Ballrad contacting people after church on Sunday.
Why oh why can I not own one of these to drive on the BYU campus? I could probably fit four friends in the back. Maybe more.
This is Ariana. <3 Sister Ribero and I found her and she was baptized this week along with 2 others that I helped teach!!!
I'm so very happy!
Letter Home: There's More To Life Then Boats
So this week was made brighter when I found out that 3 people
that I have helped teach or found have been baptized. How awesome is that! (I only got the picture of one of them) I
know that no effort is without purpose and that some people just take a little
more time to accept the gospel. I love this message that we have and we are
trying our best to share it with the most people possible.
So Ballrad had an awesome week, we did everything from Mom
Dancing to writing songs to staying up really late talking (oops.) It is
literally so hot here. Sometimes I think I am melting. Seriously, our house is
like an oven. At night I just lay there without blankets and try to focus on
the fact that I am not dying from heat. But it’s okay, at least it chilled off
a little bit today. We have wonderful plans to go bicycle riding today, so that
should be fun.
We took Shadi, our awesome friend, to an activity of the ward in
Oeiras. We found out (unfortunately) that she lives in the area of another
ward, so she won’t be frequenting Cascais. Luckily, though, our district leader
Elder Smith decided that we can continue to teach her since she is a 16 year old
young lady. But I really feel like it was the right decision, she really needs
the Sisters. Especially now that she is going through some hard times. The
activity was games with water balloons, and at one point she was going crazy,
chucking balloons at everyone. Haha She is a feisty little one. I love her so
much. We are excited for her baptism on the 30th.
I had the cool experience to go to Setubal and do a division
with the Sisters there. It was so fun to see my baby, Sister Bravender, again.
She is a total soldier and I loved seeing her. She reminded me to keep rocking
out to Enya. Can do, Sister B!
The mission is so awesome and fun, and literally so physically
exhausting. I think my body knows that the end is coming up because my energy
is close to zero. But I know I can finish these last few weeks and THEN I can
sleep haha.
Of all the random things I have accumulated on my mission (among
them trinkets and trophies and thing a ma bobs), the most important thing I
have accumulated is my testimony. Thanks guys, I will be majoring in cheesy
declarations! But it really is true. I know this church is true. I know that
the scriptures make a difference in our lives. When people decide to leave the
church, the first thing they lack to do is daily scripture study and prayers.
Everyone can do better. I feel it, when I am with doubt, I can read the words
and my heart is softened and the truth wiggles its way in there. I know that
Jesus Christ is my Savior. He is the best big brother ever. I am so glad that I
can trust in Him and His plan. The other day in the grocery store, we contacted
an American man. He was a self-claimed Atheist. He said "There is NOTHING
out there. I believe in none of it." and I said "So, would you mind
if I asked you what the meaning of life is?" (That is a good question for
all Atheists) and he said "The meaning of life is being on my boat and
going to the beach with my wife. That’s it." there wasn’t anything we
could have said to change his mind, but hearing that just made me really sad.
He is so blind to the beautiful things that the true meaning of this life
really has! I respect that he has his own beliefs and I hope that he really can
find happiness on his boat. As for me, I pursue a happiness that comes from
family, making bonds that will outlast death, and trusting that my Father in
Heaven didn’t intend for us to spend our lives on boats, but engaged in good
causes that will take us to the Celestial Mansion above.
I love you all! I hope you have a wonderful week! ONE MORE EMAIL
TO GO!! Haha I will have to ponder and pray to make it a good one.
Loves
Sister
Barron
