Week 27 and 28 - July 24, 2023

I feel like it's been a while since I've sent an email.  Sorry about that, but it's OK because I'm back now. 

These past couple weeks have been pretty normal, nothing insanely crazy happened.  We're still searching for people that will follow what we teach and invite them to do.  Kinda a weird feeling, but after 5 and a half months of being in this small little area, I feel like I've spoken to just about everyone.  

We do have some people that are cool and that have a lot of potential to progress and make it far.  There was this one lady we started talking to recently, and when we visited her the second time, we asked if she was reading the book of Mormon we gave her, and she said, "Yes, you don't have to keep asking me, I love reading."  So that was fun.  We just hope her Evangelical mom doesn't tell her she's not allowed to talk to us (it's happened before with other people). 

Our main man Manuel is still going strong, he said he's still figuring out something (he won't tell us what) and then he's ready for baptism!  Hopefully he gets it figured out soon, I only got a couple weeks left here. 

I've recently been figuring out what does and does not bring me joy here.  For example, prayerfully working and serving and talking to people, I've found, has made me happy here. Whenever I want to rest or do nothing like Bruno Mars, I don't find myself as happy.  Every day, finding the motivation to work has been really hard, but I also ended every day with a positive attitude.

  

I'm so grateful for this opportunity I have not only to serve, but to see exactly how the gospel brings happiness and true joy into people's lives, including my own. I'm not seeing as much progress in people as I would like (the past couple months we've only had a maximum of three people at church), but I know according to the scriptures that if we "bear with patience [our] afflictions, [God] will give unto [us] success" (Alma 26:27), not only in missionary work, but in whatever we strive for.  It's not always easy, of course, to keep this patience, but it's what's expected of me as a missionary, and I know by the end I will be blessed as I continue. 

Thank you, everyone, for your support.  Send me an email letting me know how everything's going, I would love to hear from you!  Talk to you (hopefully) next week!

I must go -Elder Barlow

Week 25 and 26 - July 10, 2023

Hey, guys, this week was a quick one but also interesting. Let's get into it.

 

Most of this week was in the capital because my comp had to get his residency card, so that was fun.  Before we left on Tuesday, I taught my first district council about gaining Christ-like attributes, which was alright, I think.  I will say, teaching people about the gospel and teaching other missionaries are two completely different things.  

Right after district council, we found a big bus and embarked on the 4-hour drive to the capital, Santo Domingo.  When we got there, it was raining like crazy, which was nice.  We had Wendy's for dinner, which was also sick.  Every time you go to the capital you gotta take advantage of the American restaurants.  Hay que aprovechar! 

We slept in the hotel next to the temple, which was nice because we had AC and hot shower water.

 

The next day I got to spend time with the office missionaries which was cool.  I really want to work in the office now.  I also was able to finally get my box from home that my parents sent, so that was great timing, and well needed.

  "The Plaza of the Flags"

Me revisiting the first bench I taught at

We were supposed to go home Wednesday afternoon, but when we went to go find a bus home, it took us a while and the bus took forever to get here.  There was finally a bus at like 6:40, which we didn't take because it was full, and I wasn't about to stand on a packed bus with this big box I just got for 4 hours.  Plus, even if I did want to do all that, we would have gotten to Barahona at 10:40, and home at like 11.  Eso no sirve.  So, we called the APs and they took us back to the temple hotel to stay another night. 

While we were waiting 40 minutes for this bus, by the way, a crazy lady came up to us and tried to convert us from our faith. She said, "I used to be Mormon, but then I learned the truth, and your prophet is of the devil and you gotta leave," and all this garbage.  I was truthfully too tired for that, so I just kept smiling and saying, "OK, cool thanks."  She could read my disinterest, so she went over to my comp, who was sitting a little further away talking to someone else and tried the same on him.  She went a little harder on him, and eventually I had to go over there and cast her out, saying, "OK, we're done here, thanks bye."  She didn't say a word after that and left and everything was good.  Sorry guys, my testimony and knowledge of the church and of Christ is a little too strong for your nice little "Joseph Smith = Satan" stuff, but you're welcome to try again if you're looking to waste your time. 

The crazy lady talking to Elder Miza

Speaking of that, my testimony has been on an upwards slope recently.  I've learned to focus my faith on nothing else but Christ, the fountain of peace, and the source of happiness and all that is good.  I know for myself that as I have done that, I have seen it be good for me, and I have seen it build me into a better person.  I don't call that coincidence.  I love Jesus and understand what he has done so that I can be happy and so that I can become much better than I was. 

I also got to meet our new mission president and his wife, Presidente and Hermana Hernandez, who for mission presidents are super young, only like 40.  Very energetic and excited.  I'm excited to see what he brings to our big table. 

Things are going super well here.  Thanks, everyone, for your support and prayers, love y'all and talk to you next week!

I must go -Elder Barlow