Hello Hello Hello!
For some reason it feels like it’s been forever since I wrote you. I think it’s because I am in a new area and last week was a little slow. There was a lot of information all at once, and I was tired! BUT...I LOVE MARTORELL! It’s so cute! Its little and we walk everywhere. It’s definitely colder than Valencia. I can actually see my breath sometimes! The work is good though. We have a baptism on Friday. His name is Matthew. He is from Nigeria and he is 17 years old. He has the strongest testimony and is trying to teach all his friends about the church right now. He told me that Hermana Porter changed his life. Even though he is not really my investigator, it was so cute to hear him talk about Hermana Porter like he did.
Which brings me to my next topic…Hermana Porter. She is great! She is a lot like me in the fact that she has fun with the missionary work as well as works hard. She has a great relationship with everyone and is always smiling. We have a lot of fun with the members and investigators. Hermana Porter was in my district in the MTC, and she came into the MTC already speaking some Spanish. She was amazed at how far my Spanish has come in the last 6 months though. She said from where I was at in the MTC, she thought she would be way ahead of me, but we are pretty even. She understands better sometimes, and she knows more words, but our teaching and our bearing testimony is very equal. She is a great companion. I know that we are going to see a lot of success in this area together. The Lord is definitely looking out for me right now. (Hermana Porter has been out for the same amount of time as Rachel. 6 months on January 24th. Hermana Porter has been in Martorell since leaving the Madrid MTC < MTC = Missionary Training Center > in September, so she knows the area and people well).
Well as for some information about the area...You were exactly right with the Google search! (I went on Google Earth the other day to see what Rachel's new area looked like. We were able to do the street view and go right to her apartment. Ron noted some landmarks in his email to Rachel and she verified that that was indeed her apartment building we were looking at). The yellow "fire hydrant" is a mailbox for outgoing mail. It’s where I put all the letters I send to you and it is right in front of my piso! The church is to the left and up the road called passeig de Catalunya. It is small, but so cute. There are about 50 active members. Hermana Porter said that in the summer there were as many as 80 people. We have some great investigators already and we found 4 new people last week that we are going to teach this week. I really am excited about the work here! We have another baptism date for the 25th with a man named Godson, but he has to move out of his apartment first. We are praying that everything works out. We are going to work really hard this week to find everyone in Martorell that needs this gospel. There are a lot of less actives and part member families, so we are going to work on that.
Our local congregations are called wards (or branches for smaller congregations). They are organized geographically and members attend a ward or branch near their home. Because in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all the teaching materials are consistent throughout the wards and branches, a person will be studying the same lessons no matter where in the world they attend church. The spiritual leader of each ward is called the bishop (or the branch president for branches). He is a member of the congregation who has been asked to serve as a volunteer in this position. A group of wards forms a stake, and the leader of a stake is a stake president. “Stake” is not a term found in the New Testament, but is taken from Old Testament tent imagery in which the “tent,” or church, is held up by supporting stakes (see Isaiah 54:2).
A ward or a branch is a community in which members develop friendships and help each other. Members try to follow the teachings of an ancient prophet who taught that when we are baptized, we are “willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light” and “willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort” (Book of Mormon, Mosiah 18:8-9). Through service, members lift one another’s burdens and express their love.
There is a woman named Cristina who has a son that is baptized. He is 9 years old. She has been investigating the church for about 7 years now. She just has things she doesn’t want to change in her life. From the minute I met her, I felt different about her. I knew we needed to focus on her. This week we are going to work hard with her and figure out what really is keeping her from being baptized. There is just something in her eye. It is almost like a plea for help. I never have felt what I felt when she was talking to me. I know that Hermana Porter and I can help her. So this week our focus is Matthew, Godson, and Cristina.
Every two weeks the missionaries are in charge of a "Noche de Hogar" (Family Home Evening) for the branch. Last night, we did a reinactment of Lehi´s dream (To read Lehi's dream click on the link: www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/8). We set up an "iron rod" of rope throughout the whole church. We had tempations, like parties, money, and food. We also had a room of darkness. At the end of the rod, there was the tree of life. About 20 people showed up and it was amazing. President Rodriguez of the branch told us that it was the best activity he has seen in a while. He also said that the branch was going to be talking about this activity for years. it was great. There was a woman crying as well. I am definitely going to use it in the future!
Well I bet there are a thousand things I forgot to include, but I can’t think of them right now. Our piso is super cute! I miss all the families of Valencia so much! I think about the Mambos and Rosmery and Manuel all the time. It’s almost like I left my "family" all over again. The good thing about the mission, and the church, is that no mattter where I go I will always have family. I love this gospel and the changes it makes in people’s lives.
Well I love you all and miss you as always. I am so glad to hear you are all doing well! I am doing great and loving life. i don’t have any pictures yet, but i will get some to you soon.
Buenas suerte!
LOVE YOU!
Con Amor,
Hermana Barker
If you have questions about the church or what we believe go to mormon.org and type in your question in the search box for answers. Or you can email me directly and I would be happy to answer your questions. rachel.barker@myldsmail.net
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