Week of Dec. 8- Getting lost in Arivaca

Where do I begin! My heart is so full of gratitude for the miracles that I have been able to be a part of this week. The biggest one is Heidi. We have been teaching her for two weeks. Every lesson that we teach is full of tears and the spirit. She lives an hour south of us so it's hard to see her more than 2 or 3 times a week but when we do we make it memorable. This woman is seriously incredible. She has been church hopping all 44 years of her life, for the most part. She loves reading and has already read the first 5 books in the book of mormon and the Gospel Principles book. When we asked her if she would be baptized by someone holding the restored priesthood authority of God she burst into tears. She explained to us that all her life she has felt like the outcast for her beliefs. In her mind she was picking pieces of every religion and not knowing where to put them. Then as soon as we starting teaching her the puzzle was all put together and she wasn't alone anymore. THIS WOMAN IS INCREDIBLE! She has family out of state she she wanted to get baptized when she goes and visits them over Christmas. Well after two weeks of ward members reaching out to her she called us today and told us her family is coming the second week of January to see her get baptized because she wants her ward family there as well!!! We couldn't be more excited for her! January 10th can't come soon enough. She will be the first baptism in over 3 years in the Madera ward! Next- Since Heidi lives an hour away we are out in Arivaca by the border a ton. They have been trying to get a branch started out there but there aren't enough active members. As I looked through the area book I was shocked at how little work has been done out there! We were determined so get the ball rolling in Arivaca so we set out for the hills and quickly learned why it seems like work hasn't been done out there......there are only 500 people in that tiny town and they all live miles and miles apart in the middle of nowhere. It's really hard to find less actives out there or anyone for that matter. We got lost about a billion times! BUT when we did talk to people they let us in because they said we were brave for chancing their beware of dog sign, coyote sign, or chancing a rattle snake in the dark! Every time someone opens a door they would say something like "Hey wait why didn't by dog attack you" or "Don't you know there are coyotes and rattlers out there, GET INSIDE!" It was awesome! Sister Call is afraid of all three animals so she wasn't too thrilled with me but it was an adventure! We have a lot of work to do though! Flirt to convert- Okay so I don't believe that missionaries should ever flirt to convert. EVER! But somehow that's what happened this week. We took a widow to one of our lessons with an investigator named Bob. Little did we know they were born in the same New York hospital a year apart from each other. They were both raised atheist and they are both so sassy! It was the weirdest thing I've ever witnessed. These 73 and 72 year olds were flirting over the Book of Mormon. WHAT! Sister Call and I just sat there with our jaws open not knowing what to do. The lesson went really well though I guess. We got a return appointment and some fellow shipping so I guess things are working out will for Bob. This week was full of up days and down days. One day this week we didn't get to teach anybody. We went over to see Barbara. It had been a week since she called us she wasn't ready. We went over and she told us that she was too busy and couldn't see us. She did the classic "I'll call you" escape. We both are heart broken about Barbara she really is so ready for the Gospel. After a day of knocking and then Barbara I was pretty down on myself and just having a rough go. We went home and I found a letter in the mailbox from a young woman in Safford. That letter changed everything! I was in tears in no time! She has decided to start preparing for a mission and says that she considers me her big sister. Okay the Lord knows us all too well. After that I stopped the whole self pity and tried to think of all the things that I am grateful for. I cannot even express how grateful I am for my savior. I am grateful for the success that I have had on my mission. I am grateful to be part of this great work. I have never before understood how much joy and peace this gospel and the atonement give. Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us to much. 3 nephi is one of my favorite books. I love reading about Jesus Christ praying with the Gentiles. The love that he has for us is indescribable. Thank you all for your letters, thoughts, and prayers. I love you so much! -Sister Barton

The district

​Arivaca. I told you it's easy to get lost!

Heidi

​Going to the Border last p-day. Too fun!

Week of Dec. 1- They Didn't Teach Me That At The MTC

Alright I promise this weeks letter will be better than last weeks! These computers just give me no time! Okay so A LOT happened this week. 1. We had interviews with President Passey! I love and admire him so much. I have been struggling with a few things and before I even said anything he answered a ton of my questions. He is just incredible. 2. I went into Spanish mode this week! Well actually everyone around me went into Spanish mode and I sat there wondering what was going on. This week we went on exchanges with the Sister Training leaders. I go to go up to the ghetto of Tucson with Sister Lopez! She was in the Gila Valley with me so it was really nice to be with a familiar face again. The only problem is that every other companionship of Sisters around me are Spanish Sisters. Which means I got to go to a Spanish area! When I was with Sister Smyth I could pick up a little bit of Spanish but I had no clue what anyone was saying the entire day! It was weird. I officially know how missionaries feel when they go to a different country. We did have one lesson in English though! Luckily she spoke good enough English to have a lesson that I could understand. She is a super cool lady with a really sketchy past. She was covered in tattoos - you know like the tear drop ones and stuff. Plus she was lacking quit a bit of clothing and was playing with a snake when we walked into the apartment! I was so excited to teach her as soon as we walked in! I wasn't disappointed. We talked about being grateful for what the Lord has given us. She talked about how she was raised in the church but when she moved to Tucson in Elementary School the kids would abuse her verbally and physically because she was a Mormon. Finally she told her mom that she wanted to go to a different church because then people wouldn't beat her up. Later on She got caught up in negative things and just lost sight of the straight and narrow path. She told us that she was so grateful that she was able to find her way back and got out of all that mess. After everyone in the room listed a few things that they were grateful for we asked them how they show their gratitude. As a group we decided that God gives us talents, blessings, and strengths so that we can share them with others. We read the story in Matthew about Christ turning just a few loaves of bread into basket fulls in order to feel thousands of people. It's the same way with what we have been given. With small and simple things are great things brought to pass. As soon as we choose to let our blessings bless others lives, our blessings multiply! She asked us if we would give her a couple of extra Books of Mormon so that she could share them with her friends. She says, "You know people are scared of you missionaries. I have sins on me so they aren't scared of me. I'm just like them. You guys are scary though." She is such an amazing example to me! She taught me how important it is to use everything that the Lord has given us. I read a talk called Baring your Burdens with Ease. We all have been through hard things that have lead us to where we are today. Lorita is determined to take all of her mistakes and let them help her be a tool in God's hands. Oh how I love meeting people like Lorita. 3. We have a new investigator! Her name is Heidi. She found us on mormon.org! We got a text last Monday giving us her address and phone number. We drove all the way to the boarder to go meet her! She is incredible. She loved church on Sunday! Everyone in the ward was so excited to see an investigator come to church! We love Heidi. She has already read the first 80 pages of the Book of Mormon so that's pretty much incredible. She lives an hour away so it's hard to see her very often but when we do it's always a good lesson. Please keep her in your prayers! 4. Thanksgiving was incredible! We got to visit lots of widows and had dinner with a new family in the ward. There were 4 Sisters and each of them reminded me of one of my own. They were teasing each other and giggling the whole time! Loved it! Okay I have to go but I love you all and am grateful for you! The work in Green Valley is making so much progress. This area is starting to blossom right before our eyes. I just can't figure out why they call it GREEN Valley.... Today we are going to the boarder of mexico. The Elders have been talking about it all week. We'll see how that goes! I love you all! I love this work. I love this gospel! I want to invite you all to pray for missionary experiences. Find someone to serve. Even helping a random old lady put up her Christmas lights is missionary work (Did that yesterday). This church is true. The gospel is here for us to share. The lord answers every single prayer said. I know it.

Week of Nov. 24- Sorry for the rush

Okay I have a lot to say and only 8 minutes to say it! Yikes haha k here we go Grandpa- you are doing missionary work in Arizona and you didn't even know it. This week I had another Blonde moment. We went over to see a less active. The man that she is living with (as his care giver) is not a member. Okay so they are like the same age so I totally thought they were married so I tried to get on his good side. Sister Call told him I was really smart and that I could figure out any of his riddles. Yeah nobody knows why she is promising these things BUT!! Literally evey single one of his riddles are the ones Grandpa Jerry uses. SO yes actually I got all of them right AND he is now one of our investigators because he says I'm a smart girl so he will let us teach him! WHAOOO! Thank you grandpa jerry! Okay next. I pretty much met the Schanz family this week. They are new members who just moved from Chicago and the Husband is literally a mexican version of Nathan Schanz we had dinner with them and I was just on the floor laughing the whole time. It was heaven! Yoga cactus is officially a thing. We normally just do it in the car as we drive by but sometimes we stop for a pic it's too funny. I read a talk this week about receiving revelation. It was really good haha I'll explain in a year. we keep meeting people that have traveled all around the world. Yeah my world traveling bucketlist as quadroopled this week. I just want to see everything! Ahh I'm out of time so I love you and miss you and am grateful for you! Happy Birthday mom! We have 3 new investigators this week. The lord is for sure blessin us. Pray for barbara becuase she is fantastic and i love her. Okay the church is true! Bye! :)

Week of Nov. 19- 19 going on 90

HELLO FAMILY AND FRIENDS! Remember me? I'll just introduce myself because it's what I do all day long. I'm Sister Barton. I'm a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Green Valley/Sahaurita, Arizona is currently my home. 98% of the population is retirement communities. Residents spend most of their time sleeping, doing puzzles, golfing, watching TV, and enjoying the beautiful warm weather. Driving past golf courses is one of my favorite things because it's the only green thing in Arizona! The work here is a little slower kinda like the people but that's okay! I have never seen so many Prius' in my whole life. The lord has a sense of humor. This week really has been great though! It's a completely different world from Safford but I'm learning to love it. Sister Call is probably one of the funniest people I've ever met. Half the time we don't know why we are laughing but we are! We cover a really big area mostly because each the 8 communities that we cover are all spread out so we do a lot of driving. During those drives is all laughing though. I've never cried so much from laughing in my whole life! Most of the people that retire here don't just retire from work they kinda retire from life. But the ones that do let us in sure love to tell us stories and for the most part don't realize that they are less active. The appointments that we do have seem so go a little long because old people love to talk about their "Golden Years". A lot of the people that we visit are just really lonely and have forgotten why the gospel is so important. I've met about a thousand Vietnam veterans. I had to stop telling them I went to Vietnam because then they always think I'm crazy. Since we don't have a ton of investigators and since most of our ward is in wheelchairs and walkers we do a lot of service which I love! It's really neat to be able to help people in a million different ways. The area book hasn't really been touched for a few months so we have a lot of former investigators and potential investigators that we have been trying to meet. A lot of the communities here are private so we have to be careful about who we talk on the streets and we aren't allowed to knock on just anyone's doors. It makes for a few interesting encounters with security/the cops but that's okay! I'm learning to have no fear and just go for it. One of the weirdest parts about Sahaurita is the evenings. We were trying a former investigator on Wednesday at 7:30. Sister Call had warned me that this place is a ghost town by 7 but I didn't believe her. We knock on the Woman's door and after a few minutes a random voice yells "Who is it" We told her it was the Sister Missionaries. A few seconds later the voice yells "It's the middle of the night are you girls crazy!".... YIKES! Nobody knows when 7:0 turned into the middle of the night but it's just weird. We try to do our meals as late as possible so that we get as much done before 7 as we can but after 7 it really does feel like we are the only ones in the world. We do have 3 investigators though! I've only met 2 of them and one of them we found this week! So please pray for our investigators! Thanks! I love you all and am loving my missionary life! It's by far the hardest thing I've ever done but I'm learning so much about my Savior and what he wants from his children. I know that this church is true. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. I know that families can be together forever. I know that prayers are always answered. We might not get the answer that we were expected but the answer that we need will always come. I know that miracles come according to our faith. And I KNOW that God wants us to be happy. That full happiness can only be found through The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for all the love and prayers. It's very much needed and appreciated! :) Have a great week! -Sister Barton

Week of Nov. 12- Week of Crazy

Sorry for the picture overload but I hope you enjoy! The past week has been insane. Yes, I have been transferred to Sahaurita. They tell me I'm not south of Tucson but I really have no clue where I am. My new companions name is Sister Call! She has been out 16 1/2 months which means she is really experienced and I'm sure she knows a lot of different finding ideas which I'm excited to learn! We have a car which is kind of sad but our area is HUGE so I guess it's for the best. If you've seen meet the Mormons you'll be happy to hear that THE CANDY BOMBER IS IN MY WARD! Yay! I cannot wait to meet him! Since he is kinda famous I guess he goes around the country doing speeches a lot so I don't know when I will meet him but I'm determined to catch him one of these days. Oh speaking of famous people- Grandpa do you know who Paul Robinson is? I guess he used to be a professional football player? Well, I have been really good friends with him for 4 months and I didn't even realize he was famous. Whoops! I guess he almost when to the Olympics or something I don't know! But he is really cool. His daughter is a member. I loved teaching that family! This past week was "The day" again so I went back to Disneyland/tombstone with Sister Munn. She is incredible and was an answer to a lot of prayers. At the end of the day we were driving to meet up with the Sisters when we got to talking about goal for our missions and who we want to become. I told her about my goals and she told me what she thought my strengths as a missionary are. This was really neat because literally everything on her list were things that I had been really praying about and trying to improve on. The lord answers our prayers in the greatest of ways! Sister Munn made me promise that I wouldn't be so hard on myself and I would work on treating myself how I treat others. Woof that's hard. Okay so This computer just told me it is going to turn off in 2 minutes so ahhhh! Sahuarita is no joke! Okay so I'm happy and still loving the whole missionary life! Being in a new area is super scary and makes me nervous and a tiny bit lonely but the lord knows what he is doing! The Mission President says he has a lot of faith in my and my potential so I guess I'm going to rely on that one! I love you all! Scriptures of the week: D&C 50:24 and 40-46. The whole thing is good but that is the highlight! Love you all have a good week. Someone please say hi to Toby for me and kiss cute Chloe! Thanksgiving is right around the corner and I can't hardly believe it. It's 85 degrees and sunny in Sahuarita...sorry i had to pull that one :)

​This is AJ he calls me his biker chick. I promised him I'd be back in a yeah to go on a motor cycle ride with him. He isn't a member but has the most solid testimony of anyone I've ever met.

God's Plan

Where to begin...... This week was a big testimony builder that God has a plan and knows exactly what we need. All throughout the week the spirit seemed to continually direct our lessons towards The Plan of Salvation. Each time that we taught this lesson to someone different a different aspect of the plan was emphasized and stood out. To one woman knowing that her imperfections and limitations will be gone after the resurrection helped her feel at peace and helped her understand how much God loves her. To another investigator, knowing that we lived with God before this life and that he knows us individually meant everything. Then last night we taught a teenage girl about how she can be forgiven because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The spirit filled the room as this young girl learned about the Plan that her Father in Heaven has for her. This repeated over and over with different parts of the plan. It really showed how every part of the plan was set because of how much God loves us! Everything that he does is because we are his children. Later on in the week our good Catholic Friend/neighbor passed away. Do you remember a few months ago when I told you about Bootsie? She was very particular about what scriptures we read to her and really didn't like when we tried to teach her but she sure loved feeling the spirit as we sang to her. Her favorite song was "Oh My Father". At the beginning of every visit we would sing that song together. The last time that we met with her I asked her if she understood what that song was about. It was the Plan of Salvation. She paused for a second and then read the words a little closer. I'm so grateful that the last lesson we taught my dear friend was a lesson about being a daughter of God and being able to return to live with him again. Knowing her love for that song brings so me so much peace and comfort. I know that the missionaries that are teaching her in the spirit world are singing that exact song and teaching her it's meaning. Right after we heard about Bootsie we went over to her house to visit the family and ask if we could do anything. Bootsie had told the family about us. They expressed so much gratitude to us and invited us to the funeral. We will be going to the funeral at the Catholic church this week! The daughter wants us to sing at the funeral but has to get approval from the rest of the family. OH BOY. Doing it for Bootsie! I don't know how I'm going to get permission but I'm planning on doing her work as soon as I can. That woman deserves the best! I have a testimony of the Gospel. I know that this life is the time to prepare to meet God. I know that Heavenly Father knows each and every one of us personally. He is there for us no matter what. Having that knowledge is the biggest blessing I could ever ask for. I love my family. I'm so grateful that I get to live with them for all eternity! If eternity with the Barton Family isn't pure happiness than I don't know what is! I know that God is a god of many mighty miracles. One of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon has become Mormon 9. Miracles haven't ceased. We get to be a part of miracles according to our faith. Looking back on my life God had his hand on every single second of it. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His ways are far greater than our ways. Isaiah 55. I love you all! Have the greatest week ever! September just started, right? I can't figure out why every tried to go trick or treating in August. Someone is messing with time! October went way too fast! -Sister Barton

Being Blonde Brings Miracles (Oct. 27)

This has been a week full of miracles! The first was when we went to visit a less active woman. She wasn't home but her elderly neighbor was outside smoking a cigar and drinking a beer. He was a soldier and has owned bars all over the US. Ted expressed how he has lost hope for this world and felt so sorry that we have to live and eventually raise kids in such a sad world. He doesn't believe in an after life and says there is no way there is a God because God would never let the world become so evil. We tried to testify of our loving Heavenly Father and his divine plan for us. With little success we asked him questions on his beliefs. We didn't make much progress but his care giver came out and graciously offered us chips and water. She told us that she isn't a member but her best friend is. We had to go to another appointment but we left her with out number and a pamphlet. Two days later we tried that less active again. Christina, the care giver, saw us from her window and came running out. She said we looked too tired to be outside any longer and forced us to come inside! Before we knew it we hate plates of food in front of us. Her member friend came over and ate lunch with us. After the meal we said, "Since you shared so much with us can we share a message with you?" She hesitated her friend accepted excitedly. We taught the first discussion. Her friend bore her testimony and the spirit filled the room! Christina said she was feeling different than she ever had before! It was amazing to witness. We asked her if the Hermanas could teach her mom and she said yes. As we were walking out her friend said that she had been running away from the missionaries every time that she had brought them over. It was neat to see how the spirit helped us develop a relationship of trust with Christina in order for us to be able to teach her. Since she speaks Spanish we gave her to the Hermanas but it was good to know that we got to be a part of this woman's plan. The second was on Friday. We had an appointment with one of our investigators named Sheila. After teaching her we had some time to spare until our next appointment so we decided to try a referral. Well we got the wrong trailer number. We were looking for a sad old lady but instead we found a happy 21 year old man who was more than willing to chat. We asked him questions about his belief and he said he didn't really know the purpose of life. He knew there was a God and that God expected him to be a good person but that was about it. We had a lesson about the Plan of Salvation and our purpose here on earth. He was blown away! We asked him if he had ever prayed to know if God was listening to his prayers. He hadn't but he said he would and that he wanted to learn more. He is YSA age so we had to give him to the elders..BUT once again it was cool to see the sparks starting to light in someone else. Third miracle is the Blondie one. Okay so I have my blonde moments but this one turned out to work in our favor. We went to meet a part member family. They are never home and I have yet to teach them. I knew the mom was a member and that dad wasn't. I thought their daughter was a member....So we went over and nobody was home. As we were leaving Taylor (senior in high school) pulled into the drive way. We got talking to her and she was just really cool. After a little while she started talking about how she loves hearing where missionaries are from because she was a lot of friends that are on missions all around the world. We started talking about missions and she made it sound like she was considering going...I invited her to come to lessons with us! We love taking less active girls to lessons because everyone benefits so much more! I thought this was a great opportunity. We got her information and then left. Taylor had mentioned she knew a girl in our ward so on Saturday we asked Mikayla to call and invite Taylor to church on Sunday. Taylor told Mikayla that she had never been invited to church before but would love to come! She had family over this week but next week Taylor will hopefully be there! At church Mikayla said she had been super nervous to invite Taylor because they hadn't talked in a long time. I asked her when Taylor had been to church last. That's when I found out Taylor isn't a member! Okay well I felt pretty dumb but at the same time it was a miracle to me. It was a neat experience for Mikayla and Taylor. Fourth miracle. Mario and an Investigator Shelbi bore their testimonies in church yesterday! It was fast Sunday because stake conference is next week. The spirit was so strong. They are both supposed to be in 7th ward but Mario likes 3rd ward and Shelbi likes 4th/being taught by sisters instead of elders. (We only cover 3rd and 4th) We have to give both of them to the elders and are working to get them to go where their priesthood leaders are. It's been fun teaching them as well! They are both excited to be baptized and are already glowing with the light of Christ. It's hard to not get to teach them because we love them so much but I know the 6th/7th ward elders will do a good job preparing them for baptism. This week was also zone conference! We got to watch "Meet the Mormons!" It was sooooo good! Have you all seen it yet? If not you should probably go and take your friends. It's wonderful. We were all so excited when President Passey told us we would be watching it and then Sister Passey came up to the stand and said, "Oh and while we are watching this movie we will be going out row by row to get flu shots." Okay cool. They got us all excited and then threw that at us. It was okay though I didn't pass out so I can't complain too much. I somehow have a little more time so I'll just describe Safford for you :) This week I was trying to figure out how to explain this town and this is all I can come up with- It's the town in foot loose. There are lots of cotton fields and a cute main street. Everyone here is either a farmer, a minor, or works at one of the many prisons. Sister Rhodes and I cover the area with the Catholic Church in it so pretty much most of the people that we talk to are Catholics. I'm learning a lot about the Catholic Church. It's actually not super different from our beliefs. There are a lot of similarities. When we meet Spanish women it almost always turns into the scene in the Grinch where he gets elected and all of a sudden we are being fed spicy/cheesie concoctions . I absolutely love it here and pretty much feel like I have lived here my whole life. My testimony has grown more than I could ever imagine. Yesterday a member of the Stake Presidency told us a story about how he was baptized at 17 and then wanted to badly to go on a mission. He filled out his papers but never turned them in because he lacked the faith that he would be able to handle it. He was really shy and couldn't imagine having to talk to people all day. Now he speaks in church at least once a month and told us how he knows that God gives us callings in order to make our weaknesses strengths. I have seen that time and time again. Heavenly Father knows us so much more than we know ourselves. I love this gospel and the joy and peace that it brings. -Sister Barton p.s. Have you read the talk 'Upon the tops of the Waters" by Jon Warner. You'll love it!