July 25, 2016

Dear family and friends! Well we had a pretty sweet week this week! We did another exchange this week and we have 2 more this upcoming week! We do exchanges so frequently I think I am finally getting used to it! Ha! I do really enjoy getting to know other missionaries and making more friends! Its great! :)

So something pretty cool about this week was we have been teaching an Eastern Orthodox Bishop and we invited him to a baptism last Friday and he was super excited to come! He came dressed in a black robe, a purple looking hat thing, and sweet staff! Ha! It was pretty awesome and everyone at the baptismal service was talking to him and loving that he came! It was pretty cool to see him there and I hope he recognized the Spirit while he was there! Some of the members even invited him to the confirmation this Sunday and he came to that as well! It was really cool! His name is Bishop Joe and its been a blast teaching him! Me and Elder Maloy were the ones that started teaching him and he definitely has real intent because we straight up asked him what if he came to know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint was the only true church on the earth, and he told us that if found out that it was true he would be calling us up the next day to get baptized! He is super educated and has many accolades, but I know that by the testimony of true servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost can bear testimony and pierce the humble heart! 

Our other investigators are doing awesome and its great to see them progress! Love you all and have a great week!

Elder Barazoto 

I have a couple pictures too! Hurray! Haha

(sent by a member) Helping them move.

really cool outdoor staircase!
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Me after a tiring day and Elder Christensen trying to take pictures of me hahaha

July 18, 2016

Hey everyone! Its been kind of a short week with transfers going on, but at least I don't feel like we are going a million miles an hour trying to get everything done that needs to get done! Ha! We of course are still working really hard and seeing a lot of great success because of it! 

So Thursday morning we had to get up at about 4 AM so Elder Maloy could make it to Charleston, WV! He was an amazing missionary who helped me in so many ways to be the best that I can be! He was the perfect example of enduring to the end on his mission, he was a great example to me! My new companion got to Buena Vista at about 6 oclock that night and his name is Elder Christensen! He hits his year mark at the end of this month so we've been on our missions for about the same time! He's awesome and we are going to see so much success this transfer! Another pretty awesome things is Elder Stephens got transfered to Lexington! Elder Stephens was my MTC companion and Lexington is only like 10 minutes from Buena Vista! It was a super awesome reunion seeing him and we are going to have tons of fun down here! :) 

So we had a pretty neat experience with some of our members being amazing member missionaries! They have been fellowshipping one of their co-workers and they brought her to church this week! We were able to have a lesson with her and these members home and we taught her the Restoration! She told us about how she has been learning about the church and applying the things she's been learning and has been so much happier because of it! She basically told us that she knows this is all true and so we set a baptismal goal for August 13th! It was amazing and we didn't have to do any of the finding! All we had to do was teach her! Its interesting how well missionary work goes when members do the primary finding while missionaries just focus on teaching! Its actually the way Heavenly Father set it up to be done! So dont be shy and go out and share with your friends how the restored gospel has blessed your life! You will never regret it! I know that as I have served my mission, I have literally been able to watch people enjoy blessings as they live the restored gospel and she them become different people! Its truly amazing and among MANY other reasons is why I know that this gospel is true! I really appreciate all the support you all give me! It honestly means a lot! Love you!

Elder Barazoto

July 13, 2016

Dear Family and Friends! 

Wow, its been a pretty crazy week! I know I say that every week, but its been an exceptionally crazy one! Ha! We had MLC, zone meeting, 2 exchanges and transfers are this week as well! Our zone meeting was pretty awesome, it was probably one of the better zone meetings that we have conducted! We talked about setting inspired goals and exercising the faith to work miracles! It was so awesome and even though Elder Maloy and I taught it, I still learned so much! It was great!

So this week is of course transfer week and it's going to be a really big one! Almost every companionship in our zone is getting a new companion which is crazy! They are going to opening up the YSA as its own area again so we wont be able to work with them anymore... But that's ok because we are getting some awesome missionaries there! Also Elder Maloy is going home this transfer so I am getting a new companion! His name is Elder Christensen! He served in an area pretty close to me when I was serving in Hillsville so I know him a little bit! I'm excited! Although it's going to be really hard because Elder Maloy is leaving... He has taught me soooooo much and I feel like I am a MUCH better missionary after having served with him! He is awesome and I know he will do great things! I love that guy!

So one of the exchanges that we went on this week was in Lynchburg which is one of the biggest cities in the mission. It's also probably one of the craziest areas I have ever been to! Almost the entire city is owned by a college called Liberty University and the closest description I can think of for Liberty would be that it's the BYU for baptists! Haha! Lynchburg city even has a Provo feel to it! There are tons of students and everyone is super friendly for the most part haha! As we tried to do missionary work, people were either nice, but not interested or they would get their Bibles and try tell us why we are wrong! Its super sad sometimes, but you learn the Bible really quick! Ha! One thing that I did learn on that exchange was that every single question or doubt that anyone has, no matter what it is, has an answer! It makes me grateful for the restored gospel and for the truths that I treasure! I makes me grateful for an complete understanding of the Godhead and for His glorious Plan of Salvation! People may not always agree with what I say, but I have to stand by what I know to be true! It was pretty cool though because even with the opposition, as we exercised faith in Jesus Christ and hoped for success, we did find some people who were willing for us to come back and teach them! YAY!

Well thats mostly it for this week! I know this church is true and I am happy here in Buena Vista! We are still teaching some of the same people and they're still progressing! Our top investigator right now, Brittney, has started telling people that she wants to become Mormon so that was super sweet to hear! Ha! I love you all and I hope you have a great week!

Elder Barazoto

July 5, 2016

Dear Friends and Family! 

Its been another good week! So I dont have a whole lot of time, but there are some pretty interesting things that happened this week! Mostly during church yesterday! Ha! So we were in the YSA ward and our members are SO awesome because they brought 2 non-members to church that we had no idea about! Haha it was great! They both really enjoyed church and we will teaching them this week! 

Then another thing is these next few weeks are EFY at SVU! So we had like 40 counselors at church which was awesome! And on top of that some of the counselors are return missionaries from this mission! It was pretty crazy seeing them at church and a pretty awesome reunion with them! I guess that's what happens when your serving at a highly LDS populated college! Haha! 

Well I know its really short and I am really sorry about that, but I hope everyone has a great week and I love you all!

Elder Barazoto