My Lovelies!

Hello my darling family!!

So today's email is going to be very short. I know, it's a miracle!

Haha but luckily I was able to give you all types of updates while

looking at each of your beautiful faces. Ohh my goodness I really

loved Skyping with all of you soo very much and don't think it could

have made me happier. I honestly had such a blast chatting away with

all of you and even having a good amount of time speaking Spanish with

Ralph & Scotty! Brad, I still want to speak more with you!! And

Brittany responding to some of my questions as well... Very impressed.

Haha but honestly that was soo much fun for me and I can't wait to

talk more to you all in Español when I get home. Hopefully my accent

will be a great amount better by then as well. I promise I am working

on it every day! But thank you for being so nice about it and boosting

my confidence a little bit haha. You all are honestly the BEST and I

love each of you more than you possibly know. You bring so much joy

into to my life and pure happiness into my heart. After we finished

Skyping I was honestly beaming and couldn't stop smiling, I was sooo

happy!! I feel soo blessed to have each of you in my life and to have

you as my family & very best friends!!! This morning I was actually

just reading in 1 Nephi 2 ... (I am reading the Book of Mormon in

Spanish right now so I am not anywhere specific in my English Book of

Mormon) but I read verse 4 where it is talking about Lehi heading into

the wilderness and it says, "... he left his house, and the land of

his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious

things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family...." With

you all so heavily on my mind, this verse stood out to me more than

normal and I related it to when we will be departing out of this life.

I thought about how when we leave this life we won't be taking with us

our homes, cars, clothes, cellphones, laptops, fancy belongings and

any other worldly items or precious things... but we will be taking

with us our FAMILIES, those we love and hold most dear to us, our

relationships... This really hit me as I pondered over it and I

realized how all of the little worldly "things" we see as so valuable

in this life truly are not valuable at all. But what is most valuable

and what we will indeed be taking with us after we die is our families

and spirits. There is a lot more I could say or go into detail about

this but it made me very happy to think about and also brought me a

whole lot of comfort and peace. I already have what is most precious

and valuable. My beautiful family & dearest friends. That's all that

matters. You are all that matters!! And how lucky am I to have such a

wonderful wonderful family at that??? Ohh I am sooo blessed & lucky I

do not even know how to express it. Heavenly Father knows how blessed

I feel though because I tell him about a million times each day haha.

But truly, you all mean more than the world to me and I couldn't love

each of you more!!! I feel like I wasn't able to express it as much as

I would have liked to while we were Skyping but seeing each of you and

hearing your voices, hearing your laughs and watching you interact

with one another and hearing all of the advice you had for me, hearing

your comments, stories, insight, jokes.... everything, just feeling

like I was with my most loves ones again really touched my heart so

much. You have noo idea how much it meant to me and how much it

uplifted my spirit. I am the luckiest girl & missionary in the entire

world and you are all everything to me!!!!! This also reminds me of

when Abby lost all of those items that were stolen out of her car and

after listing what she had lost she said to me, "I am thankful for

everything I have that are not things, and that is the most

important." That simple statement of hers impressed me so much and

meant a lot to me. It got me thinking as well and it is so true. If we

just take a step back in our crazy lives, get away from all of the

noise of the world... we will be able to have the spirit touch us and

we will realize how much we have to be grateful for and we'll

recognize what is most important and valuable. And we will clearly

realize it's not the "things" we have but the people we hold dear to

our hearts. I love you my dearest family ohhh so much and am sooo

thankful for each and everyone of you more than you know. I love you

so much.

Also, for you former missionaries.... I have written all of your

advice down and I am really taking it all to heart!! I set some new

goals for myself this morning actually and I am so excited to keep

working hard and trying out some new approaches to the work!!!! And

the same goes for my Spanish. I will try my best to keep improving it

each day as well!! Oh you all are so great and I appreciate your

advice, comments and help more than you know. How lucky am I to have

such wonderful examples in my life and such excellent role models of

the missionary I want to be???? You are all the absolute best and I

hope to be half the missionary each of you were!!!!!!!!

Oh, and I will send pictures from Any & Maria's baptism right now!!!

You are all going to die they are the cutest people alive. Our

TRACTING SUCCESS baptism. I love it too much and will never get over

it!! The fact that while Any was sharing her testimony she kept

looking at Hermana Richards and I and saying, "thank you for knocking

on my door, thank you for knocking on my door" while tears were

streaming down her face.... And she gave such a powerful, strong and

meaningful testimony. Wow, she is something else. Such an amazing

woman. And while us sister missionaries sang, "Más cerca Dios de Ti"

Any & Maria had tears streaming down their faces and would just look

at me with the biggest smiles. There are no words to describe how

happy that made me feel and I just felt the spirit soo strongly

throughout the entire baptismal service. They are so so special and

the most golden of all goldens. I love it so much. Also, I still can't

get over the fact that I got to be back in Gridley with my amazing

family there!!!! Ahhh it made me sooo happy. Ps. Remember not to plan

any trips for June of 2015 when the entire Gridley branch is coming to

Salt Lake City!!!!!!! You will get to meet everyone in our own home

town!!!!!! How is my life this good???? I feel completely spoiled. It

will be too amazing. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if members asked to

stay in our home.... That may be something to take into consideration.

Hahaha THE MISSION LIFE IS TOO GOOD!!!!!! Okay, I am going to go send

the baptism pictures. I love you all!!!!

Con mucho amor y un GRAN abrazo,

Hermana Barth

Okay. So we are at the library and I just tried to send pictures but

it was soooo slow and then wouldn't let me so I am going to try to

send them next week hopefully at the family history center. I am so

excited for you to see pictures though because they are the cutest and

it was such a special baptism!!!!!! So next week I will try again!! So

sorry!!!!

Abigail's Birthday!!!!!

My dearest family!!

So before I tell you anything else... 

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY

BEAUTIFUL 24 YEAR OLD SISTER ABIGAIL!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Ahhhh Abs I cannot believe it is your Birthday today!! Such a wonderful day it is. Also,

for everyone else... HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO!!!! We had a fiesta on

Saturday with our branch so we're unfortunately not having one for

Cinco de Mayo today.. and I helped plan for the one that's happening

in Gridley tonight, which lots of my Yuba members are going to, sad,

haha but still what a lovely day it is. Abs, I hope you got my

Birthday package!! (I'll e-mail you separately right now) but I hope

everyone gives her lots of love & attention today and spoils her

rotten!!! Oh, which reminds me.. Mom! I got your Easter package last

Monday. The best!! I was soo excited to receive it and you couldn't

have made it better. I am now sleeping on the pillow case you sent me

every night too. I love it. It motivates me and puts a smile on my

face every time I see it when I go to bed. Especially seeing the big

quote that's in the middle, "Be still and know that I am God." I love

it!! Thank you so much!! Also, I got the sweetest letter from Grandma

Barth, my #1 writer. I am the luckiest. Okay and now I am going to

explain the rest of what I want to tell you in some bullet points...

It has been a crazy week!!!!

1. First off, I had my last interview with the one & only, President

Weston this past week. Wow. I don't even know how to describe the

interview I had with him. It was amazing. It could not have been more

spiritual or meant more to me. I honestly walked away from my

interview feeling like a changed person. That man inspires & motivates

me more than I can express and just overall is one of the most

spiritual and incredible men I know of. Honestly I cannot even begin

to explain how much I idolize, admire, look up to and love my

president. I love him so much!! And it makes me soo sad knowing he's

leaving in a month. I can't even think about it. I know President

Marston will be incredible as well but I don't know how anyone could

be better than President Weston. I am convinced he's the best

president in all the missions! And a future General Authority. Ohh I

cannot wait for you all to meet him. And I have a pretty good feeling

you will because he's only lives in Murray and near the end of our

interview he was like, "I will get to see you at your homecoming!!"

haha and I hadn't realized there was a chance he would come to my

homecoming till then, so that's pretty exciting. And then also he was

talking to me about future things such as school & marriage... talked

about me being a wife & mother, so crazy, haha and then he said near

the end, "your husband doesn't know how good he's going to have it...

but I am going to tell him." Haha and I thought to my self... huh??

And then he said, "I will be at your wedding!! Oh that will be so fun

to see you get married..." etc. etc. Oh my goodness the best!!

President Weston coming to both my homecoming & wedding!! I am the

luckiest!!! I have a feeling I will be stopping by the Weston home a

whole lot more than that as well, giving he lives so close. But it

made me pretty happy to think about. Such a benefit from living in

Utah. But as for a kind of feel for the main part of the interview...

I pretty much was in tears from the beginning. And he was teary during

a whole lot of it as well, especially at the end, which killed me even

more. He actually got pretty emotional at the end. Ohhh he is purely

amazing. We talked about so much and I asked him advice on a whole lot

of stuff as well and everything he told me just really touched my

heart and hit me in a way it hadn't before. He really stressed talking

about having strong, activating faith & a close relationship with the

Spirit (including meaningful prayers, etc.) for those are things I

need desperately for the rest of my life and will help me be the best

woman, daughter, sister, friend, wife and mother I can possibly be. So

anyways, there's a whole lot I could say but it was such a special

interview. I will never ever forget it. I know I will stay close to

President Weston for the rest of my life.

2. We found so much more success this past week!! Things have been soo

much better and are really looking upward! We found a darling couple,

tracting... woot woot and we were able to teach both the wife AND

husband which was huuuuge so we're super excited. We made a set lesson

with them and they were all ready to listen when we got there to

teach. Also, there neighbor, Gregorio, who's 19 sat in on the lesson

and was so awesome as well. Oh yeah.. So the man's name is Domingo and

we can't remember his wife's name (so bad) but they're probably in

their 40's and all of their family is in Mexico but they are soo

awesome and loved everything we taught from the Restoration and at the

end the mom said about a 10 minute (silent) prayer for us... we kinda

forgot to tell her to say it out loud?? But it was still nice. And

then they both committed to reading & praying about everything we

taught and the dad kept saying, "I know there is a lot of information

in this book... The Book of Mormon.. so I know I only need to read

from it to learn & understand more." So awesome. So golden. We have

another lesson with them tonight so I'll keep you updated on that!!

3. The absolute worst thing I have witnessed thus far on my mission

happened. So I won't go into TOO much detail... but Saturday night we

were at an area called, "Los Campos" ... "The Camps" which is

low-income housing and it's like a little Mexico, purely Hispanics..

Well anyways, we had a lesson there and were peacefully praying in our

car before walking to our lesson.. then when we got out these two

little cute Hispanic boys ran to us telling us this crazy dog had just

killed a cat. They said it had happened while we were in our car

(while we were praying). So anyways, we saw this freshly killed cat

and a crazy, red-eyed, pit bull looking dog continue to bite at it,

etc. yeahhh.. I was cringing and partially freaking out at this point.

But so then all the kids were running out, along with lots of the

neighbors, and they were trying to get this dog out. Well then... we

walked to our investigators house, 2 were there actually.. Augustina

and her ex-daughter-in-law Maria, and we told them what had happened

because it was clear something was going on. Then we watched the

psycho dog literally speed chase down three other cats. Which luckily

the cats escaped but we were all holding our breath watching it. I was

so relieved I didn't see the first cat get killed and I didn't want to

witness another. He was honestly on the look out for anything with

fur. So that was crazy and finally a security guy came out and the

owner of the dog... But then they just sat there with the crazy dog

not taking it away or anything. The security man was just standing

there smoking and not taking care of business. It drove me nuts. So

then, after about 10 minutes when we were all kinda watching what was

going on... We were all outside... and all of the sudden a cute, long

haired, medium sized, fluffy little dog came into sight and before we

knew it... Bam. The big crazy, evil dog, got a hold of it and we

witnessed the most horrifying scene. We watched the dog just shake

that little dog while it was in its mouth till it died and ohhh my

goodness. I was screaming, hiding behind my companion, cringing beyond

belief and completely horrified. It was so awful to watch and then the

dog ran right past us afterwards with a limp dog in it's mouth. Only a

little smaller than Henry and with hair like his when it's longer. I

was so mortified and what made it even worse was there were about 20

little darling Hispanic children all around witnessing everything. Of

course their parents were freaking out, yelling and telling them to go

inside during it all but yeah. It was awful. Sorry for the details but

it was the worst thing I have ever seen and it still makes me sick to

think about. Never thought I'd ever witness such a thing and I am

scarred. So sad too because Maria's daughter afterwards said with the

saddest look on her face, "I never want to come back here ever again."

Poor little thing is soo scarred!! So yeah, even though it is terrible

I couldn't not share the story. Sorry if I told more details then you

would like but Hermana Hughes and I still say, "Nobody will ever

understand what we witnessed!!!!!" It was too crazy & awful for words.

Ohh the things we experience on a mission. Haha

4. Let's see, what else... well again.. we saw a lot more success this

past week and things are happening and picking up slowly but surely.

Which makes me sooo happy. We are very content and have a lot of faith

we're going to witness many miracles together. We visited a ton of

less-actives this past week which was awesome and we're getting more

referrals, etc. Elder Mosely (Connor Haller's friend) and Elder Murray

gave us some awesome referrals too and I taught one of the deepest

Restoration lessons I have thus far with one of them. They knew the

bible so well so we were having to dig deep into stuff and it was

super fun. They are super Catholic but the husband enjoys reading the

Book of Mormon and said maybe the'll come visit our church one week.

We'll see! I kinda liked teaching someone who knew more doctrine. Made

it fascinating. But we feel wonderful and are having a ton of fun

along the way!! Also, I have Any & Maria's baptism this weekend!!!!!!

So I will be heading to Gridley on Saturday for that... which I am

soooo unbelievably excited about!!!! I finally get to watch my

tracting success, the most golden of all golden's and the cutest

mother & daughter ever... enter the waters of baptism!!!! I honestly

cannot wait. And then I will be able to tell you all about it over

skype the next day!!!! Mother's Day!!!! I have even more to be excited

about!!!! Oh, and I will be speaking in Sacrament Meeting next Sunday,

on Mother's Day, so that will be very fun!! And it's Hermana Piggott's

Birthday on Friday!!!! So many wonderful things to look forward to

this week & weekend. I love it!!!!!!

But okay, well I better go. I have a lot to update President on. But I

love you all sooo much and I hope everything is wonderful at home!! I

want to hear all about Abigail's graduation, David & Hailey's wedding

and then I hope my best friend and sister in the world has the BEST

BIRTHDAY EVER!!!!!!!!! Gayyyyorg I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ralph,

give her lots & lots of hugs for me today.

CON TODO DE MI AMOR

Su misionera,

Hermana Barth

Ps. Sorry for my letters that are novels!! I will try to make them

shorter. I am a crazy writer!!!

I Stand All Amazed

My loveliest and most dearest family,

So as for an update on the missionary life of Hermana Barth!! Let's

see... Well, to be completely honest, this past week was probably the

hardest one I have had on my mission thus far. I hope you all don't

take that too serious though haha because I often don't know if it's

possible for anyone to love being a missionary and serving a mission

more than me. But I do admit this week had been rougher than most. I

think I have knocked on more doors than any of you could possibly

imagine. Last night my District Leader told me every door I knock

gives me more "husband points" though.... whatever that means! hahaha.

All week though we have worked so hard every day trying to contact

lists of potentials, less-actives, formers and even referrals of

investigators that we have received from the other Hermanas but we

have hardly been able to contact any of them. Sometimes we joke and

say they all must be together at a party we weren't invited to. Haha

no but we have just knocked & knocked & knocked our little hearts out,

tracting included, and not seen as great of success as I would like.

Haha one day, while on exchanges with Sister Lewis, we knocked doors

for a total of 7 hours!! 

Don't get me wrong, I actually am a missionary who really enjoys tracting and I don't think 

I could feel more comfortable knocking on complete strangers doors and doing door

approaches haha but still... what I love most is actually being able

to really teach. I absolutely love teaching the gospel and could do it

all day, every day. No doubt in my mind. So when I am not able to,

it's hard on me! I just want to help others learn and grow closer to

our Savior soo much!! If only you knew how great of a desire I have to

do this. I never knew I would have as great of a desire as I truly do.

But with Sister Lewis we were fortunately able to get in a door, her

name is Gloria, she is a new investigator.. and I taught the entire

Restoration (by myself because Sister Lewis is English haha) but that

was great and we have picked up a couple of other new investigators as

well whom I do have a great amount of faith in. But yeah, overall we

haven't seen as much success as I would like and everyone is always

telling us how there is soo much work to be done here and the other

Hermanas and Elders are always so busy... so I want to be apart of it!

I want to be busy teaching & teaching! 

And I know, with time, it will happen. I have to experiment my patience I so often talk,

 study and read about... but it has just been a different week. It also is new

experience for me training a brand new missionary in an area I am

still trying to get comfortable with. Sometimes it makes me a little

sad because I want Hermana Hughes to be able to teach a lot and

experience the great joy that comes from it but we aren't able to as

much as I would like. But luckily she has such a greenie fire in her

and is always as upbeat & positive as can be so we are still trying to

make the very best out of it. I know success is coming along with

many, many miracles. I can feel it. I just crave it so badly right

now!! 

But overall, I am still my same, old, happy self!

 Still absolutely loving being a missionary and would not want to be anywhere

else doing anything else. My mission is everything to me. We have set

some big goals for this upcoming week as well which I hope will really

help. Yesterday we set up times to go visit less-actives with our

Relief Society President and we are going to try to visit lots of

members to gain their trust and receive referrals. I believe that will

truly be key for the work here. The members in this branch are soo

solid and awesome too so I am confident they will be a great help. We

also had over 80 people at church yesterday which was a huge deal.

Felt much bigger than Gridley. We also are getting a list of

less-actives from our Branch President, President Rivera who is sooo

awesome and we just met this past week.. so excited about him, so I

hope that will help. Less-actives are ohh so important to activate

because they already have the ordinances performed and hopefully they

can give us more referrals too. We have a lot to do!! I love it!!

Also, miracle for the week!!! So this morning at church I was just

getting a little sad because we have worked like crazy this past week

and tried so hard to find new people and are completely exhausted from

it... but then we had a baptism for the Elders in our branch tonight,

family of 5, so awesome... and we wanted to bring an investigator so

badly. So with our luck from the week, you'd think we wouldn't be able

to make it happen, but with faith all is possible right?? So we went

to a few investigators homes and we stopped at Agustina's, she's our

more elderly investigator, and we invited her and she said she wanted

to come!!! So we had dinner with the Alvarez family and then they went

and picked her up and she came!!!! Best thing ever!! The other

Hermana's used to teach her too and when they saw her walk in they

were shocked, later asking us how we got her to come.. but she,

without hesitation, wanted to... so it was a miracle!!!! The baptism

was absolutely beautiful and so spiritual too so I couldn't be

happier. She loved it and everyone was so good to her. So we hope to

see her dressed in white very soon. But having her come was such a

miracle for me personally and it was just what I needed after a long

week. It really lifted my spirit and just made me feel oh so good. It

helped me remember how worth it all of my hard work is and how

sometimes even the littlest things mean so much. The littlest things

can be such mercies from God. Also, another tender mercy... the Elders

asked us to teach the Restoration during the time those who were

baptized were changing. We agreed to it, very last minute, but oh was

I so happy we did it. 

This was the first time Hermana Hughes and I have been able to teach the full Restoration together and it was so amazing. While teaching I felt the spirit soo strongly and I was

completely reminded of why I am so happy, why I love my Savior so very

much and why I love being a missionary. I also shared my testimony

which confirmed to me all of my true, sincere beliefs and it just felt

so refreshing and ahh purely amazing. So that was awesome. Also, sooo

many people were at the baptism, including a great amount of members

from our branch and they were all so beautiful to look at while

teaching. I cannot explain it in words. It was so good. Also, Hermana

Rodriguez-Toledo sang "Asombro me da" ... "I stand all amazed" again

and this time it literally made my eyes well up with tears. Along with

so many others. I was just completely humbled listening to the lyrics

and felt it was absolutely perfect for me to hear tonight. I couldn't

help but be overwhelmed with emotions. This past week I have also had

moments where I have felt weak and as though I was lacking faith so it

has led me to pondering & studying over His Atonement a lot. This has

greatly humbled me and I truly do know that through my loving Brother

& Savior, Jesus Christ... I am always able to gain strength and build

upon my faith. I also sometimes feel so imperfect but I know my Savior

suffered & died for me so that I truly can be forgiven of all my many

sins and become cleansed & perfected through Him. So with that all

alone, I stand all amazed.

 I STAND ALL AMAZED

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,

Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.

I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,

That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine

To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,

That he should extend his great love unto such as I,

Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!

Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?

No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,

Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me

Enough to die for me!

Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

(In the beautiful language of Español)

             ASOMBRO ME DA

Asombro me da el amor que me da Jesús.

Confuso estoy por Su gracia y por Su luz,

y tiemblo al ver que por mí Él Su vida dio;

por mí, tan indigno, Su sangre Él derramó.

Cuán asombroso es que por amarme ̮así

muriera Él por mí. Cuán asombroso es lo que dio por mí.

Me cuesta ̮entender que quisiera Jesús bajar

del trono divino para mi ̮alma rescatar;

que Él extendiera perdón a tal pecador

y me redimiera y diera Su gran amor.

Cuán asombroso es que por amarme ̮así

muriera Él por mí. Cuán asombroso es lo que dio por mí.

Comprendo que Él en la cruz se dejó clavar.

Pagó mi rescate; no lo podré olvidar.

Por siempre jamás al Señor agradeceré;

mi vida y cuanto yo tengo a Él daré.

Cuán asombroso es que por amarme ̮así

muriera Él por mí. Cuán asombroso es lo que dio por mí.

If any of you ever have a day or week where you feel like things

aren't going your way or things just seem to be too hard.... try to

take a step back and remember all that our Savior Has done for you.

This is what I am trying my best to do and I already can feel the

difference. We must remember to always keep Him in our thoughts and

focus on all He has and continues to do for us. We must remember that

no matter who we are or what we've done.. He loves us unconditionally

and died for each and everyone of us individually so that we can

become ultimately perfected. Also we must remember that it is through

Him and only through Him we can receive complete joy, peace, &

happiness in this life and in the life to come. He is "the way and

there is no other way nor name given under Heaven whereby man can be

saved in the Kingdom of God." (2 Nephi 31:21)

I love you all so much and am so thankful for your love, support and

goodness in my life. I cannot express it enough how much I love you

all. Also, another big blessing... after a long day I received a

darling envelope in the mail from my best friend Hermana Piggott and

tears came to my eyes as I read her sweet words. This was another

great reminder to me of how blessed I am to have such wonderful people

& friendships in my life. Hermana Piggott, I love you so so much. Fam,

I still cannot wait for you to meet her in real life. She is the

absolute best and I couldn't love or adore her more. I think you all

already know that but I can't say it enough. Also, I got to talk to

Hermana Richards on the phone for a minute today and I loved hearing

from her as well. Hermana Richards is one of the best people I know

and I couldn't love her more either. I miss those two every single day

& I sincerely have the best friends ever. These two will forever be

close to me too. Heavenly Father loves me so much to have placed them

in my life. Oh how blessed am I. 

"LIFE IS TOO GOOD"

I love you all more than all of the stars in the sky and I want you to

know I truly would and will do anything & everything for each &

everyone of you. Thank you for being my loved ones.

Con todo de mi amor,

Hermana Barth

Other quick updates.... (These are super important for you, Hermana Piggott)

SAD UPDATE: I unfortunately found out this morning, during branch

council, that Hermano Montero from my Gridley branch passed away last

night. He had 7 heart attacks and didn't make it. I am so sad. No

words can express Hermano Montero and I may have mentioned him in

earlier emails as a very loud member in our branch.. he always would

yell out things during Sunday School or even Sacrament meeting, but he

had the biggest heart and I really always enjoyed him very much. Well

anyways, his dear wife Imelda is ohh so dear to me as well and I am so

sad for her. She is one of the strongest ladies I know of though but

please keep the Montero family in your prayers!! I still cannot

believe Fidel, Hermano Montero, is gone. I heard him bear his

testimony just a few weeks ago and I can still perfectly hear him say

very loudly (which he said every single time I saw him) "HOOOOLA

HERMANA!! ¿CÓMO ESTA?" Oh, it breaks my heart. The branch will

definitely not be the same without him.

FUNNY UPDATE: (to lighten the mood) I finally taught a Punjab!!! We

have a neighbor in our apartment complex, named Sahil, straight from

India.. and he is Hindu/Punjabi and he wanted us to teach him!! So we

did! His English is not the greatest so I am not positive all that he

got out of the lesson but Hermana Piggott used to always say if she

were to baptize a Punjab her mission would be complete (joke haha) but

I actually taught one and it was wonderful!! There are soooo many

Punjab's here but barely any of them speak English so it was awesome.

And also, during our lesson his darling mother, in her full-on Indian

attire, cooked us all this Indian food and it was amazing!!!! I hadn't

tasted anything like it on my mission and it was soo good. She didn't

know a lick of English either but was so smiley and sweet to us. It

was the best!! Haha oh, and also Sahil invited me to go to India with

him for his Sister's wedding... I told him I couldn't and he told me

how I must experience an Indian wedding. Yeah, no words to describe

Sahil. But he is very very nice. Great neighbor. Also, he said some

pretty inspirational quotes that I wrote down.... "We are not here to

focus on ourselves. We are here to focus on others." ... "My heart is

God. Without my heart, I cannot live. So without God, I cannot live."

Classic.

Okay, time to go bowling!! Oh yes. This zone goes bowling for free

every Monday (a member owns an alley) and it is soo much fun. We went

last week and I loved it so much. Also, one of the Elders in my new

zone, Elder Clayburn, is from Pleasant Grove and is friends with

Hermana Howe!!!!! My other most favorite Hermana. Pretty fun to make

that connection. Okay, adios!

Oh!! And there are so many exciting events coming up at home!!!

Abigail's graduation!! David & Hailey's wedding (there invitation is

absolutely flawless and perfect by the way... such a gorgeous

couple... couldn't stop looking at it) haha tell them congrats from me

and that I love them both!! And then Miss Abigail Louise's birthday a

week from today!!!! Soo exciting! I'll write more next week on that.

But make sure to send this missionary plenty of pictures from these

special and important events so I can feel somewhat apart of the

celebrations haha love you all.