O Metade

Bom Dia!

Exactly one year ago today I was giving my farewell talk in Church! Which means in a few days (August 3), I will have been out on my mission for one year! I really cannot believe that I have been out that long. I remember very clearly the day that I was dropped off at the MTC, and it feels like it wasn´t that long ago. 

But before I talk too much about my year, I want to write a few things that happened this week! 

The Roques came and evaluated my district meeting, so I was kind of nervous and was worried that they were going to give me a bad "grade" haha. But in the end it went well and I think that they liked it. 

Afterwards they gave us a ride back to Castelo Branco, and once again I was able to here a little bit about how Abrantes is doing. 

It was especially special to hear about Manuel and Susana! Sister Roque told me how the gospel is really changing their lives. Not just spiritually, but with the little things, like how their home is cleaner, they have better higiene (lol), and they are always happy. 

But what made me feel so happy to hear was that ever since their baptism, they have not missed one day of church. They have not missed one activity. They have already given talks and prayers in church. 

One of the best things about a mission is being able to hear about people that you have been able to help!

We have been teaching a lady from Cape Verde named Djara. One day we were walking down the road, and we asked her if we could help her with her grocery bags. Most people say no, so when she said that we could, it was pretty surprising, haha. We carried them to her home, and on the way she said that she had talked to missionaries in Cape Verde, and told us that we could pass by another day if we wanted. So we´ve already taught her two of the lessons, and at the end of the second one she said that she is really liking what we teach her, because she feels peaceful and joyful! 

We were able to teach Antonio again this week, so we taught him about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and at the end we asked him to be baptized. He said that if we wanted to, he could be baptized, but said that he knows that he will not continue to be faithful or go to church. We are starting to think that maybe he just likes to talk to us, and if he was baptized, it would be because of us, and not because he truly wanted to. So we are going to continue teaching him, and help him develop a real desire to follow this path. 

Last week we gave a short, old man on the street a pass along card of Christ, and helped him feel better about the world. A few days later we passed him on the street, and he showed us, with a big smile, that he had been keeping the picture in his shirt pocket, next to his heart. 

Being a missionary means helping others and bringing joy to them!

And to finish, I just want to give a few of the "statistics" of my first year of my mission. 

This past year I have:

Slept in 17 different beds (because of transfers, splits, moves, etc)

Served in 3 areas ( Leiria, Abrantes, and Castelo Branco)

Had seven companions (Elders Boyle, Ozuna, Cardenuto, Nascimento, Santos, Tavares, and Rodrigues)

Visited 23 Portuguese cities/towns

Met people from at least 29 countries

Eaten goat, codfish, bunny, chicken livers, pumpkin flowers, sardines, and lots of pig!

Said "Bom Dia" about a million times.

Taught four people who have chosen to be baptized (Rosa, Claudia, Manuel, Susana)

Attended the baptisms of four other people (Carla, João, Tina, João)

and taught countless others!

I can´t believe my mission is already half-way over! I hope that I have been able to touch the lives of the people I have served here so far, and I hope and pray that this next year can be even better and I can serve my Savior "ainda mais!" 

I know that this is the Lord´s Church and that I am serving my mission in Portugal because it is were I need to be and where I can do the most good!

I love and miss you all! 

Have a good week!

Love,

Elder Barker

A Broken Nail, Patience, and Portuguese

Olá!

This week we had a little bit of an adventure: we had to go back to Coimbra again! 

Want to know why? Because of a broken nail, haha. 

Last week we were passing the soccerball back and forth, when I missed and kicked the pavement with my toe. It hurt so badly, but I didn´t think too much of it. Later I looked at it, and underneath my toenail was all purple. The next day it kept hurting as we walked, and my companion told me to call Sister Roque. But I thought "I´m a big boy, I´m not going to call Sister Roque just because of my toenail" haha. 

So I put it off another day and my toe started getting all red and swollen, so I finally bit the bullet and called her. She asked me a few questions and then told me to rest my foot in a bucket of hot water and salt before leaving home and before going to bed. If it was worse the next day, she said to call and I should go to the hospital. I did as she said, and the next day it still looked gross and was hurting so I called again. 

We then went to the hospital in Castelo Branco (the emergency room so they could help me "quicker"), but they don´t accept the church´s insurance there, so we had to travel to Coimbra. (The emergency room in Castelo Branco was kind of sketchy, and I could imagine them ripping my toenail off in the back room, haha).

 When we got to Coimbra, we went to the hospital, waited a long time, and then they did an x-ray on my foot. The bone wasn´t broken, and neither was the nailbed, just the nail. So they just gave me some medicine to prevent the infection that was appearing, and sent me away. The doctor didn´t seem to really care that much, haha.  

So after two bus rides, twenty phonecalls back and forth to Sister Roque, walking around with a normal shoe and a flipflop (on sister Roque´s orders!), and waiting in two hospital waiting rooms, I´m back in my area: 

all because of a broken toenail, lol. 

The tender mercies: the day we wasted in Coimbra was the only day that we didn´t have any teaching appointments scheduled already; and despite losing a day of work, we were able to find several new people to teach last week. But it sure was embarrassing, haha!

Something that I am realizing on my mission is that despite good intentions, despite many prayers, despite good planning, in the end everyone always has their agency. I am learning to be more patient with investigators that cancel an appointment at the last moment, or that don´t go to church, or members that don´t follow up with what they say, etc. 

And something that I realized is that as we learn to be patient with people making their own choices and mistakes, we are able to feel a little bit of what Heavenly Father must feel  as we make mistakes here on earth. He knows what is best for us, and when we choose the opposite or don´t do what is right, He must feel sad, but must have so much patience for us. 

The past few weeks several people have acted surprised that I speak Portuguese after "only" 11 months. I still feel inadequete in my language speaking skills, but it makes me feel good when complete strangers act genuinly surprised with my Portuguese. I know that all is possible with the help of the Lord, and if we do our best, He will help us.

I love being a missionary here in Portugal! I love being able to see my investigators progress and recognize the spirit! I love you all, and I hope you have a great week! 

Love,

Elder Barker

P.S Next week is my "1-year-mark" !

"Pray to have success, and then get up and go and answer your prayer."

Olá, Bom Dia!

This week we did a lot of traveling! Not for anything fun, but just for some zone conferences. 

First, we went to Coimbra (about 2 1/2 hours by bus) for a zone conference with our Mission presidente. It was a really good conference about how to find new people to teach. I could tell that Presidente and Sister Amorim really prepared well and wanted this conference to benefit us. They gave us advice, they showed videos (one of which had pictures of all of the baptisms that had taken place this year), etc. They really emphasized  opening our mouths, and believing that every area has people ready for the gospel. I walked away from this conference feeling more excited to go out and find new people to teach. 

Afterwards, I had an interview with Presidente Amorim . Just one of those routine interviews to see how I was doing and if I needed any advice. It was a good interview, and something that he said at the end really stuck out to me: 

"Pray to have success, and then get up and go and answer your prayer."

 We have to have faith to ask, but also faith to act.

Afterwards we went to Viseu (about 4 hours by bus from Castelo Branco) to do a division with the zone leaders. I learned a few new ways to contact people on the street, and they helped us with a few questions we had about our investigators.

On Saturday, we taught Antonio again! 

When he arrived, the way he was talking and acting seemed to suggest that he was about to "drop" us. Things like having lots of things to have to do; talking with other people; believing but not being a believer, etc. As he was talking, my heart started to drop, and I was silently pleading for help from Heavenly Father to know what to say. I don´t remember too much about what we said or taught in that lesson afterwards, but I know that our words were being guided. Through the influence of the Spirit, we were able to help Antonio with his doubts. I said something at the end that I know weren´t my words.

 Long story short, Antonio didn´t "drop" us, and he went to church for the first time yesterday! It also just so happened to be the day that Presidente Amorim came to Castelo Branco to give a talk and teach a class. Antonio stayed for the first two hours, and afterwards went up to Presidente Amorim and said to him "I want to be able to have experiences and stories like you have had." 

Pres. Amorim then told him "then listen to the missionaries!" 

After church on sunday, the branch had a small branch party about the pioneers. We watched some of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir broadcast, had a few presentations, and ate some soup, haha. It was a nice activity, and the few members that went seemed to enjoy it!

This was a good week, and I know that my mission has so many more good experiences and memories to make! I know that if we trust in the Lord, we will guide us in what we should do or say. I love and miss you all, and hope you all have a great week! 

Love,

Elder Barker

New Transfer, Faithful Members, and Instruments in the Lord´s hands

Olá, Bom Dia!

This week came with lots of changes and experiences, that I don´t know where to begin!

New companion, new responsibilities, new district,etc!

Lets start with my new companion: Elder Rodrigues.

Elder Rodrigues is from Cape Verde (the same island and stake as Elder Tavares), is 18-years-old, and has been on his mission for about 6 months. He has never served in a small branch before, but he is excited to get to know the members and help out the area of Castelo Branco! So far we are getting along great and are having fun as we serve hear. It is the first time that I am the senior companion, but we will work together as a companionship I know that this transfer will bring lots of blessings! I think Heavenly Father knew that I would need a companion that I could get along with quickly this transfer, so that I could transition more easily to being more of a leader.

This was my first week as being a district leader, and I must admit, some days I woke up with big knots in my stomach as I remembered this new responsibility. But so far things have gone well. I have had to solve a few problems, but everything works out in the end. 

It also helps that I have some great missionaries in my district. Our district just has two companionships, so it´s nice that I don´t have to worry about too many people. We have Elder Dias, Elder Adams, Elder Rodrigues, and myself.

 My goal is to really trust in the Lord this transfer to help me lead, to help me see and understand the needs of the missionaries in my district, and to help me feel more confident. Another goal is to really strive to have the spirit in our district meetings, because if the spirit is there, everything goes more smoothly!

This transfer I am really going to dedicate myself to opening my mouth! We have started contacting almost everyone that crosses our path in the street. We have met several nice people this way, and I have been able to testify of the truth of this gospel several times during the day to all types of people. I have a strong desire to find someone that is ready to be baptized this transfer, someone that will help this branch out of the small rut its in right now. I know that if I keep showing my desire (by contacting everyone, by planning the day well, by being humble), the Lord will bless this area.

We helped one of our members move a big piece of furniture this week ,and then we were able to talk to her a little bit afterwards. Irmã Lourdes is one of the "pioneers" in Castelo Branco. She has been a member for about 25(?) years, and is one of the most faithful members I have met. She told us about her conversion, and basically bore her testimony to us. 

A story that she told us really stuck out to me. She has only missed church a few times in all her years of being a member, and she says that she prays everyday that the Lord will give her strength to keep going until the end of her days. She told us that one day she was on her way to church when she fell and badly scraped both of her knees. They were all bloody, and it was difficult to walk. She said to herself "I won´t let something like scraped knees keep me attending church, that is what Satan would want me to do." So she went to church that day, with bloody, painful, scraped knees and everything. 

Irmã Lourdes is one of my favorite members in Castelo Branco, in part because the way she acts and talks reminds me so much of my mom!

One more experience of the week that I hope I never forget: 

As we were planning for the day on Friday, I couldn´t shake the feeling that we should visit a potential investigator in the morning. The only thing was, he lived far away, and Friday mornings are designated for our weekly planning sessions. But I kept thinking that we should visit him. So we left the house earlier than usual so that we could have time to get there and still have time to do weekly planning in the morning. We walked all the way there, and no one was home. So we started walking back, contacting the few people that crossed our path (one was a couple who said we could visit them this next tuesday!). 

About halfway back home, a man called to us.

 He came up to us and asked us which church we belonged to. We told him we were missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He then asked if there was this church here in Castelo Branco. He asked us if we could meet him in the chapel later in the afternoon, because he had been contemplating taking his life that morning, and he needed to talk to someone. We quickly said that we could walk with him there right now if he had time. 

So we went to the chapel with him, and learned that he had been living in France for several years, and arrived in Portugal two days before (a truck driver had given him a ride). He wanted desperately to return to his family in Lisbon, but had no way to get there. He had been on the street for two days, sleeping on a bench in the park. He had been to the police to ask for a ride to Lisbon or at least a bus ticket there. He had entered shops and restaurants, asking for a few hours of work so that he could earn enough for a bus to Lisbon. He had had no success. He told us he just wanted a new life, another chance, but he couldn´t see any way to get to Lisbon, and was tired of living on the street. 

That morning he was on his way down the street to find a place to jump in front of a car to end his life, when he saw us. 

While we were in the chapel talking to him, he didn´t ask us for any money or anything. He just told us his story and how he was so desperate to find his family in Lisbon. He said that if he had to live on the street for one more day, he wouldn´t be able to take it. We told him that he was a son of God, who loves him. We told him that our paths were lead together by God that morning (which I believe without a doubt). 

As missionaries, we have a rule that we can´t give the money that the mission provides us to other people. But I felt strongly that I should use my own, personal money from home to buy this man a ticket to Lisbon. We wouldn´t give him the money, but we would go with him to the bus station to buy a ticket. 

He started crying and said this is all he wanted, to go to lisbon and find his family. We said that we would do this, only if he promised that when he gets there, he would visit the church and meet with the missionaries. That this gospel could bring him the second chance that he wanted so desperately. We looked up on the computer with him the chapel that is closest to his house, wrote down the name and number of the bishop there, and the time that church would start. He said that he would do this without a doubt. 

As we left him at the bus station, he was full of hope and gratitude, and I couldn´t help remembering the parable of the Prodigal´s Son (found in Luke 15:11-32).

I am so grateful that we were able to be the instruments of the Lord in literally saving this man´s life. That we were lead to his path that morning. I know that the Lord looks out for each of us, and cares about each of us individually. I know that through Him, I can do all things, and that this transfer will be one of stretching, but also one of growth!

I love and miss you all, and hope you have a great week!

Love,

Elder Barker

11 Months, Answering prayers, and New responsibilities

Olá!

Today marks 11 months since I left for my mission! I can´t believe that I have almost been out a year! It is hard to think that it has been so long!

Earlier this week we got to be the answer to one of our member´s prayers. We were in the chapel waiting for one of our investigators when we received a call from our member. She said that she needed our help right away with moving some of her things. (She is going through a separation from her husband right now, and it has been really hard for her and the kids. They have had to move out of their apartment into another one). 

We asked her if she could wait an hour, but she said that it had to be right then. So we said we could, and she came and picked us up. When we arrived at the apartment, we found that the husband had brought lots of the furniture from the old home and we were needed to bring everything from the hallway into the apartment. 

It wasn´t a lot, and it wasn´t heavy, but our member wouldn´t have been able to do it with just herself and her two children. As she was driving us back to the chapel, she said that we were like angels from heaven who answered her prayers.

This week we also got to see a baptism in Covilhã! It wasn´t anyone that we had been teaching, but someone who the elders from Covilhã had taught. His name was João Sivi, and he was super excited to be baptized. He is from Angola, and kept talking about how he was going to visit his family there to teach them the gospel. 

I had actually had the privilege of teaching him a few times while on a division in Covilhã, and so it was really nice to get to know him before hand. He is a man of faith and humility, and I´m happy for the branch in Covilhã to have this new member!

Also, yesterday we received news of the transfers. Elder Tavares will be going to an area near Porto, and I will be staying here with Elder Rodrigues. I think my new companion is either from Brasil or from Cabo Verde. 

Another new thing that came with the transfers: I will be a district leader!

I´m nervous for this next phase in my mission. I´ve never been a senior companion, nor have I even been a leader. This transfer I will have to be both, and I feel a little overwhelmed. I don´t feel like the greatest of leaders or even that great of a missionary, so I know that I am going to really have to really on the Lord to help me fulfill this new role. In life we can only grow when we are stretched, so I guess it´s time for me to be stretched!

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" Philippians 4:13

I hope you all have a great week, and know that I love you all!

Wish me luck!

Love,

Elder Barker