The field is white- and new

Wow mission are great! Why didn't I do this a long time ago! I think everyone needs to do one of theses! For reals!
Well I will tell you wants gong on. On the way here on the plane ride I talked to a couple of people and it got me all pumped. when we arrived and met the mission president it didn't seem the he was very fond of me but I know those bad feeling were Satan trying to make me scared (Ryan told me that Satan was going to try and approach me as soon as I got here, so I was prepared and kept that shield up high and close to me.)There was another sister that was a little more talkative and I thought that President Cowley would love her more but I had to surpass those feelings. As soon as we got out of the airport it was hot and humid, not really bad but it was different. We headed straight to the office for some interviews, I was nervous to tell him that I didn't get to hand out a Book of Mormon on the plane. Just because I remember Mission presidents being mean (well Celeste’s mission pres.). It was all good. The interview went great and I felt a lot better. He is a neat guy. The more I hang out with him the more I like him. He is a very emotional guy.

Well we got back and ate dinner, Sister Cowley is so nice and a wonderful cook. We had testimony meeting, well kinda there was one sister that didn't want to bare her testimony. Weird! I use to be so afraid to bare it but it’s not scary anymore it’s just what I believe into be true! Hello not that hard. Maybe in front of a lot of people but we are talking about 15 people. Anyways President Cowley asked me to take her to the car and help get some pills. She was just tired. It’s a big change!

The next day I got to meet my companion. Its sister Quinton. She is tall and skinny and 24. She is from Idaho and so nice, would not hurt a fly. So we have to drive all the way down to Virginia cause I’m serving in Radford! It took three hours. We are staying with the Zisettes. Oh my goodness they are the coolest family ever. Oh by the way the houses here are so small and dirty and the ones in West Virginia are way worse. But the family we are staying with have a very nice house. When we first met them they were all playing and singing in a little group together, they are amazing musicians they are called Toss the Possum. Do you know that they eat those things here? Oh man the trees here are incredible just like Dan, Dave, and Don in the fam picture.
The work was really slow in the beginning because we are opening a new area, p.s. that is hard to do. I wondered why we weren't teaching anyone. I was really hard for me to teach all day at the MTC and the come here and not teach anyone. We met some people but didn't get to teach them. We had a lot to do before we got into the teaching work. like finding an apartment, getting new tires, getting hold of the bishop, getting use to Sister Quinton, and just a hole bunch I calling and little things.

One thing I really do enjoy is companionship study. Sister Quiton is teaching me so much about the history behind the scripture, so it makes sense in my mind. Its my favorite part. But finally we started teaching. Wow its great I think that’s my new favorite part. Well it’s all good. Ok well let me tell you that teaching in the MTC in a whole different ball game... those people are fake! These people out here are real, they have real problem and real concerns. It so much fun to teach about things I believe in and testify of the truth. I love figuring out what they need, it’s hard, but I love doing it. As soon as we get in the car after teaching, I always want to figure out what these people need to live a wonderful life in the gospel cause it so important. I just want everyone to see what they can have. But I will do my best and teach by the spirit and leave it up to the Lord's time. I love you all (we can’t say "guys", and they say "all" here so I will be saying that from now on.)

Love

Sister Barrand