Christmas Greetings

If you are interested in sending a card or package to Sara, please send it to the mission home as they are expecting transfers on December 17th! That way she will be sure to get your letters!

Please send me letters and loves!!!! Please sir!!!!

 

 

Sister Sara Melinda Barlocker

Kansas Wichita Mission

7011 E. 13th St. North

Wichita, KS  67206-1219

 

 

Gary. Is. On. Fire.

Well. Topeka finally showed its true colors this week. I am living in a insane asylum. Don't get me wrong, I love it, I am laughing constantly and I'm always entertained but I have never met a group of people like this in my whole life. They just talk and tell you everything. EVERYTHING. I know more about everyone in Topeka than I know about my own family. I think they just see the badge and they assume that I care. I love it here but lets just say I don't think I'll be visiting. I couldn't handle it. 

Anyway, the evidence that Topeka is full of crazies:

It all started when Topeka got half an inch of snow and half the city shut down. We drove past about 6 wrecks, church almost got cancelled and we got about 8 of our appointments cancelled because "there is too much snow on the ground and it's too cold to go outside." Topekans literally do not go outside if it is below freezing. There was a half inch of snow. That's why I wanted those pictures, so I can show these people what real snow is.

 

 

Topeka snow vs. Utah snow

Then, yesterday at church. (my talk went well.) The Elders brought one of their investigators which is a teenage mom with an 8-month old baby. After gospel principles, she was holding the baby, then, because she's obviously mental , she dropped the little baby on its face into the ground. This baby is going to be jacked up because of shaken baby syndrome. She then proceeded to non-chalantly pick the screaming baby up as if it happens all of the time and say "oh calm down" as she held and violently rocked it back and forth to comfort it. Sister Beuchert and I are seriously considering calling child protective services. If you aren't going to take care of your kid, other people will.

THEN, this morning, Sister Beuchert and I wake up and we have a voice mail from 4 in the morning. We were super confused at who would call us that early, so, as we listened to the voice mail, we learn that it is one of our investigators, Linda. Linda is about 56 and is married to Gary, who has Dementia. The message goes on to say that this morning, at 3:30 am, Gary was making eggs while Linda was sleeping. Next thing Linda knows, Gary runs into their room and wakes her up by yelling, turns out, Gary is on fire. Gary. Is. On. Fire. From making eggs. At 3:30 in the morning. So she called us to tell us that she is on her way to the hospital because Gary got life-flighted there and she wanted us to know. WHAT THE FREAK?!?! We're going to bring the Elders to give him a blessing soon.

 

Topeka is something else. I don't know if I mentioned this before, but Jason Macilrath (Matt's old friend) is our ward mission leader because he's going to the law school out here but Sister Beuchert and I spend every Saturday morning with him, Elder Brown and Elder Every just bashing everything in and about Topeka. I almost pee myself laughing every time. Then we sometimes get to missionary stuff. You know.

(Glad she's serious!)

Other than me trying everything in my power to not end up like a native Topekan, I'm doing really good. I'm having a ton of fun with Sister Beuchert and the Elders. I adore Elder Brown. He is the funniest kid ever. We're super tight. I might want to date him when I get home. He just needs to break up with his girlfriend and get off of our missions and then we're good to go. (1. Glad she's NOT serious! 2. Peeing your pants should impress Elder Brown enough that his girlfriend is HISTORY! and 3. Finish the mission Sara...)

Mission work is going well. Nothing has really changed since last week. But I'll keep you up to date with that and all the crazies that I have to deal with. I love you guys. Have fun in Utah and don't get in a wreck because of the snow like the bat-crazy people here. Oh, I did get my box. Thank you very much mom and dad! It's taking everything in me not to open the presents. I love you guys!

 

 

...And then another post came - even though her big brother instructed her that "you don't have to tell mom EVERYTHING"...

 

 There was also a quadruple homicide in our area on a street that we walk down regularly. Just so ya know. But don't worry. I got the power of God with me!

(Glad she's serious!!! and SUPER glad that God is with her!...Prayers people! prayers!...Thanks :)

Peace n' blessins ya'll. Peace n' blessins.

Heeeeeeeeey!!! So Saturday was my month mark! It doesn't seem like I've been out a month at all. This is just flyin by! Things are going just great here. Sis Byu and I are getting along sooooo much better. We're actually pretty good friends now. We joke around alot and make each other food and cute crap like that.

 

Sisters BYU and Barlocker

 

Sis. Barlocker can COOK!...

Sister Barlocker can Cook?????

 Expect a butt-ugly Christmas card coming soon. Us and the elders (Brown and Every) are like family. Elder Brown and I are pretty much the same exact person and are best friends. He said I can be one of his groomsman at his wedding because I don't have the hair to be a bridesmaid. To which I said touche.

Sister Barlocker with Elders Every (left) and Brown (Right)

I gave one of the members a tube of mom's chapstick. They love it. And I am now out, so if you want to send me more, I'm cool with that. I'm pretty sure she looked you up and added you on facebook. She's kinda nuts. She likes to get really involved with our missionary work and tell us how to do our job which pisses Sista byu off like crazy but I think it's funny. So I just get a good laugh. And she also takes us to Godfathers Pizza every week so I like her. 

I got sick this week, I had crazy cramps and threw up a little bit. But I only stayed home on Tuesday. So we still got some work done. 

Thanksgiving was awesome. We went to a members home and the elders came with. They had 2 turkeys and a buttload of food. But, in efforts to not get fat, I only ate till I was full... Then had 4 pieces of pie. We played a bunch of card games and I taught them how to play "Scum" and they loved it and we probably played that for 3 hours. Elder Brown and I were helping each other cheat the whole time ahaha I adore that guy. Plus, he has an australian accent, who wouldn't love that? I wasn't homesick at all, I feel pretty much at home here. I'm pretty lucky with my companion and elders and area.

 

(But if Sister Barlocker WAS homesick, she told me that she'd look like this!)

Oh man, there is just too much to talk about. So I was reading my patriarchal blessing the other morning and something from it made me start thinking about my dear old parents. And I realized, that out of every single person who has ever been or ever will be alive on earth, I chose you two to raise me. I knew you guys and I chose you because out of everyone, I knew you two could raise me to who I wanted to be and help me the best. It kinda hit me. It's awesome to think that the me who I am trying to become again chose you two to help me become who I was before I came to Earth. It made me respect and love you in a totally different light. So thank you Mom and Dad for doing your job and raising me to become who I want to be. Sorry for all the crap I gave/give you.

 

 

Sis. Barlocker doing one of the things she was meant to do here on earth...

 

So we taught Alex this week. I wanted to do something different so when we went in, we got right to business and said a prayer and started instead of chatting for 30 minutes like we usually do. The spirit was already strong after the prayer. Then we did a Book of Mormon read. Which is just reading a select chapter (we did 2 Nephi 4:19-35) two verses at a time and stopping and letting the holy ghost talk in the silence, then if we feel prompted, we say something that stuck out to us in those 2 verses. Then we keep going. It's a completely personal experience that you have while other people are in the room. The spirit was overwhelming the longer we went. I can't even explain. That was the strongest I have ever felt the spirit. I was shaking it was so strong. The room seemed to be a little like heaven for the half hour we read and sat in silence and connected with God through the Holy Ghost. Alex was speechless the whole time. You could tell he was taken back and it definitely changed him a little bit. As for me, I got a new understanding of who I was before I came to Earth and who I want to become. I got a new sense of what it means to be a child of God and a new want to be the best that I can. It changed my life too.

 

 

Sister Barlocker, Alex, and Sister Byu

 

So Charlie, the deaf guy. He has a crush on me. Which is so awkward and uncomfortable I can't even explain. He gave me the creeps from the beginning because he looks like the oompa loompas on the new charlie and the chocolate factory and then he's getting all flirty and I hate it. We might have to give him to the Elders. 

Well. I best be gettin. As for the oils Mama, I'm not picky. I would prefer DoTerra just because I know they work really well but I'll be happy with whatever. I'm pretty sure DoTerra has a tiny little set with like 8 tiny viles in a little zip-up pouch thing (shanny had it) but I don't know. If they don't have that I'll just take some pine, peppermint, lavender, orange, lemon, clove... haha I don't know. All of it. Just get me whatever and I'll be happy.

I love you guys and I hope you're all doing well and havin a jolly ol' time. Hey, send me a picture of our house with the lights in the snow please. I want to make Elder Brown jealous. OHHHH. I also speak in sacrement this week... Hhaha so Mom, can you please mail me a copy of my farewell talk so that I can use the story please? Thanks. I love you all and will talk to you again next week. Peace n' blessins ya'll. Peace n' blessins.

 

31 Days and Counting! Life with the "Sara Shrine" :D

Well, our dear Sara has been out for over a month now!

A couple of days after we got Sara's first batch of pictures, I went about making a place for everyone to see her pictures. I hang them on the door next to our kitchen. It's lovingly become known as the "Sara Shrine".

Right in the middle of the door, is an 8x10 of Sara with small squares with numbers in them. It's a way for me to count down her time in the mission field.

I thought that if I'm counting down, other people (Lexi) might be too. I thought you all might like the countdown poster! Unfortunately, I can't get the picture to load, so you'll have to copy mine and use the idea with your picture! (when I get computer savvy, I'll let you know!)

To make time go faster, I only count Fast Sundays... because we ALL KNOW how fast those fast Sundays come around! 

And today, I get to put her first sticker on it! Yay!

Only 17 months to go!

Charlie

We're also teaching Charlie. He's deaf. It's really hard. We have an interpreter from our ward but apparently in sign language, they don't use abstract ideas. They are as blunt as it gets. So that is going to be hard explaining the gospel to him but it'll be a cool experience.

 

 In our last lesson, Sister byu and I were trying to explain all these things and ask him a bunch of questions but he didn't understand absolutely any of it because it was too abstract. I'm learning the ABC's so that I can somewhat communicate with him without our interpreter. It's pretty nuts. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

 

 

 

I like Topeka. (ta-peak-a not toe-peak-a)

This week flew on by. I got over my home sickness on Tuesday. What did it actually is that my companion casually mentioned that she was training me to take over the area so she could leave and I would be in charge. I felt pretty good about that and it got me in a good motivated mood haha things changed after that.

Sister byu (sounds like the start of her name) and I are getting along toooons better now. We understand each other better and can make jokes and laugh and teach better now. It's nice. We're not as tight as me and Sister Herrin but I'll take it.

I've adapted really good. I'm working hard and am not homesick at all. I know why I'm here and it's super fun anyway. So Chris cancelled on us. We're going to try to reschedule but I don't know. He doesn't seem that into it. Which is fine. It's his choice. I'll do all I can but I can't force him. 

 

BUT! On the other hand, Alex, the other guy I talked about is awesome. We are teaching him 2 times a week and he reads everything we tell him to and answers all of our questions and he came to the elders in our wards baptism on Friday. Alex is golden. He's just an awesome guy. Super funny and relatable and he's not mentally insane like everyone else here in Topeka. I'll send home my SD card today and you can see him. We get along famously.

 

Matt is another guy we are teaching. He's about 36, just barely got out of jail, and is getting baptized on the 8th. He's pretty insane haha he likes to argue with us about every little thing and then at the end of the lesson when we ask if he will keep the commandment we just explained to him he says "oh yeah, that makes total sense. Of course I will." Hahaha Thanks Matt. We could have done without the hour and a half of debate. But whatevs. 

 

Everybody here has 2 things. 1: a nasty nasty house that should be on hoarders. And 2: an att. i. tude! People here are so blunt and straight forward. I love it. They could care less what anyone thinks about them at all.  Everyone loves me because I laugh when they swear and I'm real with them and tell them funny stories of when I was being stupid and stuff like that. I think it's super important that while you are trying so hard to get to know the people you are teaching, you let them get to know you too. It can't be a one way street. 

 

Sister byu and I have different teaching styles that we've noticed after a week and a half. She plans way to much and doesn't rely on the spirit enough, and I don't plan at all and I like to wing it and rely on the spirit too much. Haha it was a pain at first having to work together but we came up with a way of teaching that is middle ground for each of us. 

 

We teach a huuge black family with a ton of kids and the other day, the prayer was being said and I had my eyes open and the little daughter who is about six, pointed at me and said, right in the middle of the prayer, "Shut your eyes woman!!!" Hahahahahaha I freaking lost it right in the middle of the prayer. It was so funny. Everybody here is just so freaking sassy! It cracks me up.

 

 

The elders that are in the same ward with that we work with and see almost every day are Elder Brown and Elder Every. I adore them. We are all best friends. Elder Brown is from Las Vegas but he lived in Australia before that so he has the nice accent. And he is one of the funniest kids I have ever met. It's awesome because he knows he's funny but he's so real and doesn't over do it. I appreciate him. We get along really well. Elder Every is just as funny but in a different way. He's so sweet and quirky haha He's from Minnesota and he tries to be hard core and gangsta but he is chubby and wears a sweater vest. When he was baptizing someone on Friday, after he pulled him up out of the water, he punched his fist in the air and yelled "WOOO!!!" hahahaha spirit gone. But it was hillarious. I love them. We make them breakfast sometimes and they give us hot chocolate. We just take care of each other and it's nice. 

Hahahahhaha So yesterday at church, Elder Brown came up to me and said that he had a funny story for me and Elder Every came running up and said "If you tell her, I will kill you." But Elder Brown can totally take Elder Every so he told me anyway. So apparently, that morning, during companion study, Elder Every went into the bathroom and was in there for a while. Afterwards, instead of going straight back to study he went into their room and was in there for a while. So Elder Brown went in to see what was going on and Elder Every had his shirt off and Elder Brown asked why and Elder Every said "because I got poop on it."

 

 

 

hahhahahahahahaahahhahahahhahaha I freaking died. I was laughing so hard. Elder Every was soooo mad that he told me so I told him that I have some stories to make him feel better. I also drew a depiction of the story that is on my camera. Enjoy that.

 

 

 

 

 

ELDER MCARTHY!!!

 Mom, make sure you treat him good. He is a delight. I like him alot. Great kid. That's super cool that he came to our house haha kinda weird. Pump him full of food. Oh. By the way. My face looks fat in all of the pictures but I'm not fat. I promise. it's just the angle.
 

 

 

 

I'm freezing my butt off here. I'm gonna buy some Kansas sweats today so that'll be better. I lost my sweats. But if you want to send me some thermals, that'd be awesome. Or I can buy some. Just let me know. Also. Papa, I was wondering if I can buy some essential oils? I'm not sure how much they are but I'll find out and let you know. I love you guys and let me know what's going on! Love you

There's No Place Like Home....

Here are some pictures of Sara's last few days at home, and the people that she loves and unselfishly left behind to go serve the Lord and share the Gospel for the next 18 months....

 

Grandpa Dennis, Dad, Sara, Brothers Matthew and Jake

The family Priesthood that helped set Sara apart as a missionary.

Grandpa Dennis and Grandma Deenie.

BFF Ashley, Sara and Lexi

The whole FAMILY! (minus the little ones and Zac)

Grandma Alice, who is 89 years young. But swears she won't die until she sees all her grandkids married. That leaves Sara, and Sara's sister Rachel.

Some of Sara's nieces and nephews... We're missing 2 at this point in this picture.

 

Big brother Daniel. She homeschooled with him for 10 years, so they know each other pretty well.

 

 

The Family Homeschool Group

Megan, Sara, Daniel and Rachel

 



 

Biggest Brother Jake

 

Ryan, Emily(Sara's "oldest" sister) and Sara

 

Jared, Ryan, Emily and Sara

 

Two influential people in Sara's life. Stake President Jones, Sara, and "Bish" Bishop DeHaan

 

Dad of course

 

After getting set apart as a missionary with Grandpa Dennis.

 

Jake and Sara. One last good bye.

 

Brother Matthew who likes to tease and was quick on the uptake with the hugs!

 

Ty, Sara and Doug. (Why is Doug ALWAYS so happy?)

 

Niece Brooke, Sara, and nephews Jackson and Aiden / Ironman

 

BFF / Sister Rachel

 

Matthews family

Aiden, Matt, Sara, Stephanie and Jackson

 

Ty, Lexi, Sara, and Doug at Provo Temple. One Last Good bye

(because the other two times weren't enough)

 

Rachel and Sara

 

Dad, Sara and Mom

 One last wave as she entered the MTC and then she was gone!

 

Because there's "No Place Like Home"

please write to Sara!

Letters are missionaries lifelines.

 

Sister Sara Melinda Barlocker

Kansas Wichita Mission

7011 E. 13th Street North

Wichita, KS  67206-1219

 

 

And until we get her back...

 

 

Missionaries from the MTC arriving in Kansas

 

Topeka Stake Missionaries at Stake Conference

 

This is her new family!

We Love You Sara!

Sara has Arrived!!!

 

This is the group of missionaries that went out to Kansas with Sara. This picture was taken at the mall in Wichita, before they all headed out to their different areas.

 

 

Five days after Sara arrived in Kansas, and the first Sunday that she was serving in Topeka, this picture was taken at Stake Conference of all the missionaries serving in the Stake.

 

As a mom, it's nice to see your daughter looking happy. I'm happy.