8/16/21 Anything for you Elder Wong

 Hey! Super big week!

We started the week doing an exchange with all our sets of Sisters. Exchange miracles are so real! Our goal was to find one new one day, and we went to visit one of their old formers. By MIRACLE she was home and we sat down and talked with her, her son, and their friend that was over. As we talked we shared a lot of the Book of Mormon and they all wanted their own copy! We read a bit and they all decided together that it was time to go to church! Therefore, after scheduling a next lesson THEY GOT 3 NEW! Exchanges bring on the most insane miracles. God is so good.

We finished our exchanges at the BismarckMandan Day of Caring. Basically the whole city gets together to do service. We were assigned to volunteer at the Girls Scouts Center. We spent 6 hours helping put together packets for their 'Big Event". My hands killed after because I was in charge of cutting out these astrology matching games. Another set of our sisters was assigned to the Girl Scouts too and so together we got to work together! The other 2 volunteers asked a lot of questions about what we do as missionaries and we were able to share bits and pieces of our message. Overall a very successful service! By the end of it they all followed our Facebook page!

This weekend was the most unique weekend of my mission. Elder Garry E Stevenson came to Bismarck and spoke to us missionaries and spoke in the North Dakota Bismarck Stake Conference! For real it was incredible!

All the missionaries in the NDBM drove into Bismarck Saturday to hear him! For the stats, this mission covers 5 states. So having all the missionaries drive in means that some had to drive upwards 8 hours there and back all on Saturday. This mission is a goof that way. I'm a lucky ducky and Im in Bismarck so I didn't have any crazy road trip. It was a blast getting to see all the missionaries in the mission. This will probably never happen again hahaha.

Earlier in the week I got the assignment to prepare the music for the event. We planned and FRIDAY AFTERNOON (the day before) it finally came all together. We have some super talented missionaries and they were able to arrange a piece for the intermediate hymn. My miracle is how quickly this arrangement was learned!

Elder Stevenson talked about how our missions will define us. He then promised that we all are where we need to be. We were called by heaven to be serving in North Dakota! One of my favorite things he shared is how as missionaries we have all we need to teach his gospel: the scriptures, Preach My Gospel, and the Missionary Standards. He shared that as missionaries we will have more rules we have to follow at any time in our lives. But if we follow each rule, each is a special blessing. So as missionaries we have more opportunities to receive blessings as we follow these specific rules from Heavenly Father! I don't know what I was expecting, But Elder Steveson is just a normal person. He brought the spirit definitely, but he is just a normal person, called of God, to bear a special witness! I think we could be friends.

Elder Sam Wong from the North America Central Area, and Elder Jeffery Kerr from the Area Seventy accompanied him! Elder Wong spoke first. He shared how we should only do things if theres a reason behind it, DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME! In order to help visualise his point, he shared how when I lead the music I move my fingers and just that simple movement shows how much I want them to sing well. Then he CALLED ME UP TO THE STAND and made me lead a fake song and then roasted the pianist for not watching my lead! HAHAHAHAHA  It was hilarious. I never thought in a million years I would be called out by an Area representative on how I conduct music. What's funny is that I have been called out by it a few times before... 

Elder Jeffery and Sister Diana Kerr were present as well. They both bore strong testimony on the Book of Mormon and the living prophet and apostles! 

Later that day we had a lesson with Nicole at the church. We walk in to the building and Sister Kerr is standing right there! We get to talk with her and we shared a lot of stories. She's a doll. Would definitely be her bff. She asked what we were going to teach and shared that when Elder Stevenson would get out of his meeting she would ask if he wanted to join our lesson for a bit... Of course we said he was welcome... but I nearly passed out. We had our lesson with Nicole which was spirit packed and I am so proud of her. But sadly, Elder Stevensons meeting ran long and they were not able to stop in. Would have been cool! But i'm not too terribly shocked ahahha. 

Nicole is getting baptized this Thursday! She had her interview yesterday and she invited us to sit in on it. She answered everything perfectly and it was such a proud mom moment for me and Sister Erdmann! I can not wait for Thursday! 

Funniest quotes from the week 

Elder Gong

- "With my White Hair, God is already trying to celestialize my body"

- "When I'm with with you I act like I'm 20, When I'm with them I act like a 70" 

Nicole:

- "You mean to tell me that Jesus was 30 and never got with a chick" (during her lesson about Christ's life...ummmmm)   

Also sad moment, Barlow the Beta fish died this week ;( 

Elder Garry E Stevenson

- "if you give a man a fish you will feed him for a day, if you teach him how to fish, you'll ruin his wifes birthday, holidays, and so forth" 

But anyways, It was a fab week!  

xoxo Sister Barlow

4720 N 19th ST APT 214

Bismarck, ND 58503

Pictures:

Sister Kerr! 

Highway Clean up! 

Sunflower field + ND drought :( not as big as they are supposed to be

Mcklusky ND! Smallest town but the coolest people, + Sister Bowers

Girls Scout Troop Leader Wendy at Day of Caring!