July 13

This just in…

The miracles are still happening, the rain is still pouring,  and the missionaries are still sweating. What is new you may ask? The most recent developments are as follows!

We received a new companion on Wednesday this week. Elder Beckstead had to return home to seek medical treatment. It was sad to see him go because he is an excellent missionary. God is at the helm of this work and our lives! We received his companion, Elder Lamb, and will be working the Conyers Ward and the Covinton Ward. Can you talk about opportunities?! Our work was cut out for us before, then it got added too. Six Kneaders French Toast pale in comparison the challenge at hand! It is going to be awesome though, to say the least! I am pretty sure after all this time, it’s not my companions, it’s me! I was a problem from the beginning! Elder Lamb is from Bountiful and a very sincere and loving man! I have already learned so much from him!

The miracle of the week came on Sunday. We had scheduled some time to do some finding around some of our current investigators. We prayed in faith that the hearts and doors of many would be opened. The first door we knocked on, no one was home, which was strange seeing how there were three minivans in the drive way. We moved quickly to the next door. We met Kenny, who asked us to come back and teach him how his family of four could be eternal! He sent us to his next door neighbor, Harold, who just recently moved in. He asked us to pray for him and his family. At 23 years old, he has struggled greatly, but escaped his environment and is moving more towards a real family of his own. He accepted to be baptized on the 8^th of August! Missionaries even taught him back when he was living in Virginia! We jumped back into the car enthused about the lives that we were touching. As we pulled away, we saw a man sitting on his front porch. Never delay a prompting! We got out, asked what we could help him with. He broke down in tears. He has three kids and a wife, just lost his job, and is struggling due to the financial tension. We called down the powers of heaven, of which he was touched and invited us back. He has never been baptized and knows he needs to. God blesses us immediately when we do what he asks. This is the Lord’s Church and he is entitled to blessings that can be found no where else! These people were the miracle for us, but I know that more so than ever, we were a miracle to them! God is mindful of us all! 

We have a baptism coming this week. The only problem is that Marcus has been out of town all last week. It will be another scramble to get the items ironed out, but it will be awesome! What happens in the Con stays in the Con. God will help us ensure that this happens, because He wants it more than any of us do! He really loves us!

We had our Mission Council at the Mission Home on Friday. The Foote’s are amazing people! They are also some of the highest caliber of people I have met! They shined our shoes even. Talk about serving us! It is so easy to feel their love. Being a mission president and wife would be a stressful calling, but they are doing amazing! 

The other highlight of the week (sorry, I cannot compete with Sports Center, no top 10 here). We saw the struggling fourteen year old young man, Bryson. He is going through a real struggle in knowing and seeing God’s hand in his life. He has a good heart! Elder Hanson shared the most powerful experience with him. You could see Bryson being shaken to the core. We will be having dinner with the family and seeing them weekly! It is crazy how much people really look up to missionaries! 

That is a wrap for today’s update! The work is moving forward! Not a better place to be than Conyers, Georgia! Keep fighting the good fight! Keep smilling, and enjoying every moment! Have a blessed up week this week! Love you all so very much! Thanks for everything you do for me!

Love,

Elder Dallan Barnes

Look for that miracle!

July 6

Why July, why?

What the in the wide world of sports! July is forging onward! It is not fair! Who has the remote and is fast forwarding?? It’s hot. It’s humid. But by golly, it is fantastic! This is the work of the Lord! Nothing has brought me great joy! Maybe because 95% of it is disappointment. We truly savor the every ounce of good! This week was long and trying! This much I can say though, America is one blessed and privileged land! It is reserved for those that believe, love, and trust in God! Let me give you the skinny on the week for us! 

We finally got to meet the Foote’s! They are amazing people! They are so in over their heads too! What a chance to trust in God! You can really tell that they gospel has full sway over their hearts and that they love the Lord! They are so excited to be here and share the truth! I really look up to them! It saddens me that I won’t get the chance to serve more alongside them! 

Fourth of July Festivities. They included, finding, teaching, and not quite baptizing yet! We had a great dinner with Bro. Rasmussen. He fired of $500 worth of fire works. They were mortars in essence. Loudest and biggest fireworks I have seen fired by a civilian! We had our Recent Convert there too. He wouldn’t run away from them once he lit them. We were convinced he would lose an eye. It was a lot of fun! We also had tin foil dinners. It has been a minute since I had those! They turned out awesome too! Better than I remember them!

The miracle of the week actually took place yesterday! We were on a split and I was with our Bishop. He felt inspired to go see a certain family in the ward, of which had recently baptized grandchildren. They wouldn’t have let is in if we didn’t have our Bishop there. They explained the agony and turmoil they were in. Their grandson was just barely put into Juvenile Detention and they were struggling as the guardians for him. Moments like this, to see others in such pain cite my mind to what our Savior experienced. He felt exactly what they are feeling. Thankfully He is the way that they can be healed and made whole! I shared Mosiah 27 and they committed to having us by weekly to visit them and their grandson when he gets back. There is such power to the Spirit and Book of Mormon! They are our best tools in conversion! 

Couple of funny things that happened. We were waiting in the apartment office to drop something off. Brittney Spears came on the radio. All I can say is that she does not have the Spirit, my spirit was dulled and my vision lowered. Someone needs to baptize her. Our Indian neighbors told us we were too loud around 11:00 PM. We are getting ready for bed at 11:00 PM. Some people!

That is all I have for you! Let freedom ring this week! Fight the good fight of faith! Have another blessed up week! Keep smiling and enjoying life to the fullest! I promise you I will be doing the same out here in Georgia! Love you al so much! I will hear from y’all in a week’s time!

Love,

Elder Dallan Barnes

“Hey best friend!” Mark, a child of one of our Investigators

“Obedience is the blessing.” President Foote

June 31

Happy Independence Day!

Lake Powell, what a place to be for the Holiday! I must admit, Georgia is still better! Let me first say that while y’alls week was vacation, ours was a battle! It was a week like none other before, a week full of miracles and disappointment exhausting hours! Let me run y’all through the ropes! 

The biggest and grandest miracle of this week happened to be an expected unexpected baptism! Let me explain! Back about three months ago we were teaching a man named Robert. He is David’s, our recent convert, uncle. He has been taught for a year! He would never set a date for baptism until we got closer to his birthday. Back in April he set the date of June 28^th. He disappeared two weeks later back to Alabama. Had no way to contact him either. On Tuesday, we found out that David went back to Alabama now. We were going to visit another investigator, and saw Robert walking outside! We sped over there, and he asked if he could still be baptized on the 28^th! Absolutely, yes please, for sure, definitely, sir yes sir! We scrambled and put it all together and he was baptized! Another one for the Lord’s Army!! 

Another miracle of the week, besides the baptism of Robert, was a family we found recently! We were finding around the members, “Asking who do you know?” From referral to referral, we ended up at a home of a lady who had recently had a stroke. She invited us to come back in a few days! We did just that, spoke with Philicia, and she let us right in! She has six kids! As we began teaching and testifying, the kids said they had some movies about the apostles and Jesus Christ. They pulled out a copy of the Testaments! They also have a Book of Mormon and a copy of Finding Faith in Christ! They were taught by missionaries three years ago in Texas. They just moved to Georgia a few months ago! They all accepted to be baptized on the 25^th of July! They do everything as a family they told us! The Lord is preparing many for us to find! The Family is ordained of God! The Gospel perfectly blessed families to the point that they can be eternal!

On Sunday, Bishop Nolden called us up with a referral! It is a family in the ward that we helped move back into the Ward a few weeks ago. They informed Bishop that their 9 year old son hasn’t been baptized yet, but has received all of the lessons! We went over there quicker than Tiny Tim would be on a Christmas Ham, talked about baptism, and Marcus wants to get baptized on the 18^th of July! There are miracles reserved for the exactly obedient!

The Harding’s are on their way out! I am so thankful for all that they have done for me! They the most incredible people I have associated with! I wish them well on their journey home! They have changed who I am, the way I think, and my vision of who I can become! The Foote’s will be arriving this afternoon! We are not going to skip a beat! 

We spent seven hours in the hospital Thursday, with a fellow missionary. He has been not well for the past week and a half. While we were visiting with him on and his companion, he were kneeling in prayer and as he began to stand up, he blacked out. Rushed him to the ER, spent a good minute there! He is doing much better though! It was a miracle we were there at that time, his brand new missionary from the MTC was overwhelmed as is! The Lord certainly puts us in the places where we are needed most! 

That is just about all I have left in the tank for today! It’s been real, it’s been fun, it’s been real fun! Thanks for the email and the photos! Thanks for everything that y’all do for me! I hope the trip to Powell is accident free and full of fun, laughs, tans, much food, and no drama! I look forward to hearing from y’all soon! Have an amazing blessed up week! Fight the good fight! Love you all so much!

Love,

Elder Dallan Barnes

June 22

Mi Familia y Amigos!

Some people out there may wonder how do we sleep when our beds are burning, yes, in case you were wondering, Nyquil of course. Thankfully everything but our beds were burning! It was a retreat to come back to the apartment and indulge on some popsicles! Three digit degrees are happening here in A town! Too hot for me! We survived, thrived,  and strived! Miracles were wrought this week, this Father’s Day week! Happy Father’s Day to all those Father’s and Father Figures out there! Let me outline the week!

Transfer news: I will be remaining in place and so will Elder Hanson! We will not be getting a new companion with us. Kind of saddening, I was hoping to train one more son here in the great Georgia Atlanta Mission! What is also crazy is that the Harding’s are on the way out! We get our New Mission President come Monday! The Harding’s are legendary people! I love them so much! They have helped me so much to become who I am now! I owe so much to them! I hope y’all can meet them, maybe even make it to their homecoming! 

The Miracle of the week had to of come around as we were finding 10 minutes before meeting up with a member! We went to a house where people were outside and began speaking with them! Three families were there and we had the opportunity to teach all of them, set return appointments with, and leave a blessing with them. They all have been looking for a church home to go to! They haven’t found a church that fits them! Chanelle, Kiesha, and Charlie and all of their families are reading the Book of Mormon now and are wanting to be baptized! They even asked us after the teaching when they could be baptized next! Surely the Lord is preparing many! Too, through, and on our way to members is ordained of God!

We also found another young lady, Chaniel, from Jamiaca! As we were driving by, we felt inspired to go speak with her as she was sitting outside. She is in her early 20’s, has two kids, and has been in the States for 2 Years. She expressed to us how she wants to come closer to God and she has seen how her life has decayed as she hasn’t been putting God first. She was in tears and told us that she would be a member of our church soon! We are all reaching for our Heavenly Father, it is such an honor to represent Him and be the means to get others to him! She will be baptized in August!

We had been praying and asking Heavenly Father for more people to teach. He delivered, and when it rained, it poured! We found 27 new people to begin teaching this week! Every time we turned around, there were more people! We were in the right place at the right time! Miracles come to the faithful!! We are excited to see these new people progress! Isn’t it crazy how much God trusts us with?

This is about all she wrote. Well, he, what a dumb saying. Thanks for staying tuned! Thanks for the email, prayers, and ever other little thing! I am truly grateful for all that is done in my behalf! Have an amazing week this week! Love you all so very much! Fight the good fight of faith! Endure the course! Smile a little bigger, laugh a little longer, love a little deeper! Have a blessed up week! I will hear from y’all soon! 

Love,

Elder Dallan Barnes 

What’s the difference between Heaven and Hell? A/C.

June 15

It is a beautiful day in the ‘hood!

It has been fantastic! Beautiful on all accounts! If I had it my way, I could do with some cooler weather but it all works out in the long run! A little sweat, well for me a lot of sweat, didn't hurt anyone. It may have killed a few from heat exhaustion, but that is a different scenario all together! Needless to say, we are thriving and surviving! It is a day to day thing! Georgia is still the greatest! I also heard that peach shakes are back at Chick-Fil-A. It’s a must! On that note, here’s the must hear news from our week! 

Today, we got a new companion! Elder Oviatt is getting sent back to Canada, where he is from, to wait for his visa to the Czech Republic. So, we got  his companion. Elder Beckstead! We have been on a few exchanges and he is the man! He is really down to earth, happy, and easy going! He also knows Spanish so we can confound some Hispanics, or teach them for that matter! I totaled it, I have had 17 companions! Time has sure flown! 

Our top miracle this week was involving one of our investigators, Lamoine! We had two powerful lessons this week with him! The latter was the most powerful. We had a member with us Saturday afternoon and went to Lamoine’s home.  We taught and testified of the Sacrament and Church Attendance. The member committed him to come to church and offered a ride! Lamoine was in attendance at church and connected with many members, he already knew several from school! He is pressing forward towards baptism here in July! He mentioned in Priesthood that he would be visiting with us from here on out! The members are the way to help investigators progress! We could not do it without high caliber members!! 

We reconnected with a former investigator, Gorne. He has had 4 heart attacks and 2 strokes. He was in rehab the past several months for a stroke. We felt prompted to go see him the other day. He got home that very day! He accepted to be baptized now that his health is a little more on track! The Spirit is so central in life!

Sis. Turner, the member we have been bringing back to church, brought her whole family to church! She absolutely loved it and her kids did too! Her faith is growing! All it takes is that little inkling of desire and miracles happen! She found a job a couple days after she came to church last week! She also had a few other items fall in place in her life! God immediately blesses us when we do what he asks! 

That is a wrap! Thanks for the email, the love, and prayers! It is always the best to hear how everyone is doing! Thanks for everything! Keep fighting the good fight! Have a blessed up week! I will hear from y’all soon enough!

Love,

Elder Dallan Barnes

The only difference between winners and losers is attitude.

                         
                            Goodbye Elder Anderson!

 
Special Delivery from Aunt Marie & Uncle Jason!!!

June 8

Another Day, Another Blessing!

Or maybe like a frillion blessings! This is the work of the Lord! The windows of Heaven are open! I have seen, heard, and experienced this very effect! This week has been nothing short of that! Let me give you the synopsis of the week!

We had our Fasting pay off big time, in the dividends of a miscellaneous package full of Goodies! The Lee’s are incredible! We were so surprised! Our pantry was looking a little bare! The only thing was that we couldn’t feast when we got the package, we were still fasting, but that has been mended! Thanks for taking care of us, Lee Family!

Our miracle has to be our back to back baptismal date day! We felt inspired the night before to follow up with a man named Terrel and his family. He has a wife and a seven year old boy! He is a stunt biker and comedian, quite the combo! We left him with a Book of Mormon and committed him to read it! When we pulled up, it was as if he was there waiting for us! We asked about the Book of Mormon, he was 17 pages into it! He has been sharing it with other people too and has some coworkers interested! He accepted the date to be baptized of June 27th! He will be bringing his family to church next week! Right as we were about to back up we saw a man loading his car up. We both felt inspired, so we obeyed, and spoke with him! Eric has eight daughters, all baptismal age! He accepted to be baptized with his neighbor on the 27th of June! The Lord can do miraculous things with those that are willing and worthy!

It was saddening to send Elder Anderson off. It was reminiscent of sending Elder Kennedy to Brazil. I know he is up to some good things. It was a good reminder that my time is finite here in Georgia, and I need to make every minute of it count! 

We began working with this one member who hasn’t been to church for eight years! We finally got her squared away with a ride and everything, we even had the bishop meet her the other week. She made it to church and she physically changed! It was incredible to see a glowing ember of a testimony be fanned by faith and ignite. She asked us during the service, when and who was picking her up next! The Lord needs Sis. Turner back, and her kids! The gospel truly changes people’s hearts! 

The Lord totally grabbed my attention this week! I had been feeling a little disappointed with some of the progress of our investigators, even my progress as a disciple of Christ. At the very moment in the morning we’re it was hitting hardest, I went to grab a quote out of some of my notes. I stumbled across President Gordon B. Hickley’s statement to “Forget yourself and go to work.” Later in our companionship study we followed Sister Harding’s counsel to visit the Adjusting to Missionary Life Booklet every day. We “coincidentally” were on the very page that has the same quote and story. In that very moment of need, the Lord told me to forget myself and go to work! This is the best work to get lost in! I feel that the more we lose ourselves in His work, we grow so much, to the point where we can better find ourselves because there is so much of us to find! 

Thanks for all that y’all do for me! I can feel the love! Stay safe, get tan, stay hydrated,  fight the good fight of faith, and have a blessed up week! Love you all so much! Can’t wait to hear from y’all soon! 

Love,

Elder Dallan Barnes 

The man on top didn’t fall there.