Monday, March 31, 2014

Dear Family,

So good to hear from you as always! I am doing great. I feel so grateful for the things that have been happening and a little bit undeserving. I had one of the most special experiences of my mission this weekend. 

A family that I taught in my 2nd area, Parque das Nações, were finally baptized this last weekend. The kids were already baptized, and the parents always went to church, but the father, Jeferson, did not want to get married. We worked with them a lot, but it never worked out. And this last weekend after 7 or 8 months of going to church they were finally married. The Elders called me last week and said that Karina, the mom, wanted me to baptize her. So, Pres. Pinho gave me permission and I got to go to the baptismal service. It was a moment that I´ll never forget. They were so.... Happy. The gospel has changed the course of their lives´ forever. I really love that family and know that the are on the right path to have an eternal family. They are already talking about the sealing next year in the temple. I know that families can be together forever. I´m so grateful for that fact. And I´m grateful that I´m here in dirty, stinky São Paulo where I can meet and help such amazing families, because it´s the people that make this the best city in the world.

I never would have thought that I would come to love my mission and the people this much. Now it´s hard to imagine my life without the experiences I´ve had here.

And everyday is a new opportunity to find more families to teach! This is the best work in the world. 

I´m anxious and excited for General Conference, to hear what our living Prophets have to say to us. Don´t miss it for anything!

I love you all, my family!

 

Elder Barker

 

 

WE, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

 

Monday, March 24, 2014

Dear Family,

 

How´s life back home? I´m doing great, don´t worry about me. Thank you so much for the pictures, you are all looking great!! I have to admit that I was planning on sending pictures this week, but I realized that I haven´t taken any new pictures... But I will get on that. I´m doing very, very well. I love this work so much and I love the people that I get to work with. I wish you could see how humble and pure they are. Clearly there are the heard hearted as well, but it seems like the Lord just puts us in front of the best of the best. They are truly prepared to hear our message. (There are angels preparing the hearts of men in this very moment). 

We have transfers tomorrow. I will be staying here with Elder De Jesus, so I´m excited, but we have a lot of missionaries in the zone being transfered. We´ve seen a lot of progress, and now it will be almost like starting from scratch again. I guess that´s the wisdom of the Lord, that we never slip too far into the comfort zone. It´s going to be great, there are a lot of new missionaries that got visas.

Sounds like St. George was fun! How´s the March Madness? 

Man, I can´t believe Scott Davis is already home. It passes by in the blink of an eye.

Everyone getting excited for General Conference? I am. When the prophet and apostles speak, I feel the Spirit. It´s the same feeling I have when I read the scriptures. The Spirit testifies of truth and I really know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet. 

Love you all and have a great week! Remember that we are the master of our fate and the captain of our soul. Pres. Pinho always says that the past is in the hands of the Atonement (Christ) and tomorrow is in the hands of the Father. Today is our day!

 

Elder Barker

Monday, March 17, 2014

Dear Family,

Só alegria aqui em Itapecerica. 

Everything is going great! This week that passed by we had some sad things happen with investigators choosing to not be baptized, but I guess it´s part of the plan. Free Agency frustrates me sometimes. We´re still teaching some great people, especially a couple from the North East of Brasil. Their names are Roni and Simone. They´re not legally married yet, but they go to church every Sunday. The have a two year old son named Karllyson. Simone was baptized a long time ago, but went inactive shortly after. One day we just talked with them in the street and they love the church now. They´re a great family.

It´s basically a pattern now, that at 4 o´clock in the afternoon it rains, everyday, for about an hour. And it rains really hard. And then it´s sunny again. The weather here changes even faster than it changes in Evanston, if you can believe it.

I´ve been thinking a lot about the Book of Mormon lately. ( I finished in Portuguese a few weeks ago) And more than ever in my life, I´m seeing the pure truthfulness of it. It is the truest book on Earth and we will truly come closer to Christ as we read from it every day. I´ve never had such a strong knowledge that Christ lives. The Book of Mormon is true and I know it. It is the keystone of our religion and a blessing in each of our lives. 

I love you all and pray that you all stay safe and healthy!

 

Elder Barker

 

Monday, March 10, 2014

Dear family,

 I´ll answer your questions first, so I don´t forget. I´m doing more than great, I feel like I´m flying. Só alegria. And no I didn´t get the shirts, but don´t worry about it, I´ll ask Sister Pinho to get some for me. So you don´t need to send another package. Who knows, maybe it will show up this week.

I´m very happy for Grandma and Grandpa.

Wow, sounds like the setting apart was awesome. I´m so happy for them. There´s no better feeling than being a missionary. They´re great exmples for our family.

Do they have a new email now?

Big news, wow. Life just keeps going on.

So Pres. Pinho authorized us to read a book called Evoking the Powers of Heaven. (I think that´s what it is in English) It is by Grant Von Harrison. It is very, very good. It talks about our attitude and our faith making things happen. We are not subject to circumstance. We are not just dust in the wind, but we are truly children of God. Nothing is impossible for him and if we are worthy and make the necessary sacrifices He will bless us with all that we ask. 

 

Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles counseled us on what it means to have faith in Jesus Christ:

“To gain unshakable faith in Jesus Christ is to flood your life with brilliant light. You are no longer alone to struggle with challenges you know you cannot resolve or control yourself, for He said, ‘If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing isexpedient in me’ (Moroni 7:33; italics added).

“If you are despondent, racked by transgression, are ill, alone, or desperately in need of comfort and support, I solemnly testify that the Lord will help you when you carefully obey the spiritual law upon which that help is predicated. He is your Father. You are His child. He loves you. He will never let you down. I know He will bless you” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 118; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 86).

And He will help us in all aspects oflife, not just callings in the church. I´m so grateful for our loving Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. It´s such a blessing to be able to serve them. 

"How ever fast we run, it´s not fast enough. How ever little sleep we´re getting by on, we need to get by with less. There is an urgency that increases with every passing day." - Jeffrey R. Holland

These really are the last days, and I bear my witness that the Lord is hastening His work. Love you all and hope you have a great week!

Elder Barker

Sorry my email was so long mom, but I also wanted to see if you have ever watched the little film "Billy Peck".

President Pinho showed it in a training. It´s the best example of attitude. I think President Monson mentioned it in a talk one time as well. It would be great to show in a family home evening or something. PMA is the Way!

Love you so so so much. You´re incredible.

 

 

Monday, March 3, 2014

Dear family,

Thanks for the update and for all of your love and support. Happy birthday for everyone back home! And when are grandma and grandpa leaving for Texas? It´s hard to hear about Aunt Marcia, but such a blessing for us to be able to understand the plan of salvation.

 Hope some of the pics make it there, I´m not sure if I´ve already sent some of those to you. I´ll take some more of my new area.

I´m doing well. We had a good week. We had interviews with Pres. Pinho yesterday. It was the first time in a long time I´ve been interviewed by him. It was good. He is very concerned with leaving the mission ready and good for when Pres. Dalton comes. I think it´s June... maybe July. But it´ll be a smooth transition I´m sure.

I´m excited for Alec, he´ll be awesome.

I´m getting pumped for General Conference already. I can´t believe it´s March. March Madness!

I love you all and bear my testimony that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. I know it, and I know that the Book of Mormon is true.

Love you and have a great week!

 

Elder Barker

 

                                                  Baptisms with the other Elders in Parelheiros.

 

                                      Elder Bowers, my MTC companion that is now in São Paulo, West.
 

 

                                           Lots and lots of hills. It was hot. And we were fasting.
 

                                                         
                                                             A sketchy bridge in Barragem.

 

                                              Our study tables. I´m trying to be more organized.

 

A rainy day in Parelheiros, it made our alley a little waterfall.