November 28, 2010
Hey everyone! Thanks for the emails this week. It sounds pretty cold in Idaho right now. It still hasn`t snowed here yet. Japan is a little different in that January is usually the coldest month. Well this week was another good one. Lots of miracles happened and Sister Aritou`s 15 year old daughter Ruka is getting baptized this coming Sunday. I am way excited. Her brother Kento, who got baptized last week is performing the baptism. Pretty cool huh! Sister Aritou is way excited. It is way cool to see them progress in the gospel. The other night we had FHE with them and the 8 year old Iru prayed. She wrote down what she was going to say and practiced before hand! I know we aren't supposed to have recited prayers but she is an 8 year old convert. The spirit was so strong and she is really progressing in the gospel. Yesterday 3 investigators came to church. Ruka, Shingo, and Watanabe. Shingo and Watanabe work for the navy. They really enjoyed church and they are coming next week too. Are there ever investigators that come to our ward? I know I have talked about church members a lot lately but I think there is a reason for it. Lately I have been a little disappointed with some members and how they acted. The other day we were teaching a 9 and 11 year old brother and sister. There mom is divorced and cant meet or come to church because of work. The two kids love church and want to be baptized. We received the mom`s permission to teach and baptize them so everything is great. The other night we had a returned missionary couple sit is the lesson with us. Before the lesson they told us that we shouldn't teach them and that they were too young, and wild to be baptized. I am not trying to talk badly about these members because this happens a lot. We went ahead and taught the lesson and something amazing happened. It isn't a lie that these two kids are really wild and loud. They didn't have a dad to teach them a lot of things. When the lesson started the spirit wasn't there and I was thinking about doing it another day but I starting praying asking God to bless the kids that they would be quiet and listen and feel the spirit. When I started praying the two kids pulled out notebooks and started taking notes and asking really good questions. It was almost like they had prepared these questions on their own. While all this was happening the older couple`s hearts were changing. By the end of the lesson the members and missionaries were on the same page and all is well. O and these two little kids walk to church by themselves every week about 30 minutes. If this isn't faith I don't know what is. I know that God answers prayers and changes hearts through the spirit. I tell you this because I realized what members need to realized about missionary work. And what I need to teach members. I decided that everything I and any member needs to know is found in the Preach My Gospel, scriptures, and the prophets words. The two most important things for me as a missionary and you guys as a member to know is the purpose of missionary work and the requirements for baptism. I don't have much time today but if you get a chance check out chapter 12 in PMG. It has the requirements for baptism. This will help you with Marrissa. Good luck and I love you guys. The work is going forward and Jesus is the Christ. I love the members in Japan and what great saints they are. Till next week!