FROM: Lauren Barden at the MTC - April 23, 2013

April 23, 2013
FROM: Lauren Barden at the MTC

Dearest family,

 What a week! Thank you so much for your Dear Elder letters! They are THE best! They are printed off and sent to us every day so we don't have to wait to Tuesday to read them. They always brighten my day!
SO much happened this week! On Tuesday, Elder Scott came and spoke at our Devotional. Unbelievable. He has so much power. It was a precious memory to sit in an auditorium filled with young, energetic missionaries all rapt with attention. He gave us a special apostolic blessing, particularly for those who were learning a second language. Extraordinary. His words were an answer to so many of our prayers. After he spoke, he leaped up again before the closing prayer for a final remark. He said that during our missions God would teach us things that we never knew about ourselves. He told us to remember we had been called of God. SO powerful.

Also.... My MTC teacher came up to me in class and said he was walking through the Kennedy Center on BYU campus when he saw a big collage of Instagram photos from around the world. He noticed a group of photos taken in Italy and saw the name 'Lauren Barden' next to them. Apparently, he couldn't put together how he knew that name until he remembered that Deng JieMei was Sister Barden! haha! At least one piece of me survives at BYU!

Another funny moment this week occurred on Sunday when we were watching 'THE TESTAMENTS' in Mandarin. Almost the entire Chinese branch was there. (We have one Elder in our zone who always volunteers to say the prayer at gym. He makes all the Chinese speaking missionaries laugh because he always prays that God will help us to "huigai" (repent) because we need to "huigai".) In the middle of the film, there's that kissing scene between the couple in love.... all of a sudden we all hear "huigai!" from the back of the room. Soo funny.

ALSO!!! We taught our first lesson in the TRC this Saturday (where you teach volunteers who act as investigators). We walked into our first appointment and who should be there?!?!?!?!?! Stephen Fabiano and his wife Allyson!!! SO HAPPY! She gave me a massive hug and as I was freaking out i tried to explain to Sister Hibbert that this was my MUN partner! What a blessing. We had SUCH a great time! They are funny.

Tell John best of luck this week in the EHS musical - he's going to be SO wonderful!
Please pray for me to learn Chinese. I need help!

I love the spirit I feel here every day. Missions are difficult, but they are such rare and precious opportunities to grow and serve. The spirit is real....I depend on it every day. I love being here, I love being a missionary.

Love you all dearly!
Sister Barden