Week 61: October 15, 2018 - Capable Through Confidence In God

Dear Family,

First off ....

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love you to pieces!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Second off...

This week was pretty full, not gonna lie. We had tons of traveling! We left on Monday to go to Lisbon and stayed there the night with the elders from the mission office. We also got to see an elder in the ward there open his mission call. He was called to the Montevideo Uruguay Mission!!!! I told him how that was where Dad served. It was pretty cool.

The next morning, Elder Barrios, Elder Lewis, and I went in Elder Lewis´ new mission vehicle for the new area he was serving in and we went to see the temple being built in Sacavém. I was so excited to see the temple! I absolutely loved it! I felt so comfortable there and naturally happy. It's pretty neat to me that I started my mission opening the Meridian Temple in Boise and will end my mission with the temple in Lisbon.

I met my new companion Elder Ray! He is so awesome and so full of energy!!! I'm so excited to serve with him. Our first day when we got back to the island, Elder Ray was getting so excited about everything! He is super happy to be here! We went shopping too for the week, and we ran into some members from Virginia, Andrew and Ashley. They said hi to us and then offered to pay for our groceries!!! We said they didn't have to do that, but they were awesome and payed for them anyway!!! Seriously such a huge blessing!!! They were so nice to us!!!!

Elder Ray and I found this one lady named Zélia, whom we had been trying to talk to for a little while. She let us in, and it was awesome!!! I just felt so comfortable and happy. Elder Ray was awesome and the spirit was there. We taught her and her daughter Ana. Elder Ray was having miracles too!!! He said how he was understanding everyone here so well and how that had never happened in other areas!!! God is making us so much more capable than we actually are. Such a huge blessing!!! I've noticed how just trusting in the Lord and in what He has asked us to do makes us so much more capable and comfortable in uncomfortable situations.

We also had an awesome Friday!!! Elder Ray and I planned for the week and had a companionship inventory, which is basically where we talk to each other about how we are doing and what we can do better. Elder Ray was super super nice and told me how the moments we were together, he noticed I did the best and was most creative when I was comfortable and happy. I thought that was interesting, and I noticed my most successful moments where those moments that I was most happy and confident in the Lord. Elder Ray is so awesome and so happy and upbeat!!! he was telling me how happiness is a choice and how when we choose to be happy, we are also choosing to make other people happy because of our positive influence. I liked that and thought it was so true!!!

This Sunday, we said goodbye to a sister in our branch, Sister Rosa, leaving to England to be with her family. It was super sad. We had a little surprise party after where everyone brought food and desserts. It was awesome!!! Elder Ray and I made crepes. The members liked it. Later that day, we went to teach this one family that has a son, Naruto, who is less active. We taught the whole family! I studied a lot of chapter 10 in PMG recently and how I could teach better. I really learned a lot form the listen section. Instead of thinking what I was going to say, I listened, and the spirit guided the whole lesson!!! It was so incredible!!! Elder Ray and I were made so much more capable by the spirit. We invited them to be baptized, and Vera, the mom, accepted. Naruto said he would go back to church too. We will do our best to help them and we will pray for them non-stop!!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful week!!!! Love you all tons!!!! Hope you have a wonderful bday Mom!!!!

Love,

Elder Barton