Hey there familia well I am glad to hear that you all are having snow it is still super ridiculously hot here in San Luis.  I am not getting changed and Elder Parker my comp is our new district leader so that will be fun!!!!

This week has been sad, happy, exciting, scary, just everything, I have lots to write about!!!

So first thing my great friend and fellow elder, Elder Granillo goes home today.  He lives in Pueblo Mexico and he was my first zone leader.  This week we all went to San Benito and he talked to us and bore his testimony.   The day before we had this meeting he came to San Luis to help us find a new house for a new area in San Luis (unfortunately we couldn't find any houses that were safe enough so this change we won't get new hermanas in San Luis).  We got to hang out with him and talk a lot for the last week on his mission and he says he doesn't want to go home he loved his time in guate.   I am a little sad that he is leaving but its all part of life!!!

So we had a festival in San Luis, Se Llama Fecidadineva. It is a catholic festival but we went and watched and it was just a lot of floats and stuff but it was a good time.  We bought my favorite street tacos and squiz and sat and enjoyed the festival but after the festival they had parties so we had to go inside but it was pretty fun!!

So the scary this week was me and my comp got attacked by dogs twice this week.  We always carry around a few rocks to throw at them but it sucks when you miss like I did.  These three dogs just started barking and getting in a fighting stance and showing their teeth and they tried to bite Elder Parker and I threw a rock and I missed.  They got soooooo angry and they attacked Elder Parker he kicked and ran and so did I but out of nowhere this big pit bull runs out of the trees as I am running and jumps and bites at me and I punched it right in the mouth and it cut my hand but luckily we outran the dogs and they left us alone.  First time getting attacked pretty exciting though good to know I still have adrenaline haha!!!

So Elias and the Madrid family are progressing in the gospel.  I am so thankful for this because a lot of people just lie and nod and say what you want to hear here.   These investigators are very truthful they tell us what they don't understand and they ask questions!!!  I am happy for them and their decision to accept and live the gospel!!

My Spanish is coming really nice.  It has been the biggest trial on my mission but it is now clicking.  I am far from perfect but I am enjoying learning this language!!!

Mema and Pa I got your package thanks so much!   I love it, I ate that beef jerky so fast hahaha that is the first time I have had beef in I think four months so thank you.   My comp says thanks as well for the present.   He opened his already but I am following the rules, he loves that little car haha!!!

Ok lastly last night the Lopez family (my family away from family) his brother got murdered in Poptun and they held some funeral service in San Luis for him.  We got asked to come and teach the whole family (at least 60 people) the plan of salvation which was a incredible experience for me but we also gave a few blessings and they asked me to dedicate the grave today at 3 o´clock and I am sooooo nervous but very grateful!!! 

Well that's it nada mas hang in there enjoy the snow and life in general.   Be grateful for what you have and like Ricky said never complain you don't know how nice you have it compared to others!!! 

con mucho amor Elder Barker

howdie howdie howdie feliz cumpleanos a alec y gabby esta semana!!

 

This week has been kind of crazy so to start off we had my first zone conference with the President of the Seventy over Central America, Elder Amado.   He was a really nice guy and super good teacher.  He taught us for 5 hours and it of course was all in Spanish and I understood everything except for when my mind wanders it tends to do that when people speak in Spanish for long amounts of time hahaha.  It was also embarrassing because he had me come up and talk in front of 40 missionaries and he had me recite the purpose of the missionary and that was fine I did that good but then he asked what I was going to do with the knowledge I have gained in my area and I pretty much just said a little bit like apply it into my lessons. Then he was like mas and I was thinking for like 30 seconds just sweating and I finally spit out a few more words and he was like how long have you been out?  I say 3 months and he says wow your Spanish was amazing but I know it was out of understanding and sympathy because I asked some latinos after if they understood me and they said no so ugh little frustrating but oh well all in all a good zone conference!!

Me and my comp are genius´!   We have been having mosquito problems these past few weeks and I swear I put on more mosquito repellent and they love the stuff.   So we are just thinking how we can keep them away and we get the genius idea of onions hahahaha so we go buy twenty pounds of onions and for lunch and dinner we eat about two pounds of onions each and the mosquitos are gone no more but I stink sooooooooo bad hahaha but its worth it!!!

Some news on Elias he is being persecuted pretty bad by his friends.   Last night we had a appointment with him and he was with his friends but he left with us and when he did his friends were like vaya chillero va con los mormones #@#$ and we look at him and he is crying so really sad but he didn't look back he came with us.  The leccion turned out good we had a member with us and he pretty much told him his conversion and how he has been persecuted but your salvation is worth a few laughs but I think he is coming along pretty good so ya!!!

We also have a new progressing family se llama Familia Madrid we actually visited them at first when I got there but we decided to drop them but we went back and we taught them and they came to church.   I am really excited for them they are awesome tomorrow we are planning on putting baptism dates with them as well so hopefully all goes well with them they are awesome!!!

Well that's it fam I love you all siga adelante!!!

Love Elder Barker

And yes I have changes this week I find out Saturday.   I think I am leaving but who knows!!!