Monday, May 20, 2013
Mini Miracles May 20, 2013
Dearest Family!
Wow, what a week.
Monday night: We taught some Taiwanese members via skype. So cool! Sister Hibbert and I taught the friend of one of our Zone Resources about enduring to the end. After the lesson, Brother Peterson (the zone resource) told us that we had addressed needs the member hadn't expressed in our skype lesson. He further said that after our lesson his friend told him about difficulties he had experienced that he had never told Brother Peterson before. So rewarding!
Tuesday night: Elder Nelson. This is the second apostle we have heard at the MTC. We are so unbelievably lucky. He had such power.. and humor! He spoke about family history, about the truth that individuals from both side of the veil would be anxiously engaged in our work. He invited us to pray for specific people with specific gifts to guide, comfort and strengthen us. WOW. I thought of dear Nani. He also reminded us that spiritual batteries are recharged when we are IN ACTION. I love that! Such a true principle.
We also received 36 new Mandarin speaking missionaries on Wed. They are SO wonderful! I have been given a new responsibility that allows me to spend lots of time serving the Sisters. I love them. They are so full of light, goodness and excitement. I'm doing my best to be there for them on these first few days... it's rough when you feel as if you're falling flat on your face in your first few lessons because all you can do is point at pictures and say "Yesu Jidu" or "Yuese Simi" They will be wonderful missionaries-I know it.
TODAY has been wonderful. This morning as we walked to our temple session, who should be walking to our room to assist with the session but JENN WOODWARD. As soon as we locked eyes we started to lose it. I ADORE her. After the end of the session she came into the Celestial room and we talked and hugged. I felt so loved. SO grateful God orchestrated that tender mercy.
Also..... I received a package today. As soon as I looked at the sender's address and saw MCKENZIE CHRISTENSEN and NYC I literally started shaking. Oh. My. Goodness. I don't think I've ever been so excited to open anything in my whole life. I opened the package and lovingly went through every page of her amazing photo book of our Jerusalem Center class ... laughing and crying every ten seconds. What a precious gift. Wow. She is unbelievable. I miss her like crazy! What a labor of love.
I'm currently reading the New Testament and just started the Gospel of John. I love our Savior.. so dearly, so profoundly. Every chapter of the gospels brings back an emotion, a sensation, a memory, a powerful spiritual confirmation. I feel as if I experience the New Testament now instead of studying it. What a blessing to come to know my Savior better.
TJ and John - Congratulations! What a relief to have completed finals! So proud of you both- keep up the good work- summer is around the corner!!
Julia- BIRTHDAY WEEK! I sent you a card. Wish it was so much more. Love you dearly my precious sister.
Mom and Dad: I thank God for you every day. Love and miss you.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Lauren Barden Post of May 13, 2013 from
Lauren Barden Post of May 13, 2013 from the Provo, MTC
Hello!
Utah weather is glorious! Sister Hibbert and I are studying outside at every opportunity. SO NECESSARY when we are in our wonderful little classroom for more than six hours each day. I love the MTC...can I say it enough?! I am learning so much.
This Sunday so many exciting things happened. Janice Perry... famous LDS songwriter who wrote the music for 'As Sisters In Zion' came and spoke to us for Relief Society. As she began to speak about her work.. she asked the audience.. Do you know the story behind the song 'As Sisters in Zion"? At that moment I began to lose it. Tears began to flow as she told the story of the Hill sisters -- my ancestors -- who joined the church in England and came across the plains... wow. I felt as if, for those few minutes, that there was a mutual awareness between Julia, Emily, and I. I was so proud of them.. and I felt they were proud of me.
In our branch sacrament meeting I played my "Praise to The Man" arrangement. One of the sisters had heard me playing it a few weeks ago on the piano and volunteered me to provide this week's musical number. I think it helped bring the Spirit and was so grateful God helped me because I didn't have almost any opportunity to practice beforehand. Afterwards, many of the sweet missionaries told me I had made them cry.... Not me, the spirit, but I was grateful I could help bring a wonderful feeling into the meeting.
We get our travel plans next week!!! Unbelievable. You always receive travel plans about two weeks before departing. SO EXCITED. It seems bizarre that the work I will be preoccupied with for the majority of my mission hasn't officially begun yet. I feel so happy I have so much time in the MTC. In TRC this week, we taught two sisters who were converts from mainland China. (TRC is a weekly event where CHINESE speaking volunteers come in and we teach them a lesson). These women were SO wonderful! I am obsessed with Chinese humor. Already in love with these people- I know they will teach me so much.
Sister Hibbert and I had a few mini miracles this week as we taught our investigators. When the spirit is with you, whether your investigator is real or acting, real power accompanies your words.
So... I'm really passionate about the gospel. Surprise? It peeks through in my teaching.. particularly when I testify. Part of me is nervous that I will try to bulldoze my investigators with my unabashed love for this Church. I'm hoping it's not too bizarre being on the receiving end..?
But I do love this gospel.... with all of my heart and soul. I had a rough moment this week where I put down my books and took a moment to breathe. I closed my eyes and went back to the Jerusalem Center balcony. I remembered every sensation and emotion of that memory in rich and exquisite detail. ...I looked out over the sun-soaked, aged city, felt the deepening shadows creep over the ancient hills, and heard the exquisitely haunting call to prayer send a chill through my blood. As I pondered this striking place that is so precious to my heart, my throat caught and my heart was drawn out in profound gratitude and longing. ..In LOVE for my Savior. My Savior who walked those streets and mourned over the same skyline I had the privilege to see every day for four months. My Savior whose very real and tender arms are always, always held out for me, for you, and every one of His precious Chinese people. Wow.. sometimes I feel I can NEVER do my emotions justice.. it's so difficult to articulate them. But somehow, at the right moment, I can in Chinese. What a blessing to know none of it is due to my poor abilities.
I love you all so dearly! Enjoy every one of these beautiful spring days.
I have a letter for grandad already in the mail :)
Praying for you always,
Deng JieMei
Monday, May 6, 2013
LAB MTC Letters May 6, 2013
RE: LAB MTC Letters May 6, 2013
Dearest Family,
What a big week! This Sunday we had mission conference and were taught by all the MTC presidency. It was so powerful. The main theme was trusting in the Lord. This spoke directly to many of my prayers because I need to work on having absolute faith in the Lord and His promises, no matter how many obstacles seem to be ahead of me.
Last night for Sunday night devotional, Chad Lewis came and spoke to the MTC! When we sat down and I saw his name displayed on the screen, I had a flashback to when I was looking up every single youtube video I could find pertaining to Taiwan. He is a famous NFL football player who served his mission in Taiwan! He is currently the NFL ambassador to China because of his language skills. We loved him! His address was more of a pep talk. He showed us unbelievable pictures of making funny poses with the most adorable little Taiwanese kids and a whole zone of missionaries pedaling together on a busy city street. SO cool! He also likened life's challenges to climbing Kilimanjaro... because he recently summited the peak. yeah- I was going nuts! I was half-hoping I would see Jefe guiding him to the top.... still at the top of my bucket list!
Also... apparently I dream in Chinese now! Ohhhh yes. We were walking back from the temple this morning.. and one of the sisters going to Toronto, Mandarin-speaking asked "Who was speaking Chinese last night?" I had absolutely NO idea anyone had spoken Chinese the night before because I... as usual.. had slept like the dead. But, Sister Hibbert's face broke into a huge smile and she said "That was totally Sister Barden! She kept saying all these long sentences that made total sense!" I. was. overjoyed! Super excited... something is staying in that head of mine! Apparently, I kept talking asking if someone could allow me to explain something.. and then talking about strengthening and supporting...? I don't know what was going on but I'm pumped! Based on that report, I could probably teach better in my dreams than I can when I'm fully conscious.
I'm hoping I keep it up... if my roommates don't kick me out at some point. :) Between all the night-time coughing and constant Chinese monologuing, it's a miracle they still love me!
ps- BREAKING NEWS- we're in the laundry room and sister Hibbert dyed half of our laundry a lovely light green with her beautiful green skirt- haha - oh how I love sister Hibbert. We're keeping our fingers crossed a second washing will rinse the color out.... yeah, i'm not hopeful- luckily only my darks were in there!
On Saturday night we had a massive kickball match with the older generation that was SO ridiculously fun! ...Sometimes I curse those competitive genes (thanks mom and dad). During the match, I caught the ball a few times and got some people out (good!)...and I also went for a fly ball and was SO INTENSELY FOCUSED on catching it that I slipped and wiped out on the grass!(not so good) Yay for humbling experiences!
I love this gospel- The MTC is saturated with the spirit. This is such a noble and challenging work- I feel so blessed to be a part of it. This week I had the opportunity to study and reflect on Hebrews 11 and Ether 12 side-by-side. I highly recommend it. So powerful, so hopeful. With faith all things are possible.
Love you all so much, I'm praying for every one of you!
Deng JieMei
