My Mission

December 10, 2016

Dear family and friends, 

Well this could come as a surprise to some, and to others not so much, but I am currently on my way back home to Alaska. 

I have been really sick and my health has been deteriorating by the week, so after counseling with the Lord, my parents and my mission president, we decided that it would be best for me end my missionary service here in Oregon and return home. It was not an easy decision because I have loved every minute of my mission, and I am grateful for being able to serve a whole 7 months and dedicate that time to the Lord. 

I do not in any way feel like what I am doing is wrong, I know I have served the time that the Lord had predetermined that I serve, and I know that I have touched the hearts of those that I needed to. 

I have learned and grown so much these last 7 months, and I am grateful for those whom I have served with and for those I have met, my life will forever be changed because of you. 

Hermana Rodriguez, Hermana Barnes

I am eternally grateful for the love and support of my family and my extended family, I couldn't have done this without you, your love and your prayers. 

This last week and a half with Hermana Rodriguez has been both the hardest, but I have also grown the most in this last week and a half. Hermana Rodriguez has taught me what it means to be truly and genuinely happy, loving and caring, no matter what you are going through. To always turn outward instead of inward. From the moment I met her, I could feel of her love for me, and it's because of her love and strength that I was able to make this decision to return home, and she has supported me every step of the way, and I am grateful for that.

While here on my mission I have learned more about the enabling power of the Atonement and how the sacrifice that Christ made for us, when He suffered for our sins, pains, sickness and afflictions of every kind, are extremely powerful, and that it is real. As I have been sick I have learned to rely more on my Savior and my Heavenly Father, and to turn to him in prayer, and as I have done so I have received the strength and faith that I have needed to finish the time here that God planned for me. 

My mission has been the best, and most life changing thing that I have been privileged to do, and I am grateful for that. I know a lot of people think or say that a mission isn't for you, that it's only for the people, but I know that is not true. I truly believe my mission was more for me than for anyone else I have taught or met, because I am the one that has changed and benefited the most. 

Baessa Family

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Hispanic culture and I am grateful to have been able to serve them. The members are amazing and their stories are incredible. I have enjoyed being here and I have felt so honored to have been able to experience the many varieties of their cultures, and I will forever hold them close to my heart.

Thank you again to all those who have supported me in any way and have prayed and fasted for me, I promise they were not in vain, they have given me more support and strength than I would have normally had. 

Now I am moving on to the next chapter of my life. I don't know quite yet what all that will entail, but I know I will still go forth sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ because I have seen how much it has blessed my life, my families lives, and now the lives of so many others. 

I love you all so much! Thanks again for everything! 

Love, 

Hermana Rebecca Barnes  ️️

Transfer news

December 5, 2016

Hey everyone, 

Well not too much has happened since Thursday. 

Kill picture

This week was transfer calls though... and I am being transferred to North Salem, to be serving with Hermana Rodriguez. I am only happy to be serving with her. To be honest, Salem was the last place I wanted to go. I have never heard anything good about that place. All I know about where I am going is that it Is the only Spanish ward in the mission, we have like 5 sets of missionaries or something like that, and the members don't like the missionaries and they don't like to do missionary work. Also the ward apparently doesn't get along to well because it used to be 2 branches but then they put them together and they hate each other. So sounds like there is a lot of healing that needs to be done there, I just hope to have even a little bit of a difference.

Salem Spanish District
(from left) Elder Ellis, Elder Carbajal, Elder Altamirano,
Elder Chamberlin, Hermana Barnes, Hermana Rodriguez,
Elder Stringham, Hermana DeRobles, Hermana Bennett

So a lot of yesterday we went around to members houses so I could say goodbye to them, and needless to say, I have cried a lot in the last couple days. I never realized how much of impact I have had on the branch members here in McMinnville until they were saying bye to me yesterday and told me how I have effected their lives. It's really nice to know that you've made a difference in the lives of those you serve. 

I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to serve with Hermana Tanuvasa even if it was only for a short time. She is an amazing missionary and extremely hard working. She has taught me how to be more goal oriented and what it means to really use the Atonement in your life. I have really enjoyed this time with her. 

Well that's really it for this week. If you haven't seen it yet, there is a new holiday video out and I really love it, and it has a challenge to go along with it. I invite you all to go to Mormon.org and watch the video and take the challenge. 

I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week! 

Love,

Hermana Rebecca Barnes

Hermana Barnes, Hermana Bennett, Hermana DeRobles

Keizer Zone

Keizer Zone

Merry-go-round with hermana Rodriguez

Hermana Barnes, Hermana Rodriguez

Saying goodbyes

Oregon State Capitol, Aka The Capitol form Hunger Games

Happy thanksgiving

November 24, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I am so grateful for the holidays, they just bring me so much peace and comfort as more of the world is thinking about our beloved Savior Jesus Christ. I wish it was like this all year round where people’s minds were on Christ. I feel like though, even this time of year is getting scarce for people to think about Him. But that is why I am here as a missionary. 

I hope this day has been full of yummy food and thankful hearts. 

Hipolito, Hermana Barnes, Alondra

This has been an extremely LONG week for us since we didn't have P-day until today. But it was good The area is doing good. We just hit a little bit of a dip in the road because we had like 6 people this week decide to drop us, but we are starting to be able to work with our members more which is nice, and we have people that are willing to come out finding with us as well as to set lessons, so that's super helpful. 

Good news though! One of our investigators, Alondra is on date to be baptized December 10th! So
that's exciting! We have been working with her for a couple months so we are really excited. 

Mac Zone
(from back left) Elders, Kryer, Meyer, Hall(ZL), Timothy(ZL), Davis, Scorse,
Mayers, Searcy(AP), Bowen, Mounteer(AP), Famuliner(DL), Carslile, Salem ZL
(from front left) Elder Walters, Sisters Teedro, Powell, Shumway(STL), McKay, Hartvikson,
Bennett(STL), Hermana Barnes, Hermana Tanuvasa, Sisters Densley, & Bronson. 

Well we have transfer calls on Saturday so that's fun... I guess we will see what happens. 

Mac District-
(back, left) Elder Hall, Elder Timothy, Elder Bowen,
Elder Famulener (DL), Hermana Barnes, Hermana Tanuvasa,
Sister Hartvikson, Sister McKay

So we had a neat experience yesterday, we went to this house looking for someone, but a different man came out instead and posed a question to us that really got me thinking and reminded me why I am here on my mission and why I am here on this earth to accomplish. He asked "What is one thing that you want to do to change the world in the time you have allotted here on earth?" My answer to that is, if I can bring but one soul unto Christ I will be happy, because at least I could make a difference for that one person. 

It reminds me of Alma the Younger, Alma 36:24 "Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost." Because of the enabling power of the Atonement I have a desire to share the gospel and to bring others unto Christ. 

Well I will leave you with a quote that I love and that I am striving to apply more to my life.

We need to walk more resolutely and more charitably the path that Jesus has shown. We need to “pause to help and lift another” and surely we will find “strength beyond [our] own.” If we would do more to learn “the healer’s art,” there would be untold chances to use it, to touch the “wounded and the weary” and show to all “a gentle[r] heart.” Yes, Lord, we should follow thee. (Chapter 20: Walking the Savior’s Path of Charity, President Howard W. Hunter)

Well I wish you all a happy thanksgiving. Don't forget to give thanks to the one who has given you all. 

Love, 

Hermana Rebecca Barnes  ️️

Saying bye to McMinnville family

Nancy and  Judith Rodriguez

Malena and Rafael Rulas

President Angel and Isabel Aguiar, Hermana Tanuvasa

 

Mya, Hermana Yanira, Hermano Oliver Vera

Briana Williams

               

Gallardo Family 

Yolanda, Krystal, Amy, Rafael, Gomez

Pacer and Jade West

Urraco Family

Clifton Family

         



 

Gaby Gomez

Do you want to be baptized?

November 14, 2016

Hey everyone! 

This week was super awesome! We saw so many miracles. 

I just wanted to share a miracle that we saw this week that really touched me and has given me fire in my life with the work.

So after zone conference, that same day we went out and used those Books of Mormon that the wonderful sisters in the office made for us with the questions of the soul. That night we were going through our area book to see if there was anyone else we could visit in Dayton before hearing back to McMinnville, and we had a prompting to go and see a family that had been dropped back in May. 

The husbands brother, Marco, and his family are members of the church, but the Marco died of cancer about 1 1/2 months ago back in September, and I remembered that someone said to visit them. So we went and saw them and used the Book of Mormon and asked them what their questions were, and of course, with the passing of his brother, the husband asked what happened to his brother and also why we have to suffer here on earth. And so we were able to show them that the Book of Mormon has answers to their questions. They were really excited and accepted and copy of the Book of Mormon and invited us back. 

Fist bump with a lion and a tabbed Book of Mormon

Then again on Wednesday we were trying to find people to teach and we felt prompted that we should try to visit someone and as we were walking there, we saw the neighbor outside watering her plants so we went over and talked to her and asked her what her question of the soul is and she asked us why would Christ suffer for us if people don't use His Atonement and He knew a lot of people wouldn't. So we shared Mosiah 2:27 with her and she was so blown away by our answer with the scriptures and asked where she could get one, so we gave her a Book of Mormon and she invited us to come back this week! 

We also had an investigator at church with his kids because of a question he was able to have answered. The Book of Mormon is seriously such an amazing tool and gift that we have been given. 

We have seen so many other miracles this week as well with the tabbed question of the soul Books of Mormon, it's been so incredible to see people's questions that they have burning inside them. My testimony has grown so strongly this week about how we can use the Book of Mormon to answer questions.

Also funny story yesterday we had a lesson with one of our investigators and we had a member with us in before the lesson we told her that we are going to invite him to be baptized and in the middle of a lesson she stops and said "Victor do you want to be baptized?" and my companion and I just looked at each other and almost laughing because normally we ask at the end of the lesson and it just kind of took by surprise and she was super blunt about the way she asked and it was really funny.

Well I hope you all have a great week! I love you!!

Love Hermana Rebecca Barnes 

Evergreen Space and Aviation Museum

Hermanas Barnes, Tanuvasa, Sisters Hartkivson, McKay

     

48 days till Christmas (yes I'm counting) ☃️

November 7, 2016

Hey everyone, 

 How's it going? 

This week was good for what we actually did. I was super sick almost all week so we really didn't get to do much. We were in Wednesday night, and all day Thursday and Friday. I was really lame. I started out last week with a SUPER bad sore throat. I thought I was getting strep, but nope, turns out it was just a cold because then the sore throat went away and I got a really bad cold and now I am just stuck with a terrible cough that is acting like it doesn't want to go away anytime soon. So that's fun! 

But yesterday was stake conference and it was super good! They talked a lot about being prepared both physically and spiritually and how as saints we keep putting off the urgency of food storage. But it really hit me just how important food storage is in these last days because we never know when disaster will hit. 

But just as important as it is to be physically prepared, we also need to be spiritually prepared and always be feeding the light of Christ with in us by studying the scriptures each day, having daily fervent and grateful prayers to our Heavenly Father, going to church and partaking of the sacrament each week, and attending the temple regularly. These things are so important and I've gained a stronger testimony of this as I have been on my mission and seen the difference in the lives of others who do these things and who do not. 

Also, something else that stuck out to me is they were talking about keeping the commandments, and how paying tithing is one commandment that we can keep PERFECTLY. There is no other commandment that we, as mortal, sinful, men and women and keep perfectly, other than paying our tithing. And they talked about how God gives us that commandment, that we can keep perfectly, so that we can see the blessings we can receive as we perfectly keep the commandments. It's something to help give us motivation. I think that is such a blessing! 

So we have been trying to work closer with our youth to strengthen them because our youth are not very united and don't care too much about church. But we have been starting to take them to lessons and teach them and it is so incredible and so much fun! The light and energy that the youth have is just so awesome! I just love working with them and I am so excited for this opportunity to work closer with them. 

Well that's all for this week! Love you all 

Love,

Hermana Rebecca Barnes

Because who doesn't like being a giraffe? 

Exchanges with Sister Shumway

Vera family

        

150 pound bear

Broccoli Rain

October 3, 2016

Hey Everyone! 

How are you all doing this week? 

My week has been pretty good, nothing too exciting happened this week. The weather is starting to change, and for the first time in my life I am getting to experience the season of fall. It's beautiful! 

We had General Women's Conference for our church on Saturday and it was super good! President Uchtdorf says that there is only 2 things that faith can’t do. 

1. It can’t break the agency of another person.

2. It can’t force our will on the will of God.

I think that it super awesome and I know it is true. I know it is important to have faith and we can do so much with our faith, but we need to keep in mind these two things, because you and have all the faith in the world, but it can't break someone else's agency or force our will upon God. 

So fun fact of Oregon for the week: When it rains it smells like broccoli, but the locals can't smell it. It's the strangest thing! 

I hope you all have a good week! 

Love you all! 

Love,

Hermana Rebecca Lynn Barnes 

Hola from the rainy side, and Transfers

October 17, 2016

Hey everyone! 

This week has been crazy stormy. We have been having lots of storm advisories this week and there were a couple tornadoes on the coast over the weekend. This morning when we were shopping it was super loud in the store from the rain pouring and the parking lots were all flooded. It was insane. And we have been having crazy wind too. May I just say, I am already starting to miss the sun haha. 

So we got transfer calls this week! My new companion is going to be Hermana Tanuvasa. I don't know her, but everyone else is super stoked for me, so I am getting pretty excited. Plus she got trained by Hermana Tuisaula from my home stake! So we have a connection going on there which is pretty awesome too. And another awesome thing is that Polynesians are TONS of fun and they always seem so happy, so I am excited for this companionship and transfer! 

And sadly, Hermana Bunderson is heading home to Utah on Wednesday to finish up her mission. I have really loved serving with her and have learned many valuable lessons serving with her. I have really learned that it is so important to work hard, have patience, and just love. 

I got to have exchanges this week which was fun. I got to go to the English area for a day which was a nice break. I am glad that I serve with the Hispanics though. The culture is just so much different, and I love it. Everyone is always so nice, loving, and giving, even though they don't have much.

Also, I can't believe that I am about to hit my 6 month mark in 2 weeks!! That's 1/3 of my mission! I seriously don't know how I have already been out 6 months. And everyone says that the first 6 months is the longest... So it should be interesting to see how fast this next one goes.

I am really loving my mission and I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve. I am learning so many valuable lessons here on my mission and I am grateful to be able to learn and grow here. 

I hope you all have a fantastic week! I love you all!!!

Love,

Hermana Rebecca Lynn Barnes 

1. Oregonian Missionary: Works rain or shine, but especially in the rain

2. Last companion "selfie"

3. Groupie with Elders Meyer and Patterson from our branch

4. Our awesome member Hermana Aguiar 

5. Our investigators Jesus y Maria