Week 22: January 15, 2018

Hey hey there good lookin family!!!!

This week was super awesome!!! Elder Barrios literally talk about every day how the mission teaches you soooo much!!! 

This week a few pretty interesting things happened. Elder Barrios and I are really clicking together and starting to teach a lot more people! We were walking down the street one morning to go teach someone, this person was actually a false reference I got from another guy, but this person seemed to be interested and we were walking down to go visit him at the time we scheduled. The whole time, I remembered what Elder Barrios said about thinking about my purpose. I did that the whole way down and thought about why I was here, why I wanted to be here. We taught him and he was super chill. When I was teaching, literally, words just came to my mouth! It was super amazing! Afterwards, Elder Barrios told me that that was one of the best lessons we have taught together and one of teh best he has heard from me. I knew it wasnt me, I just made the spirit more prevelant in the lesson. we cant teach without the spirit! That is one huge thing I have learned here. The spirit is so critical! The Spirit literally does so much for me too. When I dont feel the spirit as strong, things noticeably seem to get more complicated and everything seems harder. Ive been trying to think about my purpose a lot more throughout the day and I have seen many miracles from it.

Also, one day, we were walking down to go teach someone and saw a lady sitting down at a bus stop. My companion immediatly went to go talk to her about the church. There were two other super nicely dressed gentlemen that came to the bus stop too with folders in their hands and fancy umbrellas hanging on their arms. I went up and talked to them, "Do you all believe in God?" They said yes. Little did I know, they were Jehova´s Witnesses. Id heard about them before, but never talked to any until that moment. Then Elder Barrios showed up and they asked where we were from. Elder Barrios said, "the Church of Jesus Christ." They asked another time and Elder Barrios lifted his tag with his fingers and said again, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." Then they asked to see our Bible. By this time, I started thinking they were Jehova´s Witnesses, but I still wasnt sure. Elder Barrios pulled out an old Holy Bible and showed it to them. The man studied it a while and looked a little confused. Then, Elder Barrios and I testified of the Book of Mormon and how the Bible testifies of the Book of Mormon. I said how we could show them where in the Bible it testifies of the Book of Mormon. They said no. We tried to leave them a card with our contact info but they would not accept it. We talked after and we were debating whether or not they were Jehova´s Witnesses. Elder Barrios and I are pretty sure though. Ill say one thing, I did not like that. We didnt do this, but I hate Bible bashing. The spirit is not there. They seemed a little contentious, but we just testified and left. Also, after, no one wins. If you feel like you won, you get prideful, if you feel like you lost, you doubt, if you contest, the spirit isnt there.

We have some amazing members in our ward!!!! We went to a member´s home, the Santos family, and ate like kings!!! They seriously fed us so much!!!!! I took some good pics of the food, hehe!! Elder Barrios and I got dropped off by the member by some people we needed to visit, and we literally walked in pain because we were so full. It was the best feeling ever!

I cant believe Chandler got married!!!! That is so crazy!!! He´s such a stud!!! Looks and sounds like you all partied hard at Chandler´s wedding!!! I really hope Uncle Dave feels better and recovers fast! Sounds like some crazy stuff is happening to the Woodward family, but they are awesome and love them tons!!!! I´ll keep them in my prayers!!! Carter, Ellie, and Chloe all sound like rockstars!!! Love the Portugal Clock dad got from Ellie!!!!

Love you all so much!!!!

Elder Barton