Feb. 16, 2014 

 

Dear Family! 

 

I hope you had a happy Valentines Day!  This Saturday, we have Elder Holland, Elder Hallstrom and Elder Stevenson of the Presiding Bishopric coming to Taiwan. They are going to give us a special missionary fireside. We all are unbelievably excited. I've been thinking about Elder Holland's address to us in the BYU Jerusalem Center.  This week should be very memorable. 　

 

What an incredible week! I can't help but smile as I think about all the little miracles we experienced. We had one remarkable experience with a member-present lesson. Sister Chu and I had a lesson with a new investigator named Jason. As we began trying to find a member to help us teach Jason, everyone we called did not have free time during his appointment time. Sister Chu and I must have called over 10 different members before we decided to try a member who usually doesn't attend our assigned block of meetings. During the lesson, we were amazed at how simply and boldly she invited Jason to take action. As she spoke, Jason listened more and more intensely... really pondering the words she was telling him. When we extended the invite to attend church, he told us " I wasn't sure before, but Sister Tsai has said something that gave me inspiration. I will be at church tomorrow". And he was! I believe that God needed to speak to Jason through the simple words of this member that took over 10 other phone calls to find. Miracle!  Also, on Sunday, a mother who lives in our area brought herself to church. As I sat next to her, she told us her daughter was a member attending BYU. For years, she has not wanted to listen to the missionaries and has not been willing to go to church. However, when she and her daughter ran into Elder Gibson (Her daughter's BYU classmate) this mother felt that God was aware of her and her daughter. She  had a marvelous experience during sacrament meeting and expressed her desire to learn more. "I have cancer" she told us..."but I'm not afraid... I want to learn more about God". Wow. We already love her and are excited to help her as she comes closer to her Savior. 

 

　　 Ever since viewing the new film in the temple, I've been thinking more about women and their role in the Lord's plan. Women are caretakers and often take it upon themselves to consider other's needs and worry that they are not doing everything to succor those needs. Women are thoughtful, tender and sensitive... and often put pressure on themselves. This week, in Luke 10, I found some simple and beautiful counsel that I feel the Lord extends to all women. In verses 40-42, we read about Christ coming to the home of Martha. As Martha is "cumbered about with much serving", worrying about keeping the house in order, Mary is sitting at the feet of the Savior. When Martha asks Christ "Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?", the Savior responds " Martha, Martha. Thou are careful and troubled about many things... but only one thing is needful". First, I love that Christ states her name twice. I feel that shows how much he loves and admires her. Second, he acknowledges that her desire to care for others...to want to help and serve.. is a good one. However, he also tells her that only one thing is truly important. That important or "needful" thing is our relationship with the Savior.  I love this. I love the reminder that the only, truly needful thing is to find ourselves at the feet of the savior through our obedience, prayer and study. Discerning good, better, best is so important. 

 

Companionship: Sister Chu! Every week is more fun and memorable than the last. She tried to cut my hair this week... yeah that didn't go so well. haha. No worries! I'm getting it cut again today! We laughed so hard.... 

 

I am excited to hear more about the new house! Have such a great week and take extra good care of TJ on his 16th birthday week!

 

Love, 

Sister Barden