Jared Barton's Mexican Fiesta

Hola!

Well, the Lord threw me a pretty big curveball this week. We got changes on Saturday night....I was expecting us both to stay in Armas for one more change. Elder Willie got his call from the AP, because he went up to zone leader this change! So that means he´s going to another zone, and I was left to wonder who was coming to Armas. We got the call from our zone leader, and he said that I was leaving too....Right now, I´m in Zitácuaro (see-talk-wuh-dough) in the state of Michoacan. I took a 3 hour busride this morning to meet my new comp, Elder Grajeda, in Zitácuaro. He´s awesome. I knew him from before when I was in Tianguistenco, he was in Lerma (the same zone) He was born in El Paso, Texas but moved to Chihuahua, Mexico. So he speaks really good English. I´m still trying to figure out why the Lord sent me away from the ward I loved so much, but I guess I´ll find out later. I haven´t cried as hard as I did last night in awhile. Elder Willie and I stopped by our 5 favorite families to say goodbye, and it got really emotional for everybody. Elder Willie and I really made an impact on the ward. They hadn´t been able to trust the missionaries in awhile, and they trusted us with anything. We re-activated over 10 less active members, we baptized 2, and we set up next change with 7 people committed to baptism. I was thinking last night, and I thought of the different ways I could react to this curveball that the Lord is throwing me. I thought of it as a literal curveball. I can be surprised about it, and not be able to respond quick enough. Or I could see it coming, and decide not to swing. Or I could see it coming, and drive it into the opposite field. Yes, leaving Armas was hard, but I have to think of the will of the Lord and what he wants for his team of missionaries. Elder Grajeda and I are going to work our guts out, I know that. I just have to leave Armas behind for awhile and go to work here. It´s all in your head here in the mission field. Honestly, being on a mission is flat out the hardest thing I´ve ever done. First, you have to adapt physically. Here in la gran mision, we walk faster than anybody, which results in sore muscles, blisters, and fatigue every day. Then the houses aren´t great, and you have to adapt to living under what your used to. Then after your first 2 changes, it turns into a mental marathon. President Whitehead told me this my first day here,´´a mission isn´t a race, it´s a marathon.´´ And it´s so true. It´s so easy to check out for a day. But the ones who are focused on the Lord power through. A scripture in 2 Timothy says something like, The Lord hasn´t given us the spirit of fear, but of strength, love, and of a sound mind. The Lord doesn´t set us up to fail, we just have to trust in him. That´s all I have this week because I have over 20 pictures to send. haha I love you all!

Con amor,

Elder Barton