WEEK 30!!! Joana was baptized!

This is sweet Joana on her special day. <3

 I am standing by Jovem, a sweet friend of Joana. Then her Mom Minda, Joana and Marco, her Mom's boyfriend. A day of celebration!

 This is the last picture 

Sister McChesney and I took together.

Me with some stellar members of our ward here, The Pinto's on Sao Miguel. This is for me, so I can remember their dear faces for years to come.

My Letter Home:

BIG NEWS: Sister McChesney was transferred. 

=( She was needed in another area to be a SISTER TRAINING LEADER! (that means she will work with and train other sisters, helping them with everything from teaching techniques to emotional problems or other challenges. But it is actually really fun.) So far both my comps have left me and become STLs. Not sure if that says something about me. haha =) I will missss her though!

My new companion is named SISTER NEVES. (that means "snows" in Portuguese) she is BRAZILIAN! and she is a baptizing machine! I have seen her before, but never really spoken to her. She is really pretty. I still haven’t met her yet, she will come today. I am kinda nervous; basically this means I will be starting at least a 6 week English fast as her companion, she speaks no English but I am also so psyched. I know she is a really strong missionary. That is exactly what this area needs. Someone to come in and SHOCK the system! I know this transfer was so inspired. Our President of the mission, also Brazilian, is so inspired. 

I was given the request to write a "day in the life of a missionary" piece. Today I will do that.

Missionaries have a strict schedule. We wake up very early, do exercises, eat, and begin studies. We study thinking of our investigators (the people that we are teaching), what they need and what spiritual help we can offer. Then, at exactly 11 in the morning, we leave the house and only return for 1 hour of lunch and 1 hour of dinner. We work, talking to strangers and offering help to everyone and their dog. We knock doors and talk about Jesus. We are on our feet for hours. We walk miles everyday. We have to find our way around foreign streets using only maps and our broken Portuguese. Life is crazy. You are with your comp 24/7 whether you like them or not. You do not pick who is your companion, they are assigned to you. (I have been very lucky in this respect, I have LOVED mine!) You don't speak to your family, in order to stay more focused on the work. You get to email them for one hour per week on Mondays. You come to love the people you serve with all your heart, and when you least expect it you get a transfer, you change areas, change comps, change lives. And you keep going. It is like running a marathon. You can’t let up for one minute. But it also brings the most joy, the most fulfillment that I have experienced yet in my life. It is the weirdest, most awesome thing I have ever done. If I hadn’t gone on a mission I would have been way more clueless about how the rest of the church, and the rest of the world, really is. But because I am here, I am becoming the person that the Lord would have me be. My eyes have been opened, and I see my fellow men with more of a heavenly view. My goal is to see others the way their Savior sees them. To speak the way He would speak. To act as he would act. 

ALSO, you literally cannot go a day without someone giving you cake. I cannot figure out why. PLEASE NO MORE CAKE AHHHH FINE I'LL EAT IT! =8

These last two transfers have been such a huge learning experience for me. And I think the lesson that the Lord wanted to teach me was:

How to handle rejection.

It was really hard, everyone. Me and my comp were rejected a lot. As missionaries, we talk so much about our faith. We believe that if we have enough faith that baptisms will happen. Which is totally true. Our faith plays a huge role in the progress of the work.

But then why, when we were being strictly obedient and hard working, were we not seeing any fruits of our labors? 

It was so tough. People who I thought were so golden, with whom I had felt the spirit so strong, sent us packing. Lots of times not in the nicest ways. We had so many close calls. We were inviting people to be baptized more than in any other time of my mission. We would walk until we would collapse from exhaustion. Were our efforts being wasted?

I testify to all of you that the resounding answer is NO! 

Last Sunday, a member in our branch invited some of his friends to come to church with him. Minda, Marco, and Joana. Mother, boyfriend, and daughter. They were super nice people. So clean and normal looking. They came to sacrament meeting, and afterwards to Gospel Principles class. I was the one teaching. The Elders didn’t tell me I was teaching until literally 30 seconds before. But I mustered up all my little Portuguese words and spunkiness and dove in. It ended up being an awesome class about repentance. I testified and felt the spirit really strong. Minda told me later that they had planned to leave after that class, but something about what I said inspired her to stay. After church, I started talking to her and discovered that she was not a member! AND that they live in the area! Then, the heavens opened and every missionary’s dream was answered. 

The next day we went to visit them, we taught them about Joseph Smith, and then we invited them to be baptized. They said they would think about it. 

The next day we went back, with a member, and had an awesome spiritual experience. We marked Joana to be baptized. the. next. Sunday. 

AND SHE WAS BAPTISED YESTERDAY! It was the most wonderful, spiritual experience that I have had yet on my mission. Joana is such a sweet girl, 16 years old. She has had a really hard life, with a father that has left their family. But she knows that this church is true. I know it when I heard her say her first prayer. She asked her Heavenly Father for help on this new path that would be the most important of her whole life. When she left the waters of baptism, she cried in utter joy. I was so happy to be a part of her conversion, and I will continue to be for the rest of my life. 

The Lord never forgets us. Our efforts are never wasted. He has a greater hand in this work than we know. Never think that your efforts are unseen. He sees. He knows. And he will answer your prayers in His own time. It may not be in the moment or way you were expecting or hoping.......but it will come. 

I know not by what methods rare,

But this I know, God answers prayer.

I know that He has given His Word,

Which tells me prayer is always heard,

And will be answered, soon or late.

And so I pray and calmly wait.

I know not if the blessing sought

Will come in just the way I thought;

But leave my prayers with Him alone,

Whose will is wiser than my own,

Assured that He will grant my quest,

Or send some answer far more blest.

I love you all! Have a wonderful week!

Seester Barron

WEEK 29- And I'm Doin Fine!

 This is a sweet sister in our ward named Ana Paula. She invited us over for dinner. She is so cute and tiny and unbelievably sweet and good. She did not attend church for about 20 years, but then the Elders found her and ended up teaching and baptizing her husband. =D Together they are rearing to go and love the church so much! She will be going with us tonight to help us teach a family who is scheduled to be baptized soon!

 #artistic

These cool heart things are all over the island. I am obsessed with them!

 Whatever, we are COOL..... Actually if you see a wall with lots of flowers and butterflies on it, 

you POSE! 

Also, a member bought us these sunglasses that are just like Daddy's. If we are seen not wearing them, they get miffed, so we wear them....! 

Peace out!

We sometimes get lost and get off at the wrong bus stop...

 This cute couple came to visit the Azores for a get away vacation. They are members of the church and live in Lisbon. It was so fun to meet them! I hope that I get to serve in their ward eventually! It sounded huge and exciting!

Ponta Delgada city view.

 Our Zone Leaders. We will never be as cool.

 Sao Miguel is famous for their pineapples and for good reason. It is literally THE BEST PINEAPPLE I HAVE EVER EATEN. SOSOSOSOS GOOD. WAY BETTER THEN ANY AMERICAN PINEAPPLE. SERIOUSLY SO SWEET. Do you get it?

 The train we rode last Prep Day.

 We had fun today and went to an old castle for Prep Day. Apparently it was also an old war base. We had fun touching things that probably shouldn't be touched at a museum.

 No body wants to be called dumb.

 Pretending to be at war.

Hey! We have to entertain ourselves some how.

A cool old Portugal flag.

Herro todos! Eu amo voces MUITO e tenho muito saudades vossas. 

I think I am fluent in Portuguese or something!=D 

This week we visited tons of members in our branch. It was seriously an unusual thing. But it really was so good. Some of the people in our ward hadn't been visited by missionaries in YEARS. It is just so complicated to figure out the bus system. I always feel like it is pure luck and a big blessing when we take the right bus and get off at the right stop. Lets just say that two American girls + Portuguese bus system = muito disaster. We have gotten lost a few times... But is so worth it to go and see our members!

For example, we went and visited a special family. They are a SOLID family of about 20 years. Their story was so cool! They were living together when they met the Elders. They already had a little boy that was 5 years old. When they heard the message, there was something about it that rang true with them. They had already decided together before that there had to be something more, and when they heard the Elders teach about the Restoration, they knew it was true. NOW, they are the heart and soul of multiple branches here on the Azores. They work so unbelievably hard, taking care of some of the teenage members that are the only members in their families. The wife, is the Relief Society presidente of our ward and she is amazing. The look on her face when we showed up at her house was priceless. She was overjoyed, giggling and making Sister McChesney try on her apron. We made them special hamburgers for dinner. It was the first time they had had the missionaries make food for THEM. It was so awesome. They really deserve the love and service. I love them so much.

Sitting down and talking with a strong gospel family helps me know that, YES, there are people on this island that are trying to live gospel standards. Being with them, I get a little glimpse of what it was like to be with my family. The one thing I think I am the most excited about is just being able to live the gospel in peace after my mission. I will never be the same person again. There are so many little things that are so not worth sacrificing. The gospel is what brings us happiness, it is as simple as that. I wanted to promise you all some things that I will NEVER break. I have already made these promises to my Heavenly Father, and I encourage all who happen to read my blog to consider my words. These little things make a difference, I promise:

-I will NEVER drink alcohol or coffee or do drugs of any sort.

-I will NEVER dress immodestly. 

-I will NEVER talk bad of my church leaders.

-I will NEVER settle for anything less than a temple marriage with a worthy returned missionary.

-I will NEVER go a day without reading my scriptures.

-I will NEVER seek out pornographic material.

I sincerely promise to you all that I will keep these promises until the end of my days. I am so very serious. 

´´Once we enter into covenants with God, there is no going back. Giving in, giving up, and giving out are not options. In the kingdom of God, there is a standard of excellence for exaltation. It requires valiant descipleship! There is no room for average or complacent disciples. Average is the enemy of excellence.´´ -Elder Kevin W. Pearson

I love you all so much and I am so good! Thanks for all the prayers! It always helps me to know that I have so much support:)

Seester BARRONNNNNN

WEEK 28-I Have Snails On My Head!

There was a cool festival in town! In Portuguese, jellyfish is "aguas vivas" or in direct translation, "living waters".

 This is a recent convert named Graca. She is sooso unbelievably cute! I helped her write her very first talk in Sacrament meeting and she gave it on Sunday about honesty.

 The height difference between her and me is pretty standard for the Portuguese.

Love her!

 This is cute little Daniella, she is 12. She LOVES the sister missionaries! I gave her one of my bracelets a few months ago. 

We had a fun photo shoot.

 Daniella

 Me during our companionship study. We were practicing our teaching and I was pretending to be an old lady who needs her glasses to read.

Ummm....what did we just order to eat???

 You tell me.

This is no mystery. ICECREAMMMM!

 This is my Mission President! 

Pres. Tavares has swag...

 Lunch at the last Zone Conference. It was so fun!

 On my 6 month mark my wonderful companion made me some AMAZING scrambled eggs. 

What a Georgia peach. I love her. =D

We went to a cemetery last P-Day (remember), all of my grave whispering abilities were coming back to me. ;) I fixed all of the flowers that had fallen down on this mans grave. 

We are friends now.

 We got special permission to take this girl from our ward, Carin (pronounced CAH-reen) into our apartment and make lunch for her. She was honored to be the FIRST person EVER to enter the Sisters apartment! 

We had fun making lunch for her.

 These are all of the missionaries on this island. 

Elevator selfie!

This was a beautiful baptism of Flavio. 

The spirit was so strong there.

 We had fun touring this factory today. 
I'm having a great day.

 Sweet sisters in our ward.

 Hey YOU over there! 

Do you want to be baptized?!

 Proud to be a missionary. I love this church.

This little girl is on her way to ballet class. 

We are teaching her family. <3

A Pakistan family that we taught a while ago. Such a sweet family.

My Letter Home:

In Portuguese, the word for ´´snail´´ and ´´curl´´ is the same word. It is caracóis. People are always commenting on my beautiful snails. I like to say thank you and, yes, they are natural. I really do love my snails. It makes doing my hair so very easy. I hope that the title of this email was enough to make you want to read it. You are hooked now! Curiosity killed the cat!

HELLOOO EVERYBODY! I am Sister Barron and this week I would like to introduce you to some really cute people that I have come to know and love this week. Their names are Maria, Rodrigo, Maria, and Rodrigo. Let us begin with the first pair.

The other day we were out in the boonies of our area, somewhere called Lagoa, and we were knocking doors. There was a BEAUTIFUL view of the ocean on one side and colorful doors for miles on the other. Cute little Catholic ladies were rejecting us, the usual.... Then we contact this older woman and her dear grandson Rodrigo. And they were the cutest people EVER. I will have to make a list. Here it is: 

-Marias house was FULL of random things, from ferns and random trinkets and Fatima statues. It was like playing that I Spy computer game. So much stuff to look at~

-She offered us a beer and Sister McChesney unknowingly accepted. Hahahahah luckily I knew the word for beer and said thanks but no thanks. It was a funny moment.

-Rodrigo, who was 13, was VERY smart and understood everything we taught, even with our awful American accents. He accepted the Book of Mormon and said he would read it. Hope he does!

-Maria didn't understand our accents, but she just loved us so very much.

-She fed us sweet rice.

-She cried every time Rodrigo said something smart because she was so proud. =)

-She asked us for our addresses so that when we leave the island Rodrigo could write us letters.

-She was convinced I looked just like her Canadian daughter in law.

-Rodrigo asked me if I knew ´´Brad Pitts´´ or ´´Anjolina Jolie´´ Haha! =P

It was a wonderful little visit. Funny thing about the Portuguese is that they will either want nothing to do with us, or basically adopt us on the spot.

The other Maria is this cute little old lady in our ward. She is such a trooper and comes to church every Sunday even if by herself. 

-She is so cute, a head of thick white hair.

-She bore the cutest testimony in Gospel Principles but she had to close her eyes because she was too embarrassed. =)

-She doesn't understand anything I say.

-I understand nothing she says (she has the thickest Azorean accent)

-She wore her sweats and slippers to church.<3

She also has a grandson named Rodrigo who is super cool, wants to be baptised, and is 7 years old.

We did a lot of fun things this week. We:

-Read a conference talk by President Uchtdorf. I don't care if it is wrong to say, HE IS MY FAVORITE!!!

-We bought some coloring books! Whenever we have an extra 5 minutes at lunch we like to color. YAY ART!!!

-Me and Sister McChesney are writing a book about our experience here on the Açores. its wicked cool!

-We discovered we both watched Sailor Moon as children. NERD MOMENT!

-We heart-attacked our new branch President's front door!

I love the mission so much! There are definitely hard moments and moments when I wonder if I am even a good missionary. Me and Sister McChesney were talking about it and we realized that probably EVERY MISSIONARY FROM THE DAWN OF TIME has felt that way. So I have resolved to let that go behind me, and strive to make everyday better than the last day. 

Shoutout to everyone I know on a MISSION! I love you all so much and look up to you all!

SISTER BARRON