Family,
It’s good to hear that I have a package on the way. I haven’t got it yet, but I also haven’t checked the mail since….Thursday I think. Packages take a little bit longer than letters anyway.
So we have been teaching this girl (Branch President’s step-daughter), and she decided that she wants to be baptized on the 19th. Saturday night, we got a text message from her saying that not only does she not want to be baptized, but she doesn’t want to come to church, and she doesn’t want to meet with us anymore. It turns out that she and her mom had gotten into an argument about the car. This girl assumed that she could take it to go hang out with her friends, but when her mom got home, she said no. The daughter got upset, and her mom said we just need to give her a few days. We’re supposed to have an appointment tomorrow night, so we’ll see how things go.
Another girl we are teaching is just great. She’s the daughter of one of the less-active members that we have been teaching. (I may have already told you about her) Anyway, she asked to start taking lessons from us, and so she has. As a result, the mother is active again, and the 3 daughters (8, 11, and 15) want to be baptized. We actually invited the oldest daughter, Meilany (may-law-nee), to be baptized in our last appointment, and she said yes, but then told us that she has been meeting with a “fat [other religion] lady” at the same time she’s been meeting with us. She comes every Saturday, then picks them up and takes them to church on Sunday. Meilany said, “I have to escape, I don’t like her.” It was a pretty good time. Anyway, she reads everyday and even brings the Book of Mormon to school and highlights verses that she likes. She’s great.
(This letter is a lot more missionary-oriented, I just noticed.)
Two of our investigators also prayed for the first time this week. It was really cool. I’ve grown up praying, so I guess I’ve kind of taken it for granted. It’s really refreshing to see how someone’s first, sincere prayer can surprise even them.
Mom, I have some extra time, so I’ll try and answer your questions from last week.
3 meals a day? Yes. Absolutely.
Brakfast? Cereal, oatmeal, eggs, cinnamon rolls. Whatever I want really.
Do the members feed you once a day? The only member that feeds us is the Branch President’s wife, when we teach her daughter. Which is actually good, because they lived in the states for a few years, and the daughter doesn’t like fish. Currently the daughter is upset though, so we’ll see.
Sleep on a bed? Yes. However, I always thought bed bugs were invented for the children’s rhyme. Turns out they’re real, and live in my bed. So every morning I wake up with four or five new bites. It’s a real nuisance, but I’m starting to get used to it.
Apartment a shack? Nope, my apartment is actually one of the nicest in the mission, or so I hear. The zone leaders have the nicest in the mission. Anyway, I included some details in the letter I wrote home. We have 2 guard dogs that attack everything that come up and down the stairs, including us. So it makes every morning, and every night an adventure.
Snake free like Hawaii? Palau is not snake free. There are 2 kinds. One is poisonous and one is not.
I have four things to add:
1) Contrary to popular belief chickens CAN fly. I witnessed this groundbreaking event yesterday as a rooster took off and flew over my head. Flabbergasted, I turned to one of the Young Men that was with us and said, “I thought chickens couldn’t fly!?!” To which he responded, “Who told you that? Of course they can.” Must be American propaganda.
2) My companion refers to all black people as “American Black.” We met someone from Nigeria, who had never been to America, and Elder Stanley still said American Black. It was so funny.
3) Could you send me my sunglasses? I need them when I drive. Either the white ones or the black and yellow ones.
4) If there was one thing I would change about missionary work, it would be morning exercise. I have been exercising for 30 minutes every morning, simply because it’s a rule. Jake (Berg, not my brother), I got your letter and I’m sorry to say I have not grown to love it. People say exercising in the morning is such a great source of energy. I disagree, all it does is make me hate my life for 30 minutes. Anyway, enough complaining. Just expect me to come back looking like Arnold – pre-politics era.
Another thing, a gallon of milk is $12. Just thought you’d like to know that.
I love you all,
Elder Barlow
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