Summa-Time Letter #93

Hello Hello!


Well this week was just fantastic! China town is really booming! I
think with summer coming in every one is in a much happier mood. It
really makes sharing the gospel alot easier. Last summer I was
upstate, which was great, but there is something about the city in the
summer that is just incredible. A cornicopea of different smells and
people.
Me and elder huang just got out of a really intence lesson. This guy
was only in new york for one day, and came to our church wanting to
learn a little bit about our beliefs. He woke up at 4 30 so that he
could come to our church and wait for us to arrive. He told us that he
has been studying many religons, and loved to see the differences that
all of them had. At first we both had the feeling that he was just
another basher. We started to take the route of shutting him down, and
simply giving him an invitation to pray about the book of mormon. But
everything that we shared with him led to a question, and then to
another, and then to another. In the end our discussion ended up being
2 hours long. We were really "diving into the doctorine". But the
spirit was really there. All of us left feeling edified and uplifted.
He told us that he is going to read the book of mormon and get in
contact with the missionaries in canada. I believe it, I dont know if
I have seen someone with so much desire. It was not prideful either it
was very scincere. I know for a fact that man will join the church one
day.
Me and elder foley (the new missionary) had the opportunity to teach
the very first young mens and young womens in the china town branch
this last sunday. There were three young women and only one young man,
but it was such an amazing experince. I cant even begin to put into
writting how much of my heart I have but into serving this branch.
When I see it growning the way that it is, I am so happy.
President smith delivered his final zone conference on tuesday. It was
very emotional for me, and everyone else that started their missions
with president and sister smith. They are such amazing people. I will
look up to them for the rest of my life. President shared with us a
parable from his pilot experience. It was so powerful. I am not going
to try to write it here because I would not do it justice. The message
was simply about repentence and how we can start over. He bore such a
powerful testimony of the atonement.
Our investigators continue to make me amazed. We taught brother wang
the word of wisdom on sunday, and he reached into his pocket and
handed us a full brand new pack of cigerettes. He agreed to give it up
right there on the spot. It is amazing what people will do when they
are converted to to gospel. I love all of our investigators so much.
This teaching pool we have right now is incredible. I could go on and
on about each and every one of them!
Well I sure do love all of you guys! I hope that you are having a great week!
Elder Barton

Letter #92

Hello hello!

This week was fantastic! Many of our investigators are starting to progress, and we were even able to set a couple baptismal dates! It has been amazing! These people that we have been working with recently are so prepared. It is so amazing how well God knows each and every one of his children.

I had one really cool experience this week that I will never forget. We were teaching a lesson when two ladies that I have never seen before came in and asked to speak with us for a second. I walked a couple feet away and my companion continued to chat with our investigator. It turns out that these two ladies were not members of the church but one of them had a son that was baptized a couple years ago. They recently moved to Indiana so we have not seen them for quite some time. Even though they were not members of the church, they knew that our church was a place that they could come for help. One of them had a daughter that just came to the untied states from china and has not been doing too well with the change. They told me that she is not very healthy and has been in the hospital for quite some time. They did not specify what exactly was going on but they asked if we would be willing to go there and visit her daughter. I agreed and set up an appointment for monday.

On monday, we met at our chapel in china town then went together in a taxi to the 14th street hospital. When we got there we noticed right away that this was not a normal hospital but a psychiatric ward. I had flash backs of reading the book "One Flew Over the Koo Koo's Nest" in high school and a feeling of uneasiness came over me. We went to the top floor of the hospital and waited out side a double bolted steal door for a security guard to come and unlock the door for us. When we went inside, this ladies daughter came around the corner screaming. She was mad that we were a few minutes late. Her mom told us to go stand off in the distance and wait for her to settle down. As we sat down on the cold blue leather couches many different patients continued to pass by us. They all had different problems. Some were alot more noticeable than others. My feeling of uneasiness turned into a feeling of peace and comfort as I tried to think about what Christ would do in this situation. I thought about all of the different accounts we have of Christs earthly ministry. He helped so many people and performed so many miracles. I pictured him just walking around this hospital, sitting down and talking with each of the patients. He would not load them up with all kind of medication that is hard to pronounce. He would simply love them and teach them principles of the gospel.

The mom came back and asked us to come sit with her daughter as she talked with the doctor. The doctor in my opinion seemed heartless. She was chinese luckily so she was able to communicate her points very clearly. She continued to tell this young lady that she was not normal and that she needed to take more medicine. Our new friends daughter really did not like medicine because of the way that it makes her feel. The doctor continued to tell her that she had to take it. I wanted so bad to shew this doctor away and simply have a conversation with this young lady trying my best to weave in as many principles of the gospel that I could. But, I don't think that would have been the best idea. The young lady ran away screaming in a temper tantrum. We asked the mother if we could have a few minutes just to talk with her but when she asked the daughter, her daughter was not up for it.

Me and elder huang left the chapel some what depressed as we thought about some of the things that had just happened. We both had the exact same experience. It is times like this, I realize that if everyone on this earth was trying to live a life like Christ did, it would be a much better place. As much as I wish it was like that, I am glad that it is not. It really helps me to realize how amazing Christ really was. The things that he did in his time on earth are incredible. I am so grateful for him and the sacrifice that he made for all of us.

Well I got to get going but I hope that you all have a great week! Thank you so much for all of the love and support that you all give to me, it really means so much!

Elder Barton

Letter #91

Hello Hello!

 

Well this was a great week. So many amazing things happened. I feel like every week of my mission just continues to get better and better. Even on the really hard weeks, you can always look back and say that you learned something.

Yesterday was my last zone conference with president smith. It was such an amazing meeting. President Smith opened up the meeting for questions. I always love these kind of meetings, because it is just amazing how the spirit with direct the conversation. Even though all of the questions were different, President Smith still managed to tie the whole meeting in to the theme of the holy ghost and the light of christ. I learned so many new things yesterday. I think that if I started to write them all down I would be sitting behind this computer all day long. But thing I took out of the meeting the most was for sure going by the spirit. I really hope that I am doing that exact thing with my investigators. I hope that each time they meet with us they feel enlightened.

There was one story that happened to me this last week that I thought was rather interesting. So about a week ago as I was street contacting a lady, a monk walked up. He asked me a few questions about our english class, took a card then was on his way. There are many monks in china town, I talk to them quite a bit, but I have never had one of them take a card! I thought that was kinda strange, but did not think to much of it. A few days later, I received a call from the same monk telling me that he would be attending english class the following day. That was the day my companion was teaching so I sat next to him through out the class to see if he needed any help. Half way through the class he looked down at my old beat up shoes, and asked what size I was. He then said that he had a pair of shoes at home that was just my size and insisted on giving them to me. As much as I tried to tell him that I was fine, he only pushed harder insisting on giving me this pair of shoes. The next day he came into english class with a plastic bag held at his hip. He reached in and gave me a pair of shoes that was indeed just my size. I was so grateful.

He also brought a friend with him that day. The both of them sat down with us after english class asking question after question about what we do and our basic beliefs. One of them even grabbed a book of mormon to take home with him to review and study. At the end of our conversation the both of them asked us if they could treat us to dinner. Knowing that the life of a monk was very similar to that of a missionary I was very hesitant. But, again their persistence overruled my hesitation. They took us to a vegetarian resturant in china town. (Monks are vegetarian) As we sat down at the table the waiter came with a big kettle of tea. As they prepared to pour me and my companion a glass, we had the opportunity to share with them the word of wisdom. They were so understanding and polite. The meal was fantastic. There were so many foods that I have never tried my whole life. Eating that made me think that being a vegetarian is not so bad after all.

I really dont know what will happen with my two knew monk friends. But, being able to plant the seed with these two individuals will be something that I will never forget. It was so great to get to know them and understand them better. Me and my companion left that appointment grinning from ear to ear. I am so grateful that heavenly father blessed me with that amazing opportunity.

The rest of the week was fantastic. I do not have one complaint. Our investigators are progressing at an incredible pace! We also had one lady just come back form china that we had taught previously. It was so good to see her again. We are meeting with her again tonight so I am very excited. We also had the opportunity to teach a lesson on speaker phone with one of our investigators that went out of state for the weekend. That was my first time doing that! The lesson went so well. He did his reading, and has been praying! He really enjoys everything that he is learning! We invited him to be baptized on the 8th of next month, and he accepted. We are so grateful for this huge blessing.

Well I sure do love all of you! I got some letters from the young women this week, and they made me so happy! It was so great to see how much you are all growing up! Thanks for the letters they really mean alot. I hope you have a good week!

Elder Barton!

Letter #90

Letter to just family today!