For the Public From the Field

The Last Letter Home

2011-07-18T13:14:00.000-07:00

Family!

All is well in Argentina! This last Thursday we had zone conference, so I got to know the new Pres! The new president is President Levrino from Santa Fe. It was a good zone conference. He is very direct about what he wants and what we need to do better. His wife seems to be equally as knowledgeable as he does and twice as loving. They have 5 kids. One of 15, twins of 13, a 9 (maybe) year old and a 5 year old. That's a lot of kids. The twins and 5 year old were present. They seem like normal kids in a very abnormal situation.

The work is moving forward. Today we had a big choripañada (I guess in English it would be a sausage cook off) and I washed some clothes.

I suppose the elephant in the email is the fact that this is the last one I will send and that this is my last week, etc. To be honest I am trying not to think about it and be focused. I will miss Argentina so terribly I am not looking forward to leaving. That said it will be great to see you all again. I hate to make cliche comments but, the mission has been the greatest blessing in my life next to my family and all I want to do is live it and serve until the last second.

I love you all.
Thanks for all your support, letters, packages, and love I received from you all these last two years.

I guess I can end this saying "see you soon."

Elder Barnes

Siete Once

2011-07-11T13:09:00.000-07:00

FAMILY!

Good week. Argentina also had its independence, the 9th of Julio. We ate choripan with members and it was TERRIFIC! They fed me 3 choripanes! That's insane!

Some really cool news is that LA MAS just got a married couple senior missionary thingy. Ya know? A married couple is on a mission here. They got here on Saturday and JUSTO they live in my area! So they went to church in our ward! This is the first time we have had a married couple companionship since I have been here. I am not sure what their "mission" is. He told me that he is here under the direction of the presidencia del area. That was it. The man served here as a young missionary and returned and married a Tucumana. They lived in Idaho and I told him about Downey and he knew it existed. This is their second mission, their first was in Mejico.

ANYWAY! Life continues.

Attached is a foto of me at Tafi de Valle.

Much love,

Elder Barnes

4 de Julio

2011-07-05T05:16:00.000-07:00

Dearest Family,

I hope all is well. This last week was a good ol´ hard working week. Unfortunately my comp was sick with stomach problems, ya know...but now he is WAY better.

Today! We went to the tourist trap of Tafi de Valle. It´s where one can buy many souvenirs and things. It´s great. A very pretty valle. Anyway I am still there and the bus leaves in 20 minutes so I gotta be out.

Happy 4th of July!

Love,
Elder Barnes

LAST CHANCE

2011-06-27T15:17:00.000-07:00

A note for all of you from Elder Barnes. He returns home exactly a month from today on July 27th.

If you really want something cool from Argentina you gotta let me know NOW! so I can get it for ya. I don´t think there is anything the states really die to have from here, but I am just letting ya all know...you got a week, and after that there is no promises that I will be able to get anything...I am referring to specific souvenirs that you all might want.

Much Love,
Elder Barnes

San Javier

2011-06-27T15:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Family!

I am sorry for last week...let me explain...
What happened was that it was a national holiday and to our dismay all the cybers were closed! So we wandered and wandered and finally found one. I was able to log in and everything was shim shimmy until 20 minutes in, when everything froze up on me. 30 minutes later I was able to get back on, but by this point it was time to go. A complete PAIN. But life goes on...

Like I said the only thing that really happened this last week was that there was Zone conference. I pretty much said all that needed to be said but Pte Northcutt told us about the Elders going home and all the problems the volcano was causing. Turns out that the chilenos ended up going home in bus, a 36 hour ride home...OOF. THEN Elder Fuentes (ex compa) had a 7 hour bus ride. During the conference (Thursday) Pres got a message saying they all got home safely (they left Tuesday). And yes, now Pte is going home, this Friday at 9 in the morning. The new Pres (still don't know his name) comes Thursday. Pte is going to give his homecoming talk on Sunday...I hope they record it...

This week has gone by well. The area was pretty dry for investigators when I got here, so we are finding like crazy. The area is normal sized with a chunk being rich "unworkable" neighborhoods. We have lunch with two well-off families, one of which who has a nanny who cooks. The members are amiable, what more can you ask for. The stake president also lives in our area. He works for CES and must be payed very well because that´s how he lives.

Tucumán never really grew on me before, mostly because I always come and go, but it is finally warming up on me. This last week was rainy and cold. For whatever reason the rain fits this city so well and made me appreciate it more. In Salta it was cold, but stopped raining...here it looks like the rain never really leaves...

As for today we went to the top of the mountain that shades all of Tucumán, San Javier, and went to see the giant Jesus statue. They claim that it is the 9th biggest in the world. It was fun. We went with the district, which is 100% American Made, it´s a fun group of young men. There are three fotos attached. The first is of me and my comp, the second is of me and bubbles I brought with to take fotos (found them in the apartment the night before and thought "why not?"), and the third is of the whole district. One Elder, Elder Rassmusen, (top left) is from Pocatello, Idaho and knows Downey. He said there are small towns and then there is Downey. To me they all seem the same.

The work goes on! Thanks for all your love and support.

Love,

Elder Barnes

Please Write Elder Barnes

2011-06-21T04:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader,
Today marks the winter solstice in Argentina. Consider celebrating the change of seasons by sending Elder Barnes an encouraging email.
Just 5 more weeks until he is released. He's on the home stretch.

Thank you for following this blog and for cheering Greg on to good things.
--C.B.

Dear Family,
This cyber is the worst I have ever been to...

Looks like this will be all I will be able to write...
what a bummer...
I promise a great letter next week.
Just a heads up this last week was the last zone conference of Pte
Northcutt. It was a doubly emotional one..

I mean the zone conference was emotionally filled, or
better put, it was sad saying good bye...
I will write a little bit more...
Pte's last talk to us was about 2 completely unrelated topics. One was about how God loves us and he told us a personal story about how he knows that. The other topic was How to find a wife. He basically just told us about how he got to know the Hna and how we should use personal revelation...

The zone conference ended with a ultimate prayer by Pte Northcutt...
And when I had to go I got to give a hug to Hermana Northcutt!
Afterwards she told me I was always a hard working
Elder they trusted. She told me to end the mission well, but she knows I will..
It was sweet of her to say such things.

Anyways it was a good hard working week. The area needs lots of work.

Thanks for everything,
Elder Barnes

PARQUE GUILLERMINA

2011-06-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Family!

Here I am, a new transfer and a new area. I am now in Parque Guillermina, Tucuman. Which is an interesting area because it borders my old area Universitario, which borders another old area of mine, San Filipe. I suppose to some it may seem weird to go to an new area but I expected it. President is pretty firm about the idea of Lideres de Zona being in the position for 4 transfers, no más no menos. SO! I am now with Elder Olsen, my third Yankee of a companion. He has like 7 months in the mission and is from Texas.

BUT! How was my last week? Super good! The area is definitely stronger than when Elder Fuentes and I first got there, so that puts me happy. This last Sunday was the stake conference that was special because it was vía satellite. Elder Zivic, the Primary President, Elder Anderson (of the 12), and Elder Boyd K all spoke. Elder Anderson spoke in Spanish, which was pretty funny because he also speaks French and Portuguese fluently and you could totally hear that in his accent. In his talk he shared a story about a young man preparing for his mission, Elder Guitierrez, who got his call to the Salta Argentina mission. It was one of those "hey I know that guy!" moments. Boyd K. Packer's talk was good, too. It was weird. At the end of it he basically said that this would be the last time he addresses the people in Argentina. Not a huge surprise seeing as he is...old. All in all, enjoyable conference. We were able to have a family come with us, along with another investigator. Both of which are progressing well. That was really great to see. What was also great was that along with being able to say goodbye to all the members in my ward there were all the faithful members of Mitre present. Two birds with one stone. One of the members from Mitre there was the father of a family Elder Fuentes and I taught and later the Hermanas baptized. The father was presented to get the Melchizedek Priesthood. That was super great to see. I could hardly believe it when they called his name. He has been a member for about 2 months. Pretty fast to get the priesthood mayor, but Argentina sure needs all the help it can get. As per norm, saying goodbye was saddening but I have gotten used to it. Packing took a little longer than usual, I decided to do a pre clean which resulted in me leaving lots of stuff behind, including my less expensive suit.

Last night I was able to talk to Elder Fuentes before he goes home. He has NO idea about how he will get home, seeing as there is a giant volcano o algo...

Today I left early at 9. At 10 we stopped at, what seemed to be a gas station in the middle of nowhere, and after a little waiting another bus pulled up, and next thing I knew about 6 more Elders coming from Jujuy got on. Including Elder Smith, my old comp from Santiago. It was a sweet surprise.

And well, here I am! Once again, TUCUMAN. I did some grocery shopping , ate at McDonald's (which is in my area), and am doing cyber. I suppose the bare necessities of an Elder on his Pday.

The work goes on!

Much Love,

E L D E R B A R N E S

This Week

2011-06-08T08:11:00.000-07:00

FAMILY!

Winter is steadily approaching. I now have to leave to work with a sweater. I have switched from short sleeve white shirts to the ever trendy long sleeve white shirt. Despite of the ever-changing fashion trends of an elder, the work progresses.
This last week we were blessed with a baptism. He is a 17 year old kid who dropped out of high school and began to work/befriended a member. He is what one here would call a "chorro" or "villaro", in Chile they would say "fliete", and in Mexico I believe the term is "cholo." Regardless, he has cut his hair and now only occasionally puts his piercings in. He also is an active participant of early morning seminary. All very great things. The member that gave us the reference also baptized him; it is always wonderful seeing a member baptize the convert.
In the week we also had the consejo de lideres de zona. The last one for president and the hermana. It was rather sad. I imagine the soon approaching zone conference will be even more photo crazy and saddening. But life goes on.
As for today I got to know Salta Capital´s centro a little bit more and also went up the ever touristy gondola ride thingy. There was a couple from Scotland, thus proving again that Salta is a much more tourist friendly place.

Thanks for all the love and support.

Love,
Elder Barnes

Good Week

2011-06-01T12:09:00.000-07:00

Family!

This last week was terrrrrrific! This last week we as a mission baptized 50 people, and as a month total we had 147 baptism. Meaning that this month is the month the mission has baptized the most in President's time here. As a zone we had completed with our monthly goal too, with 18 baptisms. Which compared to 147 seems like little, but there are 8 zones and we are one of the smallest, SO! We did our part, and next month we hope to do it again. Truth be told, May has been rather tough. Lots of downs and lots of highs. I can say that I have never felt so much opposition before, but it´s a great feeling to know that we were able to overcome it and complete with our purpose as missionaries here.

And what was better than all of those goal completing is that Elder Padilla and I were able to baptize Noelia Diaz. Don´t know if you remember her, but she was almost baptized back in April, until her parents decided that they weren´t going to let her. Well! We weren't really able to talk to her for about a month. She had a rather busy study schedule, but she still was going to church semi regularly. Two weeks ago, por fin, we were able to talk to her. She expressed her desires to be a member but also her many fears. Then this week Wednesday we had another lesson with her and she told us she wanted to get baptized! The service was wonderful and she was very happy despite the consequence that will probably follow.

As for today, supposedly it´s memorial day? As for pday we had a district activity which was just a big pizza party. Thrilling, I know.

My heart goes out to Maxine Nieves. Not really a big shock, I was hoping I was going to be able to see her soon but it´s nice to know that she can rest now.

I got a letter from Sister Feske, it was a nice surprise. I also got your letter mom, the one with the dinosaur on it. No one talks about the dinosaurs here, or better put, that way back in the day there were dinosaurs here.

Love,

E L D E R B A R N E S

TRAIN

2011-05-24T17:13:00.000-07:00

ADVENTURE DAY

2011-05-24T11:02:00.001-07:00

HELLO!

This week was great! Despite the fact that I spent most of it with a nasty cold/fever/sour throat. I also had a MAD big canker sore on my tongue that made me cringe every time I talked and ate...but everything has calmed down quite a bit. In fact I am rather chipper right now, just have a stuffy nose. My comp on the other hand is suffering a battle in his intestines which we believe to be the consequence of eating Locro yesterday. Whats Locro? It´s the traditional Argentinian stew which contains lots of parts of animals. It´s best when eating never to ask what they put in it...

The work is moving forward! The zone is doing great despite the fact that about one third of it was all sick this last week too. Elder Padilla and I are working with a pretty good pool of people that all seem to have very bright futures. That said the last two times I thought that everything was pretty dry in the end. But I am totally looking forward to the weeks to come! I´m sure this is all just SUPER INTERESTING!

SO!

PDAY! My favourite thing to do PDAY is explore, and that's exactly what we did. This is only the third chance I´ve gotten to go sploring here and well, this was definitely the best sploring session I have ever had here. River beds were traversed, bridges cross, tunnels un tunneled, train tracks had trains on them, hills were topped, thorns did jab, duendes were found, and so very many videos and pictures were taken.

But off to better things this week! The continual adventure of giving light and knowledge to the spirit children of the Lord! There is no other thing I rather do than that.

Much love,

Elder Barnes

*Duendes are elves or faeries

Weekly Report

2011-05-17T20:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

This last week was another diligent whirlwind of work where much opposition was greatly felt. We had a baptism planned for Saturday. We have many great investigators and we wanted to make sure as many of them could go as possible. We prepared SO much to make sure it was a spiritual power fest (that even included preparing a musical number! Perhaps something not so rare for you stateside people but this was the first musical number I ever planned). The planning went well and 8 investigators showed up and 3 investigators from the other companionship showed. So the hour rolled around and it was 8 and still no Miguel (the kid to be baptised). We called and the sister answered and she was all really negative and untalkable and so we sprinted to the house an easy 5 blocks away. Before we continue a little info on the family: The family was baptised perhaps 10 years ago in Buenos Aires and the parents became inactive and a divorce soon followed. The older teenage kids stayed active until two years. Now the oldest, and only sister, is more or less "against" the church. The oldest brother goes to an evangelist church but still thinks the church is true(?). And the three other brothers just play world of warcraft, including Miguel, the only unbaptised member. SO we been working with them with some success. As of two weeks ago the Mom went to the Provence of Santa Cruz, which is WAY down south, and their father has moved in to watch over the family for the 3 month leave of the Mother. Needles to say it´s been a hard transition to go from a single parent household run by your mother to it being run by your father that has not been living with you for some years. It´s been especially hard for the younger kids including Miguel, who now goes to his sister for support. SO! The night of Miguel´s baptism everyone was ready to go at 7:40 but Miguel so the Dad chewed him out, crying he ran to his sister, who as far as I can tell supported/convinced him to wait to get baptised. When we got to the house everyone was dressed and ready. We found Miguel crying and in the arms of his sister.
In the end no baptism...yet
I felt SOOO bad for wasting everyone's time who was waiting for us at the church. I hope the members and investigators will trust us enough to show up to the next baptism. The semi good news is the next day a bunch of the family(well the three teenage aged brothers) went to church, no Miguel, but they went! And they seemed to be having a good time with the young men. AND later that day two of the brothers accompanied us to two different lessons. That was super tight.

The work moves on!

Thanks for all the love and support.

Love,
Elder Barnes

Meat Is Not Included

2011-05-09T14:48:00.000-07:00

Dearest Family,

It was great speaking to some of you this weekend. Not much is to be said that was not covered during our conversation. I have attached fotos. The one that is of the big group of Elders is of the meeting we had during Friday. The other two fotos are of our Pday activity. The four elders of my apartment went to a nearby river and cooked an asado with delicious Argentinian meat. No meat is included in the fotos but I bet you all can imagine me eating a steak.

ANYWAY
Hope everything in the good ol´ USA.

Much Love,

Elder Barnes

Fuentes Se Fue

2011-05-03T06:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Family!

So America finally killed Bin Laden. Interesting...Today a taxi driver started critisizing the USA for all the celebrations that were going on. "How can people celebrate a man's death?" And just literally two seconds ago a guy just sat down next to me asking if I heard "the news." Pretty obnoxious it all...

Moving on to more important things. Transfers were had. Elder Fuentes is gone. He went to the other Salta zone. So I should be seeing him a bunch. Weird. My new companion is Elder Parilla from Buenos Aires. He has 12 meses, soon to be 13, in mission. Not too many changes were made with the Elders. Lots of new Hermanas. We will see how that goes. I am excited. The fotos included are of our old Zone taken at our last District meeting in the offices. The other is of Fuentes and my last cup of ramen together. He was a great comp.

As for the week it went well. We worked diligently and were able to witness the fruits of our labors. One exciting event was that a family we taught in Mitre got married and baptized. I am really glad the Hermanas did a great job with them. Que feliz.

Thanks for all your love and support in this great work.

Love,

Elder Barnes

Pascua

2011-04-25T15:54:00.000-07:00

Dearest Family,

By the looks of it, you are all having a grand ol´time in the United States of America. Things go well here in Miracle City.

The week was a tad difficult because it was Easter. Lots of investigators went to their respected pueblos para pasar tiempos con sus familias. So there were not as many appointments with "progressing" investigators but there was lots of time to find new investigators. On Thursday night we went out to work with President Northcutt. I felt kind of bad just passing by less actives and recent converts with him, but we wanted to have appointments that were 90% not going to fodge us. It was a good night.
Noelia went back to her home this last weekend, too. Elder Fuentes and I fervently fasted for her. We should see her tonight to find out what went down.

As for Easter, I decided to be the Easter bunny. It all started with me putting the jelly beans you sent me under the pillows of my pension mates. One thing led to another and I ended up putting jelly beans in pockets of clothes, toothpaste, deodorent containers, boxes of cereal, in their carpeta de area, and many other hidden places. At least I got a kick out of it.

Pday was obviously today. It was Elder Fuentes and my most likely last pday together* so we celebrated a lil´. We just played the usual football and then went to a "fancy" restaurant to eat "fancy" argentinian beef. It was yummy. I also made cinnamon rolls this morning. They turned out lots better than the first time.

Cuidate mucho. The work goes on and on and it is wonderful. Thanks so much for your letters, fotos, love, and prayers.

Love,
Elder Barnes

*Next week is transfers. He´s probably a goner. Because it´s transfers could you send me your emails much earlier because I don´t know when I will be able to go to the cyber.

Manpower

2011-04-18T14:46:00.001-07:00

Dear Family,

This last week was...good-ish. Monday to Friday were great. Saturday and Sunday were completely meh. Let me explain: Monday-Friday was filled with hard work and satisfaction...Mainly because we were preparing a college girl, Noelia, to be baptized this Saturday. She has been really stellar and very teachable, mostly because she understands everything. She´s educated so it doesn´t take three lessons just to get the Restoration, and she can read and understand the Book of Mormon. She is also really teachable because she lives with a member so she can always just run to her. All in all a real ideal teaching situation.

ANYWAY we got permission from her parents to baptize. She called and talk to them and everything. She lives 4 or 6 hours away in a town of 5,000, and is 18, so technically she doesn´t NEED permission, but it´s ideal. We told her telling them in person is ideal, but for travel and financial reasons she chose to call. She had her baptism interview Saturday morning and everything was fine and dandy until lunch, when she called us. Her dad called her and told her not to do anything irrational, and if she gets baptized she will be cut off financially and would have to return home. She told him that it wasn´t irrational, but the baptism was canceled..I like to believe postponed. On Sunday she told us she felt terrible and so she went to visit her aunt that lives in the city. When she was waiting for the bus to return, a man put a knife to her throat and robbed her cell phone. Poor girl. I am hopeful she will get baptized...when, in the near future? It is still hard to think about, I am still kind of totally bummed out. So important, so much time. But when it comes down to it she has to get baptized, and she has the legal power to do it. We really haven´t sat down and talked about that. We are giving her time to relax until Miercoles, our next lesson.

So that´s what made the week all right. It was a complete bummer.

As for PDAY, we played football and I picked up my Easter package that was waiting for me at the offices! Thanks!

As for the fotos, they have nothing to do with what I wrote. The avocados were gifted to us and were HUGE.
The other foto is of an insurance store in downtown, it reminded me of a best friend's certain tie.

Black Out

2011-04-12T05:22:00.000-07:00

The week has gone perfectly well. The only un-normal occurrence was Tuesday...

Last Tuesday night around 8 o´clock the power was cut. Upon going to our lightless chapel to have ward council, the Bishop told us that in fact all of Salta's lights were out. I sort of supposed it was a neighborhood thing. But no, all of the city was without lights. That got Elder Fuentes and I semi-nervous about the hermana missionaries in Mitre, because Mitre is kind of not the safest place in Salta. But when we finally got a hold of them they were totally all right. The lights were on about two hours later. Turns out the lights did not just only go out in Salta, but in Jujuy and Tucumán. That's a pretty huge black out.

Besides that the Zone is progressing very well.

We have lots of stellar missionaries and misioneras and everyone seems to be happy. It´s a lot easier to work with people when they are happy. We continue to teach a mixture of part member familias and college-age students. This last weekend was elections for a new governor and mayor of Salta. SO all the college students had to go back home to vote (and if they don´t, they get taxed, huh), so church wasn´t as jammed-packed with investigators as it could have been. BUT, Alberto, who was baptized about a month ago, is still very much strong. He went to priesthood session of General Conference and to a session on Sunday, and now comes always in his Sunday best.

As for today we went bowling as a district and later we all made/ate tacos. The two chileans in my district (Elder Fuentes and Hermana Castro) made sopapilla (I think that's it) with chancaca. Sopapilla is like scones with squash in it and Chancaca has the consistency of honey and the flavor of brown sugar with black licorice. You dip your sopapilla in the chancaca. Elder Fuentes recently received a package with Chancaca in it, hence the big deal of getting to eat it...

Thanks for all of your love, support, and prayers.

Love,
Elder Barnes

PS
There is a 60+ year old man sitting by me playing chess online with a younger opponent who, by the old man's swears, I believe is consistently beating him.

This Last Week

2011-04-05T14:30:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning I made cinnamon rolls. They were pretty good for having no idea how to make dough and making them for the first time.

Me, Elder Fuentes, and Elder Shuman with members and investigators from an area we all shared: Mitre.

My new best friend

The beautiful hills of Salta and me

Elder Fuentes and I went to see a giant Jesus statue for Pday.

Dear Family,

This last week went well. Although my hand still hurts from taking notes from General Conference.

The week was pretty normal. On Friday we had another capacitacion de lideres from President Northcutt about how to teach better. It was a joyous occasion of learning how to improve. Then the next biggest event was General Conference. I watched it in a far off room all the way in the back of the Stake Center. A room cramped with 15 missionaries and President Northcutt and the Hermana. We watched on a small TV, and after messing around with the cable we were able to get it perfectly crisp. I had a good time. Everyone was very serious and attentive because of the presence of President. It was enjoyable hearing his occasional comments on the various Seventies he knew who gave talks. I especially enjoyed the talk from Elder Gonzales on Saturday morning. Mostly because he reached out to the nonmember audience. Also I enjoyed Elder Oaks' and also Elder Scott's talks. It didn´t apply to me too much but I enjoy the apostles telling stories about their lives. I like getting to know the leaders we sustain. General Conference was also great because we got to see lots of members from Mitre and some investigators who were still investigating. Lots of smiles…

As for today we all went to Las Calderas, a little pueblo about 30 minutes away where there is a hill you can climb and up top there is a tall Jesus statue. And that´s pretty much it. Relaxing. Lots of views. Afterward we went to a church building to play some soccer. The norm.

Thanks for all your prayers and sacrifices on your part. One other discourse that I enjoyed was of Elder Anderson's about missionary work. It´s not what you can get out of your mission but it´s what you can give. Thanks for helping give my all.

Love,
Elder Barnes

PS
I hope you all enjoy the photos.

Great Week

2011-03-30T18:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

It´s great to hear that everything went well with the birth of WEE. The photos were well appreciated.

Everything this week in Ciudad de Milagros has gone excellentisimo. In fact it was the best week work-wise that Elder Fuentes and I have had here...in fact I believe it was the best week he and I have ever had.

Basically it was a great week cause we worked hard and were able to see the fruits of our labors. The bishop has warmed up and demonstrated more confidence in us. We also were able to have lots of investigators in Church, which has been a struggle here in Ciudad de Milagros. ALSO on Sunday an investigator, Noelia, showed up. She was progressing for some time, but four weeks ago she went to visit her family (she lives here because she is studying at the university) and came back and everything just kind of evaporated. Couldn't contact her or anything close to it. But her member friend took her back to church this Sunday. After Sacrament Meeting she told us, "I want a new baptismal date. When?" Elder Fuentes and I had no problem rescheduling a date. A great tender mercy from the Lord. On top of that, a less active member of 6 weeks went to church AND we got lots of references from university students to teach their friends. Lots meaning three. I was really optimistic this last week for the new transfer, and now even more so.

AS FOR TODAY, we had a two zone mega futbol activity, like 40 Elder/Hermanas were there. It was fun seeing the other Elders from the other Zone, we don´t get to see them too much. One of the Elders in that Zone was Elder Wade. He replaced me when I left Cabildo, Santiago. He told me some sad news about recent converts there, but there was also a bunch of happy news. Like he baptized Conrad Mattar, an ex Malvina war vet, who Elder Roca and I found. Also that he re-found and taught and baptized investigator I was teaching for a time. And also that a Melchizedek priesthood holder Elder Smith and I reactivated was still active. AND that David Coria and his Wife, Pamela (who we baptized my last week there) were still active and that Pamela had her baby, a healthy baby girl.

Hope all is well.

Love,

Elder Barnes

IT"S A MYSTERY

2011-03-21T16:26:00.000-07:00

Querido Familia,

It is officially fall down here in the Souths of Americas. What does that mean? Not much so far.
Moving on!
This week was lots of fun. Filled with divisions with the other elders...nothing super note worthy there...
The next "fun" thing or better put "exciting" event was traslados. Elder Fuentes and I are staying together. Elder Puello (de Columbia) and Elder Speakman (de Ventura California), our pension mates, both got transferred. They returned to the pension last night covered in flour. Because that's what people here do when you dispedirse or have a birthday, they cover you in flower, eggs, and confetti. What a wonderfully unique way to celebrate special occasions.
SO! My preparation day was spent mostly in the bus terminal, sending Elders off and waiting for Elders to come. It´s incredible how tiring waiting can be.

The work is continuing to go forth here. Alberto Espinoza received the Aaronic Priesthood. He seems fairly excited to serve in the quorum. I really hope for this new transfer we can refocus our efforts and see many great changes occur.

Attached is a photo of my district. I believe the expressions on everyone´s face describes each one of them perfectly.
WANK...the attachment would not attach...I suppose I will just leave you all wondering what my comment could possibly refer to...
ITS A MYSTERY!

LOVE,

Elder Barnes

14 Marzo 2011

2011-03-15T17:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

This last week went by nice and quick. The rainstorms of February have transitioned into a the cold wind of Marzo. In fact I am using a long sleeve shirt right now. I really prefer the cool weather. So much easier to work in. Also the other day I saw a tree which had turned YELLOW. Nuts.

The main event was Zone conference. It went well. Lots of things were taught, learned. President scriptural class was about the great apostasy in good detail. It was super interesting.

Today was a very laid back pday. We went to a crazy indoor market with was all indoor and two stories tall. It was lots of fun seeing all the butchers selling every part of the cow and then some. As for lunch we went to McDonald's. I am pretty McDonald out…even if I went way back in December, the luster has been lost.

Thanks for all your love and prayers,

Elder Barnes

S A N L O R E N Z O

2011-03-07T15:23:00.001-08:00

Dearest Family, Friends, and Family Friends,

This week was pretty killer. Let me explain:
First off this Saturday we were blessed with the baptism of Alberto Espinoza. He first heard the elders 8 years ago and stopped listening to them until this last August when the Elders knocked his door again...It´s been a long journey for him. I suppose in reality it just started. We were able to have the Elders Quorum President (Hermano Patricio Donaire) baptize him. Hno Donaire has been a member for 4 or 5 years now and is the only member baptized in his family. Surely a hard position to be in. This was his first time baptizing too. Like anyone else would be, he was excited but nervous. The baptism service had a strong turn out and the members really seemed to be reaching out to help. The service ended with refreshments (that's a big deal). It was all just so pleasing. I never have had a baptism with so many members participating, and that was the best part of it all. NOTE: In the foto Alberto is the morochito and Donaire is the "white" one.

Sunday was Elder Speakman's birthday (he lives with me, he´s from Ventura, California). He turned 20. Unfortunately at mid day he fell ill with stomach flue. That´s a pretty crummy way to pass your bday. But don´t worry, Elder Fuentes and I got him a tight gift and baked him a brownie. A brownie he could never eat...I suppose in reality that was our gift to ourselves...

Today, to celebrate Casimir Pulaski day, we all went to San Lorenzo which is a mountain you can hike. It was tons of fun. Some members from Mitre came. It was great seeing them. NOTE: Shortly after taking the foto of me by the stream I tried crossing it. Bad Idea. I slipped, fell, and clung on to a rock to keep me from being swept away. I scrambled back up and made it out alive with only my feet completely wet (don´t worry, it wasn't that dramatic at all, just hilarious). OTHER NOTE: The foto with all the Elders is of the zone. Several are missing. Like the office elders (who have pday on Saturday) and some other elders that were "wounded" so they didn´t come. As you can't probably tell, we are a big group of goofballs.
So, I suppose Mardi Gras is closely approaching...the Argentian equivalent is Carnival, which as of last year is a national holiday. Everyone has today and tomorrow off. But Carnival is way stronger up north...we aren´t really affected by the celebrations here. I was though last year in Jujuy...

Hope everyone is doing excellent. This week is zone conference, so my responsibilities are piling up...but whatever, I am sure we can find the time to do everything...I hope...My teeth are good. The dentist is pretty professional and my teeth look the same...This last Saturday the Pte. and Hermana came to see our pension. They were pretty pleased with it all, except for the bathroom. Don´t worry, it will get cleaned...someday....

Much Love,

E L D E R B A R N E S

Dental Problems

2011-02-28T15:04:00.000-08:00

Hello Family!

I am great, but my teeth...let me explain:
it all started back in January when a tooth (a molar on my bottom right hand side) started to hurt every now and then. I was reluctant to do anything about it so I ignored it. It´s not because I have a fear of dentists...I have a fear of how my teeth will look after going to a dentist here...in general foreign dental care has always scared me. Especially when there are so many people here with big metal fillings. But then this last Tuesday I was brushing my teeth and *snap* my permanent retainer on my bottom teeth ripped off of two of the four teeth it was attached too. So I called the Hmna Northcutt and she gave me a number to two orthodontists in Salta, neither of which any other Elder had ever gone to. I suppose I am the first Elder with a need for orthodontist since their time here. We called one and it turned out she wasn´t an orthodontist but rather a school tutor. It was kind of a funny phone call. We called the second and she only had an hour opened that day. So we went. Her office was professional, with American-esque equipment. Everything looked familiar. She reattached my permanent retainer, but in a different way...How the orthodontist in the states attached it was putting the "glue"behind the bar sticking it too the teeth, but here they just put it on top of the permanent retainer...make any sense at all? Originally the glue was behind the retainer, now it is above the retainer. So now it feels like I have two deformed teeth with over grown backs ...ya digg? Anyway, since I was already there I asked her if I did have cavities, at which point she didn't have gloves on anymore but that didn´t stop her from sticking her hands into my mouth and examining it. Turns out I did.
SO TODAY I went to a dentist, which I am 90% sure here a dentist and orthodontist is the same things, or better put, a dentist also can do braces and a orthodontist also can do cavities. The Dr. examined my teeth. Turns out I have 2 potential cavities and one cavity. He was really salesman-like and was really advising that I should do a dental cleaning and I was like "why not." But he didn´t do anything. I have to return back twice to get it all done. I figure it´s better to take care of the small problems now before having to take care of bigger problems back home. He also told me my fillings will be with the same white stuff I have now, not with the ones that are a black color. That's cool.

So now that you are all bored with my teeth I attached some fotos.
One's of a cool looking church here in dow town Salta. The other ones are of Elder Fuentes and I´s lunch. We made Chilean completos. They were good. My opinion of it stays the same, it´s just a hot dog with avocado on it. I suppose my opinion may change once I got to Chile and try a real Chilean completo.

Much Love,
Elder Barnes

ps
in other big news Shakira is coming to Salta tomorrow. The whole Salta world is going bizonkers. The best seats cost like 1,200 pesos. That's a ton here. Only 300 in the states.

PSS

Other awesome news totally I forgot to mention, is that a family (young husband and wife) that Elder Rios and I taught got baptized this last week! They were supposed to get baptized on my birthday but then the Wife, Yessica, had her baby that day! (She was 6/7 months pregnant when I taught her back in November/December) So the baptism got delayed I suppose for I month. But I am super happy for them...

The Soup Incident

2011-02-21T14:56:00.000-08:00

Dear Family,

City of Miracles is just doing dandy. And our zone even better. And that makes Elder Fuentes and I just buzzing with joy. Our area has the Provencial University (this is my third area with a university in it) and recently our ward has "filled" (like 2 people more) with students ready to study. Students seem really great out lit for the missionary work. They are away from home, so the closest thing to family is the church, and that's where we come in, trying to get references out of them and doing family home evenings. Usually when people study they just live at home, but Salta has lots of pueblos (all of the Provinces in my mission do) so those kids live in rented houses/apartments (dorms don´t exist in this country). Anyway that's been a really productive missionary thing...

---side note, I just found out that Chapman University has a study abroad program here and so do a bunch of other universities...kind of random place to study abroad---

As for more exciting things, this last Saturday I had a pretty exciting lunch. How so? Lunch was at a member's home and she had a bunch (4) of extended family over. One of the guests (I guess we were the real guests) was an older man, I am not sure how he was, related to the Hermana. He was 60+ and looked, acted, and dressed very tired. He sat right next to me. 20 minutes into the lunch the Hermana yelled "Don Ramon are you alight?!?!?!" His face was red with bulging eyes. The son in law rapidly stood up and started to smack him as hard as he could on his back. I wasn't really paying attention until I heard the smacking and even then I wasn´t super sure what was going on. Don Ramon got up and went outside as the son in law continued hitting him. The food eventually became unlodged and flew out. He reentered the house, sat back down, and continued to eat like nothing happened. He didn´t say one word during the lunch before or after the "incident." The weirdest thing was that we were eating soup...so the moral of the story is: don´t be cocky, you can choke on soup, too.

In other news I know who the new mission president is. I can't remember his name...but he is from Santa Fe Argentina. He has 4 kids and works for CES. Pte Northcutt hasn't made like an official announcement about him, but an elder's mom wrote him saying it was this guy and we asked Pte if it was him today and he told us it was and that he talked to him a week ago and he sounds like "a really nice man."

Love you all,

E L D E R B A R N E S

Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T18:11:00.000-08:00

Dear Family,

Ciudad de Milagros (yes it is really called that) is going well-ish. On Tuesday Elder Fuentes got really sick stomach wise and that slowed things down a bit. But it didn´t stop us from having a successful week.

On Friday we had our monthly consejo de lideres de zona. It went well. It was enjoyable, especially the sloppy joe lunch. President, as a part of his doctrine lesson, taught all about Elias. More than anything it was entertaining.

As for today we went bowling AGAIN. It went well.
As you can tell, a pretty dry week. Just filled with lots of work. Lots of lots of work. I am sort of used to cleaning up an area...o sea replacing both of the elders. Of my 7 areas I have done that for 4 of them....yup...
Oh and the mission is officially up to 193 elders.

Thanks for all your love and Valentine day wishes.

Love,
Elder Barnes

City of Miracles

2011-02-08T12:01:00.000-08:00

The mission is truly filled with surprises and changes...
One of the biggest so far in my mission happened this Friday during my interview with the President. He explained that this transfer 5 Hermana Misioneras are coming...that is a big number for hermanas...and that it was necessary to open two areas for Hermanas. He explained that due to the fact that the Hermanas are usually more "light" on investigadores that they baptize less and that they wanted to put the Hermanas in an area where everything was more or less "ready" for them to baptize. SO they picked our area...Elder Fuentes and I no longer are in Mitre but in Ciudad de Milagros. It´s been kind of tough switching to so many areas in my mission, but I am know there is a reason. Ciudad de Milagros has always been an area that has baptized but always just been "there," so President hopes by putting the Zone Leaders there we could kick it up a notch.
So Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were filled with cleaning and preparing everything as perfectly as we could so that the Hermanas could continue with the work. Needless to say I went to bed LATE (for an Elder) both Saturday and Sunday night.
Today I got to see Elder Vidal and other missionary friends that are going home (that's one really nice thing about Salta, you get to see everyone going). Supposedly we will all go out to a fancy lunch later today...I am rather dead so I am hoping to get some napping time.
Everything right now is good...the change is weird but I am comforted to know that we left Mitre glowing and left everything in order para que las Hermanas puedan bautizar en febrero. On Sunday we had a PACKED testimony meeting where one investigator in particular had a great experience. She sent us a text letting us know how much she enjoyed it and our care for her daughter. She had a lot of fear going to church. Plus the testimonies were especially powerful. I believe it was the best testimony meeting in my mission so far.

Anyway...
off to work again!

Thanks for all your letters and support. The Midwest snow storm sounds nuts!

Love you all,

Elder Barnes

PS

We have to go right now to continue with some more Zone Leader stuff but I will return before 6pm again...just in case you wanted to know...
A Fact That Mom Would Love: there are 188 Misioneros in the mission

Back by popular demand I present: City of Miracles 2

So after writing in the cyber for a lil´ bit we headed over to ANOTHER chinese all you can eat. It was decent. Last weeks was a lot better. I had no idea Salta had so many "all you can eats" (by "so many" I now know of 3, opposed to other cities where 0 existed; in comparison 3 is a ton).
After that I had some heartfelt good byes and then headed over to my small new pension. But thankfully this area was the ex-District Leader's area so things seem pretty good.
I couldn't go to bed despite the whole 0 energy bit, so I organised a lil´bit and now find myself here...

Back to work!

Love,
Elder Barnes

A Week of Ayuno

2011-01-31T14:18:00.000-08:00

Hello Family!

This week went by rather well! And thankfully I did not starve to death! Let me explain...the members of our ward went to the temple this last week. Which isn't an easy task. Seeing as many members here have Bolivian blood, they went to the Cochabamba Temple. They left last Friday night (the 21st) and got back this last Saturday (the 27). About 30+ members went, leaving us without lunches for most of the week. Which was fine...We only cooked one day and all the others we just ordered food because...well...it´s lots easier. The travel to the temple sounded pretty long and crazy. They took a bus to La Quica (the northernmost city that borders Bolivia in Jujuy), then took a train to some unnamed city, and the for the final leg they took a bus to Cochabamba. There are buses that go direct to Cochabamba, but apparently they travel on treacherous terrain high up in the mountains where one can look out the windows and see far below trucks and cars that have fallen off the path. And supposedly that road isn´t paved...so...yeah...what an adventure for them....

Our week was pretty relaxed. I got to know more of Salta doing divisions. This time I went to a small town a little ways from the city called Vacueros. I believe it to be the closest thing to a quaint little European village as you are going to get in Salta capital.

This week Thursday we, Elder Fuentes and I, went to an all you can eat Chinese buffet (thanks to the Hatch family Christmas gift). It was delicious and the first time in 18 plus months that I have eaten Chinese food...perhaps that´s why it was soo delicious...later that day we went to a member's house to do service (we helped put in a tile floor) and she cooked us a delicious Chilean dish (because she is Chilean and por lo tanto loves my comp). I could barely eat any of it cause I was still stuffed from lunch, but it was equally delicious. It was called Sopaipilla, which is basically scones that are salty that you eat with an onion/cilantro based salsa.

Saturday! We were blessed with a baptism. We baptised Agustina Quiquinte. She is a daughter of a recent convert, Virginia. Virginia is a single mother of 8 who lives in very humble circumstances. Anyway, the baptism was great and I hope they continue to grow in faith as a family.

HOY! has been pretty chill. One BIG surprise was that when I was walking in centro, a man ran up behind me and pounced on top of me. I quickly turned around to find ISMAEL! --a young man who Elder Vidal and I baptized a year ago on my bday! He was visiting family, it was great seeing him. Such a surprise. He told me he is still going to church, which is great.
Anyway, good week.
Thanks for all your love and support.

Love,
ELDER BARNES

21

2011-01-24T14:46:00.000-08:00

Diego, Elder Barnes, Lulu and the cake

The Family Costilla with the elders

Elder Fuentes and I eating bday pizza at night. It was a boli -themed party.
(boli = Bolivian)

Pizza and SECCO TRADICIONAL!

Dearest Family,

This week went well. It was especially filled with divisions with District Leaders. Elder Fuentes stayed in our area and I got to travel getting to know Salta.

This last Friday we had another capacitacion de lideres. Just like we had two weeks ago. We relearned the Church´s new program on how to be better teachers.

Then on Saturday it was my bday. It was pretty chill. Elder Fuentes gifted me a matching Bolivian cap and then for our lunch the family Costillas surprised me with a "party." Which was just a banner and after lunch there was a cake. The cake was DELICIOUS. Argentina is not famous for its cakes, and for a reason, but this cake was the best I have had here so far. For lunch we ate pollo al parilla, with ensalada rusa and a cabbage salad. It was all really too kind.
The day continued pretty normal. We went back to our pension to drop stuff off and our CO alarm was going off! Our pension was filled with deadly gas! Turns out I left the hot water running (it´s hard to turn off) and so the water heater was on for like 5 hours...After we turned the hot water off there were no more problems. What another happy bday surprise!
The last cita of the day was with family Martinez (a family of investigators). They gifted me pens and a key chain and lots of food. Another bday party!
THEN as if we hadn't eaten enough on my bday Elder Fuentes and I ordered a pizza and took fotos cause that's all we really can do...we happened to find Secco Tradicional while knocking doors. I know that means nothing. Just know it's a soda that is in Santiago and really hard to find outside that province. It was totally awesome drinking that again.
All in all,
Bday missionary success!
The 21st I got your package! and I didn't have to pay for it! Another Bday success!

As for today we played football again. It went well. Looking forward to sore legs tomorrow.

Love,

Elder Barnes

17 de enero de 2011

2011-01-17T14:03:00.000-08:00

Dearest Family,

How did the work go this week?

Really well.

The first notable event was that on Tuesday we went on division with our Presidente de la Mision, President Northcutt. We were in a threesome the whole time and we also went on visits in his car which was pretty nice. The visits were all super normal. He just sat there and every once and awhile made a comment, taught something, or made a joke. After every visit we talked about how it went. He only had positive things to say. And that´s not surprising cause that´s not his job to make us feel inadequate.

On Thursday we went and did divisions with the Assistants of the President. And that went well likewise. I worked with Elder Parke de Idaho. It was a pretty good day, nothing mind shattering happened. This was my second time ever doing the divisions with the AP´s, the first being way back in Dec 2009.

Then today we played football as a zone and now I am sore.

And that´s pretty much it for events.

We continue to teach lots of people. Several are progressing, others are not. I usually spare you all from details of teaching people for
A) Privacy
B) I don´t think it´s super interesting letter material

ANYWAYS

Hope everything is going well in your neck of the woods.

Love,
Elder Barnes

Bowling for Liberty

2011-01-16T17:55:00.000-08:00

Dear Family,

This week went by pretty well. I forgot how much it rains here in Enero. For the most part we have been good at not getting super wet, but last night we ended up getting caught in the rainstorm on our walk home. My comp wouldn't take a bus or taxi due to the laws of the sabbath (I don't super agree but whatever), so we ended the week drenched to our bones. Getting drenched is totally fine by me as long as it ends the day, not starts it.

As for other news we had a big Zone Leader council this last Wednesday. All the ZL´s from the distant lands come to the offices and we give reports on our zones, get taught, and most importantly of all, we eat sloppy Joe's at President Northcutt's house (sloppy Joe's made by the hands of Hermana Northcutt). They were delicious. Uplifted and filled. The perfect combo. I got to see Elder Vidal too, he is the ZL of Zona Orán. He is in Colonia, my first area, (do I sound like a broken record? Have I said this before?). He had some pretty hilarious things to say about Colonia. He goes home pretty soon...yes...

As for other news today we went to a Libertad (a huge everything store) and played BOWLING! It was a hoot. The first game I did not do super well...in fact, you could say I got in last place. But the second and ultimate game I ended up winning. The last shall become the first and the first the last. Something like that.

Everything else is going super well. Tomorrow we will be doing divisions with President Northcutt for the evening. So just in case they want to go into our pension we got to clean it. We have started but still have lots to go...it´s all kind of a big pain because we have carpet and a vacuum that doesn´t suck.

Love,

ELDER BARNES

Gondola Rides

2011-01-03T18:55:00.000-08:00

This last week has been very very tiring. Basically because I had no Pday last week para disfrutar. AND the whole week was filled with new responsibilities, and adjusting to them. Elder Fuentes is from Los Angeles, just one hour from Concepcion, Chile. He´s been here, in Salta, for a month and lil´bit more...he also only has a month and lil´bit more than me in the mission. He goes home in June. I in July.

One of the main events this week was New Year's. We passed it with the Office Elders and the APs. It was fun but POURING rain. Like all Holidays for Elders, nothing really happened. We just had to be home early because new year's here involves lots of alcohol and explosives.
It´s a rather simple equation:
Drunks+Fire Works=¡DANGER!

In the morning of the first day of 2011 we did service as a Zone. We went to an old folks home and sang and then gave them cake. It was super enjoyable. There was one anti- social grandpa that if you got close he would try to punch you...that was a highlight.

As for today we went to a popular tourist spot in Salta. A gondola ride that takes you to the top of a mountain where you can see ALL the city. It was super pretty. The top of the mountain was filled with parks, a big fountain/man made water fall, and restaurants. This brings me to a new point. Salta is SUPER tourist friendly, lots more than the other provinces I have gotten to know. Also there is a pretty strong European look to the whole city. It is truly Salta la Linda.

My area is large and by far the most pretty so far. Lots of small mountains (perhaps they are just huge hills) and houses on said small mountains.

All the fotos are me up high with the city below me. The first is in my area. The other two are from this morning. That one Elder with me is Elder Fuentes. My Comp.

Much love!

Elder Barnes

Salta Impressions

2010-12-27T14:06:00.000-08:00

Everything is a little bit nuts. I got here at 1:45ish but we had to run around sending Elders off and waiting for Elders to arrive.

Salta is very beautiful.
My pension is huge.
Taxis here are red.
It is not hot here.

Leaving Tucumán was weird. So little time. We were able to get Ezequiel confirmed, too.
All is well.

Elder Barnes

Tis the Season

2010-12-20T13:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Barnes Clan,

This week has gone by well. Not too hot. Yesterday and today we have been blessed with cloud cover, hopefully that continues 'til Christmas.

The first highlight of the week was Zone Conference. President Norhcutt gave a very enjoyable discourse on the Nativity found in Lucas. The concept was clearing up what is tradition with what is doctrine. The part of the discourse I enjoyed most was the explanations of Jewish customs that are frequently mentioned. Like the whole Zacharias placing incense in the Holiness of Holies and the courtship traditions between engaged couples. Undoubtedly the highlight of the whole conference was the nativity scene which ended the conference. We sang lots of Christmas Hymns and President read from the scriptures the story as the actors reenacted their roles. I was cast as one of the three kings. Afterwards we were gifted a bag of candy with home made chocolate chip cookies from Hermana Northcutt.

On Sunday we had the presentation of the Primary children. They sang EVERY verse of "Follow the Prophet". Very impressive with humorous results.

As for today we ventured over to WALMART! where peanut butter, snickers, twix, skittles, tobasco, refried beans, tortilla chips, doughnuts, and so many more American-ish comforts can be found. I was SHOCKED to find ramen. I never knew I missed it soooo much until I found myself instantly buying it.

I hope everyone has a GREAT Christmas. During President Northcutt's discurso he pointed out that several of the traditions we celebrate aren´t accurate but help us grow close as a family and remember Christ. And in reality, shouldn´t we always remember Christ? Yes, I think we do. I am especially grateful being a missionary during this time. It´s a very unique and special opportunity to celebrate Christ's birth through serving others.

Love,

E L D E R B A R N E S

Banana Trees and Adventure

2010-12-13T13:42:00.000-08:00

Querido Familia Barnes,

This week has gone by well. Lots of work and lots of heat. Friday supposedly got up to 42 degrees celsius. Right when our studies started the power was cut and the heat made me lose my mind. That´s when I took a cold shower. Luckily the power was turned back on a little after that.

The week featured my favorite service activity I have ever done on the mission. Let me explain: We have an hermana called Hermana Lavalle, who is very helpful and always does visits with us. Unfortunately her lawn was overgrown and unkept due to the 20ish banana trees that occupy her yard. We volunteered to cut some dead banana trees down and clear up the ones that were already fallen that were sprawled all around her lawn. The fun part was after we cut all the trees we had to remove them from her property that was surrounded by a 2 and a half meter wall. So instead of exiting the front gate and walking all the way around to throw the trees away, we would grab the chopped trees and just chuck them over the wall. Undoubtedly some chaos followed. One thing I learned from the service is that banana trees are amazingly light due to the fact they are mostly filled with liquid AND they are super easy to cut down in one chop with a machete.

This Sunday was also Stake Conference (a little late). President Northcutt was there and talked about the Dream of Lehi and how the iron rod is more specifically the Book of Mormon and if we grasp onto it we will get to Christ. When comment was made about how the Book of Mormon has the "fulness of the gospel," which doesn't mean it has everything but it has everything we need to know to receive salvation. I have always wondered about that. It was a great and simple talk that was easily understood by all. Which is great for our investigators that were there. They often can get very lost during talks, especially in conferences.

TODAY was pday and we went down to some giant dam. It was enjoyable. There was not much to do, just sit and relax. But far away there were giant forest-infested hills that cried to be explored. A small group scouting party was formed. Adventures pursued. Fotos included.

I love you all. Good luck on finals, work, Christmas shopping, or whatever you are doing with your life.

Love,
Elder Barnes

Please check 8 Nov post for two new pictures!--Mom B.

McDonald's Run

2010-12-06T13:31:00.000-08:00

Dear Family,

This week went by well. The weather has been fluctuating between really hot days and wonderful cloud-covered/rainy days.

This Saturday we had a baptism or better put, participated in a baptism. It was the branch's baptism, but for whatever reason everyone turned to us to get everything done. But we have a great mission leader and he took care of most of the business. It was a nice simple baptism.

The main event today was running errands in centro which ended with a McDonald's excursion. Walking in was like walking into a portal back home to the States. In reality, the feel was much more like the McDonalds in Spain. But still. It was a fun lunch.

Thanks for all your love and support.
Emily sent me a really great Christmas quote that I would like to share with the rest of you all...

"The same God that placed that star in a precise orbit millennia before it appeared over Bethlehem in celebration of the birth of the Babe has given at least equal attention to placement of each of us in precise human orbits so that we may, if we will, illuminate the landscape of our individual lives, so that our light may not only lead others but warm them as well." - Neal A. Maxwell

Love,

Elder Barnes

Dia de Gracias

2010-11-30T10:18:00.000-08:00

Dearest Family,

It sounds like you all had a very relaxing, fun, and delicious Thanksgiving. I never thought I would be able to say this but...perhaps my Thanksgiving was equally as great and perhaps it was more epic. Granted we did not have 10 pies, but let me explain...

An incredible and loving family that lives in the zone offered to feed the whole zone a Día de Gracias feast. The whole zone almost went, there were 24 of the 32 in total. The family was of three, so using simple math we can conclude that their were 27 present at the feast. The family cooked three turkeys, a ham, potatoes, sweet potatoes, empanadas, stuffing, pizzas (no count was made), apple pie, jello, and a chocolate budin. In reality it was way too much to ask. I didn´t realize it was going to be so giant. I thought it was just going to be pizzas, but alas, I, and for that matter the whole zone, was shocked. Especially with the quality of all the food. The turkey was moist, the ham delicious, empanadas eran genial, and the potatoes/sweet potatoes were deep fried so they came across more as giant lovable fries. Plus we all ate outside on a very long table (or perhaps it was just many regular tables put together to make one long table). It was spacious and very much comfortable. I would also like to note that the Family did the same thing last year.

Before we ate everyone went around saying thanks for one thing. I took tallies. So if you want to know what Elders are thankful for:

Mission: 8
Familia: 5
Health: 2
The Gospel: 8
For the Family that Gave us the Feast: 3
Novia: 1
Companion: 2

All in all it was an incredible Thanksgiving that I would have never guessed could have happened. It sure beat last year's where it was just me and my comp just sitting in our pensions in good ol´ Colonia Santa Rosa.

As for the week. Went well. The work goes forward. It was raining Saturday and Sunday which cooled things down but also scared people from going to church.

Much Love,

Elder Barnes

Elder Barnes VS Turkey

My Plate, Featuring: Turkey, Ham, Pizza, Empanadas, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Stuffing

The Big Ol' Group

The Empire Strikes Back

2010-11-22T17:29:00.000-08:00

Dearest Family,

This last week has been a great success. White washing has not been super difficult due to the fact that the members have been very willing to accompany us and show us around. Hopefully the help continues; it should. Elder Rios and I have a goal of doing lots of service for the members, especially those that have leadership positions. The idea behind it is that they will get animated through our charity and join in the fun of missionary service, giving us more references and going to appointments with us. We will see how that goes.

San Felipe, itself, is a land of many canals, railroads, and dead dogs. It´s outta control. Like there are tons of dogs no matter the area, but for whatever reason the dogs here can´t get a break. I don´t really mind. Like I said, Argentina is overrun with the animal, but I certainly do not appreciate the aroma of day old dog carcass.

As for my comp, he is Elder Rios (see foto) and he is 100% capo. Which is great, for obvious reasons. He is from San Diego and his father is mexican. Hence the apellido. He has 5 months and I am his second comp. I might have said this all before...

Our pension is pretty great too. A spacey home with TWO air conditioners. We are the only two living there and that is going well. When we first got here several odd smells were constantly lingering in the pension especially during night time. So today we spent our Pday doing a thorough clean of the pension. It was yet another great success.

Another super cool thing about our area is that there is a street vendor that sells foot longish milinesa sandwiches for only 5 pesos! i know that means very little for those that do not know much about Argentina cuisine. But just know that un sandwich de milinesa is delicious, foot long is big, and five pesos is dirt cheap! I don't care that I run the risk that I am eating horse meat, it´s too good to pass up! Once again, a great success!

What else...OH! Our church is HUGE. Two wards and a branch go to it every week (we are the branch) and one of the wards has two pairs of Elders that go to it, SO in a grand total there are 8 elders at church every Sunday. We are all pretty occupied with our investigators so we don´t have lots of time to chat but stills that's pretty groovy.

One more crazy fact is today I complete two thirds of the mission. I am sad. It´s going rather fast.

Much Love,

E L D E R B A R N E S

PS

Last night we made a fort and slept in it. Awesome Job!!! Great Success!!!

Chau Cabildo

2010-11-15T13:43:00.000-08:00

Dearest Family Barnes,

I have said good bye to my dear Cabildo and now I am in the cyber of the bus terminal waiting for my new comp. He is coming from Jujuy and should be here by 6. We both will be the new elders of San Felipe Tucumán. I once again find myself in this miniature Buenos Aires of a city.

My last week in Cabildo went well. We had another baptism. We baptised Pamela Moya. She´s been investigating the church for three years. But it was a CRAZY baptism because...well...the Bishop of Centro told us we couldn't use their baptism font so on Saturday morning we had to wake up at 5:15 in the morning, go to church, and empty the water in our font. Clean. And fill it up again so Pamela could get baptised at 10 in the morning. This experience was made even better by the fact that I was and still am sick with a cold, and the peak of this sickness was Friday night when I went to bed with a fever of 101 and something. But in the end this was an adventure and the baptism service was super pretty.

As for other news..........not much was had....the week was pretty chill. Lots of good byes. It was a great "six" months. San Felipe will be a blast too. Supposedly our pension has two air conditioners, which will be tight because it gets hot and humid here.

Much Love,

Elder Barne

P.S. I am not district leader or training or anything. Just white washing with Elder Rios. White washing meaning both the elders get transferred and two new ones come in. Elder Rios has the same time in the mission as Elder Roca. Don´t be tricked though, he is a gringo. I think he is from Cali or sumffin.

Gustavo

2010-11-08T16:02:00.000-08:00

The Whole Zona de Santiago

Teaching

Dearest Family,

This last week was good. The first highlight was the baptism of Gustavo. He is a husband of a less active, now active member. They first went to a meeting house where their cousins lived and we gradually got the reference. By the time we visited them, they already had gone to Church three times, went to a baptismal service, and Gustavo knew it was all true. The baptismal service was this last week and was spiritually refreshing. Truly all of this was a tender mercy from the Lord. I guess I should also say that it wasn´t so easy for them...While teaching Gustavo he lost his job as a bus driver and then shortly after Alejandra lost her job. Gustavo had to quit smoking. Gustavo started working as a Taxi driver and the night before his baptism a drunk driver crashed into him. It was a slow crash so no one was hurt, but the taxi was dented, which could cost him his job. But all of that never even seemed to make him flinch. He knew what he was doing was right, and very little could stop him.

Today, the last P day of the transfer, I and 5 other Elders, had an good ol´ Asado. It was delicious.

Much Love,

Elder Barnes

So it goes.

2010-11-01T17:33:00.001-07:00

Dear Family,

This week went well enough. The main event was on Sunday. Not because it was Halloween (I only saw two people dressed up: two middle school girls, one a devil, the other a zombie) but rather because Elder Roca had a birthday. He became 20. On Saturday we did divisions, so when he returned back to the apartment at night there was a surprise birthday "party" waiting for him. It was Max Steel themed and the main event was just eating ice cream cake. That's what that photo is of. We also gifted him a rock, which wasn´t very clever or funny but just the easy semi-funny free gift to give.

As for pday we played volley ball...

I also figured out what Argentina's holidays are this time of the year. The 31st is Halloween, but no one really celebrates it but they recognise that it exists. Today is Día de los Santos (to celebrate you to the cemetery) and tomorrow is Día de los Muertos (you go to the cemetery again to celebrate but this time there are even more people). Everyone gets Tuesday off and if you got to a Catholic school you will get today off.

So it goes.

Elder Barnes

Far Frias

2010-11-01T07:44:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 24, 2010
Dearest Family,

This last week was pretty good down here in Argentinaland. Apart from being good it was also filled with travels...errr...it wasn´t filled...more like...had a travel. I will explain: One of the areas in my district is the notorious Frias, which is 2 hours away from Santiago Capital. It is a pueblito in the middle of NOWHERE with its very own two missionaries. I have never gotten the chance to do divisions with the Elders down there. Better put, I have never taken the chance to travel down there and do divisions but I finally did this last Tuesday. I went down with Elder Monforte, my Mexican zone leader. The buses were old and worn down and thus travel was made uncomfortable. Regardless, the divisions went smoothly and our stay was well spent but it all left me exhausted. Fun fact: Frias is the area farthest down south in all the mission. That's about as thrilling as it sounds.

Every else was pretty chill this week. Just working. On Sunday we had stake conference and it was surprisingly very uplifting. I am sure it was great experience for my investigators. I don´t doubt that the church here comes across being rather "small" for my investigators (the branch and the ward both average with about 20 members every Sunday, and that is small). But when they go to any type of conference they can see that the church is truly a huge world wide work and a glory. The stake center was packed (that was fun to see because it is rather large, larger than my stake center back home) for stake conference and all the speakers gave good, normal talks. In addiction, about half the talks were about mission work, which makes me pleased because some members are clearly not pulling their weight with that. More than anything the conference left me with hope for the church down here. The stake president is newly called (has about 6 months as stake president) and I don´t know what the stake was like before he came but the future looks pretty darn bright and the conference was a testimony to that.

As for my investigators, they are doing well. We have been really blessed to teach some really wonderful people. I hope and pray I can have the spirit with me more. That they can feel and recognize said spirit and have the faith to change their life for the better.

As for today we played futbol and basketball as a zone. It was good running around.

Much love,

E L D E R B A R N E S

!Bienvenido a Truchomán!

2010-10-18T13:56:00.000-07:00

Dearest Family, Friends, and Anyone who is willing to listen,

This last week was a HUGE blast. Why? Well there was a three day conference in Tucumán, to be more exact it was a capacitacion de líderes. The Church now has a new 8 lesson program on how to teach. They realized they really don´t teach how to teach during a missionary's stay at the MTC, so now they have this new program which they are teaching all the newbies in the MTC. But for us in the field it gets taught to the leaders and then it´s our job to teach it to everyone else during comp study, divisions, and district meetings. That´s the concept at least.
The conference was just zone leaders, district leaders, and trainers from Tucumán and Santiago. In total there were 22 missionaries, 8 being from Santiago. We left Tuesday night for the conference and got back Friday night. The meetings were long but interesting. Filled with lots of practicing in front of Presidente as he critiqued your every move. The conference resigned every day at 3. So in the nights we went to work in other areas applying what we learned. All in all, it was fun sleeping in apartments packed with elders, getting to know new areas & Elders, and seeing dear old Elder friends. And it was also like THE BEST because while I was in Tucumán Elder Roca was with another elder working in our area, so our area lost 0 days of work. Which I guess doesn't sound that spectacular, but seriously that was THE BEST.
As for the rest of the week it was meh. Sunday was Día de la Madre...........it was mostly filled with people blasting cumbía and guarracha while they were getting their Mother Day's drink on.
And lastly as for today's events, it was a very delightful, laid backed, sunny PDay. I went to centro to print fotos, purchase a futbol jersey, and wander around. Returned home, ate some hamburgers with guacamole, and took a nap. And that´s a wrap on my life.

Have a great week! Never give up on your dreams!

Love,
Elder Barnes

Last Week's Futbol Get-together

2010-10-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

Monday, October 11, 2010

This was last week's Pday´s kickballsoccergrillout.

10-10-10

2010-10-12T08:52:00.000-07:00

A beloved Barnes tradition carried on with requests from Mother.

¡Feliz Día De La Raza!

2010-10-12T08:49:00.000-07:00

Beloved Family and Friends,

This last week was a very great start for the new transfers. Well maybe not “great” but it started off well. Maybe not "well" either but it certainly started off on a high note with a baptism. Elder Roca and I were fortunate to baptise Samuel Barrionuevo. It was a special baptism because Elder Roca and I found him together and taught him everything together so it felt lots more like “our” baptism. Ya know? Samuel is a sharp 12 year old kid with divorced member parents. The dad is a almost active member and the mother has very little interest to ever returning to the church. The father contacted us to go and visit his ex wife and son (Samuel). Samuel had never gone to church ever but was willing to listen (he is after all only 12) and well the rest was just teaching him. He is a super sharp kid (if I haven´t made that clear enough) and another deacon for the ward. Which gets me really excited because by December the ward will have four deacons in total and that's good enough for a very small quorum. And two of those four deacons will be for our efforts.

Note: The Elder Barnes Versus Kittens series was taken at Samuel's home

As for other news Elder Roca and I have just been putting our good ol´ hombros a la lid, if you know what I mean. The week was working in weather and at one point it rained pebbles again (hail). We got caught in the middle of the storm which was exciting. I love working in the rain; it makes me feel like such a missionary.

Today we had a Zone activity. Good ol´ kick ball/soccer with a barbecue to follow. The Park was semi filled with families celebrating Día De La Raza (Day of the Race). I guess you North Americans call that Columbus Day...to be honest I totally forgot that fact.

So that´s it for me.

Love,
Elder Barnes

Elder Barnes Versus Kittens

2010-10-12T08:44:00.000-07:00

I believe the photos describe the ordeal perfectly.

General Conference

2010-10-04T13:53:00.000-07:00

Dearest Family!

I am sure we all just enjoyed a very uplifting General Conference. It was fun and I was able to watch all of it in English, except when I had to leave and sit with lonely investigators, but that was all right. In all the Stake Centers in the mission there is an "English Room" for the English speaking elders--I love that, being away from the crowds, having a personal desk to take notes. It only gets a little annoying when all the wandering little kids get curious and open the door, but that´s OK because I would be curious, too. I enjoyed all of the conference. My favorite session was Saturday Morning, and there were too many good talks just to pick "a" favorite. But I did really enjoy the English Gentleman who spoke during Priesthood Session.

Other than that the week has been a little crazy. Elder Roca had to leave to do paper work in Salta Capital, so I ended up working with Elder Singer of Texas, a fellow BYU student and Merrill Hall dweller. It was fun, especially because he got a package when I was with him filled with Reese's Cups.

All of our investigators are doing well. The work is moving forward here. Both the Ward and the Branch seem to be getting better (have I told you I am in charge of a Ward and a Branch? I am sure I have. It´s a handful and a testament to what President Monson said about missionary work; the church really does NEED more Elders.). Elder Roca and I are staying together for another transfer. I am excited to continue to work hard and give my all.

Much Love,

Elder Barnes

Fake Mustaches

2010-09-29T05:46:00.000-07:00

HELLO!

Thanks for all your emails this last week. I am doing well and it seems
like you are all alive, too.

As for Argentina. Things cooled down this last week because it rained, the
first time in 8 months. And everyone was trying to explain that it was a
"dry rain", that it rained "stones," not drops of water. I suppose that´s
their take on hail here.

We also had a zone conference. That went super well especially because an
Elder got a birthday package from home filled with party favors, and one of these said favors was fake mustaches. It was great wearing a fake mustache again, it was like hanging out with an old friend again.

As for the work, this last Sunday we went out to do our visits with Rodrigo
Figueroa. To be more accurate, he invited us to work. Rodrigo is an older
gentleman who is next to impossible to understand. My Chilean comp can´t
even understand him, so it´s real tough to get ideas across. Regardless, we went
out to work together and it was a blast. He was rather unpredictable (which
made lessons exciting) and uncontrollable. As we were talking and getting
to know each other he revealed his age of 76. I had no idea! He does not
act his age. I could go on and on about the day but my favorite memory was when we were waiting at a door. As we were waiting, Rodrigo walked up to a nearby
bush/tree that was filled with berries---you know those berries you were
told never to eat when you were a kid because they were "poisonous." He
exclaimed, "I love these!" and began to chow down. I asked him if he was
sure he could eat those and he explained to me that the berries were not
only delicious but lowered cholesterol. huh. Another highlight was when he
shared his conversion story with us; how he went from someone that was
"worst than an animal because at least an animal has order" to a humble
servant of the Lord.

The work goes on. We got several star references this last week and that was a definite blessing.

Love,

E L D E R B A R N E S

Still Wear Ties

2010-09-20T15:12:00.000-07:00

Hello Family!

Sounds like everything is good off in the States United. Things are getting hotter in Santiago. In fact this cyber is blazing like an oven which brings backs lots of memories of last summer. It does not feel like spring has begun to begin, instead it feels like we jumped into the middle of a Utah summer. But I can imagine hotter and know the hot hot heat will soon come.

Now that we got the weather report done with, the big question is what is new. Nuffin much. Elder Roca and I are still companions and I am still in Santiago. I am still a missionary and I still wear ties. Today we had another water war and it just turned into a lot more rule-making and yelling. But that's ok. Yelling is a good activity, too.

OH! The 18th was Chile's independence day! 200 years! Seeing as I live with two Chileanos it was a big deal! People here don´t super love Chileanos for whatever reason, but I do! Elder Roca and Oviedo (the Chileanos) made a traditional Chilean dish called "Completos." Which basically is just the Chilean take on the hot dog, which basically is a normal hot dog with avocado, chopped tomatoes, mayo, and mustard. But if you tell them that they get mad and respond, "It´s not just a hot dog with avocado, it is a COMPLETO!" Turns out Hot Dog+Avocado=Yummy.

As for reactions to things and the mental state of my minds: This last week was a tad grueling, like every week. Being a DL and trainer is a humbling and time consuming responsibility. I am praying to be more patient, to be the trainer Elder Roca needs, and to put more confidence in the Lord.

Love,

E L D E R B A R N E S
Current Missionary and Future Astronaut

Throwing Objects

2010-09-13T14:50:00.001-07:00

THIS IS MY ZONE WITH ELDER FOSTER, all but one who was off busy chatting with friends and didn't notice that we were taking the photo.

Dear Family,
It seems like things are going very well in that far off land known as "The United States." Things went allllllright here this last week. There were some highs and lows, just like any other week. I am looking forward to this new week because it should be more or less a lot more calm. No divisions. No unexpected conferences.
Speaking of unexpected conferences, this last Thursday we had a special conference with one of the area presidency (with less of a week's notice). The conference was in Tucuman and that meant waking up at 4:30 and catching a bus, going to the conference, getting back on a bus at 12, and returning to our areas with just enough time to eat lunch and work. Exhausting, funnish, and definitely uplifting. There were tons of Elders at the conference (like 70 or so) and that meant seeing lots of old friends and comps (that was the funnish part). The area seventy that was there was Elder Foster. He was a mission president of the Arcadia California Mission. He also gave a talk during conference this last Abril. I am not really sure what his conference talk was about.

ANYWAY!

That was the highlight of the week. As for today, we had a zone activity of capture the flag.
We upped the fun level by playing with water balloons. It was a great activity. Running, screaming, throwing objects at people. The perfect combination for relieving stress.

I love you!

E L D E R B A R N E S

Trapped in a Mine, September 6, 2010

2010-09-08T14:39:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

It is good to hear that your lives have been filled with festivities.

Anywho, my life has been filled up to the rim with work. I am putting Iots of kilometers on my new comp. Jejeje. Poor guy. What I mean to imply with that comment is that it is not easy being a new missionary. I strive to be sensitive but I often forget, but he seems to be surviving...
As I believe I have mentioned, Elder Roca is from Chile, and the Chilean accent is very distinctive. They talk very softly, fast, and love to cut the ends off words. At times it feels like I am learning Spanish over again. And at times Elder Roca feels like he is learning Spanish. Everyone brings up the miners that are trapped in Chile when they find out he is Chilean. I told him that as soon as people mention that he should begin to break down and start to fake cry proclaiming that "my father is stuck down there!" But he doesn´t.

This week we were blessed with a baptism on Saturday, too! We baptized Gladis. She is a daughter of a less active family that Elder Smith and I were reactivating. They are activated and the baptism was rather terrific. Angela, if you remember her, came to the service with Cesar, her 8 year old son (who we have not been teaching because his mom wants him to decide and not obligate him). They were rather impressed by it all. Afterwards Cesar told his mother that he wanted to be baptized with her. She was taken aback and shocked. Truly a tender mercy. We shall begin to teach Cesar everything he ought to know before baptism this week.

Hope the new school year is going well.

Love,
ELDER BARNES

Somos Ocheros

2010-08-30T14:26:00.000-07:00

Happy Movers

Truck and Proud Owner

Out of Focused Companions

Such a week. Probably one of the most stressful in the mission. I wasn´t too nervous to train, the thing that killed me was that we finally moved apartments. If you asked me before the mission that I would learn how "to move" or that I would have "to move" during my time in Argentina, I would have been beduzzled. It´s not one of those things you really associate with missionary work, but it´s one of those things that just happen. We happened to just move because the ex- landlords were asking for lots more money, so instead of getting a new contract we changed apartments. Missionaries have been living in the apartment for two plus years, and no doubt they raised the rent in hopes of getting us out. Cause, well, some missionaries act their age and destroy things.

So we (Elder Smith and I) have been looking for a LONG (since July) time and been giving LOTS of options to the offices...but nothing. Until Thursday when the mission offices called me, telling me that we had to move by Sunday into our new apartment because the new month was going to start on Monday and we had to get OUT. Talk about a short notice. But everything worked out well because I was able to change the move to Monday because the new month does not start today. And thank heavens we were able to move today because I would have died if we moved during end of the week. Anyway, our new apartment is only two blocks away from thee old. A very "easy" move. We now live in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Santiago, EL OCHO DE ABRIL. Doesn´t sound too dangerous. And it´s not that bad. I have only seen a handful of people shot. jkjk. Don´t worry though, we live in the edge of the neighborhood, in a large safe complex filled with people trying to make an earnest living.

So! That´s all I really have to say about moving. That´s a lie. The move went well. I was able to find an awesomely old man, who swore like a pirate, with a truck to help us move. The move was fast (we were few but well organized). We are now in the new pension. The old is all cleaned and done with. The new is still very unorganized aka a disaster.

As for my new comp. His name is ELDER ROCA from Villa Aliman, Chile. He has 19. I am looking forward to "training" him cause this last week was so nutty I kind of put those responsibilities on the back burner.

Any way...

Much Love and thanks for your emails!

E L D E R B A R N E S

N A Z A

2010-08-23T17:05:00.000-07:00

This last week has been quite wonderful. Perhaps it's the fact that my intestines no longer pain me. Most likely it has to do with the perfect weather and the jasmine scents floating in the air. Indeed it was a great week to end the transfer. We were blessed enough to baptize Naza this last week. Have I told you his story? I am not sure...I think I have. Regardless it goes like this:

One day, last transfer, we left at a early 3 in the afternoon to work, to do service, helping a family make tortillas. A service that we thought didn´t merit normal clothes, so we left dressed as missionaries. We arrived at the investigators house but the service was canceled with little explanation from them. We left frustrated and didn´t get far when a father and son on a motorcycle stopped us. "Are you guys Mormon missionaries?" they preguntared.
"Yes, yes we are, and you are?"
"I am Fernando, and I am a member."
We got his address and number and made an appointment to pass by.
Several weeks later we were able to meet with them. I had doubts about him being a member..."So you are a member, correct?"
"yes yes"
" And when were you baptized Fernando?"
"OH, I have never been baptized."
Turns out this last May and June Fernando spent in Buenos Aires looking after a sick aunt. He wandered church to church, not liking any of them very much, until he went to ours. The Hermana missionaries stole his heart and he loved the gospel principles class. He went a handful of times to church and activities. I have no idea for how long, but he went and liked it enough to think of himself as a member. But then it was time for him to return to Santiago...the missionaries gave him the directions to the only three churches that showed up on the Internet for Santiago, none of them was our building. But that was ok, because we were guided to him just weeks, even days, after he returned from Buenos Aires. It has been nothing but a blast to get to know him and his family. Fernando and Nelly are the proud parents of 3. Nazarieno is the only boy and the middle child. He read and prayed and received an answer almost immediately. Everyone in the family is progressing well, but Nazarieno was so animated and motivated, we baptized him first as an example. Anyway, the service was great and literally gave me more strength to continue and motivated me to be a better Elder.

As for other news, this week we also had a huge super mega activity on Saturday night, with all the Elders of our Zone participating. It was an "open church" if you will. Basically a church tour with a gospel principle taught by missionaries in every room. Elder Smith and I were in charge of prophets. All I can really say is that we dominated.

The week ended in an uproar. Elder Smith got transferred (he is going to Tucuman and will be living with Elder Vidal), so all of Sunday was spent running around saying good bye. It was fun, we got fed a ton of food which resulted in very grumpy tummies. We were also given an entire uncooked chicken from a member family, totally random.

Anyway the transfer went well. And now I am off to do more damage! I don´t know who my comp is yet because I am training. I think he will be here Wednesday. Until then I will be hanging out with Elder Morrows, a fellow DL who will also be training.
Thanks for all the love and prayers.

ELDER BARNES!

Bugs, Drugs, and Chickens

2010-08-16T15:35:00.000-07:00

Guess what? I spent this whole week being totally sick. Shouldn´t say "whole week," but the majority. It all started out on Wednesday morning when I woke up at 6 with gnarly stomach pains. At the end of the day I was soooo tired and I had to walk in slow mo, so we called it quits and I went to bed early. Then the next day I woke up at 5 in the morning, my tummy was furious and I ran to the bathroom. I will cut the more graphic details out, but let's just say I was going to the bathroom every 10 to 30 minutes for the whole day. From 5 in the morning to about 10 at night. Miserable. We didn´t leave to work, we just left to buy me drugs. Actually the first drug run we made I walked like two blocks before I ended up "vomiting" in the street. But nothing was in my stomach, so I just gagged and gagged and it was real hilarious.

Anyway, I have been taking drugs to kill the bugs who have decided to call my intestines home. I am feeling better. That is to say I am better, but not 100%. Without a doubt this has been the most sick I have ever gotten. Which is a complete bummer. I have no idea what it was that I ate...perhaps...perhaps it was the armadillo and salsa I ate on Tuesday. Just kidding. Didn´t eat that BUT people do here.

Besides that everything has been really normal. On Sunday we had a great lunch with a
totally great family. They are 9 in total, so the house is filled with people and also dogs. The dogs were running under the table the entire time trying to grab some fallen scraps of food. The whole family was trying to chase them out constantly, but it was just impossible. Then things just got nutty when a chicken from outside came in. The chicken was impossible to catch and at one point it got frightened and jumped up and landed on the neck of the daughter sitting right next to me. I faked screamed and acted terrified (it came pretty close to getting me) and everyone laughed thinking I was serious. Which is perfect. Anyway, totally amusing lunch. The only thing I really ask for.

All in all everything is good despite the stomach. The work goes on. Our district is really improving which makes me pleased. I hope we continue to grow and have more success. Sincerely, the week was kind of a big bummer cause we didn´t work that much. But I am ready to change that fact this week, if my body permits it.

Much Love,
ELDER BARNES

The Wall

2010-08-09T14:01:00.000-07:00

FAMILY

The week moved slooooow. Nothing POPS to mind about the week. It all just sizzles. I guess it was the mid-transfer wall.

As for the day. I spent it cleaning, relaxing, making pasta, and casually reading the Bible. I finished Matthew today. On to Mark!

Thanks for all your love and prayers!

ELDER BARNES!

because it's cold in the poor places tonight

2010-08-07T03:51:00.000-07:00

Monday August 2, 2010

Dearest Family,

Everything is good.
The week was pretty stressful due to just random responsibilities that got thrown onto me (that comment is rash and probably not true---but that’s what it felt like). That and some of our investigators are really struggling and are not making good decisions. But the Lord is still on our side and there were still plenty of ups this week.

Onto the adventures of PDAY! We had a zone activity of playing kick ball! It was totally awesome. It has been YEARS since playing that beautiful game. The teams were not so ironically divided into Lats versus Yankees. They put up a noble fight, and who really cares…it was super fun. We then all cooked hamburgers and chorizo despues de díaz. We also did some mini exploring by the nearby giant river.

Kelsi.
Wasn’t really sure if I was going to comment about it all. But seeing as I have not much more to say I will.
She was a good dog.
My heart doesn’t hurt.
The distance and time away don’t make the thorns prick as much.
Maybe by tonight it will feel it.

She was a good dog. I remember when I dressed her in spikes so she could be the "Hell Hound" in one of my movies. What a star.

Much Love!

ELDERBARNES

457 Years

2010-07-26T17:24:00.000-07:00

In obvious news, or perhaps for forgetful people, not so obvious news, I completed a YEAR! It was a pretty normal day. There was a ward activity and we brought some investigators to check it out. The main celebratory event was that I ordered a sandwich called "El Mejicano." It is a beast of a sandwich. In essence it is a large grilled cheese sandwich filled with tomatoes, ham, and a strip steak. On top rests a fried egg covered in hot sauce, green olives, and red peppers. It is intense and a traditional street food here in Santiago. It is also over-priced, making the times you get one limited and special. ALSO to celebrate a year I got your post card, Mom. ON THE DAY! You are the queen of perfect timing.

The pension search continues. I have no idea when it will end and when or where we will move. But it has to be soon because our contract expired yesterday.

Santiago's birthday was on Sunday! 457 years of age!!! Woweee Zoweee! The presidenta came down on Saturday to help celebrate. The buses were also free. Pretty groovy.

Today was a simple football oriented p-day. But we played at my church so it was significantly less stressful and annoying.

Thanks for all your letters and love. Things are very good here in Santiago. We were very blessed to have investigators at church this last Sunday. That has been my main struggle here. A small trial of patience and hope. We continue to march forward with faith. I hope my second year is just as good as my first. My main goal is to savor my mission more. After completing a half of my mission my vision is expanded and I can really see how long two years are...and it´s not that long at all.

Love,
Elder Barnes

Free Eazy Peaks

2010-07-19T14:05:00.000-07:00

By the look and sounds of it summer seems like an incredible
party. Good work. It finally got COLD here this last week. By my
mental calender it has been a good 14 months of no cold for Gregory
Barnes. Every morning I wake up freeeeezing. There are only 3
blankets in the pension. That leaves me without one. So I sleep
with two sheets and a poncho which I bought in JUJUY. I also go to bed
fully dressed in thermal underwear goodness. Still cold. Last night
I slept with my winter coat. It was really uncomfortable and didn´t
really help. I just laugh. I don´t really mind. What an adventure I
am having! I should really just buy a blanket and get the money
reimbursed...but...that...that would be too easy and too logical for a
twenty year old missionary man... I have also realized it has only
dropped down to like 50ish degrees. Which is just hilarious that I
think that's COLD. But the wind plays a factor. HOW EXCITING!!!

One thing not mentioned was the rigorous time-consuming apartment
searching. It was kind of fun. Made me feel real adult like;
searching for a new home and all.

As for pday it was spent cleaning our pension. Elders have lived here
for more than 3 years sooooo...yup. But we cleaned it well. We are
soon about to go to a huge park turned market place here in Santiago.
Santiago´s Birthday is coming up so the park turned market is to help
celebrate it. Lots of food and rad shopping to be had. Supposedly.
Let´s hope. ¿Qué no?

MUCH LOVE
ELDER BARNES MD

ROAR!

2010-07-13T11:44:00.000-07:00

SO!
One transfer gone. Just like that. Another transfer to come. Very
little has changed. Which is a first for a long long time.
SO!
World cup is over. Just like that. Ever since Argentina lost, lots of
people just stopped caring. A very selfish attitude, no? I am glad
Spain won. Man...It´s so sad! No more world cup! What will people
use as an excuse now?

As for the week, it was good. Everything kind of just blurred into the
same day it feels. One exciting thing is that we are probably getting
kicked out of our apartment July 25, so we are kind of scrambling to find
a place. Big pain. No doubt. We found a decent
apartment...but...the kitchen was way small and...no doubt this is
totally thrilling.

As for today...we went to the bus terminal and said good bye to
all the elders who were leaving. Then we went back home and Elder Smith made ¨No
Bake Cookies¨ and those turned out ALLLLRIGHHT.

Anyway, despite the bland emails I am doing GREAT. I am really having
lots of fun helping and serving the people here. Thanks for all your
love and emails.

LOVEELDERBARNES!

Independence

2010-07-05T16:27:00.000-07:00

So, world cup. Yup. We are out. The atmosphere after the game was pretty solemn. The electricity from the air was gone. We had lunch right after the game ended and no one talked. It was literally in pure silence. Man...we got destroyed. How embarrassing. Everyone here was poking fun at Brazil for losing and then BAM! What goes around comes around. Argentina really dislikes Brazil when it comes to football. So, as long as they are out too, we are happy.

The fourth of July happened. As you can imagine no one here celebrated it! How crazy! But Elder Smith and I made and feasted upon cheeseburgers. After being thoroughly stuffed, a family that lives in our apartment complex invited us to eat empanadas with them. We couldn't say no, so then we got doubled stuffed. So that's how we celebrated Independence Day...getting stuffed. There were no fire works...although it wouldn´t have been hard to get some...we told everyone that we were going to celebrate by lighting fire works at the Chilean that lives with us...lucky for him, we didn´t.

As for anything else that is exciting or interesting, most of the zone traveled to Termas today. It´s like the Lava Hot Springs of Santiago. As in there are hot springs here AND also a giant dam which we visited. There were also lots of touristy shops and this and that's to be had. It was an alright trip until we went to lunch. That's when we were lied to and got ripped off. But...that´s fine. At least we got lunch.

OH! I also got a letter this week from Elder Albertson, my freshman year roommate who is in South Africa. A kid from his ward there got his mission call HERE! So before we know it there will be a South African in our mission. CRAZY!

YAY!
Love,
Elder Barnes

My Best Tour Guide Voice

2010-06-28T16:18:00.000-07:00

As for this week...it was pretty good. I did divisions on Wednesday and Thursday back to back which was crazy. To add on top of that all, the power was cut and that just was a sweet surprise. I have been super busy (as so everyone else) and finally payed the bill this morning...so as you can imagine no light for almost a week...kind of a disaster...

On Friday we had zone conference. The first time in 3 months for me...kind of weird but super good.

On Sunday we got some people to visit our church. We actually went to search for them and we ran into them half way to church. I thought I caught them trying to escape as I exclaimed, "Where are you goin?!"..."To church." "Our Church?" "...uh...yeah...We said we were going to come."
That was a sweet surprise. We arrived all together as the first Reunion was ending. So we did a little tour of the church.

"And here is the kitchen," I said in my best tour guide voice. The door to the reunion burst open; we all turned our heads to watch a mother holding her sick 6 year old daughter rushing out of the closing song. The young daughter was pale and began to vomit right in front of us all. I immediately ran to get paper towels. Afterwards, as the Investigators continued to watch the scene unfold I tried to make a joke, "And there are sometimes sick kids in church too!" No one laughed. I tried. What's an Elder gonna do?

And that´s all for now.

Any questions?

---ELDER BARNES---

This Week in Photos

2010-06-21T18:05:00.001-07:00

"This is ¨La Palomar" where I reside and live."

"Smith and I devouring a "Churipan." "Churi" comes from "Churizo", which is sausage. "Pan" means bread. So it is a "Sausage Bread", or better put "sausage on bread", or best put-- "Delicious."

"Walking. It´s what I do everyday."

"Vacaciones Santiago!"

"Found a store that sold starburst, skittles, and snickers.

Great success!"

"Monday morning service. Cutting branches off trees with machete."

Many Hands in the Streets

2010-06-14T13:36:00.000-07:00

WORLD!

Or should I say...MUNDO!

I am doing well along with Santiago. We are pretty much super duper best friends now. So............

Mundial is not that bad...No doubt it is totally huge and ridiculous here, but all the soccer world cup games are in the morning and afternoon, leaving nights unharmed and very much the same. When Argentina played this last Saturday we were outside talking to a member when suddenly we heard a blood curdling cry coming from the neighbor's open door. "GOOOOOOOL!!!! GOL! GOL! GOL!, GOOOOOOL!!!!" It seriously sounded like someone just stabbed him and he was screaming for his life. Fireworks shortly filled the sky. I was actually surprised about the amount of people in the streets just walking around and not even caring about the game. I thought the streets would be deserted during those 90 minutes...they were almost deserted. That same day USA played and when we asked people who won that game they all literally responded, "I don´t know...but Argentina played and won!!!"

As for today we reunited as missionaries, played soccer, and ate a ton o meat. That's kind of a common Argentinian custom, gathering as friends and eating piles and piles of meat. We missionaries do well embracing that cultural note.

LOVE
ELDERBARNESAMILLION

Progress with Cabildo

2010-06-10T12:23:00.000-07:00

My legs ache, my feet sting. I still haven´t showered. I am just totally wiped. Santiago is not as bad as every missionary wants you to believe. I guess I shouldn´t say that...it has only been a week. I guess the heat factor is out of play cause it´s Autumn here in bizarro America.
As for my other Santiago impressions---my area is, by leaps and bounds, the richest I have ever been in. I was losing my mind when we happened to wander into a neighborhood with all paved streets and two story houses with garages. The people are rather nice and friendly and that's the stereotype of the people here. Nice, friendly, and worship the siesta. I also will proclaim that the Santiago Province flag is my favourite out of all the Province flags I know here in Argentina. Our church was the first ever built in Santiago. It was built by the hands of faithful members. That is to say, it is pretty ghetto but lovable. I live in a apartment with 3 other missionaries. We all four sleep in one room and three of the four snore, making the nights a little hard for me. Our apartment is a perfect sized for four. The food here is also by leaps and bounds better then any other area.
As for today we went to downtown Santiago and bought stuff and printed some photos and chilled and...
OH NO!
Mundial (World Cup) starts this week. I just remembered...that will ruin everything...

Cool.

Love,
E L D E R B A R N E S

Sunshine in Santiago

2010-05-31T16:31:00.000-07:00

Hey guess what!

I´m not longer in Tucuman. I am in Santiago. Yup. You never know what will happen during transfers. But lets not get too ahead of ourselves.

So how was the week? Pretty good. We did not have Zone Conference so instead we met up as a zone and had a make shift one. It was mostly filled with taking photos. In fact that's were this photo is from. It is Elder Valle, Wiltse, Ramos, and I. They are who I lived with during my time in Tucuman.

But the highlight, by leaps and bounds, was baptising Alexandra, Ruben, and Ezequiel. That was totally awesome and I will never forget them. Ezequiel and Ruben were especially hilarious because they now call me their Godfather cause I baptised them. I will really miss them. It was too short of a time...

...Anyway, yup, I got transfered. As you can imagine it was kind of totally weird leaving. It was only one transfer, so I couldn´t really get attached to the area, but that said, the families I am probably the most closet too are several in that area.

Anyway...sort of short on time. Transfers eat up your pday. I am now with Elder Smith. My first gringo comp, and also the first comp who is taller then me! Who da´thunk. My area is called CABILDO and is in the Capital but not in the downtown area but close. Santiago del Estero is the oldest city in Argentina, and thats all I really know about the history here.

Anyway, I really gots to go but I loves you all!

ELDERBARNES!

...

2010-05-24T16:05:00.001-07:00

Hello World!

This last week has been pretty good and low key. The most exciting thing that happened this week was going on divisions with the Leaders de Zona. I went to Alderetes and was with Elder McAnn. Nothing was super duper note worthy about the divisions. It´s just fun getting to know a new place and take a break. Alderetes is like 45 minutes from the city in bus and is more or less considered a "pueblo." Other then the divisions there was lots of service to be had. We sanded down all the paint of a refrigerator so they can paint it a new color. We also did lots of mindless moving a giant pile of dirt from the front yard to the back yard.

As for today it has been more or less chill. We played soccer for a radito and then basketball. Needless to say it is hilarious to play basketball with Latinos. And it is equally hilarious to watch me play soccer with a bunch of ravenous Argentines. I try not to get too bored.

As for Argentina, the 25 de Mayo is coming up, which is some semi important historical day because everyone has today and tomorrow off. That means lots of music in the streets and drunk people. Love it. I am kind of sure that the 25 de Mayo is when Argentina started to revolutionise. Something like that. I try figuring it out but just get confused. Elder Valle has no idea either...

Anyway, everything is decent. Transfers are coming up, this last month in a half just FLEW by. We will see what crazy changes it brings. Zone Conference should be this week but it got canceled. A transfer with out Zone Conference...how weird.

LOVE
ELDER BARNES

The Thrilling Week of ELDER BARNES: American Missionary in Argentina

2010-05-17T15:50:00.000-07:00

Not much has happened in the world of Elder Barnes. But I will attempt to construct an email regardless.

Today I woke up to a bunch of moaning and growling. The first thought that popped into my head was "ZOMBIES!" But as my mind cleared I realised that it was not a pack of the living dead but rather a pack of angry canines fighting. Huge let down. As for other pday activities we played football. I am still not warming up to that sport, BUT as things were winding down and everyone but me was tired I started to get into it and I scored a goal! I am pretty much a huge star now.

Other then those small thrills Elder Valle and I have continue to work work and work some more. Isn´t that the reason I am here? Yes. So I am totally happy and learning lots. Yippee!

And that is all in the very exciting life of ELDER BARNES! American Missionary in Argentina!

ELDER BARNES!

ZOO!

2010-05-10T13:17:00.000-07:00

Today we had a successful zone p-day activity. We rented a double
decker bus (which was kind of unnecessary, but fun) and drove down to
San Pedro. What´s in San Pedro? Nothing...but there is a ZOO! I was
totally suspicious about this zoo and was fairly doubtful about the
fun that could be had. Turns out lots of fun can be had because the
workers don't care if you feed the caged animals or throw rocks at the
lions to make them mad. (I was not a part of that group). The zoo was
wonderfully rough around the edges. I was also surprised with the
selection. There were lions, tigers, bears, cougars, jaguars,
porcupines, pikachus, and tons of monkeys (at least those are the
animals I had the most fun with). There is something wonderfully
hilarious about grumpy lions whose cage is pretty much just a
chain link fence. Anyway, here are some photos of me feeding a
monkey and me with the sign at the entrance.

I plan on resting the rest of p-day. All the cockroaches and house
building of this last week has made me tired.

Love,
Elder Barnes

T U C A M A N

2010-04-26T15:05:00.000-07:00

"Valle and Barnes"--Tucaman

Elder Barnes -- Jujuy.

All is well here in T U C U M A N ! This last week was rainy and cold, and that was awesome. My area has more paved streets than any of my past areas but there are still plenty of streets that are just mud. But I don't mind. It is nothing like Colonia Santa Rosa; when it rained there it was C H A O S. But today it has heated up again. I do not like the heat. But all my housemates do. FACT: Everyone got sick in my pension but me. They have blamed it on the rain and the cold. But I, a scientist, know that cold and rain do not get people sick--germs do! But I have held my tongue and am just grateful whatever they have, I don't.

Tucuman is pretty normal. It feels like southern California that hasn't been cleaned in a long time. One very very very shocking thing is that there are several corner grocery stores in my area that are run by Asians. I know, I hate stereotypes, but let's get serious; that's complete craziness that the stereotype still lives on in South America. I was shocked when I saw Asains in general, then even more shocked when I realised they were running a corner store, and then astonished when it was not a one time thing. Whatever.

OH MAN! So this week we (Elder Valle and I) were at lunch. The Hermana handed us our plates of food and returned to the kitchen to serve herself. While inspecting my chicken and rice I ran into what I thought was a piece of burnt vegetable on top of my chicken. But as I further investigated, I came to the conclusion that it had antennas. Upon lifting the specimen on my fork my fears were confirmed when I noticed it had lots of little tiny legs. We weren't having chicken and rice for lunch, we were having chicken, rice, and rolly polly bugs for lunch. Out of an act of love I placed the bug on my companion's napkin. He then thought it would be awesome to crush it open. Needless to say that resulted in me losing my already very lost appetite. Don't worry. I didn't say anything. It was hard to eat lunch, though. I was really trying hard to forget about the bug as I ate plate after plate of food.

We also had a very entertaining reunion sacramental. We had an investigator at church of sixteen years. He is a little ruffian like any other sixteen year old boy. He thought it was hilarious to quietly sing hymns to himself during the talks. That was particularly funny because he has no idea how the songs go. At one point he pulled out a cigarette and looked at me innocently. I acted like The Flash and with lightning speed snatched and confiscated the devil stick. He looked at me cluelessly and said it was his brother's. Hahahaha, crazy kid.

As for pday, we went and played football with both zones. There are 2 zones in Tucuman and also 2 stakes. Both zones have like 35 Elders. I didn't play, I have an ingrown toe nail...I think.... But I got to see a bunch of Elders I have known through my short time in the mission. I am making a list of whom. I don't really expect you to recognize any names, but I know mother dearest would like to know who.
There was:
Elder Johnson
Elder Savage
Elder Watkins
Elder Vidal
Elder Luthi
Happy reunions.

Peace. Love. Argentina.

ELDER BARNES

Me Voy

2010-04-19T13:14:00.000-07:00

WORLD!

So another transfer has come and I was transferred. One may now be asking, "Where?" To that I would respond, "Tucuman." Or more specifically San Miguel De Tucuman. My area has the name of Universitario, and it may not surprise you when I say, "There is a University in my area." But before I get ahead of myself let's talk about Aeroparque.

It was sad to go. I didn't think I would be going because like Elder Vidal was there so long, and, well, 4 and 1/2 months isn't that LONG. I could have easily stayed there for 6 months. But I am happy I left the area strong for Elder Tolentino. Anyway, as much as I am sad to go I am also very happy to leave. How so? Well it seems that we did not pay the power bill for some time (as in forget to send it in to the mission offices). So on Saturday they cut the power. That meant unwanted smells from the refrigerator and packing all my junk by candle light.

Anyways, TUCUMAN!
I left beloved JUJUY at 7 in the morning today. That was a delight. We traveled by bus. I made the very strategic decision to sit by the Elder who had just received an Easter package from his parents. That resulted in me getting full off of jelly beans, chocolates, and red vines. A very wise choice on my part. After much conversation and napping we arrived at Tucuman in five very fast hours. There I waited for a brief time for my companion to arrive. He is Elder Valle from Argentina. Not sure where yet. But he is a portañio, o sea from the Buenos Aires area. We are white washing our area. "White Washing" is crazy missionary slang for "both the Elders leave in the area and two new Elders come in, opposed to the normal one Elder leaves and one new one comes in." It should be interesting. My area is like 15 minutes from central Tucuman.

Here are some random facts I know about Tucuman:

If you look on a map Tucuman is probably the only city that is in my mission that will be on that said map. San Miguel de Tucuman touts a total of a Million personas. And to no surprise it is the biggest city in my mission.

Way back when the Argentines declared independence in this very city.

There is a McDonalds, Burger King, and Walmart here--and all the Elders love to go on about that fact.

So that's pretty much it.

Elder Barnes

Hello hello

2010-04-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

Monday, 12 Abril 2010

Today I spent it rather lazily in the pension.
Writing, sleeping, eating, sleeping, buying food, sleeping.
I just run out of fuel to do anything by pday. And by anything I mean sports.
As for everyone else things sound groovy.
I am happy for Joseph going into the MTC.
Looks like spring adventures are a big success. Remember how it is becoming fall here, that still makes me go crazy inside.
Crazy Owen is like done with school. Will he be living at home this summer?
Will Colin be living at home too?
Will Shanna be living at home also?
I think the answer to those questions are a triple yes.
Man this last week we had no lunches. I made my self so many hamburgers....
Whatever.
I am doing good. Man six weeks sure do fly.

That's all,
thanks
Love
Elder Barnes

Conference Weekend

2010-04-05T14:21:00.000-07:00

General Conference. Tolentino and me with the future elders of our ward. This photo is a great example of how tall and white I am.

Tolentino and me with Ismael. In case you are wondering, he has his baptismal photo held up by his vest.

WORLD

The birds have left for the north. The leaves of the trees are beginning to rapidly fall. There is a brisk wind. When I awake every morning I am frozen to the core. It is wonderful. The sun has finally stopped being a jerk. Lots of people are wearing sweaters and jackets. I am not. I am still cooling off from my 50 degree Celsius days spent in Colonia Santa Rosa.

This week was as awesome as expected, as in three days of conference was just as enjoyed as predicted. In fact it was rather great because I caught a cold on Thursday. So I had a low key weekend to recover and then give the sickness to all the missionaries in Jujuy. HA! TAKE THAT!

Zone Conference was of the usual greatness. As for General Conference I enjoyed the talks given by Elder Christofferson and President Uchtdorf. Conference definitely helped me be refocused and remotivated to serve my little heart out. If you have no idea what General Conference is I advise you to do your research and perhaps view the talks that I enjoyed. Wouldnt that be CRAZY? (hint: gc dot lds dot org)

Guess what? All of Elder Tolentino's family has died in the Mexico earthquake. Just kidding. But isn't it odd that I have experienced an earthquake with every companion? I am bad luck. Don't be my companion because if you are you will suffer with a curse of quakes upon your family.

Oh, for April Fools I locked Elder Gurr and Fox in their room. I eventually gave them their key back.
I believe that is all.
I am doing well, just in case that needed to be clarified or something.

ELDER BARÑES

P.S.
ROMANS 8:38-39

PPS
You should send me your addresses so that I can write to you this summer. For example, if you are moving to New York, living in the wild forests of Wisconsin, or touring Europe--where should I write?

Abril Fools' Day

2010-04-01T07:38:00.000-07:00

Hello Public!

This week was way super dooper groovy. As in really good for no specific reason. I guess one reason would be that we have Zone Conference on Friday. Then two more days of General Conference. That is three whole days of conferences! That thought is so divine I am losing my mind over it. I am going to be so spiritually full after this weekend; can't wait!

One noteful event this week was when I went on divisions this last Thursday. I went to Alberdi and worked with Elder Luthi. He is from Florida and has two transfers less than me. He is a jolly man who always seems to have a huge smiling grin on his face. The division was just pure knocking doors and fallen appointments, but whatever, still fun.
As for today we went to lunch with an old investigator of Elder Fox. You see Elder Fox (who I live with) started his mission in a neighboring area. He found/taught Cynthia who was not baptized then but now is. So she invited all of us over. She is super super rich, which doesn't matter, but still it was enjoyable sitting on a sofa. Seriously I have not done that in SO LONG. The lunch was great and we shared lots of laughs. There was also ice cream cake. YUM!

So yeah. Other than that it was pure work work work. Super fun!

ELDER BARNES

P.S.
Thanks for writing me! You know who you are and you are all super stars!

A New Hope

2010-03-29T06:58:00.001-07:00

22 March 2010

Hello!

Guess what?! I just completed 8 Months in the mission today! That is a WHOLE THIRD! That means I have switched to a new pair of shoes. I have completely trashed one. I guess that is a testament to many things. Firstly, that I walk a bunch. Secondly, that all gravel streets tear shoes up fast. Thirdly, that I am rough on shoes.

But as exciting as shoes can be, let's move on.

This last week was good. Uneventful. Elder Vidal was a rather adventurous guy. Tolentino is lots more calm about the way he works. On Saturday we cut another lawn with machetes. The lawn was 3 feet tall and at some parts 5 feet. Cutting lawns with machetes is just not fun. You just end up with a very sore arm and a hand full of blisters. We didn't finish it. In fact we didn't come close to finishing. All we managed to do was cut a path to the street so they could walk to their house in peace. After that we kind of were like, "yeah that took us an hour and a half. Could we come back and finish it in a week?" If you want a better picture of how much lawn we had to battle, just imagine the size of our front lawn. That is about the same size of theirs. So yeah, a path from the door to the curb. That's all we could manage.

As for today. It was a meh Pday. More football. There is a field in front of our house. I am rather meh about that all. As in sports. I keep on having dreams that I am on my high school swim team again. But there are always problems. Like no water in the pool or I am swimming in my clothes. Thrilling.

A whole third! Isn't that nutz?! Yes! But I still have lots to go. Can't wait. It's comforting that I have 16 months left cause I still feel like I have so much to learn/do/accomplish.

Elder Barnes

Nothing Shocking

2010-03-15T14:23:00.000-07:00

First off, a little bit more about Tolentino. He is from Tijuana, Mexico. His dad commutes to the United States every day to work. He speaks fluent English, which is a help because he can be more exact and sharp when I fail to speak Spanish correctly. I like that. He has 19 months in the mission. He will most likely die here. He was born in Alberdi, which is in the same zone as us. Weird. Full circle. As for the four in the pension you are forgetting ELDER GURR. Yup that's his name. He is from AMERICA. FOX is from Canada. As for the week, it was filled with me stressing and praying lots. This is the first time "managing" an area, as in Vidal left and all was on me to complete. We completed well. No worries. At first it was a little hard, but I got used to it and I know I had help from above.

Anyway, we continue to work hard and find those who are ready to listen to our message. It's really nice having a new companion because he has an unbiased opinion on things--which is good when it comes to weeding out investigators who are just time suckers.

As for P-DAY I finally printed photos which I have promised investigators I would do since October. He he he. I am a terrible person. OR better put, a terribly busy person. But I got my fair share of misery when we went to Chango Mas. Chango Mas is owned by Walmart and that is what it basically is. Anyway, we went there to buy various foods that are hard to encounter here (in Argentina) and when we finished we had to wait an hour before any taxi came by to take us home. That was a totally not fun time--waiting for an hour in the sun with groceries in hand. What a silly story that was. Sorry, but that is the best story I have for the week.

Peace.
Love,
Elder Barnes

Hello Hello

2010-03-08T15:12:00.000-08:00

Transfers have happened and of course every missionary is talking about how "CRAZY" they were. But aren't transfers naturally crazy? Vidal has left and my new compenero is Elder Tolentino. He is from Mexico. I haven't gotten much time to get to know him. Vidal got sent to Tucuman in Elder Tolentino´s old area; it was basically a comp swap. I am super duper grateful for another latin comp! The missionaries here are about 50% Gringo and the other 50% Latin. So having 3 latin comps in a row is a rarity. Elder Barrat has also left to SALTA! Elder Fox has taken his post as Zone Leader. I am still comp minor and totally happy with that.
As for what you have all written... Vidal´s family is with water and light and internet. The news here went nuts with the oscar nomination of that eye movie and has gone nuts once again.
Back to me.
This week has been spent working and visitng. Vidal, as you know, has been here a long time so there were lots of visits in order. The picture included is of a lunch we had with Hermana Perez. We don´t eat with her super often to avoid being a financial burden, but she is great and definitely a grandmother like figure for missionaries. Yesterday we were fed two asados. I am not too sure on the translation of asado. I think it literally means grill and that's what it is, but the cultural diffrences are large enough to make me say "you still don´t get it." Basically they grill a huge ol pile of meat and we are force fed 'til we burst. Anyway, my stomach is a little uneasy after being stuffed with grilled meat twice in one day.

Sweet.
Much love,
Elder Barnes

Terremotos y Tacos

2010-03-01T14:14:00.000-08:00

DEAR WORLD

This week has been super good and went by really fast cause it was filled with activity. On Tuesday we had zone conference. And as Father Barnes put it "(Zone Conferences) were always great. It was an opportunity for spiritual refreshment and re-enforcement. It was like spending a little time behind the lines of a war, before going back out to fight against Satan. And of course, it was always great to see all the missionaries together."

I couldn't agree more. Enough said about that.

On Friday we had a very successful ward activity. We had 19 investigators in all who attended. Excitement. We (the Elders) made tacos, which was probably the main reason people came. When it came time to feed the people it got real crazy. real fast. During the week when we were inviting people they were really meh about the whole thing until we mentioned tacos and then they flipped out. Anyway. Great Success!

On Saturday the earthquake hit. Vidal got permission to call home; all is well. Although there are some, as in lots of, Elders in my mission from southern Chile that have not gotten a hold of their families because all the lines are cut and it´s a mess. That day we were in Comodin (the grocery store) and we had an earthquake, too! But it was small and I didn't notice because I was staring at the floor. Hahahaha.

As for today we went to a nearby park way up in the mountains. We made shiskabobs, and it was a great sucess. The park was nearby a Dique. I think that is called a Dam in ingles. Can't remember/just don´t know. The photos are from that.

Oh and transfers are next week. Elder Vidal has 5 transfers here and is a gonner. 6 is a ridiculous number. Owen knows.

ELDER BARNES

EMAIL ADDRESS CHANGE

2010-02-22T14:35:00.000-08:00

Please email Elder Barnes at this new address:

gregory.barnes@myldsmail.net

Thank you!

The New School of Pulling Weeds

2010-02-22T14:27:00.000-08:00

SO MY WEEK!

It was good but loooooong. The heat, then rain, then heat bit is wearing me down. But Vidal and I are doing well despite the weather.

“Small Carnival” happened this weekend. It was lots larger then “Carnival” but with reason—there was no rain. No one did us harm. We got sprayed by some “Rey Momo” (foam spray that dissolves in seconds leaving no trace behind) and I got water ballooned. But that was taken well because I was burning up.

As for p-day, we made tacos. That's it. That's what we needed and that's what we did to relax.

OH this is something. We did service for an older lady in the ward. Like all older ladies want, we pulled her weeds. But here we don't use hands. We us machetes. Which are infinitely cooler and questionably efficient. I got some nasty blisters from the work, but that does not matter because machetes are cool.

Sorry this is all rather dry and meh. But sometimes not much happens in a week besides teaching 24/7.

E. BARNES

Cemetery Gates

2010-02-15T15:09:00.000-08:00

HELLO WORLD!

As for my week—it has been like any other week in my mission, filled with work. Lots of fallen appointments and walking to other appointments bound to fall. Nothing really sticks out to me, but I am sure as I write things will POP out to me.

I can say this, though. Rain has become very frequent and getting soaked is no longer a rarity, but rather a weekly event. In fact it is raining right now. This last week it rained stronger than ever but was much less epic because it a) was not night and b) there was no lightning.

On Friday Elder Vidal turned 22. As in he had a Birthday. The members gave us sandwiches and empanitas and una Torta. It is a pretty good cake. Cake is different here, like so many things tend to be.

In other news, this week has been lots more service heavy. We are always asking people if we can do service activities, but they are really hesitant. But this week people finally opened up and we gave some service. We helped build a mud oven, cleaned up a destroyed cinder block home, and helped with construction. All the service resulted in us being sweaty.

As for today, Elder Vidal and I opted for the cultural activity of going to the cemetery. It was a blasty blast. Lots of photos were taken, but I have no patience to send any of them right now. I learned lots and explored lots. I prefer exploring activities as opposed to the sporting activities so many elders opt to do.

ELDER BARNES

It was a Dark and Stormy Night

2010-02-08T13:45:00.000-08:00

How am I? Pretty terrific!
One of the most exciting events of this week was on Thursday. It stormed that night like it has never stormed quite possibly in my life. I was drenched to the bone and then some. Most of the streets were literally turned into rivers. No one was around...it was pretty surreal and fun. We were on our way to a cita which was on top of a hill. We were starting our climb up the hill when suddenly the lights were cut. Elder Vidal then commented that this is when the Zombies start to come out. Right when he said that a shadowy figure ran across the street. Elder Vidal totally screamed and that gave him and me both laughs. We arrived at the house and they were totally expecting us. That is always really great. We taught the lesson and that was really really hard cause they had a tin roof and the lightning was going NUTS. We had to yell everything, and even then it was next to impossible to hear. They had an 11 year old daughter and she was crying the whole time. It was pretty terrifying to a degree. At one point there was a HUGE flash of light in the window and a blood curdling crash! Lightning struck a house super close. Well, I have no idea where it hit, but I remember this equation they taught me in science when I was 8: Tin Roof + On Top of a Hill = Perfect Place for Lightning to Land. Needless to say the lesson went really well and we walked home happy and drenched.

--Elder Barnes

February the First

2010-02-01T19:41:00.000-08:00

This is way back when I was hiking in the forests nearby. It is me lost in the heart of darkness.

Just in case you wanted a better view of the two best looking missionaries in the world, Elder Vidal and Elder Barnes.

Hello!

What's going on? Well, let's divide this email into subjects or something.

Funny:
This last Saturday to Sunday we fasted. I decided to fast from water too which was arguably a ridiculous idea. Anyway, we were fed lunch on Sunday and both Elder Vidal and I were dying (it's hot and it's hard to walk 12 kilometers and not drink any water). We were both looking forward to the lunch, like a ton because the member always cooks really well. Anyway the lunch went terribly. I easily drank a liter of orange fanta and then started to sweat profusely because my body was so low on liquids beforehand. We were also fed a ridiculous amount of food. Afterwards Elder Vidal ended up puking cause he was soo filled (this is the second time he has puked because the member fed him too much). This is the first time in my life where I felt like I was going to literally burst. I could barely walk and I suffered stomach pains for easily 3 hours after the lunch.

Work:
We did service again at the food kitchen. It was really fun per the norm, but this time we went to cook. There are lots of characters in the kitchen. One was an older man who commented on how the fat in the bone had lots of flavor and was even good raw. He then stuck his finger into the marrow to retrieve fat which he quickly slipped into his mouth. Anyway, we were on meat cutting duty. It is hard to cut meat with dull knives. That’s a fact. Anyway I learned lots and cut LOTS of meat. It was rather…well let's just say that I might go vegetarian when I get back--for a year or something. The meat was…not terrible but…rather…raw.

It is a new transfer and Elder Vidal and I are pumped for the work. We have started to work really hard with the members and we are having lots of success with that. Elder Vidal has and will be here for a very long time. He has a year in the mission and only two areas…that’s ridiculous. But it's really good because we know where all the church members live and who is good for whom. We are really pumped. This last week we went on a baking spree making brownies and banana bread for members, investigadores, and menos activos. IT was a fun way to start off the new transfer.

We are good, as in Elder Vidal and I.
Stay safe.
Much Love,
Elder Barnes

Habrá Torta

2010-01-25T15:53:00.000-08:00

Hello!
How are you all doing? I am good.
So the obviously "big news" is that I am 20. I do not like the thought of it. I wish I could be 10 forever. But how was it? My birthday that is?

Let us begin:
My birthday was filled with uniqueness which helped me feel like I was having one. To start the day I was awakened by Elder Barrat and Elder Garay who made me pancakes. After I ate my pancakes Elder Vidal and I went to the church to fill the font. What font? Yup, the baptismal font. We were blessed to baptize Ismael. He is 21 years old and filled with youth and love. The baptism was simple and small, just how he wanted it.

After the baptism our lunch appointment was canceled, so Elder Vidal and I made tacos and they were yummy. The afternoon was more of the same work, but in the night we went to do service. There is a comedor that feeds the needy and poor that Ismael does service at, and he invited us to come along. It was a blast. The comedor is Christian affiliated. Which was great cause I am all for Christians doing Christian things together. The kitchen was cramped with people wanting to be served and people trying to serve them, but everyone was still well behaved. Lots of people were amazed that I was American, and I was amazed I could understand all their questions. My duty was glass filler of juice and I filled quite a few glasses. One of the best parts was that there was a mujer and her guitar in the central room playing Christian tunes. Everyone would join in at one point or another and I did too. The songs were rather predictable and repetitive so that helped. Needless to say I hope I can go back.

Anyway, we returned home and did some contacts. Elder Vidal was acting up and delaying us from going home for no good reason so my suspicions began to rise. When we finally got back there was a pizza waiting for me. Elder Barrat and Garay made it. After 3 pizzas and an ice cream cake we were all filled and ready for bed.

And that was my first day as a twenty year old.

As for everything else, nothing much has changed. There were transfers and we were all surprised to find out Elder Vidal is not leaving. Yup, this will be his 5th transfer here (that's 7 and a half months in all in Jujuy.) OOF so much time in an area. But I am glad. He is great, and that means one more transfer with a Latino, which means lots more progression in this language I need to learn. Elder Garay was transfered which was sad. He would clean the pension. I will miss him.

Not much more to say.
Much love!
Elder Barnes

Here We Go Again!

2010-01-19T15:11:00.000-08:00

HELLO
How is everyone doing?
First order of business: Pday has been changed to Monday, BUT on Friday we were told there was a change of plans and that the switch will be made this upcoming transfer. I had no interest in going to the cyber AGAIN and letting you all know I would be writing on Tuesday. So cool, I am safe. Keep writing me for Monday cause this next MONDAY will be Pday. HURRAY!

This week was another “dry” week of work. We encountered 12 new investigators which is an all time high and needed very much so. I got verbally abused twice this week for being an American and that was a new record, too. One guy claimed we are here in Argentina to steal petroleum and their “sweet water.” Ummmmm, sorry Argentina, I am not totally into your water.

Elder Vidal had to go to Salta for paper work, so I worked with Elder Barrat and Garay for a day. That was fun. You always learn lots when working with other elders. I am happy to learn. As for other stuff the air is electric with transfers. The big question is who is going to be the new AP (One of the AP´s is ending his mission this transfer). We all like to harass Elder Barrat about possibly being called. Whatever.

TODAY has been rather fun. We went to Papala (the city were the Hermanas work) and had breakfast with a member who “loves missionaries.” About 14 missionaries showed up. It was a nice chill time. Breakfast was just crackers and dulce con leche, which was fine. Afterwards we had a good ol´ time in the parks of Palpala. The parks are filled with gnome statues, and there is another one with a HUGE crocodile slide and elephants. Both parks rival the dinosaur park of my youth in southern California. Then we went to downtown San Salvador de Jujuy and treated my pension mates (Elders Vidal, Barrat, and Garary) to lunch using the gift Mom Hatch sent me. We ate well and afterwards went to Gridos (a popular ice cream chain in Argentina). I had some money left over and treated myself to three scoops of ice cream. Yummy Yummy. This was all, of course, to celebrate my upcoming Birthday.

Much thanks for the birthday wishes and photos and all.
Love,
Elder Barnes

Photos

2010-01-19T15:06:00.001-08:00

Me at Gnome park in the mouth of a giant gnome head.
Elder Barrat (the other Gringo in photo), Elder Garay (of Buenos Aires), Me, and Elder Vidal (the one with the hat) enjoying our meal.

Surprise Post: Greg's birthday is coming up

2010-01-14T05:38:00.000-08:00

Subject: EMAIL
From: saltagreg@myldsmail.net
Date: January 13, 2010 11:55:39 AM CST
To: Mom and all

Hey!
Why I am writing you?
Well the big news received today is that the mission is changing p-day from Tuesday to MONDAY. So, yeah. The switch starts this upcoming Monday, the 18th. SO! PLEASE write me proper.

Love
BYE!

P.S. Greg turns 20 on Friday, January 22. Please send him a birthday greeting email in the next few days. Thank you! He'll love hearing from you all. --The Mom

Martes, 12 de Enero 2010

2010-01-13T06:55:00.000-08:00

Hello family,

So how was this week? The big news is that we had Zone Conference. It was really good. The big announcement over Zone Conference is that we are all (as a mission) reading the Book Of Mormon over a 4 transfer period (about 6 months). We are to mark every time Christ is referenced/named in red. Then in blue we are supposed to mark the gospel of Christ and every time it is taught in its many facets. The goal is to find Christ on every page. It is/will/should be a great experience. We are all reading it in our native language, which is cool. We were given the pencils to mark and the books and everything.

As for today we went on an adventure as a zone. We went to Humahuaca and Pumamarca. They are the big tourist traps here in Jujuy and kinda far away. When people say there are parts in my mission that look like the moon they are referring to these places.

COOL!
Love
Elder Barnes

Happy 2010

2010-01-05T14:21:00.000-08:00

HELLO
This week was all good. We had divisons with Elder Rose and his companion. Since comp minors go on divisions with comp minors, and comp mayors go on divisions with comp mayors, that is what we did. The catch is that the companion of Elder Rose is a gringo like me and has one transfer less than me. Hahaha. It was fun though. It was weird correcting him in Spanish during lessons and stuff. All went well.

New Year's also happened. We had to be back in the pension by 8 to avoid all the drunks. They were hardly seen that night though (the 31), it seemed like everyone was still rushing to prepare for their respective festivities. At the pension we grilled a steak and when midnight struck Alto Comedero exploded. Fireworks are not illegal, and if they are the law is certainly not enforced. It sounded like a war and the sky was filled with happiness. On the first we went to an orphanage with our zone and the adjacent zone too, the goal was to sing to the children. But when they arrived they were all like “oh, there is only one kid right now...” So all 40 of us sang to him...hahahaha. Then we went to a hospital (we didn't spend all that much time at the orphanage) unannounced and asked if we could sing. They were like “cool.” The catch here is that the hospital was a mental hospital. They enjoyed it and some truly awkward and hilarious moments occurred, but I am a Missionary. I am supposed to be serious and respectful, so I won't mention them. Just imagine.

On Saturday we were blessed to baptize two of our investigators. I had the privilege of baptizing Mattias. The other elders had a baptism too. So three were baptized, which means more of a celebration. It was tons of fun. Elder Vidal made a brownie and the congregation literally went MAD for them. (Your brownie is much better, Dad).

As a whole our ward has done a great job reaching out to Mattias. Hermana Perez baked a fruit cake (they are really popular here) for the family, which was touching cause she doesn't have too much. H. Perez is an older women of 70. She feeds us lunch and helps with our member presents. In short, she is a great help and a blessing.

Now let's change course a bit...
This last Monday I was fed some yummy food. Humitas. They are tamales but have no meat and are sweet to the taste. Tamales here means they have meat and they are in ball form (supposedly, I have never had one but that is what Elder Vidal says). But humitas are nice and rectangle, very much just a meatless sweet tamale. It was yummy, so I felt like I should report on it.

Today we went to the mountains close to Carmen and San Antonio. It was a super fun and ridiculously pretty hike. Carmen and San Antonio are very pretty towns, too. It reminded me LOTS of Spain. I would love to visit again. As for the mountains, they are covered in forest, unfortunately not jungle. But the forests are different enough to make me fool myself into believing I was hiking in the jungle. We hiked probably only 3 kilometers and encountered a river where we dined and then left. Very simple and fun. I hope to send photos...but...I am having camera troubles.
OH WELL!

Much love!

Elder Barnes

Giving

2009-12-29T17:23:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone!
How is it going? Hope all is well. As for me? What I will share is a story:
You may remember that we were given 50 Pesos to spend on a family this Christmas season. Elder Vidal and I decided to spend it on Mierta. She is a middle age mother who Eler Vidal baptized several weeks ago. She has two children, a 20 year old daughter and a 13 year old son, Mattias. We are planning on baptizing Mattias this Saturday. Mierta has recently come across some very hard times. Her daughter, Emilsa, has made some very poor decisions to say the least. For the past who knows how long she lived in Tartagal with her boyfriend. Tartagal is way up north close to Bolivia; the advantage of living there is the drug trade. She has recently returned home--unfortunately not in the best condition. She is mentally sick, no doubt the drugs have contributed to this. She also has a 4 month old baby who now Mierta must take care of. Mierta does not have lots of money. She lives in a three room cinder block home in a poor part of town. This is most likely related to the fact that the baby, Morena, is often sick. Mierta can not afford the money for good milk.
Mierta is constantly going to the hospital, visiting her daughter and taking the baby to get checked up. All this is undoubtedly causing financial stress and leaves Mattias neglected to a degree. But he seems very understanding. Elder Vidal and I bought them diapers, good clean milk for the baby, rice and pasta. We had an awesome family come with us to drop off the package, to make it more seem like it was from the church and not from us. The family decided to make some contributions too, which was appreciated. They donated LOTS of sugar, pasta, and canned goods. When we arrived at Miertas home, she was not there but we called Mierta and hid it proper.
We were able to visit them that afternoon (Christmas Eve). Mierta mostly talked more about the situation, but Mattias, the son, was sitting on the ground admiring the package. He would take each item out and then put it back. He constantly would grab a package and declare things like: “We are eating this tomorrow!” or “Look Mom, this pasta has multiple colors!” He was and is obviously hungry. At one point he constructed a tower out of all the food on his lap. He was so happy when he realized if he stacked anymore the tower would fall, yet he had more food to stack.
It was so wonderful to give this gift. I hope it helps. They have so very little. Not even a TV, which might be a ridiculous thing to say, but you would be surprised at who has TVs here. Everyone does. Whenever we visit and teach them my heart aches. We are so blessed. I can not even remember what I got for Christmas when I was 13. Probably some Lord of the Rings toys. At times it just boggles my mind that they live like this and that Mattias will most likely always live like this. Hopefully not. Hopefully he can stay strong in the church, go on a mission, and get job training from the Church. I would like nothing less than this for him. I have always known situations like this exist- But it is so very different when you know the names and faces. When you visit them almost every day. When you teach them. I am sure brighter and better things are on the horizon for them. Elder Vidal and I visit and pray for them daily. It was an amazing experience of giving and the true meaning of Christmas for me. I hope it was for you, too.

ANYWAYS!
Hope you all have fun together...without me...
Love
Elder Barnes

Photos to hopefully come again soon.

Christmas Time!

2009-12-23T14:02:00.000-08:00

So this last week. Let's start off with today. We started the pday with a game of Monopoly where I dominated and destroyed. Like all good games of Monopoly we stopped playing after it was clear I had 90% of the money. No one had money but me and I wanted to buy peoples' properties to put money back into the economy to stimulate it , but no one trusted/liked me enough to, which is too bad cause that's what ended the game.

We also went to CHINGOMAS! Which is basically a Sam's Club. But it has DOUGHNUTS and other americany things. It was nice to stock up on food. I also spent a good sum of my personal money on treats for Christmas for the elders that live in my pension. I plan on filling our stockings full of goodness.

BUT THIS LAST WEEK!
Oh my goodness. Jujujy is pretty amazing. It is sooooo cool (weather wise). I have no ideas of the numbers but nothing past 35 degrees I am sure. We have a ward, too! The building is super nice and has pews and is a legit chapel. The members are pretty sweet too. We have lots of young men and some young women. And with that lots of investigators that are young and whose parents are reluctant to let us baptize them.

We have 2 baptisms scheduled for the 2 of January. We have other investigators but not tons. We have lots of finding to do. It is Elder Vidal's first time being senior companion, so he is learning, and I am learning how it would stink to be Comp Mayor, as in, I really like being Comp Minor. Thats not to say I am dodging responsibilities, it is to say that I have lots to learn (Spanish, how to teach in Spanish) and yeah....

We had district meeting this last Thursday, like we do every Thursday. IT was HUGE-A-RIFFIC! We have TWO districts. Each district is of 10 elders (that is larger than my last zone) and then we all met for 30 minutes as a zone with the total of 20 (which is as large as a zone conference for me). It is NUTS.

What else...
I do not have much else to say. Except that I am also gearing up for our phone call on Christmas night. I expect that much will be discussed.

LOVE
ELDER BARNES!

Elder Castro and I

2009-12-15T15:32:00.000-08:00

Elder Castro is the shorter one. I am the taller one.

Bye Colonia, Hello Jujuy

2009-12-15T15:20:00.000-08:00

So guess what? I am writing you from Jujuy. Now what on earth am I doing in Jujuy? Yup, that’s right, the transfer bug bit me and I was teleported here. More about all this later. For now we will talk about my last days in Colonia Santa Rosa.

The transfer was welcomed with open arms. Like I imagine all transfers to be, it was very bitter sweet. Colonia is very small. Very small. We literally almost knocked every door. Plus traveling an hour and a half every Pday to buy groceries was getting a tad old. But it is kind of a bummer because this transfer is Christmas and my Birthday all wrapped up in one. It would be nice to spend it in a town I know with people that know me. That said, this new transfer is awesome because it is a new start. Not like I need one, but the ward in Colonia knows me as the gringo that can´t talk. Which is fine and true, but I have improved and it will be nice to be known as the gringo that can kind of talk.

What really is interesting as far as this last week goes was Sunday. On Sunday we visited lots of members. It was great because that caused us to visit every part of Colonia. Seeing as I can´t talk I have taken a liking to observation. Believe me when I say I have observed Colonia to its limits. I truly know that town like the back of my hand and love that fact. That's what I liked about it the most. I just liked its little tranquil self. The canal, the rundown buildings, the HUGE mango trees. It was nice walking around everywhere, saying good bye to the people and the landmarks. The members were all super nice. Almost all of them told me not to forget them. Which is fair. It would be easy to forget a place like that. But I won´t. It is the home of my nativity. And I told that to them. One also super fun thing about just visiting is you run into lots more interesting happenings. For example, we went to a member's house and there was a fiesta going on. Sweet! The member asked to borrow my camera to take photos and I was totally cool with that. Now my camera is full of people I don´t know, and that is awesome. At one point a person announced it was time for the pinata. What? Was my going away party not stereotypical as thought with our pinata? Turns out pinata here means a big ol balloon filled with lots of confetti and candy. I missed how they popped it, which I am way bummed about. But it couldn't have been that crazy. I noticed all the kids huddled underneath tightly packed. Then there was a pop and everyone was covered in confetti. YAY!

Ok. So where am I now? My new area is Aeroparque. Yes, Air field. It is not a town, rather it is half of the city of Barrio Alto Comedero. I am not sure if Alto Comedero is a city or a neighborhood of San Salvador de Jujuy. Regardless, I am very close to San Salvador de Jujuy, which is the capital of Jujuy. This transfer is a big change. Going from Colonia to this, wow. It is super pretty here. The city is nestled in a valley. The mountains are covered in lush green forests. My zone has 20 missionaries in it. WOW! It is the largest in the mission. Basically I have jumped from the smallest zone to the biggest zone. I have tried real hard to come up with a metaphor for this change. Something involving Luke Skywalker and him joining the rebel alliance and how that must have been a shocker. But it is far too noisy in this cyber to think up anything like that.

On Monday I traveled here. It was a short 3, maybe 4 hour bus drive. Another Elder from my zone, Elder De La Fuente, got transferred here (to the same zone) too. Which is cool. He is a great elder from Mexico City. My new companion is Elder Vidal. He is from Chile. It´s crazy getting to know so many people from all around the world. He seems like a groovy dude. Only time will tell if groove is truly in his heart, though. We live with 2 other elders in a fairly nice pension. It is a house. It was a disaster when I arrived, but we have cleaned it. Thank heavens.
Fun fact! My area is called Aeroparque because there is a huge Air Field that splits the town more or less in half. It is abandoned and we have to walk through it to get to our area. It is over grown with long grass which undoubtedly is the home of several raptors. You can clearly tell where the runway once was. It looks like the hanger is now a grocery store. And that's another reason why this area is cool. The grocery store is 2 blocks away!

Sweet!
Bye!

Please Write Greg

2009-12-08T12:10:00.001-08:00

It's Christmastime and Greg would love to hear from you. Here is how you can send holiday greetings:

1. Send an email to: saltagreg at myldsmail dot net

2. Send a letter/Christmas card to the mission office. US postage is $.98 for the first ounce, $1.76 for two:

Elder Gregory W. Barnes
Argentina Salta Mission
Los Eucaliptos 75
4400 Salta
Salta
ARGENTINA

3. Send a letter via the pouch service. This is the most reliable way to send hard copied letters. This will cost you one 44 cent stamp. There are specific instructions, so here you go: Take one piece of paper (like a sheet of computer paper). Write your letter all over just one side of the paper. Fold the paper in thirds with your letter writing facing the inside. Tape the letter shut across the top edge and only the top, and leave the ends open (so you could spy down the center if you needed to.) No envelopes allowed. Write Greg's address and your return address on the outside just as if it were an envelope. Add your stamp and mail it to:

Elder Gregory W. Barnes
Argentina Salta Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City, Ut 84130-0150
USA

You can send post cards via Pouch service, too.

4. You can also send electronic letters via pouch through DearElder.com and it won't cost a cent. Go to DearElder.com and click on "Write a Letter" on the top of the page. In the drop down menu select "Argentina Salta" and click on "Write a Missionary". Fill out the heading with your return address and under "select title" select "Elder" and write in "Gregory" "Barnes" in the blanks. Then compose your letter and click send. Letters to DearElder need to be there by Thursday to go out in the next pouch delivery.

The pouch service is used in areas where the local postal delivery is not reliable--like Argentina. You send your letter to Salt Lake and then it is sorted and put into the mission's "pouch." A courier service delivers the letters in the pouch to the mission office. From there the mission sees that the mail is delivered to the missionary. It takes a couple of weeks for Greg to receive mail via pouch.

Thanks for keeping in touch with our Elder Greg.
Feliz Navidad y Have a Happy New Year, too.
--Greg's Mom

This Last Week

2009-12-08T11:58:00.000-08:00

Hello Family!

How is the world fairing you? Colonia has been fairing me well with lots of showers and mud. I strongly prefer this cool weather to what it has been. I have passed the two months in Argentina mark, a small milestone.

We went to print pictures off my camera because the family of Mariah Cata has been mad wanting us to. And that’s the problem with having a camera here; if you take a picture people want you to print them. Which is fine--what is not fine is when the people at the printing store delete all of your photos from your camera. And that’s what happened to me. The worst part is that morning I felt like I should have backed them up but at the last second I decided not to. Anyway, the kid had trouble with my camera for whatever reason and wounded up killing my photos. AArgh. The good news is that I sent most of the worthwhile photos to you via email, but the baptismal photos are now gone. Oh well.

This past Sunday was rather humorous. That morning at 3 it stormed. Nothing wild, but it was a strong storm. In the morning there was mud everywhere and clouds filled the sky, but it wasn´t terrible. I have seen worse, and I am positive Colonia has seen worse, too. Anyway, as a result the congregation was small. It took like 5 minutes to do sacrament. Our branch president bore his testimony and told us how he has been studying the life of Joseph Smith this last week, which I found curious because we let him borrow the restoration video the day before (was he studying the life or watching it?). Anyway what ended up happening is church ended an hour early because of the rain. I was all like “What? It rained like 7 hours ago.” There were clouds, but it didn´t rain again until well into the afternoon. I guess people have to walk “far,” and when there are so few members around it is easy to get relaxed. I suppose my view of everything is rather unsympathetic, but after knocking doors in the rain for two hours you become hardened.

Someone’s parents donated Three Grand to the mission. OOF. That’s a good ol´ hunk of money, especially when you convert it to pesos. Some people don´t make that much in a year here, and when I say some I am sure lots. Anyway, with that money every companionship gets 50 pesos to spend on investigators. Not as like buy gifts, but do service money, like fix something in their house or whatever.

(Note: $100 US Dollars = 380 pesos)

Transfers are in a week, less now. Who knows who will go and who will stay. Everyone in the zone has presented their predictions, and I am predicted to go in everyone. I don´t really care. I try not to get caught up in the spirit of the transfer.

The work progresses. We have a hopeful baptism this Saturday. I am learning lots and having wonderful and very spiritual experiences. I have witnessed miracles, and that’s a blessing.

Hope everyone has a super cool time preparing for the holidays.

Good Bye Family,
ELDERGREGORYWILLISBARNES

Encino Man

2009-12-01T21:04:00.000-08:00

There were three major events this week and those events are to be discussed in the most detail.

Event One—Zone Conference
After a lot of time spent preparing for the conference, it finally happened on Wednesday. I say “a lot of time spent preparing for the conference” because Elder Castro is the Zone Leader, so he had to organize everything and seeing as I am his comp he had to drag me everywhere. The conference was made up of the Oran Zone (8 Missionaries) and the Tartagal Zone (8 Missionaries). The best part of the conference hands down was that it was Christmas themed, after all this is the last zone conference before Christmas. We reenacted the nativity story which was lots of fun. We were also given a bag of candy from Hermana Northcutt which included three home-made cookies. That was THE BEST.

Event Two—Thanksgiving
The first thing to celebrate Thanksgiving was to totally forget about it until 11 o’clock. We were fed by a member who can cook some of the best food. I say "can" because sometimes it’s ok, but there are some meals that are yummy. Another reason why I love to be fed by her is that she just gives us the food in a tupperware and we just take it back to the pension and eat it there. That saves us time and also gives us comfort. I'd much rather eat a meal on my bed with a fan blowing on me than eat in a hot house any day. You might think it is cheap to not eat at her house, but the reason we don´t is that Thursdays is when we have district meeting, which is an hour away. We get back in time to do our studies, but not eat at a member's, so her just giving us food solves the problem. We headed over to her house and on the way there I expressed my want for her hamburger patties and mashed potatoes. And guess what, we weren´t given that. Instead it was what I call “Argentinean meatloaf” with mashed potatoes. It was way yummy and the mashed potatoes are legit and real—that’s rare. During our meal I explained the importance of Thanksgiving to my Argentinean companion. That was too much fun. I told him about the dying pilgrims and the merciful Indians, and how when it was all said and done the pilgrims ended up killing all the Indians anyway.

Event Three—Gospel Doctrine Lesson
I gave the gospel doctrine lesson this week. I prepared a ton and prayed even more. When I thought about it I would get way overwhelmed, but when I prepared for it I would get pumped. It´s one of those things, like, I know how to teach a class like that, the issue is the Spanish. So that’s what I focused on. The class was on Tithing (I also prepared for a lesson on fasting too but we didn’t have time for that.) The class went well. I almost taught how I would have if I was speaking in English. The best part was that we had the OLD movie about the drought in St. George and Lorenzo Snow telling everyone to pay their tithing and then nothing happens and just when you think the movie will end with everyone starving to death, it rains. YAY!

OTHER
We found a super sweet ´n´ small family named family Encina. Which is the best cause their apellido is just like “Encino,” like “Encino Man” which is the quintessential film from the 90´s next to "Bio-dome." Other than that I love teaching them because the wife loves to talk and so does Elder Castro, so when conversation breaks out they compete to try to say things and what happens is she just talks to me and Elder Castro just talks to the Dad. I enjoy the practice.

A young man in his 20´s died this last week from a disease caused by rats. I don´t know what the disease is called, so I am going to assume he caught the black plague. That’s not good. That plague kills. We bought rat poison and started playing ring-around-the-rosy, so we should be good.

This Week's Letter

2009-11-24T11:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader: The following post contains a graphic description of Greg's stomach trouble. Reader discretion advised.

When I last left you I was lamenting about my sickness. Want to know what happened next? Well, we had a cita at 6:30 not too far away from our pension, so we decided we would go to that appointment and see if I could handle it. If I could handle it we would work like any other night. Turns out I couldn't handle it. About 2/3´s into the cita I felt like I needed to puke. I was uncertain though, but as the seconds passed my thoughts turned from uncertainty to surety. I stood up, walked over to the moat that was in front of their home and puked. Not a little bit but a lot of bit. About 4 waves of a lot. I lacked the Spanish to give anyone any warning or ask where I should puke. I just used my logic. Turns out the verb "To Vomit" is as simple as I thought. It´s "Vomitar."

Yuppers. After I puked we finished things up and we bought more drugs for my body and I went to sleep. The next day I was more or less fine and the day after that I was chipper. That's the nice thing with diarrhea and vomiting: it usually only lasts a day if you treat it properly.

Other than that this week was pretty normal. Saturday we baptized Mariah. It was awesome. It took her awhile to decide, but it´s a life changing decision to make. Shouldn´t those take time to think about? I´d say so.

Other than the baptism not much happened. I hate to bring up weather again. It is commonly known in the art of conversation that one only brings up the weather if there is nothing else to say or if one is a poor conversationalist. I suppose it applies to writing letters, too. But yesterday was a special day. It broke into the 50´s for the first time this summer. 50 degrees of wonderful Celsius. It was a thrill, no doubt. One would liken it unto me breaking 1 minute the first time in the 100 free.

That´s pretty much it.

Love,
Elder Barnes

Number One Reason I don't like my pension

2009-11-24T10:53:00.000-08:00

That's not the first, rather it's the third spider of that size I have encountered during my stay in Colonia.

Christmas

2009-11-17T17:44:00.000-08:00

It wouldn't be Christmas if there weren't a list. So here you go. My list.

CHRISTMAS 2009

PIT
TIDE-TO-GO
ROOT BEER
SNICKERS
APPROPRIATE MUSIC
ENGLISH DICTIONARY
LEATHERMAN
MINI TRIPOD
PHOTOS OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY
POST-IT-NOTES
METAL SLURPEE STRAW
FRAGRANCE: ACQUA DE GIÓ

Don´t worry, I don't expect this all. Can you even send carbonated beverages? Will they explode?

Hello People of the World

2009-11-17T11:15:00.000-08:00

Subject: What has happened to me?
From: saltagreg@myldsmail.net
Date: November 17, 2009 12:47:44 PM CST

Hello People of the World!
This is what has happened to me!

Wednesday the 11—I worked! Then Elder Castro cut my hair! It is rather short now, but that's good for the hot hot heat! Then we worked some more! Thrilling day!

Thursday the 12—I spent this whole day traveling to Salta. Why?!? Well! My companion is a Zone Leader and this is his first time ever being one, so first time zone leaders always go on an exchange with the APs (Assistants to the President). Seeing as I am his companion I got to go too!

Friday the 13—I was on splits with one of the APs, his name is Elder Arias. It was a bomb digity fantastic day. He is a great missionary and well known for being like the best. He has 5 transfers left (7 month-ish) and he is already an AP! People like to make a big deal about that.

Saturday the 14—We went back to Colonia wayyy early. On the way back our bus broke down, so we had to wait for a new one, oof! Frustration? A little bit. When we got back it was HOT in Colonia! It was hot enough to kill kittens! As in I saw a dead kitten on the sidewalk. Sadness. But, in my honest opinion, it is in a much happier place now. Animal rights are unknown and probably a joke here. Which makes me wonder if the people here care for animal movies. I just don't think they would care much about three animals trying to find their way home (see HOMEWARD BOUND) or care about a noble dog fighting to the death to protect the family and the tearful sacrifice of a young boy when he has to kill his noble dog, which ultimately symbolizes him becoming a MAN (see OLD YELLER). But that's a big and stereotypical judgment I am making about the people. It´s a different culture, it makes sense. I also was fed pig stomach for lunch. I was so wiped from the heat and the travel when I saw the plate I was all like “just great, the icing on the cake!” I cut it into tiny pieces which I swallowed whole. To be honest it wasn´t terrible, well it had an after taste I'd rather not taste, but other than that it was just chewy. I was trying to enjoy the experience by repeating in my head, “What an adventure I am having!” over and over again. It didn´t work then, but in retrovision it was a good ol´ time.

Sunday the 15--We had 8 investigators at church. That's an awesome amount! Other than that we worked! We grinded our teeth to the ground knocking door after door, that was a long night to say the least.

Monday the 16—Was awesome! It rained all night and in the morning it was still raining. So we did our studies in the morning in hopes that the rain would pass and we could work nice and dry. It didnt´t. The streets were filled with water, not flooded, just filled. After an hour the rain cleared. It was nice and humid, not very hot. We worked in some less visited areas. It was muddy and that was fun. It was seriously, for some reason, just a perfect day. I don't know why. Colonia just seemed to shine and show its true self when it was all wet and muddy. I really fell in love with Colonia a little more yesterday. A very simple life people live there. And my feet stayed nice and dry! My waterproof Rockports are truly water proof!

Today the 17—I have diarrhea and it´s a BUMmer (jejejejejejeje). I won't go into much detail, just know it´s the worst I have gotten it yet.

OTHER—I can´t remember what day it was, but I saw a kid with a broken bottle chasing his friend. I got green with envy, what fun! I never got to do that as a kid!

LOVE,
ELDER GREGORY WILLIS BARNES

This is where I live

2009-11-10T12:34:00.000-08:00

This is an image of my pension. Dont be fooled; it is not very nice, but I can imagine worse. It has a reputation in the mission for being one of the worst. It is like a block away from the church on 9 De Julio. Right next door to us is the Bomberos station. We have a gate and a front and back yard.