young womens first time at Cracker Barrel. The daughter is and convert and we are working on getting the mom to take the lessons 2nd time at Cracker Barrel with a Brenda Deaton who told us she wasn't intrested in jioning but wants us to help he husband that is a member. 3rd time at Cracker Barrel with the Lancaster's that think i eat like a bird.

inside a chicken coup
a sunset
a Chincilla on my shoulder

My new Comp, Sister Peck

My tenth Comp, Sister Peck

What happened? are you all still having fun? I didn’t get any mail from ya again. This week Sister Ryder said her goodbyes as we through her a going away party. It was a little secret and she had no idea how much the ward loved her. When we drove up to the Beasley’s home with all the member cars out side she flipped out and said the this was the nicest thing anyone has done for her. I picked up my new companion Sister Peck. This transfer I’m the greenie breaker. She an amazing missionary already she had a great trainer so we are all ready to work really hard. She is from Payson Utah and comes from a family of 5 kids. And she will not ever wear the color pink. So this might be a goal to make her a little more girly. I don’t know what will happen but is seem that I’ve gotten a lot of those companions.I was sad though to say goodbye to some of my favorite missionaries at transfer.

I will see them soon though.This week I was stuffed up to eyeballs with food. Everyone wanted to take us out to dinner to say goodbye to Sister Ryder. So we had Cracker Barrel (My first, Second and third time). We had a neat lesson there with a less active. And the third time brother Lancaster was amazed at the fact that I eat so little and I was so big. He said he will remember that I eat like a bird. I didn’t take offense cause he is in he’s 80’s. He could have been preparing me for Sister Peck, I don’t know. So we went to the Bishoff’s for dinner and I went into my first Chicken coup and held my first chicken. The gobbler felt so weird. When dinner was over I shared a thought from the Book of Mormon. To my surprise the grandmother was a Minster and thought I was offending her. She told us that she didn’t believe in a book that was written in the 1800’s. So we got into a little discussion and it ended on a good note. I learned something that night.

If there is non members there, explain when the Book of Mormon was written. After dinner Jacob, one of her sons, showed us a few tricks with his flag because he is on the color guard. Then we held a chinchilla, and it was the softest animal ever. I tell ya I have held and seen a lot of crazy animals out here. I’ve been enjoyed studying some really neat stuff about sacrifice. And reading the testimonies in the Book of Mormon. We are going to work really hard on getting this ward a Preach my Gospel Ward. We will make sure they realize how important this is. I hope you all have one and are reading it to streanth you in the gospel.Hope the family picture is going well and your havin fun. Keep on keeping on.

I love you all
Sister Barrand

Mahana

White Elephant Exchange with Lexinton Zone. I recived soem sunglasses and an angel with no hands. Lynchburg District Meeting Marica i think you might have some competition56- would you believe i won with 186? out of all them Missionaries?


Mahana you Ugly!!

As you can tell we got to watch the new Johnny Lingo with Sister Pare at the Bishop home. It was a way good thing because she has been so distant from most members it was just so good to have her be in a home that she can feel the spirit. I would have to say that the kiss was a little to much for me though. I had to put my hand in front of my eyes.So Thursdays is our planning day and I was calling some people and finally got a hold of this investigator Mary-Alice that hasn’t been taught in a long time. She reluctantly agreed for us to come over that night. We planned on watching a DVD but when we got over there was no DVD player.

That is when I knew that our lesson was by the spirit because she really opened up and was appreciate for us to teach her. She even wanted a blessing from brother Budge and brother Seeburger for comfort. She felt the heavy burdens lifted off and that felt light.Kathy Robbinson the investigator that has a baptism date really clicked with Sister Stitt and the lesson she really opened up and said her first vocal prayer.

I love that. She didn’t even fight it this time.I had been praying that we would find Jerry at the library and be able to teach him cause it seems like we could never get a hold of him because of his crazy work schedule. But we went and he was there. He helped us take down the Christmas tree for our service there. And then as we taught him he wrote down all the scriptural references. Not many people do that here.Ok so I have a confession I like to discuss things and maybe question them or figure them out. So I like to discuss this with other missionaries and sometimes I’m not satisfied with the answer and I have to go some where else. But you see the elders give me a hard time.

So I have all these things that I would love to talk to you all about. Some people might think this would question my faith and that is not correct at all. I just would like an answer if there is one, but if there is no answer I am fine. There is no way I could ever deny the change that has gone inside me. I have a firm unshakable testimony in our Savior and his perfect Church. I know by keeping the commandments we can find that peace that our Father in Heaven has in store for us. I have personal feel the power of answered prayers and forgiveness. I love the Book of Mormon. I know that this one book can change someone’s life for the better. I am astonished of the endurance and strife Joseph Smith went through. I know that he did it for the Lord and that is why he could not be broken or stopped. What an amazing prophet he is. Oh how ever grateful I am that we have had living prophet and will until the time of Christ. I love the spirit and I will stand on top of the mountain if that what it takes to feel the spirit. But I know I have the choice to act for myself and not to be acted upon. And gift is from our Loving Heavenly Father.

I Love you all
Sister Barrand

p.s. I’m so sorry that you miss your flight, but I’m glad you still got to do something with the family. And Mom is exactly right, now you can plan a trip for us little kids!One more thing... Dad is that drawn on hair on your Chest? mom did you have any say in that?

Jake Kroll's hunting gear Krista Asby an over an year convert that i love dearly and will be living with in May
A Skeleton that we found out side the Furneral home! he was a good dancer

My Birthday Morning

Well I hoped you all had a fun filled New Years. Our was us trying to go to bed but the noisy firework gang was right out side our window, but its all good we got to go over to Sister Pare’s for breakfast. The best part about this whole new years thing is Kathy Robinson has agreed to be baptized and start off the new year clean. It will be at the end of January, so we are very excited about that. We have been trying to get her husband involved and taught been it has been a struggle.

Their family values are awesome and I know they will be amazing members.We have a less active sister so she is a member but does not claim it and doesn’t want to be one. She has been threatening us that she is back to being a Catholic. It a tough situation but the other day we asked her where her testimonies lies and she wasn’t sure. We got into the bible and got into some question she had about the church. She asked us some personal question where we were able to bare a strong testimony about prayer.

She very resentful dismissed wanting to pray to find out for herself, due to the fact that she already knows it is true. She probably had the strongest answer to her prayers that I have ever heard. She had a dream that Moroni was sitting on her bed telling her that this was the true church and to join it. You see she doesn’t want to come back to church cause she feels the spirit and she fighting against that spirit soooo hard. Her pride is getting the best of her. As we were teaching her the spirit was there and she started to get really emotional and you couldn’t deny the spirit. I know she had the spirit there testifying of truth but when you push off the spirit so much it’s hard to take heed the next time.

I ‘m sad that she missed out on our talks on Sunday they were for her. She would have really benefited to know of the precious promises of the Lord. I couldn’t believe that I went over time. I just kept going and going. There was to much good stuff to say. The best feeling was I wasn’t nervous at all the spirit really helped me out. On Saturday we went to a blood drive and Sister Ryder almost pasted out and while she was doing that I was talking to this lady that had fallen through the cracks as an investigator. And the only reason why she went to the blood drive that day was that it was at the church and she had a good feeling about that. So we are going to start teaching her again. She is one of those people that just get so excited about everything. She is a divorced African American mom of four kids and knows that something good is going to happen this year. ( and I think I know what that could be!)

Met a really neat 20 year old less active girl that want to get back to church but has been struggle due to they way some people have treated her. It’s a sad story but hopefully in the process of her healing we can help her mom into the gospel. She lost a whole bunch of weight and doesn’t have any skirts so we are finding her some. I had to give a lesson on positivity in District mgt and I struggled. I just have a hard time teaching other missionaries.I hope you all have fun on your trip. Take lots of pictures. Oh and I loved the one from Christmas. It looks like you got new end tables with new lamps. Looks good. You know what was funny about those pictures were the kid were opening all the gift not the adults. I’m sure that was a nice feeling of giving to the little ones and seeing how excited they were.

I love you all

Sister Barrand

Mom how do you like your new Job?

So I really enjoyed talking with all of you all. Just wanted to say how much I love you and thank you for being there for me. I’m loving teaching these people because in turn I’m being taught by the spirit. Kathy is really great to teach because she is loving the feelings of the spirit. Over this Christmas the spirit of Christ was strong and powerful and we got to bring the spirit into their homes. I love feeling the spirit of my younger brother on a mission, what an amazing missionary he is. I love being bold and sharing this to everyone.

If you want to pray that I will be able to say what the ward needs to hear this week for my talk I will be giving.For this New Years make some goals that will help you progress in the gospel. Goals that will make you stretch and grow. Apply your faith in the Atonment of Jesus Christ and go for it. Nothing is impossible for Him and he wants you to progress.Know that he loves you and all you need to do is turn to him and trust in Him. He loves you and i love you.

I sure do love you all

Love Sister Barrand

There is Jakie on the right and we are putting together Chirstmas boxes for orphans Caroling outside Krogers My District surprized me with balloons and an Icecream cake!

Christmas Zone Conference 2007

Merry CHRISTmas!!!

Oh my goodness I love this!!!!!I’ve been wanting to tell you about Jackie Porterfield. She is amazing investigator. She is17 and has been coming to church for a while now and her step mom won’t allow her to be baptize because of all the crazy stuff she hears. Jackie knows the truth and is going to stay firm in her decision to be baptized. She has the baptism date set for the 8th of April on the day of her 18th birthday. She thinks she will be kicked out of her house if it is any sooner then her 18th birthday. Our last lesson was great and she will be praying about being baptized sooner. She knows its true and wants to enter the waters of baptism. We will be praying for the softening of her step-mothers and fathers heart.

I’m also really excited about another 17 young women named Gennie. She is a niece of a recently reactivated member who is on fire and wanted to share the gospel with her whole family. Gennie surprised us her Aunt Stevi by the interest she is taking. It all so great!My Birthday was great even though I was sick. I received the best kind of mail ever from Caitlin Sheppard from Radford that I taught in the beginning. She wrote about her baptism and the people who attended and then a genuine and sincere testimony. It was the best. Plus Sister Larsen ( Jennifer) now that she is home sent me some great stuff along with some dirtballs and Carmel brownies. Not to mention all the presents and letters from you all. I’ve already found some prefect owners for the little CTR bracelets and rings. It was amazing that a Less Active member was looking for just that and you were inspired to send me that and I was able to give it to her. It was perfect.I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful it has been and the Christmas spirit here. My heart is so full of love for the Savoir. This truly is the best.

I can’t tell you how much love I feel from everyone. I got the most thoughtful gifts ever. Thank you so much for all the wonderful Christmas letters. Our Christmas zone conference was on Monday and we drove up To Buena Vista where President Cowley came and picked up our Zone. He drove the 18 passenger van. The Zone leaders took there car and then we all headed to Charleston. President drove us past the Green Brier where a lot of the Presidents of the US have stayed... it starts at $450.00 a night there!!!! Ouch is all I can say. The drive to Charleston went by pretty fast and we all had a lot of fun talking in the van, President telling stories of his encounters with Spencer W. Kimball and just laughing. President all treated us to McDonalds (which he loves). When we got into Charleston we had a message from President and Sister Cowley and from the AP's. I felt the spirit so strong as one of the Elders shared how much love he has for the gospel. I wanted to get up right then and share my testimony. For our Mission President and Wife we all chipped in and brought certain pieces to the whole Willow nativity set. We were in charge of the lambs and sheep. Sister Ryder and I ended up writing a little poem to share how the Cowley’s were like sheep.

I have a sincere love for theses two servants of the Lord and the spirit was deep in my heart as we shared how much the Cowleys meant to us. After eating theses chicken salad thing on a croissant things we went caroling in front of Krogers Grocery store(to help out the Salvation Army) . Just imagine 25 of us with our name tags standing in the freezing cold singing way off tune but singing our little heart off. I loved standing next to President Cowley with his boisterous voice in my ear. I’m pretty sure I was off tune the whole time. It was really neat to see the different attitude in giving, just because a bunch of young adults were singing. Testimony meeting after that was pretty powerful. I was so excited to share my testimony more so then other conferences. I know it was due to the wonderful spirit that was in that home. You know the home is one of the closes places we can come to the temple. And since we don’t have the privilege of a temple we made the spirit dwell in the mission home.

The spirit testified to me of many things I could never deny. I love that warm peaceful spirit and I’m grateful it testifies to others because with out it no one would be converted. After that President and Sister Cowley presented us with Christmas ornaments that meant the world to him. It was simple 35 cents. That’s right a Virginia quarter and a dime. And the extra dime meant he loved us. There was a pretty neat story that went along with it. Then they brought out all the wonderful letters from our families. It was like the best Christmas Zone Conference.I love you all sooooooo muchI love to see the growth in all of you and how I’ve got the best family ever!Had a pretty neat conversation with a member who had some similar family experience and I know I was sent here to comfort her.

Love you all again and have a Wonderful CHRISTmas. With all that joyous stuff.Mom- That photo album was the neatest thing I’ve ever seen. That was so creative and cute. I’m so glad you are my mom and I get to learn from your wonderful self.Dad- Thank you so much for noticing and remembering the positive things. All the things you said in your letter were just what I needed. Your too nice to me. I really can’t wait to get back and get you real gift that I can feel good about.Siblings- I love hearing from you all. I just can’t wait to see all those babies being born!!Grandma and Grandpa –thanks for the beautiful cards and the beautiful green money. How did you know I wanted that? I love hearing from you cause you two are great examples to me.
LOVE
Sister Barrand
HO HO HO Merry Christmas

Bridgeport

Yeah thats deer heart i'm eating Sister Labenne and Me Snowy Bridgeport
The Ice cream Cake for my B-day. don't ask me why he has my first name on it. Ok I'll tell you. Brad Ford is like an anoying older brother.

Crazy I'm in a new area, in Lynchburg Virginia that means I’m at a new Library that will not kick me off and I’m able to send pictures again. Yeah!!! That means you can still send pictures to me. But no showing up.ya hear!I want to let you know that it was real hard to leave Bridgeport but I’m glad I’m here. I think I have grown the most out of my whole mission from serving in Bridgeport and serving with Sister Larsen. I can even begin to tell you how amazing she was. It was also really hard to say goodbye to a best friend.

At least I know I will see her in Utah in a few months. She had set such an amazing example of a extraordinary missionary that I hope I carry to my future areas. Sister Larsen and I never fought once. I t was the best. We both loved teaching together and were on the same page. I never had to worry about anything that was coming out of her month. I knew that everything would be missionary appropriate and what they needed to hear. As Jake and Sue say she was the peach and I was the plum. I wanted to be a Pear but Sue thought other wise. It was real hard to say goodbye to all the wonderful people there. It was a totally surprise to me that I was leaving. So on the last Sunday everyone knew Larsen was going but we didn’t expect that I would be leaving as well. Sister Hatch had only been there for 6 week and that is a big difference to 6 month with the same two sisters. The sisters in the ward through and little lunch together for sister Larsen Leaving at our favorite place Panera and killed two birds with one stone and called it visit teaching.

Brad Ford our Land Lord/ Funeral Director was heart broken and we were as well. He also threw together a little something. It was a party for Lars and I with pizza and Ice cream Cake(my favorite, for my B-day). It got a little teary eye you can say that we became really close to the people here. It was also hard to say good bye to the Krolls. But hopefully I will be able to see them baptized in Feb. This area was my favorite Bishop. Bishop Haw’s wife would always try to marry us off to her Boys. It didn’t work that well. She said at least get married and come back and live in Zion. She was a hoot. All these people are hoot. Transfers were long it was Snowing and it looked like Colorado. I t took two hours to get to transfer. There I had to say good bye to Lars and Get back with Sister Ryder for a five hour drive to Lynchburg. The snow was real fluffy. I already like this area. It seams so much more established and well kept.
My new apartment is just two rooms basically. It a big difference when you come from the palace of the funeral home. I actually don’t think I mind one bit. Everything is closer I can take one step from the bathroom to our bedroom, five from our bedroom to the Kitchen/living room and another five to the front room. I’m glad to be serving with Sister Ryder again. She made me feel real good last night after one lesson saying that I have changed for the better. Of course I don’t really see that but I feel a lot more comfortable teaching. It’s pretty neat what you can pick up from great companions!I’m excited to meet new people and share my love with them.

My New Address is
1192 Homestead Gardens Court #3
Forest, VA 24551
( doesn’t that sound ritzy!)

Love you all so muchSister BarrandP.S. I still don’t know if you received my picture for the family picture?P.P.S. Oh and I didn’t do much better than Austin with not opening the presents. I waited at least 4 days. Except one gift that I’m going to save for my Birthday or Christmas. I had to open them for the comps (they really wanted to know). They were great gift though, just what the doctor ordered.

Ghosts

Well sound like you all had a great time for Thanks Giving. I did as well. Different members feed us for lunch, dinner and dessert. I paced myself so I would get overloaded. So we got a lot of leftovers and we are still working on them. We went around the table and said what we are thankful for of course and I mentioned that I was thankful for my family and Being on a mission. Being on a mission has given me an opportunity to grow and learn in the gospel, which I’m especially thankful for. A knowledge of a everlasting perfect

Plan for us has got to be the best. Although I get down sometime, I never regret this decision. This truly is the best thing I can be a part of. Actually Austin’s letter helped me out. I’ve been going through some weak moments and Austin’s letter was really uplifting and inspired me to. He said exactly what I needed and I’ve been doing soooo much better. This week we taught Shannon Kellie about the Youth Standard and we are helping her out and going to try and find some modest clean cut clothes for her. She is kind of into the whole gothic look so this might be fun.

The Krolls, Jake and Sue are doing well we have a big hold up with Sue’s smoking. Until she has a desire she can’t really quit and progress. And it seems that it’s holding back Jake as well. But they sure do seem tons happier and they are all about reading. We are disappointed in them for not coming to church because they had to cut up a deer, but Jake gave us the deer heart to eat to make up for not coming to church. He really doesn’t understand the whole process but he get it soon. Sister Larsen was all about dissecting that heart before we eat it. She going to be a nurse so she likes that kind of stuff. It will be fun to watch on our P-day activties. Actually this will be our last P-day together because she goes back home to Utah next week. I’m really sad about that whole situation. Bridgeport will not be the same. We have been here together for 6 months and I think I might cry.

Last week for p-day we went into a Ghost tunnel with the senior Couple Elder and Sister Appel. The scary part was Sister Appel jumping out of the wall. Speaking of ghosts for Gospel Principle our lesson was on ghosts, not the Holy Ghost but ghosts, goblins and elves. Luckily we did not have any investigator there for there first time scared out of their minds but we did have 2 recent convert there. Totally inappropriate for Gospel Principals, but what can you do?

The short had to reschedule again last week but we will have a great lesson this week. We meet some crazy people while tracking this week. Some of the best door slams on my whole entire mission. One of them were a little bit Satanist and screaming some Santanist things and the other just looked at us, laughed and slammed the door. I’m with Austin with tracking, Sometimes you just got to do it.

There was a part member family that we were teaching the wife and the RM husband wasn’t the best example and in courage her to learn her own religion first before she studies with us. So we had kind of dropped her but I this clear impression that we needed to go ove there. Surprsing they were both home and we could have lesson with them. We found out some pretty deep reason why he stopped going to church. I t was the most productive lesson we have ever had with them and Brooke the wife was helping us out and explaning our religion to him. It was pretty cool.

Love you all

Sister Barrand

Mom do you think you could send my hair license, I only need the little copy. I’m also wondering if you opened the boxed that had your name on them because there is a letter for you in that and the clothes that need to be returned

As for the date of my release I’m going to be extending until April 10, 2008. I’m going to assume that we still live in the same house; we attend the Falcon Ward and the same Highlands Ranch Stake, with the same Stake President?

Wait is Danica moving to Huston? i want to see that baby!

Sherry Going to bed with the Sports bar around my ankles Picki'n up trash
Plung'n the Sink
Got to Love Planning!

Heather's Baptism

I got so busy trying to remember everything i needed to tell you and forgot to say

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!! HAVE FUN WITH THE FOOD,FAMILY,FUN,FOOTBALL, FREEDOM, FIRE, FOURHEADS, FORGETTING THE TURKEY IN THE OVEN, FUNKY STUFF STUCK IN THE DRAIN OR THE TURKEY, and EVERYTHING FESTIVE!!!!!!!!!!!

oh and i figured out what i wanted for my Birthday/ Christmas
-General Conference on DVD ( April 06 and Oct 07) only 7.00
-Saturday Warriors DVD
-Twizzers from Bath and Body Works they are ( TwizzerMAN )Twizzers

By the way we will be feed really well at three members homes for ThanksGiving so don't you worry!
Love yaSister Barrand

Plunger

Sorry I didn’t get to send my letter last week the silly computer kicked me off as I was pressing the button to send. It was a little upsetting but I got over it.We finally snuck in a lesson with our talkative Land Lord/ Funeral Director (Brad Ford). What he wanted was customs of Mormon Funerals and what he got was the Second Lesson The Plan of Salvation.

He not really interested but I’m glad we got a word in that head of his.These pass two Sundays have been great. Last week we had 2 ½ investigators there and this week we had 4 1/2 investigators there. Seriously that does not happen here. I say ½ because Sherry Gross Brought her 11 year old daughter and we haven’t taught her yet so we can’t fully call her a investigator. But hey they love Church, especially when the women are doing a Visiting Teaching conference and there is a Potata bar. Plus we had a special musical number performed by us sister missionaries. I’m telling you they always are getting me to sing out here. I even had to do a little solo part. P.S. I hated the song. But the old ladies loved it.There is an old lady that also live above the funeral home and we sat down with her a listened for hours. WE were thinking of recording her voice and just playing it at night and we would fall asleep in the matter of seconds.

I night have fallen asleep in a couple of visits with her. I doesn’t help when you in a big cozy chair and you don’t have to say a word cause they will just talk you ear off. I saw my other comps doing the same thing. This three some has been really great. WE get along so well. Last night we tried something new to unclog the bathroom sink due to the fact that sister Hatch dropped her Toothpaste cap down the drain. We took a plunger to it and brown chunky liquid was flying everywhere. Don’t worry I got it on video.Oh you already know but I got my trunky Papers last week and it scared the crap out of me. I still can’t get over the fact that I’m actually severing a mission. This is all too crazy. I actually got really stressed out about what date I would come home on either Feb 28 or April 10. I still can’t believe it it’s gone by so fast. I’ve been giving it some thought and praying about it. I’m not sure even what I’m going to do when I get home. So I have really no reason to come home unless you got something planned. I was wondering if you could get me schedules for school so I could check out my options. I was thinking about summer semester at BYUI and if I could get in to BYU or I don’t know what I want to do. So you can help me out if you want. I might want to be an EFY consoler? ifyou have any ideas you can let me know.

Although i did talk to president Cowley about my relase date and i think i've made up my mind.About 5 months ago we tracked into Lori Short. I was incredibly hard to teach her on a regular basic due to her sickness. All she told us was that she had M.S. We felt prompted to fast for Lori’ Health so that we could teach her about the restored truths. So both Sister Larsen and I fasted. We both agreed that it was the most spiritual fast that we have had. We Still continued to try to make appointments but she was never well. Her Husband and Daughter were both unsure with us coming over and kind of fought her on it. Lori was strong and tried to help them understand, but she felt like she didn’t know it well enough to try to teach them.

So we would try to set up appointment with the Husband there but she would always say he is not ready. We managed to have her get to know the bishop’s Wife (Sister Haws). Last week on the phone Lori said she had some exciting news, even to good to tell us over the phone we had to wait until we were face to face, so we were real anxious to get over there.

We were thrilled that it was late in the evening that David her husband would be home. As we got there we were excited enough to see that David was there. As we were sitting down they told us that her Brain tumor was completely gone and the Lesions in her brain were so small that the Doctors would have never diagnosed her with M. S. And All the Doctors were floored. You could just see through their expression that they knew that this was truly a miracle and all of our prays were answered. Then David asked if he could learn more because he wanted to read the Book of Mormon this week. So we taught the most incredible Lesson of a Loving Heavenly Father and a humble boy’s prayer.
Love you all
Sister Barrand

Cat Fight

Hey HeyThis week we had an eventful cat fight with the Elders for not letting us know about day light savings time. We, well I got pretty up set about that extra hour of sleep and got mad. I let it fester to long and blew up at the Elders. I’m terrible and felt incredibly bad for getting so upset over an hour, and apologized as soon as possible. I don’t know why but that was probably the most mad I’ve gotten on my mission. I felt pretty bad. So this week I’m really trying to work hard on being nice and saying nice things. Especially to those I don’t get along with. I’ve been kind of sarcastic with one Elder cause I can’t stand him, so I have to watch myself. Not to mention there was a cat fight last week in Ward Council with the Elders Quorum President and us Sisters. It was feisty. We were just trying to state our option on home teachers for Heather and it did not go over well.

He said we were pushy because we were asking to get home teacher for her, it had been weeks since her baptism and getting a home teacher right away to teach them the new member lessons is vital for new converts. GRRRRRR. Sister Larsen said she’s never seen me so enraged.Our trio had an intense work out/dance party with Halloween tinsel and Josh Groban. It was a blast and it might be hard to believe but I’m sore everywhere. We are just glad no one saw into our windows.We tried volunteering at the nursing home to see a less active that works there but they want us to fill out all this paper work and have back ground checks. No thank you.We might start teaching a man who looks exactly like Michael Douglas.

I’m sick right now cause sister Hatch was sick and were are with each other 24/7 so I was bond to get sick.Jake is doing pretty well. His wife Sue came back home from the hospital today. We are trying to teach them together so they can get baptized together, but it hard when she is always in the hospital. Jake is a funny man he is always trying to give us a hard time and he thinks I’m trouble. He calls us “the pepper steal’n Mormons” cause we stole some peppers from his garden and took pictures for him. He loved the pictures cause we looked so happy. I had so many peppers they were coming gout my pockets.To end on a good note are less actives and investigator came to Fast and testimony meeting and it was the best one out on my mission so far. I was so good. There was only one kinda scecty one but the kids were making enough noise and they weren’t able to hear. So that Sunday went from dark to light.
Love you all
Sister Barrand

I would love Austin’s mailing address so I can write himDad I’m not surprised that no one showed up at the temple on Halloween.Mom whats hows the job situation ?

Happy Halloween! Cazy eyes
Don, do these look familiar? - if not they are what they have to wear in the army

I was a clown for Halloween what were you?

“I’m a mean old witch with my hat, and I ride on my broom with my cat!” Mom do you remember singing that to me when I was little. Well in honor of you and Halloween I sang it to all the Elders here. I loved to see the pictures of you all having dinner and that you invited the missionaries. That is the best thing you can do for the missionaries is to provide a home where you can feel the spirit and participate by sharing your testimony.

For the ward Halloween party we tricked everyone one into thinking we were all Sister Barrand’s. I had Sister Larsen and Sister Hatch wear my other named tags. Some members knew there was a sister Larsen and a Barrand but couldn’t tell us apart cause they think we look alike. AS for sister Hatch it was her first time meeting some of them and they had know idea what her name was. So that was our excitement there. Oh yesterday was the first live possum I have ever seen. We all started screaming in the car because we were all so excited. Zone conference was better then I thought. I have to tell you that president told us we would be doing some role playing and I hate role playing with other missionaries. So we joked about not going but of course we went and I felt the spirit probably one of the strongest I have ever felt.

My old District leader is now AP and taught the Restoration to us all. It was more then powerful when he taught. You can feel the sincerity when he teaches, it truly amazing what our heavenly Father has in store for us.I’d say one of the greatest things that happened this week was our prayers about Jake’s Septic tank were answered. About two weeks ago when it stopped working the Kroll family and us started praying for a way to fix their septic tank, so they could all be home together as a family rather then them at their friends because they couldn’t use the toilet or the shower. We also wanted them to concentrate on Jake’s baptism not on having no money to pay for a new septic tank. This consumed their thoughts and took place of the Gospel. Well a senior couple down in another area about a hour away was also praying about how they can help out because they were all out of trimming trees in their area.

The Apples felt impressed to take us sister and help us find less Actives in our area. WE would use their miles because we don’t have very many. WE had a lot of people we could find in Grafton because they all live on routes and it would take a lot of miles to try and find them. So we had a couple of appointments and we were able to find people and streets that we had searched for before. The Krolls and the Apples got along really well and Elder Apple paid and fixed their septic tank the next day. Elder Apple spent the whole day over there fixing it all up. We noticed how many prayers were answered and thanked our loving Heavenly Father.

Now Jake’s wife Sue want to take the lessons for real and they want to get baptized together. So that means were are going to work really hard with Sue and her smoking addiction. We also have to keep Jake on the right path so Satan can’t distract him to much. It will be the most difficult but the most rewarding. So that’s a no go on the baptism on the 4th.Mom, Dad and Celeste, did I ever tell you that I was obsess with Prison Break as well, the only difference is you can watch and I can’t. You luckies!Dad- about that cook book, I’ve already collected a whole but of tasty treats, but not anything gross. So I don’t think I will be cooking any squirrel for y’all. Sorry. That description of the food on your mission was enough. Sorry to hear about the Rockies but that was very good of you to go to a ballet. I promised you will be blessed.P.s. mom for the list that you have been asking for is going to be tuff cause I don’t even know what I want. There is one thing but I will write a real letter about it. Know that I love you and your Heavenly Fathers loves you He’s watching over you and is pleased when you are aligning your will with His.
I hope you all have a great Halloween
Love Sister Barrand

Nasty

I bet if you knew what it looked like hear you would all jump on a plane today and check out all these colors. Oh but it sounds like the snow is crazy there. Random people will update me here and say they are getting a lot of snow out in Colorado. I’m glad you have the missionaries over cause that means a lot. Are you two lonely and that why you had three nurses sleep over? Sounds like a great breakfast that they made.

So did you mess up your diet, or what? There is a lady (Tina) who we help with the activities at the nursing home and I think she is on the same diet. Tina has lost 21 lbs in two or three months, so good luck with that diet. The portions look pretty small. At least you get Chocolate. Right?Dad, sounds like we both had a Stinky day. But mine was a silly reason for being bad. Basically both Sister Larsen and I couldn’t sleep, trains were honking, sirens were shrieking, dogs were barking, I had to give a talk for District Mtg, and Jake’s septic tank died. But what we found amazing is that the lessons that we had went really well. Speaking of stinky and septic tanks, I stepped in Jake’s dog’s (Sweet Pea’s) poo on there front porch. I just put it back on the grass where it belonged, because Jake told me too. So we are still teaching Pam and her son Jonathan.

We are still trying to figure out if Pam was baptized when she was nine. I have to tell you that Pam is always on her swing on her front poach and as we go up to take a seat on some lawn chairs there is the most ghastly smell of doggie presents. Not to mention two smelly sickly disease spreading dogs trying to eat the flies that are swarming all over us. Its so nasty. Last night we went over to make sure Jonathan had a ride to Church Basketball. He thought we were going to give him a ride and we thought he already had a ride, so we had to use their phone to find him a ride.

We disgustingly went into the home overcome by the most horrible BO ever in my life. I’m telling you it went from rank to rank not even a time to take a breath. I t went directly from stinky dog poop to deadly BO. We got a ride for them and the poor member had to ride in car with two smelly kids. We felt pretty bad but we didn’t know plus we are trying to get them involved. I just have one more nasty story. We went over to a member home to eat and as was in the bathroom, The Member proceeded to tell Larsen about the problems or her Curdling Milk in her frig. Later as we sat down she continued saying that the meat that she had prepare made her and her husband both sick. We looked around to what to eat and there was nothing we had no back up besides a plain potata. The water option was even gross there was green fungus living at to bottom of the picture. I would have to say that was the worst meal of my whole mission so far.
I love you all\u003cbr /\>Sister Barrand\u003cbr /\>\u003cbr /\>\u003cbr /\>\u003cbr /

Well In my studies I’m working on knowing scriptures better and some other random things. When I started off you could quiz me on about 15 of them and I knew what they all said and where they were. The next day I tried doing the same and it was like my brain was full and there was no room for any other scriptures. It was pretty funny cause the same thing happened to Larsen. By the way we prayed and prayed to stay one more transfer together for our investigators and it was answered. Larsen and I are here again for another 6 beautiful week, plus we got Sister Hatch. That’s my third threesome if you count the MTC.

Threesome’s are crazy!! We will see how this one works out. I’m afraid that sister Larsen and I have become such good companions that someone would feel left out but we are going to try our hardest to work on including everyone. Sister Hatch and I were in the MTC together but we were not in the same district. She came from a difficult companionship so it’s good that she is here. We are going to pump here up and get some work done. Too bad we had a glow sticks party with out here. Sister Larsen’s Mom always sends glow sticks so we are always having fun. Jake Baptism date moved to the 4th of November due to the fact that Sue needs to be there. Plus she is out of the Hospital. Heather is a great member and goes out with us on teaching appt which is great.
I love you all
Sister Barrand

Heather Wilson is a Member!

This week was eventful a Baptism and a Funeral, both starting a new kind of life. Heather was Baptized on the Sunday the 14th of October before church, so she was able to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost in Church that day.

Oh man we pretty much stressed the entire week even until the very end. We had good reason to be on our toes. Well to start of Heather didn’t have a phone and she lives in the Elders area so we drove to keep in contact to her home like everyday cause you never know what is going to happen. She wanted her husband to baptize her but we didn’t know if he was worthy to do so. He was not really supporting her at all. He actually tried to keep her from meting with us. He was a big bum. But at we came closer and closer to Sunday he started to change. We wanted to involve him in the program but again didn’t know if he could do anything, Luckily we had his dad willing to help out and Heather was ok with her Father-in-law Baptizing her. But Richie found out and wanted to met with the Bishop so he could baptize his wife. He kept putting it on. Heather just stayed calm, knowing that her husband might not be able to baptize her. Sunday morning rolled around and Richie had an interview right before the Baptism. WE took some pictures while we were waiting.

The Baptism started at 8:45 and Richie came out of his interview at 8:50. He was so happy he was running around repeating the baptism prayer because this was going to be his first one. We hurried him in to get his jumper on and then started. We were late as Mormons usually are but Heather was Baptized by her Husband, a dream come true for her. The programs had to say on them Brother Wilson cause we didn’t know who was going to baptize her, her Father-in law or her Husband. But it all worked out just great and we were so happy for the two.

Now we get to take heather with us to teaching appointments!It was different having a Funeral downstairs, but neat to see the love that was shared. Sister Larsen and I were in charge of bringing all the pictures and stands over to the place where they would all eat. Of course the Relief Society put on a excellent meal. To bad Tammy wasn’t even there, she was having a really hard time with the lost of her husband. The saddest part was we brought up how she can be sealed and she was not interested in giving up word of wisdom issues to be sealed with Bill. So sad when they are so closed. You wouldn’t believe how closed some people are out here, well I’m sure it’s the same there.

I’m Happy for the Baptism the happened there. And we looking forward to Jake’s Baptism probably next week, when his wife is out of the hospital. Oh we had family home evening with Jake and it was the best. We even got to sing to his Wife in the hospital over the phone. Jake says the best prayers cause they are from his heart. He keeps telling us that he is going to miss us girls. After we finished the lesson with the ice cream sundaes he said. “Aw you can’t leave now I was just having fun.”I absolutely love how the gospel can bring soooooo much happiness into someone’s life. Jake has yet to comprehend how happy we can be when we do what is right. Man this is good stuff. I’ll tell you the truth though when your companion has only 7 weeks left, it’s hard not to think of life after a mission, but it basically all about how we are going to lose weight and hold babies. I’m lucky enough that all of you have them and I don’t have to worry about that for a long time.
Love you all
Sister Barrand

PICTURES !!!!

This members home is like right off the highway...but for reals that is their driveway.
The sisters @ Zone Conference. The sister in Red next to me is from Colorado and guess what...

we just found out we went in the same group to prom. That means she is in all my pictures. This prom was @ her high school where Tyson Wyatt went. And my date was Chris Taylor.

Our Zone Clarksburg & Morgantown. Clarksburg is mine.
A wild less active puffing up my hair like her own
Our crazy Bishop Haws. He is the Best. He even came up with this look one day when he was board.
From ugly orange paneling to...
Beautiful Beige
Another hair cut- Jake Kroll. And this is a hot pink towel
Another hair cut. This time for Elder Riddle.
A hair cut for Elder Wray

Well well well, just because they have a baptism date doesn’t mean Satan is trying to drag them down. He has both hit Heather and Jake at the same time. The funny thing is it is not their faith that is stopping them it’s their Spouses . Both want their husband and wife there and we are coming up on some rough hills. I had to say hill cause there ain’t no mountains out here. With Heather her husband Richie is making up a lie saying that he can’t come but to go ahead and have it cause he is not worthy to baptize her. For Jake is going strong but he know how important families are and want his wife to be there and she just went into the hospital last night and might not be back for three week. Satan is mean and cunning, But the Lord is way more powerful and will streach forth his hand after all we can do.We taught Jake the Word of Wisdom and he and his wife poored out all their Alchol.

They were having fun at it as well. We couldn’t fin any more bottles to drain and he was upset. I loved that, getting rid of sin feels GOOD. Oh you could see how much better they felt after that mess was no longer in there home. We had dinner at there home and we talked about the Temple. They were loving it. Then Sue (Jake’s Wife) said they most heart filled prayed before we left. My Comp, Sister Poe and I all cried during the pray because she was progressing. Seriously I have been praying about a family to teach and they are an answer to my prayers. The change that that family is making is huge. Sister Larsen and I could not stop talking about how wonderful it is to see the Change of heart that accurse.Hey for the first time in my life I got to wear that Orange vest and pick up trash on the side of the highway, like the convicts do. I kinda felt like one. It was a nasty job with all the cigarettes and bear cans but hey it was fun with that portable hand squeezer thing!! We had fun yelling “CAR” to everyone; I think that also the first time we had an excuse to yell on our missions! There was some nasty stuff though and of course the spider webs in the gully near by freaked out my companion.

I just wanted to tell you I loved Conference and I know the new men called are of God and they will lead and guide us not astray. I notice that the Saturday Conference was a lot about Death and Families. And this past week 2 people that we knew past away. One of them was a Fiancé of and mentally unstable member and was predicted. But Bill Rhodes was a 60 year old Less Active Member of two married Children, whose wife adopted us. Truly an incredibly sad situation, they have been visited by missionaries for years and never let them in. But Sister Tammy Rhodes took us under her wing and has placed upon her the name of our “Heathen Mama” Along with friends, co-workers, members and Family we comforted Tammy at the hospital while her husbands was suffering. Some Elders were able to give Bill a Blessing and his seizering had stop. Tammy asked for a blessing and was comforted by the love arms of our Heavenly Father. The funeral will actual be done in our Apartment. On the Bright side I feel this will lead Tammy back to church

Sister Larsen and I will have served 18 weeks and we don’t want it to end there we love serving together and form the sound of it from interview it seems like we won’t serve her last transfer here together. I’m telling you we make a great team and everyone can tell, that why we have been together for three transfers, Our land lord, members and strangers are trying to get a hold of President Cowley and persuade him to keep us here for one more, but we will see if that works. What probably works the best is to get on you knees and communicate with your Father in Heaven.I just wanted to tell you I loved Conference and I know the new men called are of God and they will lead and guide us not astray. I notice that the Saturday Conference was a lot about Death and Families. And this past week 2 people that we knew past away.

One of them was a Fiancé of and mentally unstable member and was predicted. But Bill Rhodes was a 60 year old Less Active Member of two married Children, whose wife adopted us. Truly an incredibly sad situation, they have been visited by missionaries for years and never let them in. But Sister Tammy Rhodes took us under her wing and has placed upon her the name of our “Heathen Mama” Along with friends, co-workers, members and Family we comforted Tammy at the hospital while her husbands was suffering. Some Elders were able to give Bill a Blessing and his seizering had stop. Tammy asked for a blessing and was comforted by the love arms of our Heavenly Father. The funeral will actual be done in our Apartment. On the Bright side I feel this will lead Tammy back to church
LoveSister B

General Conference is coming

Its been a great week. I love hearing how my wonderful family is doing. I’m so glad you all help the missionaries out and help them teach . It means a lot when it comes from the members, just don’t get into too deep and go off on Kolob or Heavenly Mother. He He. Mom I will be praying really hard for you and this job if it be right for you at this time in your life. Speaking of praying for specific things. After knowing that Jake wanted a quad for himself after he gets Baptized on the 21, we were over at a member home and Sister Wilson was looking through her stuff to find me a newer purse cause mine is trashed she found a Quad, brand new never been used before and asked us if we could find someone that would cherish these scriptures. Both sister Larsen looked at each other and knew that it was an answer to our pray for Jake. We will give them to him after he get Baptized. It’s good to hear that One of Kizzy’s nurses is getting baptized. That is way neat that you got to help out there. Heather and Jake are both doing really well and are excited for General Conference.
As am I, I think General Conference should happen all the time I absolutely love it. So we have been working with a 35 year old less active member Jeff Cropp he moved here about 8 years ago and hasn’t been to church in over 15 years, well we have taught him like he was an investigator with bring about 8 different families over trying him to come out to church. This past Saturday there was a Buckwheat & Sausages Feed and he was helping out there. So we made it over there and partook of the Feed. I actually liked them better then pancakes, they kind of tasted like multied grained flat pancakes. I was told after wards that that not even what real buckwheat pancakes taste like. But there we met his mom and his less active dad who were visiting. It was perfect timing that we got to remind Jeff about coming to church in front of his Family. He came!!!!!!
All the families that we have been taking over to his house over the 4 and ½ months we have been here. Came up to him and welcomed him and his two year old boy. It was a sight to see. You could tell Jeff mom was so happy to see her son at church. We love working with Jeff Cropp he such an nest guy, he actually was the only person that said I did a good job on my solo in church besides my comp. P.s. I kinda feel bad for this ward cause they have no one to do anything in this ward so they always call on the missionaries, that’s how I’ve been roped in to singing for sacrament. I guess it’s good for me. Oh I’ almost forgot we had a neat experience with a new investigator we found her while tracking. Her name is Pam and her step mom is a member that lives in Greece. Pam goes to a nondenominational church.
We gave her a pass along card for a BOM, the times of General Conference and made an appointment. When we came for the Apartment she had already prayed to know if this is true and if we were to come back then it means it good. Also she ordered the BOM and Is planning with her husband to go to a session of General Conference on Sat with her kids and one of their friends. It was like another prayer answered. The lesson went really well with her and she Prayed about Joseph Smith in the Closing Pray. I’m telling you that this does not happen. She already has pray as a family every night. It Amazing!!!
Love you all
Sister Barrand
P.S. we are almost done painting our apartment for service. It looks sooooo much better. Some much easier not to study in a orange room
P.S. I’m sure you two will have fun up in Park City with the family. It would be fun to see some pictures of YOU!

This is the best

Well to believe or not this week has been even better than last. Sister Larsen and I have both been here for a little longer than 3 months and no baptisms. We have been working hard and were wondering when it was going got pay off. As you know Heather had a baptism date set as of Nov 25, well just the other day in the same week we were teacher her and asked her what would be the difference if you got baptized in three weeks instead of Nov 25.

She said “ well actually I’ve been thinking about moving it up” This mean she will get baptized on Oct 14 a week after Conference. Not to mention that there will be a much and mingle after church, and she loves to eat, so she all excided that she will be baptized, confirmed, take the sacrament, and eat after it all done. Now she was not easy to commit but something just triggered her all of the sudden and she just loves to read and do what is right. She is building that foundation in Jesus Christ and baring her testimony to us, even when her husband is a rebellious member. She has committed and she is putting the effort in to what is takes and it only been 2 year since she started the lessons with the Missionaries. We are so happy for her cause it’s been a struggle seeing her not commit, ditch us, not read over and over again, and she is on fire now. Now she wants us over everyday to teach her and asking us when we can come back.

You can see the Change of heart.Speaking of Change of heart, Jake Kroll has been meeting with the missionaries for over a year now. When we got there he told us over and over again that he doesn’t even want to talk about Baptism. He was a stubborn Jehovah Witness for years and wanted us to show and prove everything to him. Up until a couple of days ago, he fought us on everything we said. Jake liked our Church but thought once was enough. After reciveing and answer to write down his testimony, our testimony, where his testimony should be, and how to get there it was a little chaotic. We actually had a big blow out and Sister Larsen had enough of his crap a cried. You see we wanted him to feel the spirit at a baptism one night and he said he would think about it. We were really upset that he didn’t want to take that opportunity to feel the spirit. The lesson was way unproductive (we thought). Well this got Jake thinking about his salvation. He came to the Baptism as you know and felt the spirit strongly, he kept saying how good he felt. He talked to President Cowley and could feel his charitable Spirit.

President Cowley gave Jake a hug. This meant more to Jake then you would believe. Jake was taken back to an inspired man wanting to hug him. Jake could not stop talking about how impressed he was. Jake started telling us he had been kneeling down while his been praying at night. We were blow away. If you can imagine a 65 year old, Jehovah Witness, hard knock, New Jersey kind of a guy that hates talking about his feelings going on about his spiritual experience talking with God on his knees. That was the best feeling. The lesson totally changed and they were all centered on his Family. He claims that the Witnesses broke up his Family and wanted to repair the damage. We started teaching him and his Family. You know I’ve been praying my whole mission to teach a family and I have been blessed to do so now, it’s an answer to my prayers.

Now Jake came to church and loved it, one of the talks was just what he needed. I’m grateful for the speakers listening to the spirit on what to teach, the talk was perfect and Jake recognized it. He had some great question about having to get married again if he wanted to be sealed in the temple. Our last lesson was so peaceful, we watched General Conference while I gave him a hair cut and after wards we asked him if he had is own bible. He said he wanted to get a quad after he get baptized. We very anxiously said when will you be baptized. He said “Soon” we said how about the 21 of Oct he said “ok” My heart filled up with joy for this man’s salvation and righteous desires. That was a change of heart. You wouldn’t believe what he said after that.

Well we asked him about what he had been reading and he was like “well we can talk about that later lets talk about baptism.” Man I can’t even begin to tell you how much these mean to our Heavenly Father, another lost sheep will be found. Sister Larsen and I could not believe that Changes that has occurred here. It can pretty much go along with Helaman 11. you should read it if you get a Chance. I have to tell you that this feeling that I’m experiencing is why I am out here. This is the Best work ever. I love my Heavenly Father and his Prefect Plan for us. I know my Savoir and Redeemer lives and I will do all I do to follow him.
I love you all
Sister Barrand