Grateful for priesthood opportunities, Super slow week, transfers are coming...

Hi Mommy! I Love YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I will have a transfer meeting on Wednesday! I will probably be transferred to the sector where I will finish my mission. It should be interesting! Nothing absolutely nothing happened this week!!! We had 93 contacts which is really good for a week but we taught only one new investigator and out of the 16 appointments that we had none were there! I am used to it though so its all good, the gospel is still true. 

Lots of love 

Elder Christopher Ryan Barlow 

I was thinking about the power of the priesthood and the need that I have to receive as many spiritual gifts as our heavenly father is willing to bless me with. I am very grateful for the opportunity that I have had to interact with the priesthood holders here because they have really opened my eyes to the power and reality  of the priesthood and I have had many of my own experiences. 

You better start your marathon training because were going to run one together before the end of this year! I'm gonna wreck you!

Elder Christopher Ryan Barlow

December was busy, baptized Antonia, meeting Elder Jose Texiara of the 70 and finally received my Christmas package...

 I can´t write you a lot about this last week because I don't have lots of time but this year has started off pretty dang well, not gonna lie! I am going to be able to meet another 70 this week, Elder Jose Texiara! It will be cool! This will probably be my last week in La Serena and next week I will most likely go to the area where I will end my mission!!!!!!!!!!!!............. Crazy! I want to tell you that I know that our heavenly father listens to and answers our prayers. If there is anything that will lead is to the truth, it is sincere conversation with our heavenly father! 
Oh and I got the packages! Awesome!!! I love the star wars shirts but I don´t think I will wear one because It has Leia in a metal bikini. Hahah  

Elder Christopher Ryan Barlow

Hola momma! 

I had a wonderful Christmas week! Last Monday was just a normal day but on Tuesday we had a Christmas activity and a BBQ which was really cool! We played around and had super good food. 

We also had the baptism of Antonia Berrios! She is awesome and now we are teaching her aunt and her grandma! They both went to church yesterday. We are also teaching the boyfriend of a  sister in our ward. We could have 3 baptisms at the end of church, so i will be praying and fasting a lot so that happens! Its ok that the package hasn`t come yet it, doesn`t bother me. Dad's gun is fetching sweet! I really like the photos you guys sent me! You all look the same just Hannah and Britt look older and Lucy looks super happy to be with Santa! I would guess that she was screaming her head off.  Love you mom! Have a happy new year!! 

Elder Christopher Ryan Barlow!

We are going to have a baptism today!! I am pretty excited! All that hard work this last 5 months is going to pay off! Her name is Antonia Berrios! She is 9 and will be baptized by her grandpa. I am going to confirm her this Sunday. Everyone said that Star Wars was awesome but that they changed the story of star wars a lot from what it  already existed. I still haven't gotten my package but I think I will get it on the 6th of January because a 70 is going to come and speak with us. I think were going to call at 3. Hopefully everything will work fine. Dad said he was going to make a destroyer ginger bread house in my honor. Did he? Everyone looks the exact same as before.  ha ha Parker only looks slightly older. Maddi is leaving right? Are Abbey and Flo engaged already because some of the girls from my high school have just recently gotten sealed.  That's a really good picture of Jess and Lucy. I have always been kind of a Grinch about Christmas, but this Christmas has been really different for me, not only is it my last here in Chile but its also my last without snow. I will also end the only year of my life fully consecrated to the lord. In a very small part I am starting to learn how much really our savior and father in heaven love us. I probably won´t understand until I am face to face with them and can tell them I love them too. I love my savior and I love you momma. See you in a couple days!  

Your favorite child

Elder Christopher Ryan Barlow 

New investigators, baptism and talked someone from jumping off the electrical pole....

I have had an interesting week! We stopped a guy from committing suicide yesterday. He had climbed up one of the towers that keep up the big power cables and was going to throw himself off. He was drunk and saying his life was worth nothing! We shouted at him to come down and come talk to us and that we could help. He came down and we talked for a bit then one of his friends came and then the cop but nothing dramatic happened after that. 

We found 2 more investigators who are really good ladies. A mother and her daughter named Jenny and Mary. They just lost their son and older brother and are really distraught. They talked with their neighbor who is a member and invited us to come and talk with them and give them blessings of counsel and comfort. They calmed down and we came back2 days later. She was having another panic attack so we shared a message with her and she calmed down. She is really hard of heart but recognizes that what we are sharing will help her to feel better. Their names are Jenny and Mary. I also baptized a convert of some sisters in my district, which not gonna lie, was really cool! I also interviewed him. It was cool to see his repentance process and to be able to baptize him for the remission of sins, it made me feel like a tool in the hands of the lord. 

Love,

Elder Barlow

  Hannah looks like a tiny Jessica and all her friends are tall!!! What the heck? Meg Sorensen is a giant!!! My niece is really cute! 
  Not a whole lot happened this week. There was another earthquake here a couple nights ago but nothing happened and no one got hurt because it was in the middle of the night and it was just a 6.8, so nothing was damaged! We found some new investigators and placed some baptismal dates but no  one came to church so we are going to have to talk to them about keeping commitments. 
  I am so excited to be able to go to the temple with you guys. I have always liked the temple but I never understand the need, the absolute need that we as children of God have for the temple, the covenants and the peace it brings.  I  have a burning desire to be able to visit the temple and more then anything I want the people I have taught to be able to make it there. 

  My comp is terrible about exercising so the only way I can get him to run is by playing football in the mornings. I run routes and he plays QB. When I can`t get him out of bed I jump rope too, for about 10 minutes before I do a bunch of other workouts. I have been really good about working out here and I think that has helped me a lot with stress. I wake up excited to workout then I am excited to drink mate! Then I am excited to study the scriptures and go out and teach.

   I have really enjoyed my mission and I need to thank you guys for that because there are lots of guys who struggle with the concept of what the mission is or how hard it would be or just keeping your head in the work. I do have moments obviously of when I get distracted but  thanks to you guys I have been able to work hard all my mission. You and mom taught me how to work.  I may not be the smartest missionary or the best or the most spiritual but I do know how to work thanks to you guys. 

Love Elder Christopher  Ryan Barlow

Working hard to stay focused, Worth of souls is precious....

   Our investigators are in the words of the Chileans, "alli no mas."   I got pretty sick the other day but after getting  a blessing and a couple hours of sleep I felt perfectly fine. Thank you for saying something about staying focused! It has been kind of hard lately to try and keep my mind focused. I do work hard and I try my best to keep my mind in the work. I have learned here on the mission that there is a time and a place for everything.   Although sometimes I struggle in trying to keep my mind on the work I know that I am going to fight and work hard till the end. Mostly the the thoughts that distract me are thoughts of marriage and family, I never think about school or other things. I know its not bad to have these desires. I work hard to shut them out of my heart for right now because not only do I refuse to be trunkie, I know that I need to learn to control the desires of my heart and put the lord first in everything. Those that lose their lives shall find it, I want to find my life. I have seen miracles and grown so much in my knowledge of the gospel but I still haven`t completely lost my life. ha ha. I talk with Lindsey all the time and Mitch.

 
Something I have thought about  is that I would like a lot  after finishing my mission is to be able to visit all the people I have been able to meet with you guys. They are amazing! Meeting the missionary from Logan today and seeing all the love he has for all these people made me think about all the people I have met. I pray they are active and living the gospel. I have started to gain the vision of the worth of their souls. There is a scripture in Alma, 31:35 and Alma is praying so that he might have success to teach and preach. I felt that that yesterday thinking about the people I have met. Oh lord their souls are precious and many of them are precious, therefore, give unto us, lord wisdom and power to bring them unto you again.

Charity is pure love of Christ...

 I have been studying a lot these last couple weeks about charity and the need that we have for it in our lives. I was reading in Moroni 7 and its amazing how much we must change to reach exaltation. Its also amazing how much Christ really changes us without us noticing, unless we make a strong effort to try and see it. His grace is an amazing tool we as missionaries must use to over come our weaknesses. I have been thinking that charity is an attribute that we must posses it is something  we need to have toward  all people everywhere. I was reading a talk given by  President Holland and I realized that only Christ`s love is perfect. We can love all people, that is possible but  we can`t love them perfectly because we are not perfect yet.  I think Moroni is trying to teach in his sermon about charity and  that through our hope and faith in Christ we will be humble enough to the point to where the pure love of Christ, through praying with all the energy of our hearts for others and for ourselves, will fill us and in the last days we will recognize that Christ loves us, that we have loved him sufficiently to be changed by his grace.  We will appear to be like him because we will  have worked all our days trying to do what he would have done. So in the end its true what the scriptures say, only through the merits and grace of the holy messiah, shall in the end we be saved. Its very humbling for me to see how literally we are nothing.  our heavenly father sent his only begotten son, the creator of all things in heaven and earth and countless other worlds and people, to live, teach, suffer all the human condition asks us to suffer, to descend below all the lowest that anyone can possibly  go, and the to die a painful, long death.  He lives, and because he lives I know I will live. I will be changed by him from nothing to something so beautiful I  can`t even image it. I can only dream of it and try my very best to work towards it everyday. I love my savior and his love is real. I have felt it so many times when he has helped and comforted me. You mom are one of the ways the savior allows me to feel his love and for that I am eternally grateful. You have raised me with such care, patience, long suffering!, mercy, and above all charity. Keep trying to be better everyday. because just like Elder Holland said mothers are unique and amazing.  

Check out this cool sword and my shoes! This is the second time I have gotten these same wholes in the sole! 

Elder Christopher Ryan Barlow!

Holy Shoes!!!

I loved conference, thinking about my future goals, love you so much dad....

Hey dad! I don`t have a lot of time today but I wanted to let you know that I love you so much! I need to tell you that your a wonderful father, that has instilled the gospel of Jesus Christ into the heart of your son. You have and will continue magnifying the greatest calling that you will ever receive as a father. I know that our heavenly father is very proud of you and all the efforts that you have made to teach the daughters and son that were trusted to your care. I know you did your absolute best and I will raise my sons and daughters in righteousness as you have raised me. You did what Jacob did to Enos, you taught me in your language and in discipline before the Lord. Blessed be the name of my God because of you. 

Love Elder Barlow

Whoa! How did you recognize that it was president Kahnlien??! He is super tall it's true. What is he doing in the states? I thought he was working for the church? 

Thanks mom for everything you do! Gonna be honest, I thought of you during the conference talks when they talked about moms but more then anything I took notes about the type of characteristics I want my wife to have. Its really strange to think about but I am down to less then 9 months but I am positive I won`t be getting married in my first year home but for sure my second year. I am not trunkie

 or anything like that but Its just interesting how  goals   have started to come to mind lately such as having  children, how I will raise them comes to mind once and a while, where should I live while I go to school? Do I want to marry a convert, a sister missionary, a member from a different country. That last one has only been a thought like 2 times.... 

I love conference!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I could barely stay awake during one session of conference before the mission and now 2 days isn`t long enough!!!!!!!!!! I need more! I am an addict to revelation and feeling the spirit. I know I feel it constantly but I love the sense of feeling when the spirit confirms something to me! I want that to happen all the time in every moment of everyday for the rest of my life because its such a wonderful feeling! Its beautiful and sacred and somethings only I can understand that our father is telling me personally. My favorite talk was from Elder Eyring, about how our efforts will be multiplied by the lord. I also really enjoyed the talk by Elder Larry R Lawrence about centering our lives in Christ. 

I love the gospel Of Jesus Christ and I learned something really interesting which, yes I already knew. I was reading in Doctrine and Covenants in section 130 that Our father is obligated to bless us for our obedience to certain laws and that the greatest blessing or gift he can give us is eternal life. I have always thought we will be changed from corruption to eternal life but I realized that it doesn`t matter. God has said that if we obey the gospel of Jesus Christ we will receive eternal life. Good enough for me. I decided I would be obedient to all things without question to the lord and his servants because that's the point of the earth life to see if we will be obedient in all things that the Lord God has commanded, no matter what the loss is. I know I am not perfect, I am going to mess up but I will put in my very best effort to doing everything I possibly can to be obedient and loyal to my Father in Heaven and my savior Jesus Christ.

Love Elder Barlow

Oh Mom to answer your question! Matè is one of the greatest discoveries known to your son. It's delicious and I drink it almost every morning piping hot! 

Love this silly smile!

Ran into President Kahnlein at the conference center during general conference!