Sister Dakota Bartsch: "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