2 months!

Okie dokie! Here we go again!
First I want to say thanks for not forgetting me! At transfer meeting I had 7 letters waiting there for me :) Love ya'll! I hope to have time to write a lot of letters today!
I am now in the "Lost" Mountain ward, these people are crazy and they think they have a mountain. They don't really know what mountains are. My new companion is Sister Mataele! She is AWESOME! I already love her so much, and guess what? she too is from Hawaii and she is a Polynesian. I don't know if it is coincidence or not but I guess I just give off that sort of vibe. Maybe I should be a Polynesian when I get home, I will move to Hawaii (family, don't get me wrong... I don't want to go and live with you know who) and eat their food all day.
It has been a little difficult for me integrating into this new mission, they do things a lot differently than GANM did them. Also all the Elders and Sisters in this area are close with each other because they have all been here for a long time, so I feel like an outcast in a way. hopefully all of this will change soon and we can have more unity and love in our district.
The Lost Mountain ward is a lot different from Jonesboro, I guess I didn't realize that the last area I was in was pretty ghetto... but it was and now I am in a super wealthy ward, I feel like it might be a little bit harder to connect with people here... But so far we have had quite a bit of success! We have a wonderful African American woman on date for baptism at the end of August! Her daughter and hopefully her husband will be baptized at the same time as well! This morning we taught her the second lesson and it went really well.
Also this week I had my first bible bashing experience... It was crazy! We tracted into a pastor and he invited us in and just started bashing with us, I eventually had to tell him that we weren't there to fight with him about anything and that we had to leave. Honestly it was a really hard experience at first, but then I remembered what ya'll have told me... That people may not accept the things that we teach but that I should not get too upset about it, thank you for those words of advice and love, they sure come in handy!
So currently all the bugs are winning the game, on my legs alone I have 22 mosquito bites! It's a little hard to shave your legs when there are so many bites so if I come home looking like a hairy mammoth then ya'll can blame the bugs! (just kidding)
Our new apartment is in the middle of a forrest basically so at night you hear all kinds of critters making sounds, especially the cicadas, those things are nasty! I actually started collecting all of the dead bugs I find in our apartment. I plan on sending them to someone but I don't know to whom quite yet. All ya'll know that I am crazy so you shouldn't be too weirded out when you recieve a box full of bugs. Be prepared!
So Pa wanted a run down of what a day in the life of a missionary usually consists of so I am going to explain that a little bit right now.
6:30 Wake up, pray, make bed, exercise (running around the neighborhood usually)
7:00 get ready, eat, etc

8:00 Personal Study! The best part of the day.
9:00 Companion Study
10:00 12 week training program (only for the first two transferrs)
11:00 lunch
12:00 Be out of the house meeting people on the streets, appointments, lessons, tracting, etc
6ish- dinner
9-Be back in our apartments to plan for the following day.

9:30 call in for a conference call with our district, which consists of 6 missionaries total- report miracles, numbers and certifications
10:00 get ready for bed, write in journal or just pass out if you are already too tired.
10:30 lights out.
On certain days these things are a little different. On monday we have P-day so we email, go to the store, etc. on tuesdays we have district meeting in the morning so things are a little different and things are pushed back a little bit. On sunday we obviously have all of our church meetings and what not so that day is different.
Anyways this is what I do day after day!
I hope you are all having a wonderful week and that the weather isn't too hot! It has been raining quite a bit here in Georgia, which I am so grateful for because it gets really hot and humid. I miss my dry heat!
Oh did I mention that this wednesday will be my 2 month mark? Crazy how fast time goes, so much has happened in the past two months but it also feels like it has been no time at all. The days are really really long but the time goes by fast. I really do love my mission, I feel like I am changing a lot but still staying the same. I miss home a majority of the time but I am really doing my best to focus on the work and what I am doing. I honestly could not do this with out all of you! Thank you.
I know that I my redeemer lives. I know the Book of Mormon is true, a power like none other comes into my life ever time I read it. I know that through prayer we can know of the truthfulness of all things!
Love you all! Have a great week!
Love,
Sister Emily Barnett (I miss being called by my first name a lot!)

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Goodbye Jonesboro!

Hello! 
It's so good to hear from all of you, it has been a quite week because my mail is starting to thin out. Maybe it's because no one loves me anymore? I sure hope not! (I learned my amazing guilt tripping skills from my grandmother) I bet it is because next week is transfers and they have been holding my mail at the mission office :) 
So guess what! I am being transferred to a new area with a new companion on Wednesday, I am a little nervous but I was also grateful for this opportunity. This transfer is an answer to my prayers.
Also other exciting news! This Saturday... KENNEDY IS GETTING BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My first baptism and I might not even be able to go since I am being transferred... nonetheless I am so excited for Kennedy!!!!! Everyone is so excited for dear Kennedy! She will be entering into the gate back to her loving Father in Heaven. She is following her Savior Jesus Christ and it will bless her life and her families life so much! We will be teaching her every day this week so she can have all her lessons in before her baptism.

Tonight we are teaching The Gospel of Jesus Christ, teaching is beginning to come a little bit more natural for me. I love sitting in a lesson without really knowing what to say but then some how words start flowing from my mouth. It really is a miracle because when I first got here somehow I had forgotten how to speak, it was the strangest thing. 
Another amazing miracle that happened to us this week... Sister Larsen got sick and had to go to the doctors, we were out a little later than normal trying to get her prescription filled so we were trying to hurry home. We went to the Kroger across the street from where we live and as we were walking in one of the employees who was on his break started talking to us. Long story short... We gave him a Book of Mormon and gave him a place to start reading. As we got back into our car and started driving away we could see him sitting on the bench reading the Book of Mormon. It was an amazing experience for me especially because I was able to watch someone have faith and begin to have a spiritual experience! I was so excited, I think my companions thought I was a little crazy though because I was so ding dang excited! Times like that I love being a missionary :) 
On Friday we went and visited a less active member, he really likes philosophy and his wife is apparently a Witch. We spent a little while talking with him, deep down I think he knows the church is true but he doesn't want to admit it. He made an interesting comment about the Book of Mormon that I has kept thinking about after it was said. He said that the Book of Mormon is just another set of guidelines...
 A few weeks ago I had finished reading the Book of Mormon again and, like I have done every time, I did what it says to do in Moroni 3:3-5 I knelt down and I asked if the book was true. This time I did it I didn't get an answer right away, I kept waiting and still nothing happened. After this conversation with the less active Brother I kept  thinking about and studying more in my mind to know if this book really is true, although I have received the answer before I wanted to know again. The next day I was sitting and studying and in my heart I knew!  I came to a peaceful conclusion that The Book of Mormon isn't just another set of guidelines. There is absolutely no way that a man with very little schooling could have written that book, there is no way that I can deny the things that I have felt and learned while reading this book. I know from the bottom of my heart that the Book of Mormon is true and that it comes from God, by reading and following the precepts it contains we will be able to live again with our families and our Father forever. I know that Joseph Smith is the prophet of this dispensation sent to restore Christ's Church on this Earth. I know that Jesus is the Chirst, he is my Brother and my best friend.I am so grateful for this knowledge that I have received. 

I love being a missionary, although things are tough and sometimes I just want to quit I know that this is the Lords work and I am doing exactly what I need to be doing in my life. Because of this I will be a better Wife, Mother and leader in the Church. I am so grateful the Lord has given me this opportunity to stand as a witness for him. I invite ya'll to do the same, I promise you that as you come unto him you will find so much more joy and fulfillment in your lives. 
I love ya'll so much! Thank you for all of your love and prayers :) 
This time as a missionary is going by so fast! I have almost been out for two months and I can hardly believe it! Soon enough I will be back home with all of you wonderful people, don't miss me too much until then! 
Next week I will let you know about the new area I am in :) 
What can I do for all ya'll? 
(I am working hard on my southern talkin') 
Have a fantastic week! 
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo 
Sister Emily Barnett 
p.s Grandma, give Park City lots of lovins from me :) I sure miss my mountains and the beautiful dry air! Tell the condo I will be seeing it two summers from now (unless you sell it or something, which is perfectly fine if you decided that is what you need to do)! 

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Another Week!

How is everyone doing? I was really excited to write everyone, I just miss you all so much!  
Grandma, I am sending you a package this week 
I had a wonderful week!
Where to start... Okay!
Tuesday- We had the wonderful opportunity to go to the Temple, the spirit there was so strong. It was wonderful to be at home, you don't even know!
Later that day we met President Harding! I already love him so much, I feel like he was always meant to be my mission President. He talked about a lot of wonderful things and we got some new training materials that I am excited to get into more! 
Wednesday- I was able to actually really teach my first real lesson as a missionary to Miss Kennedy! It was really awesome and I feel like we really helped her to understand! She is on date to be baptized on July 20th!!!!!!!!!!! I AM SO EXCITED! 
Friday- We went to a funeral early that morning... it was a little sad but it was also so cool because earlier that week we had taught the Plan of Salvation to Kennedy, the spirit testified to me that I will be able to be with my family forever. I am so happy for this knowledge. 
Later this day we went tracting in a neighborhood and we met quite a few potential investigators, we have some follow up appointments for this next week! It should be good :) 
I want to tell you about one of my favorite people we met this last week. Her name is Shemeika, a few years ago she was investigating the church but then she moved and got lost in the whole thing. She want's to start learning more again! I am so excited for her and I feel like she is so elect and ready to receive the saving ordinances that will bring her back to the presence of her loving Father in Heaven! 
Sunday- We had an amazing fast and testimony meeting in the Jonesboro ward, oh how I love these ward members! They are all so amazing and the ward is so diverse! I am going to miss these people when I leave here. 
We had interviews after church with President Harding, we talked for a little while and he explained to me that we need to search and rescue souls! 
I know President Harding has been called of God to be the mission president for this area, in this time! I am so thankful to be able to serve with him! 
This morning all of those serving in our ward went bowling together! We had a great time and it was fun to just let loose for a little bit :) 
We have transfers on the 17th, I am not sure if I will be staying in this area or leaving, Obviously I will let you all know when I get the news :) 
Okay, I want to tell you a few weird quirks about Georgia! 
-People do not know how to drive in this crazy place, they are all so bad at it. 
-Some black people speak this dialect of English called "Ebonix" basically they mumble and slurr a lot and say things that you can't even understand. I hope I will become fluent in this language. 
-When making a left turn in an intersection it is apparently illegal to drive into the middle of the intersection before you turn. Grandpa you wouldn't like this very much. 
-The rain here is absolutely ridiculous! the other day we walked 10 feet outside and we were completely soaking wet! 

-People in the south love to talk and talk and talk.
-People in the south love to hug all the time! 
-There are so many bugs here, anti-itch cream has become like candy! 

Before I say goodbye... I want you all to know how much I love you! Thank you so much for all of your love and support! I wouldn't be able to do this without you! 
I know that the atonement is real and that as we use it in our life and do the things that we need to we will be able to return and live with our Father in Heaven again. This promise is for everyone on this earth. I am so grateful for this knowledge and the wonderful plan that has been laid out for all of us! 
D&C 6:36- Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not! 
I promise that as we look to Christ, our Savior we will be able to not fear :) 

Love you!!! 
Sister Barnett :) 
See ya'll soon enough. 

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Happy Fourth of July!

Dear Family and Friends!
Happy Independence day this week! I hope you all have a safe and lovely holiday :)
This last week was a wonderful week in my life, we had some amazing experiences. So like I said last week we got out new companion Sister Larsen, at first it was a little weird having her around but now we have things a little bit better under control. Sister Larsen is from Idaho, she has a lot of energy and she is allergic to a lot of things.
Last Tuesday we worked on putting names and addressed into Sister markowitz's GPS (I am going to have to get a GPS sometime soon, there is no way of getting around Georgia without one) after we finished doing this we went to a members house for dinner, the family was so funny and I had to run into the bathroom so I wouldn't choke from laughing so hard. That was the first time I was really able to laugh since being out here, it was such a nice thing. After dinner we went and tried to contact a referral. The referral we had was form this lady in my companions last ward, it was for her boyfriend. When we went over there a woman walked out of her house and yelled "we are not interested" (a lot of people think we are Jehovah's witnesses around here) and we proceeded to ask her if the man who we were looking for was around. She then came out to the sidewalk and started talking to us, come to find out this women is the boyfriend wife. When we found out what was going on my stomach started turning over, It wasn't the best situation to walk in on. We talked to the women a little longer and then after giving her a Book of Mormon and inviting her to church we left and went home, the rest of that night I felt really discouraged and sad that there are so many people in the world who are going through hard times like this.

The following day Sister Larsen and I went on exchanges up to a ward called Snelleville, with Sister Mayes. Our experience up in Snelleville was amazing and exactly what I needed. We went contacting and we ran into some really cool people who were very accepting and would listen to us and what we had to say, this is one thing I love about the South, people are mostly willing to listen and be nice even if they don't really want anything to do with you. Later that day after dinner we went to this neighbor hood and we decided that we were going to do a "Harvesting Blessing" which is when we go into someones house and say a prayer blessing the family and the home by virtue of our calling as missionaries. The first door that we knocked on was a middle aged black women and her youngest daughter, they invited us into their home and we talked about Christ for almost thirty minutes. We then gave the blessing and left so they could feel the strength of the spirit, it was so amazing and I feel like Heavenly Father Led us Right to her door. After this we went to Bible Study at the church building where we studied a little bit about the story of the women at the well.
The following day was our goodbye luncheon, our whole zone got together and President Wolfert came, many people bore their testimonies and we said our goodbyes. It was hard for a lot of the missionaries to say goodbye to GANM they have been here for a long time and now they are going to have to finish up the last few months in a new mission with a whole new mission president. For us new people it wasn't as bad, it's a little sad but I am also excited and I feel like this mission is the mission that I am supposed to be in.

On Friday we met with our 13 year old investigator for a little bit, we didn't teach a lesson but we just stopped by to see how everything is going. She seems to be doing well and she is really excited for girls camp next week... I am a little jealous of her that she gets to go to girls camp...
On Saturday we had a conference call with our new mission president! His name is President Harding and he is from bountiful or something like that. He seems like a really wonderful man I am excited to meet him tomorrow when our whole zone gets to go to the TEMPLE together!!!!!!!! I am so so so so so so so so so so excited! I will learn a lot more about this new mission tomorrow, I will let you know more about it!
Later Saturday night the ward in which I am serving in had a talent show, it was so fun to see the ward come together! This ward is a new ward because they just smooshed two wards together so people are still struggling because they don't know each other as well, this talent show really helped everyone out I think :)
Earlier today we went to the Gone with the Wind museum here in jonesborro, it was pretty interesting. (I bet it would have been cooler if I was actually into that) The coolest part was the plantation house, I want one of those one day!
This week I was allowed to drive one of the mission cars, man was it nice to drive!
Thank you all for all of your prayers and love, I felt them when things got hard. I miss you all more than you know. Thank you for being in my life. I couldn't do this without all of you!
I know that my brother Jesus Christ lives and that he atoned for all of us, not just to redeem us from our sins but also to give us strength beyond our own. As a missionary sometimes you are so exhausted and the only thing you want to do is call the people you love but somehow the Lord gets you through those dark moments and he give you hope, I have realized that when I have the savior near I am close to home.
You are in my prayer and in my heart! I love you so much!
Also to all you July babies!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Grandma, Mom, Malis,Lily! Love you guys :)
Love,
Sister Barnett

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