This last week ended really well, because I was able to talk with my family yesterday! I was looking forward the whole week to be able to skype with them all, and it was so fun! I´m so grateful for the ability to talk with people from across the world without any problems, especially when those people are my parents and siblings.
This week seemed to have a theme for me: there really is good in everyone.
A few days ago we were walking and knocking on people´s doors when we found this really nice man named Manuel. He invited us in, and then after a little while he asked us if we would like to stay for dinner. Random people never invite us to eat with them, so this was a first! We soon met his wife and son, and then we started eating. It was a good meal too!
During dinner we shared our message of the restoration of the Church, and the Spirit was pretty strong. However, the son turned out to be pretty atheist, and started arguing with his dad. Because of this, the happy feelings that were there quickly left the room, haha. As we were leaving, we talked to the son a little bit, and he turned out to be a really nice person. Even though his beliefs are the opposite of ours, I realized that there are good people in every belief (or lack thereof) and we should always treat people with kindness.
(Side note: the dad came to church this Sunday!)
Another day this week we were walking down the street and decided to talk to a man passing by us. As we started to speak, he said that he didn´t speak Portuguese, but spoke English. So I quickly replied and said "Oh great! I´m American!"
It turns out that he was Muslim and born and raised in Jerusalem! He told us a little about his life and that he is a professor and likes to hear about other people´s beliefs.
He also told us that he goes grocery shopping sometimes in Bethlehem (yes, that Bethlehem, haha).
He asked us some questions about what we believe, and why we are here in Portugal. He was a very nice man, and it turns out that some of our beliefs about God and Jesus Christ are the same as his. He then started talking about how he wishes that everyone in the world could just believe in God and treat each other with love and respect. That if it was like that, there would be a lot less violence and pain in the world.
This man was one of the most respectful and sincere people that I have met, and he was very faithful to his Islamic faith. Every religion has good people in it; every religion has bad people in it. Our duty is to love and respect everyone.
Here in Portugal there is a race of people called Gypsies. There are many of them in every city, and they cause lots of trouble. The Portuguese people find it hard to like them, because they receive free housing from the government, most of the time they don´t work, their kids often don´t go to school, they send their young kids to beg for money and food., etc.
I myself have been asked for money in the parking lots, and every night I see them digging through the trash. It is dangerous to walk through their neighborhoods (some missionaries have actually been robbed).
But I look at the children of this people, and I feel an overwhelming sadness. The kids don´t know any better; to them, going through the trash at night is normal; standing at the front of stores in the sun, asking for money while their parents are sitting in the shade is just what they are used to.
The other day we talked to a group of siblings (ages 4-15), and my heart ached for them. I could see a light in the eyes of the four-year-old girl. I could see that these kids were good kids, they have just been raised in a very difficult environment.
There´s not much that we can do to teach, because we are counseled not to bring them to church (because of lots of difficulties in the past). But I´ve decided that every time we see Gypsy children, I will give them a compliment; I will tell them about their potential; I will teach them a brief eternal truth about who they really are. I just want to do good and help these people feel important and loved.
Back to the beginning--this week I learned that their is good in every belief, race, person.
I hope you all have a wonderful week, and remember how much you all mean to me!
I love and miss you all!
Love,
Elder Barker
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