Week 7: October 2, 2017
Hello family!!!!
What a week it has been! I'll start from the day I got to Boise.
So, wednesday, we woke up extra early to get to the airport. I tried to talk to some people on the way there. I was a little shell shocked after leaving the MTC, but I was so excited that I was finally going to go to the mission field. When I called you guys at the airport, that was so awesome! It was pretty hard to hear you guys, I was squeezing the phone super hard against my ear, but you all gave me so much encouragement! We got on the plane, and I sat next to a person who was visiting family in boise. She was a member and was super nice. We landed and met the Assistants to the President the President and sister Bartlett. They were all super nice. We were instantly taken to the mission home, and there, we had a really nice meal. Yes, I did go back on to gluten and the food was delicious! I wanted to see if I was going to have a miraculous miracle and be healed. more on that later. the president and the missionaries are so nice! We had some briefing stuff, and then, not too long after, we went straight out into a random area and started handing out temple cards inviting people to the Meridian temple. The elders can only go to it if they take an investigator, but the sisters will be working there quite a while. We went with the ap's to an area near Boise State University, good thing I wasn't wearing byu stuff or I probably would not have been able to talk to anyone! When we got there, I took the advice of what you all and much of our extended gave to me and just went for it! We handed out a ton of cards, and we even got a potential investigator! My companion at the moment, Elder Dejiuli, was awesome, and let me do the talking just so I could learn super quick and get a feel of the work. We came back, and the president had us stay in a La Quinta hotel. I stayed with Elder French, super awesome elder! The hotel was so nice too! We slept very comfortably that night.
The next day, Thursday, was the real first day. That day, we got our companions and the area we were serving in. My new companion was... dadadadadadada, Elder Dejiuli!!!! We were super excited! He and I were assigned to the Oregon Trail area!!!! We left right away and started getting a few chores done. Elder Dejiuli, Elder Carlsen, Elder Clark, and I all share the same apartment. Elder Dejiuli and Elder Carlsen used to be companions, but are now trainers. Elder Clark was in my zone, actually our zone leader in the MTC. Oh, and my trainer has only been out in the field for 1 transfer! crazy!!! but, he is a great trainer, and I am learning so much from him! He is very obedient, which I really like! We got some groceries to last us till monday. I got stuff for pb and j sandwiches and eggs. We then went to a retirement home and did some service there. I was one of the best experiences of my life! We basically ran the bingo games there for a little while. I met this one lady there. Her name was Nancy. She sat in a wheel chair and looked up at us with a smile. She used her feet to slowly move herself int he wheel chair over to us. She reached out to shake my hand. Once she had my hand, she did not let go. She was super sweet. She looked up at me. She never said much, just a few phrases every now and then: "youre a nice guy" or "I love you." She was so sweet. I sat down with her and felt prompted to bear my testimony of the plan of salvation to her. I did. I dont think or even know if she could understand me, but I felt the spirit overwhelm me. I started crying. I knew the plan was real and that God loved her and had a plan for her. That made me feel good. I never want to forget that feeling I had that day ever again! Afterwards, we went door to door and handed out more temple cards. It felt really good. One of my goals here has been trying to be a better people person/conversationalist. I feel like every time, I can do a better job about bearing my testimony to them or being more forward about our message if that makes sense. I'm not trying to force my religion on anyone, because people have agency. But, I really want all people to know of this gospel and get His message across to them, plant as many seeds as I can. Not gonna lie, many people here are pretty set on their ways, but I love them and want to keep trying! We also got bikes!!! I actually really wanted to have a biking mission! Another tender mercy!!! There have been so many tender mercies on my mission!!! This mission is not supposed to be about me, but I have definitely been taken care of. We got to have a few meetings and meet some of the members. The members here are awesome and super nice! When we got back to the apartment, I unpacked the rest of my stuff and slept in one of the most comfortable beds ever!
Friday, we really got to meet the people of Boise. We have been very spiritual during the whole day. I really like it. I feel it prepares us for anything we have yet to face! We went door to door most of our time outside. We tried to give out as many temple cards as possible! we got some interesting responses, but a few people seemed interested! We are going to make sure we check up on the few that were interested. We also got to eat dinner at the Madellas, super sweet family! They are a Brazilian family! No, I did not speak a lot of portuguese with the parents, but I did a little bit with the little kids. I said one thing to their oldest daughter who was super young, and then she looked at me with wide eyes and an open smile cheek to cheek. It was super funny. I could only say missionary vocabulary though, so I couldnt really say that much to her, but it was awesome! We later biked to the ward mission leaders home and had an awesome conversation with him about the ward and some things we could do. One thing I forgot to mention, we have had half an hour to study portuguese. Elder Clark and I study together along with another elder in the same mission as us over the phone.
Saturday was the first day of General conference. We went to a member's home and watched the session. The dad was a recent convert and their family was all going to be sealed together in the temple very soon! So exciting! Their grandma was there too. She was a nonmember, but we were able to give her a quick thought and watch general conference with her. They all seemed super nice. We watched the next session at a bishop's house from another ward, the ward Elder Clark and Elder Carlsen cover. Their family was super nice and we really enjoyed conference together. there is so much in conference that I learned and really enjoyed. We were then able to go to priesthood session with another member. He was super nice, and he served in Germany! We later met a brother at priesthood who was one of the first missionaries to serve in Portugal!! He told me a little about the mission, and as he left, we said some portuguese to each other. It was so awesome!
Sunday, we watched a morning conference with the Tucker family. They were so nice, and their kids were super funny! We then went to another member's house for the next session of conference, the Scagens. They were super nice. Yes, we made pizzas at their house! They had a pizza oven inside their house!!! they were delicious! We went back to the apartment. The gluten finally hit! BAD!!! that pizza and the dessert I ate that morning was it for me! haha, I felt good about going gluten free after that, so now I'm back to gluten free. We then got a text from a woman named Azita saying she needed us to pray with her. I was super excited and felt super good about going out to meet her! She met outside with us since there was not a male there. She talked a lot about some things she was dealing with. We tried our best to listen to her and make sure she knew God's love for her. She believed that the missionaries were so pure and that God would listen to their prayers for her. She was so sweet. We offered to give her a blessing, but she just wanted us to pray with her. She had me pray for her. I felt the spirit super strong and God's love for her. I felt prompted to tell her that she should read the scriptures and that that is how her prayers would be answered. We left and went to our next appointment. Elder Dejiuli told me that she had actually been struggling with reading her scriptures. Hopefully, that was what she needed to hear. We then visited the Hendricks home. They were super nice! Sister Hendricks was not a member, but brother Hendricks was. They offered us curry, gluten free I might add, and it was delicious! Another tender mercy! We invited sister Hendricks to join us, but she didnt want to. We'll keep trying in the future. He was super nice and loved spiritual thoughts! We left him with a message.
That's all I have time for. Love all the letters! dont have tie to respnd to them, wish I did!
Love,
Elder Barton
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