Dec. 29, 2013 

Dear Family, 

     I'm in a new area! 

     My new area is called JinHua. It's right in central Taipei and includes the Taipei temple square. I already love it here and am excited to learn a lot over the next few weeks. 

      I saw some beautiful miracles this week! On Christmas day, my companion and I were able to see two single sisters be baptized. God truly is miraculous - He provides the right circumstances and the right timing for every prepared soul to accept His message. When they both bore their testimonies after the baptism, I was so happy I felt my heart could burst. There is no happier work than missionary service! 

     In JinHua, we had an investigator attend a Relief Society activity this Saturday night. She has been meeting with the missionaries for some time but has not ever been willing to attend church or a ward activity. When we invited her Saturday morning, she finally accepted! In a lesson after the activity, she told us she had felt something special. "I don't know why I accepted your invitation today. I've been thinking about giving up studying the Book of Mormon...but tonight I decided I really want to better understand this church". The spirit was so strong. It's amazing to see the Holy Ghost influence hearts and minds. 

     This week, I wanted to study about love and charity - particularly how I can have more love for those I have the opportunity to serve in my new calling. PMG tells us that charity is a gift from God and, like Moroni invites, we should "pray with all the energy of heart that we may be filled with this love". I am learning throughout the different stages of my mission that God not only asks us to love all men, He also provides that love -His love- if we humbly ask for it. As I ask God to give me love for all the people I interact with, whether they be different from me or similar, friends I have known for a long while or others I briefly contact, He will help me feel His love for them. The mission can increase our capacity for love and compassion. I love a quote from Parley P. Pratt that describes these changes well. He says " I have loved before, but I knew not why. But now I loved- with a pureness- an integrity of elevated, exalted feeling, which would lift my soul from the transitory things of this world and expand it as the ocean". This is so true. Everywhere I go, I feel God expand my heart a little more, make it more capable of loving more people - more deeply and quickly than I could before. 

     I love Chu JieMei! I am learning so many things from her. She brings a light and energy everywhere she goes. The past three days have been fun and very memorable - I'm very excited we get to serve together! 

Love you so much! more next week- Happy 2014!  

Sister Barden