"Yall, I know this is a bad analogy, but the Holy Ghost is kind of like crack.." -Typical talk at a Jackson, MS baptism

My new companion is Sister Makin from Arizona!

aaaaaaaand we come to the end of another transfer. Eleven down, two to go! I am welcoming a brand new Sister into the MJM and I am SO EXCITED. 

This week we were all over the place. We worked a lot, drove a lot, tracted a lot, and then I emailed a lot and I'm running out of time. So I will send yall some pictures and tell yall that the church is true! God hears your prayers. There is meaning to life. There is hope for the future. There are billions of reasons to smile. 

I love yall! Have a blessed week!

Exchanges with Sister Rodriguez!!

Sister Bartsch

Family picture :) APs were missing though!

Gloria!!! This is our investigator in the Jackson Branch

Mama and Papa AFTER that dog attacked me. 

Linda!!!!! Our investigator in the Raytown Branch

Me: "Everything in Mississippi bites or stings!" Sherry: "Even the men!"

It's not easy being Mormon!

Ohhhhh I hope all of you had a blessed week because I sure did.

I wish I could tell you everything, but that would take too long and I know most of you skim anyway :)


Remember how I told yall about how huge my area is? And that we cover the Raytown Branch in the middle of nowhere? Well, the Raytown Branch President calls us last Monday and says that there is a lady out there who wants to be baptized and we need to come out and teach her the discussions. Her name is Linda. HALLELU-YER! So we planned a trip for Sunday. And of course we get asked to speak, that is how it works! Little did I know that this Branch building is ONE HUNDRED AND TEN YEARS OLD. It was so beautiful. A little white church in the middle of nowhere country Mississippi. I loved it. This was my first time attending a Branch on Sunday. Something about the one sacrament tray, the one Deacon in scuffed up cowboy boots, and the humble group of loving people really got me this week! It was a really neat experience. And they had a big potluck lunch after church. Yall, Southern food is so good. I can't even tell you. 

Linda got really down on herself over the weekend, and decided not to come to church. She needs to quit smoking and that just seemed impossible. After the potluck, we fixed her a plate and went to meet her. This lady is so precious. She wants the blessings of the Gospel so badly. She wants to get baptized so much it hurts! But she had gotten so discouraged. I think it meant something to be reminded that God hasn't given up on her. We stayed and talked for a while and she has set a date to be baptized. I wished we could have had Sherry there to testify to her that she can do it, Sherry is 35 days smoke free!! I have seen so many miracles, and I have nothing but faith for Linda. Pray for her, please! 

Speaking of Sherry, we lost that brilliant ray of sunshine to the Greenville ward!! She moved this weekend, and we miss her already. Pray for her to get settled and be safe! 

God's love is real, everyone! I feel it every day. He has high hopes and sees nothing but potential in each of us. Keep praying, keep learning, keep improving! 

LOVE YALL!
Have a blessed week!
And this week is the first day of fall. Happy fall, yall! (had to.)

Sister Bartsch

My cute companion.

It's so beautiful here!

This Beautiful place...

Eating at Cracker Barrel with Mama, Papa and Cole. :)

The state capitol building is like a temple!

Random 2 minute showers!

Zone Conference Selfie!

YES! I LIKE IT! TO GOD BE THE GLORY! (high five) -Lady admiring my chalk art at the park :)

It's been a week and I can't get over this picture of Sherry.

Good news yall! Bike week is over :) Hallelujah. It wore me out this time!! Man, I was even dozing off on the way home with Sherry last night, and that woman talks LOUD. So thank you for the prayers, they probably kept me awake a time or two this weekend! 


I was trying to think of some highlights from this week to share, but everything is always a blur by the time I sit down at this computer! I remember having a really good lesson with Cole. Cole is awesome, he will be getting baptized pretty soon! Right now we are having lessons based on questions he has. Most recently he had questions about hell! So Sister Child and I led a group study on it. We teach Cole in a member's home every week, so everyone got really involved and we had a big discussion about the God's Plan of Salvation. It was awesome because, as always, this discussion all boiled down to God being our loving Heavenly Father. We talked about how He sees the most glorious potential in each one of His children. He has provided everything we need to be able to return to Him. To His heartbreak, some of His children will choose not to return! His promises to the faithful and the unfaithful are sure. We can count on Him to keep His word because constancy is a characteristic of deity. He will forever be the same. 

Cole talked about how his mind is like a big wall with information all over it and red strings making connections. It bothers him when things don't connect completely! He said there are still some things that he can't quite connect and that he will have to do some more research. Not big things, but smaller details. What came out of my mouth next taught me an important lesson. I recommended that he add another color of string to his web of information. Maybe the red ones are logical connections that he can back up with scripture and other historical research. But there will be some things that connect with a blue string. The blue strings represent things that he learned by the Spirit, by the way he feels, or by what he knows in his heart is true. Not because he can prove it to himself or others! He thought about it for a minute, nodded his head, and said quietly "that helps." Honestly I don't know if it helped him any more than it helped me. This is something I have been working on my whole mission, regarding a feeling from the Spirit as a fact! I need to reflect on this scripture a lot, Alma 32:35
"O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good..."
I think I have gotten a lot better at trusting the Spirit since being out on my mission. And I am always grateful for these moments when I can learn while I am teaching, they are so frequent! The Spirit is real because it is discernible, yall! It's true!

As far as the rest of the week goes, we had stake Women's Conference and our investigator Gloria was able to come. It was really fun to see members from the Clinton ward there! We have been trying to find someone to teach in Sherry's apartment complex. It is huge. I swear thousands of people live there. So far we have found one person to take Sherry to teach :) so that will be great. We've started a Saturday tradition of going to a nursing home with Sherry! We have quickly made a lot of friends. And we can't wait to go back! And yesterday was Sister Child's 23rd birthday :) aw :) the members were so sweet! We have more cake tonight! 

I love yall, thanks for all your support and prayers!
Have a blessed week!
Sister Bartsch


1. 8 Cokes, helping Sherry with her shopping :)












2. Surprise birthday cake!  s/o to Sister Davin! (We call her Sister Superwoman)

3. Trains are still cool even thought they woke me up at night for 3 months in Clinton. (Forgiveness is a Christlike attribute)








4 & 5. Nursing home adventures! Abbott and Dorothy





























6. Service at the library

"Little did I know God would send two PRAYER WARRIOR ANGELS to my door!" -Sherry :)

Sherry's Baptism

What a beautiful week :) Man, we worked HARD. 

On Monday night we watched Meet the Mormons with Sherry and her husband Jason. If yall know me, you know I cry in movies. I just do! And Meet the Mormons is no exception. I didn't know Sister Child was a crier, too. So anyway we both tried so hard to conceal our tears during the missionary mom story, but Sherry noticed and went full-mother-mode. It was so nice! She held my hand and told me that everything I am doing is worth all the time, struggles, and adversity. "If it warrant for missionaries like you gurls, I wud be LOST, LOST, LOST." Even Jason was extra nice after that. Thank goodness for good people! On Wednesday Jason and Sherry came for a church tour :) She will be the first to tell you that this is a miracle for Jason. I told yall about that last week! Now he is Iowa working for the railroad, and won't be back until he visits for Thanksgiving. But we love him. And got pictures with him before he left. 

Jason!  

For time's sake, I am going to type up parts of my weekend from my Journal :)
Saturday: "Great day in Madison. Man. This morning we got all packed up and ready to go out to Canton, our smaller town. We have a bunch of Bible referrals and that poor area is so under-worked. It used to be an area of it's own! But now we only make it out there maybe once a week. Anyway, we were praying to leave, and I prayed that people would recognize us as disciples of Christ. Well. The second referral we tried was Alexis. She waved us right in with a huge smile on her face and sat us down at her kitchen table. ... Her husband Deon sat down with us and her little girls went to play. They gave us complete attention! She thanked us for the Bible and asked what the best part to read would be for OUR day... which led right into a Restoration lesson and a Book of Mormon :) They loved it. They asked great questions and quickly accepted a Book of Mormon and baptism dates. They, like so many in the South, have seen miracle after miracle in her life. Wow. The faith in the South is breathtaking. I love it so much. And then at the end of our lesson she said "yall know, I ordered that Bible a couple months ago and forgot about it. But when yall stepped out of the car, I knew exactly who you were." She recogized us! She let us right in and listened. It was a perfect answer to such a simple prayer!..." It's the little things on my mission, yall. God teaches me in such simple ways, I love it. I think many of us receive more answers to prayers than we notice. Don't forget the things you ask for, and be grateful when you are given them :)

Canton, MS

Canton, MS

Sherry

On Sunday was Sherry's baptism. Besides the huge spider right in her face in the font, everything went so smoothly. Our 2nd and 3rd hours of church have been cancelled for a little bit so that people can go down to help with the flooding in Louisiana (please keep praying!). So we had Sherry's baptism right after Sacrament meeting and invited all those who were at church to stay. It was perfect that way! There were so many great people there to support her. The Spirit was so strong, and Sherry was so happy. After she was baptized, she bore her testimony. The great thing about some Southerners is they don't hold back! They are very enthusiastic at pulpits. They are not shy to talk about the blessings that come from their faith in Jesus, it's wonderful. The Gospel has brought her so much closer to Christ, and that is exactly what it is for. People mistake us missionaries for people who want to talk you into believing like we do. That is so not the case! I was happy for Sherry not because she was another member of our church, but because I can see the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ filling her life. It's a beautiful thing! I'm grateful to be a missionary, witnessing so many miracles :)

And I am grateful for yall!
Have a blessed week!
Sister Bartsch

Sherry.  <3  <3

Canton, MS

"Nah, I'm a critter-gitter! Aint no doubt!" -Jason, Sherry's husband

Last night in Clinton with all the Scott kids. This is Wabbles
 the special-needs puppy and DayDay, my hairdresser :) 

Hey Yall! Things got switched around and I'm in Madison :) Serving with Sister Child! It. Is. Great.


First, Sherry. Sherry is getting baptized in 6 days! She is an absolute angel. For those of you that keep up with my emails, she is a lot like Sunny :) I am her 5th Sister Missionary (completed another hand, Dede!) and she and I are best friends already. Sherry is on day 7 SMOKE FREE! Seriously she has overcome so much and grasped everything so quickly. Sister Maughan found her and started teaching her a few months ago, she moved away a few times, and finally came back. Since she has been back Sisters have been teaching her! Last week we saw her 6/7 days. She was interviewed for baptism yesterday, and the entire ward is so excited! She calls us her warriors :) Her husband's name is Jason, and he is slowly becoming interested as he watches his wife make all these changes. Apparently in the 9 years they have been together he hasn't prayed with her. I didn't know this, and he agreed to kneel with us to pray the first night we visited, and he offered the prayer another night! Sherry is in shock. He was THIS CLOSE to going to Iowa to work for 4 months, but our prayers kept him here and we are so excited to teach him :) 

 LOVE. I am so short, yall. 

We have been teaching a couple other people who are almost ready to be baptized! This is a great area :) We are in a 3 way car share with 2 cars. So that means we have the car for two weeks and we bike for one. With my luck, of course, I got here on bike week. Remember, we are in tropical storm weather. Y'all we got soaked like 3 times this week. My first day we biked to the Kroger to buy groceries and had to wring out our skirts before going inside. One of the storms was so bad I couldn't even see! Water was splashing all in my eyes and nose. So lovely. When we got home that day I felt like I had just jumped in a lake with all of my clothes and my bag. It was bad. But character building! We took pictures of after one of the lighter showers.. we came home and went inside in silence after the bad one. Both of us were just like "oh. my." 

Yesterday we did a teeny bit of tracting, somehow there was no time this week! (the best) and we even met some cool people. 

Sister Child and I are working hard here :) And I am loving the ward! Shout out to Sister Davin who already reads my blog! ✌

HAVE A BLESSED WEEK!  Love,
Sister Bartsch

My real address is:
831 Rice Road #273
Ridgeland, MS 39157
I like post cards!

 My last District and the matching ties Sister Crosby and I made! New talent :)

After some rain, you can't hardly tell.

Number 5 with Sherry!

Then she wanted to hold my complete hand... okay!

I know it looks like she is fixin to punch me
in the face, but we are friends I promise!

Change of plans!

Crazy thing happened, I'm in Madison, not Richton! And my companion is Sister Child, my grandbaby :) President changed his mind yesterday morning, Sister Child's companion had 2 hours to pack, and she is the new STL! Good for her! Madison is a super, super rich area. Like Oak Grove! Bring it on.

my address is

831 Rice Road #273
Ridgeland, MS 39157

*car drives by and yells at us* Me: What did they say? Sister Crosby: Ummm, well, it was either "SUP!" or "YER DUMB!"

I think maybe 4 seconds after this picture was taken
the sky started dumping buckets :) I love this sweet companion!!
 Luckily I'm not going far :):)

Good Morning, yall! 

Have you ever heard of tropical storm weather? Let me define it for you: The sky is overcast and gloomy for several days, and there's about a 80% chance of rain any moment. And there is a constant mist or light rain. Randomly you will have an hour of sunlight that will make everything hot and miserably humid. Until it rains again :) So that has been the weather for the last 5ish days, and that's the forecast for the next few! I really don't mind the rain, or even the humidity anymore. But I just never know when to wear my clunky rain boots.. and it seems I am wearing or not wearing them at all the wrong times. Last night we knocked on a member family's door, they let us in and offered to dry our socks. Bless them. We haven't had the car for a while, and I think I have walked enough to have probably walked myself home! Don't worry, I don't want to. But I could have :) 

We taught Diane such a great lesson this week. She let us sit down on her porch and teach the full Restoration lesson. She talks about being introverted and not feeling comfortable coming to church. Bus she told us that recently she has begun wondering about truth and starting to seek it out. Her "I will find a church someday" has gotten closer and closer. I told her about how we had prayed for a long time about where to knock doors. I even told her that we really don't LIKE knocking on doors. But that we were led directly to her! And that we keep feeling like we need to come back! Her heart is opening and her fear is starting to fade away. It is so beautiful to see what the Gospel can do for a person. Already she is reading her scriptures and praying more than she was before and I can tell a difference. After we said our closing prayer she said that maybe she would set it as a goal to come to church before I leave.. I told her that I probably will be here for another 6 weeks. And I just found out I was wrong and I will be leaving tomorrow. I'm so sad to go! Diane is just one example of the wonderful things happening in the Clinton area. I really love it here, but I know God  has a plan for me! and I am excited to start new somewhere else :) 

Thank yall for your support and prayers! I love you all!

Have a blessed week!  

2. 

New address in case you want to write me:
260 Lowe Circle Apt 26 E
Richland, MS 39218

 our sweaty during one of the hot hours after a downpour :)

PS: Pray for the people in the floods down here! I'm safe, but there are a lot of people that aren't :/