Family,
I'm in Yap this week, and the other missionaries planned a boat tour of the island, so I'll have to make this really short.
We went to Palau on Friday and Saturday, and now we're in Yap. Wednesday we go over to Chuuk. I'm sure I'll get a bunch of cool pictures for you guys. I didn't take any pictures in Palau really, but there wasn't really anything new. It was cool because a lot of people were excited to see me. It makes you feel good when that happens.
We should be having quite a few baptisms in our district in June, so we'll see how things are when we get back (we asked the sister missionaries to teach our investigators while we're gone).
Love,
Elder Barlow
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
23 May 2011
Family,
So finally all the missionaries are back where they belong. We had a 4-day leadership training this week - which included all the zone leaders, district leaders, and trainers...so most of the mission. It's pretty lonely now in our huge apartment. There used to still be 4 of us once all the missionaries left, but since there are no office elders now, it's just my companion and I. Anyway, I guess the missionary department came out with a workbook that a new missionary and his/her trainer are supposed to work through in the first 12 weeks (2 transfers). They are also to have 2 hours of companionship study rather than 1 for those twelve weeks as well. I thought it was really cool, because it doesn't leave any questions as to what the new missionary needs to learn. I remember when I was supposed to train, there were some things that had just become second-nature to me that it was hard to remember that it was a habit that my companion hadn't developed yet - there were a lot of basic things that I had to teach, and this workbook lays all that out. The idea is that any new missionary should be able to train another new missionary after that initial 12-week period. It's pretty intense.
I realized yesterday how many potential baptisms we could have in the coming weeks. Looking around at church, there are about 5 individuals (just from our area) coming to church regularly who aren't baptized. Plus, we got some great referrals, from members at church as well. Unfortunately we just aren't going to have time to work with them the way that we'd like. With this last two weeks pretty much shot, and then we're planning trips to Yap, Palau, and Chuuk this next couple of weeks, we just can't do much. We're making contact with all of our investigators again, just in time to leave, so when we get back we'll probably do the same thing, then it will be time for Zone Leader Council again and transfers. Hopefully we'll find some way around all of it and make it work.
I would love to give you an update about how our investigators are doing, but I don't really have one. We spent this week (in the evenings after the meetings) driving missionaries around and dropping them off in random areas just to knock doors and then picking them up, or running errands and getting the things they need that they can't get on their islands. Kind of like a babysitter.
Like I've already said, I'm just eager to get back to work this week. I'll be sure and let you know as events unfold.
Love,
Elder Barlow
Pictures:
1) My new companion, Elder Malit
2) Our living room during leadership training
3) Our bedroom during leadership training
4) Zone Leader Council activity - one of the few perks that we actually get.
So finally all the missionaries are back where they belong. We had a 4-day leadership training this week - which included all the zone leaders, district leaders, and trainers...so most of the mission. It's pretty lonely now in our huge apartment. There used to still be 4 of us once all the missionaries left, but since there are no office elders now, it's just my companion and I. Anyway, I guess the missionary department came out with a workbook that a new missionary and his/her trainer are supposed to work through in the first 12 weeks (2 transfers). They are also to have 2 hours of companionship study rather than 1 for those twelve weeks as well. I thought it was really cool, because it doesn't leave any questions as to what the new missionary needs to learn. I remember when I was supposed to train, there were some things that had just become second-nature to me that it was hard to remember that it was a habit that my companion hadn't developed yet - there were a lot of basic things that I had to teach, and this workbook lays all that out. The idea is that any new missionary should be able to train another new missionary after that initial 12-week period. It's pretty intense.
I realized yesterday how many potential baptisms we could have in the coming weeks. Looking around at church, there are about 5 individuals (just from our area) coming to church regularly who aren't baptized. Plus, we got some great referrals, from members at church as well. Unfortunately we just aren't going to have time to work with them the way that we'd like. With this last two weeks pretty much shot, and then we're planning trips to Yap, Palau, and Chuuk this next couple of weeks, we just can't do much. We're making contact with all of our investigators again, just in time to leave, so when we get back we'll probably do the same thing, then it will be time for Zone Leader Council again and transfers. Hopefully we'll find some way around all of it and make it work.
I would love to give you an update about how our investigators are doing, but I don't really have one. We spent this week (in the evenings after the meetings) driving missionaries around and dropping them off in random areas just to knock doors and then picking them up, or running errands and getting the things they need that they can't get on their islands. Kind of like a babysitter.
Like I've already said, I'm just eager to get back to work this week. I'll be sure and let you know as events unfold.
Love,
Elder Barlow
1) My new companion, Elder Malit
2) Our living room during leadership training
4) Zone Leader Council activity - one of the few perks that we actually get.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
16 May 2011
Family,
This has been one of the most stressful weeks of my mission, and this week is looking to come in a close second. We've had to keep track of a million flights and make sure that everyone that flies in has a place to stay. We wanted to make it so the only people housing missionaries were people that were already coming to the meetings, so that others didn't have to use time and gas making that trip. So we had to be very careful to make sure that there was also enough seats in the cars to fit everyone that was staying with them. I haven't had a full sleep all week. Not to mention preparing everything that we have to do in the meetings. To top it all off, there aren't any office elders anymore, so their responsibilities are supposed to be handled by the senior couple in the office, but the missionaries must be scared to ask them for things, because they've been just asking us. I haven't taught a lesson in over a week. With all that said, these meetings are one of my favorite times. It's not very often that we get to see the missionaries from the other islands, especially those who aren't zone leaders. So we've been having a blast.
We just found out this week as well that we'll be going to visit Palau, Chuuk, and Yap, so I'm pretty excited about that. I'll get to see my trainer again (he's Chuukese), and get to go back to Palau and Yap and work with the missionaries there. I'll be sure and take lots of pictures so you guys can see.
We had our first day of leadership training today, so I only have a few minutes. I think this will be the last 4-day training like we've been having. It's been a year since we started it, and it will be interesting how the schedule changes with President Mecham.
That's pretty exciting news for Jacob and Melanie, and I'm glad that I'll be home for it.
Love,
Elder Barlow
This has been one of the most stressful weeks of my mission, and this week is looking to come in a close second. We've had to keep track of a million flights and make sure that everyone that flies in has a place to stay. We wanted to make it so the only people housing missionaries were people that were already coming to the meetings, so that others didn't have to use time and gas making that trip. So we had to be very careful to make sure that there was also enough seats in the cars to fit everyone that was staying with them. I haven't had a full sleep all week. Not to mention preparing everything that we have to do in the meetings. To top it all off, there aren't any office elders anymore, so their responsibilities are supposed to be handled by the senior couple in the office, but the missionaries must be scared to ask them for things, because they've been just asking us. I haven't taught a lesson in over a week. With all that said, these meetings are one of my favorite times. It's not very often that we get to see the missionaries from the other islands, especially those who aren't zone leaders. So we've been having a blast.
We just found out this week as well that we'll be going to visit Palau, Chuuk, and Yap, so I'm pretty excited about that. I'll get to see my trainer again (he's Chuukese), and get to go back to Palau and Yap and work with the missionaries there. I'll be sure and take lots of pictures so you guys can see.
We had our first day of leadership training today, so I only have a few minutes. I think this will be the last 4-day training like we've been having. It's been a year since we started it, and it will be interesting how the schedule changes with President Mecham.
That's pretty exciting news for Jacob and Melanie, and I'm glad that I'll be home for it.
Love,
Elder Barlow
Monday, May 9, 2011
Mother's Day
Family,
So.. I just barely got off the phone, but I thought I'd send an email too.
My new companion got here last Monday, like I said, and we've been spending this week getting him oriented. We've had to plan out when all the missionaries are coming and going for transfers, plus zone leader council which is this coming weekend, and then leadership training which is this next week. It's been a mess, because everyone needs a place to stay, and we can only have so many people stay in certain places because they need to have enough car space to be able to transport everyone back and forth to the meetings.
We have another new missionary orientation this week as well, and we usually do it at the mission home with the Dowdles, but they're going to a correlation meeting in Japan this week so it's just going to be us and the fresh ones in the office. We will get to go bowling this weekend for zone leader council though, so that's going to be a treat.
Sorry for anyone who wasn't on the phone when I called because I don't have much to say now, but I'll just go through all the pictures I sent and explain.
That's it on this memory card.
Love,
Elder Barlow
1) Elder Matthews and I and the Kosrae Zone (L to R): Me, Elder Sturm, Elder Rufus, Elder Lapeyrouse, Elder Andrew, Elder Matthews
2) Kosrae gas station
3-5) Kosrae sunsets
6-7) Marbo Cave (Guam)
8-14) Taguan Point (Guam)
17) The church in Kosrae wanted to have a going away party for us when we left. So some of the members spoke, and then they sang and gave us some sweet headbands and jewelry they made.
So.. I just barely got off the phone, but I thought I'd send an email too.
My new companion got here last Monday, like I said, and we've been spending this week getting him oriented. We've had to plan out when all the missionaries are coming and going for transfers, plus zone leader council which is this coming weekend, and then leadership training which is this next week. It's been a mess, because everyone needs a place to stay, and we can only have so many people stay in certain places because they need to have enough car space to be able to transport everyone back and forth to the meetings.
We have another new missionary orientation this week as well, and we usually do it at the mission home with the Dowdles, but they're going to a correlation meeting in Japan this week so it's just going to be us and the fresh ones in the office. We will get to go bowling this weekend for zone leader council though, so that's going to be a treat.
Sorry for anyone who wasn't on the phone when I called because I don't have much to say now, but I'll just go through all the pictures I sent and explain.
That's it on this memory card.
Love,
Elder Barlow
1) Elder Matthews and I and the Kosrae Zone (L to R): Me, Elder Sturm, Elder Rufus, Elder Lapeyrouse, Elder Andrew, Elder Matthews
2) Kosrae gas station
3-5) Kosrae sunsets
6-7) Marbo Cave (Guam)
8-14) Taguan Point (Guam)
15-16) 3 flags up with the Kosraean kids
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Uno de Mayo, 2011
Family,
Before I forget, I have two requests. One - when I was in Kosrae, one of the members found out I was from California and one day he came out teaching with us all day and he asked if I could get him a copy of the song - California Dreamin'. I told him I'd ask you guys, so if it's possible for you guys to send me a CD, I'll give it to one of the missionaries and they'll take it to him (obviously I won't be listening to it). While I'm on that note (I guess I have three requests), at the beginning of my mission I asked for some music, and Craig Blake sent me some good stuff - but it's been a while since I've had any new music - so this is another blanket request for anyone who has access to any good missionary music (our music rules are pretty relaxed - just as long as it's produced by members of the church and is spiritual in nature. Or if it's not a member of the church, if it is a sweet rendition of a hymn or something, that's cool too.), I would love some. Second/Third - I have a 320 GB external hard drive in the garage (it's black with red designs on it), and do you think you could package that up and send it to me? I just wanted to be able to back up my pictures and videos and stuff while I have access to the office here. Thanks.
On to my week. Yesterday we had more people at church than I can remember ever having in all the times I've attended church here in Guam. Chairs filled the cultural hall and people were standing along the back and in the hallway. It was crazy. The ward is just super excited about reactivation and missionary work. Every Tuesday, anyone who wants to, but at least the priesthood leadership meets at the chapel and they split with all the missionaries. They either come with us to the appointments we've set, or we just go and visit less-active families in our area. It's been great, not just because we have members to come with us, but it allows them to meet the people that we've found, and then they're more concerned about how they're progressing. I've just really enjoyed it.
We've been really busy this week with transfers. It seems like every transfer, area boundaries have to be re-drawn in Guam. One companionship is leaving a district, so we have to divide that area up. Plus, no one in Guam is really sure what their boundaries are because it has just been hearsay for so long. We're putting together set boundaries and giving a copy to every companionship so people aren't calling us and asking us every other day (I don't even know myself, so this has been good for me). My new companion is here in Guam. We picked him up from the airport this morning. He was one of the Zone Leaders out in Chuuk, Elder Malit, from Utah. He's Filipino, but doesn't speak any Tagalog or anything like that. We'll be spending this week prepping him on all of his duties and stuff and preparing our training for Zone Leader Council in 2 weeks.
We had a guy call the office and asked to talk to the highest authority possible - so they transferred him to President Dowdle, who happened to be in the office that day. He asked for an appointment, and President asked why, so this man, Joe, said that he wants to join the church. Those are the kind of calls that make our lives easier. Turns out he lives in our area, but he hasn't been home when we've gone. We had another guy come to church yesterday who said basically the same thing, and who also lives in our area. He gave us his name and address, so we'll go see him sometime this week too. I love when stuff like that happens.
Lastly, we have these two investigators, both Chuukese, the two brothers that I told you guys about last week. I guess on their tiny outer island the culture is such that if a man's wife dies, he is to take her sister as his wife. They don't have to be remarried or anything. Obviously that doesn't fly legally, so that's going to be a topic of discussion, plus his smoking, and his drinking (coffee, tea, alcohol). Luckily my new companion is the best Chuukese speaker we have in the mission so he'll be able to get that message across effectively.
I'll let you know how all of these things play out.
Love,
Elder Barlow
Before I forget, I have two requests. One - when I was in Kosrae, one of the members found out I was from California and one day he came out teaching with us all day and he asked if I could get him a copy of the song - California Dreamin'. I told him I'd ask you guys, so if it's possible for you guys to send me a CD, I'll give it to one of the missionaries and they'll take it to him (obviously I won't be listening to it). While I'm on that note (I guess I have three requests), at the beginning of my mission I asked for some music, and Craig Blake sent me some good stuff - but it's been a while since I've had any new music - so this is another blanket request for anyone who has access to any good missionary music (our music rules are pretty relaxed - just as long as it's produced by members of the church and is spiritual in nature. Or if it's not a member of the church, if it is a sweet rendition of a hymn or something, that's cool too.), I would love some. Second/Third - I have a 320 GB external hard drive in the garage (it's black with red designs on it), and do you think you could package that up and send it to me? I just wanted to be able to back up my pictures and videos and stuff while I have access to the office here. Thanks.
On to my week. Yesterday we had more people at church than I can remember ever having in all the times I've attended church here in Guam. Chairs filled the cultural hall and people were standing along the back and in the hallway. It was crazy. The ward is just super excited about reactivation and missionary work. Every Tuesday, anyone who wants to, but at least the priesthood leadership meets at the chapel and they split with all the missionaries. They either come with us to the appointments we've set, or we just go and visit less-active families in our area. It's been great, not just because we have members to come with us, but it allows them to meet the people that we've found, and then they're more concerned about how they're progressing. I've just really enjoyed it.
We've been really busy this week with transfers. It seems like every transfer, area boundaries have to be re-drawn in Guam. One companionship is leaving a district, so we have to divide that area up. Plus, no one in Guam is really sure what their boundaries are because it has just been hearsay for so long. We're putting together set boundaries and giving a copy to every companionship so people aren't calling us and asking us every other day (I don't even know myself, so this has been good for me). My new companion is here in Guam. We picked him up from the airport this morning. He was one of the Zone Leaders out in Chuuk, Elder Malit, from Utah. He's Filipino, but doesn't speak any Tagalog or anything like that. We'll be spending this week prepping him on all of his duties and stuff and preparing our training for Zone Leader Council in 2 weeks.
We had a guy call the office and asked to talk to the highest authority possible - so they transferred him to President Dowdle, who happened to be in the office that day. He asked for an appointment, and President asked why, so this man, Joe, said that he wants to join the church. Those are the kind of calls that make our lives easier. Turns out he lives in our area, but he hasn't been home when we've gone. We had another guy come to church yesterday who said basically the same thing, and who also lives in our area. He gave us his name and address, so we'll go see him sometime this week too. I love when stuff like that happens.
Lastly, we have these two investigators, both Chuukese, the two brothers that I told you guys about last week. I guess on their tiny outer island the culture is such that if a man's wife dies, he is to take her sister as his wife. They don't have to be remarried or anything. Obviously that doesn't fly legally, so that's going to be a topic of discussion, plus his smoking, and his drinking (coffee, tea, alcohol). Luckily my new companion is the best Chuukese speaker we have in the mission so he'll be able to get that message across effectively.
I'll let you know how all of these things play out.
Love,
Elder Barlow
25 April 2011
Family,
This has been an interesting week. Before we left to Pohnpei and Kosrae, we decided that we were going to drop all of our investigators and start over. Many of them were people that missionaries had been teaching for who knows how long, and just hadn't been progressing. So this was kind of our rebuilding week. We had a slow start to the week, but as the days have gone on, it's been picking up. We met a Chuukese family, and most of them were actually baptized years ago. They've since joined another church, but after our second visit, the man we are teaching, Saimon, and his brother, Jona, agreed to be baptized and also to come to church this week (yesterday). There are like 35 people that live there and like 4 different generations, and the guy we're teaching is the oldest. They said all they needed was a ride, and they'd be ready to go. So we organized a ride and showed up Sunday morning (To be honest I wasn't expecting much. I didn't think they'd be there, or at least they wouldn't be awake or ready.) and Jona was sitting at the table all dressed and ready with his Book of Mormon and the pamphlet we gave him, and Saimon and his wife were just putting shoes on. They came and had a great experience - especially because Sunday school is in Chuukese, and all the people really welcomed them.
Part of the reason the beginning of the week was so slow was because I had to get a Guam license. I went to the DMV, waited forever in line, only so the woman could tell me I needed my SS card - which I didn't have. So the next day, I went to the SS office, waited forever again, got a letter that verified my SS number (which they said would work until I could get my card in the mail), and went back to the DMV to wait in line for forever again. Then I had to wait in another line to pay for it, another line to take my picture, and another line to pick it up. If anyone was wondering, the DMV is the worst ever, even in Guam. So after like 6 hours between the two days, I finally got my license - and I had to give them my California license. Now I have to drive all the time, because Elder Matthews doesn't have one. I prefer the passenger seat - especially in our minivan (did I ever tell you we drive a minivan?) it's pretty luxurious.
We found out transfers this week, and since I don't know who's reading my blog, I won't say much. That's secret stuff you know. Let me just say - things are going to be crazy! I think I thought the same thing last transfer though.
Happy Easter everyone!
Love,
Elder Barlow
This has been an interesting week. Before we left to Pohnpei and Kosrae, we decided that we were going to drop all of our investigators and start over. Many of them were people that missionaries had been teaching for who knows how long, and just hadn't been progressing. So this was kind of our rebuilding week. We had a slow start to the week, but as the days have gone on, it's been picking up. We met a Chuukese family, and most of them were actually baptized years ago. They've since joined another church, but after our second visit, the man we are teaching, Saimon, and his brother, Jona, agreed to be baptized and also to come to church this week (yesterday). There are like 35 people that live there and like 4 different generations, and the guy we're teaching is the oldest. They said all they needed was a ride, and they'd be ready to go. So we organized a ride and showed up Sunday morning (To be honest I wasn't expecting much. I didn't think they'd be there, or at least they wouldn't be awake or ready.) and Jona was sitting at the table all dressed and ready with his Book of Mormon and the pamphlet we gave him, and Saimon and his wife were just putting shoes on. They came and had a great experience - especially because Sunday school is in Chuukese, and all the people really welcomed them.
Part of the reason the beginning of the week was so slow was because I had to get a Guam license. I went to the DMV, waited forever in line, only so the woman could tell me I needed my SS card - which I didn't have. So the next day, I went to the SS office, waited forever again, got a letter that verified my SS number (which they said would work until I could get my card in the mail), and went back to the DMV to wait in line for forever again. Then I had to wait in another line to pay for it, another line to take my picture, and another line to pick it up. If anyone was wondering, the DMV is the worst ever, even in Guam. So after like 6 hours between the two days, I finally got my license - and I had to give them my California license. Now I have to drive all the time, because Elder Matthews doesn't have one. I prefer the passenger seat - especially in our minivan (did I ever tell you we drive a minivan?) it's pretty luxurious.
We found out transfers this week, and since I don't know who's reading my blog, I won't say much. That's secret stuff you know. Let me just say - things are going to be crazy! I think I thought the same thing last transfer though.
Happy Easter everyone!
Love,
Elder Barlow
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