Where is the light?

Hey!

I cannot wait for #genconf! I feel like this is going to be such a powerful session of #genconf!

I love the video the church put out! If you haven't seen Because He Lives, repent and click on this link haha ;)  

http://www.mormon.org/easter

I studied an awesome article in the Ensign this week, its called "Put on the Armor of Light"

We are the Light of the World! We have to let the light shine! The light we shine is the light of Christ. Its comforting, warm and peaceful and people want that, so share it! We need to reflect our light wherever we go. When we reflect the Saviors light, we receive it more abundantly in our lives adn we become more like the Savior. We need to cast out all darkness and put on the armor of light!

How do we put on the armor of light and dispel the darkness in the world?

We need to dispel the darkness in our life first by living more closely to the commandments and to the Gospel. We can dispel darkness with music. Music can uplift, enlighten and inspire! We can brighten lives through loving service. We need to love those we serve and serve those we love. We need to lift and bless those around us. 

Put on the Armor! (Romans 13:12, Ephesians 6:11-17)

I am so grateful for the Gospel and for the opportunity I have to be serving a mission!

#becausehelives #genconf #churchistrue

<Kia Kaha>

-Elder Barney

Aloha!

Hey!

Hope you had a great week!!

This was a pretty great week! We have been trying hard to meet with our investigators but they have been really busy. Yesterday was one of the greatest Church Meeting! We had 10/12 recent converts come to church, 7/9 chinese members came to church and Yan our investigator brought her husband to church! Now its not just Yan investigating, they are investigating as a family! It was so awesome! The sacrament talks were great and the mandarin class was so awesome even though I couldn't understand what they were saying 90% of the time, I felt the spirit 100% of the time! It was great! Yan and Eric loved it and they felt the spirit so strong! I am so excited to see this family progress!

I read an Article in the January 2012 Ensign 

(https://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/01/look-up?lang=eng&query=look+up)

What is looking up? 

It is looking to God for answers and guidance.

It is not looking around at others accomplishments and success

Looking up for Gods approval 

What we need to do to Look Up

1) Tap Into Spiritual Power

- We need that inspiration to make everyday decisions

- Scripture Study and Personal Prayer

- Be receptive to the answers you receive and act on it

2) Stay True To The Direction You Receive

- Received through personal revelation

- Don't let anyone dissuare you from acting on promptings you receive, even if they have good intentions

3) Don't Be Afraid To Act

- We know enough to move forward

- Use your best judgment while you are moving forward

- We are blessed as we make righteous choices

- Don't be afraid to make mistakes along the way, we are human

- Try new things, there is joy in the journey

4) Stand Your Ground, Be Steadfast and Immovable

- We are all in need of help, be patient, help will come

- Don't be afraid to act, keep doing good, blessings will come

- Keep a righteous routine and be willing to change when additional direction comes

Have a great week!!

<Kia Kaha>

-Elder Barney

Ni hao!

Well transfers were today and Elder Gemperline got transferred and I am now with Elder Stringham! 

It's going to be an awesome transfer!

Well this was a pretty good week! Our chinese investigators want Sophy, our recent convert, to teach them because she is awesome! Her testimony is so inspiring!

I am so grateful for the privilege I have to serve the Lord! My testimony of everything has grown so much! Its great to see people see how the Gospel can bless their life, and they strive to make the changes necessary to align their lives with the teachings of Jesus Christ.

God truly answers prayers and He loves each one of us!

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/eternal-life-to-know-our-heavenly-father-and-his-son-jesus-christ?lang=eng&cid=email-shared

The purpose of missionaries is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. Gods purpose and Jesus Christ's purpose is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man and they are unified in that purpose because they love us all!

Hope you have a great week!!

<Kia Kaha>

-Elder Barney

What's up?

Hey!

How was your week? Did anything exciting happen last week?

The missionary work here has been pretty good! Its a little on the slow side but it will pick up soon :) Our investigators are not really committing to a return appointment, but they are still coming to church which is great! Right now we are trying to get the Chinese Group organized a little better, which will hasten the work even faster!

I read Alma 52, the War chapters in the Book of Mormon are awesome!

Alma 52:5-9

Teancum knew he could not defeat the Lamanites in their fortifications, so he retreated and made fortifications to protect themselves and waited for reinforcements. They knew their weak points so they fortified them. We need to do the same, we need to strengthen the weak points so we can stand against temptations.

Alma 52:11,15

Moroni really does care about his people. He tries to help them in their times of need. He is a great example of leadership.

Alma 52:17,19

Teancum abandoned his designs of attack and waited for Moroni so his army could be stronger because he knew it would have been a tough battle. They held a war council to determine a plan of attack. Think before you act!

Alma 52:32,37

Moroni did not delight in bloodshed, he always gave the enemy a opportunity to surrender. He had charity for everyone!

Alma 52:32-33

There is a big difference between the Nephite captains and the Lamanite captains. The Lamanites are proud and bloodthirsty while the Nephites are willing to let them surrender.

Hope you have a great week!

<Kia Kaha>

-Elder Barney

Hey!

Hello!!

How was your week? Hope it was great!

This week was pretty great, our ward had a few parties this week, it was pretty awesome! One was a farewell party for a family that was over the missionary work for the Chinese Group. So its sad to see them go. The Chinese work is really moving forward! It is awesome! The Lord is truly hastening His Work!

I studied Alma 59 this week!

Alma 59:1-2

Moroni truly cared for his people. He was happy of their success and he told everyone in all the land so they can know of the success of others and be united as a nation.

Alma 59:3

They obtained the land back miraculously because of the righteousness of the people that were trying to fight for the cities.

Alma 59:4

Moroni planned first then he acted. We need to think before we act. Observe then serve.

Alma 59:9

Moroni knew it was easier to maintain the city rather then letting it fall and try to retake it. It is easier to keep and maintain a strong testimony rather then letting it die out and try to build it up again. Faith is hard to rebuild because you already doubted once. But it can be rebuilt.

Alma 59:11-12

Moroni knew why cities were falling and he was sorrowful because of it. We need to help others strengthen their faith so they can withstand the mighty blows of the adversary. 

Have a great week!!

<Kia Kaha>

-Elder Barney

Hey!

Whats up!

Things have been great this week! I had my first baptism on Saturday morning!

Sophy Chen has been so prepared throughout her life! She has been a great addition to the Chinese group! She is going to rekindle the fire that the group had and the work will take off! Its fantastic!

I studied Alma 50 this past week.

Alma 50:1

Moroni would not cease making preparations for war. He fortified and strengthened the cities of all the land. We need to be prepared against the temptations of Satan. We need to fortify and strengthen our testimony to withstand the Adversaries attacks.

Alma 50:9

In order to fortify and strengthen all the land they had to drive out all of the wickedness. We need to do the same in our lives. We need to remove wickedness and repent.

Alma 50:20

When God commands us to do something there is always a consequence whether it is good or bad. Keep the commandments ye shall prosper! Don't keep the commandments and ye shall be cut off! There is no middle ground!

Alma 50:22

The Lord truly does watch out for the righteous!

Alma 50:23,37

There was never a happier time because the people kept the commandments of God, and they had leaders who filled the role of Leadership with perfect uprightness before God. Righteous leaders and righteous people equals peace and prosperity!

Have an awesome week!!

<Kia Kaha>

-Elder Barney

Sister Sophy Chen with her husband and baby girl 

Elder Gemperline and Elder Barney :)

Whats up!

Hey!

This was a great week! Our Chinese investigator Sophy is getting baptized on Saturday! It is so great to see her faith in God grow and see how happy she gets when we talk about the gospel! I am really loving my mission!

This week I read Alma 46

46:5 - Amalickiah flattered the Natural Man by offering to give them power if he was able to rule over them. He used the natural mans weakness to gain power over them

46:21 - All it takes is one man to unite a nation whether for the bad or for the good. He can inspire a nation either way. All it takes is one domino to fall sadly. While with Moroni he unified the people for the good and unified them in purpose and the people were prepared to do anything they were commanded

46:18 - Sometimes the cost of discipleship is different then we expect. but when we have faith in God and we have endured it is well with us!

46:27&28 - Moroni knew what the consequence of disobedience was, so he was trying to keep the people righteous.

46:31 - The people under Moroni were ready to act on his command

46:36 - We need to show the enemy that we are unified and that we will stand for liberty. Be true Christians

46:49 - The blessings of having a knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Overall 46 - Be unified. Live the faith, show the faith, defend the faith. Always be ready to act on the commandments and promptings. Be an example of the believers at all times and in all places. Do not let the flattering of the adversary blind or distract you from the path of True Discipleship

Hope you have a great week!

<Kia Kaha>

-Elder Barney

Zone Walk

We did a mission walk around a lake, here is a pic of my zone when I was on UW

<Kia Kaha>

-Elder Barney

Hey!

Hey!!

This week we had a great miracle. A random number texted us and introduced themselves as Wei Shu and they asked us if they could have a church tour on Thursday morning, we were super excited and we thought it was a man. No members could come so we were prepared to give it, then a women showed up! We decided to just have a lesson at the park across the street and she asked us how she can show her love to God and how can she become clean! She is on date for February 28th! It was awesome!

We were walking around yesterday, and the neighborhood was so loud, fireworks and screaming and yelling, Seahawks were winning 24-14 so Seattle was going beserek! Then we got in our car and drove to our dinner appointment at 7. We got out of our car and it was silent. You could hear a pin drop. Something was wrong... I got super happy because that meant that the Patriots were winning! We called a young man because our dinner appointment wasn't answering the door and he was like, the Seahawks are on the 1 yard line, Russell Wilson just hiked it... he threw the ball! And then yelling happened and he said, the Patriots just intercepted the ball... Game over... Boo Yah!! #NotAllowedToWatchTheSuperbowl #BlessedForObedience

On a more spiritual note...

A War Chapter really stuck out to me last week during my studies. Alma 49. 

Alma 49:7 - Talks about when we have bad intentions there will be bad results. We have to have charity for everyone and not do anything just for ourselves but to do things to help others and to please God.

Alma 49:23 - The Lord truly watches and protects the righteous, while Satan could careless about the people that choose to follow him (Alma 30:60)

Alma 49 - The reason the Nephites were so prepared and strong was because of the Leadership of Moroni. He was a Warrior-Prophet, so he was an inspired captain of the Nephite Army. He followed Gods commands which lead to the Nephite prosperity in the land. Like Moroni strengthened all of the weak points of the land, we have to strengthen the weak points of our testimony. We need to put on the Armor of God and NEVER take it off. We need to put on the armor and strengthen our weaknesses to make ourselves impenetrable to Satan and his temptations.

Have a great week!!

<Kia Kaha>

-Elder Barney

Hey-o!!

Hey!

Well my time on UW has come to a end. I have been transferred to Redmond 3rd ward which is a Chinese group!! haha crazy. My companion is Elder Gemperline. We were in the MTC together so it is good to be with someone I know!

This week I decided to read all of the war chapters in the Book of Mormon and try to get something from each chapter. So this week I read Alma 46,49,50,52,58 and 59. Yes I know it wasn't in order, I am reading which ever one I feel I should.

Alma 58:10-13

When we have a goal or a problem, we need to pour out our souls to God in prayer for His help. We need to pray that He will strengthen  us and help us with our problem. When we do that the Lord will visit us. He will give us great faith and hope. It will give us courage to accomplish our goals and overcome our problems. It will give us a fixed determination to accomplish and overcome all things. We have to act on it though, we can't just sit there and wait. We have to act on the prompting.

Alma 58:15

Even though the Nephites were small in numbers, they were strengthening their relationship with God and waxing strong in the Lord. We can't judge by numbers. Numbers do not show spiritual growth, they really can't because numbers don't count spiritually things, its temporal.

Alma 58:33,37,40

Trust in God, don't just believe in God, trust He will do what He says. He will make you strong. Always thanks God for what He has done for you. 

Well I hope you have a great week!!

<Kia Kaha>

-Elder Barney

What up!

Hey!

This week was pretty great! I am loving UW campus!! It is so awesome!

On Friday we did a survey on campus. It was a interests survey which included what sports you like, other activities, languages you speak and an others category. 1 missionary from 3 companionships did the survey while the others taught. We had about 130 surveys and about 200 fruit snacks (to bribe people to take the survey). It was a huge success! We handed out every single survey and we got about 65 phone numbers from people who want to participate! It is going to be awesome! 

This is probably my favorite scripture. Alma 59:9

9. And now as Moroni had supposed that there should be men sent to the city of Nephihah, to the assistance of the people to maintain that city, and knowing that it was easier to keep the city from falling into the hands of the Lamanites than to retake it from them, he supposed that they would easily maintain that city.

It is easier to hold the ground you already have, then the give it up and try to retake it. Hold the ground you have, don't give it up. Try to keep the testimony you have and strengthen it from there.

<Kia Kaha>

-Elder Barney

Showing where his loyalties lie (and they always have!!) - the Pats!

Hello!

Hey!

Today we walked around a lake as a mission and it was called a Revelation Walk. It was about a 3 mile walk. It was pretty cool.

Revelation Walk!

This was a pretty good week on Red Square! I am so happy school has started! I never thought I would ever say that! Our investigator Shark brought his friend to our lesson so his friend could learn more! His friend is super interested! Its awesome!

Yesterday was the best/worst day ever though! Shark texted us saying he slept in but he would get to church as soon as possible, which he never did before. He would always say he will come next week. After church he told us, that he couldn't wait to get baptized on Saturday, and that he wanted to meet with us Tuesday and Thursday and meet with bishop on sunday! Then he bore his testimony to us! We were super excited, we talked to our bishop and he said to text all of the leaders in the ward and his friends to tell them about his baptism! Then Shark told us that Davi (a guy in our ward) invited him to dinner and he was super excited! We get a call at 5pm. Shark told us that he is not going to be baptized and to cancel everything, the meetings and all the lessons. He said he won't be coming to church anymore. He wouldn't tell us why either. Then he called us again and dropped us. So Shark is not investigating the Church anymore. After 4 months of investigating he just dropped us, and we have no idea why...we just hope that he realizes what he is missing out on. We have faith he will investigate again.

The adversary is relentless! A good friend told me that when ever we try to destroy satan's kingdom, there will be struggles. We just have to keep our chin up and stay in the game!

I am loving it here!

<Kia Kaha>

-Elder Barney

Happy New Year!

Hello!

Hope all is going well!

This week was a lot better than I thought it was going to be! Last week of break, no one on campus, UW was a ghost town. We taught quite a few lessons and saw quite a few miracles! Like our investigator Shark, who is on date for baptism for the 17th of January, brought his roommate to the lesson we had with him and bore his testimony of the love of God to him! It was awesome! Our investigator Li Sen also accepted a baptismal date! February 7th!

Today I read about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is a great gift to us. It is given to all, whether they accept it or not. Christs arms are ALWAYS open. His hand is ALWAYS stretched out, we just have to embrace Him. We not only have to Believe in Christ, we have to Believe Christ. We have to Believe Him and that He is truly there for us, and that He can really save us. 

Today I read Chapter 3 of "Jesus The Christ" by James E. Talmage. It's a great chapter that talks about why we need a Redeemer. It's awesome.

I also read:

1 Corinthians 15:21-22

21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

and Romans 5:19

19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 

I love these verses a lot because they are simple and to the point. Because of Christ and His exact obedience here on Earth, ALL shall live again!

Have an awesome week!

<Kia Kaha>

-Elder Barney