5.4…do hard things

When i was in elementary school, my mom tried to start a family motto. And i feel like i might have forgotten if this was ever our family motto because maybe i confused them but i do know "do great things" was definetly a part of it. And i think my mom said "do hard things" too. 

Ive been thinking a lot about doing hard things this week. Because being a missionary is hard. 

Waking up at 630 every day is hard.
People telling you no is hard.
Wearing a dress every day is hard. 
Not eating lettuce or strawberries is hard.
Speaking spanish is hard.
Not listening to the new taylor swift album is hard. 
When people dont show up to church, thats hard.
Hard, tricky, difícil whatever. Maybe its not for you, but for me, 
being Hermana Barker and thinking about other people 24/8 and trying to do your very best is very hard.

But its something very great too. The lord talks about how by small and simple things great things will come to pass. 

Small and simple things like a new sweater with llamas on it. Like taking the sacrament and knowing its gonna be better next week. Like letting some things go, to let other things grow (s/o prez uchtdorf y hna Chipman for using it in zone conference). Like playing the piano in zone conference with a chapel full of missionaries and angeles singing called to serve. Or the water being warm in your shower. Or a lesson with Jorge, knowing just how much the gospel means to him. Like 7 primary kids singing "I have a dream" from mamma mia in spanish. 

The best i can do as a missionary is try. Wake up every day and just smile and say "yeah todays not gonna be perfect. And marco isnt gonna decide yes to baptism. But at least he brought you cake. And all the lessons are gonna fall through, but at least you and hermana stanley can sing disney songs in the street while you knock doors."

God loves you. And He loves me! And he wants you to be happy. So let him help you be happy this week. Let Him show you what He has in store. Thats what im gonna do. And ill pray and hope that i have the eyes to see his hand. 

Shoutout to hermana kelsey (my hermana lider that i know is gonna be one of my best friends as long as she doesnt get married before i get back) sent me this talk this week. Go listen. Its so good. https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/j-b-haws/wrestling-with-comparisons/

Love you all:) 
Xoxoxo 
hermana emma rose b









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