Weeks 98 and 99 - December 16, 2024

Well, the day has arrived.  Today is my very last Monday in the mission, and in just 3 days from now, I'll be home with my amazing family.  I can't believe I finally made it. The day has arrived very quickly!  The past two years only felt like a fraction of that! 

Overall, I'm very grateful for my mission and all that it's helped me do and learn and become.  Being completely committed to the service of my fellow beings and my God has changed my life completely.  I've changed my perspective on a lot of things, my testimony has grown and has been strengthened a ton, and I've met many friends and not-so-friends along the way, each of them being a key part in my personal progression. Going on a mission is, and probably forever will be, the most important decision I've ever made in my life. 

As for my testimony as of now, I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunities to share what I know and feel to be true in the coming weeks, but I'll share it here as well.  I am a witness of God's divine love.  I have felt it many times during my mission, and I know he has been there for me from the beginning to the end.  My mission was hard, as I knew it would be, but not in the ways I thought it would be.  I went through a lot of mental and spiritual battles.  I know it was God that put me through them, and it was God that delivered me from them.  My mission served as the refiner's fire that I needed to become the better version of myself I always knew I needed to become.  I know that Jesus Christ lives, and so does His church.  He really does have living prophets and apostles that in reality teach us the truth, which come from God.  I have taught boldly and with full confidence throughout my mission this fact:  that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true and living church upon the face of the earth and the very kingdom of God here to prepare us for the Lord's second coming. 

A couple weeks ago, someone asked me what was the biggest lesson I had learned on my mission.  This question seems simple at first, but after thinking for a bit, I couldn't pin it down for him.  I told him I would need to get back to him on that one. After thinking it over, the biggest lesson I learned from the beginning to the end is the reliance I have on Jesus Christ.  He really is the way, the truth, and the life.  Any efforts we put into knowing or following God without Christ's atonement, help, or example are futile.  I tried many times during my mission to do things "my way" or to not follow the rules because I thought they were pointless or inefficient, but as I did this, I noticed that things usually ended up not working out.  As I tried harder to align my will with God's, I found more peace and happiness knowing that the work I was doing was good. 

Going forward, I will strive to apply the things I've learned here throughout the rest of my life.  I will strive to rely on my Savior more, following his example in all things by always asking myself, "What would Jesus do?"  I will seek opportunities to serve, and I will continue to grow my faith, hope, and charity.  I will increase temple service, church activity, and I will no longer make excuses for inactivity.  I'm so happy with what my mission has helped me become, and I'm really excited to see where I end up in life using what I've learned and relying on God's help.  One last thank you to everyone who was with me along the way, I'm grateful for your prayers.  Can't wait to see you all soon!  Adios!

I must go home -Elder Barlow

Weeks 95, 96, and 97 - December 2, 2024 - Penultimate Email

 Hey, everyone, first of all I just wanted to thank those who wished me a happy birthday on Thursday, it really meant a lot!  These past couple weeks went by fast, and I sure am enjoying my time teaching people in the tropical paradise of Samaná!

Like the title says, this should be my second to last email, as my final testimony will be sent out in two weeks, my last Monday in the mission (that is if I don't forget).  November has officially ended, it was great while it lasted, and it definitely went by super-fast!  As of today, I have 23 months being set apart, which is crazy.  Now that I'm in my final month on the mission, it's weird for me to think that by the end of this month I'll be home with my family.  Not because I don't want to be with my family of course, but because of how fast it all went by. 

But as I said, I'll talk more about my experience as a whole in my next, final email, so keep an eye out for that!  For now, I'll keep you updated with how these last couple weeks went. 

Elder Espinoza and I have been working to find and teach those that will receive us, as well as making sure the members of the church here stay active and strong in the faith.  Samana work is exciting but also not easy, just like anywhere else.  I would say the biggest struggle here is finding the people who have the desire to go to church and grow their testimony. Everyone we meet is either already part of a church and not interested in anything different or new, or they don't go to any church and believe that their "belief" in God is enough. 

Nevertheless, we believe God has people prepared for us and we're working hard to be in tune with the spirit to find them. 

I've also got to know the area a lot better.  It's not very big, at least the part we actually work in, and I feel like I've seen all of it by now.  The only thing I'm missing is to deepen my search and try to speak with as many people as I can before I leave the area.  I've also been out on the bridge to Cayo Vigia, and also up to Playa Rincon, which were two very cool experiences.  My birthday landed on Thanksgiving this year, and we had an amazing Thanksgiving feast at the sister of a member's super big house that looks like it's from the Clue board game. 

As I've said, I'm really enjoying my time, and I'm continuing to learn a lot.  I'm really excited to be home, but I also understand there's still work to be done, and that I'm not done as a missionary until I'm released.  With only a couple weeks left, I'm looking forward to devoting more and more of myself until the buzzer sounds! 

I think that's about it for now.  Thanks again for all the love, prayers, and support.  Any support you guys give me means a lot.  Love you all and I'll talk to you again in just a couple weeks!

I must go -Elder Barlow

Week 94 - November 11, 2024

 Hey, everyone, back at it again with another update.  This one is pretty big, as a ton happened in just the past week. Let's get into the big news. 

To start, I was moved out of Maimon on Thursday.  After four (very fast) months of serving there, I can confidently say I put my all into that area, and I left it content knowing that I really gave it my all.  No regrets.  I also really enjoyed my time there a lot, it was a great area and I made a lot of great memories with the people we taught and with my comps that I served with there.  Now, I've moved on to one last area for one last transfer (six last weeks of the mission).  I'm now in the beautiful peninsula of Samaná, and there's nowhere else I'd rather finish up my two years of service.  I marvel at the creations of the Lord as I see the ocean come up against the south side of the area, as well as the palm trees that cover the sides of the luscious hills that surround us.  I'm also, of course, super excited to get to know the people here and to help them come unto Christ. 

Transfers were on Thursday, but I actually didn't get to Samaná until Saturday afternoon, because the drive is six hours from the capital, and we had to stay in the capital on Friday for a special devotional with Elder Ronald A Rasband. That's right, an apostle came to visit us!  We were there in Santo Domingo, the West, North, and East missions all together to listen to the words of this man called of God.  If I had to describe this meeting we had in just one word, I would honestly say it was life-changing (two words but close enough).  It strengthened my testimony so much to hear his words, as I felt the Spirit confirm to me that he really was the Lord's mouthpiece just as Peter or James or John were in the past.  Truly an incredible experience! 

As I'm entering the last six weeks of my mission, I've been reflecting on what I've learned throughout my almost two years here.  I would say I've definitely strengthened my testimony a lot of the truthfulness of the message we share every day.  I know it's true, and now it's not just because my parents or leaders tell me it is.  I can feel the truthfulness of what I teach every time I teach it.  I've also been able to really feel of God's unending love for me.  I know He knows me better than I know myself, and I can see that all the trials I went through were tailored specifically for my growth, and they really did make me a better person.  Every time I was clouded in distress or discouragement, God was there to answer my prayers of personal peace.  I've always known God was real, but on my mission, I've learned that He truly is a God of peace, love, and mercy. 

I'm truly excited for these last couple weeks of the mission.  I have a feeling they're going to be some of the best ever!  I love you all and appreciate any form of support you give me.  I'm praying for you constantly!  Talk to you again soon!

I must go -Elder Barlow

Weeks 89, 90, 91, 92, and 93 - November 3, 2024

Hey, guys, it's been a while since I last wrote, sorry about that, but these weeks have just been flying by so quickly and all of them just blend together so easily now.

About a month ago, we got to watch General Conference, which was great!  The talks were all really good, and I of course, loved President Nelson's talk.  The DR getting a new temple in Santiago is something we all here have been waiting for, so it was a really awesome moment for us to finally hear the announcement, and to be a part of the construction of that temple! 

In the past couple weeks, me and Hayes have been working really hard, but unfortunately, we've been showing very little results.  All the people that were progressing seemed to suddenly completely lose interest and now it seems nobody here in Maimon has any interest to follow God.  It's very sad, and Elder Hayes and I have been very frustrated at the slowness of the work.  This Thursday is transfers, and we'll see if I leave or if God still needs me here for some reason. 

This Thursday also is the beginning of my last transfer (six weeks) in the mission.  I'm very grateful for the many things I've learned about myself, about God, and about life during my two years here.  My mission has been something that has definitely pushed me past my limits, and it was definitely what I would call the "refiners fire," which technically is exactly what I wanted my mission to be.  I've been pushed and refined, and I would say I'll be coming out of this a much better person than I was before.  I still got a ton of things to learn and change, but it would be disingenuous to ignore the changes I've made so far. 

That being said, we're not done yet.  There's still some work to be done, and whether that's somewhere else or here in Maimon, it's work that's gotta be done.  I'm ready to make this last transfer one to remember and to go out with a fight. 

Thanks everyone for your love and support, I'll keep praying for y'all.  Please pray for us in Maimon so that we can find those that are ready for the gospel... if they really do exist. 

I must go -Elder Barlow

Week 88 - September 30, 2024

Hey, everyone, it's been a while since I last sent an email, although it hasn't felt like it has.  Time has just been flying by, and I'm starting to near the end of this great adventure.  But more of that later, let's go over what has happened in the month of September. 

I would say this last transfer that ended last Thursday was the best transfer I've had on my mission in terms of performance. Elder Mumford and I worked super hard, and we also really made sure to not just be busy, but effective.  I'm very happy with how we did last transfer.  Instead of just 10 new people a week, we applied a new finding strategy and then we were able to find above 20 people a week.  We also were able to get 14 people to church for their first time, but the problem we're seeing now is just that although we can get them to come to church, the hard part is getting them to stay.  All those 14 people only went once and then lost the desire to go again.  So, we're really trying to help church be more enjoyable for the visitors. 

We also had a baptism!  It was the little sister of Darlenny, who got baptized in the river the transfer before.  Her name is Ruth Ester, and she's crazy, but we're really happy to see the Gospel of Jesus Christ bless another person.

 

As of last Thursday, I'm starting my third transfer in Maimon, Elder Mumford finished his mission and went home (very sad), and I'm now with my third comp here.  His name is Elder Hayes, and he's from Georgia.  A man of few words, but his words sure can be powerful.  I'm excited to see what we end up getting done this transfer, and I'm really anxious to keep the momentum going that me and Mumford started. 

As I said, this great adventure is starting to come to a close. I'm in my second to last transfer, and I'll be home right before Christmas.  I feel like time has just flown, and after all the ups and downs and everything I've learned, it's hard to explain how I feel about it all coming to an end so soon.  I feel excited to see what life has for me on the other side, but also anxious because I'm not sure what life has for me on the other side. One thing's for sure, I'm really going to try to make these last couple months the best.  I definitely want to go out on a high note. 

Keep me and the work in your prayers, I promise they're working, and I'm still praying for all of you!  Thanks to those who supported me this far, I couldn't have done this without you.  Love y'all, and I'll try to send another email a bit sooner!

I must go -Elder Barlow