Email Update: June 28, 2011

Hey family sorry that I couldn't e-mail y'all yesterday there was only 1 computer that was working and there were 7 people waiting to use just that 1 so I just sent a quick e-mail to y'all but it's okay because I am e-mailing y'all today. 

So this past week I said goodbye to Tobchan and a What Up to Sleet. So Elder Sleet is from St. Louis, Missouri and has been on the mission for 10 months now. The crazy thing I just thought about today is I hit my year mark in 2 weeks! Almost halfway there which is insane but good because I get 1 more year to serve the Lord.

 So missionary work this past week went pretty well.  We got to teach 2 other lessons with people we don't really get to teach so that's awesome. But we don't have that much of a teaching pool. But we are having a youth activity this week where they are playing kickball and we are strongly encouraging the youth to bring their non-member friends. I think this will turn out well because we just had a special youth fireside on Sunday about missionary work. But before I jump into that let me tell you what happened earlier that Sunday. So I spent most of the Sunday introducing my new companion to the ward member's and I heard that Elder Kent D. Watson of the 2nd Quorum of the Seventy was going to be at our ward because his daughter is in our ward. So eventually the 3rd hour rolls along and all the priesthood are gathered together.  Before we split up, this older gentleman that is sitting in front of me starts to make small talk with me about where I am from and what not and I tell him I am from Mapleton, UT  and he says he has a cousin or something like who lives there.  His name is Brother Allen who is in the Stake Presidency I think he said. Well, eventually the meeting started and they are introducing new people that are visiting and this gentleman gets up.  Lo and behold he introduces himself as Kent D. Watson and I am like oh snap, I have just been talking to a General Authority without even knowing it.  I was so disappointed in myself.  Later he sits down and turns to me (I am trying to hide my shocked face and pretend like nothing has happened) and he says that he is holding a special youth fireside about missionary work and he would love to have Elder Sleet and I attend so we gladly agreed. So eventually the hour comes around and we go to the fireside at our chapel. The fireside was focused on how the youth in the Wheatstone Ward could prepare to go on a mission and what to expect from the mission. So Elder and Sister Watson do a marvelous job on their presentation and they we going through the chapters of "Preach My Gospel".  But during Elder Watson's talk he is talking about what a missionary's purpose is and as he is doing that he looks into my eyes and says "Elder Barton from Mapleton, Utah will you please come up and tell us what your purpose is and what you are trying to do here in Houston, Texas" and as I am walking up there I am trying to remember what My Purpose is but I am drawing a blank and I am like "Come on you had to learn and repeat this like a million times at the MTC you know this" so I get up there and Elder Watson puts his arm around me. So I proceed to say that "My purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End." And he said "That's right Elder! Brothers and Sister this is the purpose for Elder Barton and missionaries all over the world. Thank you Elder you may sit down" Elder Watson went on with his talk and did an amazing job. I left that fireside fired up on missionary work and I hope the youth felt the same way. So it was a very fun week. Thank you so much for your e-mails I really appreciate them and enjoy reading of your experiences! I love y'all

-Cory Barton

Email Update: June 20, 2011

Well transfer update: Elder Tobchan got a call from the Assistant's. They asked him about him being a District Leader. He definitely doesn't want to do it and he tried to convince them that they have chosen the wrong person but they persisted and he accepted.  He is going to the North Zone and is finally going to be in a car area (He has been out for a year and has only been in bike areas) and his companion is Elder Reece (I flew out with him when I was returning from medical release) so he and Tobchan will get along but I will miss Tobchan A LOT.  He is definitely my favorite companion but we will see each other after the mission since his family moved to Colorado.  So my new companion is Elder Sleet and guess what! Deanna will love this, he is African American! The only one in the mission, so I am just getting all kinds of diversity! I just need a Hispanic next. But all I know is that he is from Missouri I believe.
So yeah well Tobchan and I have worked really hard this last week together trying to make the last moments the best, but we just sweat a lot, ha ha. Well weird thing that happened this week, we were teaching this guy Lonnie in our complex when this couple that lives above him started fighting.  It turns out that the girl friend slashed her boyfriend with a knife and he chased her around the complex and eventually got her in a head lock so we came out and tried to stop it. The boyfriend walked off some where and I went to the local gas station on the corner and got the girl friend a Sprite to calm her down and I reported to the cops what I saw so yeah, pretty crazy.
Well this next transfer is 7 weeks long so it's going to be a while. Glad that all is well. Oh, I ran out of stamps so I haven't written Deanna back yet and don't think I will for a while since there isn't a place close by to buy stamps. Peace - Elder Barton

Email Update: June 13, 2011

Well the good news is nothing is wrong with my pinkie finger.  Other missionaries and myself thought I fractured it but it's just a deep bruise.

 Well today we did P90X and boy is that a work out! Then after that we did about 2 1/2 hours of tennis. And now we don't know what else to do for P-day. Because our zone is rebellion against each other. Our zone leaders announced a new rule that apparently came from President.  We didn't like this new rule whatsoever and voiced our opinions because it made no sense and didn't go in hand with the white hand book. The zone leaders called us literally "Pharisee's" and they were so mad with all of us and we called the AP's and asked them what's going on and it turns out it didn't come from President so ZL's lied and we are shunning each other but this just makes me laugh this is the biggest drama I have had on my mission haha it's so silly.

Any who, two miracles happened this week we have two new investigators and one was a member referral - talk about Hallelujah! ! Thank goodness. And I have written in my journal everyday this past week except for 1 but I made up for it so I am doing pretty good! 

I went on two exchanges this week back to back and I was in a car for 2 days so that was nice. We find out transfer calls this Saturday so we will see what comes about. Thanks for your e-mail it was really good!

Love Cory Barton

Email Update: June 6, 2011

Happy late birthday Kyle! Sounds like you had a blast I am glad to hear that! And congrats on the priesthood. 

Well Elder Tobchan and I are dying here in the crazy heat of Houston! It is so dang hot, especially on a bike, man it's terrible.  I feel like I always have a headache and I am trying to stay hydrated but this isn't the worst - that's the sad part!

Well this past week we just biked tried all of our potential investigators with no luck then tracted and biked all day long. But man I am hoping this summer goes by fast so I don't pass out. I think I am gonna check my pinkie finger out by a doctor because I might have messed it up but I will let you know next week exactly what happened....maybe ha ha. 

Well my spiritual thought of the week is keeping a journal! So over my mission I have definitely failed in that department but now I have done well at writing in my journal everyday.  I just have a feeling that it will be a blessing to my life and the life of my family in the long run so yeah that's my thought.

Email Update: May 31, 2011

So I got your envelope this week so thank you for all the pictures you sent and everything in there. I especially liked Deanna's senior picture I thought those were just awesome pictures! I showed my companion and other missionaries the pictures from when y'all went canyoneering or whatever it's called and they thought that was pretty sweet! Oh Jessica quick side note: so yesterday we were at a members house and he had a signed autograph from that main dude from "The Big Bang Theory" so I took a picture of that and I will send it your way some time. 

Elder Tobchan and I have been in a letter drought for a long long time but this past week we got the letters we have been missing. So I got one from y'all then, I got a letter from Elder Williams and it sounds like he is just living it up in his mission and that he is in a Tongan ward so that is cool.  Then, I got a letter from Jessica Mason (Deanna might know her) it was a pretty sweet letter and she also sent a senior picture which looked awesome like Deanna's picture. Quick question about that now that I am on that topic, who did Deanna's pictures and where were they done at? 

Also so for Elder Tobchan's year mark this past week a special someone sent him a box of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (He LOVES Krispy Kreme with a passion). This past week Elder Tobchan and I did the usual thing ride our bikes,tract, try part members, try former investigators, ask for referrals, etc. But I am not taking any moment for granted I am enjoying my time here in the mission a lot. This past week in church they talk about being prepared since Hurricane season is upon us soon. Yesterday we played basketball for our activity and man not to brag but man I was ballin it up! I felt like Jimmer I just couldn't miss a shot. I was hitting my 3's, I shot twice near the half court line and made both so I don't know what I ate that morning but I need to have it more often! We also wrote letters to President and Sister Hansen thanking them for their time they have spent her in the Texas Houston Mission. I am currently on exchanges right now with Elder Fisher the one who broke his nose.... his nose looks great now ha ha. That is really all that is going on right now in the mission.

That is way cool that Deanna and Kyle have graduated. And I can't believe Rebecca is taller than Jessica there is no way! I hope y'all keep up the great work at home and have fun during the summer! It was great to talk to you, Anthony, and Matt and Nancy. It was a great motivational boost! Take care!

Elder Cory Barton