Week late

In the next few weeks it will be the national day of prayer. Bartow county (the county I am serving in) happens to have the largest prayer celebration the country! I get to be part of this amazing work here in Bartow county! How incredible :) 
This week we have had a lot of success in our work! We were able to reach many of our goals and we are seeing miracles all of the time. 
This week sister Pitcher and I had a long discussion about commitments. If we are truly committed to something we will do everything in our power to accomplish it. I had to take a big look at myself and recognize where my commitment is and if I am as committed to certain things as I need to be. I have had to make a lot of changes in myself and my commitment level. 
I am thankful for the chance the Lord has given me to be able to repent and to be better each day. 
I am not sure how many of you have had the chance to watch a new Mormon message called Because of Him. Watching this changed my life. easter.mormon.org you can check it out here :) 
Another thing that happened this week was an amazing zone training meeting! It was one of the best zone trainings I have had on my mission. We talked about families and we sung a few hymns that remind us of the importance of the family. This zone training gave me great hope for my future family and for my current family. 
I know that families are ordained of God. I am so thankful that the biggest emphasis that the church places is in the family. Although families are not perfect I know that we are placed in them to be perfected. 
I love my family more than I can relate in an email. 
We were able to teach many people this week with members. I have come to realize the importance of members in this work. My mission is going to make me a better member of the church when I am no longer a missionary. 

I met a really cool recent convert yesterday named patti. After I left her home I felt uplifted and edified. The coolest thing about patti is that she has 28 cats in her home.... No joke. If I could be as cool as patti I would have 28 cats. When we were leaving her home she told us to wait. She went inside and came back out with a four leaf clover that she gave to me. She was so sweet and close to the spirit. It was exactly what I needed in that moment. I love how God works through others to show his love to his children. 
I know God is real. I have no doubt :)
Thank you for all you do for me! I love ya'll so much :) 
Keep being amazing and stay strong. 
I am praying for each of you daily. 
With love, 
Sister Emily Barnett 

There are Ants (Cockroaches) in my pants (shirt)

You should all be proud of me that I send you two or three paragraph emails. I just got an email from my friend in the North mission and her email was one small paragraph to her family and friends. 
This week has been crazy. On Monday we had a great zone p-day and we were able to go to the park and be kids for a little bit. We played a great game of ultimate Frisbee and kickball. 
We worked hard this week trying to find people to teach through the members. We were able to get a lot of referrals from all the people that we are working with in the ward! It was great. 
We are teaching a lot of black people again, which makes me happy. I honestly don't know what I am going to do without black people in Utah. 
My favorite new investigator that we are teaching is Gary. He was a  former investigator and he has got to be one of the funniest guys ever! 
He is in his 50's and he is always moving and doing something. The thing I love about Gary is that he likes helping other people. All the people he is friends with rely on him and he helps them. He has some colorful friends though... We met one of them named t-bone. T-bone told us that he is just an "old pimp" that doesn't know what to do anymore. He is living with his ex and his baby and came to Gary for a therapy session.
The prayer gathering for Bartow county was one of the most interesting things in my entire life. Last night sister pitcher and I walked into a baptist church.... We sang some Baptist songs and then at the end 5 preachers went to the front and took turns praying. They were not like any prayers I have ever heard in my entire life. The last preacher was screaming and yelling so loud that his face was bright red and I thought he was going to pass out or get a hernia. Literally it was crazy and I wish I could have recorded it. It was amazing because we were able to get into the church building and get our names out there. It was truly a miracle. 
Last week I lost my camera. I am not sure if I will be able to find it... It's a little bit sad because it had all my pictures from my mission but I know that it is all in the lords hands and I will get those memories back if it is his will. 
I wanted to tell you my cockroach story before I go.... Right above the toilet in the bathroom there is a fan. We were leaving the apartment after lunch and I was going to the bathroom before we left. As I was about to get up from the toilet I felt something drop down from the fan down the back of my shirt.... I wiggled a little bit and a cockroach fell out on the floor next to me.. I pulled up my skirt and I ran out as fast as I could screaming. It was so gross. I hope it gives you a laugh. 
We are moving out of our apartment to a new one next week. I won't be sad to leave the little critters. 
I love ya'll so much and I am thankful to have such amazing people in my life! 
I wish you the best week ever!
Love, 
Sister Em-a-Lay (my black name) Barnett

last week... C-Ville

Cartersville is awesome! 
This week I almost got killed by a pitbull and I met some of the most interesting people around! I sure love how these people are humble and full of personality. I also have never met more people in my life who have been to prison. 
Conference was just what I needed in my life. I learned so many things and I am excited to study more the conference edition when it comes out next month. I loved the talks on missionary work and hastening the work of salvation. 
I am learning how to knock doors again. It is so much fun! yesterday we even knocked in the rain! We have found some awesome people that we will go and talk to again this week. 
We had one of our investigators come to conference and a member brought one of his friends! It was really cool to see them feel the spirit as they heard the prophets voice. I loved in conference how they focused so much on the basic principles of the gospel. This is something that we can never know enough about. I have learned on my mission the depth that is in the basics. 
I am learning a lot from Sister Pitcher. She is really good at planning things and she is always so considerate and kind to people. I look up to her a lot and I know we are companions for a reason. 
During the week I was getting down a lot on myself, I felt like I wasn't a very good missionary because I do things a little differently from my companion. I was doing a lot of comparing. I knelt and I said a prayer and I felt in my heart that the Lord loves me for me. He doesn't need me to be anyone else, he needs me to be Sister Emily Katherine Louise Barnett. My whole week changed after this experience. 
I want each of you to know that God loves you for being you! I also love each of you for being you. Thank you for the influence each of you have had on me. I am better because of the people I know. 
I pray that you will each have a great week! 
I am really going to work on writing better emails each week :) 
Happy Birthday to my dear brother in law and Baby Gwenyth (welcome to the world)! Happy anniversary to my James and Malissa!!!!! 

Love my family!!!! 
Sister Emily Barnett 

Happy Easter!

Good Morning! (for just a minute longer here in Georgia!) 
This week we have been truly blessed of the Lord. I am so Thankful for the opportunity that I have to be a representative of Jesus Christ! Especially at this beautiful time of the year! Easter has always been one of the best holidays. Although I won't get to meet easter roladin this year I am thankful that I get to be here and I know it is well worth the sacrifice. 
I wanted to share my testimony with each of you today. 
I have come to know my Savior in a much more personal way while I have been on my mission. I have learned about him and each day I have been able to testify of his divinity as the only begotten son of our Heavenly Father. Although I am not perfect He has given me strength to continue moving forward when I wanted to give up. I have felt the forgiveness and the peace that He brings. I have been happy, happier than I have ever been as I have had the chance to serve Him. 
I know that He died for each of us but more than that... I know that he Lives again! This knowledge has made me whole. I know that it can make each of you whole again. No matter who you are or where you are in life, know that there is peace in Christ. 
I love the Lord. I know that his kingdom has been restored to the earth again. 
I leave my testimony with you and I stand as a witness. I know through the Holy Ghost that these things are true. If you know nothing else about me... Know that I know that Christ lives! 
Yesterday we had an amazing miracle! We were able to take a sweet young women out with us. We went around to some of our investigators and then we decided to go tracting a little bit with her. We drove into this neighborhood and then we went to 1 house. The lady came out and accept the invitation to say a prayer with us. She let us into her home and we were able to teach her about the restoration and about the power of prayer! It was amazing. 
I am so blessed to be able to serve here in Cartersville! The people are humble and they have real struggles but I know the Lord loves them. I have never desired peoples happiness like I do now. 
We also met an amazing lady named Kim! She is so open to the Gospel and wants the peace that comes. She told us the other day she was waiting for us to come. She was a miracle in my life! 
The weather is getting warm here and the pollen is going crazy! Allergies are horrible around these parts. I am thankful for antihistamines! 
I hope everyone is doing well! I hope that this week is like the best week ever. I hope you all know how much I love and care about each of you. You are in my prayers each day. 
Happy Easter! 
LOVE MY FAMILY!
Sister Emily Barnett 

Cartersville

Okay okay okay.
Here I sit in Cartersville! my lovely new area. I feel like I am really in the south now!
I already love this place and the ward so much. I am excited for the miracles I am going to see here. I must admit though that this was a very very difficult week leaving my beloved millcreek branch. But it is okay. I know I must move forward and be the missionary the Lord wants me to be. I am excited for all the miracles and families here in this blessed place.
Cartersville is very humble. Not as rich as the past area's I have served in. It is also very country. :) I am going to come home from this place with a very thick southern accent :)
get excited everyone!
My new companion is the mighty Sister Pitcher! She is a doll and I already love her so much! She is tall and skinny and is from Orem. She is down to earth and she loves the lord. She has already taught me so much.
We have both been out on our missions the same amount of time... 10 mighty moths of miracles we have seen. I love that we both kinda know what we are doing! She is doing a great job showing me the Cartersville ropes though :)
This week has felt so long! but I guess that is what happens with transfers. :)
When I got to Cartersville, we were able to put a great mom on date for baptism on the 20th of April. Her name is Heather and she is SO prepared. She has a big family she will bring along with her. If ya'll could pray for her that would be just amazing.
In life often things change and it can be hard but I know that the Lord is with each of us and he is helping us along the way. The gospel is one thing that will never change in our lives, this I am thankful for!
I know that God is real and I know that he sent his son Jesus Christ so that we can be happy forever. I know that the fullness of the gospel is on the earth in these days!
I know that the temple is the house of God and I am thankful to have it in my life.
LOVE MY FAMILY!!!!
have a fantastic week ya'll!
Be prayin' for Cartersville. WE WILL SEE MEERCLES (that's how we say it in the south)
Love your guts!
Sister Emily Barnett

farewell to the branch

I am having some bitter sweet feelings today. I will be transferring out of the branch this Wednesday. I am sad because I have come to loves these people more then I ever thought I could and I will miss them. But I am also excited because I know there is a reason for me to be going somewhere else.
At the end of next transfer I will be just about at my 1 year mark. How weird is it that time goes by so quickly.
Yesterday I had the great opportunity to speak in sacrament meeting. I was able to talk about the principle of Faith. I spoke about how I have learned to have power in my life because of the Faith I have had. It was a great moment for me to reflect and share with the branch all they have done for me in my own personal development.
I have realized something amazing that the branch and my mission has given to me. I have been given more depth of character. I am so much better because of the decision I made to serve a mission.
I want to give a little shout out to lil's in this letter home.... I am so proud of you for the great decision you have made! I promise it will change your life for the better. You are going to be an amazing missionary!
So we almost had a baptism this week. Ya'll have heard about me talk about Summer so many times... Well last week during weekly planning Sis Nielsen and I decided we wanted a baptism before I left the branch. We made a list of all of our investigators who had the potential to be baptized in the next few days. We had a lesson with Summer that evening and we decided to invite her to be baptized on Saturday. That night she accepted but then the next day she decided it wasn't what she wanted. Although it didn't happen it was an amazing miracle because it was the first time she had actually considered being baptized. It will happen when she is ready.
Thank you little black name tag that gives me the authority to invite others to follow Jesus Christ, even if they don't accept.
I am so thankful for the time I have had in the branch. It has changed my life forever. I have come to know my savior. 
 2 Nephi 22: 2. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation.

He has become my salvation.
I love each of you more than you know. Thank you for all you do for me. I hope you have a wonderful day and week.
With so much love,
Sister Em Barnett

The sun is shining!

Dear Family,
This week has been dramitically better. There were so many amazing things that happened and the spirit was felt ever so strongly in my life. I am thankful for trials and opposition in my life becasue it helps me to be a stronger and better person.

 

 Last week we were asked from President Harding to find someone to invite to baptism for a specific date so we could all reach the top together. All week we were working so hard to find people to talk to but we weren't having any luck. Finally on friday evening at about 8 pm with only an hour left I felt the inspiration to go to a store called 5 below. When we got there we went over to the tshirts and starting talking to one of the employees named shequia. As we were talking to her the spirit was strong and we were able to invite her to baptism, she accept a specific date. It was one of the coolest experieces because of how directed we were. Unfortunatly she isn't a YSA so we will need to pass her to other missionaries. I feel so thankful that I was able to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord. 

 

We also got to meet with Elder Cook this last week on saturday, the meeting was really amazing and we learned a lot of great things for our area and how to be better teachers. He told us all that we are exactly where we need to be right now. I was so thankful to hear that from him. He also talked to us a lot about agency and the importance of having faith. "if the missionaries have more faith they will have more success." it is as simple as that!

After the meeting as we were driving through Atlanta to get home (such an amazing place!) we went and got some food from chipotle. I was so happy becasue I haven't had food from there in a really long time. It was a treat for me!

 

Guess how many people we had at church this week? it was a record breaking 3 investigators!!!!!!! I haven't seen that happen in so long. It was so refreshing and wonderful. Jonathan came (the guy from hibbets) and he really liked it but now he has a ton of questions.

 

I am so thankful for the miracles we have seen and for the opportunity I have to be a missionary! I love being here and I love this gospel! :) Thank you for all of your love and support.
With love,
Sister Emily Barnett