Email from 9/15/14

Hey Dad,

 

This week we only got 15 lessons but we both felt a lot better about it than the week when we got 31. A lot of it I think has to do with Brandon and the quality of lessons we have had with him. 

We were able to have him in a lot of members home this week and we have another set up for tonight. On Tuesday we were able to go to the Wasco's with him and we talked about the Ten Commandments and following the prophet and we watched a Mormon message called "Dare To Stand Alone" where President Monson talks about his experience with the Navy, Brandon loved it especially since he's in the Navy. 

Wednesday we met with Chris S. again and he told us that he wants to meet with us more but he wants to go to Catholic Church because it's less commitment to live. Elder Cooley and I were just like, "really?" At least he's honest but I can't believe he wants to just go to there because he doesn't have to give up certain aspects of his life style. It's really frustrating but we're doing our part the best we know how and that's all we can do. 

Wednesday night though we were able to meet with Brandon at another members house and we taught the Law of Chastity and Elder Cooley being the home schooled kid from Rexburg was just funny seeing him teach it haha. 

Thursday another member invited us over to teach Brandon so we went over the Word of Wisdom. He already knew it because he read a lot on Mormon.org and he loves it. 

Friday we had a conference with Elder Anderson in the Seventy it was great and I took plenty of notes. I loved it:) I would talk more about it in detail but I don't have much time sorry:/ 

Sunday we had another lesson with Brandon at the Wasco's and he helped teach! It was really cool we are going to bring him teaching with us:) I'm very excited for his baptism it is this Sunday!

Well I gotta go but I hope you are doing well

Love,

Elder Barker

Email from 9/8/14

Hey Dad,

So first to answer your questions: no I did not get the package, did she send it to the new one? We are entering week 4 of the transfer out of 6 and my comp is going home this transfer so I will most likely stay for another one. I'm glad Elder Nathan Mason is loving Idaho.  What's Nate's feelings towards a mission?

Well this weeks focus was pretty much Brandon. He's amazing still he was a very active Catholic  went every Sunday but he said it just always felt empty as if Christ wasn't alive in that church but when he came to Sunday he said it felt full of the Spirit. This Sunday in fast and testimony meeting he got up and bore his testimony and everyone thought he was a member. He has no doubt that the Book of Mormon is true and because he knows the Book of Mormon is true he knows that Joseph Smith is a prophet and because he knows that he knows this is the true church of God. It was great to see! He is getting baptized on the 21st and I'm very excited! 

I hope you're feeling better Dad. I miss you guys and the house looks great! 

Email from 9/2/14

Hey Dad,

So my P-Day got moved to Tuesday because of Labor Day so that's why I'm emailing today. Also I lost my bus pass running to catch a trolley so I had to buy a week pass on my home card so that's why there's the $24 missing on my account. There might be a month pass that the office has extra so hopefully I don't have to buy anything more. I'm glad to hear that you are all moved in and that you had a lot of people help out. If you could sometime send me some pictures of the house other than the backyard is like to see what it looks like. Are you and Nate going to put a hoop up in the front?

This last week was definitely great because of the close of it! On Tuesday though we moved into our new place at 2130 E Tucker St, Philadelphia, PA 19125. It took up a good portion of the day but since we didn't have a fridge yet we had to leave the food in the old place in that fridge. We lived on pancakes so that wasn't too bad. The location is much better and the apartment could almost be a starter home, actually it is bigger than the duplex Amber and Steve were in awhile back. It has central air and upstairs has nice carpet it's great! Plus there's a washer and dryer but the washer doesn't drain that well and the dryer doesn't heat up much. So I was up all night waiting for my bedding to dry because it never got hot in the dryer.

Friday we got a referral so we stopped by and he was waiting outside for us and told us that missionaries gave him a Book of Mormon a year ago and he read the 1st book of Nephi and now he wants to be baptized. Since then he has come to football with us, to church and the baptism afterwards, to the Labor Day activity and we are meeting with him tomorrow as well. He even said he wants to serve a mission but he's in the navy and wouldn't get out til he's 28. We set him a baptismal date for September 21! He is really solid and already wants to pay his tithing and everything!

I'm excited to teach him!

Well I really hope everything goes well with everything

Love,

Elder Barker