Week 65: November 12, 2018

Dear Family,
How are you all doing?!?!?!

There seemed to be a huge theme on confidence this week. I have struggled a lot with that. God has used many of his angels to help me learn and grow and one of the things He wanted me to learn was confidence in the spirit and in me. I'm still learning, but I feel like I am taking footsteps. This week, I felt inspired to talk about baptismal invites in our district council. We came up with three different obstacles that we could face when inviting someone to be baptized and then practiced confronting those obstacles. That day, Elder Ray and I did splits with the elders on the other side of the island to work in their areas and also for me to interview an investigator for the sisters, Donária, and an investigator for the elders, Antônio.

We got to the sister's appointment early. I was with Elder Zamora and he knew the family of Donária, they were members, so we went on in and waited for the sisters and got to know them. Literally the first thing Donária said was that she wasn't ready and that she wanted to wait another while to be baptized. The first thought in my head, "oh no." The sisters arrived and she told them. The sisters had practiced earlier in our district council how to help someone who doesn't feel prepared for baptism. They handled it so perfectly and taught with a super powerful spirit! I just felt so much peace in that room. We left without doing the interview, but I told the sisters how awesome they did and that it wasn't their fault. After all we can do, people still have their agency. The spirit was seriously so strong in that room.

I then went with the rest of the elders to their investigator Antônio. He seemed like a super smart person! He already knew a ton about the church. When they started talking to him, he sort of backed off a bit and was showing doubts about some of the questions. He was really questioning a few other things about his testimony. The elders did a practice sort of on the lines of that too in our district council. They handled it super well too. He'll be interviewed later this week:) I feel like God was trying to tell me to have more confidence in what He prompts me to do. I feel that that goes out to everyone. We shouldn't be afraid or doubting with the impressions we get from the spirit.

We later did some visits with a member named Bernardino and the couple missionaries on the island with us, Elder and Sister Mann. We did a split. Elder Ray went with Elder and Sister Mann, and I went with Bernardino. It was so awesome!!! It felt super weird going just me with Bernardino, but it was something I will never forget! We visited a few less active families together. Before each visit, we said a prayer. Bernardino was so inspired with the thoughts he shared and he talked a lot about the plan of salvation. I felt the spirit so strong with him! He told me the importance of gaining people's trust before inviting them to do something. I really liked that. I feel as we bare testimony more often and tell from our own experiences how the gospel has blessed us, people will recognize us as God's servants and will trust in us.

I love you all sooooooo much! I hope you have a wonderful week!!!!
Love always,
Elder Barton