4/9/18 - Family Letter to Emma

Emma,

We were so excited to get your letters!  I'm so proud of you!  You are courageous and strong.  You are doing an important work.  It's normal to be homesick.  We are missing you too!  You make everything exciting and fun, plus, we just like you!  Whenever you get homesick, (this is a suggestion from Marnie Thorpe that she use to tell Cole) try focusing that feeling into helping others who might not have as good a relationship with their families as you have.  She said that one purpose of a mission is to help people live joyfully in their families, because living the gospel creates eternal families.  She said that you are blessed to have a family who loves and supports you.  You are there to use your knowledge of the gospel and family love to help others experience that joy.  (It would be really sad if you didn't miss your family)...but, it WILL get easier.  You are doing better than you think in so many areas.  This week, in your prayers, take some time to ask Heavenly Father what you are doing well (He will tell you...and it feels awesome!)  He loves you and has designed this experience specifically for you....so He will help you!

We had fun in San Diego (but it was more fun with you).  The weather was pretty cold and we had to rent wet suits to play in the water.  One of the best things that happened was that while we were eating lunch one day (near the San Diego Temple), a woman with a heavy accent and broken English approached us and asked for some money (she had a head-scarf and said she was from Bosnia or somewhere in Russia, I think).  She said she needed to buy some groceries for her kids.  We offered to buy her lunch (because we don't like to give money) but she said "No" and was gone in a flash.

As we ate, we all felt that we should do something for her, but what?  Then we noticed that we were a few shops away from a grocery store.  We decided that if we saw her again, we would take her into the store and buy her some groceries.  We looked for her with no luck...then finally, just as we were about to go, we spotted her.  I jumped out of the van and ran over to her to explain how we could help her.  She was so happy!  Mari and I went into the grocery store with her and bought her a $100 gift card for that store.  She was so happy as she was filling her shopping cart.  She gave us a hug and kissed me on my hand.  She was buying food for her 3 kids and her brother....I'm really glad we found her again.

Riverton Elementary Orchestra concerts and field trip are this week.  My favorite song is "Swallow Tail" because of the props:  If you remember, a swallowtail is a butterfly.  We have 3 kids wearing butterfly wings, 5 kids dressed as garden gnomes (colorful pointy hats and beards) and holding flowers and  then Mari with a butterfly net- trying to catch the butterflies as she moves in slow motion...never quite catching them.  Mari is excited because she wants to incorporation the modern dance technique of "walking through jello" as she wields her butterfly net.

I love you!  I am SO proud of you!  Have a wonderful week.  (by the way, we are loving your pictures!!!!) you are still as cute as ever!

Love, Mom

Hey sis,

you are an awesome missionary! Whats up. How is the ctm?  I missed our little jams in the car.

you are an amazing daughter of God.you are loved in many MANY ways.

Love you,

                  Mari Barlow

EMMA!!!!!!!!!!

You are looking super tan! It brings out the gray flecks in your eyes. We missed you in San Diego! Gihradelli's closed for a few months, Eve put together a Spotify playlist, and it was kind of over cast, but other wise it was an OK vacation . But we all missed your happy and  exited attitude! Love you and keep up the good work!         

Hyrum Barlow

M,

I was able to get us access to your pictures through our phones.  Your Mom is very happy and dancing a bit.  It has been very fun looking through your pictures.  Some of those helping you out have struggled to get your camera to focus.  Most of the pictures are fantastic and have been fun to see.  Make sure to get some pictures of your classroom setting and even your meals and cafeteria.  You will attempt to explain these area and will have a struggle to capture it.  These pictures make me wish I was there with you.  What a time to be you!!

We just got back from our trip and ares till trying to recover.  I'm still tired.  It was a bit colder than the past trips we took.  The water was far colder than our trip in December.  You were missed as we say the kids attempt to fill the gaps you left.  Eve took over our playlist, Mari took over as our videographer, and Hyrum kept being Hyrum.  We missed having a cheerleader and motivator.  We ate far too much Mexican food.  I think it will be a month before we attempt Mexican again.  Are you getting rice and beans every day?  The temple was very crowded.  Everybody came from Utah to go to the temple the same time we did.  We have 5-6 large families and a Youth Conference from Temecula.  It took us about 1.5 hours to get through.  the temple workers loved it.  I don't think we will try to go to So Cal for Spring Break again.  We got home at midnight and the next day we had the JRT Orchestra.  I still feel like I'm running on fumes.  Mom is attempting to get her Elementary Orchestra completed in the next few days.

Eve is starting to stress about her busy schedule.  We got back from So Cal and she had to start getting ready for elections. Almost her whole friend group is attempting to get elected.  I wonder if they will stay friends through the process.   She is about to go on tour.  Most of the girls in her room are running and they find out who gets elected while they are out.  It has been crazy around here.

I could not be more proud of you than I am now.  While you are in Brazil you will learn how to really pray.  I remember that I felt like I had a good handle on my testimony, scriptural knowledge, and what it takes to be a missionary.  It did not take me long to discover that I had a lot to learn.  It is all part of the process.  You have what it take to be a missionary in Brazil.  You have the skill required to teach and love these people.  The language will come.  Do your part and try not to get discouraged.  We miss you as much as you miss us.  We pray for you always.  You have got this kid! I have no doubt.

Love ya kid

Dad

Mormon 9:21