12-19-16

Hey everyone!
So I am in Juneau right now! We have Zone Conference tomorrow so all
day yesterday was spent traveling. We were able to stop off in Skagway
and attend church but then we took a 7 hour ferry ride to Juneau. It
was a super long ride but it was better this time because there wasn't
has many people so I didn't have to sit outside in the rain :) so I
got to sit in a big comfy chair! A miracle happened on the ferry!

So we met this guy 3 weeks ago when we took the ferry to go to

Whitehorse

Companion catching some ZZZ 

and guess what?!  He was on the ferry again! We gave him a Book of Mormon last time and he read a little but he went back to Anchorage but we got his contact info for a referral so that was awesome! Also on the ferry it got a little sketchy when we went through a storm. The boat was shaking and waves were crashing against the windows. There was 5ft waves! It was pretty cool and a little scary but we survived haha! The ferry is always a good time! Anyway the rest of the week went pretty good!

We went tracking last Monday and it was -32 Celsius. It was way to cold! I know there is someone that the Lord is preparing for us to teach! We have some pretty awesome investigators here already! We had a Christmas party that was sweet! I was absolutely stuffed after that party! It was crazy! All and all this week has been pretty cool! Well we are pretty busy here this pday! Love ya all see ya!

P.S. can't wait to see you next week mom and dad!

-Elder Barney

12-12-16

Hey guys!

So this week has been a very cold week! Although it has been cold we
still have been doing good up North.

This week I have met more and more amazing people. The members of this small branch are so nice and inviting. So with meeting more and more people we also had Zone
Meeting. Since our Zone is pretty spread out with everyone in my district on a different Island and us in a different country we had to do our meeting over video chat. It was really good! I am use to driving 2 hours to go to that meeting but now I'm either a plan ride away or a ferry so it was nice to just call in and listen. Our Zone Leaders gave some great trainings about being fearless when we OYM (street contacting) and it really hit my companion and I. So the next day we hit the streets of Whitehorse and tried to talk to as many people as possible. It was a lot of fun! Although there was a lot of rejection they all said no with a smile on their face, Canadians. We did see some miracles which was awesome but we could only do it for about 2 hours because it was -24 with windchill -30 Celsius which is like -22 Fahrenheit. My eyelashes started to freeze and it made it hard to see and Elder Parker's contact froze so we had to start heading back. All and all I think it went really good considering it felt like I was a human pop sickle the whole time.

Later in this week we had a missionary from the Whitehorse branch return home from the Detroit Michigan Mission. He is a great guy! I really admire him with what he has gone through. He was a foster child his whole life until his family adopted him. The whole family are members except his father. He came home to see they are all less active. He gave his home coming talk yesterday and his dad spoke with him. It was the first time I have seen a non member give a talk but wow oh wow you could just feel the love he had for his son as he spoke. It made me think just how lucky I am to have a amazing family loving and supporting me. I love my family!

Something that I have learned this week is that we have the power to choose. We choose if we are happy, we choose if you love someone, we choose to get up and move forward. It is all up to us to make that choice, God won't make it for you. I know that God we will help you once you choose! I have learned more this week then ever that we are not  alone. The Savior is there ever step of the way!





I love and miss you guys a ton! This Christmas season I really miss my
family and friends but I know I will see you all next Christmas! Love
you!

-Elder Barney

First McDonald's in 7 months

12-5-16

Hey there guys!
Well this was a very interesting week! It started off with lots of sad good byes. Oh man I really didn't think it would be this hard to say good bye but it felt like saying good bye to family! I just absolutely love the people of Delta Junction! I miss them all so much! It's pretty hard going from knowing EVERYONE to knowing no one. Although it was really really hard to say bye i was still excited for the new adventure. I first flew to Anchorage by myself which was really strange but once I got to Anchorage I flew to Juneau with some other elders. We landed around 9:30pm. It was a long day because I left delta at 2pm. Then the next day I was stuck in Juneau in a tri-companionship for the day because my companion got stuck in Skagway because the ferry broke down. He got in late that night. So I can only describe what Juneau was like with one word, RAIN! It didn't stop raining the whole time I was there! But I can't complain to much because it stayed at a nice 30 degrees which was great considering in Delta Junction it was -30 degrees when I left. So Juneau was actually pretty cool.
Then the next morning we went on the ferry back to Skagway. Now it was one crazy adventure on the ferry! First off I had all my luggage and went to put it on the luggage truck but they said they were all full so I would just have to take them with me. So me and my companion had to carry both of our stuff up this tiny little stair way barley big enough for a midget with over 150 pounds of luggage! So

once we found a place to put our luggage we went to find a seat but they were all taken so we had to go up on the deck where it was pouring rain! Luckily there was a little spot with some heat lamps so I just bundled up and layer there trying to get some sleep. It was a 7 hour ride with some of the most amazing views I have ever seen. Although it was freezing it was really awesome to see the islands and mountains there!Also we were able to talk to a guy about what we do and gave him a Book of Mormon. It was really great because it just goes to show that there is always ways to do missionary work. Being here in Alaska we travel a lot and I mean a lot and I have learned that we can do missionary work anywhere anytime.

 

So anyway once the ferry ported in Skagway we had a 3 hour long drive to Whitehorse. Before I talk about that Skagway was great! It is where all the cruise ships stops but with it being winter there was no ships. Skagway was still beautiful even with all the snow! The town is really awesome! It looks like you walking back in time because all the builds look like it was build in the 50's. The church there was really some and cool too. Anyway we went on our way to Whitehorse. That was such a beautiful drive! I have never seen anything as beautiful! I couldn't get good pictures because we were in a avalanche area pretty much the whole time and not allowed to stop. I will try next time.

So once we got to Whitehorse it had been a very long day.

                                                                                                                                                                           

  I am now in a new time zone so we are an hour ahead of the rest of the mission. Canada is similar but really different. For example you have to pay to use a grocery cart and pay for plastic bags! What the heck? The people are really cool. Everyone and I mean everyone says "eh" like all the time haha! Anyway so far that's the big news this week. Meeting lots of people and enjoying Canada. My new companion is pretty cool. His name is Elder Parker from Logan. He is a little older, like 25 years old so it is interesting. 

Well I love you guys a wish you all the best! Hope you all got to watch the Christmas Devotional. It was jam packed with the spirit. Remember to think of the savior for Christmas! Love ya!

11-28-16

Hello everybody!

Wow oh wow what a crazy week it has been! So much has happened! I guess I will start with transfers. So I am going to...... Whitehorse, Canada!!!!!! 

Yup I will be headed across the order to Canada in the Yukon Territory. How I am getting there is crazy! So first I fly n Wednesday to Anchorage then have a hour layover there then fly to Juneau and land there at 9:30pm. Then on Thursday I spend all day with the Juneau Elders in their area, then on Friday I take a 6 hour Ferry ride to Skagway then drive 3 hours to hitehorse! So i have some crazy days of traveling coming up! I am really excited since this is my first time out of country but I am also really sad leaving Delta Junction. This place feels like home! I absolutely love the people here!! These amazing saints in Delta and Tok have changed my life by their wonderful examples. A part of my heart will always be in Delta Junction. It's a weird rush of feeling be transferred. All at once I
feel excited for what the future holds and sad to leave the past behind. If you haven't experienced it it's hard to explain.  I am happy that I am leaving a good note after a great week! Thanksgiving was so great! Oh man did we stuff ourselves!!! We started  the day playing a turkey bowel in single digit weather! After that we went and had a feast with the Moss family and played a fun board game.        

After that we went to the Wrigley's and eat chips and dip. After that we went to the Sansoms for pie. After that we went to Bishops house and my companion and I each got a whole pie to ourselves!!! After that we finished the night with our last thanksgiving meal at Alexis's house. I was stuffed to say the least!!! Thanksgiving was a LOT of FUN! At the Moss's home they gave us Christmas presents because they knew I was most likely going to transferred . We got a foam football and each got a "fury stocking" with lots of candy and socks :) I loved thanksgiving because it felt like seeing family all day!

So to top this crazy week off their was two baptisms on Saturday! First one was Riders who is 8. It was so awesome to see his father baptize him! Their whole family has just fit right in with the rest of the Ward. I never ever would of guessed two transfers ago I would of been at that baptism. It's crazy how much God prepares people! Later that day Alexis got baptized. She is 9 years old and is just the nicest girl ever! Her baptism was one of the happiest moments of my mission.  

Seeing her mom and her aunt get up and talk about the Holy Ghost and Baptism just melted my heart! Seeing the change in their whole family is an absolute miracle! That whole family are living witnesses that the Atonement is real and that anyone can change. To think that we were just driving and felt prompted to knock on their door randomly one day just goes to show that God has a plan and he truly works through miracles. On Sunday I was able to confirm Alexis a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints and what an amazing moment that was. She just seems like she glows even more then before. Those moments of seeing people change make up for any struggle, any door slammed in our face, any rejection, or any dog trying to bite us, it makes up for it all. Last transfer I didn't really know why I stayed another transfer but I know now. Seeing the miracles I have seen this past transfer has changed my life. I learned to trust in the Lord. We may not know all the reasons why things happen but I promise it's to help you to become who God needs you to become.

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I love you all and wish you
the best. Off to the great land of maple syrup and gravy!

-Elder Barney