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