plus the BK said 99 cent whoppers, Who could pass up a deal like that? So we bought 20! Yum. Monday evening we were able to meet a wonderful woman and her family and teach them In Spanish. It was so fun!

Tuesday, We were visited by Elder Gibbins from the 70. So cool. It was such a spiritual boost. He talked a bit about teaching doctrine and then principles and then application. Great stuff. We had a wonderful lesson with this one girl. She is having a little bit of trouble living the word of wisdom (Abstaining from Tobacco, Alcohol, Drugs, Tea, and Coffee) So I made her a deal. She gives up the stuff she's working on and I'll give up Ketchup. It's a month experiment. So, yeah... It's gonna be hard. AND You had JUST sent me a Bag of Ketchup Potato Chips too, ma. The Irony of it all is amazing,

Wed. We taught a lovely man in Spanish, and he's pretty interested. We also we able to teach a young man who is getting ready for Bap. and This one guy who Is soooo cool! He had gone to church with his friend and he attended for a while and then he had a wonderful spiritual experience while playing a musical number in sacrament and He's soooo Cool. He's going to get baptized over the Christmas break back at his home ward. And in the evening we Were able to teach this one Spanish man who's door we knocked. My Spanish is sooo bad. I Just hope that the people can under stand me. If I don't have the gift of tongues I hope that they get the Gift of interpretation of tongues. ;)

Thursday I went on exchanges with the Assistants to the president. I learned a lot. Mostly about my self. We taught this one lesson to these people at an old folks home. So fun. We just talked about prayer. Man lots of tangents. "My Pant size is 42/42!" -Ok... that's a great reason why we pray... any body else?

Friday was... Friday. Lot's planning. We had an interesting dinner with some members. At the end there was a knock on the door and one of the yard workers or something was there and so we invited him in and introduced what the Book of Mormon is to him. Cool stuff. You meet people in the strangest places. I wish that it was like that more often. People knocking on our door wanting to learn more Instead of Us knocking on their door asking if they want to learn. What would the world be like...?

Saturday We met with one of our friends who is a bit stressed out. Because he wasn't able to get to the library in time before it closed so he could get some ASVAB books so he could study up and pass the test on Tuesday. I guess he thought that would be enough time to study... What ever. And we met with Our Boxer friend and shared a cool visual with him about not letting the other things in the world drown out the spirit.

Sunday, Was a really cool Sunday. Each of the three parts of church turned out to be on the Holy Ghost. Way cool because we had two people there at church who are preparing to be baptized next Saturday! So it was very fitting to talk about the spirit. And we had a wonderful lesson in the evening in Spanish, and we told the story of how Nephi got the records of his people from Laban too these kids who were hanging out in a hallway who were telling stories and we asked if we could tell a story that was a true story. It was fun. They liked how Nephi was like a Ninja sneaking into the city by night and stuff. Cool beans.

and then we're at today!

Thanks for being Awesome! Hope you have a great week!

Thanks for the letters and cards and stuff. Sorry If I'm a little late in responding to some of them. This whole Zone leader thing means I don't have much time anymore... But I'll try to respond asap.

Love ya!

-Elder barker

An addendum to soren's letter...

2010-11-28T16:39:00.001-08:00

OH!!!! Could you add and addendum to my email?

-With the Holiday season coming up I'm sure you are all wondering "What could I give to my dear friend Elder Barker?" Well here is my Christmas list:

I don't want any gifts or candy or toys or stuff like that. What I would love is to hear that you have either given a Book of Mormon to a friend and about how it went, OR If you don't have a Copy of the Book of Mormon or if you aren't a member of the church Call this Number (888-537-2200) and have one delivered to you and talk to the missionaries and read it and tell me how it goes. That is what I want this Christmas.

I'm excited to hear how it goes for you. I know that the greatest gift in the world is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and sharing it is the best way we can enjoy it. Please let me know how it goes with you. Please talk with the missionaries and read in the Book of Mormon. I love you all soooo much.

It was silly, It wass Pointless, It was... Short. WE LOVED IT!!! (Nov 8th)

2010-11-28T16:38:00.000-08:00

Well, it feels like it's been only a few days since I last updated Y'all. And that could be attributed to the fact that it has only been five days. So here goes...

Wed we had a Zone leader council and it went really well. We discussed what the mission needs. We did some good work in the evening. We met this one family that was like,"Hey! We've been trying to get a hold of you guys. We have time this evening and we'd love to talk." Super cool! Wed night we realized that we were about to have Stake reports on Sunday and We had failed to remember to collect information from the missionaries to compile our reports So... that was part of the madness. Actually it was most of the madness.

Thursday we had a lovely day. Lots and Lots of paper work. And in the evening we had a great meeting with our investigator friend Bernie who looks like Wolverine. It was a really great lesson. and he's excited to be baptized soon! Woo! He read through the Book of Mormon like a tornado! Like he read most of it in three hours.

Friday was Another day of fun fun fun and fancy free. Full of Reports and planning for the next week.

Saturday was MAD fun. We did some knocking and we met some great people, and we had a wonderful lesson with Theron, this one kid who has been coming to church for a while and is so close to being baptized. Great fun. Then we spent the rest of the evening filling in the rest of our reports and then when we went to print--- the printer was gone. WHAT! Yes, apparently it had exploded and was lying dead and bleeding ink in the other room. So that was super fun working around that little bump in the road. We were able to get it printed in the end. THANK GOODNESS!

Sunday we got to report to the stake leaders. AND Bernie came to church! AND Theron came too! and It was fun! Testimony meeting was so cool! One girl that we had met up with the previous week bore testimony and told about how her family is going through some hard stuff and she said, "and then those wonderful missionaries in the fifth row back there came to my home and shared some wonderful scriptures from Alma and Helaman and it was exactly what my father needed to hear and it was wonderfully inspired. The timing the scriptures, inspired." And the best part was that we had decided to go to her home as a spur of the moment type thing and our discussion was purely what came to mind as we met with them. Hooray for the Spirit!! So church was great. Crazy part, one member brought a bunch of her friends who wanted to bash after gospel principles and that was a crazy.

So yeh. that's my week.

I love you all.

Thanks for everything.

you are always in my thoughts and prayers.

-Elder Barker

WHew! That was a close one...(Oct 25th)

2010-11-28T16:37:00.000-08:00

HELLLOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Wow what a week!

Monday I went to my new area and met my new companion, Elder Reidhead. HE IS SOOOOO AMAZING!!!!! We go together like a wink and a smile! I'm super excited for this upcoming transfer! That evening we had a wonderful meeting with a young guy who is meeting with us and has been coming to church AND We also were able to meet with his girlfriend! Soooo fun!

Tuesday was a wonderful thunder storm. What an amazing day.

SO! We parked our car on the street across from this guy's apartment and we went up and he wasn't there. So.... we contacted a couple Spanish people on the street and asked the guy in the produce truck if he knew anybody in the area that would be interested. He wasn't very helpful and nobody was interested.

Instead of contacting more people we were prompted to just hop in our car and head out.

So we hopped back in our car and drove around the corner and decided to walk back to the area an contact another guy who might be interested. Before we go out of the car we saw a FLASH of light!

When we rounded the corner it looked as if someone had lit a firework over by the produce truck and people were all coming out of their homes.

"What happened?"

"The power lines just got struck by lightning and there's a line down."

"Oh... OK."

So we contacted the guy (Weird fellow... Like he is an actor and from what the posters in his ratty apartment would suggest an alcoholic and... it just felt weird in his home...)

When we went back to the car HUGE FLAMES were coming (---"from the side of my face"----) from the produce truck!

Whoa! And the fire trucks were there spraying water and the power line was blowing up with beautiful iridescent colors and loud "BUUUZZZZFFFT GZZZZZZZZIIIIITTTT BAAAAOOOOOOOOOUUMMMMM" sounds and... we were right there.... not two minutes before the power thingy blew up.

Wow.

Thanks God for that one.

That was close!

We met with a wonderful young woman named who is super excited about learning more! I love it!

Wed! We met with a member who hasn't been to church for a bit cause he... is busy? I don't know the whole reason BUT He's really cool cause he's a BOXER who has yet to lose a game. 8-0 all K.O. wow. AND later that evening we taught a Spanish family... My Spanish is... not that good. Ha ha whoooo. I need to study better.

Thursday was a wonderful day or finding people! AND INDIAN FOOOD!!!!! YES MUA HA HA HA !!!! I love it!

I impressed the member who brought us out by asking all the great questions to the server dude. "Is the sag good? What kind of lassi do you have? Mango? I'll take the garlic naan." Ha ha I feel cultured! HA

Friday was: Planning.......

And we met with Berny! cool guy. Picture Wolverine mixed with a revolutionary... pirate. Yeah that's him! Great guy! Fun lesson.

Saturday was... MORE PLANNING!!!!

Sunday was Church! Wonderful branch. I like this area. Fun people good leaders.

So that was the week.

Whew. Thanks for your prayers.

Guess what!

I LOVE YOU!

Especially You Kathy and Kim. "I am mindful of you always in my prayers, continually praying unto God the Father in the name of his Holy Child, Jesus, That he, Through his infinite goodness and grace, will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name to the end." (Moroni 8:3) I love you both so much. I'm sending you all my good energy.

Thanks for the letters/emails/ stuff/ PRAYERS (Super thanks for those) You are keeping me Alive! Really!

Catch you next week!

Be well.

ELDER BARKER

Ok! Nov, 2 2010

2010-11-03T21:35:00.002-07:00

What a week!

Monday we carved pumpkins and it was such fun! Elder Reidhead and I each did a half of one and so the Quasimoto of a jackolantern was funny. Harry potter meets Elvis Presley. ha ha. We had a great meeting with this one kid and his dad, and once again I realize how little I understand Spanish. Wait... let me rephrase that. How much I understand but how little I can communicate. Oh well.

Tuesday was Interviews with the mission president. just check ups to help him see how we are doing and to strengthen us. And I got to do my first real zone leader thingy. We got to teach/ train the three districts in our zone about recognizing and following the promptings of the Holy Ghost and to act in faith. Good stuff. A little exhausting at the end BUT it went well.

Later we met this young kid and talked with him, but his parents weren't interested. Oh well... We also met with a gal and her friend and It went really well. I hope we can meet with them more. It was fun. After the meeting we had dinner at this burger joint and at the end we were all in tears, not because of emotion or laughter--they were cutting onions. And the best part was when we walked out everybody we passed was sniffing and wiping their eyes as well. ha ha. Fun stuff.

Wed we met a couple people. Some nice, others weird, and some both. One guy as we were talking about how there is a prophet on the earth said, "Shalock-de-de-de-de-de-de. I believe God speaks though prophets--for I am one."

Oh.. OK.

Later we knocked a door and the atmosphere was just so peaceful. I don't know what it was about it, but it was like coming home or something. So we left a note on the door saying, "your wind chimes are delightful. Thank you, the missionaries."

Thursday, we went to district meeting and delivered supplies like we do every week and Elder Porter came over to us and said, "Do you recognize this?" We looked and it was the note we had left on the door! Apparently that was the home of some members in his neighborhood. Go figure! We had a great lesson with this one guy. He looks like Wolverine and Paul Revere's kid. And it went really well.

Friday we planned and had another lesson with Wolverine. Oh yeah! We got Flu shots! but not just ordinary flu shots: These were Drive-Through Flu Shots! Yup. Just roll down the window stick out your arm and say "ow!" Fun stuff. But I felt a bit like I was in a cattle vaccination program. MOOOOOO!!!!

Saturday is a special day and it was a day of meeting people and finishing planning.

Sunday I found out that one of the members in the branch knows me. WHAT!? yes. He was like:

"Hey, Elder Barker. Where are you from?"

-Maine. "Damariscotta?"

-WHAT!

"I Knew it! You're President Barker's son! I took you out on splits with me when you were fifteen And I was serving there!" -NO WAY!

Wow. Small world! Big church.

Do you remember a missionary by the name of Malm? Elder malm and his comp was Elder Frost. April-ish of '05. Frankly... I don't... So I had to do the -"Oh yeah! ... that was---great? When we taught that...uh...person about....stuff.......yeah......"

Ha ha. Cool stuff.

Halloween was fun. We dressed up as missionaries. It was so funny. Everybody was like, "Great Costumes!"

-Hey thanks. Can we talk to you for a little?

"Ha ha! Funny."

-No really. we're missionaries.

"oh...uh...sure"

Fun stuff.

Monday we had Exchanges with one of the district leaders and I had a wonderful day of helping less active members realize the importance of church and inviting people to be baptized and two dinner appointments. Great day.

Today, we just got back from the temple. Ahhhh wonderful peace and calm. I love the temple so much. Hey I got to do the work for this German guy who was born in 1755 Wow! I love thinking about what their lives must have been like. What was going on? Was the gospel restored yet? Was it war time? Were in the world were they? I love it. PLUS I love going to the temple.

So that was a long on... sorry about that. Thanks for the letters and emails and Blueberry pancakes! They were delicious! as were the coconut cookie bars. Yum!

I love you all!

Be well!

Keep your stick on the ice. Remember, I'm pulling for ya.

-Elder barker

Madness!!!!! Oct 18th, 2010

2010-11-03T21:35:00.001-07:00

WHOA!

Transfers always throw me for a loop. So! I get a call from President Watrous Saturday night.

(No big deal right? I'm just going to be released from being district leader, right?.....................WRONG!)

He called me to inform me that the Lord has called me to be a Zone leader! BAAAHH!H!!

Didn't see that one coming.

Man... now I have to leave this awesome area... Oh well. C'est la Vie!

SO This past week was pretty eventful.

Monday we went shopping at the mall for our activity last week. Man... I always feel under dressed, even in my best suit. That was fun. Then we had a Samoan feast! And taught a lesson to their friend but she was a little frazzled from a murder that had happened last week near her apartment. So...

(Santa Ana is a crazy place, I'm tellin' ya.)

Then we had the week-long training meeting for the "Fundamentals of Preach my Gospel: Teaching more effectively" That I had to direct and teach. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS! It really was a good training. It's so exciting to be a part of this great world-wide change! YAY! More effective! Efficiency! Huzzah!

During the time we had after the meetings everyday, we fit in some good work: We met with this family a couple times and we read out of the Book of Mormon with them and it was great. We were arranging rides for them to come to church like they've said they would for the past three weeks and have flaked out every time AND!! this Sunday!!! The flaked out again... arrgh.

BUT! We also were meeting with this other fellow who has been striving to give up smoking AND! He made it to church! Huzzah! It's so nice when people actually keep commitments! What a novel idea! Doing what you said you would! WOW!

Any who... Um.. Yesterday I got to bear my testimony to the ward. So sad... but I started off like this:

"TA-Loooooo-Fa!...

Ma-Oh-L-Lei!...

Aloha!...

Hola!...

Howdy!

...did I miss anyone?"

[somebody yelled ] Ni how!

"Oh! Ni How!" Ha ha ha. So fun. I love a good mix of nationalities.

After all, I am Aficasi, Hapa-hauli, and I've got poly in my blood! ;)

Well, I had to say goodbye to Joseph Leocadio... :'(

But we swapped info so we should be able to stay in touch. Man! It has been great to see him just take off! He's caught onto the Gospel and he's going strong!

Well.....that's all for now.

I love you all!

Wish me luck.

YOU ARE THE BEST!

Love ya!

-Elder Barker

So, what happend this week? Oct, 13 2010

2010-11-03T21:34:00.002-07:00

Not much.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it's that time of the transfer cycle again where we had the week long training on Worldwide Effective Teaching stuff. So, it was good. And I took copious amounts of notes (I'm not kidding ya! Look at the size of it! It's like SPUTNIK!!) Because this week I get to train my district on the whole shabang. Ahhh, the joys of being a District Leader. AAAHHHH!!!!!

So!

Monday was good. We had dinner with a Samoan Family who introduced us to their friends and we taught a lesson. SO cool! i love it when Members are good friends to people and invite them to talk to us missionaries. It was a great meeting. And The food was grreat too. My Samoan Chief Name is "Fia-ai So-o"--'feed me all the time!' ha ha ha. Elder Ortiz's name is "Ai Tele"-- 'Eat too much' ha ha. So fun!

Tuesday I got to go to the training meetings. And when I got out we went on splits with some members and visited to people. Great fun!

Wed. We were able to meet with some great people and help them. One guy was so cool! When we walked to to his house he came out and greeted us with, "I read in the scriptures!" That is probably the best way to be greeted.

Thursday was a great day. We got to meet with a couple less active members and used a good visual teaching method to talk about the Book of Mormon.

Friday was a day of searching.

Saturday was weekly planning.

Sunday was great! But unfortunately none of our investigators made it to church. Even though we hooked them up with rides and visited them Sat night to make sure and all that jazz... but they still weren't able to make it. Interesting... I got to teach gospel principles all by myself. :-0 Elder O was out with our ward mission leader trying to pick up our investigators for church. So... that was fun. Teaching from the hip is fun!

And... yeah...

Man! i just love being out here and learning from President Watrous. He is amazing! And being with such Spiritual Giants for a week of training was great! now I just have to replicate it all for my little district this week... a bit daunting? yes. Possible? also yes, but I'll need your prayers.

I love you all! Thanks for being the best!

have a great week!

Catch you laters!

-Elder barker

Locked out, twice. Sept. 27, 2010

2010-11-03T21:34:00.001-07:00

Hello!

Man what a week. Unfortunately I don't have my journal or planner near so I can't go through the days and check off what exactly happened BUT It was a week. THAT I know!

So, Last Monday Elder Ortiz and I were locked out of our apartment. and after a crazy goose chase for the keys that the mission office said would work but actually didn't we found the maintenance guy and got keys from him. So! That was fun.

I got to go on exchanges with the zone leaders on Wed! That was super fun. I really enjoy being with Elder Soffe. He's a great leader and an even better friend. We were able to teach a couple college kids who let us in and.. it was interesting. They were on the verge of bashing and I'm not sure if they quite understood all we were talking about. Darn Pot. But other than that Mrs. Lincoln, it was good. I did my first baptismal interview! Woot! That was a great experience. Pretty much all it is is where the person who is getting ready to be baptized meets with the district leader and they talk and the district leader makes sure that the person understands what they have been taught and are willing to follow the commandments. So It was great.

Sunday YAY! I was given the wonderful blessing of conferring the Aarronic priesthood onto Joseph Leocadio! Wow what an experience! Words cannot describe the feeling. I just... All I can say is... Man I love God! I had a wonderful spiritual experience as I gave Joseph a blessing. That's all I can say. On another note halfway though Priesthood meeting I reached into my pocket and realized that the car keys were missing. My ca' keys! So that was fun rushing around the chapel, hoping that the keys were somewhere to be found. Thankfully they were in the car. Whew. And the doors were still unlocked. WHEW! That was a close one.

And today We are once again Locked out of our apartment. I think this is becoming a trend. Losing the keys/ locking them in the house... Hmmm... i don't like it. Perhaps we should try climbing in through the window... Nah. I guess we'll try to find the maintenance guy again.

Anywho! Um... yeah. that's all I can think off right now.

I hope you are well, and happy and healthy and cheery and I know this sentence is redundant but it's true.

Thankyou sooooo much for you letters and emails and love.

I love you all soooo very much.

Catch you next time!

-Elder Barker

Busy Busy Busy! Sept, 20, 2010

2010-11-03T21:32:00.000-07:00

What a week!

Monday was super fun! We went shopping at this HUGE mall in our area. Unfortunately everything Was SUPER expensive. Like I'm not even kidding. 95.00 for a t-shirt. A T-SHIRT! Wow... That evening we had dinner with Bishop Rodgers and Man was it fun. Good food, good conversation and An amazing Plumeria Garden in the back yard. Oh, Grandma, I don't know if you heard from my letter but We had dinner with Manase Tonga's wife. Good 'ol #11 from BYU is Bishop Rodger's son-in-law. It was a grand evening.

Tuesday, Was so awesome! One of the members just got back from her trip to Hawaii and We had asked her (semi jokingly) to bring us back something Hawaiian and SHE DID! yay! Hawaiian Host Chocolates and Lays for both of us. Awww so nice. So that was fun. We taught a bunch of people But that was the highlight.

Wed. we were able to teach Joseph Leocadio's son! Wooo hoo! I hope that we can help that family to come closer to Christ. It's always fun teaching Joseph but the lessons go a bit long, 'cause he likes to talk and we like to listen. Ha ha. Oh well.

Thursday we had a great district meeting. We talked about Elder Packer's talk "A candle to the Lord" and discussed how we can apply what we learned in it in our lives. It was a lot about receiving personal revelation and how the spirit speaks to us. Elder Packer is soo good. He points out in the talk that the scriptures try to put a word to describe how the spirit communicates with us and it calls it a voice, but that it is more of a voice one feels than one hears, and he sites 1 Nephi 17:45 "ye have seen and angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but you were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words..."So good! Anyways we took Joseph out with us to meet with a recent convert who hasn't been coming to church lately. It went really well and it was great. I think they hit it off really well.

Friday was weekly planning. And then we met with this one kid and helped him to realize that prayer isn't scary and that it's important to pray. It's like talking to our Dad (Because he is our heavenly father after all). It went really well. His prayer at the end of the lesson was so sweet, "Heavenly father I thank you for these missionaries. i have fun with them And I'll do what they ask me to. I'll pray every day. and I hope we can get together again soon. In the name of Jesus Christ amen." Then we had dinner with a polly family. man I love Supo Moa - Chicken soup. the kids were super fun and bouncy. ha ha. Like they wouldn't stop jumping and making me hold their hands and pull them up higher. It was a great work out but it was tiring. Then we had a great lesson with this one girl who was So great! I'm excited to keep working with her.

Saturday we had a couple lessons. We had a great one with Joseph. He took us to get Little Ceasar's and then we had our meeting in a park and later we played guitar and chatted. TOO FUN! Anyways Friday night we got a referral from the Spanish Elders and we went to the house and after we got past Tootsie the Pit bull we had a great lesson and All four of the people in the family were eager to learn and willing to prepair for baptism! Yay!

Sunday we had stake conference which was AMAZING! The stake presidency (Leaders over several congregations) was reorganized and the rest of the meeting was their testimonies and MAN the spirit was strong. It was alot about the origin of testimonies and about needing the lord's help to fill our callings ,whatever they may be. Whether leaders, teachers, home teachers, parents, whatever it may be, we all have callings. It was funny cause one of the counselors in the old presidency is now the new president and he said, "I know that this must be inspired. look at me. I have glasses, hearing aids, and braces. no one but the lord would call a man to be stake president who is blind deaf and dumb." ha ha ha. GREAT stuff. We met with one of our investigators and hopefully his mom will give him permission to be baptized. It looks promising. So We're excited!

And that was that.

Whew!

Well, thank you for being such amazing friends and family. You are the best! Thanks for your letters and emails and love.

I love you all so much!

I hope you are well and that things are going good.

Catch you later!

-Elder Barker

Ka-me-te Ka-ma-te Monday Sept 13, 2010

2010-11-03T21:31:00.000-07:00

Whew!

Goodness what a week! I guess there is no where to begin but the beginning.

SO! Monday: Was pretty good. Ya know, the usual. Emails, groceries, laundry, teaching. The norm.

Tuesday we stated the day off with a service project for ladies who were kind of rude and who had a cloud of nicotine hovering around them that was reminiscent of an airport pick-up-and-drop-off zone. Cough! We were helping to set up for this "Senior Sports" thing which looked, well... Bless their hearts... but... hmmm, yes. I think that says it. We took out Our friend Ron with us. He's soo cool. I think I already said this But he's getting ready to serve a mission in Montana so we are taking him out with us a lot. We were able to give a blessing to one of the members, and teach Joseph Leocadio! Woot He's so cool, and yeah... that was the day.

Wed.Was a great day! We met with people we hadn't seen for months. And we were also able to meet with some less active members and some who I had never met before. Man! I wish that people wouldn't make excuses. They just put up these excuses for why they don't go to church or read the scriptures or pray or anything like that and it's just... I want to say pathetic but maybe that's to harsh. No it isn't. It's Pathetic! They are keeping themselves away from God and from blessings that he wants to give them just because they are too busy! Well I'm sorry but you're complaining to the wrong guy! (Ok... getting off my high horse. [Mom if you think that was too strong you can omit it from the email])

Thurs. District meeting was lovely. We had a great lesson on How to improve our personal prayers and it was pretty good. I have some things I've got to work on, that's for sure. We had a lovely lunch at Happy Buffet, which I think is a partial lie, because you are only happy as long as you're eating. I think the same principle applied to the food at BYU-Idaho. Right after your last bight you realized that what you ate wasn't actually food. We took Ron out with us and did some good tracking and we actually talked to some people! yay, They didn't just kick us off their door step!

Friday, was full of planning and a couple lessons with some good people, their motivation is just a little low. so it was ok.

Saturday, We Tracted, went on a temple tour (I just love temple tours. It's so wonderful to walk around the grounds and feel the spirit and the peace and serenity. After all the grounds are dedicated too), Had good meetings with people.

Sunday, We had a wonderful Sabbath! i love church! The youth speaker however was... well... Bless her heart... hmmm yeah, Reading her talk for the first time at the podium. ha ha ha. So funny.

And that Was the week on fast forward and reader's digested.

Fun huh?

Thank you soo much for the letters and cards and emails. You all are wonderful! Thanks for your support. Hey guess what? It's been a year. (whoa... it's been a year? Where did that go? That went by like... super fast. It feels like yesterday I went into the Missionary Training Center. It was yesterday wasn't it? Wow... Scary)

I love you!

Be well.

-Elder Barker

FOR ISRAEL, HURRAH!

2010-09-09T09:36:00.001-07:00

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray-'ooray-'ooray-'ooray-'ooray!

I just love Baptisms! Ooops, I've gotten ahead of myself and ruined the ending... Oh well, surprise or not This week was GREAT!

So, Monday we had to go to the mission office and pay our fine from the towing incident. Oy... Ah well, I didn't want that money anyways (SOUR GRAPES!) But in the evening we met with Joseph Leocadio And had a wonderful lesson. It was two hours long. Oy! Long time I know. But he has so many good questions and side stories. The funniest part was that we didn't have all that much to cover, just the ten commandments and the importance of prophets, and yet it was two hours long. Whatever; it was worth it!

Tuesday was an interesting day. We met with The Espinozas. Wonderful people. Sister Espinoza is a member of the church and Brother Espinoza has been attending for 36 years but... isn't a member... yeah I'm confused too. And what makes it harder to understand is that he speaks only Spanish. SO! I could barley understand anything besides "Comme mas tortillas." Good food.

Wed we met with Joseph and he was able to meet with Bishop Rodgers and it was a great meeting. I love bishop Rodgers. He's soo cool. He's got the good laid back Polly attitude. Anywho.

Thurs. Joseph Met with Elder Soffe and passed the Baptismal interview - which really isn't like an interview-interview-interview. It's pretty cool. Like, "Do you believe that God is our loving heavenly father? Do you believe that the church has been restored? What does that mean to you?" So We weren't worried about Joseph passing. so we worked out some of the stuff for the service and yeah...

Friday, Joseph gave us this funky Filipino drink called Halo-halo. It's more like a meal than a drink. It's got like... rice and beans and fruit and ice and milk and this weird purple stuff.

Saturday JOESPH GOT BAPTIZED! Wooot! And his brother and sister came and his wife and kids and his father in law and a bunch of people from the ward and it was soo great! the spirit was so strong and it was so great to see him make this first step and to set the example for his family. MAN i love the gospel!

Sunday He got confirmed a member of the church and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. It was wonderful. So peaceful. and at the end of sacrament meeting he was like, "You know that feeling of being a part of the 'ward family' and being accepted and unity that you mentioned- you could have at least told me that it was literal!" Ha ha. So great!

Anyways enough about that GREAT news.

Thank you all for you emails and letters and love and stuff.

Things are going great. We are starting a new transfer (six week span) and I am still in this great area! But our teaching pool just went down so, we are going to do a lot of finding people to teach. after all nothing can be accomplished in missionary work until we find someone to teach.

SO! I love you all! and I miss you. and I love you. In that order ;)

Catch you next time!

-Elder Barker

August 30th --WHERE IS OUR CAR!??!!

2010-09-09T09:35:00.000-07:00

Another week another adventure!

The week was an interesting one.

Monday we had a cool experience. We got a media referral telling us that there was a lady in the hospital with a life threatening case of tetanus and that she wanted us to come and give her a blessing. Ok. So we went over and checked in and went to her room and- She wasn't there. Yeah... So we asked the guy who was standing outside the door if he knew about her, and he didn't know her but he thought that she had been allowed to go home that day. ...ok... So we talked to him for a bit and it turns out that he had spoken with Elders in the past. I was like- whoa- This is not a coincidence, we are here for a reason and that reason is to talk to you. Unfortunately Some people can't see Divine intervention if it smacked them upside the head. But cool experience.

Tuesday was Tuesday. We had an appointment set with Joseph Leocadio But he was apparently sleeping during said appointment time.

Wed. We had a couple lessons with some great people. And I learned to play a couple chords on the ukulele. We went by Joesph's to reschedule (Man, i wish he'd get a phone already!) But he was- Sleeping! So we talked to his youngest son through the screen door and committed him to put on some pants before we came back, and he committed us to coming back. But things didn't turn out so well. After checking on a family that we've been trying to work with we went back to our car and- it wasn't there. Which is king of funny when you realize that I sometimes try to pull elder ortiz' leg by saying, "Where's our car?!" But this time it was for reals. So while we were looking under the rocks and behind the bushes for a sign of the thief this mean old lady with a wall eye and sharp nasty teeth pulls up and asks if we had a car on the premises and wheat we were doing there and was just really... rude. So I tried to be polite and ask if she knew where it had been towed and stuff and she wasn't helpful at all and then she went on to tell us that we were wasting our time and that we should be finishing school and that you can worship god at home and that she has zero respect for us and yadda yadda yadda. So I told her to have a nice day, and after some crazy finagling found where our car was and arranged for us to pick it up and long story even longer we picked it up but it cost us double because it was after hours. (Well, if you hadn't towed it at 6:22 it wouldn't have been after hours so who's really at fault here? You.) Oh well. All's well that ends better.

Thursday I went on exchanges with one of the elders in my district and it was so fun! we were on bike and we taught this one guy that we met after knocking the first door, and it was cool.

Friday, Ron (The Samoan Midget who is super cool) Got his mission call! So we went over and had a "Call-opening party!" He was called to billings Montana. Fun Fun!

Saturday is a special day, and we were actually able to teach Joseph Leocadio! yay! He's sooo cool. And he had just gotten a hair cut so the pony tail is gone and the cool short hair is in. Man. He's like a super sponge and everything we teach him he already has kind of a basic knowledge of it but when we teach it he's like, "Wow! i had never thought of it like that! Fasting isn't just a cleansing healthy thing to do- but it also allows your spirit to not be subject to your physical needs and helps you draw closer to God! I'm just blown away by this." So cool. And he likes James Taylor. Like I said, Super cool.

Sunday He came to Church and brought, Not one of his sons, not two of his sons- but ALL THREE OF HIS SONS! Sooooooo cool! They all loved it! So great! Man I just love teaching people who love to learn. Anyways, we had dinner with some members and tried to contact some people and yeah. It was a good day.

So that's my week. i hope you had fun reading about it.

Thanks for your emails and letters and love. I really appreciate it.

I hope everything is well with you.

I love you all so much.

Be well!

Catch you next time.

-Elder barker

August 16th - Ahem...

2010-09-09T09:34:00.002-07:00

What a great week!

In the mission we had a four day long meeting about how we can be more effective missionaries! man it was good. So much to learn! and so much to teach. It was a meeting with the leaders and the trainers and so now our job is to relate it to the rest of the missionaries. Man it was good though.

President Watrous taught us the new simplified curriculum for the MTC and it's amazing. It focuses on the doctrine of Christ (Repentance and baptism) The role of the Holy Ghost in conversion, Revelation through prayer; through the Book of Mormon; and through church attendance, Focusing on teaching people not lessons, The importance of commitments and How to begin teaching. MAN It was a feast of knowledge and spiritual food. Yum!

But because we had that big amazing meeting all week there wasn't much time for teaching and stuff.

We had a couple opportunities to meet with some less active members and strengthen them, and those went really well.

Let me see what to report... I'm not sure.

I don't know what the deal was with some of our investigators. Every appointment they were either sick, asleep, in the shower, or gone. So... Unfortunately none of them made it to church this week. But after church we stopped by Joe Leocadio's and talked and ended up playing guitar a little bit and we'll be meeting up tonight so that's good. Hopefully we can teach him a few principles before it turns into a jam session. ;)

Anywho... Life is good. The carpet is clean! (just cleaned it this morning- yuk) and... yeah.

I love you all!

Be well! Yes, I mean you.

Thank you for all your emails and letters and goodness.

Catch you latter!

-Elder barker

August 9th Lesson, Chemo, Spiritual feasts, and Feasts.

2010-09-09T09:34:00.001-07:00

What a week. And to make it even more fun I think I will start at the end of the week and work backwards!

So! Sunday was Excellent! In sacrament meeting we had a billion Pollys all there to say goodbye to our departing missionary (Alfred) from the ward. It was a wonderful meeting full of love and song and tears. Good stuff. And the Alfred family was there, who are pretty much all inactive members. so that was cool to see. After church we were invited to be a part of the Feast! It was sooo good. And the cool part was when we were looking for a place to sit Alfred's dad was like, "Elders, you sit over there." (over there was next to Alfred at the head of the feast.) It was an honor to be there. Plus the food was super good. Yumm Pig! And taro and a bunch of other things that I can't pronounce let alone write and which they didn't have a translation into English so we just ate it and didn't ask any questions. We had a couple lessons after that and then we crashed another party! This one was a birthday party of a member in the ward. So it was a fun day.

Saturday Was long. we had a couple lessons fall through but we were able to teach a less active member, and the husband of a member. Crazy story. So this guy has been coming to church for 30 years and he's still not baptized. Crazy. Anyways they fed us a bunch of tacos and then moments after that meeting we had a dinner appointment. Ha ha ha! Man... So much food.

Friday we had the opportunity to watch the new Preach my Gospel DVDs (It's where cameras follow 8 missionaries around for six weeks and then they compile it into a cool thing that we get to watch and learn from and adapt our styles to what we like) So that was awesome! Then we met with a less active member and talked about some good stuff. He is from Maine! Whoa! But I guess the nearest chapel was like in Canada, so he had to cross the border every week to go to church. And he's out here doing art school and stuff. So we had lots to talk about. ;)

Thursday we had a good district meeting. on how we can improve ourselves as executives in the lord's kingdom. Good stuff. Later we taught a couple less actives (man it was a less active week wasn't it?) Good stuff. I think we are making progress with one in particular. good stuff. Hooray for repentance!

Wed was a long day But we had a great evening. We split up with some of the leaders in the ward went out to visit people. The high Priest's group leader and I visited a Sister who is battling cancer and her husband. It was great to see that her spirits were up and plus she had the knowledge that Heavenly father loves her and that she only had one more treatment left. I shared a thought from the old testament about when the Israelites were just about to get to the promised land and then because the people who lived there were soo big and scary they doubted that they could make it. And then God was like, "Hey! Did you already forget that I delivered you out of Egypt and parted the red sea? This isn't a big deal. Have faith!" So I drew the connection that we need to remember that With God nothing is impossible and that miracles do happen everyday (if you saw a miracle would you recognize it?)

Tuesday we met with Joseph Leocadio and it was a super good lesson! We taught about Obedience to the commandments and the importance of prayer and we also talked about keeping the sabbath day holy. It was good. When we asked him if he would be able to attend church this week he said that he'd be out of town but then asked if there was a way for him to attend a church where he was going to be at. YAY! super cool.

And Monday was Monday.

So that's my week in review.

Man, i love you guys. I miss you like... a fat kid misses (Klee-Shay! [ yes my spelling is off, and the computer wouldn't recognize the way I was trying to spell it so... Hooray for phonics!]) um like a flower misses the sun (Klee- Shay) Like... You know what I mean. I miss you guys.

Thank you for your letters and emails and love and everything! I take them all and put them into an IV drip that keeps me alive.

Be well!

Catch you next time!

-Elder Barker

July 19th- Hello again!

2010-09-09T09:33:00.002-07:00

So this past weeks was fun!

We had exchanges with the zone leaders and that went really well. It was fun being in their area and working with them. We knocked this one area that had a super big house and to top it off it even had a moat. Ha ha. So fun.

On wed we taught this one guy who pretty weird. First of all he lives in one of those one bedroom trailers/ you know the kind that are more like campers or a tent on wheels. It was so funny, he'd say "Jesus-Christ-the-son-of-the-living-god-the-living-god-and-the-holy-spirit" and since he's from South Africa his accent is pretty funny too. crazy lesson. Anywho, later we had dinner with Cheyenne. and we taught one of his friends. Cool stuff.

We had a great weekend, a couple investigators in our district were baptized! So cool.

Um... Oh yeah! We had an investigator at church this week! Woot! It was so great. He brought his 7 yr old son and they both enjoyed it. That's so cool.

Well, that's the long and short of it.

Thank you sooo much for your letters, Emails, and love.

I love you all!

Be well.

Catch you next week!

July 12th- The following is mine and I wrote it and so it is mine

2010-09-09T09:33:00.001-07:00

Ahem.

So! another week! Woo and such fun stuff to report on.

Like on Tuesday when we got lost on the way to interviews. How we got lost, I'm not sure, as we drive to that chapel every week. BUT that's all part of the adventure!

Wed we had an earthquake! And the best part was Elder Robertson and I were walking up the steps to Chyenne's place and the guy who lives across the way (down-da-road-down-da-way) was like, "The Building is shaking! THE BUILDING IS SHAKING!!!!!!!!! IT'S AN EaRTHqUAkE!!!" and we looked at each other and were like... there is? so we looked around and yeah the bushes we shaking a little bit but nothing serious. Chyenne ran into the house and was like, "Get the BABY! Quick!" So he comes bustling out of the house and everyone is in a panic, except us, and he's like, "Is it Still Shaking?" "....um... nope." ha ha. Funny funny.

We were able to bring Bradley to the temple tour. So cool. He's a great kid. I can't remember if I told you this before, BUT I'll tell you again! He's twelve and his dad is a member but his mom and step dad aren't, and the two aren't so psyched about him wanting to be baptized. The reason being they don't want him to be different from the rest of the family. ...um step dad is catholic and mom is a born again christian... I'm confused. BUT he's really a sweet kid. I wish opposition wasn't so popular.

We weren't able to meet with Cheyenne much this week. he's been heading out of town a lot trying to scrap up work and stuff. But we were able to meet with a friend of a less active who we are teaching and he's doing really well! He's reading in the Book of Mormon and doing great.

Yesterday at church we had this guy named Jerry just show up. It was interesting to say the least. He said that he was just lead to come to church and so there he was! So, we'll see what happens. But it was so funny, after Sunday school he was like, "Is there more?" all excited and we were like, "um.. no." and he was like, "Aww man." ha ha.

Anyways, It's been a long and busy week teaching and finding and teaching some more! Fun fun!

THANKYOU Soooooo much for your letters and emails!

I love you all and you are ever in my thoughts and prayers!

Be well.

July 5th -Long time no... Nope it hasn't been that long.

2010-09-09T09:32:00.000-07:00

So. HAPPY FOURTH!!!

Fun Fun Fun. So last night the streets were full of people lighting those screaming fireworks and their sparklers and their fountain thingys and all that jazz. So needless to say- driving was eventful. AAAHHH We're under Fire!...works. hee hee hee.

So the week was a good one. We got a referral and when we went to the address to meet the person They were THERE! Wow! and the guy gathered his family around to listen and it was great! just one small hitch in the story. The dad didn't speak English too well. When we were talking about the Period of time after Jesus Christ when the church that he organized fell and we were talking about how that was the dark ages and people were confused, he said, "Oh yeah. Like when it's 2 o'clock in the morning and you try to wake up. Man, I get confused easily during that time of day when it's dark." ha ha.

We also taught Cheyenne a few time this week. It's always funny how our conversations go. He'll get on a tangent and then he'll be telling us how to break into a house. ha ha. The great line of the week from him is, "Man, when i used to loan out money to people- If your late on paying me back, after two weeks You owe me fifty more, after a month it's a hundred, and another two weeks- I shoot you with my sleeper dart take you back to my place, beat you up, take what I want, and then you pay me what you owe me. that was my three strike program." ha ha. Fun fun.

Sunday was a crazy meeting at church. A family that had moved away six years ago was visiting and the mom was playing the organ in sacrament meeting and Belting away America the beautiful over the congregation. ha ha. And there was a baby blessing and the kid started screaming his head off half-way through the blessing. ha ha. I love this church.

But really i do love the church. man, what a great thing that God would do, to organize the church so that we can increase our talents and serve those around us and be supported in our growth as well. Man.

I don't think I write this enough but i know that the book of Mormon is truly a volume of holy scripture. We've been re-reading it as a mission and MAN It is so TRUE! I just can't get over it. Every time I hear an investigator pray to know if it is true the spirit tells me so strongly that it is.

I love you all! Thank you for your support and your love. Man, i need it. Your letters and emails are like those pools of water in the desert that I have just enough strength to get to and then I fill up and keep going on till the next oasis. Thanks for keeping me going.

You all rock!

Be well.

I mean it.

Love you!

-Elder barker

Jun 21- One midnight gone

2010-09-09T09:31:00.002-07:00

So!

I have officially moved in!

-And the last seven days didn't count because...?

Because I finally unpacked the last box, So now it's official! ha ha ha!

Ok but seriously, one week done! Woot!

It's a really mixed ward. It's so cool. Like there are Tongans, Samoans (Hey! Sule!), Mexicans, white folks, Europeans, and Asians! Pretty cool. and the work is pretty good too.

We are working with some cool people and helping them to see how the gospel can help them in their lives.

OH the other night when we were trying to contact a family that we are working with there was this guy and his son getting their fishing pool and gear all together, so I asked him what he was fishing for, and It turned out that he was going of for mackerel! AHA HA HA HA! My specialty! So We chatted a bit about the best kind of jigs to use and about that kind of stuff and then we talked a little about the gospel. He wasn't too interested but Hey! It was cool to have a quick connection like that. Those don't come around like that everyday.

So, we had dinner with Brother Harmer, the second counselor in the bishopric, and his family, so fun. But in the closing prayer I said, "Help us to have more opportunities to open our mouths and share our testimonies with those around us." and after the prayer Brother Harmer said, "I just received revelation! Elder Barker, would you give a talk in sacrament meeting this Sunday (two days away)." ... so I got to speak my first week in the area! Brothers and sisters!TALO-O-O-O-FA!

Speaking of Samoan phrases I learned a new one: Fia ai. That means "feed me" and then Fa a Fe Tai Fai Mea ai. That means "thank you for making the food." very important phrases in Polynesian culture. ;)

OK, so one cool character in the ward is Ron. He is a Samoan who is getting all of his papers and stuff together to go on a mission. He's so cool, and He's a midget. He's like a Polynesian hobbit! we take him out to lessons with us all the time. way cool.

Elder Robertson is way cool too! I wrote this in a couple letters but He seriously reminds me of Cousins. He is a mix of Kimball barker and Zach Davis! Too fun! We are doing really well together.

Well... That's all for now... I think.

Thank you sooooooo much for your letters emails and such. I received a package this week with a wonderful gift in it. Thank you all for that, and thank you Emily for putting it together. it was an awesome pick me up. You all rock! and If I was to describe you all in one word it would be: The-greatest-people-that-I-could-ever-wish-to-be-friends-and-family-with.

I love you all!

Catch you on the flip side later!

-Elder Barker

Jun 14- I've moved (but address is still the same).

2010-09-09T09:31:00.001-07:00

So... Now I'm in South Coast! YAYAY!!!!!

And I'm In car again! YAYAYAYAY!

And I have a new companion, Elder Robertson! YAYAYAY!

And KAYLEEE GOT BAPTIZED YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYY!

SO, Let me up date you on some of the highlights of the week.

Monday We tried to be nice and help the other elders to have enough time to email and do that kind of stuff, but the library in our area was a mean bunch of money grubbing blaaa so... that didn't happen.

Tuesday was a long and tiring day. And It was so funny. I was reading Elder Ballard's book "Our search for happiness" and he was talking about how if you don't believe that the lord is with the missionaries just spend some time with them and see what they have to go through and how they can't go through that without the help of the the lord. And I thought to my self, "Well, It's not that bad." Oh-Oh-Oh... That was asking for it. So all day we had cancellations and everybody was not home and madness! So... that was Tuesday.

Wed was crazy and mom we had a sort of similar situation with a family for dinner on wed. So! They had signed up to feed us and we called on Sunday to put the time at 5:30 because we had a potential lesson at 6:30, and it was all good. and Tuesday night we figured we didn't have to double check, but when we showed up for dinner the mom was like, "What are you doing here?" So... we were like, "um You signed up for dinner" and so she whipped up some grilled cheese sandwiches. Ha ha. Ooops.

Thursday was good, but not too eventful.

Friday Kaylee passed her Baptismal interview! and we talked to her mom and she was like, "It's amazing ! I'm coming yo church, I want to be active, I see that Kaylee is having a good time . And just a few months ago I said, "Don't even try to convert me! Cause I won't!" You guys are amazing." Too nice, but it wasn't us doing the work. That was the spirit prompting her and that was her following the promptings.

Sat we worked all day and at night we got the transfer call, Elder Saxton is staying in Garden grove and training a greeny. and I am off to south coast. Sad But I'm ok with it.... now.

Sunday! KAYLEE GOT BAPTIZED! It was soo good and the young women sang and her family was there and her friends came too and a whole bunch of people were there to support her and it was great! and I accidentally dropped my camera and it now says lens error. Arrgh. Hopefully I can get that fixed. then we went over to Kaylee's and gave her a memory book with testimonies and congratulations from everyone who came and with pictures we printed off and it was so good to give it to her and I LOVE THAT FAMILY! they were so sweet saying that they want me to visit and write and I was in tears by the end of our visit. The spirit has worked in that home and now it is moving in the direction that Heavenly father wants them to be. SO COOL! It's amazing.

Hurrah for Israel!

Well. Thank you for your letters, emails, packages, cards, well wishes, prayers, vibes, and thoughts. I couldn't do this with out you.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!

Be well.

_elder Barker

June 9- Sorry Sorry Sorry!

2010-09-09T09:30:00.002-07:00

There was an earthquake! The flood gates broke! The sewer backed up and a sludge monster took over down town Garden Grove! I was stuck in traffic! the Freaking library was full and they wanted me to pay $45 to get a library card! WHAT! (yes that last one was true.)

So sorry about the radio silence. I bet you were thinking," ok, either he's dead, or he lost his Internet privileges because of selling his internal organs on ebay for outrageous prices" (Kidneys by the way are going for $50 a pop. any takers? eh? eh?)

But seriously, Things are fine here. We're fine, I'm fine we're all fine. How are you?

SO! Update! Monday was memorial day...

Tuesday! We taught Kaylee and then had an awesome meeting with Bishop About how we can work better at fulfilling the ward mission process, and all that fun stuff.

Wed. We did a bunch of crazy fun stuff. then later, because last Sunday Brother Schenck asked us to be a part of the youth's mutual thingy where some older members of the ward shared stories from their missions, we dressed up as really old missionaries (like 1850's) it was fun! We wore beards and had cool hats and there are pictures in the mail! It was so fun!

Thursday: We tried to work the spirit gum out of our side burns. Ouch. and we taught Kaylee more review about the plan of salvation, and the great conversation of the day was this:

-Hey! Watch out! My dog will get you. Didn't you see the sign?

(this is all in Spanish mind you)

-We don't see any dog.

-Yeah but he's right there, watch yourself! He'll kill you!

-Hm.... ok. Well in the meantime, can you tell us if Noel lives here?

-No one by that name lives here. Watch out!

-look Mame, we are servants of God. A little dog isn't going to hurt us because we are protected by God.

-Do you want me to get him?!

-Sure!

So she went to the end of her drive towards the back of the house and opened the gate to the back yard, and out trots this chocolate lab. HA ha. The dog was more scared of us that we ever would have be of it. Silly lady. Your Jedi mind tricks don't work on us! ;)

Friday: crazy planning for the week. and a Delicious Dinner at Kaylee's. They are so cool. Sister Francis made fried chicken and we had a party with a couple of Kaylee's friends from church.

Saturday: We had tried to arrange a tour of the family history center, but everyone fell through, humph... So it was a very long day.

Sunday was madness! We had a million meetings where we presented training and assignments to people and is was crazy hectic teaching 13 yr olds and surprise investigators showing up at odd times and sharing messages in other classes and it was a roaring good time!

And now you're caught up!

So transfers are this up coming Monday. :( I'm scared to hear what the transfer will be. I don't want to leave. I don't want Elder Saxton to leave. I think we should stay forever! so there! 'cause transfer calls are awfuller than all the awful things that ever were I don't want to go off don't want to move out or to ship off- Not ME. _not I -NOT ME! SO THERE!

Ok That's most of the fun and fancy free that's been flying around this part of town.

Thank you soooooooo Much for your cards, letters, emails, pictures, prayers, thoughts and all that jazz. I need it.

You are the bestest ever! and I love you all!

be well.

Catch you on the flip side laters!

Jun 9- BAAAAHHH!!!

2010-09-09T09:30:00.001-07:00

Happy Memorial day everybody!

so, because the libraries ere closed last Mon. I am writing a quick email today!

So sorry if it's abrupt but TIME TIME WHO'S GOT THE TIME!!??

Mon: We had a loverly Family home evening With Kaylee, and it was wonderful!

Tues: We had some miracles! We had been praying to find a bike for one of our less active youth so he could bike to seminary and LOW AND BEHOLD a friend of ours was moving back to Washington and He had to get rid of his bike! HALLELUJAH! and then we had a great meeting with Bishop!

Wed:The night of the screaming children! What was the problem eh? I don't get it. Every time we would be talking to someone their children would start screaming. No matter what we did and it would be at the worst THE worst moments. Right during the opening prayer, in the middle of a testimony or du4ring a scripture. Why?!

Thurs: Exchanges we crazy! I was in my area with a different elder. and My spelling has become horrid. Sorry. We had some great lessons and committed one of our less actives to follow the Word of Wisdom and give up the Coffee.

Fri: PLANING MADDDNESSS!!!

SAT: miracles with changing Kaylee's bap from the 20th to the 13th! YAYAYAYAYAY!

Sunday was Sunday.

MAY 17- A Wop Ba-ba Loo Bop!

2010-09-09T09:28:00.002-07:00

A Wop Bam-BOO!

Wow what a week.

Sorry I don't have much time to write all the crazy details so I'll just sum up quickly!

Mon: was Monday, and it was rather uneventful

Tuesday: We did some major searching for potential investigators from years ago. Like the records we found these in were buried under a pile of bones found in the land northward old. And because they are old we ran into a lot of situations where the people had moved. One we got to the trailer park and went to the lot and the whole house was gone. We figured either they were taken into heaven like the city of Enoch or they fled into the wilderness with all of their household. ha ha,

Wed: we had the funniest thing happen. We had a lesson with this lady and at the end we asked if we could leave with a prayer. she said yes and got to her feet and stretched out her hands to hold hands during the prayer. OK- not too weird, but then her yippy black poodle started up and wouldn't stop, so Elder Saxton and the Lady both took a paw and included him in the prayer circle. HA HA.

Thursday: Was Busy buys busy, and Yet nothing worth mentioning happened.

Friday: was another long day of planning out the next week.

Saturday: the youth had a fifties dinner and did a song skit thingy with the music from Grease. Ah Grease: good times great memories. I MISS YOU GUYS!!!!! Anyways... That was fun!

Sunday: started out like any other Sunday. Kaylee made it to church and things were normal when what to my wondering eyes should appear but the Jeff Davis Clan and My Dear Kajirsty-Beerst! WHAT! Crazy stuff. Yes, they crashed our sacrament meeting. So silly. Although it was great to see them I DO NOT SUGGEST IT TO OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS! The only reason it worked was because they were busy heading off to the next place and I was busy trying to keep track of people and heading to class. But... Worlds Colliding.. not good.

Anywho!

I love you all! SOOO MUCH!

Thank you all for your letters and cards and warhead drops and Stuff.

Catch you later!

I LOVE YOU!!!

Hello!!! MAY 10th

2010-09-09T09:28:00.001-07:00

Goodness gracious Great balls of fire!

What a great end of a pretty good week. It was soooooo goood to talk to you Mom and Dad. I think I can make it another 7 months.

So this week started out with a busy preparation day. we had lessons scattered throughout the day, and in the evening we had a lesson with a former investigator who half way through talking with us, turned pale, rushed inside and promptly threw up all over the floor. Thankfully it wasn't because of us that he threw up it was that he had eaten tooo many hot Cheetos.

then two days later when we came back for our follow-up appointment he was tripping out on vicadin or something. It was weird. he was like chattering his teeth and mumbling to himself and weird stuff. Just WEIRD. So... That was fun. And we got to be doctors for a minute or two, his mother was like, "Do his stitches look right to you?" and thankfully I know enough medical terms that I could flounder my way through a response that sounded educated, "Yes, but I think that 20 milligrams of morphine and a day of bed rest and preparations for a rectal ectomy and 50 cc's of hydrocloridoxid at 30 min intervals in an intravenous drip to avoid infection of the retinas would be good." Fun stuff.

We were able to meet with Kaylee everyday this week! WOOO HOO! so that was totally Awesome! She is so ready to be baptized, all we need to do is set a date! It's been great teaching her, because her grandma (Frances Francis) has been sitting in on our lessons and has really felt the spirit too, and it has changed he totally around. It's just great to see how the Gospel helps people to be better.

We did a bunch of organizing of our ancient records from like ten years ago. We put our potential investigators in areas so when we are over there we can check up on them and see what their stories are, and good stuff like that. but because we were preceded by a bunch of unorganized missionaries we spent quite a bit of time planning and fileing and My dreams have been full of those mundane things like counting rocks and sorting papers and stuff like that. THERE IS NO ESCAPE!

Anyways. The one conversation that was kind of funny, kind of strange, Besides the guy tripping out on his drugs, was this one guy who said, "So I know you guys volunteer for this- but what do you get out of it?" -The joy of service. "No, no. Not that. You know. Don't they like at least pay for you schooling or give you a high position or something?" -No... that wouldn't be volunteering anymore.

Elder Barker's Statment of the week: Little dog's need to be swept off the face of the earth. Or at least sedated.

And... that's all for this week.

Thank you all for your letters and emails and love and support! I wouldn't be able to make it with out you.

I LOVE YOU ALLL SOOO MUCH!

Be well.

Be happy!

-Elder Barker

It's the most wonderful time of the year -MAY 3rd

2010-09-09T09:27:00.000-07:00

(Seriously? he's starting off the subject with Christmas music again? I thought we were done with that. Oh well, If he thinks he's being funny I guess we'll humor him.)

HELLO!

So, a reason for the Christmas quote, We just had the most wonderful Sunday. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came and it was Amazing! He is so fun, and funny, and amazing, and I could listen to him all day and not get tired. Wow what a joyous experience to be in his presence. I have had similar experiences twice before. Once when I met Elder L. Tom Perry, and then when I met Elder David Bednar. Those men are amazing. What a testimony to me that they truly are called of god. The glow that radiates off of them is just- ah I can't describe it. Check out Heleman 5 for a reference.

He shared a cool story about most breeds of cow that face their rump into the wind when the snow and winds come and get blown down hill up against the fence and then die, and then another breed that faces head on into the wind and weathers the storm. It was cool to see how when we face things head on and ask help from God we can make it. He also talked about how we need to stand as witnesses of Christ and many other things he did tell us that, if I had time I would share but... I don't so I won't!

Um... other that that... OH! Transfers happened AND! I'm still here in the same area and Elder Saxton is still my companion! Huzzah! This is going to be a great transfer. Hopefully we can get some awesome work done. We see what the ward needs to do and the tricky part will be helping them do it. But challenges are fun right? Of course right.

Things are going good. We are meeting with Kaylee and helping her to understand things better, but the funny thing is that she already gets it and knows it. It's so fun to teach her.

Oh funny line of the week: "Oh sorry we're headed out to the doctor's right now."

-Oh, but we're here to share the gospel with you and how God has a plan for you. This message answers the questions we all have, namely 'Where did we come from?' 'Why are we here?' and 'Where are we going after this life?'

"Well we already know where we are going."

-You do! Wonderful. Where are you going?

"To the doctors. Goodbye."

ha ha ha.

And another experience I gotta share:

We were biking along and we saw this guy at the bus stop. So we pulled up to him and Elder Saxton said, "Hi! We're out here sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with people. Do you believe in Jesus Christ?" the guy (who had orange curly hair, freckles and a poofy orange beard said nothing but looked around in a non-engaging kind of way. "Well, we'd love to share this with you," Edler Saxton continued, "What do you believe about God?" The man still said nothing, but he spat on the ground and glarred around him. "Can I at least give you a card?" Elder Saxton asked. And the man answered, "Are you looking for a fight?!" "Um... no," was our response. "Then keep going. Just keep going." "but-" "Keep Going!" "OK have a nice day!

Wow... some people.

Well that about wraps it up.

Thank you soooo much for your emails and letters, You are all in my prayers and thoughts. I love you!

Be well.

Hurrah for Israel!

-Elder Barker

Hurrah for Israel!

2010-04-26T20:20:00.001-07:00

Some times you win sometimes you 'lose'.

we had a pretty amazing week.

Kaylee (thirteen year old genius) Is doing very well! We had some great lessons and we brought a few young women. Wow! those girls have testimonies the size of skyscrapers! They seriously need to be missionaries (well, technically they already are member missionaries, but 'Full time set-apart door knocking life rocking missionaries' is what I meant).

And this one gal who had come to church a couple times with her friend asked if we could get her a bible. we said, sure! and when we brought it over she was like, do you have a book of Mormon too? OF course we do! So we have been teaching her a bunch too. How cool?! I'm telling you, missionary work is so fun! :D

Hmmm.... OH we had this one lady who was CRAZY like 'hootch is crazy' kind of crazy. We knocked on her door and she was all like, "WHAT do you WaNT?" -Well, we're in the neighborhood and we're meeting new people and sharing a scripture with them. Can we share one with you? "As a MAtter OF FacT I Had Bible Study THIS morning!" -That's wonderful! We were actually going to share one with you from the Book of Mor- "NO! Don't YOU Read THAT BoOk!" -What? It's another testament of Christ. "THOSE AREN'T THE WORDS OF CHRIST!!!" -hmm... But- "DON"T HARASS MEEE!!!" -whoa! we weren't trying to harass you. have a good night. (SLAM*)

Great stuff huh?!

Sunday was good, testimony meeting is always good. (Most times) It's always fun to sort of see how the testimonies all have an underlining theme. The theme was how the gospel is exciting. Really cool meeting. a bunch of youth got up and bore their testimonies and it was just really great.

Speaking of great, HEATHER!!! What amazing news! I hope you are reading this, because if you aren't then... this would be silly, but Wow. I am so happy for you! This is such a wonderful step in your life. But remember that it is only the first step. keep on enduring.

WOW!!!

well, that's all for me right now I think... yes.

So! thank you for your letters and emails and prayers and well wishes. I love you all!

Be well.

Have fun!

Follow Heather's example!

I love you!

-Elder Barker

ROLLERCOASTER!!!!

2010-04-20T17:13:00.001-07:00

Whew... That was a week and a day if I ever saw one.

We worked pretty hard this past week.

Tuesday we did quite a bit of tracting and the area that we are in is soooooo amazingly diverse. One door is a Buddhist, the next is catholic, next atheist, next anti-Mormon, next ex-Mormon, next anti everything! It's insane. The place is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you're gonna get. then we had a lesson with one of our less active youth, and man... the poor kid. His whole family used to be members of the church but then some decided to become atheist, and others decided to stop going to church. Oy... so the kid is trying to make it out but is being pulled away by his family, and when we asked him what was keeping him from coming to sacrament meeting he said, "Sacrament meeting is about being with family," and then he broke down in tears. It was a rough lesson, but I think we can work on helping him.

Wed. Elder Saxton got hit by a car. Wait... scratch that. Reverse it. A car got hit by Elder Saxton. And the punch line is that it was a parked car! It seriously appeared out of nowhere and he just smashed into it. Funny and sad at the same time. Later we had a lesson with a guy who was really hard to teach. He didn't want to listen to learn he was only listening to bring up beliefs that he had that didn't match what we were teaching, and frankly, his were downright lame. I'm sorry but they were.

Thursday we almost got dropped by our most progressing investigator. Oy... that was a really rough day. We thankfully were able to talk to her (Kaylee) and address her concerns and salvage that, and then later we had an amazing experience!!! We decided to try knocking an apartment complex and we started with a prayer to be led to those who were prepared to listen to our message, and the first door we knocked let us in and we taught him about the restoration of the gospel and about how God and Jesus Christ appeared to a fourteen year old boy who prayed in faith to know what to do. And it was sooo cool, because the guy we were teaching related so much to Joseph Smith. Awesome!

Friday We had a couple more lessons from just knocking on the door and they let us in. Cool!

Saturday we had a Tour of the Newport Beach temple grounds! Very cool. And Kaylee, and her mother (who is a member of the church but way inactive) and her grandmother (Member also but not as inactive as mom) Came! WOW! and Kaylee's mom was actually thinking about coming back to church by the end of the tour. The spirit at the temple is so strong. Great stuff.

Sunday, was Sunday.

Monday, L. Whitney Clayton of the presidency of the seventy came and spoke to the whole mission! VERY cool! He spoke to us when I was at the MTC and then in the November conference too. He's so inspirational.

Like I said, this week has been a roller coaster.

SO! It is sooo good to hear from all of you. KJ sent me a few messages from face book. It's good to hear from you all and I love you all too!

Thank you all for your letters and emails and love and support.

I love you all and I think of you often.

Be well and happy and all that good stuff.

-Elder Barker

Hmmm, what to write?

2010-04-17T08:27:00.000-07:00

Monday April 12, 2010

This week was "pretty blooty good." (Did you get the referrence? Kj? anyone? I hope so.) [ It's from "Watership Down" btw-Kj]

What a awesome Spiritual High. So last weekend with general conference, and then Wed. we had interviews with President. I seriously love that man! He always has the right words and good spirit. Great man. And then we taught that amazing teenage girl I think I wrote about a few weeks ago. It's been a while since we were able to teach her, and even this last time we were only able to talk a little bit and share about how when we have a question we can answer it through applying the Book of Mormon to our lives.

She was having trouble knowing how to trust a friend who she and her friends had forgiven for stupid things before and he kept repeating the same things, so we had her read about how the lord forgives as many times as the people repent with real intent. and she was like, "OH I get it! So when we really mean it then we are really repenting and we get forgiveness, and when he really means it and truly stops doing stupid things then we can trust him again." awesome!

-Oh and then some dude pulled over and flagged us down and wanted us to answer all of his rapid fire questions about all of this crazy stuff. It was crazy! He wouldn't even let us try to answer his questions because then he'd fire in another one on top of that one. HOLD ON DUDE! Let me address your question. What ever. People are NUTS out here. Maybe everywhere people are nuts- but it's especially apparent here.

Then on Thursday we had exchanges and I got to meet a bunch of fun characters in Elder Oliphant's area. Sooooo fun! So, we stopped by this 101 year old lady and MAN she was so cool! She had these BEAUtiFUL paintings on the wall and she was like Do you like my paintings and i was like yeah, and she was like I did them. WOW! amazing! And she was just so sweet. a true example of enduring to the end in faith. She was great.

And I finished my first Journal! WOOOT I don't think I've ever done that before! oh wait... yes I have. BUT this one was a consistent journal not a journal of scattered consistency. So I'm well pleased with myself. and I have started on the second plates of Barker.

Friday we had a couple lessons with some people. A couple less actives. Man they really are difficult to work with. It's like they don't want to progress. They want to hold themselves back from receiving blessings and added guidance in their lives. Ok go for it! I can't force you, even God won't force you, all he can do is invite.

Saturday was interesting we had a couple investigators drop us. Oy... and we had a door contact with one of our investigators and taught her about the word of wisdom. And we invited her to church. She said she'd "try" to get to church and "try" to stop he word of wisdom issue. So we pointed out to her that "I'll try" means I'm not going to do it. She wanted to convince us otherwise, but Sunday rolled around and what do you know- She didn't make it. "Do, or Do Not- there is no Try."

Oh this one guy pulled a, "What are your names? Oh I just want to write them down so that we can pray for you so that some day you will find that Jesus is your personal lord and saviour." DUDE! We already believe in Jesus! And we Already know that! Come on! We tried to explain that to him but he wouldn't listen. Man. when people say that we're not christian It really makes me upset. Arrrrrgh! ok.... I'm over it.

SUNDAY we had an investigator at church! WOOO HOOOO!!! that hasn't happened for at least 7 weeks! Wow- that awesome teenage girl came with her less active grandmother. How about that?! Great stuff. And the sisters in our district had a baptism and it was sooooooooo great! The lady was just so excited to be baptized and she was all aglow and clapping her hands with joy and amazing.

Funny character: return missionary at the baptism, "So, I just got back from my mission in Mexico. we had a theme 'dos por dios' that means 'two for God' and our goal was to have two people baptized every week. and I finished off my mission as an assistant to the president, and we were the highest baptizing mission in Mexico and I'm better than you'll ever be and you all are lame and I"M big and you're small I'm right you're wrong and Smart and you're dumb and there's nothing you can do about it!" ... ok maybe I exaggerated a bit, but Dude! Work on being a little humble. what ever...

SO! Thank you soooooooo much for your emails and letters and love and support! I love you all soooo much!

Oh next week P-day will be on Tuesday so, mother dear do not worry about not hearing from me next Monday, all is well.

It's so interesting, every time we testify and invite people to act and to move forward in the gospel, I feel more and more converted to the gospel. I love it! It's great!

I LOVE YOU!!!

I love hearing from you!!!

Be well!

catch you on the flip side laters!

-Elder barker

I'm late! I'm late!

2010-04-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

TUESDAY, April 6th, 2010

Sorry bout that mum. P-Day got switched up on us this week at the last second. No joke. 10:29:59 PM we got a call from the Zone leaders telling us that instead of having Pday on Monday we would be switching to Tuesday this week so we could attend the Temple. YAY! Temple! It was such a good session. I'm telling you. I learn new things every time! I just wish that I had the schedule to go weekly. Oh well, that'll just have to wait for the future!

Anyways. Guess what?! Easter Sunday WE HAD CONFERENCE!!!! Ok... yes I know you knew that but What made it especially cool was, Hmm.... I think it was Elder Cook who talked about how we don't know exactly when the Saviour will come again but that earthquakes and the sea over stepping it's bounds are signs; well, after conference, WE HAD AN EARTHQUAKE!!!! BA HA HA HA! And I was awake for this one! :) It was pretty cool. And the epicenter was so far away that all it did was shake things up but WOW! it was cool. It was like being on a boat but then looking around and seeing that you are inside. It made me miss being out on the water. Oh well, that'll just have to wait for the future! (wait a second... that phrase sounds familiar... I should stop repeating my self. Oh well that'll just have to wait for the future! )

SO! let me see what else happened this week. Well it was a week where I was well fed spiritually. Wed. Zone conference. Sat + Sun General conference. Today the temple! WOW can life get any better? I submit that it cannot!

Hmmm... (I'm looking over my journal for the past week) OH! wow.. that was this past week wasn't it? yes yes it was. Ok so the 30th we did some tracting and we decided to go back and visit this one lady that we had met a couple weeks ago. So we biked up to her trailer and looked for the door... and we looked some more... and- we couldn't find it. Seriously. You know that criss crossy thing that trailer people use for the skirting stuff around the bottom? Well she had that up over the windows and the doors and everything. Talk about barricading yourself in. So we kocked on the wall. and Gene (that's her name) popped her little face out through the curtains behind this crisscross skirting thing. and so we chatted for a bit and then we asked if we could talk more. she said, "Well, right nows not a good time, You see I'm doing my laundry and I'm kind of busy right now, But if you have any literature you see that mail box behind you? Get the mail out and roll it up and pass it through to me and you can put your stuff in there too." Um ok... so there we were. Two missionaries rolling up junk mail and passing it through these little holes in the wall of this trailer to this woman, and that's not the end of the joke. as I got closer I could see her a little bit better through the skirting and the curatin. and from what I could see- she was naked as the day she was born. I guess when she said she was doing her laundry she meant it. So... that was a crazy experience that I thought you might enjoy.

So, for April fools the only joke we got was that all of our set appointments with people turned out to not happen. Ha ha! What a great joke to play on the missionaries!

Wasn't general conference wonderful? I loved it! I'm just in awe of the blessing it is to have a modern day prophet and apostles who receive revelation for the world. HOW AWESOME! and the best part is that I don't have to believe what they say just because they said it. I can receive personal revelation when I ask God if what they are saying is true. AWESOME!

Easter was lovely. Isn't it great to have a holiday set aside to remember that Jesus is ALIVE. He is risen! What a wonderful time of year. It made me wonder, you know how we say, "I want to have the spirit of Christmas with me throughout the year." Well I love that the sacrament allows us to have the spirit of Easter-Christmas-life-joy-love with us all year through.

Jesus Lives! The Scriptures are true! The heavens are open and I'm so grateful to be able to represent Jesus Christ in this corner of the world. Hurrah for Israel!

Further up and further in!

I love you all! Thank you ever so much for your emails and letters and Love and all that good stuff!

Be well.

catch you sooner than later!

-Elder Barker

I am not a stranger-to the wind

2010-04-17T08:25:00.000-07:00

Monday March 29, 2010

What a wind! goodness. I know- I know. "Elder Barker, all you do is complain about the weather." But come on! seriously? When you're peddling forever and you get nowhere then there is something wrong.

Well the new transfer started off with five referrals that came via text within a minute of each other. So that was cool! Sadly only two of those referrals were actually interested in talking with us. But hey! that's better than none.

We talked with this one guy who is 97 years old. Wow! And he looks like he's a mere shmere lad of seventy. I don't know what his secret is but he was up and about and talking and chatting and he just HAD to give us the grand tour of his home and yadda yadda yadda. He was nice but he wasn't interested in talking much about the gospel.

Oh on wed we had a crazy long "Discussion" with these "Gentlemen" ugh. They made me sick. all they wanted to do was argue. Come on guys. If you don't want to hear our message, let us go talk to people who do. Oy... It was probably partially a bit my fault that we didn't leave sooner. Ok it was my fault, I shouldn't have fallen for their tricks and sat there and tried to reason with them. When all they want to do is fight you can never get to a point where they will listen. Oh well.

On Saturday we taught this amazing lesson to this couple who had ordered a Bible and a Book of Mormon, like a month ago and we couldn't get a hold of them until now. They were listening so intently and He was like, "well it makes sense. If God spoke to Noah and Moses and to prophets in the old testament, why wouldn't he do the same today?" AWESOME!

Speaking of Prophets and apostles, I am SUPER excited for General Conference this Sat and Sun. So excited to hear what direction and advice they have for us. AND it's on EASTER Sunday! WOOT!

How cool is that? I mean really.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KJ! and happy passover! Next year in the holy land! (or more like, next year in southern California, for me)

Thank you for all of your letters, tapes and t-shirts (yes I did get the package, thanks em and brett) and emails! I love LOVE hearing from you all.

Talk to you later!

I love you all.

-Elder barker

ERIN!!!! GO BRAGH!!!!!!

2010-03-15T21:13:00.000-07:00

Whoa... That was a week? It was another one of those weeks that seem like a month but pass by in a day. If that makes any sense at all... I realize that it doesn't- BUT seriously... CRAZY!

So...Where to begin? I guess I'll start at the beginning and when I get to the end stop!

MONDAY: Good day. P- day is always so nice. And I ABSOLUTELY love LOVE hearing from you all! thank you so much for your updates and stories.

TUES: So! we had a lesson with this Spanish guy. In Spanish. and It's been a while since I've taught in Spanish....... But I guess that he understood. It was so funny, I would say something and then look at him to make sure that he understood and then he'd say the word I actually meant. So really he taught himself. I was just prompting. OH yesh, some random dude swore at us as we were riding down the street. Thanks dude.

WED: We finally contacted a guy who had said that he wanted us to stop by sometime and talk. That.... was interesting. He really was interested, but...(not like wanting to bash or anything) he got off on some tangent and told us all of the woes and sorrows of his life. Whoa dude. We don't need to here your confession. In fact we aren't authorized to hear your confession. STOP! GAAAAHHH!!! so... That was weird. BUT later we had about the coolest lesson ever. This girl was like AMazing! We'd teach a principle and then she'd expound on it with stuff that we hadn't even covered yet. AWESOME!

Oh yeah. We're still trying to teach Carmen, that old Spanish woman, how to read. She's having a little bit of trouble figuring out that you can sound out words or parts of words. Hmmm... difficult.

THURS: Crazy day. I can't even condense it. OK I'll try. District meeting, teaching Carmen some more, contacting less active members that actually turned out to be active members, Stopping by a member's apartment where she is helping a friend kick meth, long chat with an atheist dude about theater productions that he's in, got dropped by some investigators, read a bit with a less active member, raced to an investigator's home but he was busy, talked to the husband of a less active member, and then went back to our apartment. Long day...

FRI: Lots of lessons. OK this time I'm really not going to try to condense it.

SAT: Long day with lots and lots of people who were not receptive at all. Long day... In the morning we got a knock on the door. Yes, Jehovah's witnesses! When ever they knock on the door they're like:

"Oh... hi... Um....

*to each other: "What do we do?"

"I don't know just give them a flyer."

"But they're missionaries."

"I know. But you can't just stand there looking silly."

"Do something!"

--- Um... here's a flyer. Have a good day."

Yesterday was a rough day... Man, people are rude sometimes. And sometimes they have absolutely no drive at all.

If I saw a miracle would I recognize it?

Well, in other news, WELCOME to the world Maile! We are so happy that you arrived safely. And we're so happy that you're part of our family! Welcome!

KJ! I LOVE YOUR GUTS! and I miss you like a fat kid misses cake.

Oh yeah... I'm six months "old" tomorrow.... weird. Well I've got three more of those to go!

I'm so sorry to hear about Mark Brewer. it's times like those that really bring the reality of mortality into perspective. But it also is accompanied with the reminder that Death isn't an end of existence. In fact all it is is the door into the next scene. Which makes a kind of sense when you look at every exit as an entrance somewhere else.

I love you all. More and more each day.

Confession: I'm not wearing green for St. Paddy's. Reason: I don't have any! Ba ha ha ha!

So, I love you all. Thank you all for your emails, and letters, and love and all that other good stuff.

Be well.

-Elder Barker

Whew!

2010-03-08T17:13:00.001-08:00

HEY!

I love Mondays. So good to hear from you all. Things sound like they are quite mad but Insanity is just the spice that makes life FUN!

So! Ahhh the week was so fun. First of all last Monday we had dinner with this fun family and their son who is like... 40's I'm not sure about age But! We gabbed all evening about Theater stuff- because when he was younger he was an aspiring thespian. SO fun! and he just HAD to pull out is Ben-nye [make-up] kit and show it off and he just HAD to pull out his prized hat collection and show them off. It was such fun! Oh the theatah the theatah What's happened to the theatah?

Then on Tuesday we stopped in to say Hi to a lady on our ward, and she invited us in and gave us delicious zucchini bread and we chatted about Hawaii, and it was such fun. OH that's right! While I'm on this food kick thing, I made a delicious Banana cream pie with berries and good stuff. It apparently was a hit. I only had one piece . my companion took care of the rest. ;)

Then on Wed I was on exchanges and the people I met... goodness.... NUTS! ALL of them are NUTS! Like I was laughing my head off nuts. But I digress. So we taught this one guy who lives in this halfway house thingy that should seriously be in a horror movie. The thin hallways- Welcome to the hotel California playing in the back ground- crazy people looking at you through the corner of their eyes-don't want to be here past dark kind of place. ha ha! I love it!

OH and we met a few people with trach (sp?) tubes. Eugh... Or at least there used to be tubes there. Now they are just those gaping holes that pulsate and it's so hard to look away and it obvious that you are staring but you can't stop staring because of the gravitational pull of the void and then you realize how weird it would be to have a hole in your neck and your neck starts tingling and you find yourself covering your neck right where their hole is on their neck and then you run away screaming and shouting "You can't have my neck!" ..... okay .... maybe not that dramatic....but It was a little creepy.

Ha ha! So on Saturday we called the phone number of Bret (big guy who just got baptized) And this Vietnamese guy picks up "Ahh... Bre-na-heah! bac-ah-six!" And when we went over at 1:00 anyways, Bret was there! Ha silly Vietnamese guy. Tricks are for kids.

OH! We saw the craziest person on Saturday! She reminded me of that scene that Mae did in acting class. the one of the homeless lady who was swearing up a storm and just wanted to drink her pelagrino in peace. Well this gal wasn't swearing up a storm she was just Singing up a storm. Very badly by the way. And she would get up from her table and dance and then she'd sit back down and go back to singing, "Boom-boom-boom! alay-alay-alay!" Ok... then she went outside for a smoke and was tramping around like she was on parade and then she'd burst into these Charlie's angels/CATs poses and point her fingers at people and go "Bang-bang-bang-bang!!!" coo-coo. ha ha. Oh the people we meet.

So... that was my week. I'm so glad to hear that you are all well, and ALIVE! and all that fun stuff. Keep on keeping on.

Amanda: thanks for the package

kj: I swear By the moon and the stars in the sky- that you are bonkers.

Everybody else: Letters soon!

I love you all!

Be well

-Elder Barker

Happy Birthday to me!

2010-02-22T16:35:00.001-08:00

Goodness what a week. I don't know where to begin.

First of all, THANK YOU ALL for your well wishes and letters and emails! I LOVEthem. Like them.

So! Oh, I don't remember if i told you last time, but we played Ultimate Frisbee for our district activity. I was sweating so bad. And then I remembered that it's Feb! AH HA HA HA HA HA! I'm sweating IN FEB!!!!!!!

Sorry.... I couldn't help my self from RUBBING IT IN YOUR FACES!!! AHA HA HAH AH A HA HA HA HA HA HA!

Ahem... sorry 'bout that.. where was I?...

Oh yes the week! So we have been super blessed this week. We had Zone conference and it was AMAZING!!!

So first we were supposed to have it on Wednesday, but Wednesday morning, the zone leaders called up and said, "Nope! just kidding! We are having it tomorrow--on Thursday!" Craaaaapppp that meant that we had a Huge gap of time that we had to fill up with knocking or maybe finding people and all of that stuff. Oy... our less active members are driving me up a wall. They are so far gone that most of them don't even believe in God anymore! Oy! Guys! Come on! and we had a really rough day, we got kicked out of an area that we were just about to knock and we got bashed with by this old woman from Poland and Crazy stuff. Then came the sunshine for the day. We taught a less active member and she has a daughter, Laura,who is the sweetest girl that I've seen for a while now. She's the kind of girl that when you look in into her eyes you know she's pure. She has some mental issues and can't really communicate, and she's a paraplegic (sp?) Oh how i miss my sister! MAREN! WHERE ARE YOU WHEN I NEED YOU!!!! But Laura is so sweet and we arranged for the youth in the ward to come over during our lesson and introduce themselves to her and she just screamed with joy and loved getting hugs and just beamed with joy and blew kisses and signed that she loved us. Wow... I love my work.

AND THEN! if that wasn't enough of a cherry on top we had zone conference! and then if that wasn't the whipped cream on top of the cherry on top, we had a lesson with this woman who is married to a recent convert and she was amazing. She really understood the lesson and was prepared to hear and when we read over Moroni 10:4 "and when ye shall receive these things I would exhort you that ye would ask God the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you by the power of the Holy Ghost." She only got as far as 'having faith' Before she started crying and said, "This is what I've wanted. This is what I've been searching for all along." Wow... That was amazing.

Then the sprinkles on top of the whipped cream on top of the cherry on top: the next day we were knocking and we went back to a family that said come back tomorrow, and we went on and taught a lesson and they want to hear more and come to church! Whoa! Awesome things are happening right now. I'm just glad I'm here to see it.

Well, one of the people who was baptized last week wasn't at church yesterday , so we'll have to confirm him a member next time. Oh well.

Well it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood. A beautiful day for a neighbor. Won't you be my neighbor? NEIGHBOR!

Have you seen Mister mumbles? HA!

I'm going mad- if you couldn't tell.

Well, thanks all for your Valentines and goodies! I love them.

109- Thanks for the canteen with the notes, they really help.

Em-Thank you soooooooooooo much for the tape! I love It!

Mom! Thanks for the Box and letters!

Dad- Thank you for your letters I LOVE THEM SOOOOO MUCH!

Everybody else GET ON THE BALL! Just kidding.

Everybody else Thank you so much for your letters and cards and emails and love and prayers and good thoughts. I need all the help I can get.

Much love,

Elder Barker

Happy Valentine's-chineese new year-double baptism-president's day!

2010-02-15T20:14:00.000-08:00

WOW!!!!!!!

What an area! I'm loving being on bike! My legs on the other hand... aren't really too thrilled about the whole set up BUT who cares about legs right? Who needs them anyways?

Well as a welcome present from the Gods of weather they provided me with a SOAKING Tuesday! I have pictures to prove it. It was hilarious, just when you thought the rain couldn't get any harder It would pound down and by the time we raced back to our apartment My shoes we like two buckets of water tied to my feet. They still weren't dry the next day. Ha! I Loved it though! I was singing and dancing and biking -in the rain, do-da-do-dooo-doodle-do-da-do-dooo doddle-dooooooo.

Let's see what else is new?... It's weird feeling like I'm not actually in California anymore. SO many Vietnamese people and signs and stores and this past week of Chinese new year- so many fire crackers. It's been so fun.

Oh, I'm writing about this in letters- BUT I almost got run over by a car! My bike tire (Hmmmm.... maybe I shouldn't share this story with a worrying mother on the other side... NAH!) So my bike tire got caught in a rut and I tried to avoid getting stuck and the whole gravity thing knocked me over and I feel into ONCOMMING TRAFICC!!! DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUNNNN!!!! And this car was like coming and it's wheels were like right there and my head was like right where 'there' was going to be in a second and I pulled a cat like reflex-matrix-crouching tiger hidden dragon Roll and, Short story Long, I still have my head on my shoulders. But it was almost like a scene from Master and Margarita.

We had two baptisms this Sunday! Wooo hoo!!! This one girl who has been investigating the church for some time and then realized that she wanted to be baptized, so the missionaries have been teaching her and I taught her a bit this week and she just got baptized this Sunday! YAY! and the other one was this guy who is about the sweetest guy you could ever want to meet and he just sort of started coming to church and then three weeks later asked the missionaries how he could get baptized. So they taught him and I got to teach him once on Saturday and then Assist in his baptism, because he's a bigger guy and has knee problems so he needed a little extra help getting up out of the water. But after the pulling and shoving,and struggling, we got him up and he said, "Hey! that was easier than I thought it would be!!" Ha! so funny.

We share our church building with a Samoan Ward. OHHHHH ma-ma. How I wish that I could speak da kin' and not be sucha haole. But alas, it is not so.... But! it was sop funny, because one of the Samoans in our ward was like, "after the baptism we'll be providing a few light refreshments." Oh ok some veggies and cookies right? WRONG! light in Samoan apparently means plates of sandwiches, platters of fruit, tones of veggies, chips Cakes, cookies, desserts etc. HA! I love it!

We are working with a lot of less actives in our area. So it's mostly trying to get them excited about coming to church again, and re-kindling (sp?) their testimonies. It's tough stuff. but it has taught me something: I never want to be less active. EVER! goodness the sadness that these people feel is just -ugh- gut wrenching. and it drives me bonkers! SO! that's not on my to-do list for the future.

The best thing over the week has been Seeing somebody look at me biking past with a big smile on my face, and seeing them smile back. That... is just...money. ;)

Ok... That's all for now. More in letters. Oh, and A few of the letters should be good ones so- be ready.

OK! I LOVE YOU ALL SOOOOOOO MUCH!

109 thank you for the package, and the SHIRT! MUPPETS! ah ha ha ha! I love you all.

Em, thanks for the card and tape, Haven't listened to it yet, but I'm super excited.

Empathy Girl, thanks for the letters!

Kj: I love your guts more than I love corndogs, and that is saying something.

Mom: I love you sooo much! I'm glad you had fun in NY!

Dad: You are the bestest ever! I can't wait to see pictures of your adventures!

Everybody else: If I had time to list you all I would But I don't.... So Thank you sooo much for all you your love and support and letters and stuff. I love you all!

Be well.

-Elder barker

One thing- one thing can bring you round- Changes!

2010-02-08T17:44:00.001-08:00

PART 1

So! I'm being transferred today. {Editor Mom, here: His address remains the same, however...}

I'm leaving the safe harbor of the YSA branch and my trainer and (sniff*) all that good stuff and Racing off to the next level of the adventure! HA HA!

It's kind of a bummer though because I won't be able to be here to see some of our investigators progress, but I know that the Elder who is coming in to my spot up here is really really great. so no worries there.

well... besides that Mrs. Lincoln...

So! we got this list from our new Branch Mission leader of the Young single adults in the acacia park ward and we've been contacting the heck out of these less actives! it's been good. and it's really brought the importance of constantly renewing covenants and staying faithful to my view. Man... It's a rough world out there. It's a wonder anybody survives without the Gospel.

Ok funny story!

We went out to eat at this AMAZING hot dog place. (Sooo good.) And When I ordered toppings on my kilbausa (sp?) I asked for the usual: peppers, onions, ketchup, mustard, and then I saw Sauerkraut up on the list of things to order... I also saw Coleslaw. Meaning to say 'saurkraut' I ordered Coleslaw. The lady looked at me, puzzled, and said, "On top of your sausage?" I said, "OF Course!" thinking Duh... it's sauerkraut. So... I got a sausage with coleslaw on top. HA HA! Silly brain: tricks are for kids.

I'm going to miss being with the people up here in Fullerton. President Redd is such a good man. I would say that he is a godly man indeed. And the members! So fun! I'm really going to miss them...

BUT! I'm off to the new area where the Lord needs me!

Let's see, another cool experience of the week: We were knocking this area and this couple invited us in and we chatted and then we talked about the restoration and introduced the Book of Mormon to them and then invited them to church. It was soo cool! I love teaching people on the spot! Hopefully they will want to learn more and follow the example of the Savior.

OH YEAH! I had a really weird dream. I dreamt I came home for a week, and saw the fam and I saw MAX! and I saw Melissa Borjas (sp*) we talked a bit in espanol. and then Dad flew me back out here. It was a very nice shore leave in my dreams. It was like the break that Ender got between battle school and the commander's school in Ender's Game.

And it was so good to see you all.

I miss you guys.

Sorry if letters last time and this next time are a bit short. I'm pressed for time right now. But! Fear not! I am well and I still exist!

I love you all

Peace!

-Elder barker

PART 2

All righty then... time for part two of the saga.

I'm now in my new area, Garden Grove. or as many people pronounce it Darden Dov. Yes many people of Asian decent here. You should see the architecture of the things out here. Even the bus stops have that turned up tip that is so popular in the orient. Ha ha. Noah I feel like I can kind of relate now. I'm in little Saigon! But I can only kind of relate. Props to you for going so long without English!

Let me see... what is new since 6 hours ago... At transfers it was so good to see a few of the elders from my district at the MTC. Awww... I miss those guys.

wow... I really don't have much more to add...

Oh yeah. I'm now on bike. So I get to bike around and lose some of the weight that I picked up in Fullerton just sitting in the car all day! YEah! Woot! I'm going to be Iron Man when I'm done!

so, now I get to start over. But I get to come in just as an investigator is getting baptized. This Sunday! very cool. I love baptisms. They are just wonderful. It's so cool to have that sort of jump start in my new area.

Ok... that's all for this week. for reals this time.

I love you. Thanks for the letters and emails! I love hearing from you all. Especially you.

Be well.

-Elder Barker esquire III

Australia-Australia-Australia-we love you-AMEN!

2010-02-08T17:43:00.001-08:00

And now for something completely different!

What a week... We started Wednesday looking for one of our investigators and instead of finding him we found a new one! Cool! We talked to him a bit and hopefully we can meet with him more but it's looking like his work schedule is totally crazy and the time just isn't there for us to meet up again. Ooof-dah... But hey! We are finding people to teach.

Thursday we had a couple appointments fall through but we found some potential investigators. Cool! (is it just me or am I sensing a pattern? When we are in the right area at the right time we can find the right people.) Cool!

We went on exchanges again. This time I stayed in my area and Elder Whited came over and we went all over the place trying to find people to teach. OY! I missed driving, but after a day of driving all over the place i'm ok with being the passenger. ;)

Let me see what else to write about...............

So, we were talking to this woman yesterday and she wasn't interested but she said we could pick some oranges from her orange tree and take them with us. We did. They were delicious! Oh man, they were good. I squeezed myself a glass of hand squeezed homemade homegrown hometown homely home-dog Orange juice. Yeah-we're thinking about going back for more oranges ;)

Ha! Spanish is so funny! We'll be talking to someone and then they will say... something... and I have absolutely no idea what they are saying. HA HA! So... the conversation probably translates to something like this:

Hi! We're missionaries.

-Oh yeah, I've talked to you guys before.

That's great! So you got a chance to sort of sit down with them and talk for a bit?

-Nah.

Oh, well we'd love to share a message with you. Could we?

-You want to talk about church and that kind of stuff?

... ... ... Um Sorry, I didn't quite get that.

-you want to talk about church and that kind of stuff?

... ... .... Um Sorry, I didn't quite get that. Could we share a message with you?

etc.

Ha ha. Sometimes I feel like that voice on the phone when you are checking for the movies at the theater. You know the one who is all interactive until she can't quite catch what you are saying. Oh well.

What else... what else...

I don't know what else to write.

HAVE A GREAT! WEEK!

OH! I know- Everybody join in: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOOOO YOOOUUUUU!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOOOO YOUUUUUUU!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR DAAAAADDDD!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YOOOOOOUUUUUU!!!!!!!

and manny moooorree....

happy birthday dad. Man, you did it! you survived another year! Wooo hoo!!! I hope you have a great day full of time to read books (Dicky Smothers) and take walks (IN THE SNOW?!?) and write poems (Ahem! this is my poem. it is no one else's it is mine. the following is my poem... Ahem... Hem HEm AHEMMM EMEHE HEHM HOOEWM AHEMNYHUUUEM AHEM!!! hem... the next thing that you shall hear from my lips is my poem, which is mine.

Happy birthday

Happy birthday to you

happy birthday. (it's a haiku.)

Any who... That's all for now!

Thank you soooooo Much for your Emails and Letters. Wow! I love hearing from you all.

I love you all sooo much. and I think about you all the time! Be well.

Love ya!

-Elder Barker

Blue-no YELLO-O-O-O-o-o-o-o-o-w-w-w-w-w....

2010-01-18T19:57:00.001-08:00

So!

What a week! I'm not even sure where to start... maybe at the beginning is best.

MON: Our car battery died. and so we had to get a jump and then have a new battery put in. OY! What a drag that was. But thankfully our car works now! Yay! But it took along time for us to get back out work, so we decided to check up on some potentials and then Check up on David. David greeted us with a big, "Hey guys! Guess what?! I'm going to be a Dad!" ... Yay? "And I'm Moving in with her!" (she lives out of our area) DARN YOKO Ono's: they always break up the band.

Tuesday: Two solid appointments fell through. OY! So we decided to go out knocking. The first Door where someone answered the Guy (Brad) was interested in hearing more and we sat down with him and talked about God and Prophets and The earthly ministry of Jesus Christ and How after The Apostles and their followers were killed the authority that they had was lost. and then we talked about Joseph Smith and how God and Jesus Restored that Authority through him and we talked about the Book of Mormon and it was really good talk. So that was cool. OH then we had FISH TACOS! I know... sounds weird BUT Oooohhhh man... They are so good. I ordered two and ended up eating Five.

Wed: I went on exchanges with Elder Lancaster up in the North Hills. and We talked with alot of less active members. and ate at L&L Hawaiian Barbecue. MOM! I've found it! POG!!~!~~!!!!! I wasn't able to get my hands on it but I know where to find it. Ohhhh boy. Passion Orange Guava Here I come!

Thursday: A lot of clearing up weird Ideas about the Church. "Aren't you guys a Cult?" nope here's why... "Don't you believe that Satan and Jesus are blood brothers?" Nope, here's what we do believe... "Don't you believe that God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy ghost are one person?" Nope, I don't know how you would think that we believe that because Joseph Smith saw God the Father who said pointing to Jesus Christ "This is my beloved son Here him" two people. Lots of stuff like that. Then we met with Brad again and talked more! Wooot! Cool stuff.

Fri: oy... long day.

Sat: Talked with lots of people.

Sun: Stake conference!!! Sooo GREAT! Elder Holland and Sister Matsumori and President Uchtdorf Spoke. SOOOOOOO good. then we met with Brad again! Soo long week but it ended on a high note.

Let me see what else to write... um....

well, you asked me a few questions: How was my week? See above.

What new things have I tried that I have never seen before? Hm.... FISH TACOS!!!

What does it Smell like here? It depends on where I am. If I'm in a Hispanic area, Mexican food. If I'm in a Indian Area, INDIAN FOOD! OOooo curry... so good. If I'm in a English area... not much...

What is my name? My name is James Tiberius Kirk!

What is my favorite color? Blue... no YELLO-O-OW

MOM! I love the pictures of the Living room! It's about time that room had a little fung added to it's shwey. I like it alot. and thanks for the hug. I can feel it all the way out here! Ooof... Can't... breathe...-There. that's better.

DAD! thanks you soooo much for your letters! I LOVE THEM! AND YOU! So... The young men met together and planned the year out eh? Ahh the memories... so fond. and (this just shows how far behind I am on the whole new thing... you took KJ to the airport. Well... the sooner she goes then sooner she can come back, right!

KJ! I'm sitting here talking about you and you're right there. How rude of me. How are ya?! I hope all is well in the world. I LOVE YOUR GUTS!

MAREN! Guess what! I met this girl who I think you'd like. her name is Natelly (sp?) and she has Hydrocephalus. She reminded me of you.

KJ! Natelly has a shunt. It took all I had in me not to say, "I'll tell you one thing Doc: I Love My Shunt!" ha ha.

Yes I know... I'm insane.

well. That's it folks!

Thanks for your letters and email! they are a stream on golden light when all about is dark. Their coming brings us pleasure and their departure leaves us longing for more. (anyone? anyone?)

OK! I'll catch you later!

I LOVE YOU!!!

-Elder Barker (Esquire the Third)

;)

So!

2010-01-08T20:14:00.003-08:00

Well another week has come and gone. And the Year went with it too! 2010. Weird...

Well this has been a week.

Last Monday we were in a trio because Elder Cowan's Companion was heading home so he was without a comp. until his new companion came in on Tuesday. It was a crazy night. Mostly it was crazy because of the people we talked to. I already wrote mom about it, and I'd rather not get into the details, but sufficed to say the guy was really negative and mean and downright rude to us. But that was Monday.

Tuesday was an example of how there is balance in all things. Monday we had the crazy evil guy and Tuesday we were walking in the park and we talked to these two people and they wanted to sit down and hear more and were really interested, and it was like night and day from Monday. Funky stuff...

Oh funny thing. We thought that the mail from Maine took a long time to get out here, but on Tuesday I got a letter that was sent on November 24 from China. (I got the letters on Tuesday because we met with the zone leaders to pick up some supplies and they had mail. I still have to wait until Thursday to get mail on the normal day) But hey! I got a letter from China! Thanks Em.

Wed. It rained again... But cool thing I found out that the one of the missionaries who is taking our old place in our last district is ELDER LIM! My old companion is in my Zone! HA!

Thurs. We officially moved into the new district! (And the past few days didn't count because...?) "Because I finally unpacked the last box, so now it's official. Haw-haw-haw." We had district meeting. It was good stuff. Oh ha ha ha! funny story. So that night we were out knocking and this one house didn't have anybody home, but the cat seemed really interested in our message. He was like the friendliest cat I've ever met. and then when we walked away HE FOLLOWED US DOWN THE STREET! ha ha ha! We couldn't shake him for the longest time. - Then we stayed up and drank sparkling cider and said happy new year, and went to bed at 10:30.

Fri.We were at this park and this mother was frantically searching for her lost son. So we decided that we'd find him. We walked around the lake and then we found him. Flagged down the mom and returned him safely to mama. Cool stuff. It made me feel like, "Just doin' my job m'am."

Sat. We knocked this door and the guy who came to the door was like, "Hmmm this must be a popular street today. We've already seen four other missionaries before you guys." Oops. Ha ha. Dude! It's a sign! Talk to us man! How many windows of opportunity are you going to pass up? Then later we ran into him again at the park! DUDE!

Sunday was a lovely Sunday. Man i love church and having that time to really recharge.

Well that was my week. Oh By-the-by

I think that they are changing up the email thingy so my new email address will be

soren.barker@myldsmail.net

I think...

Thank you all for your emails and letters. I really REALLY appreciate them. They are the ray of light in my otherwise cloudy day. WHOA DOWNER! Sorry about that. Didn't mean for it to sound like I'm not having fun out here. Why would I be out here if I wasn't having fun?

I love you all. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. I miss you tons.

Happy new year. Let's make it the best!

-Elder Barker

Whew!

2010-01-08T20:14:00.001-08:00

That was a great game.

So, this week has been a fun-crazy-rock-n-roller coaster week. Monday night we went to the Branch Christmas party at the Jones's House. Were we feasted very well and then wrapped presents for a struggling family that the Branch adopted for Christmas and decided to give them a Christmas! It was such a great experience seeing all of these college kids giving of their time and money and all of that worldly junk to bring a little joy into this family's hearts. Great stuff.

Then we (Elder Summers and Myself) Got loaded with about ten tons of cookies and a diagnosis of Diabetes if we ate them all. So we had to think of a way to get rid of them all. Which we did. We went caroling door to door and gave cookies to the people who listened to our caterwauling. It was fun! The greatest house we went to had lights up and a wreath and a sign saying "Merry Christmas!" and the whole deal and we knocked on the door and sang and said, "We're missionaries. Have you ever talked to Missionaries like us before?" the response: We're Buddhist. HA ha! We were like "You could have fooled me."

Talk about commercialism of Christmas.

Christmas was great! I loved talking with you. I miss you guys so badly. (I wanted it to be you... I wanted it to be you so badly.) Sorry I had to do the quote. ;)

What else... Oh Christmas day we ate like kings at the Jones's again. So much food.... Urgh... I think I'll be ok until new years.

Thank you all for your letters and emails. They really make things easier out here for me.

I'm not going to lie. It's been a tough Christmas for me... Being away from home during my favorite time of year to be home. But I know that I'm where the Lord wants me to be. Yesterday we talked with this guy at the park who was dead set on bashing and all of this other junk and all I could do was say, "All I know is that the church is true."

What a wonderful time of year to be in the service of my God. I can't imagine myself back home right now. I'm supposed to be here.

I love you all. I miss you tons. and you rock my business socks!

-Elder Barker

Pictures!

2009-12-21T16:52:00.000-08:00

Elder Barker in front of the big world map!

Buddies in the MTC.

Too hot outside!

Soren by the statue of the 1st missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, Samuel H. Smith (Joseph Smith's younger brother)

The lavish California apartment....

Now, lest you think that Soren has gotten all serious and studious on us while hard at work, you can BET he's still the hilarious guy we all know and love. HA!

Christmas in California will certainly be different for him this year. Traded palm trees for evergreens...

"After all there's only one more sleep till Christmas..."

2009-12-21T15:21:00.001-08:00

Tis the season to be jolly and joyious! FA-La-La!

hee hee hee.

Wow. Crazy week. I can hardly believe that Christmas is already here.

So this past week has been crazy fun rollercoaster of insanity! But thankfully a new week of pandemonium has begun.

The weather has decided to be kind to us this week. Ahhh.. Lovely walks in the park and sunny strolls down the lane. It was funny- the other day we were in the park and we saw this guy and we walked up to him and introduced ourselves as missionaries and he was like, "I'm sorry but I'm going for a run right now." And I was like, "Can we run with you?" And he was like," sure!" So we ran and talked with this guy. Fun stuff. He wasn't all that interested but we got some exercise out of it.

Man this week has been a crazy battle. Lot's of people who just wanted to bash. All I could say was, "I'm not here to bash with you. I'm just here to invite you to read and pray and find out for yourself if what I'm telling you and what you are reading is true." I think it's so funny that people have all of these assumptions about us and they don't really know because they've never taken the time to find out what we believe.

Oh well.

One of our investigators, Darla, Got baptized yesterday! It was so great. All week she was so excited and at the baptismal program she was just beaming. It has been really cool to see her progression and her enthusiasm about the gospel. It was a real battle for her to quit smoking but She DID IT! (if you can't tell I'm really excited) YAYAYAYAYAY! Cool stuff.

Um... what else... OH! Right! MOM DAD KJ MAREN! I will call you guys Christmas day at approximately 9:30am your time. Which means that it will be 6:30am my time, so if I'm a bit groggy please forgive me. But I'm sure that once I hear your voices I'll wake right up. OOOOOOOooooo I'm sooo excited! I can't wait to talk to you and tell you about all the fun things that are happening that i don't have time to write about.

Thank you all for your letters and cards and emails and packages! I truly appreciate all of your love and support. You are always in my thoughts.

Merry Christmas! I'm so happy to be a missionary at this time of my life, and at this time of year. What greater gift can I bring someone than the news that Christ Lives and that he personally directs his church today through a living prophet. I love this time of year. and i love you all.

I'll be home for christmas if only in my dreams. I miss you all. and i love you all. and I'll seee you all in less than two years! Hey where is the time going?

Cat chew later.

-Elder Barker

Mormon Missionaries

2009-12-08T19:44:00.000-08:00

Here's a video from Mormons made simple

-Posted by Kaje

HEEEELLLLOOOO!!!! oh sorry deary I must look like a yeti in this face mask.

2009-12-01T15:50:00.001-08:00

So! How did it go?
-I think she took it rather well. ;)

Wow what a week. I think that the holidays are going to kill me. Nobody was home all week. It's like it's thanksgiving weekend or something. Shiesh. Anywho... It was a long week of knocking on doors and nobody being there. But the miracle of it was that sometimes when we'd go try to find someone who had talked with the missionaries in the past and see how they are doing, we'd run into someone else who wants to hear more. Cool stuff.

Wow, mom. I'm so sorry that you've been ill. It's no fun being the director from the sick bed, in the best christmas pagent ever.

Hoorray! for Dan! He's home safe and sound and it feels like he left only yesterday. fun stuff.

I haven't recieved any thing from BYU-I yet. (o_0) I hope I get to go back...

Mi companero es muy asombros! And as far a food goes, Mother, you need not worry. The branch is crazy about feeding us. we have meals every night. most nights. ok once a week. alright we don't even have dinner. We're starving! I'm wasting a way with no room to play. I'm stuck in a zoo With- well you know the rest of the story. JUST KIDDING! I'm getting lots of food. Perhaps too much... Oh well.

our apartment is right next to the train tracks so that's always fun to hear the whistle go off at 10:45pm. Ha ha. I feel a little like Jake and Elwood- except we have a lot more room. We have a couch and one of those awsome velvity chairs with those metal tack thingys that I love that go up and around the front of the arm rests. AND we just got the gas turned on so we can cook! Hurray!

as far as the work goes: It is work. I am exausted everyday. But yesterday we had a miricle. This new guy just showed up at church and was really excited about learning more and he is just awsome! I mean it's his first day at church and he was activly participating in sunday school! CRAZY!!! So we're hoping that he will progress. That's was so cool. So more updates on him later.

Other than that. THANKSGIVING was great! We ate with the branch presiddent and his family. SO funny! Oh man. And the food was so good! Not as good as you make mom but mmmm still good.

OH! Dad! I have a makeup book somewere in the madness that is my room that you should look at! It might bee with my school stuff or on the book shelf or in the vortex of doom under my bed or Heaven forbid in the closet. BUT! It would have info for ya. and if you can find my make up folder it has tips on how to do facial hair. and on the book shelf is my make up kit. SO Have at it! It's there to be used! I know it'll turn out great!

Um.... let's see what else. Oh funny thing for the week. We knocked on this house and this guy comes out. "Hey-y-y-y..." Hi we're missionaries, have you ever talked with missionaries before? "Um... I don't know maybe." Cool, Well I'm elder barker and this is my companion elder Summers. Good to meet you. "Yeah same." Well, as missionaries what we do is we go around seeing if there's anything we can do tohelp people out and maybe share a message about christ too. "Who do you guys work for?" Um... God. "Whoa that's tight man." Yeah it is. "Hey I'd love to talk more But I'm stoned out of my mind right now and I'm just gona chill in my house for a while. But Good luck to ya!" ha ha ok. Thanks.

Maybe you had to be there...

Any ways. Thank you for you letters and DAD thank you for that picture and the story. I had forgoton about that them. Great stuff. thank you thank you thank you. My companion says that I look just like you Dad. I was like. Yeah we do. (Oh am I mistaken or have I seen that suit that you are wearing in the picture before?)

Kj- Keep on keeping on! I love your guts! I love hearing from you ya know. OH! I got a christmas cd an it has that one song that's like Dum dee diddle de dum Isabella. ya know? And there's another song on it that is... Oh I can't remember what it is right now. But I keeps reminding me of our christmas parties! Ha ha. Fun times great oldies. I love you! I miss you piggy. It's MY PILLOW! Dunnie...

Mom- I hope you feel better. And I hope the show goes well. and I hope the chickens start laying again. That post fox atack scare can last for a while.

Dad- I hope you can find the make up stuff. And I Love hearing from you. Do you realize what an example you are in my life? You are a giant. I love you so much.

Maren- Happy BIRTHDAY!!!!! i love you!

Abby- Stop running away! You have to stay home. You can't pull a homeward bound and come out here with me. (although that would be rocking cool!)

Em- Ha ha ha ha ha! Oh chinese people and that fun language barrier. Wow. That's all I can say wow.

Grand-ma-ma- I love you!

Grand ma and Grand pa- I love you!

Amanda- You rock my socks!

Everyone else that I don'tt have time to comment on individualy- YOU ARE AWSOME! I love you all and I think about you often.

Well. Further up and further in!

Keep your stick on the ice. Remeber I'm pulling for ya.

-Elder Barker

Hit the ground running!

2009-11-23T14:55:00.003-08:00

Wow! I'm here! I made it! I'm really out here! Ok so update: my new P-Day is Monday so Email will be coming out on Monday. And mail goes to the mission home and I get it on Thursday. So yeah.

Wow. That is all I can say. WOW! (how much is wow? A little between ouch and BOING! WOW!)

Oh another update: I'm not able to respond to emails that aren't from family. I can still receive them But I'll have to use the good ol' snail mail. Please don't let that hinder you from sending them. I love hearing from you. It'll just take me a little bit of time to respond.

Well, California is beautiful. The palm trees are beautiful. The sky is beautiful. Even the garbage on the side of the road is Beautiful. ( ;-) kj please tell me you got that one.)

So We flew in and got to the mission home and met president Watrous and his wife. Such good people. I love them to death. We talked a lot and then we all got split up into new companionships. My new companion is Elder Sumers. He's from Hyrum Utah and has been on his mission for a year. He's pretty cool. And we both got White washed! (aka sent into an area that neither of us are familiar with! Wow! this is so intense!) So we're both trying to get familiar with the area and the people. We are the missionaries for the Singles Ward out here. THEY ARE SO GREAT! they are all fun and nice and come to lessons with us and just strong members. Love all of them.

We've been teaching a lot of lessons and Dad it's kind of like your mission was towards the end. We challenge them to prepare for baptism on the first visit. Woah talk about being bold. But the amazing thing is that Being Bold works. We challenged an investigator who had met with the missionaries a lot before us to be baptized this weekend, and she said yes! Wooo hooo!!! It's so bold. We talk about the Book of Mormon and then we ask them to pray about it right then. Not later, not after we leave. Now! Then we ask if they will prepare to be baptized in two weeks. No messing around. I don't have time to dilly dally- are you ready to accept the gospel? No? Ok then have a nice day....goodbye I've got people to find.

In other news, we've been tracting a lot and knocking on doors and my knuckles are going to have calluses on them like hooves after two years of this. ha ha. At the end of the day I am exhausted. We plan what we are going to do for the next day and then I write a bit in the ol' journal and then Phiit I'm out.

It was so good to talk to you on Tuesday. I love hearing your voices. JUST think Two months and a week done! Wow it's already going by too fast.

Oh mom! Did you get the photo that Sean-Paul Carrillo's mom sent you.
That's ME! and my companion Elder Sumers and Sean-Paul in the middle. Sean is a great guy! He's so cool and nice and his mom is wonderful!

In other news I met... Oh what is her name... Well anyways I met her. She works in the mission office. and we're related somehow... Yeah we met.

Unfortunately I'm not in Placentia so I couldn't meet up with my other "Mother" there. So maybe in future transfers.

Yeah, so we've done a lot of work out here already. It's sad because most people won't even give us the time of day, let alone talk to us. Ok that's not true. They talk a bit but they aren't interested, or they don't have time.

it's so cool. The area that we are in is really close to two college campuses so we wander around there all the time. It's cool talking to peers about the gospel.

What else...? WHAT ELSE IS THERE? you should write a book "how to insult women in three syllables or less". ha ha.

Oh CD's, Mom Dad if you could, please send music. I have two cd's and don't get me wrong- they're good- but I only have two cd's. So music would be nice. Christmas stuff, good stuff, Motab stuff -I already have something like a star-, but I would be much obliged.

The Gospel is true. God truly is our loving heavenly father. He has a plan for us all. And the way we can return to our father in heaven and be with our families forever is through the atonement of Jesus Christ and through the covenants and promises we make with God. I'm so blessed to be a missionary. It is a unique time in my life where I can study and work and be a partner with God by bringing to pass the eternal life and immortality of everyone.

I love you all very much. Oh how I love you. Please write. I love hearing about what is going on in your lives.

te amo mama. te amo papa. te amo kj. te amo maren.

ustedes son me gozo.

adios.

-Elder Barker

Dear Families of Elder Summers and Elder Barker

2009-11-21T07:52:00.000-08:00

We just had dinner with these two delight Elders. Elder Summers bore a sweet and powerful testimony of the Savior and Elder Barker talked with us about 1Nephi 12 and the Lehi's Vision of the tree of life. He did a great job! No one would know he has only been in the field for three days! They appear to be a good team and they both send their love! We have invited them to share Thanksgiving with us, that is my son Sean-Paul in the middle. He attends the singles branch in the Fullerton Stake where these two have been assigned. Wishing you well, your sons are healthy and happy! Sister Jill Hendrickson

Map of the "mish"

2009-11-14T09:14:00.000-08:00

T minus 3-2-1

2009-11-14T09:05:00.001-08:00

GABURGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! Lift off, we have lift off.

So! guess what!? I'm leaving the MTC IN FOUR DAYS!!! WOOT!!! So update on the whole address thing: The email will stay the same I belive and the snail mail package address is changing to:

Elder Soren Barker
California Anaheim Mission
2500 N. Bristol St.
Santa Ana. CA 92706

And that will change when I get to my apartment So... Yeah If you want to send me mail send it there untill further notice.

Ok enough of the boaring fact updates, now... HOW ABOUT THIS SNOW HUH?!? Beautiful! This morning when we walked out of the temple and looked back at the temple and the Squaw Peak and the like, IT WAS SOOOOOOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL!!!Wow... Snow SNow SNOw SNOW SNOWWWWWWW! I'm sorry I can't help but include a White christmas quote in these letters. I'm not going to have a white christmas for a while after all.

Um... So... It's so weird thinking that I'm not going to be in the MTC anymore... It's like... Weird.

So, I just finished reading through the Book of Mormon. Man it must have been hard to be Moroni. When I read Moroni 10 I just sat back in like a stunned shock setting because his faith and strength just astounds me. I mean to translate the Jaredite record and carry the plates across the wilderness while hiding from people who have killed your nation and are searching for you, and burying the record in a hill hoping that they will be found and that his life's work wil have been worth something. Man.... So amazing.

OH! Grandpa And Grandma Barker, Thank you soooo much for the pickles! Everyone in my District is raving about them. We had a little soire (sp?) in the residence hall a couple nights ago and we dined on pickles! it was glorious! thank you!

Thank you all for your letters and your support! I can't belive that it's already time for me to go out to California! I know that I won't really be able to understand much of what the people will be saying but I'm really excited to get out there.

The Church is True! God is our loving Heavenly Father and he Lives. I know he lives becasue I've prayed and recieved answers to my prayers. I know that Jesus is the Christ and that through him we can retrun to live with God and Jesus and Our families for eternity.

Love,

Elder Barker

Am I right? Or am I right? BOTH!

2009-11-14T09:03:00.000-08:00

HI!!!! Thank you thankyou thankyou All for your letters, cards and "Dear Elder"s They really make the week so much better.

Let me se what happened this week that is praise worthy and of good report?... I GOT MY FLIGHT PLANS!!! There is light at the end of the tunnel! So I fly out on the 17th at 8:35am and get to orange county at 9:25ish. There is some sort of time zone thingy that makes the flight longer that it looks. BUT IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS IT"S PRACTICALLY HERE! ok scratch that put in end of mtc day and play it again.

The weather out here has taken a strange turn. intead of being colder than october it's gotten warmer. What happened to the snow?! (Where'd you put the electric blanket? -under the underwear. snow-snow-snow snow SN- Ok that was last weeks email enough white christmas references!)

Let's see what else what else... OH! Lizzy and katie if you are reading this you would be proud of me. This past week I borrowed the MTC Cello and figured out that awesome cello line for "Johnny has gone for a solider" You know that Da dum de dee-dum de die doo di dum Da Dum de dee-dum de die doo di dum Thingy that is rockin the song. Yeah... I felt pretty proud of my self.

Anyways... in other news, everything is fine. Learning lots and feeling a little more confident in the language. But I'm sure that when i get out there I will really start learning spanish.

I love you all and you are all in my thoughts and prayers.

TTFN ta ta for now!

-Elder barker

"So...Um..."

2009-10-30T21:54:00.001-07:00

Go on. You know you wanna ask.

"What's it like living at the MTC?"

"What kind of stuff do you do in your classes?"

"Why do you have a 'companion' ?"

The Who's, What's, Where's and Why's can be posted in the comments section below.

Ask away!!

snow-Snow-SNow-SNOw-SNOW!

2009-10-30T21:44:00.000-07:00

It won't be long before we're there with snoww--- snow oh I wanna wash my face my feet and hair in snow... SNOW I long to lift a spade and clear a path of snow/Snow I wanna see a man entirely made of snow. What is christmas with no snow. No white christmas with no/NO snow/SNOW SNOWWWWW!

So! the other day as I started to roll out of bed I noticed I couldn't move. Yup that's right I had slept on my neck wrong and Unless I kept my head parallel with my right shoulder I couldn't move. Yeah, Service that morning was not very fun. But I went to the doctor and he gave me some pills. So that emergency was evaded.

Let me see... updates...updates... Um... I'm still learning spanish. So that's the same. Oh I've decided to start biking in gym to get in shape for when I get out in the field and have to bike everywhere. It's so fun. It reminds me of the times that Max and I would work out at the Y and then go get Chinese food. Ahhhh Those were the days.

But really it's so cool biking, because the view from the third floor of the gym looks out over the valley and you can see Y mountan and Utah Lake and the BYU campus and It's just great. I love it.

Elder Lim and I have an announcement to make: We have a new companion. His name is Elder Bullock and he's from Alberta Canada. He's been in the MTC for 9 weeks and got delayed because of health stuff. So yeah... three... It's different.

I probably already said this last week but for halloween I'm dressing up as Linguini from Ratatouille dressed up as a missionary..... I just don't know if I can get the costume together in time. Hmmm...

Thank you all for you emails. It's really great to hear from all of you.

Um... Oh yeah Elder L Tom Perry came for Devotional on tuesday. He is such a giant of a man: Physically and Spiritually. I really enjoyed everything that he had to say. It was great.

well.... that's it for this week. Cat chew Laters!

-Elder Barker

He sits...he stands!

2009-10-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

Here's Elder Soren Barker at the Piano....one of his favorite spots at his Grandparent's home.

Just before Soren walked into the MTC!

Elder Barker looking manly in front of a rock wall.

Sing. Sing a song. Sing out loud. Sing out STRONG!

2009-10-23T14:07:00.000-07:00

So, Another week has come and gone.

-yup.

And you stayed up all night in the pumpkin patch?

-Yup.

And the great pumpkin never showed up huh?

-nope.

Don't worry, Linus.

I've done a lot of stupid things in my life too.

STUPID!? What DO you MEAN STUPID?!!

Just you wait Charlie Brown!
HA ha ha! Classic. Anywho... So update for the week. ermm... well... Pretty much the same ol' same ol' in the MTC. Lots of spanish and lots of spanish and Lots of studying and yeah.

The senior Elders in our zome are heading out into "the lone and dreary world" this week. So that means my district is the senior district pretty soon. CRAZY!!! It's going by so fast but as slowly as possible. I'm telling you guys: Time doesn't work in the MTC! It's the weirdest thing.

Anywho- Elder Bennington (Our current Zone leader) and I are writing a story. Paragraph by paragraph. It's kind of like those, ''And then...'' stories we used to make up years ago, but it's a little crazy. But is SO much fun. We've decided to continue the story through out our missions. It's a crazy blend of Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter, Labarinth, and Maddness! It's bliss.

Elder Lim and I are continuing to get ahead of the game, we are learning/ teaching lesson two in spanish already. It's so fun!

Pero es múy dificile.

IT'S OCTOBER!!!! Ahhhh the air is so nice and crisp. I hear that it snowed back East: what's that all about? What a whacky weather pattern we've been having huh?

I hope all is well. Everything is fine with me. I am just learning to put my trust in God and I know that he has helped me and will continue to help me to learn the language.

Dear Barkers: Thank you for your FHE letters. It's so fun to hear what is going on in your lives. You guys are so wonderful and I'm so greatful that I'm related to you.

Ma 'n' Pa, Keep up the fa'm. Give Abby a big hug for me. And Remember that I love you sooooooooo much.

Kj, ROCK ON! You are the bestest ever. I miss your guts.

Everybody else. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Ok, g2g Bye!

-Elder Barker

[Here is a snippet of another part of a letter Soren sent to me this week: I thought it would be appropriate---Anne]

Ok, so here are some phrases I have translated and I'm sure I will sound like a Gringo, but who cares:

Elemental, me caro Watson!

la lluvia en Espana restos principalmente en la llano.

Balido, Patrana!

It's so funny: It's October 16th but I don't feel like it's almost Halloween. I guess I just don't know what the spirit of Halloween is. Does anybody know what Halloween is all about?

"Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you...... Lights, please?

And there were in the same country, goblins tending their toadstools and watching their ghouls by night.

When lo, the Great Pumpkin appeared unto them and said,

"Be AFRAID, for I bring you great tidings of GREAT TERROR.

For unto you is found this eve, in the homes of those you haunt, CANDY, which is bad for the teeth.

And this shall be a sign unto you: You shall find the candy at every door, once you've cried these words: "Trick or Treat!"

And then there was a multitude of squashes and gourds surrounding the Pumpkin, crying "Run! Run for your lives: For the Goblins are loose!"

That's what Halloween is all about Charlie Brown. Hee Hee.

One midnight gone! One midnight gone!

2009-10-16T14:36:00.000-07:00

"Into the woods and out of the woods and home before- THERE ARE GIANTS IN THE SKY!!! booooom There are big tall terrible Giants in the Sky!" Booooom! do de diddle deedle doodle Do de Diddle deedle doodle When your-..."

Ok that's enough of that.

y ahor por algo absolutamente diferente!

Wow. One month down. Feels like a week and a half. I'm telling you guys time works differently in the MTC. The days are so long but theres not enough time to study all that you want. The weeks are short but they take for ever to finish. and the months... well they're shorter than the weeks! Crazy stuff.

We had David F. Evans talk to us in our Tuesday devotional and he was amazing. They are usually an hour long. Yeah, he talked for an hour and a half. It was so intence. I took so many notes. The biggest thing that he talked about was the amazing Power that the Book of Mormon has to touch lives. Everyone can relate to the story of Nephi and his family. Everyone can see and learn from how Lehi and Sariah comforted eachother instead of turned to bickering in times of trouble in their marriage. Nephi forgave his brothers intead of holding their faults against them and turning sour. It's so good!

One thing that I love about being here in the MTC is the time that I have to study the scriptures. Right now I'm in Alma in the Book of Mormon and in 1 Samuel in the Old Testement. I love reading and applying the scriptures to my life. I would urge you to read them together and by yourself. I've had great experiences learning things I've never seen before in verses that I've read all multiple times.

SO THE GANG IS ALL HERE!!!! Woooot! I see Elder (Noah) Davis everywhere and I've seen Elder (Steven) Davis [both cousins] a couple times when our meal times overlap. It's so cool to see them and know that we are all doing the same thing. Yay! Life is good!

Um... Elder Lim and I are teaching in Spanish Left and right. It's so crazy! Gahhh!!! So our district had a goal of speaking only in spanish on monday and wendsday, so Elder Lim and I decided to up it up and personally add Saturday as well. Well, Our teacher said she wants us all to speak on sat too, So we had to include tuesdays. Then She said Tuesdays as well So now we upped it to thursdays as well. So the only days that Elder Lim and I are''t speaking spanish are Sunday and friday! GAAAAHHH!!! Goodbye English.... Farewell... sniff. sniff...

Well... That's all for this week.

Rember, keep your stick on the ice.

paz!

-Elder Barker

How Rude!

2009-10-10T18:05:00.001-07:00

GAHHH!!! I just wrote a great long email and it didn't want to work. Um......

Let's see.

Thank you all for your letters and emails. They really help.

Everything is good at the MTC. Learning teaching and teaching learning.
But Hey! Could you have asked for a better General conference?(Check it out here) I loved it! It was so good. Elder Holland's talk was so Powerful. And President Monson's talk about love: so applicable. I felt like every talk worked and applied to my life right now: Missionary work and living with a companion. I'm kind of sad that I have to wait for another six months before the next general conference.

Oh! Elder Lim and I taught the first lesson in Spanish yesterday. Yeah, we aren't scheduled to teach in Spanish for another couple of weeks. We're just ahead of the game. Hooray for overachievers!

And Mom, I have gotten over my cold... mostly. And um... Life is good. I hope that Woodbadge is going well and I hope that you pulled off the eagle dance with style. CAW-CAW! ha ha ha.

I noticed something and I hope that I haven't already written this down in a previous email but I've noticed that my journal entries have changed over the weeks. At first they were about the classes and the day-to-day activities. But now the subjects have changed the feelings I had during the day, deep thoughts about the future, and How the Lord has blessed me that day. I think it's pretty cool.

Um...

Kj, Hope everything is well for you. Keep teaching those kids good stuff ya hear? I love your guts!

Everybody else, be well. Life is good!

I love you all and think about you often.

-Elder Barker

Week 2

2009-10-02T21:50:00.001-07:00

Wow. Another week already. It doesn't seem possible.

This week has been a rollercoster of sickness health crazy people and spanish. Merhhhh...

Ok so crazy experience of the week. I was in the Referral center (R.C.) which is where we call people to see if they got the free DVD they ordered or the Book of Mormon or the Bible or whatever they ordered. SO! It's my first call ever and they guy who picks up was just a rude as could be. He yelled at me and swore and hung up the phone before I could even get in, "uh... did you get the dvd?" So rude!
Then after like a million people who didn't pick up I finally got a hold of someone.
And she was like, "no I didn't get the DVD yet, but the missionaries are coming over for dinner tonight, and I'm getting baptized on the 15th. Oh and I should thank you guys so much for helping me find this relationship with God. I never thought I could be this close to my Heavenly Father."

The Lord was very mindful of me. I really needed to hear that.

Um.... Well in other news. I'm GETTING BETTER!!!!! HUZZAH! (cough) ok so I'm not completely well but I'm close.

Um... Thanks all for the letters and emails. I love hearing about what is going on out there. Shauna, you are so right. It is like Groundhog's day in the MTC. It's the same day over and over and over and over again. Gahhh!!!!
But it's not all bad. Just like Noah said in his last Email. I feel the Spirit so strong everyday. and I'm learning lots.

I've recently been studying Isaiah. Man that book is full of so many great things. 41:10, 52:7, 55:12. Sooo good! I mentioned to my companion that I was studying Isaiah and he was like, "Whoa. That's hard stuff." But I think that Isaiah is kind of like shakespeare It's hard if you prep it with the midset of being hard. It's so beautiful and I LOVE IT!

Speaking of shakespeare Go kj! I'm sure you are rocking the classroom with your teachingness-ness-ness. Do you bite you thumb at me sir? I do not bite my thumb at you sir. But is that a dagger I see before me? it's handle pointed at a poor player who struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. to die to sleep perchance to dream. Ay! there's the rub. For I come to bury Caesar not to praise him!

Ok... enough madness. I love you all. Thankyou for your prayers and support!

Más alto arriba!

-Elder Baj-arker

One Week!

2009-09-26T21:01:00.000-07:00

Wow. A whole week has already gone by. But the strange thing is that although it feels like if flew by, it feels like a month went by in the same amount of time as fast week... if that makes any sense.

Thank you to all of you who sent me emails! I will try to respond to you personally but I might run out of time.

Well the update for this week is that I'm Still Sick! YAY! I just can't shake this cough. (Hack weeze Blech...) And I'm doing the work. I'm taking the meds I'm not a slacker. Gimme gimme gimme I need I need I need Gimme gimme gimee I need I need Gimme gimme Gimme I need... But I feel good I feel great I feel wonderful.

Oh it was so funny. Yesterday Elder Lim FINALLY took some medicine for his cough and well... He's not used to meds and the doctor gave him really stong stuff. It was so funny. He was like, "Whoa... there are so many bubbles in this bottle. Wooo... Hey this is good stuff. Has it been four hours yet? I want to take some more." ha ha ha! Wow.

The Spanish is coming along and I'm starting to get the lessons under my belt. We have practice sessions and the last one that we did went really well. Before we taught we went over how to best form a lesson plan and It was great to see how fexible the lesson could go. Sorry that was really poor english. But I have to write quickly.

so... Um things are good. Noah made it in and looks well. I guess. I only saw him for a short amount to time during dinner. And it was his first day... so... Who knows really?

I don't know what to tell you... The days are all turning into a blur and I feel like I haven't got any sleep for three months. But it's great! If it wasn't great I wouldn't be doing it.

Mucho gozo y felicidad.

-Elder Barker.

First Four Days

2009-09-21T16:43:00.001-07:00

Well, It has been a crazy first four days. The spanish is coming along very nicely, thanks to the spirit. It is truely amazing how much of it I can already understand and speak and it'\s only been four days.

The MTC is pretty cool. It's like... I don't know what it's like. It's like bumping into old friends that you haven't met yet. However I have bumped into a few friends that I have met. I have the same meal times as Elder Clark! It was so cool to look over and see him and then get to talk to him for a little bit. And Elder Cooper, my cool roommate from colledge.

My spanish teachers remind me of that first french class that Kj and I took as kids. Most of the time they don't speak in english. It's a little stressfull but I kind of like it. It really makes me have to stretch and put my trust in the lord that I will understand. But all of the other elders in my zone are testamonies that I will understand in a couple weeks. They are so cool.

My companion Elder Lim is from Korea and Canada and Salt Lake. He's really cool. Unfortunatly he forgot his gym shoes so he walks around in his gym clothes with his dress shoes on. Very classy. He is really helping me move out of my comfort zone. We were assigned to Make three "Contacts" where we introduce our selves and bear our testamonies in spanish and over the past two days we've done twenty. It's really been helpful and I know/hope that my spanish is getting better.

The food here is pretty good. It reminds me of a scripture. I think that it's in Jeramiah 4:16 or 18 I think it's around there. look it up. It will tell you all you need to know about the food here.

Um... Oh the first day here Elder Lim and i ate with president and sister smith. it was really cool to talk with them. whoa sorry it seems that my capitol letter don't want to work. sorry about that.

dad, thanks for the letter. it was really cool to have something to read yesterday. i really enjoyed the card.

i hope that all is well back home. you are ever in my thoughts and prayers.

so my p-days are going to be on fridays so i will write letters and read and send emails on friday, so if you don't hear from me for a week, that is why.

um... oh yeah, there is a tree at the mtc that smells like cream soda. elder lim and i have smelled it about twnety times. it is so funky. and people who don't know about it are all like, "what are those guys doing?" if they only knew what they were missing out on.

ok i got to go now. my laundry is done and my time has run out.

I love you very much and i hope to hear from you soon.

love,
Elder barker

Farwell Address Given on Sunday, September 13th 2009

2009-09-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

Hola! Comment estas? Mui Bien- et-tu? Quele hora est? Dondé estas ma pantalonais? Muchos cossos grandes Pour favour. Uno dose triece. Des colores!

That’s all the Spanish I know. I guess the folks at the MTC (Missionary Training Center) have their work cut out for them.

As you know I will be leaving to go serve a mission for the church in a couple days. I’m going out to California to knock on doors and help people find Christ. And when I leave there will be a little plaque with my face on it in the hallways for everyone to look at while I’m gone. The plaque has a picture of me, a picture of the area that I will be serving in, and a scripture that I have chosen to be a sort of theme for my mission. This is the scripture that I chose:

“Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.” That’s found in the book of Alma, 26^th chapter and 12^th verse to be precise.

Can’t you just feel the joy that Ammon relates though this verse? --I mean he starts the verse out with “Yea!” How much happier can you get?-- But besides that obvious sign of joviality, he really is happy when he says this. A few verses before this Ammon is talking to his brethren and discussing how happy they all should be that their brethren the bloodthirsty Lamanites had found the gospel. And then his brother “Aaron rebuked him” in verse 10, “saying: Ammon, I fear that thy joy doth carry thee away unto boasting.” To which Ammon responds that he’s not boasting about himself, because he knows that he can’t do anything great by himself, God is the one that he’s boasting about.

This past year at BYU-Idaho we had the privilege of having President Eyring of the first presidency talk to us in one of our Tuesday devotionals. He talked about the miracle of having the university and the Rexburg temple so close together. In a devotional it is common for a verse or passage of scripture to be read before the speaker gets up and talks. The scriptures help to set the mood. They also helped me to switch my mind into a spiritual mindset and prepare for those promptings and feelings that the spirit brings to my heart when I am primed or rather when I am willing to hear the still small voice. The scripture that was read was Alma 26:11 and 12. At this time during the year I was searching for a scripture to go on my missionary plaque, “I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things” When I heard that I wrote “Holy cow!” in the journal I was taking notes in. It just worked. President Eyering’s talk was good, but I knew that I had found my missionary scripture.

“I will not boast of myself” That is a very powerful statement. And when I read it, it strikes me as something that I personally should strive for. I am currently majoring in theater and speech education in college. The arena of the stage lends itself to boasting about one’s self. And being humble enough to recognize that it’s not just me. I have worked hard, but God has helped me on my path. “I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things.” It’s very powerful to me.

As I was preparing this talk I was bouncing ideas off of my Mom and she asked, “Have you come up with any experiences that relate to your scripture?” I answered, “Um… not really. I can’t think of any.” She then pointed out the section that talks about the mighty miracles that have been wrought and then commented on how the spirit of God can change people. I said, “Ok. But I don’t think I have any experiences to relate about that.” And then she reminded me of a few.

All of my life I have always had to do things my own way. When I learned how to play a song in my piano lessons I would change it because I wanted the song to sound this way or that way. When I studied algebra and other areas of mathematics I would find the answer in different ways than were asked of me. I could only do things my way and when I was younger I was not very willing to follow the way of the Lord. When I was almost eight years old I didn’t want to get baptized. When I was old enough to become a deacon and a holder of the Aaronic priesthood I didn’t want to receive the priesthood. I didn’t want the responsibility that came with having that authority. I told my Mom that I never wanted to serve a mission. My mother shed many bitter tears because of my unwillingness to listen to the voice of the lord. But as you can see my stiff neckedness has been softened, and stubborn inclination has changed. Thanks to the example of cousins, my parents and my own prayers and study I have changed my attitude. And it wasn’t because I was brainwashed or anything like that. It wasn’t because of peer pressure or any sort of flock mentality. It was because I found out the truth for myself, and in my own way. It was because I let the master craftsman mold me into what I need to be. It was because I became meek and submissive, it was because the Lord can work mighty miracles.

Let me share with you the first real time that I gained a testimony for myself that the Heavenly Father is real and that he loves me. During my years of rebellion and stubbornness I seldom bore my testimony to people. I just didn’t do it. I felt that I didn’t know, so how could I tell someone that, “I knew that the church was true and that the book of Mormon contains the word of God. Or that Jesus Christ suffered for my sins in the garden of Gethsemane, or that I know that There are living prophets on the earth today.” I didn’t know of a surety that these things are true.

The experience that I am about to relate is very sacred to me and I hesitate to share it with you because I’m not sure if I can relate the simple workings of the spirit without making it sound like just a cute story. But I pray that I can express to you how I came to know that my heavenly father loves me, and knows me personally and I pray that the spirit can touch your hearts while I tell you how he touched mine.

It happened at scout camp. It was my first year that I was able to attend scout camp and during the week the LDS troops got together to have a devotional on Wednesday. And as the meeting turned to the portion where we could bear our testimonies I knew that I wasn’t going to say anything, because I never say anything. However as the meeting wore on, I had a strong prompting to get up and bear my testimony. The Holy Ghost whispered to my heart that I should get up and say something. I sat there for a few minutes and really wrestled with the spirit. I said, “I have nothing to say.”

“Yes you do.” Was the reply.

“No I don’t. I don’t know what to say. I don’t do this. I have nothing to say.”

“Yes you do.”

“What? What do I know? I don’t really know anything. I’m not even sure if the church it true.”

The spirit replied “But I love you.”

“What?”

“I love you. You can do this. Just tell them that I love you.”

I got up and told the other scouts assembled that I knew that my heavenly father loves me, and then I sat down. The next day a boy came up to me and explained that he was a not of my faith but that he attended the testimony meeting last night and he was moved my by simple testimony. It was an amazing experience that has changed my life. I have had other similar experiences that are too numerous to go into right now. But I felt that it was important to talk about the first time that I really “Knew”.

As I have been preparing to serve the lord for the next two years I have had many co-workers and friends ask me why? Why would I volunteer for something that would take me away from my family, and not pay me, and not give me vacation time for two years? To which I have wanted to ask them, “Why do you think I’m doing this?” It doesn’t make sense. -- But it does. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ both appeared to the boy Joseph in answer to his simple prayer. I know that Christ himself restored his church upon the earth. I know that there are living prophets on the earth. I know that the book of Mormon is a true record. I know that my heavenly father knows me and loves me. And because I know with a surety that these things are true, I want others to know as well.

Plato in his allegory about the cave discusses the feelings that I have about bringing the light of the gospel to those who are willing to accept it. Plato tells about a group of people who are trapped in a cave and all their lives have only ever seen the shadows of things in the outside world and have only seen the reflections of light off of the rock walls. One of the men in the group finds a way out and after adjusting his eyes to the light and after forcing his muscles to work in different ways he sees the sun, he sees the birds, he sees the flowers and trees. He then turns back to the others in the cave to show them what he has seen and to bring them to experience for themselves what he has found. And some don’t listen. And I’m positive that some people on during my mission will turn me away, but I have to try. I have to see if there are any people who I can touch and show my love for them as well as the love that heavenly father has for them. But I know that I can’t do it alone. Because I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.