6/28/21 Canola

Hey! So here's the scoop. President and Sister Howell leave this following Wednesday. This week has the the busiest and craziest week I've had as a missionary.

We moved into the larger apartment on north Bismarck! It was the old STL's apartment and we got permission to move, which was good because later in the week our Mission Leadership Council would be happening, so all the STL's in the mission would be coming to Bismarck and we would get to house them. It was the BEST of TIMES and the WORST of TIMES! So many sisters oh goodness... They all drove on Thursday to do Baptisms in the Bismarck Temple, so really, we were just the housing point. We were constantly driving back and forth bringing Sisters and taking Sisters one way. RIP our area. But I was able to know 30 Sisters I hadn't been able to meet yet in the mission! I feel lucky to be in a mission with so many dedicated Missionaries. Thursday Night we all had dinner at President and Sister Howell's home and I love these sisters with all my heart. The Elders stayed inside and talked and all the sisters played the most intense game of Volleyball which turned into a game of frisbee and it was wild. Kindred Spirits they are though. Friday Morning was MLC. I got a call the night before right at 10:30 from the AP's with the assignment to throw a musical number together by the morning. HEAVEN BLESSINGS because I was working on a piece already and I just roped in one of our elders who is a pro at sight reading and it was ready by 8am.

I love getting to be a part of the Mission Leadership Council. I felt chastised but it was good. I feel like I am always learning something new that I should be doing in my missionary work. Believe it or not, "Member work is our 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 8th highest priority" according to our beloved Mission President. I have already seen miracles of using the members for our finding. Our technique is almost numerical. President Howell is a numbers guy so everything always has a stat, sadly I hear numbers and after a few they all blend together but in conclusion: Member Work = exponential growth! I loved the emphasis on Urgency. With the Howell's leaving soon as well as almost 20% of our missionaries the whole mission needed a kick in the pants to be more urgent. WHAT A BLESSING! Sister Erdmann and I noticed it awhile ago, but just getting chastised a bit was the fire we needed to really hype up our missionaries.

We volunteered at the zoo again this week but it was for their weekend breakfast. We were just filling drinks but we got to talk to a lot of people! We got talking to this one woman and she shared that she was catholic but she respected our choice to come on a mission at such a young age. She then asked what we wanted to do when we got home and we both had the same answer of unsurity. She then goes on to say " you could do a lot of things, you could work in business, or with people, or maybe just being a missionary is your thing". That last sentence keeps ringing in my head. I am not sure what I want to do when I go home but maybe being a missionary can be my thing.

I got the call from President Howell to go with Him and Sister Howell to the Beulah branch to play in their sacrament meeting. It was short notice, but the Lord provides. I found a piece and called one of my new committee members to drive down and accompany me. Beulah is only about an hour from Bismarck so we left that morning and get this... we arrived at Howell's home and President Howell gave us the keys to his car and LOL WE DROVE PRESIDENTS CAR TO BEULAH and it had NO TIWI! Easily the most thrilling part of my week. President and Sister Howell stayed in the back seat working on their last minute duties and our safety was in Sister Erdmann's and My hands. President Howell was constantly giving Sister Erdmann driving pointers and eventually unbuckled and showed her what each extra gear did. It was so funny going through a drivers ed class with President hahahah. We arrived at their chapel and I could just feel the love that the Lord has for this branch. The whole sacrament meeting was full in their small building and really all their members really wanted to be there. We felt so welcome. They are so faithful. This was my first branch I have ever attended and truthfully I feel they have the faith to move mountains. It's a different feeling than a word. These were their people, their friends,and they all loved the Lord. We performed and I will just hope the Lord translated for me haha because we did not have our song quite ready in time. But nonetheless, the Lord uses the weak and simple. We met Miss North Dakota International because she was a member of the branch, and her mom sent us home with homemade egg rolls. President Howell drove home and we got stuck in a crazy rain storm! You could not see the road! But we kept going. President then turns on a dirt road and says "let's go on an adventure!" and we did! Sister Howell was freaking out the whole time because President Howell does not brake on dirt roads at all. But as we adventured we came across this canola field. I had no idea that canola oil came from a flower! It's a beautiful bright yellow flower and it's just the prettiest thing. We had to stop and take pictures. My favorite part was watching President Howell frolic through the canola field like a giddy bunny. I'm going to miss this man. Our drive home had a lot of other stops and more adventures, but I feel privileged to get to travel with both of them before they leave this week.

In many circumstances, you are called to your mission president and not the place. I'm not sure exactly which one I am yet, but if I could give one thing I've learned from President and Sister Howell is: take the road less traveled by

I remember reading that poem in 7th grade english but I never put it to practice till now. My Missions President and wife were not your ordinary Presidents. They did things different. They took on social media head on piloting so much for the church. They encouraged every missionary to use their talents and skills to find people and invite them closer to Christ. And even, do take the literal road less traveled by,, because it does make all the difference. They have helped be comfortable with change and learning new skills on my own. They have helped me see the value in all of God's creations. Most of all I feel they really do love us missionaries. I will be forever grateful for my time to serve under President and Sister Howell.

Thank you all for your prayers. You all are awesome!!!

My new address

4270 N 19th ST APT 214

Bismarck ND 58503

Love ya!

Sister Barlow

pictures:

our road less traveled by

out temple trip!

Miss North Dakota International

NDBM STL's

NDBM MLC