Sister Barden in Taiwan - August 3, 2014

Hello, hello!

What a wonderful week! I saw the powers of heaven at work here in Yilan.

On Monday, we were riding the train up to Yilan when I caught a woman staring at us. Having someone stare at you is a rather uncomfortable feeling, so I waved at her and began to ask her questions. She wanted to take a picture of us. We then invited her to English class at our chapel. She said she would love to come, wrote down her name/phone number and asked us to call her. So great! Even better... she actually came to English class and stayed for the baptism following the activity! From speaking with her, we've learned she is a young mother who has a very challenging life. In our first lesson, she shared with us about her family difficulties and her greatest desire.... to just feel loved! We taught her about baptism and when Sister Graham invited her to have a baptismal date - she told us she was willing! Wow! I never stop having such a feeling of surprise and gratitude at each new miracle the Lord brings. This lonely mother in a random train car somehow made contact with the missionaries... and it may change her life forever. SO grateful for miracles!!

Every missionary knows baptism is just the beginning for every investigator. Being baptized and confirmed does not mean that a new member does not experience difficulty or doubt.... make mistakes or forget to consistently do the small and simple things. That is why, when every missionary does their very best to prepare each investigator for baptism.... they still pray like crazy that the investigator will continue to experience TRUE and LASTING Conversion. Every time I witness a baptism - I am filled with the same prayer: what else can we do to ensure that they keep progressing, that they don't fall away? There is much we can do as missionaries, but there are also certain things that are beyond our control. There are things we must entrust to the Lord...ex: leaving those we teach after we are transferred to a new area....
This week, our investigator Joshua was baptized. His journey is miraculous. I very clearly remember him telling us -repeatedly- "I don't want to be baptized". As his understanding deepened, I also clearly remembering him saying "I'm willing to be baptized" and then "I'm excited for my baptism". Remarkable. During his baptismal service, I remember feeling the same prayer in my heart "What else can we do to ensure that he keeps progressing? We want him to never fall away!" As the service continued, a scripture came into my mind - Alma 26:7 " But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day". It was the most comforting answer- we can do our best and then know that those we teach are in the "hands of the Lord". After his baptism, Joshua couldn't stop smiling! He bore a powerful testimony that Sister Keung and I had never heard from him before - He cannot wait for a new start! Oh, the blessings!!

Sister Graham is... unbelievable. I have been blessed with another wonderful trainee. She is humble and hardworking, full of faith and optimism. She's worried about her Chinese but... everyone is in the beginning of their mission. Cannot wait for these next weeks to serve together!

Sister Graham is a BYU student who runs triathalons!!! whoa! She loves all intellectual things and has an obsession with Indian food ;) We are going to have an incredible time together... I can feel it!

Love you all!
Sister Barden