WEEKLY REPORT!!!!! 12/7/15

Helllllooo everybody!!!!!! 

Coming atcha live from the Christmas season here in lands of South America!!!!! Its cool to see everyone getting all ready for Christmas haha even seeing the Christmas lights in the favelas!!! These people got the Christmas SPIRIT!!!!

I am starting to get excited for Christmas and to be able to teach others about the true meaning. It is truly such an awesome time to preach the gospel, when the hearts of the people are more receptive and anxious to learn about Christ and who he was. This week we had a Multi zone conference where we received many great trainings from President Del Guerso, Sister Del Guerso, the assistants and many other great missionaries. Everything was focused on our savior and how we can teach others about his life in this Christmas season. I was able to learn so much in this zone conference. Our president taught us a lot about repentance and how we should focus more on repentance as missionaries. First in our own lives, and then to teach others the importance of repentance through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. A lot of people don't even know what it is, or know that they are sinning. As missionaries it is our responsibility to "preach repentance to all nations" and to help these people understand that there is hope, that "a savior was born" for each and every one of us. The church has released two new videos for this Christmas season exactly about this. They are such awesome videos that really bring the spirit and help people to understand the real importance of this Christmas season. 

I am so grateful to know that our Savior Jesus Christ was born and continues to live. I bear my testimony that he truly does live and "without a savior" this world would be an absolute mess with no hope. I want to invite each and every one of you to share these videos with others during this Christmas season to help them feel what we feel as members of the saviors church.

https://www.mormon.org/christmas

I love you all soooo much and thanks for everything!!

Elder Barton

NATAL BRANCO!!!!!! 11/30/15

Heeeyyyy there everybody!!! HAPPYYYY THANKSGIVING!!!! 

This week, wasn't able to eat a good ol turkey, watch football, and mash taters but sure was an awesome week!!! We were successfully able to baptize Marcos and Josefa and it was truly so awesome!!! The Lord truly blessed us with these people and I am so grateful!! Marcos is the 10 year old boy that I talked about last week, when we found his mom two weeks ago doing contacts. This kid is such a stud, he has such a strong desire to do what is right and is such a huge example for his family! Elder Iverson my district leader and I went to their house on Friday to do his baptismal interview and had a super cool experience. At the end of the interview Elder Iverson said he asked Marcos why he wants to be baptized and said that Marcos looked right in his eyes and said "because I want to leave this place and have a better life." Elder Iverson said that he got goosebumps and truly felt that this kid has a testimony and is only 10 years old! He is such a stud, and his family is also so awesome. Elder Ferreira and I really want to help this family and help Rosana get baptized as well. She wants it so bad, we just need to work with her a little more because she has some hard stuff going on but is really progressing with stopping smoking! I know that it will all work out and that Heavenly Father will help us! 

Also with Josefa it was such an incredible experience!!! Unfortunately we weren't able to watch her baptism that was in another chapel hahaha because to make a long story short Elder Ferreira and I got a little lost taking the wrong bus and we didn't get there on time. I was super bummed, but we were able tyo participate in the Confirmation which was awesome. It was incredible seeing her being united with her kids now whom are members and seeing them so happy!!! It was an awesome thing! 

Heavenly Father has been blessing us so much with these incredible people, and I'm so grateful to be participating in his work. We are preparing an event with the whole Osasco stake to baptize 76 people on the 19th of December and do it all in one baptismal service!!! a "WHITE CHRISTMAS" this was the idea of Elder Rodrigues and Elder Frost our beloved Zone Leaders and I truly believe it was inspired!! we are fasting and praying to be able to find these people to be baptized on this day... I know that the Lord will bless us. I am so grateful for this week i have had, and for everything I am learning here in Baronesa. This area is helping to be the best missionary I can and I am truly learning so much with my leaders and companion! So happy, and grateful for this gospel! I love you all so much and hope you have an awesome week also!!!!!!

FALOU!

Elder Barton

This week photos...