I can't believe that this week has already come and gone and yet this week was so slow. Our numbers were terrible, but we are still going. It was good that one of the families we are teaching is getting ready for their marriage to arrive in the cartorio (legal office) so they can get married one day and get baptized the next.
This week was crazy as Brasil beat N. Korea and then beat Coast of Ivory. It was absolutely cool when Brasil scored because you heard everyone go crazy and yelling in the street. I took a video I'll send. It also turned out to be a blessing that we weren't on the street because it gets a little dangerous with how much alcohol is consumed. All the members were really excited to tell us how the US is doing, with 2 ties and they were all sad the judge robbed the U.S. But I know they will go on. Do they have a World Cup soundtrack? They have some cool songs in English here that talk about soccer and Africa.
This week was a flood of letters, letters from Santa Cruz, St. Louis, Provo, Bakersfield, and Austria! I am easily the richest missionary in the mission, because I get so much mail! I love all the letters. I will respond the best I can right now. I'm glad Grandma and Grandpa Barton are doing well and that work and YM are busy but full of satisfaction. I am grateful for the many blessings I've learned about work and leadership through the years. Could I have Bekah's address? All the Elders I live with were very interested to know I have a cousin that is going to BYU and Jessica will probably get a lot of letters from Brasil-hehehehe. It was so cool to see the pictures from Jamestown of Mears and Widmars. Congrats for Cameron's baptism. Go Uncle Eric! We are teaching a lot of Brasilian soldiers right now, so I am always proud to tell them my connections with the military world, except they fight Dengue Fever, while Eric fights insurgents/Taliban...I think Eric fights a more important fight. I was very excited to receive a letter from the Winters. I need their address. I really enjoyed reading Liz's letter and from the whole gang. I am so very fond of them, and I was really glad to get their letters.
I know the Widmar clan is getting together, and so I hope they know it feels like yesterday I was there, and I miss them all. Tell Jacob and Annaleis I love them. Tell Grandpa Peanut to get baptized and I love him. I know this "church" is not just a church, it is The Church of Jesus Christ. I know that He leads this church. He asks so little for huge blessings. So many people are lost and confused and I know that there is light and truth in the Book of Mormon, we just need the courage to open and read it. We had an FHE last night with a family who is one of the foundations of the ward here. Their sons are named Moroni, Jared, Jarom, so awesome! It was amazing how they did the same thing we do in the states and the spirit of this family that doesn't have much temporally has so much spiritually. I am grateful to be here, even though it is so hard. It's hard to try to think and act for others 24/7, but I just try and remember about what Pres. Eyring said in conference-Remember Him. Enough good men and women died for the Gospel, the least I can do is live for it.
I love Brasil, for all the things that are different and even backwards in my mind, they are amazing people.
Love, Elder Barton
No comments:
Post a Comment