This week our mission presidente wanted us to have our district meetings during the afternoon instead of in the morning like usual. He chose to do this so that we could all watch the Worldwide Broadcast from Presidente Nelson all at the same time (4pm in Portugal). I´m happy that we were able to watch our new First Presidency be announced to the world. Even though I already knew that President Russell M. Nelson would be the next Prophet, I still felt goosebumps all over my body when it was officially announced. Right then I knew that the Lord had called him to lead this Church. As I was watching him speak, I could tell that he had a new mantle upon him--the mantle of the Prophet. As he was addressing us, I actually felt like I was listening to Presidente Monson.
I know that Presidente Russell M. Nelson is a prophet called of God and I fully sustain him to lead this church!
As I was doing some of my personal study this week, I realized that it is so simple--we just need to follow the Prophet, and we will be following the will of God.
Some more exciting news for this week: Rui finally accepted to be baptized! Remember Rui? He was one of the first people I taught when I arrived in Machico in September. Over these past four months, we have taught him on and off. I actually almost gave up on him. But this week we had some really good lessons, and we marked him for February 24th! During one of our lessons this week, he told us that he was afraid to fail.
I had the feeling that I should have him close his eyes and have him imagine his baptism day. I had him imagine himself dressed all in white, standing in the baptismal font. I described the feelings that he would have that day, the happiness that he would feel, etc. In the end, we asked him if he wants that day to arrive. He replied "muito, muito, muito." Which basically means " so very much!" With that desire that he showed, we promised him that that day would certainly come!
After four months of inviting him, he finally came with us to church yesterday! We helped him set an alarm for Sunday morning on his cellphone, and we told him we would be at his house at 8am to catch the bus with him. When we got there a few minutes early, he was already waiting outside for us! It was a little miracle! He really enjoyed church, and said that when he was there, he had a nice feeling in his chest that wouldn´t leave. The Church is true!
We also taught a nice man on the street about the Restoration. He was basically one of the elect people here in Machico! He wants to hear more, and he wants to have a better relationship with God. The only "problem" is that he was leaving for Porto the very next day to have surgery, and he won´t return to Madeira until August... So we´ll leave his contact information for the next missionaries, and hopefully when I´m back in Colorado he´ll return to Machico and join the church!
I had some really good personal study sessions this week, one of which I regained a strong testimony that we are children of God. The scriptures that I found (in the Bible and the Book of Mormon) stuck with me throughout the day, and I felt so grateful to have this knowledge of our divine origens and futures.
Elder Franco and I were doing a "practica" of the first lesson, and when I was testifying of the Book of Mormon and of Joseph Smith, the Spirit just hit me like a brick and I got really choked up. I even started crying. I am so grateful for this Gospel. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and my loving Saviour, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful that I have been privileged to grow up with the eternal truths of the Restored Church. I know that I have taken for granted the knowledge and testimony that I have, so I am grateful that I can serve this mission and realize how important it truly is.
I love and miss you all!
Love,
Elder Barker
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