61 degrees in South Jordan 2/18/2014

We sent Elder Barlocker a Mystery Package (Strange things we found @ $ Store!)...

I did get the package! haha It was a good one... I don't know if I wanna do the test though, I might be positive... haha But I like it! :)

 

I don't know why I use to hate cleaning out the cars... I love doing it now! haha And trust me, it is a lot more work to clean a missionary car ... haha I'm kinda looking forward to cleaning the cars again... haha

Well this week I had a really good experience when I was sharing a dinner message with one of my favorite families... :) I recently found a new favorite scripture one of our investigators really liked... :) 2 Nephi 33:6 It stuck out to me but I really didn't understand why... But after reading through second Nephi and pondering things, it has a really deep meaning to me... The scripture is a perfect definition of the Atonement: it's plain, it's true, and it is because of Jesus Christ we are saved! But the power that came from my mortal mouth somehow touched the family, and I have never had a message really touch someone like that... I gave the message, but the Holy Ghost taught... Taught both ends of the message... :)

So something else cool I have finally started to realize, I'm not so shy anymore... I still have my moments, but I finally see that I have changed in that aspect! :) Like now I can just strike up a conversation with almost anyone! haha And I like it! haha But I do have to have a reason to talk to them, I don't just go talking to anyone for no odd reason, that's just stupid in my book... haha But I have always wanted to see this moment... From the beginning of my mission, I always wanted to see myself change... And now I can see it in more ways then I ever imagined... :)

The Church is true! Christ is our loving Brother! God is there and He cares! I am more sure of that now then I ever have been... :)

This transfer is tough, but it'll just help me learn and grow... And hopefully the next two will be better - I hope... haha But that's crazy I only have two more transfers left after this one... :\ And today I only have 99 days left... Crap...

Well I love you all! Remember who you are ...! ;)

Love 

Elder Barlocker II

PICS:

1. Guess who that is... haha

2. A scripture cover I hand stitched... :)

3. Bet you can't do that! haha

15!!!!! 2/10/2014

 

-What's new Arizona?

Not much.. The weather is sure great! haha I wish it would stay like this all the time! :)

-How have you been lately?

I've been good......... At least I'm still sane and alive... This is a really tough transfer,

But other than that, I am going good... :) I have been studying the Atonement a lot lately and it has lifted my spirits and helped me live happier... :)

-Best day the past week?

I would have to say yesterday! We had the Sells sacrament meeting and it went great! Instead of having our ward mission leader conduct the mtg. we are now going to be doing that from now on! :) This is my second time conducting and getting everything organized, it is kinda fun... :) But we just had a good turnout and had some good messages... :)

 

-Spiritual experience this past week or two?

Just remind me to show you my study journal from this past week when I get home... I just had a good experience studying the Atonement... :)

-Bed bugs gone? YUCK!!! Makes my skin crawl!

Yup, they've been gone for a while now... :) I've been able to sleep tight and not let the bedbugs bite... :)

-I know I already asked but maybe you know...so what are your plans in 3.5 months?

Get a job and a car... That's as far as I've got... And school, after a bit... :)

-Newmont? SLCC?

Yes... :) And BYU-I is on the table too... :)

 

But things are moving along... :) A lot of people have been cancelling their appointments or just don't call back, but we are trying to get a hold of them... :) But it was just a big week of nothing to do and closed doors... But I have learned a lot this week, so I think it was good... :)

Okay,...I found friends out here that actually care... Sorry if that sounds kinda harsh, but it is what it is... :\ I have made some real friends out here that keep me going... :)

 

I am going to finish my mission strong! I've seen too much failure and disappointment, but I have a drive now that I have never had before... :) The Atonement is real! Christ did suffer and die for each one of us, and His Atonement fixes us, heals us, then continues to nourish us - as long as we are willing to apply it to each and every day of our lives!

 

I LOVE the GOSPEL!

And I LOVE ALL YOU!!!

Thanks for everything!

Elder Barlocker II

 

LIFE IS GOOD! 2/3/2014

Yeah this week wasn't the most successful when it comes to the work... But I did learn a lot about acting on promptings... :) It's something I never really did a lot before and didn't understand... But now I know what it feels like to not act on a prompting you know you should... It is a horrible feeling... But the satisfaction you get from fulfilling it, is awesome! :) It's kind of scary to think that you HAVE to act on ALL the promptings you get, no matter the circumstances... It's essentially God laying out a purpose for you and you have to do it! :) And once you can decipher what satan is trying to make you do and a real prompting, it is so easy; as long as we stay worthy of the spirit! :)

 

So not a lot went on this week... We had two days where we had to go down to the reservation! Those were the two most productive days! haha The ward leaders still think it's a waste of time going down there, ... But it's whatevs... I have a lot more success down there then closer to town, so I'm gunna do what'll touch the lives of more people... :) But our two investigators down there are doing awesome! One of them had a hard time reading the BoM, but we sat and read right through the first four chapters and he loved it! We left him with chapter five to read, lets hope he did! :) The other guy we are teaching down there has no problem reading the BoM! He in fact loves it! :) We don't ever have to give him reading assignments, he just does it! haha I think he is just about to finish up 2 Nephi, he hated the Isaiah chapters... haha don't we all... :)

 

But yeah, nothing much exiting happened... I honestly can't remember what else I did... I'll just have you guys read my journal and stuff if you really want the good stuff... haha :)

But I gotta get going... I'll try to respond to the letters this time {maybe in one big one}, but I'm looking forward to those letter! :)

 

Thanks for everything! You guys are awesome! :) 

 

Love you all!

 

Love 

Elder Barlocker for four more months! 

ONE MORE DOWN! 1/27/2013

-What have you been up to lately? Any good investigators?

Just trying to keep busy... And we just got two new investigators that are way awesome!!! We had one of them come in from an online referral and she called the other one and both are way interested! It is cool to see how the Lord prepares people to receive the gospel... :)

 

-What were your good experiences lately?

Well those two new investigators have been the best experience lately... It is just awesome! I wish I could tell you the whole story, but it'd take too much time... Just remind me to show you in my journal when I get home in a couple months.. ;)

-Are the members still feeding you good? Getting some great upper body mass?jk

Yeah we are getting fed really well... :) And I'm trying to get rid of the upper body mass I have gained... haha I turned my closet into my workout room... :) I don't know if I told you this but my closet is an entire room... haha

-How about you & your new comp...E' Foster?

What about us?... haha

 

-Where is he from & how long has he been out?

Hes been out 17ish months and is from Texas...

-Are you doing good with your B of M reading? How close are you to the end of it?

Well it finished a while ago and just finished the new testament a couple weeks ago... I plan on reading the BoM three more times before I get home, and I am going to finish the D&C once before then too... :) There is a tradition in the mission that when you have 138 days left you read the D&C backwards till the day you go home... I think I'm on 119 or something...........

-So how is it going in AZ? Looks like you have had some nice weather this past week. I would love to be outside in warm weather! Anxious for spring!!

Freaking amazing! haha I love it! :) It has been great weather! I have been driving with the windows open and the other day I went out and washed cleaned and waxed the jeep! It felt so nice! haha I think I'm the only missionary that takes care of the cars... My Jeep, I call it mine because I've had it for so long and taken car of it, but it runs a lot better then any other Jeep in the mission... :) Plus it looks almost brand new... :) Thanks Dad! :)

 

-Hey is your come home date May 27 or 28? Just wondering

I will fly home on the 28th... Probably early in the morning... But yeah, the 28th... :)

-When you do come home don't forget to bring back the GPS so we can use it on our trip to Nauvoo!

Good thing you said that, I was going to forget it... haha

 

-What are your plans when you return home? Besides getting a job of course!

I don't even know... I use to have plans... haha But besides getting a job I want to get a car as soon as possible... I'm hoping Marci finds a good one for her and sells the accord to me... haha But that's about the extent of my plans... :)

So yeah, it's been a good week... Not great but good... It is going to be a LONG transfer... :\ I already have insomnia ... ... So needless to say I'm not getting any sleep anymore...  ... But it's the situation God wanted me to be in...  But really, pray for me... :|

I hope all is going well back home still! I can't wait to be home, but I don't want to leave Arizona...

 

Love you all!!!

Love

Elder Barlocker II

Just Chugging Along...1/21/2014

I have no idea who that family is you were talking about in the ward... haha But that's cool! :)

 

Things are going good down here... :) We just had transfer calls last night, and it turns out I'm staying another transfer here! That is very rare that anyone stays in an area for five transfers... I even started packing before we got the call because I was sure I was leaving... haha I got quite a bit packed and still haven't unpacked it... haha But I'm getting an Elder Foster... I served around him in the Gila, he's pretty cool... It should be a good transfer... :)

But we are just trying to stay busy... We are getting a lot of referrals but none of them are going anywhere... We don't even get to meet half of them... Nobody is ever home!!! But it's all going good... :) Plus the ward is starting to get on things more... Which is nice... :)

But yeah... My mind is all caught up in transfer stuff right now... I can't think of anything else to say... But I'll fill you in on everything next week!!! I'm sure I'll have a lot to say... :)

Love you guys!

 

See ya in a couple months!!!

Elder Barlocker

WAZZZ UP? 1/13/2014

Well I'm glad my mission got you out of a calling... I can come home now and have served a complete mission... haha

But things are going good down here... :) The weather is awesome! haha The other day we were driving all day with the windows open... It was in the mid to low 70's... :) But it does get a little chilly at nights... I'm just glad I'm coming home in May, and not during the winter time... The heat has gotten to me... :\

So on Saturday we were supposed go hear Elder Holland talk up in Phoenix, but his schedule got changed so we didn't get to see him... But we still did go to the mtg. and got to hear from Elder Wright from the seventy... It was a good mtg...

Yesterday was the sacrament mtg. out on the res.... Our ward mission leader usually conducts and presides at the mtg, but on his way down his car broke down... So he gave us permission, through the bishop, to run the mtg... :) I took charge and conducted and set everything up... It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be... It was just weird being like the presiding authority... haha But we had a good mtg. down there and I guess our ward mission leader got his car fixed and all is good there... :)

 

Other then that this week has been pretty normal... Nothing else too special... But things are going good... We have transfer calls next Sunday so we'll see what happens with that...

 

Well I gotta get going, the timer is running low... I'll see ya in about 4 months now... :|

 

Love ya'll

 

Love

Elder Barlocker II

YOUR YEAR TO COME HOME! 1/6/2014

-What did you guys do New Years Eve?

Elder Larsen fell asleep early, so I just tried to stay up... I ended up falling asleep on the couch, but woke up about five min till midnight... So I went to the fridge, got the Martinelli's out, poured a glass, and waited till midnight; at which point I drank the cider, and went to bed... At that point my year was complete... :)

 

The holidays are hard out here... Nobody in Sells was home so we didn't get to go out this week, but we did have a better time in town... The other day we didn't have anything to do, so I brought up the idea that we should drive down to the more densely populated part of our area and ride our bikes to all the members and less-actives! And that is just what we did... :) Biking is fun when you don't have to do it everyday... Even when I did do it everyday I still liked it; it just is hard to ride with someone who doesn't like to ride... haha Plus mtn. biking is fun too if you have someone who is willing... :)

 

Yesterday was nice! We now have 11 o'clock church!!! It is nice to have time to really study in the morning... Plus when we would have ward council, we'd have to wake up at 5:00 and get ready fast then head out to the church... Driving 40 min to church early in the morning is not fun at all...  But this new time is awesome! We usually don't fill up the chapel at all during sacrament, but yesterday we did!!! We had to open up the overflow for a few people even... haha It is really really unusual for that to ever happen... We all decided it was because of both the new time and people starting on their n/yrs resolution to get back to church... haha But it was cool to see so many people there!

 

The most recent convert got up and bore his testimony... It was amazing! You could tell he knew what he was talking about was true! I had gotten up and sat on the stand before him, but let him go ahead of me; it made my testimony easy to give... haha Not much I could say after it... :) But yesterday was like the second or third time I had felt the 'burning in the bosom' on my mission... While I was sitting in my seat I knew I just had to get up there and do it... Someone in the audience needed to hear it, but so did I... It's cool how the spirit can touch so many lives in a simple moment of ones testimony... :)

 

But yeah, this week has been slow... But we did get to see one of our investigators and a bunch of other people that needed an uplifting... :) One lady we visited while riding our bikes had moved in in July and nobody had been able to get a hold of her since then... And we just showed up at the right time! They have had a really hard time in their family... Just before they moved the dad died (in fact that's the reason they moved), and right after that the moms dad died, and I guess a couple weeks ago she just lost her job... But things are going to get moving now that all the ward leaders know when and how to get a hold of her! I love how the spirit directs us to places and people without us even knowing it... :)

 

Well, this week should be a good one!  We are going to the temple tomorrow and we have a bunch more appointments set up! I'm excited!

 

Hope all is going well back home still! :) Keep up the good work!

Love you all!!!

 

Love

Elder Barlocker II