2/14/22 winter wonderland... #wonderingwhyanyoneliveshere

Hello hello! I hope you all are well!

We had a foolish spring a few days ago. It warmed up to the high 20's and we thought we had finally beaten winter, NOPE. It's been blizzarding since Thursday in the -20's so here we are. It is a beautiful winter wonderland! But for real, why would anyone live here. I do love it here though haha

We had a fun week! Most of our lessons got canceled but that's alright. The ones that happened were super great!

Dawn - She invited us over to do a scripture study and make candles, a recent new hobby of hers. It was fun to sit and talk with her! The gospel was brought up by her as we poured. She had questions and every time we opened the scripture and answered them, she gives the biggest smile!. As the candles were setting we gave her a full restoration lesson. She had been taught most of it, but a review never hurts. The spirit was so strong and the spirit promised her that if she reads the Book of Mormon and prays about it, she will get her answer this week. I love seeing the spirit work through us. I'm so grateful I get to be a part of the action!

Solange - A few of our lessons canceled one on Wednesday, leaving us with a few hours to fill with effective work. We were on our way to go visit a referral and we got stuck behind a train. The trains here in the Dakota's usually cut the city in half so basically the whole city shuts down for 20 minutes while they pass. Sister Gibbs and I were in a rush so being stuck behind that train was brutal. So as we waited we were calling some formers, and a woman named Solange picked up. We testified of God's love and awareness for her and asked if we could come by and show her how we know that.. and she said yes! She was going out of town at the time, but we are meeting with her this next week!

Celeste - to fill our time effectively after our lessons had canceled, we jump on facebook and spirit tract to message people. I came across this woman named Celeste and messaged her something like: "Hey Celeste! Sorry you wouldn't know me but I'm Eve! I just wanted to tell you that you are a daughter of God and he loves you and that miracles are real, Hope you have a great day!". Normally these comments get left on read, but not for Celeste! We had a great conversation about miracles and she thanked me for taking the time. I later found out that she doesn't live in our mission boundaries but she is currently being taught by the missionaries in Chicago! God has a way of guiding people to each other. I'm so grateful I was able to be a part of her story!

I went on an exchange with Sister Martin! We live with the Sisters so no need for a crazy road trip. But we were visiting a few formers and she had the prompting to knock on a certain door. It was a new family that moved in and was super excited to see missionaries and took a book of mormon! We then went to the mall and made a few friends. A security guard was walking around keeping an eye on us the whole time. I honestly thought we were about to be kicked out. But he was very friendly! We said hi to him and he kept following us haha. Kick me out I dare you. This is God's message, you better listen up. It was so nice to be with Sister Martin again. (I trained her) and it was so cool to see how much she's already grown! #proudmom

Sad news for the NDBM. Music is no longer something Salt Lake wants us to do. It does take time to organize and put together, but in the brink of covid it was a great way to find people. Now that we are more or less, out of Covid. Mission Leadership is shutting it down It was fun while it lasted. It almost lasted my entire mission! I keep telling myself that it's the Lord's work, not Sister Barlow's work. I know we'll find more people following what they tell us.

On Saturday we drove to Mayvlle, ND. It's only about a 45 minutes drive from Grand Forks. We were going to have lunch with a member family. I love these small towns. The population is only 128 people. So cute! We pull up to the address they sent us and it's a catholic church. Either we were about to be bashed or we had a wrong address. Neither one was correct though. This family lives in an old Catholic church. We walked in and they gave us a tour. They were remodeling it to not be so cathlic looking haha. The basement was where the kitchen was, and was where their cafeteria was placed. The main floor had a stage and the walls were all arched and high. She had a loft where they used to have pews but she is converting it to a craft room. And on the main floor where the main pews were she just had a normal house set up. I LOVE NORTH DAKOTANS. This was so weird! AHAHAH When you first walk in it has swinging doors to the old chapel/living room. The hallway has rooms to the sides, one being the confessionary that they converted to a library. One of the most strange experiences of my mission but I just love them here. They fed us gas station Pizza (small town delicacy) and it was a good time. One of a kind, that's for sure. I sure love them!

I have been thinking a lot this last week about the Law of Consecration. I love studying these laws. These are higher laws given to the covenant. In a comp study we watched the John Taylor story and I nearly cried. Living God's high laws gives higher joy and meaning. I really just think God wants us to continually sacrifice our will for his. All of our goods for his work, and all our time for him. It's part of our testimony and conversion!

I hope you all have a great week!

xoxo Sister Barlow

3750 Garden View Dr

#211 Grand Forks, ND 58201

Pictures!

- I want to thank my A20 for capturing this snowflake on our dashboard

- Sister Gibbs and I have a disco ball in our car and it's been the best things since Hot Hands

- The crew about the brave the outside x3

- Stanley Meme, but this one really happened this week haha

- The door to the gym is all ice. The whole door is that gray color, that white is all ice!

- SISTER GIBBS! <3

- Snow Snow Snow!