Worse than being away on Christmas‏

My favorite holiday!  Memorial day! Man I'm sad I didn't get to be there, and I probably am more sad today than I'd be on Christmas, because seriously, this is my favorite holiday.  Memorial day family traditions seem to outstrip all other holidays.  4th of July, New years, and even Thanksgiving just don't hold a candle to tortellini salad and the Crystal Inn.  Sigh.... But it was a good week nonetheless. And as you can see, P-day is Tuesday this week because yesterday was Memorial day.  I think most people e-mail from libraries.  We e-mail in the English church building.  Its been like forever since p-day, because its been more than a week, so I probs won't remember everything I need to write so we shall see how it goes.  Oh, and mom, I think you misunderstood.  Its not high blood pressure.  Today it was 104, last week was somewhere in the 110's.  How low does it need to be before I can see a doctor to get me off of this medicine?  And LA means less active.  As in the father used to be a member but long since left the church, so we found them and had a fun time.

Using my journal, here is my week.

Monday- Was p-day.  We all tried to go bowling, but the place cost like 10 $ and 5 $ per game.  I like those summer mornings in Bountiful Bowl where it hardly costs anything to go bowling.  I got a package from Amanda and friends.  It included spin it bible trivia.  I haven't opened it, but we wanted to take it to the LA's house we visited and say "This is the do or die! Whoever wins this is in the true church!"  But we had a good day and taught two lessons despite p-day.

Tuesday- We went to that LA's house one last time to see if we could get anywhere with the Book of Mormon.  We didn't, so it didn't produce much fruit, but oh well.  Darn Christians.  Also, this church believes that apostles are perfect (Peter denies Christ, All have sinned, Paul says he's horrible), that in the time of the "law" that non-israelites couldn't be saved.  We read "God is no respector of persons." At which point they said "God is a respector of persons. We live in the time of grace when everybody can be saved! Egyptians and all those people couldn't be before Christ." (Jonah preaching to Ninevites, God is no acceptor or persons, etc.)  So they're crazy and don't understand anything.  The kid who was our age was cool though, despite the differences. He really enjoyed talking with us, even though we know we would not get anywhere if we came back again.  "The correct answer was the Mormons. Repeat, the Mormons."

Wednesday- Nothing really important.  Taught our Recent converts, the Alvarado and Flores families.  They're great.  We might go do baptisms with the Flores family this Saturday, we shall see if things work out.

Thursday- The Martinez family bought us Burger King.  We got all marriage plans worked out and they are getting married on Wednesday.  Then the 25th of June they're having a little party at the church, and they get baptized the 7th!!!  Hooray!  Pics will come of that.

Friday- Tried a service bike.  Didn't really find anyone who needed service, but we talked to some cool people.  I like talking to old people.  They're super great.  Although today I was getting annoyed over little details that turn the mission rules into Mosaic Law, but that's all okay.  You know, when you hear you comp talking about how a girl can send him a list of members in her area without directly e-mailing her.  Like that matters in the long run, but what can you do.  I'll just take it with a grain of salt.  And my blood pressure is low enough that I can handle that grain of salt.

Saturday- Good day. The Martin's brought us Carl's Junior for dinner.  That was a lot of food.  I couldn't finish the double western they just gave us.  We then went to a service baptismal for the dad of a family Elder Tate baptized in his 1st area.  It was wierd cuz I didn't really know anyone there, but I ended up playing the opening hymn somehow.

Sunday- Church.  Jaime Martinez came so he's now church qualified.

Monday- Memorial day.  We had district meeting, and so as we were about to take the other elders to get a spare tire, we helped this guy get gas.  He was interesting.  It was crazy rainy today though! Like a real Texas rainstorm.  Usually rain doesn't stop us from doing anything.  Our whole district is basically out of miles, so we had to bike.  So we packed our stuff into ziploc bags, started heading out to try the Martinez family first, who live a whole 75 feet from our house, and in those 75 feet we were drenched.  Its kind of funny.  So Jaime is like opening the door and giving us a towel and telling us to come in.  We stayed there for quite a while finishing teaching what they needed to know.  Then Jaime went and bought us Church's chicken.  Which is like KFC, but probably worse for you.  They're such a great family though.  Jaime even called us because he saw us on the 90.

Well that was a lot of writing for me, and I spend more time writing you guys than normal, so enjoy my long letter. and save me some tortellini salad.  Maybe I'll buy stuff to make it soon.  Anyways, I love you, and I love the Book of Mormon.  I hope you have an awesome week. Pics to come shortly

Elder David Austin Barlow

And Elder Tate just got a call calling him to be Zone Leader I think.  Yep

Andy

Companion Inventory Raspa

Our District

Rain

Taco Bell with Keene, McDonald and Tate

That Raspa

We're in Stafford!

A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more Bible.‏

Well this has been quite the week, but its always amazing on a mission.

We had a temple trip this week.  We had two hours talking with the mission and temple presidents and their wives.  We talked about being agents to act, and not be acted upon.  I have seen that this action really does work miracles.  It was worth getting to the temple at 6:30 in the morning, because its the temple, and the temple is amazing.

This week we've also been having a wonderful time with the Martinez family, the awesome people that are going to get baptized soon.  It was weird because they kind of mis-understood something about marriage, but the bishop's wife fixed it all.  They were planning on having a big party, but would wait until July 25th to get married.  That would push their baptism to a point when Tate and I probs won't be together still.  So now we're getting them married civil this week or the next, and then baptism the 31st or 7th!  So its not on your anniversary mom and dad. Sorry...

Now let me explain the subject of this e-mail.  I love the bible.  It is such an amazing book.  I read the old testament when I was like 10 right? This week though, has made me hate everything that surrounds the bible.  Tuesday we went to the house of a LA we hadn't met.  They let us in and it turns out they're all Christian, part of La Luz del Mundo.  This church is creepily similar to our own, but just so off that its probably the church of the devil.  They have a living apostle apparently, and have some messed up doctrine.  We tried to teach, but they talk to much.  In this church, they also pray to Christ, which to me, turns Christ into an idol. Takes the good and makes it bad.  What is the worst though, is the bible verses.  If the bible says so, so it is.  As Rabbit says in Pooh's gramd adventure "Never trust your ears, your eyes, your nose.  Don't put your faith in any of those.  Here's a piece of fact you must suppose, from the printed word true wisdom flows! If it says so, then it is so.  If it is so, so it is.  It isn't fit to think, unless its printed in ink, if it says so, so it is."  So this Tuesday we are meeting again and all we hope we can do is testify of the Book of Mormon, and if they reject that we are not coming back to argue.  My favorite thing that was said was something that was just completely uneducated.  He says that Christ was reading from the scriptures in the temple, (there's somewhere where he is preaching from there, I mean he was raised in Jewish law, so of course he knew the scriptures) because there is only one set of scriptures and can't be more.  I then ask "He had the New Testament?"  Quite affirmatively he replies Yes!  ..........  Wow...  That is just uneducated and blind faith if I've ever seen it.  Christ preaching from the New Testament.  I have never believed in the great and abominable church until now.  The second we let them pray their way they started bawling on the ground, I had to withhold my laughter.  This week we've also been given pamphlets by a women who says "I appreciate your sincerity, but sometimes we need to make sure we're spreading the truth!"  The pamphlet she gave us was just a bunch of bible verses.  Same with the 7th day Adventist we met (Which I really think is just a wannabe Jewish sect).  So thus here in Texas the words ring true that we read in 2 Nephi.  A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there cannot be any more bible.  Needless to say, I'm studying the Book of Mormon now.

Friday though was a ward party for Mother's day.  That was a wonderful day.  Good food.  I always have good food here.  We also biked a lot this week.  My weight is constant and my blood pressure has not been at 120 for a few weeks now.  If it gets low enough, maybe I can take a day off to go to the doctor!  That's good. This week's been good, and I've even had some other experiences of feeling the spirit.  Oh yeah! Like right after being in that lesson with the Luz del Mundo people (it was a father and son who is our age), we had a lesson with a Less Active family that was completely different in spirit.  Its amazing just to see how the Lord works in our lives.  The spirit of Elijah is great, and keep working on Thomas!  He's out there somewhere!  I love you and am thinking about you (but only in my prayers and on Mondays ;). 

With love,

Elder David Austin Barlow

P.S. Hopefully I'll have pictures next week.  I forget to take pictures here. 

It was great to See you‏

Dear family,

It was good to see y'all too!  Glad my family is doing great and it was fun to see your faces.  It felt wierd because its only been two months since I last saw you, so Christmas will come eventually, and maybe I won't recognize any of you by then ;).  Good to hear about your week this week.  Glad you are all well.

So I forgot my journal this week, so I'm doing all my remembering by memory, so lets see what I write, or what I rant.  I guess the biggest thing this week is that the Martinez family is getting married on your anniversary!  June 12th, its the dad's birthday.  Then they will definately get baptized right after that.  Jaime was finally able to come to church this Sunday, even if just for sacrament.  It was great because I was giving a talk at church and it was all super great!

So my week.  Monday night we went to a ward Mormon Night because we thought our Recent Convert family was coming, but only the super stalwart son was there, so it was a kind of a waste of time.  Oh well, it was fun.  Tuesday was my first Zone Conference (Why did I capitalize that?).  We talked about teaching the atonement, about using family history stuff (which I have yet to actually physically help people with family history, but I hope that comes soon), and about how we are weird as Mormons and its okay.  It was fun.

Wednesday through Friday was just normal stuff, teaching lessons and stuff.  We did a lot of biking this week because we are just wasting our miles having to go to the church.  We have to pick up the bike area elders, and we had five days in a row where we had to do that last weekend.  So we're biking before the weather becomes unbearable.  I guess I'll just get used to it.  It rained pretty hard on Friday, and we found out a super awesome new investigator moved, but that was okay.  Its always super hot the day after a rain storm.

Saturday I went on transfers to the wierdest, poor area ever.  It is called Brazos and its around the city of Rosenburg.  I was with an Elder Nielsen, and it was an alright day.  We just didn't really have much in common.  Basically I'm glad I'm in Missouri City.  I can't really explain Brazos except maybe as sleepy.

So Sunday was wonderful though, because church was wonderful.  I basically already talked about everything that happened there.  I gave a talk in Spanish, Jaime came to church, and I talked to you guys.  We talked with the Martins a while after.  They're so great, and Bishop Martin is a super great guy.  We talked about how we just can't see the influence of our actions now.  Its part of mission life, and bishop went to see like so many people last week, and one family showed up at church that he visited.  It just takes time.

But I'm doing great and loving it here.  Les amo!  Estoy orando por ustedes siempre, y espero que tengan una buena semana!

Sincerely, your favorite elder, and one of your favorite sons (Like I'm definately in the top 2)

Elder David Austin Barlow

Happy Cinco de Mayo ‏ 5/5/2014

Dear family, those at home in the desert of Utah.

First off, here's my address.

550 Stafford Run Road

 Apt 1217

Stafford, Texas, 77477

We live in Stafford apartments if that helps.  Our area basically covers most of Stafford, and the Missouri City stuff around it.  The chapel is at the end of Sienna Parkway if you're on Google maps and want more.  And now on to the letter for the week.

To answer all questions, The number of wards I cover is about 1/4.  All 1/4 of the wards I cover are Spanish speaking.  Its nice though because the bishop and stake president live in our area, so we've gotten some good meals.  Its hard to get members to come with us though because the ward needs priesthood so badly.

But really, in this area, you don't have to worry about food for me.  My very first Thursday I got fed at the Stake President's house and then at the most awesome investigator's house.  And last week, we had three different people give us food on the same day.  We don't go to houses every night, but about half the time we do.  Bishop Martin (We'll be talking at his house, he is awesome) fed us and took Elder Tate and I to a barbecue place that was super good.  But really though.  You will have to call us on Skype, but I am pretty sure the Bishop will set it up with you guys.  Has he sent any e-mails to you guys yet?  He is the coolest guy ever.

This week though has been the craziest, oddest week I've had in a long time, but I guess it always is that way on a mission, but this week has just been different for some reason.  I will try to explain then.

Monday, we went and gave some random girl a blessing with the second counselor in the bishopric.  That was wierd because we kind of taught a lesson, but kind of not.

Tuesday, Okay, here I just have to talk about the most amazing investigators in the world.  The Martinez family is amazing.  They are going to get baptersized pretty soon.  I've been around when we taught the W of W and tithing.  Both were just amazing.  Basically all we had to do was say, "THis is the commandment."  Adela, the mother would then go on and tell us why we should obey that commandment, what blessings we could see, why God gave us this commandment, and she basically could teach the lessons for us.  The parents are engaged now, (They weren't married).  Their names are Jaime, Adela, and Jennifer, father, mother, daughter.  They basically feed us every time we go.  That is a picture of an amazing sandwich, I think its called a torta.

 Basically, I looove avocados soooo much!  And I've gotten to eat them here.

Wednesday,

We rode our bikes for a lot of the day to try to find LA's.  We didn't have much success, but oh well.  I was tired, but thats what biking does, and its only going to get hotter.  At least it still feels like springtime.

Thursday

Its already May? What! Crazy!  We apparently answered a LA's prayer when we picked him up.  Felipe Silva always goes with us visiting, and its nice because it lets us teach all the girls (which is a good percentage of who we teach).  He was on his last dollar at the end of his month, but he insisted on giving us both a third of his Burger King sandwich.  This is the day we got three things of food.  We ate at a members, and then the Martinez family sent us home with fajitas and amazing guac.

Friday,

Another family to tell you about!  The Blanco family is amazing.  All the kids are at least.  They got baptized about a month ago, but the mother isn't quite commiting to do anything.  She doesn't seem to know what she wants, and doesn't seem to know how to keep the Ecuadorian devil she used to live with away.  So she's stopped progressing.  The kids are awesome though.

Saturday

We had to waste miles to go give a sister a blessing.  Its usually not allowed, but president was on his day off.  We are going to be biking a lot later this month.

Sunday,

The Martinez family wasn't at church :(.  They probably have to work.  We will get them there though!

And thats really all I can think of to say to you guys, I feel like I have no time to write here!  So I will just say I love you guys and pray about you every night!  Have an awesome week, and don't worry about me! ;)  Concern and care are okay mother.  See you next Sunday.  I will expect that after church for you guys, about 5 your time, that you will call me.  Expect to be in contact with Bishop Martin to get more info.  And I don't drive yet.  I have to get a Tiwi card. Tiwi is this thing in the car that judges your driving and tells you to check your speed.  I probably will sometime in this area, but we can use a bike at times.  There are some bike areas in this mission (The other elders in the district for example.)  Maybe I'll end up in one of them eventually, but this area is awesome for now! Great place to start.  Its a nice suburb outside of Houston.  I live in apartments. And I am out of time, so that will be all.

Your favorite elder,

Elder David Austin Barlow

Elder Barlow and Elder Tate

Elder Barlow and Pres. Brian Ashton and Sis. Donna Ashton

Wait... People don't know who Mormons are? ‏ 4/28/2014

Well hello y'all, its my first week here in Texas, and I am having a wonderful time.  I don't know what I can all explain about this week in the little time I have.  Basically a week ago I was at the CCM (Not MCC ;) ) and that feels like forever ago.  Being home seems like even more forever ago.  But really, things are great and I am happy.  So how can I begin?  I'll probably just end up ranting about anything and everything I can.  We shall see how everything goes.

Lets start at Tuesday then, that will keep me organized.  Last Monday night, all the girls had already left, so it was just us and Hermano Hernandez for class.  He just talked about his missionary stories and then he bought us churros.  The most amazing churros you will ever imagine stuffed with Carjeta, bluberry, vanilla, nutella......   I'm drooling just remembering them.  So we were all packed and the other elders were leaving at like two in the morning.  We all were in the same house for the last night and we all said our goodbyes.  Tuesday morning we woke up and headed out with McKinley, Steed, and me.  We flew out of Mexico and landed in the green land of humid Texas.  It was a wonderful feeling getting here, even though we were all just extremely nervous and all had this pit in our stomach that we hadn't felt since entering the MTC.  Its like as soon as a place becomes home you have to leave....   That's the mission for ya.  We were picked up along with some English elders and went to a chapel.  We went running, and I went with an elder from Ecuador.  Running is where you just go and talk to people, and it made me feel like I was somewhat ready to be here.  Wow, everything I just said sounds like it was ages ago to me.  Tuesday night we went and slept at one of the Mission people's homes in the most comfy bed I can imagine.  She had an amazing piano, and she had some classical music books, so I played Debussy for about an hour.  If you want to send me my Debussy piano book in whatever package shows up next, that would be wonderful.  Also, you sent me the camera thing to hook it up to the TV.  I don't know if my camera came with one, but I was looking for the USB port.  Its the same kind of thing that is on iPod's.  But its okay.  I don't know if I will get you pictures because of that, we shall see.  Although the fools for Jazz picture where Bethany had red eyes made my day. Tell her good luck with finals for me.

Anyways, Wednesday we went to the mission office to be oriented.  We ate kolache's for breakfast, some Czech food found here in Texas.  Its basically a stuffed roll. Look it up, and then make some.  They're amazingly delicious.  Well now I guess I can tell you where I am and who my companion is.  I am in Missouri City NW, a little suburb outside of Houston.  There are lots of hispanics to teach here.  My companion is Elder Sydney Tate from Orem Utah.  He came on his mission last August and has only been in the area a transfer.  Basically I think we work great together.  I'm trying to be at a point where I can talk more, because basically I freeze whenever I need to OYM (Open your moth) people on the street.  I can't just talk to people, or at least I hate it.  I just have to go and feel awkward I guess.  We'll see if I can do that this week.  But its good and we work super hard. We have a car in this area, and so our mission's theme song is "Come Thou Fount,"  and basically we listen to that MoTab CD all the time.  Especially that song, but I don't mind.  Its funny because he has told me that he used to listen to metal before he went on his mission, and that just seems so unreal to me.

Thanks for the Easter package!!!! Especially the CD.  We're going to listen to it today while driving.  And thanks for the slinky and reses pieces.

So Thursday.  Man I have a lot to say, and my time is only half way up!  We have a family that is just progressing like a hurricane!  We taught the word of Wisdom, and they just loved it!  Apparently Elder Tate had taught the Law of Chastity like last week, and they weren't married, but they were just like, "We see the importance, lets get married!"  I pray that the Martinez Family gets baptized, because they really could.  THey also fed us pesole.  It was really good.  I don't know if I spelt that right, but its a chicken and some sort of rice thing soup.  I had the wierdest Deja Vu while eating it though.  Like I'd been in that apartment before eating the same thing.  Maybe I've just been somewhere similar.

We get fed a lot here, but I think I'll do okay.  Now that I'm not at a cafeteria, its easier not to just snarf food, especially when I'm making myself eggs.

Friday, I kind of already said the things I wrote in my journal Friday.r

Saturday, I got offered a cigarette for the first time in my life!  How exciting! But the investigator we were teaching then was cool.  We have had a lot to do the last few days.

Sunday,  My first day at church here was spend playing the organ!  I don't think I need to explain any more about that, just it was super great.

ANyways, I honestly can't think of anything more to say.  I've kind of ranted about how excited I am, and how awesome everything is.  My trainer and I get along, we are focused on the work, and even when I'm falling asleep during study time, I'm working as hard as I physically can.  I pray for you guys! ANd I love you all!

Your favorite elder,

Elder David Austin Barlow.

Oh, and about my subject, that is the only thing that has completely and utterly surprised me while on my mission.  I just thought that everybody knew who Mormons were in this day and age.  I guess not.

From Mexico to Texas, or in the words of Zane Fowler- Its like the Mexican American war! Except you're saving souls not taking territory. ‏ 4/21/2014

Happy Easter!   Today I have basically finished packing and I think that I will be okay weight-wise.  They put a weight limit on carry on´s here in Mexico which is super rude.  Only ten Kilos, so my carry on bag is like only half full and my other bags are both around 47 lbs/21.5 kilos.  I'll probably just make it on that.  It has been a very spiritual weekend nonetheless, and I am excited, nervous, happy, scared, ready, unprepared, emotional, stable, sad, anticipating, hopeful, and any other emotion you can write down in words I am probably feeling, but its all okay.

What has happened since last Wednesday?  Well first off, our district is so close that we can hardly stand to leave each other.  Hermana Ritter already left this morning and the rest them leave tonight.  Steed, McKinley and I leave tomorrow morning.  We have to be at the main office at 6:30 which is such a blessing over those people that have to leave at 2 in the morning.  We had an Easter devotional yesterday.  I played piano for the sacrament meeting before because I guess I'm the best pianist in the CCM right now, which completely rocks my socks.  I think I just have the right connections, but its good either way.  Anyways, we then heard Elder Uchdorf, easily my all time favorite apostle, speaking from Provo.  His talk was very good, very very good, and it would be super cool if you guys had a way to see it.  His talk began with talk of Christ of course, because it is Easter, but he talked about the apostle Peter.  Peter before the resurrection, and Peter after the resurrection.  They are completely different people.  He summarized the whole story from Peter's life of fishing, denial of Christ, and return to fishing after the crucifiction. He then goes to talk about what goes on afterwards.  Peter's complete change of faith from being rather shoddy, to unwavering in the gospel.  Peter feared no man.  That was the basic of the talk, having no fear to represent Christ.

Anyways, the rest of the week we had had good lessons with our teachers, same as ever.  I played some sick volleyball, and I'm sad because I'm just barely getting good enough to hold my ground.  Man I have played so many sports the past month its almost kind of annoying.  I love playing sports, I just don't like playing with people better than me who care about the outcome of the game.   But Sunday night of course, we all had the same old evening video and "Hasta Ver" song (God be with you).  Except this time it was our district whose pictures were on the screen.  So yeah, we are all emotional.  We went to our classroom to give blessings to the girls who were leaving quickly and it turned into a testimony meeting.  The spirit was strong, and I definitely won't forget my district for my whole mission.  I've cried more leaving here than when I left home.  I will honestly say I do feel like I've already changed a bit from a month ago, but that is what a mission is for right? Allowing us to change ourselves as the first convert?

I don't know if I have much more to say but thank you for the prayers, thank you for the love and support.  You are all in my prayers individually. I will now bear my testimony in Spanish.  Except on this computer I can't get accents to work, so if any Spanish readers read this, they will know why.

He estado en el CCM por seis semanas.  Este tiempo fue una grande bendicion.  Mi testimonio he crecido mucho en un tiempo muy pequeño.  Yo se que Dios es mi Padre Celestial, y que nuestro Padre amanos mas que podemos entender.  Soy un hijo de Dios, y estoy aqui para apprendir mucho que me ayudara volver a Dios.  Se que Jesucrito suffrio por todo de nuestro pecados, y El es el sola persona quien puede saber todo de nuestros sentimientos.  Se que Jose Smith fue un profeta de Dios, y que Jose Smith restaurara el evangelio de Jesucristo.   Por medio de Jose Smith, Dios revelo su evangelio.  El Libro de Mormon contiene la verdad del evangelio.  Se que Jesucrito es mi Salvador.  Digo estas cosas en el nombre de Jesucrito, amen.

I will probably get to write you again next Monday when I bet I'll have my first P-day in the field!  Until then, Hasta Ver!

Your favorite elder, and probably your favorite son, even more so than Aaron,

Elder David Austin Barlow

And as for that earthquake, we could barely feel it.  We could see the lamp post and trees swinging, but couldn't feel it.  Some people were convinced they could, but I'm sure it was in their heads out of just wanting to feel it.  We had to leave in-field orientation and stand outside, but it wasn't much at all.  My first earthquake!

Your Last Letter To Mexico 4/16/2014

Dear family,

I love you all so very very much, I am quite excited to go to Texas and be off of this cafeteria food.  I can't exactly control myself at a cafeteria with what I eat, I definitely haven't lost any weight, but I don't think I've really gained so that's good.  We'll see how Texas is.  First I'll answer that question about the letter.  We have our "investigators" right? They're just our teachers, so one of them left McKinley a "letter from the investigator."  Basically she didn't talk in a way that is very nice, mostly just honest, but it was hard for McKinley to take it.  It reminds me of piano lessons when the teacher says "I loved how you phrased that line," and then goes into what she wants to say about how you can get better.  Basically, the happy part wasn't in the letter and it was kind of negative.  Anyways, I spent more time writing that than I probably needed to but oh well.

I leave next Tuesday with McKinley and Steed.  We go to reception an 6:30 to be to the airport on time.  Its wonderful that I don't have to be there at two in the morning like some people in my district.  I honestly have no clue when the next time I will write you is, so I guess you can write me Tuesday or something, because that is the day I get to the mission home, and I'll see what happens then.  Being in Mexico I have no idea what to do with a phone, so I would be honestly afraid to find out what to do with a phone here out of country, and I don't think we'll have time when we reach Houston.  I remember when Aaron left on his mission and talked about why he didn't call at the airport.  I know you want me to, but I dunno if I physically can, or emotionally can.  Plus it is too much work to deal with pesos and American $'s.  Mother's day is coming up soon so it won't be a long time!  Even our carry on has a weight limit.  I'll make an extra effort to ensure that my bags are under weight, but luckily I have three so I should be okay.

Lets see, the temple was only a bit less than an hour away.  We passed a sears, which apparently is a very high class store down here like Nordstroms or something.  Spanish I think is coming alright.  Grammar I have got down pat, French helped with some of that stuff like the different kinds of past tenses.  Pienso que sea por le menos "adequate."  Puedo hablar muchos palabras del Evangelio, a pesar de mi conocimiento de Frances.  No es facil hablar con los latinos, pero puedo entendir cuando personas hablan.  As for my missionary plaque, I think I said Romans 1:16, but I suddenly just as I'm sitting here am trying to remember other scriptures.  I think actually, I want 2 Corinthians 12:10 "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, indistresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."  Yes, that is the scripture I want.  I like that one more and more.  I've been reading the New Testament back and forth between Spanish and English depending on my mood.  I really like Ephesians.  And I really can understand when I read in Spanish, at least partways, and at least when its a chapter I know.  Its a great way to learn new words and how Spanish is put together.

I liked the pictures you sent me, especially the one of Aaron and grandma.

 Tell her I love her!  Your talk of food always makes me dislike the cafeteria, especially those strawberries.  We had a picnic as a district today.  We had bread and nutella and chips we'd bought from the tienda (store).  I don't think I'll get pictures on today, but I will likely do so next time, whenever that is.  I forgot my camera anyways.

As for my week, I've been a little more shabby on my journal writing this week.  Mostly because not much new has been happening.  We are all just getting ready to leave.  We are all quite excited to leave, and we are all quite nervous.  Especially Fisher and Richards. They're going to Concepcion Chile.  Hermana Baldwin is going to Phoenix Arizona.  I found those two things a little bit ironic to me.  I can't wait to have a secret language with my cousins.  I've heard stories of missionaries who came back and worked for some company, and then got put in charge of finding out what the Latinos spoke about in Spanish when they though no one was listening.  I have also fallen in love with Jicama, something like a big turnip or something.  We just get it chopped up so I don't know what it looks like.  I just put some chile powder on it and it is delicious!  Lets see, I've had a couple of tie trades the past week, I get attached to my ties though.  The guys in mine and McKinley's house came in the same time as us, and basically I'm glad they are not in our district.  I feel like on a mission I have seen the most subtle hypocrisy ever in the church.  But hey, that is always going to be a problem no matter what you do.  And they all have such sweet spirits (you can say anything about someone if you say that at the end).  The gospel is true, the people aren't.  If only we could all be perfect.  But then why would we be preaching Christ?

Anyways, I don't think I really have much more to say.  I guess I have to say that I do love you mom and dad! You are in my prayers! (Our last Sunday is Easter Sunday, that is kind of a beautiful thing.)  If I get a chance to call I will, but in honesty I wouldn't expect it.  Its hard enough to focus on a new city when I'm thinking about my family.  I loved the pictures you sent me!  The gospel is true!  And really, Let us All Press On from conference is such an amazing song.  The arranger has one-upped Mack Wilberg.  I just remember it wasn't him.  Well I love you guys again! Thanks for the prayers!  I also pray for you.  Have an amazing Easter!  Paint eggs for me!

With love, your favoritest elder,

Elder David Austin Barlow

We Like Wednesdays April 9, 2014

Hello ma and pa!  Thank you for the letter! I'm glad you guys had a wonderful weekend watching conference.  I also enjoyed it so much here at the CCM.  I only fell asleep Sunday afternoon during Christofferson's talk because I was feeling sick Sunday.  It was so great so I'll talk about it before I write my week out.  I did immediately think of you guys with Uchdorf's Sunday morning talk, (it wasn't Saturday, but I don't blame you).  That was by far my favorite.  Uchdorf seems to become my favorite more and more each conference.  I loved how gratitude is a personality, gratitude is an attitude (pick a good one).  So even when we hate the things we are dealt with in life, we can be happy even so.  It reminds of a line from Next to Normal, "You find out you don't have to be happy at all, to be happy you're alive."  I kind of take that to be my life motto.  I also liked Elder Scott's talk on Saturday afternoon.  I sometimes fear that our gospel gets based down to the controversial problems and appendages that aren't at the heart.  Basic doctrine is the key to everything.  Sharing the gospel with kindness.  That was my basic experience with conference, and I loved listening to it here at the CCM.  Its kind of funny because its off-season for missionaries and there really are only a hundred or two white missionaries here right now.

But here's my week.

Wednesday

I don't think I mentioned last week that I went to the visitor's center.  That was a wonderful time.   Its a pretty new visitor's center, so it has more than even Salt Lake.  We watched that movie where the child almost falls of the cliff at the beginning, and just goes on and on about families.  It was really amazing though, and laid out the plan of salvation so well.  I love how simple it is.  By the way, you guys are supposed to read Preach my Gospel, the apostles said so ;)

Thursday

Hermano Ramirez is back!  Thats about all, he is better now.

Friday

We had a tough lesson with an "investigator."  Sometimes, I think I hear, but I haven't really understood.  Its a long process, but its part of getting better.  We went to the clinic to get McKinley some tea to help him sleep.  The problem was he hated it, he was basically freaking out when he drank it.  So I went to drink it instead of him, and I slept like a baby that night.

Saturday

Was conference.  Priesthood was amazing, am I right?

Sunday

Today I was tired and sick, but I enjoyed conference even so.  It was wonderful.

Monday

I'm better now.  Our investigators all gave us "letters."  Mine and McKinley's was from Maria, aka Hermana Avocado (since I can't remember what it really is).  Mine was optimistic, but McKinley's tore him apart.  It was a little bit depressing.  Teaching with a companion is hard for me.  I've always been trusting of no one but myself to get things done, but I have to pull along other people throughout the day.  It is hard, but good. Either way, I really think I'm almost ready to go to the field.  I could stay here forever learning how to preach, but that isn't really possible, and I'm about as ready as I will be.  

Tuesday

We listened to a wonderful Devotional from Elder Bednar on Christmas a 2011 at the MTC Provo. It was about the natural man, and becoming like Christ.  Christ turns out to when we as the natural man would turn in.  It was beautiful and has made me want to change as much as I can.  It is amazing being out here and not focusing on myself, and even when I'm dissapointed, I just continue on remembering my purpose to help others and its okay.  I am so grateful for all of you and your prayers.  I love you mom and dad! Tell my siblings to write me, I didn't get any sibling letters this week ;).  I don't think I would worry to hard about your lesson on Sunday papa.  We can spend all day talking about the gospel, but when it comes down to the core, its quite simple, and its all in Preach My Gospel.  Its a simple gospel really.

With lots of love, your favorite elder,

Elder David Austin Barlow.

A gas station. David believes they are government owned

They leave tomorrow, they were my branch president and wife and I played piano a lot for Hermana Jewell.  She used someone else for devotional piano yesterday to share the love and said she missed me.

A pole, the top is where ground level was when the temple was built about thirty years ago.

Me and Elder Moore!

Our district at the CCM sign.

The bus, and the girls, you can see Ritter and Baldwin in the back there.

The guys minus Hooper

The tragedy known as Blockbuster still exists outside of the US.