Our Friends are Being Prepared to Hear the Gospel

Baptism of Arito Kazumi~The young man who baptized her left on a mission shortly after.

October 24, 2010 Hey everyone! Sounds like your week was sweet! Happy birthday Olivia! I bought a present for you last week but didn't get around to sending it. Sorry. Ill send it today. Mom, thanks for the talk. I really liked it. Wow a lot of things are happening in Twin Falls. Is kyle going on a mission. I haven't heard from him for ever. O and if you could the Japanese talks would be sweet. Thank you. I don't know if any of the kids need anything but if you want. I'm telling you, there are tons. Like 40 of them! There are the craziest kids ever. Church is pretty wild sometimes. Dad and Rudy! You guys got a 360 van! Nice. Good luck. Well this week for me was awesome. Arito Kazumi san got baptized! We asked her if she wanted to do it a week earlier and she was all for it. Satan was really working on her because she was so prepared for the gospel. The baptism was in the morning and it was way spiritual. She really is like a new person. Her three kids came too and she also invited all her friends. There was a lot of nonmembers there. It was awesome. Since meeting Arito san she has introduced 3 of her friends to us and one has a baptismal date. Arito san felt the joy of the gospel and wanted to share it. She is a way good example. The other day before her baptism we were in a lesson and she was testifying to her friend. She said that she didn't know if the church was true yet but that she knew that by getting baptized her family would grow stronger and her testimony would grow. Arito san didn't join 5 or so other churches because it didn't feel right and she had problems with the teachings. After this she kinda gave up on religion and met us. 3 weeks after meeting us she was baptized and now is enduring to the end just like all of us. Nothing can explain how this happened other than the spirit. She felt the spirit when she prayed, while reading the Book of Mormon, and at church. The gospel is simple and she felt the spirit. I am way thankful for her and her family. Her kids also want to get baptized. Recently I have realized how simple missionary work is. Me and you and everyone in this church asked to convince our friends of the truth by our words. We are asked to find the elect that will feel the spirit and want more in there lives. The way we find this out is by opening our mouths and testifying like Arito san. If our friends aren't ready we love them and serve them. If they are it is a miracle from God. Every person that I have seen get baptized was prepared by God in some way or another. This is really humbling. Our friends are being prepared to hear the gospel. This is a Promise from God, his son Jesus Christ and his prophets. I didn't understand this doctrine before coming on a mission. I don't completely understand it now but I am trying my hardest. I know Christ live and God is preparing his children in ways we cant even comprehend. The Church is true and because of this the word eternity has meaning again. I love you all and I know I talked a lot about gospel stuff. It is a passion now I guess. You guys are great, the mission is awesome and I love you again. Till next time.

The Work in Japan is Awesome!

October 17, 2010--Hey everyone! How`s Idaho? Is it getting cold yet? Thanks for all the emails! It was good to hear from you again. I`ll answer the questions first. I got the package, Thankyou. The toothbrushes are great! I gave my comp one and he uses it too. Pretty cute huh. My winter clothes are in great condition. I wont be needing anything new. But thankyou. I have tons of socks and garments too. Sorry, I just dont need anything. My area is awesome! The ward has about 100 active member and about 40 of them are kids under 16. Mostly really little kids. The primary is huge. My comp is way cool and we get along well. He worked at a toyota factory putting together cars to earn money for his mission. His family isnt the richest family in the world so he probably wont get a ton for christmas. I dont know if me or him will be comps at christmas but if we are maybe if you could not give me as much and buy some stuff for him. His suits are getting pretty bad, etc. Ill keep you posted. Olivia! Way to go! Sharing the gospel is fun, right. You are a way good example for the family. Keep it up. If you want any suggestions or help just shoot me an email. Marrisa sounds like a good friend. I totally forgot about the missionary lessons at the home Brian and Alex. Was I really there? I feel awful. If I knew what I know now I would have offered some help to the missionaries. This week was sweet! Tons af miracles and some new people getting ready for baptism. Brother Kamitani is also doing way good. He came to stake conference yesterday with his sister who is a member. I am meeting him tonight at the church to start the after baptism lessons. Arito san is also doing way well. She is following the commandments and is definately one of Gods elect. Satan is really trying her testimony right now. She is getting baptized on Halloween! The other day she did something pretty cool. Last week Arito san Invited her friend Yamasaki to hear the discussions. She accepted and we met a couple of days ago. Yamasaki accepted to be baptized and follow the Word of Wisdom but she likes everything in the Wordo of wisdom except drugs. She said that it would be way hard to stop drinking and smoking, coffee, and green tea. Arito san helped out a lot when she said, "I thought the same thing but when I prayed for help the urge went away" Pretty powerful huh. Arito san is way cool and I cant wait to see her family grow in the gospel. The other new person is named Kamei. He is 16 and way tall. Over 6 foot and he plays volleyball. He is way pure and is really progressing. Last week he brought the BOOk of Mormon to school and was reading it in between tests! Lately I have felt way thankful to be apart of Gods work. No words can explain the joy I feel when I see someone change through the gospel of jesus christ in a short couple of weeks. Yesterday Pres. McIntyre talked in the stake conference about Member missionary work. I thought is was pretty easy to understand. He gave some simple advice. Look and pray for opportunities to share the gospel. when these opportunities are given to us we act by following the spirit. He also said to simply let out friends know that we are Mormon. I remember when I was in high school and I thought that everyone knew I was mormon. I was shocked when a couple of close friends came up to me and said "I didnt know you were Mormon" These should never happen. It is our responsibility to let our friends know what we do on Sundays and throughout the week. The church is true and I love sharing this with people. The work in Japan is awesome and I love it. I am way thankful to be a part of the Church of Jesus christ. Have a great week and good luck in everything! O and thanks for the Picture book. It is awesome!

The Best Phone Call Ever!

Baptism of Kamitani San!!!!

October 10, 2010---Hey everyone! I'll tell you up front that today I only have 10 minutes to email. Sorry. This week was awesome, especially yesterday. Kamitani san got baptized! Last Monday when we taught him he said he needed more time. We told him to really pray about it this week and when he got an answer he could get baptized. Well on Thursday when he was praying he felt the Holy Ghost and it told him to get baptized. When we called him on Friday he told us what happened and it had to be one of the best phone calls ever. "Sorry a little better than Christmas" LOL. He is way prepared and when he was receiving the Holy Ghost the blessing was really easy to understand. The brother that blessed him told Kamitani that if he prayed, read the scriptures, obeyed the commandments, and went to church his life would be blessed. I felt like I was listening to a prophet or something. I don't know about you guys but this General conference was way simple. The brethren pretty much said what this humble Japanese member told to Kamitani san. This tells me that God is influencing everything and when we do things through the spirit it is God's will. I know the Gospel is true and really simple. I love you guys and till next week!

Sharing the Gospel

October 3, 12010~~Hey everyone! Thanks for the emails! That is way sweet that Dr. Thompson got baptized! How did he get baptized? If you know I would like to know. You guys sound way happy and I am glad that you are thinking about sharing the gospel. I have been thinking about that too lately. Of course I am sharing the gospel everyday but in a different way. I don't really know any of the people that I share the gospel with. It seems harder but sharing the gospel with our friends should be easier. Yesterday me and Kimura did a fireside with the ward about missionary work. Some of the members are really fired up about sharing the gospel but most aren't. Pres. McIntyre has this saying that I think is true. You get 80 percent of the results from 20 percent of the people. The 80/20 rule. 80 percent of the baptisms come from 20 percent of the missionaries, 80 percent of the referrals come from 20 percent of the members, }ETC. I was talking to Elder Nielsen this week and he said that the Boise Idaho mission was the 2nd highest baptising mission in the world! I was way surprised because I can't remember ever seeing an investigator at church even. Has there been a lot of people getting baptized in our stake? Do you guys have a personal and family missionary plan? Even though I am in Japan I would like to help. I can write letters to our nonmember friends or something. Think about it and next week tell me what you think. I think helping someone become eligible for the Celestial Kindgom is the best way for a family to become closer. The mission has made missionary work become very clear and doable. I am in a country where there is no mutual, not many activities, everyone works like crazy, and they don't usually visit less actives because there are so many and they have no time. I am sorry if I sound a little harsh or something but with all this going against God's plan there are still lots of baptisms happening. If I would've known what I know now about how to help my friends feel the joy of the Gospel there is no doubt some would've been baptized and made a promise with God. One thing every member can do is study Preach My Gospel. There was an article about how members can use the PMG in the September enzign. It was way good. If I had any advice for you guys it would be what Olivia did. First decide who, then make a goal, prepare for the goal by studying the PMG, and then do it. The PMG will help out a ton. I am sorry I have talked a lot about this but I felt that you guys really are thinking about sharing the gospel. Keep it Up! It is hard sometimes but it is worth it. Ok, now for a quick story about a sweet little family getting ready for baptism! We found ARITO san housing about 2 weeks ago. She had a ton of interest and wanted to find truth. We had a lesson at the church last Monday and she brought her son Kento too. He had interest and they both accepted to be baptized on Halloween. It gets better though. 2 days ago there was a baptism in the ward. A cute little 8 year old girl named Matsumoto. Arito san and 3 of her kids and her friend and her kid came to the baptism. It was sweet! The members were fellowshiping and everyone became good friends. Arito's kids are all above 8 years old and they came to church yesterday because they loved the baptism. I have been wanting to help a family get batized my whole mission. This is a way special opportunity. Kamitani san is hopefully getting baptized this coming sunday. I have really felt blessed lately. God really loves his children. Thanks for your prayers. I really appreciate them and I know the investigators do too. Today was a little long but Missionary work really is the life blood of the church. I love you guys and I hope you have success in sharing the gospel. Till next week

Acting on Promptings

September 26, 2010--Hey! Thanks for the emails and stuff. I can't believe I didn't write down the address. I feel retarded. Lately I have been doing those things. I may have told you last week but I was at a party and and they had some big 2 liter bottles of juice out to drink. Everyone had their individual cup but for some reason I spaced it and just drank out of the 2 liter bottle on accident. A girl in junior high saw me and said, "Eh!" Nande! Why! I was way embarassed but everyone had a good laugh. Olivia that is sweet that you gave a Book of Mormon to someone. Good job! Did you guys get my camera cards? If you did I have a favor to ask. I have been wanting a picture book of mission pictures too. If you guys could make a book for me it would be great. The only other thing I needed was some more toothbrushes. I have tons of everything else. Thankyou. Kamitani san actually didn't get baptized this week. To make a long story short he passed the interview and was set yesterday to get baptized but he called us up Thursday night and said he needed some more time. I won't get into the details but he has a way strong testimony but Satan is real and he really doesn't want Kamitani to get baptized. In my experience I have never seen a baptism go according to plans. Satan is real and these people getting ready for baptism have real concerns and they can only overcome them through the spirit. It was a little disapointing but he has a new date for October 10th. I know it will happen. Last night I ate at a member house. Their house was built by an american and it was sweet! Way spacious and it had Carpet! That is way rare here. The food was way good but the best thing that happened was that Kamitani san came with us. The family had FHE and he really saw how an eternal family does things. They aren't perfect, they still fight, but they love eachother. I tried putting myself in an investigators shoes and it was interesting. I couldn't exactly put my finger on what was different about the family but there was something different. They had a different feeling. I know that this is from the covenants we make at baptism and the temple. It was way special and I really want to have an eternal family. Thanks for being a good example to me and don't be afraid to share boldly what is different about you. We have the restored gospel. This is way special and I can't describe it in words. This week I got a letter from Dana. It was pretty special. He said he was thinking about me about 2 weeks ago and then he got my letter shortly after. He said that he believes in God and he really wants to change his life. He was really grateful and felt that the letter was from God. This just reminded me that we really need to act on promptings. I know that Dana is a child of God and he needs the atonement of Jesus Christ just as much as I do. I love you all and Thanks again. Till next week!

Grady wrote this letter in response to Gus' letter--

It is starting to get cold here now. My companion is way cool and he is from Hokaido, Japan. It is the coldest part in Japan. The stars in Japan are hard to see most of the time. Not like Idaho. I mostly find new people by housing, streeting, and biking. When we find the investigator they have about a 50 percent chance of showing up usually. This just means that we have to find more. My days are usually balanced with activities like proselyting, teaching investigators and member, Eikaiwa, sports activities, etc. The members usually sit in on the lessons. This is one of the most important parts of misionary work. Have you ever sat in a lesson before? You should try it out. It is probably a way good experience. This was fast but this is my usual day. Members are way important in missionary work. Keep up the good work.