January 17, 2011.

So much to write!!!!

Oh dear. I have too much to write. I shall just take this a step at a time :D. This week was so great. I had some of my most challenging times on my mission and had to rely on Heavenly Father more than ever. Tuesday morning, Sister Olsen and I drove to Kitchener for Leadership Training. It was so good to see my sisters and other missionaries. The Spirit is always strong in those meetings and I am so grateful. Tuesday night came the big trial. I later learned from somebody that the drive between Kitchener and London is the scariest drive in Ontario. About twenty minutes into the drive (it was night time and Sister Olsen was driving), the roads got pretty bad. They weren't really wet, but there are these little clouds on the roads in Canada. The air is so cold that it is frozen and it passes across the road like clouds, making it near impossible to see. We drive a Cobalt and do NOT have winter tires. As we drove the rest of the way to London, about two hours, we were overcome by two opposing feelings. Fear and worry were present and I tried to calm the situation by speaking positively. I prayed outloud throughout the whole car ride. Sister Olsen was amazing. There really are no words to express what transpired that night. It was one of the hardest few hours of my whole life. When we finally arrived home, I ran onto my bed and sobbed. I felt like the people in Lehi's dream of the tree of life. Nephi says in 1 Nephi 8:30: But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree. Picture the people who were just on this scary journey of darkness. They fell down once they were on safe ground. Have you ever been hiking or near a cliff and once you were finally completely safe, you just wanted to hug the ground? That was the feeling. Anyway, the next day we were very prayerful about going back to Kitchener. I felt that is was okay to drive there, but I did not want to drive home in the dark. President allowed us to stay in Kitchener overnight and drive home in the morning. I would write more about Leadership conference, but I don't have enough time.

The main event that happened this week was transfer calls last night. All of the sisters were calling each other trying to figure out what was going on. It was finally 10:30 pm and I was still unsure about what was happening. Earlier, I had thought that I was for sure going to stay in London with Sister Olsen and I was SO happy about that plan. Well, what do you know....one of the AP's called (assistants to the president) about 10:35 pm. I AM TRAINING!!!!!!!!!! I am going back to Brampton YSA to train the new sister from England! President Brower told me this at the beginning of last transfer but with some changes that happened (only one sister coming instead of the two that were planned to come), I thought I might stay in London. President often says "a mission is mortality." It's true. There are so many changes on a mission and it just prepares one for more changes to come in life! I am so grateful for this opportunity to work with one of Heavenly Father's amazing daughters and to start her off on this amazing journey. The Lord has been preparing me and I know that as I turn to Him, all will be well. I'm excited for more stories to come :) More than anything, I am sad to leave SIster Olsen. I love her with my whole heart. We have been through a lot together and Heavenly Father loved us so much to allow us these three short weeks to be companions. Isn't life great? I wish I could write more, but just know that I love my Savior. He is why I am here. He will never fail us. Have a wonderful week :)

Love,
Sister Barton :)

January 10, 2011.

Hello Family and Friends!

How are each of you? I have had a great week here. I have witnessed many sacred experiences and learned more about my purpose in life. Sister Olsen were blessed to teach many other lessons. I will tell you about a lady named Mary. We tracted into Mary last week. She is 88 years old and lives in a huge house by herself. She is from Holland. We went back a few days later and told her about the Book of Mormon. She kept getting side-tracked (probably the age hehe), but said she would read a Dutch Book of Mormon. She also committed to come to church. Sis. Olsen and I were in a meeting before church and we called Mary to see if she was still coming. She said she was all ready to go! We went and picked her up and she came to church with us! She is SO funny. We sat through Sacrament meeting and then she said she would like to go home. I think it was a long time for her to be sitting. An older man (a widower) had introduced himself to her before the meeting started. When she decided to go home, she asked him if he would drive her home. Then she said "I know it's awkward..." and took his arm!!!!!! I was laughing SO hard. He escorted her to get her coat and then drove her home. We later found out that she couldn't remember how to get to her house and so they got a little lost. I have a feeling she "forgot" on purpose :) It was super cute. Mary will come again next week and we will go visit her sometime this week.

We also had a miracle with a lady named Sue Anne on the same street as Mary. It was a beautiful sunny day with snow covered grounds and we knocked on a house facing the bright sun. Sue Anne answered. We told her who we are and asked if she believed in Jesus Christ. She began to cry and said "Oh yes." Sister Olsen asked how she has seen His hand in her life. Sue Anne then told us how her husband had recently left her and how Jesus Christ has been with her through it all. I then read a scripture with her that I had read to Sister Olsen earlier that day. It was Alma 58:11, which reads: "Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him." Sue Anne wept as we testified of deliverance in Christ. We gave her a Book of Mormon with Alma 7 to read. We prayed with her and through her tears, she said "You are my angels today." She gave us both a hug and kiss on the cheek. I was so grateful to be an angel for someone who so desperately needed it.

Those are my two stories for the week. I hope everyone is doing well and enjoyed their holiday break! I love being a missionary for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am privileged to wear his name over my heart everyday. He lives! He loves us! He IS the way!

Love,

Sister Barton :)

January 3, 2011.

Happy NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

How was the celebration down in America? Honestly, I don't even remember what I did on New Year's Eve. Haha. That's the life of a missionary. I know we came in early and Sister Olsen crashed on her bed. I stayed up studying or...oh yes, I was catching up on my journal writing and it took about two hours because there were so many miracles this week! Okay, backing up. I went out to breakfast with Sister Brower, and sisters Olsen, Stanbrough, and Rigby on Wednesday morning. Then Sister Olsen and I drove to London, my new area! I love it here. It is beautiful and the people are very kind. Sister Olsen and I have been so blessed to teach so many lessons to people on their door steps. I am loving tracting again. Brampton and Kitchener are strictly contacting areas and I miss knocking on doors. While tracting, you can learn so much from your companion as well because there is more time together (sometimes when contacting, you separate and talk to many people). We found two new investigators that are both Muslim. Both of them have agreed to read the Book of Mormon. I am excited to go back and teach them more. In our first lesson with Essam, the Spirit was so strong. He could feel it and he knew it was from God. There were countless times this week when the Holy Ghost spoke through Sister Olsen or myself. We learned so much from the Spirit as we bore testimony.

Now I shall talk about my amazing companion, Sister Olsen. She is an angel, literally. She is charitable, loving, selfless, etc. She truly does see every person as her brother or sister. We are all brothers and sisters but sometimes it's hard for us to realize that. Just imagine...all of us, every person on your street, everyone you work with, everyone at the grocery store, we knew each other before this life! We are all brothers and sisters. Sometimes we think too lightly about that. Some experiences I have had along those lines have been incredible here in London. I have had many people say "Do I know you? You look so familiar. Have we met before?" Truth is, yes we have, but it was before coming to this earth. Our Heavenly Family is amazing! I have learned more about it in the past week than ever before and my eternity is changed because of it.

The ward here in London is incredible. Families get together and do activities and everyone is friends. I want my future family ward to be like that. It invites the Spirit more abundantly into the building. I want you all to know that I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. He is closer than we sometimes think. I am so grateful for this time we have on earth to develop faith in Him and our Father in Heaven. This is going to be the greatest year of our lives :) Are you all ready? :) Turn to the Lord in all you do!

I love you all!
Sister Barton :)