18-23 July 07
I’m wondering if my letter are boaring to all you cause I talk about a lot of stuff that just may not be amusing to you, but it’s what going on in my life and it’s all I know right now.This week has been pretty good. We have a baptism date set for Ches the 50 year old mason that we have been teaching for a couple weeks. It’s set as a goal right now for the beginning of nest year. He did say that if it continues like it has been and he doesn’t get any bad feeling he will move the date up. He came to a baptism and the talks were by Elder Wray and Elder Manookin. It was pretty neat to see the spirit working through them to teach Ches. Ches liked the baptism and even got to take home the chocolate cake for coming. j/k.
We were approached by a young lady while we were doing service in the library to help her find a book for herself and the kids. Of course we knew exactly what “Book” they were really searching for. We bore testimony on families and how they are the most important social unit here on earth. Tears came from her eyes as her heart was full of the spirit. We hope to start teaching her soon because she had a run in with the Jehovah Witnesses and they scared her a little.Heather is praying about a Baptism date her husband is already a member and she would love to be married in the temple some day cause she was actually married in the red lobster parking lot with only his mom and sister there. She would love for her husband to baptize her but he needs some time. It was pretty neat to hear her say that even if her husband doesn’t baptism me I’m still going thought it. But when you have a husband that’s not living up to the standards it’s really hard for the non member to keep them as well.I don’t know if I’ve ever told you about a Chastity lesson but they are kind fun and can be very spiritual.
We Taught Jubal about all this exciting stuff and he said it would be hard but he will try. I’m sure it would be hard if you didn’t know any better. He actually said that he would give up tea if he didn’t have o live the law of Chastity. Oh if it were only that easy. We knew we needed to teach this especially after he kept missing out appointments due to being at the doctor figuring out if this crazy girl is/was pregnant.
Oh lets see we went to an interesting wedding at the church. They were deck out in Indian/pirate silver clothing. And a lot of the family was not member and were chewing in the church building. I’m just so grateful for the sacred temples. It pretty amazing how the spirit works. My companion and I have notice some pretty amazing teacher out here and were wondering how they thought so simple but powerful. I prayed in faith will to acted upon what ever the lord asked of me. Today we had a little zone conference at a park. I received my answer. Elder Wray gave a talk about how we all can be better teacher and how we can teach though the spirit. It was simple but powerful. I’m grateful for the keys that were restored upon this earth. I know that we can receive revelation through God. I love this work and the simple beauties of it.
Love Sister Barrand
Thursday, July 26, 2007
They were at Church!!
11 July – 18 July
Things are going really well here. We have some amazing missionaries and member missionaries here. We love those families that will help us out with making our investigators feel at peace. If you can believe it we had two investigators at Church. This never happens. Heather is married to a less active Army member and has been taking the lessons for about two years. We just stated working with her but she seemed to open up with us. It’s so nice to have the ward support for sister missionaries, they have really good impression on sister and we hope to keep that. I don’t think I’ve been asked more about how I feel about arranged marriages than on my mission. The Bishop’s wife is all about them. Actually the Bishop’s son just left for the MTC and we got to give him all the advice to prepare him, he reminds me of Austin.
There are so many funny things going on here as spiritual I just don’t think they are funny if you can’t see and hear them in person. My English is getting worse and worse out here, its not good, i’ll tell you. The most common is mixing up past, present and future tense. It’s so horrible. I just heard from the district leader say to all of us as we were leaving “ Hey before you all get gone” Man, I’m talking like that now, so you are going to help me.
Jubal came to Church as well and brought his two boys. He’s really starting to change for the better. Some members had all of us over and we had a great lesson on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Members gave him the Book of Mormon Reader for him to read with him boys and he was really excited. I’m sure it will help him understand cause theses people out here don’t read very well. I know it helped me, I still remember mom reading those to Austin and me.Oh the neatest thing happened. There are some Part member Families that we are trying to work with. All the wives and one husband sit on the left side of the Chapel. Well some of the wives have told us not to preach at all to any of their husbands. One Wife told us that her husband would disown their daughter if she went on a mission (so we are not even allowed to call their home. But in spite of all this we were able to have dinner with the Pattersons. We had a wonderful spiritual gospel talk. I bet he didn’t even know we were teaching him.
The sprit witness so strong to me as we were testifying. I’m sure it was the most bold I have ever been and I knew that’s what the lord wanted me to say. At church the wife came up to us and said that her husband couldn’t spot talking about how these missionaries had this really strong spirit about them and how impress he was. The husband (Bryan) is stuck in the war chapters and told us he would finish the Book of Mormon. The only reason Bryan is reading the Book of Mormon is because he didn’t believe his wife could finish his the book. I’m glad he took that step and is reading the words of God. Bryan loves how we could be spiritual and funny at the same time. We ended up telling him that joke about the war chapters. Bryan is a very logical, he was a Dean at a School and had a lot of Mormon students always trying to convert him. He didn’t know it but he testified about the truth of the Book of Mormon. He was just over taken by Joseph Smith’s testimony.
He knew that Joseph wouldn’t write as false book to gain nothing.Just to let you know teaching Jehovah witnesses and Masons is quite interesting. And a mom who has to have every little detail explained to her. We gave her the Strength for Youth pamphlet and she said “You know that part about how it says to choose you friends wisely, well I don’t believe in that.” It’s sad and so important that we learn this as children so we don’t become stubborn by the time we are older. She says some pretty funny stuff like we will have been taking about Christ for a while and she’ll pipe in every couple of minutes and say “you mean Jesus?”You wouldn’t believe how much fun this is and how many funny things we hear. This work is so wonderful and I’m so glad I have a big mouth to share it.
Love you all
Sister Barrand
Things are going really well here. We have some amazing missionaries and member missionaries here. We love those families that will help us out with making our investigators feel at peace. If you can believe it we had two investigators at Church. This never happens. Heather is married to a less active Army member and has been taking the lessons for about two years. We just stated working with her but she seemed to open up with us. It’s so nice to have the ward support for sister missionaries, they have really good impression on sister and we hope to keep that. I don’t think I’ve been asked more about how I feel about arranged marriages than on my mission. The Bishop’s wife is all about them. Actually the Bishop’s son just left for the MTC and we got to give him all the advice to prepare him, he reminds me of Austin.
There are so many funny things going on here as spiritual I just don’t think they are funny if you can’t see and hear them in person. My English is getting worse and worse out here, its not good, i’ll tell you. The most common is mixing up past, present and future tense. It’s so horrible. I just heard from the district leader say to all of us as we were leaving “ Hey before you all get gone” Man, I’m talking like that now, so you are going to help me.
Jubal came to Church as well and brought his two boys. He’s really starting to change for the better. Some members had all of us over and we had a great lesson on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Members gave him the Book of Mormon Reader for him to read with him boys and he was really excited. I’m sure it will help him understand cause theses people out here don’t read very well. I know it helped me, I still remember mom reading those to Austin and me.Oh the neatest thing happened. There are some Part member Families that we are trying to work with. All the wives and one husband sit on the left side of the Chapel. Well some of the wives have told us not to preach at all to any of their husbands. One Wife told us that her husband would disown their daughter if she went on a mission (so we are not even allowed to call their home. But in spite of all this we were able to have dinner with the Pattersons. We had a wonderful spiritual gospel talk. I bet he didn’t even know we were teaching him.
The sprit witness so strong to me as we were testifying. I’m sure it was the most bold I have ever been and I knew that’s what the lord wanted me to say. At church the wife came up to us and said that her husband couldn’t spot talking about how these missionaries had this really strong spirit about them and how impress he was. The husband (Bryan) is stuck in the war chapters and told us he would finish the Book of Mormon. The only reason Bryan is reading the Book of Mormon is because he didn’t believe his wife could finish his the book. I’m glad he took that step and is reading the words of God. Bryan loves how we could be spiritual and funny at the same time. We ended up telling him that joke about the war chapters. Bryan is a very logical, he was a Dean at a School and had a lot of Mormon students always trying to convert him. He didn’t know it but he testified about the truth of the Book of Mormon. He was just over taken by Joseph Smith’s testimony.
He knew that Joseph wouldn’t write as false book to gain nothing.Just to let you know teaching Jehovah witnesses and Masons is quite interesting. And a mom who has to have every little detail explained to her. We gave her the Strength for Youth pamphlet and she said “You know that part about how it says to choose you friends wisely, well I don’t believe in that.” It’s sad and so important that we learn this as children so we don’t become stubborn by the time we are older. She says some pretty funny stuff like we will have been taking about Christ for a while and she’ll pipe in every couple of minutes and say “you mean Jesus?”You wouldn’t believe how much fun this is and how many funny things we hear. This work is so wonderful and I’m so glad I have a big mouth to share it.
Love you all
Sister Barrand
Atonement of Jesus Christ
4 July- 11 July
Well, well, well, life is great, isn’t it just great that we are all bless to know of our saviour and his redeeming sacrifice! Man what would we do with out the Atonement? In my studies and companionship studies we have been focusing on the Atonement of Jesus Christ the most curtioal part of this gospel. As you probably already know that Faith in Jesus Christ and Repentance through the Atonement of Jesus Chirst is just the beginning but it is the most important things that we can have the investigators apply into their lives. I know baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and endure to the end are all very so important but if someone does not truly exercise faith in Jesus Christ and repent using the Atonement, then they will want the rest of the Gospel. As Elder Holland says. The Atonement of Jesus Christ in the Center and everything else is just an appendix. We have been working extra to make sure we share this knowledge with everyone. So we wnet to a little festival and talked to this Bernard guy. I always have a picture of the Salt Lake Temple on the back on my planer to show people as we approached them. We showed Bernard the temple and invited him to Church.
HE CAME!! I don’t think you know how huge this is, not even our investigators come or the ones with baptism dates come. This is huge. Well sadly enough he is in the Elder’s area but he called us the other night and told us that he enjoy church and the Elder seemed a little pushy but that it was ok. He mentioned that he has to start figuring out what this dream meant. He had a dream about theses heavenly keys acouple days before and he didn’t know what it meant but as soon as he saw the picture of the Temple he seem to come together with this dream about these heavenly keys. We shared with him that we are all prepared differently and you will be able to receive the truth.We have a little trailer park that we always go to because we always have amazing lessons there with Jubal. Teaching Jubal always makes Sister Larsen and I sooooo excited to be teaching. For we know when he is understanding the spirit speaks stronger to us. As we went over to teach Jubal, we meet his Friends girlfriend.
At first you would be a little distracted by her piercing, tattoos, and immodest dress, some who looks like they would not be interested. But as we were offered some tea by Jubal we declined and that only caused great integument to this young 19 girlfriend. She asked some amazing deep soul searching question and we just enthralled with everything we had to say she as well as Jubal could not be distracted by anything else. It was amazing the interest level of this child of God. Amanda the girlfriend thought she stumped us when she asked us what’s the differences with our church. Both Sister Larsen and I took a second cause we got really excited and we didn’t want to scare her with our excitement. Of course we told her and have been teaching her. During the first pray she was smoking and didn’t close her eyes but yesterday after we had taught her she said the closing prayer. We look up after the pray and she smiling and told us she felt a warming sensation through out her face. She was gleaming her smile was from ear to ear. She was so happy. It feels so good to know that I’m a messenger of God and to witness and see for myself the love and joy this Gospel brings us is truly the most amazing thing.Love you all
Sister Barrand
Some Quotes
" An't nobody know God better than i do!" -Rex"
That's Right, Grandma!" - Dotty (a grandma)
"When i got Baptized in the spirit, i feel down on my knees and was blinded by the light!" -Rex
"I know Christians are not right, cause i feel asleep during thier Church." -Amanda
P.S. you have to say all of these with a hick accent!
Well, well, well, life is great, isn’t it just great that we are all bless to know of our saviour and his redeeming sacrifice! Man what would we do with out the Atonement? In my studies and companionship studies we have been focusing on the Atonement of Jesus Christ the most curtioal part of this gospel. As you probably already know that Faith in Jesus Christ and Repentance through the Atonement of Jesus Chirst is just the beginning but it is the most important things that we can have the investigators apply into their lives. I know baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and endure to the end are all very so important but if someone does not truly exercise faith in Jesus Christ and repent using the Atonement, then they will want the rest of the Gospel. As Elder Holland says. The Atonement of Jesus Christ in the Center and everything else is just an appendix. We have been working extra to make sure we share this knowledge with everyone. So we wnet to a little festival and talked to this Bernard guy. I always have a picture of the Salt Lake Temple on the back on my planer to show people as we approached them. We showed Bernard the temple and invited him to Church.
HE CAME!! I don’t think you know how huge this is, not even our investigators come or the ones with baptism dates come. This is huge. Well sadly enough he is in the Elder’s area but he called us the other night and told us that he enjoy church and the Elder seemed a little pushy but that it was ok. He mentioned that he has to start figuring out what this dream meant. He had a dream about theses heavenly keys acouple days before and he didn’t know what it meant but as soon as he saw the picture of the Temple he seem to come together with this dream about these heavenly keys. We shared with him that we are all prepared differently and you will be able to receive the truth.We have a little trailer park that we always go to because we always have amazing lessons there with Jubal. Teaching Jubal always makes Sister Larsen and I sooooo excited to be teaching. For we know when he is understanding the spirit speaks stronger to us. As we went over to teach Jubal, we meet his Friends girlfriend.
At first you would be a little distracted by her piercing, tattoos, and immodest dress, some who looks like they would not be interested. But as we were offered some tea by Jubal we declined and that only caused great integument to this young 19 girlfriend. She asked some amazing deep soul searching question and we just enthralled with everything we had to say she as well as Jubal could not be distracted by anything else. It was amazing the interest level of this child of God. Amanda the girlfriend thought she stumped us when she asked us what’s the differences with our church. Both Sister Larsen and I took a second cause we got really excited and we didn’t want to scare her with our excitement. Of course we told her and have been teaching her. During the first pray she was smoking and didn’t close her eyes but yesterday after we had taught her she said the closing prayer. We look up after the pray and she smiling and told us she felt a warming sensation through out her face. She was gleaming her smile was from ear to ear. She was so happy. It feels so good to know that I’m a messenger of God and to witness and see for myself the love and joy this Gospel brings us is truly the most amazing thing.Love you all
Sister Barrand
Some Quotes
" An't nobody know God better than i do!" -Rex"
That's Right, Grandma!" - Dotty (a grandma)
"When i got Baptized in the spirit, i feel down on my knees and was blinded by the light!" -Rex
"I know Christians are not right, cause i feel asleep during thier Church." -Amanda
P.S. you have to say all of these with a hick accent!
It's July already!!
27 June- 4 July 2007
Hope you all had a great 4th of July. And Dad I hope you don’t feel any older cause you have looked the same for about 35 years!!! The 4th was celebrated a little different this year. I wasn’t all about fishing for pennies on the bottom of the pool but getting to know some investigators at a member eating festival. We shot off some fire works and I screamed during everyone. He he. The other we thought about were we should go cause the day was coming to an end. I said a little pray in my heart to know where to go. I felt strongly that someone was willing and ready to hear a message that night. I got excited cause being out here with all the reject there are not many who would listen right away. I knew someone would let us teach them. Sister Larsen had similar feelings. We drove down the road where some potential investigators lived. We both felt good about these trailer homes. We headed off to meet Jack.
We had knocked on his door before but we never got an answer. This time a man came to the door. We asked him if he was Jack he said no and Jack doesn’t live here either. We thought he was trying to get rid of us cause that’s their way of telling us they are not interested. He said he is “Jubal, you know from the bible.” He looked like he didn’t want to talk to us but I proceeded to tell him what we were doing. He so kindly stopped what he was doing and sat down to hear the message. This is one of the best messages I had ever taught the spirit was so strong. It was absolutely amazing what a difference it was when they want to know the truth. He was so intrigued in what we teaching, he looked us in the eye the whole entire time. You could tell that he had and was going through a change of heart. As we were sharing the first vision, there were goose bumps on his arms and tears in his eyes. We knew he was doing his best as a single parent of two boys. He had recently gotten out of jail and was trying to make life better. That all Heavenly Father want is for us to find peace. He was truly searching for that, and because of the prompting that we receive we were able to show him the way to happiness.
We have an investigator Kelly Williams, that is praying about the BOM and Joseph Smith. She had ordered the BOM and Lamb of God from the TV and is now meeting with us. If she finds out they are true she will be baptized.
You know how by small a simple things great thing are come to past. Well Satan does just the opposite he carefully brings us down. 2 Nephi 28:21 Yeah for happy people who like the Osmond. Sherrie Gross is a Catholic lady who has a little(huge) obsession with the Mormons especially Donny. She is a talker and will go on and on about how wonderful Mormons are. We taught her and it ended up being three hours long cause she went off on some rampage after every principle. I was so draining. We just wanted to shake her and let her know that she can be one to. It’s like she thinks she can’t part take of this gospel. She just loves how wonderful Mormon families are and doesn’t think we have any problems. I will testify that having a family in the gospel is wonderful and brings a lot more clarity and Joy but everyone goes through trials. But we just know that those trials are good for us and apart of our loving Heavenly Fathers Plan. Man what would we do with out Plans. Plans are so great. We won’t be here if it weren’t for this Plan of Happiness. Oh my goodness I love sharing that with others. I kind of feel like this is all I know and will ever know. And that’s good.
Love you all
Sister Barrand
Hope you all had a great 4th of July. And Dad I hope you don’t feel any older cause you have looked the same for about 35 years!!! The 4th was celebrated a little different this year. I wasn’t all about fishing for pennies on the bottom of the pool but getting to know some investigators at a member eating festival. We shot off some fire works and I screamed during everyone. He he. The other we thought about were we should go cause the day was coming to an end. I said a little pray in my heart to know where to go. I felt strongly that someone was willing and ready to hear a message that night. I got excited cause being out here with all the reject there are not many who would listen right away. I knew someone would let us teach them. Sister Larsen had similar feelings. We drove down the road where some potential investigators lived. We both felt good about these trailer homes. We headed off to meet Jack.
We had knocked on his door before but we never got an answer. This time a man came to the door. We asked him if he was Jack he said no and Jack doesn’t live here either. We thought he was trying to get rid of us cause that’s their way of telling us they are not interested. He said he is “Jubal, you know from the bible.” He looked like he didn’t want to talk to us but I proceeded to tell him what we were doing. He so kindly stopped what he was doing and sat down to hear the message. This is one of the best messages I had ever taught the spirit was so strong. It was absolutely amazing what a difference it was when they want to know the truth. He was so intrigued in what we teaching, he looked us in the eye the whole entire time. You could tell that he had and was going through a change of heart. As we were sharing the first vision, there were goose bumps on his arms and tears in his eyes. We knew he was doing his best as a single parent of two boys. He had recently gotten out of jail and was trying to make life better. That all Heavenly Father want is for us to find peace. He was truly searching for that, and because of the prompting that we receive we were able to show him the way to happiness.
We have an investigator Kelly Williams, that is praying about the BOM and Joseph Smith. She had ordered the BOM and Lamb of God from the TV and is now meeting with us. If she finds out they are true she will be baptized.
You know how by small a simple things great thing are come to past. Well Satan does just the opposite he carefully brings us down. 2 Nephi 28:21 Yeah for happy people who like the Osmond. Sherrie Gross is a Catholic lady who has a little(huge) obsession with the Mormons especially Donny. She is a talker and will go on and on about how wonderful Mormons are. We taught her and it ended up being three hours long cause she went off on some rampage after every principle. I was so draining. We just wanted to shake her and let her know that she can be one to. It’s like she thinks she can’t part take of this gospel. She just loves how wonderful Mormon families are and doesn’t think we have any problems. I will testify that having a family in the gospel is wonderful and brings a lot more clarity and Joy but everyone goes through trials. But we just know that those trials are good for us and apart of our loving Heavenly Fathers Plan. Man what would we do with out Plans. Plans are so great. We won’t be here if it weren’t for this Plan of Happiness. Oh my goodness I love sharing that with others. I kind of feel like this is all I know and will ever know. And that’s good.
Love you all
Sister Barrand
Monday, July 02, 2007
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Change of Heart
Ok Bridgeport is coming along already.
We had to spend days cleaning the apartment that’s right days not hours but days. Because it was gross but it’s all good. We got a new faucet that doesn’t leak anymore. You know how we live in a funeral home well they are all incredibly nice to us cause we cleaned up their apartment. We have to do our laundry up in the attic and it’s a bit scary, the other day I was creeping around trying to find any dead bodies under the planks. He he. At least we get a washer and dryer!
Yesterday it was 104 with humidity that’s pretty warm I would say. Having Marcia sick might be a good thing cause maybe if you wait another three months until April I could join you in Costa Rica. I think that’s a wonderful idea. So you were talking about the prayers that are put in the temple and I will have to say “Amen” to that. I know that I have been blessed to be able to stay on my mission because my name was put in the temple. I’m grateful for the inspired prayers that are said, it’s truly a blessing, also to have the whole world praying for us missionaries is good too.
This week we have been trying our hardest to not only find member, less actives, investigator, potential investigator, or new investigator but just the houses alone in these “Appilation Mountains”. There are like no addresses here not even the people who live in their own houses know where they live. We pulled over this this run down shop looking for Rt 1 and asked the man “Do you know where Rt 1 is?” he said “ umm well I don’t know what this road is but if you pull into that church ight ther, they should know.” We found out that we were on Rt 1.If you can imagine me but not me that’s really is ¼ Japanese that’s my comp sister Larsen. We are more and more alike everyday. We are way excited and just get all giddy when we talk about this area. We both love opening an area. It’s just great. We say and think all the exact same stuff. It’s a little weird but fun. I’m loving missionary work more than ever.
I think opening an area brought the fire back cause I haven’t been this excited since I first came out and opened Radford. It crazy how it all works.This week I notice that it is so important for the people to pray. They need to know how they can have a personal relationship with their father in heaven and it’s not only for people who can speak smoothly. Well we had Ursula pray and her prayer was simple but from her heart. The spirit was strong as we all knelt in a circle with our heart all pointing in the same direction. Ursula was gun hoe about coming to church, but as soon as the spirit leaves the advisory works the hardest to brings them down. Ursula didn’t make it to church.Sister Larsen and I gave talks so maybe it was an ok thing that she didn’t come. Have I ever told you I don’t like giving talk.
I’m getting better at being ok giving them though. There was another neat talk about how the pretzels came to have their shape. If you notice they are shaped like arms folding to say a prayer. So every time you eat a pretzel you can think of praying.We are teaching a Jake a Jehovah Witness. It interesting to hear him speak about all the principles that he doesn’t agree with, but won’t make that step of faith to attend our church. His wife is dis-fellowship and I think he is holding on to that cause he doesn’t want to be dis-fellowship, he wants to dis-fellowship them.
Zone conference was an different kind of Zone conference. We Did some exercising cause our missionaries are lazy. I could not sit or go up and down stairs with out looking like a goon for 4 days. He he I was really soar. There’re Elders and they didn’t take in consideration that there would be sister there. I kept telling them to slow down and speed up. I loved this conference cause everything pertain to me and what had had been studying lately. President stressed planning and how important it is. I had just studied that and could get enough. Everything is planned everyone is part of this wonderful plan of Happiness. Our Zone Leader talked about a bunch of really neat thing but what seem to be the theme ever since sister Larsen and I got here in my studies and such is “A Change of Heart” or “Being Born again”.
It’s been a really neat start here in Bridgeport. I really know why I’m called here. I know that I was called of God to serve here in West Virginia. I love how I’m still in the states but West Virginia is totally different than anything you could even imagine. I love it here and I love all the support I receive. I love that I have the ability to be apart of anyone’s spiritual conversion because everyone else has the social conversion. Be Bold and Open your month and invite people to act. Be apart of thier social conversion and let the missionaries take care of the spiritual conversion, That’s our job.
I love you all
Sister Barrand
We had to spend days cleaning the apartment that’s right days not hours but days. Because it was gross but it’s all good. We got a new faucet that doesn’t leak anymore. You know how we live in a funeral home well they are all incredibly nice to us cause we cleaned up their apartment. We have to do our laundry up in the attic and it’s a bit scary, the other day I was creeping around trying to find any dead bodies under the planks. He he. At least we get a washer and dryer!
Yesterday it was 104 with humidity that’s pretty warm I would say. Having Marcia sick might be a good thing cause maybe if you wait another three months until April I could join you in Costa Rica. I think that’s a wonderful idea. So you were talking about the prayers that are put in the temple and I will have to say “Amen” to that. I know that I have been blessed to be able to stay on my mission because my name was put in the temple. I’m grateful for the inspired prayers that are said, it’s truly a blessing, also to have the whole world praying for us missionaries is good too.
This week we have been trying our hardest to not only find member, less actives, investigator, potential investigator, or new investigator but just the houses alone in these “Appilation Mountains”. There are like no addresses here not even the people who live in their own houses know where they live. We pulled over this this run down shop looking for Rt 1 and asked the man “Do you know where Rt 1 is?” he said “ umm well I don’t know what this road is but if you pull into that church ight ther, they should know.” We found out that we were on Rt 1.If you can imagine me but not me that’s really is ¼ Japanese that’s my comp sister Larsen. We are more and more alike everyday. We are way excited and just get all giddy when we talk about this area. We both love opening an area. It’s just great. We say and think all the exact same stuff. It’s a little weird but fun. I’m loving missionary work more than ever.
I think opening an area brought the fire back cause I haven’t been this excited since I first came out and opened Radford. It crazy how it all works.This week I notice that it is so important for the people to pray. They need to know how they can have a personal relationship with their father in heaven and it’s not only for people who can speak smoothly. Well we had Ursula pray and her prayer was simple but from her heart. The spirit was strong as we all knelt in a circle with our heart all pointing in the same direction. Ursula was gun hoe about coming to church, but as soon as the spirit leaves the advisory works the hardest to brings them down. Ursula didn’t make it to church.Sister Larsen and I gave talks so maybe it was an ok thing that she didn’t come. Have I ever told you I don’t like giving talk.
I’m getting better at being ok giving them though. There was another neat talk about how the pretzels came to have their shape. If you notice they are shaped like arms folding to say a prayer. So every time you eat a pretzel you can think of praying.We are teaching a Jake a Jehovah Witness. It interesting to hear him speak about all the principles that he doesn’t agree with, but won’t make that step of faith to attend our church. His wife is dis-fellowship and I think he is holding on to that cause he doesn’t want to be dis-fellowship, he wants to dis-fellowship them.
Zone conference was an different kind of Zone conference. We Did some exercising cause our missionaries are lazy. I could not sit or go up and down stairs with out looking like a goon for 4 days. He he I was really soar. There’re Elders and they didn’t take in consideration that there would be sister there. I kept telling them to slow down and speed up. I loved this conference cause everything pertain to me and what had had been studying lately. President stressed planning and how important it is. I had just studied that and could get enough. Everything is planned everyone is part of this wonderful plan of Happiness. Our Zone Leader talked about a bunch of really neat thing but what seem to be the theme ever since sister Larsen and I got here in my studies and such is “A Change of Heart” or “Being Born again”.
It’s been a really neat start here in Bridgeport. I really know why I’m called here. I know that I was called of God to serve here in West Virginia. I love how I’m still in the states but West Virginia is totally different than anything you could even imagine. I love it here and I love all the support I receive. I love that I have the ability to be apart of anyone’s spiritual conversion because everyone else has the social conversion. Be Bold and Open your month and invite people to act. Be apart of thier social conversion and let the missionaries take care of the spiritual conversion, That’s our job.
I love you all
Sister Barrand
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Bridgeport!!!
Hello Hello
We started our week with a yard sale for Brenda Early, the dearest lady ever who also happens to be deaf. (I think I've mentioned her before to you.) The original thought was that we would stay for an hour or two, and then someone else in the ward would come over and help talk to people...Alas the best plans often go awry don't they? We ended up doing the yard sale from about 11am til 4pm. It was a VERY bright sunny day and my 'freckles' definitely popped out a lot more that day. But we were able to sale quite a few items, things we didn't even IMAGINE would sell...Like old lingerie. I know. What didn't sell we took over and donated to Heart and Hand. Brother Gene Pennington in the ward came over and helped us take all of the items, since Brenda's car is not currently working in any way, shape, or form.Sister
Judy Clarke's got baptism on Sunday. It was a wonderful memorable occasion. The Spirit was so strong and overflowed our hearts. I remember right after I was baptized the water was warm but as soon as I got out of the fount it was cold until Celeste or Danica wrapped a towel around me then I felt the warmth of my savior and knew that I was following my savior. We were able to wrap the towel around Sister Clarke and let her feel her savior’s love. She stood there in her wet dripping cloths expressing her tender feelings.
Telling us how different this baptism was then another one she had previously had. We all know that because of the authority we have here on the earth that was restored by Joseph Smith. She just couldn’t stop smiling, it seriously was from ear to ear.There was a Jehovah's Witness Convention held for three days downtown Charleston. On Sunday we were able to attend for a little bit. It was definitely was not General Conference. It was different when they clapped every 5 minutes. But some of the speakers had interesting things to say...On e of them did a Freudian and slip and said “ bla bla bla…. and this Great Confusion ….bla bla bla…” Whoops I think he meant Convention. And did you know that they have an invincible Leader? It was weird because they some good thing to say but it was allover the place and they were defiantly miss a big part.
There were a lot more then I thought about 2,500. I’m grateful for the gospel.Stephanie is doing well-she is going to pray about setting a baptismal date! The Elders will be teaching her and Nathan from now on. (That good bye was pretty hard.)Transfers were this week and both Sister Glad and I have been transferred out of South Charleston. As a matter of fact, we actually closed our area to Sister Missionaries- Media office, for the future. It’s sad. But…. I’m once again opening an area up to sister in Bridgeport West Virginia. My new companion is Sister Larsen and we live in the biggest apartment in our mission. It above a funeral home!! Crazy, I know.
The funny part is the Elders said they cleaned it really well but I don’t think they know that you actually have to vacuum or whip off the counters at lest to call it cleaning. It was nasty. Oh and smells like urine but its all good. I really am excited to be opening it to sister I had a lot of fun in Radford with that and I already love my new comp. She is quarter Japanese so now we are really going to be asked if we are sister.I must be a horrible companion because I’m on my eighth companion and I’ve only been out 9 month. I asked President how many companion I was going to have and he said he was going to try to get me a new one every three weeks. Ha ha.I’ve been have some great studies. Found out that we all have a new tougue…if you read from 2 Nephi 31 & 32 and from Elder Holland’s talk (Tongue of an angel). You will find that you have one also.
Love you all-Sister Barrand
I live at
215 East Main St Apt A
Bridgeport 26330
We started our week with a yard sale for Brenda Early, the dearest lady ever who also happens to be deaf. (I think I've mentioned her before to you.) The original thought was that we would stay for an hour or two, and then someone else in the ward would come over and help talk to people...Alas the best plans often go awry don't they? We ended up doing the yard sale from about 11am til 4pm. It was a VERY bright sunny day and my 'freckles' definitely popped out a lot more that day. But we were able to sale quite a few items, things we didn't even IMAGINE would sell...Like old lingerie. I know. What didn't sell we took over and donated to Heart and Hand. Brother Gene Pennington in the ward came over and helped us take all of the items, since Brenda's car is not currently working in any way, shape, or form.Sister
Judy Clarke's got baptism on Sunday. It was a wonderful memorable occasion. The Spirit was so strong and overflowed our hearts. I remember right after I was baptized the water was warm but as soon as I got out of the fount it was cold until Celeste or Danica wrapped a towel around me then I felt the warmth of my savior and knew that I was following my savior. We were able to wrap the towel around Sister Clarke and let her feel her savior’s love. She stood there in her wet dripping cloths expressing her tender feelings.
Telling us how different this baptism was then another one she had previously had. We all know that because of the authority we have here on the earth that was restored by Joseph Smith. She just couldn’t stop smiling, it seriously was from ear to ear.There was a Jehovah's Witness Convention held for three days downtown Charleston. On Sunday we were able to attend for a little bit. It was definitely was not General Conference. It was different when they clapped every 5 minutes. But some of the speakers had interesting things to say...On e of them did a Freudian and slip and said “ bla bla bla…. and this Great Confusion ….bla bla bla…” Whoops I think he meant Convention. And did you know that they have an invincible Leader? It was weird because they some good thing to say but it was allover the place and they were defiantly miss a big part.
There were a lot more then I thought about 2,500. I’m grateful for the gospel.Stephanie is doing well-she is going to pray about setting a baptismal date! The Elders will be teaching her and Nathan from now on. (That good bye was pretty hard.)Transfers were this week and both Sister Glad and I have been transferred out of South Charleston. As a matter of fact, we actually closed our area to Sister Missionaries- Media office, for the future. It’s sad. But…. I’m once again opening an area up to sister in Bridgeport West Virginia. My new companion is Sister Larsen and we live in the biggest apartment in our mission. It above a funeral home!! Crazy, I know.
The funny part is the Elders said they cleaned it really well but I don’t think they know that you actually have to vacuum or whip off the counters at lest to call it cleaning. It was nasty. Oh and smells like urine but its all good. I really am excited to be opening it to sister I had a lot of fun in Radford with that and I already love my new comp. She is quarter Japanese so now we are really going to be asked if we are sister.I must be a horrible companion because I’m on my eighth companion and I’ve only been out 9 month. I asked President how many companion I was going to have and he said he was going to try to get me a new one every three weeks. Ha ha.I’ve been have some great studies. Found out that we all have a new tougue…if you read from 2 Nephi 31 & 32 and from Elder Holland’s talk (Tongue of an angel). You will find that you have one also.
Love you all-Sister Barrand
I live at
215 East Main St Apt A
Bridgeport 26330
Cutting Trisha's hair. She only let me cut of an inch!
The Elders so kindly smashed a cup cake in to our front windshield and I could barely see out. Some kids laugh and asked us " Are thoes cup cakes?" when we pulled up to the gas station.
yet again the Elders placing more sweets on our car.
The Elders so kindly smashed a cup cake in to our front windshield and I could barely see out. Some kids laugh and asked us " Are thoes cup cakes?" when we pulled up to the gas station.
yet again the Elders placing more sweets on our car.1/2 WAY THERE
Dear Fam
Can you hardly believe it, today is actually 9 months to the day that I entered the doors of the MTC. Crazy it was great to have some family there. But little Sammers didn’t give me a hug; I better get a huge hug in 9 months. 9 month that’s like waiting for a baby to be born I’m sure the pain is a little different but we both get huge blessing after wards. I'm still finding it hard to believe that I have been serving the Lord as a full-time missionary for 9 months. My comp and I are actually in the same boat so we are definitely planning on celebrating today! There is a missionary tradition of burning something at certain month marks...And I burned some nylons for my 6-month. Tonight it’s going to be a little bigger than some dud nylons.
P.s. Nylons do not burn as well as I would have liked them to. We actually sprayed them with hair spray to make it look cooler for the picture. In real life it was not that exciting. So bigger and better hopefully for the half-wayers tonight. So-just think of a nice big bonfire for this evening!! :P I'm very excited!We had an appointment with Sylvia but unfortunately she was not home. So we are going to try and stop by another day this week. We are still excited and positive that we'll be able to continue teaching her. One thing that is hard to remember sometimes that our time is not the same as everyone else's time. We feel that things go rather slowly when to someone else, major changes in a matter of months is very hard to adjust to! You'd think we would remember that from when we go to the MTC and from there to the mission field, but we don't.
They cram everything well everything that we think we should know into three weeks. We just sometimes want our investigators to learn that fast. But we don’t get everything we what. It a good thing though.We taught Stephanie about The Gospel of Jesus Christ and invited her to pray about being baptized. We saw her briefly yesterday-unfortunately she was not able to come to Church on Sunday on account of a VERY grumpy rebellious baby (Eli decided to not go to sleep until 5 am Sunday morning). You won’t believe where we went, you guess it Maggie Moo's yes indeed, and we might have had it the day before as well. But I will have to tell you that a got a wonderful gift card there from Bryce and Marica and we of course were craving it. Oh and for dad’s sake we have talked to people there and handed out some pass along cards. So its like the two best things sharing the gospel and Maggie Moo’s ice-cream. It’s quite sad that my companion doesn’t get to enjoy this glorious ice-cream because she is lactose intolerant. But she loves the Zoomer drink so it’s all good.
Saturday went to Erica Pender's baptism, she's an eight-year-old in the ward. It was great to see Trisha our investigator there making sure they wouldn’t drown Erica.Our Sunday evening ended with a phone call from our investigator, Sister Hart at 10:30pm...And we talked or rathered listened on the phone until sister Glad fell asleep around 2am. She's having some financial/emotional struggles and she needed to call us and have a little bit of a break down. So sister Glad listened for hours but only because I have listened the night before. It was crazy we just listen...and listen some more. The crazy thing is I don’t know how I stayed up on the phone so late before. Absolutely crazy!
Our referrals in the Office have been doing really well lately. A lot of people are ordering Book of Mormons or Bibles. Can\'t have one without the other, right?! Well, at least that\'s what we\'re trying to show people who are willing to listen.
Sister Glad and I actually received a referral for Teresa Casto. She ordered a Finding Faith in Christ DVD and we had a bit of an adventure getting to her home. The directions to her house were hilarious! It took us a while to find her...In true West Virginia sense we took "Davis Creek Rd, past the fast check, turned left down the one lane rd, over the bridge, past the stop sign, right at the fork, right past the concert pile, past the private property and go to the last trailer on..."I kid you not!
Sister Glad and I eventually found it with some help from some people! It was a neat experience, and we ended up teaching Teresa and her boyfriend, Gary Jr. They have two children, Gary III (2) and Jeremiah (7 months). I got really excited on this visit about sharing why we come out here and serve the lord. She mentioned wanted to raise their kids up in a good environment. It makes me really happy when I see people trying to do the right thing, some of us don’t realize oh lucky we are to be born in a stable oh wait that was Jesus… some of us don’t realize how lucky we are to be born in a stable home. I’m really grateful for the stability and effort that you all did to make a home a better place. I’m also glad you taught me to brush my teeth, every one of them!!! This is a shocker but I will tell you something I didn’t believe it until I saw it with my own two eyes, that someone in their 20’s could have NO upper teeth at all. Well it was proven that day. Crazy, but I think they look better gums and all with no teeth at all rather than some rotten stranglers.
Today we went up to my last area (Parkersburg) for another zone’s p-day. We drove up last night so we could spend the day with Sisters Ryder and Schmidt, as well as joining the rest of the St Albans Zone for the day. We played a little b- ball and Phase 10. (That game reminds me of the time we all played it and everyone hated because they couldn’t move a head except for Danica.)
Can you hardly believe it, today is actually 9 months to the day that I entered the doors of the MTC. Crazy it was great to have some family there. But little Sammers didn’t give me a hug; I better get a huge hug in 9 months. 9 month that’s like waiting for a baby to be born I’m sure the pain is a little different but we both get huge blessing after wards. I'm still finding it hard to believe that I have been serving the Lord as a full-time missionary for 9 months. My comp and I are actually in the same boat so we are definitely planning on celebrating today! There is a missionary tradition of burning something at certain month marks...And I burned some nylons for my 6-month. Tonight it’s going to be a little bigger than some dud nylons.
P.s. Nylons do not burn as well as I would have liked them to. We actually sprayed them with hair spray to make it look cooler for the picture. In real life it was not that exciting. So bigger and better hopefully for the half-wayers tonight. So-just think of a nice big bonfire for this evening!! :P I'm very excited!We had an appointment with Sylvia but unfortunately she was not home. So we are going to try and stop by another day this week. We are still excited and positive that we'll be able to continue teaching her. One thing that is hard to remember sometimes that our time is not the same as everyone else's time. We feel that things go rather slowly when to someone else, major changes in a matter of months is very hard to adjust to! You'd think we would remember that from when we go to the MTC and from there to the mission field, but we don't.
They cram everything well everything that we think we should know into three weeks. We just sometimes want our investigators to learn that fast. But we don’t get everything we what. It a good thing though.We taught Stephanie about The Gospel of Jesus Christ and invited her to pray about being baptized. We saw her briefly yesterday-unfortunately she was not able to come to Church on Sunday on account of a VERY grumpy rebellious baby (Eli decided to not go to sleep until 5 am Sunday morning). You won’t believe where we went, you guess it Maggie Moo's yes indeed, and we might have had it the day before as well. But I will have to tell you that a got a wonderful gift card there from Bryce and Marica and we of course were craving it. Oh and for dad’s sake we have talked to people there and handed out some pass along cards. So its like the two best things sharing the gospel and Maggie Moo’s ice-cream. It’s quite sad that my companion doesn’t get to enjoy this glorious ice-cream because she is lactose intolerant. But she loves the Zoomer drink so it’s all good.
Saturday went to Erica Pender's baptism, she's an eight-year-old in the ward. It was great to see Trisha our investigator there making sure they wouldn’t drown Erica.Our Sunday evening ended with a phone call from our investigator, Sister Hart at 10:30pm...And we talked or rathered listened on the phone until sister Glad fell asleep around 2am. She's having some financial/emotional struggles and she needed to call us and have a little bit of a break down. So sister Glad listened for hours but only because I have listened the night before. It was crazy we just listen...and listen some more. The crazy thing is I don’t know how I stayed up on the phone so late before. Absolutely crazy!
Our referrals in the Office have been doing really well lately. A lot of people are ordering Book of Mormons or Bibles. Can\'t have one without the other, right?! Well, at least that\'s what we\'re trying to show people who are willing to listen.
Sister Glad and I actually received a referral for Teresa Casto. She ordered a Finding Faith in Christ DVD and we had a bit of an adventure getting to her home. The directions to her house were hilarious! It took us a while to find her...In true West Virginia sense we took "Davis Creek Rd, past the fast check, turned left down the one lane rd, over the bridge, past the stop sign, right at the fork, right past the concert pile, past the private property and go to the last trailer on..."I kid you not!
Sister Glad and I eventually found it with some help from some people! It was a neat experience, and we ended up teaching Teresa and her boyfriend, Gary Jr. They have two children, Gary III (2) and Jeremiah (7 months). I got really excited on this visit about sharing why we come out here and serve the lord. She mentioned wanted to raise their kids up in a good environment. It makes me really happy when I see people trying to do the right thing, some of us don’t realize oh lucky we are to be born in a stable oh wait that was Jesus… some of us don’t realize how lucky we are to be born in a stable home. I’m really grateful for the stability and effort that you all did to make a home a better place. I’m also glad you taught me to brush my teeth, every one of them!!! This is a shocker but I will tell you something I didn’t believe it until I saw it with my own two eyes, that someone in their 20’s could have NO upper teeth at all. Well it was proven that day. Crazy, but I think they look better gums and all with no teeth at all rather than some rotten stranglers.
Today we went up to my last area (Parkersburg) for another zone’s p-day. We drove up last night so we could spend the day with Sisters Ryder and Schmidt, as well as joining the rest of the St Albans Zone for the day. We played a little b- ball and Phase 10. (That game reminds me of the time we all played it and everyone hated because they couldn’t move a head except for Danica.)
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Devil Eyebrows!!!
Well, we attempted to read The Book of Mormon all day Thursday. Alas, it did not come to pass. sigh : ( We got a phone call that side tracked us and instead we went over to a member's house to talk about an investigator that we are now teaching. it was a bit of a long day...But we are still trying to read The Book of Mormon before the end of the transfer by listening to it whenever we are in the apartment. So that has been working out.On Saturday we did service for Angela and Robert Dorsey. Part Member family. Every year on the 26 and 27 of May they do a fundraiser four people who need glasses and hearing aids. So Sister Glad and I headed over to the State Capitol and scooped strawberry short cake with ice cream for 4 hours! We got an assembly line going between the two of us.
She got out the cake, I scooped the ice cream, and She poured the strawberry topping on top and gave it to Phyllis for the whip cream topping and then to the customers. We stayed pretty busy the entire four hours! I got quite a bit of ice-cream on myself and she got some strawberry gunk on her...Needless to say that We got my 'fill' of strawberry short cake to last us for a very long time. But it was a lot of fun and was for a good cause. We actually saw several members of the ward and also the office couples (we have two right now)! It was a lot of fun!!! Later that evening we had horse-shoe throwing and guitar playing at the Casdorphs' home. I even managed to get one horse-shoe within a 2 inch radius of the pole! While the Elders serenaded us with a Johnny Cash song! It was all to much fun!!Sunday was missionary talk day....Well, only in regards that three out of eight missionaries in the ward spoke.( Elder Jenkins, Elder Oliverson and I.) My luck. I tried finagling out of this one but it wasn’t as easy as my Farwell talk. Ha ha. We all spoke on experiences in our youth that helped us to become the people we are today. It was neat to see how different all of our individual talks were. Elders Oliverson’s relayed his to basketball and his friends. Elder Jenkins was on the importance of family prayer.
And I talked about a couple of things like:How my family has been a huge influence on me. From day one I remember always reading scriptures at 5:45 before seminary together as a family no matter what. Even if it meant that my mom would take extra time and read after with us little kids the Book of Mormon stories editions. My parents knew how important the Sabbath was. We never missed church. Now that doesn’t’ mean we were always on time but we never missing church for any reason even when we were on vacation. This was important for me to see how essential the Sabbath Day is. We spent time with one another and had Family Home Evening. It was so natural to spend my Sabbaths for the lord and my Family. My parents taught me in a way that I never felt like I was missing out on the out side world. Being with my family was cool. I gained love and trust from spending time with them. Because of my families example all the things we should be doing came second nature. Then I shared about EFY. When I was old enough I had the privilege to go to EFY. This was never a struggle to get me to go because I knew there would be a lot of Mormon boys there. It took me totally off guard when I gain a testimony instead of a boyfriend. To look back and remember this experience brings a smile to me. We were all sitting around studying before we headed of to bed. I felt the spirit so strong as we read from JSH, I could not put the book down nor did I want to do anything but read. I wanted to read the whole book. This was so unlike me I hated to read and I never felt like I could read but this I jumped right into. I knew it was true. The spirit was too strong for me to forget. I could not believe that I had been missing out on reading the scriptures and feeling the spirit. That night I didn’t even talk to my roommate, I was too indulged with the story of Joseph Smith. And how then it finally clicked I gained my very own testimony of Joseph Smith. Then of course after high school I did what any Mormon girl would do and went to a LDS school. At BYUI I was hoping to find me a Mormon boy BUT again taken totally off guard instead of a fiancé I gained a testimony of Missionary work. I t was in my BOM class. My teacher did not teach the spirit taught! He would have me coming out of class gleaming. There was one class period in particular on a Change of heart. I realized I could have a change of heart and the girl next to me could have a change of heart and it wasn’t just for the people in the scriptures but it was for us to learn and grow from. This was so exciting to me I raced home and told all my roommate and that wasn’t enough I had to go tall other people’s roommates. Emily and I talked for hours. I remember feeling the most happiness from sharing what I know to be true with others. It was the most incredible experience. I then knew I could have this same kind of feeling all the time as a missionary and that is what I wanted. And that is what is happening now. I’m sharing with others the most wonderful message of all.
Sister Glad sat in the congregation with Trisha, a new investigator of ours. She is 35 years old and has come to Church three weeks in a row! She wants to bear her testimony this coming Sunday! She's an amazing woman. She is practically deaf (50% in one ear, and 60% in the other) and can read lips REALLY well, and also signs. Luckily we have a return sister missionary who has been willing to sign throughout some of the meetings which has helped Trisha to keep up with what is going on better than she can read lips. There are a few members who speak really fast and then will look away from Trisha, and then she doesn't know what they are saying...It's pretty exciting to help her needs, but we love teaching her and seeing the changes that she wants to make in her life for the Gospel to really take root.We actually were invited to a family party on Memorial Day and we spent it with the Penningtons, which is a big family in these parts. They've been central to the Church's growth here for at least the past 50 years/more. It was a lot of fun, and a lot of laughs. WE ate a lot of shrimp!!!! And let me tell you something, they are crunchy when you leave the shell on. The Grandmother (in her 80’s) was a hoot she found out I was a beautician and asked me if I could make her beautiful because when ever she looked in the mirror she can’t see what she is doing…. So I shaped her up with some nice trimmed eyebrows. It was great. She went and told every “Look at me, now I’m beautiful!”Then we ended our Memorial Day with the Humphrey family. I gave their son, Jeremiah, a hair cut (wild child) and then Brother Humphrey taught us about Our Loving Heavenly Father. We go walking with Sister Humphery. It will be neat when they get sealed to each other.
By the way it is soooo hott here like humid hottttt. I don’t even need to put lotion on my face any more because it is sooooo humid.We had an appointment with Stephanie (21yrs old) and her friend was visiting from her home town. She's Stephanie’s age and also has a little boy, who's almost two. We spent some time with them and then found ourselves over at Maggie Moos where we each had some very yummy ice-cream! And we also bumped into Annie Ostler, a member, who works at Maggie Moos. (She decorates cakes!) She and Stephanie got to meet and talk for quite a bit. It was wonderful! We've been wanting Stephanie to meet members of the ward, and we had mentioned her to Annie before and Annie just started chatting to her. An amazing person is Annie! Now she getting some friends in the ward and it will be great. It’s important that everyone has a friend at church.
Anyhow-afterwards I shared an experience with Sister Glad... during my interview with President, he mentioned that we never know what's going to happen about 3 o'clock this afternoon...And when Stephanie and Annie met this afternoon, it was 3 o'clock. Amazing, huh?! And all because we let Stephanie talk us into going to Maggie Moos....Just really neat. A tender mercy of the Lord, reaffirming to me that He really is in charge of His work, and He allows us to be apart of it! President also said that I need to take more charge. So I have to work on that.Today has been good. We played some around the world, horse, I learned “You are my sunshine” on the guitar and I plucked sister Glad’s eyebrows...She asked me if I could help make her 'devil' eyebrows go away...I replied “Gladly”. So...they might be slightly red, but that’s normal. No more devil eyebrows for her!
Love you all,
Sister Barrand
She got out the cake, I scooped the ice cream, and She poured the strawberry topping on top and gave it to Phyllis for the whip cream topping and then to the customers. We stayed pretty busy the entire four hours! I got quite a bit of ice-cream on myself and she got some strawberry gunk on her...Needless to say that We got my 'fill' of strawberry short cake to last us for a very long time. But it was a lot of fun and was for a good cause. We actually saw several members of the ward and also the office couples (we have two right now)! It was a lot of fun!!! Later that evening we had horse-shoe throwing and guitar playing at the Casdorphs' home. I even managed to get one horse-shoe within a 2 inch radius of the pole! While the Elders serenaded us with a Johnny Cash song! It was all to much fun!!Sunday was missionary talk day....Well, only in regards that three out of eight missionaries in the ward spoke.( Elder Jenkins, Elder Oliverson and I.) My luck. I tried finagling out of this one but it wasn’t as easy as my Farwell talk. Ha ha. We all spoke on experiences in our youth that helped us to become the people we are today. It was neat to see how different all of our individual talks were. Elders Oliverson’s relayed his to basketball and his friends. Elder Jenkins was on the importance of family prayer.
And I talked about a couple of things like:How my family has been a huge influence on me. From day one I remember always reading scriptures at 5:45 before seminary together as a family no matter what. Even if it meant that my mom would take extra time and read after with us little kids the Book of Mormon stories editions. My parents knew how important the Sabbath was. We never missed church. Now that doesn’t’ mean we were always on time but we never missing church for any reason even when we were on vacation. This was important for me to see how essential the Sabbath Day is. We spent time with one another and had Family Home Evening. It was so natural to spend my Sabbaths for the lord and my Family. My parents taught me in a way that I never felt like I was missing out on the out side world. Being with my family was cool. I gained love and trust from spending time with them. Because of my families example all the things we should be doing came second nature. Then I shared about EFY. When I was old enough I had the privilege to go to EFY. This was never a struggle to get me to go because I knew there would be a lot of Mormon boys there. It took me totally off guard when I gain a testimony instead of a boyfriend. To look back and remember this experience brings a smile to me. We were all sitting around studying before we headed of to bed. I felt the spirit so strong as we read from JSH, I could not put the book down nor did I want to do anything but read. I wanted to read the whole book. This was so unlike me I hated to read and I never felt like I could read but this I jumped right into. I knew it was true. The spirit was too strong for me to forget. I could not believe that I had been missing out on reading the scriptures and feeling the spirit. That night I didn’t even talk to my roommate, I was too indulged with the story of Joseph Smith. And how then it finally clicked I gained my very own testimony of Joseph Smith. Then of course after high school I did what any Mormon girl would do and went to a LDS school. At BYUI I was hoping to find me a Mormon boy BUT again taken totally off guard instead of a fiancé I gained a testimony of Missionary work. I t was in my BOM class. My teacher did not teach the spirit taught! He would have me coming out of class gleaming. There was one class period in particular on a Change of heart. I realized I could have a change of heart and the girl next to me could have a change of heart and it wasn’t just for the people in the scriptures but it was for us to learn and grow from. This was so exciting to me I raced home and told all my roommate and that wasn’t enough I had to go tall other people’s roommates. Emily and I talked for hours. I remember feeling the most happiness from sharing what I know to be true with others. It was the most incredible experience. I then knew I could have this same kind of feeling all the time as a missionary and that is what I wanted. And that is what is happening now. I’m sharing with others the most wonderful message of all.
Sister Glad sat in the congregation with Trisha, a new investigator of ours. She is 35 years old and has come to Church three weeks in a row! She wants to bear her testimony this coming Sunday! She's an amazing woman. She is practically deaf (50% in one ear, and 60% in the other) and can read lips REALLY well, and also signs. Luckily we have a return sister missionary who has been willing to sign throughout some of the meetings which has helped Trisha to keep up with what is going on better than she can read lips. There are a few members who speak really fast and then will look away from Trisha, and then she doesn't know what they are saying...It's pretty exciting to help her needs, but we love teaching her and seeing the changes that she wants to make in her life for the Gospel to really take root.We actually were invited to a family party on Memorial Day and we spent it with the Penningtons, which is a big family in these parts. They've been central to the Church's growth here for at least the past 50 years/more. It was a lot of fun, and a lot of laughs. WE ate a lot of shrimp!!!! And let me tell you something, they are crunchy when you leave the shell on. The Grandmother (in her 80’s) was a hoot she found out I was a beautician and asked me if I could make her beautiful because when ever she looked in the mirror she can’t see what she is doing…. So I shaped her up with some nice trimmed eyebrows. It was great. She went and told every “Look at me, now I’m beautiful!”Then we ended our Memorial Day with the Humphrey family. I gave their son, Jeremiah, a hair cut (wild child) and then Brother Humphrey taught us about Our Loving Heavenly Father. We go walking with Sister Humphery. It will be neat when they get sealed to each other.
By the way it is soooo hott here like humid hottttt. I don’t even need to put lotion on my face any more because it is sooooo humid.We had an appointment with Stephanie (21yrs old) and her friend was visiting from her home town. She's Stephanie’s age and also has a little boy, who's almost two. We spent some time with them and then found ourselves over at Maggie Moos where we each had some very yummy ice-cream! And we also bumped into Annie Ostler, a member, who works at Maggie Moos. (She decorates cakes!) She and Stephanie got to meet and talk for quite a bit. It was wonderful! We've been wanting Stephanie to meet members of the ward, and we had mentioned her to Annie before and Annie just started chatting to her. An amazing person is Annie! Now she getting some friends in the ward and it will be great. It’s important that everyone has a friend at church.
Anyhow-afterwards I shared an experience with Sister Glad... during my interview with President, he mentioned that we never know what's going to happen about 3 o'clock this afternoon...And when Stephanie and Annie met this afternoon, it was 3 o'clock. Amazing, huh?! And all because we let Stephanie talk us into going to Maggie Moos....Just really neat. A tender mercy of the Lord, reaffirming to me that He really is in charge of His work, and He allows us to be apart of it! President also said that I need to take more charge. So I have to work on that.Today has been good. We played some around the world, horse, I learned “You are my sunshine” on the guitar and I plucked sister Glad’s eyebrows...She asked me if I could help make her 'devil' eyebrows go away...I replied “Gladly”. So...they might be slightly red, but that’s normal. No more devil eyebrows for her!
Love you all,
Sister Barrand
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Green Peppers?
Angela Kelly (an investigator from my old area) just got baptized on the 19th. Angela was just driving around and felt impressed to call the number on the outside of the building. She came to church and met Bishop Long and us sister. As soon as we meet her we felt joy and her eagerness to know the truth. I felt the spirit of peace and I knew that her desirous were pure. We started teaching her and the power of the Holy Ghost bore witness to her. She knew and said “God wants all of his Children to know about the gospel and wants all of his children to know that it’s true.” Angela knew that she wanted to partake of this gospel and be baptized/confirmed as a member of the true and living restored gospel.
She earnestly prayed and the power of the Holy Ghost bore witness to her of its truthfulness. She said that “The role of the Holy Ghost comforts, witnesses and testifies of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Also reveals and tells the truth.” Angela was way excited and we were also. She made sure that I was a part of it and ask me to talk at her baptism. So on Saturday we are driving up to Parkersburg (old area)for Angela’s baptism then driving back down to Charleston for Carrissa’s baptism. Carrissa is really special it even proves it in her name with the extra “R” and “S”. At least that’s what she told us. When Carrissa was only five year old she had said that her Papa would baptize her. Her papa was not even a member. She held on to what she had said when she was five and her papa did join the church a couple of years ago and was able to perform his first baptism on Carrissa. These two sisters were both smiling the whole time; we could not get them to stop. I t was wonderful to be a part of both of their new life’s.
Stephanie Hendersen our gator is amazing she’s reading so much and has notice how much better she feels when she reads. We got some of the best ice cream with her at Maggie Moo’s. Oh it was the best ice cream I have ever eaten. It was kind of like cold stone but better.
The Elders are happily giving us one of there investigator because she was getting a little attached to one of them. She’s hard of hearing and has some incest problems. It’s a sticky situation one minute she knows everything and wants to get baptized then the next minute she flipping out and saying she doesn’t want to learn any more. She called us really late last night. (If you want to say 10:30 is late) well it is to a missionary. We are worn out. Anyways she called last night and said it will only take a minute but it ended up being an hour and some. Man I don’t know if I’m the same person anymore because I don’t know if I like talking on the phone as much as I use too.
Oh something else that is new is I ate a whole green pepper and I had never eaten them before. I always thought they were hot so I stayed away from them but I got some really good ranch dip and sat and ate the whole thing. I’m so proud of me with trying all these new foods. You will not even know what to do with me.
Love ya all
Sister Barrand
P.S. We work with a senior couple in the office and Sister Reddish reminds me of Grandma Hogan. So that’s great.
She earnestly prayed and the power of the Holy Ghost bore witness to her of its truthfulness. She said that “The role of the Holy Ghost comforts, witnesses and testifies of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Also reveals and tells the truth.” Angela was way excited and we were also. She made sure that I was a part of it and ask me to talk at her baptism. So on Saturday we are driving up to Parkersburg (old area)for Angela’s baptism then driving back down to Charleston for Carrissa’s baptism. Carrissa is really special it even proves it in her name with the extra “R” and “S”. At least that’s what she told us. When Carrissa was only five year old she had said that her Papa would baptize her. Her papa was not even a member. She held on to what she had said when she was five and her papa did join the church a couple of years ago and was able to perform his first baptism on Carrissa. These two sisters were both smiling the whole time; we could not get them to stop. I t was wonderful to be a part of both of their new life’s.
Stephanie Hendersen our gator is amazing she’s reading so much and has notice how much better she feels when she reads. We got some of the best ice cream with her at Maggie Moo’s. Oh it was the best ice cream I have ever eaten. It was kind of like cold stone but better.
The Elders are happily giving us one of there investigator because she was getting a little attached to one of them. She’s hard of hearing and has some incest problems. It’s a sticky situation one minute she knows everything and wants to get baptized then the next minute she flipping out and saying she doesn’t want to learn any more. She called us really late last night. (If you want to say 10:30 is late) well it is to a missionary. We are worn out. Anyways she called last night and said it will only take a minute but it ended up being an hour and some. Man I don’t know if I’m the same person anymore because I don’t know if I like talking on the phone as much as I use too.
Oh something else that is new is I ate a whole green pepper and I had never eaten them before. I always thought they were hot so I stayed away from them but I got some really good ranch dip and sat and ate the whole thing. I’m so proud of me with trying all these new foods. You will not even know what to do with me.
Love ya all
Sister Barrand
P.S. We work with a senior couple in the office and Sister Reddish reminds me of Grandma Hogan. So that’s great.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Grass...Hair???
Hey there
Being a media sister is a little different. It’s nice to help out the other missionaries, do office work, be so close to President and still have investigators. Love my new comp. Sister Glad she really can be expanded by her last name. Her and I both came out together. We like to get the work done around here, so I think this will be a great companionship.When I got up here to South Charleston we went over to President’s house and celebrate his 58th Birthday. He started getting teary eyed when we stated sing to him. He is the best President I could have asked for with the biggest heart.Brenda in the ward wasn’t able to mow her lawn because she didn’t have any gas for her lawn mower because she didn’t have any money since the gas prices are up to $3.24 per gallon. Crazy uh. When I first got out here on my mission it was $1.98per gallon. So we fixed her up with some gas and I mowed her foot and half long grass.
I have never sweated so hard and much in my life. I was all excited to cut the lawn because it’s similar to cutting hair. But it’s a little different. Instead of cuts on my fingers I have blisters on my thumbs. I hope you don’t think I’m complaining just explaining why women stick to the heads of hair not lawns of grass. Not to mention pulling the gas to get it started uses a little more muscles than flipping a switch on the blow dryer. Again I’m not complaining. I would be more than thrilled to mow the lawn again. But there is one more thing instead of dandruff jumping out at you; you have to be cautious of cute little frogs.Stephanie (investigator) is amazing.
She has been reading and praying. She takes notes and loves being taught. She’s been out of town and hasn’t been able to come to church but she went to go find the church building and said it looked really friendly. Yeah!We were over at a 10 year investigators house Angela, who husband is a convert. Angela works hard and unfortunately always falls asleep during our lessons. We are working on keeping her awake, and helping her husband Robert recognize the spirit. For some reason he thinks he has never felt the spirit even being a convert into the church. We kindly shoved it down his throat about recognizing the spirit.Mother’s day was great. I loved hearing from home. It’s good to hear the voice of your own parents. Just wish I got to hear from the other mothers in my family. Even the bran new ones!!
Love ya
Sister Barrand
P.S. My new address is
888 Oakwood Rd. Ste. 310
Charleston WV, 25314
Being a media sister is a little different. It’s nice to help out the other missionaries, do office work, be so close to President and still have investigators. Love my new comp. Sister Glad she really can be expanded by her last name. Her and I both came out together. We like to get the work done around here, so I think this will be a great companionship.When I got up here to South Charleston we went over to President’s house and celebrate his 58th Birthday. He started getting teary eyed when we stated sing to him. He is the best President I could have asked for with the biggest heart.Brenda in the ward wasn’t able to mow her lawn because she didn’t have any gas for her lawn mower because she didn’t have any money since the gas prices are up to $3.24 per gallon. Crazy uh. When I first got out here on my mission it was $1.98per gallon. So we fixed her up with some gas and I mowed her foot and half long grass.
I have never sweated so hard and much in my life. I was all excited to cut the lawn because it’s similar to cutting hair. But it’s a little different. Instead of cuts on my fingers I have blisters on my thumbs. I hope you don’t think I’m complaining just explaining why women stick to the heads of hair not lawns of grass. Not to mention pulling the gas to get it started uses a little more muscles than flipping a switch on the blow dryer. Again I’m not complaining. I would be more than thrilled to mow the lawn again. But there is one more thing instead of dandruff jumping out at you; you have to be cautious of cute little frogs.Stephanie (investigator) is amazing.
She has been reading and praying. She takes notes and loves being taught. She’s been out of town and hasn’t been able to come to church but she went to go find the church building and said it looked really friendly. Yeah!We were over at a 10 year investigators house Angela, who husband is a convert. Angela works hard and unfortunately always falls asleep during our lessons. We are working on keeping her awake, and helping her husband Robert recognize the spirit. For some reason he thinks he has never felt the spirit even being a convert into the church. We kindly shoved it down his throat about recognizing the spirit.Mother’s day was great. I loved hearing from home. It’s good to hear the voice of your own parents. Just wish I got to hear from the other mothers in my family. Even the bran new ones!!
Love ya
Sister Barrand
P.S. My new address is
888 Oakwood Rd. Ste. 310
Charleston WV, 25314
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Me at the Hospital!!
Don't Worry
Don’t worryI’m doing a lot better.
On Monday around 9:40 a.m. I answered the phone and felt really dizzy and so I handed the phone to Sister Ryder. I laid down and it only lasted for about a minute until I felt better and the dizzy feelings went away. Went off to District Mtg. and it happen two more times. The elders gave me a blessing and we were off to lunch. During lunch it happened two more times. We went home and I had 7 more episodes of this weird feeling of dizziness and not really being all the way there. While I was on the phone with the doctor he tried figuring it out. Finally we just headed off to the doctors, luckily it was only 5 minutes away. They did some testing and were waiting for the result . While the nurses were out I had another episode. Sister Boning ran out to get the doctor and it was like I was passed out. I remember him pulling my eye lids open and pinching my arms. They said that I was having Pseudo Seizures caused by stress.
The weird thing is I don’t feel really stressed out. I love my companion, the area’s progressing and we have two baptisms coming up. Another weird thing is that I had these “Pseudo Seizures” about a year ago out in Utah. Megan thought is was constipation but its not. It was my first CAT scan and I had to be in the room with a young man with out my companion and it was really weird. When I got home I receive one of the most powerful blessings from Brother Hungate. He assured me everything was going to be ok. His mouth poured out and I heard everything I needed to and felt the saviors love wrap around me. The other Elders that were standing in both agreed that that was the most powerful and spiritually experience that they have had on their missions. I had a MRI and I have an EEG test tomorrow just to make sure that everything is ok. President wanted me to talk you my family and I’m glad I did cause I feel much better. Today at transfers President Cowley gave me a blessing to assured me everything will be ok. I feel better just a little weak. I’m staying here in Parkersburg till the testing is all done.
But before all this happened I was going to be transfer to the Media office. So I’ll be there at the end of the week. Yeah I am a media Sister!!!. Hey cool story while I was sitting here a man asked me if I was Judy and I pointed out my name tag and said no I’m sister Barrand. I started asking him some question and he started talking about the church. I guess he had the 12 lessons a long time ago and has some issues but we will get those all straighten out. I’m so proud of my little model nephew I knew he was the cutest little boy and that I might have a problem know that my kid are never going to be as cute. So if you can pray that everything will be ok and the test results come back positive and I will not get stressed out. I love you all. Thanks for all you do.
Love
Sister Seizures Barrand
On Monday around 9:40 a.m. I answered the phone and felt really dizzy and so I handed the phone to Sister Ryder. I laid down and it only lasted for about a minute until I felt better and the dizzy feelings went away. Went off to District Mtg. and it happen two more times. The elders gave me a blessing and we were off to lunch. During lunch it happened two more times. We went home and I had 7 more episodes of this weird feeling of dizziness and not really being all the way there. While I was on the phone with the doctor he tried figuring it out. Finally we just headed off to the doctors, luckily it was only 5 minutes away. They did some testing and were waiting for the result . While the nurses were out I had another episode. Sister Boning ran out to get the doctor and it was like I was passed out. I remember him pulling my eye lids open and pinching my arms. They said that I was having Pseudo Seizures caused by stress.
The weird thing is I don’t feel really stressed out. I love my companion, the area’s progressing and we have two baptisms coming up. Another weird thing is that I had these “Pseudo Seizures” about a year ago out in Utah. Megan thought is was constipation but its not. It was my first CAT scan and I had to be in the room with a young man with out my companion and it was really weird. When I got home I receive one of the most powerful blessings from Brother Hungate. He assured me everything was going to be ok. His mouth poured out and I heard everything I needed to and felt the saviors love wrap around me. The other Elders that were standing in both agreed that that was the most powerful and spiritually experience that they have had on their missions. I had a MRI and I have an EEG test tomorrow just to make sure that everything is ok. President wanted me to talk you my family and I’m glad I did cause I feel much better. Today at transfers President Cowley gave me a blessing to assured me everything will be ok. I feel better just a little weak. I’m staying here in Parkersburg till the testing is all done.
But before all this happened I was going to be transfer to the Media office. So I’ll be there at the end of the week. Yeah I am a media Sister!!!. Hey cool story while I was sitting here a man asked me if I was Judy and I pointed out my name tag and said no I’m sister Barrand. I started asking him some question and he started talking about the church. I guess he had the 12 lessons a long time ago and has some issues but we will get those all straighten out. I’m so proud of my little model nephew I knew he was the cutest little boy and that I might have a problem know that my kid are never going to be as cute. So if you can pray that everything will be ok and the test results come back positive and I will not get stressed out. I love you all. Thanks for all you do.
Love
Sister Seizures Barrand
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