"Oh don't you bring me sweets!! I got hunger ragin' in me ALL.DA.TIME. it's like the war in heaven, gurl." -Marcie after a Plan of Salvation lesson

This was by far the best week of the transfer :) 
Every morning Sister Lindberg and I study together, and we find a scripture of phrase to motivate us through the day. We were reading on Tuesday morning in Preach My Gospel chapter 1 for our Zone Meeting homework, and we picked "People are searching for purpose in life...and you travel among them." 
That day we met 5 unusually nice strangers. Excerpts from June 21 journal entry:
Stranger #1 JV Bernard. We were walking by our house and decided to stop and check the mail. GOOD DECISION. JV was standing in the parking lot looking all confused, and he asked us where an address was. We helped him out but he got really distracted by our shiny nametags and he started asking all the right questions! We talked about our church, and he told us that it is his dream to be a youth minister, he imagines himself speaking to thousands of young people :) He's from Louisiana, but he prayed about it and felt like God wanted him to come here for some reason. All he wants to do is follow God. He is perfect. We gave him a Restoration pamphlet and an appointment for a church tour. He gave us an awesome prayer. MIRACLE. we travel among them! 
Stranger #2 Mitch the Mailman!  Several weeks ago, a mailman pulled over, smiled and said "Hey, I really admire what yall do." while we were out tracting in the heat. Okay, this was the best part of that entire day. I have been grateful for that mailman ever since. And then immediately after meeting Stranger #1, we turned around, and this mailman was delivering our mail! We got to talk to him for a while, and I got to thank him for being a beam of sunshine in a hard day. He knew a lot about missionaries and has met with them before :) He said he used to deliver to the Mission Office, and GOODNESS THAT WAS A LOT OF PACKAGES!
(In case you were wondering, we didn't get any mail.) 

I won't tell you every story, but people were unusually nice to us on Tuesday. Even the Elders! They had the car on free taco day, so they brought us tacos while we were out working :) I took a picture of Elder Perry the Angel.

Sister Lindberg and I had many teaching opportunities and spiritual experiences this week. The people here are prepared and progressing and we are so grateful. Prayers are answered!

Yesterday JV, Stranger #1, came for his church tour. We had a great member with us, he joined the church a few years ago and  his story is really powerful. I love lessons in church buildings, the Spirit is unmistakable! By the end he had accepted to read and pray about the Book of Mormon, and to pray about baptism on July 30th. JV truly has the strongest desire to follow God, like I said before. I admire his humble searching for truth. I know that all who seek for truth will find it. It takes effort, for sure! I know that JV will do what it takes to find his answer. 

Wednesday was our Zone Conference, it was really, really good. My favourite part was the reminder that missionary work isn't meant to be easy. Elder Holland said:  I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. 
Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great 
Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? 
It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in 
Gethsemane. Missionaries and mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the 
summit of Calvary.
He says that through all the rejections, persecutions, and struggles that missionaries endure, we are standing with Jesus Christ and His Atonement will carry us. I guess I needed to hear that! It sure keeps me going!

My mission is the greatest experience of my life. All the ups and downs make me sick sometimes, but I wouldn't trade what I am learning from all of this for anything! Thank you for your love and prayers, have a blessed week! 

Sister Bartsch 💕

PS: The greatest thing happened on Saturday. We went to the Clinton Visitors Center to contact a referral who wanted to learn more about Family History. The lady wasn't there, but another really nice couple was! And they let us talk and pray and even gave us a bunch of community service ideas. AND guess what was going on right then? A Southern Folk/Bluegrass jam session. They do this almost every Saturday. If you know me, you know I LOVE live music. As soon as we walked in they said "Oh, Latter Day Saints from Utah!" We sat down, sang along, and loved every minute of it!!!!! I'll send a video to my mom, maybe yall can hear it somehow :) 

xoxoxoxo

Elders Bringing Tacos.  Life saving!

Bluegrass jam session

"I'm sorry, I aint tryna be racist, but I CANNOT braid white people hair" -Analisa

Hey yall! this week was full of ups and downs, but I will NOT be discouraged! I feel like things actually got started on Thursday, we were able to finally get in contact with people and teach some lessons.

Thursday/Friday we were under a heat advisory and we were praying that someone would let us inside! We didn't have the car and were walking to every potential/less active/former investigator nearby. Instead of letting us in, they would ask us to come back in a few hours, we would schedule a time, and then they wouldn't be there. It felt like we had  been out in the sun all day long!! 😥 it's all good, I got some wicked tan lines!

Sister Lindberg and I did sidewalk chalk at the park while there was a huge birthday party, we got to talk to some people, it was fun :) We also visited the Scott family a few times. There are 37 people living in this house. Most of them are kids. It's a zoo and we love it. Sister Scott has adopted most of her grandkids and she likes to help out anyone who needs a place to stay. Bless her. The girls like to play with our white girl hair and we tell all the little ones scripture stories! 

It was a hard week, but a good week. God is still teaching me lots right now, and I am still trying to learn and change as fast as I can :) I know that the enabling power of the Atonement is real, and that I have all the help I need here in my corner of Clinton, Mississippi. Thanks for your love and support!

Have a blessed week! 💕

Sister Bartsch


Cute kids 👧
Chalk art
the YMCA pool we walk by multiple times each day :)

Santa Clause don even go down'a Jackson, yall sho' don needta go downair! I love yall too much, I wanna see yall again! -Mac, Sheriff at Waffle House

At waffle house! YUM

I swear my mission is going by in weeks, not days.

This week was GREAT! We found two families! Remember how we prayed about tracting Bellevue? Well, we worked on that street for a couple weeks and kept track of all the doors we knocked. Of course, the last possible house was the family we were supposed to find. God likes to test my commitment :) Miss Jackson opened the door and let  us right in! She gave us water and sat her two teenage daughters down to listen to us. We had a great lesson, she recently moved to Clinton and has been trying out churches. In other words, she is perfect. And then she showed us a picture she had just bought at Dollar General to hang on her wall. It's a cross with "When life gets too hard to stand, kneel. -Gordon B Hinckley" We tried not to overwhelm her with our excitement that she had a quote from a Prophet :)

Miss Jackson's new picture!

The second family we found was from a Bible referral in Jackson. Miss Butler is a single mom and he is really excited to read the Book of Mormon. We answered a lot of questions she had about our church, she felt the Spirit, and we will see her tomorrow! Prayers are answered, yall. We have been trying so hard to find people in this area! God is sure looking out for us :)

We spent Friday with the Blacks. I might have already mentioned them, but they are the sweetest couple in the world and they take such good care of the missionaries. They took us to lunch, out for ice cream, and then drove us to Raymond to visit a less-active family. We stopped to take pictures with Brother Back and the cannons because he was so excited about them :) Of all the members in the Clinton ward, the Backs are the missionary favourite.

I got to see baby girl, Sister Maughan, and my granddaughter Sister Child this week! So much love.

I'm still learning this area, but I am finding my groove! God is trying to teach me a lot right now. It's incredible how every area and every companion teaches you more about yourself, your strengths, weaknesses, joys, and frustrations. There is a lot for me to learn here, sometimes I feel like I'm back in college during finals week  and cramming. But instead of just cramming facts I am trying to learn how and what to change to improve myself as quickly as possible! Luckily the Spirit gives me answers as I seek for them. And God doesn't ever rush me to make changes, there isn't an exam date (that I know of). So this is pretty good, much better than college.

I love being a missionary, I love doing the Lord's work every day, and I love all of you. Thank you for your prayers, I sure need them!

Have a blessed week!

Sister Bartsch

Sister Black

Brother Black

With Sister Maughan and Childs. <3

"I'm not even listening to what you're talking. MY MOUTH IS CRYING FOR A BROWNIE!!" -Brother Alhalteh

Kermit. Scuse my sweaty face. I hate when they squirm.

🎶"If I could have seen the future, back a few years ago.. I wouldn't believe what was coming just down the road! I'm father than I ever pictured, I've done more than I ever planned. It's easy to see that who I'm supposed to be is in someone else's hands. 🎶

Yall, I have been a missionary for a whole year! Sometimes I have moments when I realize how far I have come, they hit me all at once and I am so grateful for everything that  has contributed to me becoming who I am! I heard this song on Sunday morning and the beginning was perfect. That's all the sappy reflective stuff yall are going to get today :) 

This week was great! It went by really fast. I got to proselyte a little bit in Jackson. It's a really rough place.. so we are really careful and we take a bodyguard! Megan Gordon. She is the sassiest person I have EVER met. But we make her cupcakes and she drives us to our referrals and appointments in the hood 😊

On Thursday we went to see Shontay! Sister Nash found her months ago! The Sisters  have been teaching her and her daughters for a while now. She has committed to baptism dates several times and never felt ready for them. She has been taught everything we are supposed to teach her, so we prayed about it, and decided to talk about temples! We brought some pictures and discussed temple ordinances and blessings. In the middle of our discussion about eternal marriage, she pulls out her phone and starts scrolling and whispering to her 11 year old daughter Janaria. Something about "Saturday.. mornings.. what do you think.. no, too far?" I was sitting there thinking "awman, she's trying to schedule a return appointment so she can get us out of here.. alright, I can take a hint!" and then she says "how about August 6th for our baptism?" 'scuse me? She had been praying about being baptized and set herself with a date! We contained our excitement and agreed. She even set a time. She says all she has to do is find someone to baptize her, so there is a big chance she will move her date up :) so exciting! As we were leaving she said "it must've been all that talk about temples! mmmm!" The Spirit, yall. I'll try to get a picture with her and her girls this week :)

Finding at the park has become one of our favourite things to do! Even though we have to bike hills in the heat of the day, it's worth it. We've taught some moms while their kids are playing and I've been working on my talking to strangers and chalk art skills. Sister Lindberg and I even caught a Kermit! 

We got Bible Bashed this week! That's when someone invites us inside to yell and argue at us :) We are taught to not contribute to the contention, but take the verbal beating, bear testimony, tell them you don't feel the Spirit, ask to say a prayer, and then excuse yourself. Every time I've found myself in one of these situations, I feel an overwhelming confirmation as we are leaving that what I am doing is right, what I am teaching is true, and that I am looking for those who have softened hearts, open minds, and prepared spirits. Bashers think they 'beat' me, but they do nothing but strengthen my testimony! Truth always wins :) 

This week I started reading Revelation. I'm SO CLOSE to finishing the New Testament for the first time in my life :) I think lots of people share this concern, but people down here are especially scared of Revelation. One time as I was fixing to read a scripture this guy Joe said "woooooah now, this girl preachen' REVELATION? ight." and he sat forward and actually paid attention. Haha :) it's a crowd pleaser. Anyway, I've been kind of nervous to read it. So I printed a few study guides and helps to read along with it, learned a bunch about the historical context, persecution of the early Christian Church, the exile of John, and what some of the symbolism means. I started reading on Saturday and I LOVE IT. It's amazing what you can learn when you have the Spirit helping you. I've really grown to love my study time. One thing I love is all through the first few chapters, John tells us of the many blessings and rewards "he that overcometh" will receive. Things like the crown of life, eating from the tree of life, sitting with Christ on his throne, etc. I've been pondering what he could mean by overcoming rather than "he that repents", "he that keeps the commandments", "he that is perfect", or any other good thing! he that overcometh. I'll let yall ponder that one this week :) 

I could keep going, but I'll just say that this weekend I felt like Lehi: 
"..and he cast himself upon his bed, being overcome with the Spirit.." 1 Nephi 1: 7

I love being a missionary, I love everything I am learning, I love all of you that support me, and I love all the encouragement that comes from your prayers. 

Have a blessed week! Work on overcoming your trials, temptations, and weaknesses.
I love yall!

Sister Bartsch

Photo captions: 
#2 We helped out at a superhero birthday party for one of the less-active families in the ward! Sister Lindberg and I got to wear masks. 
#3  We helped out at a superhero birthday party for one of the less-active families in the ward! 
Sister Lindberg and I got to wear masks. 
#4   Sister Lindberg, Love Her 💕

OH And Sister Nash came to spend the night with us :) I love her and miss her dearly. And I hate early morning pictures.

we went fishing! I didn't catch anything, though. I'm really not good at it. Even the times we went catfishing in  hattiesburg I was bad!  And yes, the thing got in my mouth a little bit. Elder Hartman pushed. naaaaaaaasty! 

"studying without a purpose is like.. it goes in one eye and out your ear.. or something like that!" -Elder Stokes

Hey yall I'm in Clinton! 

I'm not a liar, so I will tell yall that my fist week here was rough! My new companion Sister Lindberg and I share the car with a set of Elders, and we switch every week. It was our week with the car when I got here (yesss) but we were totally out of miles (noooooo). SO we biked and walked everywhere! The heat and humidity tried to kill me, yall. And it's not even June! I remember getting off the plane a year ago and I know it's worse. Pray for me! Adjusting to a new area is such a weird experience. All new faces, names, streets, missionaries, leaders, apartment, the list goes on. But I am learning names, getting to know my way around, planning on buying earplugs to combat a snoring companion and train tracks right by our apartment, and finding things to love about this place! I'll get there! 

I've run out of time... We have to run to our service project in Jackson. I have some pictures, though!

1. I rode the Transfer Van with Sister Elms! She is home now. That is crazy. Sister Dobbins went home, too! They are doing well :)

2nd night in Clinton - Star Wars activity

2. My second night in Clinton we had a huge Star Wars activity! It was a Clue game, and Sister Lindberg had an extra shirt. Bless her, because yall know I don't have one! I learned some stuff about Star Wars! Can't say I thought I'd say that on my mission.

3. Okay, yall, don't be creeped out. But Sister Lindberg and I have been doing a lot of sidewalk chalk at parks in our area. So yesterday we are drawing the Plan of Salvation and  A HOCKEY PLAYER STARTS PRACTICING IN THE TENNIS COURT. I was so excited. As he was leaving, I talked to him, told him I was from Canada, and asked if there was any hockey around Clinton.. the answer was no. He wasn't super friendly. But I still asked him who was in the final round of the playoffs :) (go pens) and tried to share some gospel with him but then he left. Darn it. I really wanted to teach a hockey player :( 

4. But we have had some fun and some success with the chalk here! People's curiosity gets them to come see what we are drawing. Someone approached  us and asked us about Pre-Mortal Life! We talked to her and gave her a pamphlet. Earlier we had prayed about where to tract this month, and one of the streets was Bellevue. Guess where this lady lives? BELLEVUE! Coincidence? Of course not. I sense a cool story in the making.

Last weekend there were 3 baptisms here in Clinton :) the new members are amazing and I love them. But we have a lot of finding to do! Gotta get that teaching pool filled back up! So we are working hard. I love Sister Lindberg. She just finished training and she is really trying to give this mission her best! I really admire that :) ahhhh wish I had more time, but we will get the call to leave any second. 

Yall stay particular!
Have a blessed week!

Sister Bartsch

my REAL year mark is the 15th. and my six-months-until-going-home is the 21st. So I'm celebrating all month

I am Dede's fifth missionary!

hockey player in Mississippi!

Chalk Art works, Ya'll!

Transfer van with Sister Elms