"Ain't nothin better happen to that turd but innair, who else would I raise hick at??"

The rain!

This week felt like 4 years. The sky was overcast and thundery most of the week, we even got caught in a really bad storm while on campus and were drenched by the time we got to the car. When the rain is bad enough, it looks white, and I miss snow :) 

We did LOTS of service this week. Nailed down vinyl hardwood floor in Miss Kaye's trailer (not the best technique, even I know that), worked at the thrift store, volunteered at Bishop'e Storehouse, and joined the Lamar county cleanup day. Dede spent most of the week with us, bless her, and she already sent my mother most of the pictures I'm going to send y'all. I love getting out and serving, it's nice to make an impact, meet new people, and wear pants! The zone got all mixed up this transfer, so it was nice to see everyone a couple times, make sure they're all alive. 

nailin dem floors

Before we nailed the floor for Kaye, we had a nice lesson! Her commitment was to find a favourite scripture and share it with US. She used the pamphlets we'd given her and chose some in 3 Nephi 27. She said that when she read them she felt peace and comfort and love. Earlier that week she had studied about prophets and had a better understanding of their role to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I just love her. She is marking her scriptures, finding answers to her prayers, and truly trying to improve herself. We woke her up Sunday morning for church, she said she wanted to come, but we think something fell through with her boyfriend giving her a ride. Her phone is off right now, but we are going by tonight to make sure all is well! I just love her. Her progression no longer surprises me! I know she can do this, I can see it! She is getting there one day at a time and I am guiding her and cheering her on as best I can. 

We found two new investigators this week!! That is a big deal for this area. One of them was in Sumrall, our small town that I have been dying to work. And the other was on Sunflower Avenue :) Her name is Jennifer and she seems perfect. We had prayed really hard about where to tract (the same way we prayed in Bossier to find Yolanda on Nattin Street, if you remember), and both felt the need to tract Sunflower! Jennifer let us right in, we taught her a really basic first discussion, and she told us that something has been bugging her to find a church home for her family. SPIRIT. She accepted a Book of Mormon and we will be seeing her again this week! I really struggle with tracting, it is not my favourite thing to do by far, but it is all worth it when we find such wonderful people who let us share our message. There's nothing better! I love when we let the Spirit guide us. There is no way we would be able to find people like Jennifer without help, there are far too many doors! 

This week was a good one. I had lots of pondering moments. I was living a part of one of my favourite talks by Barry Willardson called Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth. He said: 
"I remember looking up into the night sky as we drove on and seeing it filled with stars. ... As I gazed upon the night sky, I had this overwhelming impression that God was in His heaven and was in control. I commented on this to my companion, wondering how anyone could look up into the night sky and not feel the same thing."
There were moments this week where I felt very aware of God, and His plan for me and all of His children. Just driving home at night I thought about how short this life is. How there is so much more to our existence than what we think, and so much more going on than what we see! We have a loving Father in Heaven, a blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, and so much divine potential. I think I shared Hebrews 11 with yall already, but I still love it so much. The whole chapter is beautiful, but verses 13-16, 25-26, and 38-40 bring tears to my eyes. God loves every last one of you, as a missionary I think my heart has grown to be able to feel a little bit of His love for everyone. It's real, I promise. 

The things you feel are as real as the things you see. The Spirit is real because it is discernible.

I love yall. Have a blessed week! 

Sister Bartsch

P.s. a quick explanation about the subject line:  This is a Classic Kaye. She is talking about her boyfriend Tony. And raising hick is kind of like raising Cain, which is like doing mean things, like you know, Cain in the Bible! Raising hick is less violent, I think. 

Lamar County Cleanup!

Curent Purvis District 

Goodbye Elder Peck! He went to the Shreveport Zone!

Lamar County Cleanup!

Lamar County Cleanup!

 MY BABY AND GRANDBABY!!!!

Regan Trussell opened her mission call to the Philippines!

 Sister Scott (MTC companion) came to my Zone!!!! ❤❤

"I really wish yall would go without me, but yall jus aint havin it." -Kaye

I'll be staying here in Oak Grove for another six weeks! That will make six months here :) And six months in Bossier. And two transfers for every companion. My mission is very predictable. But I am thrilled to stay, I love this place and I really feel that the area has turned around. Also the zone is flipping upside down! We are adopting 4 more companionships, changing up a couple districts, getting a new Zone Leader (fifth one I've worked with since being here), and getting a whole bunch'a new missionaries. We even get another set of Sisters! Hooray!

Saturday might have been one of the best days of my mission. Absolutely nothing went as planned! I found out that Nicole's baptism was at 1:00 out in Columbia. I had taught her on exchanges a few months ago and I have been waiting for this day ever since! She still has my Plan of Salvation drawing on her fridge, and she says she is going to get it laminated. Anyways, we can't go to baptisms without an investigator. So we called EVERYONE (because we wanted them to feel the Spirit and learn and stuff, obviously. Not because we wanted to go) and guess who agreed? MISS KAYE. I'm telling yall, she is wonderful. We invited Dede to drive us out there and promised to buy her lunch. All Kaye wanted was a cold Coke. So we have 30 minutes until we have to leave, and we run to Five Guys. Guess who is working? Yolanda! Her daughters were the ones that gave me my whip dance lesson on exchanges in Hattiesburg. YALL SHE GAVE US FREE LUNCH, a wink, and a big hug. Being an STL and doing a bunch of exchanges has never paid off so well. Then Kaye calls again asking us to go without her. Somehow she agreed again (email subject line). We ate lunch with Dede, picked up Kaye, and drove the 40 minutes to Columbia with the windows down. Sister Nash and I were just beaming in the backseat. I hadn't done anything spontaneous in 10 months, it felt pretty good. The baptism was lovely. I was so happy we could be there with Nicole! The four of us almost doubled the people there, so we were glad to support her. After Nicole was baptized, the Brother conducting thought he was funny and said "anyone else want to get in?" I wish yall could see Kaye's face!! She ran. Man, I love her, and I laughed about that for a long time. Afterwards we got snocones and took her back home. She got out of the car and said "See yall ladies tomorrow!" We realized she had just invited herself to Church, and we all drove off in shock. She didn't end up coming, but it's okay :) I felt her testimony grow and I know that is uncomfortable for her. She needed some time. We finished Saturday off by going for Mexican Food with a cute family, and holding kittens. Good day. 

Yesterday Branden came to church! He was a referral from a member that we started teaching this week. We were on exchanges, of course, so Sister Nash taught him without me. He is a big guy with a huge beard and a 5 year old son. Super sweet and interested in the Gospel. I hope to have more news about him soon!

YALL I JUST FOUND OUT I AM A GRANDMA!!!! Sister Maughan is going to be the best trainer. I can't wait! 

This week we began acting on the plans we've made to solve our ward's problems, help our Sisters find new people to teach, start the culture change in the zone, and change the reputation of this area. Things are going well, thanks for the prayers :)

On Monday night we met Jeremy in Kaye's trailer park. He seemed to know the Bible well, have good outlooks, and an interest in the Gospel. He's one of those people that refuses to call us by our last name and feels the need to tell us his opinion on every controversial topic. It's hard to get anything passed his head to his heart, if you know what I mean. It's hard to explain. But by the third lesson we were struggling with him not understanding what our purpose is and why we leave him commitments. For example he says "When I pray I just say thank you, whenever something goes right I say thank you. That is just how I pray!" and we invite him to begin forming a relationship with God! Talk with him, thank him for your blessings, but also ask him for help, guidance, and truth! He was kind of fighting us with stuff like this as we were trying to leave, and he just wasn't understanding. Sister Nash looked him in the eye and said "Jeremy, we invite people to change. (long pause) To come closer to Jesus Christ. Do you want to change?" He didn't give us a solid answer, but she sure got me thinking! I am so grateful for change! I have seen so many wonderful people change before and during my mission. I have had hope for change in myself and others my whole life. I love knowing that it is always possible through our Savior Jesus Christ. It's never too late! We are never too far! I invite people every day to make simple changes that will bring immeasurable blessings, and I have made those same changes in myself. I can't put to words how much happier I have become over the last 10 months. So, everyone, you know it's coming, I invite you to make a change! Do something more! Maybe that means beginning to pray, going to the temple more, or showing a little extra love to others. Tell your Heavenly Father you want to make this change. He will not only help you, but he will also bless you :)

Most Southern moment of my life. Kaye just got her riding lawnmower back from being fixed, she rode down to her big burn pile in the back of her trailer park so we could help with her bonfire. She sends us back to the trailer to get a rake and a HUGE dog broke it's leash and jumped on Sister Nash (she's ok) and so we woke up the owner and she came out in her pajamas to chase it down. 

Turns out the dog's leash was an extension cord.. so we all followed her with the cord, Kaye on the mower, and Sister Nash with the rake. I was at the back laughing so hard I couldn't hold my camera still to take pictures. I had to get a side shot of Kaye so you could see the Coke and the slippers, too. WHERE AM I? 

I love you all so much. Thank you for your sweet support :)

Have a blessed week!

Sister Bartsch

"Somewhere between now and your third child you will realize the mission was the best thing FOR your life." -Brother Tolbert

Lots happened this week!!!

Crawfish cookin'

Southern food. Yall, I had some experiences this week. First, Kool-Aid Pickles (Koolickles) ARE SO GOOD. I never would have expected it, but I am going to get the recipe out of this guy and show all of you. He's trying to keep it a secret, but I think I can trade the gospel for the recipe, c'mon. It looks like you might have already seen my crawfish boil, that was a first for me! But Southerners know what they are doing. Dede & Joel and Britney & Matthew bought 40 pounds of live mudbugs from Petal, MS and there was SO MUCH. We are actually doing another boil today for other missionaries :)

This week was MLC!! As usual, I loved seeing everyone. We counseled and decided on some more big changes for the mission! We'll be telling the Zone on Wednesday, I really hope they catch the same vision we have. This mission could really use a culture change! And we are trying to bring it about by following advice and suggestions from the Missionary Department. Pray for us! The highlight of my MLC weekend, though, was seeing my baby, Sister Maughan!! We got to stay the night at her apartment in Madison :) She is doing so well. We laughed and cried and I still love her so much.

 Koolickles

And then, of course, General Conference! I've never looked forward to it like I have on my mission. I sit and listen to every word and I love it. For me, the theme was reminding us of our divine identity as children of God. Understanding that is something that changes us! I know God loves me, I have felt that love. And I have felt small little bits of His care for others as I serve them. I know our loving Heavenly Father sees so much potential in each of us. With obedience to His guidance we can reach that! Our Savior Jesus Christ has a greater understanding of our lives, all that we go through, all that is asked of us, all of our struggles, and all of our rejoicing than we could ever imagine. He is only as far away as we push Him! I'm working every day to let Him help me, to follow His promptings instead of my own silly thoughts, and to trust in His timing. By doing all of that I know that He will make of my much more than I ever could make of myself :)

This is such a happy time for me. Being a missionary is so not what I expected it to be. But I love it! The more I consecrate myself, the happier I am. I know that I have so much support from home, I know that there are people praying for my companion, my investigators, my area, and little 'ol me! I know that I am simply telling the children of God the truth all day every day. And there is just nothing better than that! Yesterday I was driving (kind of fast) down long windy roads from Sumrall to Oak Grove between General Conference sessions. Leaving the crawfish boil was hard, so we were running behind, I was even still eating a koolickle.  Everything was so green and pretty, we were listening to some folk-y hymns, and pondering General Conference messages. I've never felt more Southern. And I realized how happy I really am right now! Prayers are answered and the Atonement is real. Hallelujah!

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (I love this whole chapter.)
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

And I love every last one of you.
Have a blessed week!!

Sister Bartsch

Baby Gurl

Britney!

Crawfish cookin'

Britney's son Remmy during conference. Happiest kid. 

Crawfish cookin'

Driving to MLC

Sister Stephens and I on splits.

3. SouthMouth deli plays good music AND has yummy food. We go often.

Well, God has done told me I can keep you! You is stuck, Chuck. -Kaye, my biggest fan

Easter with my best friend!

Once again, Kaye is our sweet miracle for this week. I know I should have high hopes and not be surprised when she makes progress, but MAN. I have been in awe lately. The Spirit is a real thing. I know for a fact it was nothing I, Sister Kelly, Sister Nash or the Elders last year said that got Kaye into the church building. That was a straight up miracle. On Wednesday we met her at the church for a tour! She tried to wriggle her way out of it 30 minutes before, but I wouldn't have that!! She came, she felt the Spirit, and she left. I wish you could have seen the dancing I did down the hallway after she drove away. I was on exchanges with Sister Thompson and Dede was with us, they just laughed at me. Sister Nash danced with me when we saw each other again :) She is a good companion. On Saturday we called Kaye, begged her to let us help out around the house, ended up crushing her thousands on thousands of Coke cans, and SHE asked US if she could come to church. We tried to respond calmly, and promised her the sweetest blessings if she would come. Sunday morning we had a beautiful Easter program and Kaye wasn't there! Two hours later a lady with an unmistakable bun snuck into Relief Society. She whispered "I figured I'd surprise yall" and I cried. I guess she thought we saved the most important meeting for last, so she didn't get what she expected. But we had a nice talk in the dark chapel after church. She told us that she can't explain how good she has felt lately, since she quit swearing, started reading the scriptures, and coming to church. I never would have guessed that Kaye would be out most progressing investigator! She is teaching me so much, and fixing my doubts. I love her for that!

Kaye at church!

This week we had two very productive exchanges and a huge Zone Conference with the Hattiesburg and Gulfport zones. Some members of my first district were reunited! We don't know why, but the Bossier District has a special bond. Love them. The mission got Tiwis installed in our cars to fix our crazy driving, (A tiwi. Missionaries hate them. They talk to you while you drive and record your driving record. I am getting a brand new car, so I don't have one yet. But the rest of the mission does and they seem like a good idea and also a hassle.) and the rest of Zone Conference was nice, the end was especially special, and we left ready to work!! 

The Hattiesburg train station.
A great place for a photo shoot!

Sister Rose and I on exchanges

Saturday was another great day at the thrift store, we were able to clear up a couple more misconceptions about the Mormons. Yes, we are allowed to wear makeup. One step closer.

Sunday, of Course was Easter! I was able to watch the Church's Easter video with a lot of people and we tried to spread the Spirit with chalk art at parks and on trails. It's weekends like this that I love the South. The faith here is so strong, I've never been anywhere like this! Honestly, I wish Utah and everywhere could be more like Mississippi. I will try to bring as much of their faith with me as I can, but until then I want all of you to speak up about what you believe, have the faith to pray with your friends and family, and truly live what you know. It will be contagious :)

I hope you all have a blessed week!! 
Sister Bartsch

Chalk!!! The Longleaf Trace is a bike trail that runs from Hattiesburg to Sumrall :) It's usually pretty busy, so we hoped to enlighten people while they exercise. 

The Hattiesburg District

Me: You're eating oreos for breakfast? Sister Nash: There wasn't very much cake...

Tuesday felt more like my birthday than my birthday did :) Dede made me half of a cake and we had a picnic to celebrate my nine month mark. We also recreated my MTC picture to remind yall that I look pretty much exactly the same minus the bangs :) A grinch x-ray would show my heart has grown about 32 sizes, though. You guys will just have to wait nine more months to see that!!

My halfway cake. :)

Funny story: We had a lesson on Kaye's front porch this week. She lives right across the street from a big park! And on Tuesday morning there were a bunch of electricians laying cables... and firemen running the track.. and my goodness, Kaye was hooting and hollering and REALLY enjoying herself the whole lesson. I guess this happens pretty often, she was trying to find her specs (binoculars) on her porch........ Instead of reading her scriptures she committed herself to finding me a Mississippi man, I'm working on getting her over that. :)

Sister Coleman and I

Thursday I went on an exchange with brand-new Sister Coleman in Hattiesburg. She has a great area, a lot like Bossier! BTW Bossier is pronounced "Bo-sher" just in case you've been saying it wrong :) I got a whip/nae nae/duff/bop/stanky leg dance lesson from little black girls. It's been a while!! In my current area parents freak out if you talk to their kids.. so I enjoyed working in the Burg! I love my Sisters. Exchanges are so fun, and they give me MANY opportunities to serve them, so I am learning a lot. Sister Nash and I are bonding well as we deal with Sister drama so that's nice :) I pray a LOT in this area, serving in this calling, and I have decided that God is trying to teach me some very specific things. I'm going to grab this chance to grow with two hands and work as hard as I can to become better. Pray for me.

On Saturday we taught at a youth Mini MTC activity. We led a workshop about talking to everyone and the awkward side of missionary work. They were given little slips with situations like coming across an old lady raking leaves, a tired cashier at Walmarts, contacting a referral, etc. They had a minute to prepare with their companion and then they came and tried to share something with one of us! You can probably picture it, it was funny. Teaching youth is my favourite way to see how far I've come! They are fantastic here, too. Being a Mormon in Mississippi isn't the easiest thing in the world, I look up to these kids a lot! 

Dede helping eat the cake!

On Sunday Dede and her husband Joel gave talks in Sacrament Meeting at church. Dede got married and baptized back in November and has been living and loving the gospel :) She would come out and teach with us every day if she could. Her talk was on repentance, and my favourite quote that I doodled was "Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a long time making it." So true, and so exactly what I needed to hear. We are either moving forward or backward, yall! And I am determined to keep going forward if it kills me. 

Love you!
Have a blessed week!
Sister Bartsch 

 Current district (except now Elder Hansen is gone on a special
 assignment no one understands) 

A Heart Attack! One of our days with Dede

We just love having Dede with us!

A garden hose jungle gym! GET-TOE

Hot days...

Okay, Holy Ghost, come on down! -Rex

Us waiting in a Doctor's Office

I did it! Another week :) 3/7 days were filled with missionary work. 2 of the days Sister Nash was recovering from her food poisoning. The other 2 days we helped Sister Saunders get a sewing needle out of her toe.... THE STORY: Remember the sleepover we had last week? Sister Nash got all sick from Panda Express? Well, the sleepover was more legendary than we thought. Sister Saunders stepped on a sewing needle in our house on Sunday Morning, limped around until Wednesday, had an x-ray done (while on exchanges with Sister Nash), and found out it BROKE IN HER FOOT. Thursday Morning I went out to get them, took Sister Saunders to one doctor, then to another.. and they collectively decided that the needle is too deep to get out easily, and they need to do a full blown surgery Friday afternoon. SO we had another sleepover (much less eventful), she was put under and the needle was removed by a nice member of our ward. Then we took her back home later that evening. She is so tough, this was her first surgery ever, and all she wanted to do was get back out and work. Such a good example! Lots of road-tripping to and from Richton, good thing my mom sent mini eggs, and music, it was a fun couple of days :)

So I wish I had more missionary stories to tell yall, but my proselyting time was very limited.. We were able to teach Rex twice and he came to church for the fourth week in a row! We've taught him almost all we need to, and he is still fighting his answers to prayers sometimes. We pray he continues to progress, I have loved watching happiness change him :) Also, he referred us to his neighbor and we are going to start meeting with her this week!

If everyone could please pray that we will have a good lesson with Britney this week, that would be very helpful! She wants to be baptized, but her kids have been so sick. They're feeling better and we are trying to get back on track with them. 

While Sister Saunders was getting x-rays with Sister Nash, I was on an exchange with Sister Thompson! I love this girl. And we had a really good talk about why we are on missions. I love hearing Sisters reflect about this choice, their testimonies are so powerful :) As  I was telling her my story, I remembered a lot of things that I haven't thought about in a long time! To summarize, I am just so glad that I chose to serve a mission. There were a lot of things that could have kept me home, but here I am! HALFWAY THROUGH! I know without a doubt that serving this mission is doing more for me than anything else could, so I'm sure glad that the Spirit and some of yall kept me going. There are so many wonderful people in my life that I can't wait to thank in person! The power of prayer is real, I know that my prayers are answered! 

Tomorrow I am celebrating my 9 months since flying deep South, pictures will come next Monday!!

This week is going to be a great one, I can feel it :) I hope it is for you!
Have a blessed day!

Sister Bartsch

Southernism: "Up-air" or "up-pair" (still trying to discern) "down-air" 
Said in place of up there, over there, down there, etc. Somehow it is easier? 
"I went up-air to get a haircut" -Rex 
"Ya my work is down-air, dem flood waters came aaaaaaall da way up-pair." -Donny

I'm still working on it. 

It's as real here as I thought it would be!

Sis Saunders trying to keep a smile on her face.

"Dem pigs gonna fly, gurls!" -Miss Kaye

Floral dresses for MLC (don't know why I look so depressed)

I am so happy today :) God sure knows me! 

Kaye is starting to progress. I wish all of you could understand what a HUGE deal that is. We show up for an appointment and she isn't home. We call her and she drops what she is doing on the other end of the trailer park and comes running over with her friend Hannah. She was so ready to get started and ask her questions. Guys, SHE HAD DONE HER READING AND SHE HAD QUESTIONS. We have been teaching the Plan of Salvation for about a month now, over and over again, until she has an understanding. From the pamphlet she was led to a part in the Book of Mormon that taught about the resurrection and the mercy of God. She told us that her prayers were answered in the passages! She knows that her little niece that passed away is in God's care, she felt at peace about it at last! She has stopped swearing and Hannah says that she is shocking all of her friends with how well she is keeping that commitment. AND THEN! She says "Ya know what? I'm finna change. that means I'm finna (picks up cigarettes) quit puffin these and (picks up can of Coke) cut back on these." I held back my excitement as best I could. This lady drinks 10+ cans of  Coke a day. We committed her to drink more water and talked about the harm of addiction a few weeks ago, I guess something clicked! The Spirit has been working with and teaching Miss Kaye for a long time now, it seems she is beginning to act on it. I know her health will improve, her understanding of the Gospel will come easier, the Spirit will be in her home, and she will be SO MUCH HAPPIER if she makes these changes. I am in complete awe, still. I'm seeing miracles with Kaye. 

And her friend Hannah has always been kind of reluctant to hear our message, but as we were talking about Kaye's niece Hannah was flipping through the Plan of Salvation pamphlet. she interrupted us and said "Hey, uh, do yall happen to have an extra one of those books? I just.. want to look into some of this stuff in here, if you know, you have one you could give me." She lost a daughter a couple of years ago, and seems to want to feel the same peace Kaye did. We couldn't give her a Book of Mormon fast enough! 

So that was my miracle of the week, month, and transfer! 

Rex is baby-stepping along, too! He will call us and leave an "I'll never be good enough for yall and I don't want to quit smoking" message, and then call a few hours later asking for a ride to church :) he is still figuring out what he wants. Pray for him! 

This weekend was MLC! The more I go, the more I love it. I love road tripping with twizzlers, seeing old friends, planning and coordinating outfits, and hugging my Momma Dobbins! Plus the meeting itself was good, pretty similar to the last three MLCs, but still good! We were taught that the calling of a Sister Training Leader is "Training and Welfare." That was good to know! And it came in handy all week. On Tuesday we drove all the way out to Richton with pizza and ice cream for a Sister that is struggling, tea to a recent convert who was sick, muffins to another sick investigator, and then my poor, poor companion got food poisoning. We were having the last sleepover of the whole mission with the Richton Sisters and she was up getting sick ALL NIGHT. I did all I could for her, stayed up with her most of the night, and we were both wrecked the next day. So we missed Stake Conference.. she got the sweetest priesthood blessing I have ever heard, and then slept all day! I filled the time with lots of things I have been meaning to do and enjoyed a relaxing day off :) and then last night we both got 10 hours of sleep. It was glorious. She seems better, but still feels yucky. So pray for her!

Maybe it's all the sleep that has me feeling so happy today :) but I think I am just loving being a missionary! next week will be 9 months since being in this crazy place, and I am so grateful for all of the miracles I have seen in others and myself. I love you all!

Have a blessed week! 

Sister Bartsch

MOMMY

Road Trips