Email: April 15, 2019 - Back to where it all began

So transfers.... 

6 weeks again gone in a flash. This transfer felt like the fastest transfer of my mission. It was a lot of fun in Northridge a lot of good times that's for sure but the Lord needs me somewhere else. 

Going into transfers I didn't really know what expect (I never know) but I was set that we were going to get whitewashed and I was right! They are actually replacing us with sisters up here, so it is a pink wash.

Now where did Elder Barton end up? If the title doesn't give it away, then let me help you out. I am going back to Manhattan Beach. A place that I absolutely love and a place that I thought I would never go back to but yet here I am packing up getting ready to go back. 

I guess Heavenly Father needs me to get Masaru (My first convert from over a year ago) into the temple and sealed to his family. 

Going back to Manhattan Beach is the best of both worlds a bit for me. If you recall right before I got transferred from Lawndale, they announced the ward would be dissolved and would merge with surrounding wards which Manhattan Beach happens to be one. So not only am I seeing old Manhattan Beach members, but I am also seeing old Lawndale members as well, so it is going to be awesome! 

Now to the week. This week felt really slow and not a lot happened in the area. We organized ABP a lot and just tried any reason to stay motivated. It felt as if I was just polishing the area and not really doing anything, but it needed to be done. 

We found a new person to teach which was great. I love being a missionary. I've learned through my mission that the adversary just wants me to be sad and depressed all the time and as I have come to realize this it's made me realize how easy it is to choose your emotions. To just fill your mind the with happy thoughts and find joy in the smallest of things. There are still times when it's hard and nothing goes my way and in those moments it's easy to be mad, sad and upset but that's when it matters most to choose to be happy just as I choose to believe this gospel. It's in those moments when character and nature really changes. Another awesome lesson learned from the mission

That's all from me this week sorry it's not much but we know how transfer weeks are.

-Elder Barton

P. S sorry there are no pics this week