Hermana Barton: Estoy Stoked!: August 5, 2015: Soy Elder Calhoun (Best Two Years)

Ejole! I am in Hermosillo! I have no idea most of the time what people are saying, but I am so happy to finally be here! Especially the relief society president is way hard to understand. She has a lisp, and I don't know if I would be able to understand her if she was speaking English! But she is so cute, and nice. I love her even if I have no clue what language she is speaking!

I wanted to tell you the biggest thing I have learned during my time in the CCM was the true meaning of "feast on the words of Christ" and "hunger after righteousness." As you well know I hate reading. And really reading scriptures I knew was a good thing, but I definitely treated it as a chore that I needed to do. During my time in the CCM, I had time to actually study the scriptures. And have grown to love them. I search them every day highlighting them with verses that talk about the Savior, or other revelation that I receive. I feel like I am on a treasure hunt, and this is the best buried gold I could ever find! The other day I was reading the Isaiah chapters in Spanish. Usually I don't understand these, and rush through them mindlessly. However, I was reading in Spanish, and using English when I needed, and as I tried so hard to understand what each word meant, I understood better the message of these chapters, which is all about Christ! And when Lehi prophesies about the promised land and his posterity being blessed to be free, he is talking about the U.S. And when he says that if we disregard the laws of God, this promise will be broken and the people will lose blessings. And this is just like my blessing when it talks about how I need to be a warning voice that when we disregard the laws of God, we cannot expect to be blessed. WOW! the scriptures are so amazing, and I have an increasing testimony of them every day!

Back to Hermosillo, my new companera is from Peru. She doesn't speak much English, and I don't speak much Spanish, which is perfect. Because this is exactly what I need to be able to get better at this language. In six weeks of speaking zero English I think my companion will help me be loads better! She is super patient with me, which is a blessing sparkle!! She is new to the area that we are in too. So picture a short Peruvian chica and a tall (compared to my companion) white girl, wandering the streets in Hermosillo completely lost! It is so awesome, I love it, and look forward to it!

One of my favorite phrases is "Esta Bien" because even though I have no idea what is going on most of the time, and we are lost and it is only the first day, and there was no toilet paper in our casita, and I'm pretty sure this shirt that I am wearing is already turning yellow because it is super hot and I am constantly sweating, ESTA BIEN! Because I am so happy to be here, serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and I know that God has a plan. So entonces.... Esta Bien!

Gracias for all your love!

Oceans of love,

Hermana Barton

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First picture--and the District is OFF to new places!

Second and Third pictures--

From Meredith: These are the people I have grown to love in the CCM. Unfortunately Elder Lunt (left) has to go home because he has knee problems. but he is going to return as soon as possible! The girl in striped and the friar girl are some of my favorite gems from the CCM. I will miss them loads!

The otro foto is my new compañera!

These fotos are un poco feo pero I thought you would want to see her! She made me this sign in the background!