"Tribulation worketh patience” - Nov 10, 2013

Dear Family!

     How frightening to hear about the devastation in the Philippines!  Storms in this part of the world can be very severe. I am keeping Micah, the missionaries, the members, and the people of the Philippines in my prayers.
 
    This week was amazing - they keep getting better and better. I'm learning that the sweetest time with each companion is often at the end when your love for your investigators is greatest, when you have been through so many miracles and disappointments together. It's becoming bitter-sweet. I love Sister Tracy! A trainee/trainer relationship is very special and I love everything I have been able to learn from her. We're planning adventures back in Provo post-mission!
 
     This week was so gorgeous. I'm glad I'm in a warmer climate but we have no snow, no Christmas decorations, no reminders of Thanksgiving. It does not feel like mid- November in so many ways. I'm excited for my one Christmas on the mission - I know it's going to be one that I never forget!  
 
    We experienced beautiful miracles this week. We called up a former investigator who had four different baptismal dates a number of years ago. She agreed to meet with us and learn about the church. When we began the lesson, we asked her why she enjoyed meeting with the missionaries before and why she was willing to meet with us now. She told us that she had always felt safe and peaceful with the missionaries and wanted to experience more happiness in her life. The spirit became stronger and stronger as we reviewed lesson 1 and taught her that she was a daughter of God. By the end of the lesson, she was smiling as she told us she was willing to continue meeting with us. I know God prepares individuals to receive the gospel in different ways and according to His timing. It was beautiful to watch this sister remember the warm feeling of the spirit as she came in contact with the church again. We experienced another miracle as we contacted at the harbor. An older, kind-looking man approached us and intently looked at our nametags. He then began asking us about our church and suggested we sit down so we could explain our beliefs. As he listened to the first lesson, he thanked us and said he was going to ask his children to attend our church. "I feel that my relationship with them is becoming distant". He told us. He mentioned that he had a Mormon friend and he had seen this friend's family experience greater love and strength from their beliefs. He told us, "I want to understand" and said he would give a Book of Mormon to his son. What a miracle! I was so grateful to the LDS family who had been such an example to this loving father.

     Recently, I've been reflecting on how peaceful and happy I've been this past transfer. Looking back on the beginning of transfer 3, I've been pondering all the important lessons those difficult first weeks taught me. While looking at the Christ-like Attributes section of PMG, re-reading the description of 'patience' felt like a light-bulb clicking on in my mind. PMG describes patience as the ability to handle stresses and trials by waiting calmly and hopefully. When I felt stressed and put undue pressure on myself, I was lacking patience. I was not trusting the Lord to guide me and the work in JiLong according to His time and His own way. I had such a desire to be a good trainer and take care of JiLong that I wasn't grateful for the chance to overcome my weaknesses and better understand skills that I needed to improve. I'm grateful God has given me the chance to learn to be more patient.

      I've also learned that as new callings and pressures present themselves, faith and reliance on the Lord allow worry to leave and calm confidence to come. I know God gives us challenging experience to strengthen us and allow us to help others with their struggles. This week I read about Joseph and his experiences in Egypt. He endured slavery and years in prison. However, when he is finally reunited with his brothers he is full of forgiveness and gratitude. He recognizes that his trials and experiences were part of God's plan to help those around him and save them from the famine. I know that my experiences are not for my benefit alone, but for helping me better understand and uplift my companions and other missionaries. God has enabled me to empathize with other sisters who may be stressed as they begin training a new missionary and tell them that it will be ok, that training is a beautiful experience that only requires that we do our very best and have fun. Looking back at the wonderful and challenging first weeks of training, I'm grateful God gave me the chance to learn to trust Him more, to have more fun, to see miracles and allow me to reach out to other missionaries who might be going through a hard time. God's plans for us are always more beautiful than the ones we could imagine for ourselves.
 
    Sister Tracy and I had sweet moments this week as we discussed some of her concerns as she approaches the end of training and experienced beautiful memories with investigators/members we love. One of Sister Tracy's greatest strengths is that she is teachable. As I have trained her, I have noticed her willingness to try new methods, accept counsel, and listen to our missionary leaders. She has learned many things and I know she will continue to learn the lessons God wants her to learn through her beautiful and teachable spirit! Training is such a wonderful experience. I remember Sister Tracy falling asleep early one night as she wrote in her journal. We'd had a busy day! I remember smiling as I picked up the things on her bed and put them on her desk.... As I went to turn out the light, I thought about how much I love Sister Tracy and all the things we have learned together. Training provides a small taste of what it feels to be a parent, to teach and take care of another person. This, by extension, is a taste of what God feels for us as he loves us and helps us to grow. I will always be so grateful I had the opportunity to train Sister Tracy!

Love you all- Stay warm!
Sister Barden