Returned With Honor

Elder McBarron left Vitoria, Brazil yesterday at 5:00 pm Vitoria time to return home.  It took him over 27 hours to finally make it home.  What a glorious moment to receive your missionary back home!  Elder McBarron was released as a full-time missionary today and we are so happy to have him home!

4/8/13 Email From Vitória

This week was fine, we worked a lot and went to conference which was really good, I loved it.  I watched it for the last time in Portuguese while I am here on the mission.  I am completely tired and, well, that is that.  I still have one more week of work and that is going to be fun.  I am ready to come home but I still want to work a little more.  I am going to be home in about 8 to 9 days.

We did not have our baptisms because of a few unforeseen complications, but we will hopefully get the baptisms this week. 

I am doing all I can while still having fun while I still have time to work here on the mission.  I have ideas that I want to do with my life and, well, they are just ideas.  I will have to bring them to the Lord when I get home because I will probably not receive revelation for this while I am here on the mission when I need to be receiving different revelation.

The first thing that I want to do when I get home is just hang out, maybe watch some movies, listen to music, play some games, and more.  I would like to go to the temple, but I am thinking it might be better for me to do that another day.

Miss you and can´t wait to see you soon.

 

Elder McBarron

PS  Here is a picture of me and my companion Elder Powell

4/1/13 Email From Vitória

This week just flew by, I don't really remember much of what has happened. We are actually getting along in the house.  I do remember that one day I got soaked to the bone in the legs because of the rain.   I also had a really good seafood pie (made of fish and shrimp) for Easter that was really good.

I gave a talk yesterday on Easter. I was trying to figure out what I was going to talk about beforehand during the Sacrament and I had a really good experience in feeling the Spirit when I was doing that. I felt the Spirit strongly when I was thinking about the Resurrection and the Atonement and that helped me figure out what I was going to talk about. Then I started talking and the words just started rolled off my tongue when I was talking. I could definitely tell that it was the Spirit guiding my words because I only know about the topics that I talked about, but I really do not know what I actually said and that only really happens when the Spirit talks through me.  Afterwards a lot of people came up to me and said that they liked it.

We did not have our baptism this week, but it will happen next week. He ended up going to visit his family this weekend. We did mark another baptism date this week. 

Last night when we were at that house of a recent convert, I had another experience where she was not really wanting to read the Book of Mormon.  Then I started reading with her and that is when I had a feeling to ask her if she is doing her Personal Progress program and she said she was.  I was then able to help her figure out where she needs to focus in Personal Progress to help her with that problem and another one that came up as well, which was personal worth.  She is going to be working on those and it was definitely the Spirit that helped me figure out how to help her continue doing what she needs to be doing.

I got my travel information today, I finally just called the secretary today and asked him to send the information. I don't think that there will be any other missionary with me when I am coming home, that should be weird.  Life is going by quick, I am not ready to be done working, but I am ready to come home. My body is definitely saying that I am tired. I am excited to be coming home in a few days. I am a little anxious but I am also wanting to work until the last moment. 

So other than that I really don't remember much. I am just getting really tired and we are trying to find people to teach.  That is about all that I can remember.  Next week I will have a picture of me and my companion for you.  I think that I am getting a little crazy, you can ask my companion and he will tell you that I am being a little crazy.  Well, I have to go now, miss you!

Elder McBarron

3/25/13 Email From Vitória

This week we have been geeking out a lot, we were both sick for the whole week and well we had to stay at home for the whole week pretty much, it was pretty much just Sunday that we left the house other than to go to the pharmacy to get medicine. I had a fever of 101.8 and it got to about 102.1 at one point, not fun.   Being sick for the whole week was the worst and best part of the week. The worst part because we were stuck at home with nothing to do, the best part because we got to rest. 
I am actually still a little bit sick, but a lot better than I was.

This week we had a major rain fall and now part of our house is pretty much destroyed.  I took some pictures of the flooding that happened here.

The most spiritual part of the week was yesterday when we gave our investigator a Priesthood Blessing.  He wasn't at church so we went over to visit him and he was sick.  We gave him a blessing and it was just a really good experience.

I have not gotten my flight info yet, I don't know why, but if I don't receive it this week, I should get it this next p-day.  I will have to see what is going to happen with my flight schedule and all that because I will probably be traveling for about 24 hours to get back home and that is going to stink.

I really don't have too much more to say because we were at home for the whole week just resting and talking with each other.  We are working and we are trying to work smarter and not harder.  We do have a baptism for the 31st and that is really cool.  Oh, and I almost stepped on a dead pigeon this morning, that was pretty weird.  Miss you!

Elder McBarron
 

3/18/13 Email From Vitória

This week was one of those weeks where you evaluate the teaching pool.  We are trying to build up a new teaching pool, we are going to try and have a baptism this week but if not this week it will probably be the next week. He is a brother of a recent convert and his family has told us that he really likes us.  Our baptism that was lined up for this week fell through.

So what made this week fun was that I was able to just have fun really, me and my companion we have just been getting along really well and well that is just great.  It helps to have a companion that you can just have fun with them.

I did a contact in the street with a very beautiful girl and I have no idea how I did it.  The spirit was definitely guiding my words with that contact because I would normally have frozen.  My companion was a witness to all of that because afterwards I said, "how in the world did I do that?"  I had him write down what happened from his point of view.  That has to be part of the most spiritual experiences this week and the other part would be being able to watch "17 Miracles" this week for the first time on the mission.  The best thing that we did this week was having had lunch with Mauricio on Monday and we just relaxed.

I will probably be getting my travel info next week, so I will let you know what will be happening.
I don't know what else to tell you because that was all of the big stuff that happened this week that I can remember. Miss you.

Elder McBarron

 

3/11/13 Email From Vitória

So the transfers went very well, my new companion is Elder Powell, he is from the Tri-Cities.  He is really cool, he likes Star Wars and a lot of the same kind of stuff that I like and we are always talking about that kind of stuff and  it is really fun to geek out.  We both love to play sports but we both love nerdy things too, so that is pretty cool.  This will be one of the best transfers that I have had on the mission other that being with my trainer and with Elder Litchfield. 

Things are running great here now.  It is really hot here right now and it kind of stinks, I would love a smoothie right now.  We are working hard and everything is turning out fine.  We are working with the members.  We got to teach a few lessons this week, but it was mostly with recent converts and which were were the best lessons this week, the most spiritual lessons.  It has been cool to see that the Spirit actually guides your works and guides you to scriptures that you need to share with others.  We have been getting snacks and references from the members and that is turning out great.  We have a few references that we are going to work with them this week and that is going to be fine.

I won't be getting my travel information until probably next week or the week after.  I don't have anymore transfers left and I have 5 more weeks which is still a pretty long time.  That is going to be just enough time to get everything ready for a few more baptisms.  We are trying to get some baptisms set up and as we both really want to baptize this transfer.

My best experience was getting my new companion and it has been fun talking with him this whole week and just having fun with everything.   I don't really have too much more to say, but I will have a photo for you this next Monday and that I got a really good companion and this is going to be a really good transfer.  Miss you and love you .

Elder McBarron

3/4/13 Email From Vitória

I will be staying here in Vitoria and I am going to finish my mission here. I am going to have fun here in the area and the ward. I have no idea who will be my companion still, it will only be tomorrow that I will find out. It is weird thinking that this will be my last transfer here on the mission and then I will be coming home, it has gone by really fast.  I am glad, but a little sad, that this will be my last transfer. I am looking forward to getting a new companion and that I will be staying here in the area.

  

Dad, you asked me what the flavor of the week is and it is root beer.  It is the flavor of the week because that is something that I am missing.  We had a lot of lasagna at lunch with the bishop yesterday and I ate until I couldn't any more, that was fun. 

So you asked about p-days, if we played sports or went hunting.  We can't play soccer anymore, it has been prohibited by the Area Presidency, not sure why.  I would have liked to have gone hunting with a member but, they can't go hunting here in Brazil with guns.  The only people that are allowed to use guns are the military and the police here.

We have been getting some teaching in but at times it is hard because everyone here is usually busy. But we are finding people that we can visit.  We are visiting friends just to visit, which is fun, but also it counts as a lesson because they are less active. 

There is something funny about this mission that President pointed out this week.  This is the best mission in the world because it is the only mission that is in Espirito Santo (which means "the Holy Spirit"), that has the city of Gloria ("glory") and the city of Vitória ("victory") in it.  I thought that that was pretty cool.

 

I only have one picture for you today, it is of a family night that we had last night with some members of the ward and it was pretty fun.  I gave a message about courage.

 

So I am in my last transfer, that is going to be strange, but I will make every moment fun so that everything will go by faster and so I will have a good time.  I am trunky, but it is a good thing and I am going to have as much fun, or at least try to, as I work and I plan to work hard.  I only have 6 more weeks, so Mom you just have to wait 6 more weeks, okay and then I will be home, don't get too antsy.

 

Miss you.

Elder McBarron

2/25/13 Email from Vitória

This week was better, I am doing the same old-same-old which is walk and walk and walk. I am really tired these days and I am just wanting to sleep.

The teaching pool is kind of small and at a stand still, we are working on changing that.  I  have this week and then it is my last transfer.  So I don't know if I will be transferred for my last transfer but we will see what will happen.

I am ready for my last transfer, my body and mind are saying, "hey, we need a rest, stop working,"  When I get home I will probably sleep a lot or lounge around for the first day.  I cant wait to meet Max [new baby cousin].  I hope things are going well back home and I am going to try and make things better this week. I don't know what I am going to be doing to make things better but hopefully I find something.

Miss you!
 

Elder McBarron

2/18/13 Email from Vitória

I have not been up to too much, we don't have any baptisms lined up.  I did take a few pictures and I did meet a few interesting people and, well, they were pretty much all drunks.  The funnest thing that I  did this week was play a few card games with the other missionaries in the house.

I can't wait to ride my dirt back again, it is hard here to not think about riding a motorcycle, we see a ton of them everyday.  I know that I will be home before I know it, that is why I am trying to do all that I can to finish with the work that I  have to do here on the mission and trying to figure it out.  I am doing the best I can right now to do what I am supposed to be doing here on the mission these last few weeks.  I am trying to find the people that I am supposed to teach and I am trying to do all I can.  I want to do all that I can in whatever area that I am in in my last transfer.

Miss you!
 

Elder McBarron

2/13/13 Email From Vitória

This week was a week of testing my patience, it was a week of pretty much nothing.  We had the annual carnival holiday this weekend and everyone was crazy because of it.  I am a little bit exhausted and we were not able to email on Monday because all of the LAN houses were closed because of the holiday.

We have rats in our neighborhood and they are as big as little cats. I have seen a rat that was bigger than a chauaua.
 
My best experience this week was an appointment that we had with a kid our age about 20 years old.  He does not go to any church because he sees a lot of things wrong with the other churches.  We started talking with him about our message and how the church is and he liked what he heard.  He told us to come back and teach him more.  He is really liking what he is hearing and he said that it makes sense.

I am trying to make things exciting and not to think too much about home so that I don't lose my focus.  Miss you!

Elder McBarron

2/4/13 Email From Vitória

My week has been a little difficult, but I am now doing pretty well.  My toe is doing fine for now but we will see in a few months. My toenail is starting to grow back now.  I am pretty much just doing the day to day stuff.  We have started to work in the area and we are now going to try and get some baptisms this week.  This week I found an old Brazilian coin that I am cleaning and it is pretty cool.
 
My new companion is Elder De Oliveira, he is from Minas Gerias.  He has 1 year and 6 months in the field.  We have no idea why president put us together, but we are just going with it.  We now have 4 assistants living in our house but 2 of them pretty much live in the other areas of the mission. I don't really have too much that we are doing outside of the apartment for fun.
 
My favorite part of the city is the center of the city.  I don't know why, but I think that it is because of all of the old buildings there.

My best experience this week was talking with a less active member and her family and then having them at church with us on Sunday. We are hoping to baptize her grandma soon.

I don't really have too much more of interesting stuff that happened this week.  I cannot believe that it is already February, the time is flying by and I don't know where it is going.  It will be funny to talk in English when I get home, I will start to talk in Portuguese at any moment.  I have to talk really slow to talk in English.  I still don't know what my flight information is, I think that I will only know a few weeks before I leave the mission.  I don't think that they have gotten my ticket yet and if they have they won't tell me until durring the last transfer.   Miss you!

 

Elder McBarron

1/29/13 Email From Vitória

I am now with a toe that is getting better. I am now walking with shoes again and my toe is doing better, which is good. My new companion was only with me for one week and then I got a new companion, one of the assistants, but that will probably change today. I was with this assistant because my companion was pretty sick and president wanted me to still work in the area. With my regular companion we were going to the doctor or the labs pretty much during the whole week that I was with him. My companion was not getting better and he is now living with president and sister and he might have to go back home. So because of that I am now the companion of one of the assistants until today. I will be getting a new companion and I have no idea who it will be.

I didn't get to send my emails yesterday because I was in the mission office working with an assistant of the mission. I am staying in the area and will be getting a new companion again the fourth time this transfer.

The fun thing this week was working with Elder Oliveira, the assistant. We have had a lot of good ideas that we are going to put into practice in the ward. Also, we have been having fun messing around as we are working. We have been working very hard and have been nonstop the whole week.
I have had a lot of fun just living with Elder Oliveira and working with him.

I will only have one more transfer after today which is strange. Yesterday I got to see the missionaries that are going home be interviewed and it was kind of strange. I don't know what else to say, I will tell you more after the transfer next week. We have to go so that we can get everything done before we have to go to the transfers and we have to do a few more things before the transfer so that everything runs smoothly.

Miss you and love ya!

Elder McBarron

1/21/13 Email From Vitória

This week it rained so much that it flooded in our neighborhood. We had to walk in the water to get to our house. I took a pic that you might like.  The AP's have been traveling with our Mission President this week so they have not been home for the last week.   We did have our baptism, that was pretty cool.

We had the transfer, it wasn't time for regular transfers, this was an emergency transfer.   Regular transfers are on the 29th, but Elder Johnson needed to come here to be near the doctors so that is why the emergency transfer happened.  My new companion is Elder B. Johnson and he is American.  He has been out on his mission for only about four months.  So I am now a translator, a Portuguese teacher and a missionary, pretty cool huh!  Elder Johnson is cool and he is with me because he is sick and needs to be nearby the doctors which means I am training him, well, I am only finishing his training.

Well, this past week I had to get my whole toenail removed.  My toe nail got ingrown on the other side of the nail this time so they had me go and get the whole nail removed, yeah I don't have a nail now.  That wasn't fun and I have rested with my companion who has had stomach problems for the past month.   I am doing all that I can to help him get better as well as help myself get better.  We will hopefully find out this week what is going on with him.

This week was a fast paced but a slow blur.   We were in the doctor's office almost everyday this week for either me or my companion so we didn't really get opportunities to meet many people because we were either at the doctor's office or at home resting.  We did have a ward activity that was pretty cool, we got to eat ice cream and the members had a dance class and they played volleyball. I would do that again in a heart beat.  Well that is pretty much all that happened this week.
I have two more transfers and then I will be home, that is really weird. Miss you and love ya!

Elder McBarron
 

1/14/13 Email From Vitória

My week was pretty fast and I don't really remember too much of what has happened here. We have been having fun playing Monopoly Deal and I have learned how to croxe, but now we can't croxe on the mission.

We did have a really good lesson with an investigator about eternal marriage and how marriage is a commandment from God and about baptisms for the dead. After that lesson we invited him to be baptized and he said yes. He will be baptized on Sunday. We are going to mark more this week with a few of the investigators that we have.

The assistants moved into our house last night, that should be fun for the next few months. So my companion is being transferred to another area today and I still don't have my headings here very well and we were getting a long just fine, so that kind of stinks. Now I will have a new companion that I will have to get used to and also get the work rolling. Because of the transfer, we don't have too much more time so sorry that this email is short.

I will probably leave on the 17th early in the morning and get home on the 17th late at night or really early on the 18th. I have no idea as I have not gotten my flight information yet they are still getting everything organized. April 17th still feels like a long way away. I am still feeling like normal, not really anxious to leave, but a little bit at the same time.

We had a picture taken with some members of the Seventy that have been released from the service of the quorum I am sending. Well, I really don't know what to say this week, this week blew by fast and I don't really remember too much about it. I am sorry that I don't have a lot to tell you, but next week I will have more to tell you I promise. I miss you and can't wait to see you all in a little bit.

Elder McBarron

1/7/13 Email From Vitória

It looks like my release date will be the 17th, I will be flying home the 17th of April. 

We had fun with New Year's Eve until we tried to sleep. We stayed up until midnight and then tried to sleep, but it sounded here like they were having a war here.  One of our neighbors started setting off big huge fireworks off right out side of our window, which was a little strange.

I had a good week, we were not able to get to work as normally this week but we got close.  We had some good lessons this week, but we also had to let someone go that we have been working with for a while.  Also I had a division this week which was pretty fun.  I was with another American that just got here and he has the same amount of time on the mission as what I have left.  It was cool to help him with building his self confidence.  We found some new people to teach and we have a few people that are just about ready for baptism, we just need to mark a date with them. We are working a lot and we are trying to find more people to teach. We are working as best we can and we are having a little bit of success. We are also being "missionary teachers" kind of like home teachers helping out this month with the visits here. We have one family to reactivate which in turn will help reactivate another family. I am really learning the importance of getting home and visiting teaching done and how it impacts the lives of the other members in the ward. We are trying to work with references, but we are getting very few.

Well, that is pretty much all that happened this week.  This week we have been working in the heat and sun, that is pretty fun. I will be so tan when I get home it won't even be funny.  We have not had any rain yet here, but it should be coming here in a few weeks.  I have some cool pics to send of the area and other things.   Miss you and love you.

Elder McBarron