What up family! Here is my update for the week.
Well on Monday, Elder Hill and I went to a funeral. I said the opening prayer and Elder Hill gave a talk about the Plan of Happiness, but the funny thing is, this wasn't a funeral for a church member. Everyone at the funeral was Catholic, so that was interesting. Then we had dinner with the Valenciano's (they are Hawaiian) and we just had a blast. After that, we had FHE with the Tuimaseve's (they are Samoan) and that was so much fun too. The father is a inactive member because he doesn't feel like he should come to church since he drinks, but the thing is, he has a super strong testimony about the gospel and the church so he will come around in time. Also I wish I could speak Samoan because that language is so sweet! So Monday was a great day since we partied with Polynesians.
Tuesday we tracted all day. Then on Wednesday we had interviews with President Hansen and he and I had a good meeting. It was so good to be back in the mission having interviews. Well we talked and he hinted at some things about what he wants me to do to be prepared for leadership. He hinted at me at being a trainer but we will see what happens there. The rest of the day we tracted and we ran into a 14 year old kid named Nick Nixon who actually was attending another ward then moved here. He just finished reading the Book of Mormon for the first time and loved it, and turns out he isn't a member! So we got his info and we will try and visit with him. Then that night we were driving and our bike rack broke! So our bikes are stranded at a member's house now.
On Thursday Elder Hill and I walked to our bikes since our car is out of miles and turns out Elder Hill's bike has a flat and we have nothing to fix that so the rest of this day and the week we walked everywhere. We spend the rest of the day tracting.
On Friday we were tracting and we walked into a man named Keith who basically is living the life of a LDS member, but he isn't. He was super nice and loved everything we told him about the church. His wife then came out and loved how we are out trying to bring people unto Christ and she even did a little dance for us haha and they gave us this free organic pomegranate french soda which was delicious. We got their info and will try to contact them again. Then we had a lesson with Juan, our only progressing investigator, which is OK because he is super solid and it's always a great lesson when we are over there. We had 2 members there also, so it was fun.
On Saturday we walked and tracted the day and went to a baptism that night for the Copperfield Elders so it was so cool to see someone change their life and join the church, that is always special.
At church on Sunday we had testimony meeting since next week is Stake Conference and I loved all the youth who bore their testimonies. They have the spirit so strong, especially Taylor Tuimaseve, who talked about his dad being inactive but having a strong testimony of the church and how he loves him, it was very touching. Elder Hill and I had a super spiritual experience while tracting. We knocked on this door and a lady answered, she is in her 30's and we told her that we are sharing a special message about how our family's can be together forever and how we want to share this message with her. She started crying like a baby saying that this is crazy because her aunt is dying and before we knocked on the door, she was praying and then we showed up on her door step. This lady's name is Ashley and she is married and has 2 kids (so our prayers on finding families are being answered). Ashley told us she was just talking to her husband about how she wants to go back to church, but didn't know which church to go to. So that was an awesome miracle. After we left there, Elder Hill and I immediately offered a prayer, giving thanks for being able to find Ashley.
So that's all I have. Oh also, if your wondering about Rhonda, I didn't really explain her deal. Well she was stealing money from the member of the church she was staying with and took off, so she isn't getting baptized.
I love ya Barton family you better represent the name! And y'all better have made your www.mormon.org profiles!
Love, Elder Barton
