Lauren Barden from Taiwan, Jan 12, 2014 

 

Dearest Family,

 

Sister Chu and I had a fantastic week! We witnessed one beautiful miracle while giving a temple tour. We found the number of a Vietnamese woman who had asked for a Book of Mormon a few years ago. We called her and invited her to come and experience a temple tour. As we gave her the tour, it became very apparent that she was full of faith. She was full of gratitude and stories about ways she felt God had guided her life. As we taught her about the Savior and the Restoration, the spirit seemed to grow stronger and stronger. When we shared the first vision, I felt a burning in my heart that very clearly directed we needed to invite her to be baptized. I glanced at Chu JieMei and her face told me that the spirit was telling her the exact same thing.With a smile on her face, she accepted our invitation and told us she would be willing to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it's truthfulness. 

 

Another special miracle occurred while we taught another progressing investigator. She is a very intelligent and logical person who has very perceptive questions about the gospel. As we discussed Resurrection, her forehead wrinkled and she innocently said "Science cannot explain it. Don't you ever doubt it is true?". We explained that God and science work in harmony with one another, that things we don't understand allow us to build our faith. Her face still showed her skepticism. The spirit then led us to reword our answer. We explained that Joseph Smith understood that "worlds without number" existed far before scientists had begun to understand the incomprehensible vastness of the universe. We also offered our belief that the laws God uses to perform his work exceed the science of man; that if science could not explain a principle of heaven, it was not because the power of God was nonexistent, but rather that science -at present- had not advanced enough to understand the laws of God. After this answer her face began to soften and she looked at us long and hard. "it's interesting to me that you can take questions I have had for so long and help me understand them so clearly" she told us. 

 

This week, I thought about the miracle of the mission and how every day of service is precious. I've been pondering on the truth that God - in reality - doesn't need missionaries to help those seeking Him find the gospel. God could arrange for a member to move in next to a prepared individual, He could arrange for someone to leave a Book of Mormon in a place where someone who will believe it will find it.... so why does He choose to work through missionaries? To be a missionary is to recognize that all things are possible through the power of God, to see Him working in His majesty and power. The missionary's role is very small in the process of an individual's conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The power of Christ has never been clearer to me than when I have sat in simple living rooms and watched the spirit enter into the heart and eyes of the precious person sitting across from me. It's humbling that God puts such important and tender opportunities into our imperfect care. The Lord's trust and endless love for every one of His children is truly staggering. I'm grateful for the chance to better understand Him. 

 

Sister Chu is as fun and hard-working as ever. We are doing our best and laughing every day. I love her so much! I call her my "elephant" because during language study she tried to learn the word "elegant" and boldly told me. "I am elephant!" Haha. Language study with her is always one of the funniest parts of my day!

 

Love you all - stay warm!

Sister Barden