happiness.

Hola mi querida familia!

So how are you all my darlings??? Okay before anything else, my cutest
cousin Benjamin Robert is ENGAGED!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhh!!!! I am dying!!!! I
knew it was coming.... from all of the updates I have been getting and
ever since he emailed me and said the CUTEST things about her, he
truly said the most darling things and I could tell right off the bat
that he was completely smitten and couldn't adore her more.. I knew
she was the one... Haha. But still, knowing that it is official!! I am
soo excited for him!!!! And she seems SOO darling!! She is very
beautiful and if Ben chose her to be his wife, she has got to be
someone very special. I always would say whoever gets to marry him is
the absolute luckiest and looks like he is just as lucky. I love it. I
have to admit that I am pretty sad I am missing that wedding.... But I
couldn't be happier for them and I am now just so excited to meet her
when I return home! When I get back Ben will be a married man! And she
will officially be my new cousin and a member of the Barth
Transylvanian Legacy. Haha I love it! So many people have been getting
engaged and married though... It's crazy! Haha I said this to my
companion and she started singing the Beatles song, "la la la la life
goes on." Haha could not be more true.

But as for updates on the mission... things are wonderful here in Yuba
City!! I honestly love this place more and more each day and we are
continually seeing more success. I have some specific people I want to
talk about today too.... So first off....

1. Alex. Alex is a new investigator we have. He is a 17 year old boy
we found one day while trying to contact a referral from Elder Mosely
& Elder Murray. We ran into Alex's mom and she seemed really awesome
and said we could come back so we did but she wasn't home and we found
Alex. Well then we shared a message with him and he was super
interested and told us to come back. So again, we did... And we taught
him the Restoration. His mom was asleep or she would have joined but
it went soo perfectly. He soaked in every little thing we said and had
such sincere and inspired questions & comments. It was amazing.
Reminded me of little Jesus!! But the lesson went perfect and I
invited him to be baptized at the end. He said he wants to get an
answer from God first but that he will pray and read from the Book of
Mormon. He is so excited to get reading the Book of Mormon too because
he cannot believe there is another book of God compatible to the
Bible! Then, next lesson with him... He said he read and prayed... We
discussed what he read and he said while he prayed he felt "soo good."
We then acknowledged that good feeling being the Holy Ghost and then
we only had time to teach him a little so we taught him the first half
of the Plan of Salvation. Wow, he loved it so much and was wide-eyed
throughout all of it. He had again, the best answers, comments &
questions and while we were talking about our purpose on the earth, I
had him read Alma 34:32, "For behold, this life is the time for men to
prepare to meet God... yea, behold the day of this life is the day for
men to perform their labors." And afterwards I asked him what he
personally felt would help him prepare to meet God, right now, and he
said without hesitation.... "Be baptized." What!?! THE PERFECT ANSWER.
Well so then Hermana Hughes invited him to be baptized again and asked
him to prepare for a date to be baptized... June 22nd... and he said
he would definitely continue to think and pray about it. Which we know
he will. Also, next best thing and indicating that he really did
pray.... After our first lesson we invited him to pray for us but he
said he would like to feel more comfortable first, so we agreed and
right then just taught him how... But after our second lesson we asked
if we could pray while kneeling and if he would say it and he said, of
course. And he said the most darling, heartfelt prayer ever!!!!! He
thanked Heavenly Father for having us teach him, prayed to know if the
Book of Mormon is true and even said, "please help me to know more of
how I can prepare to meet you (God)." Sooo cute!!! I love it! So
anyways, he is still 17 and would have to get permission to be
baptized, he is 18 in August... But our goal is to teach his family
anyways so we still have a little ways to go! But things are looking
great! Alex is such a sweetheart. He's a cute, football player with
the softest, sweetest heart. I cannot wait to update you more on him!
Graduation is this week though and he is graduating so we may not see
him as much as we would like. But ojalá que podamos enseñarle más y
más cada semana y prepararle por el Bautismo muy pronto. El es muy
listo. Also, during this lesson it hit me how I truly am in the best
mission in the world for me. We got to teach him in English and there
is just something so powerful about being able to teach in your native
tongue. However, without being a Spanish missionary we wouldn't be
teaching him..... So it really is the best of both worlds. I get to
teach all of the time in Spanish, which is so much fun and always
brings the spirit, and then also in my native tongue which also brings
such a powerful spirit. Ahhh it's amazing. I truly know this mission
was perfectly picked out for me. I feel so lucky.

2. We have 4 new investigators! Another golden referral from Elder
Mosely and Elder Murray. So long story short the Elders gave us the
wrong house address for their referral but we walked around the
neighborhood and after a good while we decided to try the closest
option to the house they told us. Well, we barely knocked and the mom
answered. She immediately had us come in, sit down, she offered us
water, milk, juice, etc. and then called her husband to come and also
sit down. So he did. And then her two kids sat down with us as well.
So us 6 were all sitting at their dining room table and they were
ready for our message. So the family's last name is Fung and this is
why... The dad is Asian however he speaks both Spanish and English,
his name is even Pedro... And then the mom, named Candy, is purely
Mexican but she speaks some English and then they have two kids..
Ashley who is this gorgeous 14 year old and Sebastian who is the
smartest little 11 year old. Well so we ended up teaching them the
Restoration in Spanglish.... Haha went back and forth with English &
Spanish so everyone could understand in their dominant language... And
it was amazing!!!!! They all asked sooo many questions and when we had
questions for them, they all would individually answer and ohh they
were so great. Best thing. When we asked Sebastian what he understood
from the definition of an Apostasy he said, "It is when God's
authority is taken from the earth because His children rejected Him
and his Prophets. To me... it's like if kids don't obey their parents
then they are grounded and their permission and authority to do things
is taken as well." Whaaaat!? A little 11 year old came up with that???
Incredible. And anyways... religious background on them... the mother
has grown up Catholic and thinks she's super Catholic but we can tell
she isn't as much as she says she is... Then the dad grew up Catholic
as well but in College was Buddhist?? Well anyways, they are both a
little lost and we can tell are searching for something more. They are
super interested in the Book of Mormon too and want to read and pray
about it so we will see!!! I have tons more I could say about
everything discussed and said but we are super excited about them.
Also, at the end of the lesson we asked Pedro if he would say the
closing prayer and after we taught him how, we didn't know if he would
and he did!!! While we were all kneeling as well. And he said such an
amazing prayer!!! Thanking Heavenly Father for sending us to their
home and then asking to understand the Book of Mormon and all that we
are teaching better and asking for his family to gain more knowledge
from us Sisters, etc. It was perfect! And for everyone to see the head
of the home humbly kneel down and pray... So powerful. We are soo
excited about them. The Elders found them tracting too and we have
been praying sooo hard to find a family to teach so it was such a
miracle!!!!!!!!!!!! We are soooo thrilled. More updates to come on the
Fung family ASAP!!!!!
3. We are teaching some of the most amazing less-actives right now too
and two of our less-actives came to church yesterday!!!!!!!!!!! Sooo
exciting!!!!!! Nothing better than seeing those who already have
experienced the blessing of baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost and
the gospel in general, step back into church. I can imagine it feels
like coming home to them. Each of them have their own personal reasons
for being less-active too but I think many of them just need to feel
more love. So we try our best to show them as much love as possible,
which is super easy and comes naturally, and then they are able to
feel God's love more which leads to them wanting to come back to
church. Ohhh it made us sooo so happy! Also, we have the cutest other
people we're teaching and I wish I had more time to tell you about
each and every one of them! One day!!!!!!

Okay and then something else I want to share with you that really hit
me the other day. So while we were teaching the Fung family, I could
feel the spirit soo strong. First off, there is such a different
feeling present when we teach those who have sincere desires to learn
& hear our messages.... But so the spirit was so strong and then we
got to the first vision and talked about Priesthood Authority and the
Book of Mormon. Well after I talked about the Book of Mormon for a
little I bore my testimony of it and wow. I have never felt my
testimony of the Book of Mormon be more bold, sincere or personally
powerful in my entire life. If I had to tell you one thing right now
that I am so grateful for that I have gained from my mission, it is
the testimony I have gained of the Book of Mormon. Family...
Friends... I cannot even begin to express to you how I feel about this
book. I can sincerely say it has changed me and has changed my life. I
was talking to Hermana Hughes about this the other day and before my
mission I had a testimony of the Book of Mormon being true, I did... I
never doubted it's truthfulness.... But looking back, my testimony
wasn't that strong. I had read and studied the Book of Mormon (mainly
from my Book of Mormon class at BYU) but I hadn't REALLY gained a full
testimony of its truth and goodness. It wasn't really affecting me and
my thoughts, decisions and actions all that much. In fact, I know if
in the past I would have had the testimony I have now I wouldn't have
made some of the some mistakes I have. I can honestly say that while
being set apart as a full-time missionary I have a different power,
authority & gift with me. Partly that being my ability to understand
the Book of Mormon and really, truly, sincerely receive personal
revelation and inspiration from each verse I read. So when I read it
in 3 weeks with Hermana Piggott, I felt my testimony increase a great
amount, and then when I read it in 85 days under President Weston's
mission challenge..... I felt like I gained a complete love for the
book and my now paperback copy I marked up for that challenge has
become one of my most prized possessions.... But I am reading it again
in Spanish and then I also started it again in English and am trying
to go extremely slow intently studying each verse I read and wow.
Every day it is changing me and my life!!!!! I am learning more than I
ever thought would be possible and I have never felt such power from
reading ever before!!!!! Every morning I get soooo excited to have
personal study so that I can take some time intently studying and
pondering over the verses I read and I am receiving revelation &
inspiration in ways I cannot even explain!!!! Every time I read I feel
the Holy Ghost sooo strongly (which is another gift the mission has
helped me recognize more) and I just feel so many fruits of the
spirit. Peace, love, joy, comfort, hope... everything. I LOVE THE BOOK
OF MORMON!!!!!! I can remember people saying that it has the answer to
every little thing, every question, life problem... etc. and is just
the true source of happiness and knowledge and I remember not FULLY
understanding how. But now, I cannot learn or feel more from reading
this book and I KNOW WITH ALL OF MY HEART THAT IT IS TRUE. Before my
mission I don't think I could really say I knew it had changed my life
or that I had the strongest testimony of it.... But now I can say it
HAS changed my life, the person I am and want to become and I DO have
such a strong testimony of its goodness and truthfulness. This book is
my absolute favorite book in the entire world and I know it is of God.
I KNOW that it is through this book we can truly find all of the
answers to life's questions and learn how to live better, happier
lives now and receive eternal happiness, complete joy, in the life to
come and be in the presence of our Heavenly Maker and loving Father
again one day. THE BOOK OF MORMON IS TRUE. And I have never wanted to
make that more known to people than I do right now. Ohhh how thankful
I am for the testimony I have in me. I was thinking about it and
although it makes me sooo sad thinking about leaving my mission and it
coming to an end one day, a day which is still far far away, I will
get to bring home with me what is most dear and precious to me. The
Book of Mormon and MY personal testimony of my Father above, my
Savior, Jesus Christ and His ever so perfect gospel. I have gained the
best gift and blessing any one can receive on this earth.... a
testimony. Also, people may continue to not be interested in the
message we carry as missionaries, they may tell me what I believe is
not true or that the Book or Mormon is not true, reject what we teach,
etc. But nobody can ever deny the fact that I have a testimony of the
Book of Mormon and of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. In the
words of one of my biggest heroes, Joseph Smith... (in a different
tense) "I know it, I know that God knows it and I cannot deny it."
That is all that matters.

So family. My advice to you. READ YOUR BOOK OF MORMON EVERY DAY. And
if you're not, in the words of my first fake investigator and CCM
teacher, Ruby/Hermana Doxey... "REPENT AND CHANGE." Haha READ EVERY
SINGLE DAY. And see how it changes your life. Test it out. God is
waiting to bless you because of it.

Also, will EACH of you please send me your favorite scripture with a
little background on why it is your favorite??? And if you can't pick
just one (which I don't blame you) will you please pick one you love
and tell me why???? I would love & appreciate that so much. Think
about this week and whenever it comes to you, email me!!!!!!!!!!!

My mission is changing me in more ways than I can say and I already am
beyond beyond thankful for the time I have had serving my Lord. I love
every moment here and soak in as much as I can, every single day.
There truly is nothing greater than the work I am doing. I am also
learning sooo much each day from my studies, from teaching and also
from other people. Last night after a lesson we had, Hermana Hughes
and I discussed how we really learn SO much from those we come in
contact with, build relationships with and teach. I know my purpose as
a missionary is to help others come unto Christ but in reality, they
are helping me soo much in coming unto Him. In growing closer to Him
and my Father in Heaven and reaching my full potential. I love this
gospel with all of my heart and it means everything to me. Along with
my precious mission.

I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER.

THE CHURCH IS TRUE my dearest family & friends. Never forget that
Heavenly Father loves you and that I love you more than you'll ever
know.

Con amor,

Hermana Barth

RANDOM FACTS.

1. There are still many orchards here in Yuba and along with that,
fruit stands everywhere. So the other day we bought a huge thing of
freshly picked strawberries and I am not kidding when I say they are
the most delicious strawberries I have ever eaten. Abby, you would be
in HEAVEN! Yesterday we saw that they have mangoes now too so I am
going to have to get myself some of those possibly today... and
cherries, etc. AMAZING! I absolutely love Northern California.

2. It is SO hot here. It's over 100 degrees almost every day. Crazy
story... the other day these two men gave us cans of Pepsi. Neither of
us like Pepsi but the hombre Francisco insisted we took them so we
did, then we (not being smart) left them in our car... Well so it was
104 degrees outside and when we came back to our car, one of the cans
completely EXPLODED and there was Pepsi, honestly EVERYWHERE in our
car. Yes, in our brand new sparkling clean car. So we had to scrub it
down like nuts in the blazing heat of the day and then we had to go
straight to a lesson (already dripping in sweat haha) where there was
no air conditioning and she fed us a delicious meal that was loaded
with chili... and I added chili peppers and Tapatio to it myself (I am
the weirdest spicy person these days) but so I was eating heat while
sweating in the heat.... in this moment I don't think I had ever felt
more physically hot in my life. I was burning inside & out. Hahaha oh
it was crazy. It is going to be one HOT summer!!!! However, the
temperature at night here is absolutely perfect. Lately Hermana Hughes
and I have been parking our car somewhere when the temperature goes
down and then we will just walk around, to our appointments, to visit
people, etc. It's amazing.

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!!!