Ok first of all, I'll just start with what most people
want to know. I'm loving my mission and
there are earthquakes all the time.
On Wednesday the entire mission had the opportunity to go
to Sendai and hear from an apostle of the Lord.
Elder Stevenson of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles came to Japan to visit
all the Japan missions. A little back
ground on him. He served as a missionary
at the same time as President Smith in Fukuoka Japan many years ago. They actually lived in the same apartment for
a good majority of that time. He was the
Mission President in Nagoya after President Smith's brother was the president
there. Up until he was called as an
apostle, he was the area president over all Japan, China and Korea. Elder Stevenson came to Japan quite often to
see over the tsunami aftermath here in Sendai so he is well acquainted with
Japan. All the missionaries gathered
together in Kamisugi to listen to him.
We had to wait some time and during that time I had no idea what to
expect. It was all quiet waiting while
we were waiting. Amazing considering we
are normally loud. Although Elder
Stevenson's talk was inspired, it was the special musical number that we sang
before he spoke that really got to me.
It's called the "EFY melody" or "as sisters in
Zion". It is a song about
missionary work and being chosen of the Lord.
Elder Stevenson finally arrives and we all stand. He is accompanied by his wife, Elder Gong and
Elder Yamashita and their wives. First
we hear from Pres and Sister Smith. They
are both still amazing. After the
Yamashitas and the Gongs spoke, we all stand and sing the song. As we are singing I am feeling all tingly and
I'm thinking that it is special but I have had that feeling before both here
and back home when listening to the choir music. But I climb out of myself because the spirit
is whispering to me, I look around and I see President Smith, the music
director, and just about everyone with tears streaming down their faces. My heart is touched and I realize just how
sacred this is and how awesome it is that I am a missionary. How cool it is to listen to an apostle, and
that this music is a gateway to heaven. Being
the teddy bear that I am I start tearing a little and when it pours! But, let's not focus on that! Elder Stevenson talked about how he has the
opportunity to assign mission calls. He
said that they look at our picture individually and decide where we are
going. The thing that he said that
stuck out most was. "You are a child of God, God sent you here to the
Japan Sendai mission, and you are called for a reason." Now I have known this ever since I got my
call, but sometimes you forget the vastness of the call. I keep having to remind myself of the simple
but true fact that, I am called, called by a Prophet of God, I was called here
for a reason! When I submitted by
papers, I thought I was going to Europe.
But when I open that call, I was called to the other side of the
earth. I'm humbled to know that God
needs and wants me here. To be honest
sometimes (the family probably won't like to hear this but) I never want to
come home. Japan is a special place, a
sacred place and I'm blessed to be here.
Lastly, I love this gospel and I testify that this gospel
is the way to true happiness.
Love you all and have a good week!
Elder Halverson
ハルバソン長老~日本仙台伝道部
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