February 19, 2018 - Setting Fire to the Rain

Hey everybody!!

I apologize, today will be another quick email, but I'll do my best to include everything I can!! The rain has been pouring almost every day this week, making for some big puddles in Eastview. So far we haven't turned the truck into a submarine haha.

Harare

Some of the highlights from this week!!

-Elder Byrom and I made chicken curry and bread bowls. Yes, yes we did (see pic)

-To contrast that, I also ate another fish head. Yes, a real one. (see pic)

and on a more spiritual side:

-Sister Mucheke got confirmed! Plus Brother Mucheke has stopped smoking!!

-11 investigators at church!!

-12 new people to teach! (one of whom is a cousin to a returned missionary and already has a testimony that the Book of Mormon is true!)

-The Harare East zone is doing so well! Everyone's efforts resulted in a significant improvement in finding new investigators and bringing people to church!!

The chicken curry

It's such an exciting time to be in the Zimbabwe Harare Mission! The Lord has blessed us with some amazing people to teach and it is such a privilege to bear the news of the restored gospel to them!

This week we drove to Marondera to attend their district meeting. It's about an hour's drive east of Eastview, and there are just four missionaries out there. Everything went well and it was encouraging to see the good work that they're doing! We also had interviews with President Mkhabela. I realized recently that I only have a few more interviews left before he finishes, and so I cherish each time that I get to take counsel from him.

The fish head

To conclude, this week Elder Byrom and I were teaching Alice and Jestina, two moms that stay in Ruwa (another area that we sometimes visit). We had planned to re-teach the Restoration, but instead they started asking questions about why it seems that God doesn't answer our prayers, or why it sometimes takes a long time for trials to go away. I'd like to share some of what we taught them in response. Even though we don't like to admit it, often times the answer to a prayer is "no." It usually comes when we ask for something that is not God's will or not in our best interests. When we close our prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, we are also inferring that all that we've asked for is in line with His and the Father's will. We shouldn't ask for things that we know aren't good for us. We also have to start from where we are, step by step, and revelation will be there to show us the way.  When it comes to trials, Paul taught about a thorn in the flesh (a trial that he faced) that pained him for some time, but after it remained he gloried in the strength that he had received from the Lord. We often find ourselves in the refiner's fire where it is hot and uncomfortable and we would rather leave. However, a loving Father holds us there and if we endure faithfully, we emerge pure and free of imperfection. Trials enable us to be who God knows we can be. We cannot reach our full potential without adversity. I have gained a testimony of this, especially on my mission. I know that we will be delivered from our trials if we press forward with a steadfastness in Christ. I am truly grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who tries my patience and my faith, and for a Savior who is there to strengthen me through each test.

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

Love Elder Barlow

February 12, 2018 - Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Hey friends and family!!!

The rainy season came!! Better late than never I guess. It has been raining for most of the week and it has been coming down consistently for the past 36 hours. Hopefully it will save a lot of the crops, because many people in Zimbabwe depend on the maize that they farm. However, missionary work in Zim gets really tough in the rain. Fun fact: Zimbabweans are terrified of walking in the rain. Usually if they don't have an umbrella, they won't go anywhere, even if it's important. Elder Byrom always asks, if you're that afraid of getting wet, why do you shower? I don't have an answer for him haha.

Some random people wanted a picture with us in the rain :)

We started off the week on Monday playing basketball for the first time in forever. It was fun, until I was tripped and skidded my hands across the asphalt. The road rash looked pretty gnarly, but we bandaged them up and I went back to playing. My hands are basically healed now, no worries. We had dinner at President Mkhabela's house with all the zone leaders that night, and it was awesome. I had the opportunity to bear my testimony along with the other new zone leaders, and it was really awesome. The next morning we had missionary leadership council (MLC). It was my first time experiencing that meeting, and it was amazing to be there with so many good missionaries to discuss the needs and progress of the mission. I learned so much from what was contributed, and I feel so privileged to be a part of the leadership.

Sister Mucheke's baptism

This week we were working with Brother and Sister Mucheke to help prepare them for baptism. Sister Mucheke has been reading the Book of Mormon on her own and has a strong testimony. Brother Mucheke has a love for the gospel and a desire to be baptized, but he has been working through quitting cigarettes. It has been hard for him, but when he makes the effort not to smoke he is so happy. The gospel truly changes people, and we really stressed true commitment and repentance when we met with them this week. The day before we were supposed to interview him for baptism, he texted us and said that he was going to wait for his baptism. We were a little bummed out, but also kind of happy because we think he is going to work more on repentance and the word of wisdom. Sister Mucheke did get baptized this week! It was pouring rain, but she made the hour long walk with her umbrella. Powerful!! The font wasn't filling very quickly because we have to use the water from the kitchen tap (yeah...it's ineffective) so Elder Byrom, Elder Larson, and I were trying to get it to fill as fast as possible. We got pretty wet in the process because it was pouring rain, but the baptism went through and all went well! The 9 year old girl that the other elders were baptizing was terrified of water, so that complicated things a bit, but everything worked out!

Filling the font with help from the rain

Remember the dunes from last week? The rain destroyed them this week, making the barely manageable roads more difficult to navigate. There are tons of puddles everywhere too, so we've had a couple scares with almost getting stuck/swamped. The rain also really discourages people from coming to church. The branch was at about half the attendance from last week, mostly because of the precipitation. It's a bit frustrating sometimes, but the members have been helping us a lot! Our branch mission leader, Brother Dickson (yes he's a Shona), is so enthusiastic and so active, and that is a huge help to us. 

On a downside, we've had no water or electricity for the past few days. Some tsotsi (thief) has been sneaking in and shutting off the power to our pump, so that's really annoying, but hopefully it works out soon. It's just part of the mission experience, and I've learned to love it! 

Well, I don't have much time left (sorry if this email isn't super comprehensive) but that's basically all for this week! Love you all and I hope you have a great week!!

Love Elder Barlow

February 5, 2018 - Shreddin the Dunes

Hey everybody!!

I hope everyone had a fantastic week. This week has been one of the best on my mission! I have loved every minute of it and I hope I can remember all of it. For those of you who are wondering (if any) my driving has improved a lot, so things are looking up!

Eastview is a sweet area. It's massive and pretty rural, but really beautiful. The roads here are ridiculous. Back home, we would call it off-roading haha. Elder Byrom was showing me some stuff about the truck, and I asked him if I ever need to shift the car into 4L. He responded, only if you're riding through some dunes. Pretty soon we came across an incredibly rocky and bumpy road. We just looked at each other and said: the DUNES! We floored it through them, laughing the whole way. So yeah, we basically shred rocky dunes every day.

On a side note, another exciting thing about this transfer is that we have a washing machine. That's right, a WASHING MACHINE. I haven't had one in almost 18 months and it saves so much time. I will never complain about doing laundry again. Life is bliss. 

It's Sir Elder to You

Elder Byrom is such a cool guy. We are from the same group in the mission and we've been getting along so well. Our companionship got off to a great start because he knighted me on our first day (see picture). He's taught me a lot about the area and about being a zone leader, and that has made my transition really smooth. We've had a ton of fun together and we just jokingly make fun of each other's countries all the time. He says my English accent is pretty accurate, so that's a win. It's awesome having a companion that's been out as long as I have because I feel like I can trust him in any part of missionary work. 

A highlight of our week was having Anastancia and Craig's baptism! I am getting to know each of them but it was so exciting to see them enter the water and make covenants with God. It is such a privilege to see our brothers and sisters choose to follow the Savior Jesus Christ and keep His commandments. We also were able to bring 14 investigators to church!!!!!!! That was a huge change from Mutare and it was so sweet. Among those 14 were 3 families!!! I love teaching families, it is the best part of missionary work. The Mucheke family will hopefully be getting baptized this week, and the Chongoziva family will begin the process of getting legally married!! We met the Mapuranga family during the week. Brother Misheck, the baba, was taught by missionaries in 2015 but moved away before his baptism. Now that he has been back for some time, he is anxious to continue on the path he started. He came with his family to church and he accepted a baptismal date, which will be in just a few weeks time!! The work is progressing so much here and I couldn't be more excited! 

Craig and Anastancia's Baptism

The other night we made tacos and played monopoly with Elder Larson (who I was with at BYU) and his companion. It has been fun to catch up with him and reminisce about our short summer at the Y. One of the greatest parts of the mission is making friends and serving the Lord together!

Just a quick spiritual thought before I close: God is Our Heavenly Father. Not just my Father or the father of a selective group. Each of us is a son or daughter of the Almighty Ruler of the universe, and He loves each and every one of us equally. There is also something that I learned from President Mkhabela, and it's that some of God's children are favored in His sight because of their obedience and faithfulness (Nephi, for example). We too can be highly favored of the Lord if we keep His commandments and serve others out of love for Him. I know that God is close when we face trials, and all that we need to do is go to our knees or open the pages of holy scripture to feel His presence and find answers. 

Elder Byrom and I with Alyss the truck

I love you all, have a great week!!

Love Elder Barlow

February 12, 2018 - Pictures and Letter from Elder Motsoiri

Hello,

Thank you for emailing me also my apologies for taking a while before I can reply. Thank you for the birthday wish as well. Anyhow, the area its doing well even though its not new. So far I have been enjoying being with my new companion Elder Downey from Oregon. I can't complain at all. Even though I miss Elder Barlow and his singing, I just have to move on. Make sure he do something with his voice even though its not a career.

My journey to join the Church it was what they would call it a "Golden Investigator" journey. I met the missionaries for my first time in my life in 2014. I was rushing to work, used to be a tutor for Mathematics and Sciences and I was late the other Elder actually ran with me and gave me a pamphlet, I quickly left my details and told them to come to my house the next morning. To my surprise the showed up. They taught me the Restoration and the Word Of Wisdom the same day, because my granny offered them a tea and they wouldn't take it. I was a very curious person so the taught me. Within the next month I had already finished the Book Of Mormon. I was glued to it and I couldn't put it down. And my answer of the Restoration came speedily, actually same week, at first I didn't understand the answer but then I asked again with an opened minded and heart. 

I'd love to get into details of everything but because of time it doesn't allow me. To keep long story short is that I have seen visions, seen many things but there's nothing that beats the still small voice. Even when the world can be loud as they can they cannot beat that. In various ways I know without a shadow of a doubt that this is true Gospel of Jesus Christ we're preaching and His Church is being directed by Him. If there's one thing that I'd ask from you would be that to tell all the young people that are born in the Church not to take the Gospel for granted and I'm sure sometimes they feel like them being born in the Church is unfair since they didn't choose for themselves. If I was them I'd prefer to stay in that"Bubble" because its safer there. 

I'd share more next time.

Have a wonderful week.

Kind Regards,

Elder Motsoiri

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!!