10/18/21 twenty!

Thank you all for the birthday wishes! I've felt so loved this past week and you all are incredible!

We were hit with our first snow storm of the foreseen winter. We were in district counsel and finished it off by walking outside to be reminded that we all don't like how cold snow is. Rapid City is apart of the "banana belt" because the rest of South Dakota will have 4 weeks of negative degree weather and Rapid City will only have 3... So bless our luck. I will say the snow is beautiful! It wasn't' as cold as I remember it being, but I was in Aberdeen and I'm basing my standing outside in 17 degree weather here to being in Aberdeen in -28. God is good and all us missionaries drove very safely that day!

On the day of our snow storm I had to go get some blood tested *readers skip to the next paragraph if you get woozy with blood* at one of the offices here. I'm usually decently strong stomached with these type of things, but as soon as they got the needle in me she told me I had "wiggly veins" and I was out like a light. They went and got Sister Martin and they wheeled me to a room and I just remember seeing all these nurses laughing at me with my companion and I just feeling super weak. hahahha I guess I wasn't the first one to pass out that day. They were all super kind and I would friend them on facebook if I got their names. Nurses, I have so much respect for what you do. They gave me a juice box. #blessed

Because of me passing out, Sister Martin had to drive us around the whole day. Sister Martin is from Arizona and has never driven in snow... we went slow and eventually got home hahaha. But it really took a while hahah!

I had the privilege of going on an exchange with Sister DuPaix! We had a lesson with this lady named Shawnte, and a member was planning on joining us. But Shawnte arrived and the member was nowhere insight so we called her and she had a flat tire and no gas so she couldn't get there. Life happens and we totally understand, but Shawnte grabbed the phone from our hands and told our member to meet her at the gas station, and we hopped in the car and met our member at the gas station and SHAWNTE FILLED HER TANK and it was the most Christ-like thing i've ever seen a stranger do. Talk about reverse fellowship. It's these type of moments that just make my heart leap.

One of our dear members was telling us this story of her, and I'll spare the details but she kept being called a "curmudgeon" by lots of different people and it made her so mad. Hence, being called a curmudgeon. hahah

But I really had the best birthday! Sister Dupaix made me some breakfast and we had so many lessons on our exchange! Our day was so busy and I loved it! I was sung too at least 4 times and our sweet members made me some food and I just felt so loved so THANK YOU! The big plus of that day is that is was my daddy's bday too. We are allowed to call our parents on their birthdays but not our own, but it helps if you were born on your dads birthday so you technically get to call on your birthday as well!

We are starting to get our cold front out here. It's been 30-40 degrees the past few days. Nothing extreme, but it's different from the 80's which we've had the past few months. But let me tell ya, South Dakota's don't care. Every Friday night we play volleyball at Founders Park, its an outside sand court but its always packed, so it's a great time. But this last Thursday it was 40 and they still were playing! 40 may not sound that cold, but after standing outside for a long time it feels like 0. Everyone was barefoot with jackets on but by the end I was so cold I couldn't feel my feet. South Dakota is such a wonder to me.

Now let's talk about Enos. I haven't really dove into this book in the Book of Mormon yet, but I think it was my favorite study this week. Enos had an experience much like Joseph Smith, (called me by name, as he is asking for forgiveness from his sins). Enos being worried about the welfare of his people, asking God that by his will, if he cannot save by their unrepented iniquity, then to at least save his peoples records so in a due time they may be revealed to the Lamanites. I love his earnest faith. As I read this book this week, what kept coming to my mind was "Thy Will Be Done" and also "According to Thy Faith". I love that God allows us to exercise our faith, but we grow stronger when we exercise our faith AND when we understand they it is all according to the will of God. Go read Enos please and send me your insights :)

Another book I think everyone should read is, "Our Search for Happiness" by M Russell Ballard. I found a copy in our apartment last week and I've been reminiscing on how much I love this book. It's very short, worth the time. It's basically the "What Do We Believe" book. President Ballard explains it all so well. Go read it!

I love you all! Go have a great week and please be safe!

Sister Barlow

265 Federal Ave Rapid City, SD 57702

Pictures:

Snow Art w/ Martin

Snow District

Sister Martin covering my eyes as I start to black out (this really was so funny)

Halloween Pancakes by the Jorgensen Family

Birthday Brecky!

My sweet sisters

Hope made me my Birthday Dinner!

Get yourself to church!