Baptism!

Family, friends, countrymen! lend me your ears!
This week and this month are successfully coming to an end. I can't believe that the time is going by so fast! It is so strange to me to think that the end of this transfer is going to be in two weeks. and then I will be on the downward slope. NOOOOOO!!!!!
Troy was baptized this week, it was an amazing experience to be a part of his conversion. I haven't felt the spirit that strongly in a metting in a very long time! It was  one of the best experiences of  my mission. Every week I hope i can come to this  email and be a better more refined human being from the last time I spoke to ya'll. I feel like this last week I have accomplished this in a lot of ways! Our numbers in our key indicators didn't turn out amazing, but I have never felt more successful than I have this last week.
There were so many experiences where i felt led and guided. This week I am a more converted disciple of Jesus Christ, although I still have a long way to go!
Okay so let me tell you about all the amazing things going on in my life as a missionary!
So last week I met a famous guy named Jason Deere, he is  the heart and soul of a really cool group called the nashville tribute band. We were able to talk to him and express our gratitude for the music he makes (we are allowed to listen to his stuff in our mission.) He got really emotional and just shared with us  his love for the gospel and for this great missionary work! It was really amazing and i ended up getting some free mexican food out of it as well!
The next cool thing I want to share with you is what happened the other night as we were meeting with a less active fellow. We were in his home with his parents and we were just sharing a message with him (heleman 5:12) and then I was able to bear my testimony to him. There was  an amazing calm that came over me as I shared with him how much his  Heavenly Father loves him. I truly felt like the spirit was testifying to this boy through me! I love when these things happen and i get to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord.
The last thing I wanted to tell ya'll about was the Powder springs stake conference that went on this weekend! Elder Nelson spoke to 48 stakes in the southern part of the country, our stake was included. He spoke of the 9 facets of the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I have never heard anyone speak so plain and simply but in a way that I learned so much!
I wish I could type up all of my notes and the things I learned but I don't have enough time right now... :(
Maybe ya'll can search and see if yo can find it on youtube or something haha
Well my dear family I love ya'll so much! Thank you for all the love and support you give to me! I hope ya'll have a fantastic week
love,
em

Manic monday!

Another week has come and gone! Today is a beautiful day, I almost forgot it was a holiday until our district leader told us we could email at a members home today because the libraries are closed. 
This last week has been very busy and crazy, but it was great! I feel bad i can't always tell ya'll everything, maybe it is a good thing though :) that way I will have plenty of stories to tell everyone when I return home! 
This Friday we are going to have the baptism of Troy! We are so excited :) Troy is an amazing guy, he really has been so prepared to receive the gospel. like I have said before, it has been a tender mercy to see him accept the gospel- I truthfully have done nothing! 
We have had a few meetings with a really cool guy  named Jonathan! he is super into star wars and good athletic foot wear :) We met him while contacting in a sporting goods store a few weeks ago. He says that he is continually being drawn to learn more about the Mormons. We have had quite a bit of fun getting to teach him! This coming week we are going to talk to him more about the restoration and his Book of Mormon reading. 
This next week we are going to spending as much time as we can contacting people in the stores and on the street, this isn't my favorite activity but unless we find people to teach we won't be able to teach! Funny how that works... 
I wanted to tell ya'll about how cool I think writing in journals is. This last week there was a day when I was really having a hard time, i decided to write everything in my journal. When I was done I started to read through some old entries- it was an amazing epiphany to me of how therapeutic and wonderful keeping a record of our lives can be! I read once that happy people keep journals- I would invite everyone to take a little bit of time this coming week and write a little bit in your journal! I promise it will make you happier! 
A goal that I have for myself this next week is to have better prayers instead of just going through the motions. I know that Prayer works! I see miracles everyday when my prayers are answered- I know that so many more miracles can happen if i fine tune my personal prayers a little bit! 
Alrighty my Friends and family! I love you all and I wish you the happiest of weeks :) stay good and healthy! 
Love, 
Sister Barnett 

Chilly!

It has been a cold week but we are doing well!
right now I feel like each week is about a month... time is such a strange concept on the mission.
Monday was a horrible cold day, it was in the negatives and I tried to stay bundled up as much as I could. it's funny because now it is back to the manageable 45-50 degree weather that I don't mind much at all! We spent most of those days inside as much as possible. on tuesday we were worried that we wouldn't be able to drive becasue school was canceled everywhere in the east, but it turned out that it wasn't as bad as we thought it would be.
on Wednesday we taught a lesson to lilly's best friend sara pearl! it was one of the most amazing lessons that I have ever taught. She wasn't expecting to feel anything but when we started talking to her about the restoration she felt so overwhelmed especially becasue she wasn't planning on feeling what she did. It was amazing to be able to watch someone change and feel so much so drastically! we are really excited to meet with her again!
On thursday we went to the Temple in Atlanta, it was so great to be there in the house of the Lord! I am so grateful that I was able to feel that spirit because it has been awhile! When I get home from my mission, I am going to make a goal to go to the temple every week. Life is so much easier for me when I can go to the Temple. I know it is the house of the Lord. later that afternoon we had zone training where we talked a lot about how to be better at talking to people on the streets and also how to be better at talking to the members. I learned a lot!
Friday night we taught another one of our newer investigators- Teah! we talked about God and how he listens to prayers. she doesn't have a very strong relationship with God and she doesn't usually pray. I was able to invite her to ask God if the things we had talked about are true, I told her she could trust in me that she would get an answer from him. I have never straight up told someone that they could trust in me that they would get an answer from God, it was scary but it was also so wonderful!
Saturday we had dinner with one of our members... his name is Manti and he is a cherokee indian! It was so crazy to hear all of his stories and learn more about him. He is one of the craziest people I have ever met! I would really love to study the american indians in more depth. He told us a ton of stories about his ancestors that correlate exactly with the Book of Mormon!
Last night we got to watch the CES fireside, it was Tad r. Callister. the exact talk he gave last night was the same one he gave when I was in the MTC (the one in the MTC was in a little bit more depth with more scripture refrences) it was really cool and I felt like there was a reason I was learning about the structure of Christ' church! That stuff applies in the south a lot!
This coming week is going to be a very busy miracle filled week! We are excited for everything that will happen:)
I know that this Church is true. I can say that will my whole heart. I have recieved that answer from God and I want everyone to know it! I know that Jesus is the Christ and I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.
The Bristols have a saying that they always say. whenever someone says it everyone else has to say it back!
"love my family"
I am taking this tradition and I am going to use it.
Have a wonderful week! Love my family :)
xoxoxoxo
Sister Em Barnett

New years

Hello! Happy new years to one and all!
it has been a very very long week for me here in Georgia! I haven't had this long of a week in some time.
I have a feeling that this next week will go by very fast becasue we have a lot of things scheduled and our days are going to be very busy this coming week! This coming week we also get to go to the Temple! I am so excited to be able to go again, it has been a long minute since I've been so I am really looking forward to it!
I have a good story to tell ya'll this week actually!
so on thursday night we were just getting back to our apartment at 9pm to plan and to finish our day, it happened to be one of the coldest nights of the winter so far. As we were going inside i reallized that our key was lost and that we had no way to get into our house. We ended up spending over an hour trying to find the key with no success... It was strange not being able to call someone to come and let us in... since we couldn't get inside we had to find a members home to stay in with the permission of our president. We ended up staying in the home of the branch president. in the morning we found our key just laying on our back seat... It was frusturating but we were able to talk to some people about the Gospel who we probably wouldn't have had the chance to unless this happened. The Lord works in mysterious ways!
We also went to a wedding of one of our Ysa's this last week, it was cute and i was really happy for her :)
A scripture that i wanted to share with ya'll today comes from John 1:5
I have been thinking a lot about the concept of light and when I read this scripture I was able to understand it in a whole new way. "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness coprehended it not."
with just a little bit of light we can get rid of the darkness in this world, darkness can not understand the light and the power that comes from it! How can you use this light in your life this week?
Thank you for the letters and support, I am very thankful for all that has been done for me :)
I love ya'll and I hope you have a great week!
xoxoxo
Sis barnett

2013! peace out!

Hello!!!
Oh how wonderful it was to talk to my family on Christmas!!!! That was probably the best Christmas present I could have ever recieved! This Christmas was one of the best krimmas I have ever had. I am pleased that everyone said that I look "glowing" I was worried that the glow stick I ingested wouldn't work. (sorry that was such a horrible joke... I try to be funny) 
On friday our friend Gerard was Baptized! It was a great service and he looked really happy, we were so excited for him and for our little branch.
This last week we spent a LOT of time finding new people to teach, I am getting quite sick of walmart, malls and the target.... I can tell you exactly where to find just about anything you want. It's almost like i work there but I think my job is a lot cooler than the walmart people... I am bringing people eternal salvation and they are just bringing them really low prices on everything you ever dreamed of having (well maybe not everything)
Our branch president is doing a lot better, he was able to be at church again after his surgery. I have gotten really close to him and his family, they are some of the best people I know! They have adopted me into their family and I feel so blessed to have them :)
 Oh some good news!!! I am not being transfered!!!!! I get at least another 6 weeks in my little branch :) our goal this next transfer is to bring as many souls as we possibly can to their savior Jesus Christ! We are going to work hard and go crazy :)...... but not too crazy!
I am not really sure how my new years will look... Honestly I can't even remember what I did a year ago so I am sure this new years will be just as memorable, or more. I will probably end up going to bed at my normal 10:30 pm, that happens to be my favorite part of the day anyways.
it's weird to think that it is almost 2014... A year ago this whole process of the mission started... I can't believe how fast time is going by... I feel like I say that all the time but honestly it is racing by. The only thing that I can do is learn as much as I can while I still have all this life left in me
2013 has been a crazy year for me! It hasn't been the best year of my life but it has by far been one of the best years for my life! I have learned so much about myself and about my Savior. I feel like I am becoming the person I have always wanted to be, there is still a lot of work to do but some progress has been made! My years started with a new job working at legends grill, meeting some amazing people, dating someone who helped me learn so much, finishing another semester at BYU, spending a month before my mission doing really fun things, and then leaving on a crazy adventure! It has been a packed year and I bet next year will be even better!
Hurrah for 2013 :)
Sorry I don't have a ton to write about today! ya'll are my favorite and I really miss you but we have a lot of amazing things to look forward too :) We will be together forever!
I love you guys :)
have a blessed- awesome- rockin New Years! Stay safe and go crazy for me :)
I will talk to ya'll next year!!!!!!!!!!!
Love,
Sister Emzil Barnett

MEEERRRRYYY KRIMA-time

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
This is a great time of year isn't it? I love Christmas, I must be my grandmothers granddaughter :)
This week we have an amazing blessing to be able to have a baptism right after Christmas, we are so excited to be able to bring this Christmas present to the Lord!
This is a time of year that we all get to reflect and look towards the future, we are able to remember our savior Jesus Christ. It truly is Joy to the World that he came for each of us- joy that I want everyone to know and feel!
This week we spent a lot of time finding new people to teach, we haven't had a ton of success but we are working as hard as we can. I have an amazing companion who is such a hard worker and loves being a missionary! We are becoming better friends, which is making the work a lot easier!

I know that the lord knows me so well and has put me into this little branch so that I can learn and grow and become exactly the person he wants me to be. I am learning how to love some, not so lovable people and I am learning to be patient and control only what I can.
This last week I went on exchanges with Sister Sullivan, the one sister I have served around the longest. It was good to be with her and learn a lot about being diligent from her. She is a very hard worker and knows how to be a great missionary, we came out about the same time and it is really cool being with her because we both know now how to be missionaries... it is cool to be able to see the people grow and change around me. Progression, change, the atonement in action!
This coming week is going to a amazing and I know it will fly by so fast! Next week is already transfers and I have no idea what is going to happen! Next week my trainer- sister markowitz will be going home. I feel like it is the end of a crazy era with her leaving, she is a great missionary and will be missed in the GAM!
The time on the mission is flying by so fast... I can't believe it is Christmas and I GET TO TALK TO MY FAMILY!!!! I am so excited! I remember when I called home from the airport and pa jokingly said that he would talk to me next week at Christmas and now it is this week!!!
Thank  you to everyone for the packages and Christmas greeting :) it has been so fun to get things in the mail and they always brighten my day!
I am kind of sad that I only get one Christmas season as a missionary... maybe I will stay a little longer next year so I can experience two!!!!
(I can just imagine grandma's reaction after reading that!!! "NO!!!!!!!!!" and then she will pretend to cry :) and now she will think of all the ways to convince me to come home when I am supposed too)
I don't think they will let me stay any longer than I am supposed too.... But it was a good thought :)
Well my dearly beloved! I LOVE YOU
Talk to ya'll soon!
love,
Em

Here we go again

Okie dokie! here we go again!
This last week went by really fast, I am not sure what to say about it but I will do my best!
I am going to send ya'll a picture along with this email of my little branch that I serve in, I sure love these people!!!
Our Branch President, President Bristol went into surgery this last week, he is doing well now! The last three months I have gotten really close to the Bristol family, I don't know what I would have done without them here in the Branch. They are the family that we will be spending Christmas with and calling from their home!
One of our investigators, Gerard has decided to be baptized! we are so so so excited for him and the great blessing this will be in his life! I was really excited when he told us this, my companion started filming me but the video is too long to send over email so I will have to show ya'll when I get home!
lilly is doing amazing! We had a new member lesson with her this last week and we were able to go and eat dinner with her and her family on Wednesday night, they are really great people! Although her brother asked me some very interesting questions regarding the church, sometimes the questions people ask make me laugh!
on Friday we had zone conference, it was a Christmas program and it was really good! they even played a Grinch song which made me so so so happy! I can't wait to watch that movie next year!!!!
Saturday we spent the vast majority of the day just trying to talk to people around stores, everyone was rushing around became of Christmas's.
Yesterday after church we went to the petitta's home (grandma sis petitta is going to come see you when they are in Utah coming up :) she is bringing a small bag of things I don't need home) Hopefully this won't be the last time I see them on my mission... they won't be back from their daughters wedding until after transfers (which are in 2 weeks! time is going fast!)
This evening the branch is having an annual branch Christmas party, we are going to have a white elephant gift exchange... Lots of people usually show up to this! I am excited :) 
I  hear the weather in Utah has been freezing! i am sorry ya'll have to suffer through that!!!
I want to bear my testimony to each of you about the power of prayer in our lives. I know that I have a Heavenly Father in my life who loves me and listens to my needs and desires and who helps me through the tough times which are many. I know he is there for all of you as well :) Trust in him and believe in good things to come!
Thank you for everything :)
Mail would be nice :)
Love,
Sister Emily Barnett