Quote

Wishing will not make it so. The Lord expects our thinking. He expects our action. He expects our labors. He expects our testimonies. He expects our devotion.

President Thomas S. Monson

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New address!

Sister Emily Katherine Louise Barnett 

Georgia Atlanta Mission

112 Governors Square Suite A

Fayetteville, GA 30215

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1 Month!

Dear loved ones!
In two days I will have been on my mission for a month! Yay! 
The last month has been one of the craziest months in my entire life, I am so grateful for the many experiences that I have had. It has gone by fast! 1 more to go! woohoo
So let me tell you about this last week.... 

We started teaching a part member family. It is comprised of a single mother with a 13 year old daughter. The mother is a member and her daughter is ready to be baptized. We taught the first lesson with the Stowell's, it was really powerful experience. Hopefully we will be able to teach them again soon! 
We visited Mama Helen again this week, we talked a little bit more about the Book of Mormon and we invited her to be baptized. She said she would think about it! We hope to get her to come to church this next week, it is just hard because she is often sick. 
We went biking quite a bit this week! I have never been so sweaty and nasty in my life!
Yesterday we got a car, we actually accidentally stole it to the other elders in our ward... I felt bad for about a whole two minutes, until I got in the car and blasted the AC. 
Today we got a new companion, Sister Larsen. She was in the MTC at the same time as me. Her companion got really sick and has to go home so she got to come and be with us. It's a little strange but it should be good! 
So the mission average weight gain is about 35 pounds... I am so worried that I will get fat! I didn't think that was a real number until all of the dinners that members have tried to feed us. This last week a Haitian family fed us dinner, there was literally enough food to feed 20 people. I was so full by the end of it! We have been trying hard to exercise a lot so that we can stay in shape... Pray that I won't be too fat in 18 months! 
Last night we participated in a worldwide leadership training, President Monson spoke about having faith in missionary work, it was an amazing meeting! The majority of the meeting it talked about member missionaries and how important they are to the work of helping others receive salvation. Something was said that was powerful to me was " full time missionaries are only there to support the members in missionary work." The brethren really emphasized the importance of member missionaries. I have realized that this time on the mission will be just a small part, we all have the responsibility to be member missionaries! The work members do is so important, I have realized this so much in the last month! Please, I plead with you to help others to come unto Christ. This is the most important work on the Earth, I testify that this is true and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this great work. 
Thank you for all of your love and support, I love you all more than you know. This last week I was really missing home so I prayed really hard that I would receive mail, and the next day I received four letters in the mail. I believe that this was a tender mercy of the Lord. Thank you all of you for being answers to my prayers. 
I received a package from Kaylie and the Grandparents! It was excited and wonderful to hear from all of you! Grandma- thank you for the cardigans, it's funny that I don't really actually remember why I asked you for that color... I think I was tired that morning I called. 
I am grateful for the friends I have already made while I have been here. There are some amazing people here, I am so blessed!
What can I do for all of you?! How is everyone? 
Well I love you all so much! Take care. 
Sister Barnett 

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GEORGIA

Family! 
This week has been crazy!
First I need to tell you something... So in two weeks I will no longer be serving in the Atlanta Georgia North Mission. Because of the change of boundaries I will be part of the Atlanta Mission, I don't know much about this mission but I am sure you will get a letter explaining it. I feel very strongly that this change is good and that this is exactly where I am supposed to be. There are some perks of this new change as well... Like temple attendance! You all know how much I love the temple so I may not have to wait a year and a half to go! 
Okay... Let me tell you about my life! so far.... 
So we left the MTC at 4 in the morning, I was so thankful to get out of that place! I loved the spirit and everything I learned but I didn't really love any of the other parts. 
When we got to the airport I ran as fast as I could to the phones and I called home, sorry I cried the first 10 minutes of the phone call.... It was so good to hear your voices and talk to you! 
We then got on the plane and headed to Georgia! We were all so tired and really excited! There were about 30-50 missionaries on our flight, it was so cool! 
So when we got to Georgia we made our way to the baggage claim where we met the President Wolfert, Sister Wolfert, the Assistants and some "Classic" Missionaries (senior missionaries). We got our luggage and then we went to the mission home. When we got there we ate food, took pictures, and had a little devotional! 
We were then bused to a hotel because there were too many of us to fit in the mission home. 
The next morning we woke up and had breakfast at the hotel, then we went to the mission office where we had a nice long orientation and where we met our companions. 
My companion is Sister Markowitz, she is a really awesome person! She is half Samoan and she has been on her mission for a year. She is really nice and we seem to get along well. I would send a picture of us but the only picture I have is really ugly because it was after a nice long sweaty bike ride... 
When we got to our apartment we spent the rest of the day unpacking because we are white washing this area so no sisters have been here before so things are a little slow. 
The next day we went and did some service in Mama Helen Walkers garden... She is a sweet southern black lady and very loud!
Mama Helen loves to pray so she gathered us on her driveway and we said a prayer.... 
We were all holding hands and Elder Gardner said the prayer, Mama Helen started shouting "Thank you Lord Jesus", "I love you baby Jesus", "hallelujah", "Praise Father God", etc I was trying so hard not to laugh because it was nothing that I had ever heard before. 
After we were done in her garden we went to Wendy's where she proceeded to have us pray with everyone in the restaurant... It was good stuff!
the following day we went bike riding and we met a nice woman named Sandra and we got her number and a Book of Mormon, she said she would read it to her grand kids. 
On Saturday we went with the "classic" missionaries in our area to meet one of their investigators Miss Jo, she is such a sweet woman and she knows that the church is true she is just waiting to figure out when she wants to be baptized. 
Later that day we went and met the Arnolds who's daughter got baptized on Sunday, they are a sweet Polynesian family in the ward and we already feel so close to them. 
Church was awesome, the ward is really loud because they're all southern. We went to the Arnold s daughter baptism after Church, it was amazing to see this young girl make the decision to follow Christ! 
The last few days for my personal study I have been reading about Christ's visit to the Americas, I have realized how simple this gospel really is! All he asks is for us to repent and come unto him. When we come to this knowledge and understanding everything else works out and makes sense. We do everything because it points back to our savior and his atoning sacrifice. 
I love this gospel and I am grateful for this opportunity to be learning more about it. I am grateful for the people I have met and the people I have yet to meet. 
I testify to all of you that you have a Heavenly Father who loves you and knows you by name, pray to him and feel of his love. 
Today is P-day and so we have just been getting a lot done, I love being a missionary so far! 
I miss you guys! 
Thank you so much for all of your support and love, I couldn't do this without you! 
I am sorry if some of this email doesn't make sense! 
I will hopefully send you more information about the new mission next week, keep me in your prayers I need them! 
Love you love you love you! 
Sister Barnett (More fondly- Emily) 

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Week 2!

Family and Friends!!!!!!
It's my last P-day in the MTC! I am so excited to get out of this place. I have loved the things I have learned here but the actual structure and the scheduling in this place drives me nuts. I honestly don't have very much to say in this email other then the fact that I love you guys a lot and I miss you all. I bought a calling card so I can call you in the airport, It will be a really early call but hopefully I will be able to catch you guys.
Thank you so much for the letters and the support, those are literally the only things that help me get through the days here. Grandma, thanks for sending me that mattress pad and the food! You rock. Although I don't know how I am going to fit that giant thing in my luggage.... Wish me luck! I am getting worried about the weight limit on my luggage. Hopefully everything will work out and will fit how it is supposed too. I will let you know how it goes.
We have been learning a lot and spending the majority of our days in class. We have been getting about an hour of exercise time everyday, that time is the best because I can move and clear my head. The other day I think I worked myself a little too hard and now I can't really walk upstairs, it's slightly hilarious but also painful.
I have had some really cool experiences and new understanding of things while in here. Last week (I can't remember what day) we were teaching our progressing investigator Chris and the lesson didn't go as well as I wanted it to, I was really discouraged and I felt so inadequate to be a missionary. I asked all of the elders in my district to give me a blessing, when all six of them laid their hands on my head I felt so strongly that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and that this is exactlyl what he wants me to be doing with my life at this time. I am grateful for that experience and I know that those things which I felt are true. There is no way of denying things like that. There have been multiple occassions when I want to give up, sneak out, find a phone and have you come and get me but I am trying to stay strong. It would be so much easier if I could talk to you guys though!
My companion seems to be doing well, she doesn't talk much and when she does sometimes the things she says are a little sarcastic. The other day she got a little mad at me because apparently I was talking a lot in a lesson, she just needs to learn how to talk more and be assertive. And maybe I should shut up..... other than that we get along fine. She is a sweet girl and has a lot to give. I am excited to see how she learns and grows while she is on her mission. She just barely turned 19 so I feel like she is really young. In a lot of ways I have a hard time relating to her but I feel like I have learned a lot from her as well. She is a strong person and I really do love her.
A funny story... So we have our ministral certificates and our branch president told us to get them laminated. I was asking my companion if we could do that the following day and instead of ministral everyone thought I said menstral. We got a laugh out of that for a few days. Things are a lot funnier in the MTC, maybe because we get so bored.
I really love my district and I am going to miss all of them. I have made a really good friend, her name is Sister Dayla Haderlie. When we get upset we go and vent together. I don't think I could have done this without her! All the Elders in my district are going to different missions than the sisters. we are really going to miss them a lot!
I am almost Georgia bound! WOOHOOO!!! HERE I COME!
Well family... I love you guys so much! Thank you for everything. AND I WILL TALK TO YOU ALL ON TUESDAY!!!!!!! (I think I start crying everytime I think about it because I am just so dang excited)
next week this email will be som much more interesting. I promise!
Also I forgot my camera and pictues yet again.  
I know that God lives and he loves us! This gospel is simple but so true. When we follow our Savior we will find happiness. I hope you all have a wonderful week! Talk to you on the flip side!
Love forever,
Sister Barentt

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First Week at the MTC

Friends and Family!!!!
Today is my first preparation day here at the MTC, I am so excited that I get to email everyone right now! The MTC is probably one of the most interesting places I have ever been... It's so strange, I am grateful I only have to stay here for two weeks and not nine (those learning a language are here for nine weeks)!
My companions name is Sister Porter, she is mostly quiet but then she is also really sassy. We aren't very similar at all but I am grateful for the chance I get to know her while I am here. All the sisters in my district are going to the same mission as me so we have all gotten pretty close. It's amazing how fast you can become friends with people when you are all pushed into the same scary situation away from everything else you know. I am grateful for all of the people I have met here and I feel like they have already influenced my life tremendously!
Yesterday I was sitting in the cafeteria eating lunch (I will tell you more about the food) and my District Leader, Elder Fuller, walked in with some mail. He called my name and handed me Grandma and Pa's letter, I burst into tears because I was so happy. (people looked at me like I was crazy) Thank you so much for writing me, it gave me strength to get through the rest of the day. This place is draining and those extra words of encouragement made a world of difference.

Every second of everyday is scheduled for you here at the MTC, they don't give you an opportunity to breath! I am grateful for this though because it keeps me so busy I don't have time to start thinking about home or anything else. I didn't really believe people when they said the spirit is present 24/7 here but it is so true. I love the environment and I feel like I am changing so drastically every single day. I feel closer to my Savior and Heavenly Father than I have ever felt before...
My Zone leader said something really cool the other day, he said "Don't be afraid of change, that's what the gospel of Jesus Christ is all about." I loved that and I feel like it was the exact thing I need to hear in that moment. We really shouldn't be afraid of change because life is full of change! Isn't it wonderful?!
So more about the MTC.... I live with six girls in one room, you are always with a million people, except in the shower (my favorite time of the day), I am already sick of the cafeteria food for multiple reasons, it makes you a little sick... Luckily they have a pretty decent salad bar! We eat dinner at 4pm so by the time we go to bed we are all starving! Every night I wish I had a nice box of wheat thins and some granola bars to subside the hunger until the morning.... ;)
I will be leaving for Georgia on June 11th at 7:15 ish so family, be expecting a phone call bright and early that Tuesday morning! We will be leaving the MTC at 3am! I will be so so so so tired that day! Hopefully I won't be a complete mess when I meet President Wolfert.
I don't really know what else to tell you about this place... What do you want to know?
How is everyone doing? I miss you guys! Any funny stories you have to tell me?
Kaylie is getting married today and I am so excited for her! I keep thinking about her and the beautiful bride she will be! (Macie, tell her congratulations for me!)
I will send pictures next week, I didn't bring anything with me today... Sorry!
I have seen a few people I know here, It's kind of weird but also very comforting! I love missionaries people! They are my favorite :)
I am so excited to go to the Temple later today, It will be a great break and an amazing experience after learning so much this last week.
I know that Heavenly Father loves us and that we are all children! He loves all of us and want's us all to come back to him through Jesus Christ. I know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God and the he restored the gospel of Christ to this earth. I have has some amazing sacred experiences this week that testified these things to me. I invite you all to pray and ask your Father in Heaven if he is there. I promise he will answer you!
Have a great week everyone! I will talk to you all next Saturday.
Love,
Sister Barnett
p.s Sister Brown! Thank you for the note you sent me :) I was so happy to recieve it!

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