So it finally happened. The two girls we have been teaching since the beginning of December were baptized! Rosa (14) and Claudia (12).
It went very well, if I say so myself.
Our chapel doesnt have a baptismal font ( because, you know, we meet in a rented store), so when the Abrantes Branch has baptisms, we have to either (A) go to the river, (B) go to the city of Tomar or (C) go to the city of Santarém. Na verdade, they usually have the baptisms in the Rio Tejo, but since it is the middle of winter, we didnt want the girls to freeze to death, haha. We had the choice between the chapel in Santarém ( which is is a brand new one) or the chapel in Tomar (which is another rented space).
We ended up going to Tomar because it was closer (thirty minutes as opposed to an hour). Even though the chapel in Tomar is another rented store, the members there built their own baptismal font!
The baptism was scheduled to start at 6:30pm, and the day leading up to it was very exciting. When the time finally arrived for us to start the drive, so did the rain! We had to run out to the cars, and then when we got to Tomar, we had to run into the chapel, haha. The meeting before the baptism was wonderful! Some of the members from Abrantes were able to come to the baptism, as well as some of the members in Tomar. Also, we had three senior missionary couples, and the missionaries of Tomar.
The missionaries in Tomar (the ones in our district ) truely are such great people! They invited all of the members over there, got the chapel all ready, cleaned up and filled the baptismal font, and cleaned up afterward. One of the members from Abrantes sang the primary song "When I am Baptized" and it was so beautiful.
The spirit was so strong there that night! Claudia was baptized by her cousin (Diamantino) and Rosa was baptized by me.
Haha, the water was sooo cold, and it was really low as well.
This was the first time that Ive ever baptized anyone, and so I was getting pretty nervous. I had been practicing the words over and over in my head, but was still nervous that I would mess up or appear nervous. But I was also praying over and over that everything would go well, that the ordinace would be performed correctly and without trouble. That I would be able to say the words with confindence. It wasnt until after the actual baptism that I realized that my prayer had been answered. When I try to remember, I realize that when I was in the font performing the baptism, my nervousness fled, and I was able to perform the ordinace with confidence of the Priesthood.
The following Sunday ( yesterday) Rosa and Claudia were confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. What a wonderful day that was yesterday! After Rosa was confirmed, she was beaming! Yesterday was also testimony meeting, and to everyone´s surprise, Claudia went up and bore her testimony. It was short and simple ( as her first language is Creole, and she is still learning Portuguese), but it was pure and true.
I have started to begin realizing that having church every Sunday really is a recharge that we all need. We have always taught this and we have always known this, but it hasnt been until now that Ive realized it to be truely true. We go through so many things through the week (not just us as missionaries, but also everyone does), that by the time sunday comes around, we are tired. But every Sunday, we have the chance to learn more about the gospel, to partake of the sacrament, to be edified by our fellow members. By the time Church ends, I feel ready for the week!
This last week marked six months that Ive been on the mission. Its hard to believe that 1/4 of my mission is already over! This makes me want to work harder, because itll be over quicker than I realized.
I love you all, and I hope you all remember that! I feel so grateful to be able to represent the Lord and my family here on my mission. It has been such a blessing to see Rosa and Claudia progress and learn in the gospel!
I miss you!
Love,
Elder Barker
PS. Our mission president has made it a new rule that the mission home will no longer receive packages for us. What that means is that any packages that are sent to us will have to be sent directly to where we are staying. Since it takes so long sometimes for packages to arrive, its best to send them at the beginning of the transfer. Ill let you know my address in three weeks :) (But dont send me packages, because it is so expensive :))
PPS, I love you all!
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