I will keep Purifying my Motives and I will be Sustained in Whatever I am Called to Do

May 3, 2015

Well as all of you know Elder Cook will be leaving me this transfer and will be heading home to Texas. He fly's out on Wednesday and I cant believe the time is already here. Yes I am remaining in Golden Grove and I find out who my next companion is tomorrow at transfer meeting and to be honest I am heaps nervous.... Elder Cook has changed my mission and truly shown me how to find happiness and joy in the mission. He is such a great guy and seriously has taught me so much, more than he probably realizes. I was never comfortable going up and contacting people in the past and now because of this transfer I can go up to anyone and not be afraid to speak and I know that even if they don't wanna talk to me I will just pick myself up and move onto the next one because I know that there is someone in this area that the Lord has in store for me and my new companion to find. I have been really working on increasing my faith that I really am making a difference here and even though this entire transfer we were finding and really haven't found anyone solid to teach I have seen the blessings come from hard work.

I was thinking about the Ratcliff family and why they decided to rock up to church that first week that Elder Cook was here. They moved from Sydney a year ago and have been living here in Adelaide but on that specific day they felt the spirit prompt them to take there family to church and to get their lives back on track. Now why didn't they do that the entire 2 transfers I was here with Elder Rawlings? I know that it was because we weren't being as diligent as we should've been and we weren't pushing the work forward, we were more relaxed and got comfortable. Now the result of that was us becoming depressed and discouraged that we weren't seeing any progression in ourselves or in the area so we slowed down even more. I know that because Elder Cook and I were doing everything we could and we were working all day every day and to the best of our abilities the Lord placed them in our hands and trusted us that we would watch over and guide his lost sheep back to the fold.

I am feeling all the emotions right now of having a new transfer ahead of me and I hate getting a new companion just for the fact that I was comfortable with my previous one and we knew how each other worked and we both know the area and can work together. I am scared that my next companion might be someone a bit slack and I will have to pull more of the weight and do everything the Lord expects of me and to become the missionary he wants me to be. I feel like I have truly started to change my nature instead of just changing my behaviour. I have been acting heaps different then when I left yes.. but was I doing that for the right reason or was I just doing it cause that's what I was supposed to do and that's what my companion wanted me to do? Or was I doing it out of the love that I have for not only the Gospel but also the people here in Golden Grove that I have been called to serve? I would like to think its that latter one but I still need to keep working on it and purifying my motives.

This week it finally hit both Elder Cook and I that he was leaving and I had to once again take over the area and really lead and be the example. I am scared that I might have to take on more responsibility if am put with a younger companion or maybe even called to be the new district leader. There is a lot I don't know and I am nervous but I know I will be sustained in whatever I am called to do.

Yes we had heaps of fun in the city and we went to Krispie Kreme and I shouted the District 2 boxes of doughnuts!! Hahaha we went to a museum and just walked around. We went to China town and we got a massive plate of food for 5 bucks and it was as much as you could put on the plate....needless to say it wasn't good Chinese and .....ughhh so gross.

We saw the Ratcliffs heaps this week and went to a sushi train place for lunch, a pizza night with them on Saturday, and then stopped by yesterday to say goodbye. The kids are sad but they are scared about my new companion as well. Haha! Also Vanessa Ratcliff (the mum) knows Elder Bettridge and they are friends on Facebook!! How crazy is that!! I think he knows the whole family!! Ben (the husband) also knows him and I believe there was one guy Austin served with that he said was the reason he joined!! Man the church in Australia is crazy cause literally everyone knows everyone and everyone is related in some way... 

My headaches have gone down and that has made me really happy. Havent done anything different this week so I wonder why they slowed down. I had one yesterday after church but I reckon that's cause I was fasting and I always get one when I don't eat.

I cant believe the devastating stuff that happens in families! That  happens a lot here but I never knew how frequent it was until I got on the mish and found out how many people are struggling. Im interested to see how the ward is when I get home cause I bet some just put on the Sunday face and goes to church and looks like a happy family but until you are actually involved with their life you don't know that anything is wrong.

I am so stoked that its drews birthday coming up!! Im gonna try and find something today at the shops I can send him, I hope it wont be too expensive.

 AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH  You guys are making me smile ear to ear!!!!!! Freak my family is gorgeous!!! Man I cant wait to see those faces this week!!

I can't believe it's Mothers Day is next week and I cannot wait to see you guys!!! AHHHH man It came so fast!!!! I will figure out what family we are gonna Skype with and let you know the details.

I am gonna email Fuzz and a couple other people but I will send you some photos!!

I love you guys so much!

--

-Elder Barnett

 ____________________________________________________________________

Watching the sun rise on our roof yesterday!! We got up at six and took the couch cushions and hopped up there with blankets and had our jumpers on. The one and only sunrise Elder Cook has ever watched!!

____________________________________________________________________

MAY 17, 2015 

Hey guys!

Well its been a week since I talked with you guys and it feels like its been ages already... Honest I wish I could just talk to you every week cause it doesn't make me home sick at all, but really its just cause I'm too lazy to type everything out haha

The week has been really good but the only downer is that Elder Mcmurray is starting to come down with what I had so hopefully his flu thing doesn't get too bad. Also this morning was the first morning I have ever had where I woke up and had a pounding migrane... that was no fun at all but I have realized that my headaches have died down significantly and I have no idea why cause I haven't really been doing anything different.

Biggest news/highlight of the week!! Brandon Ratcliff is on baptism date for June 13th and transfers are on the 15th!! So I will be here for his baptism!! Man I am so exited that I get to see that kid go all the way from the start of us teaching them to him entering the waters of baptism! The family is going really well and we all went out to eat at a place called Nando's which is a Portuguese chicken place that is sooooo good (dad I will be taking you when we come back) We talked with the parents about making Brandon a baptismal calendar and putting the lessons we still need to teach him on there and then having his date so he can know what we will be talking and teaching about. Honest you guys this kid is like another little brother to me and I see so much of Drewbees in him. When they took us home I had my arm around him in the backseat and he held onto my hand and talked to me about his basketball games and how his AFL teams were doing:) I am gonna get heaps of photos with them. We got to play footy with the kids yesterday and it was so much fun!!

Other than that things have been pretty average and we are truckin along reaaaal nicely haha I am so stoked that its p-day and I paid Ben Ratcliff to make heaps of doughnuts for the whole district today so I am gonna surprise them all:) (he works at a bakery)

How has your week been?! The photos of you and Sammy are sooooooooo cute!! Ahhhhh I died when I saw sissy making the whipped cream!! lolz that is so her!! I will send that photo of my badge with the Roo, are there any other pictures your dying for? 

--

-Elder Barnett

______________________________________________________________________

May 24th, 2015

Ok so P-day isn't today cause we have the temple this Thursday but we are at the library filling out some surveys and I had to jump on the computer and let you know. This week has been really good and I cant believe we are getting Brandon ready for baptism!! Im so excited!! 

He is the best kid mum and he loves me like a brother and he said he is saving up his money so he can get me some AFL stuff before I leave....how cute is that?! Tell Sammy congrats!! She looks gorgeous and I cannot believe that she is graduating....she is so.......OLD!!

Tell Grandma I love her heaps and BTW I sent Drew a letter but Im not sure if its gonna get there on time and I really hope he doesn't hate me for that....

Ask me any questions while im here! Love you 

____________________________________________________________________

May 27, 2015

Well we just ate at KFC and now we are at the library for the next 90 min while we email and then our p-day is over...:( pretty rubbish p-day to be honest even though we got to go to the temple. It was good to get a little spiritual boost and kind of sit there and think for a while. Also I got to see the Chou's who is the family that I absolutely loved back in Semaphore, man the church in Adelaide is so small you're bound to run into someone that was in your previous area. Also I forgot my camera and hard drive so I cant send you pics I have but I will steal Elder McMurrays and send you some of the ones that he has.

The highlight for this week would be seeing Ben Ratcliff ordain his 12 year old son William to the Aaronic priesthood. Ben has been a member for only a couple years and has been less active for most of that time and now he has come back to full activity and is able to be the priesthood holder in that home. What a blessing it was to watch such a humble man lay his hands on his sons head and ordain him and give him a blessing. I was thinking to myself how simple the blessing was and yet it was still so powerful, and that's what I love about the priesthood. It enables imperfect people to act on Gods level and to exercise their faith while doing so. I am grateful for that experience that I was able to have.

Things have been going really good here. David, our previous investigator got back from Venezuela and we will start teaching him again. Brandon is progressing really well and is stoked for his baptism. He is such a smart kid and is already got plans for where he wants to go on his mission, he says he wants to go to Utah and all of our family.

I hope everything went solid for Sammy's graduation and also that Grandma is setting in right. What are the plans for Drew's birthday?

Love ya! 

____________________________________________________________________________

May 31, 2015

Hey mum I just got here!

Man this has been a really interesting past couple of days and last night we went over to Michelle Pearce's house and she told me that the girl that got in the car accident had passed away. I hadn't seen a picture of the girl who got in the wreck and she passed me her phone and my heart dropped....

Mom, I know Ben Anderson and I have been to his house and I have met his family. We have hung out before and I used to go air-softing with him and a group of friends. I couldn't believe what a massive impact it had on me when I was looking at those photos of him hugging his sister for the last time. My heart ached and I couldn't stop reading all of the posts that they had said and all the pictures that they had put up. When I knelt down to pray all I did was pray for them and I felt angry for some reason. I wanted to know why after all of the prayers and blessings and service that everyone around that family had rendered, why she would still be taken from this earth. I wanted to feel some of the sorrow that the family was going through and then instantly I thought of Sam and how I would take it if I had to hug her and say goodbye for the last time. I then realized how thin my faith still is because I didn't know why things like this happen and I thought of how angry I would be with God if it happened to me and my family. I then thought of Abraham and when he had to sacrifice his son and what a trial of faith that was for him. He was taken to the absolute edge of his faith and yet he was still willing to obey God and sacrifice his son who he loved dearly. It was only at the last second when God said that his sacrifice wouldn't be necessary. I couldn't imagine the thoughts that were going through his mind and also the Andersons minds when they were both asked to go through these extreme trials of faith. I want you to please let them know of my love for them and that I am always thinking and praying for them.

This weekend has been pretty good and we are so excited to help Brandon really start preparing for baptism over these next two weeks.

Elder McMurray and I are doing great and are having a blast and I hate thinking that there is a good chance I will be leaving this transfer.

Tell Drew Happy Birthday and let him know how much I love him!!

How is Sam and how was graduation?  Drew looks massive!!!!! How is Grandma doing and how long is she staying there? Any big plans for summer?

Love you so much!!

--

-Elder Barnett
________________________________________________________________________

At the shops in Adelaide

The great and dreaded Chinese Food

ELDER BARNETT and ELDER MCMURRAY