June 25, 2018 - Service

Hey everybody!!

I hope everyone is doing well! This week was a great one! We were able to get some much needed work done in our area, and we met some sweet people along the way. Elder Hansen and I still have our hands full, but we're enjoying every minute of it! 

On Tuesday we went to district meeting in Chitungwiza! Being back at the meetinghouse there brought memories rushing back from my time in Seke. It was really cool to be there for the first time in over a year. We had a busy day planned, but it turns out that Elder Hansen is allergic to cashews, which were contained in a candy bar that he ate after the meeting. He ended up getting sick, so we had to head back home so he could get some rest.

With Elder Huffaker

The next day we had exchanges with the Queensdale elders. I went with Elder Huffaker. He is from Colorado and we were in adjacent districts in the MTC. While we were walking back to the car to get some water, we met a woman who was taught by missionaries two years ago in Waterfalls here in Harare. We set an appointment with her, but didn't know where she stayed. She said we could go with her to see her house. It turns out that she lives in Stoneridge 2, which is another part of our area--a very distant part of our area. We walked for nearly an hour through some fields and giant rocks to find her place, but it was worth it because she seems very receptive and willing to learn about the gospel!

Blessing's baptism
(featuring Mathias and Kelvin)

 A picture from our last MLC with President Mkhabela
(4 weeks back)

The highlight of the week was Blessing's baptism! She has a super cool conversion story! Two years ago she had a dream about sitting in a classroom and reading two Bibles. She had another dream about a white guy and an African coming to visit her. Then a month or so ago, Elder Allen and Elder Nhamo contacted her and started teaching her. When she learned about the Book of Mormon, she understood about the dream of having two books of scripture. She's a very pure and genuine person that has had some difficult and confusing experiences in her life, and I know that she will be greatly blessed by her membership in the Church!

Recently we've been talking a lot about serving others. The Savior set a perfect example by going about "doing good," and simply serving others is a major part of the gospel of Christ. As Elder Hansen and I have been looking for opportunities to share the gospel and find new people to teach, we've tried to keep our eyes open for chances to help others. As we've done so, we've been able to assist members and investigators and doors have been opened for us. I testify that as we seek to help those around us, we will truly share the light of Christ with others! Have a great week, and find ways to serve those around you!

Love Elder Barlow

June 18, 2018 - No Time to Rest

Hey everybody!!

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying summer! Winter weather in Zimbabwe is kind of bipolar. In the mornings it's brisk enough to take a jacket when you leave the house, but by 11 am it will be hot and sunny. Sometimes you might choose to leave the jacket at home. However, by 5 pm it begins to get colder again, and you wish you had your jacket. Evenings are cold enough to need a blanket and a heater. So we get the best of both worlds in Zimbabwe.

This week was incredibly busy again for us. We didn't have a full day in the area the whole week, but we had some great experiences. On Tuesday we had zone conference. It is always good to gather as missionaries and be taught by our leaders. It's crazy to think that I may or may not have another zone conference! I will definitely miss them. It was President Mkhabela's last zone conference as well, and he addressed us on valuing and believing the scriptures. He asked us if we truly believe the scriptures that we read. For example, he read for us from Matthew about seeking first the kingdom of God, and then asked if we choose missionary work over worrying about what we will eat or wear. It made me think hard about how I understand and value the scriptures, and I've been trying to make a conscious effort to apply all that I learn in the scriptures. I also had my last interview with President Mkhabela before he goes home. I am truly grateful to have served around him. I have learned so much from him and he has helped me to become the person I am today. It was hard to keep emotions back in the interview. He was very gracious and paid me some high compliments as well (which I won't take time to mention), which was very kind. I will miss him and his wife when they return home.

The rest of the week was full of crazy errands. Everything from moving 4 missionaries into a different house with our little Nissan, to helping some missionaries in our zone with an open house. We definitely didn't have a second of open time (or any time to take pictures...sorry Mom). It was hard to not be able to proselyte as much as we wanted, but I know that the work we do for our zone is still important in helping the Lord's work roll forward. Church was awesome on Sunday! Southlea Park has an attendance of about 80+ members, many of whom are very strong in the Church. They seem very supportive and I'm so excited to work with them and get to know them better! 

Well, that's about all for this week! I promise I'll have more to write next week! I know that Christ lives and that this is His work, and I love being a part of it even when it pushes me to my limits!

Love Elder Barlow

Sorry, I didn't really have time to take pictures this week, but here's my last picture with Elder Gunther and Elder Whiting from two weeks back

June 11, 2018 - Hitting the Ground Running

Hey friends and family!!

I hope you all have had a great week!! This week has literally been the craziest week of my mission! Elder Hansen and I have been all over the place trying to run errands and figure out our area, but it's definitely been an adventure. 

With Elder Hansen

First, a little bit about Elder Hansen. He's from Orange County, California and is 6 months behind me. He's super funny and a great missionary. He was trained by my buddy Elder Byrom, and I love being his companion. On Monday and Tuesday, we were helping the assistants out with transfers, so we were constantly moving missionaries around and helping them find their houses; not to mention the fact that we had to find our own house, which is on the far side of Harare. We barely had time to take a breath haha. We eventually did find our house and our area. The house is pretty nice, but because it's mostly tile and windows, it acts like an icebox on these cold winter mornings and nights. We've been doing our best not to freeze. I don't know if living in Zim has made me vulnerable to the cold, but it's frigid these days! Southlea Park is actually a lot like Eastview: a high density, developing area with lots of dust. The only difference is that Southlea Park is flat and has less farming area. However, it is no less devoid of potholes and craters in the roads. We just have a sedan and I'm really missing the truck haha. The branch here is also just 2 years old, but they've only had a meetinghouse in Southlea Park for about 10 months. Since then, the branch has been growing like crazy and the future is looking great!

We finally got to our area on Wednesday, and we had no idea where to go. We had names of people to find, but nobody seemed to pick up their phone. We were able to speak to a few people in Shona and got directions to our meetinghouse. The first guy gave us directions to the local Jehovah's witness church....facepalm. We finally found the place and eventually found a member family and a few investigators. On Thursday we had more success because we found a branch missionary that showed us around to a bunch of investigators and members. Our branch president is cool as well. He served a mission in Ghana and knows a lot about missionary work. He already gave us a few assignments that we plan to fill.

Once we started working with a member, we stopped getting lost as often. One thing the branch president asked us to do was to proselyte in the low density area of Southlea Park. That's where most of the more wealthy people stay, and there aren't any members there. Well, we decided that we would go check it out when our plans opened up. We went and knocked a few doors, and the first three people we met let us in and listened to our message! We were so surprised and excited! I can't wait to meet more people there! We had another miracle yesterday when we went to follow up with someone we met in the low density area. He wasn't home, so we were driving back with a member and happened to see an investigator on the street that we were supposed to see. On top of that, he happened to be in front of a house where a friend of his stays, and he had been planning to refer her to missionaries. We met her and set up an appointment there and then. Coincidence? I think not!

With Saru at stake conference

Another amazing experience was our stake conference yesterday! We all met at the big stake center in Mbare, and Elder Joni L. Koch of the Seventy was there! He and other speakers gave great messages about ministering to others and allowing people to minister to us. It's always special to be taught by a General Authority. In addition, Southlea Park is in the same stake as Chitungwiza and Seke, so a ton of the members were there and it was amazing to see them. Among them were two of my recent converts, Saru and Sister Kwaramba and her son Tasha!! I can't explain how amazing it was to see them still active in the church!! Seeing things come full circle with them was incredible! The Lord's plan is definitely perfect! 

One last quick thought: as I've been adjusting to the whitewash and not knowing half of our zone, I've realized how important it is to rely on the Lord. When we try to use our own strength and wisdom alone, we will feel lost, confused, and inadequate. I'm happy to know that I'm not meant to do everything alone. This is the Lord's work, and He helps us accomplish it!

Love you all, have a great week!!

Love Elder Barlow

June 4, 2018 - From the East Side to the South Side

Hey everyone!!

Saying goodbye to Tildah, Tanatswa, and their mom

Today marks the beginning of my last full transfer! It will also be the last transfer with President Mkhabela, and by the end of June there will be two missions! Things are happening in Zim!! I'm also being transferred from Eastview to Southlea Park (still in Harare) to be with Elder Hansen. We'll be the zone leaders over the biggest zone in the mission and both of us will be new to the area, so we've definitely got our work cut out for us! This email will be a bit shorter because of transfers, but I'll do my best to give a recap of the week.

This week we worked hard to find more people to teach. We've been struggling to find new people who are prepared for and ready to act on the message of the restored gospel, but things definitely changed. Our recent converts have been so key in finding new investigators. This week, Tildah (a recent convert of one month) showed us to 3 of her friends and their families, and also brought her mom to church! Powerful! I love these people who are brand new in the gospel because they have so much energy and a great desire to share their newfound faith! One of the people she showed us is a lady named Beauty, who has 3 daughters. All of them also came to church, which was amazing! Funny story, one of her daughters is named Shivine (which is a unique name by itself) and when you say it fast, it sounds just like schwein, which means pig in German. Elder Till was dying; it was hilarious.

With Freedom's family

Elder Till and I also ate chicken feet this week. Yes, you read that correctly. It was definitely strange, but it wasn't that bad actually. If you think you've eaten chicken fingers before, think again haha.

Overall, I'm so grateful to have served in Eastview. I've experienced the most success of my mission here, and I'm convinced that the Lord blessed us because my companions and I were striving our best to be obedient and diligent in all we do. I love each of the incredible converts that I had the privilege of meeting and sharing the gospel with. It was difficult to say goodbye, but I know they are in good hands. Serving a mission truly is the most incredible experience!

Hopefully I'll have more to write next week! I love this work and I'm grateful for each and every day I have to serve the Lord. Love you all!

Love Elder Barlow

May 28, 2018 - Ndiri kuonga (I'm Grateful)

Hey everybody!!

We had another crazy yet rewarding week here in Eastview! The cold is definitely here to stay, but we've been surprised by a few showers this week. The Lord also showered some blessings upon us, so I figured that I'd center my email this week on gratitude.

With Elder Williams on exchanges again

Recently, I've been praying for more gratitude. D&C 59:7 commands us to "thank the Lord thy God in all things," so I've been pondering more about the blessings that I've been given. There are so many luxuries that I knew at home that most people here never taste of. There are even some privileges that I've enjoyed as a missionary in Zimbabwe that many Zimbabweans don't commonly have, and I've been striving not to develop a sense of entitlement. As I've prayed for the spirit of thanksgiving, the Lord has opened my eyes to see how much he has blessed me with. I've felt a deepening sense of gratitude in my heart as I interact with the humble people around me. There are people that we meet that struggle to get through life, and I wish I could give them the world. However, I've also come to understand that the best thing I could give them is the gospel of Jesus Christ, which provides hope and peace in the most challenging times. Above all things, I'm grateful for the Savior and this life-changing opportunity that I've been granted to serve Him as a missionary. 

There are also some tangible blessings that the Lord has given us. As Elder Till and I have tried to be diligent and obedient in all that we do, that Lord has blessed with more success than we planned. This week, we had the privilege of seeing 7 of our friends get baptized! I'll give a quick spotlight on each one:

Baptism!!

Jacqueline(38)- We found her with Elder Byrom. We initially met her 20 year old daughter, who led us to Jacqueline. She's super teachable and willing to learn, and even delayed a move to South Africa so that she could be baptized.

Panashe(9)- He's Freedom's younger brother, and just a sweet kid. We're hoping that the rest of Freedom's family will follow suit!

Brandon(10)- Brandon just showed up to church one day and has been coming for over a month. His mom isn't into the best things, so he stays with his aunt. He asks questions that are mature for his age and he just wants to do what's right.

Ropafadzo(8)- Ropa is the daughter of an investigator who's been coming to church for over a year but can't get baptized because her husband won't get legally married. Her mom was so happy to see her baptized.

Kelvin(20)- Kelvin is a friend of Freedom's, and he just showed up to church with Freedom last month. He's also super willing to learn and practically teaches us the lessons when we go visit him.

Karen(17) & Kelly(19)- Karen and Kelly are from Bulawayo and speak Ndebele. They're cousins, and super awesome. Karen is sweet and reads and remembers all that we give her. Kelly always pretends to be too cool for everything, but she's super fun and deep down has a growing testimony.

Although the water was cold, the Spirit warmed our hearts as we saw these 7 people make sacred covenants with God. I'm so thankful to have played a small part in helping them come into the fold of God. The Lord has led me to some amazing people throughout my mission, and I'm grateful for what I've learned from each one of them. 

Well, that's about all I have time for this week! MLC is tomorrow so we have some things to take care of. I'm truly grateful for each one of you and the good influence you have on my life. Have a wonderful week!

Love Elder Barlow

May 21, 2018 - Chando Chasvika (The Cold Has Arrived)

Hey everybody!!

This week was super busy! Elder Till and I definitely had our hands full, but we got some good work done. Winter is finally setting in here in Zimbabwe. It started a little earlier than last year. The mornings and evenings are pretty chilly these days, but the weather is perfect during the day. (Once again, yes, it does get cold in Africa)

Cool view from our house in the morning

On Tuesday we had zone conference. It was good to see some good friends and be taught by our mission president. Elder Till and I were able to give a presentation on helping investigators to make and keep commitments, and it went really well. I enjoy presenting because it pushes me out of my comfort zone and gives me an opportunity to teach and help others. President Mkhabela read several scriptures about the miracles that Christ performed, and then showed us how we should have faith and trust in His infinite power and mercy. Too often we study the scriptures and appreciate the miracles that occurred without realizing that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is a God of miracles, and will always bless us as long as we exercise our faith in Him (Moroni 7, 10). On my mission, I have grown to trust the Lord more, and He has truly provided miracles.

With Elder Lucas and Elder Masitsa after exchanges

On Wednesday we had exchanges with the Marondera elders. I went with Elder Masitsa from Kenya, who was in my district back in Mutare. We must've walked across the entirety of their area, but we had a great time finding and teaching people about the restored gospel. Marondera is an hour away from the rest of our zone, so it's always good to visit with the elders there.

With Elder Till at zone conference

Remember what I said about miracles? Well, we received a few of them this weekend. Elder Till and I had hit a slump with finding new people to teach, and it was looking like it would continue into next week. However, several people came to church that we had never met or taught before. In addition, a young couple that we have been teaching came for the first time with two friends, even though we hadn't been able to teach them this week. Nearly everyone that we are planning on baptizing this week also attended church, and things are truly looking up for Eastview. I know that when we are obedient and exercise faith, the Lord truly performs miracles. Elder Till are working with seven people to prepare for baptism this week, and our zone also has great potential for the remainder of May. It's an exciting time to be a part of the Lord's work!!

Oh,  and one last highlight for the week: WE PLAYED VOLLEYBALL TODAY! I'm talking about a wood floor, a real net, and a real ball. I was so excited, and it was a ton of fun. Definitely one of the best P days in memory.

That's about all for this week! I love you all, thank you for your love and support! I know this is the Lord's work!

Love Elder Barlow

May 14, 2018 - His Hand is Stretched Out Still

Hey everyone!

Happy Mothers' Day to all the amazing mothers out there! I wouldn't be where I am today without all the great women in my life, especially my mom. I feel so blessed to have a mother who has done so much to care for me and raise me in the gospel. It was pretty awesome to call home yesterday. I guess when I left, the frequency of haircuts for my brothers decreased significantly haha. It's crazy to think that it was my last phone call home. My mission has definitely increased my love and appreciation for my family!

Another View of Eastview

This week we were able to teach our zone members about what it means to be a successful missionary. The first thing we tried to do was to show how the world's definition of success is largely based on material possessions, outward results, or fame. Then we switched gears and discussed about how the Lord's definition of success is measured primarily by our commitment to serve Him and His children and keep His commandments. Everyone was able to choose what principle of being a successful missionary is most important to them (some examples being: obeying with exactness, feeling the Spirit guiding you, working effectively every day, and loving people and desiring their salvation), and they all committed to strive to apply it every day. I'd also like to share another part of our discussion that is especially meaningful to me. Our success cannot and should not be measured by comparing ourselves to others or their outward results. Frankly, this was a big challenge for me earlier in my life. It is so easy to try and measure up to others, and to feel like you are not enough when your results aren't the same. However, a principle that I've learned is that there is no need for comparison when we realize that each and every one of us is a child of God with our own strengths and weaknesses. Rather than trying to earn God's love, we need to understand that His love is unconditional, and that our time should be spent showing that same love (charity) to those around us. We find so much more joy when we comprehend our identity as a son or daughter of God and the love that He has for each of us. Our success is only determined by our faithfulness and desire to serve God and His children.

 Not sure if you can see, but these
are all the cockroaches that inhabit our kitchen

I learned a little more about God's love as I studied the Book of Mormon this week. I started and finished the Isaiah chapters in 2 Nephi, and what stuck out to me was how the Lord never forsakes His people, even when they forsake Him. This phrase is mentioned several times: For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. God does punish His people when they fall into sin, but He never abandons them. The image that Isaiah gives is so touching: no matter how far we go in the wrong direction, the Lord is still extending his hand, inviting us to return to Him. I testify that God's love is unchanging and unconditional for all His children, and that His blessings are available to all who will repent and come unto Him.

This week Elder Till and I worked hard and many of our investigators are making progress! I'm looking forward to what lies ahead this week. Fun fact: roosters in Austria don't say cock-a-doodle-doo, they say kikity kee. I understand it about as much as you do, but it was a funny conversation.

Well that's about all for this week! Always remember that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love each and every one of you, and that you are always enough!

Love Elder Barlow

May 7, 2018 - Going the Extra Mile...or Kilometer

Hey friends and family!!

I hope all of you enjoyed your first week of May!! I can't believe that it's already May and the winter will soon be starting here in Zim. It's a bit of a crazy but awesome time to be the zone leaders in the Harare East zone. This week was definitely one of the busiest of my mission, but it was mostly for good reasons!! Elder Till and I certainly have not had any free time.

Tuesday was MLC. Elder Byrom and his companion came and stayed the night at our house, which was awesome. We were taught a lot about what it means to be a successful missionary and how if we follow the simple counsel in Preach My Gospel, we will find the success the Lord wants us to have. The mission is definitely progressing and 2018 is promising to be an incredible year. On the way home, Elder Till gave me a sweet birthday present by rear-ending a car. Haha it wasn't bad and there was no damage or injuries, but we still had to fill out some reports with the police and the mission office. Between that and having to run errands to Marondera and Tafara, our Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty busy.

On Thursday, we had to assist some of the sister missionaries in our zone with some issues in their area. We had to promptly leave the area after we had already been scrambling to prepare our candidates for baptism and drive to Tafara. By the time we got the issue solved and everyone settled, it was nearly midnight, so we came home and stuffed our faces with banana bread before going straight to bed. Luckily, all is well and missionary work is in full swing for everyone in our zone!

On Friday, we had interviews with President Mkhabela. It had been a few months since my last interview with him because I had been sick, so it was could to sit down and talk with him. He's very gifted when it comes to knowing and using the scriptures, and he used that knowledge to instruct our zone on what the fruits of true conversion are. In my interview, he also helped me see that my potential has no limit, and that if I push myself out of my comfort zone and seek to obey all the Lord's commandments, there's no ceiling for what I can achieve and become. It was a really uplifting way to spend my Friday morning.

Baptism pictures! First, with Tildah, Blessed, and Tanatswa

Saturday brought baptisms! However, it definitely was not the smoothest of events haha. The only member support we had was the second counselor in the branch presidency and our branch mission leader, who arrived late. On top of that, Sheila was late, so we waited for over an hour for her to come before finally starting the baptism. Of course, just after the baptismal service closed with a prayer, Sheila and her mom showed up. So we started it all over again and had another baptismal service for her. It was a bit hectic, but still sweet. Here's a little bit about our 4 converts:

With Sheila and her mom

Tildah (20) - Tildah is a friend to the Dickson family and was classmates with Freedom in high school. Her father is an inactive member who was baptized back in the 1980's. She has a little boy named Preston (who knows my name and talks to me all the time in Shona). She is killing it with reading the Book of Mormon and had finished Jacob by her baptism!

Tanatswa (14) - Tanatswa is Tildah's younger sister and she's also super awesome! Even though she's younger and doesn't understand much English, she also has a sweet growing testimony.

Blessed (15) - Blessed is our branch president's niece. She doesn't speak much English, but she tries when we visit. She's super funny too. She initially didn't want much to do with the church when she came to Eastview, but eventually made the decision on her own to meet with us. So awesome!

Sheila (14) - Sheila's older sister is a member, and her mother was baptized by Elder Byrom and Elder Gunther before I came. She's quiet but so sweet. She goes to a boarding school far outside of Harare, so we won't get to see her again before we leave.

The baptism was awesome, and just as awesome was an experience we had later in the day. We've been teaching these 3 Ndebele girls, Kelly, Karen, and Lorraine. Last week, Karen and Kelly came to church, which was so cool. They read everything we give them and understand well, but when we went to visit them on Saturday, they told us that they wouldn't be coming to church. They said they had a program at their church and that maybe they'd come next week. Karen had said earlier in the lesson that after she prayed about the Book of Mormon, she's been getting this feeling that it's true as she reads it. We used that to teach her that if the Book of Mormon is true, so is the Church and that she should come again, but we let her know that she had a choice. They didn't seem so sure if they were coming, but we really did our best to teach, testify, invite them to come, and promise them the blessings that would follow. Sure enough, on Sunday all 3 girls walked into church with Freedom. Elder Till and I were pleasantly surprised, but deep down I knew they would come because they have begun receiving a testimony that it's all true. It's so powerful how the Spirit motivates us to act, and if we just exercise a particle of faith (Alma 32), the blessings come.

Hope you all are doing well!!

Love Elder Barlow

April 30, 2018 - Eastview: the Austro-American Empire

Hey everybody!!

This email will probably be pretty short because I don't have a lot of time, so I apologize for that! Thank you to everyone for all the kind birthday wishes that you sent, it means the world to me! 

With Elder Till

Elder Till and I have been getting along great! He's from Austria and is a few years older than me. He has an awesome accent and a good sense of humor, but takes missionary work seriously. He also used to play beach volleyball, so we definitely have a connection there. I know that this transfer is going to be awesome and that we will accomplish a lot of good!

The first part of this week was spent transporting and housing new missionaries. As zone leaders here in Harare, the assistants to the president call us a lot to help out. On Tuesday we worked with 3 new missionaries, one of whom is Elder Masona, who was my branch mission leader during my 3 transfers in Seke! It was fun to teach with him as a missionary and not just a member present. I also said goodbye to my good friend Elder Ray, the only companion that I've been with for 3 transfers. It was crazy to see him heading home a year after we were companions. Time is flying like crazy.

Saying good-bye to Elder Ray

We still managed to find quite a few new investigators this week. Three of them are friends of Freedom, our recent convert. When we would pass them on the road, we didn't really think they were serious, but we made the effort to schedule a time to visit. When we arrived, one of them was doing another's hair, but they got some chairs for us to sit on so they could hear our message. Rather than just starting off into a lesson, we asked if they had any questions. This led to a discussion about prayer and receiving revelation, and by the end all three of them were seated and paying full attention. It's an amazing feeling when the Spirit confirms that what you are teaching is what they need, and "both are edified and rejoice together." Another instance occurred while visiting Sister Nyarira, a long-time member of the church. We had just planned to share a short scripture before we left, so I silently started praying about what to share. As I flipped through the Book of Mormon, I felt impressed to stop and ask her if she was facing any challenges in her life. She paused, and then surprised us by telling us about a serious challenge that she and her husband are facing. That led us to share from Mosiah 23 about how the Lord sometimes allows us to go through challenges so that we can learn to rely on Him and be patient/faithful, and how He will always deliver those who put their trust in Him. We were also able to direct her to the branch president for help on the issue. I have a testimony of asking sincere questions and then listening! We will always be given the right thing to say if we listen carefully and prayerfully to those around us and to the promptings of the Spirit!

Well that's about all I have time for, but I'll write more next week!! Love you all, have a great start to the month of May!!

Love Elder Barlow

April 23, 2018 - We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet!!!

Hey everybody!!!

This week was incredible!! My email today will be focused on what took place on Tuesday with our beloved prophet President Nelson and Elder Holland! I'll do my best to share about my experience during their visit, but I'm not sure if words are adequate!

On Tuesday after district meeting, we all met up at the mission office in Highlands. The whole mission was transported up to Harare for the meeting, a first for the ZHM. They got us all seated in the cultural hall for the picture, and we just waited in silence for their arrival. When President Nelson walked in we all stood, and the Spirit was so strong that I could barely control my emotions. We were able to greet him and Sister Nelson along with Elder and Sister Holland, and Elder Palmer and Elder Hamilton of the Seventy from the Area presidency. It was such a unique experience. Elder Holland asked about where I was from, and smiled after I replied Sandy, UT. He made reference to Sandy in the middle of his talk, which was kind of cool. 

The Zimbabwe Harare Mission with President Russell M. Nelson and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Here are some of the highlights of the meeting:

Sister Holland spoke about us as young missionaries and how we are able to receive revelations and spiritual gifts if we remain worthy. She quoted a verse in Joel that Moroni repeated to Joseph Smith, which was super awesome.

Elder Holland paid our mission some very high compliments and joked that the whole mission would be translated. He encouraged and exhorted us to make the most of our missions and not to miss even one second, good or bad. Something that touched me was how he said that he's thought of his mission in one way or another every day for over 50 years since he's returned, and that it has impacted his life more than anything. He told us that we owe it to the Lord to serve faithfully, but that we also owe it to ourselves because it is the opportunity of a lifetime. I felt such a warm and comforting feeling and an overwhelming desire to give my all for the rest of my mission as he spoke.

Sister Nelson actually said that she decided to change her topic when she stood up. She related a story to us of how her bishop counseled her to take a question to general conference and how that led to her not marrying her then-fiancee. Her remarks were focused on how the Holy Ghost is a fantastic teacher and can teach us whatever we need to hear at any given time, even if a speaker is not mentioning that thought or topic. She was very witty and well-spoken and her talk was awesome.

President Nelson spoke to us on the power of the Book of Mormon and related to us many of his remarks from the October 2017 conference about his findings as he studied the Book of Mormon. He then opened several scriptures with us to show how the Book of Mormon is God's instrument for gathering Israel so that they may receive the blessings of God's covenant with Abraham. He also told us that that covenant is fulfilled in the temple, and then told us that we are preparing Zimbabwe for the blessings of that covenant and the temple by spreading the gospel with the Book of Mormon. It was incredible to see how we are helping to fulfill ancient prophecies in these last days about God's blessings for his covenant people. He concluded his remarks by leaving an Apostolic blessing upon us and our families, a truly sacred experience.

Though I might try my best to recount what I heard, it is difficult to express what I felt as we listened to an Apostle and the prophet of the Lord. I felt the Spirit bear witness to me over and over that the Lord leads His church through ordained prophets and apostles. I understand what Peter said on the Mount of Transfiguration when He spoke to Christ and said, "it is good for us to be here." I treasure that meeting as one of the most sacred and special memories that I have.

Reunited with Elder Daka on exchanges

Aside from that, our week was pretty normal. Just doing lots of missionary work here in Eastview! I've definitely been on a spiritual high since Tuesday and it has greatly impacted how I serve.

Transfers have come again as well! Sadly, Elder Byrom is being transferred to Bulawayo to be a zone leader there. I'll definitely miss serving with him as he was a good friend and a fantastic example. My new companion is Elder Till from Austria, who is also from my group. I'm excited to remain in Eastview and continue what we've started! 

Saying good-bye to Elder Byrom

I know that the Lord leads His church and I bear testimony that He lives and loves us. Russel M. Nelson is His prophet today, and I bear witness of the comfort that comes from know that there is a prophet on the earth.

I love you all, have a fantastic week!!

Love Elder Barlow

April 16, 2018 - Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel

Hey everybody!!

I hope everyone's week has been awesome!! The Lord has poured out some wonderful blessings upon us this week, and I can't wait to tell you about them!

On Tuesday after district meeting, we went to our first lesson. Afterwards, Elder Byrom said that Humphrey (Alice's husband) had called and was available for us to visit him. It wasn't in our plans and we could've easily chosen to visit him the day after, but we decided to go see him right then. It turns out that it was the last day that he would be in Eastview before he would return to work in Gweru. He greeted us with a long hug and we sat down and shared our condolences and our testimonies. He expressed his great desire to still be baptized and his even greater desire to visit the temple so that the work can be done for his wife. I admire this man's great faith in the face of such a sad occurrence, and it was a special time that we had to visit with him. He said that our visit lifted his burdens, and I found a greater understanding of the baptismal covenant as set forth in Mosiah 18: "to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort."

With Elder Kambuzuma

Walking to the mountain where the cave is...

This week I was able to go on exchanges with Elder Kambuzuma. He's from Harare and is serving in Marondera while waiting for his visa to go to the South Africa Cape Town Mission. It was fun to do missionary work with a Zimbabwean, especially because he's fluent in Shona. I've tried pretty hard to learn Shona, but I am so grateful to have a translator in lessons where investigators don't understand English. When Elder Hamilton came, he spoke about how we need to focus on those who can build up the Church, particularly those who can speak English. Afterwards, Elder Byrom asked me if I can teach by the Spirit when I teach in Shona. It was hard to admit, but I said no. Since then, we've done our best to teach in English so that the Spirit can guide us and we bring a member to translate, and there definitely is a positive difference. That's why it was cool to have Elder Kambuzuma with me on Wednesday, because he can teach perfectly in his native tongue and it's awesome! He also loves Shona slang, so he taught me a few words that were pretty funny. He's a cool missionary and loves to learn and work hard, and it was a fun exchange.

As Elder Byrom and I have been rebuilding our teaching pool, we have been blessed to teach two families, the Muropa's and the Makowa's. Brother Muropa was baptized in 1989 and has since gone inactive, even though he loves the Church. His daughters, Tilda and Tanadzwa, are friends of some returning members and recent converts, and we were referred to teach them. They are so receptive and love our visits and have been attending church for the past couple weeks. I feel so welcome every time we visit their home because they are so eager to learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Interesting fact, we were fed prawns (similar to shrimp) and sadza in their home the other day and it was so delicious. Brother Muropa works in Mozambique so he often brings seafood home home, so that was interesting. Elder Byrom found Sister Makowa on an exchange and we met Brother Makowa while teaching an impromptu lesson on the street to some guys fixing a car. Brother Makowa has stopped going to church because of the confusion caused by the many surrounding churches, a condition rather similar to the young Joseph Smith in 1820. As we've shared the Restoration with him and his family, they have become increasingly interested in the gospel and in finding the truth. This Sunday, Freedom (recent convert) brought the whole family to church, which was so incredible. They've also been considering the possibility of attending the meeting with President Nelson on Tuesday evening, which we have encouraged them to do. They are so awesome! On Sunday we were able to have 19 of our investigators attend sacrament meeting, which was the greatest!! It's the most investigators that have come to church since my mission began, and we were so excited!! The Lord has blessed us with some amazing people to teach as we have sought to work hard and teach by the Spirit. I definitely sustain the words of President Ezra Taft Benson, who taught that work is the greatest secret of missionary work and that there is no other substitute!

...and the inside of said cave

This week was also Elder Byrom's birthday! We made German pancakes, and then today we drove out to Arcturus and hiked up a mountain to find a cave. It was sweet and I'll send pictures!!

I'm so eagerly anticipating the visit of President Nelson and Elder Holland tomorrow. I'll send you my thoughts next week!! I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week!

Love Elder Barlow

April 9, 2018 - Surely the Lord God...Revealeth His Secret Unto His Servants the Prophets

Hey everybody!!!

I hope you've had a good week! My week here in Zimbabwe was full of soaring highs and humbling lows, but I'm so full of gratitude to my Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. As I mentioned last week, we were finally able to watch General Conference, and it was incredible!! That was definitely the highlight of my week. However, I guess it's best to start with the lows and move to the highs.

Last week one of our investigators, Alice Chongoziva (the one who's been waiting for her husband to return from Gweru so that they can be married and baptized), fell ill and missed church on Sunday. Elder Byrom visited her on exchanges mid week, and she had gotten worse. Then on Friday morning, we received the shocking news that Alice had passed away. Elder Byrom and I just sat there in silence and sadness. I have never experienced anything like that, and I took it hard. Alice was such a sweet lady who had learned so much about the gospel. Their family has been attending church and progressing for months, and we loved Alice so much. I understood anew in a very difficult way that the worth of souls is great in the sight of God, and that He has allowed me to begin to see and love those souls as He does. I am so humbled by the faith of her husband, Humphrey, who has expressed his desire to continue on the gospel path. I am so grateful to be a member of the Lord's church, where Heavenly Father's plan of salvation, the Savior's Atonement and Resurrection, and temple ordinances make it possible for families to be reunited again. I am thankful for Elder Uchtdorf's talk on how hope comes to us through the Lord Jesus Christ! I know that despite the sadness of Alice's passing, all can be made right through Christ!

Viewing conference surely lifted my spirits. I cherish the opportunity I had to sustain President Russell M. Nelson as the Lord's prophet during the solemn assembly. The Holy Ghost witnessed to me that He has been chosen by God to direct His Church in these days. I love him and sustain him. Here are a few of my favorite parts of conference:

With Elder Bvute on exchanges.
He's a Zimbabwean and his family lives in South Africa.
He was trained by my good friend Elder Daka
and is a great young missionary

- President Nelson, President Eyring, and Elder Wilson's talks on personal revelation through the Holy Ghost. I've always seen revelation as a concept that applied to others in conference talks and not to me personally, but I'm starting to understand that I can receive direction from the Lord for my day to day life.

- Elder Lynn G. Robbins' message on mistakes and repentance. I love how he said that the Lord is on our side, and that He paid an infinite price to give us infinite chances to repent!

- Elder Hawk's talk and others about the healing nature of forgiveness.

- President Oaks' talk on the small and simple things. Simplicity does not denote triviality when it comes to keeping or breaking God's commandments. We must never stop paddling upstream! 

- The theme throughout the conference of pure Christlike love and service.

With Annastancia (recent convert) and her family

Each time I have viewed general conference on mission, I have learned something profound and new. Each time it seems to go by too fast. I am so grateful for the semi-annual opportunity we have to be instructed by the Lord's ordained servants. I am grateful for the wake-up calls I received, the impressions that I felt, the Spirit that was present, and the love of God and His servants that was manifested. I hope each and every one of you found things that you can apply in your lives to be better disciples of Christ. I know that He guides this Church through revelation, and that His servants will never lead us astray. 

I love you all so much and I hope you have a fantastic week!!

Love Elder Barlow

April 2, 2018 - I Know that My Redeemer Lives!

Dear friends and family,

I hope you all had a fantastic week!! April already??? Time flies as a missionary, and sometimes I wish it would just slow down a bit. I hope you all enjoyed general conference over the weekend! I haven't viewed it yet because of the time difference, but I'll see it this weekend and I will send my thoughts next week. Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and impressions from the conference, I really appreciate it! 

Eastview in the Rain

This week started off with MLC, which was awesome as always. We had a lot of fun playing basketball with the rest of the zone leaders, and I even managed to set up the volleyball net at the chapel, which was sweet. Our meeting the next day was really powerful. President Mkhabela instructed us on several topics, one being how to teach the Word of Wisdom. Part of his remarks applies to all of God's commandments: when the Lord gives us a commandment, that in itself is the principle reason that we should keep the commandment, not because of man-made explanations or rationalizations. I know that when Heavenly Father gives us a commandment, we should act in faith and be obedient so that we may receive the promised blessings. Acting in faith gives us more strength to endure than any other reasons for obeying. Overall, it was a great meeting. Our zone was the most successful in the mission during the month, which was pretty cool as well, even though this work is not all about numbers.

Elder Byrom and I after MLC

This week was spent rebuilding our teaching pool. It's been slow going, but we were blessed with many new people to teach. We even exceeded our goal of finding new investigators! The awesome part was that several of them were families, which is the best! One of the first things we teach people when we meet them is that the gospel is there to bless their family! I definitely have a testimony of that because I can't even number the blessings that have come to my family because of living the gospel!! It makes it all the more special to teach people about the eternal nature of families here in Zimbabwe. My first recent convert here in Eastview, Annastancia, lost her aunt this last weekend and her mom was taking it pretty hard. Her mother is such a sweet woman. She makes traditional tablecloths and they are so cool. She's an active Christian but not a member of the Church, even though she loves the Book of Mormon. When we visited, she was pretty depressed about losing her sister, so we taught her about Alma 40-42 and how we will all be resurrected and live together as a family if we live the gospel. She then asked us about how her family can be together forever, and we are teaching her about the temple this week! I love this work so much!

On Sunday we had a wonderful fast and testimony meeting. Nearly everyone's testimony was centered on the Resurrection of the Lord. Our stake presidency joined us and shared their powerful testimonies and it was amazing. The Spirit was so strong. It is with great joy that I add my testimony to theirs, that Jesus is the Christ, and that He lives. I know that the tomb was empty on the morning of that first Easter Sunday and that He appeared to Mary Magdalene, the Apostles, and to disciples on Emmaus road. Though I have never seen Him with my eyes, I know that He stands on the right hand of the Father as the triumphant Savior of all mankind. To quote a favorite hymn that paraphrases 2 Nephi 4 "I love the Lord, in Him my soul delights." I hope you all had a wonderful time commemorating the Atonement and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and I pray that each of you will celebrate it every single day. I love you all, have a fantastic week!!

Love Elder Barlow 

That Zimbabwe Sunset

March 26, 2018 - Gratitude

Hey everybody!!

I have to apologize again, this is probably going to be my shortest email yet (time is again a scarce commodity). Not a ton happened during the week because I was sick for a couple days. I can honestly say that although it was a bad experience, I gained such an appreciation for missionary work because I wasn't able to do it. I am grateful for the health that I've been blessed with throughout the majority of my life and my mission and for all the small tender mercies that have often gone unnoticed. Even more than that, I am grateful for a Savior, even the Lord Jesus Christ, that loved me enough to take upon Him my sins AND my infirmities so that I may be succored in trials and granted forgiveness. I am also eternally grateful for the opportunity the Lord has given me to serve Him and these wonderful people in Zimbabwe as a missionary. I have come to understand more and more that it is a privilege to be here participating in this great work, partially because it's an opportunity for me to learn, to change who I am, and become more like Christ. I am thankful for the good times and the bad times that I've encountered throughout my mission and for the person that they've helped me become. I firmly believe in our Heavenly Father's divine design to help us reach our full potential, and I cannot wait to see what lies ahead for the rest of my mission! I love you all, I promise that I'll write more next week!

Love Elder Barlow

Us with Freedom, one of our recent converts. He's going to be an awesome missionary, he asks to work with us all the time

March 19, 2018 - Faith Without Works is Dead

Hey everybody!!

I'm going to apologize in advance, today is going to be another condensed email. Time seems to be a scarce commodity these days, but I hope you can still glean the details of the week!

Baptism!

At the start of the week, we had plans to baptize 9 of our investigators. However, it seemed like all the powers of the adversary were bent on preventing that from happening. First, we got a call from Humphrey. He and his family were found by Elder Byrom and Elder Gunther before I came; he works in Gweru most of the time and has been meeting with the missionaries there while we've been teaching his family. Everything was lined up for their marriage and baptism this week, but when Humphrey came on the phone, he told us that his employer and not given him his salary, which meant that he didn't have the funds to make the 5 hour journey back to Harare this week. We still have great hope for them, and we are confident that they will be baptized in the very near future. Then Tuesday, Elder Byrom woke up sick, so we weren't able to do much. Then on Friday when we were doing baptismal interviews for the other 6 people who were getting baptized, one of them wasn't there, so we had to conduct his interview prior to the baptism. And the biggest obstacle of all: there was no power at the meetinghouse, so there was no way for the pump to fill the baptismal font. There seemed to be so many things going wrong, but the Prophet Joseph Smith once stated "No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing." We managed to get Tinashe interviewed before the baptism and Elder Byrom regained his strength throughout the week. And then on Saturday morning, Elder Byrom and I got up at 5:30 am, grabbed all the buckets from the house, and went to fill the font. We found a man named Andrew who stays a couple houses down from the meetinghouse, and we asked if we could use his well to fill the baptismal font. It was a miracle that he was up that early, and an even bigger miracle when he agreed to let us use the well and stayed to help us fill the font without our asking. We had to draw water by hand out of the well and then carry the heavy buckets of water down the street to fill the tub. Our bucket broke after about two loads, but Andrew the good Samaritan happened to be a bicycle repairman, so he patched our bucket and we were able to keep working. Eventually the DamoFalls elders joined us, and by 7:45 am we had the font nearly full. Then at 8, the second counselor arrived and got the generator to work so that the pump could finish the job. I testify that faith without works is dead, and I'm grateful that Heavenly Father provided means for our baptism to proceed. Misheck Mapuranga and his wife Whitney, Freedom, Angeline, Emilia, and Tinashe were all baptized on Saturday and it was incredible! We were blessed to teach them and it was a privilege to see them enter the waters of baptism! That was our week of mayhem and miracles here in Eastview! I love this work and I'm so grateful to be a part of it!

Elder Byrom and I celebrated the week with coconuts

That's probably all I have time for this week, love you all!

Elder Barlow

One of the many pics from our expedition
out in the far reaches of Eastview this morning

March 12, 2018 - Still Stuck in Eastview

Hey everyone!!

Transfers have come again, which seems surreal because I feel like I just got back to Harare. I'll be staying put in Eastview with Elder Byrom, and I'm excited to continue working together! I know the title implies that I'm unhappy to be sticking around, but it's just the opposite. I was just referring to how we got the truck stuck in mud this week. Elder Byrom suggested that we take a different way home since a lot of the water has dried up, but we ended up getting stuck in a foot of high quality madhaka. We were there for about 30 minutes, but luckily Zimbabweans can do basically anything so some guys helped us get out. It was pretty funny in hindsight.

With Elder Larson

I was able to go on exchanges twice this week. My first exchange was with Elder Larson. He's from California and we are in the same group. We lived across the hall from each other at BYU the summer before mission, and it's been so fun to catch up with him and remember the good times at the Y. Halfway through the day, we just stopped and talked about how we didn't think we'd ever be where we are now. He knows a lot about the gospel and we had a great time working together. The second exchange that I went on was with Elder Williams. He's from Arizona and is also in the same group. He's been the district leader out in Marondera, the furthest part of our zone and has been a huge help to us. It's been a blessing to serve around good missionaries, and it's always fun to talk to other elders from my group. There are so many of us and we've been scattered across the mission, so it's always good to catch up. 

Golfing with the district

One of the highlights of our week was finding new investigators. Last week we had a tougher time finding people to teach with everything that was going on, so we decided to talk to more people and put in some extra work this week. We met our goal and found 20 new investigators! It was so incredible to teach so many people, especially because our teaching pool had been decreasing a bit because we've had several people that needed our focus. We also taught an investigator named Faith. She was found by Elder Byrom and Elder Gunther last transfer and was progressing super well, but just dropped off the map for the whole transfer. We found her again and set up an appointment. As we were teaching her, it became apparent that she had forgotten the things she learned and the feelings she had. However, as we retaught the message of the restoration and bore testimony of it's truthfulness, it seemed that all the good feelings that she had before just came rushing back. She attended church with us this week, and we are excited to teach her again. In the recent weeks, I've learned the importance of bearing testimony. In zone conference, Sister Hamilton taught us about pure testimony. She said that pure testimony isn't a travel log or an expression of love for family or interesting experiences among other things; it is a simple, heartfelt declaration of truth that we have come to know by the Spirit and is centered on Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the restored gospel. As I have tried to apply what I learned, I have felt the Holy Ghost so much more during our lessons and felt so much more joy. In the words of President Packer, "a testimony is found in the bearing of it." I am so grateful for the testimony that I've gained while serving as a missionary, and I feel so humbled to be able to share what I have come to know to be true.

We have a big week for baptisms coming up this week, so keep us in your prayers so that everything will go smoothly!! I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love Elder Barlow

1. with Elder Larson

2. Golfing with the district