Barberena- Week 79

This week has been filled with teaching my companion. I have had to teach him a lot of doctrine. He being a convert of only 2 years means he does not know a lot about the doctrine. Something that is super necessary as a missionary. I am sure you could only imagine the struggles of that. He has to learn the doctrine so that he can teach the doctrine... but we are moving along gracefully. I think a lot of the new struggles this round training has to do with the shortened time in the MTC. Only 12 days for latinos.

Happy Birthday Cannon!

This week we had a leadership training and I got to see all my best buds. Elder Winter and Elder Mehr. Elder Winter is now a zone leader in San Vicente! where I was before and by far one of my favorite areas. I love those guys. They are such huge examples to me.  Their faith is incredible and something I admire. .. I also learned a lot in the meeting and felt the need of changing lots of things I have been doing... its hard at times but you know, there is no comfort in a growing zone and no growing in a comfort zone.(cita from Tina Wilcox:)) A lot of the meeting was on time management. The mission is growing a ton.. and the mission needs better users of time. Before the missions capacity was around 160.. before I leave, it will be at 250. All due to the age change! (btw, so awesome that Mindy is going on a mission! the coolest women I know are leaving... and that makes them more cool:)) We also talked about the new style of district meetings that we are doing. It is patterned after the YM and YW program.. so it should be good!

We found a new kid of about 17 years old that is like super smart. He knows so many facts about history, science, the whole enchilada. His name is Daniel. He works with a member that has some buses. But hopefully we see some progress there! He is one of those guys that has just a huge desire to learn.

This week Fransisco had his first day without smoking! We did some service with him this week and he let me right down some recipes for some good delicious stuff! One of the things he taught us how to do was to make an avocado cream... it is insanely good. He is really funny. This week we walked around the corner and we saw him smoking. He saw us, looked at his cigarette, and threw it... it was super funny! jaja... He has gone from three packs a day to about 2 or 3 cigarettes...and, smoking wasn't his only problem... also coke... he said he had the desire to buy some this week, but he started making food that he really likes and ate it instead! withstanding temptation. :)

I sent a hand written letter today with some stuff and "pros and cons charts" I want you to consider for me... just plans and stuff. Lemme know what you guys think! Thinking in what would be best for me and my future:)  The Lord rewards preparation. If you fail to plan you plan to fail. Thanks!

Mum, thanks for everything!l You are really awesome. Thanks for always supporting me and writing me and making sure I am all good! I love you!

Dad, thanks for figuring out all that school stuff for me. yYu are pretty awesome as well.. time management is hard at times... but I think a lot of it is discipline. You got to discipline yourself and just go to the temple! Unfortunately its a lot easier said than done..love ya dad!

Austin, where those lyrics from Mike Snow? the song animal? I don't think we even had Mike snow on our computer before I left! but yeah, get some cool music! Beirut and Mike snow and arcade fire and grizzly bears and broken bells and whatever you can find! dude, you are freaking huge! Austin Thorlander. A model, idiot... jajaja! anyway, I love ya bro! Keep up the good work! And thank you for being friends to everyone. Those moments are always special.

Ellie, it sounds like you are having fun at school and stuff! I hope all is going well with cheer and stuff.. its hard at times. But I am sure you are learning a lot:) love ya!

Brynn, I hope everything is going well with you! I hope you are perusing your passions still! I love ya!

I love you all! thanks for everything!

TTT

Barberena- Week 78

Holy sod! My mind is blown! ASH IS GOING TO LONDON!!!! And way more crazy that she leaves the day I get back! With any luck, we will cross paths.. But who knows..but either way, she will be exactly where she needs to be:) I am super excited for her:)

So, the newest news of the week is, I stayed in my area, and.......I am training again. number 4... whoop. My future wife will be lucky if we have kids... jajaja! But anyway, my new kid is from Peru. his name is Elder Llamacponcca.. try and say that 5 times fast.. jaja! He is a cool guy and a pure Lamanite! his first language wasn't Spanish.. It was some tribal language from the Andes of Peru! jaja! President asked me this time to think of all the times I have trained and try and make this time training the best time I have done it...(i feel like my English is super bad... so sorry if this letter and future or past letters don't make sense..)

I actually ended up having lots of fun with Elder Ayala... .. I figured that instead of macheting him, I might as well be his friend first.. ya know? And that made all the difference...

We had a baptism of a family completed on Saturday and the family of the baptismal candidate was there and they had a good experience. Now one of the siblings wants to be baptized. We are blessed. the husband  baptized his wife and it was super super awesome.. very cool for my comp! Got to the country on Monday and baptized on Saturday! Hope it happens for him in that way for the rest of his mission. Lots of baptisms!

I have been studying PMG in depth these past couple weeks and I have found 2 errors in the translation of the manual. me la pico I really am learning a lot and am looking forward to learning more. I love gospel study!

lately, I have been getting kinda upset with snakes... why cant they just leave me alone like any normal person!?

I think that changes are absolutely inspired. For one, your companion. For two, the people you teach. Three, the members you meet.. like especially because I am so nervous to start the normal life, the familia A that has helped me put some plans in order to be able to not worry about stuff so much.. so many inspired things of the mission:)

So the familia G, our new cook came to church yesterday! So that was good news.. he still has problems smoking.. but we are trying to work through it.. I like to teach a lot with fotos of the fam... the father of the family told me that he is investigating the church for his family.. because he is envious to have the family that we have... he said that he could see that light and happiness in our faces and that we really loved each other... so we hope that they keep progressing con todo..

I feel like I have grown up a lot on my mission.. spiritually and temporally.. but that doesn't mean that I am not the same person. I just have a lot better idea of the person I want to be.. to be my own person. And not worry about the bandwagon effect.. and in a way, I have always been that with my taste in music and worldly things, but you know,, whatever. I just really love my life a lot and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be sharing the gospel, and deepening my love for this wonderful cause. I love you all a ton and have a great week!

Dad, I apologize, I have no idea about those user names and passwords.. but good news about the other stuff! Thanks for everything! You are great! I love ya dad.. keep training!

Mum,last weeks subject line: from the shins, Australia! we´ll see if you figure out this one.. the trick is to listen to the song and then think of me... not listening to it... jajaja! Anyway, thanks for everything and thanks for helping me with school stuff and what not.. I got a short email from Elder Trump today! hes doing great:) I love you and thanks for everything!

Austin, sounds like everything is going alright.. just remember that things are going hard because Satan doesn't want you to progress.. the 6 months before I left where some of the hardest parts of my life.. but it gets better. I promise. love ya bro... I cant wait to go to Lake Powell with you! It will be sick!

Ellie, thanks for everything, pictures look good!

Brynn, thank you for the very nice note... I am glad that you take my advice seriously and that you really try to smile... smile at challenges and smile and problems.. it helps everything!

Thanks for everything! you are all awesome! congratulate Ashlyn!

salu!

Elder Thornton

Barberena- Week 77

Hellos!

Sounds like this week went well. This week went by super fast. And on Wednesday we have changes... I would like to say that I doubt I have changes, but considering what has happened these last few changes, who knows!? It went well... it was filled with plans and goals for the rest of my mission and for after.. so in other words, I have been thinking a little bit more about home this week, which is less than fortunate.. but you know, whatever.

First off, I started exercising again! for one, I need to get back in shape to go home... in other words, boat shape, as grandpa would say as he is eating ice cream... jajaja...but I actually started to feel a bit better... my body still screams at me, but I feel better about things... so that's good! jaja

And on Wednesday, we had interviews with Pres. swips my nic grips snip swips. It went really well and I learned a lot. The subject was goals... he had us set goals for baptisms for this year... Considering I only have 4 months left, he had me make a goal from now until May. I had a goal that I thought was high.. It was 3 baptisms a month... but then he made me realize that I had a consistent goal, but not a growing goal. He wanted me to improve every month. so I changed my goal. jaja... Then he told me that he had only had like two years where he did not make more that year than he did the year before.. crazy right? So he taught me to try and plan and make goals for years and months to come. He also taught me about faith. He said that faith comes by doing great things. And we will be given faith from God. He gives great faith as a gift. So that was good.. jaja!

Then I had my interview with hermana Glazier. She asked me about what it means to be a preach my gospel missionary... then she said that she had heard from many people that I had a gift for teaching... and that i had patience... then I was like.....ME  what?! are you sure? I think that all of us think that we don't have patience.. but you know.. whatever... she was also impressed with my study technique in Preach my Gospel... she really knows how to make you feel good... jaja...

Investigator update: our new cook and his family have a lot of problems with the word of wisdom and chastity (the are not married). But yesterday we had a powerful lesson about those things and we are going to go over today to help them make some goals. They are progressing con todo.  The father has even said that he has smoked less since we have started teaching him.. so that was awesome... they are super awesome.. yesterday they brought up the subject of baptism and asked how soon they could be baptized... very cool

R, our neighbor, had not been meeting with us for about two weeks for his wife.. But this week, he talked with us and said that he was ready to start up the charlas again. So we are super happy for him.. he is reading the BoM with todo.

We have a baptism this weekend. V. She is married to a member and has come to church for a year.. just hasn't gotten baptized because of family problems.. but now she is ready! whoop whoop! good things are happening.

I got a bunch of letters from a handful of people this week. Mostly Christmas letters... I also got ours! cool fotos:) I also got a letter from Cristina Wilcox.... she is doing awesome. she went to BYU and the most exciting news is that Coldplay came out with a live CD and that Mark Mabry has started a restoration project. Should be super sick... I also got one from the Allen's with some letters from Scott. He said something that I had always felt but could never put into words. I have worried that I haven't changed much on the mission... but basically... I am the same old Tanner, just with a way deeper love of the gospel. :) same with Scott:)

Dad, sounds like things are going awesome! that's great testimony that when you do the right things, good things start happening! Sounds like this year will be awesome:) I love you dad and thank you for your testimony.

Mum, sounds like things are doing great at home!  Cant wait to be get some tia rosas for lunch like we used to do.. jaja... I don't have 80 ties quite yet.. but I have a few.. Elder Coy went home with 120. crazy... no chemistry with him and that girl before the mission. We didn't even know her! Sounds like the new teaching method is really cool... I would like to try it sometime.. jaja.. love you mum, you are the best.

Austin, you are a stud... I am sure throwing will go great. love ya,

Ellie, are you going to try track this year? It would probably be super fun:) And it sounds like you know fashion... you will have to help me dress and by clothes when I come back.. urdie? (urdy sp?) jaja love ya!

Brynn, it sounds like the birthday and Christmas extravaganza went awesome! I am sure that you have turned into quite the artist.. Is that still what you want to do when you grow up? You should totally take some art classes when you can:) love ya! cant wait to see you!

I love you all and thanks for everything!!!!

SALU

Tanner

Barberena-Week 76

HELLOS! So this week went super fast.... At times I think that the time goes super slow.. and then other times I think that it goes super fast... At times I think that 4 and a half months is a long time.. but at the same time, that is like nothing.... crud...

So one of the highlights of the week is that Elder Coy came from Guate to visit! When he left, he was pretty dead set on marrying someone that he had been dating for a while... But as the wedding date approached, he said that he realized that he hadnt really received an answer yet... so he cut it off with her and decided to write someone that we had met only one time in Zacamil... she was part of another ward... but long story short... he came to see her .. to see if there is any chemistry there... but he is doing great! It was really cool to see him.. I think he goes home on saturday..

We passed the new year with three families... but we did pass most of it with los alferez... they are a pretty awesome family.. super fun to be around. We bought them some paintings for the new year. (speaking of that, are you guys all good with the ideas that I had for all of you? to get you from here? lemme know! cuz I wont buy it if its not something you want..)

Some weird stuff has been happening... one night some drunk threw a rock through are window... Scared the living crap out of me... we saw a car crash like twenty yards from us... crazy.. and we saw a guy that was dead because he got hit by a car.. not the first or last dead guy that I will see in my mish.. jajaja!

We changed our cook.. so now we have better food.. its more mexican style.. its actually one of the families that we are teaching.. That makes it really nice because we eat and then have a lesson... today we went to eat and he was like "hey tomorrow can we talk about the gospel and stuff? because we havent talked about that in like three days! we are going to read tonight so we will be ready for tommorrow" So that is a total blessing in our lives.

I went on divisions this week with and Elder that has about 8 months in the mission.. I figured that it was time to let him in on a few tricks to teaching... because that's how much time I had when I started to change my whole approach to teaching.. i feel that if he would have been a brand new missionary, it probably would have gone in one ear and out the other, but he was really grateful and he is a great missionary.. a little bit different, but a great missionary.

los alferez have given me a few job ideas for like right after the mission that I could do to get things to get ready for school and to be able to do the fun things that I like to do in school... but we will see how that all works out... I definitely always need to have a plan...

for any new year, I feel that I always am about a week late to make goals.. so this week I have been thinking about goals for this year.. my top goal is to become more like Christ. So I will be trying and working hard to develop one Christlike attribute a week. I have always feared that my love of studying the gospel would fade when I get home... but like I said last week, gospel learning is about mastering discipleship.. not facts... so that is what I am going to do for these last couple months and for the rest of the year. I have some other goals, but those are that one is the most important I think.

Today was a little boring.. apparently my comp is illegal in the country... jaja.. so we had to get his papers all figured out in with a whole bunch of other missionaries... at least it was a little bit ok because a gringa hermana stratton was there and she is pretty cool. I was her zone leader in Santa Tecla.. We were the only gringos so we just kinda chilled... all in all super boring. But at the same time, its better to smile at things like that rather than get frustrated and whatnot..

Mum, thanks for your letter! sounds like things are going great there. Hope things are going to be good as you guys get back into the right schedule! I love you

Dad, sounds like your new years goals are great! I know that those small things like reading scriptures and going to the temple will help a ton... just follow through! I tell less actives a lot that: Christ did everything for us... bled from every pore and suffered both in body and spirit, and only asks a few things in return. Do you think that He asks too much when he asks to start studying 15 min of 24 hours in a day? That he asks too much when he asks for 3 hours of church of 168 hours in the week? Maybe five min of prayer a day? in reality, He does not ask much of us at all... I love you dad! Thanks for everything!

Austin, sounds like the Australian is pretty cool.. I remember that I talked to an exchange student from France the first day of school one year... she could hardly speak English, but she was super attractive...  I have always thought the french are attractive.. But you know... food for thought.. jaja! So when are you going to start/ finish the mission papers? lemme know! love ya

Ellie, sounds like things are pretty normal with you! Keep having fun, but keep the most important things high on the priority list!

Brynn, it makes me happy that you are so happy. Just remember to always be happy with the blessings that God has given you, even if you are walking around in a boot and it hits your other foot and you bleed. Its better to smile than get mad:)love ya

Thanks for everything! I love you all!

SALU!

TTT

Barberena- Week 75

Hello!!!!

First off, Happy Birthday Brynn and Grandpa!!!! WHOOP!

This week has been good.. I really only have like four days of stuff happening to tell you about... considering the events last week... but non the less... here it goes!

We have had some less than ideal circumstances and events with some of our investigators.. They were starting to get a little cold, but, other parts of the work are improving! We have found some good families that I feel haven a lot of pontential. And members of the ward are bringing friends to church... well.. two members.. jajaja!

Yesterday, was a fifth Sunday, so we had the opportunity to teach the lesson... bomb? exploded. We did the rip tear and this time was probably the most effective time that it was done. I felt bad... because it made a hermana cry.. she felt the spirit.. and it was awesome. Poor thing... jaja.. but one of my motto's is that if they don't feel something, they will never change. I also prepared a talk that I did not give in sacrament meeting... it had a little bit of the subject of gossip in it... it would have been good.. but you know... whatever.

We have had some good solid days this week.. Something I haven't had that in a while.. But other days with only one lesson.. its weird.. jaja.. But I can't complain! the Lord blesses us so much.

Also, some news I guess, the family A said that we could stay with them if we ever come back.. so that's cool... that would be hotel for free! jaja.. our plans for the new year are to pass it with them as well... but their are a few other families that want us to pass by. But we will see whats up!

I have been listening to talks of Bruce R. Mckonkie.. he was like a Jeffrey R Holland.. super powerful and super like right on the nail... super caval! I am learning a ton. I love learning about the gospel.. like I expressed to you guys, gospel learning isn't about mastering facts and information.. its about mastering discipleship. I hope I can continue that for the rest of my life.

tourist stuff:

typical shirt or jersey: $10

painting: $12

machete: $12

shoes for Ellie?? $15

backpack $25

and also for the suit thing... its kinda difficult for him to make one just from measurements that you would give me for Austin just because you have to try it on a few times before he finishes everything... so it might be a little tough... not sure what you want to do?

Thank you for all your letters and what not! Ellie, sick story about getting your answer.

Brynn, happy birthday.. thank you for having such a great attitude all the time... if I could teach you one thing in life, it would be to be happy with the circumstances that God has given you... press forward continually! I love ya!

Dad, to answer some of your questions, I remember thinking that you were blowing everything out of proportion with that whole situation before I left... but now I realize that anything more tranquilo would not have worked... so dad, you handled it all well... you are an awesome dad and I am so blessed to have been raised by you and mum... Thanks for everything and keeping me on the right track. I love you

Thanks for everything! Your are all awesome!

elder TTT

Barberena- Week 74

Hello! It was really cool to talk to you all! You guys are pretty awesome. I hope you guys had a great Christmas!

So new project; nersh burts. Small messages to people that live close to us on pieces of paper. Then telling them where to find us if they are interested in the message. And do one like twice a month. Nersh=nourished by the good word of God. Maybe one message will interest someone:)

ON Sunday there was a primary program, and it was awesome. I felt through the whole thing that I wanted to be like those kids. Become childlike. And put off the natural man and all my sins.

Last week the bishop asked us what we as missionaries would like from the ward. That was the first time that a bishop has asked me that as a missionary and it was awesome. Our bishop is a boss.

The Christmas dinner went well and I met a lot of less actives and people brought their non member friends.:)

As for the temple, it was awesome. I went with a few questions. Mostly about what to do with the rest of my life...  I thought mums comment about figuring it out here was a good idea...considering I am a lot closer to God and stuff... but what I have decided is to start a year off at NAU, then possible go up to U of Utah and live with grandma possibly?? And then do med school there. During that time, I will be learning to produce music with the help of Jeff and a few other guys that I have met that are doing that.... so that way, I will still be able to pursue my passion. Also, with school, what I said yesterday, but preferably morning classes:)

Mum and Dad, thanks for the stories you wrote and thank you for everything. you guys are pretty awesome parents and I am super lucky to be here in the mission with parents like you that support me and such.. thanks for everything! I love you! (saw Frank wall:))

Austin,thanks for your story,, that is so true! keeping the commandments brings peace of mind... 

Ellie, thanks for your stories, as for your question. you may try asking very specific questions.. if you want a specific answer, you have to have a specific question. You also might say something like "this is my plan and if its not whats right, let me feel bad about it." or something of the sort.. in my experience, that burning usually means yes.

Brynn, as for your question. Austin had a great answer to that.. people that keep the commandments have peace of mind. I have talked to so many people that feel guilt for things they have done, but they have no way to repent because the are members of another church. The only church that has the true doctrine of repentance is ours. Keeping the commandments brings happiness.. the happiest moments in my life are when I am keeping the commandments. I just had a huge realization today when mum told me about the word of wisdom. I think she looks a lot younger than people her age. And that goes for most Mormons. They all look younger than they are... its weird... well, I hope that helps!

I love you all! you're the best.

elder thornton.

Barberena -Week 73

Hello!

2 craziest news of the week: the massacre in Connecticut. And Val is not only married, but living in our ward! crazy!

So last Monday, I got probably the best gift that I have gotten in my whole life. Hermana Elizabeth wrote me. In the card, she included a picture of us at the temple, a card made for me, her first two talks that she has given in sacrament meeting, her conversion story, list of special dates including: baptism, confirmation, patriarchal blessing, her callings, and the date she took out her endowments. The letter and conversion story brought tears to my eyes. I was so blessed to be able to even know her, let alone teach her and baptize her. Best Christmas gift ever.

So there is a whole bunch of new rules on skype. But I will either call or skype on Christmas day between 3 and 4 pm my time. I hope we can skype!

This week I woke up in the middle of the night to a cockroach on my face. Ask me about it on Christmas. So I put up a mosquito net on my bed.. hence the photos... I think I washed my face about a million and a half times. jaja.

We were teaching our neighbor this week and we challenged him for baptism. He accepted and is preparing a progressing. We talked to him the next morning and he told us that he had been talking with his wife last night and now she wants to listen to us,to the missionaries! She didn't want anything to do with us before, but we have our first cita with them as a family tonight. I am very excited. He actually reads the assignments we give him and tries to apply it to his life and he is really progressing spiritually. I love his attitude.

This week we went to the presidents house for a Christmas party. That was awesome. I forwarded fotos. There is a lot of Glazier traditions that I want to adopt in my family

 

Its going a lot better with my comp. I am starting to have fun with him:)

There is a family in our ward that are so awesome. We ate dinner with them like 4 times this week. They treat us like their family. They don't have any kids yet. They are a newlywed couple and both are returned missionaries. They told us basically. "look if you are hungry or need to use the bathroom during the day, we hide the key here and you can get in to the house and take whatever you want to eat." It is super fun being with them... if all goes well, I will talk to you from their house:) I will definitely be like that with the missionaries when I am big.

"The best teachers are not made by what they say... but that they live what they teach" quote of the day:)

Mum, thanks for the nice letter and the gifts that I am starting to open. You are pretty awesome. I love you and I will talk to you on Tuesday!

Dad, your missionary opportunity was awesome! Write your testimony in the Book of Mormon and a passalong card for mormon.org. Saw your pineapple! I read this scripture this morning and it would probably help: Romans 5:3 to 5. its a good one! Thanks for being a great dad. I love you.

Austin, I loved you're experience and the willingness that you had to fulfill your promise that you made to the Lord. You are pretty awesome. Everyone said that you did awesome in your talk! And tell Val hi as well:)

Ellie, you have homework this week. read Luke 2 and focus on what is important this time of year. Its easy to get distracted with the things of this world. But do it to it!

Brynn, I was really surprised that you would pick a country like El Salvador for a country report! That's super cool and I will try to answer all the questions I can:)

I love you all and I cant wait to talk to you on Tuesday,. Remember that I wont be writing on Monday but on Wednesday.

SALU!