Elder Barton turns 20!
Birthday Celebration
The Cake
New Soccer Jersey What mother could resist this? It has my name on it!
Dear Family and Friends,
Because of how many elders are leaving early to get home in time to start school, we have an emergency p-day today, so I'm writing to you early again. Not my favorite, but what do you do? For now I'm staying here, but next week is transfers...so next week we'll have early p-day too. This week we had 3 days of training. The Twelve decided there were parts of Preach My Gospel that weren't being implemented, so we had training on those parts. We focused heavily on listening and letting the Spirit guide the lesson. Just talking at them doesn't work now, we have to have a conversation. As we work on implementing it, I'm sure I'll write more. But all the "changes" aren't really changes, they were parts of Preach My Gospel that weren't understood how the Brethren wanted.
My birthday was yesterday, so it's cool to be 20 now. It was a normal day, we didn't tell anyone, but last p-day Elder Richardson and Elder P Silva from our district came over and we made the cake. They brought over some pop and we just relaxed and had a good time. I sent some pictures of it. The cake has an E and B for Elder Barton, but it didn't really work.
That's about it. It's harder to teach now, I am so used to just talking and asking questions for comprehension. But I know that the changes will be worth it and that we'll not only baptize, but we'll keep more people. Part of the focus was on the principle in Matthew 28 where Jesus sends the disciples into all the world. He talks about baptism but he also talks about making more disciples. So that's what we're trying to do, make lots of disciples that have growing testimonies, that want to get baptized, not because we invited them, but because they want it.
One thing that was interesting was that I received a training similar from a teacher in the MTC but I had forgotten about it with all of the training I received in the field. Interesting how God prepares us. I was reading my patriarchal blessing, which also has references with how we're supposed to teach. It's so nice to know that we're part of a much bigger group, because sometimes when it's just about me, I get a little lost, but with the Lord directing the symphony, I know it'll turn out fine.
Elder Fielding From WA, was my zone leader in Brasilia Norte and then they had him train this last transfer, so he is my district leader this transfer. He'll be on his way home tomorrow, but last night he called us up to say goodbye. He told me "You're not here to be perfect, you're here to work hard." It is something I have been thinking about a lot since last night. It reminded me of something that Elder Holden told me in the MTC. "We aren't perfect, but who we represent is." I supposed I have always wanted to be the "perfect' missionary and when I am not achieving that, I get discouraged. I need to remember that I will only do this right, when it's time to leave (funny how that works). Right now, my job is to try and work as hard as I can, and leave the rest to the Master.
I was reading in Alma 5 about the Bread and Water of Life. It reminded me of the picture of the Samaritan woman at the well by Simon Dewey and in John 4, the importance of Living Water. It also talked about the Tree of Life (Nephi 8) and how the Bible and the Book of Mormon work together so well. How really, when we want the Bread, Fruit and Water of Life, we'll come to the Savior. And that part of us that is hungry, that wants more, that doesn't feel content with the things of the world; He'll be able to fill.
Love,
Elder Barton
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