This week was fantastic.
We set a baptism date with an investigator who believes in all of the
teaching just needs to overcome some problems - some habits are hard to
break. He is a past investigator but he
is on his way. This week at DTM we
created a Miyako standard. We are all
together on changing the culture and helping Miyako become a very fruitful
area. Simply we have been working our tails off! Elder Daniels and I have found 2 new Q's, one
new bap date and accomplished the Alma!
I've been so tired that when I finish my nightly prayers I am out cold!
But this week I have studied a lot about God and just
basically tried to dive into the scriptures. I love the scripture Alma 24:10-11
10 And I also thank my God, yea, my great God, that he
hath granted unto us that we might
repent of these things, and also that he hath
forgiven us of those our many sins and murders which we have committed,
and taken away the guilt from our hearts, through the merits of his Son.
11 And now behold, my brethren, since it has been all
that we could do to repent of all our sins and the many murders which we have
committed, and to get God to take them away from our hearts, for it was all we
could do to repent sufficiently before God that he would take away our
stain.
Every day I tell people that God has given us everything. Sometimes and sadly we forget what He has
given us but the scriptures wrap it all up nicely. Eternal life, forgiveness, repentance, power,
His only begotten son, just to name a few!
Yet again it's been a good week!
So Tuesday is where I will start. We met with an investigator who has been one
and off for a long time but hasn't meet with the missionaries for some
time. We sit down with him and start to
review the first lesson with him and he says, "I have heard this many
times already". Then I asked him,
"Well, do you believe it??" He
says yes then I start the questioning him,
asking him if he believes in God, the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith? Yes Yes Yes he answers. Finally I ask him, "Well will you be
baptized?" He pauses and says that
he will think it over. When we asked
him, he set a date and he said that he will prepare for that it! Although we are very excited, when he walked
into the church he was chugging his coffee.
But hey, great things aren't hard!
This week we had another batch of miracles. While streeting around the Eki, we streeted into a past investigator. He tell us that he has had the missionaries
over at his house, been to the Hawaii temple, heard all the lessons and he said
"I should get baptized". I
asked him "Do you want to??"
He said that doesn't do the "strict things" of the church, I
go on to tell him the story of my family overcoming those "strict
things" and being baptized. It was
cool to see him have the glimpse of hope.
It was like, Ok I can do it! He
had to take off but he said that we should go and eat some time! Yet another miracle.
I have learn a lot and especially appreciate the
miracles. You have to work for them and
be willing to recognize/acknowledge the miracles. Miyako is a miracle for me! It is exciting to see the miracles happening
around me daily. For those of you that
don't know, Miyako was one of the most damaged places in Japan when the tsunami
hit in 2011/3/11. Around town there are
signs that show how high the water level reached. In some spots you can still see where the high
water mark was and it is twice and sometimes 3 times taller than I am. If you watch news clips, you can see homes and shops were taken away
by the water as if it they were toys.
Within two years of the tsunami the Miyako branch is close to seeing new
5 baptisms and a lot of less actives being reactivated. This place is a place of miracles. Japan is place of miracles. The Japan Sendai mission is exploding!
ハルバソン長老~日本仙台伝道部
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