Week 47: July 9, 2018 - Mankind is my business

Dearest Family,

Hey hey!!! Beach trip sounded so awesome!!! Loved the american gear!!!! We had a pretty fantastic 4th of July ourselves. we went to the house of the couple missionaries in our ward. They are so nice! They made us tons of Mexican american food and listened to american symphony music. It awesome!!! hahaha!!! We had such a great week!!! we taught tons of lessons this week!!! I talked a lot about it on the recording I made, so I think I wont talk too much about it. I feel sort of repetitive when I do that:/ but, all good! haha! Elder Gusmão and I are becoming super good friends! We have just really been bonding the last few days. I had a life changing moment the other day. I was listening to one of the talks on the mp3 player you sent me, and I remember a part that the speaker said that struck me. He said how our relationships with others will continue on in their same social order after this life!  That really struck me and made me think differently about my relationships with others. It made me think how other people are so much more important than any other thing in this world. I remember a quote mom said to me a lot that was from Charles Dickens when he said how "mankind was my business." It made me enjoy the times I had with people more and think more about helping others. This week, Ive also been trying super hard to eat super healthy!!! I got stuff to make salad!!! hahaha! Ya, that was my lunch for a few days! I actually love it; I always feel like it gives me a super boost throughout the day! One day, all the other elders wanted to go to McDonalds to eat. I was totally down to go with them there, I just didn't want to eat McDonalds. I had stuff to make salad in the fridge in our house. McDonalds has gluten free stuff, but I didn't want to spend money and I usually didn't feel super good after eating there, so, I told them that I would go with them, but that I would bring a salad to eat there. Elder Egbert looked at me and basically said I had 2 minutes to make a salad. I looked back and forth at him and our kitchen. I bolted!!!! hahaha!!! after 2 minutes, we were out the door, I had a big tupperware box of salad, and we walked to McDonalds. Yup, I sat down in the mist of burgers and fries and soda and ate a delicious, giant salad. It was awesome!!! I haven't heard much from President and Sister Fillmore. They seem awesome in their letters and from what I am hearing from other elders. we will have a zone conference with them this week and interviews. Should be awesome. hope you all have such a great week!!! Happy early birthday Chloe!!! Love ya tons!!!! Best family ever!!!!!

Love,

Elder Barton