Week 16- To be MORMON is to be HAPPY!!!

I saw this on a members Book of Mormon 
and I thought it was cute!!! 
and true... 
To be Mormon IS to be happy!!! 

 We saw the beach!

 My comp is cute...it was awesome!

 Me and all the missionaries went to the Foz de Duro beach on our Prep-Day. We ran around and took pictures and ate the best chocolate crossaints in the WORLD! So good....

Haha Sister has to have a lot of patience 
with my picture taking....

 PORTUGAL IS THE FAROL DA EUROPA! (lighthouse of Europe) 

That is what we call Portugal, so we were all really excited when there was a lighthouse.

Portugal is my second home!

 Windyyyyyyyy!!!!

 We also went mini golfing on our Prep-Day 
which was SO fun!!!!!

Fun fact: The word for golfclub is taco!

 This is the castle of Foz.  

I am pretending to be the queen. Hear ye! Hear ye!

  Last pday was such a boss day! Beach side, my side! Ahhhh I wish I was on the coast. We are so close, like 20 minutes away. 

 Also, I fell this week and scraped up my leg and my hands! Sister Jones had fun patching me up. Hey she wants to be a nurse! 

Good thing she is my comp!

 And we made a delicious quiche. 

Skills, Mama, skills!

Tennis shoes and skirts.

Letter Home:

Hey everyone! This is Sister Barron. This week was, suprise, AWESOME! A note to all of my friends that are about to go on a mission or are thinking about going: This is the one chance we have to live like this! This life is so different, but so fun! Seriously, I am so glad I made the decision to go on a mission. You have times of doubt, times of happiness, and times when you want to scream for joy because HEY, we are alive! 

I want you all to know that as of today I have no shame. And by that I mean that I am wearing a skirt with tennis shoes right now. Ew, so uglyyyy:)  I feel like a Duggar daughter (even though they are pretty) or something. But hey, Sister Jones did it so I had to support my comp:) Maybe we will start jogging in skirts in the morning. Hey, maybe I will make it a fad! Sister Jones saw this on project runway once so I guess it must be legit. 

So the other night me and Sis Jones were knocking doors in this huge predio. (apartment building) We had passed this predio a bunch of times and it is so huge and so white and so promising-looking. So finally we made the decision and started knocking. Most of the doors no one was home, and the people usually weren't interested in talking about Jesus Christ. We ran into this one woman who was really not interested, in fact she was a bit sharp with us. She told us she was sick and that she had no time and that we should leave now. So we told her we were sorry, and that we hoped she would get better. As we were walking out of the building, I decided I would leave her a heart shaped note that said ´´God loves you. Get well soon!´´ Sister Jones thought it was kinda a funny thing to do, but hey, were supposed to turn the other cheek, right? So we left and thought we would never see or speak to her again. We didn't even write down her name. 

So about a week later we were walking past the Big White Predio (or great and spacious building as we like to call it) and this woman comes running down the street to talk to us. She said that she was better and she wanted to talk to us. We just looked at her lovingly, and then as soon as she went in her house for a second we frantically were trying to figure out who she was! We could not!!! She invited us in her house to have a snack, (something we would never refuse), and then I realized who she was when I saw my heart shaped note on her fridge! Her name was Fernanda and she told us that she loved the note we left! Apparently she has a heart disease, and when she saw our note she knew that God was watching out for her. It was really awesome, she was on the verge of tears. She said we can come back again another day. =D Everyone loves to get a nice note! Remember that!

I love you all and hope you have an awesome week! I am praying for you! 

I would like to finish with an excerpt from my favorite Christian Rock song: 

´´I can speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy, but without love I am nothing more than the creeking of a rusty gate. I can speak Gods word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything as plain as day, but without love I am just the whispering of the passing wind. If I give all I have to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but dont have love..........I am nothing. I am bankrupt without love.´´ 

If you figure out what it means, feel free to tell me! hahaha

Sister Barron

WEEK 15-I got my first blister this week!

 We went to Porto last prep-day!  And look! PANTS! I REALLY DO HAVE LEGS!

 Woowww this mission is the best!

 Beautiful countryside!

 We found this pretty dirt trail to walk on. 

It was so cool!

 An artsy tree tunnel.

 We made banana bread for weekly planning. We were very proud of ourselves.

We found this written in the dust on a wall. Haha we added the heart and the hashtag. The Elders here said it wasn't them! Maybe it's been there for years! Haha or not.

 I think I want to make an album of pictures in front of catholic churches. We pass like 4 a day. They are always really beautiful!

We changed Rafaels cigarette box to this. It says YOU ARE STRONG! You can quit! He thought it was really funny. It was strange to see him laugh because normally when he talks he sounds angry.....even when he isn't. He is a really funny man. I have a hard time understanding him, and a lot of the time I think he is really mad. But he will be talking about how he really wants to get baptised! When we told him he needed to quit smoking he said that he would do it right now! Today! But he was smoking a whole pack a day!!!! We were kinda incredulous (is that a word?) but we didn't want to burst his bubble and say that it might be more difficult than that.....later he called us to tell us he had smoked again. He was so dissapointed in himself, it was really sad. So we came up with a plan to quit slowly. He really wants to do it. He and his wife are a wonderful couple.

I got some new leather sandals! They were a steal! Made in Portugal baby!~~

Letter Home:

I am officially naming this week SEMANA PODEROSA. Because me and Sister Jones realized something this week: WE ARE POWERFUL! A lot of people don't think so, but we are! and I know that now. As Sister Jones says, "God's Army is coming and they are coming in SKIRTS!"

A lot of times in lessons we have a hard time keeping the discussion focused on the Gospel because Portuguese people LOVE to talk, and sometimes we lack the confidence to stop them from going off topic. As Americans, we think it is really rude to interrupt people when they are talking. We want them to get the chance to say all they want. But the thing about the Portuguese is that they interrupt eachother all the time! It is a nonstop interruption fest! So this week during our studies and practices, me and Sister Jones decided we wanted to be POWERFUL teachers, and take control of these lessons. And we saw some miracles because of it.

We have these investigators named Rafael and Candida. They are this cute old couple, and from the moment we met them we have been blown away by how well they have been prepared for this Gospel. They were a reference from some other sisters in another area. They said to be careful, because Rafael seemed pretty angry and really wanted spiritual answers for the problems he was having in his life. He said that he felt the spirit of the devil in his life. Those are some pretty heavy words! To say the least, we were pretty nervous to meet with them. We didn't know if we could handle this problem. So I gave Sister Jones a little peptalk, Sister Barron style, and we went to the lesson with our heads held high. They had driven half and hour to get to the chapel to meet with us! Obviously they really wanted this. So we dove right in. And it went really well! Rafael has this voice so that he always sounds angry, but he has never been angry at us. He always tells us how we are good people and that we are saints and whatnot. At the end, we invited them to be baptised and their response was Sure! Why not?! We were excited! They were interested and wanted to be baptised! They said they felt that this really was the church of God! It was so special!  Rafael asked if we wear clothes when we are baptised....YES! PLEASE WEAR CLOTHES! hahaha

We then told them about the Word of Wisdom, about how to be baptised you cannot partake of illegal drugs, coffee, black tea, alcohol or smoking. Oh, the Portuguese love their coffee. And basically everyone smokes. So we were really worried that Rafael would have a problem, we knew he smoked just by looking at him. But he immediately accepted, saying that he would quit smoking TODAY! This very moment! And then he offered a very heartfelt (and kinda angry sounding) prayer to have the strength to quit smoking for good! They are so amazing! He gave us all his cigarettes afterwards, and we are just watching their progress in amazement.

I know that we can all overcome our difficulties with the help of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that I am a powerful teacher! I am here to teach without fear! To speak with a kind but firm voice. I am still learning this ability. Sorry if I come back after the mission and interrupt you! I swear, it was weird for me too!

Love you all! Sister Barron

WEEK 14-I Stand In Holy Places

Me and the family! Whoa, my hair looks super crazy in this picture. You all probably thought I have pulled out my hair or something. Whateves, it was really fun to skype you all! and to Daddy: GREAT idea to sing Families Can Be Together Forever! not! Jeez, are you trying to make me trunky?!?!? hahaha The family I was with thought I was having a meltdown when I came out crying everywhere! I was fine after about 20 minutes. They even gave me icecream. So that helped. Looking back I bet that video is really funny. I think I sang three words until I started crying. For Christmas: We will not be singing! We will keep it light and fun and the goodbyes will be short and sweet. Tao bom!? haha I love you guys:)

 There was a huge storm here last week and it was SUPER windy. Tons of tree branches fell down. We found this tree that basically split in half. We were out during the whole thing. Looking back, I definitely think we should've taken cover. But theres no way to know, and we don't want to ask, so we just kept working. Rain or shine or tornados, the work goes on!

 Selfie time!

 There is this little girl in our ward who is always trying to steal my missionary badge, so I made her one of her own. She wanted it to say Sister Barron. She loved it at first but later she came back and wanted mine again. Oh well, it was worth a try. Not gonna lie, it's kinda annoying when she just steals it and runs away...me and Sister Jones are laughing and trying to look angelic and peaceful while wrestling it from her lololol. She is a cute girl. I guess she just really wants to be a missionary.  =)

 JOANA WAS BAPTISEDDDDD WOOOOO SOOOOO SPECIAL AND EXCITING!!!!

 Joana and her Mom.

 Sis. Jones, Brasi (a really awesome woman in the ward who taught Joana with us. She is like her second Mom already. ) Joana with her Mom, and Me. 

 Me and Irmã Fátima. She is awesome. She has gone teaching with us before, and always comes to church with a van full of young boys from her neighborhood. She also loves us so much. We have eaten at her house a few times. She truly believes I am great at Portuguese, so I will frequently have conversations with her that I do not understand much of. Luckily she loves to talk so I just throw in a pois or a isso mesmo every once in a while and that is all 

she needs. I adore her.

Sister Jones and Amilcar. He is filling out this letter that will tell the story of his conversion, how he met the missionaries and everything. Once we get a temple in Portugal, they will compile all the stories into a book and give it to the prophet. Amilcar seemed excited and wrote about how he has the priesthood now and blesses the sacrament every week.

She has had a really hard past, things I don't want to share, and I just know that this gospel is exactly what she needs. She looks more alive every time we talk to her, less depressed. She has a sense of humor now. She laughs now. Even her mom commented on the difference she has seen. She said that Joana laughs for the first time now. I DEFINITELY want to friend her on facebook when I get back. Her full name is Jonana Isabel Batista Aurojo (not so sure about the last name, something like that) So many people came out to her baptism, we were so happy. She truly is elect. The Elders joke that Sisters throw that word around all the time, but with her it really was true! =) She sought out the gospel. She made everything happen. I love her so much and I am so grateful that I had a tiny part in her journey to this special day. 

We found a creepy tunnel that gets us to our area. We will NOT be using it at night! It is either this or the highway! Haha oh man.

My Letter Home:

Hello everyone! Me again!

I got to Skype my family for Mother's Day yesterday. That was an out of this world experience. So fun.  I feel like I'm a different person now, not the goofy Quincey that used to exist. Now I am the goofy Sister Barron! AND oh what a change for the better!

This week we were able to help Joana take a step towards salvation and enter the waters of baptism. It was SO COOL! Such an awesome experience! She seemed a little nervous at first, especially when the water was a little chilly, but afterwards she was so happy. The man who performed the baptism was a recent convert too, so he had to do it three times to make sure she went all the way under the water. Haha third times a charm. She gave time a big hug afterwards. They will be friends forever, I just know it. Afterwards she bore her testimony for everyone there. Joana is so darling. She retold her story, how she met Elders 4 years ago and how she never forgot the feeling she had with them or the Book of Mormon they left with her. She was so prepared before we met her. She said that when she met us she didn't think we were real, that we were angels. What a huge title to live up to! This was exactly what she needed in her life. Every time we meet with her she seems more alive. I know she is on the path to overcoming her depression and returning to her Father in Heaven one day. I'm just glad I had a small part in her story.

Love you all! Have a wonderful week!

Sister Barron

WEEK 13- Shout Out To My Birthgiver!

Revealing my new planner that I decorated! It is so sososos fun! I know you would just love this Mama! Totally up your alley. 

Back view

 I got this new watch. It's really nice and tiny and is real leather! 5 euros! I got it in a Chinese store. Those places are the best. Everything is dirt cheap. I will have to go to one before I come home and snag some presents for all of you. But that won't happen for a long time so I will just stop thinking about it:)

 Someday I will have as many planners as Sister Jones....mmmm that'll be nice.

 We made these little hearts for all the women in Relief Society. They said FELIZ DIA DAS MÃES! They totally loved them:) We are winning the hearts of this ward like it's our job. =)I'm glad they liked it, they were a lot of work. And mayyybeee you'll get one in the mail Mama;) A letter is coming.

 We met a woman who stopped us on the street. She had been visited by the sisters a few months back and she thought we were the same girls. But she really wanted us to come over! So a few days later we went to her house and she told us this long story of her life. She got married when she was 13! The man was 21. It was a crazy story. Her mother basically forced her to do it. It still is traumatic to her in this day. I took a picture of one of her wedding pictures. She is the little girl in white. That is like Piper getting married next year!!! Wooooo...But she totally loved talking to us and said she would love to come with us to church next Sunday. We shall see..=)

 They gave me a cute rose in Relief Society.

Yesterday was Mother´s day here and it just so happened that our Mission President was holding interviews in our Chapel, so we got to take a picture with our ´Mission Mom´ Sister Fluckiger! I love that lady so much!

This months Liahona makes Jesus look like a Jedi....=D

My letter home:

Hey guys and gals,

I'VE BEEN OUT FOR 3 MONTHS OFFICIALLY TODAY! WHOOOOO

AND also FELIZ DIA DAS MÃES! In Portugal Mothers Day was yesterday, so I am in the loving-my-mother mood. Shoutout to my birthgiver!

AND also MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU! Star Wars appreciation day! 

The theme of this week is rain, because we were soaked to the bone probably 3 or 4 times. The only way to get through without freaking out is singing the Pirates of the Caribbean theme song. So that is what we do. Luckily I brought a huge coat. To everyone who said Portugal was hot....wrong! Up here in the north it gets cold! And its not even winter! But I love it, seriously. Sometimes I get so excited I have to do karate moves or something to get my energy out. I might even scare some poor Portuguese person with a really enthusiastic OLA!!! Sister Jones keeps me composed. Oh, how lucky I am to have her as my mother (mission slang- the person who trains you is your mother/father)

This week was so amazing! Church was fantastic! I understood A LOT (which means a solid 75-85% woooooooo!!!! If I really pay attention it is definitely more...but I space out a lot.) We were sitting in church, being sad that Joana didn't show up, when all of a sudden she walks in! WITH her mom! We were so happy! I jumped up and sat by her during church. What a wonderful Sunday to come. She loved all the testimonies of the congregation. She loved Princípios do Evangelho. She loved it all. We are so excited for her. She seems really shy and timid, but the ward just swallowed her up in love and support. I think she is loving this spirit and is still very firm in her desire to be baptised next week. We shall see! I love her so much!

Me and Sister Jones sang again!!!! In Relief Society! I can hardly believe it! To all future missionaries: brush up on your musical skills because they will be put to the test! 

Sister Jones is the best. It's interesting living with a companion,  because we are literally together 24/7. I've spent more one on one time with her than probably most of my friends. But we are so tight, and not even a little sick of eachother (shoutout to her mom: Lauren-honey is such a sweetie! She even washes her socks) She accepts my wierd quirks, like when I had a dance party to Tarzan music. I think she videoed me. Little stinker. I love her. 

This week I was walking (surprise) in the rain (surprise)  and I was kinda having a pity party. My coat was wet, my hair was insane, and my boots were soaked through. We didn't really have anywhere in particular to go, and it was near the end of the day. In that moment, I imagined the Savior walking beside me. I imagined Him, in his sandals and all, going through what I went through. And I realized...He did. He knows exactly what I am going through. He knows exactly what it is like to serve a mission in Portugal, Russia, Washington, Taiwan, Utah, anywhere. And He knows what you went through too. From the littlest things to our personal moments of despair, He is right there with us. And that makes me feel so loved. And so safe. I am so grateful for my Savior. He is on my side. We are part of a team that will never lose. How amazing is that?

Here is a small excerpt from a poem that my aunt Bethany sent me...I really like it: 

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The dye has been cast out! I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made; I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or be still.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. 

I won't give up, shut up, or let up, until I have stayed up stored up, and paid up of the cause of Christ.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till I know, and work till He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My banner will be clear.

Have you chosen your side? Perhaps now is the time.

I love you all! Have a wonderful week!

Sister Quincey Barron

P.s. May the Fourth be with you! Does anyone else think that this months Liahona makes Jesus look like a Jedi?