August!!! What the crazy.....

I am doing well! I have realized that a mission is always hard, but it is so nice to have a good companion to help you get through all of it. I am really liking a Sister Marques. She is beautiful, talkative, and cheerful! She also knows English. She is the only Brazilian sister in our mission that speaks english fluently. Guess how she learned it? She never took a formal class or anything. TV, movies, and music. She knows all the slang.....which is really awesome.

So I am pretty sure that Sister Marques and I were visited by an angel or one of the Three Nephites. We were walking the other day (something we do quite often in fact) when we were stopped by a man. He started talking about how he learned about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a few years back. We talked a little bit, and set up an appointment with him. We went to his house for the appointment a few days later, and we saw him look through the window to see who was at the gate, and turn around. He didn't answer the door. I thought, "That is it. I will not come back if he doesn't want to talk to us." But, a few days later, I had the impression that we should try going to his house again. We arrived at his house, and he let us teach him. A few days later we go to his house and he tells us that he has some friends that live nearby that he wanted us to meet. We didn't have very much time, but we decided to go to his friends' house anyway. We got to the house and it was full of people. We started talking to all the people, and come to find out, half of the people there were members of the church that live in a different town. The couple that live in the house have already been to church with these friends. They were interested to hear about the details of church here in Montenegro....what time church starts, where it is, etc. We also found out that they aren't legally married yet, but they are just waiting for a birth certificate to make everything legal! A couple that wants to be married out of their own free will! That is a bit rare here in Brasil! Anyway, they are a really special family, they have friends who are members of the church, they will soon be legally married, they wanted to know about church............so they are super prepared! I will keep you updated on them. The miracle of this story.....we went to the house of the man that stopped us on the street and introduced us to this family like two days after this happened. His house is completely empty! 

This week I went to the baptism of a boy I taught when I was in the trio. He technically lives in the other area, but I got permission from President Wright to go to his baptism because I taught him while I was covering both areas in the trio. His name is Jonathon and he is 22 years old. He loves Americans because he is learning English right now. The baptism was awesome, and he even bore his testimony in church the other day! 

Sister Marques and I are teaching SOOOO much right now! We are working super hard, walking a lot, sweating up the wazoo, talking with everyone. I know we will begin to see the fruits of our labors. 

Another cool thing that happened........I have been holding on to this one investigator named Malena. I have been teaching her for almost three months, and in these three months, she hadn't been to church once. It is definitely a no-no to spend precious time teaching people that aren't progressing when you could be out finding people that will progress. I have held on to her this long because I love her so much and I didn't want to give up on her. But, I really felt like I needed to drop her and move on. So, I went to her house and told her that I couldn't keep teaching her because she wasn't keeping her commitments. I was shocked by what happened next. She started crying. A lot. She got up to go to the bathroom to get tissue, so I gave her a hug. I told her that I loved her, and she said, "I WILL go to church this week. There is nothing that will keep me from going." Guess who arrived at church 20 minutes early yesterday. Malena. I was so so happy! I think she liked it, so we'll see what happens now! 

I know that God is a God of miracles! He is always waiting with miracles reserved for those who are willing to first exercise a little faith! 

I love you all! 

Sister Aut Barnes 

Jonathon's baptism

Some of the sisters and Sister Wright at the Bus Station in Porto Alegre. 

I finally met someone that can do the same thing with her thumbs! 

Helping Sister Holladay with her luggage!

Surprise!!

I forgot to tell you all last week that my P-Day has been switched to Monday. So...it will be on Monday from now on. I think it will be good! Before the mission, Sunday was a day of rest. Here in the mission field, Sunday is the hardest, most tiring day! You have to worry about investigators going to church. You end up walking in circles on Sunday because everyone is either gone or has family over and therefore don't have time to talk to you. P-Day on a Monday will be a good for my soul!

I was totally wrong about my companion! I knew that would happen. My new companion is Sister Marques from Curitiba, Brasil. She has a little over 6 months in the mission field and spent it in Canela (the area that everyone lusts for). I am learning a lot from her. She is studying journalism, so she is super outgoing and really knows how to talk to people and catch their attention. She literally stops people in their tracks in the street to talk to them, something that I don't do very often. She makes me laugh a ton. Yeah, so things are going well with her. This week, we pretty much focused on finding new investigators by knocking doors, making contact on the street, and asking for referrals. We are sifting through the people here in our area to find the elect! This is a really stupid analogy, but I will tell it anyway. I feel like a gold miner. I go out to work everyday with the objective of finding gold.....a golden investigator. However, I have to sift through a lot of mud, dirt, and sand before I find those few particles of gold. We are talking to a lot of people. Most of these people don't want anything to do with us. However.....we have to talk to everyone in order to find those few that are golden! 

There is also another new American that lives in our apartment, Sister Young. She is from Oregon and went to BYU-I for 3 years before leaving for the mission. She is really cool! 

I can't believe that General Conference is almost here! Just one more month! I can't wait! My first General Conference in Portuguese was a bit interesting because I didn't understand everything that they were saying. I am sure it will be a little better now! Oh how I love to hear the words of the prophets! 

Sorry this is a lame email......but my brain is absolutely dead right now! Oh, Vanderlei is still going strong! We visited him yesterday, and he was telling us about how he has been reading from the Book of Mormon everyday before work to start his day off right. One day he wasn't able to read before he left for work, so he called his girlfriend Monica and asked her to text him a verse from the Book of Mormon so he could at least read that much! I was very touched by that. He definitely recognizes the difference that it makes in his days! 

Today I was studying in Preach My Gospel. There is an activity in there that asks you to write down how the gospel affects how you look at your life and the world around you. I had the hardest time writing this down. Not because I didn't have anything to write, but because I had so much to write. The gospel isn't just a part of my life, it is my life. It defines every decision I make. It is so hard to make people understand that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints isn't just a church that we go to on Sunday. It isn't just a building that we go to on Sundays to worship. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the church that Jesus Christ established. Why did he establish it? To fulfill the will of the Father. And what is the will of the Father? To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint teaches EVERYTHING we need to do to return to the Father and gain exaltation. It isn't just a church we go to on Sunday if it is convenient. The gospel of Jesus Christ is EVERYTHING!!!! 

 

I love you and pray for you all everyday! Choose the Right! 

 

Sister Autumn Barnes

Well.....one more transfer under my belt. You know what is crazy? I only have 6 left.......and they go by quickly. After this next transfer, I will be the American sister with the most time in the mission. What???? I just entered the mission field yesterday! I am still a greenie!

So, if my calculations are correct, I think a Sister named Sister J. Fernandes will be my new companion. I don't know yet, but that is my guess. I already know her really well because she was one of the four that I lived with in Canoas. I like her a lot. She has a really big heart and helps me a ton with Portuguese. I will let you know next week if I guessed correctly! Also, Sister Castro (my temp comp and a sister that lives in the same apartment) will train an American sister. She is freaking out. She told me that I will be used a lot. Helping Sister Castro and an American sister communicate should help me with my own Portuguese!

Baptism!!!! So one of the baptisms fell through (it is a long story), but Vanderlei was baptized and confirmed Saturday and Sunday!! He was really excited and super prepared. He is dating a girl from the ward who has two kids. They make a beautiful family. The baptism was beautiful. A ton of members showed up to support and it went off without a hitch. However, during the baptism I couldn't help but think that this was just the beginning. I kept thinking about the temple.......about Vanderlei, his girlfriend, and her two kids being sealed in the temple. I will send a picture of all of them so you can see what I mean. hahahaha I made chocolate chip cookies for the baptism (They don't have chocolate chips here so I had to cut a chocolate bar up in tiny pieces. I don't even like to bake in the first place, so you can imagine how close I came to giving up on baking cookies after all that painstaking labor). But the cookies were a hit! Everyone kept asking what they were and if they could have the recipe! Woohoo! I actually cooked something that turned out well! Milagre! Miracle! 

A couple funny things that happened this week:

Yeah......we saw a teenager ride his bike into a parked car this week. Tried not to laugh.....but it was REALLLLY funny. Sister Castro and I DIEEED! You just had to see it. 

Sister Castro found a white hair in my head! Ahhhh! Na verdade, it was really really blonde. I think. But she swears it was white. Yeah........a mission is stressful. haha but it is so cool as well! 

It is getting really hot already. It is technically still winter. Hasn't even hit spring yet. Summer is going to be really long! I hear that the U.S. is experiencing a huge drought right now. Here as well. Barely even rained at all here this winter. 

I want you all to know that I love the mission. It isn't easy. Everyday is a new challenge. But would I trade this experience for anything? No. With every challenge, I am pushed to new limits. I know that the Lord is backing me up in everything. He didn't call me here to fail, but to succeed. This is His work, His glory and I am honored to be a part of it! 

Sister Autumn Barnes

 

1. My district

2. Vanderlei, his girlfriend Monica, and her two children, Henrique and Monique

3. This sweet tree that I love! 

4. Sister Castro, Sister Holladay, Vanderlei, and I 

5. Sister Castro with a puppy and me with Chimarrão 

 

Todo Mundo!!! 

 

I am tiiiiiired! But doing well! Covering 2 areas is keeping us beyond busy! Right now we only have time to concentrate on our investigators with the most potential. When I get my new companion, we are going to have to work on finding new investigators because there hasn't been much time for that lately. 

Good news: Two baptisms this Saturday! Can I get a "woot woot?" No, but I am really excited. Vanderlei is the boyfriend of a member and came pre-prepared and ready for baptism. It has been awesome to teach him. Jese, who is 20 years old, will be baptized as well. He is the boy I mentioned last week, the boy that always felt the spirit everytime he passed by the church. I know that they will be great leaders, great Priesthood holders in the church. 

This Sunday was Father's Day here in Brasil. I want to give a shout out to my Daddy! I love you and am so grateful for the way that you have raised, supported, and loved our family. I thought it was very fitting that I ate churrasco (Brazilian BBQ) on Father's Day. A TON OF MEAT!!!! Chicken, Steak, Sausage, Chicken Hearts, and more beef. I left the member's house about ready to puke! (Lisa remember how much STUFF we ate at Tucanos?) 

Today during personal study, I was hit with the magnitude of my calling. I have authority from God to rescue his precious children from spiritual death. I am affecting not only the lives of people aqui, but eternities!!!! The Lord and I are one in purpose right now! I received authority to be a representative of Jesus Christ when I was set apart as a missionary, but my prayer right now is that I can always be worthy of power from on high to magnify this calling and authority. 

Love you all!

Sister Autumn Barnes

P-Day will be on Monday because of transfers!

Hello! Now where to start?

Last Tuesday, Sister Quiara and I went to Porto Alegre for her doctor's appointment. I was a little worried about finding our way to this doctor's appointment, but I found it just fine. Haha I was reminded of my trip to New York City. I remembered our taxi ride from the airport to Amber's house. We almost died. A thousand times. Yeah. That was nothing. The only thing worse than riding in a taxi in New York City......riding in a taxi in a metropolitan city in BRASIL!!!! Almost died. Two thousand times. Hahaha but I was laughing and having a good old time. 

So about Sister Quiara and her doctor's appointment: We got a phone call from President Wright on Thursday saying that he was going to come to our apartment to talk to me and Sister Quiara. (After frantically cleaning the apartment a little bit......shhhhh), President and Sister Wright arrived. President wanted to talk with Sister Quiara in private, so Sister Wright and I went into the bedroom to talk. The first thing that she said when the door was closed is, "She has to go home." I don't know what all of her health concerns are.....but they are serious. She has to be treated at home and will not return to the mission. I can't say that I got along super well with Sister Quiara, but when I heard this news, my heart was broken. I hurt for Sister Quiara because I know how hard this news would be for her. I talked with Sister Wright for a little while longer, and let me tell you, she is amazing. She reminds me SO MUCH of my mom!! Her presence and words are so comforting! A few minutes later, President entered the room and said, "Your companion has to go home to receive treatment. Help her pack her bags. We will pick her up tomorrow at noon. You will now be in a trio with the other companionship that lives here with you. Coordinate your visits." I have never been very good at giving comfort, being a good, strong shoulder to cry on.........but I had to do my best. President and Sister Wright left, and I was left with a Sister Missionary that was just informed that her mission would be over the next day. Sister Quiara cried for awhile, but soon she was filled with a spirit of peace. Mom, don't kill me.....but I gave her one of my luggage bags. She entered the mission field with barely anything.....only one bag. She accumulated a few things here, so she didn't have a bag to fit all of her stuff.....and she didn't have money to buy one. I'll have to buy another bag, but I have conditions...she didn't. The next morning, President and Sister Wright picked her up and took her away. Now I am with Sister Castro and Sister Holladay in a trio until the next transfer. We are working in two areas. Oh boy it is a lot of work. But.....we are hanging in there, and only have 2 weeks until the next transfer. This has been the craziest transfer ever! I have had four companions in four weeks.....Sister Machado, Sister Quiara, and now Sister Castro and Sister Holladay.

The work is moving along here. We are working with a couple of people that have baptismal dates coming up. One is having a hard time with coffee, but everything will turn out. The other's name is Wanderlei. He is the boyfriend of a member. We taught him the first lesson, invited him to be baptized, and he accepted. He has already been to church various times, and I always catch him taking notes and even crying. We also taught a 22 year old boy this week. He said that he always walks past the chapel and always feels the strongest desire to enter. The 2nd counselor in the Bishopric found him standing outside the chapel, talked to him, and set up a visit with us in the chapel that day. When he entered the chapel, he said "Wow. I had a dream one night and I was walking through these halls." There are people out there prepared to accept the gospel and change their lives. Sure, as missionaries, we have to sift through a bunch of people that aren't interested before we find God's elect, but they exist! We have to be fishers of men to find these special Children of God! 

Things are going well! I am getting along with the sisters in this trio really well. I already knew them because I have been living with them. I have learned however, that old habits die hard. Remember how Lisa and I would always laugh during prayers? Well, the other day......my stomach growled REALLLLLLLLLY loud during a prayer........and I couldn't help it......neither could my companions. As they say here when you do something wrong or stupid, "Que feio." How ugly! I blame Lisa. 

I know this church is the true church of Jesus Christ and the only path back to the presence of our Heavenly Father. 

Love you all!
Sister Autumn Barnes

Me and Sister Quiara

Sister Castro said that she would give me five reais if I crossed this bridge. Sure it was only hanging on by a thread, but it was only like a four foot drop to the ground. Of course I would cross it for 5 bucks! 

Sister Holladay and Sister Castro

The night before Sister Machado was transferred.

Sister Barnes here!

How is everyone doing?! 

This week has been very trying, but good. It has been interesting with my new companion, but the work must move forward! My companion has to go to Porto Alegre today for a doctor's appointment. We have to take the bus until the bus station in Porto Alegre and then from there we have to catch a taxi to the doctor's office. Advice from Sister Castro: (a Brazilian sister that lives in the apartment with us) "Make sure that Sister Quiara talks to the taxi driver and not you. If he knows that you are American, he will drive all around town before he drops you off. He will milk this opportunity to get a little more cash." Looks like I will have to remain silent! Dang accent! 

Hmmmm.....what has happened this week? We are cutting a lot of our investigators from our teaching group because they just aren't progressing at all. This week has been full of a lot of searching for new investigators, a lot of First Lessons. Searching for the Lord's elect! I know they are out there! 

Yesterday was my 8th month anniversary on the mission! Crazy. I am nearing the halfway mark. Whoa. Weird. Unbelievable. Strange. Haha you know midlife crisis? I think I am going through the same thing right now here in the mission. The realization: "Hot dang, I only have half of a mission left? What have I done up until this point? I haven't accomplished as much as I wanted to. I have to do everything NOW!!!" Yeah.....that feeling. I think it is good though. This will help me push harder and harder!

This week I spoke a lot of English. It was super weird. A man that served here in the Porto Alegre North Mission 15 years ago, returned to visit with his wife. They were at church on Sunday, and his wife doesn't speak Portuguese. I talked to her in English for awhile. Her husband also left her for a little while to use the bathroom. I was able to translate for her while her husband was gone. What an awesome feeling! Haha also, President Wright called me to set up this doctor's appointment with Sister Quiara, so we were talking in English. After I hung up with him, I started talking to Sister Quiara in English. Blank stare on her face. Haha it is really hard to switch between two different languages sometimes! Messes with your head! 

Well, have to go.....but this Church is true! The Savior lives and this is His work! How can we not carry on in so great a cause?

 

Love you!

Sister Barnes

Oi!

I have a new niece!!! Whooo!!!! I was so excited to hear about that! Lola Mae! She is beautiful! Congrats Derek, Amber, Tyson, and Eliza! Can't wait to see her (when she's about 10 months old). :)

So remember that one time when I said that a mission always pushes you out of your comfort zone? And remember how I said that I was really loving Sister Machado and was really content with her? Yeah.....received a phone call from the Assistants to the President that pushed me out of my comfort zone again. Emergency Transfer. Sister Machado would be transfered the next day, and I would receive a new companion. Don't take this the wrong way....I am not talking bad about my new companion.....but my new companion is the Sister that no one in the mission wants to be put with.  I really miss Sister Machado. I feel robbed because I only spent 2 weeks with her, but I know that being companions with this Sister will teach me a lot. I will learn a lot from her as well. Last week I received a reply email from President Wright. I want to tell you what he said to me. 

"Sister Barnes, if you only knew how wonderful you are! I would take a hundred of you any day. We love you so much. You will be great and the Lord will bless you with the language. My wife speaks so highly of you! Help your comp. learn English as she helps you learn Portuguese. Remember the Lord works with the humble in wonderful ways. Your weaknesses will become your strength. (Ether 12:27) I will need you to help out with other sisters who are struggling in other ways. 

Abraços, Pres. Wright"

So I read that email last week and thought......wow, someday in the future I will have to help out some sisters that are really struggling. I didn't know that this day would come so soon. But, here I am trying to be clay in the hands of the Lord. I am trying to let go of MY wants and wishes and let him mold me into the woman and missionary that he wants me to be, that he KNOWS I can be. I doubt myself. Always. But, I don't doubt the Lord. I don't doubt the fact that he can work miracles through me. I don't doubt that he can make more out of me than I can of myself. I don't doubt that he can give me divine power and help from on high to do the things that I have been called to do. I don't doubt that he can make me an instrument in his hands. 

So here is what happened. Something went wrong in an area of Elders. The Elders were pulled from the area. My companion and her old companion weren't getting along very well, so President separated them. Sister Quiara is here with me, and Sister Machado is now companions with Sister Quiara's old companion and are opening the area where the Elders were pulled from. Haha make sense? Sister Quiara is from Para......northern Brazil. She lives in the region that most people think of when they think of Brazil.............the Amazon Rainforest. We have very different backgrounds, personalities.....but we are both here united in the same cause! 

Good news! Just got an email from the mission. My zone has now received temple privileges! All the missionaries in the zone can go to the temple once every three months now! What a blessing! I could really use a temple visit right now! Thank you President Wright for making the temple more accessible! 

Oh....I have decided that winter here isn't that bad. Yet. I don't know if it will get much worse, but so far it is completely bearable. MUCH better from that flippin' heat that almost killed me! 

I love you all! I hope you all know that I have a testimony of this Gospel. I know that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, our Redeemer and Exemplar. He opened the way for us to have peace and happiness in this life and forever after as well. Look to Him in all things, and you will never go astray! 

Sister Barnes