RE: Sister Barden from Taiwan - July 6, 2014 - The YW Taiwanese Tsunami!

Hello dearest Family!!
 
    What a busy week! We were blessed to see so many little miracles every day. One night, the spirit guided us to remarkable finding miracles. After meeting some people willing to listen, we had just a little bit of time on the way home to contact. Both Sister Keung and I had the feeling that we still needed to find someone. We had the feeling to turn down a side street and saw a woman walking toward us in the dark. As we stopped to talk with her, her face lit up in a happy smile. Her name was Vivian and she is very interested in religion. While discussing the existence of God, she told us that -sometimes, for an unknown reason- she starts to share her thoughts and feelings as if there were some 'Being' listening to her. When we told her that was because she was a daughter of God, a God who hears and answers prayers, her smile became wider. "Really?" After teaching her the first lesson, giving her a Book of Mormon and inviting her to baptism, Sister Keung and I were again blown away at the truth that we are sent to find those who will receive us... and there are always, always those that will receive us. We just need to find them!
 
    Sister Keung and I also saw an explosive miracle in finding with our two YW Taiwanese companions! (They are serving with us for one week) They are having a missionary experience and teaching with us for a whole week! They are both hard working and full of faith! We've experienced incredible blessings the past few days they've been with us. Love their fire!
 
    This week, I've been really pondering about the Atonement. I've been pondering what I truly understood about the Atonement in my life previous to the mission... and what i've learned during my mission experience. I keep having a scripture come to mind in Mosiah 12:27. In context, it is the prophet Abinadi calling the wicked priests of King Noah to repentance... however, I think every good teacher should continually ask themselves the same question. Abinadi tells them "Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise. Therefore, what teach ye this people?”  Simply knowing and actually applying our hearts to understanding are different actions. I know there are many times where I "know" what the Atonement of Jesus Christ is... in simple terms... but do I actually utilize it? Do I utilize it to the fullest potential I could? I think I fall short. I love the story of Enos... Enos obtains peace and the 'sweeping away of his guilt' because HE knew that God could not lie. This required applying his heart to understanding and letting the peace of the Atonement into his soul. The Atonement is always there for us, it is OUR decision to access it. So... am I accessing the Atonement to the fullest extent that I could? I want to do better. When I understand more I can help others understand more, I am happier and more able to do everything that God wants me to do! The Atonement is the greatest message the Earth could ever know - but we have to help others use it and... we, in turn.. need to use it ourselves.
 
    I'm having a great time with Sister Keung. I think her relaxed islander influence is helping me be funnier- haha! I'm learning that although we need to give it everything we've got..  we also need to stop and 'smell the roses’... keep time for laughs and funy stories about New Zealand. We're doing a bit of a logistical dance with our -now two- companionships working far apart in different areas, but it's going well and we're able to cover a lot of ground!
 
    I'm glad the Sun Valley family reunion was such a magic experience as always. Love you so much! - MOM - HAPPY BIRTHDAY! This is a big one for you :) Hope you feel a hug from the other side of the Pacific!
 
Love you all!
Sister Barden

P.S. Our little nine yr old investigator was baptized in JinHua this week. So happy!

 

 

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