So last week, we got a referral from a ward member! It is her friend!
We met with her on Wednesday and talked to her all in english! She is
pretty fluent but we still had to say some of the Church word to her
in Japanese! She was taught a little bit from the wards members Boy
friend before, so we talked why we wanted to come to Japan! She asked
us how we know God was real because we can't see him, how do we know?
I told her, "Can you feel the wind?" "Yes" "Can you see the wind?" "Oh
I see!" "Even though we can't see the wind, we can feel the wind, just
like God, we can't see him but we can feel his love!" It totally
clicked in her head! We also talked about a lot of other things, and
about prayer! She told us she used to pray every night that her skin
would be healed because of a disease she had, and that her skin has
gotten a lot better! It was really cool! By the end of the lesson, we
told her that the end goal of us meeting with her was so she could get
Baptized, she was a little bit un easy but she was talking to Saiko
Shimai about it, and she let us set a Baptizmal date for her! We told
her it is all up to her and we don't want to force her, and it is all
up to her! Please pray for her! Her name is Rena!
Also that night, we went to Jackie's house, and finished teaching the
Commandments with her! She wrote them all down and put them on the
table so her husband and her can see them! She also loves the thought
of not taking the Lords name in vain and wrote substitute words she
could use! haha! We also asked her about getting Baptized and she let
us set a date! She did have a concern about tithing, because she is
working a ton of Jobs to help pay for her sons really expensive
collage, so we are going to go over it on wednesday with her!
On Saturday we had a really nice training in Yokkaichi, about
Missionaries and Ward members working together! It was really awesome!
(sorry, for lack of time I can't write what I learned!!) But it was
really good! And How much the Ward and the missionaries need to work
together! And how missionary work is not possible with out the
members! After we had a Mormon Show concert! After that, we got a ride
back to Gokiso, and had the wards Natsumatsuri! (Summer festival!) and
a lot of the kid eikaiwa moms came, and Rena came! It was a lot of fun
interacting with everyone! Also Rena came up to me, and told me to not
to worry about her date anymore, and how she wants to also learn about
other churches! But still wants to learn! I told her we respect her
decision and want her to decide for her self! She asked me if I have
studied other religions, I told her that I don't need to, because I
came to the knowledge that this is the true church here on earth and
how I now it because I prayed about it and I feel happy being a member
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! She asked me what
I am going to do when I return home, I told her that I am still going
to go to church, read the Scriptures, and everything I'm doing now,
but to the less extreme! She had no idea that the church has churches
everywhere! So I showed her a map of where I live and how many
churches are just around my house! We also talked a little bit of
Temples and how they are special! Then saiko's boyfriend came over and
talked to her for a long time! She thinks Saiko Shimai, is a great
example and how she has noticed how happy she is!
Yesterday at church we had a Sunday school lesson where we watched the
Joseph Smith movie! And the teacher had all the missionaries bare
their testimonies about Joseph smith! It was really good, because we
had Jackie and her husband there! And also the elders investigator! I
know win out a doubt that Joseph Smith is a true prophet! And he did
see God the Father and Jesus Christ! And by the power of God, restored
his church and translated the Book of Mormon!
Also after class, we met these three people who were visiting our ward
there was one Brother and two sisters!! I talked with them and shook
their hands! And one of the ward members kept saying they were really
famous and have been on TV and that they sing! So that was cool I
didn't think to much about it! Then today I found out that they are
really famous in Japan and their group name is Bless4! They were in
the extra Meet the Mormon segments! So... Yeah! I met famous people!
So that's cool!
Well lack of time, I want to tell everyone how much I love you! I
couldn't be here on a mission without all your support! Sorry if you
write me and I don't have time to respond! But know that I am thinking
about all y'all! I know this gospel is the true gospel on the Earth
today, and that God loves all of us so very much and has called living
prophets to guide this church! I love you all so much!
-ステイ姉妹より
-Sister Stay
1.we put all the futons we had together!
2-3. The Ichinomiya Shimai had to spend the night!
4-5. The Mormon show!
6. Natsumatsuri!
7. The one next to me is Rena!
8. We went bowling with Megumi Shimai and had a really long message!
Hence the late email! I'm not wamp! I promise!