Letter #87

Hello Hello,

So this was a great week. We were extremely busy! We went to the Revlon Run-walk again. That was really cool! It is a fundraiser that is organized to help fight breast cancer. I guess it is supposably pretty famous. They only do it in Los Angles and here. The Missionaries are a huge part of this event! We helped people find where they needed to go and register if they had not yet had a chance. The coolest part of the whole thing was right after the race, we got to go count all of the money that was received. I have never seen so much money in my whole life! We got to go into this really nice hotel that is in the middle of time square, in a locked and secured room! It was pretty cool I felt like I was some sort of a secret agent. There were supposably a few movie stars that got up to give a speech but I had no idea who they were. I have not seen any of the movies that they have been in because I am too old! ( in my mission age)
The rest of the week went great as well. We found a guy named Zhang, who is really golden. He said that he previously went to another church but because they wanted to charge him a couple hundred dollars to be baptized he left. He didn't feel like that was right. I have taught very few people that think about things the way that he does. Whenever we teach him a new principal, you can almost see his mind digesting the information. Then after he thinks about it for a second, he will either ask a great question or tell us that he agrees. We have already met with him 3 times, and set a baptismal date with him for the 20th! I am so grateful! It is amazing to see how heavenly father prepared him to meet with us.
The longer that I do missionary work, the more I realize how small I am a part of it. I think when you first come into the mission field you are so excited to contribute your own talents and ideas, that you almost forget to involve heavenly father and the guidance he gives through the holy ghost. But as you continue to have the grace of christ make up for your weaknesses over and over again, you realize that in the end you are nothing but an instrument. I think every single person that I have found on my mission has been a result of the same process. I work really hard and find many people. But, due to different things many of the people that we find will move out of state or simply disappear. It is after I have almost been brought to tears, and I have given all that I am able, the miracle happens. The one person that has been prepared and ready finds us.  That is what makes a mission so special! This great piece of information is clearly laid out right in front of your face.
Hope you are all doing well! Thank you so much for all of the love and support, I can't even begin to say how much it means to me.
Elder Barton