This week was very exciting, because we were able to mark two people for baptism! Manuel and Susana will be baptized on the 8th of April!
Manuel and Susana have been taught in the past a lot, and have even been marked for baptism before. I actually taught them with Elder Nascimento a few months ago, but they disappeared for awhile. In the past when I taught them, Manuel became super sick, so they weren´t able to come to church or do anything.
But this week we received a text from Manuel, and we went over to their house. We were just planning on reviewing what they knew and to introduce Elder Santos to them. We weren´t planning on inviting them to be baptized, for a few reasons, but while we were there, we both felt very good about bringing up baptism. They are very excited for April 8th, and so are we!
Something that I have noticed with them these last few days, that I didn´t see in them a few months ago, is that they are really humble people. Manuel has told us many times that he really just wants to serve God. He doesn´t want to just sit on the bench on Sunday and then do nothing. He asked me "So after I´m baptized, what can I start doing to serve here?"
They have been marked for baptism in the past, but every time it hasn´t happened, because of one thing or another. We are determined this time to do everything in our power. Manuel even said "This time, it really will happen." And I believe it will! We are praying everyday, we fasted, we will bring the members to lessons with them. I have faith that if we do our part to help prepare them, the Lord will do the rest.
We even saw a little miracle with them this Sunday. It was super rainy on Saturday, and this made me a little nervous, because one of the biggest reasons they didn´t come to church in the past was because they wouldn´t leave the house in the rain. So on Saturday, I started saying lots of prayers that the rain would stop by Sunday morning, so that Manuel and Susana would make it to church (they live about an hour away walking.)
On Sunday morning, I looked out the window, only to see that it was raining even more than on Saturday. I have to admit, my faith faltered as I saw the rainy sky. As we were walking to church, we decided to call them. When he answered, we soon found out that they were already at the chapel, 30 minutes early! They had left the house early, because they thought that the rain would slow them down. To me, this was a miracle, because they never came in the last few months because of the rain.
Church went well, and when Manuel introduced himself, he said that they would be baptized on April 8th. I am very happy to be able to teach Manuel and Susana, and I am very aware that none of this is happening because of my own works. We will continue to work hard and teach and have faith, but the hand of the Lord is in all of this.
A few days ago, we went and visited our Jovens (Jesualdo, Rosa, and Claudia), and this time we asked them to teach us. We gave each of them (as well as their cousins, Diamantino and Celso) a small part of the Restoration to talk about and teach. It went really well! It made me so happy to see that they are continuing to learn and progress.
Maybe some of the points were sort of rough, but I could feel the spirit. It made me remember that "by small and simple things, great things are come to pass." It is so important after a person is baptized (like Rosa and Claudia), that we continue to teach them and support them. Because we have to remember, they are new, and need all the support they can get. I love our members and investigators here in Abrantes!
I am also so grateful that I am able to feel more comfortable speaking in Portuguese. I can pretty much understand everyone that talks to me, and I don´t feel like I have to think a lot in order to talk now. I was reading in my journal yesterday, and I read an entry from one of my first months here in Portugal. I was so discouraged because I couldn´t communicate with anyone, and the language was so hard for me. Now I don´t feel that way at all. It truly is a blessing for me, and a proof that sometimes, we just need to wait.
Today we had our District P-day, along with the Senior Missionaries here in Abrantes and Tomar. We decided to go to another castle that was by a lake. However, it was raining super hard today, and we weren´t able to go inside. I will attach a picture that I took of it from the car, haha. Before, however, it wasn´t raining, so we were able to go to a park, which was fun.
I love you all, and I love serving my mission here in Abrantes, Portugal! I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Love,
Elder Barker
P.S We got back here a little later today, so I might not have all the time that I want to email you all :)
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