12 Sept. 2011

Family,

We just finished another transfer yesterday, so we'll be finding out where people are moving, or if they are moving on Wednesday. Right after that, the four of us are flying to Guam to have a combined zone conference (Palau, Yap, Guam, and Saipan) with the area president, President Stevenson. I just found out yesterday that he owns Reebok and Puma and Asics (thats what Elder Wright said, but it could be wrong). I've met him briefly before, but I never knew he was a rich guy. Anyway, I'm excited to see my investigators in Guam, all the missionaries, and of course President Stevenson. We'll be there just 2 days, so I'll be able to get back to my area Saturday morning and start working again. Assuming I don't get transferred of course.

As for the earthquake that happened near Guam, I haven't heard anything about it. Maybe they felt it in Guam, and if it reached us, I have no idea.

This week we helped Toby - our one active member in out area - to cut up a tree that had fallen down. It was the first time I'd used a chainsaw, so that was pretty fun. I thought it was like a coconut tree or something easy like that, but it turned out to be a full on tree with branches and everything. It turned out to be more work than I initially intended. His wife made us fried fish (bones, head and all of course) for lunch, complete with Miso soup (she's Japanese) and some kind of custardy dessert (not my favorite), oh and rice. It was a lot of work, but I felt it was a good favor in return for all the help he has given us this last month. He's come teaching with us every day, for like 5 hours each day. And he has a broken arm (it's been broken for over a month and he can't get it fixed because there's no bone doctor in Palau and he can't afford to go to the Philippines). He just wraps it in gauze and sometimes wears a sling. He's a champ.

We're still waiting on getting a basic unit started in our area. Without being able to attend Sacrament meeting, I feel like our investigators are struggling to progress. I never realized how important church attendance is to someone's spiritual progression. Investigators who were doing great are now starting to level off or regress (I was going to say degress, but Google said that's not really a word. So if regress isn't actually the word I'm looking for, blame Google, not me) because they can't come to a Sacrament meeting. I'm not really sure what the hold up is. I think being so far from Guam, there is a communication problem between the Branch President, the Mission President, and the counselors in the Mission presidency. It's pretty frustrating on my end though because I'm working my tail off trying to teach all these people and resolve their concerns and I feel like the only one that gets it is President Mecham - who's equally frustrated if not more.

Oh in other news, I don't know if this matters to you guys, but it does to me, the First Presidency just approved an increase in our missions number of missionaries. I guess every mission has a cap on the number of missionaries assigned to that place. Ours was 60 and President Mecham asked for 6 more missionaries, but instead they approved 12. It was pretty exciting.

Well, I love you guys, and I'm still praying for everyone (friends included), so I hope you've noticed some blessings. If you have, you're welcome (from me and of course the One from whom the blessings come). If you haven't, repent so you can be worthy of them.

Love,

Elder Barlow

P.S. Dad, I better get a sweet calling, like Ward Missionary, or like 30 families to home teach or something like that.