Email Update: August 29, 2011

Well I will talk about Elder Holland's talk for a while I guess. So we all basically felt like the people in the old Disney commercials like the wife asks the husband if he is asleep and he says "No, I am too excited" that's how we all felt the whole week until he came. So we drove to the Berring Chapel where all the Houston missions are supposed to meet. And we got there and sat there forever, well seemed like forever, until Elder Holland showed up and everyone stood as he entered. He talked about how he loved us for like seven minutes and talked about how important our missions are and how the fate of the church rests on the shoulders of 20 year old missionaries. He also said we were apostolic (note lower case "a", not "A"because he has keys) and he being the Elder Holland that he is, was very bold in his talk and at parts he would, hmmm how could I phrase this, he made sure that everyone in the building heard his voice.  He talked about when we wrote our acceptance letter for our mission papers that we weren't just signing our names, we were signing all the missionaries of old so like mom, dad, Dan Jones, etc. Elder Holland said we are putting every one's name on the line and because of that we had no right to defile our mission or to waste a single minute because this isn't just about us, it's about everyone past, present, and future. He went on to talk about how the mission isn't easy and it's not easy because the worth of salvation is not cheap and we are representatives of Christ so we have to carry just a little speck of what the Lord went through in the Garden of Gethsemane. He did such an amazing job - oh how could I forget to mention - so before his talk he announced that he wanted to shake hands with all the missionaries! So we went row by row to shake his hand. I finally got my turn and it was great to shake hands with a General Authority and see one to! So I shake his hand and he said nice to see you Elder haha that short phrase meant the world to me! That the first time that I shook hands with an Apostle (correct me if I am wrong because I have the worst memory).  I remember seeing Gordon B. Hinckley when he visited the South when we lived in Memphis, but before and since then, I haven't seen a General Authority in person so it was just really cool.

After Elder Holland left, the missionaries got up to leave and this Elder that sat in front of me turned around and looked and me and I looked at him and we both gave that look like "I know you" and he said "Cory?" and I said "Did you go to Springville High?" "Yes" "Cross Country" "Yes" sure enough it was my buddy from High school.  Sadly I still can't remember his name, but it was Elder Shields.  He is serving in the South mission and he has been out since July. So it was crazy that out of the 500 something missionaries that were there we sat right by each other

So this week got over dosed on Vitamin D by tracting all day every day. But we did teach 2 other lessons this week one to a group of 7th Day Adventists who were holding a Bible study. They shared a message with us and I with them. I shared the message about Alma the younger in Alma chapter 7 when Alma is struggling after being rejected by the people of Ammonihah and a angel comes and comforts him. They liked the message and I was glad that we didn't bash and left in peace. Then yesterday we met with Lenny and his family and shared the Restoration with them and they again asked a lot of great questions. That is it have a great week I love y'all!

-Elder Barton

Email Update: August 22, 2011

So I got some exciting news. We just found out on Friday that Elder Holland is coming down to Houston on August 26th and he will be talking to all 3 missions in the area (includes us!) and his meeting will start at 5 p.m. and will go for 90 minutes. I am so stoked! Elder Holland is one of my favorites so I can't wait to hear what he has to say. Plus this is taking place in downtown which will be great to see since I haven't been down there since December!

Well this past week we felt the record heat that have been 100+ as we have been tracting all day everyday and Elder Ulugia and I got discouraged one day during the week (my bad on my part I should have been a better example at that point) but we had been tracting all day in this crazy weather with 0 success at all.  Well eventually the day finally ended and we got home, but I remembered a thought from President Pingree.  He said that as we are faithful and obedient the mission will be blessed.  Now the key word there was the mission, not the Wheatstone area.  So as Elder Ulugia and I are faithfully trying to find people to teach, the Lord is blessing our hard work to the whole mission where it is needed. So I shared this with Ulugia and we were back to cracking jokes and having a grand ole time. But we did receive a blessing yesterday.  We had a return appointment from tracting earlier in the week who told us to come back on Sunday so we could sit down with him and his family. So we showed up and he gladly let us in. Elder Ulugia and I went in prepared to share the Restoration message but Lenny (the father) had a lot of great questions he has always wondered about. He asked about prophets, families, the Bible, the Book of Mormon, marriage, etc. So Elder Ulugia and I were bouncing all over the place trying to answer his questions as best as we can. But then he asked us about our view on the heaven and hell theory we told him about the Kingdoms of Glory while using 1 Corinthians 15: 40-42 and they really loved it! They believed that we have a loving Heavenly Father and He wouldn't be mean enough to just put people in either one or the other. They believed that was unfair to a lot of people so the Kingdoms of Glory really made sense to them. It was really neat to see the scriptures teach them. So we have Lenny, Servia, Angel, and Lauretta as new investigators. 

It is great to hear from y'all especially Dallin wat it do brah! I love y'all and pray for y'all!

-Cory Barton

Email Update: August 15, 2011

Man sounds like y'all had an interesting service filled week! I am proud that y'all provided time to do voluntary service! In my opinion service is the biggest way we can show and express our love towards others. Because your not just saying it but your walking the walk.

So Tuesday was transfer calls and I wasn't getting my new companion until Thursday since that's when the new missionaries come. So I went with Elder Chadwick who was also training and I worked in his area from Tuesday to Thursday. Thursday finally rolled around I was so nervous and anxious! We get to the building and we have a lunch with all the new missionaries and it was also President Pingree's birthday. So then they separated the Trainers and the new missionaries to do special training. So I and all the other trainers received training about what we are expected to do. But also the church came out with this new program called the "First 12 weeks" and it's a program for the trainer and new missionary to plan, study, and apply during the first 12 weeks of their time together. And the goal of this program is to have the new missionary be ready at the end of the first 12 weeks to be able to train and have that responsibility if he is called to do so. It is really neat. So then all the missionaries gather together and they have the trainers on one side of the room and the new missionaries on the other side. President Pingree went on to announce companionships.  I was one of the first to get called up and I was told to introduce myself, say two interesting things about me, and talk about my area. So I said who I was and where I am from then I said I love to watch break dancing it fascinates me and there is nothing better than that and I love to play bball. And I said our area is all bike so my future companion will learn how to enjoy the summer heat. Then President Pingree announced my companion was Elder Ulugia (his name is Samoan so the "g" makes a "n" sound).  He is from West Valley City, Utah and he loves to sing and he is amazing on the ukulele!  He is so awesome, I have really enjoyed my time with him thus far!  I never had so much love for someone so fast!  I can't really describe how much love I have for him it's so insane I guess it comes with the calling. But I am so grateful for the decision he has made to serve a mission.  I am glad that he came and I am able to be his companion and get to know him.

Well Sunday I shook hands with another guy from the Seventy of the church! Just meeting all kinds of people! Well I have a lot of people waiting on me so I will get going! I love to hear from y'all! Take care

Email Update: August 8, 2011

I got a lot of crazy news this past week.  So first off, I got a call from President Pingree on Friday. He was telling us that with the split of the Wheatstone Ward, making the new Bridgeland Ward, he is going to split the missionary area too. He is going to put a new set of Elders to cover the Bridgeland Ward and keep the Wheatstone elders just covering the Wheatstone area now which is nice - not as much long bike rides for us. President said the Elder Sleet will go to the Bridgeland Ward and Elder Robins will be his companion. President said I will stay in Wheatstone so I was expecting him to tell me who my companion will be but he said "Elder Barton I have something to ask of you. I want to give you a leadership position" I got so many butterflies and my stomach jumped up to my throat. He went on to say "I want you to be a trainer. You have such a great desire to serve and you are a Preach My Gospel missionary. The first companion is so crucial for a new missionary. I have great faith that you will be a very positive influence on this new missionary. His obedience, work effort, and love for others will be greatly influenced by you. Thanks for being such a great missionary. Will you do this?" After a little silence and hesitation I said "yes". But after I hung up I had a lot of thoughts. I thought "What is President thinking? I can name a bunch of missionaries that will be amazing trainers. I am not a good missionary like he says I am. I will mess this up" But I said a quick prayer and I got a nice calming feeling. I am grateful that the Holy Ghost comforted me at that moment. I now know this will be a challenge, but the Lord has prepared me and my new companion to work together at this time in this area of the mission. A lot of good will come of this. But I will definitely need some extra prayers for this. Also my new companion will learn how to find since all of our investigators and potentials went along with the Bridgeland Ward. But this will be good and he will enjoy the heat :) Thank you so much!

Love, Cory Barton

Email Update: August 1, 2011

P-day Activity at Mission Home

That is so exciting that y'all were able to see Trevor again that is so neat! And I am so sorry to hear about grandfather I will definitely keep him in my prayers. That is so great that Deanna and Rebecca were awesome at girls camp! Sounds like they had a lot of fun!  And Kyle, gosh, sounds like he is quite the dare devil now always injuring himself - be careful bro! And I better hear from JJ next time you can't dodge me for that long sista! 

Well this week it rained like crazy on Monday it was raining sideways! There was lightning striking down so, so close to us that we would go deaf from the thunder! I got some of it on video. Also we were all hyped up for tropical storm Don but it turned out to be a huge BUST! Turns out the Houston heat did a round house kick to Don and it went away - totally lame! Well besides that the heat keep turning up (hitting triple digits) good gosh, being in a bike area is torture sometimes but it's okay because I am working really hard on my missionary tan yup it's nasty lookin'.

Well my spiritual thought this past week: I have been studying about the early saints of the church and the pioneers and also studying my favorite prophet Enoch. The early saints had so much faith it seemed like where ever they went persecution followed close behind them. The saints were continually forced out of their homes but they had so much faith  that they went where they were told to and rebuilt their community each time until finally the journey out west. Enoch also had so much faith! He went to his brethren and called repentance unto them even though they hated him. But because he acted on his faith, he touched so many people and he continued to journey throughout the lands and do this even though he was a "lad" and "slow of speech" He was bold but loving. And as a missionary I want to have that faith, boldness, and love. Like the early saints and Enoch had. If I can tap into that so many miracles will happen! I love y'all take care.

-Cory Barton

Email Update: July 25, 2011

Hey family! So a lot of craziness happened this Sunday. The ward split and Elder Sleet and I are now covering the Bridgeland and Wheatstone ward. The Bishoprics were exciting and there are a lot of good men in charge, a lot of miracles will happen. President Pingree also attended and was actually asked to bear his testimony. It was really awesome so hear him bear witness of Christ and have our members see how inspired he is. It was also neat to see the prophesy in Daniel chapter 2 go into effect -seeing the ward split - it's just another witness that this is Christ's Church and it is growing world wide. Especially here in Texas. Where we live used to be just a bunch of rice farms now look at it. It's just miraculous!

I am glad y'all enjoyed pioneer day.  Sounded fun with fireworks and seeing the Tilley's.

I am so glad that they got my thank you cards it took a long time to write all of those (ha ha) but it was definitely worth it and I especially needed them to know that.

Well we just had our district on Saturday come to our area and we blitzed it.  This means they all tracted in our area and it brought about great success with 60 ITL's, 7 other lessons, and a lot of potentials so I pray and hope that Elder Sleet and I can find success with this burst of effort. Also on Sunday Elder Sleet's dad came to our church to visit.  He got permission from President Pingree since he would be down here for a business trip. So he was super trunky and so was I (ha ha) and he might take us out for dinner tonight so more trunkyness ahead (ha ha).

Hey I am still waiting on those ukulele tabs JJ! Still love ya :)

Today we played tennis this morning and Tobchan came up to play so it was good to see him and catch up with him.   We will also played volleyball today too. I also went to a Luau on Saturday and the poly's put on an amazing show. But I think I had a Revelation during that show I think I want to marry a poly girl so bad (ha ha).  I love their tradition and everything about them.  It just might be a phase or something (ha ha). Any who, that's all I got.  Peace out with love!

-Cory Barton