Week 5: 6 DAYS LEFT

6 DAYS UNTIL GERMANY!!!

I cant believe it. I am absolutely terrified! I am so excited to get out into the field, but I love the MTC and I don't want to leave my bubble hahaha!

This week is going to be filled with so many lasts of the MTC!  Next week we will pack and leave Tuesday morning at like 4 am, so I won't have a P-day (moment of silence...) So that's why you wont hear from me next week!

Okay, this week was honestly pretty normal, nothing super special happened. We had some really good lessons with our investigator Benjamin and I actually understood the Language Instruction class we had! (HOLLA) To be able to answer "yes" to the question "do you understand?" in a German lesson is probably the best feeling ever. The note cards are getting smaller and smaller for our lessons so, that's also a good sign, and I'm trusting myself a little more with the language. I have really had to learn how to be patient with myself because it is so easy to get frustrated. It's no where near good, but I am improving and that's all that matters. Yeah. The thing that I've had to learn is that it's okay to have questions. We won't ever understand everything, but that's the whole point. FAITH. That's the reason we're on the earth. What would be the point of a mortal life if we remembered EVERYTHING? 

So the greatest thing that happened this week was during class on Friday, We were doing some demonstrating teaching and my teacher taught the other teacher in German and holy cow - the Spirit was so strong. After the lesson it was quiet for a while, and no one was saying anything. I was thinking of how cool it was that my teacher could bring the Spirit so strongly in a lesson he thought of in 5 minutes. All the sudden Brother Murray says, "do you guys feel that?" and we all knew what he was talking about. The Spirit in the room was so unbelievably strong and when he pointed it out it got even stronger. He bore his testimony about how much Heavenly Father loves us and how He is so aware and proud of us. I started bawling (what else is new...) because once again, my prayers were answered through another persons' testimony.

I love how aware our Heavenly Father is of each of us. He knows exactly what we need, and in that moment, Brother Murray's sweet testimony was all I needed. I love this gospel and the happiness it brings me, I'm so excited to share this amazing message of happiness in just 6 short days.

I love you all so much and I hope everyone is doing well! Have an amazing week!

The next time I email I'll be in DEUTSCHLAAANNNNNNDDD!!!!!
Love, Sister Barnett

PS:
OH MY GOSH okay yesterday we were playing basketball and I drove HARD to the basket for a layup and I jumped and Elder Whittaker (her DL) jumped at the same time and he kneed me in the thigh and I couldn't feel my leg for a little bit and I legit can't walk today!  I think he bruised my femur. I have never in my life had such a dead leg mom! I kid you not I'm totally limping and everything! It's going to take a couple days for the swelling and pain to go down. It's DEEP.

But Yes  Hahahahahahahahaaaa that's the first thing I asked too Did I make it!? Haha and Yes I did!! Yes advil. No ice. Yes he feels so bad! No I didn't cry! When I hopped off the courtm everyone was freaking out cuz it's my right leg, so everyone thought it was my knee. He was freaking out- this is the first time he's hurt me while we were playing!


Hahaha! K I've gone waaaayyy over time today so I gotta hop off. I love you guys soooooooooo much!!!!!!! I'll see if I can call you at the airport, but don't get your hopes up.
Ich liebe dich!

The ALMA DISTRICT plus Sister Shumann and Brother Hladky :)

Not as big of Map as Provo MTC, but it works! LOL

In Town with he Companions Sister Church (L) and Sister Jensen (Germany)

PDay FUN in Town

With one of her companions Sister Church from Lindon UT

My crazyyy comps! Hahaha were all like glued to our tablets emailing today  lol

At the MTC FLAGS

My WEEKLY Hydrangea Photo (my favorite flower!)

Elder Clabaux (France) - Sister Barnett - Elder Neukamm (Germany)

  These new Elders going to Manchester,  have the amazing gift of playing the piano! She says she LOVES being able to sing all the time!

Another awkward posing with an Elder - he speaks very little English, but she's hoping to become fluent enough to communicate in German!  haha!

Awkward FAMILY photo! :)

Preston England Temple Grounds

Hoping I'm not posting an inappropriate hand gesture - he's from France!  :)

With Sister Brodien from Tahiti - Says she's like everyones MOMMA there

Gute nacht von deine lieblings Deutchen😘😘😘

She tried to upload a few snippets of videos so we could hear her speaking and bearing her testimony in GERMAN!!!!!  It was so good to hear her voice!!! I hope it works!

(K I just cropped the last part I bore my testimony of God and Jesus Christ at the beginning and then I say I love my family and I love... and sister Jensen says "kackwürst" which means poop sausage aka my favorite word in German so far😂😂😂)

Hahaha Top Bunk Baby!  I'm so surprised I haven't fallen off the ladder getting out of bed at 6:00 in the morning with my eyes closed it's a frickin miracle... I really do like the top bunk better tho always have! Haha I LOVE MY SHEETS THEY ARE SOOOOOOOOOO COMFY :)

PDAY Selfie,  German gummies and . . . . .

her happy puppy weiner dog flannel sheets!!!!!  Typical Sam pose :)

Week 4: ROLLER COASTER

I can't believe that I've been out 4 weeks.... what in the world.... it doesn't seem real -hahaha It feels like I've been gone for years but at the same time these past 4 weeks have flown looking back on it!

Ahhhh 2 weeks until Germany!!!

SISTER SAM SELFIES never get old!  :)

So this week was an absolute ROLLER COASTER to say the least... on Wednesday all the English speaking missionaries left and holy cow was it hard to see them go. We were all a big family going through the same things together and then more than half of the MTC left and it just felt empty. It was a really hard day because it felt SO weird not to see all the familiar faces in the hallways. It was just silent... but then we got the new batch of 3 week missionaries and it was even weirder haha! It was crazy to be the "older/more experienced" missionaries that they all looked to for answers after only being here for 3 weeks..

So we got 13 native German speaking missionaries and wow they are intimidating haha. It's crazy to hear them talk, and a little disheartening to be honest. I don't feel like I'll ever be able to talk that fast! We got 2 new sisters in our room, sister Jensen from Hannover Germany and Sister Church from Lindon Utah. They were companions for the first day...And then, the real craziness set in.....

One of the head teachers came into our classroom and asked if me, sister McClellan, and sister Leonard could go to President Preston's office. We all looked at each other like "uhhh, what did you do?!" Like the way siblings look at each other when their parents call a "family meeting." We walked to presidents office and we saw sister church talking with him. We walked in and sat down and president explained to us that sister church was unaware that she would be in a class that is all native German speaking missionaries and class would be taught in German and she couldn't understand what was going on. She needed to be in an english-speaking class so she could learn more german. She took 5 years pre mish, but she's no where near fluent.
And then it hit me... we were going to be split.

It was in that moment that I realized how scared I was that I was going to be pulled and put with Sister Church. Things were FINALLY getting better in our trio and the past couple days had been great. And then President Preston said, "Sister Barnett, we feel that it would be best to pull you from the trio and you and Sister Church will be companions. And outside of class, you, Sister Church, and Sister Jensen will be a trio." I honestly didn't know what to think... I was happy, but I was also so sad that I wouldn't have sister McClellan as my comp anymore. That girl is my "ride or die."  I had a lump in my throat the entire meeting and after the meeting because I didn't know what to think or feel. There was such a mix of emotions and I kept asking the question "Why!? Right as things are going well, WHY does this happen??" I had my mind set on being companions with Sister McClellan and Sister Leonard for another 3 weeks and I HATE when plans change - as most of you know haha. And then I had such an overwhelming feeling of peace come over me. I thought back to moments in my life where I thought I knew what would be the right thing for me and my path, and the Lord had a completely different idea.  I thought about how many times the Lord has steered me in the wrong direction... ZERO. Every time I have put my faith and trust in Him, I've always ended up okay. Better than okay. I've always ended up so so happy. I decided right then that this was going to be a positive experience, no matter what. I didn't allow myself to be negative (shocking I know) and I got really excited for this new adventure. The 3 of us get along soooo well. Sister Jensen is fluent in German so we try and speak to her as much as we can and ask her questions. That in itself is like the biggest blessing ever haha. Its so awesome. Sister Church and I teach amazingly together- we just mesh. So once again, something that I thought wasn't going to be "the right thing for me" turned out to be perfect because of Him.

My testimony of faith was strengthened so much this week. Sometimes our plan doesn't correspond with his plan, but you know what? That's okay. I can promise each of you that 100% of the time His plan works out better than ours. Sister Church and Sister Jensen have been SUCH a blessing in my life and my time here at the MTC. I know they were put here for a reason and I'm grateful for challenging times because they make us strong.

I love this gospel, with all my heart. It as brought me such happiness in my life.
I love being a missionary :)
Love,
Sister Barnett


1. THE NEW TRI-PANIONSHIP (left: Sister Church - middle: Sister Jensen)

2. Our new District pic haha -ignore Sister McClellan's face😂❤

At the Shops in Preston with her new Companions

Cat Sisters?

HYDRANGEAS!!!!!!!  (She knows they are my FAVORITE!)

She sends pics of them every week :)

Cracking up cuz Matching Polka Dots with her  District Leader Elder Whittaker

Walking the streets of Preston on the Church History Tour last week

Music Is LIFE

Week 3: OHHHHH, WE'RE HALFWAY THERE!

Ahhh 3 weeks in!! And i am literally livin on a prayer so i feel like the subject line is very acceptable...To be honest I am really nervous to leave the MTC. I love it here! To think that i have to leave my little bubble in 3 weeks is soo scary, but i am excited about what the future holds! Haha so I have like no time to write this week so im just going to write about the highlights :)

Wednesday was a pretty normal day, something exciting that happened was singing "I know that my Redeemer Lives" in German to the whole MTC! that was so cool.

Thursday was probably the best day of the week. We got to go see the church historical sites and it was sooo cool! It was awesome to kind of get a feel of what its going to be like in the field. all the weird looks/stares, the people looking at your badge and immediately looking down and walking in the other direction, etc lol. Getting out of the MTC was soo nice. And learning about the church in England was incredible. I had no idea how much history was here! So we played ultimate frisbee that day for sport and i clashed with one of my teachers and i have a MASSIVE bruise on my left arm (as you all will see in the pictures) haha but it was so much fun. Also we had the best lesson EVER that day. We actually grasped the concept of teaching with the spirit. Even though our German is garbage, i felt the spirit sooo strong. it was such a testimony builder of how the spirit does all the teaching, you are just a mouthpiece. I strayed a lot from my notes and just spoke what i felt to her, and it was amazing when i heard myself making sense and understood what she was saying. AHH i live for days like that.

Companions- England Countryside

Picture Perfect Preston! 

Sister Richards from Whales

All of the Brits were making fun of the Americans for their obsession over the RED PHONE BOOTHS!

50 plus Missionaries hit the streets!~

Friday was ehh... I got really overwhelmed because my teacher started teaching us DEEP doctrine and i wasnt getting any of it. it was hard because i felt like i knew nothing about this gospel in english, and how am i supposed to teach people in german!? It was just one of those days i guess! But here in the England MTC, those days dont last long :)

Favorite Teacher Elder "Ladkey" and also her arch nemesis at Ultimate Frisbee

She says, "Ultimate Frisbee got a little competitive, so what else is new?"  :) - bruise from her teacher!!!  hahahaha

Sundays here are honestly the greatest. Like i wish everyone could live 1 sunday in the MTC. They are the most spiritual and uplifting days EVER!! Just what you need after a busy week. We had fast and testimony meeting and talk about a strong spirit... I got up and bore my testimony and just looking out at a congregation of missionaries does something to you. The people here are incredible and their testimonies are GOLDEN. Relief society was again, just what i needed. We talked about self worth. We read my favorite scripture Ether 12:27 and we talked about the difference between humility and doubt. it was just perfect!! We watched a video on Thomas S. Monsons life and I had such a greater appreciation for our amazing prophet. Then we had another devoitonal and it was David A. Bednars talk on beng a preach my gospel missionary. That really hit home for me too... After we walked to the temple and took pictures with all the english speaking missionaries that will be leaving this week. I am SO sad about that we are all like a big family and more than half of the family is leaving tomorrow..  It was just an amazing day all around :)
Yesterday was great we had crazy lessons on German but i actually understood a lot of it so BOO YAH were getting somewhere.

Today we went to the temple and i played basketball for 2 hours straight so pretty much the best day everr haha!

Ballin with my favorite elders  (left: my district leader Elder Whittaker Right: his comp elder Tunnicliffe - they are both from England) 

My cute roomies- 3 left to the Birmingham mission this morning :(( 

Gordon B. Hinckley's house that he stayed in on his mission (SO AMAZING)

I know i say it in every email, but i will continue to say it for 18 months because it is so true... I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY. Yes its hard, yes there are times where i dont think i can do it, but what keeps me going is a loving heavenly father who reminds me daily how much he loves me and why i'm here. i love this gospel and i cant wait to share it to the people the lord has prepared for me to teach.

Thank you all for the emails i love you guys so much! Have an amazing week!!!


Love,
Sister Barnett

Candids:

HER ALPINE SISTERS! 

Just like HOME!

District Leader and favorite Elder Whittaker from England

On a Mish, expect the unexpected!  "Sister Leonard hittin a major Dab'!"

OH I forgot to send you this 2 weeks ago hahaha this is elder walker and he reminds me soooo much of dal face!!! 

Awkwardly posing with an elder...still don't know how to do it😂 (sister Schulz - below - my favorite and Elder O'Hare my favorite elder) they both leave tomorrow...... 

Elder O'Hare and Sister Schultz

Sister McEwan from home (LP)  just headed out! She will be the best missionary... the sweetest spirit you have ever met. I love this girl more than words 

TAG PIC:    Reppin the Bro's Mission Adelaide Australia today :)