Things change, it's true. No lies there. It's inevitable, impossible to control. I used to be 1 or 2 years old not caring what really happened to me. I used to be 4 or 5 thinking about what school must be like. I used to be 7 thinking about what baptism really meant for me. I used to be 11 thinking about what new responsibilities I would receive and what Middle School really was. I used to be 13 thinking about even more responsibilities and how High School would feel like. I used to be 15 thinking about even more responsibilities and playing with the thought that I might drive a car. I used to be 17 thinking about College. I used to be 18 thinking about Graduation and a Mission. I used to be 20 thinking about how it would be to return back home. Now I'm 21 and look at what has changed. I have grown, I'm different. I'm not that 4 year old or that 20 year old either. I'm a 21 year old thinking about how to finish my freshman year in college. Soon even that will change.
Many things come and go. I remember when I'd play pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh. I remember when Captain Planet was my favorite hero. I remember when I'd wake up at 5 am just to listen to the song "I'm Blue" by Eiffel 65. I remember when I'd drive around at might with my friends singing our favorite tunes as loud as possible. But things have changed. People have moved on, not necessarily forgotten but realize that the past won't always be present. The past is things that have happened. Things that have been done. We cannot change the past. But just because it is unchangeable doesn't mean that it defines us.
As I mentioned in my last post, I had some cuts and bruises on my body. To be quiet frank, I rubbed my nipples raw while running and they were bleeding. I had several cuts on my chest from running shirtless. I have a lot of cuts around my knees from crawling, climbing and hitting things. I have a couple of cuts on my arms from doing the same thing. These things have happened. There are some reminders that they are there. But this doesn't mean that I'm going to have these things forever. My nipples have healed, the cuts on my chest have lost the scabs and are a light pink skin. I can't find all the cuts and scratches on my legs and arms. They have just gone away. My skin has renewed itself. It is taking the things that are wrong and making them right. Just as those physical scrapes have healed, our spiritual scrapes can heal as well. It takes time and vigilance. Just as a physical wound needs tending, a spiritual wound needs constant awareness.
So remember that we can change. Things can heal both physically and spiritually. We must grow to become like our heavenly father.
Signing Out
Matthew John Barry
Monday, April 22, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
Reaching Our Potential
This past week was so much fun. Literally there was probably no possible way that you could of had more fun than I had this last week. I doubt you had a better time than me. I am a champion. I am a King. I am a "Tough Mudder"!!! Literally, I am a Tough Mudder. If you have no idea what that is, let me tell you.
Tough Mudder is an amazing race where you race against the course. You don't race against others, you don't even worry about if people are going straight past you. All you worry about is getting to the end. To let you know exactly what a Tough Mudder is, I'll explain how the race was, give you the Tough Mudder Pledge and talk about some amazing stuff that I learned from this.
First off, I know I said that I'd explain the race but to explain the race I first need to give the pledge because the pledge will explain the purpose of the race.
As a Tough Mudder I pledge that...
- I understand that the Tough Mudder is not a race but a challenge.
- I put Teamwork and Camaraderie before my course time.
- I do not whine - Kids whine
- I help my fellow Mudders complete the course
- I overcome all fears
This is the Tough Mudder pledge. It is so true. Now think on this as I explain the course and what I learned.
You start off with everyone in a big group. There is a starting ceremony that gets you pumped up for the race. They explain about the race and where it came from. They give a salute to the our armed forces. They have you give the Tough Mudder pledge. They tell you to help your team which is literally everyone that you meet on the course. Then you start. Everyone right at once. Start running. You get about a half mile in and there are 2 walls that you need to crawl over. It's slanted and so you need a little bit of help to get up and over. You don't care about who's around you and who's doing what. You only think about "I need to get over that wall" and while you are waiting to go over the first wall, you notice that people are having a hard time, so you help push them up and over. Then you start to go over and notice that it's a little harder than you thought it would be and while you go over, you feel hands from below pushing you up and over. Then you do the next wall the same way.
Start running again and then next obstacle is one that tests your mental strength. You need to jump in water that is kept around freezing so around 30 degrees. You need to jump in and swim about 2 feet, go under a board so you're under the water for literally 5 seconds. But those 5 seconds feel like 5 hours as you are freezing cold. Then your head comes above the water as you swim another 5 feet and get out of this water. Freezing cold, you still go. You don't stop, Don't ever stop. You jump over fire into another water pool and climb out. Run, do some monkey bars over water, Run, Crawl under barbed wire, Run, Jump over more walls, Run, Do some rock climbing stuff, Run, Carry one of your teammates for a quarter mile, Run, Crawl through dirt trenches, Run, crawl through electric shock wires, Run, jump off a 15 ft. platform, Run, Run through an obstacle with live wires hanging down to shock you.
I think you get the gist of things. There are a couple more obstacles that I didn't even talk about. I didn't even mention but by the end you have ran about 10-12 miles and have done 20-22 obstacles. But you don't realize what you have done. As I left, I was left will only the memories of cuts and bruises I received but it all still feels like a dream. Did I just do that? Did that really just happen? These were the questions that went through my head as we drove back to Utah. I'm glad I have some cuts to remind me what I did. I have a shirt and a headband that show that I finished... But did I really? It feels like a dream. I'm to the point that I already want to do another one so that I can prove to myself that it wasn't a dream. It actually did happen. I'm already planning a trip in 2014 to do another one.
The whole race is amazing. The challenge of the course is amazing. The people were amazing. I feel amazing. I feel accomplished, I feel great.
I spent 2 and a half hours running this race and now that I think back on it, there are so many things that I can learn.
1. Turn Around
- Everest, one of the obstacles I was most scared for. It's a 15 ft high wall that is basically a half pipe. You need to run up and grab the edge and pull yourself up. The slope is slippery and can be very difficult to get up. There are people that almost make it but cant reach the top so they slip all the way down again only to try again. Well, as i went up, It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, Of course I had hands helping me up. A friend, someone reached down and helped me up as I ran up. I got up and had the feeling that because I was helped, I needed to stay and help. So I got on my stomach and tried to be the hands reaching down to help a friend up. As you help others up, you get a feeling that you were an angel, you helped someone and this is a better feeling than finishing the race could ever be.
- Mud Mile, it's an obstacle where you jump in water 3 feet deep and then you need to climb over mud walls that are about 3 feet above the water level. Alone this would of been impossible. Think about it, you are dead tired, and then you're in water up to your stomach or chest and then you need to climb out of the water over a mud wall only to end up in water again. Then you repeat the process about 8 times. Alone, I'd never do it. But there were always people there. People would stand in the water and push you up while people would stay on top of the mud wall and pull you up. Then as you get on top of the mud wall, you turn around and help a couple people up and while they turn around to help people up, you jump into the next pool of water and push people up until it's your turn to get pushed and pulled up. There was always hands to either push you up or pull you up.
From these things and others, I realized that in our lives we also have people around us who are always pushing us up or pulling us up. They are always there. We might not see them and sometimes we might not feel them but if we stop and think about it, they are always there. Angels in our lives who will always help us. As one person leaves, another will always take their place. As we are helped, we must turn around and help those around us. Then we may become Angels in others lives. Turn around and help another.
2. Limits
- Running really isn't my strength, it's probably one of my weaknesses. Before this race the furthest I have ever ran was about 5 miles, and that was probably more than 4 years ago. I can run maybe 2 or 3 miles comfortably but after that I'm a Dead Man. Deader than a door nail. I honestly didn't know if I could run 10 - 12 miles. I didn't know if it was even possible for me. As I ran the Tough Mudder, I only thought "Take one more step" "Just one more" "Reach that point" and there were also those around me saying "You can do it" "Keep Going" and even better there are those who don't speak but show with their actions their help as they run next to you or are always near you. This is what honestly got me through 10 - 12 miles. It wasn't my physical strength but the encouraging words and actions of those around me.
Words and actions are so important. Words can change what a person thinks about the world around them and about themselves. If someone is told that they have a horrible voice and that they shouldn't sing. That they shouldn't try, then they wont even try. They probably will do their best to keep their voice quiet when they are around others. They wont even try to reach their potential with their voice. If someone is told constantly that they shouldn't even try in sports because they have no "skill" then they will never try because they are always being pushed down.
But on the other hand if someone is told that they can reach the impossible, if someone is told that they can do it no matter what odds. If people received positive and constructive feedback for something that they do instead of destructive and negative feedback, think about the things that they will do. Things they will accomplish because instead of someone saying "no you can't" they can say "Yes you can and here is how you can be better". Instead of saying "You are the worst" they can say "you can do this, that part wasn't the best but here is how you can improve on it". Think about the difference this would make in our world if people decided to be a positive force and a help. It just takes a change of words and phrases or maybe just a little bit of time that will help others improve.
3. Remember the End
- As I did all these things it was always in the back of my mind how I would feel at the end. I would do all these hard things and would get hurt. Bruises and scratches. Cuts and wounds. Pain and difficulty. But I knew the accomplishment that I would feel when I reached the end. The feeling that I still feel. I did it. It feels like a dream but those bruises and scratches are what remind me of what I have done and what I have overcome. It reminds me that I can do hard things. Hard things are just there to help us. Because of those things I have ended up a better person.
We all need to remember our end goal. What we want to reach in the end. What is our goal? Where do you want to go? How do you want to feel? All of these questions all depend on what you do. What you pass through and what your end goal it effect what you will do. It's a continuous process. While I ran, my goal was to make it to the end, and because of this end goal I did better on the obstacles in the race and because I did the obstacles in the race, I got closer to my end goal.
If there was anything that I learned that I would want you to remember is turn around and reach out, be an Angel, Don't limit yourself or others and remember where you're going. Be positive. Look towards your end goal. Live life. Do what you know is right. The is no limit on what you can do.
Signing Out
Matthew John Barry
Tough Mudder is an amazing race where you race against the course. You don't race against others, you don't even worry about if people are going straight past you. All you worry about is getting to the end. To let you know exactly what a Tough Mudder is, I'll explain how the race was, give you the Tough Mudder Pledge and talk about some amazing stuff that I learned from this.
First off, I know I said that I'd explain the race but to explain the race I first need to give the pledge because the pledge will explain the purpose of the race.
As a Tough Mudder I pledge that...
- I understand that the Tough Mudder is not a race but a challenge.
- I put Teamwork and Camaraderie before my course time.
- I do not whine - Kids whine
- I help my fellow Mudders complete the course
- I overcome all fears
This is the Tough Mudder pledge. It is so true. Now think on this as I explain the course and what I learned.
You start off with everyone in a big group. There is a starting ceremony that gets you pumped up for the race. They explain about the race and where it came from. They give a salute to the our armed forces. They have you give the Tough Mudder pledge. They tell you to help your team which is literally everyone that you meet on the course. Then you start. Everyone right at once. Start running. You get about a half mile in and there are 2 walls that you need to crawl over. It's slanted and so you need a little bit of help to get up and over. You don't care about who's around you and who's doing what. You only think about "I need to get over that wall" and while you are waiting to go over the first wall, you notice that people are having a hard time, so you help push them up and over. Then you start to go over and notice that it's a little harder than you thought it would be and while you go over, you feel hands from below pushing you up and over. Then you do the next wall the same way.
Start running again and then next obstacle is one that tests your mental strength. You need to jump in water that is kept around freezing so around 30 degrees. You need to jump in and swim about 2 feet, go under a board so you're under the water for literally 5 seconds. But those 5 seconds feel like 5 hours as you are freezing cold. Then your head comes above the water as you swim another 5 feet and get out of this water. Freezing cold, you still go. You don't stop, Don't ever stop. You jump over fire into another water pool and climb out. Run, do some monkey bars over water, Run, Crawl under barbed wire, Run, Jump over more walls, Run, Do some rock climbing stuff, Run, Carry one of your teammates for a quarter mile, Run, Crawl through dirt trenches, Run, crawl through electric shock wires, Run, jump off a 15 ft. platform, Run, Run through an obstacle with live wires hanging down to shock you.
I think you get the gist of things. There are a couple more obstacles that I didn't even talk about. I didn't even mention but by the end you have ran about 10-12 miles and have done 20-22 obstacles. But you don't realize what you have done. As I left, I was left will only the memories of cuts and bruises I received but it all still feels like a dream. Did I just do that? Did that really just happen? These were the questions that went through my head as we drove back to Utah. I'm glad I have some cuts to remind me what I did. I have a shirt and a headband that show that I finished... But did I really? It feels like a dream. I'm to the point that I already want to do another one so that I can prove to myself that it wasn't a dream. It actually did happen. I'm already planning a trip in 2014 to do another one.
The whole race is amazing. The challenge of the course is amazing. The people were amazing. I feel amazing. I feel accomplished, I feel great.
I spent 2 and a half hours running this race and now that I think back on it, there are so many things that I can learn.
1. Turn Around
- Everest, one of the obstacles I was most scared for. It's a 15 ft high wall that is basically a half pipe. You need to run up and grab the edge and pull yourself up. The slope is slippery and can be very difficult to get up. There are people that almost make it but cant reach the top so they slip all the way down again only to try again. Well, as i went up, It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, Of course I had hands helping me up. A friend, someone reached down and helped me up as I ran up. I got up and had the feeling that because I was helped, I needed to stay and help. So I got on my stomach and tried to be the hands reaching down to help a friend up. As you help others up, you get a feeling that you were an angel, you helped someone and this is a better feeling than finishing the race could ever be.
- Mud Mile, it's an obstacle where you jump in water 3 feet deep and then you need to climb over mud walls that are about 3 feet above the water level. Alone this would of been impossible. Think about it, you are dead tired, and then you're in water up to your stomach or chest and then you need to climb out of the water over a mud wall only to end up in water again. Then you repeat the process about 8 times. Alone, I'd never do it. But there were always people there. People would stand in the water and push you up while people would stay on top of the mud wall and pull you up. Then as you get on top of the mud wall, you turn around and help a couple people up and while they turn around to help people up, you jump into the next pool of water and push people up until it's your turn to get pushed and pulled up. There was always hands to either push you up or pull you up.
From these things and others, I realized that in our lives we also have people around us who are always pushing us up or pulling us up. They are always there. We might not see them and sometimes we might not feel them but if we stop and think about it, they are always there. Angels in our lives who will always help us. As one person leaves, another will always take their place. As we are helped, we must turn around and help those around us. Then we may become Angels in others lives. Turn around and help another.
2. Limits
- Running really isn't my strength, it's probably one of my weaknesses. Before this race the furthest I have ever ran was about 5 miles, and that was probably more than 4 years ago. I can run maybe 2 or 3 miles comfortably but after that I'm a Dead Man. Deader than a door nail. I honestly didn't know if I could run 10 - 12 miles. I didn't know if it was even possible for me. As I ran the Tough Mudder, I only thought "Take one more step" "Just one more" "Reach that point" and there were also those around me saying "You can do it" "Keep Going" and even better there are those who don't speak but show with their actions their help as they run next to you or are always near you. This is what honestly got me through 10 - 12 miles. It wasn't my physical strength but the encouraging words and actions of those around me.
Words and actions are so important. Words can change what a person thinks about the world around them and about themselves. If someone is told that they have a horrible voice and that they shouldn't sing. That they shouldn't try, then they wont even try. They probably will do their best to keep their voice quiet when they are around others. They wont even try to reach their potential with their voice. If someone is told constantly that they shouldn't even try in sports because they have no "skill" then they will never try because they are always being pushed down.
But on the other hand if someone is told that they can reach the impossible, if someone is told that they can do it no matter what odds. If people received positive and constructive feedback for something that they do instead of destructive and negative feedback, think about the things that they will do. Things they will accomplish because instead of someone saying "no you can't" they can say "Yes you can and here is how you can be better". Instead of saying "You are the worst" they can say "you can do this, that part wasn't the best but here is how you can improve on it". Think about the difference this would make in our world if people decided to be a positive force and a help. It just takes a change of words and phrases or maybe just a little bit of time that will help others improve.
3. Remember the End
- As I did all these things it was always in the back of my mind how I would feel at the end. I would do all these hard things and would get hurt. Bruises and scratches. Cuts and wounds. Pain and difficulty. But I knew the accomplishment that I would feel when I reached the end. The feeling that I still feel. I did it. It feels like a dream but those bruises and scratches are what remind me of what I have done and what I have overcome. It reminds me that I can do hard things. Hard things are just there to help us. Because of those things I have ended up a better person.
We all need to remember our end goal. What we want to reach in the end. What is our goal? Where do you want to go? How do you want to feel? All of these questions all depend on what you do. What you pass through and what your end goal it effect what you will do. It's a continuous process. While I ran, my goal was to make it to the end, and because of this end goal I did better on the obstacles in the race and because I did the obstacles in the race, I got closer to my end goal.
If there was anything that I learned that I would want you to remember is turn around and reach out, be an Angel, Don't limit yourself or others and remember where you're going. Be positive. Look towards your end goal. Live life. Do what you know is right. The is no limit on what you can do.
Signing Out
Matthew John Barry
Friday, April 12, 2013
"That's Life"
When I started this blog about 2 or 3 years ago, I started it just because I wanted to start a blog and it seemed like all my friends had a blog and I wanted to be like them. It was a pretty interesting thing. I wrote random stuff and things that really make no sense what-so-ever. As the years passed, I received a mission call and thought "hey, I can use the blog that I already created for people to keep up with me on the mission." So I put my mom as a publisher and had her put all my letters on this blog so that people could see what happened to me.
Since I've been back I haven't really written anything. Maybe a couple of small things but nothing constant. I could say that I'd promise to write more but to be honest I'll write something now and here in a couple months I'll remember again that I have a blogspot and think "Hey, it'd be cool if I actually wrote something." Then I do.
Lately the thoughts that have been in my head are along the lines of life. Life. "to life, to life, l'chaim". Life is an interesting thing. It's like a roller coaster. Sometimes you're up and sometimes you're down. It always changes. People change, Seasons change, even Earth changes. I like to think that there are two things that are going to be constant in our life. One is that "the only thing constant is change." The other comes from my Christian background. Another thing that is constant is God. So while we change constantly and go up and down on a roller coaster, God doesn't. He's always there. He's "The same yesterday, today and forever." I find it nice to think that while I'm changing there is at least one thing that I can look to that is constant. Some stable spot in my life.
So I want to let anyone know that is reading this that God is always there. He has promised that if you do his will, you will be happy. A true happiness will come into your life, not a fake every once in a while happiness. Because he is a constant God, then if we do his will we will have a constant joy. I'm not saying that we won't have trials and problems. I'm not saying that sad things wont happen. I'm saying that through those hard times we can have a joy that is constant and will help us through.
Don't give up.
Endure to the End.
Signing Out
Matthew John Barry
Since I've been back I haven't really written anything. Maybe a couple of small things but nothing constant. I could say that I'd promise to write more but to be honest I'll write something now and here in a couple months I'll remember again that I have a blogspot and think "Hey, it'd be cool if I actually wrote something." Then I do.
Lately the thoughts that have been in my head are along the lines of life. Life. "to life, to life, l'chaim". Life is an interesting thing. It's like a roller coaster. Sometimes you're up and sometimes you're down. It always changes. People change, Seasons change, even Earth changes. I like to think that there are two things that are going to be constant in our life. One is that "the only thing constant is change." The other comes from my Christian background. Another thing that is constant is God. So while we change constantly and go up and down on a roller coaster, God doesn't. He's always there. He's "The same yesterday, today and forever." I find it nice to think that while I'm changing there is at least one thing that I can look to that is constant. Some stable spot in my life.
So I want to let anyone know that is reading this that God is always there. He has promised that if you do his will, you will be happy. A true happiness will come into your life, not a fake every once in a while happiness. Because he is a constant God, then if we do his will we will have a constant joy. I'm not saying that we won't have trials and problems. I'm not saying that sad things wont happen. I'm saying that through those hard times we can have a joy that is constant and will help us through.
Don't give up.
Endure to the End.
Signing Out
Matthew John Barry
Monday, December 10, 2012
Back to "Miss"ion
It's strange to think that i've been home from my mission for about 4 1/2 months. I just wanna say how much I miss the mission. I'm pretty sure that's why they call it a mission just because it has the word miss in it. There is nothing that compares to how good a mission is and how amazing it is.
Today I went with Men's Chorus to the MTC and we had a devotional. Well, we performed for the missionaries in the MTC. It was an amazing experience. I honestly must say that I miss the whole mission (back to miss) experience. I know that i'll never go back and life can never slow down but just let me relive my mission. Please?
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is God's Church here on earth and that it teaches the correct doctrines. Like how a member from men's chorus said, "before my mission I was converted to the Church, but during my mission I became converted to Jesus Christ." You might say then how do you know the church is true? It's because of Jesus Christ that I'm in this Church. I'm not converted to JUST the Church but also the Jesus Christ. I know that I have a long way to go to perfection and a lot of things I need to do before I'm ready to meet my Savior. I'm doing my best and my best can always be better. I know the time i went on my mission was the perfect time for me to meet a lot of people that I needed to meet.
Endure to the End
Signing Out
Matthew John Barry
Today I went with Men's Chorus to the MTC and we had a devotional. Well, we performed for the missionaries in the MTC. It was an amazing experience. I honestly must say that I miss the whole mission (back to miss) experience. I know that i'll never go back and life can never slow down but just let me relive my mission. Please?
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is God's Church here on earth and that it teaches the correct doctrines. Like how a member from men's chorus said, "before my mission I was converted to the Church, but during my mission I became converted to Jesus Christ." You might say then how do you know the church is true? It's because of Jesus Christ that I'm in this Church. I'm not converted to JUST the Church but also the Jesus Christ. I know that I have a long way to go to perfection and a lot of things I need to do before I'm ready to meet my Savior. I'm doing my best and my best can always be better. I know the time i went on my mission was the perfect time for me to meet a lot of people that I needed to meet.
Endure to the End
Signing Out
Matthew John Barry
Monday, December 03, 2012
I have a Friend...
Hey people of the world,
I have a pretty good friend that some of you might know, his name is Zac Kaiser. Well Zac has been writing some pretty good music and has started performing it around provo. He's been doing fairly well. Well he's trying to get on something call the unsigned tour so he can go play his music on a larger scale. He needs some votes so all you have to do is go to www.theunsignedtour.com/
Singing Out
Matthew John Barry
I have a pretty good friend that some of you might know, his name is Zac Kaiser. Well Zac has been writing some pretty good music and has started performing it around provo. He's been doing fairly well. Well he's trying to get on something call the unsigned tour so he can go play his music on a larger scale. He needs some votes so all you have to do is go to www.theunsignedtour.com/
Singing Out
Matthew John Barry
Monday, November 26, 2012
3 Months Later
Yeah, I know... It's been 3 months since I've done anything with my blog... It's been a while. I know. Don't start your hissyfit, I'm still alive and kicking. (What I'm kicking... I'm not really sure yet, but I'm kicking.)
In these last 3 months, I've been in college and let me tell you, College is sure different than anything else I've ever done. It's not like High School or like a Mission. I'm definitely not in Kansas anymore. I guess you can describe College as "The things I couldn't do in High School and the Mission". Like staying up till 3 in the morning watching James Bond movies or Sleep in till noon on a Mon/Wed/Fri and not care (cause I don't have class until 3pm).
The other day I was with my dear cousin who got home from his mission a week before school started. I asked him how many girls he has taken on dates since he's been home. He started counting and got up to about 8 or 9. I think that's pretty good considering that he's been home for about 3 months. Then it got me thinking... how am I doing... Then I stopped thinking.
I really don't have much to write on here. Not much has happened. I'm pretty sure other people could talk about my life in a more interesting way than I can. So if that's a job position and somebody wants it... be my guest. I pay 0$ per hours... sorry. What more can you expect from a SCS (Starving College Student).
Singing Out
Matthew John Barry
In these last 3 months, I've been in college and let me tell you, College is sure different than anything else I've ever done. It's not like High School or like a Mission. I'm definitely not in Kansas anymore. I guess you can describe College as "The things I couldn't do in High School and the Mission". Like staying up till 3 in the morning watching James Bond movies or Sleep in till noon on a Mon/Wed/Fri and not care (cause I don't have class until 3pm).
The other day I was with my dear cousin who got home from his mission a week before school started. I asked him how many girls he has taken on dates since he's been home. He started counting and got up to about 8 or 9. I think that's pretty good considering that he's been home for about 3 months. Then it got me thinking... how am I doing... Then I stopped thinking.
I really don't have much to write on here. Not much has happened. I'm pretty sure other people could talk about my life in a more interesting way than I can. So if that's a job position and somebody wants it... be my guest. I pay 0$ per hours... sorry. What more can you expect from a SCS (Starving College Student).
Singing Out
Matthew John Barry
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Dear Utah,
Dear Utah,
You sure have changed a lot, seriously... a lot. I didn't recognize anything... almost... Thanksgiving Point was still there... but other than that you have changed in two years.
It must say that it'e strange to be here with you again. I don't know what to do anymore. The things that I found important aren't anymore. The things I wanted to do don't seem like the right thing anymore. Maybe the one that has changed is me.
I must say, Utah, if you wanted the same person to come back who left, you must keep searching because he's not here. Now if you want to get to know someone a little bit new, Bring it on
Signing Out
Matthew Barry
You sure have changed a lot, seriously... a lot. I didn't recognize anything... almost... Thanksgiving Point was still there... but other than that you have changed in two years.
It must say that it'e strange to be here with you again. I don't know what to do anymore. The things that I found important aren't anymore. The things I wanted to do don't seem like the right thing anymore. Maybe the one that has changed is me.
I must say, Utah, if you wanted the same person to come back who left, you must keep searching because he's not here. Now if you want to get to know someone a little bit new, Bring it on
Signing Out
Matthew Barry
Thursday, August 09, 2012
Florida... no wait... Georgia
So right now I'm sitting on the 3rd floor of a giant Beach House that is on the beach... that's why it's called a beach house. It's beautiful. It's giant and there are 37 people living here for a week. All part of my family. It's been so much fun.
I'll be back in Provo probably on the 11th and I'll be speaking in Church on the 12th. So I'll see you all then
Signing Out
Matt Barry
I'll be back in Provo probably on the 11th and I'll be speaking in Church on the 12th. So I'll see you all then
Signing Out
Matt Barry
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Post-Mission
So yes, confirming all awesome rumors and stuff like that... I'm back... almost. I'm in Florida and it's been fun to be here. I must tell you that it's weird that everyone speaks English and it's weird that I don't eat beans and rice everyday. I keep slipping into portuguese when I speak to people. My vowels are weird sounding and they don't make sense some of the time. I don't make sense half... alright... all the time.
The other day I went out with the missionaries here in Florida and we were knocking some doors and it was way hard to not call myself Elder Barry. I slipped up a couple of times trying to call myself Elder Barry and pointing at the empty shirt pocket where my name tag used to be. Weird.
But I'm home.
Signing Out
Matt Barry
The other day I went out with the missionaries here in Florida and we were knocking some doors and it was way hard to not call myself Elder Barry. I slipped up a couple of times trying to call myself Elder Barry and pointing at the empty shirt pocket where my name tag used to be. Weird.
But I'm home.
Signing Out
Matt Barry
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Mission Post (Mission)
I'm pretty sure when I started my mission that I wasn't ready. But by now I'm pretty sure I'm I ok and having a grand ol' time. I'm probably loving it right now and the mission is just flying by. Not much to report cause I'm writing this on July 26th 2010 in the Library of BYU. So... I don't know what will be happening to me within a couple of years. But this is just a fun thing to do. Schedule them so they post forever and a half ahead. This will post two years after I wrote this. Cool eh? So I don't need to worry about it and you can be entertained with my randomness and think this is awesome. So I'll see you when I get home. I'll post something about being home and how weird it will be to be home. But we don't know that yet.
Singing Out
Elder Barry
Singing Out
Elder Barry
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Elder Matthew Barry returns soon!!
He arrives in Jacksonville, Florida on July 24 at 10:30 am. Yes he flys all night from Brazil! He will stay here with us, his parents, and Jessica until Aug 11. He arrives in Utah at 6:45 pm on the 11th. That was the fastest 2 years ever! I have enjoyed posting his letters and sharing his mission with you.
Here is his final letter...a little rushed, a little short but at least he is thinking of us. LOL
Dear Family,
I will see you here in a week... and I don't have much time.
So I'll talk to you here in a week.
Endure to the End
Signing Out
Elder Barry
He arrives in Jacksonville, Florida on July 24 at 10:30 am. Yes he flys all night from Brazil! He will stay here with us, his parents, and Jessica until Aug 11. He arrives in Utah at 6:45 pm on the 11th. That was the fastest 2 years ever! I have enjoyed posting his letters and sharing his mission with you.
Here is his final letter...a little rushed, a little short but at least he is thinking of us. LOL
Dear Family,
I will see you here in a week... and I don't have much time.
So I'll talk to you here in a week.
Endure to the End
Signing Out
Elder Barry
Monday, July 09, 2012
Dear Family,
I'm doing great.
We had a shock this week. We found out the Sr. Andrade isn't married yet... so he can't get baptized. I'm so glad that God knew that and didn't let him get baptized.
Me and my companion are great. Our teaching styles have been hard to mix because I talk a lot and my companion doesn't. So I sit there talking a whole bunch with the people and then sometimes my companion just says the closing prayer. I need to calm down a little and give him some space to speak.
The ward is really good too. This last week we had about 102 people in Church. It was way good. I'm really liking this ward and if we ever come back (mom... we'll talk about this afterwards) I'm coming back to this ward for sure just to say hi. One of the members said that if I come back to visit, there are beds in her house for me and others to sleep in during the visit.
The members in this ward help out when they are asked. So we just need to ask them to help. That's it. Generaly we can mark family nights ect... easily, lessons with members too.
I have two favorite families here. One is Edvaldo and Nilda which are actually know as Pai e Mãe (Dad and Mom) by the missionaries. They are always there and help out.
The other is a single mom that works in the food buisness. She does food for big parties so when she needs help with food, we always go and help out a little bit because she does almost everything by her self. She's also less active but she went to church this last week and I'm hoping that she's there to stay. She said that she is not going to mark any more parties for Sundays so that she can go to church and keep the Sabbath Day holy.
You asked what is my favorite food... I actually have no clue. I just eat. I like it when the members make french fries or mashed potatoes. Those are sooooo good. Oh, there is a Brasilian food called Cus-Cuz. It's basically grated corn... I can't explain it. But mom, if you have a steamer at the mission home like one that you put water in the bottom pan and there are holes in another pan that you can put on top so the hot steam can go up through it... I can buy a package of Cus-Cuz and bring it home to make it for you. It's way good and I've heard that you can find it in the states. A missionary who served in Utah said that he made it all the time for the missionaries. So if he made it all the time... I'm sure that it's somewhere in Utah.
I'm doing great.
We had a shock this week. We found out the Sr. Andrade isn't married yet... so he can't get baptized. I'm so glad that God knew that and didn't let him get baptized.
Me and my companion are great. Our teaching styles have been hard to mix because I talk a lot and my companion doesn't. So I sit there talking a whole bunch with the people and then sometimes my companion just says the closing prayer. I need to calm down a little and give him some space to speak.
The ward is really good too. This last week we had about 102 people in Church. It was way good. I'm really liking this ward and if we ever come back (mom... we'll talk about this afterwards) I'm coming back to this ward for sure just to say hi. One of the members said that if I come back to visit, there are beds in her house for me and others to sleep in during the visit.
The members in this ward help out when they are asked. So we just need to ask them to help. That's it. Generaly we can mark family nights ect... easily, lessons with members too.
I have two favorite families here. One is Edvaldo and Nilda which are actually know as Pai e Mãe (Dad and Mom) by the missionaries. They are always there and help out.
The other is a single mom that works in the food buisness. She does food for big parties so when she needs help with food, we always go and help out a little bit because she does almost everything by her self. She's also less active but she went to church this last week and I'm hoping that she's there to stay. She said that she is not going to mark any more parties for Sundays so that she can go to church and keep the Sabbath Day holy.
You asked what is my favorite food... I actually have no clue. I just eat. I like it when the members make french fries or mashed potatoes. Those are sooooo good. Oh, there is a Brasilian food called Cus-Cuz. It's basically grated corn... I can't explain it. But mom, if you have a steamer at the mission home like one that you put water in the bottom pan and there are holes in another pan that you can put on top so the hot steam can go up through it... I can buy a package of Cus-Cuz and bring it home to make it for you. It's way good and I've heard that you can find it in the states. A missionary who served in Utah said that he made it all the time for the missionaries. So if he made it all the time... I'm sure that it's somewhere in Utah.
My favorite part of missionary is talking with people. I like breaking the ice with people who like to talk, someone who talks back. It's so much easier to break the ice with someone who just likes to talk. I have a hard time making friendships with the people that just answer all your questions with yes's or no's. That is hard.
I will miss the people here. There is no other people I know like Brasilians. No one can compare. I will also miss some of the food that they have here like Cus-Cuz and Açai. Today, me and my companion will probably eat Cus-cuz for lunch with pepperoni and something else like onions and other things.
My goals for the next two weeks are:
- Do 70 contacts in a week. I've failed that one... A LOT in my mission. Not because I didn't want to, well sometimes not because I didn't want to, but sometimes I would just forget.
- Baptized Cleide. She's so close to getting baptized. She just needs to make her decision. It's a miracle that she is so close to getting baptized. MIRACLE. I've been here for about 4 months and before that the missionaries had been teaching her. Her sister is a member for 20 years and her daughters for 10 years. Her daughters are probably some of the best, most faithful and diligent Young Women I have ever seen in my life. No joke. So I'm way excited. It's just an exciting thought to think that this woman will finally baptize and will be able to have an eternal family with her children.
As Jess said to me in a letter.
"Just think of it as another transfer. Cause really, it is. You'll still be a missionary you'll still have covenants to keep and rules to obey in order to be truly happy in life. And you'll still need to open your mouth all the time. The only differences with this next transfer is 1) you won't be able to wear the name of Christ on the outside of your chest (You've already taken upon yourself is name so you'll still wear it... just not as visibly) and 2) you'll have more responsibilities to juggle on top of being a missionary (school, work, dating... etc). So don't think of it as coming home from your mission where you will come back to how things were. You're getting transfered to a new area where you have to do missionary work while doing homework and finding yourself a permanent companion (sadly there's no mission president here to assign you one). Focus on your investigators and potenti
So all in well in Zion.
I love you all and hope all in well in Zion
Endure to the End
Signing Out
Elder Barry
Monday, July 02, 2012
Dear Fam,All is well in Zion, It's not too hot. We are actually in Winter right now... but that just means there's wind and that it doesn't rain. I actually can't remember that last time it rained here... but that's not a surprise because i'm not remembering anything as of late.
Sr. Andrade did not get baptized but he went to the Ward Conference and loved it. He's going to get baptized but I don't know when. He just needs to feel ready.
To my surprise the Bishop didn't change. But the Elders quorum president changed and the ward boundaries changed so that next week they will need to call a new Relief Society President and a new Primary President. That was crazy. There were a lot of changed and not the way I expected it to happened. Our area is now a little bit smaller.
I'm trying to remember what happened during the week but I can't remember. As of late, like I said at the beginning, I'm not remembering things any more. All I remember is laughing a lot with my companion, walking and working. I did have a strange dream once but now it just seems like a blur. Everything just seems like a blur. It goes by so fast.
I got a letter from Elder Hodges that I read today and it seems like yesterday that he left, actually yesterday was when I left. He left between yesterday and today. But he said that he was getting close to him 1 year mark, that about blew my mind.
Today I was reading the general Conference talks from 2010. The one in April. I learned that adversity is just part of life. It will always come. It's the between part of "Once upon a time" and "Happily Ever After". It's necissary.
I love you all.
Endure to the end
See you in 3 weeks.
Signing Out
Elder Barry
Sr. Andrade did not get baptized but he went to the Ward Conference and loved it. He's going to get baptized but I don't know when. He just needs to feel ready.
To my surprise the Bishop didn't change. But the Elders quorum president changed and the ward boundaries changed so that next week they will need to call a new Relief Society President and a new Primary President. That was crazy. There were a lot of changed and not the way I expected it to happened. Our area is now a little bit smaller.
I'm trying to remember what happened during the week but I can't remember. As of late, like I said at the beginning, I'm not remembering things any more. All I remember is laughing a lot with my companion, walking and working. I did have a strange dream once but now it just seems like a blur. Everything just seems like a blur. It goes by so fast.
I got a letter from Elder Hodges that I read today and it seems like yesterday that he left, actually yesterday was when I left. He left between yesterday and today. But he said that he was getting close to him 1 year mark, that about blew my mind.
Today I was reading the general Conference talks from 2010. The one in April. I learned that adversity is just part of life. It will always come. It's the between part of "Once upon a time" and "Happily Ever After". It's necissary.
I love you all.
Endure to the end
See you in 3 weeks.
Signing Out
Elder Barry
Monday, June 25, 2012
Fam bam,
Me and my companion are doing great. We get some pretty
funny comments in the street sometimes. We got one this last week were someone
said "Irmãozão e Irmãozinho" Which isn't as funny when you translate
it but they said "Big Brother and Little Brother". We got a kick out
of that. The membros laugh about it and everything. It's pretty funny.
Hey, I don't know if I can have a word in on the Family
Reunion but I would love to go to the temple (if possible) with everyone.
Also a singing session would be awesome.
Sr. Andrade couldn't go to work this week and doesn't feel
ready for baptism but I'm not worrying about that because he isn't ready...
yet. We are thinking of changing the date this week for next week so that he
can go to church one more time before baptism.
We also marked a date with a woman named Cleide and her
daughter Daniella. Cleide is the mother of two really strong young women in the
ward. Her daughters have been baptized for about 10 years ish and she wants to
get baptized but is scared that she won’t make it to the end. Endure to the end
is hard for her. But we are trying so many different things to help her. We
watch the video about "John Tanner" (If you haven't seen it, it's
worth it). It's a movie from the D&C DVD for (i think) seminary. It was
amazing and it helped her out a whole bunch. Her date is for the 15th. We hope
that all will go well.
This week will be the Ward Conference and we think there
will be a change of bishops. Our bishop has been there for 8 years and it's
time for it to change. It's going to be strange.
Well I love you,
Endure to the End
Signing Out
Elder Barry
 |
| This is Matt's companion, Elder Araujo. Yes they are both standing! |
Monday, June 11, 2012
Last transfer!
Hello Fam,
I'm here again, Sending an email to you. It feels like an hour since I was last doing this.
So Transfers happened but I stayed in Ceilandia 1b. But you're going to get a kick out of who my companion is. My companions name is Elder Araújo. The funny part is that he is the shortest missionary on the mission and I was the tallest (now I'm the 2nd tallest). So you can probably imagine that funny comments we are going to get and the jokes that are going to fly. He comes up to about my chest. I give his head a hug... not him. I can tell you that this is going to be really funny.
This week we didn't have church because there was a Brazil wide transmission of the dedication of the Temple in Manaus, Brasil. I must say that it was the highlight of my week. I learned some very important things.
1. Why didn't i go to the temple that often before the mission. I lived 20 minutes (or less) by car to a temple. It would of been so easy to go every week. If i would of planned, I could of gone more often. One thing they said in the dedication was 'It seems as the temples get closer to the members, the members start to think 'I will go to the temple tomorrow' and then the next day they say 'I will go to the temple tomorrow' and then after 3 years the members will say, 'I will go to the temple tomorrow'. There are member that are in the church for more than 40 years and they are doing this. I seems that some members lose the significance and importance of the temple' This is something that I was thinking about. I want to go to the temple. After about 2 years of not going, I really am starting to understand what I had and what I could of done better. Here in the part of Brazil that I'm in, People take off work for a week to go to the temple. They need to travel for 14 hours by bus to get there. What is 20ish minutes compared to 14 hours.
2. They talked a lot about the two greatest commandments. Love your neighbor and love God. I understood a lot about action. Love is an action word. Without the action, the words are lost. If I love my neighbor I will help them in anything I can without being asked. If I love God, I will do what he wants without being asked and compelled to do it.
These are two thoughts that came into my mind during the dedication that I wanted to share.
I love you
Endure to the End
Signing Out
Elder Barry
I'm here again, Sending an email to you. It feels like an hour since I was last doing this.
So Transfers happened but I stayed in Ceilandia 1b. But you're going to get a kick out of who my companion is. My companions name is Elder Araújo. The funny part is that he is the shortest missionary on the mission and I was the tallest (now I'm the 2nd tallest). So you can probably imagine that funny comments we are going to get and the jokes that are going to fly. He comes up to about my chest. I give his head a hug... not him. I can tell you that this is going to be really funny.
This week we didn't have church because there was a Brazil wide transmission of the dedication of the Temple in Manaus, Brasil. I must say that it was the highlight of my week. I learned some very important things.
1. Why didn't i go to the temple that often before the mission. I lived 20 minutes (or less) by car to a temple. It would of been so easy to go every week. If i would of planned, I could of gone more often. One thing they said in the dedication was 'It seems as the temples get closer to the members, the members start to think 'I will go to the temple tomorrow' and then the next day they say 'I will go to the temple tomorrow' and then after 3 years the members will say, 'I will go to the temple tomorrow'. There are member that are in the church for more than 40 years and they are doing this. I seems that some members lose the significance and importance of the temple' This is something that I was thinking about. I want to go to the temple. After about 2 years of not going, I really am starting to understand what I had and what I could of done better. Here in the part of Brazil that I'm in, People take off work for a week to go to the temple. They need to travel for 14 hours by bus to get there. What is 20ish minutes compared to 14 hours.
2. They talked a lot about the two greatest commandments. Love your neighbor and love God. I understood a lot about action. Love is an action word. Without the action, the words are lost. If I love my neighbor I will help them in anything I can without being asked. If I love God, I will do what he wants without being asked and compelled to do it.
These are two thoughts that came into my mind during the dedication that I wanted to share.
I love you
Endure to the End
Signing Out
Elder Barry
Monday, May 21, 2012
Dear Fam,
Today is the 21 of may and it's a great day. I'm happy. I'm great.
I'm way excited because I got a letter from Dexter. Mom you remember Dexter? He wrote a 9 page paper talking about what he's been doing for the last year and so. He's already in the mission field right now. He went to the McAllen, Texas mission and went to the MTC on may 9th. He's serving a Spanish speaking mission. He misses you. In the letter he said this. "You know one thing I've missed the most? Barry food." You remember how he had really long hair. Well of course now he doesn't because he's on a mission. Just sharing the news.
We had a miracle this Sunday. We had Stake conference and it was packed. But because of the distance to stake conference some on our investigators didn't go. But while we were there a member from another ward called us and introduced us to a lady. This women had come to conference all by herself and wanted to know more about the church. Actually she wants to get baptized. She has already chosen. She wanted another Book of Mormon because she lost hers. So this Tuesday we are going to teach her. I'm way excited. Talk about blessings.
We also are teaching a young man of 11 years that wants to get baptized. We have marked a date with him for the 3rd of June. He's doing great and is reading everything we leave him. He's a less-actives son and he loves the church. Reminds me a little of Tyler and Mike mixed.
This week we had a visit from Elder Ellis of the Seventy and wow. That was an amazing conference. We talked a lot about prayer and how we need to ask God for what we need. We learned that God does not have limits. If we ask him for 1 family to teach, why don't we ask for 2 or 3. God is not limited.
Love you
Endure to the End
Perseverar até o fim
Perseverar hasta el fin
Signing Out
Elder Barry
Today is the 21 of may and it's a great day. I'm happy. I'm great.
I'm way excited because I got a letter from Dexter. Mom you remember Dexter? He wrote a 9 page paper talking about what he's been doing for the last year and so. He's already in the mission field right now. He went to the McAllen, Texas mission and went to the MTC on may 9th. He's serving a Spanish speaking mission. He misses you. In the letter he said this. "You know one thing I've missed the most? Barry food." You remember how he had really long hair. Well of course now he doesn't because he's on a mission. Just sharing the news.
We had a miracle this Sunday. We had Stake conference and it was packed. But because of the distance to stake conference some on our investigators didn't go. But while we were there a member from another ward called us and introduced us to a lady. This women had come to conference all by herself and wanted to know more about the church. Actually she wants to get baptized. She has already chosen. She wanted another Book of Mormon because she lost hers. So this Tuesday we are going to teach her. I'm way excited. Talk about blessings.
We also are teaching a young man of 11 years that wants to get baptized. We have marked a date with him for the 3rd of June. He's doing great and is reading everything we leave him. He's a less-actives son and he loves the church. Reminds me a little of Tyler and Mike mixed.
This week we had a visit from Elder Ellis of the Seventy and wow. That was an amazing conference. We talked a lot about prayer and how we need to ask God for what we need. We learned that God does not have limits. If we ask him for 1 family to teach, why don't we ask for 2 or 3. God is not limited.
Love you
Endure to the End
Perseverar até o fim
Perseverar hasta el fin
Signing Out
Elder Barry
Monday, April 30, 2012
Training
Dear Fam Bam,
All it well. Greeting. I'm still alive.
Mother's day is getting closer so I'll see you all on skype... maybe... if a member actually has one here. But it all comes down to it. I'll hear you here soon.
I'm doing wonderful here in Brasil. I can't believe how fast time flies. I just had an excellent transfer with my Companion and we are about to enter into the next. To Infinity and Beyond!! He's way amazing and I just learned that his dad is going to pass through Utah in August and that he has a bunch of uncles that live right around that area. We are way excited to plan and to work another transfer together. We just ended a 5 week transfer to we are starting the 2nd transfer on week 6 of the training but literally a whole bunch of the stuff we are studying, he already knows it. I feel like I'm the one being trained. Not him. He's the trainer here. It's pretty fun.
We are still finding people but none of them are going to church. We are really having a hard time in taking people to church. People say they will go and then don't. We are still going but it's hard when people don't follow through with their words.
Alright, So this week we had a visit of Elder Clayton from the Seventy and that was pretty cool. He talked about being a missionary that helps people enter into the church to stay in the church. He talked about how Baptizing and Reactivating are the same thing and should have equal importance. So me and Elder Condorà are doing our best to do everything and learn a better way to do it. The meeting was amazing. I loved it. Sister Clayton talked about D&C section 31 and how it gives promises and tells us what we should do as missionaries. Read D&C 31. It's great.
Endure to the End
Signing Out
Elder Barry
All it well. Greeting. I'm still alive.
Mother's day is getting closer so I'll see you all on skype... maybe... if a member actually has one here. But it all comes down to it. I'll hear you here soon.
I'm doing wonderful here in Brasil. I can't believe how fast time flies. I just had an excellent transfer with my Companion and we are about to enter into the next. To Infinity and Beyond!! He's way amazing and I just learned that his dad is going to pass through Utah in August and that he has a bunch of uncles that live right around that area. We are way excited to plan and to work another transfer together. We just ended a 5 week transfer to we are starting the 2nd transfer on week 6 of the training but literally a whole bunch of the stuff we are studying, he already knows it. I feel like I'm the one being trained. Not him. He's the trainer here. It's pretty fun.
We are still finding people but none of them are going to church. We are really having a hard time in taking people to church. People say they will go and then don't. We are still going but it's hard when people don't follow through with their words.
Alright, So this week we had a visit of Elder Clayton from the Seventy and that was pretty cool. He talked about being a missionary that helps people enter into the church to stay in the church. He talked about how Baptizing and Reactivating are the same thing and should have equal importance. So me and Elder Condorà are doing our best to do everything and learn a better way to do it. The meeting was amazing. I loved it. Sister Clayton talked about D&C section 31 and how it gives promises and tells us what we should do as missionaries. Read D&C 31. It's great.
Endure to the End
Signing Out
Elder Barry
 |
| Eating Acai berries with Elder Condori. It's a favorite of Matt's. |
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Wearing out
Dear Family,
I'm doing great. My worldly possessions are a wreck. My shirts are turning yellow, my pants have been ripping, socks are wearing out, my bags are better used as a speed bump in the street and my gym shorts are gym shorts. My mind is going and the hair is growing (you should see the chest hair but you can't so just look at the facial hair). I feel like old age is startin' to hit early.
I'm sorry but I don't have pictures that week (again) I forgot my camera and I'm a little scared to bring it because last week there was a robbery in the Lan House that we were in and it's a miracle that my camera wasn't stolen. The theifs only got about 2 Reais which is equal to about 1.50$. It could of been a lot bigger.
Mom, I think i'll try duck tape. Honestly. But you might want to send it in the next package because I'm not sure they have it here. If I'm going to be transfered (has a 20% chance) I don't know what I'm going to do. This tranfser is 5 weeks and we are already in week 3. So, I hope I stay.
Mom, I was talking with a missionary from my group today and he says that one of his best friends is in your mission. His name is Elder Tenney (I hope). The missionary from this mission, his name is Elder Greene. It's definately a small world.
I must say that I love training. It's a really stressful, funny and exciting experience. I keep on remembering everything that I did when I was a newbie on the mission. I keep laughing and I find funny things everyday. Lately is how nervous my companion gets on talking with people. I remember when I got on the mission and how funny it was for me. It's an experience that brings back a lot of memories about the mission. I hope I can help him th best I can.
Yeah, we are doing the 12 week training program. It's recent here on the mission for about 6 months. This is the first time I'm doing it and I'm trying to get a hang of it.
We are in a ward so there is a building. This is a really old church building. It is one of the firsts here in ceilandia. Actually it is the first here in ceilandia. We are working on a teaching group but we are getting there.
I was reading in the Liahona today and it hit me how much expereince the church leaders have. In the back of the conference issue it talks about the people being called to leadership possitions and I am realizing that these people are usually people who have gone through A LOT. They know what they are talking about. It's pretty cool.
We are now working with a lady named cleide. She is a mother of 2 members and knows that the church is true. She is just scared to get baptized. We are doing our best to help her out. We marked a tenitive date for the 22nd and I hope that we can help her through with it.
Love you all
Endure to the End
Signing Out
Elder Barry
I'm doing great. My worldly possessions are a wreck. My shirts are turning yellow, my pants have been ripping, socks are wearing out, my bags are better used as a speed bump in the street and my gym shorts are gym shorts. My mind is going and the hair is growing (you should see the chest hair but you can't so just look at the facial hair). I feel like old age is startin' to hit early.
I'm sorry but I don't have pictures that week (again) I forgot my camera and I'm a little scared to bring it because last week there was a robbery in the Lan House that we were in and it's a miracle that my camera wasn't stolen. The theifs only got about 2 Reais which is equal to about 1.50$. It could of been a lot bigger.
Mom, I think i'll try duck tape. Honestly. But you might want to send it in the next package because I'm not sure they have it here. If I'm going to be transfered (has a 20% chance) I don't know what I'm going to do. This tranfser is 5 weeks and we are already in week 3. So, I hope I stay.
Mom, I was talking with a missionary from my group today and he says that one of his best friends is in your mission. His name is Elder Tenney (I hope). The missionary from this mission, his name is Elder Greene. It's definately a small world.
I must say that I love training. It's a really stressful, funny and exciting experience. I keep on remembering everything that I did when I was a newbie on the mission. I keep laughing and I find funny things everyday. Lately is how nervous my companion gets on talking with people. I remember when I got on the mission and how funny it was for me. It's an experience that brings back a lot of memories about the mission. I hope I can help him th best I can.
Yeah, we are doing the 12 week training program. It's recent here on the mission for about 6 months. This is the first time I'm doing it and I'm trying to get a hang of it.
We are in a ward so there is a building. This is a really old church building. It is one of the firsts here in ceilandia. Actually it is the first here in ceilandia. We are working on a teaching group but we are getting there.
I was reading in the Liahona today and it hit me how much expereince the church leaders have. In the back of the conference issue it talks about the people being called to leadership possitions and I am realizing that these people are usually people who have gone through A LOT. They know what they are talking about. It's pretty cool.
We are now working with a lady named cleide. She is a mother of 2 members and knows that the church is true. She is just scared to get baptized. We are doing our best to help her out. We marked a tenitive date for the 22nd and I hope that we can help her through with it.
Love you all
Endure to the End
Signing Out
Elder Barry
Monday, April 02, 2012
Learning Spanish
Fam,
Well mom, that's rough. Man I knew the asparagus would get you one day. When I was younger I knew that it was unhealthy but ate it anyways. But now love it.
Well I got my new companion. His name is Elder Condori!. He's from Argentina. How cool it that? I'm training him and I hope everything goes all right. I think it's funny how things that just seem so second nature for me are pretty strange for him. Like for P-day today. We are here typing and sending email and he got in here and got on his email and started listening to some music that his parents sent him. Here on the mission we can listen to music just fine. Classical stuff is good and instrumental stuff is just fine. So I love Jon Schmidt. Well we go into the lan house and he throws on the earphones. I probably didn't realize for about 3 minutes but we have a rule that we can use earphones, but just one side. So I thought it was just really funny.
He's really outstanding. He plays the piano, loves music. Speak almost fluent English and is almost fluent in Portugues. He's pretty much a genius. I guess I'm not going to train him. He's going to train me. He's pretty short so it's pretty much a joke walking around in the street. He's just on fire and excited to work. I'm doing my best to follow him and learn from him because he has got some really great ideas. I'm excited.
General Conference was amazing. I loved it. As I did last general conference, I made a general theme. It's what I think general conference was all about. I like to sum it up in scriptures. D&C 24:7-9.
7 For thou shalt devote all thy aservice in Zion; and in this thou shalt have strength.
8 Be apatient in bafflictions, for thou shalt have many; but cendure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the dend of thy days.
9 And in temporal labors thou shalt not have strength, for this is not thy calling. Attend to thy acalling and thou shalt have wherewith to magnify thine office, and to expound all scriptures, and continue in laying on of the hands and bconfirming the churches.
It talks about how we will have strength to do the Lord's work. We will have strength to do our calling and I was thinking how this could apply to all general conference. Well we all receive callings. Missionary, Dad, Home Teacher, Mother, Visiting Teacher and all the other ones we receive from God. These sacred calling are really important for our lives and for the lives of others. We are here to help and rescue others. Like less-actives and our own children to people we meet in the street. It is our calling. According to the scripture, when we do our callings, we will have energy to do it but if we try to do other things that do not apply to our callings, we wont have energy to do it.
I though it was pretty interesting.
Well I'm in a new area called Ceilandia. It's a pretty cool area. I with a newbie and we are opening the area. It's pretty hard but we are getting a hang of it.
Love you all
Endure to the End
Signing Out
Elder Barry
P.s Remember the talk by Elder David F. Evans. I liked it. Especially what he said about Missionaries.
Well mom, that's rough. Man I knew the asparagus would get you one day. When I was younger I knew that it was unhealthy but ate it anyways. But now love it.
Well I got my new companion. His name is Elder Condori!. He's from Argentina. How cool it that? I'm training him and I hope everything goes all right. I think it's funny how things that just seem so second nature for me are pretty strange for him. Like for P-day today. We are here typing and sending email and he got in here and got on his email and started listening to some music that his parents sent him. Here on the mission we can listen to music just fine. Classical stuff is good and instrumental stuff is just fine. So I love Jon Schmidt. Well we go into the lan house and he throws on the earphones. I probably didn't realize for about 3 minutes but we have a rule that we can use earphones, but just one side. So I thought it was just really funny.
He's really outstanding. He plays the piano, loves music. Speak almost fluent English and is almost fluent in Portugues. He's pretty much a genius. I guess I'm not going to train him. He's going to train me. He's pretty short so it's pretty much a joke walking around in the street. He's just on fire and excited to work. I'm doing my best to follow him and learn from him because he has got some really great ideas. I'm excited.
General Conference was amazing. I loved it. As I did last general conference, I made a general theme. It's what I think general conference was all about. I like to sum it up in scriptures. D&C 24:7-9.
7 For thou shalt devote all thy aservice in Zion; and in this thou shalt have strength.
8 Be apatient in bafflictions, for thou shalt have many; but cendure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the dend of thy days.
9 And in temporal labors thou shalt not have strength, for this is not thy calling. Attend to thy acalling and thou shalt have wherewith to magnify thine office, and to expound all scriptures, and continue in laying on of the hands and bconfirming the churches.
It talks about how we will have strength to do the Lord's work. We will have strength to do our calling and I was thinking how this could apply to all general conference. Well we all receive callings. Missionary, Dad, Home Teacher, Mother, Visiting Teacher and all the other ones we receive from God. These sacred calling are really important for our lives and for the lives of others. We are here to help and rescue others. Like less-actives and our own children to people we meet in the street. It is our calling. According to the scripture, when we do our callings, we will have energy to do it but if we try to do other things that do not apply to our callings, we wont have energy to do it.
I though it was pretty interesting.
Well I'm in a new area called Ceilandia. It's a pretty cool area. I with a newbie and we are opening the area. It's pretty hard but we are getting a hang of it.
Love you all
Endure to the End
Signing Out
Elder Barry
P.s Remember the talk by Elder David F. Evans. I liked it. Especially what he said about Missionaries.
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