New Companion

Here's Elder Barrus and his new companion Elder Gibson from Shelley, Idaho

21st Letter: "...wow this is weird"

Dear Family,

Well here I am again, another week has come and gone. And man am I tired. It has been a crazy week, seems like I am going 100 miles an hour, and cant slow down. I'm just glad that I don't have to do this by myself. I feel the Lords help strengthening and giving my the confidence going forward. I am still in shock that I am a District Leader and that I am training..(all the missionaries call it a STD haha Senior Trainer District Leader) not the best name. Its super weird I feel like someone should be telling me what to do not the other way around!! I truly am being guided by the spirit in what I do. I don't know what I would be doing without it. But my new comp is Elder Gibson from Shelley Idaho haha another Idaho boy. Great missionary, has a great desire to get out and do the work. And really wants to learn. So I can work with that.

 

Last Saturday we had a baptism!! Only Rechunda Secatero, but it was still amazing!! Lee Tsosie had to postpone his baptism till the 22nd because he went out of town. So it looks like him and Norna and Hilbert along with Terri Apachito should all be baptized on the 22nd. So that should be an amazing day. What an amazing experience it was though to baptize someone. Ha man the spirit was so strong. And I just had an overwhelming experience of the spirit comforting my and telling me that my hard work is paying off.

 

Well yeah the work here in Alamo is moving right along. Less actives are coming back to church and our investigators are progressing towards baptism. Its so great to be apart of the work out here in Alamo.

I am growing so much and can see my testimony grow more and more each day. I wouldn't change this experience for anything. This truly is the work of the Lord and of no one else. I am but a menial part in bringing it to pass. I know that if I just continue to move forward with faith and with the desire to serve with all my heart that he will continue to bless me with success. All he asks of us is to have a willing heart, and he will make up for the rest. How true this church is and how blessed we truly are to be apart of it. Let us never forget that.

 

Thanks for all that you guys do for me. I feel your continual prayers for me daily!! Thank you!!

Love Elder Barrus

 

Scripture: Listen to Elder Hollands talk this last conference. LDS.org..... Plus if there is any way I don't know if there is but if there is, could you find a way to get me a bunch of his talks on CD I love them!!

20th Letter: "Crazy STUFF"

Dear Family,

Here we are in June.... Wow crazy!! Well I am doing really good!! My heart has been beating extra fast today, but I am doing good!! President Miller called us this morning and told me that I am pregnant!! My first Son!! I'm super excited for that! But I was about to say goodbye to President and he was like "I would also like to call you to be District Leader over your district"..... heart skipped a beat or two. I am so nervous but excited. The Lord really does know how to stretch us doesn't he? I know that this is going to be a huge learning experience for me and I am super excited to grow as a missionary. It definitely is going to be a trying experience though. Socorro's numbers have been really bad and now I have the responsibility of not only my numbers but theirs. So yeah and that's not all my Dad Elder Lish got a Zone Leader call!! ha he was so scared!! He has never left Alamo and was only a DL for one transfer!! Haha that's going to be fun for him!! He will be great. I'm super sad that we wont be together any longer. We have become super good friends and have loved serving together. So we have to go to ABQ tonight and will be there until Friday night. Tomorrow Elder Lish has a ZL training from 8-3 so I will be going with a Spanish elder on exchanges during that time. And he is a biking missionary ha that should be fun!! Then at 3:30 I have a Trainer meeting at the mission home till 5. And on Friday we have Zone Training in Los Lunas. So yeah It is going to be pretty crazy till next Tuesday when I get my new greenie.

 

So as far as the missionary work is going out here and Alamo.... Its been going really good. Lee Tsousi and Richinda Secatero are being baptized on Saturday. And me and Elder Lish will be baptizing Richinda, that will be an experience. She is stuck in a wheel chair. Norna and Hilberts date got pushed back to the 22nd. Hilbert has some issues with coffee, but he says that he is through with it!! And they asked me to baptize them! Im so excited for them. Terri Apachito's new date is for the 22nd and she gave us all of her coffee so that was a huge step hopefully she doesn't relapse. I bought her some Pero hopefully she will get hooked on that. Savannah and Lee Davis are also for the 22nd so that should be a good day too!!

Well I have a long day ahead of me. But I love you all so much!! Thanks so much for all of your prayers and support that you give me. You guys mean the world to me!!

 

Love Elder Barrus (Mosiah 24:14 Scripture I flipped to this morning, helped me a lot)

19th Letter: "Wow.. Its almost June!!"

Dear Family,

I'm back again, man has May flown by or what? But I have sure loved it!! Definitely been the best transfer of my mission so far!! We have been seeing the hand of the Lord in the work everyday!! There has been a ton of success coming in Alamo recently. We have 5 baptisms set for this Saturday. (Pray that all 5 will make it!!) And then 2 set for the 22nd of June. And It seems like everyone else that isn't on date right now will soon be, as they are praying for their answers. But anyways it sounds like everything is going great for you all which makes me happy!! Thanks everyone for the birthday presents they mean a lot, that you would take the time to send this little ole guy out in Alamo New Mexico a present. I had a great birthday spreading the gospel! Couldn't have asked to do anything else!! But back to what has been going on out here...

 

Norna and Hilbert are looking very solid for June 8th baptism. I am sooooooo excited for them, we had an amazing experience this morning as we went over to teach them and saw that they weren't home but had a note left for us on the door. They aren't married and so that was the only thing keeping them from baptism right now. And so the note said that they have left to visit someone at the hospital and to do some shopping, but at the end they invited us to their wedding ceremony tonight at 6!! then said "Love Mr and Mrs Hilber Apachito. :)(huge smiley face!!!) Words cannot describe the joy that I felt. So June 8th I hope!! They have 2 cute little kids.

 

Terri Apachito, the one that is probably the most shaky for June 8th, but I am sure she will make it!! Just keep praying for her!!

 

Richinda Secatero, she is looking great for the 8th. She is pretty poor health wise so it will be a tough baptism, but all will be well.

 

Lee Tsousie, we set him on date last week. He was baptized years ago, but they lost his records. And he has been meeting with the missionaries for the last 10 years and hasn't given in to be re-baptized until Elder Croft became his neighbor and best friend. Ha He is a great guy. Amazing mechanic too. Should come work for Dad.

 

Savannah, finally got back in with Savannah and set anther date with her for the 22nd. She has really been struggling with a lot of things, but she has refocused and hopefully wont turn back.

 

Lee Davis Apachito, a goofy guy ha don't know what to say about him too much. But we set a date with him for the 22nd as well.

 

But I have had so many very spiritual moments this last week. First probably on our hike that we went on with the Crofts on Monday. We went to Hop Canyon again, beautiful hike. But at one point during the hike I was just pondering on my whole life in general and all of the blessings that I have been given, amazing parents, wonderful siblings that have set amazing examples for me, Grandparents who have devoted their life to the service of others. How blessed I have truly been. Then I was just overwhelmed by the spirit, who just confirmed to me my Heavenly Fathers love that he has for me individually. Something Dad said towards the beginning of my mission that has stuck with me, is just that, that he knows and cares about each of us. That He knows are worries are pains are sorrows, and desires to help us!! 

 

Another experience was at FHE I was in charge of the lesson and did it on President Eyrings amazing talk. And on my favorite hymn "Abide with me tis' eventide". What a powerful message is in it. Something that I apply to my life is if I am desiring my Savior to abide with me? And is there anything in my life that I am doing that is not allowing his spirit to abide with me?

 

Last is every time that I read from "Jesus the Christ", that book is simply amazing! If you desire to learn more about your Savior then read it. He truly has set the perfect example for each of us and we aren't going to know what that is unless we learn what he has done!! One insight that really touched me the other day when reading was when Elder Talmage was relating the experience in Matt 16:15-17, I love verse 17. So powerful.

 

Well I better be off!! Know that I love each of you so much!! How happy I am to be apart of this great work!! Take Care.

 

Oh and my days are numbered with Elder Lish end of transfer is the 11th of June. Find out who is leaving on the 8th. He will leave wet haha lucky dog! I'll miss him.

Love your friend Elder Barrus

Happy Birthday Elder!

On Nic's birthday, Dad received a picture message from the Senior companions in Nic's area, Elder and Sister Crofts.

The message said: "We love Elder Barrus. We think he is a great missionary! You have raised a good young man!"

18th Letter: "Birthday Boy Right Here!!!"

Dear Family,

Another beautiful day here in Magdalena (70's no wind)... I'm still in shock on how fast May is going by!! This transfer is going to be over before I know it!! Thanks everyone for the emails, they mean a lot!! Keep it up!! Sounds like everyone is doing good for the most part. Seems like you all are staying pretty busy!! Hope Tiff can hold off till Saturday to have the baby!! That's a great day!! ;) Amanda seems like she is being her busy self and can't leave work. Zac I'm guessing is getting settled into their place. And Mom and Dad are working their tails off I'm sure. And Bo is sleeping. Love that dog. So here we are again, I'm trying to think of some of the cool experiences that we had this last week. But basically all of our investigators are progressing really well. We now have 6 investigators on date. But Savannah has been going through a lot lately and kind of has shut us off, but hopefully she will let us back in soon. We work a lot with our less actives out here, and have seen a lot of success come by that!! In the month of April we reactivated like 10 people, and the branch is starting to feel up. Elder Lish and I still bless the sacrament and usually participate in about 80% of church, but hopefully that will start to lower as branch grows.

 

We set a baptism date last week with one of our part member families. Jr. Secatero (the guy we helped cut wood when I first got here) his wife Richinda. Doesn't understand a lick of English I don't think so we really work through Jr on the Lessons. When we asked her to be baptized she yelled A'ooo!! Which is yes haha it was kinda funny!! She is set for June 8th. Pretty solid she will make that date.

So: as it stands hopefully

Norna and Hillbert, and Richinda will be baptized on the 8th

Terri Apachito on the 1st

Savannah... sometime haha

 

 

This last p-day we went on another hike up Hop Canyon, different trail this week. It was a blast. Beautiful weather. I took a lot of pictures so when I get back the memory stick I sent to you. Yeah that is like the 4th pday in a row that we went on a hike with the Crofts. Ha there is nothing else to do!! I have really grown to enjoy it though! Plus it has been a really good way to exercise. I run every morning, and try to do some sort of workout. I want the mission to be a benefit to my health not a hindrance. So far it has payed off, this last week I have really been working hard, and have lost 10 pounds in just this last week. I hope to keep it going. Its hard though when you have dinner apt and the Navajos feed you fat... There has been a ton of deaths lately here, the health care is horrible. (not too surprised about that article Zac...its sad) All I hear every day is a story on how bad the clinic in Alamo is. Everybody has a bad experience with them. One guy had an infection in his surgery that he just had, and so he went in to the clinic and they lifted up his shirt took one look at the infection and said oh your fine just get some rest. So it never got better, he went to ABQ and they said it was a serious infection and that he is lucky he came in when he did.... Just one of the many stories I could tell of them. We see the ambulance go by at least twice a day. With 90% diabetes rate it is bound to happen.

 

I have been doing great though!! Got over the sickness last week, and have just been loving life!! My testimony is growing so much everyday, and have seen my relationship with my Heavenly Father be strengthen the more I am in the service of him. I got the conf. talks CD on Monday and have been listening to them this week. One thing that I have been looking for is the repetition of things said between the speakers, and it seemed like at least 5 times Helaman 5:12. I love that scripture because it is so relevant today. As I have been on the mission I have seen so many people especially members go through a lot of trials. And see how their foundation wasn't built upon Christ, and how they weren't prepared for the trial. And thus they fell away and didn't trust in the Lord. We live in a world that just living the gospel isn't enough, we have to be fully converted, and strive daily to strengthen our foundation. I truly believe that there will be a time in each of our lives that we will be truly tested by a trial. I pray that when that experience comes for me and for each of you (may have already come) that our foundation will have been strong enough to endure.

 

I love you all so much and pray for you daily!! I hope all of you are doing great, and loving life!!

That reminded me of something I heard a guy say last week that really troubled me. He said that He knows that life isn't meant to be happy. That nothing in this life can make us happy. HOW SAD!! I always think of the quote by President Hinckley that is hanging in Mom and Dads room. Life is to be enjoyed!! We weren't sent here to suffer!! Its up to us to decide our personal happiness!! That's why free agency is such a blessing!! Our happiness is predetermined like so many believe!!

 

Anyways I love you again!! Take care

Love
Elder Barrus

 

Isaiah 41:10 :)

17th Letter: "Family!!"

Dear Family,

Hello again!! It was so good to see y'all on Sunday!! :)  I was kinda in shock that I was seeing your faces, but I really enjoyed it!! You guys are the greatest, it was really depressing having to say goodbye to you. Kinda made me a little homesick, but its only because I love you all so much!! But Im still doing great. Elder Lish and I have been feeling a little under the weather lately, but other than that things have been going great!! I kinda have a headache right now and cant think too well so if this email doesn't make any sense that is why!!

Well after I was done talking to you Sunday we went to that appointment and blessed the home. It went really well no crazy experiences. But man did the family tell some eerie experiences that they have been having. Hilbert the father said that Satan came to him one night and tried to pull his mouth open and suffocate him. Ha I have heard it 1000 times must be Satans favorite move or something.... But we had a great lesson with him a set a baptism date with them for the 8th of June. That's not all Norna the soon to be wife came to the relief society activity last night and brought 3 girls with her that want to listen to the lessons also!! They are probably 16.... Chain reaction huh? Oh yeah and they loooove the temple. Seems like a popular subject lately.

 

That's really about all the stories that have happened since I last talked to you Sunday. It is so crazy to see how the work has changed since when I first got here to now. There is so much progress going on!! Investigators are popping out of the ground. The Lord is definitely preparing the people for us to teach. Hopefully we can get all 50 investigators that we are teaching now into the water!! I pray at least!! 

 

Sorry if this letter isn't very great!! MY head hurts!! ha well I love you all!!! Take Care

Love Elder Barrus.... Im almost 19...Im tired of being an 18 year old missionary everyone makes fun of you!

 

Scripture: 3 Nephi 9:22