January 22, 2018 - Gettin the Gang Back Together

Hey everybody!!

MTC District 38C reunited:
Elder Sink, Elder Barlow, Elder Dixon,
Elder Gunther, Elder Hamblin, and Elder Makalio

I hope you all know how much I love you! This week in Mutare has been pretty solid and a couple miracles took place (one of them being my Christmas package finally arriving...ok not really a miracle but that was awesome).

On Tuesday we piled into a kombi at 6 am and headed off to Harare for zone conference. After a 3 hour drive with the driver playing the same songs over and over again at maximum volume, we arrived. We received direction on the mission's increased focus on family history and also were taught in preparation for the upcoming mission split. I also got to see the other 5 elders from my MTC district! It was the first time we were all together at a zone conference since Christmas of 2016 and it was awesome to see them! They've been such great examples and friends throughout my mission. Of course, the conclusion of the zone conference was followed by another long and tiring journey back to Mutare (with the same music), but it was a great experience!

With Elder Motsoiri on his birthday,
in front of our flat

On Friday we had interviews with President Mkhabela. He spoke a lot about how missionaries have had a bad perception of and attitude about Mutare for a long time. He also told us about how it is a great opportunity for us to serve here and encouraged us to be unified in achieving our purpose as missionaries and helping one another. We discussed about how as missionaries, we have strengths and weaknesses. Then we learned about how we can help each other turn our weak points into strengths. I definitely have a lot of weaknesses, but it is so comforting to know that I can repent and improve and be better than I was yesterday!

Sunday was awesome!! We had 6 investigators come to church, two of whom were new! We also had some beloved less active members come. I can't explain how happy I was to see them. Truly, Christ taught that the good shepherd bears the lost sheep back home on his shoulders, rejoicing that he has found the one who had gone astray. I can definitely say that I have felt that joy seeing inactive members and investigators come to church. After the service, we had a lesson with Ngoni and Cynthia. Ngoni is from Bulawayo and Cynthia is from Gweru. They met and started dating at university in Gweru and they are both working here in Mutare. Cynthia is a member, but Ngoni is not, and our lesson with them was so powerful! He had so many deep questions that the gospel can answer, and Elder Motsoiri and I couldn't help but smile as we listened to him and answered. He seems so prepared and I am excited to see what the gospel will do for him. Later in the day, we were meeting with Brighton, a recent convert of 2 months who is studying in college. He is such a cool guy and so serious about the Church and the commandments. As we were talking, we met a young woman from Japan who is actually lecturing at the college. We talked with her for a while and we found out her name is Mayu. Elder Motsoiri asked her lots of questions (especially about Japanese, my comp loves languages) and we found out that she's not really religious but that she'd be interested in meeting with us sometime. I love meeting all kinds of people on my mission. Who would've thought that I would meet a Japanese person in Zimbabwe? I love this work!

VOLLEYBALL!

Today we played volleyball!! That's right, actual volleyball. I admit, I'm super rusty, but it was so much fun! Some of the elders in the zone are great athletes and we really enjoyed ourselves!

Well, that's about all for this week!! If I had to choose a thought to share, it would be to reach out in love to those around us. There are so many of our brothers and sisters around us in our own neighborhoods that need our support, our friendship, and our help. I have gained a testimony of these things. When we choose not to judge others and love them unconditionally, even if we don't know them that well, we can be the Lord's hands in doing His work. Mosiah 2:17 states that we serve God when we serve those around us, and it is my prayer that we will choose to keep the first and second greatest commandments with all our heart, might, mind, and strength.

I love you all, have the best week ever!!

Love Elder Barlow

January 29, 2018 - Back in H-Town

Hey everyone!!

Where is the time going?? It seems like 2018 just started, and January is almost in the books! I love being able to dedicate this time to serving the Lord. Transfers came and I've been sent back to Harare, this time as a zone leader! My new companion is Elder Byrom from England, and it's awesome because we are in the same group! I'm pretty humbled to have this new responsibility, but I'm also super excited! What I'm not as excited for is driving a stick shift in downtown Harare. I stalled out a couple times today, but I got a few laughs so it's ok! Gotta love the mission!

Fun fact: my second year on mission is feeling like a repeat of my first year. From Sept 2016 to Dec 2016, I was being trained. After that I went to a town area (Kadoma) for one transfer where we only baptized one person that didn't get confirmed (Nellie). Afterwards, I went to an area in Harare East (Seke) where we had a car. And from Sept-Dec 2017, I was training a new missionary. Afterwards, I went to a town area (Mutare) for one transfer where we baptized only Tanaka, and she hasn't been confirmed yet. And now I've been transferred to the Harare East zone with a car. Crazy, right? Either it's coincidence or divine design haha. 

After church with Brother Feryne

My last week in Mutare was full of interesting experiences. On Tuesday, we attended a funeral for a returned missionary with the Penhalonga elders. It was pretty sad to see so many of his family members and friends so devastated. The whole experience made me think pretty deeply about life, death, and God's plan of salvation. I felt impressed to study more about Jesus Christ's Atonement, the eventual resurrection, and the promise of salvation if we are faithful. I was really impacted by this experience, and I am gaining a greater testimony that there is a life after death and that Christ made it possible for us to return to our Heavenly Father and be with our families forever! It is always sad to lose someone, but I know that peace and comfort can be found through the Savior! 

With Sister Narikenya and Virginia Makelve

While I served in Mutare, I gained a great love for members who are less active in the Church. Everyone is a child of God, and all are of great worth in His eyes. This week we worked with the Makelve's and Feryne, and it was awesome. Feryne came to church yesterday and he contributed a lot--it was so cool! I think he realized how much he had been missing and I hope he will continue making an effort to be active! It was really difficult to say goodbye to the Makelve's and Feryne. I got close with them in such a short time, and I pray that they will be able to fully return to the fold of God!

This week I had the privilege to finish reading the Book of Mormon again. I love the final chapters in Moroni about faith, hope, charity, and Christ! Mormon and Moroni were perfect examples of enduring to the end and remaining faithful no matter what the circumstances. I keep realizing how short of a time that I have left as a full time missionary, and I have truly gained the desire to press forward to the end of my mission and remain faithful. If you haven't recently, read Moroni 7. We can truly lay hold upon every good thing through faith in Christ, and if we develop charity, we can become pure even as He is!

I love you all so much! I'm sorry that this email isn't as long, it's been a bit of a busy day! Hope you all are doing well!

Eating an ice lolo
(a homemade popsicle made of baobab powder,
etc and frozen on a twig)

Love Elder Barlow

January 15, 2018 - Singin' in the...sun?

Mhoroi friends and family!!

I hope you all had a great week! This year's rainy season has been pretty devoid of rain, so we have been teaching/preaching/working as missionaries do in the hot Zimbabwe sun. It also seems like most of our appointments fell through this week, which isn't too fun, but I've tried to make up for it by singing just about everywhere I go. Missionary work can be a bit tough sometimes, but there's always a bright side and I'm truly grateful to be a part of it!

To be honest, this week wasn't the most exciting, but it still had its good moments. We found another family to teach! The Mukutuzi family is super awesome. The husband works at a grocery store and the wife is a tailor, and they have two sons. Their 2 year old son Lawton is super crazy and is basically bouncing off the walls every time we go there to teach. We've also met quite a few people who were taught by previous missionaries, so hopefully we will be able to teach them and see what they know. We definitely need more investigators here in Mutare, and I have faith that we will be able to find them! 

I went on exchanges with Elder Masitsa this week. He's from Kenya and hit his year mark last month. He's a quiet and reserved guy, but it was fun to learn about his conversion to the gospel and to work together. Yesterday was Elder Motsoiri's 23rd birthday! He's been pretty excited about it. By the way, the Zimbabwean trend of empty promises about coming to church, etc apply to birthday presents too. Almost everyone we know said they'd get Elder Motsoiri a present, and surprise, almost none of them actually did. It's ok though, he's had a good time these past few days. Speaking of birthdays, I want to wish my dad a happy birthday today! I couldn't ask for a better father and I'm grateful for the example of hard work and priesthood service that he has set for me! 

I know this hasn't been the most enthusiastic of emails, but I'd like to share a thought that came to me this week. I have been studying in Ether in the Book of Mormon, and I've noted an interesting trend. Whenever the people remembered all the good things that God had done for their forefathers, it motivated them to be righteous and they too received blessings of joy and prosperity from the Lord. When they forgot about their blessings, the people fell into contention, greed, and rebellion. It is so important for us to remember all the tender mercies that we have received. Doing so strengthens our testimony and our hope for further blessings as we live the gospel. In fact, Moroni's first counsel to us when we receive the Book of Mormon is to remember how merciful the Lord has been unto His children even back to the days of Adam (Moroni 10:3). I know that as we choose to learn from our mistakes and others' and keep in remembrance all that God has done for us, we will look forward with an eye of faith and be able to endure all the challenges that lie ahead.

I love you all and I hope that you have a fantastic week! Know that we are never alone!

Love Elder Barlow

Sorry, the computer is not cooperating so pics will come next week!!