Fisrt transfer to Ligua, a little stressed out...

Mom and Dad:

Dad I am positive that you received revelation for your son with the talk that you sent me. I have been super stressed out these past 5 days because of the following. I did get transferred, I am now in La Ligua, the biggest sector in the entire mission. It has one huge big city about the same size of Ovalle which had 16 missionaries but now it is only me and my companion. I am now a district leader. I am actually not that stressed about that, more like excited!  Its new but I am not worried. My companion, Elder Almanzor,  is just ending his training, so he is really new. He struggles with the language and I'm worried about how effectively we are going to be able to work. It is hard to teach a good lesson because he expects me to translate when he talks to the people here in English.  I am not saying he can´t change and I am going to do everything I possibly can to help him. I just need to breath, maintain control, have empathy and consider how things could be worse. I have a calling from the God of the whole Earth to go and to bring his children to salvation and  I will not fail. I can not fail because their salvation is tied to my salvation. I know the gospel is true. Now I need to work and show that I know it is true.

I have gotten taller and a lot skinnier, I have a six pack ha
ha!! I have actually gotten really muscular! I was super sad to leave Francisco's mom but she is in the church now and preparing to go to the temple. Now I have the opportunity to live with them for eternity if both of us keep our covenants.

 Love Elder Chris Barlow

First transfer to Ligua

So grateful for my priesthood...

Hi mommy!!! Estoy bien esta semana fue muy loca!! Tuvimos entrevistas con El presidente de la misión y la entrevista de María la mama de Francisco y intercambios y hacia cualquier calor aquí es horrible. Entrevistas con Presidente fue super bueno es en serio es tan genial me ayuda mucho para enfocarme mas en los chico-tito cosas que yo necesito cambiar. Voy hablar mucho mas en Español entonces estas es el rezón estoy escribiendo en Español. María tuvo su entrevista y sera bautizado mañana a las 7 en la tarde y estoy tan  feliz. Estoy orando por tío lynn entonces Caleb sera mejor y bueno con Carolina cosas pasen no mas y no podemos hacer nada pero estoy aquí por los elegidos. Tengo cambios en miércoles entonces voy a salir me primero sector que es super bueno.

Yo amo mi sacerdocio es la mas grande bendición que tengo en me vida. Yo amo dando bendiciones a otro personas yo se que el poder de Dios realmente fue restaurado al mundo porque he sentido y he visto esta poder. Gracias por todo de tu tiempo y amor mama. Te amo muchísimo y ojala tu sabes esos.

Elder Christopher Ryan Barlow

Translation

I'm am well. This week was crazy! We had interviews with the mission president, interviewed Maria, Fransisco's mom, splits and it is horribly hot here. Interviews with the president super good. He's seriously so genuine and helps me focus on the little things that I need to change.  

I am going to speak a lot more in Spanish and that is the reason why I'm writing in  Spanish.  Maria will be baptized tomorrow evening at 7. I am so happy!  I am praying for uncle Lynn and for Caleb to get better. And about Carolina, things happen and there is nothing we can do. I am here for the elect.  I have transfers on Wednesday and I think I will be transferred which is super good!

  I love my priesthood. It is the greatest blessing that I have in my life. I love giving blessings to other people.  I know that the power of God was restored to the earth because I have felt and seen this power.  

  Mom thank you for all your hard work and love.  I hope you know that I love you so much.

I want to be an example of the believers...

I had a very interesting week and dad has most of the details so I am only going to say that we can no longer teach Carolina because she is in love with my comp and wants his bod. Elder Staton is the man. He is going to be spending lots of nights at our house during college because we're going to be poor college students and he loves your food even though he hasn´t even tried it yet. Plus everyone hates him and he has no friends but they do like his bod.  

Mom you rock. Alma 56:44-47 Por lo tanto, ¿que Decís, Hijos míos? ¿queréis ir a combatirlos? y te digo mi amado hermano Moroni, que jamas había visto yo tan grande valor no, ni aun entre todos los nefitas. pues como yo siempre los había llamado hijos míos pues eran todos muy jóvenes, he aquí me contestaron de esta manera: Padre He aquí nuestro Dios esta con nosotros y no no dejara caer; así pues, avancemos. no mataríamos a nuestros hermanos si nos dejasen en paz por tanto avancemos no sea que derroten al ejercito de antipus.  Hasta entonces nunca habían combatido: no obstante, no temían la muerte y estimaban mas la libertad de sus padres que sus propias vidas si sus madres les habían enseñado que si ni dudaban dios los libraría. 48- Y ME REPITIERON LAS PALABRAS DE SUS MADRES, DICIENDO: NO DUDAMOS QUE NUESTRAS MADRES LO SABÍAN. 

I love you mom

Elder Christopher Ryan Barlow 

Hey Dad!! Everyone sent me an update from the super bowl which was really funny to me because I had stopped caring about professional football before my mission.  I thought it was funny that people care enough about me to included these types of details in their emails to me.  Is Caleb doing OK? Has he left the hospital and how are uncle Lynn and the others doing? I am going to write them this week and pray for him. And on a happy note, way to slay it with having a girlfriend Caleb! High 5 From Chile!

We had this amazing,  I mean pure gold investigator named Carolina and she was progressing like no one I had ever seen before. She would read everything we left with her and then look stuff up in the BOM to read. She was reading the additional study references from the pamphlets and was praying on her knees every night. She had a baptismal date for Sunday.  We were at a branch activity and she told my comp that she wasn't sure if she was joining the church because it was true or for him. He was like no!!!!   Now the sisters in our branch have a free baptisms. It blows so bad!! But Its all good because we are going to baptize the Francisco's mom next week, the day before transfers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so pumped!! 

I love preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and I have really been trying to give my whole heart to the Lord because I want to change. I don´t want to come home and be the same old Chris Barlow. I want to be an example of the believers that really give their whole hearts to the lord. I know it is the only way our family and my future family can be together forever. I am so grateful for everything you have done for me and obviously I don´t have the words to express the love or understand all the things that you have for me but I really do love you dad and I want you to know that in my opinion if all men are were and ever would be like unto Peter Barlow the very powers of hell would be shaken forever. Yea Satan would never have power over the hearts of the children of man. 

Love 

Elder Christopher Ryan Barlow 

P.S. Tell Dave Bethers the Gaytriots still suck. 

Found amazing investigator...

I am going to have a niece !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

That is going to be so awesome!!! Tell Stu and Jessica that I am so very happy for them and well I guess we all could have guessed that it was gonna be a girl, since we have a majority of girls in our family and huge lack of girls in the Reynolds family. Obviously this is a blessing for Lucy Reynolds as well. 

All the news I have for this week is good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We found this amazing investigator named Carolina!! She is probably one of the smarts woman I have met in all my life. She is studying to be a psychologist and she is very religious. She is 21 and I don´t think that I have met anyone on my mission who actually does the extra work at the back of the pamphlets until now. She read everything we left then used the extra study sections that compare the Bible and the Book of Mormon. She then reread the first 2 Chapters of the Book of Mormon to make sure she understood it. She has her baptism planned for the  for the 8 of February. 8 of She came to church with us last Sunday and loved it! The best part was that in relief society they pass out the lunch calender for the Elders and she signed up for 4 days which is awesome. We have the heart now we just need the soul! My Companion is awesome!  He is the bomb and is helping me a lot with my Spanish. I have interviews with my president next week and I am pretty excited for them because he is the man! I have also been reading a talk called the 4th missionary that is super good.   If you can find it look it up, it rocks. I love you dad!  I know that the reason I am here is because mom and you took the time to teach me how to use my free agency and I am eternally grateful for your love and sacrifice for me.

Elder Christopher Ryan Barlow

Still as goofy as ever!

Elder Staton his partner in crime!

Elder Barlow's little pets!

Love my comp!!!

Jessica is glowing!!!! jk I have never understood that figure of speech but oh well. She doesn't look that big but Stu with a bit of scruff looks a lot older. You guys look awesome though!! My comp asked who the redneck in the camo is. I am doing good and we are teaching and visiting a lot of people. I am super pumped because we have some new investigators who are pretty good. This week we are going to see how good they really are with the lessons and with their commitments to read and pray. I love Elder Staton he is the man. He actually helps me a ton with my Spanish. I don`t have a lot to report but I do have some photos which should be fun! Tell Maddi and Lindsey I got their package finally!

Only year in my life that I will be able to dedicate my whole time, strength, mind and soul to the Lord...

Hey Momma!!! Como Estas? Estoy empezando el único año en mi vida que yo puedo dedicar todo de tiempo fuerza mente y alma al señor! Estoy super animado!!!!!!!!! Sophia es super bueno y empezamos esta ano con 3 fechas de bautismal pero todos se cayeron porque no asistieron. Pero vamos a renueva sus fechas y ellos van a ser bautizado en esta mes o la próxima. Elder staton es de Virginia y creo que encuentre mi mejor amigo de la misión con El como stu y Mike. El va BYU después la misión y quiere correr ironmen y marathons también después la minios. hacemos mucho mucho ejercicio y  es super bueno! Tuvimos muchos Citas esta semana pasada y mucho mas esta semana que es muy bueno. Yo amo me misíons y quiero ayudar mas personas entender de que Dios es justo y amoroso, poderoso y misericordioso. Las religiounes del mundo han cambiado las cosas de Dios tan mucho de que entiendo porque tan cuantos personas viven en obscuridad, es triste. Pero Yo invito ti para prepara por tu nuevo llamamiento a leer predicad me Evangelio y tomar los lecciones de los missioneros y ver como esta message puede le ayudar. I love you so much mama!!!!!!! 

Translation: Elder Staton is from Virginia and I think I have found my best friend in the mission, like Mike and Stu! He will be going to BYU after the mission and he wants to do the ironman and run marathons also! We have been working out a lot and it's really great!  I love my mission and I want to help more people understand that God is just, loving, omnipotent and merciful. The religions of the world  have changed the doctrines of Heavenly Father so much that I understand we so many people live in darkness. It is really sad!!! I ivite you to read Preach my gospel for your new calling, take the missionary lessons and see how these messages can help you. 

Hey Dad!! I will try to baptize a Chilean for you every week from now on!! I am doing super good here. I can really see how my companions work ethic is effecting me and our work. We have way more future investigators and we are teaching a lot more lessons. My Spanish is actually getting a lot better without a latino because I was trying to teach him English. We started last week with 3 investigators and with baptismal dates but they all fell through because they didn't attend church, which sucked! We are going to place them again and see if they are willing to be obedient or not. I'm starting the only year of my life where I am going to be able to dedicate all of my time, strength, effort, mind, and spirit to the Lord and I'm so excited to start working so much harder to find our brothers and sisters who are wandering in darkness. I have been reading my patriarchal blessing a lot.  I know I have the faith to see miracles in the lives of people but now I just need to put in the work. If it doesn't work out and I only have 2 baptisms in my whole mission I can honestly say that I am ok with it. But that is for the future and I am super pumped!!!!! How are Hannah and Britt doing? Are they in school again? Mom said that Jessica is starting to show, so can you send me a picture of the family next week?  I want to see how you guys have changed! 

Love Elder Christopher Ryan Barlow  

Im loving my mission so much!!!

Hi Momma!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am still here in Ovalle!! I am going to be here for another 6 weeks and then Im going to be out of here!!! I feel a lot more focused ever since I got a new companion. O yeah I got a new comp! His name is Elder Cory Statton. He's from Virginia and has the same amount of time as me in the field but a little less time then me in the misión because he studied Spanish for 12 years before the misión. His parents loved him and taught him how to speak. He is a really good missionary and I am really looking forward to working with him. We have taught quite a few lessons and Francisco my convert is doing awesome. He is reading a lot and attending. He doesn't like primary but that is pretty normal for an 11 year old. He is super pumped to get the priesthood this year and wants to go to the temple so bad. He is super dope! We are teaching a few investigators who are doing super well. Our best is this 17 year old named Sophia. She is super smart and always has lots of questions. We have taught her the first 3 lessons and she said she is going to pray to know if she needs to get baptized. She said that she knows the answer is going to be yes. She has a little bit of fear because she doesn't want to make this commitment and then not be able to live up to the covenant. Which is super good. We have a lesson with her today and we are going to set a date for her baptism for 3 weeks so she can feel prepared and ready. I am loving my misión so much!!!  I have been reading my Patriarchal blessing a lot and I know that my misión is helping me fulfill and receive the blessings that were promised to me.

Love

Elder Christopher Ryan Barlow

Zone Activity

Zone Conference

Elder Staton from Virginia is Chris's new companion