Letter #97

Hello my dear friends and family!

 

This week was just marvelous! Me and Foley have been working so hard! My mission president gave me a challenge in my last interview to make elder foley the most tired that he has ever been in his life my last cycle. I think we have been doing a pretty good job with that. Every night after we finish planning we crash. It has been great!

This week was full of miracles. Everything just seems to be working out perfectly! We have found a few new investigators this week that are so cool. The ways that we found them I feel were a huge blessing. The first one that I want to tell you about is Yan Di Xiong. A few months ago I contacted a lady on the street of china town that I will never forget. If I remember correct I even talked about her in one of my e mails. She walked towards me with her face down staring at the ground. In response to my voice she slowly looked up into my eyes. She had a black eye and her mouth was bleeding a little bit. As I started to get to know her, I came to realize that these wounds on her face were a result of her husbands anger. She started cry as she told me that she was in china town to give her husband some time to cool off. She was leaving the next day to go back to Philadelphia (where she lives), so we did not have an opportunity to sit down and talk with her more.

We have stayed in touch over the last few months, but it has been really hard for us to do anything considering she does not speak english, and there are no chinese speaking missionaries up in Philadelphia. When we called her on monday she told us that she was still up in Philadelphia but she assured us that things were starting to get a little better. As I was getting ready to hang up the phone, I asked the signature missionary quesion, "is there anything that we can help you with?" We ask this question to people all day everyday, but it is very rare that we actually get any kind of response. This time was different however. She said that her husband just got out of the hospital and is in china town. She said that she would love it if we could go visit him and see if he is ok. I think before she was even able to finish her sentence I was asking for the name and the phone number! I was so excited for this opportunity.

We called his phone, he answered, and agreed to come and meet up with us. I have to say I was very surprised. I was expecting a rough looking man with a rough attitude. But Instead it was a short little man with long flowing hair and pink t shirt. He also came across as a very nice man. We shared with him our purpose as missionaries is to help him come closer to Christ, and in turn help his life and his family. We gave him the family proclamation to the world, and invited him to read and pray about it. The spirit was very strong. Me and my companion could feel that he had a very strong desire to change.

I feel so blessed to have that experience. I can remember the day after I met that girl on the street feeling so sad for the rest of the day. I also prayed for her with all my heart. Heavenly father heard my prayers. Not only did he hear them, but he answered them. I really hope that Yan Di Xiong will take the things that he learned with us and apply them into his family. He is meeting with us agian tomorrow. I cant wait.

I do have to share one funny story before I log off... So we were teaching a lesson in dunkin doughnuts the other day, because one of our investigators did not feel comfortable coming to our chapel. There is a crazy homeless lady with a large hole in her forehead that loves to cause trouble in china town. She will do things like come next to us as we are teaching a lesson on the street, drop her pants, and start to go to the bathroom. It really gets out of control sometimes. As we were in dunkin doughnuts teaching this lesson she walked up to our table. I am so happy that our investigator did not speak english, because she said alot of bad words. She chewed us out pretty good, then hocked a luggie on my companion. I dont think I have ever been that discriminated against my whole entire life. Our poor investigator was so scared. He got up and left right after the episode. I think he will probably feel comfortable coming to our chapel next time.

I am really sorry. Now that I think about it that was a really weird note to end on! haha! Well I sure do love you all! Thank you for all of the love and support! The church is true I believe it with all my heart. I am so blessed to bring this great message of happiness to the people here in china town! have a great week!

Elder Barton