Hello, all!

I've been serving in the field for only a week, and I am already so happy. The day I got here I had two appointments, and Sister Dobbins has kept us on a solid schedule since then! She is a great missionary, I am very blessed to have her as a companion :) She's from California and is almost half way through the mission. Just last week she recovered from Hand Foot and Mouth, some child's disease or something.. so her luck isn't stellar, but I love her anyway!

I love teaching. It was hard and uncomfortable the first few lessons, but I am catching on quickly and learning to enjoy it more. There are so many beautiful people here. They're just kind, full of faith, and so friendly! Of course there are some people who resist our message pretty harshly, and at first that would hurt my feelings, but I toughened up real quick!! Tracting is pretty entertaining for that reason, and I also am working on a Bingo card to make tracting more enjoyable. Lizzards, preacher's houses, people working on cars, etc. It really helps.

We have a lovely member that takes good care of us. Sis P is a convert of almost a year, and she comes out to teach with us. She also fed me alligator and crawfish for my first time :)

Yesterday, FOUR of our investigators came to church! And two of them nearly begged to be baptized. The lessons in Sunday School and Relief Society were on the Holy Ghost, and they wanted that gift so so so badly. One even called at 2:00 AM asking more questions :) I'll let you know how that goes! They haven't even had a missionary lesson yet! Pray for Sunny and Bertha :)

Also, oh my word, Relief Society in the South. It was AWESOME. I've never seen a chorister (Sis P) stop us in the middle of the Hymn and say "Nah nah nah, y'all can do better than that, start over" and then "I aint standin in front of a classroom where y'all ain't PARTICIPATIN'" She is an administrater at a high school, and is such a classic southern woman. It's great.

Besides those investigators, we have a couple more with baptismal dates. It feels pretty good. Beth and Glenn are two of my favourites! We teach a lot of older people out here, and their hears are just so pure! The best experiences I have had so far have been when I am teaching someone and I can feel so strongly their Heavenly Father's love for them. When I can feel that, I am given the words to say to help them feel it also. It's a beautiful thing, to invite people to come unto Christ, and I am very blessed to have this calling.

While we were teaching Beth the first lesson, she was telling us about how her health problems are making housework and gardening too difficult. When I asked her what day we can come back and help out, tears came to her eyes! She said that she is always on the nurturing end of service, and rarely do people take care of her. Beth loves being the answer to someone elses prayers, but  hers feel unanswered! (HEARTWRENCHING) So she said "y'all are part of my little miracle, you are angels, and I thank you" and we will see her again to do some gardening on Wednesday :) And, if she will let us get a word in, we will teach her something. Beth is definitely a talker.

There have been a lot of wonderful stories this week, but I won't go on too long :) In case you are curious, I have already picked up a bit of an accent! Also, bug bites are a sad fact of life here - I pretty much bathe in bug spray and my shins are still always itchy. I think I am at 20 bites from the knee down? It's fantastic.  I am coming down with some kind of illness, so pray for me! We aren't sure if we will make it to our appointments this evening or if we will need to go to the doctor :( OTHER THAN THAT everything is well!! Send me letters, kay?

I love y'all, have a blessed day

Sister Bartsch

2305 Ovietto Lane
Bossier, LA 71111

Attached is a view from my balcony in the morning, my first day tracting, and my lovely companion