April 19, 2016: Puerto Peñasco

Just have 10 min to write you and tell you that I had transfers. I am now in Puerto Peñasco... another town on the ocean (so that you don't have to call the president...haha)! Keepin it real!!

I am in an area that uses bikes! I am stoked! My compa is Hermana Baños...hahaha totally fitting for Pearl!!

Mares de amor de Peñasco!

Hope this week was great, and this next week even greater! 

LES AMO MUCHO!

Hermana Barton

April 11, 2016: MUA-HUG to All!

This week we were working hard, but not having the results that we were hoping.. when one of our leaders called us and told us a story:

One day a lady was at a bus stop. She was super scared, because it was dark, and there was nobody around, and she was nervous that something was going to happen. When all of a sudden two missionaries showed up, and started talking to her. She felt that these two missionaries were like angels sent from God to comfort her, and tell her that everything was okay and that God was there to protect her from anything bad that could happen.  

Then our leader said to me.. "do you know who these missionaries were?... She said it was a tall white girl with curly hair, and a short little brown girl... you and and your companera!"

I know that if we listen to the Spirit, and do what we need to do, that we can be instruments in the hands of the Lord, to do His work, and be the answers to prayers of other people. That sometimes we don't know why we have to go somewhere, or why we have to do something, but GOD ALWAYS  HAS A PLAN! That sometimes our will is not the same will of God, but that He always has something better planned! 

My experiences and time here in Guaymas have changed my life so much, and I have learned so many things! And hope that one day you (my family) can meet the Jimenez family, especially, the Hermana Jimenez. She is a truly amazing woman, who works hard for all she has, and then shares with everyone and sees the blessings in her life, and  knows they are from Heavenly Father! I will be sad to leave her if I transfer next week....

One thing that I have learned here on the mission is prayer. That we can actually talk to Heavenly Father like a friend. As a missionary we have to report ALL the things we did every day, and doing this has strengthened my relationship with my Father in Heaven, because I tell him EVERYTHING and then He talks to me. And it is not like a prayer I used to do.  It is a conversation. And this change in my life, has changed so many things in my understanding of the gospel, and my testimony that GOD LOVES ALL HIS CHILDREN, AND IS HERE WITH US! waiting for us to talk to Him, be His friend, receive the answers that He has for us, and the blessings that He wants to give us. WOW! Maybe I haven't been able to help many people here, but I have learned SO many things that have literally changed my life and my eternities!!

This week I received a package from home with TONS of birthday letters from many people, filled with love and encouragement! 

I LOVED all the letters from all the people. It filled me up, and I felt so much love and support. Thank you to everyone! 

I feel so blessed to have so many friends and family, and I hope that you all can feel the love and gratitude that I send you!!!  

Mua-hug (as Lainie and Mia say) to ALL!

Oceans of love,

Hermana Barton

Fernanda y Briana

This guy was the elder's investigator, he sung all the hymns at the top of his lungs opera style!

Hermana Lidia and her chamaquitas

Elder Collaguazo

Hermana Felix

The Bishop's kids

Ceci, Thalia, Evelyn

Lupita and Betsa

Papa Cochon Jimenez

Mama Jimenez

Maryth Jimenez

Hermana Panchita

Familia Segura Mesa

Hermana Treijo (Familia Villalobos)

Monica-- Jehovah Witness who believed, wanted to change and be baptized, but was not married, one day it will work out! Love her, we had so many amazing experiences with her. 

Familia Olguin

Elder Then, Hermana Clarita, Elder Garcia Mull, Elder Corona

April 4, 2016: A Ride and Dinner

I think I only have two weeks left here in Guaymas, and that in the next transfer, I will have to leave. But for now I am making the most of it, and enjoying the sight and smell of the ocean close by. 

This week we didn't have time to buy food, and we didn't have much food in our house. But sometimes, things happen and you can't do anything about it. But on Tuesday night we were running late to catch the last bus home, and as we approached, the bus passed by. In my head I was wondering why God couldn't have made it so that the bus passed one minute later and we could get home on time.  But I had faith that maybe He had something better in store.

 And sure enough, we were waiting in the bus stop for not more than 4 minutes, when a car pulled up and said, "Hermanas!! Want a ride?" I had no idea who it was, and we were a little suspicious... but turns out that they were members from Mesa Arizona, here visiting. They asked if we wanted to see their (temple) recommends to be sure that is was safe, but I had confidence in them. They were super nice, and they gave us a ride home, and bought us dinner. Then almost every day after that someone gifted us food.  And not one day this week did we go hungry.  As a matter of fact, we had extra food at the end of the week from all that the people had given us. It was a true blessing from God.  He always has a plan for us.  We can never doubt Him, and always when we put our confidence in Him, and put God as our first priority, we ALWAYS have sufficient!

Hope you all could enjoy general conference. On Saturday, I watched it in English, but it was a little hard to understand. I found myself translating stuff to Spanish from English to understand... how weird.... So, on Sunday I watched the conference in Spanish and I understood more.... haha!

Oceans of love to all!!!!

Hermana Barton

For once, Meredith has a regular smile and someone else is pulling the goofy face. ;) 

There she is, again. Back in regular form. Beautiful with any face--goofy or not. Meredith and her comp with the elders serving in the same ward right now.
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Meredith's Letter to Me from this week. Too funny not to add to the blog: 

Ama BQ the first.. who knows if there will be a second? ...

Thanks for your scripture inspiration, it is PERFECT to add to an FHE that we are doing tonight with some inactive members in the Jimenez house! Thanks!!! TRAP.

I love Ryan, I do get his emails, but sometimes don't have time to read them, but when there is a second to read them I crack my face up!! He is hilarious!!! 

Want to know something hilarious??? This week I taught Grandpa Larry... resurrected and MEXICAN!!! I'm not even kidding, he lives here in Guaymas in this little shack house, with his horse that looks exactly like Fancy and  he has sandals that have the bottom of plastic but the top part that keeps your toes in is made out of the orange twine that is from the hay bails.. so classic. We taught him the Resurrection and then my comp wanted a pic with his horse named Reina. and the whole time I was laughing inside because I felt like I was teaching Larry, and I just wanted to call him Larry or for him to say something like: "" Dam it, don't you know its me?!!"" haha But this old feller is named Jose Luis. But knew you would enjoy this little experience. Maybe we will baptize him and Olga can come live here in Guaymas with resurrected Larry now named Jose Luis...... "Ay mi amor, te gusta mi sombrero?" haha okay ya sorry, a little carried away!! 

Thank you for the shoes for Hno Jimenez, they are Perfect, and he LOVES them! And wanted to make sure I told you extra thank yous!!!!

Thank you for the crepe recipe. Guess what? Today I made choc chip cookies, to bake in the night for our FHE. They turned out a little weird because the flour here is a little different and smoother, but the dough tastes good, so I think they will turn out okay!! 

I loved your package, thank very much. One thing you can send is another digest zen essential oil. This oil is literally magic, and saves my life when I eat some strange thing and my body doesn't know what to do! Speaking of that, we have had some stomach problems, so today in the morning, we took pills with the Jimenez from the doctor, that are supposed to clean your stomach, and get rid of the WORMS in you stomach, that they said everyone has....  I didn't know that I have worms in my stomach? And that sometimes this pill makes you poop worms... but I have not pooped out any worms yet.. thank goodness.. but if I do, it will be a good story!!! But did you know that we have worms in our stomach? And they said that you need to take this pill every like 6 months to clean your stomach.. how crazy!!!!! If I poop worms they are going to be huge because they will be 20 years old because I've never done something like this?!!! jaja no that's not true....okay enough about pooping worms... trap... tmi... crap emoji.. esperagas emoji...

I love you tons and tons more!!!! Thanks for everything!!! I am so grateful for you and don't know what the blazes I would do without you in my life!!

Mares de amor,

Hermana Pearl

March 28, 2016: Half Way Done?

I can't believe that I have been here in Mexico for 9 months, and that I am half way done with my mission! Time sure does fly by!

This week was super good, and we had a lot of amazing experiences. On Wednesday, we were knocking doors, and we knocked on a door and a woman named Caroline answered. She is pregnant. She told us that she did not have lots of time, but we entered her house and were talking to her. She told us that she had 41 weeks of pregnancy, and that she had to go to the doctor to find out when she was going to have her baby... or if.... because it was past the time and she didn't know if her baby was still alive and healthy. We sang her a hymn, and said a prayer in her house with her. She started crying and told us that she felt a lot better, that she had peace and comfort, and she thanked us for coming to visit her. 

On Saturday, we went to visit her. And when we got to her house, she had her baby, and she said that on Wednesday, after we left her house, she went to the doctor, and had her baby that night, and everything was okay, and her baby was healthy. She was telling all her neighbors and friends that we had gone to her house, and said a prayer, and then she had her baby. She was so thankful for our prayer, and invited us to eat with her on Thursday, and is excited to learn more about our message, and learn about the blessings that Heavenly Father has for her and her family. 

Happy Easter to all! This week was an amazing week. We had so many experiences and opportunities to testify of the love of our Savior Jesus Christ and his atonement for us. That because of Him, we can be happy in this life.  Because of Him, we can repent, and have the chance to change and be better every day. Because of Him, one day we can have the opportunity to return to live with our Heavenly Father, with our families, and live forever in happiness. 

Oceans of love to all,

Hermana Barton

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As promised from last week, the ridiculous picture of the carne asada church building--and proof that some were just sitting back and shooting pics rather than lending help.  Ay caramba! ~Amy

9 Month Bump?
Loca Missionary Traditions for when you reach a mission milestone, I think.

March 21, 2016: Flood and Fire

The other night, in my dreams, I was home and talking to people. I was speaking in Spanish and no one understood. So I was trying to speak English, but couldn't remember how....

This week, on Tuesday... when we got home.. our house was flooded because the sink was plugged and there was a leak.. and the water was all over the floor!

With a broom, we quickly cleaned up the mess... and the next day a plumber came to the rescue and fixed the problems we were having.

But today, for an activity with all the missionaries in my zone, some of the elders wanted to make carne asada, and grill it at the church. They couldn't get the grill to start. So one elder had a gallon of gasoline.. and started pouring it on the grill... but it started to explode, so he threw the gallon on the ground.  And then the church building started to catch on fire, and in a panic we all rushed to try to find water and a fire extinguisher... haha it was classic.

And then we spent hours washing the walls (that are now black) and cleaning up, so that some of the elders can paint tomorrow, and put everything back to good. But it was a little crazy.  I will try to send a picture of it.. because some people, instead of doing something about the burning church building, decided to take pictures and videos... haha typical!

My comp was a little bit sick this week. She tried to do some exercise with me one morning, and then had stomach problems, and later was sick with the flu.  Now she says that exercise "does her harm."  ("Me hace daño hacer ejercicio!") haha. But she is getting better, and we were still able to work this week and have a good week!

I love you all! 

Oceans of love,

Hermana Barton

Que pepe??!!

"Pepe, cuantos anos tienes?"-- "dos!"--"Y cuantos anos tengo yo?"-- Um.. como cuatro porque eres muy alta!" jaja (we love Pepe, he is a local that we see walking alomst every day).

    Shout out to Eliza!!