January 25th

To my wonderful friends and family:

Coming on a mission has been the craziest and best decision ever! I am
learning so much! Having a Japanese companion is humbling. You start
to realize how little Japanese you actually know, but I'm happy to
have such a sweet and patient companion. Yamaguchi Shimai is the best!

 

She's a really hard worker so it's been really fun to just get out
there each day and do what we came here to do! We have set realistic
goals as a companionship and got sooo close this last week! Goal: 15
lessons and invite 45 people to come to church or take lessons. We
taught 14 and invited 44! Consistent with my other japanese
companions, Yamaguchi Shimai prefers "housing" over talking to people
on the street, so we have been knocking on lots of doors and receiving
all kinds of responses! Something that I'm learning though is that we
are successful when we invite! I feel satisfied with the work I am
doing and I know my Heavenly Father is pleased with me. My companion
and I are being blessed with various opportunities to teach the gospel
and it's so happy!

This week we found a new investigator! Finally! Our goal is to get out
there and find those that receive us. To find the elect. And sometimes
actually finding them is a rare experience. Anyway, the elders met a
young single mom while they were housing a couple transfers ago so
Yamaguchi Shimai and I went back to visit and were able to share the
message of the restoration. It was a little crazy with her active son,
but it was of course wonderful to share my testimony of the prophet
Joseph Smith, of the Savior, the love of God, and to teach Mizuki how
to pray to her loving Father in Heaven. She has a desire to come to
church and is willing to start reading the Book of Mormon.

Lesson and activity with Thuy Shimai! We are princesses!

 

We met with Ishizuka san this week and read from 1 Nephi 8 with her
about Lehi's dream. We taught that there is only one iron rod, one
path that leads to the tree of life. The world may teach that there
are many paths to happiness but the Savior taught just one. His way is
the way!
21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is
none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in
the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ,
and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen.
2 Nephi 31:21
She had a hard time believing that there could only be one way because
she herself has found joy and peace among many different faiths and
paths. But, we had an interesting experience when we asked her how she
feels the love of God. She mentioned that she feels grateful when she
looks at the beauty in nature all around her and she said she wanted
to thank God too every time she heard the missionaries pray
specifically for her and her family and her situation.
It reminds me of the following scripture. Jesus visits the people in
the ancient Americas and teaches them and prays for them and they
could not even describe the joy they felt when they heard him pray to
the Father.
17 And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man,
neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things
as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the
joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto
the Father.
3 Nephi 17:17
As a representative of Christ, I hope I can always invite the Spirit
into my work so that the things I do and say can always be done in the
name of Christ and glorify the Father. My desire is to do and say as
the Savior would do and love as he would love the people I am serving
as if he were here. Through participation in this work, others may
feel the love of God.



This weekend was stake conference. Such a cool experience... I was
spiritually fed. I like attending church in Japanese a lot! When I
can't understand the words, my only choice is to understand what the
Spirit is teaching me and often it has nothing to do with what the
speaker is saying. The talks were great! We learned a lot about
councils. Ward council, family councils, etc. Then on Sunday we heard
about temples, and missionary work, and the second coming. A few
things I learned:
1. On Sunday we got to sustain our local and the general leaders of
the church. No matter what language it's in, it's a privilege to
sustain apostles and leaders called of God.
2. One of the speakers spoke about missionary work. He said that as he
looks back on his mission he remembers it as a fun and happy time! I
would say that maybe this fun and happy time is one of the hardest
things I've ever experienced, but it's true and it's happy!
3. I have been really wanting to understand lately what it means to
receive eternal life. Receiving that gift is the purpose of our
existence here on earth, but what is it and why do I want it? The
Spirit really spoke to me about eternal life. As we learn about Christ
and live His gospel we come to know God, little by little and our
relationship with him is strengthened. As we live the gospel, we
receive a small taste of eternal life and we reach a small part of our
potential as children of God. Eternal life really is to know God and
to love God and to understand who we are as his children. Eternal life
is not an extension of this kind of life... It's qualifying for a
better one. One where we can progress eternally and become as our
Heavenly Father.
4. We had the privilege of attending a recent convert fireside after
the conference with a couple recent converts in our ward. It was a
beautiful opportunity for the converts to each share their story and
testify of Christ. This gospel has the power to change lives! There
were about 3 mentally slow members or friends in attendance at this
meeting. For the opening hymn we sang I am a child of God. One sister
sang loudly, off beat but full of enthusiasm. One sister sang/wailed
joyfully, almost crying. And one young brother stood up in front of
the room and danced interpretively. No one laughed, but everyone
smiled. I was filled with overwhelming love as I understood that each
child is loved by our God and each child is welcome to join with us
and learn to feel that love.



On Sunday night we attended our beloved Kawatani Kyoudai's baptism! It
was so amazing! The Ward has been praying for the husband of Kawatani
Shimai for years and this was the day each one of them had been
praying for! After the baptism, he mentioned that he knew this day
wasn't the end, it was just the beginning of the rest of his life,
learning and progressing as a disciple of Christ. He is the cutest!
And we are so happy for their family!

4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a
better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope
cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would
make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being
led to glorify God.
Ether 12:4
I am grateful for my belief in God. Belief gives us hope and helps us
understand the purpose of our lives and of the things we experience.
It allows the spirit to always be with us. It helps us to look forward
to eternal life- something greater than our current lives. Eternal
life is the kind of life God lives and this life is our test to
qualify for eternal life. And our faith comes through trial and test.
My faith truly is an anchor. I've really recognized that lately as
I've met several people who say they can't believe in God because
there is so much sorrow in the world, people who say they've lived so
long without faith, they will just die without it, people who admire
our faith and believe it's a good thing but decide that it's too late
for them, people who are lost but don't know they are lost. God is
real and he has a plan. He is the Father of us all. He loves YOU.

I love you, too!

Love,
Kinz