Monday, February 24, 2014

Dear Family,

Hope everyone is having a great Monday! I am. Sorry, I won´t be able to send pictures this week, but I´ll be sure to send some in a letter or next week in the email.

I´m doing really great. I´m still on a spiritual high from Saturday. Elder David F. Evans from the 1 quorum of the 70 and Missionary Dep. came to São Paulo on Saturday. It was incredible. It was the leadership of 5 missions. North, West, South, East and Interlagos and the mission presidents. He stayed in Pres. Pinho´s house. Sister Tanner is a former General Young Womens President, and she was there too. Her husband is the president of São Paulo, South. It was 3 and a half hours of Elder Evans. He told us that he had come on special assignment and explained a lot about the office of a 70 and apostle, and then he laid down the law. It was really, really good. He talked about the Work of Salvation, he talked about our full purpose as missionaries and especially about the FAMILY. I think that Brasil has had trouble with retention for a very long time. He taught us very clearly that our purpose is not only to find, teach and baptize. We are to help our investigators and members make it to the temple. He read a lot from the Family: Proclamation to the World. (Which he said will probably be in the scriptures soon) And said that the seperating factor of us and the world in the last days will be the family. We will be a peculiar people because of the family. 

I´m so grateful that my family will be eternal and I love all of you so much!

Elder Barker

 

Monday, February 10, 2014

Dear Family,

I got the call last night that I´ve been transferred. It surprised me a little, but I think I´ve been in Parelheiros about 4 months. I´m sad to have to leave, this has been a great area. I´ve learned so much here. I´m also going to have to miss a few baptisms that we have planned for this week. I might be able to come back if they choose me to baptize them. They are really special people, one is named Giancarlo. He´s a future bishop. He´s 57 and he is very intelligent. He stopped us in the bakery one day and asked about our church. He had already heard a lot about the church and said that everytime he passed by he had a strong desire to enter. He explained that it was like a type of ice cream that he knew was tasty and that he is hungry! He´s a funny guy, but has really taught me a lot. He showed up at church in a suit and everyone thought he was a representative from the stake... He´s already wanting to do missionary work and serve in the church. Sadly, his family doesn´t want anything to do with the church, but they will in the future. 

    The mission is the best. I´m excited and anxious for the future. I know the Lord has great things in store. I was called as a zone leader as well, so it´s going to be full of new experiences.

     I´m very grateful for our Lord Jesus Christ. I´ve learned a lot about His nature. I´ve felt real sadness for the choices that I´ve seen people make, but at the same time sincere joy for the great people that I´ve met. The gospel is something that heals, changes and really develops us as people. I´m so grateful for the Atonement and the Plan of Salvation. And I love all of you!

 

Have a great week!

Elder Barker

Monday, February 3, 2014

Hey family!

Blow out Superbowl? That´s lame. I think the only real Seahawks fan I know is Robinet at the high school.

My back has been great mom. It hasn´t given me trouble at all. But as for the package... The secretaries finally got a note that said it was waiting at the post office. (Sometimes the post office holds it there, usually when there´s something valuable) Anyways, when I got there they had already sent the package back to the U.S. So they told me I should make a complaint and they´ll send it back. So I´m in the process of the complaint still, but if it makes it back to you, you can keep it. Because I´m pretty sure it would be expensive to send again. But thank you so much!

Another new movie at the temple? What do you mean?

Our week was solid. We have an investigator that read the Book of Mormon in one week! His name is Emerson and he´s 22. He´ll be baptized this weekend. He was just a contact in the street that the Lord had prepared. He´s a great guy. 

I´m loving life. I love being a missionary. It´s hard, but it´s changing my life.

Transfer next week, I´ll let you know what happens!

Tchau, tchau!

Love you all!

Elder Barker

 

 

Monday, January 27, 2014

Dear Family,

Good to hear from you as always! I´m doing great. We´re seeing miracles in the ward, it´s been really neat. We had two baptisms this weekend as a result of reactivation. The mother is coming back into activity and we baptized her two daughters. It was really neat, now it´s just the father that needs to cut the coffee.

 The attendance has been about 150 these last few sundays, which is good for this ward. The ward has already passed the number necessary to split, but we need to reactivate a few more priesthood holders and we need more full tithe payers. But from what we´ve heard, when the attendance is 180, they can split the ward. So that´s what we´re working for.

I love the scripture Helaman 3:35 that says:
Nevertheless they did ^afast and ^bpray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their ^chumility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the ^dpurifying and the ^esanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their ^fyielding their hearts unto God.

I´ve learned a lot about yielding my heart to God. It´s not just about doing the right things, but doing the right things for the right reasons. I´ve really felt a change in my heart. Love you all and have a great week!

Elder Barker