A little bit after I sent my email last week, we got our haircut. I didn´t know how to ask for what type of haircut I wanted in Portuguese, because I didn´t know the words for " Tapered on the sides, and about an inch on top," and I knew that my companion would have no idea what I was talking about, haha. So I asked my companion about what I should say. He told me something about "machine 2" on the sides, and leave a little on top. OK. I did that, but I think there was a little bit of miscommunication, because one second my hair was there, and then when I looked up, it was almost ALL GONE. By this point, there was nothing I could do. But it was such a big shock to look up and see some baldy looking back at me in the mirror. Ok, maybe I´m not bald, but I had, like, 1 centimeter left... But it´s growing back, so don´t worry!
We also carved a pumpkin last week at the Pablo and Nanda´s home! Actually, they had a friend over, and none of us were doing very well with carving it, so the friend did all of the carving, haha. So out of all the people there (including three americans (me and the sisters)) the person that did the actual carving was a Portuguese man that didn´t even know what Halloween was, haha. I´ll try to send a picture either today or next week.
Something else that was funny this week was that I got a free spoon from one of the mini markets! We always eat something from one of the small grocery stores that are on every corner. We sometimes eat yogurt, and this time I asked one of the workers if they had a spoon I could borrow. I was thinking of a plastic, or disposable spoon or something like that. But she brought me out from the back a real, actual spoon to use. She also said that I could keep it. It was kind of random, haha.
This week we taught more lessons than all of last transfer! And because of this, I am feeling more like a missionary and feeling the Savior´s love more and more each day. One day, we were coming back home after teaching a man, and I was telling Elder Cardenuto that the Lord is truly blessing us. When I said this, I thought to myself " What is He blessing me with?" It´s not like being a missionary is easy. We walk all day long. People are rude. I have difficulty with the language. My whole body aches somedays. But when we teach a lesson, when we find more people, when we can bring comfort, I feel so blessed. We are blessed with the opportunity to preach the good news. We are blessed with feeelings of love for other people. We are blessed with more opportunities to teach.
For example, we talked to a man in the street this week. We asked him how he was doing, and he responded by saying that he was bad. He was smoking, and drinking. We found out that he was homeless. We sat down with him, and he just seemed so hopeless. He was so depressed. But we kept telling him that God loves him, and that Christ suffered for him so that he could be happy. He seemed to recognize that, but kept saying he wasn´t worth it. We told him that he was worth it. He had to leave after that, and I don´t know if we´ll see him again, but I feel good that maybe we brought some particle of hope into his life.
We also found a man that had been taught by missionaries last year, but had lost contact with them. We have began teaching him again, and he is so nice! Last year, he wouldn´t go to church when he was being taught, but we invited him this week, and he said that he would. And he did! His name is Marcelo.
Anete wasn´t able to come this week (and we couldnt teach her either) because of work :(. We´ll pass by this week though! I hope we can find a free time in her schedule!
We also had Duarte at church for the first time this week! We taught him with a member this week, and he has been reading the book of Mormon. Actually, he´s read the introduction and the testimonies, and will start reading the actual book this week.
However, yesterday was a sad day for the whole ward. There is an old man in the ward, named Joaquim, who was baptized two years ago. Yesterday he blessed the sacrament for the first time since being given the priesthood. Shortly after he finished blessing the bread, he had a heart attack. The whole ward was there. We have a nursing student in the ward who ran up and tried to do CPR, but it wasn´t working. The bishop told us all to leave the room, and to wait outside. Shortly after, the ambulence arrived. A little after that, we heard that Joaquim had passed away. It was so shocking, and so suddent. Everyone was there and saw it happen. Joaquim was such a nice old man, and was always willing to help. We had planned to have him help us teach a lesson last week, and he showed up, but the person we were going to teach didn´t. I ended up having a nice conversation with him about his life, and I shared a spiritual thought with him. I am so grateful taht we had that conversation, and I will always hold it close to my heart. Joaquim was actually the first member that I met here in Leiria. But I am so grateful for the knowledge we have about the Plan of Salvation and what happens after this life!
I am so grateful for all of you and all the support and love you always give me! I love and miss you all everyday!
Love,
Elder Barker
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