Week 63: October 29, 2018 - Member Blessings

Hey there family!!!!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!! 

From what I heard, sounds like Dad had an amazing birthday!!! And sounds like you all are doing super well;) 

A few highlights of the week:
We went taught a less active named Tania. We have been visiting her for the last while, and we had an amazing visit with the couple missionaries in our area, Elder and Sister Mann. I loved it when Elder Mann taught her!!! You could just feel the pure love of Christ radiating from him. You could tell he was just following the spirit. It was so awesome!!!! 

I've noticed how in missionary work, I'm never doing anything alone. I always need help and God always puts people in my path. Tania called me Sunday morning saying she would need a ride. She had originally planned to use the bus, but something happened. I told her no problem. We got to church and one of the members, Bernardino, was out in front sweeping some leaves away. We asked him if he could come with us to take someone to church. Without a hesitation, he nodded and took us in his car to Tania. When came to church, she was welcomed with open arms. All the members were so awesome and so loving to her!!!! It was so cool!!!! I seriously love this branch!!! I love these people!!!! 

Bernardino taught us a lesson later in elders quorum and said how if someone couldn't come to church, it would never be because someone couldn't give them a ride. He said how he would always be there and always be willing to help. I thought that was so neat, and I surely saw a shining example of that that Sunday. 

We've also been helping another family: Naruto who is a less active; Fernanda, his girlfriend; Vera, his mom; and Wilson, his younger brother. We are getting really close to them and trying to help them go to church. They said they would, but couldn't this week because Fernanda broke her arm the night before. Opposition is real!!!! We wont give up though. 

Vera's daughter, Jenifer, has special needs and Vera talked to us a lot about it and her struggles. Not just with Jenifer, but also being accepted by her family. It's super sad, but she has a lot of faith in God and that keeps her going. Elder Ray and I have talked a lot about how we can help her. She couldn't go to church this week, but she said she would next week. We are super excited for her to be able to go to church and feel God's love for her. That will be a huge turning point for her. 

The gospel is such a huge blessing in that it gives us an eternal perspective. A member in our branch said in his talk, "I can't promise you that being a member of Christ's church will be an easy life, but I can promise you that it will be much easier to face life." I thought that was super neat. 

Love you all tons!!! Hope you have the greatest week ever!!!!
Happy Halloween and HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!!!!
Love,
Elder Barton