March 2024

Fiora has given me two gentle reminders that I haven't done a post for March yet, so as long as I still have one reader who cares I will continue! Thanks Fiora love you.

March

Fiora has been working toward her goal of having her own Gluten Free ice cream business by making waffle cones and experimenting with different recipes of ice cream. She is working very hard at her Locals cafe to earn money and has contributed some of her gluten free cheesecake to sell there. She is making good connections and getting a lot of good experience there. Jared wants her brand to be "Fi Fi's Gluten Freeze" but I don't think she is sold on that yet. ha ha. Savanna and I tried some breakfast at Locals, it's a long wait but pretty good!

I got to babysit Karli Sue's kids for a little birthday gift to her so she could go out to dinner with her hubby. Its always fun to have my niece and nephews over for some play time! We like having the Wilkinson's over once a month for Sunday dinner and celebrated Kaiya's birthday she is 21 born the same year as Fiora. We have my younger siblings over for Sunday dinner once a month as well on a different Sunday. We love hosting family it makes our Sundays fun!

Savanna did my easter nails and they looked so cut and sadly I ran into someone's car at the grocery store and tryin to dodge the disaster I wrecked my cute nails. Grr. I had to get a passport photo for our Brasil travel visas and it ended up being a headache. They didn't like the pictures I took so after being denied 3 times I finally had to go to walgreens and get a lame professional photo. But we have our flights booked to Brazil in September which is very exciting. And our visas are complete!

Jared got all his horse stalls rented in March and we have a full barn/hobby farm now. Pregnant mare due in April, 1 other mare, 3 geldings, 1 stallion, 2 goats, and 12 chickens. Jared wanted to increase our hens so we got 6 more black sexlinked pullets to integrate.

Easter was on the countdown all of March. I really upped my decorating and declaring the good news game this year. I put He is Risen on my front window and my office window at the MTC. I made a count down chain and tried to do something each day to think of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It helped the long wet cold March days go by faster. A couple of things we did to celebrate was to drive to Manti and see the temple open house there, to do a Stake Easter sing along and "Expressions of Christ" Art exhibit. I put McKay's wood burning of Gethsemane in that. March was so busy, like December, filled with service and celebrating. 

Fiora went down to St George to visit Lucy Carpenter who is serving a mission now in Guayaquil Ecuador, I didn't have time but was glad Fiora made the effort. Then Lucy came up north and visited us! I did a little easter egg hunt for her, felt bad I couldn't go down and see her farewell talk (I saw it on Zoom thou so cool). Love her.

Weston is hanging in there in Brazil, currently serving in Capao de Leao. He wore two pairs of shoes completely out and had to buy himself some new shoes at the "shopping mall" there. I'm glad he was able to do that. He got sick and had a terrible experience fainting after getting a shot at the doctors office which made me sad, but the Spirit inspired me to pray for him that very day so I feel he was being cared for by God. Weston hit his 18 month mark and we are counting down the days to when he come home, but he is also doing some of his best work right now finding people to teach and baptize, so we're also grateful he is there. His faith and resilience continues to be an inspiration to me.

We celebrated Lindon City's centennial celebration and got a free puzzle of Lindon that was fun. McKay was asked to be a model for the Manly Band's Jeep band promotion, I thought that was cool. And somehow we carved out some time Friday evening into the night to get the old (and hasn't been used for two years because our chickens are now at the farm) chicken coop out of our backyard so we can improve the landscaping there. That was an ordeal. We almost tipped the tractor.

Then my favorite part of easter! The Barrett family easter egg hunt March 30. Since my kids are grown I bribe my nieces and nephews to all come have a big hunt at my house by hiding money eggs and making dinner. It was a wonderful time! Jared smoked a pork shoulder and Justin and Kali and kids, Karl and Grant and kids, Jesse and Kelsy and kids, and Krystal and kids all came to have a spiritual thought and egg hunt. Missed those in our family who couldn't make it but was so grateful for those who came and how it all turned out. Best celebration ever.

On actual Easter Sunday March 31 Jared and I had a wonderful worship service at church, full of beautiful music and testimonies. I felt the spirit very much. After church I hid a few baskets for McKay, Savanna and Fiora and then we went to the flip cabin (now under contract) to relax and play some games. Todd Schauers joined us there. Overall it was a wonderful experience, and I'm so thankful for our Lord and Savior who gives us a reason to rejoice and a way to live again with God and our family forever.

Westons letter March 18 2024

Hey guys!! Hope you didn't miss me too much 

These last few weeks have been eventful. First we have been a bit slower after the wave of baptisms. Me and my comp also had a few days super sick with fever which also makes missionary work ten times more challenging. We ended up making a trip to the doctor's office where they gave me an injection of dipirona, a drug that's illegal in the United States. Obviously, I didn't know that at the time, but that might've been why I passed out after receiving it. So yeah that wasn't very fun. After talking with the medic of the mission, he sent us a list of medication to talk which helped us get back to normal the following days. What an adventure.

We had two sad Sundays when not a single one of our investigators went to church, which has never happened to me in this area, but yesterday we finally had some people come! It was a youth themed sacrament meeting, so naturally a lot of the youth brought their friends to meet us, we even had a young man except a baptismal date! God has been teaching us a lot about patience, but the fruits of our labors are sure to come. 

It's been a bit slower here lately, but I'm still loving every moment! Despite irritating moments and tough challenges, I've been blessed to have a companion who has the same attitude as me to give everything we have and not get discouraged. We just keep doing our part trusting that the Lord will do his. I love this gospel and I love Jesus Christ, we can trust in everything he says and teaches. Have a great week and keep saying your prayers 

-Elder Schauers