Monday, July 29, 2013
Taiwan July 29, 2013
Dearest Family,
I've had a week brimming with miacles and heartbreaks. So many of our dear investigators have great challenges in their lives and I wish I could do more to help them. I don't think I'll ever forget seeing little -11 year old- Lee qian rou's quiet tears as she told us her parents thought she was too young to be baptized. We're praying for all our investigators.
21- years old. Ah! So strange. This is the year of the mission and i've been pondering on the thought that 21 sounds very adult and somewhat old. :) I"m humbled by the great transformation God has worked in me these past few years- is still working in me! - and look forward to this year with an open mind and heart to the things God needs to teach me.
Funny story! One of our recent converts -Nancy- found out it was my birthday and bought me a cake! However- she was bringing it to us when she made a split-second decision to jump off a small stairwell (cake as passenger) on her motorcycle. Let's just say it was a beautiful disaster and we enjoyed eating it anyways!
One special miracle of this week was the experience of Tsai XiaoJie. I remember when we contacted her last week. We were sharing information about English class when I noticed a young girl coming out of a store. She gave us a thoughtful look and had an open face so I went up to her and started to talk to her about English class. Miao JieMei quickly joined us and we were soon having a wonderful discussion about reliegion. She had decided -a few months before- to become a Christian. She has great faith in the Savior and the Bible. Our next meeting with her was nothing short of remarkable. As we discussed, she started to ask the most profound questions. She asked: what does Christ's resurrection mean? Why did Christ need to suffer for us? Does God love some people more than others? Miao JM and I are having such joy teaching her. She is cruising through the BOM, highlighting her favorite passages that also happen to be scripture masteries. I keep thinking of my dad.....
I've always wished I could have watched the missionaries teach Chris Barden. I picture him alert and eager to haer what is being said. I picture him directly asking the two young elders very deep and well-thought out questions he had pondered in his years of preparation. I picture him cruising through the BOM too quickly for any missionary to not want to jump for joy. I imagine him highlighting many scripture masteries. I visualize his excited and passionate voice while he shares with the elders why their precious truths make such profound and perfect sense! I picture the light in his eyes and the "energy of his soul" growing brighter and stronger... to where it is now :)
Tsai Xiao Jie is the closest experience I have seen to what I picture of my father's early experience with the LDS faith/missionaries. She is extremely prepared and a diligent seeker of truth. I hope- with all my heart - that her fire may never go out. I hope that it will ever grow and intensify as it has with my marvelous convert father.
Love you all - I always keep you in my prayers.
Debbie Sutton.. praying hard especially for you.
Good luck this week Mckenzie Christensen!
Sister Barden
Monday, July 22, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Taipei, Taiwan July 21, 2013
Family! How I love you!
We were at the mission office this week and I received one of your packages. Feeling so loved. I remember opening the opera singing card and instantly regretting the decision as every one of the office workers turned their heads to see what on earth they were hearing. Let's just say Ms. Operatic happy birthday could not be silenced until she had finished every, drawn-out note of her song! Love you mom :)
This week was full of miracles. I just passed transfer one in the field. So bizarre! I know this is a time to be setting new goals so I am gearing up and preparing to learn all that I can in the next six weeks.
One of the more remarkable experiences this week involved a dear woman who loves. her. cats. She hasn't been consistently meeting with the missionaries and her last lesson was over two months ago. She came in with a big smile, a t-shirt adorned with cat photos and lace, and carried the lovely cat aroma we all know so well. So fabulous. Once we began talking, she shared a recent experience that had built her faith. Her cats had been very ill and she had not known how to help them. None of her close family were willing to help her so she turned to God in prayer. She told us that in her prayer, she promised God that if he healed her cats she would be baptized....wow! ...Let's just say that God works in marvelous ways and this dear sister now has a baptismal date next month! Miracle :)
On Wed. we had our -every 6 week- English class party. We made bite-sized "American" pies -that everyone inhaled- and Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches. We also played musical chairs and a balloon-popping game that was near out of control! Overall, it was a huge success. Some of my young students made me the most precious thank you card using their best English skills. Absolutely melted my heart!
We also gave Temple Tours this Thursday. There's a big stake center beside the Taipei temple and every Sister companionship rotates through providing chapel tours for investigators and interested visitors. I LOVE the Taipei temple. Every time I see the white spires I have the warm feeling of coming home. The Taipei temple represents the home base of the mission- where you feel the love of other missionaries and the mission president. it further represents the heavenly home I wish for all the Taiwanese people. The temple is my goal for every one of them, and seeing it gives me such joy!
This week, I've been reflecting on all the changes God has worked in my life in recent years. This week I turn twenty-one... so young, yet full of so many powerful and precious lessons and experiences. Life is such a marvelous journey, and the path of light - our eternal journey home- is fraught with joy and many wonders. I hope never to miss each and every precious gift, miracle, and lesson.
I'm coming to find great joy and gratitude in being teachable. I love Proverbs 12:1 and I have thought of it often over the past week or so... I know that those who love knowledge love correction and instruction. I know that the ability to humble listen and diligently obey brings a multitude of blessings, brings abilities and understandings we would never otherwise acquire.
God is working miracles here in Taiwan and I'm grateful to be a witness to it! Love you all so dearly. It's been a great 21 years... The best is yet to come!
Sister Barden
Sunday, July 14, 2013
The Week of the Typhoon
July 14, 2013
Dearest Family,
Another week has come and gone... and I find myself - again - stunned by the range of emotions, circumstances, and people I have encountered. My time, thus far, has been nothing short of a baptism by fire and I am grateful for the strength, humility, and patience the Lord has taught me.
The massive typhoon that hit us this week is such a metaphor for the trials in our life. When the typhoon hit, rain pummeled our windows, the winds shook our walls and closet doors, and the broken sign above our apartment tore partially from its place and clattered against our window cages for many hours. Despite the darkness and jarring noises, we were safe, we were warm, and we knew the storm would pass the next day.
Sometimes I feel as if missionaries are in the middle of a spiritual typhoon. Satan rages in the hearts of many and sometimes missionaries get a very real and jarring look at the depth and darkness of his influence. But, despite all the winds of unrighteousness churning around us, we are safe, we walk in the light, and we know the storm will pass.
I did not imagine I would encounter some of the "typhoons" I have experienced this early in my mission. I am grateful God is teaching me how to better understand and over come all unrighteous influences, in whatever form they may present themselves. Even amidst such experiences, we can have the calm assurance that the Savior will always have the power to command that every typhoon -- "peace, be still".
Remember not to be "of little faith"
Wow, what a week!
Love you All!
Sister Barden
Monday, July 8, 2013
June 8, 2013 - From Lauren Barden in
June 8, 2013 - From Lauren Barden in Taipei, Taiwan
Hello Family!
Mom's birthday week! Promise me you will eat LOTS of dark chocolate... and take her for one of our famous birthday dinners. Wish I could be there but I hope you feel my love from Taiwan. :) Love you dearly mom!
I would like to start by revisiting last Wed. in the temple. I had an unbelievable experience in the Celestial Room. The Taipei temple is beautiful. It is white and open with dark wood furnishings carved in the Asian style. I loved the palpable feeling of peace that washed over me the moment I walked through the doors. I felt a near-literal hug from heaven, a warm and deep outpouring of love and peace. I'd had a wonderful but challenging week, and the temple gave me such a blanket of comfort. I remember Wu Mama finding me in the locker room and just hugging me so tightly. What a wonderful experience.
Tang Nainai is one our investigators. She had her baptismal interview this Sunday! We are so excited for her. SHe is 66 and has such a sense of humor. SHe gets distracted frequently but she understands the lessons and really enjoys coming to CHurch. We love her!
Lee Qian Rou continues to be a marvel. We taught her the plan of salvation and she ended up explaining the three kingdoms of Glory to US when we finished. I have rarely seen an 11 yr old with such great faith.
Right now, I feel so grateful for the challenges in my life that allow me to grow and change. Someone once explained a metaphor to me that I think describes my feelings well. When we intensely exert our muscles, we feel pain-our muscle fibers tear, they become sore and achey. Temporarily, we feel weak and very tender. However, before long, our muscles are strengthened and their abilities are magnified.
I know that this mission will continue to seemingly tear the muscle fibers of my soul as I seek to become stronger and more Christ-like. I know that in weakness and affliction we are made strong. I am so profoundly grateful for this opportunity. I am floored God has already changed me so deeply in such a short amount of time.
...currently eating ice, jello-like soy milk, sweet potato, and softened peanuts??? It's weird but yummy!
Love you all so very much - Yes Julia, I'm praying for you this week!
You are such blessings to me - don't forget.
Sister Barden
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
From Lauren Barden in Taipei - "The newborn
From Lauren Barden in Taipei - "The newborn in the Hello Kitty room" - July 3, 2013
Wow what a week.
I have been here about a month. So strange! It is difficult to imagine life before Taiwan. One memorable story from this week occurred when we received a phone call on Sunday. A member from outside our area just had a baby and was living at a women's hospital in JiLong. Her baby is having some health challenges. Her husband is not a member so she wanted the missionaries to come and give her baby a priesthood blessing.
When we entered her room we were greeted by bubble gum pink walls, Hello Kitty bedsheets, Hello kitty lamps, and Hello kitty rugs in a wash of bright pink and white. L.ove Asia! She was so warm and kind, and her beautiful, tiny, dark-haired baby absolutely melted our hearts. I will never forget watching the huge hands of our elders on that tiny little head as they gave her a blessing. It is a blessing to watch the power of the priesthood in action. This week, we hope to teach her husband a lesson - he's gaining interest in the church!
This morning we had our zone temple day. Oh, how I love the temple. Temple visits occur every three months so this was very special. I felt so wrapped in feelings of peace and love, surrounded by members and fellow missionaries who are so filled with light and joy. Soooo grateful we have a temple in our mission.
I'm learning to have more patience with myself. I won't speak chinese tomorrow, nor will I be an extraordinary missionary this transfer, or even every transfer after. I need to have love toward myself and the process of becoming. God is in the process, and line upon line he makes of us a masterpiece.
Love you all, have joy in the journey!
Sister Barden