36th Week in Japan. Last week in Mito.

12/4/2016

The weather has been up and down. It snowed one day in November, but it's very rare to snow in Mito. And if it does, it's not until January. Today  and yesterday was rather warm, like spring.

We got a new investigator this week. Her name is G*****.  She's awesome. She's a grandma and we met her three weeks ago on the train, but never got her contact info and then one night while biking home, I saw a lady walking in the corner of my eye and felt we needed to stop her and it was her.  She thought it was a miracle.  We visited her shop in Hitachitaga (it's far) and we caught her at the perfect time.  We taught about the restoration of the fulness of the gospel and the Book of Mormon.  I felt the spirit working through me as I testified of the truthfulness of the gospel.  I'm very glad for Sister Shoji and her teaching skills and Japanese.  We were happy after leaving her shop, with a Book of Mormon and a commitment.

Something that I learned recently, and I don't know if this will help you personally, but prayers have to be followed with faith and effort (faith in action).  Our other two new investigators:  One is T***  and not really interested right now and the other is suddenly busy all the time and pregnant so we are waiting. :)

Like in D&C 9:7-9, We ponder in our hearts the questions we have and then we ask God if it be right, if the answer is right then we will feel it in our hearts with a burning.

D&C 9:

7 Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.

 8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

 9 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.  

 Here are some pictures of the season -- Enjoy!   😊   Sister Parker

  

Christmas tree at the chapel

#LIGHTtheWORLD Initiative  -- emphasize service this Christmas season

Download a free Advent calendar filled with service ideas for this Christmas season:

https://www.mormon.org/?cid=HP_FR_25-11-2016_dMIS_fmorg_xLIDyL1-A_

Scroll down about half way down the church's web page for the "Download" button

Having some fun



FYI:  "Divide by Love" is the Tokyo Mission's motto under the Nagano leadership.  Divide means to give portions of love to many.

The Meaning Behind the Logo

The Mission Logo includes elements of the mission theme that President and Sister Nagano have for the Japan Tokyo Mission. The two O's of the Logo are connected and also look like two fish. The fish represent Jesus Christ dividing the two fish to feed the 5,000, and the connection of the O's represent infinity, or eternal life for ourselves and our beloved friends.

"Divide by Love," the theme chosen by President and Sister Nagano for the Japan Tokyo Mission, has a number of meanings. As missionaries and Disciples of Jesus Christ, we divide the blessings we have received out of love. When we divide our blessings, instead of our portion decreasing, our blessings actually increase, just like when Christ divided the two fish and five loaves.

In tennis, love stands for zero. One cannot understand infinity without understanding zero. In an equation, we can take any number and divide it by zero. The answer will always be infinity. As we serve the Lord with no guile, working no deception, no selfishness, and withholding nothing (giving it our all), He will take what little we can give and multiply it.

"Divide by Love" also helps us avoid comparison. We, as humans, are given different talents, strengths and weaknesses from the Lord. He knows what is best for us and what we need for our growth. We may feel that our contribution is small, but when divided by zero it will become infinity. As long as the denominator is zero, the value of the numerator is not relevant.

http://japantokyomissionblog.blogspot.com/p/mission-information.html

Sent from the white fields of Japan 🍲🌅