Aug 18, 2013
Dearest Family!
 
 HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN! I thought of you your entire birthday. Love you, you crazy wonderful redhead. :)
 
 One of the great blessings of missionary work is the opportunity to daily rely on the power of the Holy Ghost. In missionary work, it quickly becomes apparent that your own power is far from sufficient. Thus, you try to rely on the quiet, clear, and peaceful promptings of the spirit to guide your service every minute of every day. I've gained a greater understanding of the importance of keeping ourselves in the right "spot" to receive revelation from the Lord.
 
  This week, I've been pondering a certain comparison from my life to help me better understand how I can keep myself in the right spiritual location to hear the spirit. When I worked as a Congressional intern in Washington DC, I had the opportunity to provide capitol tours for the constituents of the MN 03  District. I relished this responsibility of showing others the wonder of such an exquisite and historic site. One of my favorite parts of the tour took place in a very special location known as the "whisper spot". After entering the elaborate hall that traditionally housed the House of Representatives, I would guide each group across the marble floor to a seemingly ordinary tile. There I would instruct the group to stand close together before making my way to another distant tile at the far end of the room. Arriving at another specific spot that I knew well, I would bend my head down and quietly whisper something to my group. Immediately their heads would pop up above the rest of the tourists in surprise, their huge smiles seeming to tell me "We heard you?!!" The perfect half-dome shape of the former H of R is responsible for this memorable phenomenon. When standing on one exact, small tile, one can hear the whisperings on the other side of the room with stunning clarity. Some even say John Quincy Adams kept his desk at that particular spot for the full length of his service so he could eavesdrop on the opposing party. As I think about hearing the Holy Ghost, I remember the "whisper spot" on capitol hill. If we allow frustration, discouragement, fatigue, or doubt into our hearts, we move away from the small radius of the floor tile and can no longer hear the quiet and clear whisper of the Holy Ghost.  Finding that small, precious tile can be hard. It can look just like any other spot and takes practice to be able to recognize at first glance. But, as we seek out and find that tile more quickly, the message becomes clearer and our ability to receive it improves.
 
   ON friday, we had the special opportunity to go with a small group of missionaries to a big Youth Conference in Yilan. Miao JM was asked to bear her testimony and I sang in the small choir. The drive was nothing short of stunning. Taipei is so large that most of us have never left the city center that spreads across the North East of the island. Huge, mist-tipped mountains tower over valleys crammed with buildings, the roads lined with dense , green vegetation. The conference took place high up on a mountain, the view opening up to reveal the Taiwanese coast and famous Turtle island. Breathtaking. I loved mingling with these incredible youth. I have a special young friend from Beitou and I occasionally see her at firesides, etc. Every time she sees me she nearly ploughs me over with a huge hug! Youth Conference was no exception ;) . So grateful for her love.
  The bus ride home from Yilan was very memorable. WE all sat in the dark bus, the rain drizzling across the big windows. WE talked quietly while others slept. I had a beautiful and peaceful feeling, even a familliar thought. I felt i was suddenly back on a big bus in the MIddle East, one of our amazing professors (Ludlow, Harper, Huntsman) answering our countless doctrinal questions from over seats or in the aisle. It truly seemed magic to me. I love these missionaries.
 
Every day is stuffed with memories. Sometimes it seems there isn't time to unpack them all in my head! Changing so much. Learning so much.
 
Love you all - Have a wonderful week!
 
Sister Barden