Os Melhores Dois Anos

Olá!

Well, it looks like my time has come! This time next week I will be in Lisboa ending my service as a full-time missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I can hardly believe that two years have gone by already! It really seems like no time has gone by at all, but at the same time, I feel like I have been here in Portugal for so long.

Over these past two years I have:

Served in five different cities-- Leiria, Abrantes, Castelo Branco, Machico, and Viseu

Served with ten different companions (and learned something from each of them)--

Elder Cardenuto( I learned to love to feel the Spirit),

Elder Nascimento(I learned the importance of loving the members),

Elder Santos, (I learned not to give up on people)

Elder Tavares(I learned the importance of loving the Holy Bible),

Elder Rodrigues (I learned how to have fun activities)

Elder Burt (I learned how to prepare more effectively for lessons and how to be more creative in our lessons),

Elder Romano(I learned how to teach and testify to someone right as you start teaching them), Elder Franco( I learned that the mission isn´t about what I want, but what the Lord wants),

Elder Alves (I learned how to plan something for every hour of the day)

and Elder Hirschi ( I learned that it is important to be a friend with the people before you even start teaching them)

Seen five people that I taught be baptized--Rosa, Claudia, Manuel, Susana, and Pedro

Seen six people taught by missionaries in my district be baptized-- Carla, João, Albertina, João Siva, Tomás, and Susana

Had two mission presidentes-- Presidente Amorim and Presidente Fillmore

And seen and experienced so much more!

I am so grateful that I have been able to serve this mission!

I have gained a love of the Portuguese people. They are such wonderful people! When I think about next Sunday when I have to leave Viseu and say goodbye to the members here in Viseu, my eyes start leaking again. The people here in Portugal are so giving. The members of the Church in Portugal love the missionaries. Even though I have been rejected so many times on my mission, many of the the rejections have been polite. I love the Portuguese language and accent! Apparently I am funnier when I speak in Portuguese than when I speak in English haha. Portugal is such a beautiful country! For my last P-day, we went as a district (six missionaries) with our Ward Mission Leader to seem some cool places in the mountains of Portugal, and the views on the way there were breathtaking.

While on my mission I have strengthened my testimony so much. I have learned so much about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I know that there is much to learn still. I love being a member of this Church! So many people are looking for the truth, and they just don´t know where to find it! So many people want to have peace and true happiness in this life, and the place to find it is within Christ´s restored church! I know this. I know that my Savior lives. A lady was being very rude with us on the road a few days ago, and she even said that we don´t even know who Jesus Christ is. But we do. I do. I know that he is our brother. I know that he submitted to God´s will to come to earth and to give his life for us. I know that he suffered not only for our sins, but for our weaknesses, for our sadness, for every hard thing that we have to go through. He felt everything, and because of that, he is able to comfort us. Because of Him, we can repent and be forgiven. Because he died on the cross and resurrected three days later, we will all live again. I have come to know Him and I have searched to become like him these past two years. I know that I am not perfect and that I have so much more to learn and go through, but I am trying. When we fail, we just need to get back up again, and He will be there with His hands stretched out to help.

Once again, I am grateful to have served a mission, and for all that I have learned and experienced. I have gone through good and rough times on my mission, but everything has worked out to make me a better person and strengthen my testimony.

I love all of you! This is my last group email that I will send! See you all in a few weeks!

Love, Elder Barker