10.7.2024: Absolute Insanity!

a small part of the mess...

Hello Everyone  

Wow! This week has been absolutely crazy for many reasons and I don't even know where to start  BTW this email is a little longer. Sorry!! 

I went on exchanges (which just means I switched companions for a day) with Sister Fisher over in a different part of Tampa! It was super awesome and I learned so much from her! We had a crazy experience! 

We went to knock on this woman's door named Cindell and she got kinda mad, but said to give her a moment and we could go on a walk. So she comes out and starts throwing some f-bombs and takes off walking. So we just started following her. We have no idea where she is taking us and it's almost dark and raining on us. So we are trudging through puddles and Sister Fisher falls down into one!  But we keep going and finally get to this random bench at a gas station??

*snapped a quick picture of the "walk" 

She then trauma dumps her whole life to us. The entire time I'm just praying that God will help me know what to say to this poor girl! And as soon as I open my mouth to speak, the spirit of comfort fills my heart. I was able to share with her that she's not alone and that she has a Heavenly Father who loves her and is aware of her. We both got emotional as God helped her know that He is with her. This turned out to actually be a super amazing experience to help this girl feel God's love. 

So we started walking back and she starts telling us about how she's engaged to a 40 YEAR OLD MAN (she's 24!) Totally works for some people though-- no judgement! The part that really got me is that she then asked us to be her BRIDESMAIDS... in 2027  I'm like, "ya for sure, Cindell!" 

This experience was crazy--but I learned a great deal from it. As we were walking through the rain and dark I thought about how our Savior Jesus Christ walks with us constantly. How Jesus Christ never lets us walk alone, and how oftentimes He carries us through the dark and rainy moments of our lives  

Saturday we got to go do hurricane clean up in St. Pete! It was such an amazing opportunity to serve these people. There is so much devastation and destruction. Just piles and piles of people's ruined possessions and gutted houses. And so much sand! 

We got to go into the neighborhoods and help people gut their houses. The water levels on these houses were probably 6 feet high. We were pretty much just demolishing their homes. The drywall was so soggy we could rip it off with our hands! Each person was so humble though and kept saying " I'm not as bad as my neighbor; go help them!" It's amazing to see how destruction sometimes brings out goodness. So grateful to be able to serve these people in their time of need. Please send prayers! 

Unfortunately, HurricaneMilton is supposed to hit Florida tomorrow so we are most likely evacuating inland  Please pray for all those who may face a second hit this week. 

Spiritual Thought : 

Alma 38:5

" ...as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day." 

This verse brings me great comfort. As I saw so many people's homes destroyed, all I could think about was how God will help them through this. As we rely on Him, He will lift our aching hearts and deliver us from our sorrow. I'm so grateful to have a loving Heavenly Father who is aware of me and knows me perfectly. And I promise that He is aware of YOU and loves YOU! 

Sorry if I don't respond or get back to you today- things are crazy! 

Love and miss you all 

 Sister Barton 

Pictures :