Dear Family,
So Thanksgiving was this last week... I was confused and
thought that it had already passed. I got Dean´s package, by the way. It was
great!
This Thanksgiving we had a mission tour with Elder Jairo
Mazzagardi, from the 2nd quorum of the 70 and the Area Presidencia of Brasil
(you can find him in the Liahona). The meeting was from 8 in the morning until
about 3 o´clock. It was an amazing experience.
At about 7:55 I was getting off the train in Santo
Amaro (a little bit tardy). I was with E. Pereira, my zone leader, and he said,
I will not be late for this meeting. So, we started running for the church,
which is about a mile from the train station. I wish someone would have
got my mile time, because I PR´d. When we got there it was just a bit after 8,
I was sweating and dying. So we went to the bathroom to wash up really fast.
When I got out the Assistents were talking on the phone with Pres. Pinho and
said Elder Barker, come with us. I thought I was going to get in trouble for
running to the meeting. It was like getting called to the Principal´s office.
They said, just wait here, You´re going to be interviewed by Elder Mazzardi. Luckily,
I caught my breath a little bit before the interview and it was a really great
experience. He asked if I was worthy of a temple recommend first, and then
about my family, my companion, area, mission president, and a lot of other
questions. He asked if I was having success on my mission and about goals after
the mission. It was really cool, I just wish I would have taken advantage of
the opportunity and asked more questions, but I was caught off-guard. I think
what impressed me most about the interview was how humble he was. When he sat
down, he almost slouched and just talked to me like we were long time friends.
He said that he´s been to Evanston, Star Valley and Jackson. He said he went
there with Elder Anderson, of the 12, and that he went fishing and
snowmobiling. His life is amazing. I wrote a bunch in my journal, but one of
the coolest things he said was that when he has meetings with the 1st pres. and
12 in the temple, they bare their testimonies much more ´openly´. He bore his
testimony that Christ lives, and it was one of the most spiritual experiences
of my life. I learned so much. I was one of about 10 or 12 missionaries to be
interviewed. I don´t know why Pres. Pinho picked me, but I´m glad I had the
opportunity, and also that I got to the meeting on time.
I also had the opportunity of meeting Elder João Grau,
an Area 70 that was here for stake conference. Also an amazing man. This week
was a spiritual feast. At stake conference, I also saw some of the recent
converts that I taught from Cipó, super cool.
I don´t know if you remember Nelson from my last area,
but I also heard that he was baptized recently and that he´s going to be
baptizing his son this next week. It´s really amazing to be a part of this
work. To at least be a part of the conversion of these people is a special
experience.
Love you all! and remember to extend a hand for at least one
person before Christmas! Missionary work is the best kind of work.
Love, Elder Barker
P.S. Duck Dynasty arrived in Brasil. The Brasilians get a kick
out of it.
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