You ladies shouldn't be going to the laundreteria

Oh, how I love being a trainer. This last week has been so fun with Sister Maughan. She is picking up her training super fast and is making me feel like a proud mama every day :) thanks for praying for us! 

Easily  my favourite. Pretty much describes how our training is going ;)
Just kidding.

A couple cool things happened this week. Remember Yolanda? My Saturday miracle last week? We taught her again and she shared some really special experiences with us. This woman has lived a rough life and has had to overcome a lot of trials. She reads one of those day-by-day books that helps her to remember to pray and draw closer to God. A few days before we had met, she read about how God often sends people in our lives as answers to our prayers. The book invited her to pray for people who will be true friends and good listeners or something like that. She realized after she shared her life story that we were her answer! We had literally said maybe three words that whole first half of our appointment. As soon as she shared that, I shared with her our side of the story. That she had been an answer to our praying all week. We knew there was someone we needed to find on Nattin Street and we knew that someone was her. The Spirit was so strong. We see Yolanda again tomorrow and I'm so excited. 

On Friday, we had parked our car to go knock on Rodney's door. He wasn't home and we were going to leave when Robert drove by! I love Robert, but I feel really uncomfortable around him and for some reason I didn't want him to see us get in the car and leave. Lots of missionaries have problems with people recognizing the missionary car and following them (dang bike rack). So we walked around the block. We passed a couple of houses that we could have tried and taught lessons to, but I STILL felt like we needed to keep walking. So we did! And then we walked passed this woman who stopped us by saying "Okay this is going to sound crazy, but were yall visiting with someone who lived on Bonn Street?" Sister Maughan is still new and had no idea. We were teaching a lot of people on Bonn Street! She said "my dad was being visited by two young girls" I knew exactly who she was talking about. Her dad's name is Clifton and this man was so wonderful to us. She told us he had passed away and that the house was full of family and she had to get out and take a walk. She cried a little bit as she shared how much of a Daddy's girl she was and that he always told her that those church girls that stopped by would really brighten his day. I have no idea if we will ever see her again, but I gave her our phone number, said a prayer, and let her finish her walk! As we were parting she said "THIS is why I needed a walk" and I just looked at Sister Maughan and we both were thinking "No, no, this is why WE took a walk." 

We got bit by about 40 bugs. No one runs through the grass here. Bad idea.
We thought we could make it to the path in 10 seconds but no. 

The simplest of miracles happen every day for me out here. Maybe it is because I'm a missionary, but probably it's because I am praying for miracles and watching for them. I know Heavenly Father loves the people here so much. I'm working every day to make sure they know that!

I love you all! 
Have a blessed week!

Sister Bartsch

This is from The Church Of The Cross. The cross is almost so big it's scary.
 Ah, I love the South.

Did I ever send you this picture of the lizard? I found it in my closet and it scared me to bits.

Y'all the ones handing out the Books of Normans?

Sister Maughan survived a week! I think that means I am doing something right :) I love this girl. She is shy, but her personality is coming out ever so slowly. It's been fun :) Being a trainer is definitely the challenge I needed! I am learning and growing so much and I'm so grateful for such a sweet companion.

So something neat happened. Starting Tuesday, our Zone started planning a Zone-wide tracting (knocking door-to-door) hour from 3-4 on Saturday afternoon. We were told to pray to see miracles during that hour in EVERY prayer we said as a companionship and by ourselves (that's a lot of prayers). So we did! We prayed and prayed and prayed. We even prayed during our weekly planning session on Friday about WHERE to tract. We picked a section on our area map, prayed about it, and both picked 5 streets that stood out to us. Afterwards, Nattin Street was the only one we had both written down. Nattin it was! (I have no idea if anyone else in the zone did this).

So then Saturday comes along and we have an appointment with Joe at 1:00. As per usual, his daughter tells us Joe isn't home. As per NOT usual, I say "Well can we share a message with yall instead?" She reluctantly agreed so we came inside. There was a woman on the couch, her name was Yolanda. We introduced ourselves, said a prayer, and started teaching her about the Restoration! Joe's daughter wandered in and out of the lesson and didn't seem to care, but Yolanda really did care! She was super into the discussion and accepted a baptism date! We get to the end of the lesson and set up a return appointment. We ask for her address and GUESS WHERE SHE LIVES? NATTIN STREET. Nattin street has like 10 houses on it, I was pretty surprised. Anyways, we were tracting the street during 3-4 and we didn't remember to check her house number, so we just knocked them all. Right as we were about to leave the area, Yolana pulled into her driveway. She lives in one of the first homes we tried at the beginning of the hour and we would have completely missed her :) I love little miracles. Yolanda gave us a big wave and her little daughter came and gave us a big hug. Like I said, it was pretty neat.

We are still struggling with progression down here. But we are starting to see a couple people standing out from our dozens of potentials. Keep praying for us as we try to sift through our long lists! I love this place. It is so full of wonderful people that I love so much. The Church is true, God is good, and the Atonement is real.
Have a blessed week!
Sister Bartsch

Current favourite scripture: Acts 17:27

27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

I had my baby!

Her name is Sister Maughan and she is from Cache Valley. She's super cute and super nervous and we only have one picture together :) She is quite a bit taller than me and we think that is funny. That's about as far as we've gotten so far :) I LOVE HER ALREADY

Fixin' to be a good Transfer!

And I finished another transfer! I have been a missionary for a whole 3 months - time has FLOWN!! 

This week was craaaazy. 34 lessons. My new record! Sister Dobbins and I were both HEALTHY the entire 7 days and that was such a miracle, so we made the best of it! 

The best part of this week? Sunny fed us 3 times. Every time a member asks us what we want for dinner, I ask for the Southern Experience. And I never get it! So, leave it to Sunny to grant my every wish :) We made fried chicken FINALLY and it was delicious. It hurt the next day, but it was great. She seriously stuffs us, spoils us, fills us with joy, and sends us with leftovers. Sunny is our best friend out here, when times get tough, she is who we call. Every time. 

Despite our high numbers and fun times with Sunny, this week got pretty discouraging. There are so many people that are hard to contact, don't keep their commitments, and reschedule appointment after appointment. Most of them have baptism dates and say they really want the blessings of the gospel! It's hard to go week after week not seeing progress in these people, we love them so much! Monique keeps telling us not to give up on her, and we are trying our best! I think the hardest part for me is that for so many of these, we pour out our souls in testimony, we go back to the darkest part of our lives, share personal experiences, and invite others to feel the love of their Savior and they still don't give prayer a try.  I know that I was sent to this little city in Louisiana because there are people here who need me. Who need my testimony, my trials, and my words to relate with. It's just not easy to share all of this with so many people, I like to keep personal experiences personal! But you don't always know who you're looking for and you especially don't always know if something you say pricks their hearts (Acts 2:37-38)! So you just always share. And I am not sure I will ever get used to that. 

There was a lizard in my house this week. 

My District Leader died, meaning he finished his mission. So our theme for our District Meeting was  his funeral. It was fun in a weird way. Missionaries get weird, guys. 

My Zone Leader turned 20 yesterday and we had a party at their trailer. They live in a trailer park and it is awesome, I'm so jealous of their porch. I wish I had pictures, sorry! 

Aaaaaand Sister Dobbins got transferred. She is going to Ridgeland, Mississippi to be a Sister Training Leader! I know she will be fantastic. She's been such a good example to me and I know the Sisters in her zone will love her, too. I'M GOING TO BE TRAINING!! I don't even know my companion's name yet, but she will be coming this evening. If the library is still open we will stop by and I will send yall a picture :) In the mission, we are 'in training' for 12 weeks. I just finished my 12 weeks on Sunday, and this new Sister will be just beginning hers! I am so excited. But I also know I will be praying a LOT as I take over my area and teach a brand new missionary everything I have learned! pray for me. 

Thank you all AGAIN for all your support. I will have to come home and make yall some fried chicken & waffles. 

Have a blessed week! 

Sister Bartsch

These bug bites just don't let up and they keep her up at night!

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!

As Sisters in Shreveport...

So, everyone, Shreveport Zone KILLED it this month. We surpassed and almost doubled all of our goals. I am so thrilled to be a part of such a great group of Missionaries. Everyone is incredible and everyone is working so hard! We had Zone Conference and I realized how many great friends I have made :) I don't have a picture of all of us together, but someday it will be put on the MJM Blog, as soon as the new President can figure it out (his words)

This week Sister Dobbins and I set nine people with baptism dates! New record for the area, I think. At least in the last 5 months! I will let you know if any of them start progressing (reading, attending church, keeping appointments) next week! ALSO, Sunny came out teaching with us for the first time last night! She is the cutest thing ever, still. And her excitement is a little overwhelming at times, so we are still working on the best types of appointments to take her enthusiasm to. I'm positive there are people who will respond super well to her, we are excited :) She always brings treats, too. Bonus!

I lost my voice this week! That was a real challenge. Hard for me because I love to talk, and hard for my companion because she had to do most of it. I still sound a little scratchy today, but at least I don't sound like Batman anymore! Yall should hear me sing, though. It's more of a squeak.

Part of my area is the Barksdale Air Force Base! And last week (since we have a huge suspicion Sister Dobbins will be transferred) we went and saw the airplanes! I was feeling really sick, so excuse my sarcasm in the pictures. Admittedly, they were pretty cool to see, but it was hot and I wanted to be in my bed :)

I'm just so full of love for all the people out here :) I got rejected, hit on, and bashed a lot more than usual this week, but I also got to meet some beautiful people with such strong faith and I am grateful for them. Please keep Monique & Calvin, Andre & Phoebe, Tasha, Dakota, Rodney, Stephanie, Deorvian, and Chris in your prayers if you can remember one or two names :) Our lists are never ending.

Have a blessed week! Sister Bartsch

I had gumbo for the first time yesterday! :)

On Wednesday the District wore Christmas Colors to our Zone Development Meeting :) We like picking themes. Gotta make fun every chance you get :) 

 Also on Wednesday it POURED rain. It used to rain quite often, but not lately. We were out tracting and I said "Sister Dobbins, I think we should go get our raincoates from the car - it's looking pretty stormy up there" She said fine, so we started on our journey back to the car, it started to drizzle, and then we ran into a wonderful woman named Tonya out on her porch! Since we are missionaries, we ended up talking with her for like 45 minutes and the rain came down like buckets. We were very grateful for her covered porch :) The rain hadn't let up when we finished our discussion, so we had to run to the car in the storm.. desperately trying to keep our precious Books of Mormon dry! Anyways we were drenched, so we went to Sister Adams' house (pretty much the embodiment of Southern Hospitality - I completely love her) and she let us wear her fuzzy pajamas while she dried our clothes. WHAT AN ANGEL. 

 In other news, Charlie got baptized! Charlie is the sweetest and she was being taught by Elders in my district. Sister Dobbins and I do a Book of Mormon study with her every Wednesday and have totally fell in love with her and her husband Ross. They just got married last weekend! My first Waptism! (Wedding-baptism) She, Ross, their grandson, and our missionary family is pictured and is so complete :) 

 This week we got SO MUCH DONE. Lots of lessons, tons of tracting, plenty of service, and not enough sleep. I woke up sick again today, pray for me! Unfortunately, we didn't see most of our friends that I have told yall about. Thelma is still sick but we contacted her brother! He has been reading the Book of Mormon for about a month now and we are excited for him to meet some missionaries! Shawn (Shaun? We don't know) wasn't home last week but we taught his wife and daughter and went back on Thursday to help around their barn. Sunny is in Oklahoma and is still so excited about her Enid ward. 

My whole zone showed up to help that single mom with her flood cleanup, there was like 40 of us working on her little mobile home and we got lots of work done! We met a lot of brand new people this week, and they all seem pretty excited about the restored gospel. One man named Andre had a really powerful answer to his prayers and knows that Joseph Smith was a prophet. We are stoked. 

Pretty much being a missionary is awesome. The Spirit of the work I am doing is unlike anything in the world, I am convinced. Sharing something you love with others is so rewarding, especially when you can watch what you share change their lives :) I am meeting so many wonderful people and improving myself every day. 

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers! Have a blessed week 
 Love, Sister Bartsch

Blessings on Blessings, Upon Blessings!

Hey friends!

What a beautiful week! Sister Dobbins and I worked our tails off :) Shawn, the man we are teaching and helping to beat alcoholism is doing miraculously well. He looked different last Monday. He had made the decision to change and was more willing than ever to learn about and apply Christ's Atonement to his life. I can't wait to see him tonight!

I spent a lot of time doing more flood cleanup this week, too! It's crazy how much work there is to be done even two months after the flood. Especially for the single mom we were helping this week! She hadn't even gotten all of the walls down, she and her 15 year old son have been doing all the work themselves. I'm not sure how she found the missionaries, but all of us in the area are taking turns helping. 

The best thing about this week is that everyone is back from summer vacations! I swear, our ward was teeny tiny last week, and overflowing this week! Members are coming out to teach with us, those who we thought had completely disappeared are back, AND the weather is finally calming down. Last night a guy on the street said "ohhhh now, now, when dos leafs start to blowin like dis, you know it's 'bout to get coooold" (cue BIG gusts of wind and leaves and a little rain) It was cool and informative in an eerie sort of way. But you could say I am excited for it to cool down around here!

Sunny is feeling much better since last week and is in Oklahoma right now! She is from Enid. She says "Enid. It's Dine spelled backwards because someone shot the sign and turned it around. (...) Really! It really happened!!" HA. The South is real. Anyways, she went to the Enid ward and had to call us and share how exciting it was. I love her so much. 

In other news, Don brought his sons and brother to church yesterday! He and his brother were baptized when they were eight but stopped going to church when they were 10. Now they are in their 60's! We knocked on Don's door about a month ago, and he has been an absolute joy in my life ever since. I was pretty happy to see them :)

Anyways, to summarize my experience out here, an exerpt from my letter to my family: Down here Sweet Tea is pretty much water, "bless your heart' is like the meanest thing to say to someone, full sets of teeth are not necessary to anyone, water bottles (Manna from heaven) are given freely, everyone is "already saved" but they appreciate what we are doing, grass, shrubs, and trees mean a slow and painful death from chigger bites, there's like 14 varieties/colours of wasps, no one likes where this country is going, if you say something out loud about Jesus you'll hear an "AMEN" or "HALLELUJAH" come from somewhere, cornbread is everywhere, Tony's seasoning is used on everything, "battered and fried" isn't written on the menu because I guess it's just implied, and some days I really could swear this place is a different country.  But I've adjusted fairly well, I think!

2 Corinthians 5:7 
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 
I believe the smiley face is NOT a coincidence. Check your Bibles. 
Have a blessed week!

Love, 

Sister Bartsch