Letter #72 Another Great Week

Hello hello!

I am just coming off of a great week! We had a few things that just kinda happened out of nowhere!

Elder Yamashita of the 70 (I really hope that I spelled that right!) came to New York for a fireside! It was focused on the Asian population. It had Korean, Japanese, Mandarin, and Cantonese translation. My companion did the Cantonese translation! He makes me so proud... ha! He is such a funny guy! I was laughing so hard as he was speaking that tears began to roll down the side of my face. He shared the story of Lambert the Sheepish Lion with us and then asked us if we are the children of a lamb or a lion. I thought this was a cool question. He never told us the answer, he just encouraged us to go home and think about it. My opinion is that it depends on what god’s purpose for you as an individual is. There are some that he needs to be lions and some that he needs to be lambs. He also shared his conversion story. It was an amazing story. He shared it in recent conference I believe. But after he shared the story, he looked over at the missionaries and started to cry. He then said thank you so much. That made me feel so good. He also talked with all of us after his talk and continued to express his gratitude for our service. He is such a great a guy! It made me feel so happy that I chose to come on a mission. It doesn’t matter how many you convert, the worth of one fully converted soul is incredible.

We also had a lesson this last week with Eric and the Union Square missionaries, and passed him off. Although it was really hard to do, it was the right thing to do! He will progress so much faster in the other ward. We also had Vicky take off for China for four weeks! So right now we have one investigator in Spain, one investigator in China, 2 passed off to the English missionaries, and a few out of state for work... Yes things have been a little slow. Even though it is hard, it has been perfect. I know that sounds really weird, there are probably a select few that chuckled to themselves as they read that last line, but it was true. We have been able to focus on li guang's family and have really been starting to see some progress. It is so hard because the mom is not into Christianity and the father is. We decided the best way to help them is really just to serve. We went over to the house yesterday and helped the kids with their homework. I have never seen the mom so relaxed and with such a big smile. There was a warm feeling in the home. We ended up not sharing a lesson but it felt like it was the right thing to do. Changes in this family are not happening right away but we are starting to see some small changes little by little.

This whole experience has really strengthened my testimony that the gospel really can strengthen families. And more specifically having the spirit in a home can strengthen families. It invites peace and unity. It is hard for some one to understand this; unless they have seen what a family is like that does not have the gospel. That does not have the spirit. I am so grateful for my family and for the blessings of growing up in a home that had the spirit.

Everything else is going great; we are still working so hard, and being guided by the spirit everyday. Sometimes it will lead us to do big things, and sometimes it is as small as helping somebody carry a heavy bag of vegetables. We are really hoping to have another great week! I can’t wait to tell you guys all about it!

Elder Barton