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