Week 52 and 53 - January 15, 2024

 What's up, all!   Time for another "weekly" email.  This week was super interesting, so I'll actually write about it this time. 

We actually were able to find a good amount of pretty interesting people.  On Thursday, we had Zone Conference which was fun.  Then afterwards, I was a little stressed because I didn't know who we were gonna visit.  I prayed for God to guide us and to help us find new people to teach who were ready for the gospel, and that day we found two really cool people.  The first house we found was actually super hidden, but we found it and the lady we talked to was really nice.  In fact, after about 30 seconds of talking to her she said she'll go to our church instead because it's closer than the one she goes to, and she actually went yesterday, so that was fun. Then we found another guy and his wife, and they're really interested in the messages we have, agreeing with everything we're saying and stuff.  We'll see how these guys progress, I'm really hopeful. 

My child (the guy I'm training) is doing alright.  I'm still kinda figuring out how to train and finding out new ways to help him learn faster, but for now I'm just focusing on teaching by my actions and trying to be a good example.  I'm not great at that either, but it's alright.  

I had an exchange of companions for a day with the other companionship we live with and got to work with Zolly (Elder Zollinger) for a day, which was fun.  He's a fun kid.  We played dominos against some old dudes and actually won, which never happens.  Old Dominicans are telepathic when they play dominos, it's actually crazy.

 

Got a crazy story for you guys.  After church yesterday, we had branch council, where the church leaders and us talk for a bit about how the work is progressing and other stuff.  The Bishop said, "Alright so you guys had Lolo and Benson in church today, anybody else you want to mention?"  I was confused because Benson was not in church.  Benson is this Haitian guy the missionaries had been teaching since long before I got here.  Bishop told me that he saw him walking up to church as he arrived.  I said, "Well, he wasn't in church today, so we'll see how he's doing when we go by his house later." 

We go by his house at like 6 later that day and as we're going down the steep stairs (they live on the side of a big cliff), one guy comes out of his house on my right and says, "No, no Benson was taken by immigration, he's gone!"  I thought he was joking, there's no way.  I keep going down and then a guy comes out of his house on my left and says, "Looking for Benson?  Nah, immigration took him, he gone."  I was flabbergasted.  I call down to the guys that are gathered around Benson's house in disbelief and ask if he's home, and they confirmed one last time, "No, immigration took him."  Que loco.  RIP Benson, was a great dude, hope he's living it up in Haiti, sounds like a chill place. 

Anyway, that's probably the craziest story I'll share for a while, had to get it out though.  Thank you all again for your support and love, I'm praying for y'all and hope 2024 is starting off well. Talk to y'all again soon!

I must go -Elder Barlow

Weeks 50 and 51 - January 1, 2024

 We are officially halfway there, with 1 out of 2 years under the belt.  It's crazy that time went by that fast, I can't believe I'm already a year in.  I also can't believe that by the end of this year, I'll be home.  As I've said before, I have learned so much, and I'm not only grateful for every month that I've spent here, but I'm even more grateful that I still have a year left.  I feel like I just got the hang of everything and still got a lot to learn.  I'll try to make the best of this year!  2024 is gonna be one I'll always remember!

As for these past couple weeks, it's been fun.  Training was a little difficult at first, but I'm getting the hang of it, and the area is starting to progress a little more each day.  We're finding a ton every day.  I still feel like we don't have enough people to teach.  My Spanish is getting really good, too, mainly because I'm doing all the talking and work by myself now, which I actually kinda enjoy.  I'd rather do everything than have a comp that doesn't let me do anything.  Besides, in my first transfer I, too, was a young lad that didn't know anything at all either, so I don't blame him.  We did say that starting this year I'll have him start taking some initiative in stuff like lessons and planning and finding and whatnot, so I'm excited to see him progress and grow as a missionary and a person.

Not too much happened these past couple weeks other than the crazy finding we did.  Last Monday was Christmas, so Merry Christmas everyone, you're welcome.  They put a couple movies on the mission drive for the day, so I got to watch Polar Express, and for the first time watching it in like 10 years, I enjoyed it.  Also, last Monday and today we had to stay in all day instead of going out to work at 6 like we usually do, because it's a little dangerous around these parts during the holidays apparently, lots of borrachos. 

I hope everyone is doing good and having lots of success in whatever it is you're doing.  I have lots of hope for this year, it'll be a good one for sure.  Thanks so much for the support, I'm praying for y'all and talk to you soon!

I must go -Elder Barlow