Monday, February 25, 2013

Oi de Sandusky, Ohio!

I'm trying to still use my Portuguese as much as I can ;). I still get an hour of language study a day, so that's good. There's one guy in the ward that served in Brazil, but I haven't been able to talk to him yet. Sounds like basketball is going fairly well. Gizmo needs to get that Win this weekend! Whatever it takes. There's nothing like the State Tournament. But she knows that I guess. I'm glad you got to see the Hamblins! Love those guys so much. How are the Varsity Boys doing? I guess Bridger is tearin' it up a little in basketball, huh? And Jesse's still doing alright? Is Mia all done?

I'm stoked for Justin Cowan. Didn't Jake serve in the Carlsbad mission too? The new missions are exciting! I think that the Cincinatti mission is going to affect me. We might get our boundaries changed and lose some missionaries to it, but we'll see.

Sandusky is as good as ever. I went on my first exchange with our District Leader this last weekend. His name is Elder Jarvis, he's from Arizona. He's an awesome guy and a really good missionary. So I went and stayed the night in Norwalk on Saturday. It's a lot like Sandusky, they're just cool, old Lake towns.

One of my companions has a bunch of music and talks on an MP3 player and he loves J. Golden Kimball. His talks are pretty funny. He wasn't afraid to swear at the pulpit apparently. One thing he talks about is that nobody is perfect. He was a general authority, Heber C. Kimball's son and he admits to a couple things that are pretty funny. But the point is that we shouldn't expect ourselves to be perfect. We need to repent everyday and strive to be more like Jesus Christ, but EVERYONE has things that they need to work on.

I wish you could see some of the places I've been last week. An old widow let us go eat at her club house and it was awesome. It's right on the lake and it was really fancy. Don't worry we were dressed for the occasion ;). Her house is amazing too. It's huge, and apparently the land she's on is worth even more than the house. Her name is Sister Bearce, she's about 80 years old, but you wouldn't be able to guess it by how much energy she has. There's a bunch of people that feed us and we eat right on the lake, it's sweet.

Thanks for sending me those addresses, I'll be sure to write those guys. If I send a letter to Ty can I just send it to our house and you can get it to him, or what? That cruise sounds like it's going to be fun. I agree, people do over react. Carnival is going to be solid right now, they're going to make sure everything is perfect. You're going to have some really cool missionary opportunities ;). Where are you cruising again? Sorry I haven't taken any pictures yet. I promise I will...
Sounds like it was awesome to see the Fertigs too. They're such a cool family. I love them and I'm really excited for Dakota, he's gonna love it.

I'm all good on immunizations... I'm eating very well, and I always have Top Ramen and Frosted Flakes as a back up. I haven't gained or lost any weight or anything. I think I'm good on everything else.

I'll just share my testimony really fast that I know that Christ lives. He is our Savior and Redeemer. The Holy Ghost can be our constant companion, it's up to us. I had an opportunity to share my testimony with a less active member last night. He is going through a really tough time, things that I hope I never have to experience, and I was able to tell him with all confidence that God loves him. I also told him that the Holy Ghost is called the Comforter for a reason. That is one of His great roles. No matter what is going on in our lives or trial it may be, we can pray for the Comfort of the Holy Ghost. All we have to do is ask.

I love you all SO much. I have the best family in the world! Work hard. Get better every day. DC 82:3... Spiderman scripture.

Tchau!!!

Elder Barker

 

 

Missions to Be Created to Accommodate
Influx of New Missionaries

Salt Lake City —

Thousands of young prospective missionaries have responded enthusiastically to the October 2012 announcement by President Thomas S. Monson that lowered the age requirement for missionary service. As was indicated at the time of the announcement and reiterated later, the Church is working to accommodate the increase in the number of new missionaries who have made plans to serve.

In addition to the previously announced changes in time spent at the missionary training center (MTC) and a new MTC in Mexico, some of the 347 existing missions will be divided to form an additional 58 missions. The Church periodically opens, closes and divides missions around the world to accommodate increases and decreases in missionary numbers and other needs. The new missions will function in the same areas covered by existing missions. No new countries or territories are opening to missionary work. These creations will bring the total number of Church missions to 405.

“The enthusiastic response to the change in missionary age requirements has given thousands of young people more options to serve and they have responded with incredible faith,” said Elder Russell M. Nelson, Chairman of the Missionary Executive Council.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' missionary program is one of its most recognized characteristics. Missionaries can be seen on the streets of hundreds of major cities in the world as well as in thousands of smaller communities. The missionary effort is based on the New Testament pattern of missionaries serving in pairs, teaching the gospel and baptizing believers in the name of Jesus Christ.

List of 58 Additional Missions Being Created

With the influx of new missionaries, some existing missions will be divided to form these additional missions:

Angola Luanda
Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia
Argentina Posadas
Arizona Gilbert
Arizona Scottsdale
Australia Sydney North
Bolivia Santa Cruz North
Botswana Gaborone
Brazil Curitiba South
Brazil Fortaleza East
Brazil Juiz de Fora
Brazil Natal
Brazil Piracicaba
Brazil Santos
Brazil São Paulo West
California Bakersfield
California Irvine
California Rancho Cucamonga
Chile Santiago South
Colorado Fort Collins
Ecuador Guayaquil West
Ecuador Quito North
El Salvador San Salvador East
Georgia Macon
Ghana Accra West
Guatemala Cobán
Honduras San Pedro Sula West
Idaho Nampa
Idaho Twin Falls
Illinois Chicago West
Japan Tokyo South
Kansas Wichita
Korea Seoul South
Liberia Monrovia
México Cancún
México Ciudad Juarez
México Ciudad Obregón
México México City Chalco
México Pachuca
México Queretaro
México Reynosa
México Saltillo
New Zealand Hamilton
Nigeria Benin City
Ohio Cincinnati
Oregon Salem
Papua New Guinea Lae
Perú Huancayo
Perú Iquitos
Philippines Cavite
Philippines Cebu East
Philippines Legaspi
Philippines Urdaneta
Ukraine L'viv
Utah Salt Lake City East
Virginia Chesapeake
Washington Federal Way
Washington Vancouver

 

Wednesday February 20, 2013

Hey everyone!

All is going well in old Sandusky. Life is so good and we're very blessed. I'm thinking that this will be a pretty good vacation after the mission, we can go see Kirtland and all that stuff and then go hit the Roller Coasters at Cedar Pointe. We have a car, so that's pretty nice. I don't have to freeze on a bike. Can I get Matt or Rocco's address please? Our apartment is pretty sweet, but we have a really creepy basement that I have to do laundry in. I got a new camera and it's sweet, it wasn't too expensive. I'll normally be writing on Mondays from now on. Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you I finished the BoM again before I left the MTC, so I think I lapped you. I know that it's true and I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. It was so good to see the pictures and here about Meg. I'm so excited for her. She's going to be great! We just had zone conference yesterday, so that was fun. I'm working hard and teaching quite a bit. We just are having a hard time getting anyone to really progress and work towards baptism. One of our investigators is so cool. His name is Tony and he's been a correctional officer for 15 years, he has 5 kids. He's a black guy that I know could kick my butt. We also have Shawnee. She used to be a firewoman and she smokes and drinks and stuff, but we're working on her... she might also be able to kick my butt. Well I love you all, and I'll talk to you soon! Please be member missionaries!!! You can make a huge difference!

Elder Barker

Saturday February 16, 2013

Hey Everyone!

Surprise! I get to email early because Monday is President's Day and the Library will be closed. I am here in Sandusky, Ohio with my two companions Elder Riffenburg and Elder Bullock. Elder Riffenburg is training both of us. Elder Bullock is only a couple weeks ahead of me. They're both great missionaries. Riffenburg is from Phoenix and Bullock is from Logan. He actually went to Sky View, his first name is Cody and he says he knows J.J. from cross country. Everything is going really good! Before I forget, our mailing address is 106 W. Boalt St. Apt. 2 Sandusky, OH 44870. So, I'm in the Cleveland Zone, but I'm about 45 minutes from the City. Sandusky isn't really a big town, but it's really neat. We have Cedar Pointe in our area which is one of the biggest amusement parks in America or something like that. All I know is that it is huge, because all you can see is Roller Coasters when you look across the lake at it. Lake Erie is pretty awesome. It's frozen around the coast, but it is amazing. It's snowing right now, but it's not super windy like Wyoming, so that's nice. The apartment I'm living in was built in like 1924 I believe, and it's really cool. All of the homes here are super cool. They are all really old, it's kind of hard to explain. Some of them look like the houses in down town Evanston, but a lot of these are really big. Some look like castles. I'll have to send you some pictures when I get a camera. I've already met some amazing people. President Vellinga and his wife are so nice. I already love them. President Vellinga is from northern Utah and he was actually like a supervisor or something over our seminary teachers, so he's pretty familiar with Evanston. Kirtland is in our mission and I've already learned a lot about the history. I'll be going there soon, so I'm excited for that. I guess a lot of the missionaries will take investigators there and stuff, so it's really, really cool to have that in our mission. Sorry about everyone waking up super early on Monday and all that business. All of the phones got taken by other missionaries and then when I called from the mission home, they said we could only have 5 minutes again and we had to use President Vellinga's home phone. It was all kind of a mess. But don't worry I still have my phone card and I promise to call you from the Airport on my way to Brazil. I want you to know that I love each of you soo much. Mom and Dad thanks for being amazing parents and I'm sorry for taking you for granted. I realize more and more how blessed I am. We are extremely lucky to have the family that we do. Well, I have to run. We have an appointment right now. So, I'll be able to email again next week hopefully. I have to tell you about some of the amazing experiences I've had and the remarkable people I've met! Love You All So Much!!!

Elder Barker

 

 

 

 

February 8, 2013

Hey Everyone!

How's life? Well this week was a little bit more exciting than the past few. We all received our reassignments yesterday after lunch. Everyone in my District is going to New York, Reno, Nevada, San Diego, and Fresno California. I'm the only one going to the Ohio, Cleveland mission. It's going to be great! I'm super excited and I leave Monday morning at 4:00. I'll get to the Airport and probably be able to call you from like 5:00 AM to like 6:30... somewhere in there. I have a layover in Atlanta, but I don't think it's long enough to call you. So sorry you'll probably have to wake up early. It was so good to be able to talk to you yesterday, I loved hearing from all of you. Don't Let Zoe Grow Up! She's not allowed to. I love you all so much. I've had cool experiences all week. I ran into Mitch Woodhead from little league Jordan football, so that was cool. I think my camera's broken... bummer. I can look at stuff, but I can't take any pictures. Oh yeah, what's my Ldsmail thing? Is it william.barker? Well anyway... I'll talk to you soon and I'm sure I'll get to email you again. Read DC 39 it's all about Ohio haha. I couldn't be more excited! Love You All!

Elder Barker

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all the letters and packages. I have the best family in the world. It's good to here from everyone! Sounds like basketball is going good for everyone, I'm proud of all my little siblings. I do receive the emails from your phone Dad, so you can keep sending them that way. Thank you for sending those. It's ridiculous that it is already February. These weeks are going by soo fast. We had another District get reassigned this week. They're going to Seattle, Washington, Houston, Texas, and Des Moine, Iowa. Some Districts in the other zone got Salt Lake City, South and Provo, Utah. One of the Elders I talked to is from Bountiful and he got the Salt Lake reassignment... ouch. Mine should come this week, probably Wednesday, and I decided it's going to be Honolulu, Hawaii. But if not it's all good. I'll go wherever He wants me to. I'm excited for whatever comes. I'll get to call this week, but I only get 5 minutes, so decide what you want to talk about before hand ;). My district got to host again on Wednesday so that was fun. I hosted Austin Black from SUU so that was awesome to get to talk to him. I also saw Connor Jenson from SUU, that same day. Todd Muller is here also so I get to see a lot of people I know. We went to the temple again this morning and it was great. I love the temple more and more as time goes on. So just a reminder on my Bank Account. I haven't used either of my cards yet, but I imagine I will be in the near future. You have all the passwords and stuff to check that? And they said the 20th of every month is when they update it. Ummm... Let's see. The language is coming along well, I just hope I get to use it some time soon ;). We had a member of the Seventy, Elder Clayton come speak to us on Tuesday. He and his wife gave great talks about having a Positive Attitude and the strength of Companionships. He had everyone sing "Love One Another" in the middle of the meeting and it reminded me of Elder Kikuchi. It was really neat. One of the things that stuck out to me in his wife's talk was that she said, "On the outside edge of our comfort zone is where Heaven waits". Hard times and trials are there to make us stronger. It's the only way we grow, and I'm thankful for those opportunities. I love you all. I'll talk to a soon!

Elder Barker