March 31, 2014

Hello Family! Happy Spring!

We had an incredible week! We were blessed with so many miracles. The Lord helped us in our finding time. We were led to many prepared people that accepted lessons and were willing to meet with the missionaries. One night, Sister Chu and I only had around thirty minutes to find. We said a sincere prayer and went to work. We were led to an older man walking his dog. As we spoke with him, he began to tell us about his children. He told us that as they have become teenagers, his relationship with them has become strained. He wondered if church would help his family and said he would be willing to listen to our message and be baptized if he felt the church was true.

Another new investigator was set up to meet us on Saturday afternoon, but he didn't make his appointment. We called many times but weren't able to get ahold of him. That evening, just before another investigator's baptism, he called us to say that he was waiting for us at the chapel. We immediately invited him to the baptism where he heard a newly baptized member bear a powerful testimony about the restoration and the happiness the gospel has brought her. When we asked him what he felt during the baptism, he only responded with one word "Awesome!". He has a baptismal date for next month!

Another sweet experience took place on Sunday after church. A sweet girl we recently began teaching shared her growing testimony and how she loves the special feeling she felt whenever she came to the chapel. She told us she really wants to learn more about God. She told us she felt loved at the chapel... she felt that everyone was her family. It was clear that she didn't want to leave. We helped her understand that she was feeling the spirit. As she left, she gave us huge hugs "I love you!" She told us. We love her light!

I learned so many things this week. Recently, we've been making a greater effort to work with the members in our ward. This week, we saw so many miracles from member service. We saw the youth working hard to pass out fliers during a finding activity. One member, while contacting with us on the street, passionately told everyone around her why she was a member of the church and how they could know it was true. The Bishop asked if he could meet with all of the JinHua missionaries every Sunday before church so missionary work could be discussed and lifted. God is pouring out his blessings through these incredible members!

I also learned a lot from our investigator who was baptized this week. Her name is Chen Ming Jun. She is radiant. What really stuns me about Chen JieMei is her... excitement.. her fire. She wanted to be baptized as if it was the only thing that mattered in the world. Every night we called her and could hear the anticipation in her voice, every time we saw her she was all smiles, loving all of the members and thanking us for the lessons we have had the opportunity to teach her. She has let the gospel completely into her heart. Before her baptism, a member started bearing her testimony and began to cry. Chen JieMei reached out and started comforting the member.... She is already Mosiah 18: 8-10 personified! As she bore her testimony after her baptism and in Church following her confirmation, she was glowing. She has a complete sense of wonder about the gospel and an excitement and love of the church that is so bright.. nothing can make her feel discouraged. I want to be more like Chen JieMei, I want to forever maintain a "sense of wonder" about the gospel. If we're always loving the journey, grateful for all of it (bumps included!), we will let the light and joy of Christ completely fill our lives. I love Ammon's example when he says "my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God!". I want to never lose the "sense of wonder" about the gospel.

Sister Chu and I had a fantastic week before transfers. We worked hard, saw so many miracles, and had lots of fun! We really had a most ideal final week together- I'm going to miss her! She's opening a new area down South in TaiDong! Sister Chao is my new companion! She is also incredible! I love Sister Chao's commitment to the work - she's always willing, always ready to do anything it takes to fulfill her missionary purpose. We've had a great start. We've been seeing miracles, learning together and laughing as we go. She also attends BYU and we knew each other in the MTC! I can't wait to see all the wonderful lessons we will learn together this transfer. We're going to give it everything we've got!

Loving life, Enjoy Conference! Tell Debbie and Craig I love them and am thinking about them this week.

Love
Sister Barden