Taiwan Mission November 4, 2013

Dear Family!

   It's November.  How did that happen? Sometimes I feel as if I just arrived on island. Blessed to be so busy.
 
This week was.. stuffed with miracles. God is opening the "windows of heaven" on our area and I feel as if we are scurrying around trying to keep up!  Here are some unbelievable stories:
 
  1. Rita. We were contacting at the harbor and only had a few minutes left before we had to head to the bikes. As we walked, little families running about the dock and the cool breeze pulling at our clothes, I saw a tall woman leaning against the rail as she looked at the ocean view. I felt a little drawn towards her and told Sister Tracy I thought we should try talking to her. When we went over and asked her how her day was, she gave us a sad but beautiful smile. She told us she had not had a good day. When we asked her why, she broke composure and began to cry. The Taiwanese people are not as emotive as people in the states so this was surprising for me. I'd never had someone cry during contacting before. She went on to tell us her struggles at work, with relationships, with life. Sister Tracy and I went in for a hug and just held her for awhile. SHe told us she didn't know if God existed. We taught her to pray and said a prayer on her behalf. After the prayer, her tear-stained face broke into a big smile. After showing her Alma 37:37 and inviting her to pray, she talked with her Heavenly Father about her struggles. She was much happier and told us we were angels as she hugged us many times. When she came to church on Sunday, she stood up in Gospel Principles and Relief Society and talked about how the missionaries had hugged and helped her. We love her so much!
 
 2. We also had an eleven year old investigator (Li QIan rou!) whose parents have been too busy to bring her to church for a very long time- finally have the opportunity to come to church! We brought the ward mission leader to meet her mother on Saturday and were able to arrange for her grandfather to bring her. As we greeted members at church, the elevator doors clattered open and this little girl came bounding up toward us calling our names! Priceless.
 
So many miracles…
 
 I'm studying in Genesis right now and it is such a fun experience after having taken Brother Harpers OT course in the Holy Land. Every chapter, city name and footnote seems to open up a landscape, smell, or sensation that I experienced in Israel. Soooo remarkable "experiencing" the scriptures. As I read in Genesis 24, I found so many insights and parallels to missionary work. When the servant arrives in the land of Abraham's kinsman, he prays to God and "sets a goal" with him. He promises God that if a woman waters all of his camels he will know that is the woman God has appointed to be Isaac's wife. Whenever we go contacting, we also set goals with God. We ask Him if he can place Books of Mormon, teach lessons, write down phone numbers etc. I also love how Rebekah felt about her service for Abraham's servant. It says that she "hasted" to water his camels and that she "ran". These words describe her zeal for service. I think Rebekah is an incredible example of faith.
The Old Testament is so fascinating.
 
Sister Tracy and I are committed to pushing hard these last few weeks we have together. We've had so many beautiful experiences together and we're determined to make the most of every day... Even if Sister Tracy is bitten by a million mosquitoes! She's a trooper.
 
You are all so wonderful- enjoy the last of fall and remember that I love you!
 
All the best from Taiwan,
Sister Barden