64th Week in Japan. 4th Area. A former investigator came back; Zone p-day

[First of all, Happy Father's Day to those around the world who celebrated it this past weekend!]


6/19/2017

This week was awesome!  I've been thinking a lot about scriptures and stuff and have felt a lot of the Lord's love for his people, and it makes me feel happy.  I wake up lately, daily excited to go and serve God's children. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a joy and a light that cannot be dimmed.  It's a light that grows brighter and brighter and I will let it grow in me brighter until the perfect day. :)

Today, for p-day, we went on a photo scavenger hunt with the Zone-missionaries at Ōmiya koen.  It was so fun!!  We took pictures of things we were looking for.  In the last picture, we could not find the Sword of Laban, so we drew it.  I don't think there was a winner but it was really fun!  I love nature!!  Parks in Japan by the way are beauuuuuutiful. There are so many trees, it's like camping, except the pathways are built and there are some jinja or shrines.  

We also were dropped temporarily by three of our investigators so we are going to have more time for finding this week! We actually went to the church because we felt we needed to one morning and W_______-San, one of our long-time investigators walked in, and said she wants to be baptized, so we prepared for that.  She said she wanted to talk to the bishop.  She did--they both discussed things and she is going to wait until she gets some personal things taken care of.  But then she said she didn't want to be a burden to us when we do dendou--missionary work. However, I didn't think she would be. 

This week we had interviews with President Nagano,  and I went to church in Koshigaya.  The stake president (who is American)'s wife and children [from Provo, Utah] came to Japan for the summer. She gave us American food in our fruits basket. :)  

Tomorrow we will have full day Exchanges with the Kasukabe sisters.  Please pray for us to find those who will receive us.  If it be the Lord's will, I really want to find someone to teach.

Love,

Sister Kirsten Parker

パーカー姉妹

東京伝道部

p.s.  pictures below

For dad:  This egg timer has never let me down

Zone p-day pictures at 大宮公園 Ōmiya Kōen [Omiya Park]

Huuuge koi fish!! And a Shout-out to Sister Burke, my MTC companion. You're awesome, 👏 hard-working missionary!!

Jinja [shrine]

We could not find the Sword of Laban, so we drew it.

With dog Koko

The wakajo, short for "young women," made some waffle bowls and shared with us!

63rd Week in Japan; 4th Area. Loving the gospel seed planting.

6/12/2017


In Tokyo this past week (p-day included a Temple trip and a brief stop at the Tower)...

With Sister Haroldsen

The Tokyo Tower

Up in the observation area... It's a long way down!

The Mystery Ball.  Nobody knows exactly how it ended up in the antenna tower.

Tokyo Skyline

This week was awesome!!  I love missionary work!!  I love working with the Lord. 

I had this one experience, where it had been a few days, and I felt that I was being more obedient, living at a higher spiritual walk, and was talking to many people hoping that they would receive Jesus Christ's message, it was the end of the day, I think Friday and we were switching trains and I said a prayer as we were going up escalators that we could talk to someone on the train and have faith and find someone who would be interested in learning. When I ended my prayer, I felt that we should get on the car in front of us and through a specific door and sit down next to this lady reading a book.  I tried talking to her and introducing and asking about her book and her job and she didn't seem too interested, but I felt prompted to keep going, and once we talked about ourselves and that we are from America, she opened up more and she thought it was good that we were church volunteers. We couldn't talk long though because we had to get off the train, but we gave her a chirashi [flyer] and offered to teach her English.  After that I felt edified.  I think we both were, and even though she was not a new investigator, we talked to someone.   We were able to help someone at least a little bit, for the next time she meets missionaries.

Sister Kirsten Parker

パーカー姉妹

東京伝道部

62nd Week in Japan; 4th area. Faith and revelation yielded the solution.

Week ending June 5, 2017

We went to the temple today; it was really good!  It was my last temple p-day and I could understand a lot more of it in Japanese.  The study of the gospel in Japanese and English and then comparing the two passages, helps me understand meanings more.

Organic Hawaiian food, at a place by the temple.

Sister Haroldsen, with our investigator, H_____

There's this part of a talk I would like to share with you.  It's by Elder Russell M. Nelson and it's called "Sweet Hour of Prayer."  It really strengthened my faith when I read it and tried applying it. The Lord answers our prayers at the time we need it the most and as long as we press forward with faith In the Lord and follow him, he promises to never leave us and will provide for us.

"Many of us have had experiences with the sweet power of prayer.  One of mine was shared with a stake patriarch from southern Utah.  I first met him in my medical office more than 40 years ago, during the early pioneering days of surgery of the heart.  This saintly soul suffered much because of a failing heart.  He pleaded for help, thinking that his condition resulted from a damaged but repairable valve in his heart.  Extensive evaluation revealed that he had two faulty valves. While one could be helped surgically, the other could not.  Thus, an operation was not advised.  He received this news with deep disappointment.  Subsequent visits ended with the same advice. Finally, in desperation, he spoke to me with considerable emotion: “Dr. Nelson, I have prayed for help and have been directed to you. The Lord will not reveal to me how to repair that second valve, but He can reveal it to you.  Your mind is so prepared. If you will operate upon me, the Lord will make it known to you what to do. Please perform the operation that I need, and pray for the help that you need.”  

His great faith had a profound effect upon me. How could I turn him away again? Following a fervent prayer together, I agreed to try.  In preparing for that fateful day, I prayed over and over again, but still did not know what to do for his leaking tricuspid valve.  Even as the operation commenced, my assistant asked, “What are you going to do for that?”  I said, “I do not know.”  We began the operation. After relieving the obstruction of the first valve, we exposed the second valve.  We found it to be intact but so badly dilated that it could no longer function as it should. While examining this valve, a message was distinctly impressed upon my mind:
Reduce the circumference of the ring.  I announced that message to my assistant. “The valve tissue will be sufficient if we can effectively reduce the ring toward its normal size.”
But how? We could not apply a belt as one would use to tighten the waist of oversized trousers. We could not squeeze with a strap as one would cinch a saddle on a horse. Then a picture came vividly to my mind, showing how stitches could be placed--to make a pleat here and a tuck there--to accomplish the desired objective.  I still remember that mental image--complete with dotted lines where sutures should be placed.  The repair was completed as diagrammed in my mind. We tested the valve and found the leak to be reduced remarkably.  My assistant said, “It’s a miracle.” I responded, “It’s an answer to prayer.” The patient’s recovery was rapid and his relief gratifying.  Not only was he helped in a marvelous way, but surgical help for other people with similar problems had become a possibility.  I take no credit.  Praise goes to this faithful patriarch and to God, who answered our prayers.  This faithful man lived for many more years and has since gone to his eternal glory."

Sister Kirsten Parker

パーカー姉妹  (Sister Parker)
東京伝道部  (Tokyo Mission)

Images: Christ quotes

May you all have a meaningful Memorial Day holiday...both for the living and those who have passed on.

From:  https://www.lds.org/media-library/images/category/christ-and-the-atonement-picture-quotes?lang=eng&start=41&end=80&order=

(End of) 61st Week in Japan; 4th Area. Another baptism! Make every minute count.

May 29, 2017

Sister Parker and Sister Haroldsen

Konnichiha everyone!! 

This week was good!  Everyday I feel like the Lord is guiding me to become a better me, how to improve, how to be more humble, what to say.  Even though I'm not very good at Japanese still, the Lord is still able to speak through me to His people.

Not too much time, but some things!:
This week was great!! We've been OYM-ing(Open Your Mouth.. (see D&C 33:10)) on trains, on the streets, on our bikes, on the phone.. and we've met many wonderful people!

One day, we were on our way to visit an investigator R____*, who got baptized on Sunday (this weekend), who actually had a young child's record with the Church, and once the record was located, in the end, his baptism was not counted as a convert baptism, but that's okay!  He GOT BAPTIZED!!  And he's the best 8 year old missionary I've ever met. 
[ * K-Mom's note: I was uncertain about putting his baptismal picture on this blog because he is a minor child and don't know how the parents would feel about that, so I withheld it.]

We had extra time so we decided to visit this P.I. [potential investigator] that we met on splits a few weeks ago who is from Hungary.  I had lost her address and phone number though and I was searching my bag hopelessly, when the P.I. who we were trying to
find, her daughter walked by on the street and said "hello."  Whoa!  And she remembered when we first met!  I asked if her mom was home and she led us to her door and her older sister talked to us.  She didn't speak much Japanese or English so her younger sister was translating a lot.  We found them and they want us to come back.  I've been wanting to visit them for weeks so that was amazing!

I know God loves his children and he is guiding them and watching them and when they follow him and His begotten son, Jesus Christ's commandments, they are blessed immensely.  Temporarily and forever.

Sister Haroldsen and I are good at making quotes during the week, so here is one endurance, for everyone, even if you are not serving a mission:  Make every minute count. Because it precious and can be filled with joy. 


If you were given 186,000 dollars everyday for let's says one month..  It was put into your bank account daily, what would you spend it on?  How would you use it?  However, the thing is that after each day, your account is empty and you start over the next day with 186,000.  Wouldn't you spend it on the best things?  The nicest things?  Or give
it to those who need it as well?  
Everyday is the same. We have many moments and experiences that are precious, but they can go by fast.  Use it for the best things.

3 Nephi 13:

"19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and
rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal;
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth
nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor
steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

p.s. see pictures below

I love you all!!!
Sister Parker

パーカー姉妹   [Sister Parker]
東京伝道部   [literally, Tokyo mission department.]  {Japan Tokyo Mission}  


Today we made Nepal Curry with a member and her friend from Bangladesh.

Nepal Curry

Cabbage dish

 Preparing food

 Cooking

We used spices and stuff like cumin, cinnamon, bay leaves, Coriander(?), black pepper, chili spice, cloves, garlic, salt, sugar.. and then onions, tomatoes, cabbage, chicken, etc.

 Sister Haroldsen and church member's pet bird Ku-chan

60th Week in Japan; 4th Area. The Blooming of the Work.

May 21, 2017

お久しぶりです! [Long time no see!]   It's been a while!

It is hot. And it's only May.

These past couple months, maybe about a transfer worth has been wonderful!  Many ups and downs, but overall it is full of joy!  I feel so blessed to work here in Japan at this time of this generation.

Elder Choi from the Church's area of Seventy came and visited our mission recently.  Every time a servant or apostle of the Lord comes and visits Japan, I know it is because the Lord did send them to give a message He needs to.  He helped me see missionary work to be more fun!  Of course it IS fun!!  But sometimes you can view things as hard, but it's really all fun!  And it really helps turn anyone's perspective positive!

I learned many things through the Spirit as he spoke. Some things I want to share is that "If you don't like it, like it!"  And when people respond: "NO." That means "New Opportunity", to find more people to teach!  It was a call to repentance and little by little I feel I am a stronger missionary of the Lord.

We are working in two areas, Urawa and Koshigaya and with a small international group. The wards [congregations] are awesome and we are seeing progress in all aspects.  We have a few strong investigators.  H_____.  I love H_____!  She's a college student so she is super super busy but she takes time to study the Book of Mormon and we have met with her while we could.  She has such a strong desire to understand the Book of Mormon and why are the members all so happy?! She said a few times that every time she left the church, she had this biiig smile on her face. The members really are a symbol of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  There is no cross [the atonement of Christ should reside in our heart], or statue, it is the members and how they live that is an important part of this religion.  And they live like Jesus Christ.

Last week I was also able to see an investigator from my previous area, Kasukabe, step into the waters of baptism!!  It was such a great day!!  But she still needs to be confirmed a member of the church.  They usually do it a week later here in Japan.  She had work that she couldn't get off, but she's fine!  Anyways, I'm so grateful that I could meet her and help her. 

One eternal friend!!1️⃣❗️

And now that we are pretty much all caught up with the transfer period.  [Another transfer 6 week period is starting today.]

I love Sundays.  The Sabbath is the best.  I just feel so rejuvenated and blessed and so much love from Heavenly Father.  I love taking the sacrament and I love Japanese people.  And then to top it off..

Last night we went to the honbu, in English, mission home office or headquarters, we went with Sister B____, our wonderful recent convert friend to a recent convert devotional!!  And then afterwards we saw a broadcast!!  One of the twelve apostles, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, came to Japan.  I know that the Lord sent him to Japan for a reason...  Elder Oaks indicated this.

I've felt recently that soon the work in Japan is going to bloom and blossom.  The members are stronger and the missionaries are working better together.  Elder Oaks had an example and described a small plant and in order for a plant to grow it needs to take root and then it can spread out in branches.  I feel that what he said is true.  I felt the Spirit testify to me it. The ward [congregation] members of the Church are growing in their faith in Christ and soon the branches of Japan will grow.  It was according to God's plan that the roots have taken this long to foundation. 

This brings me to one of my favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon:  Helaman 5:12

So Nephi and Lehi went out to preach the word of God to their people and they remembered the counsel that their father, Helaman had given them.  Helaman reminded them of the words of prophets and of Jesus Christ and through this they were strengthen. And so one part he quoted was this verse.

"12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

I know that when we look to the Savior in every thought and action we do, that we are strengthened through his grace.  Because His grace is sufficient.  No matter how many times I've fallen or have felt really down, I have felt the Savior lifting me up.  Especially, when I need Him most.  Although, temptations to live lower standards or times in life plateau, Jesus Christ is endless and will forever be there for me.  I know it and I believe it.  And I know it is not only for me it for everyone. And for you. It is true.

 And I give my testimony to the world of the wide web that Jesus Christ lives and is the Son of God.  I know it because I have prayed and studied the holy scriptures and know for myself by the power of God's messenger, the Spirit, that speaks to my heart.

Love you all!! Have a wonderful week!!

Please. Listen to the Spirit! And Enjoy the blessings God has given you!! :)

心を込めて、[wholeheartedly]

パーカー姉妹より。[From Sister Parker]

Sister Parker.

p.s. see pictures below

「完全な​​愛あは​あらゆる​恐れ​を​​取り除く​から​で​ある。」モロナイ書8:16

[literal translation: A complete love will get rid of every fear.      See Moroni 8:16 if you want to read how it was originally in English Click here.  

The rice fields are beautiful during this time!!

[Sister Parker's Japanese accent sounds pretty good!]

And I was in a sound-proof box when I got my ears checked!!!! [Sister Parker got a nasty insect bite a few weeks ago that needed follow up care, so 'might as well get the ears checked too.]     We gave the lady who helped us, a religious flyer.

58th-59th Weeks in Japan; 4th Area. Baptism :-)

[ Two Weeks' of Letters ]

5/8/2017

Inspirational thought:

My companion Sister Haroldsen says a lot of inspiring things and I remember one in particular. But there are mainly three different ways a person is motivated to do things. There is one, by fear, which is the lowest form of motivation because it only lasts so long. Then, out of duty, which is higher than fear but only lasts so long.  But then there's the third motivation and that's love. When we are motivated out of love to do things, it lasts much longer and the motivation level is much higher.  Love is also eternal.   When we do things out of love, it is the best.

People and the occasion were not identified in the email

5/15/2017

This past week, a person I taught in Kasukabe got baptized, and I got to attend!  M******. She's great!

                        Sister Burke (in Kasukabe), Baptismal gal (M*****), and Sister Parker

I also have two more investigators here in Urawa who have baptismal dates in the queue:  R**** (a boy in a "part member" family originally from the Philippines) is getting baptized at the end of May, and (female) H***** is getting baptized the first week of June!  At least for her, that's the goal that has been set unless the date needs to be changed. 

We had some p-day recreation today and I got out of my comfort zone and played Dodgeball with the scary elders (they throw the ball hard) but I won a lot, HAHAHA!! 

Here are some pictures of zone p-day:

                                                                     After Zone P-Day fun

                                                   Eikawa class (English conversation)

Season for beautiful flowers 

Have a great week!! 

Sister Parker

Sent from the white fields of Japan