Week 70

well this week was fairly well. we had planned to have a few baptisms this last week but it ended not working out. but, with that being said, we are still planning on finishing this transfer with another 6 sons and daughters of god entering into the waters of baptism!! i love being companions with elder Bowcutt!! he was the AP for 6 months so im learning a lot with him! he goes home next transfer but im hopeing that president lets us stay together!!!

oh yeah, president dalton is going home is 3 weeks...........................its gunna be really weird around here with a new president.

so heres a picture of us at our house.

Elder Da Costa (DL) the lone brasilian from RIO, Elder F.C. Rodarte III from washiongton! (SUPER REDNECK!!!!!) myself the florida cracker, and Elder Bowcutt from texas

so its a fact that here in brasil if you dont like coke, you´re a loser!!! gotta love it!

and heres my beloved shoes! it makes me sad that we might have to go our seperate ways...

Week 69

This week was awesome. I have the best companion I've ever had so far on my mission and I'm learning a bunch!!!!! Elder Bowcutt from Spring, Texas. This week we baptized twins!!!! Two young women! hahaha - It was awesome! This next week I'll send the pictures because I kinda forgot my camera...

So I'm in a new ward, but I have already used the church building before... so with that being said, I saw a few recent converts and members yesterday that I knew from my old ward. Everyone was going crazy saying "oh look who came back!" haha - It was awesome. But by far the best 2 moments I've ever had on my mission, I had yesterday. 

1) A woman came up practically crying telling me how grateful she was that I helped her husband come back to church. She said he wasn't someone that I baptized but it's someone who needed me to help them come back to church. She said I was called to serve here in this mission to help the church grow through baptizing recent converts, but more importantly, to reactivate her husband in the church.

Just so that everyone can know, this man now has a calling in the elders quorum presidency.

2) My recent convert from this same ward who I thought was inactive.......CAME RUNNING UP TO ME YESTERDAY TO GIVE ME A HUGE HUG SAYING THAT HE'S WORKING ON HIS MISSION PAPERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday was a day full of joy and excitement!!!! I love serving the Lord and seeing the fruits of our labors!!!!!!!

Hope everyone is having a good week! Love you all!!!

Elder Barnard 

Week 68

Seems like everyone is doing good back home! I was super excited to talk to everyone!! I'm super pumped for the new weight room also....!!! Can you send me a pic??

 

So................I was transfered. :( But, I am now with "the hero" missionary of the misson!!! His name is Elder BOWCUTT!! He's from texas and I'm super duper excited to be his companion. He and I are going to be in charge of MY FAVORITE ZONE IN THE WHOLE MISSION  --GUARAPIRANGA-- the last time I was in this zone was about a year ago when we broke a few records! And so now as one of the leaders of this zone I'm looking forward to breaking our own records from last year!!! haha its gunna be a great transfer! I've  never been so excited for a new transfer to start!!!!

 

So I kinda forgot to ask you yesterday...as much as I hate asking this I was wondering if you could put like 60 or 70 dollars in my account. I bought an exercize training thing from sister dalton and she kinda needs the money because shes going home here pretty soon! Lemme know if thats a possiblity.. 

 

I'm also gunna have to buy new shoes again but I'll see if dad can help me out with that. I have two pairs, one that are going to be hopefully thrown in the garbage today and the other pair I bought a few months ago. They are also kinda falling apart but I'm gunna send them to a shoe shop to get fixed.

 

Anyways hope everything is well and i hope everyone has a good week!!!!

Elder Barnard

RE from mom

Money has been sent with a little bit extra to contribute towards the shoes! ;*  I’m happy that your transfer is going to be a great one!!!! Can’t wait to hear about all of the successes!!! Love you!  Will check in later this week and let you know how things are going!

Love, MOM

RE from Missionary

It's a very good thing that I have the best mom ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thank you thank you thank you!!!!!

Elder Barnard

***Too adorable not to include <3

 

 

 

 

Week 67

Well, I am convinced that this week was a mark in my mission in where I, Elder Barnard, changed for the better. Through my loving mission president, and the Lord I was able to turn myself into a new person. My faith this week was at a new level, there was literally no doubt inside me. It got to the point to where a miracle happened: (1 of many)

It was Friday morning and when we woke up it was raining.....the first thought was "JÁ ERA". (well I'm done for) we only had 3 or 4 new investigators (our goal was 12) and our plan that day was to find the rest. I knew it would be harder for the people to let two young adults that are soaking wet come into their homes to talk about Christ, instead of if it were us clean and dry without the rain. so the first thing I did that morning was a prayer, like always. but this prayer was different. This prayer was a prayer of determination and without having a show of a doubt i prayed, this was a true prayer of faith. what I asked was simple, clear and direct. Showing God that we would do our part and that it was just to ask such as thing as this... I asked God to hold off the rain from the moment we would step outside of our apartment so that we could help his children find the paths of righteousness through my companion and I.

 BELOVED PERSON WHO IS READING MY EMAIL that afternoon, in my area, not a drop of rain fell from the skies.

I KNOW that this was not a coincidence. It did not rain because of our faith. the faith we have in our Savior and in this work.

I was greatly humbled to have had such an experience as this this week. because of our faith in CHRIST we were able to beat our goals....and in the end BAPTIZE another child of God!!!

I love this work and the privilege I have to be a representative of Christ!!

with much love,

 Élder Barnard

Week 66

Well, this week was cool but at the same time a little heart breaking.

We "baptized" a girl this week whose information was lost and so in the church system she was a member of the church who hadn't been baptized. To help all wards everywhere I would ask you to help the missionaries in your ward find this list! Only the bishop has access. It's called "actions of the bishopric" or "bishopric actions". Something like that.. haha I'm not sure what the name is because I only know the name in portuguese hahha but please find the list and look for errors!! So that was pretty cool because of this list we have a few more people who will be baptized this week as well.

This week like I said was also heart breaking......why?

I was not able to meet all my goals this week.....RM´S will understand what I'm talking about.

But that's pretty much it. hope everyone has a good week this week!!





Bonus question and answer:


What's been your favorite transfer so far?
***My favorite transfer was my 3rd one.  I baptized every single week that transfer and it was the only time on my mission where I felt like myself.


How long in a day do you knock doors?
***I try not to knock many doors during the day because I personally would never let anyone enter info my house if they just showed up out of nowhere!


Do you think in Portuguese now?
***I've gotten say good as I can get!  A lot of members are asking me how I learned so fast and so well!


How much do you use English?
English is something I use when I don't want other people to understand what I'm saying...but I can only speak it to other Americans so it's fairly rare!

Week 65

Well this week I realized that I have 5 more transfers left before I have to go home. The thought made me a little nervous because I have NO IDEA WHAT I'LL DO WHEN I GET HOME!!!!

So I got transfered to another area. CAPÃO REDONDO. I continued being a district leader but the companionships in my district are the zone leaders and the assistants...HAHAHAHA. So I'm the leader of my own leaders!!! President wants me to be the example in the district.

So with a new area came a new comapnion, new house, and new "room mates" my companion is ELDER GARCIA and I am finishing his training. My new house isn't a house! It's an apartment shared with the one and only companinship of the ASSISTANTS...hahaha this transfer should be good!!!

We are teaching a family that I hope will be baptized before this transfer ends!!!! Family of 5!!!! The youngest daughter is only 3 so she won't be able to get baptized yet but im super excited for this family!!!!

But that's pretty much it for now! Hope everyone had a great Easter!!!!!

Next week I promise pictures!

Week 58

Well, my child (Elder Wilson) got transfered and will be leaving the nest tomorrow.... its hard to see how fast chickilings grow. It's gunna be a bittersweet moment seeing the best missionary this mission will ever know leave me back here in the ghettos of RANIERI. But with that being said, my new companion is elder V LIMA. He's from my group!! He's needing a little bit of a booster upper this transfer and so now he's with me! :D This transfer's gunna be great! Well, I'd love to stay and talk for hours behind hours but I'm actually needing to go. Next week I'll send a better letter with more details!!

Pic from a member that fb friended me!