Week 50: July 30, 2018 - Happier person, better servant...Mission

Bom dia alegria!!!!

Hows it goin fam???

You all sound like you are doing super well in your emails!!!!

This week was super awesome!!! We got to teach some new people here in the Azores. The people here are so open and super nice! They are just those types of people that the more you get to know them, the warmer they are to you. 

We have been visiting lots of members. Here we are working a lot to strengthen the members and find people to teach through them. There are tons of less actives here. Its actually super awesome to work with them. I feel like it is a ton easier to know what to say to them. They already know a bunch, so we don't have to start from the beginning. We are literally just reminding them what they already know. 

I feel like there are more opportunities to testify which is my favorite part of teaching because the spirit is so much stronger. People here love it when you try to get to know them. The other day, we passed by this member who seemed very quite and like he didn't really want to talk, but after talking to him a bit, he was the complete opposite and totally open to us! 

We have also had the opportunity to give a ton of blessings. Elder Fogg is such a great companion and such a great missionary! The spirit is always so strong when we give blessings. At church, I got to give a talk on tithing. I was super excited for the opportunity I had to be able to speak to the branch. I felt like it went well. During the first talk in sacrament, one of the members came in late, she is just returning back to church, and she brought her non member husband into church with her!!!! Super exciting!!!! We are planning on doing a family night with her and her family. She lived in a neighborhood where basically everyone there is related in some way or another. We will talk to people and ask them if they are related to the members we know there. They will usually go off saying how they are their mother was the aunt of their cousins daughter who had a sister who was her uncle's cousin. I always get lost after the first two familiar relationships. But, they are all so awesome! Its is so neat to see the people's willingness to repent and do whats right. 

We are talking to this one less active who has started quitting drugs and smoking. He is so nice to us and so willing to change his life. One thing I have learned about the atonement is that if we really believe in it, then we believe that anyone can change. 

Not gonna lie, this week, I have been super tired! hahaha!!! I'm learning a lot to depend on the spirit and on God's strength. When I have the right attitude, I always feel a spiritual boost of energy. I feel like God is teaching me a lot right now about having the right attitude and being a man, being self-sufficient and willing to make sacrifices. It has made me a much happier person and much more willing to serve the Lord. 

I love you all so much!!!! I am eating super well and super safe!!!! I hope you all just have the best week ever!!! Best family ever!!!!!

Love,

Elder Barton