Crazy in Gonzales!

Well, it only took me a few weeks, but here is the update from Sister Barclay about her first birthday in the mission field! She's doing so great!

"Hey Y'all! 

Thank you for the birthday wishes!!! I'm 20 now, can you believe it? I can't! I'm getting old! I had a really good birthday though! Sister Wood really spoiled me... I woke up to streamers hanging around everywhere, balloons, and presents on the table; it was so cute and decorated!! Then we went to district meeting and the other sisters made me blue and orange cupcakes that were fabulous! And the elders made apple cobbler! I was so spoiled! It was also a really good meeting. I had to give the instruction... I'm still not very good at them, but I have been working really hard on really feeling the spirit and being able to let the spirit be the real teacher and I could feel the spirit so strong as I talked about companionship unity; it was easy because me and Sister Wood are long lost sisters! For real though! We get along so well, and I just love her! She is teaching me so much about this gospel and life. She is such an amazing missionary and friend! 

Not a lot of investigators lately... We are still trying to figure out this area since the past sisters didn't leave us with very much to go off of. We are really having to rely on the Lord as we figure things out, and in the meantime we are truly realizing how crazy it is here in Gonzales. We have been working a lot with the less actives and older women in the ward and they all have crazy stories and they just do crazy things. We come out of every lesson just mind blown with crazy; it's hard to explain, but lately we have been marriage counselors, just a listening ear to those women that love to talk, and my new motto is, "Get in where you fit in!" Sometimes we only get about two sentences in.. maybe! It's a good old time! 

I love this ward here though. The ward mission leader is Brother Perilloux! He is probably the best ward mission leader I've had. He really goes out of his way to help us and make sure we are being taken care of and being fed! It's super nice! Everyone has made us feel like family here. We have started calling Brother and Sister Mann mom and dad because they just take such good care of us like our own mom and dad! On Saturday I got to go to the Bishop's storehouse for the first time to help out there, and it was such a interesting experience; lots of people watching went on for sure! Those ladies get pretty sassy, and they call the shopping carts BUGGY'S it is not a cart!  haha I love the South! 

This week has been really interesting, but all week I have just been thinking how much I love this gospel and my Heavenly Father; all of God's children are so special to him and so different, but it's amazing how you just know this gospel is for everyone. The gospel truly blesses families and helps those in need! This gospel has brought me so much happiness and so many blessings. I am so excited to be out here sharing this message to others! Heavenly Father never gives up on his children; he loves us so much and wants to bless us with so much more! 

I love y'all so much! I hope you never forget that! Y'all strengthen me so much with your prayers and your letters! keep those coming! 

Love all y'all and each y'all!

Sister Barclay

Trip to the Cajun Village and Other Pics

So apparently, Sister Barclay had troubles getting her weekly email to come through... BUT the pictures went through to us! So I'll let those do all the talking this week. Besides, they are pretty cool anyway and, seriously, isn't Collette the prettiest missionary?? Good grief! Looks like that Cajun living is treating her well!

"When I was in LSU! Taylor is on the left and Gabby is on the right! Gabby is cousins with Chaise and Rickie Warr from Parowan!"

The Cajun Village

Sister Wood and Sister Barclay in the Cajun Village

"At the Cajun Village there is an alligator in the creek nearby! I saw my first real live alligator!"

The Cajun Village

The Cajun Village

"Just the usual fireworks shack!"

"Our house in Gonzales!"

"I got that giant bug in the window seal! It was nasty! Yes, that is a Clorox Wipe on the end of the stick!"

"You don't see this every day!"

Sister Barclay and Sister Wood!

To The Middle Of Nowhere She Goes!

BIG NEWS!

Sister Barclay has transferred to a new area and has a new companion! Here is what Collette had to say about it all:

Monday, August 24, 2015

"Hey! So it's been the craziest day of my life! Last night we got a call from President Hansen saying that we are going to switch a couple things around. SO HE IS TAKING ME OUT OF LSU AND I WILL BE HEADING DOWN TO GONZALES TODAY! Ahhh, crazy! He is taking both sisters out of the area and putting two new sisters in! It is a struggling little area:( So it has been a crazy p-day! I had to go visit, like, five of my investigators last night at like 7pm and pack all night! I have aquired so much stuff from LSU! It is absolutely crazy! 

ABBY GOT BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY! Coolest thing ever! ...Except that the bishop forgot about the baptism, and we couldn't get a hold of him all morning, so we had to call his counselor and make him drive a half an hour to the church! Ahh, it was horrible, but all was well. Even Abby's mom was able to come to the baptism (not a member). She was so excited that her BABY was getting baptized! 

I have really learned to love LSU! All of the people I got to see last night all told me... it's because of who I was that stuck with them through it all and brought them to the gospel. They said that their lives are changed and that the path that they are on now is because we lead them to the church! It's really amazing what the LORD can do in someone's life! 

I really worked hard in LSU and I have made some of my best friends here! I know I was in LSU for a good reason! I will be so sad to leave, but I'm ready to take on GONZALES! I love y'all! 

I'll get my address to you soon! Also, I'll be talking to you more tomorrow; we only got a little time to email today because of this craziness, so I'll get on tomorrow to say more!"

Sister Barclay, Sister Frederickson, and Jasmine (a ward member)

Phil (an investigator) and Sister Barclay

Sister Barclay with Josh, Daisy, and family

Sister Frederickson, Sister Barclay, and the newest member of the church, Abby!

All packed up for Gonzales!

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

"Hey y'all! 

So if you haven't already heard, I am now serving over in Gonzales! It's about 25 miles away from Baton Rouge! IT IS COUNTRY LIFE! 

It all happened yesterday, and a week before transfers, too! I was an emergency transfer with some other sisters; that is why I am emailing today! It was a crazy yesterday as three areas got switched around! 

So my new companion is Sister Wood! She is so awesome! She's been out a year now; she's from west Jordan, and she's 24! We get along so well! It has been very interesting getting doubled into an area! 

The house we live in is scary; it's in the middle of no where and it's sort of falling apart! haha! There were frogs and toads blocking our door as we pulled in last night! President Hansen was kind enough to take the frog off our door for us! haha It is really pretty and green lots of trees... SO different than the cities I have been serving in! 

The previous sisters didn't leave us very much of anything to go off of, so we are just trying to figure everything out with the help of the Gonzales elders! This area is kind of struggling, so hopefully we can get things up and going again! 

It is so crazy! No one really knows our exact address, because we are in the middle of nowhere, so if you would like to send anything, send it to the mission office!

Sister Collette Barclay

12025 Justice Ave Baton Rouge, LA 70816 I love and miss y'all so much! Things have just been so crazy lately! I can't even believe I'm almost half way! I love being here and I can't wait to get going in Gonzales! I know this church is true with my whole heart and that Heavenly Father loves us so much! I know that only through him is any of this possible, and as we trust him he will help us through!"

Sister Barclay with her new companion, Sister Wood!

The kitchen at the new place

A hole in the ceiling...

This was in the window seal... yikes!

"Because things were so gross, I picked things up with a stick! I'm a noob! Sister Wood thought it was funny, so she took a picture!"

Hot in Baton Rouge

"Hey y'all!!! How's your week been??? 

I'm hanging in here! It sure is getting hotter over here! We are hitting 100's over here with humidity! I just sweat! That's it! Haha! Other than that, it has been an okay week.... 

Life as a missionary isn't always peachy, and sometimes you just have to fake it 'til you make it, but I do know that God really looks out for his missionaries, including those that struggle, and I just feel like a hot mess struggle. all. the. time. but I have learned so much on my mission; about this gospel, first and foremost. Through everything I have seen, been through, different companions, my testimony has grown so much!  But, also, about life, and having a Christ-like centered life, because, in the end, that is all that matters! 

I know that God answers prayers even when you feel like no one is listening; he truly hears every single prayer! I know this gospel is true with my whole heart! I keep going because I know this gospel has blessed me and I pray that those blessings are reaching all of you! I love y'all so much! Thank you for supporting me and helping me be where the Lord wants me to be! 

Love all y'all and each y'all!

SISTER BARCLAY"

Sister Frederickson, an investigator (Chelsea), and Sister Barclay

"We got stuck on bikes in a rainstorm!"

Sister Barclay and Kathryn Hiersche

But first, let us take a groupie...

Sister Frederickson and Sister Barclay

Missionary dinner!

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

A picture is worth a thousand words... or so says Collette, right? haha

She sent us these pictures on Monday with a few short descriptions. Looks like she's doing well! 

Keep those letters coming and send her your prayers! Thanks, everyone!

"Hatch Chili Peppers some guy was makin' at the Whole Foods Store! They were the bomb! So hot though! They are from Mexico and they are only here for a little during the season."

"Me and my companion with Abby, our investigator that should be gettin' baptized soon! She is 19 and maybe wants to be a missionary! Let's gooo!!"

"My crazy Heirsche Family! They are the best!! I love them!"

The LSU stadium

"This was outside in someone's yard while we were tracting! Thought it was pretty cool!"

"Our brand-new elder, Elder Floyd, getting his LSU pride on on p-day!

Gym'n It!

This week we got an email from Collette...

Uhm...

It was only this photo.
No words.

Soooo... I'll have to get more information on that and then I'll update you all!

But, gees! What a fun looking group!

I'm guessing this is her district. Check out their cool BR shirts!

Louisiana Fast!

People! We're back! Sorry it's been so long since I last posted an update from Sister Barclay... My family and I (Liz) moved to a new state and we just barely (as in, 15 minutes ago) got internet at our house! Woo! It feels good to be back online!

So I have two posts again, one from Collette to my mom back on June 15th, and the other is the most recent, from July 6th! She also, let me know that she is at the same address, so send her those letters and check for the address listed under the Write Me! tab.

June 15th (excerpts from the email to our mom):
"I don't have a lot of time today. It's been a crazy p-day!! My week has been good, just staying busy and doing my thing, ya know! That mission life!

We have been on a ton of crazy adventures and me and my companion get along so well... although she is a little hesitant to go tract or to contact people! She's a hoot! We'll work on it! It's been a stellar week!"

"We went biking the other day... I got fried! And I got so many bug bites on my legs! They are huge! I'm pretty sure this transfer is where I'm going to lose all my weight; these elders and sisters 'round me love to exercise and be all healthy! I have done more yoga and running than ever! It's good though;I feel really good! But sweating in Baton Rouge is horrible!"

"So we had a baptism! His name is Andrew Loreno! He goes to the singles ward and he's so cool!!! Ahhh, it's been a really fun week! I can already see that time is moving on by just fast! It's so nuts!"

"So... best part of my week... guess what we did as a district?!! We went to the Bethany Church to see..... PHIL ROBERTSON FROM DUCK DYNASTY speak about what God has done in his life! We heard from Allen, his son, and Mrs. Kay!! AHHHHHHHHHH how sweet is that?! So yeah, I was definitely in the presence of Phil! He's a boss!"

New companion! Sister Frederickson!

July 6th (letter to everyone):
"Hey y'all! It's been a crazy couple of weeks! Let me catch up!

Our Mission is too crazy! All the missionaries are a bunch of clowns with the biggest testimonies of this gospel I've ever seen! A little while ago we had a district meeting that brought all the tears. We talked about why we came out on missions and a lot of us said, 'for our families back home' that needed that example, some said they came out because the Lord told them to and the biggest reason was because we all love the Lord so much and this is how we can give back to our Savior! Although this is the hardest thing I've ever done, somehow it is all worth it. I have seen my testimony of this gospel grow so much, even when I don't see the blessings, miracles, or seeds grow immediately, I know that this is truly the Lord's work and we just have to trust him! It has been the funnest transfer of my mission; never a dull moment here in Baton Rouge! I love it!

Our investigators are doing well! We should be having a baptism for another young adult, her name is Abby Richmond! She is absolutely golden! She has the biggest heart and really has the desire to learn all the Lord has in store for her! She has even been talking to her mom about it and she wants to come to the baptism!!! LET'S GOO!!! 

Josh and Daisy have kinda of fallen backwards a little bit... The last time we met with them, I was feeling really brave and asked Josh to crush his pack of cigarettes; he has been telling us for 2 months he wants to quit. Let's just say, he freaked and only crushed one! But it was a start, right? But ever since then they have been missing our calls and ignoring texts and visits; it makes me really sad, I love them so much! Maybe it's just not their time, but let me tell you how much I hate agency sometimes! This is what they need and they just don't see that yet! They will come back; I know they will! I have faith that one day something will touch their hearts and they will come around. Send them your prayers! 

Being in two wards is still crazy, but it's keeping us busy! We have really tried to get members involved in our teaching and really get to know both wards! For the most part it is going really good! I love YSA! At first it was really hard getting used to teaching students my own age, but now I just love it! The PEOPLE of Louisiana have been my favorite thing about my mission! It's such a fun little world down here! 

Well this letter is getting really long, so I will end here with my testimony. I know this church is true. I know that this is the Lords work and I was definitely called to Louisiana for a reason; it now has a piece of my heart! I still hate the humidity and it's getting worse, but what can ya do? I know that Jesus Christ died for me and the Atonement is so real. He loves us so much and we are Heavenly Father's children! I know that he has a plan for all of us and if we follow it, we can always stay on our heavenly path towards home! I love all y'all and each y'all! Have and beautiful week! Talk to ya again real soon! 

Love Sister Barclay"