5-29-17


Hey guys!

So wow this has been a crazy week once again. I guess I'm just use of being in the middle of no

where with my companion and only worrying about what we are doing for the day, but now it seems like so much happens in one week! We drove up to Anchorage this week and it was a long but beautiful drive! It was so awesome to see the Kenai river and how blue it is!  Everything is just so green and awesome right now so I loved the drive. We went up for Zone Conference which was a lot of fun. I haven't been around that many missionaries in a long time so that was weird but super fun! We combined with two other zones. I learned a ton there and the spirit was really strong. I took away a lot about just how powerful the Book of  Mormon is in our personal  conversation to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They called up missionaries  randomly to give a 3 minute talk about the Book of Mormon so it was really neat to hear their insights. Right after one Conference we drove back down to Kenai and man was it a long day after all those training's then driving 3 hours back! The rest of the week went really well. Seemed like we were running all of the place but it was good to stay busy. I really love the work here. There are so many elect people and everyone is so kind! At church today I was so impressed with our ward coming up to

our investigators and making them feel as welcome as possible.

This Ward is so nice and gives us so much food I love it but man I'm going to get fat here haha.

Oh something really fun happened this weekend. So there are a ton of people here for the holiday weekend so they had some booths set up in parks and parking lot to sell stuff. Anyway so a recent convert owns reindeer and had them and this party thing we went to and they all wanted the Elders to "kiss" the reindeer. Soooo I put a dandelion in my mouth and puckered up hahahaha! I will send you guys the picture either this week or next, but it made everyone laugh so that was cool. So it's been a lot of fun here in Kenai! Fishing here will start up soon so I can't wait! 

Well I love ya all and up you guys have a great week!

-Elder Barney

New Companion, Elder McGee 

5-22-17

Hey guys!

So I got here to Kenai and I'm really loving it! The people here are
so amazing and the Ward is super nice! It's so crazy how much they
really take care of us here! Anyway it has been such a crazy week!
Soooo much has happened! It feels like a month of stuff has happened
in a week long time period. I guess I should just start with the
beginning. Juneau on Tuesday was fun with the Zone Leaders and my
district leader. We went street contacting over where cruise ships get
in. Only cow those things are huge!!!  

It was super fun talking to all the tourists because they just looked so lost and it was fun helping them find stuff. Also it was super easy to give them Book of Mormons and amphlets because I would just tell them that it was a free gift fropm Alaska hahaha. So we did that all morning long then went to catch a plan. The plan ride to Anchorage was good and beautiful! Seeing a lot of the missionaries in the office was a real treat considering I either haven't seen them in over a year or never met them. After seeing everyone we took of to drive down to Soldotna. It was such a cool drive! We get to make that drive tomorrow night because we drive up for Zone Conference. It's about a 3 hour drive. Once we got to our areas I was so tired I just crashed so that night was a blur.                        My new companion is Elder McGee and he is a stud! Super nice kid and is fresh out of being trained. We have done a lot of work together for the short amount of time we had so far. It was crazy because after only two days in the area we did exchanges with the ZL's so we were just all over the place. 

 It was weird being in exchanges. It's crazy to think I have been out about 18 months and only have left my area 2 times now for exchanges. I'm not use to having missionaries close by. It honestly feels like I'm starting over again. Anyway so after exchanges we had a baptism on Saturday which was super awesome because I have never just got to a area that had a baptism. It was a mom and daughter and they are just so awesome! You can just see how happy they are! I'm excited to work with them! 

Sunday was Stake Conference so another run around thing.  I did learn a lot on Sunday about true conversation. It just really hit me how conversation is a constant process that takes constant good decisions and habits. I have really been trying to focus  on doing all I can in the process of true conversation. So ya, just a lot going on right now. I'm really excited for pdays to go fishing and have some fun here. It hasn't stopped raining since I got here so hopefully we get some good weather soon. 

Anyway I love you all and hope all is well!

-Elder Barney

5-15-17

Hey guys!

Okay so to start off I am getting transferred to Kenai! That is right below Anchorage and it's right on the ocean. I am so excited because that's the place to be for Alaska fishing! I have some crazy logistics to get there. So I started yesterday after mother day calls. We drove a couple hours to Skagway then took the 7 hour ferry ride and now I'm here in Juneau waiting to catch a plane on Tuesday. After we land in Anchorage we drive 3 hours to Kenai. So it's going to be a long few
days. So that's the big news of the week. On top of all that excitement I got to talk with my family which was awesome. Shout out to Elder Taylor for showing up! It was awesome to see everyone but kinda weird to realize this is my last Skype call on my mission. So transfers and Mother's Day was really the exciting part of this week. I have been saying goodbye a lot to everyone.  I'm super sad to say bye. Whitehorse has been a big stepping stone in my mission. I have learned a lot there. The people I met there I know I was suppose to meet. I have never seen people so converted to the gospel before. It's one of the hardest things to do as a missionary actually it is the hardest thing to do is leave after helping and seeing people change their lives. I will really miss all the people I taught and that amazing branch. Although it's hard to leave it is exciting for something new at the same time. It's kinda weird feeling and hard to explain. Another thing I will miss about the Yukon is all the views! I love the beauty of the Yukon! On the drive to Skagway we saw a brown bear cub. That was my first Bear so that was awesome! 

Oh! And on top of that we saw porpoises which is kind of like a dolphin and we also saw two whales on the ferry ride. It was super cool to see them spray and jump all the way out of the water! Man I love Alaska so much! Well that was the big things this week. I just wanted to say I love all you in Whitehorse and will miss ya'll a ton! Thank you so much for all you
have done!



-Elder Barney

Back in Alaska

5-8-17

Hey everyone!

So this has been a pretty different week. So we moved apartments and
there were some complications that popped up so it's been a slow
moving process all week. The good news is that we are all moved in and
things are good now. So that's been the biggest thing this week. We
also have had some huge blessings with teaching and finding new
investigators. The ones that are recently baptized are still doing
great! In fact yesterday I was teasing Larry about bearing his
testimony and he just shrugged it off, but then out of no where he got
up! I know it doesn't seem like a big deal, but if you met him this is
huge! The first time in his life was when he got rebaptized just a
couple months ago and he had been a member since the 80's. It's like
he's a completely different person! This week we were actually talking
to his wife and we got on the subject of questions. It was amazing to
hear him say that thd little things don't matter, but what truly
matters is that the gospel is true and I was just like.....EXACTLY
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TELLING YOU! He has come to truly know that for him
self and it's just so amazing to me. Also in a couple of months the
patriarch is flying to Whitehorse and Nina is getting her blessing
which I am so pumped for her! It's funny because her English is not to
great so she just keeps tell us "you give me blessing now?" It's fun
explaining stuff. Also with Nina one of the coolest things happened.
We are teaching her the new member lessons and we were on the word of
wisdom and she tells us "Elder I think I have an addiction." Which we
ask what? And she said "I am addicted to reading the Book of Mormon." I
just laughed because she was seriously concerned and we told her that
was a good addiction to have. I love seeing the changes these people
make in their lives. I love the people of the Yukon and love being a
missionary! Also I love fishing and that's what I'm going to go do
right now, so hope you all have a great week!


P.S. That Mammoth was a pain to get on! 

-Elder Barney

5-1-17

Hey guys!

So this has been a pretty normal week. We have just been working hard

and having fun doing it. The weather is warming up and pretty much all

the snow is gone so that is great! The views are beautiful and life is

good with summer almost here. One thing about summer that is cool and

a bummer at the same time is the sun like never goes down so it can

be a little hard to sleep but your always going. It takes some time to

get use to it looking like noon at 9pm but it still cool. Anyway

something awesome this week is the cinnamon roll that we had that was

huge! It was super good too. On top of having a great cinnamon roll we

had a great Stake Conference that was super spiritual! All and all a

great week. It was mostly us getting things ready to move and that

pretty much is pday as well. Well I hope you all have a great week!

Love ya!



-Elder Barney

How many bits do you think it took for Trace to eat this? 

4-24-17

What up everyone!

So this week was absolutely awesome!! So we got to fly out to Juneau for Zone Conference for 3 days! I love flying there because it's in these tiny little bush planes and the views are amazing! I also love seeing all of the other missionaries because they are all good friends, it was definitely a party! Zone Conference was super spiritual! The focus was on the Book of Mormon which was great because that's what our prophet focused on. My favorite part of Zone Conference was the testimonies though. At the end of every Zone Conference we get in a circle and take turns barring our testimonies.  It's always great but this time was super spiritual especially when we sang "we will bring the world his truth" after it. After Conference we just went teaching and got milk shakes then went back for dinner and watched meet the Mormons to finish the night. I love Zone Conference in the Juneau zone. Not only is it so beautiful there but it's always fun to see everyone because we

are either on an island or a different country by our selves so when we get together it's a party! Oh and also we got to go see the mission dedication spot where they said the prayer to dedicate Alaska for missionary work.









On the way back to Skagway I asked the pilot if we could fly over the glaciers because it was a beautiful day. It was a bigger plan then usual but he did it and it was beautiful. I will send a picture of the inside of the plan. We were in the back. Anyway the drive back to Skagway was really amazing as well! I fill so lucky to serve in a place like this! It sure grows my testimony seeing these sights that God is real and is great! 

So that was the traveling.

 On Sunday we went with some members to a tiny town in the Yukon called Carmacks.

It was super small and cool. We also went to the village out there. There are some members who live there so as they home taught that family we started tracking to see the response of people and it was all pretty positive. 

Then once we got back to Whitehorse we got a interesting phone call from a lady who has been researching the church online and wanted to learn more so yesterday we went right over and gave her a Book of Mormon and set a return appointment so that is pretty exciting because we have eeally been trying to focus on finding. It goes to show this is the Lords work and we just need to trust
in him and do our part. So this week was pretty great if I have to say so myself! 

Well have a great week everyone! 

-Elder Barney