Season 7 Episode 8: The Finale

Hello Family and Friends,

I know I haven't emailed for the longest of times but, as my missionary service will be coming to and end this Friday I would just like to leave you all with my short and simple testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ and His Work!

I know that God and His Son Jesus Christ live and are well aware of each and every single one of yous. He knows everything that you are going through right now and He Loves yous. I Testify to you all that Jesus Christ lived and He died for all of us so we could all have the chance to return back to our Heavenly Home after this life. With Him, His Son, and Our Families. Over these past 2 years I have seen literal miracles through the Atonement and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no doubt in my mind that He lives and He loves us. I have felt it for myself and I have felt it for others. He is there and He is listening. I have been so blessed over these past two years to serve the people here in Samoa. Although I may be leaving, my heart will always be here with these people. But, I have been even more blessed to Serve my Father in Heaven. I love this Gospel and I love this Work. I know that it is His. This Gospel can and will bless anyone who humble enough and faithful enough to follow the example and commandments of Jesus Christ. He Truly is Our Savior and I love him. I know that this world would be such a better place if we could just stop thinking about ourselves and starting thinking about others and how we could serve them and I will end my testimony with that as an invitation for all of you that are reading this email. I invite you all to look for ways to Serve your fellow man and I promise you that you will feel lighter and happier and God will Bless you! I love you all and I share this Testimony in the Sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Season 7 Episode 7: Coming to an End.

Hey Everyone!

I know it has been ages since I have sent a weekly email but, Just wanted to update you all and let you know that I am living, happy and I AM 20!!!! Our area has really started to pick up momentum! We were able to set 3 baptismal dates this past week with some awesome investigators! We are actually here in Apia today doing my last shopping! It is so weird. Opened my email today and saw my flight plans. Still doesn't feel real but, next week will all be talking in person..... how crazy is that.... We are here at the internet cafe and I printed off my itinerary and she asked me if I am going home and I told her I will be finishing next week and she asked me how my two years here in Samoa have been. I sat there for a second and told her that it has been the best experience of my entire life! I'm really just planning to give it my absolute best these last few days and before we know it our family will be back together again! I can't wait to share with all of you these experiences I have had in this area. Definitely the area I have learned the most in! I feel like explaining it in person will be so much better as well! I just wanted to let you all know how grateful I am for all of your support these past two years! Truly has been one of the biggest blessings of my life and I feel like I have grown so much! I truly love this gospel so much and I am so grateful for this gospel and this chance I have to represent Jesus Christ and bear testimony of his Atonement! This is His work! I will see you all next week! Love you and have a safe week!

Season 7 Episode 6: Photo Special

Season 7 Episode 5: Photo Journal

Season 7 Episode 4: The Deadline.

Hey Family!

Well, this week has been one for the books! So just a little run down on what happened last week. President Hannemann asked me if we could talk and to make a long story short he felt like I was needed here in Tanumalala! I was very excited because I really didn't want to finish my mission in the office haha! So we are in this program that trys to make a branch into a ward within in six weeks! Are "deadline" is on the 20th of May and we are working our tails off! There are two of us Elders and three of us Sisters! My companion and I are currently living in a fale Samoa or a fale o'o! I will get a picture next week!

We have been seeing Miracles left and right but, I can honestly say this has been one of the hardest areas I have ever served in and it is awesome! It truly tests us of every day and there is no way we can progress unless we have Faith in Jesus Christ and are being as humble as possible! We are feeling pretty positive that Tanumalala will have the numbers (150 Attend and 15 Worthy Melchizedek Priesthood Holders) by May 20th!

We are currently working with a Family of three Fata(Baptized), Anna(Baptized for school), and their daughter Faatoese(Investigator). We had an awesome F.H.E. with them on Monday and then Yesterday we went and did a small lesson about the Book of Mormon! At the End Anna told us that she was so grateful for the Book of Mormon and all the miracles she has seen since her family has been reading it. She was baptized at 15 so she could go to The church school here and after she was baptized she never went back. So everything is new to her. But, she wants to learn and understand more! She explained to us how her husband had a really bad smoking problem but, ever since he started reading the Book of Mormon last week, he hasn't smoked! Crazy the power that is in the Book of Mormon Their daughter is going to be baptized next week and we are so excited!

Junior will also be getting baptized next week! He is a very humble man of about 23 years old! He is really slow of speach and can't really explain his thoughts but, he understands and trys his best to answer our questions! Our Church starts a 9 and every Sunday he is the first one there at 7:30! He loves reading his Book of Mormon and is full of a happy spirit! He is so excited for his baptism and is always happy to read from the Book of Mormon with us!

We are working with a lot more investigators and Less Actives trying our best to convert them to Jesus Christ and get them back to church so they can partake of the Sacrament and feel of his love for them! Truly such a beautiful work!

2 Nephi 22:2 ran across this scripture this morning! Really loved it. I know that as we rely on God in all that we do, we will see his hand in everything that we do and he will guide us in all of our decisions! I have such a strong testimony of this gospel! I love this work so much and I love seeing people change BECAUSE of Jesus Christ! I hope and pray that you are all reading the Book of Mormon every morning before you start the day! I promise you all that it will change all of your lives! It will set your day up and help you battle all that will come your way! I know God lives and he Loves us! He truly is watching over us! I know that our family can be forever! I love this Gospel! I hope you all have a great week and know that I am always praying for yous! LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Elder Barton

Season 7 Episode 3: Tanumalala

Hey Family,

Really short email! As you all know I am no longer AP but, I am now here in Tanumalala with 4 other missionaries as we are trying to make this branch a ward by may 20th! It has been quite the week! But, I have been able to see God's hand every day! He definitely is leading this work and I have faith that as we continue to rely on him we will be able to make this branch a ward! 

We have been working with some really prepared people this week and it has really strengthened my testimony and my love for this work and for these people! Something that really stuck out to me this week as we have been working with a lot of less actives is the importance of always being worthy and ready to use the priesthood that we hold. It truly is such a blessing to be worthy and hold this power and authority and over this past week I have seen and been a part of so many experiences where the priesthood was needed to bless and comfort others including myself!

I am very sorry that this a short email and not very powerful but, I will do a lot better next week! I just wanted to let you all know how grateful I am for all you and your examples to me! It truly is such a blessing to serve the Lord and be so close to his Spirit each day! I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon and I know that I have grown so much because of it! I encourage and invite all of you to read it everyday! I promise it will change your lives! This book will save you from whatever you are going through! I know that this is God's Church! How blessed we are to have this gospel in our lives! Although time is short I will continue to give my all to build the kingdom of God!  I know that this is his work and through this Gospel our family will be together for eternity! I love you all so much! Have a great week! Spread the Light of Christ to all you come in contact with!

Love,

Elder Barton

P.s. tiny miracle that happened this week! We found my SD card! Thank you for the prayers!!

Season 7 Episode 2: AP

Well family this week has been one I will never forget. To start off lets talk about General Conference! What in the world?! How powerful was that? I have never witnessed or felt the rush of the restoration of the gospel so strongly and clearly in my life! Felt like I got zapped by 10000 volts of electricity was running through my body. The music, the talks, and the spirit were so incredible! This was the most powerful conference I have ever been apart of! It gets me so amped just writing about it! I had a few questions coming into General Conference but, one of them was a very simple "Is Russell M. Nelson a true prophet of God?" Simple right? Well, I came to realize that I have never really asked that about any other prophet (Besides Joseph Smith). I feel like this might have been one of the more powerful spiritual experiences in my mission. After Russell M. Nelson announced that we will be Ministering now as a Church rather than Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching and how it is more focused and genuinely caring and loving these people with Christ-Like love. I can only describe the feeling as my heart catching on fire and the words coming into my head "This is my Prophet." A very spiritual experience for me and I have never had a stronger more solid testimony in my life that Russell M. Nelson is a Prophet of God. Oh, and another thing the opening song in the priesthood session was incredible. General conference was so refreshing and I'm so grateful for it! 

Well, if you are wondering why I writing you all on Saturday, I received a call Sunday night from The Assistant to the President (AP) asking me if I could say a prayer. After the prayer he told us that he was calling about Transfers and that Elder Alofaae would have a new companion and I would be getting transferred. He paused for a minute then proceeded by telling us that after a lot of fasting and praying with President Hannemann, I would be the new AP along with my companion Elder Kaufusi. To say the least I was very shocked and felt very inadequate. Still do to be honest. And this past week has been filled with Tests and trials. Now, don't get me wrong I am very humbled and privileged to serve so closely with President Hannemann someone who I look up to so much and has influenced me and inspired me for these past 22 months. But, this has been quite the week! I know that if I stay humble and Faithful in Christ he will lead me and help me become a better more Christ-Like servant. Although it was sad and hard like usual walking away from ward members and investigators on baptismal date. The spirit and the counsel I have received in these past few days have been such a big help. We are actually preparing to Head out to Savaii tomorrow morning to go on splits with missionaries and then we will be going around the Island with President to do Zone Conferences. Very busy but, extremely powerful! I am so grateful for my President and his faithfulness to our Savior Jesus Christ and his commitment to Honor with all of his hear the Oath and the Covenant of the Priesthood! I am excited for the growth and the counsel I will be able to receive over these next few months and even more excited to serve and inspire the missionaries to move the Lords work forward like never before!

Moroni 10:23 "And Christ truly said unto our fathers: If ye have faith ye can do all things which are expedient unto me." I love this Scripture and I think it is so relevant to all of us. Especially in these days. The devil is so strong and so intricate in his cunning ways to tear us down and make us feel like we are worthless and a waste. I can't tell you how many times I have felt like that on my mission as I am sure you have all felt. But, I know that if we are and have truly built ourselves on the Foundation of Jesus Christ and have faith in Him to do all things. We can and we will. It all starts with faith. I love Alma 32. It is a great chapter that talks about Faith. But, I know one of the best ways we can keep our Faith Healthy and Strong is through really studying the Book of Mormon. It has changed my life and has brought me so much happiness and comfort and I know it will to anyone who is humble enough to read and ponder and abide by its teachings! What an incredible day and age we live in! I will forever be grateful for you, my family. Who has so freely sacrificed so much for me while before my mission and especially on my mission. You all and my Savior Jesus Christ are on the forethought's of my mind as I wake up each morning until my head hits the pillow at night. I hope that through my service and your sacrifices God is blessing each and every one of you! I know he is! I have seen and am grateful for it! I love you all so very much! I pray for you all every day! I hope you all have a great week! I testify this is his work and this is his church and we all have a very important part in building his magnificent kingdom in these latter days. Let us be faithful enough to truly devote all of our time, talent, and strengths to supporting this beautiful work! Have a great week Family!

Elder Barton

Season 7 Episode 1: Time's Flying!

Oh my goodness! These weeks just keep flying by haha. I felt like I was just writing you guys a week ago! This week has been really fun and we had a few cool miracles this past week. 

So, we were supposed to have a baptism last Saturday but, it didn't happen because the entire family wanted to be in attendance, which wasn't really a bother to us. So, Soo will be getting baptized this Saturday! I will make sure to take pictures! We also are working with Alex. She is from Australia. She has been investigating and wanting to be baptized ever since 2016 but, her father has not allowed her to be baptized. Thankfully through prayer and fasting we got the permission from her Father to be baptized. She was supposed to get baptized this Saturday but, something very serious happened with her and her Father and she told us that she has not changed her decision to be baptized but, she wants to be in the right mind set and settle things with her Father first. So as of right now we are just trying to help through this tough time and prepare her for her baptism. We also had a great lesson with Nancy on Monday! Nancy is quite the story. To make it short and simple for now, she started off by telling us that she wants nothing to do with the church. After our first two visits she totally changed her mind but, was still unsure about  being baptized. Well, we had a lesson with her on Monday and after the lesson we stopped and asked her if she had any questions and she ended up explaining to us how over the past week she has been reading and praying about what she should do. She then asked us "O afea e mafai ona ou papatiso?" which means when can I be baptized! We were so thrilled and were so thankful that God answered her prayers and she was faithful and humble enough to hear his answer! She is going to baptized on the 14th of April!

We have so more people we are working with right now like this Indian man named Talo who is said he really wants to study the Book of Mormon! We are also teaching a lady named Ramona from Tuvalu and two Philippines Sandy and Raldo! I really feel like the work is starting to pick up in this area and hopefully in april our goal is to have 7 baptisms! The zone is on spiritual fire right now! These missionaries are killing it and they are so obedient in the work! I love these missionaries so much and I am so grateful for their examples and their diligence in the work! Truly is a blessing to be a leader and have so many great examples and servants of God in this Zone! I'm pretty sure they are leading they are leading me.

Quick thought Proverbs 8:35 "Whoever finds me, Finds Life." I have been reading this book lately called Stand a little taller. It has 365 days, 365 scriptures, and 365 quotes from Gordon B. Hinckley. Anyway, this was yesterdays focus. I just thought how true this was. Out of all the times in my life when I am feeling my happiest and feeling like I am actually living is when I realize that I am striving to become more like him. Everything just feels like it falls into place when we are trying to be one with him. I have a testimony that he truly does love us and care for us. He never wants us to feel like he doesn't care for us. The only person that wants that is the adversary. But, I know because I have truly seen the Love of Christ among these people in Samoa. I am so grateful to finally know with out a doubt that We all are truly Gods Children and we have the potential to become like him! I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Elder Barton

Season 6 Episode 13: Great Week!

This week was a really big week for us! This past Friday, Saturday and Sunday have been great! The wards for some reason have been helping us so much more and God has lead us to a few solid investigators. He is a short Update.

Maupopo: We were walking on the street to go to a visit when we saw and waved at Maupopo. As we kept on walking I had this feeling that we should turn around and go back. We ended up going back and taking him to the Visitors Center! Turns out his mom is a member but, he has been loku assembly his whole life but, he told us he wants to get baptized so we are looking at April 14th for Maupopo!

Soo: We got a referral from the members about Soo. They said she was over Nine and needed to be baptized. We went to visit the house but, the Mom told us she was turning 8 this year. Well, on Sunday we told our Ward Mission Leader what happened and he went and grabbed Soo and asked her how old she was and she told us she is turning 10 this year! I don't know why the Mom didn't know her actual age haha. But, Soo is super cute and has giant eyes. I will get a picture of her this week!

Sandy: Another Referral from Sister and Elder Kalama on Sunday. We met Sandy at church on Sunday and we are doing a FHE with him and the Kalama's this Saturday!

Folole's Family: This is an awesome family we are working with right now. Currently three out of 8 or more people at there house are on date for the 31st and they 7th. Talalelei, Nancy(How cool is that?), and Salote! These girls are really awesome and they came to church on Sunday. We are trying to soften the Dads heart so that we can get his permission to baptized and hopefully in the process him as well. Folole is the Mother of the family. We have only met her twice. The first time we introduced her to the Book of Mormon and the Second we came back and she told us the she had read up to 1 Nephi 6! The ward is so excited about this family as well! We just got done mowing there lawn this morning and they are coming to the wards faafu tonight!

I really feel like after last week 3 Nephi 22:7 really struck chord with me. I know this is God's work and I know that not everyday or week or even month can be all happy and smiles. I am sure we all know this. But, I know it is like this for a reason. We all know that without struggles we can't grow. We can't have more appreciation and Love for our Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Just like in 2 Nephi 9:18. We all have our own crosses to bear and if we endure and bear our crosses well. We will inherit the Kingdom of God. I just sit and think about how merciful God truly is and I often think "Man, I wish I didn't mess up so much." Or "Why, I am so quick to forget?" I feel like these blessings that he so regularly blesses me are so significant that I shouldn't be so quick to forget him. But, I know he is patient with me, with all of us. More importantly, He truly does love us. And all he wants from us is to endure these trials for a very, very short period of time and then one day we will Rest in the Lord. I find such peace in that phrase and it gives me such great hope that no matter what is thrown at me, or yous, or our family in this life. If we all rely on Him and truly trust in his literal power to save us from anything and everything we will enter into his rest for all of eternity. I testify that He lives. This is his Gospel and it has already saved us. All we have to do, is let it save us. I love you Family. Time is short but, I hope we can all enjoy these last few months and really see how much God truly blesses us. This is his work. I love you all and hope you all have a great week!

Elder Barton

Season 6 Episode 12: Humility Through Trials

Wow, what a week. I am very short on time so try and bear with me as I try and explain to you all this past week and what I have learned. So, as of last week Monday until this week Monday. My companion and I have had a total of 6-8 hours of Proselyting time. For an entire week. We were so busy with meetings from Monday-Thursday that we were able to scrap just a few hours of proselyting out those days. Friday my companion got a very unfortunate sickness in a very very unfortunate region of his body. Which ended up keeping us inside Friday and Saturday. Sunday we had Church and after we had to do a Transfer and take an Elder the other side of the Island and then come back. So, as you can probably imagine I was feeling very down on myself and my position as a Zone Leader. I was thinking to myself that it would be so much better if I could just be a normal missionary and have the whole day to Proselyte. I was also so worried for all of our investigators. I felt like this gap of 7 days was allowing so much time for them to lose interest in what we were teaching them. Anyway, I came to the realization that I was thinking to much of myself and putting myself first. On top of that our investigator Tiauli and his beautiful family who were progressing so well, called us and told us that the Chief of there entire family told them that we could never come back. To say the least, at the end of the week I was feeling torn apart. But, I am grateful for the Lord and his patience with me. Because I was able to learn a couple valuable lessons this week. And we were able to see a few miracles as well! I just keep on getting reminded of the importance of humility and how if we are always humble and faithful God will be able to teach the things he wants us to learn. But, as soon as we start to make it about ourselves...We can't learn, we can't progress! That's what this life is about though. Progress. We learn from our mistakes and just do better each day!

We had a baptism yesterday! His name is Foloi! He is 24 and he was so excited to be baptized. I will send some pictures. We also met two new investigators on the street Yesterday and invited them to the Visitors center! They are Loku Assembly but, after watching the Joseph Smith Restoration Video they really wanted to learn more and they told us how they now understand we don't worship him but, we worship Jesus Christ and they want to learn more! I know a lot of this email doesn't make sense and doesn't convey a lot of the feelings I want it to but, I just want to end with my Testimony and I want you all to know that Our Father in Heaven lives as well as his Son Jesus Christ. I know that this is the only true church i luga lenei fogaelele. I know that Jesus Christ knows each one of us individually. He knows us by name. He truly wants us to be happy in this life and to feel of his love for us through his Atonement. I promise that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that we will get closer to God by reading it and living its principles by any other book! I encourage you all to read it everyday! It will change your life if you do! It has for me! I love you all so much and I pray for you all so much! Time sure is going fast! But, gotta finish strong and thats what I am going to do! Have a great week Family! Alofa Atu!

Season 6 Episode 11: God Lives

Well, these week was full of Miracles and some pretty humbling experiences. To start off, I don't think any of you know but, the pacific islands got hit by Cyclone Gita this past week. It hit us Friday night and at that point it was a Category 1 but, honestly when we were trying to sleep I felt like our house was going to tip. It was so crazy because It was pitch black outside so we couldn't really see anything. All we could do was listen to trees snapping and the rain pounding. We woke up the next morning got ready and went to go see how the Sisters in our Zone were doing because they weren't answering our calls and we wanted to make sure they were okay. Man, I was so surprised as we were driving to see how much damage wind can actually cause. Trees were completely split, Telephone Poles were snapped, Some parts of the road were torn up, the flooding was unreal, we saw a few houses that were caved in, A tree fell on one of our investigators house and completely demolished and because of the flooding there cars were completely ruined, we saw trees that had fallen on cars as well. It was quite incredible to witness. But, I think what was truly inspiring was to see how the Samoan people handled it. I can honestly say over this past week I haven't heard one complaint from anybody about the Cyclone. They have just been so happy and so quick to help their neighbors in whatever it was that they needed help with. I know we didn't get hit as bad as tonga did but, I was just so humbled to see these people put strangers first when they themselves needed help. These people truly do have Christ-like Love. Really hoping over these next few days we will be able to find some service projects!

I am very grateful for this week. I have once again been able to see the Tender Mercies of the Lord multiple times this week. First off, I hope you all know that the family I skyped at. The Vui family. The day after the Cyclone I received a text from them asking us if we were safe and alright and to let them know if we needed anything. I wouldn't have asked for anything but, President had told us that we needed to stay indoors for Saturday so, I asked them if they could just bring over a few packets of ramen for the night. They texted back happily letting us know that they would shortly be on there way. Well, they did a lot more for us than ramen. They brought chips, drinks, ramen, milk, cereal, Shampoo, Soap, Toothpaste, Laundry Detergent, Fabric Softener and so much more. I was honestly so shocked to see all of this food piled up inside of our tiny little house. And with a loss for words I gave them the best thank you I could offer and watched them drive off on there way to help another family in need. I would really appreciate if you could reach out to this family and just give them a thank you for this act of kindness. 

We have also been able to see a lot of improvement with our investigators this week. We have Fonotaga preparing to be baptized this week! Fonotaga is in his late 20's and just like most of my investigators has been prepared by the Hand of Lord to talia this message. We took him to the Visitors Center twice and he loved it! He loves reading from the Book of Mormon and can't wait to receive his priesthood! He is such a great person. He has never smoked or drank in his life and is just very humble and so excited to be baptized this week! 

We also contacted a former investigator in our area that had a baptismal date but, for some reason it didn't happen. I have had this feeling for so long that we need to visit him but, he only has an avanoa to talk in the morning and for whatever reason we have always been busy. Thankfully we had the avanoa to talk with him yesterday. Foloi (Former investigator) told us that the only reason he didn't get baptized was because he wasn't married at former time but, he is married now and wants to be baptized and never understood why the previous missionaries came back! I was so grateful that our Father and Heaven kept reminding me that Foloi needed to be visited because now we have another person preparing to enter the waters of baptism. 

I know this is a long email so here is just a short little summary of some other miracles. We have a very old lady named Maria who cried the first time we gave her the Book of Mormon and ever since that day has not been seen with out her Book in hand! Even when she goes to her church she comes with the Book of Mormon haha! She has two beautiful kids and we are hoping that they will talia le invitation to be baptized! We also got the Bishop action list for one of our wards and went to contact a 10 year old boy that hadn't been baptized and through that we found 3-5 more investigators at his house! Just so many blessings this week and I am so grateful.

The last thing I want to share is about a husband and wife that I had the chance to baptize last year in July. Risati and Manumea. Man, I wish I could tell you in depth this story. I will one day but, to make it short when we first contacted this man, he didn't want anything to do with us or the Book of Mormon. Over a period of time we finally got him to read one chapter and ever since that day, he gave up everything wrong he was doing and was completely converted to Jesus Christ. It truly was incredible to see. Anyway, I was able to see his baptism but, got transferred out right before his wife got baptized. So when I finally got transferred back here I was so happy to see them back at church because there ward meets at the same chapel we do! After talking with him I was so (Can't think of the a good enough word) to hear that Him and his wife and kids are preparing to enter the temple this August. Not only this, through his conversion and his example his family that live in a different village and at the time of his baptism were no where close to supporting him were baptized in December! The only two left is his older sister and younger Brother! Words can't really describe how awed I was to how God prepares his people at different times so they can help others come unto Christ!

I know this a very long email but, this week was a very incredible week. So much happened but, I feel like I have grown so much because of what has happened. I know that God lives and so does His Son Jesus Christ. This is His work and he knows and is aware of all of His Children. I know that The Book of Mormon truly converts people unto Christ and I have seen it save peoples life. I am so grateful for this work and the chance I have to be a servant of Him that gave his life for me. I love you all and am so grateful for the support and the prayers. Time is getting shorter but, we will all keep on sprinting until it's all over. I love you Family! God Bless you all this week! Have a great week and know that He is watching over you! Alofa Atu!

Elder Barton