This week marked 9 months that I am on my mission! Each month goes by faster, and I can hardly believe it has already how much time has already gone by.
At the beginning of last week (for P-day), we went to the Circus! It was the first time that I have been since I was a little kid, and it was well worth it! We went for district P-day. I´m pretty sure that we were the only group that didn´t have a kid with us, haha. It was actually really cool. They had magic, a flying man, trapeze artists, crocodiles, etc. I think the part that I liked the most was the clown. I don´t think I´ve laughed that hard in a while, lol. It was at the perfect time as well, because it ended right when our p-day was supposed to end.
This week I was also interviewed by our mission president for the first time since I arrived in Setember. He has made a goal to interview all of the missionaries at least every 6-9 weeks. My interview was actually scheduled for almost a month ago, but first he got sick, and then I was on a train, and then he seemed to have given up, lol. But it finally happened this week, through skype. Nothing very special, he just wants to see how we are and how our areas are going.
Yesterday was fast and testimony meeting at church, but it was also Mothers´ Day in Portugal. So before church started, the branch president set up a small breakfast for everyone (not just the mom´s, so that meant we could eat as well!). Then in Sacrament Meeting, everyone´s testimony seemed to be more like a tribute to their mom, haha. It was definitely a different Sunday, but that´s ok :).
Our branch presidente is starting to focus more on Home Teaching, and so this week we had a meeting where the men of the branch would meet together, and then divide up to visit some of the less-actives in the branch. Only six people showed up (including us and the presidente), but we divided into two groups of three and visited a few people each.
Because of this, two inactive members showed up to church the next day! People sometimes just need to have someone show that they care. I know that the Home Teaching program is a really great way to help the members of the church, and that everyone deserves the opportunity to feel that they are loved!
Yesterday we didn´t have any appointments scheduled, so we spent the majority of the day searching for people to teach in the scorching sun (it was so hot I felt like I couldn´t think straight, haha). Finally after a few hours, an older lady waved at us from across the street and said "Boa Tarde" (Good Afternoon). We always say hello to everyone, but if someone says hello first (especially from across the street), it´s always a good sign.
So we crossed the street and started talking to her. She apparently had talked with missionaries in the past, and I think she simply lost contact with them. She told us her life story, and then we told her that the message that we have will be able to change her life and bring much more happiness to her and her family. She started crying and said "Oh, I hope so!" We weren´t able to teach her then, because we were running late, but we marked a time to talk with her again tomorrow.
The Lord has people prepared to hear the gospel, we just have to keep working to find them!
I love and miss you all!
Com Amor,
Elder Barker
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