Brother Zhang Got Baptized!

The Snow's Found Elder Barton

Hello Hello!

Well these last few days have been very interesting! A few days ago we decided to use the oven... That was the start of this great story! After which some strange and very strong smell began to take over our apartment, then the whole building! It got so intense that the fire department had to come (aka the china town dragon fighters) and take care of the situation. Let me tell you these men do not mess around! I have never seen more tactical gear used in my life just to simply unplug an oven! But even after the oven had been unplugged and a few days later, the smell has not gone away! We were told by our mission president to go and sleep in the church last night! That was an adventure! We are not in a normal church building so we had to sneak past the front desk security! I am not going to lie it was exciting! We had to sit in the church with the lights off, not moving or talking so that no one would get suspicious! haha! We are hoping to have the situation resolved soon. Our mission president has given us the assignment of finding a new apartment! should be pretty interesting!

This week was full of incredible miracles. I am absolutely speechless. To start off Brother Zhang was baptized! It was such a great baptism. Although we did not meet with him long before his baptism, he really went through alot. I love the guy so much. Baptisms are so incredible. As Brother Zhang walked down into the baptismal font, I had a flash back of when we met him on the street. He walked by us with his head down, hair covering his face, and a cigarette clinched between his index and middle finger. He took a card, but did not give us much opportunity to talk with him. For some reason, this image was so powerful to think of as he walked into the font. He is a changed person. He carries himself with a confident, and glowing Ora. I am so grateful for him...he strengthened my testimony so much.

It is very ironic that last week I addressed the topic of food miracles with you all. Because, this week, I experienced probably the biggest one I have experienced my whole entire mission. Our zone had set a goal of getting 20 baptismal dates and we decided that if we hit it, we would have a zone pizza party. Well with many incredible miracles, the goal was accomplished. Numbers do not determine the success of a missionary but when things like this happen, it is incredible evidence of the love and existence of our heavenly father. It is incredible how he will answer our righteous desires.

When the pizza man came this last Monday, we had the money prepared and ready to go. As we proceeded to hand the money to the pizza man, he told us that there was no need. He said that the bill had already been payed. We looked at the credit card number on the receipt and it did not match mine or elder huangs. The man wished us a nice day, then was on his way. We stood there dazed and confused as to what had just happened. We have no idea what happened but we are so grateful for this incredible tender mercy.

Well I love you all so much! Thank you for all of the great support that you all offer! I hope that you have a great week!

Elder Barton

Letter #88

Hello Hello!

Well this has been another fantastic week! We have been so blessed! Because of recent weather conditions, and our chapel getting new carpet, we have not had a chance to meet with many of the people that we had planned on. But I no matter how hard the days are heavenly father always find some way of making the work fun, or making us happy. He takes care of his missionaries so well. One of our rough days this last week, we had three separate individuals give us food! I have realized most of my biggest miracles on my mission involve food! Every time that we are getting close to the end of the month, and don’t have a lot of money heavenly father always provides some way for us to get food.

Despite the weather conditions, Brother Zhang still continued to meet with us. I must say, I have been so amazed by the faith of Brother Zhang. We taught him the word of wisdom this last week and found out that he had a very serious smoking problem. I shouldn’t say we found out, it was pretty obvious from the start. He would usually have to take a few "breaks" outside each time that he attended church. When we shared with him this commandment, he told us that he would usually smoke a pack or more per day. A pack of cigarettes will usually include some where around 20 cigarettes. He told us he had tried to quit many times, but had not had any success! But this time he really feels like he can do it.

We gave him a priesthood blessing to help start this challenging task. The spirit was so strong, after the blessing we all just seemed to know that he would be able to do it with no problem. The next day was Sunday, and he came to church. As soon as he walked in to door, we knew that something was wrong with him. He was sweating profusely, shaking, and his skin color appeared to be green. He told us that he had not smoked from the time that we gave him a blessing, and he was having a hard time. Luckily we had prepared a little present for him. We took one of his old boxes of cigarettes that was empty and filled it with scriptures. We even rolled up little pieces of paper and colored the tip yellow, then placed the scripture references inside of the hollow paper tube. So every time that he wanted to smoke he could pull out one the scriptures and read.

Yesterday, he came and met with us again. When he walked into the room, we could already see a change that had taken place. The green countenance had turned into a glow. Even the tone of his voice seemed to have changed. He pulled out his book of Mormon, and we were very surprised to see that he had almost read all of the scriptures we had given him. He bore his testimony to us of how the book of Mormon purely testifies of Christ. He only smoked one cigarette yesterday, and is planning on not smoking again. The book of Mormon is amazing. It really does have power to change people’s lives. Zhang is such a great example.

Street contacting this last week, I met an amazing person. I was very hesitant to contact him in Chinese because his skin was white. But, I noticed that many of his features, and actions resembled a Chinese person, so I decided to give it a try. It turns out he was Chinese, but due to a skin disease his skin and his hair turned completely white. As I talked to him for a little bit, he shared with me his life story. I have never heard such a sad one my whole entire life.

He is originally from Taiwan, but moved to Indonesia at a young age for work reasons. In Indonesia, he met his wife, had a great job as a college professor, and was making quite a bit of money. Everything in his life was going perfect. But then a mob came into one of the stores that he owned set it on fire, and took the life of his wife that was 4 months pregnant. They also injured him very badly. His chin was cut, and he was severely stabbed on his arms. I had no idea that life in Indonesia was so dangerous. Long story short, he came to America because life in Indonesia only made him think of this tragedy. His life in America has been no walk in the park. All of his money is gone, and he has nobody here to support him. He showed me a picture of him and his wife, and he used to look normal. With dark skin and dark hair. But he said that because of depression his skin and hair color has changed. I tried my best to share with him the plan of salvation, and assure him that he would see his family again. He grew quiet for a few moments, and then asked if I had a pamphlet that he could read. I gave him one, we said a quick prayer, and he was on his way.

Yesterday we ran into him again. He told us that he read the pamphlet and it brought him great comfort. He said the day that I ran into him was the exact day that his wives life was taken. The spirit was so strong. Unfortunately he had to get going very fast, and was leaving for Philly. He has no cell phone, or way we can contact him. But he said he would be back in a few weeks, and he would contact us. I believe that he will. I am so grateful that I could that information with him. I really hope it will help him.

Well I have got to get going. But thank you so much for all of the love and support! I love hearing from all of you!

Elder Barton

 

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

Letter #86

Hello Hello!

This week was so great! Me and elder huang street contacted our butts off and I loved it! We found so many great people! I had two young men walk up to me and say that they did not believe in God because he is not fair. They said it does not make sense how when children die they go to hell. After they understood the plan of salvation, their eyes almost began to water and they insisted that they could leave their phone number so we could meet with them again. We also had one lady that approached us with black eyes and small cuts on her face. She told us that her husband had not been very nice to her recently. I have never felt so bad for a person my whole life. We testified of jesus christ and the comfort that his atonement brings us. It really seemed to help. I hope so bad that we will have an opportunity to meet with her soon. We are so blessed to be in such a great church that teaches us the importance of the family unit as well as ways that we can strengthen our family.  I also ran into a deaf chinese woman this week in china town! I was able to get her phone number and give her to the sign language elders! As you can see it was an amazing week! I love being a missionary!
Sorry not much time this week. We have to get going. But I sure do love you guys! Thank you for all of the great letters of support! They really mean so much to me! YOu are the best!
Elder Barton

Letter #85

Ryan has not had great access to the internet to write a long letter until today... He wrote small emails to the family for the last two weeks...

He will return home on August 16th for sure!!! We are excited! :) Ryan will have an opportunity to see his high school friend, Matt Passmore on his last day in the NY NYN mission when Matt arrives to begin his mission!!! What an amazing opportunity! - L, Darci

Hello Hello!

So this was another great week! I can't remember if I told you in my e-mail yet, but president smith will be going home in two cycles. I had my last interview with him this week and it was so sad. I love that guy so much! I never really realized how much work he does to run the mission until just recently. I was on a split with the A.P.'s up in Scarsdale and we went into the mission office to grab the packages for the south Manhattan zone. My mission president was sitting behind his desk with a mountain of papers stacked on the desk before him. He told me that he has to study and sign off every single expense in our mission. He then let me look at the "transfer board" pretty legendary throughout my mission. This board was gigantic! Each missionary had a picture and some background info about them placed in their assigned area! This really helped me realize how much time he puts in and how much he really cares about each of us. I really love president smith, I am going to miss him so much. I am kinda bummed I am going to have a new mission president for my last cycle, but it’s ok.

Sister Lin, her son Henry, and Brother Ye were baptized this week! That was awesome... I have never had the privilege of teaching and baptizing someone young before. That was really cool. I must confess I shed a few tears. I am sure I am going to cry like a baby again when I see him pass the sacrament in a few weeks. We are also going to talk with the stake young men’s leader about getting him involved in some camp outs and other young men’s activities. Brother Ye was just as ready as ever. He overcame so much to get were he is and I am so proud of him. He asked me if he could go on a mission after he was baptized. He told me that he really believes that the gospel can bless other people. Unfortunately, he is a little too old right now, but we told he could be a very effective missionary by sharing the gospel with his friends, and others that he surrounds himself with. This made him so happy. It was a great baptismal service.

I had a really cool experience serving in the sign language program yesterday! It was so much fun! My companion was hard of hearing, but his speaking was still really good. For the most part of the day though I was trying my best to sign with him! It is amazing how much of my ASL has been eaten alive by Chinese. But still I tried my best. I really like the sign language program! They are all such studs! I was so amazed! They have a very hard program. They spend much of their time getting rejected, searching desperately for deaf people. I really look up to those guys. When I came back to china town last night and started to speak Chinese again, my head hurt sooooooooooo bad! The switch from my second language to my other second language really did not feel good.

Me and Elder Huang found a few new investigators this last week. We have been so blessed. I am learning so much from Elder Huang, he is a great missionary. It is pretty incredible how much he cares about every person that he comes in contact with. My testimony continues to grow each and every day. I am so amazed with heavenly fathers ability to plan, and organize the way and timing that his children will hear the gospel. I love my mission!

Elder Barton

Ryan, Elder Huang and President Smith 

Letter #84

Hello Hello!

 

So this week was just fantastic! Me and elder huang are working so hard! I think I told you last week that we basically started last cycle with nothing. We found a ton of new investigators this week! All of them were such huge blessings! I feel like we go out side and do our best to contact, then at random times heavenly father will just blesses us for our efforts. Some of the people that we found this week were so incredible and have awesome stories. I always love the first time that we meet with an investigator. It is so great just to listen to them talk about their life, and realize how heavenly father has really been preparing them their whole life just for that one moment. 

One of the investigators that we found this week as been a science professor for his whole entire life. We asked him if being a scientist effects his christian beliefs. His response reminded me of the talk that elder nelson gave to us this last conference. He went on and on about science actually proves that god exists. We introduced the book of mormon to him at the end of the lesson, and it really peaked his interest. We also met others that have been experiencing some very hard trials in their lives right now. As we testified of jesus christ and his atonement they were very comforted, and felt like what we had to teach them could really help them.

I am so excited to start this next week! We have so many great follow up lessons. I am sorry I dont have alot of time again today. I have not been getting very lucky with the computer selection. I hope that next week I can get my full time!

Elder barton

ps That is very nice of you to send another package you really dont have to do stuff like that! It was so great to hear your voice ON sunday!

LOve you guys!

Letter #83 Just To Family