10.7.19: There is no YOGA in Bertioga

It's incredible the random things that people give you while you are a missionary. Victor's mom gave us bedazzled flip-flops last week because apparently that's a really big thing here in the winter (which is actually the hottest time of year). On splits last week this investigator gave me a tiny bottle of perfume (kind of rude, jk) but it was a really hot day, so I understand why. A different day this lady who works on the beach selling bracelets gave my companion and I matching bracelets (only after I promised to pack her in my suitcase when I go back to CA). Little does she know that won't be for awhile. We constantly accumulate random cake and some people who know us better give me oranges and bananas. God provides. 

The other week I had to do an exchange in a place called Bertioga (bert-yoga) and the first time I heard people talking about this place I thought I wanted to go there, but there was no yoga to be found anywhere. The sisters there live in an apt building and we got there at 6:45 am. Our phone broke the day before and the lady at the front said they had to give us permission to enter. She also said that the phone she had to call them didn't work in their apt. She was being kind of rude and we didn't know how to tell them we were there. So i had the bright idea to walk around the corner and yell. They went out on the balcony after like 15 seconds of us yelling so it was pretty successful i guess. The lady was kind of confused, but after that she apologized for not helping us more. haha 

We had zone conference two weeks ago and the whole focus was about the book of mormon. It was super awesome. Our mission president spoke about all of the church history sites bc he visited them a few years ago, and how powerful the Spirit was there. He challenged our whole mission to read the BOM in 90 days and we will finish on Christmas Eve. It has only been like 8 days but I already love the BOM so much more than I did before and I am so grateful for this challenge. one thing he talked about was that if we are reading the BOM everyday there is no way we will ever lose our testimony. 

I want to invite everyone to start reading the BOM today if you aren´t already, you don´t have to finish in 90 days, but even if you make a goal to read 1 page per day I know your testimony will grow everyday and you will love the gospel even more. If you already are reading, I want to invite you to continue reading and commit to yourself that you will continue for the rest of your life. 

General Conference was also so so good! 

Here's a few quotes I liked:

"joy comes in knowing that the Savior pleads our cause" (Christofferson)

"giving your all does not mean being enveloped in blessings, it means your efforts are accepted by the Lord...it´s not our success but our sacrifice and efforts that matter to the Lord" (vinson) 

"making a conscious effort to care about and love others is our joy, especially when it is not convenient" (Pres Nelson) 

Love you all, 

Thanks for all the prayers

sister Barton