This last week we had divisions with the Zone Leaders in Coimbra. To be honest, I think out of all the divisions in my mission, this was the one where I learned the most! Maybe it was because I went into it looking for things to learn. I actually had a desire to improve my area. I was able to learn some new ideas on how to find new investigators, on how to work more efficiently with the members, and how to make the day more productive. We didn´t knock on a single door, but I ended the day feeling that I had worked hard! I am for sure going to bring some of the things that I learned in Coimbra back to Viseu!
A few days ago Elder Alves and I visited an area where we haven´t worked in before, and he mentioned that there was a less-active that lived nearby. We ended up passing by, and he was at home! This man (Carlos) has been a member of the church for many years, and just recently has stopped coming to church. He lives in a simple home with a lot of land, but he has lost his job and hasn´t been able to pay for electricity for a few months. He has been taking showers out of a bucket of water ever since. But as we talked with him, I realized how great of a person he is. We shared a scripture with him, and then he bore a very strong testimony of Jesus Christ to us. He bore his testimony of the Restoration of the Church and of the Saviour´s Atonement. He told us that he knows that the Church is true, just that he doesn´t want to come back until he gets his situation under control. We will talk with the bishop to see if there is anything he can do, but I am grateful that I could meet Irmão Carlos and could be strengthened by his sincere testimony!
While in Coimbra, we were walking back to the house for lunch when we passed an older man who was very obviously struggling with his grocery bags. We went straight to him to offer our help, and he let us carry his groceries back to his home (which was another ten minutes away). While we were walking we got to know him a little bit more. He is a very humble gentleman, whose wife is struggling with cancer. As he told us about his wife (who is bedridden), he got all teary eyed. Then we got to his home, which reminded me of the home in "Up", because it was the only actual house in the middle of a bunch of tall apartment buildings. He let us enter to say hello to his wife, and they both started crying and thanked us for the help and for the visit. We asked them if the sisters could pass by later that day (because it was their area), to pay them a visit, and they said they could. I felt so much love within this house, and so much humility as well. I truly hope that the sisters will be able to teach them and help them to accept the gospel, because it will bring so much hope and peace to their lives. I love moments like this!
Saturday night Elder Alves and I contacted a referral from the sisteres named Paulo Ribeiro. When we knocked on his door, he was very friendly and let us in right away. He has been here in portugal for about a month (he´s Brazilian and will start studying in September). We were able to teach him the first lesson (the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ), and the spirit was super strong. We also showed him the new video of the Prophet Joseph Smith´s first vision, and it went well. We were able to bare our testimonies of the gospel, and invited him to be baptized. He didn´t accept baptism (yet ;) ), but he didn´t say "no" either. He wants to think about it and learn more. But I am so grateful that we were able to teach him, and I´m excited to keep helping him learn more!
After that, as we were walking home, we talked to a girl on the street who was from Italy but who also spoke english. We found out that she is an atheist, but was very nice. We asked her if we could deliver an Italian Book of Mormon for her to read, and she denied. But I felt strongly to bear my testimony (for the first time in English for almost two years!), about this Book. At the end, she consented to receive the Book of Mormon, so we will bring it to her tomorrow.
I´m grateful that I can be a missionary, and that I can help so many people, one by one! As we were offering to help a lady on the street, a family of members passed by. The ten year old daughter asked us why we always offer to help people, and her 12 year old sister answered and said " It´s because they are missionaries. The Elders and Sisters exist to help people!"
It´s true! We exist to help people. We serve missions to bless the lives of others, whether they be poor or rich, members of the Church, Catholics, athiests, the elderly or the young. We want to help everyone, and we especially want to share our message of the hope and happiness found within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!
I love and miss you all!
Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Barker
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