Monday, February 25, 2013

Oi de Sandusky, Ohio!

I'm trying to still use my Portuguese as much as I can ;). I still get an hour of language study a day, so that's good. There's one guy in the ward that served in Brazil, but I haven't been able to talk to him yet. Sounds like basketball is going fairly well. Gizmo needs to get that Win this weekend! Whatever it takes. There's nothing like the State Tournament. But she knows that I guess. I'm glad you got to see the Hamblins! Love those guys so much. How are the Varsity Boys doing? I guess Bridger is tearin' it up a little in basketball, huh? And Jesse's still doing alright? Is Mia all done?

I'm stoked for Justin Cowan. Didn't Jake serve in the Carlsbad mission too? The new missions are exciting! I think that the Cincinatti mission is going to affect me. We might get our boundaries changed and lose some missionaries to it, but we'll see.

Sandusky is as good as ever. I went on my first exchange with our District Leader this last weekend. His name is Elder Jarvis, he's from Arizona. He's an awesome guy and a really good missionary. So I went and stayed the night in Norwalk on Saturday. It's a lot like Sandusky, they're just cool, old Lake towns.

One of my companions has a bunch of music and talks on an MP3 player and he loves J. Golden Kimball. His talks are pretty funny. He wasn't afraid to swear at the pulpit apparently. One thing he talks about is that nobody is perfect. He was a general authority, Heber C. Kimball's son and he admits to a couple things that are pretty funny. But the point is that we shouldn't expect ourselves to be perfect. We need to repent everyday and strive to be more like Jesus Christ, but EVERYONE has things that they need to work on.

I wish you could see some of the places I've been last week. An old widow let us go eat at her club house and it was awesome. It's right on the lake and it was really fancy. Don't worry we were dressed for the occasion ;). Her house is amazing too. It's huge, and apparently the land she's on is worth even more than the house. Her name is Sister Bearce, she's about 80 years old, but you wouldn't be able to guess it by how much energy she has. There's a bunch of people that feed us and we eat right on the lake, it's sweet.

Thanks for sending me those addresses, I'll be sure to write those guys. If I send a letter to Ty can I just send it to our house and you can get it to him, or what? That cruise sounds like it's going to be fun. I agree, people do over react. Carnival is going to be solid right now, they're going to make sure everything is perfect. You're going to have some really cool missionary opportunities ;). Where are you cruising again? Sorry I haven't taken any pictures yet. I promise I will...
Sounds like it was awesome to see the Fertigs too. They're such a cool family. I love them and I'm really excited for Dakota, he's gonna love it.

I'm all good on immunizations... I'm eating very well, and I always have Top Ramen and Frosted Flakes as a back up. I haven't gained or lost any weight or anything. I think I'm good on everything else.

I'll just share my testimony really fast that I know that Christ lives. He is our Savior and Redeemer. The Holy Ghost can be our constant companion, it's up to us. I had an opportunity to share my testimony with a less active member last night. He is going through a really tough time, things that I hope I never have to experience, and I was able to tell him with all confidence that God loves him. I also told him that the Holy Ghost is called the Comforter for a reason. That is one of His great roles. No matter what is going on in our lives or trial it may be, we can pray for the Comfort of the Holy Ghost. All we have to do is ask.

I love you all SO much. I have the best family in the world! Work hard. Get better every day. DC 82:3... Spiderman scripture.

Tchau!!!

Elder Barker

 

 

Missions to Be Created to Accommodate
Influx of New Missionaries

Salt Lake City —

Thousands of young prospective missionaries have responded enthusiastically to the October 2012 announcement by President Thomas S. Monson that lowered the age requirement for missionary service. As was indicated at the time of the announcement and reiterated later, the Church is working to accommodate the increase in the number of new missionaries who have made plans to serve.

In addition to the previously announced changes in time spent at the missionary training center (MTC) and a new MTC in Mexico, some of the 347 existing missions will be divided to form an additional 58 missions. The Church periodically opens, closes and divides missions around the world to accommodate increases and decreases in missionary numbers and other needs. The new missions will function in the same areas covered by existing missions. No new countries or territories are opening to missionary work. These creations will bring the total number of Church missions to 405.

“The enthusiastic response to the change in missionary age requirements has given thousands of young people more options to serve and they have responded with incredible faith,” said Elder Russell M. Nelson, Chairman of the Missionary Executive Council.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' missionary program is one of its most recognized characteristics. Missionaries can be seen on the streets of hundreds of major cities in the world as well as in thousands of smaller communities. The missionary effort is based on the New Testament pattern of missionaries serving in pairs, teaching the gospel and baptizing believers in the name of Jesus Christ.

List of 58 Additional Missions Being Created

With the influx of new missionaries, some existing missions will be divided to form these additional missions:

Angola Luanda
Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia
Argentina Posadas
Arizona Gilbert
Arizona Scottsdale
Australia Sydney North
Bolivia Santa Cruz North
Botswana Gaborone
Brazil Curitiba South
Brazil Fortaleza East
Brazil Juiz de Fora
Brazil Natal
Brazil Piracicaba
Brazil Santos
Brazil São Paulo West
California Bakersfield
California Irvine
California Rancho Cucamonga
Chile Santiago South
Colorado Fort Collins
Ecuador Guayaquil West
Ecuador Quito North
El Salvador San Salvador East
Georgia Macon
Ghana Accra West
Guatemala Cobán
Honduras San Pedro Sula West
Idaho Nampa
Idaho Twin Falls
Illinois Chicago West
Japan Tokyo South
Kansas Wichita
Korea Seoul South
Liberia Monrovia
México Cancún
México Ciudad Juarez
México Ciudad Obregón
México México City Chalco
México Pachuca
México Queretaro
México Reynosa
México Saltillo
New Zealand Hamilton
Nigeria Benin City
Ohio Cincinnati
Oregon Salem
Papua New Guinea Lae
Perú Huancayo
Perú Iquitos
Philippines Cavite
Philippines Cebu East
Philippines Legaspi
Philippines Urdaneta
Ukraine L'viv
Utah Salt Lake City East
Virginia Chesapeake
Washington Federal Way
Washington Vancouver