Hello Fam, How are you doing today. I'm doing pretty fine myself. Thanks for asking.

This week has been pretty good. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Mom. I think I just answered all your questions in the first paragraph. I am pretty sure I have calculated that right... gained 20 pounds.


So I have noticed that my sentence structure has changed a little. Sometimes when I speak in English or write in English I move some words around in a weird way. Like I was writing 'service project' but in Português you'd say project of service (projeto de serviço). So every once in a while... it's crazy.

Another thing I've noticed is I love English. Sometimes when talking to a Brasilian I might slip into English without noticing. I don't know how to split the two languages right now. That is something I'm working on. It's pretty hard tough. Sometime the words come easier in Português and other times in English.

(These are questions that I asked Matt to answer. I've noticed he tells more in his letters if I ask questions. These are questions that we ask the missionaries and we ask them to ask themselves after each teaching visit.)

1. Tell me what evidence you have that your faith is increasing

I feel more inclined to work right now. I'm pretty sure that when your faith increases you want to do missionary work more. We strive to work hard, fast, pray and sacrifice our time for this work.
In Brasil there was a giant natural disaster in (man I can't remember the name right now, but it's pretty big.) Many are dead, they are looking for the missing and there are many who have lost everything. So... today we have a service project. Today was P-Day. We sacrificed our P-Day to serve. Basically all the "P-Day" I'm getting right now is writting e-mails to the president and home. But it definately feels so good. We are all so tired but honestly... I don't feel tired. I'm just ready to go work today. We put together kits and things to send and it was a giant effort. We had 2 zones of missionaires there, about 40 missionaries helping in this service project. It was really amazing. Service is really a good way to feel closer to the spirit.

2. Tell me what evidence you have that the faith of your investigators is increasing.

We had an investigator that was just golden from the start. She has two neices who are members. So we started teaching her and she just asked questions and accepted baptism right in the first lesson. We invite to baptism in the first visit and mark a date in the second. But usually we strive to do both in the first. I really can tell that a mission here is really different than the states because we go through investigators really fast. If they don't accept baptism on the first visit right now, we don't go back. If we do go back it's because we have a really good reason to do so. Like they will go to church or a really good person who is just golden and just needs another lesson to feel the spirit.


3. Tell me what evidence is there that your investigators are keep commitments and repenting.

We see that investigators are keeping commitments and repenting when they come to church and when they say we can come back and teach them. We strive to always help someone even if they don't want anything to do with the church. For example we had an investigator who was just golden. Well he didn't come to church in three weeks so we cut him. But we strived to help him stop drinking and he thanked us for being there and helping him.

4. Tell me what evidence is there that you felt the Holy Ghost this week.

I'd have to say read # 1 again. That was amazing.

5. Tell me the evidence of God’s love for you.

God loves me because I am here. I feel the evidence in how I learn and the things that I do and the miracles that happen here.


I love you all.

Serve

Endure to the End

Signing Out
Elder Barry

P.S. This is Mom Barry. I just went online and found out about the disaster in Brazil. It was a terrible mudslide. Go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/2011/01/110124_outlook_brazil_mudslide.shtml

It has pictures and a story. It's pretty major. Mom Barry


This is my companion today. We were writing emails and he fell asleep. So I just had to snag a picture.



I drew this picture. It says "Bem-Vindo" Which means Welcome. But literally translated it means Well-Coming. And if you shorten Well-Coming by taking off one 'l' and replacing 'ing' with an 'e'. You have Welcome. So that's kinda cool

I thought this looked beautiful. This is outside of a member's house. This place is so beautiful. I love my first área.

This was a P-day we had this transfer. I thought it was funny how they all were sleeping. I can't sleep on P-Days. I don't like to sleep in P-Day. My bed is the empty one. My companion is on the blue bed sheets and the other two are the Zone Leaders.

See you better?

Matt knows he will have to wear glasses sometime in his life. He's trying these on for size.

Elder Barry's little ducks

HELLO!!!!

Wow, another week has already gone by... I don't believe it. I really think I'm going to be home tomorrow... well if 2012 is tomorrow... then I will be.

I just wanted to share something weird that I learned. It's just about how they say good-bye here. I just learned this. In Spanish I think you spell good-bye like this -- Cião -- I thought it would be the same thing here. Man was I wrong. You spell it like this -- Tchou -- It's the only way to get the 'ch' sound in português at the beginning of a word. I think it looks kinda crazy.

Before I move onto my favorite part of the letter I just want to tell you really fast about the week

Segunda-Feira -- This day was just a little normal day.
Terça-Feira -- This is P-Day, it was not normal. The Zone Leaders lost our letters... Or forgot them at the mission office. The was a bummer. But other than that... we made some really really really good noddles. Wow... really really good. I really want the recipe
Quarta-Feira -- We started an english class here. It was pretty cool. Luckly I have a Brasilian who knows English really really well to help me because I don't know how Brasilians learn English.
Quinta-Feira -- I want to tell you about one of my new best friends here. His name is Elder Startup. He's from (I think) Spanish Fork. We did a trade and I got to be with him for about 2 days. Talk about really really fun. We have the same time in the mission so we are going to come home the same time. He's going to be going to UVU and I'm so excited.
Sexta-Feira -- Still in a trade... was awesome
Sabado -- This day was really cool and kinda funny. Saturday night we had an intergration night. It's were we get the investigators and members together and have an activity. Well we had a treasure hunt and it was absolutely awesome... People were running everywhere, I was running everywhere... It was really fun. In my group for the scavenger hunt it was me, the bishop and one other adult and a lot of little kids. The whole night I was being followed by little kids. It was funny. I had my little ducks. It was really fun. I love intergration nights. They are such a good idea for missionaries.
Domingo -- Just church. Then worked like we do everyday. I really do love working. It started to make me wonder how missions were for Dave, Mark, Vaughn, Jason and Brian. What did they do different than me and how have the missions changed.

I just have a little encouragement for my wonderful beautiful family the lives about 15 minutes or less from the temple. GO. It's so important. I really have been feeling a fault without a temple here. To think that I lived 15 minutes from the temple and didn't go and take opportunity of it. It's so important. If you don't have time... make time. It's just that simple.

Hey mom. Do you know an Elder Michael Johnson? I heard he is in your mission from my first companion here in Brasilia. My trainer, Elder Kirkham, just wanted for you to have a connection to here.

I want to share something I learned today in my study. It's simple and clear. IT IS A COMMANDMENT TO SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY. Check it out. D&C 84:61 and I think the other is in D&C 100:5ish. Check it out. The Lord wants us to bear our testimonies and let others feel the spirit. It really is important especially in these last days. Bear your testimony and help others come unto Christ. ]

Matt Fat? Just taller!

Hello again, it's me... way down here... in Brasil. Still alive.

Wow, it feels like this email comes every week. It's amazing. It's cool.

So Brasil is amazing still. I love it here. Especially in my first area. I've been here for about 3 months and will stay here for at least 4 and a half months. It's really cool. I've experienced so much in these three months that I couldn't learn anywhere else. No where else has the things of a mission. The mission really has been difficult. But it's totally worth everything that happens. I love it here.

Funny experience... Ok maybe not all that funny. But I think it is. I've gained weight... Yes... I can hardly believe it myself. I have gained weight. I've gained almost 20 pounds on the mission. I don't know where it is going... But I now have about 180 pounds instead of 160. It doesn't make and sense to me either. I walk all day, sweating like a pig (or like dad (I've realized I'm more like dad then I thought)) I literally only have been eating lunch. Breakfast is a tiny snack and so is dinner. Lunch in the big meal... and still... I've gained weight... All the logic in my head has exploded. I don't know what is going on here. I was scared of coming on the mission and losing weight and the opposite has happened. Also, I think I'm still growing... How do I know you might ask... my pants. I'm pretty sure they were longer when I got here... Also they are getting kinda tight... so I'm growing in all directions. Don't be surprised if I come home and my pants are at my knee caps and I had to sew my pants together because they ripped around the waist.

Moving on.

So, today I studied... Big surprise :D ok not really big surprise... I study everyday but today was really really good. I was studying about Ammon and King Lamoni. But my favorite character in this story isn't mentioned as much. My new favorite character is the wife of King Lamoni. She doesn't even have a name but she is my new favorite especially at one point in the story... wait rewind. So I really like faith. The conscepte of fé is really interesting how it works, stories about it, things like that. I've really learned a lot about fé and how it works by studying it. So with that intro I want to say that the wife of King Lamoni is my favorite because she has sooooo much fé. She believes the words of Ammon with not very much proof only the testimony of the servants but she believes. It kind of reminds me of the people here in Brasil. I hear so many stories about the people in the ward and how they came to know the church and it's amazing. The Lamanite people (Brasilian People) have so much fé. I really don't know how they do it and how some of them continued in the church. Some of them had really really hard lives. If I had had the same expeiences deles (sorry that means "of them" or that they had) I don't know how I would of taken it. They are just so strong.

I really don't have a lot more to write right now. I can't think of what to write.

Eu sei que esta Igreja é verdadeira e que os missionarios estão fazendo o trabalho do Senhor. Eu sei que nós possamos aprender maís todo dia. Eu amo a missão. Esta expereincia é bom de maís.

Com Amore
Endure to the End

Signing Out
Elder Barry

Hello Familia,
Wow, It's been a while. It's been a while since I have been in the Good ol' USA. But I love this area. The Good ol' Brazil is amazing and I love this place. The city that I'm in is the same one I've been in since I arrived. It is Brasilia. But it only feels like I've been here for 2 months. 1 and a half with my first companion and a half with the second companion. But in reality. It was 1 and a half with my first and about 2 months with the second. We really work hard everyday and just go at it. He doesn't complain and neither do I so we just go at it. The work is fun and hard. But right now hard is fun.
So I want to say that I love the piano music that I got for Christmas. I'm pretty sure it was the most exciting thing I got. Thank you so much.
Thanks for the questions. I usually don't know what to write to I just start writing and usually weird things come out. So the questions help to stay focused.
1. What was the most spiritual experience you had last week?
This last week I had an experience to do a split with some members in our ward and wow, that was amazing. I was really scared because my Portuguese isn't amazing but I knew that if I just went for it and opened my mouth that the Lord would fill it. Well, we went to a less active and recent convert family who has been having troubles coming to church because of the rain and they have started smoking and drinking again. Me and a member went there to leave a message, the first lesson in the Gospel Principles book. I have no clue what I was doing. The member companion at this point said he'll give a prayer and I'll give the message. I was really freaking scared. But I just went at it. When I opened my mouth everything that I needed to say just came out. It just flowed out and they understood and I really feel like it will help them. It was really amazing.
2. Tell us about each of your investigators and the lessons you have taught this week.
We actually don't have many investigators right now because we just cut a whole bunch who weren't progressing. But... My favorite ones to teach are 2 kids, ages 8 and 11, who have been baptized but not confirmed yet. I just love going there because I really do think I'm just a kid in missionary clothes. The last time we were there we helped them with their "Faith in God" award. We set goals and told them how important it was to get this. They are so excited and in 1 week they already have 2 Articles of Faith memorized.
3. Tell us about street contacting and people that you meet on the street.
One thing I learned is street contacting and talking about religion is just common here. People are almost always willing to talk. The only thing we have to do is get the courage to talk. Wait rephrase, all I have to do is get the courage to talk. It's really hard sometimes to talk to people in a language you don't know but I know I can do it. I just need to try.
4. What is the ward like? Is it a branch or a large ward.
Right now I'm in a ward. It was really hard to work with them when I started in this area but now, we have new leadership who is really excited to work. Honestly I'm sure the work here is going to explode. We already have seen a miracle because of the excitement.
5. What did you learn in your personal study this morning. What did you study? Personal study was 1 chapter of the Bible, 2 chapters of D&C and chapter 5 and 6 of Alma. In the Bible I learned that some people really have hard hearts. But we really can't change them and that all we do is invite them to change or to do something. Even with miracles of God some people won't change, like Pharaoh of Egypt. He saw amazing things, but he kept on hardening his heart and it took the death of his son to let the people of Israel go. In D&C I studied sections 3 and 4. I learned that we must repent and be clean to work the Lord's work. Even a prophet of God can sin, and if he can sin, him being a giant man of faith and almost perfectness, how much more do I need to repent? Then in D&C 4 it talks about the field being white. It really is. I really love how it says how we can be qualified for the work. All we need to do is work and be qualified. Then in Alma I learned that we need to have a change of heart to become part of the people of the Lord. So if you put them all together (which I didn't see until just now) we have Pharaoh who didn't change his heart and what happened because he didn't? How we need to repent and be qualified for the work and how we need to change our hearts to become part of the People of God. That is what I studied today.
So I'm learning everyday how to become a better missionary. It's been really fun. I started with memorizing scriptures (thanks Mom and Dad) and I have about 5 memorized in Portuguese. My mission president is really big on planning. So I have planned out of what I'm going to memorize and that things that I'm going to do. Just a little side note that I thought was funny. Our mission president is so big on planning that we have what is called a Trunky Planner. It's a regular planner that missionaries receive on the mission during their last transfer. They basically plan the next six weeks after their mission there. That's how big of a planner our president is. Our president is really famous and rich too... just look up Pizzirani on google and I'm pretty sure you will find him. He just tells us that to make him happy, give him a problem that he can solve. If he can't solve it, he'll invent something that can solve it.
My companion and I have been working on planning better. Literally we try to fill our planner and not have one blank spot in there. We always are going somewhere and trying to do something. It's been really, really good on staying focused on the mission. We also try to always talk about what we can do better or how we can help our district or zone. It's been really really fun.

Enduring to the End
Signing Out Elder Barry

Past pictures

It's been a little crazy here in Florida and I have neglected Matt's blog. The following are pictures he sent in December.

He fell asleep praying. His companions thought it was funny of course. When they woke him up he had been dreaming that he was praying and he was upset that they interrupted his prayer. He fell in love this this car, a mini cooper. It belongs to a member. It's his dream car.


This is his Christmas from the family. Merry Christmas, Elder

Pictures of Sobradinho

This is a picture of Sobradinho 1 at the top of one of the hills. I just want to swat the idea that Brasil is a Jungle. It's really quite normal and not as dangerous as people think. I really do like this city though. It's so beautiful. I really hope I can come back to just visit someday. Like in 2014 when the World Cup happens here in Brasil. I would love to come back and visit. Actually I would love to come back and visit anyday. This is usually how I look at night when we get home. I think it's funny that my legs are hanging off the bed... (Unfortunately I posed for this one too.)
This is our chapel that we go to church every Sunday. It's so beautiful and amazing. It's actually quite old. It's been here for about 30 years I think.
This is me and my companion. Yes, we did pose for this picture.

Merry Christmas

Hi People,

I'm in Brasil

I've been here for almost 5 months

This feels really weird

Time is flying away

Just flying away.

It just feels so strange.

But now I'm starting my third transfer, we started it off with a bang and unfortunately ate at McDonalds. Dang, I think it's strange that the last time I literally ate at McDonalds in the USA was when I was about 6 years old... or something like that. Now, I think I've eaten there at least once every transfer... I still haven't figured out why Brasilians like that place. It doesn't make you feel that good. But the fries did taste pretty good, also they have fruit drinks there, I got pêssego or more commonly called, peach.

So I'm here... in Sobradinho 1... for one more transfer and I'm going to love it. I already know my companion and the area. Everything is chill. I was expecting to leave this transfer because I think when you get too comfortable on the mission, that's when you move. I love this district too. Wow. I really love this place and these Elders here.

I'm sending pictures and I hope they can be put on the blog. I'm just sending them like I always send them. They are of "Christmas" or more commonly called "When I actually opened my presents before Christmas" and I like to call the last ones "The only mini cooper in Sobradinho 1 and I'm sold on buying one sometime after the mission (and notice that I said sometime after the mission and not directly after the mission (which also means like maybe 30 or 40 years after the mission))

Então, este lugar é muito legal. I love it a lot. People here are really more open then in the United States. In the good ol' USA, it's really awkward to talk about religion. Or by what I've experienced, it's pretty awkward. But here, it's totally de boa (or chill). But with what I've heard too, Sobradinho is pretty closed about it too. I can't wait until I can got an area where everyone just loves to talk about religion. It will be awesome.

So I think it's funny, I have heard more American music here than Brasilian music. It's pretty funny because here Brasilians sing American songs, because usually they don't know what they are saying. They just like the beat. But I guess it's the same for me here. I hear something with a good beat and I'll keep singing the melody... come to find out... that song isn't all that good... so I think I'll change. That might be good. .

Um... I don't know what more I can tell you... except I got Peanut Butter and Beef Jerky for Christmas. That is exciting. I going to have to hide them... but everyone in the house I'm in is Brasilian (Again) so I don't think they even know what it is exactly... but just to make sure... I'll eat when they are taking showers and stuff like that... actually... sharing is caring... I don't know... Peanut Butter is precious here. Man, hard decisions of the Missionary part one... To Peanut Butter or not to Peanut Butter... that is the question.

So I just would like to pass along the amazing story of Alma (The older) and the people of Alma (who ran away from King Noah). They are so amazing because through all the trials they had they accepted everything with patience and long-suffering. We all need to have patience in our lives. In every aspect. With family, friends, reading, school, mission and children. Wow. I just can't stop thinking of all the blessings we will receive when we do that. So Endure to the End

Singing Out
Elder Barry

December 14 letter

14 de Dezembro

Oi meus Amigos, Oi minhas Amigas, Te Amo.

So this past week has been really good. But honestly I don't know what to say about it. Me and my companion have been working really really hard. We started working in only three Quadras in Sobradinho 1. These Quadras are really far away so not a lot of missionaries worked there. But we walk about 45-50 mins to get there and about 35-40 mins to return... it's more to get there because it's uphill. But we have been working really really hard in this área and have been just tearing apart those Quadras. It's been really fun to start in a new place in Sobradinho 1.

So I have a word of warning for all my friends going on missions... STAY OBEDIENT AND NEVER BE A SLACKER!!! We have had problems in our mission for the last two transfers that have just barely surfaced and it's affecting the whole mission. We have had horrible numbers and really really low numbers and we found out why just this week. So honestly follow all the rules. They are there for a reason.

Enough of that downer. So I'm learning to work through my trials... like with patiences. I really wish I could work on other attributes but all I'm seeing right now is patiences. I probably need to stop and reevaluate what all of this means. I'm sure I'm working on other attributes as well.

So now for pictures.
So these are bugs and things in Brasil.

Oh so we have so many ants in our house. Like a whole but. My study usually is distracted by little black specks running around on my desk. Sometimes I'll play with them... which basically means I'll terrorize them. But not really terrorize. Just play.

So I love this work. Really Endure to the End helps. One day we were knocking doors on one street and we were getting nothing. But we kept on going. Then at the last house. Literally the last house. We got in and this girl was a golden investigator. We have been working with her but she can't get to church because she works with her mom on sunday. Finally we couldn't get a hold of her because she worked so much. Twas sad. But honestly endure to the end. It's that important.

Endure to the End

Signing Out
Elder Barry

December 7th letter

Hello, from Brasil (I feel like i always open with that but it's true)


So this week went pretty well. Twas pretty fun. We worked hard. I guess I could end this letter right here. But I wont


So I'm going to relate something I did last transfer that I thought was really really funny. So in this mission we have to do at least 10 contacts everyday. Sometimes we would forget so we would hurry and invite people to church. But one night we were walking and we were going past a bus stop. Well there was a couple there. They were all huggin and being all cute. Well as we drew nearer and nearer they got closer and closer. So being who I am and wanted to have some fun. I stopped and started talking to them... I thought it was really funny because they were about to kiss or make-out or something. I don't know. But I stopped it right before it happened. I thought it was really funny. I invited them to church. Told there were it was. What time it started. Testified a little... and said bye. I thought it was really really funny afterwards... and still do.


So something about Brasil. Things that would be really really awkward in the USA isn't awkward here. Like making-out in public. But the one that really is awkward for me is women breast feeding in public. It's just something of this place. I think i've seen more women breast feeding walking down the street or causually here than I ever did with my family in the USA. We were even in one lesson and the mom started breast feeding her child. Just right there... it was really really awkward. Luckly my companion was teaching at the time so I just looked at him as he taught the family.


So with those two awkward stories out of the way. I have something really really funny. As you can see in the picture... I'm praying... but what you don't know is I'm actually asleep. I was so tired. The Brasilians in the house took a picture and video taped me for a little bit and this is one of the pictures I got... yes... I was so freaking tired that day. When they woke me up I thought I was still praying and I felt offended that they woke me up in the middle of my prayer... but now as I think back... right before they woke me up... I think I was dreaming about flies or something... man... what a weird prayer. This picture looks funny... but thinking about the prayer now is even more funny.


So Segunda-Feira (Monday or yesterday) usually I remember that the next day in P day and I'm all excited. But yesterday was the first time that I didn't remember. I think it's cause we worked so hard... It was a cool feeling to get lost in the work. The time just flew by yesterday. So I learned time flies when you're having fun or when you love working... which basically makes it fun.


So if you have time and want a 'light' read... start reading "Jesus, The Christ'. Ok so it's not really a light read. But it's an amazing book. It goes all throughout the life of Jesus and explains almost everything. When you read it, you need to read all the notes at the end of the Chapters as well. It all is so good. Ok now if you want a light read. Read "Our Search for Happiness" That book is full of goodness, doctrine and everything try it some time. It really is worth it. These two books are really really good.


So i want to put one more little thing in this letter. If you have a Patriarchal blessing. Pull it out and study it. I have been studying mine... Wow. I would tell you what I've been learning about myself but it's kinda personal so I wont. But the one thing that I really like is faith. Faith has a major part in our lives. I will share a small brief part of my blessing. Well a summary. Basically it says that all the blessing in my bless are sealed by the priesthood and will happen ACCORDING to my faithfulness. Honestly. Everything in life is according to our faithfulness to the things we learn. One way to show your faith is to teach. Because when we teach, we learn more and more. So I want to challenge you to teach something you've learned about the gospel.


I love you.


Endure to the End


Signing Out
Elder Barry

Mission Post (Point and Laugh)

This is me posting a post to the posting future. Futurific post. This is also me laughing at you because Lets say it's December 20th 2010. In Utah it's probably a balmy 20 degrees with snow covering the ground and who cares. Well in Brazil It's a freezing 90 something degrees and oh my gosh, It's so cold right ;) Basically I'm making fun of you cause i'm probably in the best weather ever. This is me just saying also that i'm not blogging on my mission so don't worry. I made this post on June 20th 2010. This schedule thing is pretty much brilliant. I guess i'm having the time of my life. Oh, and definitely i need to make fun of the friends in Idaho... A warm 15 degrees with a wind chill of 30. So it feels like a summers day -15 degrees. Man. You must be living the life. Live it well. Live it good.

Stay Strong. Smile. Don't Do Drugs. The Church is true. Hope you like my future posts. There will be plenty to read for the next to years of these future posts and of I send my mom to put on this blog.

Signing Out
Elder Barry

Hello, Greeting, Oi from Brasil

This is my current companion, Elder Andrade, He is so amazing and very patient with me.

These elders are all of the Brasilians that I live with and me. From Left to Right Elder Oliveira, Elder Andrade, Elder Barreiro and Elder Barry

These pictures have a story. Me and my companion were playing a little game of soccer in the area in front of our house. (Which I'll try to send a picture next week of it) and i kicked this ball on the roof of our neighbors house. So I climb up there with a pole to reach the ball. It was epic and yes... I still love to climb on things. I just don't have the time and the places to do it.


It's just me... I'm coming for you

This is my companion and his balding head. I want to call him baldy but I don't know how to in Português


This has really been an interesting week. With new experiences and new ideas and everything new. I love new weeks. Every week I can just push away the old week and just start working on the new. I learned this from my companion. One day we were sitting and I looked over and he was gluing his missionary planner shut... now that's just not normal. He was taking the pages and gluing them together... I thought it was kind of weird so I asked him what he was doing... basically he said that last week was horrible and he doesn't want to remember it and so he's closing out the week and focusing on the new week... Wow... inspiration... from the awesome Elder Andrade.

Elder Andrade is crazy... but I'm crazy too... so it's been working out pretty well. He's extremely patient with me and how I work and everything I do. I'm new and an American... so he's very patient with me. Very very very very extremely patient. I'm pretty much blessed because of it. He's totally de boa (Which is a slang that means chill). We work hard, walk everywhere, trying to do things different in this area because our area hasn't had much luck in the past 6 months-ish... so we are doing everything different. Well trying... because this mission is getting the same results as it was 2 years ago or more... and there was a promise that Brasil will be a giant help for the church, that the membership with EXPLODE. So if we are getting the same results then we must be doing the same things. So we've got to change to get new results. It's hard but really really really (add another really) fun.

Usually throughout the week I write down little thoughts and ideas and funny things that I can write and tell you on P-Day, but I forgot to do it this week. So I'm bascially writing whatever comes to my brain. Not much so it's kind of difficult to tell you how things are going. So I think I'll send some photos from today and past things so you can see how things are going for me.

Oh so I've been trying to learn how to be more organized everyweek and everyday... It's not working out too well. I start a system and then something happens and I forget it one day... then it's a mess... so I need to learn somehow to keep it clean in the house and everywhere. It's hard. My desk is a mess right now and so it my closet and everything... but I somehow know where things are.

One thing I learned this week is to keep moving cause time will keep moving too. Never will time stop for you so don't you stop for it.

Endure to the End

Signing Out
Elder Barry

Hello, It's summer here... but I'm probably just as cold as you are.

So yes it's summer... but today is rained like no other and I'm wet and really cold... really really cold. Like seriously... cold. I don't know if I have time to take a shower and write an email to home and to the mission president and stuff... probably not. We ate at McDonald's today and stayed there for a good 2 hours or so because it's P-day... and it rained a lot. wow... We finally just left and got soaked.

I really don't have all that much to say this week... not many things happened that I wrote down to tell you or nothing is coming to mind. This week went really slow and really fast... I remember this week was just slow and hard... It's really hard to understand and speak Português 24/7. I was tested emotionally and mentally this week. Like no other. It was really really difficult. I don't know what else to say about his week.

Oh I know. My new companion is just going ape on this area. holy cow. He's just going at it and not resting. Basically I follow and testify... then follow... try to speak to people. But he's really cool. He is just a chill Brasilian and is really really patient with me.

I just want to say thanks to people for the letters. I got to read them today and it really helps. I don't know why but it doesn't feel like I'm far from home at all. I feel really comfortable here and it's great. The only thing lacking was family and friends but I love P Days because I can still figure out what's going on at home. I love it.

Don't get me wrong I really love the mission. I'm jsut trying to sum things up for the people that don't understand the mission. This place is so beautiful in so many ways. The culture of people here is so loving. The members of the ward just recieved me with open arms when I arrived in this area in October. When my birthday happened, the bishop and the young men/young women were having a little seminary party and they also celebrated my birthday. I got a cake and everything. That was really really cool.

One thing this mission has taught me is patience with everything because everything is in the Lord's hands. I'm working on Português and I know I will get it in time. I know this gospel is true, why else would I be here? Enduring to the End and I hope you do too.


Endure to the end.


Signing Out
Elder Barry


When Elder Barry was in the MTC in Sao Paulo there was a dedication of a new ward building. They had a missionary choir sing and Matt sang a solo. A friend of mine, Grace Marie Dennis, found this picture on a web site of the sister who directed the choir. It's fun to see Matt doing what he loves to do.

First Transfer

So, (então) hoje (today) is transfers. So our P Day is Monday just cause they need to get transfers done. So that is why this letter is early.


I really don't have much to say this week which is also great because I don't have much time this week too.

We had a baptism, They were our investigators... well not really but they count as ours. This is an interesting story so I'll tell it. A lady and her daughter were living in Sobradinho 2 (which is that other area next to ours) and some other missionaries found this lady named Pricilla and her daughter Pérola (means pearl). They taught them everything and they wanted to get baptized. Since my companion is the district leader we walked to Sobradinho 2 and my companion interviewed her. She passed and so did her daughter. Then this lady wanted to get baptized in a river or waterfall... which... is extremely hard to find and extremely hard to get approved. So she didn't get baptized because she couldn't be baptized in the river. Well we were all bummed because that means she isn't baptized and stuff... well in a strange turn of events... she moved to Sobradinho 1 and we got her referal and went to go talk to her... She said she wanted to get baptized and she changed her mind. It didn't have to be in the river/waterfall. WOAH!!!! MIRACLE!!!! This whole transfer me and my companion haven't gotten any results and just this last week we got a baptism. It was way cool. All we have to do now is get her confirmed next week.


So I need to say too that I get a new companion. His name will he Elder Andrade. He's Brasilian. Now I'm going to be living in a house with 3 Brasilians which is going to be cool. I'm definately going to learn Português extremely fast.

In the Book of Mormon I'm reading about Nephi and Laman and Lemuel. I think it's interesting the differences between the brothers. Nephi is always doing what is right and striving to do what is right. Laman and Lemuel or L and L are always murmuring but doing the stuff. They technically are being obedient to everything. They do all the same things as Nephi. But they do it slowly and not with a real intent. So I think a small thing that can help me is be like Nephi. Strive to follow with all my heart. Strive to help others in all things. Be like Nephi.


Endure to the End


Signing Out
Elder Barry

The giant on the couch

Hello from the beautiful city of Sobradinho!!!

I'm doing great here in Brasil. Thanks for all the birthday wishes and for everything here. I love you all and hope that everything is going good for you too. This place is so beautiful and I love working here. Missionary work sure is hard but it is so worth it. It is so much fun. I love it so much.

So somethings that happened this week. I wrote down the ones I wanted to tell you. So lets see... which to start with... ok got it.

This past week we went to teach a man who was really, really old. About 10 years ago he had missionaries come by his house and teach him and give him a Book of Mormon. He's read it twice and is now re-reading it and has marked it up. Buy happen chance he found some of the members, they got us and we went over. The things he wanted from us were D&C which was really strange in the first place. A non-member wanted whatever D&C was, he didn't even know. Then he asked what RF was. Well RF is AF in English and means Articles of Faith. Holy cow. This man wanted a lot. Just by happen chance I had a triple combination in Português that I wasn't using. So we took that to him. We went in to talk with him and he was old. Wow... But we went in and got to know him and understand him. And before you knew it an hour had flown by. We are supposed to be in houses for only 30 minutes max. Holy Cow. I think in the hour time my companion had said maybe 5 phrases and the rest of the time was the man speaking. So we were trying for another 30 minutes to get out of there. He would not stop. Man. One thing I learned from this is couches in Brasil are really, really small and I can't sit comfortably on them for that amount of time. I looked around and really I looked like a giant on that couch. It was so tiny and so close to the ground. It would be fine for a lot of people... but I'm just so huge. I wish I could get a picture to see how big I look on the couches here. Wow. During the time we were in there I really couldn't stop myself from laughing and I felt to bad. Here are two missionaries in a house and they have been in there for 1 hour and 30 minutes. One doesn't fit on the couch and looks like a giant, talking (Well really listening) to a man for that same amount of time. I really feel bad because I started to laugh as he was talking. I tried to cover it up with a cough and I felt like I did a good job and he didn't notice. If he did notice, he thought I was laughing at what he was saying because he was smiling and slightly laughing too. It was probably the longest lesson of my life. You probably think I'm mean but you weren't there to experience this. It really, really was funny.
So next, Brasil probably wouldn't be a place you should be if you are deathly afraid of spiders. I bet in every house there are spiders in every corner on the ceiling and spiders randomly throughout the house. When I shower there are spiders in the corners of the ceiling. When I change or sleep or do anything I can assure you that there are spiders in every corner of the ceiling. Promise. So if you have anything fear of spiders and you can't suck it up you probably don't want to be here. Also the ants here are basically our best friends. They are everywhere in the house and they clean the house while we are gone. All the bugs we've killed during the morning or crumbs are gone before we get back home every night. It is pretty cool. There really is a more chill atmosphere here about bugs in the house. You can't really keep them out. So use them to your advantage eh.

One more story. One day my companion did a split with the zone leader because they had to go get interviewed by the mission president. So I was with the other zone leader until they came back. When they came back we switched and everything was fine. When the end of the night came me and my companion went to the house... and didn't have keys. When we left for the interview he had them... Then when he came back he thought he gave them to me because I usually have the keys... but he accidentally left them on the table... So, we were going to have to sit there and wait for the zone leaders to come back but they usually don't get back until 9:30 and my Companion (who is also a district leader and my trainer) needed to get numbers before that time when they get back. So... we tried to use a popcicle stick to get through the lock because it is really a back lock. But that didn't work. So my companion decided to take off the sliding door into our house. (Shoot I don't have a picture of that to send home to you.) So we wiggled and jiggled the door a lot, moved it and finally got a crack wide enough for my companion to get through. He went through and unlocked the door. So we just broke into our own house. Two missionaries trying to get into their own house and make it look like they aren't breaking into anyone else's house. To make it look worse we both have white shirts and ties. We probably look like some federal agent. So yes. I have broken into a house.

As I studied this week I started a couple of things at once. I started "Preach my Gospel" and "The Bible" and "The Book of Mormon". But the thing I wanted to share with you comes out of PMG Page 3. It's a quote from Harold B. Lee from a book called "The Teachings of Harold B. Lee" He says:

"The most important of the Lord's work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own house" - President Harold B.Lee
This really has hit me as I think about my family and about being a missionary. The most important work we have is strengthening ourselves and our family. Especially our family. In the Book of Mormon Nephi starts off saying "Being born of goodly parents" and then Mosiah talks to his family to help them. Then Alma talks to his three sons about their lives and trys to help them and teach them. Chapters 8 and 9 of Moroni has letters from Mormon to Moroni. What a perfect example to follow in the Book of Mormon. It has shown us how to teach our children and help our family. All through the 'War' chapters they talk about battling for their wives and their children. The Stripling Warriors were taught by their mothers so well that they were saved from a battle and were blessed by the Lord so that none of them died. Study the Book of Mormon because it can help you in all aspects of your life. I know this to be true. I have seen it in my life here in the mission. Apply these things to your life and follow the counsel of Nephi in 1st Nephi 19:23. Any thing in your life can be solved as you read the Book of Mormon. Be it as simple as Jacob 6:12 or as complicated as Alma Chapters 39-42. I know that as you prayerfully study the scriptures and apply them to your life, you will become a better person. I know the scriptures are true. Since they are true, they were given to a true prophet of God who restored the Church of Jesus Christ here on the earth. Never doubt that these things are true because they are. I love you so much.

Endure to the End
Signing Out
Elder Barry

This is what we call the Gehtto path. (Man I've lost my spelling)
(Sorry the picture is side ways. I didn't know how to make it right - Mom)
This one is me and my companion running away from the giant Sobradinho sign to the camera... a freaking sweet picture.
Me, my companion, Elder Barreiro and Another elder. I live with My companion and Elder Barreiro. The elder in the blue was just there on a trade that day. I'm wearing a Flamagos jersey, My companion is wearing a Gama (I'm not sure if that's how it's spelled) and Elder Barreiro is wearing a São Paulo Jersey. The other elder is wearing a Gremio Jersey.

Happy Birthday, Matt!

Hello Everybody,
Today is the day that I can technically be on a mission and I don´t feel any different whatsoever. It´s just another day of work really. Today has been great. I was surprised that the people I live with remembered it was my birthday. They celebrated my birthday as they sang to me this morning after we all got up and said our prayers. Then we got ready and studied. And I love studying. I just finished the Book of Mormon in English and it was so good. By the end of this transfer I have a goal to finish O Livro de Mormon and mark all the times it says "Senhor" or "Deus" or "Espirito Santo" or talks about a member of the Godhead so that´s going to be a fun thing to do. That´s what´s going on here. Not much more... But like usually I have little funny things I thought of to tell you so that this is enjoyable and spiritual.

So... I told you about the dog attack last week... well this week I got attacked by a bird as we were walking by a tree. It was protecting it´s baby chicks and nothing bled but it´s interesting to put it down... Oh and another different dog attacked me yesterday. So I think this will be a weekly experience of something like that. I finally understand why in all the cartoons it shows missionaries running from dogs... cause it seems like they don´t like missionaries that much.

I had my first really, really, really, REALLY crowded bus ride this last week... did I mention it was crowded? I´m not sure but let me tell you... it was crowded. Me and my companion got on the bus and stood forever... and it was really awkward because there was a lack of testosterone around us... Everywhere I looked it was women and girls... literally. The only men I could see were either in the back of the bus or not around me... talk about weird. Regularly I wouldn´t care but once you become a missionary then you start to notice these type of things and feel uncomfortable in these situations. Oh, and I said the other men were at the back of the bus... yes? I could see back there. I realized that I´m big in Brasil. REALLY REALLY BIG. Everyone looks up to me. I got on the bus and all I saw was the top of heads, really. That was a weird experience for me. Everyone here is short... ok well not short but shorter than me. At school I could see some people and look at their eyes or forehead... yeah no such luck here except for the rare occassion. So that´s how things are here.

So I got a brilliant Idea. I´m going to go buy another SD card for my camera. So I can transfer pictures from my big card to the small one and then send them home to you through email because if the small card gets a virus I can delete all the photos and still have everything on my other card... so you´ll start seeing photos of how things are in Brasil. I thought it was brilliant.

Well this is another week. I love you all. Thanks for the letters. Stay strong. Read the Book of Mormon because that book will help you throughout your whole life.

Endure to the End
Signing Out
Elder Barry

Faith

So yes. This letter has come early. Do you wanna know why? Do ya? I´m not sure if you really want to know so I´ll save this one... for... later...

This week has been awesome. Ok, so that is a bit of a overstatement. For me it has been awesome but for our area it was a so-so week. So-so because our investigators have been mole (look it up, in Português.) We would invite people to church and we had no investigators come. It was really sad to see these people forget. But what made our week really good is we got 2 less actives to church. One was a baptism of my trainer and she kinda fell but she came last week and LOVED it. Then the other person we got to come to church was a man who has been out of the church for 6 years. He´s pretty old, maybe 60 or 70. He was drinking and smoking but we kept trying to help him. He hasn´t drunk for 2-ish weeks now and he wants to stop smoking and he came to church last Sunday. Man!!! It was awesome to see him there. He loved it and when we went to his house later he looked so much better than the first time we met him.

I bet you still want to know why this is on Monday.

Então... Alma 29:9 probably is one scripture that really hit me this week. Look it up. It´s really good.

So I have a question...I´ve been hearing rumors... well... I don´t know exactly so I´ll ask straight up... I heard they changed the age that young men can go on missions to 18... is this true in the USA? Cause my companion said our bishop said that young men now can go when they are 18. I´m wondering if this is only Brasil or the whole world...

Story time. This week I got bit by a dog. Yes... not bad and not bleeding. We went to an investigator's house to talk to him. His door was closed and so we were knocking. Well, outside his door there was a dog. This dog was barking up a storm at us. (Yes a storm.) so I knocked once and we waited while this dog 'storm' barked at us. This 'lightning' dog was probably mad because we were on "his" property. So we waited... Bark bark bark... man, it was pretty annoying. So we still waited. Then I decided to knock again. That´s when thunder bark here made his move. He basically jumped at my leg... it felt so weird. I wasn´t expecting this so it was a surprise. Both my legs went numb for 3 seconds... just weird. But there was no wound. And there goes thurder bark... barking away... again. We finally just left lightning there to his pride. But that is the story of my first dog attack. That´s when I learn that most dogs here are all bark... not bite. The End.

The best experiences I´ve had happen when I study the Book of Mormon. I love this book so much and you should see my scriptures. Holy cow... the Book of Mormon is pure gold and full of such amazing words of wisdom. Man. If I could say anything to everyone it is to get a new Book of Mormon from a distibution center, a really cheap one. Then pick a word to look for while you study. Right now I look for the word faith or faithful or faithfulness. Everytime I come across this word I mark it in green. I like the green because faith is like a seed. So it´s in green. Then of course I have a red pencil and mark the other things I like in that color. My understanding and comprehension of the Book of Mormon has sky rocketed. I know it´s hard to always study everyday but I know it will bless your life. No one is too busy to study. You can study for at least 15 mins a day. I probably do 30 mins a day or more depending on the day. But it is so worth the time.

Ok, so this letter is on a Monday because tomorrow we have a general authority coming to our mission. Elder David A. Bednar is coming to our mission. I´m so excited. Way excited. Excited because we have gotten talks from him to read before he comes and they are about faith. And just by happen chance that is what my Book of Mormon study has been about, faith. It´s so cool to mix both of them together and learn more.

So that´s it for my week.

Endure to the End
Signing Out
Elder Barry

Happy in Brasilia

(I decided to ask Matt lots of questions in my last letter to him because of the woefully lack of information in his last week's letter. He delivered! - Mom Barry)

I like having questions to respond to. Because I really don´t know what to talk about. So here we go

My apartment is actually a small house. There are 3 rooms and 2 bathrooms and 4 missionaries. I´m probably being spoiled for my first transfer but it´s awesome. It literally is a house and it´s pretty good. We are only there really in the morning and at night. Then on P day it´s almost all day we are there.

My living conditions are fine. I´m not complaining. It´s simple and basic and I like it that way. I´m pretty sure when I get home that I´ll be fine with anything because being a missionary really helps you learn the basics. It´s like that talk by, I think, President Uchtdorf. Back to the Basics. I´m learning what a basic living standard is and living off it. It´s great and I really love it.

My working area is Sobradinho 1. I think it is that place with the most hills. We walk up and down hills all day and my legs are going to be beasts by the end of this transfer. I do have a picture of some of these things but the computers we email on are unreliable and last time my companion got a virus on his camera card. So I think I´m going to wait until I get a reliable computer.

The food is great, rice and beans usually every meal and it is way good. Every lunch is usually provided by a member or less active and other than that we are on our own. Oh, and P Day´s we need to find our own food. Usually for breakfast I don´t eat or I have a bowl of oatmeal with bananas, milk and chocolate. Just healthy awesome.

We have a washing machine that we throw our clothes into and it does an awesome job. Then we hang clothes out to dry. Just so cool. It shows that you don´t really need a dryer. Actually you don´t really need a washer either but it takes too much time to wash our clothes so we have a machine.

Yes, we are teaching people. We found someone named Ludimar and he is just golden. We taught him everything in four days straight and he´s accepted everything. Then yesterday we started teaching Sebastian and he seems golden too. We don´t have any baptisms yet and I probably would not tell you when I do. Just cause the baptisms don´t matter. What matters is if they stay firm in the church. I really wouldn´t mind getting only 1 baptism and having it be ther strongest member ever. That´s all I really want.

My Companion has been out for about a year and 5 or 6 months. He´s way good at the language and I´m just following him around trying to teach when he tells me to. He´s going to go to BYU Idaho after his mission.

My mission president is awesome. Basically he told me that he is my Dad now. (Sorry, dad just got kicked out for 2 years) He is, from what i´ve heard, the most strict mission president here. We have the missionary handbook which he´s changed some of it for our mission and then we have another page of rules for our mission that we carry around in our little book. But as we follow these we do a lot better. So I´m glad we have them. But I can tell you it will be weird to have a different mission president in a year.

The ward is pretty great. Just a wonderful welcome. Right now we are working on reactivating people. We´re working on the members too.

People always ask how tall I am and I am almost 2 meters tall. Freak, it´s tall and weird to be able to see all the way down a hall with no problems.

The City I am in is a semi-rich area. It´s a wonderful area. I love it and when it rains... is pours, holy cow. If it rains during the day and stops then it´s really, really hot. I don´t know why really.

So I wanted to tell you that there are awesome talks by Elder David A. Bednar. Look up his talk named "Ask in Faith". I´m pretty sure it´s the name. It has one point I want to tell about. It talks about people praying for the missionaries to have people to teach. Well if you are asking in Faith and faith is a principle of action. Then do it. Find those people for the missionaries. I know the mission has changed my view a lot about missionary work. I know it will help us so much and help this church grow if the members start doing the finding. The Missionaries are called to be full time teachers. The members are called to be full-time finders. It´s something that will help this work along. Honestly if people start finding people for the missionaries, we would have so many people in this church because when a friend asks a friend to start learning then the people probably will. If a missionary stops by and asks them about it they probably won't listen because the missionary is someone they don´t know. So like every good missionary I want to invite you to find someone you can share this Gospel with. It really isn´t that hard. Everyone knows at least one non-member and if everyone invited that one friend then we would have so many more people to teach. Please take this and do it. I know before my mission I didn´t think much about missionary work but now I´m realizing how much members have a role. Right now I´m pretty much begging you to help the missionaries.

I love you all.
Endure to the End
Signing Out
Elder Barry

Week 1

Entâo,
This week has been interesting. There really isn´t much I can say about it. There is this scripture that says beautiful are the feet of them that spread the gospel. Let me tell you. They don´t look all that beautiful. They are really really ugly, blisters and such, but that´s what you get from walking around all day. It actually isn´t all that bad though. It´s way fun to do this work.


Also I get hit with saudade every once in a while. Saudade is like a missing of something. For example I could be walking around and I´ll smell something that reminds me of somthing or someone or a fun experience. That´s saudade. It happens throughout the day and it can waste a day if you aren´t careful



My companion´s name is Elder Kirkham from Blackfoot Idaho. He´s pretty cool and we teach and stuff. I really don´t know what to say. We walk. And Teach. Then Walk... Then we... teach. Nothing really more.


Holy cow this language is crazy. I don´t understand most of the time what people are saying. So that´s why elder Kirkham is here to save the day. I´m working on the language as much as possible and right now that includes reading "O Livro De Mórmon". It´s pretty slow and really hard but I´m in Alma right now and just chugging through it as much as I can. I wish I had more to say but the work is good.


I love this place.


For all of my friends who are planning to go on missions, I have one suggestion. Read the Book of Mormon in your mission language as many times as you can before you go. Even though you won't under stand it when you start. You´ll see your own progress near the end. I´ve been doing this and I can tell the basic idea of a verse. It´s pretty interesting. So try it.


I love you all and I hope you stay strong. The Gosple of Jesus Christ is true. I love you so much and I hope you are doing well


Endure to the End
Signing Out
Elder Barry




P.S. If anyone gets a call. I better get a letter.

A new missionary in Brasilia

Hey, I´m safe and sound in Brasilia. I´ll talk to you next week when I have a P day. Endure to the End.
Signing Out
Elder Barry

We assume this is his new companion.
This makes Elder Barry look really tall. This is his mission president.