Pianos, Roques, and Post-Poned Baptisms

Olá Familia!

I hope you all are having a great week up until now! 

First things first: the baptism of Rosa and Claudia had to be moved. Not because they arent ready or anything, but because the mom only has one day off a week, and had to use her day off last week ( and this week) for something else. But, we are crossing our fingers for next week! We meet with Rosa and Claudia several times a week, and they are getting more excited for baptism each time. Ive been thinking that maybe its good that theyve had to wait so long for their baptisms, because weve been able to have a lot more oportunities to teach them really why it is so important. They keep learning a lot, and they know a lot more! They  come to church every sunday, and even though they dont talk very much, the members all really like them! 

This week I accidently let it slip to the senior missionary couple that I had tried to teach myself piano in the last year. Sister Roque immedietly snatched on to that and convinced me to be the pianist in sacrament meeting. She said that when her daughter was younger, she had her play the piano in sacrament meeting, even though she didnt know how to do it very well. And now her daughter is an excellent piano player. As Ive said before, there is no one in the branch that knows how to play the piano. I agreed, but told her that I really can only play the top line with my right hand very slowly after practicing a lot. She said that it would be fine. So I dedicated some time this past week to pick some of the hymns to play, and then I practiced them. When Sunday came, I had felt relatively prepared to play, but then when the members started singing, I realized that they sang much faster than I realized. The first hymn I became so lost in, and ended up missing most of the notes. The other songs I got better at. Im so grateful that the chorister is a wonderful singer and always keeps the tune and the beat. We could do just fine with her and no piano, haha. But, I will continue playing every week. And I have faith that it will get better each week. 

Why? Because of the parable of the talents ( Matthew 25:14-30). I wont tell the whole parable, and I wont even summarize it because Im lazy, but Ill tell you how it applies to me. We are all given talents and gifts in this life. Some of us are given many, many, (like the servant with five talents), some of us are given a few (like the servant with two talents), and some of us are given little (like the servant with one talent). But it doesnt matter how many we have, it matters how well we use them. Like in the parable, if we use our talents wisely, they will improve and increase. But if not, if we think that our talent isnt good enough or isnt worth showing to other people, if we hide it (like the one-talent servant), we will lose what we have. So, I am going to use my "one-talent" piano skills, and I have faith that one day, itll turn into  "two-talent" piano skills, and maybe even a "five-talent" piano skill! Always use your gifts and talents to bless other people, because it shows your appreciation for them!

I am so excited to have the Roque Couple in our branch now! They are truly a blessing. They are going to start working with the less actives in the area ( about 90 % of the branch is less active), and well work with them as we do that as well. We already visited someone last night, and have a meeting scheduled for this tuesday. They are also causing the classes on sunday to feel more organized and "church-like." The branch of Abrantes definetly has a bright future! 

I love you all so much! I hope you never forget that! I hope you all have a great week and I look forward to hearing from you next week!

Love, Elder Barker

January 16 - One More Transfer in Abrantes!

Olá! 

A lot of big things happened this week in the branch here!

As I told you last letter (or maybe the letter before), the mission president was planning on sending a senior missionary couple to Abrantes. What I didnt tell you was that he was planning on assigning the husband to be the new branch president. Our branch president has been in that position for eight years, so I know that he deserves a much needed break. The missionary couple is from Brasil ( Elder and Sister Roque). They will be such a wonderful addition to the branch! Sister Roque taught the sunday school lesson (on the fly) yesterday, and it was so good. They both gave talks in sacrament meeting, and the members already love them. I could really tell that Elder Roque will do such a good job at leading the branch (until he leaves in December). He told me and my companion that he was really nervous and that he had never been in such a leadership position before. He is a humble man who loves the Lord. Im really excited to see the Branch grow this transfer! 

Our mission presidente (Presidente Amorim) was there this sunday as well, and gave a very inspiring talk. He talked about a tiny branch of the church in his mission that became a stake several years later. He gave a lot of hope to our members ( we had 15 members there yesterday). He talked about faith and about the love the lord has for all of them. 

Also, while he was here yesterday, he interviewed Rosa and Claudia. He approved them to be baptized this week!!! We have been teaching them since the beginning of December, and theyve come to church every sunday. We are all very excited! If everything goes well, we are hoping that their brother (Jejualdo) baptizes them. The only thing missing now is to know when their moms day off will be. She only finds out on Monday nights. 

A few days ago, I was starting to worry about Rosa and Claudia in a few years. I want them to continue strong in the faith. I know that a lot of times people get baptized in their youth, and then stop living the gospel a few years later. I was worrying about them not having a very strong support system. Ive already met people that have said " Oh, I was already baptized into your church a long time ago" but they havent been active for years. I dont want that to happen to Rosa and Claudia. I brought this up in one of my prayers, and I felt the Lord speak peace to me. I remembered how they have their aunt and uncle, who are very, very strong members of the church. So now, I have faith that all will be well, and that I dont have to worry about them, because the Lord has a plan for everyone. 

Yesterday I had the opportunity to give my first priesthood blessing in Portuguese. We were visititing with a member who was having a very hard time. I wont say who it was, or what he was having a hard time with, but just trust me that he needed our help. We were talking to him for an hour, giving him comfort and trying to help him out. At the end, we offered to give him a blessing. We have given two blessings here in Abrantes, and both times my companion has given them, mainly because I didnt feel very adequete with my portuguese. But this time he asked me if I wanted to give it, and this time I felt the spirit telling me that I was ready. I gave it, and I didnt feel at a loss of words. I didnt have to think at all about what to say. I felt the words that the lord wanted me to say come from the back of my mind. They werent my words; they were the words of the Lord. Because of this experience , I have a testimony of Priesthood blessings!

We received news of the transfers yesterday and... nothing changed for us, haha. Also, we arent going to receive two new elders in Abrantes. Dont ask me why not, haha. But pretty much this area will stay the same, EXCEPT we will have more success!

I hope you all have a wonderful week, and know that I love you all so much!  I miss you all!

Com Amor, 

Elder Barker

January 9th - Baseball Fields, Service, and The Book of Mormon with new eyes

Ola Familia e Amigos!

This week we didnt move, because, I dont really know. Its kind of a confusing situation because well be getting two new elderes in Abrantes, and a senior couple. So that means that well have six missionaries in the branch! Itll certainly be interesting, and Ill make sure to let you all know about everything, haha. As of right now, Im still in that really nice, restored home, but I dont know for how long...

Something interesting that I found out about Abrantes this week was that it has a baseball field. The only baseball field in Portugal! Theres only six baseball teams in all of Portugal, and they always would play eachother in Abrantes. When I found this out, I thought it was kind of funny, because, well, Abrantes is a random town, haha. I found this out because our Branch President was the coach! It costs 25 euros to rent the field, but maybe oneday in the future well do something there.

We actually did some service for our branch president this week. He called us over because he needed our help moving things from their apartment to the garage. Ive had lots of practice with moving people in the past few years, so nothing too exciting their. But, they live on the top floor of the apartment building, and the garage is in the basement. AND, the things we were moving were really heavy. Like, cabinents and washing machines, haha. We survived, but I thought that I was going to fall down the stairs or get squished in the door or something, haha. It felt nice to help them though. The mom passed away a few months ago after seven years of fighting cancer, and so they have all been having a hard time. The older son, who is 22, is studying in Lisbon right now, so it was fun to get to know him this week. The daughter is 12 and has been having a really hard time with everything. They are a really good family, and they appreciated us helping them!

Nothing too much more exciting happened this week, haha. We had divisions in Santarem with the Zone leaders, so that is always fun. I always like divisions with the Zone Leaders, because I always learn something new to apply to my own area.

Ive decided to start reading the Book of Mormon as if I had never read it before. As if I had just opened up the book and started reading it. It has been a really cool experience. The first day, I picked it up and opened it up, and I felt a really strong feeling of happiness. I am reading the stories and learning the doctrines all over again, and my testimony of the book is growing. I was having a really bad day ( I wrote about that in my journal) and decided to pray and ask Heavenly Father to help me through the Book of Mormon. I had a true desire to be comforted through the book, and I was! There were verses that stuck out to me and thoughts that came to my mind that really, truly helped me. I know that the Book of Mormon truly is another testamanent of our Savior Jesus Christ. I have know doubt about that.

I love you all and hope you have such a great week! I miss you all!

Com Amor,

Elder Barker