Elder oaks

Hello!
I was expecting a much more beautiful fall here in Georgia considering all of the tree's... hopefully it is still on the way but as for now I will dream of the beautiful Utah fall!
I have been sick this last week with a cold and a sinus infection, I was put on antibiotics for the sinus infection and the cold is just something i have to deal with- hopefully it will be gone in the next few days so I won't be such a hard companion to deal with. :)
On Saturday I had the great privledge of being able to shake Elder Oaks hand, it was such an amazing experience to be able to be that close to someone who is a special witness of Jesus Christ. It talked about a lot of things but there are two subjects which really stood out to me. The first one being the Sacrament, throughout our life we will partake of the sacrament 1000's of times but it is because we need each and every one of those times to be able to fully repent and renew our baptisimal covenants so we can continue to enjoy the blessing of having the Holy Ghost with us at all time. The gift of the Holy Ghost is what makes us different, what a blessing it is to have him with us at all time :)
The second thing he talked about was the 10 things missionaries should take home from a mission.
1. A testimony of the Father and the Son
2. A greatly enlarged testimony of the gospel
3. Love for the people among whom you labor.
4. Greater love and appreciation for your parents
5. Understanding the meaning of hard work
6. Understanding the meaning and importance of personal virtue
7. Increased polish and poise
8. Courage to act
9. Faith to try
10. Humility to pray  
I thought these were cool and something I wish to have by the end of my mission- to truly become a missionary by realizing that this is not my time but the Lords.
I was able to drive through Atlanta for the first time since being here, it's a cool city! I also ate at the famous resturatnt The Varsity, my arteries feel very clogged from the food I ate.... I probably won"t ever eat there again but thats okay- it was a good experience (I am sorry if I repeat myself in letters- time is very jumbled) This coming week we have Mission Leadership council at the mission home, it will be my first time going there :) I am excited to be able to be at this council and talk about the progress of the mission.
We have been working with a lot of less active members and recent converts- It has been really good! I love these people.
This morning I was thinking about how blessed I have been, today I feel overwhelemed with gratitude.
I am so thankful to have the love and support back at home, I am thankful to be a part of the Georgia Atlanta Mission, and I am so thankful for the blessing of the gospel in my life and the testimony that I have.
I love you all so very much and I hope you have a great week :)
Love,
Em

Hi There

Hello!
Another week has come and gone, here we are again. Currently we are in the children's section of the library so there are little kids sitting behind me playing games on the computer... oh to be a kid again!
Things have been super busy here in millcreek. This last week we had Elder Evans of the 70 come to our mission and talk to us about a lot of things- he also changed quite a few of the things that we do in the mission- which is exciting!
This coming week Elder Oaks of the 12 apostles is coming to talk to this mission and the north mission!!!! ( I get to see my MTC mission friends!!! woohooo!) I am so excited to hear him speak!
This morning we were able to go help plant flowers on the temple ground- it was really cool that we were able to be on the temple ground for a few hours to be able to serve the lord in that capacity.
I am doing pretty good, this week my goal is to drink more water and to eat right- I realize that when I don't do these things I am a lot more tired and I am not able to do everything to the best of my ability... so thus the new goal!
I realize it is getting a little hard being with the same person for three months straight. I love Sister Diehl but I am grateful when we have exchanges every week because it gives us each a little time to breathe. I have been learning so much from all the other sisters, hopefully they are learning a little something from me too! I usually like to make commitments with each of the sisters, a personal commitment and work commitment, they seem to be going well and they help me to make my own commitments for my own personal progression.
We have been working with two guys who are super religious (non-denominational with a baptist influence) they ask so many questions at every lesson. Sometimes (most times) I get really frustrated because I can't even finish a sentence without them asking all these nity gritty questions. Thus I have been doing a lot of studying to try and help them understand... This last week I may or may not have told one of them that their bible may not be absolutely completely true because of errors due to translation and grammatical misinterpretation- the guy may or may not have gotten really mad at me... ( my comp and the member with us may have been even more livid at me....) not a great situation I ended up getting myself in.... I was able to smooth the conversation over but I realized that sometimes I just need to keep my mouth shut because I am passionate and stubborn. This can be good and it can also be bad... Moderation in all things right?
Missions are funny because they expose everything under the sun that I struggle with/am bad at... I am happy that I still have a little bit of life left ahead of me where I can work to be a better person. here a little there a little. precept by precept!
Thank you for listen to me ramble today, I love ya'll so much!
I will talk to you soon :)
Love,
Em

Squirrels and cockroaches

Dear Family friends and country men! Lend me your ears.
Things are going pretty well here in the GAM. This last week we didn't have a car so we haven't been able to get around as easily but no fret hopefully we will be getting it back today!
Funny story- so the other day the zone leaders were walking out of the church building and they were holding something behind their backs- I asked them what it was and they told me that I really didn't want to know... well I was stubborn and I made them show me... They had intentionally killed a squirrel with their car on the way to the building and they had put it in a plastic bag with the intent to skin it later. Lets just say I was a little mortified with them and their actions ... But then I touched it and it had gone into rigor mortis, I wasn't so upset by it at that point- mainly because it was cool and I like body things... but that is what the missionaries do in Georgia apparently- I thought I would give you a little insight. Hopefully no one is grossed out... remind me not to tell you about how the eye ball came out of it's head ;)
Anyways....
The powder springs stake has stake conference this last weekend. Elder Evans of the Seventy came to speak to us- he talked a lot about missionary work and inviting others to participate in the work of salvation for themselves and others. He invited everyone to go to the temple often and to pray for missionary opportunities. It was edifying and wonderful!
This week in my personal study I have been studying a lot about the influence of the Holy Ghost and the plan of salvation- there is a really cool talk I have that I need to send to pa because I think he would really like it (so I just need to get around to that) But anyways... This morning I learned something really cool! As we pray we can be led by the Holy ghost to know what to pray for and that way we align our wills to the will of the Father- Isn't that cool? I guess I never understood that before.- it's amazing the things that I have been learning on my mission!
Grandma, thank you so much for the package that you sent me! I was so excited and the cute little BYU bear made me happy.
I really wish I could express my gratitude to all of you. I honestly couldn't do this without all of your prayers and love. I think about ya'll often, I worry but I know you are taken care of. I am excited to talk to you in 75 days (not that I am counting down or anything :)) I think it is so strange that it has been almost 4 months since I have heard your voices and almost 5 months since I have seen ya'll. absence makes the heart grow fonder right? You all must really be fond of me by this point ;)
Oh also I may have given you the wrong zip code on my address it's 30127
Well! I love you! Take care and have an awesome week.
from your little missionary in the Georgia woods.
Sister Barnett
P.s did you know cockroaches fly? nasty  

Transfer week

Hey guess what!? I'm not getting transfered! Sister Diehl isn't either, she will have to diehl with me for at least another 6 weeks (did you get my pun? haha)
The residuals of last week left this week to be a hard one as well but things just have to start looking up for us this week :) I just know it!
Conference was so good- I am excited to get the printed version to be able to study it. I kept trying to find people I know in the audience, I felt oddly close to home. I miss home.
This week we aren't going to have a car becasue it's getting fixed, I imagine we will have pleanty of time to study up on everything! before I came into this area the boy scouts trailer hit the side of the car and put a huge gash into the door, they are going to get us a new door. The car we drive is red, I don't like the color very much.
In our zone we are getting another set of sisters so now we will be over 5 companionships, hopefully they aren't crazy :)
As of now (for the next 6 weeks) make sure to send any mail to
Sister Emily Barnett
120 b Brownsville ext
powder springs GA 30127

So the weather is getting a little bit cooler at night here in the big GA. we aren't getting any snow though! I hear there is snow at home... Weird! Do ya'll still have leaves on the trees? Things are just begining to change color here... this last week I took off my shoes and I crunched (leaves don't get quite as crunchy here because it's a little bit more damp) in a few of the leaves, just like mom and I used to do :) it made me happy!
The other day we walked up kennesaw mountain (not a real mountain) with one of our investigators, we talked about the plan of salvation with him.... but then he tried to convince us to become unificationists, I told him I would read his book when I get home becasue we always ask people to read our book. Other religions facinate me, especially their view of the fall of Adam and Eve.
Grandma, thank you for the sweater you sent me! I wore it yesterday :)
I have come to the point in my mission where I feel like two realities are coliding together, Sister Barnett and Emily. It is a really interesting thing that I don't even know how to describe. At least these two people are starting to turn into one person- a very changed person. Change is good.
I really loved Elder Hollands talk that he gave in Conference, he spoke about depression- which hit home for me in a lot of aspects. I believe that one day we will all be perfected and those imbalances within our brains will go away, we will all rejoice- especially for those whom we love who will be made whole. I can't wait for that day.
Well my dear family, I love you all so much! Christmas is coming up in a transfer and a half- I can't wait to talk to ya'll :)
Macie... HAPPY BIRTHDAY this coming week :) I hope you have the best day ever! I will be thinking about you :)
okay, i think that is all I needed to say.
LOVE,
EMILY

Long Week

This week was the longest week of my mission! So much has happened and my heart has been through the wringer... Let me explain.
On Monday one of our sweet investigators father died unexpectedly. She was struggling all week and we spent a lot of time helping her through this time in her life, for a lot of the week we were just friends helping her get through... We attended the Funeral on Thursday, so many people came to support this dear family. It is amazing to see the impact that one person can have on others. 
All week we were planning on a baptism that was going to take place on Saturday... everything was going well, the interview happened and our investigator even showed up to the baptism, she was dressed in white about ready to go.... But then she decided not to go through with it. It was probably one of the most difficult moments of my mission. In that moment I was about ready to throw in the towel... But the Lord is merciful and helped me make it through the week, and now I sit again here at the computer reading emails from home. What a miracle.
This morning in my personal study I was reading an amazing talk by Brad Wilcox from the most recent edition of the Ensign magazine. there is a quote I wanted to share with ya'll
"The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can live after we die but that we can live more abundantly (see John 10:10). The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can be cleansed and consoled but that we can be transformed (see Romans 8). Scriptures make it clear that no unclean thing can dwell with God (see Alma 40:26), but no unchanged thing will even want to."
A few days ago Sister Diehl gave me some very good advice... She told me that I need to allow myself to change on my mission. While reading this talk I realized that Change is good and it is what is needed to be a better person, it is the reason that Christ atoned for our sins.
Change is a very scary thing for me, but I know it is needed! I pray that the lord will change me into the person that I need to become. I am thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who allows me to change, and be better.
Men are very changeable, I know this now.
This coming week is the last full week of the transfer, I hope I don't have to move again! We will be going to the temple again for Mission Leadership council. I am so excited to be within the walls and to feel the peace in the temple. It is something that I need this week. Other then that we don't have any crazy plans... which is just fine with me, I need things to be normal for five minutes!
Thank you for being in my life dear family :) I miss you oh so much but I know that we will meet again one day. Until then!

Also, can you believe that it is October tomorrow? Time is slipping by.
Love,
Your Sister Emily Barnett

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Blessed week

I really needed to hear from ya'll today, thanks for the emails! I miss you guys a lot, but I am trying really hard not to break any rules and call you ;) (just kidding, I wouldn't really do that)
Things are going well in millcreek, we have a baptism this weekend of one of our investigators. Her name is Phylicia and she is awesome! We have been working with her this whole transfer and she is now ready for baptism :) we are so excited for her! We have been really busy trying to figure out how to do everything in the time we have been given, I realized that I am a horrible planner and I have so much to learn from Sister Diehl about that... Transfers are in a few weeks and I hope that they don't take one of us out! This is the first time that I actually want to stay in an area, It is challenging but I know that I need the challenge.
I am getting a lot better at teaching, it is something that comes very naturally for me which is cool! The part of missionary work that I struggle the most with is contacting random people, I am learning to get over my fear of it. If you could all say a special prayer for me that I will get better at it, that would be great.
On friday two of our YSA's got married, we were able to go to the reception for a little bit to talk to some of her family members and friends. It was really strange to be at a wedding, I was a little weirded out... As missionaries we don't really think about that stuff but then when we do... it's just weird. This couple put their wedding together in 2 weeks! isn't that crazy? If I learned anything from their wedding it is that I don't ever want to get married and if I do I will probably elope. Ya'll will just have to be okay with the fact that I am not going to have a crazy wedding.....We are not talking about this any more because it makes me feel weird.
ANYWAYS! Sorry I haven't been able to write back to a lot of the letters I have gotten recently, I just don't have much time but I am working on getting them all out soon!
Sister Diehl and I are doing well for the most part we have our days here and there but mostly things are awesome with her! She is one of those people that I plan on being friends with for a long time after the mission, it's cool how that works.
This week I will be going on an exchange to my old area, maybe I will get to see some of my recent converts! That would be awesome :)
I love you all! Have a blessed week! (People say that all the time here in the south!) 
Sister E. Barnizzle

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This week!

Hola!
This week I actually wrote a whole list of things to tell ya'll so maybe my email will actually make sense today... Ha :)
Things are pretty good for me and Sister Diehl, we have been keeping busy... very busy!
There are a few random things I thought I would share with all of you...
My hair is growing out again! I can finally put it in a ponytail and stuff. I don't think I am going to cut it that short again, I have decided that I like long hair the best.
When I get home from my mission can I take a really long nap? like 3 days long? I am so tired and I am so excited to just sleep one day... but I can't do that yet because I have a lot of work to do here. Also when I get home I am going to be a vegetarian for a few months and I am going to rid myself of all of the gross things that are in it.. Just in case you were wondering.
The other day we walked outside and it felt like fall, it reminded me of home. I am super excited to see all of the leaves here in the fall time! I bet it is beautiful.
I think it is spider season... Daily there is a loud scream coming from me because I see a spider somewhere.... I hate bugs but they are everywhere!
Anyways... So this week was pretty good, we struggled a little bit because there were some hiccups with the flow of our week with zone training and exchanges that we had to go on... But still we managed to pull through to another p-day!
this week I will have been on my mission for 4 months! How crazy..... time is a very strange thing on a mission, my perception of it is changing quite a bit. I realize that now 18 months is a very short amount of time and it will go by so very fast. I am proud of myself that I made it this far into my mission, it has been one of the hardest things I have ever done, I have kept a relatively good attitude and I am continuing to move forward thanks to the grace of my savior. I am a much better person for these 4 months and I am sure that I will continue to learn and grow ( I will be so tall that you won't even be able to recognize me when i get home!)
Yesterday we were standing in church and a girl comes up to me and starts hugging me, I was so confused but then I recognized her... Last semester I worked with her at legends grill! It was so weird to see her because I felt like two realities were coliding... But it was really awesome to talk to her and get to know her a little bit more!
A struggle that we are trying to overcome right now is learning how to plan most effectively. We have so much to do all the time and so many obligations that it is hard to keep up. We are learning how to be really good planners, which is something I desperately need to learn how to do! I am grateful for such busy times like this!
This week I learned a lot about charity and unconditional love that our savior has for each of us! It is so crazy to think that even when we are stupid and we mess up a bazillion times... that still God love us so much and he will never leave us. He will never leave us even when everyone else does becasue he has unconditional love for each of us. I am grateful to have this knowledge.
Anyways! how is everyone? I miss you all so much.
Thank you for the letters and everything else! You are the people who keep me going, seriously :)
Love you!
Sister Emily Katherine Louise Barnett
Also this week I heard a weezer song on the radio and It made me think of home. Will someone listen to some weezer and think of me?
:)

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