Sept. 29, 2013

Dear Family,
 
    October is here! I love this time of year and am thinking about you all as you prep for conference and enjoy the cooling weather. We won't be watching conference until the 19th and 20th. I keep thinking about our family General Conference traditions, particularly our cousin trips up to the Conference center each Conference weekend. I miss you all. Please tell Kate, Ben, Parker and John to each have a handful of chocolates in Uncle Craig's office just for me!
 
Also, Aubrey is now a mother! I cannot believe her baby is so beautiful. My favorite picture is the one where she is holding Nathaniel and just staring at him. She will be such a wonderful mother! Right now our life paths are different, but they will all lead to the same happy ending and I am so excited for her to begin this new adventure!
 
  Tuesday was our temple tour day. One of the temple tour sisters, Sister Tsai, has an injured ankle so we went on an exchange with them so her companion could proselyte in their area. I was able to be with Sister Tsai most of the day. I love her! We stayed in the mission office and sent referrals while talking about training and the mission life. It was a very relaxed day in comparison with our recent schedule and I loved the chance to reflect and ask her for advice. That evening I helped her walk to the temple because some of the workers said they had a spare pair of crutches they could loan her. I will never forget these sweet temple workers running around adjusting her crutches, teaching her how to use them, re-adjusting her crutches and helping her practice walking around. They were so attentive and sweet.
 
   On Thursday, we had the opportunity to attend a training meeting for all the first transfer training companion-ships. The church has invited all the missions to hold this meeting in hopes that it will strengthen some of the younger trainers and their trainees. It was such a great meeting! President Day began by having us watch the video linking missionary work and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It includes excerpts from talks given by President Eyring and Elder Holland that point us to the Savior during difficult times in the Lord's service. It was a touching reminder for me that every day of my mission is giving me the chance to better understand what our savior felt and experienced during His ministry. My mission is giving me an opportunity to continually turn outward to others despite exhaustion, discouragement, and inadequacy. Elder Holland stated that missionary work "should require something of our soul" because "salvation is not a cheap experience". I feel as if my missionary service is requiring something of my soul, but as it taxes, it expands and magnifies. Capacities to love and understand are being stretched and deepened. It's a very tender and sublime experience... and I'm grateful for it.
 
  On Saturday night we met with a darling fifteen year old investigator named Lin Wen Yu. She is so bubbly and full of joy. We love her! This week, her cellphone broke and she had no way to contact us for our Saturday appointment. Distressed that she wouldn't be able to get ahold of us, she said a prayer that God would help her. On a bus ride, she told a friend about us and the friend ended up having our cell phone number!!!? So amazing!
 
 We are working hard and seeing little miracles as we go. This week helped me to realize that I need to seek "acceptance of the Lord" and in His peace and perfect wisdom know that all I am doing is sufficient. God fits tasks to our abilities and this beautiful work in JiLong has been fit to the abilities that Sister Tracy and I have been given thus far.
 
 We never stop learning and growing, we never stop seeing miracles. This is God's work - I'm so lucky to be a part of it!
 
Enjoy Conference and remember how much I love you!
 
Best,
Sister Barden

 

 

Sept 22, 2013

Dear Family,
 
   We visited the Chiang Kai-shek memorial for P-day last week. It has the same scale and feel as the Lincoln memorial...but in Asia! I thought about my summer as an intern in Washington, DC as we walked around the marble steps and took pictures of the iron statue of a seated Chiang Kai-shek. We also had the opportunity to see the changing of the guard. So meticulous! Amazing. Again, thought of DC. While there, we had a group of American members come up to us! They were so kind and happy to tell us about recent sports games and how much they were loving their visit to Taiwan. The father had even started his mission in JiLong! What are the odds :) They had a native with them who worked for the father's company. When she heard we lived in JiLong, she quickly wrote down a name and address. She told us her mother lived in JiLong and that we should visit her.
 
   Later this week, we did get the opportunity to visit this wonderful mother. She and her daughter are Christian and deeply grateful for the blessings of God in their lives. As we sat in her home and began to teach us about the importance of prophets, she looked at us and asked "why don't we have any more prophets? I've always been confused about that?". We were so excited to teach her about the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. She was so curious about our message. She committed to start reading the Book of Mormon! Can't wait to visit her again.
 
  We experienced another miracle on Saturday. We have a very sweet member named Chu JieMei. She often comes to my English class and is ever so sweet to us at church. Friday night, before I went to bed, I had the very clear thought that I should call her and see if we could visit her. When I called, she responded by saying she was -at that moment- writing a letter to the missionary who had converted her. She was experiencing some massive trials in her life and felt completely overwhelmed. I'll never forget her saying "I was writing this letter to tell her about my challenges.. and then you called". I'm so grateful God has perfect understanding toward every one of us in our specific circumstances.
 
  We worked hard this week, however, due to many factors (heavy rain, holiday, our investigator's agency :), etc.) most of our investigators did not come to church this Sunday. As I sat in sacrament meeting, wishing they were all there with us and knowing how desperately they needed the messages and spirit found at church, God gave me a powerful reminder. He helped me be so grateful I have the chance to experience this kind of "God-like sorrow" for my investigators. It is very difficult for us as self-centered, mortal beings to understand what God feels when we knowingly disregard the counsel and blessings He has provided for us. Because of His love for us, He feels so pained when we are not willing to make the effort to change, to experience a higher level of light and joy. I know that if I didn't have these experiences of watching those I love fail to keep commitments, disregard my counsel, or continually break commandments, I wouldn't have this taste of how God feels toward me and all His children. I'm so grateful for understanding, for an increasing ability to love regardless of how much love (or criticism) I receive. I'm humbled God loves us so much! His love is infinite and unchanging. We just need to invite it into every day, every hour.
 
  Last night we went to a members home and had a MASSIVE dinner with a few of the oldest families in the JiLong ward. They are so full of love! We ate so much!  I love these people with all of my heart. So blessed I get to share some of their lives with them - they are teaching me remarkable lessons.
 
Remember you are so loved!
 
Have a wonderful week,
Sister Barden

 

 

From Lauren Barden in Taiwan - Sept. 15, 2013

Dearest Family!
 
    This week we attended Zone Conference in the mountains! I was SOO grateful to our mission president and the assistants for doing all the work necessary to plan activites and logistics so we could have this day out in the beautiful Taiwanese countryside. The green carpeted mountains rose into misty, mystical clouds as the deep blue ocean stretched out below our panoramic view. I desperately miss running outdoors so this experience truly seemed to soothe my soul. This island is truly spectacular. One of the best parts of Zone Conference was getting to talk to beloved Sister Edwards while we hiked! I LOVE HER! She is currently in the North Zone and I am thrilled I get to see her at all our Zone training meetings. We always discuss other Jerusalem friends, things we've learned since coming on island and especially profound miracles we've experienced in our repsective areas. I still can't believe God assigned us to be roommates in Jerusalem before sending us to the same mission. She's such a special friend. I love her light and her joy!!
 
   I also have some funny stories to share... Each Wed. we go to a nearby hospital to serve some of the children waiting for doctor appointments. While there, one of the workers wanted us to try a traditional moon cake in honor of the big holiday next week. She cut up two pieces and offered them to us. I took a bite and then proceeded to gather our things while Sister Tracy quickly scarfed the whole piece. The worker then told us that the moon cake was a GREEN TEA moon cake. Ha! I will never forget Sister Tracy's surprised face! We've been laughing about it all week.
 
    We experienced a big miracle this Friday. Navigating in Asia is.... interesting. Hen Hao wan. (This means a really good time!) Asian streets are very much a labyrinth. Many of them have very similar names and are not set on an angular grid. They twist and wind and....they are all marked by characters! (aka I do not understand them) I've taken to writing down the phonetic equivalent of the address I am told and then I ask as many people as I can how to get to "the phonetic name of the street". Most of the time, it works! However, this friday, we were not able to find the home of an LA the bishop asked us to visit. We were going in circles in the dark and asking many confused passerbys about the location of her street. I'd prayed really hard that morning asking God to help me to know where we needed to go that day but I was feeling lost and a little discouraged. We continued to search in the dark when an "angel" on a motorcycle stopped and asked what street we were looking for!  He told us he hadn't heard of the street but he would drive around on his motorcycle and help us look for it. Truly remarkable. 5-10 minutes later he returned and told us he had found the street. What a blessing! We visited this dear sister (who says she hasn't let sisters visit her in years) and will help her get a priesthood blessing from the Elders tonight. I am so grateful for angels.. especially those who are cool enough to ride motorcycles!
 
    As I work as hard as I can to take care of JiLong and compensate for all of my weaknesses as a new missionary, I'm continuing to ponder a quote taken from on of my favorite talks. Elder Christofferson referenced a beautiful statement by Thomas Carlyle. He quotes " All true work is sacred; in all true work, were it but true hand-labour, there is something of divineness. Labour, wide as the Earth, has its summit in heaven."
 
   Don't be afraid to work hard. Just as our long hike through the Taiwanese mountains allowed us to reach a jaw-droppingly stunning summit, when we give life everything we have we will reach that heavenly summit that we hope and yearn for with all our hearts.
 
   I love you all so much. Keep climbing!
 
Sister Barden

 

 

Sept 8, 2013 from Taiwan

My Dearest Family,
 
   I hope settling into school has been a smooth transition for everyone- that includes you mom! Those early morning seminary students are so lucky!

   I don't even know where to begin as I try to express all of my thoughts relating to this week. Training is a beautifully overwhelming experience. In my mind, I keep comparing it to parenthood. I know I have never had complete and total responsibility for someone else before. I'm fiercely independent and training has given me a remarkable perspective on nurturing, loving, and teaching by example. I compare training to parenting because I feel no child can fully understand the burdens of their parents until they must take care of a child themselves. No trainee can fully understand the burden and responsibility of a trainer until they shoulder a trainer's workload. I'm grateful for understanding - with understanding comes gratitude, resilience, and patience. It encourages gentleness and determination to fulfill one's responsibilities to the best of one's ability. The pressure, the discouragement and the joy are all magnified in the training position and I am ever grateful I have been given the opportunity to cycle through each of these emotions.

  I've had the wonderful opportunity to reflect on what type of trainer I would like to be. I think about Miao JieMei and the way she trained me. I think about one of the most fascinating books I have ever read: The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. The book presents a juxtaposition of Western and Eastern parenting styles, explaining the Eastern mentality of expressing love through instruction and very high standards. As I teach my wonderful trainee, I'm seeking to be the type of trainer I feel the Savior would be. This does not mean I do not have faults, this does not mean that I protect her so much that she will not learn all I hope she can learn, but it means that she never has any doubt in her mind that I love her and absolutely believe she will have a successful mission.
 
  God has given us many precious miracles this week. One of our investigators is named chuan zi. She is unbelievable. I have rarely seen such extraordinary faith. I have rarely seen such hope as I have witnessed through her obedience and perserverance. Our last lesson with her was nothing short of miraculous. When we first met her, I remember her sunken eyes and exhausted manner. Her face had been devoid of peace and joy, her heart achingly heavy. However, she began reading the Book of Mormon and acceptaing every invitation we gave her. Some of the commandments were difficult for her to keep, but she perservered until she conquered all difficulties. For over a month, her husband has been fiercely opposed to her contact with the missionaries, forbidding her to accept an invitation to be baptized. She has been sneaking out to meet with us occasionally, always bringing her little daughter. Every time this little girl sees me, her face lights up and in the most beautiful, gentle, high-pitched voice she says "Deng JieMei!". I love her so much it hurts. We've seen such progress in Chuan zi's testimony and added joy in her life. The gospel is changing her and her family in extraordinary ways. Last lesson, she smiled as she told us her husband had heard the prayer of her little girl a few evenings before. The little girl had thanked God that her father had bought her dinner. After the father heard this sweet prayer, chuan zi turned to her husband and said "maybe baptism isn't so bad right?". She said he didn't respond but she knew that he was thinking about what she said. We're praying so hard for her!
 
  We had so many miracles with contacting this week. We also were blessed with navigating through the labyrinth-like city of Jilong. We had a few times this week where I had nothing but the phonetic address of what others gave me to find homes buried in densely inhabited streets. We would take long bus rides and I would ask a few locals if they recognized the sounds I was making. God helps us find our destination every time. Unbelievable.
 
 Trying to catch every tender mercy of the Lord in my life. What a ride!
 
Have a wonderful week!
Sister Barden

Taiwan Mission August 31, 2013

September 1, 2013

My Dearest Family,
 
    Li Xiang Zhen was baptized on Tuesday. I remember Miao JieMei and I just hugging each other with happiness. What a miracle. I'm going to miss my "tiger mother" Miao JieMei - She always smiles when I call her that! She has no idea how much she has shaped and altered me for the better. Thursday, I went to the temple chapel in JinHua for the training meeting. I remember feeling a numbing sense of fear in my stomach as I realized that out of all the trainers, I was the one with the very least experience. Despite all these thoughts, I've tried to immerse myself in the truth that God has called me to be a trainer - and my answer to  every call will always be yes.
 
  We took the new missionaries out contacting their first night in Taiwan. I took one dear sister to the same place I spent my first night of contacting less than three months ago: the Chiang-Kai Shek memorial. I loved this so much! As I guided her, I was stunned and humbled at the gifts God has given me during these two transfers of my mission. We saw miracles as we placed Books of Mormons and taught lessons. What a fabulous experience.
 
  On Friday, I took an early bus ride and sat in the front row of transfer meeting with the rest of the trainers. This, again, felt sublime as memories of being assigned to a trainer still seemed so vivid and fresh in my mind. All the sisters stood up one by one and were assigned to their respective trainers. When the last one was called up, I knew she was coming home with me. Sister Tracy is the missionary that JiLong needs right now and I am thrilled I get to be her companion! She is from Seattle, Washington and has the most loving, calm, and West-coast "chill" personality. She is game for all the crazy adventures we have every day. I am so excited for all the miracles we're going to see together!
 
   Rain has been pounding JiLong the past few days. Saturday afternoon, I knew we had to get to three lessons despite the intense downpour. Decked out in our intense raingear, we marched street after street from lesson to lesson. While trying to reach our third destination, we found multiple routes blocked by 3-ft deep flooding, entire stores carpeted by the dark and heavy rainflow. After deciding there was no other way to get to our investigator (11 year old Li qian rou!), I turned to SIster Tracy with a big smile and said "are you ready for this?". I loved her response: "Let's do it!". Armed with our calf-length ponchos and umbrellas, we plunged into the flood and made our way across the street. As garbage floated past and motorcycles got stuck in the running water, I couldn't help but smile at such an unbelievable circumstance. I will NEVER forget such an amazing day.
 
 I want to share one more final miracle that occured that same evening. During our dinner hour, we were planning on doing an hour of contacting before helping the Elders get ready for a baptism they had scheduled for 7:30. However, I had a sudden feeling that we should try to go visit a 9 year old RC we hadn't been able to see for about two weeks. We went to her home only to find that she wasn't there. On the way back from the chapel, Sister Tracy a few steps in front of me, I saw a young woman walking toward us as she headed in the opposite direction. The strangest and most quiet feeling came over me and I knew that I should try to talk to her. As she came abreast of us I ran up to Sister Tracey, telling her to "wait!" before I darted back to this young girl. As we taught her the first lesson, she explained that she had been experiencing many trials in her recent life. She told us that the night before she had prayed to God that He would help her. "And then today, I come across the two of you!", she told us with a smile. I was deeply touched and humbled by this precious miracle. This is God's work.
 
  One more fun memory I want to share. I was asked to play my piano arrangement of "Praise to the Man" at the new member fireside last night. I love this song. Every time I play it, I feel as if it is my way of expressing how much I love the prophet Joseph.
 
What a journey!
 
Praying for you always,
Sister Barden