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
