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.

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.

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. 

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.