Pictures from La Mision! To tell 1000 words.

With Hermana Robinson! (Presidente's esposa)

Zona Penasco!

With the Fuente's granddaughters

Make a silly face!

With the Galindo Family

Yum, Yum, Yum. Delicioso!

BFF Comps! Barton and Riquelme

Transfer Day in Penasco (this is actually the first night I got to Penasco in the Bus station).

June 27, 2016: One year??!!!??

I can't believe that I have been in Mexico for a year now! The time is flying by, the only thing that tells me that I have been here for some time in Mexico is the panza... tummy.. that I've got going...haha jk. I have a food baby of one year of pure beans, rice, tortillas, and meat. But no complaints, I wouldn't change it for the world!

This week we had a really cool conference with the President of our Mission. We talked a lot about changes that we need to make here in the mission, and in our lives. One thing that he wanted to make clear, is that at the end of the mission we can testify: "I came to know my Savior in Sonora."

It is something so important for everyone, not only those in the mission, but EVERYONE, that we can come to know and have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, so that someday after this life, when we face God, we can tell Him that: "in this life, I knew my Savior Jesus Christ."

This week I got pretty much fried.  It was like I was in Hawaii with my family, with awesome tattoos from Sonora... tan lines from my skirt and shirt from Sonora. My comp said I was like a camarón.. shrimp..because I was so red and fried.. haha got to love being a gringa!  

Oceans of Love,

Hermana Barton

Let's all be the same height as the shortest hermana. ;)

June 20, 2016: A ps to Mom: Thoughts about Grandpa Rulon McRae on Father's Day

ps-... I wanted to tell you some thoughts I had yesterday, fathers day, thinking of my dad and grandpas...  I was thinking about the experience I had in Guaymas with your dad... feeling his presence so strongly, knowing that he is a missionary in the heaven mission, west side. (of course because the west side is ALWAYs better than east side) ¨¨West side Mormon, gang signs¨¨ anyways yeah focus Meredith!  I was feeling so happy for him and know that he is SO SO happy, because his family, his children and grandkids, have some amazing blessings and experiences happening right now in their lives: 3 sealings the other week, At grand kid on the way, and so many more blessing that I'm sure are happening that I don't even know about but know are present and REAL!  Just wanted to tell you, that I know that I have never met your dad, but know that he is an amazing person, and an amazing example for all his family. Without his example and his desires to have an eternal family here on earth, we could not have the blessings and family that we have today.  For his work on the other side of the veil, and the work of his family who are on the earth, we have received so many blessing, and it is something incredible. And look forward to the day when one day we can all be together in the Celestial Kingdom in the presence of God, and know your dad, and live together for the eternities.  Te amo mucho!!! Y sè sin dudas que familias puedan ser eternas, y mas que se que nuestra familia pueda ser eterna!  Muaghug!!

June 20, 2016: The grass is green, the sun is warm, and LIFE is GOOD!

Today I bought pants... but I am putting off wearing them until July 1st, when it is mandatory that Elder Barton has to use them! haha jk

Peñasco is better than ever. We have so many people progressing in the gospel, and we see miracles in the lives of the people everyday.  It is SO BEYOND incredible. 

The other day we were knocking doors, and a woman answered. She told me that she didn't believe in God. I asked her "Well, what DO you believe in?" She told me, "Death." I had no idea what to respond and said "HOW SAD!"  haha She was a little angry when I said it, but sometimes the truth hurts!  But really, how sad that someone believes in death. What is the point of life, if you are going to just die, the end. period. It is so amazing and comforting that we can know that death is just the beginning, the start to the life after death when we can return to life with our Heavenly Father one day and rest from all the things we had to face here in this life! 

Happy Fathers Day to all the fathers who read this letter. I am especially thankful for my Dad and my Grandpa David. For their examples and friendship, and love!! And Especially grateful for my Heavenly Father. It has been amazing, during my mission the relationship that I have grown with my Father in Heaven. We can pray and talk to Him, and know that He is really here, with us, listening, waiting that we can talk to Him, and feel of His presence, and love for us!

I know that we ALL have a Heavenly Father that loves us, knows us, and blesses us each and every day!

Keep it real, People!! Love you all!! And when the going gets hard, just dance, and put your pinkies in your nostrils, and your thumbs in your ears, and breathe and repeat: 

"The grass is green the sun is warm." Then you will start to laugh. And remember that LIFE IS GOOD!!!  (word of wisdom from oh mi papito, Joseph Barton). 

Oceans of love,

Hermana Barton

Trying on pants??!!

June 13, 2016: Miracle House in Peñasco

Here in Peñasco there are members of the church from Arizona that come and build houses and they gift them to families, usually members that need them. On Saturday, a family that is investigating the church, got gifted one of these houses. We were at the gifting ceremony, and the gringos came to talk to me and they said, "Now we know that this family is not members, but do you think that you will start teaching them, and that they can get baptized in about a year?"

They didn't know that we had already started teaching them, and that this family is going to get baptized on July 9th. They had just interviewed the family, and felt that they needed to give the house to them, but didn't know that they were our investigators. When I told them that they were going to get baptized, and that this house was a miracle and a grand blessing in their conversion in the church, they all started to cry. It is truly amazing how God works miracles in so many ways and in so many lives everyday.  The people that gift the houses live in Phoenix, and are going to come back in July to go to the baptism of the family! 

Yesterday in church I had to give a talk. I was happy because everyone understood my talk and they weren't all sleeping..haha like times in the past where everyone was sleeping because they didn't understand anything... but all understood, and it was all good in the hood!!! The gift of tongues is real, and it is so incredible. I never thought that I would be able to speak Spanish, then all of a sudden. Wabam! It truly is a gift from the Holy Ghost!

I got your package, and also the wedding announcement from Abby! Thank you so much! My comp and I have had some stomach problems and the Digestzen came to the rescue! All my comps think I am a crazy hippy, until they use my oils. Then they are grateful that I am a crazy hippy! haha

Today when we went to eat at a restaurant of some members here, we saw tons of dolphins. They were super close, and it was super awesome! "Dolphins, dolphins are good!" (from funny movie named Daddy Day Care). 

Stay stoked for life everyone! Life is truly amazing!

Oceans of love,

Hermana Barton

At the restaurant by the sea owned by a member of the branch, drinking pina coladas to heart's content

Cheesers!

June 6, 2016: Pantalones??!!

This week my comp and I decided to start running in the mornings. We went to a park, where they also have boxing training. It is a free program for all the kids so that they can learn to box instead of getting involved with drugs; it's pretty awesome.  The first morning that we went the owner of the boxing club told me, "Ey huera, ven por aca". Then he opened up his gym and told me we can come all the mornings to train and work out! It is a pretty sweet hook up we got going just a block from our house! RAD! Who knows, maybe someday the guy will get baptized! 

This week started the heat of Sonora. It was 40 to 46 degrees here in Peñasco {Amy here: that equals 104-114 Fahrenheit} and it was the coolest here in the whole state of Sonora! Here it is super humid so you just sweat buckets. I didn't even know I could sweat like I did this week.  This is the reason I was a swimmer and not a runner, because gross!! haha it is awesome, I'll enjoy it enough for all of you. 

I have the craziest news ever... we have to start using PANTS and sunglasses to protect us from the sun, and the diseases that you can get from mosquitoes... almost all the missions in Mexico are going to start using pants. Before the mission, I hated using skirts, but now, using pants is going to feel so weird. I am going to feel naked and like an Elder walking around in pants. From now on you can write to Elder Barton.. haha jk But we will see how it goes.  It is something inspired from the prophet, only he knows best! 

I love you all! Thanks for your love and support! Shout out to my cousins who got married this last week, and my cousin Alex the Great McRae who got his mission call! And my Aunt Amy who also got married/sealed! So stoked for all of you! It is truly amazing all the blessing that Heavenly Father continues to pour down.

Oceans of love,

Hermana Barton

Hna Martin, Hna Guti, Hna Zelaya, Me, Hna, Riquelme, Hna Carrera

Elder Veraka, Elder Wiser, Me, Hna Riquelme
Elder Luis, Elder Villalpando, Hna Martin, Hna Guti

Straight Hair!!!MY companion decided to straighten my hair...for fun... and because I got lice :/
("Las Chicas Super Poderosas" y la Hermana Martinez) 

Elder Thayne, Guti, Villalpando, Martin, Wiser, Riquelme, Luis, Me

FHE with a family in our branch, and their friends. We ate Mantaray... that's what is in that huge skillet on the table. 

Mejores amigos...Banate!! Wassssuppppp!!!!!!! Quiero compartir mi testimonio!jajaja

May 30, 2016: Hair Cut??? Por que no??

Wahoozers!!! I didn't have transfers and I get to stay here in Peñasco with the Hermana Riquelme!! She is awesome, and I have such confidence in her that today.... she cut my hair! I almost never let someone touch my hair, but with a prayer in my heart, and some random sewing scissors that good old Grandma Olga gave me, she cut my hair, and it turned out pretty well! hahhaha 

I am stoked to stay here in Peñasco. I learn something new in every area that I am in. The other Sunday I got a call from an investigator in Hermosillo, and he told me that his brother got baptized the 21 of April and that he is going to get baptized the 25 of June! He was so happy to call me and tell me, because when I was teaching him he knew everything, but said he wasn't going to get baptized. But this is the amazing thing, that God always has a plan, that in His timing, He changes lives and eternidades. Sometimes we just have to plant the seed and have faith that God knows what He is doing!!

My time here in Peñasco has been amazing. We have so many incredible experiences everyday!! The most amazing thing is when we start lessons and the first thing we teach is that God is our Heavenly Father, and that He loves us. And Then I feel so much love for this person that I don't even know, and I can look them in the eyes and testify that God loves them personally and knows them personally. And I am pathetically almost crying because I feel so much love for this stranger just to tell them and remind them that Heavenly Father loves them. It is something amazing to think what it really means that: YOU ARE A CHILD OF HEAVENLY FATHER!

Because we say this a lot, but do we really understand what that means, and that if we understand this, we have the power to do ALL things?! WOW! Sometimes thinking about this hits me so hard, it is something SO amazing!

Love you all tons! Muahug! Did you catch it??

Oceans of love,

Hermana Barton