Mission Blog from Taiwan  Oct. 20, 2013

Dear Family,
 
General Conference! There were so many profound messages. I loved the talk on the Christ-like attribute of meekness. Elder Bednar also inspired me. The way he organized the message and tied such a profound principle (spiritual discernment) into the tithing funds of the church was incredible. I was also grateful that several talks addressed the topic of womanhood.

I am loving reading from the New Testament. This week I was able to study the Books of John and begin Revelations. Every chapter seemed to speak to me and present new insights I hadn't thought of before. It was an incredible week of personal study! 1 John describes love beautifully - love towards God and love towards fellow-men. As I pondered about how I feel the mission has increased my desire and capacity to love, I was especially drawn to a few verses in chapter 4. Verse 8 reads "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love". This passage is so simple and profound. As I interact with the people of Taiwan and see families together, strangers providing acts of service for one another, I am inspired to have more love. A mission is a time to fervently seek to become more like the savior, to cultivate Christ-like character and love. In Christ and our desire to follow Him, our "love"is "made perfect" because "his love is perfected in us". (vs. 12 and 17). The more I love the more I feel my Savior's love for me. Feeling this capacity grow and flourish is a very humbling and sublime experience. I'm so grateful for it!
 
We had some special experiences this week. We had a powerful lesson with a wonderful young investigator. As we taught and testified about the Plan of Salvation, Sister Tracy shared a very personal story. The spirit came into our lesson and the investigator's eyes began to glaze with tears. She asked insightful and thoughtful questions including "what is the requirement for being baptized?". When we gave her a baptismal invite, she accepted! I'm so grateful the Holy Ghost guided such an amazing lesson.  This week, we also had the chance to visit a wonderful family that has been inactive in recent years. When we came to their home, we shared a message and invited them to Stake Conference this weekend. Saturday night we called and they said they wouldn't attend the Saturday night session and were uncertain about being able to travel to JinHua. However, as we sat in the JinHua chapel, the mother of the family came from the back of the room and with a smile said "We're here, we're all here." I turned around and saw the whole family waving to us from their seats! I had the most beautiful feeling come over me as I saw them sitting together and thought about her words. "We're here... we're all here". Forever families is our goal!
 
As I learn from mistakes and successes and continually try to improve, I am having the chance to apply the Atonement every day. The Atonement allows me to know that even if a contact doesn't go well, a few investigator's fail to come to appointments or I don't have a perfect answer for a very intelligent investigator's complex question... it's okay! God makes up the difference whether it's now or at a future date. All he asks is our best, and I am giving mine every day. The Atonement is very personal and is applicable no matter how great or small the mistake or heartbreak. Through repenting everyday, seeking to be better everyday, change and improvement come. I'm so grateful I get to testify of this principle as I experience it in a slightly different way than I did before becoming a missionary. The Atonement is so powerful, so joyful! I love getting the chance to share its message.
 
It's starting to get rainy here in JiLong - pulling out the heavy duty ponchos :)

Love you all so much!
 Sister Barden