35th Week in Japan. 2nd Area. Advent(ures).

This transfer has gone by fast. One week left until transfer calls!

I find peace when talking to people on the street and teaching them the gospel of Jesus Christ. Since applying what I've learned from zone conference a couple weeks ago, like bike safety (yes) and the "A Successful Missionary" bullet points in PMG (Preach My Gospel manual). I've been feeling the approval of the Holy Spirit as I've been trying to improve. I feel I've become a more diligent and loyal missionary!

Some miracles of this week:
There was one lady we talked to on the train while on our way to Kodomo eikaiwa [English class for children]. She had this adorable baby and as we talked to her and her baby. She opened up to us quickly. She's Chinese and has been looking for a church to go to!  She recognized us as missionaries as soon as she saw our name tag! She wants to come to Kodomo Eikaiwa as well. When we got off the train, we exchanged numbers and said we can call her. It was awesome!! Almost every time we go to Tokai, we find an awesome investigator or P.I. Kiseki (miracle) Tokai.

I am so happy about this! We were able to meet one of the less-active youth on Saturday.  We've been trying to contact her for about one transfer. We went to her house and gave her little brother, who turned 8 (baptism age!!, he said he may get baptized!), a present for his birthday and sang to him. We talked to both of them and shared a
message about Christmas. Sister Shoji quickly became friends with her.  We are going to help her with her homework on December 5th and another time cook dinner together! We hope to be able to meet her every week
now!

Last miracle. Today at church, one of the members brought a girl named R****** from China who has home stayed with her for a year and today was the first time she came to church today. I don't know why we didn't know this earlier, but it was great! We did a douseki [presentation, lesson]  during Sunday school with her and another member who speaks Chinese. She did not become a new investigator but we taught about Who God is and
missionary's purpose. Sister Shoji was amazing! I'm so glad to have her as a companion. She's really helping me with Japanese too. I feel 日本人ぽい. Like a Japanese person.

Many adventures were had, but this is it for now. :)

Love,
Sister Parker


Only 28 more days until Christmas 🎄



Sent from the white fields of Japan 🍲🌅

(pictures from internet)

We are all on our own Advent-- adventure, seeking the wisdom and the light of Christ, while we wait for Him to come again.

34th Week in Japan; 2nd Area. The love of family.

This past week we taught Family Home Evening on Monday night and we talked about baptism to prepare their son who is being baptized next month on Christmas.  He is just like my brother!  It's hard to listen to a lesson when a young boy is so cute you want to play games instead.  :) Haha Sister Shoji related too.

[For those of you who don't know what "Family Home Evening" {FHE} is, it is one night set aside, usually Monday night, for families in the LDS church to get together in their own home, with the other family members, and have a spiritual lesson.  They can also include a short family council, and games or refreshments if they wish, tailored according to their family's needs.  FHE is designed to help families bond and grow spiritually.  It does not take the place of regular weekly Sabbath worship and instruction. ]

I contemplate life's trials and the power of family love and support, and how the gospel is a guide to us to help us navigate through life's difficulties, just as a compass guides a traveler:

This is a test in life, although a very hard one, we can still choose to be happy and focus on the joy of the gospel! I promise as you love according to the principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ, you will always have peace and happiness through the power of the Holy Ghost. Of course, there are still times that we can't help but feel sad, hurt, or upset. 

I really like this scripture.

Alma 37:

"38 And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director--or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it.

39 And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness.

40 And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.

41 Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;

42 Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions.

43 And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.

44 For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.

45 And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.

46 O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever. [this makes a reference in the bible during the time of Moses I believe, when people were dying and if they looked up to the serpent on the stick, they lived.]

47 And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell."

I testify that God loves us and he always will.  Love conquers all.  Even during times of difficulty, God is always there to help and lift our spirits up.  And then when families live according to the gospel, there is that support that family members give to each other. :) So that's why we are here, to help each other.

Keep going! ヾ(＠⌒ー⌒＠)ノ

Sister Kirsten Parker

Sent from the white fields of Japan 🍲🌅

(image from the internet)

November 22, 2016 (6am Japan time) [11/21/16 afternoon US] Earthquake and tsunami offshore from Fukushima

Update after the earthquake:  From Kirsten/Parker Shimai--

I felt the earthquake.  In Tokyo it was about a 3 magnitude (said a lady who we talked to on the train today).  So in Mito, it was probably about a 4 magnitude.  The earthquake was at 6:00a.m., ten minutes before we set our alarms.  The trains were delayed for about and hour and some more, but we talked to this really sweet lady while we waited.  She may come to Eikaiwa (English conversation class). I didn't realize the earthquake was so big in Fukushima though! We are safe! :) 



*******************
We hope no news is good news (she's probably okay).  Kirsten/Parker Shimai is in Ibaraki prefecture (similar to a county), and lives a few miles inland, i.e. not near the beach, and now is under tsunami advisory (lowest rating).  I assume that she would've been woken up by the 6.9 / 7.4 earthquake though.  We'll continue to watch for aftershocks and see how the Daiichi nuclear power plant does.   

K-Mom

Here's a link to an instagram post if you want to hear what Japan's tsunami siren sounds like:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNFpalxAIEm/

Kirsten is in the yellow area below the orangey-red X.

Tsunami Forecast Region  Category of Tsunami Warning/Advisory
IWATE PREF.             TSUNAMI ADVISORY
MIYAGI PREF.            TSUNAMI ADVISORY
FUKUSHIMA PREF.     TSUNAMI ADVISORY
IBARAKI PREF.          TSUNAMI ADVISORY

******* Earthquake Information ******** Occurred at  05:59 JST, 22 Nov. 2016 Region name  FUKUSHIMA-KEN OKI Latitude 37.4N Longitude 141.6E Depth  about 30 km Magnitude  7.4