Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Dec 29th
Long time no see!
That’d be a lie, because I saw y’all, you saw that I saw y’all, and neither of us can deny it! It was the best part of Christmas for sure! Thanks for being the same incredible family! Sounded like the Christmas Spirit was loud and clear for all y’all! Thanks for sharing just a moment of it with me! So many incredible things are happening here in Kennesaw. This is the right place!
Up: Clearly, it was speaking with y’all! But everything surrounding Christmas was really touching, truly. We were so well taken care of and felt loved everywhere we went. I was so glad to share that love with others. I wish I could have done more in return for these amazing members. I hope that someday I can make the impact on a missionary or someone that these people have had on me! Namely, the Ravsten’s, the Ohman’s, the Brooks, the Thurstons, Bro. Kuczma, the list can go on and on! It was a special set of days! 
Up: We met with Princess on the 23rd and we had planned to teach her how she can know better of God’s love. She asked the question earlier,”Where is God in all of my suffering?”. We spoke of Prayer, Scripture Study, and Attending Church. In all three cases she came to the conclusion that God was nearby. Rewind, before the lesson started, we opened up to Acts 17:27-29. We came to find out that a member family in the ward gave her a Christmas Gift, one of our Recent Converts took her shopping, and another Member took her to go pick up a bike for her son, Jeremiah, out in Marietta. It was a serious out pouring of God’s love! So amazing to be a part of it all! 
Down: I didn’t quite finish the Book of Mormon by Christmas. Maybe next year! 
Up: A miracle for you happened on the 23rd with Elder Hollingsworth on an exchange (he serves here in Kennesaw Mountain as well). We were doing some inspired tracting around our members, in the rain, and hit door after door of people that would like to have us back, but we came to one door we felt so good about. We met this Nigerian family of eight that welcomed us right in and had several questions for us. I love teaching families! They accepted to be baptized as they came to know that it was true and invited us back over to try some authentic Nigerian food and have a lesson! We are super excited for this family! We were totally led to them! Earlier I had been discussing with Elder Hollingsworth about our difficulties in finding and then Lord gave the increase! God definitely still inspires men!  
Thanks for everything, seriously! I am ever so grateful that I have y’all in my life! I love you all so very much! Please keep up the smiles and the good times! I love you all, seriously! Please let me know what I can do to help! Have another blessed up week! Fight the good fight! 
Love,

Elder Dallan Barnes

Monday, December 22, 2014

Dec 22

Merry Merry Christmas Y’all!
Another Christmas is upon us! It will be such a treat to see and hear from you real soon! Looking forward to it! It seems all is well back at the ranch! Everyone survived their finals which is a blessing in and of itself! Next semester is coming right up so get the rest you need! Enjoy the goodies as well! Personally, I think Georgia is the place to be for Christmas, but you can try to disagree with me on that! Thanks for the emails! My week was swell! A lot of things great things are happening here!
Up: We had a special Christmas Conference at the Temple this week with half of the Mission. It was a magical time! There was a catered BBQ dinner. Much singing. Many testimonies were offered. The Spirit of Christmas was certainly felt! It was memorable! I will never have anything like it in the rest of my life! I was soaking it up. Jesus Christ is Christmas! 
Down: I decided that I am not very talented. At least musically! We have some very gifted people here in this mission! I try to console myself saying that my gifts can’t be shared at events like that. Maybe a gift of mine is rationalizing………
Up: Princess Davis and her two kids! They came to the Ward Christmas Party! It is just a matter of time and getting her to quit smoking. She already has the desire to do such, so we do not anticipate any difficulty as we move forward. They are progressing well, but probably won’t be baptized this month! They will make it though!! It is so incredible to see people’s faith growing and their hearts changing! 
Up: I get to see y’all in a few days! I think we are doing dinner around 6:00PM, so the skyping could be before hand, but more than likely it will be after. Does that work? Thanks for the Christmas Packages too! We are so spoiled here! Elder Richardson is amazed! 
Up: The miracle this week was in finding and locating another family that is in distress. I studied Alma 28 and it is mentioned in verses 13 and 14 the great reason we are called to diligently labor in the Lord’s vineyard. Which is to remove the snares and prevent the snaring of the heart’s of God’s children from the adversary. People really are taken by his schemes. Alicia and her family of three we found the other day. They are in a difficult spot and are in need of a miracle. Alicia is raising all three of her kids away from her family in Ohio. She moved to give her kids a better life than she had. She recognized that her faith was going to be the key here in moving forward. She had plans to come to church but they were changed due to some interesting circumstances. We will be seeing her this week and helping her along to church. She wants her kids to be baptized with her and created a foundation where they will strengthen one another, because each other is all that they have. It was a humbling experience to say the least! I do know that they can make it though! 
Thanks for the emails and the Love! We will look forward to conversing here right quick! Please let me know what I can do for y’all! In order to capitalize on the Skype Time, let’s have some ideas before we chat! Y’all have done so good with that so far! Enjoy the Quiche the White Elephant Party! Love you all so much! Have a blessed up week! I will see you soon! Fight the good fight! 
Love,
Elder Dallan Barnes 

He is the Gift!

Monday, December 15, 2014



Miss Abby was in charge of Operation Christmas Tree! She was super stealthy and not spotted by the handsome missionaries that live in Apt 104........nicely done Abby!


This is Ralph who was found living in the Christmas tree....a Christmas miracle....a lucky lizard!!!



                                                             All ready for Christmas!


                                Who is the weirdo behind the tree with Reindeer glasses???



Dec 15
It sounds like the madness is happening out in Utah! I wish all of you the best for the finals that are upon you! I don’t happen to have any exams like that. The only final I have to worry about is, well, there really isn’t any, not any that I want to discuss. But Christmas! Right around the corner! That is incredible! Sounds and looks like Christmas Cheer is being had! Let me run you through the week!
Up: We survived and thrived in the Zone Conference we had the privilege of running! We totally rallied around a Zone goal. We originally set a goal of 28 Baptisms, but with an increase of faith, the Zone agreed to 48 by the end of the transfer! We had no agenda and let the Spirit guide. We are surrounded by the Noble and Great! The Zone also came to the conclusion to fast for these 48 souls! We fasted Tuesday night through Wednesday and had a Zone Miracle Call to conclude and celebrate! It was remarkable the testimonies and experiences that were shared. 
Down: A bit of a cold has caught me. It isn’t even cold out here. What gives?? I suppose the Lord is wanting to make me work a little harder. 
Up: We had 5 minutes before we had to be on a conference call, and we felt inspired to hit one more door. We knocked on it, and out came a lady that said that there was someone that really wanted to talk with us that just left. Much to our amazement, she ended up being the one we needed to speak to. She was distraught by somethings she had discussed regarding who can go to heaven. She asked us how she could know that she would be in Heaven and not Hell! Her name is Glory and she is from Nigeria! She accepted a date to be baptized right there on the door step! The time we have is precious! Anything can happen in just a moment!
 Down: Princess might be moving. She has hit a bit of a rough patch and is considering her options. She didn’t quite make it to church either. We’ll keep working with her!
Up: The miracle for this past week for you stems around a darker cold night, namely Friday. One door after another, rejection, often rude too. I questioned if we needed to be there. I felt such unrest that we needed to be, and we hit one more door. Out came a lady named Tiffany. She moved from South Carolina to get a fresh start. She is a young mother with 2 young children. I had an epiphany, as did Elder Richardson, of the Missionary Mom from Meet the Mormons. She accepted to be baptized right there! She wants more peace in her life! I don’t think I have felt so strongly about someone at a door than this woman. We will be following up with her this week and helping her experience God’s love! It was a testimony to both of us that there are many prepared and the only way to find them is by the Spirit, through much prayer and courage to follow impressions!
Thanks for all that you do for me! It makes me so happy to hear that all is well! Love you all so much! Please let me know what I can do to better help any one of you! Fight the good fight! Have a blessed up week!
 Love,
Elder Dallan Barnes
If Satellites can guide cell phones, Heavenly Father can guide His Children.

Monday, December 8, 2014

Dearly Beloved!
My Family! My Friends! My Foes even! Good morning! It is an immense privilege to be in your midst! Thank you for your prayers, your thoughts, and you! Thanks for being you! Each and every one of you, all the you’s out there have played such a huge role in my life and in sculpting me into who I need to be! The true Spirit of Christmas is upon us, namely, the pure love of Christ! Thank you for possessing that kind of love, because that is exactly what the world needs! It has been a stellar week out here atop the Kennesaw Mountain! Let me tell you, the view is great! If my forecasts are right, it will be a white Christmas! At least with baptisms! Who knows, maybe we can get some snow too. Here’s the weekly update!
Up: It sufficeth me to say that my new companion is the man! Elder Richardson is from Nampa, Idaho, loves sports, has an incredible testimony and desire to do the work, just transferred from Thomaston, has been out 7.5 Months, and helps make my weaknesses strengths! He is calm, cool, and collected. I am so excited to be serving with him this transfer and hopefully I will get to spend a little more than that with him! It is weird being with only one companion, but I think I can get back used to it!
 Up: We get to prepare, plan, and run a Zone Conference on our own. It is quite the feat but it will be a really cool experience for us and the Zone! We also have a Christmas Conference at the Temple next week! Truly we are blessed our here in the big A. It is all about “He is the Gift”.
 Down: We had an investigator, Tony, who totally fell of the radar. He was moving towards baptism, the one that we wept with on the doorstep. Come to find out that he left everything behind and no way to find out where he is. This world seems to be so small, but it also happens to be big enough to people to disappear. We will be praying that somewhere down the road missionaries run into him.
 Up: It’s a Christmas Miracle! This past week’s miracle was with our investigator Princess. We had a meeting with her set for Saturday Evening. Our team up had an emergency and we were left to scramble and put something together. We called and called, all to no avail. We then prayed and were lead to call the Peterson Family. They had a hectic schedule with their five kids, a wedding, and you name it going on, but they so lovingly set aside 45 minutes of their time. It was one of the most incredible lessons I have been a part of, teaching to her need of finding happiness each day through the Atonement of Christ. They ended up offering up their home for dinner on Sunday with her and her family and having her over for the Christmas Devotional as well! It was divinely appointed because this family has told us that they haven’t had an investigator in their home for many years. I am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father! He cares for us and he cares for all of His Children! Miracles do continue to happen!
 So that is about it! Thanks for all that you do for me! It has been incredible to be here in Georgia! Please let me know what I can do to better help you! Fight the good fight and have a blessed up week! Love you all so much!
 Love,
Elder Dallan Barnes
Don’t pay the price of not praying :)

Tuesday, December 2, 2014


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You Big Turkeys!!
It is so good to hear from everyone yet again! I am so grateful for you! I love you all so much! On a scale of one to stuffed, how was Thanksgiving? Mine was most excellent! December is upon us! What in the world?? I just don’t understand where time has gone! What I do know is that I am here in Georgia, and there is not a place I desire else to be! I’m just out here climbing Mountains! Namely, the Kennesaw assortment! It is a bone chilling 65 degrees out here. I am not complaining either! It was a weird week considering I spent more time away from our area, but I thoroughly enjoyed it all!
Up: I had the chance to spend a few days on bike! I spent two days in Carrollton with the mighty Elder Holy, the last time I was around him was in the MTC! He is one spectacular Elder! We had many miracles, but one in particular while we were out biking, Elder Holt and I had plans but nothing was panning out. The appointments we had slipped out of our reach, and we were left wondering what was next. We were walking to a door and I saw a lady walking towards hers across the street. I had a feeling I need to talk with her. I stopped, stared at the clouds, pondering the beauty of this Earth, and then asked her what the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. The conversation turned towards God’s grandeur, and the miracles she had witnessed. Martice was not supposed to live past 5 due to her health problems, but now she is proud to have two children and one grandchild. She wanted a chance to have a remission of her sins and she accepted to be baptized! It was the Lord, yet again, looking after us and putting us in the right place! God is good! I am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father! Many are prepared! It was all worth it to find her that day! She will be coming to church next Sunday!
Down: Both my companions are leaving me! Elder Kennedy leaves to Brazil Tuesday evening. Elder Pack will be leaving at the transfer meeting! I am going to miss these two! I love these brothers so very much! I will be remaining in place and getting just one companion. Who knows, maybe we will pick up a third if I stay here long enough! I am excited though!
Up: We had the chance to spend our Thanksgiving at the great Clark family’s home! It was an incredible place to be and much food, fun, and jubilation was had! They were so generous to have us over! We even had some Eggnog Mousse Pie! The other thing I am proud of, I did not gain any weight! That’s a real kicker!
 Up: One other quick miracle that we saw, me and Elder Pender as I was on exchanges out in Lithia Springs. When I was there for a week we found some incredible people that somehow fell through the cracks! We were able to relocate them and the one that I felt so good about, we dropped in,Terrence and Tiffany. They weren’t home but their Tiffany’s Mom came out to speak with us. She opened right up telling us how much we helped Tiffany the one day we knocked on their door. She then explained her situation and how she knew we were sent by God to see her. She had just been praying and poof, there we are! She accepted to be baptized and we will be working with all of them. She said she was going to post us on Facebook because we were that answer to her prayers! It is amazing to know that you are in the right place at the right time! 
Well, I have to get jamming! Y’all are incredible and I love you so much! Please keep fighting the good fight! Find someone to serve this holiday season! True giving is receiving! Hope you have an excellent blessed up week!
Love,
Elder Dallan Barnes

Doubting Disables Divine Delicacies!

Monday, November 24, 2014

Nov 24th
Happy Thanksgiving!
What’s going on for Turkey Day? How is the break treating everyone? On a scale of 1 to Essential, how do you feel about the post Thanksgiving Meal nap? What kind of deals are out there this year? It is so good to hear from everyone! I am so thankful and each and everyone of you! Another email, I am so spoiled! Thanks for all of the Birthday Wishes and Surprises! It was a magnificent day! Y’all even ordered Elder Kopischke for me, what more could I ask for?! Thank you for making it such a magical day! I felt so much love and it means the world to me! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Love you all so much! Allow me to run you through the happenings!
Up: Elder Kopishcke is incredible! I don’t even know where to start. I know for a surety that the Priesthood Authority has been restored! He spoke by the tongue of angels! He challenged us to write down some questions of ours and he promised that they would be answered either by him through the Holy Ghost, or by the Holy Ghost alone! Me being me, I wrote down six questions, to put it to the test. The Lord always delivers. He unfolded scriptures, explained doctrine, and the notes I have are worth so much to me. Personal revelation is absolutely essential! The greatest thing that I took away with the questions that I had was to increase in charity. I need more of it! I have a lot of changes to make but I am happy to do so! You had to be there to really feel the power, but wow, my testimony was built! 
Down: I am pretty sure that I will be losing both of my companions this transfer. Elder Kennedy has his visa, departing on the 2nd.  These two are incredible!
Up: Chocolate Covered Strawberries?? Pizza?! Gifts!! It really was more than I could have ever asked for! I have to get a shout out to the amazing Lee family! Grandma and Grandpa Barnes! Grandma and Grandpa C! The Adam’s! My birthday this year will be one that I remember for a good minute!  
Up: We had an appointment with a lady named Janay, who was extremely interested in meeting with us. We showed up for the appointment and she was nowhere to be found. However, when we first met with her, she had an uncle, whose best friend was a member. Tony, had been taught by missionaries, but had some concepts that didn’t gel well with his beliefs. Our first encounter with him was one of disinterest, but he came to the door Saturday Afternoon. He told us Janay was not home, the Spirit took over, and I asked and said that maybe we were sent to see him today. He was a little shocked and stepped right out. He later explained to us that he just barely got out of prison. He spent eight years there on charges that were apparently false. He had lost everything, his wife, family, and business, all gone! We listened and the Spirit taught that lesson. We wept with him on the door step and his heart allowed us in. He accepted to be baptized as he gets his life back on track. We will meet with him tomorrow. Not super often do we get the chance to truly mourn with those that are mourning, but I truly cherish that instance, because it turns me to our Savior and how much he had done for us! Truly, it is a remarkable thing to represent Him!
That is about all I have! Y’all are truly incredible! Angels even! Please keep being happy! Fight the good fight! Have another super thankful and blessed up week! I cannot express it enough! I am so grateful for everyone of you! Every little thing! Please let me know what I can do to better help anyone of you! Love you all so very much!

Love,
Elder Dallan Barnes


Our purpose is to invite all to come unto Christ, by Helping them.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Nov 17
The Day has come!
Hello from rainy Georgia! I don’t even know what to talk about…. Why is it that the weather always comes up? In case you were wondering, it is supposed to get down to the ‘teens tomorrow. Hotlanta, going into hibernation! It was a superb week! God was very mindful of me on my escapades in the Lost Mountain Ward. It was gone in the blink of an eye, or several thousand if my calculations are correct. So let me tell you about the times that have passed as if it were a dream! Thanks for all of the Birthday wishes as well!
Up: I was able to reconnect with so many people! The Pestana family and Maria were some of the more prominent ones! It was so great! They came all came to church too! What was surprising was that these people hadn’t been seen in a good minute! Once again, half déjà vu half dream come true!
Up: We were fed by some of my most favorite families! The Shells, Barnes, Millers, Kroghs, Wiblins, Carnells, to list a few! I now recognize how I put on the kind of weight that I did! It was oh so worth it though! I love these families so much and many that aren’t even listed! Powder Springs is truly a blessed land!!
Down: I had to leave the great Carnell Basement again…
Neutral: I am getting older, yet wiser, that is what they say at least.
The most exciting thing that we get to do on the 20th, is actually hear from a member of the Seventy, Elder Kopischke! He is doing a fireside at 7:00 at the Temple! So that will be a unique birthday right there!
That is about all I got, thanks for the birthday wishes! Y’all are too good to me, even in my advanced age. Thanks for everything you do! Every prayer, thought, email, etc. It all adds up to so much to me! Please let me know what I can do to help! Fight the good fight! Have another super blessed up week :)
Love,

Elder Dallan Barnes……People die in bed, and so does ambition, so get out and make it happen!

Monday, November 10, 2014

Happy Halloween!!!



New car....Isn't she beautiful....brand new 2015 Fusion
Nov 10th
Dearest Beloved Family,
That is way too formal! The day is ours, so let’s cease it! It appears to me that this past week was taken by the horns, from Texas to Utah, and everywhere in between! The season of thanks rolls forth! It is surprisingly warmer than it was last year, although I will not complain! The leaves are changing now and my prayer is that we can find some of those whose hearts are changing too! Here’s the weekly update!
Up: The Zone Training Meeting at the Temple went well! We got a much larger portion of time to train and I actually had a similar experience to President Harding, in regards to some pain he felt Tuesday during a different ZTM. Thursday night, I had a series of back spasms and I was unable to even undress let alone to make it into bed. Breathing was even painful. I wasn’t even sure if I would be able to travel to the Temple. I turned and tossed all night, it amounted to less than an hour of sleep. All of this being said, the moment we hit the temple, sitting in the chapel, as I gazed into the Savior’s eyes, Matthew 11:28-30 came to my mind. The pain didn’t disappear, but it was almost nonexistent during our training segment. God definitely strengthened me to conquer my pains and afflictions. With God, nothing is impossible!
 Up: The top person I wanted to talk about was our investigator, Jatavius. He is doing so well! He was called into work this past Sunday (Satan’s a loser!). He is so close to be done and over with probation, it is crazy! He and his wife to be are going to have such a story to tell! He wants to come out and teach with us all the time when he gets the chance! He wants his kids to be missionaries! It is so amazing to see the light of Christ click on in people’s lives! We are still helping him work towards 11/29!
 Down: I’m sorry again, I don’t got anything for this…
 Up: I get to spend the next week in the Lost Mountain Ward, and do some damage that I left undone when I first served there! It should be a good run!
 Up: It was dusk, and turning dark quickly, as it seems to be nowadays. We knocked several doors, with no luck. No one wanted to hear from us. We persisted and were lead to the last door on the street. We knocked on the door and Christan came out, a little uneasy at first. We walked through the blessing approach and she opened right up. She expressed the pleas of her heart that we could include in this prayer for her. We later found out that she taught fifth grade and her Student Teacher is a member I know from the Lost Mountain Ward. The husband then pulled up and he had several employees that were members of the church. They think the world of the Church and have wanted to come and visit! They were unsure about baptism, but they already have so many positive experiences in their lives with the Church! Truly, we were lead to their home and we look forward to seeing them in the chapel this Sunday!
 Well that is about it once again! Another week in the history books! These are days never to be forgotten for sure! Please let me know what I can do for anyone of you! Thanks for the email! It makes the week kick off the right way! Have another super duper blessed up week! Fight the good fight! Enjoy to the end! Love you all so very much!
 Love,

Elder Dallan Barnes…………………The Principle of Obedience is Paramount

Monday, November 3, 2014

NOV 3
Spooky Days!
November is officially here! That spooks me a little! More spooky than Dad without facial hair ;) Glad to hear Halloween was well out there in Utah! It was another grand one out here in Georgia! And it has officially turned cold! It dipped below freezing for a time. We even some scattered flurries! We are in for a cold one! Cold as the rockies!
  Up:  Monday, we were fulfilling the expectation of making forty calls and by the 40th call we struck the one we needed to find. We spent the next 20 minutes mourning with Isha, bearing her burden. She weepingly informed us that she had just barely gotten off the phone with someone who has her in between a rock and a hard place. She had nowhere else to turn, yet the Lord prepared a way for us to truly represent Him. It was so touching to me to have this intimate moment with someone who I had never spoke to or known before. The Lord is certainly preparing people! He has also prepared me so that I could be ready when called upon!
 Up: Bro. Valvo from the Twin Oaks Ward, a member that I got to know really well, actually moved intot he ward boundaries. He was moved over here by the VA recently. It was really good to hear from him and how well he was doing. He won his court case and is almost out of the mess he was in when I first met him nine months ago! I also got to see John Steele at the Trunk or Treat! He is doing well!!
 Down: The Halloween costume, well, my companions copied me.  
 Up: Tuesday we had our team up coming out with us, our appointments set. The Lord had to steer us elsewhere, as we discovered. The meetings fell through, but in passing we met the neighbor of our investigator. His name is Jatayvious, and he actually started speaking to us. We quickly found out that he had been searching for truth for the past five years. He has an infant son who is 8 months old, and was recently married. They both have been looking for a church home where they can raise their family correctly! He told us he was pulled into talking to us and that he felt something he had never felt. He even asked us when he and his family could be baptized. To which we responded, November 29th. We are looking forward to meeting with them more. He was unable to come to church due to work, but his he has work off this next Sunday!
 Thanks for the email as usual! I am glad y’all are so reliable! Please let me know what I can do to help! Fight the good fight, keep the shield of faith up, keep the Armor of God on always! Have another blessed up week! Love you all so much!!
 Love,
Elder Dallan Barnes

 Imagine, Believe, Become -- This is the Doctrine of Christ!

Monday, October 27, 2014

Oct 27     Happy Halloween!
Thanks for the pictures! Those costumes look simple, yet dashing! Halloween out here will involve preaching the Gospel! I think we are the only people in history that would knock on some one’s door, and we give them the trick, that we aren’t in costumes! Needless to say, all is well out here in Powder Springs! God is good! The fall is definitely upon us (not Adam’s, that has always been there). Not tricks here though, what you see is what you get in this email!
Up: We were blessed to see Krysta baptized and confirmed this past week! It was definitely a tender mercy of the Lord which brought me back to this area. The Gospel is in fact true and it changes lives, which is personally my favorite thing to see!
Up: I got to spend a whole week with both of my companions, although, that will come to an end tonight. We will be splitting for another week, and probably every week after that. I have been blessed with some of the greatest companions throughout my mission. God is very mindful of our needs!
Down: Where has October gone??
Up: Miracle of the week has to be the other day as I was out with a member who is hard to have come out and teach with us! We had two solid lessons and as we were leaving I felt inspire to talk to these younger girls nearby. They pointed me in the direction of where they stay and said that there Mom needs a prayer. We courageously followed the Holy Spirit, and met with Nicole and her three kids. She has been praying for guidance and has not been to church in three years. She knows that her family needs to be there. Our member was able to invite her, offer the ride, and was so pivotal with his testimony. We taught the Restoration right there, and she accepted to be baptized. One of her relatives passed away, so she was unable to come to church, but she will be set for next week! More than anything, the member was the one I felt that benefited most. After we wrapped up, he told me that he will come out with us any time. As we help these members experience the Doctrine of Christ, they cannot help but want more! 
That is about all I have yet again. You’re all incredible! Every last one of y’all! Please let me know if there is anything I can do! Fight the good fight! Keep the faith! Be happy, be successful! Have a blessed up week!
 Love,
Elder Dallan Barnes

 Search inward with humility, but reach outward with love.

Monday, October 20, 2014



Oct 20
October…. Is almost Gone.
Where in the world did it all go? Halloween is right around the corner. My birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, oh my! People ask how long I have been out and I hate hearing the number that comes out. This time goes by too fast. I just have to keep my nose in the work! It was another great week here in the Kennesaw Mountain Ward (it was weird to be back, but I love it!). None of us will be transferred which is a bonus! Good things are to come!
Up: I have my incredible companion back with me! We did back to back week long exchanges, but Elder Kennedy parachuted out into Carrollton. We did work here, he did work out there. Many lives were changed! President Harding is called of God! I am so blessed to serve alongside him! He has helped me see my potential and continually reach it! Incredible companions make a huge difference too!
Up: Krysta will be baptized Tuesday! It will be such an incredible thing to witness! I know that was likely a reason why I came back to Powder Springs! God’s timing is perfect; his placement is perfect, which makes sense because He is perfect! Perfect love casteth out all fear :)
Down: My weight keeps going down, does that count? Because there really is no downside to serving a mission, and with an eye of optimism, all things are the best!
Up:  My miracle for y’all would have to be our next door neighbor, who found us! About 3 weeks ago, she began speaking to her supervisor, who is a member of the church. She had many conversations with him about the church’s beliefs. He finally gave her a Book of Mormon and was soon after promoted, and she has not seen him since. She moved into our place two weeks ago, and needed to borrow a screw driver for some things she was trying to hang. We started talking with her, and she pulled out the Book of Mormon. We find out she has been searching for truth since she was 14! She loved the Restoration and also the First Vision! Chaqita is incredible! She accepted to be baptized on the 8th of November!
That is about all I have for you! God is good! The Gospel is true! Thanks for all that you do! Who would have knew that I would be far from you?! Sorry, got a little carried away there. Case in point, thanks for all that you do for me! I truly appreciate it all! I wish y’all the best of week! I love you all so much! Have another blessed up week!  
Love,
Elder Dallan Barnes 
I recently lost my mood ring, and I just don’t know how I feel about that???

If it’s in your heart, you’ll do your part.

Monday, October 13, 2014

10/13
Fish out of Water.
We built a series of breathing apparatuses out of kelp, so we could survive no worries! As you know I was deployed, displaced, etc. to labor in an area not my own. I got to spend a week in the Lithia Springs Ward! Monday to Monday! It was crazy being away from Kennesaw Mountain, but miracles were to be had! Thanks for the email, and it appears there is some big news churning around out there. Let me get into and after it all! 
 Up: We got to go the temple and later see Meet the Mormons. It is a great movie, totally recommend it! The temple is as great as usual. God’s peace cannot be found anywhere else! I got to conduct the meeting again which made for an interesting time, but all is well in Zion!
Up Up! The week long exchange went so well! We walked in having a little going on, and left with oodles upon noodles of things happening. It was nothing of my own doing. God gave the increase. I just happened to be able to be a part of the plan. My faith is unshaken in the Lord. The Lord pretty much said that he would fight my battles if I trusted in him, as I was a little nervous about the task that was at hand. I know that there are some families that I was supposed to find down there. The field is so white! One miracle for you! As we were in the concluding hours of the exchange, we felt prompted to go see a lady named Jessica, who is on date. We visited with her and have her set to come to church (she has 8 kids I believe). But after we got done speaking with her, we felt like we ought to go knock on this door above them, who we had spoken with in passing, making some light jokes about coming up to eat (he was carrying groceries in). They let us right in and opened completely up about their lives. Terrence and Tiffany have not been married but have 2 kids. They aren’t sure if they need to break up and part ways. We whipped out the Family Proclamation and explained to them what God sees them as. They were even engaged at one point, but Satan got between them. We helped them see that they need to look to the Lord First, think of the kids, and then each other, then if you have time, worry about yourself. We talked for 45 minutes about how they can be happier together. They really have something special! They accepted to be baptized, and want to have the missionaries over for a “Missionary Appreciation Lunch”. They are incredible!
Down: I feel a little disoriented with what is happening in our area. Things are booming though! I am sure I will get back up to speed! I have two of the finest companions I could ask for!
So that is a wrap as usual! Thanks again for the letter! Have an excellent blessed week all y’all! Love you so very much and let me know what I can do to help! Fight the good fight! Endure and Enjoy to the End!
Love,
Elder Dallan Barnes 

What we do in this life, echoes in eternity. 

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Oct 6
Welcome to October
Fall has literally fallen upon us out here. The temperatures have dipped below the 50’s in the morning. It is brisk but beautiful. The leaves should be changing soon too! What a great time to be alive! There is so much to be thankful for, but first and foremost, I am thankful for a Loving Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ. They have done everything so that we could be happy. But in a close second (silver medal is still good, right?) would have to be y’all! Thanks for the email! My devoted family! Y’all are truly the best, a sight to behold (depending on what time it is of course…) I am too blessed. Thanks for being who you are!
The Ups! Bro. Hoyt was McDunked! It was a pretty nonchalant service, but the Spirit was certainly there! It has been a long time coming, but it was remarkable. There is nothing that will bring a bigger smile to my face than seeing someone come to the Savior. General Conference was the bomb, was it not? It goes by too quick. That was my third one; I have one more left… Where has time gone? Needless to say, I received answers to my prayers as well! Alonzo had the greatest miracle I have seen in a while (Rick and Tiny like). He called us because he was short $20 on the electric bill (due to the timing). He got his Mom ready, went to a McDonalds to charge his phone and get help. His Mom needs the electricity because she has a breathing machine for when she sleeps. They had to get the money soon or else they couldn’t turn the power on until the next day. On the phone we told him that we couldn’t help with the money, but we could pray. We plead for a miracle, in his behalf. Twenty minutes later, he goes into the McDonald’s bathroom, and lo and behold, a $20 bill had been sitting right next to the trash can. God is a God of Miracles! Faith will always provide a way! We were kind of freaking out, like school girls one might say (no my voice isn’t the highest…). I got to have a dinner at the Holmes home in Lost Mountain! We had Shrimp and Grits as well as Pineapple Crepes (the really thing pancakes!). It was so good! Now I know why I put on so much weight… Everyone seems to notice that I am thinner. I got to see a few old investigators too, Allen and Janet, and also Steve. It is so good to be back! And Krysta will be baptized this week! 
Down: I don’t really have much of these I have come to notice. Conference is over, that’s a bit of a downer. I got nothing. Sorry for all you downers if this happens to be your favorite part.
That is just about all I have. Well, one more thing. I love you all so very much! Thanks for being so truly remarkable and putting up with me! Y’all treat me too well! Thanks for everything and I hope that in some way I can repay y’all! Keep up the good fight of faith! Never be ashamed of the Gospel! Have another blessed up week and I look forward to hearing how it went!

 Love, Elder Dallan Barnes………….Desire delivers divine direction.

Monday, September 29, 2014

Oct 29
So you’re saying there’s a chance!
What a crazy week! I still feel like there is not such a thing as a normal week out here, is that bad? It keeps things interesting, so I don’t mind it one bit! Do y’all ever experience ‘normal’ weeks? What is real life really like? What is normal all along…. And on that note, my week was great!
Up: Certainly one of the best ups for me this week was the chance I had to go back and spend a day in the Lost Mountain Ward! It was incredible! I love that place! We were blessed to be fed by the Phillip’s (don’t worry, it was just a ‘snack’). And also the Wallace’s and Collin’s had us over too! I got to reconnect with several investigators that I had taught. Last but not least, I got to spend time in the place I once called home…. The Carnell’s basement! It was good to see them especially! It was like this half déjà vu half dream come true ©. That rhymed. Copyrighted ;) . Everyone seems to notice how much weight I have lost. I will call it, the MARTA Diet!
Up Up: Bro Hoyt will be baptized on the 3rd of October!!! We are making final preparations, but it will be an incredible day! The ward is awfully excited for this! He has been a long process, but all is well! We also had Alonzo come to church again, and he also attended a fireside out in Douglasville (which we had to help coordinate). Sunday was a good day. I happened to bare my testimony as well, haven’t done that in a little while. It was a year ago that I first bore testimony from that pulpit. The Nostalgia!!
Up Up Up: General conference weekend!!! It is like Christmas all over again! Spiritual presents are being placed under our trees. The only problem is that we aren’t sure which tree to go to because there is so many here…. Kind of a problem. Maybe we just need to check under the tree of life :) Write down a question before conference, and I promise it will be answered as you watch! Soak it up!
Down: We need to find more families! You can never be teaching too much. Families need what we have in order to be happy forever. The Doctrine of Christ and the Doctrine of the Family are inseparably connected!
Well that is an official wrap to my week! Thanks for emailing and letting me know of yours! Keep fighting the good fight of faith, endure and enjoy to the end, look up and smile! Have another blessed up week! Love you all so very much and I look forward to hearing from y’all in a week! Let me know if there is anything that I can do!
Love,
Elder Dallan Barnes
 Patient Progress makes an Eternal Difference.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Sept 22

There’s a snake in my boot,

Not really, I don’t even have boots in the first place, but! We did find a snake outside our apartment! So we did what Moses invited the children of Israel to do, look and live! But needless to say, all is well in the grand land of Georgia! God is still in the soil! He also seems to be the temperature, because He is turning down the heat in Hotlanta. We’ll just see what we can do to light it up with the baptism by fire, yea, even by the Holy Ghost. It was a stellar week! I am so happy to be alive and to be serving the Lord! Surely there is no place that I ought to be right now.

Ups: The greatest news that we received was for a many that we are teaching, and that missionaries have been teaching for a good minute, finally has decided to pull the trigger on baptism. Bro Hoyt will be baptized not this weekend, but the next! We have some things we need to iron out, but the miracle was that we set the date for the 18th, and apparently the 4th seemed better to him. He has never been happier; they even had us over for a deep fried turkey feast.

 Another great miracle was that we were having a longer day, even a member was out with us. No one, nor their dogs, nor their dog’s dogs were answering the door. And lo and behold, as we were backing the car out, a young man (25) came and starting speaking with us saying,” Y’all seem really friendly, do you represent Jesus Christ?” Alonzo and his Mom came to church and loved it. They both accepted to be baptized on the 18th of October! Many are prepared! That is a scientific fact! 

I got to spend a lunch with the incredible Miller Family! It was good to see them, and we will be working with Bro. Miller because he is the Stake High Councilman over missionary work. They are amazing, truly! I am so blessed to have had the chance to get to know them so well and many others in the Lost Mountain Ward. I got to see Krysta (investigator from Lost Mountain) and it was so incredible to see her too! She is doing well and is looking to be baptized in December! I hope I am there for that! She is amazing! I also had the immense blessing of seeing the Phillip’s family! I love them so much! I am at a lack of words with describing how legit they are! I was so happy to see them!

Down: It isn’t really a down, but we didn’t achieve the goals we were hoping for. We had everything set up for the lessons we hoped we would teach, and things fell through. I may be a little disappointed about not reaching as many people, but I am certainly not discouraged. Good things are to come this week! I know it! I also think I could use the Book of Mormon more. Once again, not really a down.

All Arounds: I just want to have an all around thank you for everything that everyone has done for me! Prayers, emails, letters, packages, love, and what have you. I am surrounded by amazing people, and for that I am eternally grateful. I don’t know where I would be without y’all! So, simply stated,Thank You.

That is about a wrap! Thanks again and keep on keeping on! Fight the good fight, have a blessed up one! And we will chat in about weeks time! Let me know what I can do to further help you! Love you all so very much!

Love,
Elder Dallan Barnes

Only when you pause and ponder is it that we see His Hand and His Plan Unfold.