6.4 august

I couldnt get my email to send to everyone so if you see it this week count yourself lucky and respond in gratutude. The hermana Barker content is gonna be popping off this week (thanks mom for sending the emails..no for real tho)

We've started a miracle wall to focus on the little things that go good. Which is good because if we had a wall of things that were not perfect, this week would've been the Great Wall of China sized. We laughed because on Saturday we had 4 lessons, which was more than the last 3 days combined. 

Lots of miracles, laughs and the first time I've cried since Tacna this week. I seriously have barely cried on my mission so it was funny that PRESIDENT was the one to make me (almost) cry hehe. Had an interview with him that was literally 30 minutes (its supposed to be 15) of him imparting his wisdom to me. Let me give you a little play by play:

Prez: Hermana Barker 

Me: prez

P: what im going to say is going to sound a little harsh

HB: ya OK. Because honestly I need it.

P: what the heck are you doing freaking out?! You're doing fine. stop it. 

90% of my interviews with president usually involve him saying STOP IT in his scary voice. So pretty much I should expect it by now ha. I love that guy. He is so smart and also we have a lot in common in terms of wanting to ACCOMPLISH things so it was so cool to hear him be like "You and me Hermana Barker, we're in this together. We're gonna fight the natural man and woman together". Sometimes people say we aren't called to serve in a mission because of a place, but because of a president. I don't know if that's true, but I do feel pretty lucky to have mine. 

Got happy letters from Tacna friends and Hna Barnard and I was absolutely giddy. I can't wait till next zone conference to send a bunch down there (hna Sotomayor I promise I have already started writing u one lol) 

Picked lots of pretty flowers this week and I got to teach hermana de Hoyos about snap dragons cuz they are so silly.

It's crazy how fast time goes. Sunday I'll be at 8months on the mission and then I'm halfway. Which is insanity. Everyone always says the mission flies. Weird.

I've been thinking about time a lot in an eternal way this week. It's weird to realize these things we do NOW are actually preparing us for not only our future here but the eternal realm. And the blessings of the temple that aren't only for this life but the one to come. Idk. It's just cool. 

I read a talk this week (s/o to bestie hna Kilgore for sending me a bunch of talks) and it talked about a missionary who fell asleep but claimed he wasn't sleeping just receiving revelation (tried that on hna de Hoyos and didn't work). I actually haven't been as dead tired this week which is good bcuz I feel like im running around like a chicken with my head cut off half rhe time. 

Two of my friends from Tacna got baptized!!! And I am SO happy!!! David who has been taught by a million missionaries finally got married to his wife and was baptized, so now they're gonna start preparing to go to the temple <3 and CARMEN my peru mom who we met one day for random on the street!!! So so so happy to see the progress she's made and the covenant she made with God I know is gonna bless her fam forever. (Plus I got to FaceTime in for the baptism and say hi to my stanman hehe) 

Went on exchanges w hna pulsipher (add her to the list of future bridesmaids ive met on the mission) and it was so fun. Independencia is Huuugeee and one part we were walking up a like 80° steep hill and it was so dusty like tacna. Stayed up.way too late but worth it.

We went to the plza de armas today took way too.many pictures like the little gringas we are and finished it off w little Ceasars. I love hermana pday. 

Love you all, thanks for your emails. Keep barrio Alto Selva Alegre in your prayers and know I keep you in mine!!

<3 hermana barker