Happy (late) Easter

Michael Frank Barker <michael.barker@myldsmail.net>	Mon, Apr 2, 5:59 AM
to Charbel, Cheryl, Chris, Daniel, DeWayne, Eric, Kent, Michael, Paul, Reed, Tammy, Kirk, Elder, Alexis, Brandon, Diana, callleeann, Jessica, Forrest, me, Brittany, John, Dad, Anna, Jake, Patrice, Barb, Erik, Kristalyn, Linda, Mason, Matt, hanceyfamily, Rick, David, Abigail, Haley, Gillian, Mark.Stutz, matt, AJ, Cindy, Linda, Meagan, Mickal, Vince, Mom, Michelle, Kurt, Bailey, Frank, Marci, Karen, Karen, Danielle, Lisa, rwdubois55, Janine, Lew, Mark, DeAnne, Carol, Paul, Winston, Joseph

Olá!

I just remembered that it has been two whole years since I received and opened my mission call! I can still clearly remember the day that I received that big white envelope. I was still at BYU at the time, so whenever we received a package or a mission call, we would receive an email to go pick it up. I remember when I got that email at the beginning of my Psychology class, I tried to stay put and stay until the end, but I ended up getting up right in the middle of the lecture and leaving to go pick up my mission call, haha (sorry!). For some reason, I wanted to wait a few days to open up my call, but with my family so "patiently" urging me on ;), I ended up opening it up that very same night. It definitely doesn´t feel like it has been two years since I read the words "You are hereby called to serve . . . in the Portugal Porto Mission" in my sister and brother-in-law´s kitchen (connected with skype with the rest of my family!) 

I am so grateful for all of the experiences that I´ve had in my mission up until now, and I´m looking forward to serving for four more months! 

This week one of the members here in Viseu requested that we give her a Priesthood Blessing. This is the same member that had to have a surgery in her intestines a few months ago. She has still been in a lot of pain, and she really wanted that blessing. It was nice to exercise this priesthood that we hold, and I have faith that she will start to feel better. This member (irmã nela) actually came to church for the first time in several months yesterday! It was so good to see her, and all of the other members were so happy as well. (She hasn´t been able to make it to church lately because of her surgery and the pain she has been in). 

While we were there at their house, they also gave us some special homemade easter bread. Apparently here in portugal they have specific special homemade easter bread for every region. The one they made us was a recipe specificly from a small village a few miles away, and it used sweet potato, and it was so good! 

I love portuguese people!

I really enjoyed General Conference yesterday, and I will end with a phrase that I felt strongly to write in my journal yesterday at the end of Conference:

"I´m so grateful to be a member of this Church!"

This truly is the Lord´s Church on the earth, and I know that by seeking to be His disciples in our everyday lives, we will truly be blessed and be able to find everlasting joy! I love my Savior, Jesus Christ, and I know that he gave His life for each and every one of us!

I and miss you all!

Love,

Elder Barker

Ps, I usually send  my personal emails during the afternoon, but I don´t know if the place that we use will be open,so if I don´t send a personal email today, it´s because of that :)

Tchau!