Sister Barden from Taiwan - Mother's Day - May 11, 2014 

 

Dear Family! 

 

Loved seeing you today!  The new house is stunning- props to your killer style mom ;) 

 

The spirit led the way this week! We had some incredible experiences. This Saturday, we were contacting near Da An park. It's one of the most popular parks in all of Taipei and most of the people we meet are not native to our assigned area. After some time with little success, Sister Chao and I said another prayer to know where to go. As we prayed, a place came to my mind. It was a street I'd seen a few transfers ago in passing but it wasn't too far from where we were. I shared the thought with Sister Chao and we decided to follow the prompting! When we arrived on the quiet street, Sister Chao got really excited when she saw an open door leading to a cluster of apartments. (My companion loves knocking!) We headed in and began knocking. Nothing. As we headed down an unsuccessful stairwell we stopped at a light wood door. A young man named David met us. He told us that we had been lucky to catch him as he had been waiting alone at his office for some supplies to arrive. David doesn't have much of a religious background but he is anxious to become a better person. He told us he hasn't met very good people lately. When we prayed with him, he asked us what was the "special feeling" he was experiencing. We explained it was the Holy Ghost telling him that prayer was right and that God loved him. We invited him to be baptized and he accepted. He is now our new investigator. Sister Chao and I left his house bouncing with excitement. God led us to a single office in the heart of busy Taipei. A needle in a haystack is not too difficult or too far for the Lord to notice! 

 

We also had the Wu family come to church. All four of them came. Sister Chao and I felt we would burst with happiness as they all shuffled into sacrament in skirts… and Brother Wu in a tie! (He hasn't worn a tie in over 20 years!) The mothers day messages moved them deeply. The Book of Mormon is changing Brother Wu's life! We've been strongly encouraging him to read it on his own and reading with their family during some of our lessons. He is in 2 Nephi. This week, he told us that the more he reads the Book of Mormon the less he feels angry. Watching his conversion process is one of the most priceless things I have ever experienced. Is it possible to love a family I met only a short time ago SO very much?!?! I know it's the Savior's love for them that He is sharing with me. They are a miraculous family. 

 

My testimony of the power of the Book of Mormon to change investigators, less-actives, recent converts.. and me!... is growing stronger every week. It opens something in all of our hearts... a softness and desire that just continues to grow. Every week we visit our less actives they tell us how much they love studying with us. Our investigator from China, Sister Shi, attended our ward Book of Mormon class last night and loved learning about Nephi. She had so many good questions afterward! Sister Wu tells us that her husband seems kinder when he reads the Book of Mormon every day... They're gripping the iron rod and seeing the light of the tree of life ahead!   The Book of Mormon continues to help me personally every day. I've been reading in Mosiah lately and have been continually struck with the word "immediate". It's a pretty powerful word. Whenever we obey the Lord or seek Him,  help and blessings are immediate. They may be only comfort or greater strength... maybe greater happiness or tangible blessings... but some blessing will immediately come. I love the words in Mosiah.  And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he immediately bless you; and thereafter he hath  paid you. [Mosiah 2:24]   Full blessings we may have to wait for. Sometimes we must patiently endure during our trials. However, some beautiful thing will always "immediately" come to the faith-filled, obedient child of God. Mosiah 25:10 echoes a similar idea:   10 And again, when they thought of the immediate goodness of God, and his power in delivering Alma and his brethren out of the hands of the Lamanites and of bondage, they did raise their voices and give thanks to God.  The goodness of God is immediate. It's a beautiful thing to see on the mission in the lives of others. 

 

Sister Chao is SUCH a blessing! I could not love her more nor think more highly of her. One thing I am learning from Sister Chao is the reminder to be more simple in teaching. I really do have more of a creative mind and I need to continually remember the value of simple and clear teaching. Every day together is SO much fun! 

 

Love you always! Hope your loving the beautiful spring as much as we are :) 

Sister  Barden