44-45th Week in Japan. 3rd Area. Peace is tied to patience & faith, and in doing the right thing.

Hi!

I think people are called to do missions not just to help people in a different part of the world, but it's to show faith to the Lord and to change and be molded into what God wants to make them. But I know that there are many paths to choose that will affect your lives and my life and many others lives.

 

Things in Japan are moving forward. We've found two new investigators in the past week. One was a former investigator and the other was a P.I. (potential investigator).  We called the potential investigator just to see how she was doing.  She was actually a previous Eikaiwa [English instruction] student but stopped coming because she became really sick.  When we talked to her she said that she wanted to go to church and pray to God.

But I can update on that more later.  In regards to peace in the heart, finding peace in spite of stress is a good sign of growth!   I just have some thoughts that I want to express.

I know there are many trials that are going on in life, but there is a way to get through them, overcome them, triumph them.  And that is through Jesus Christ.  I know I talk a lot about Jesus Christ, but he is the center of everything.  The source of all good, the foundation of all righteousness, and the key to all happiness.  When we have trials and obstacles, it's our time to shine!  It's during these moments that we can pray, especially for each other (!), with all our heart, all our soul, and act with all our might to do good.  It's during these times that If we believe, trust, and follow the Savior, we will be simply carried by the Savior. 

I can confirm that the gentleness shown and the peace and love given to each other is from God and confirmation from the spirit that what you're doing God is happy with.  I firmly believe that God has not left you, you are in his hands.  And he is taking care of you.  But, sometimes it may not seem like it, maybe because that's because Heavenly Father trusts you and is letting you try.  Or maybe it's because we are not letting him help us, because his hand is always stretched out. There are things we don't realize often, because we are human and imperfect. 

I firmly believe that through daily repentance and prayer that you will continue to have those feelings of peace and the desire to do good.  I would also recommend to remember the daily little things that Spirit guides us to do.  As we seek it though constant prayer, we can be guided of how to get through even difficult trials in life.  Praying first thing in the morning, before breakfast, before leaving the house, before answering her phone, before starting work, before using Facebook, before going to entertainment, after eating because the food was so good and you just want to say thank you to God!, after a date, after church, before bed.  In everything in life, to never forget God's relationship to us in life,  We always need God in our lives.  Some people only think about God on Sunday, or perhaps on only a few Sunday's during the year, or in fleeting moments, but He isn't a regular fixture in their life or their thoughts or feelings. This life is only temporary and we can see the Lord again and our family members again after this life.  We will all be separated at one point in our lives at different times but in the end, because of the temple covenants [keeping our promises to God], we can live together.

But there was this thing on Facebook by Elder Holland that I want to share.

These are the words of Jeffrey R. Holland on Facebook that I would like to share with you.

"I often think of those of you who are in the midst of a struggle. As much as we want life to be easy and comfortable, as much as I wish it could be that way for you, it simply cannot be. We are all, in one way or another, at one point in our lives, going to deal with a moral conundrum or a difficult issue without an easy answer.

At that point, we need to ask ourselves, “How much does the gospel of Jesus Christ really mean to me?” How will you act when that call comes? Will you defend Christ and His gospel, come what may?

John Taylor wrote that he once heard Joseph Smith say to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “You will have all kinds of trials to pass through. … God will feel after you, and He will take hold of you and wrench your very heart strings, and if you cannot stand it you will not be fit for an inheritance in the Celestial Kingdom of God.”

The life of Christ was like that. It is not coincidental that the word that is used for Christ’s experience in Gethsemane is that He was in “agony.” If we say we’re disciples of Christ, we will on occasion be in agony. We must walk where He walked.

When those moments come—contemporary issues, historical complexities, personal problems at home, challenges in a mission or a marriage, wherever it is—I pray and ask and bless you to the end that you will be strong. May you follow Christ with every ounce of your being, in good times and in bad."

Sorry I ran out of time! 

Love,

Sister Kristen Parker!!
Sent from the white fields of Japan 🍲🌅

Here's a silly street performer we saw.  Maybe missionaries should wear a silly bird head to get more attention?  Just kidding!   What we offer is priceless, but he just wants some Yen (money) given to him, which will perish as soon as he has paid his bills.    Acts 8:20,  2 Nephi 26:31

Culture... from internet site.  'Can't wait for Spring  [K-Mom]

Saitama Prefecture (埼玉県 Saitama ken) is located in northern Tokyo. Its southern part is adjacent to Tokyo, that is why its is more densely populated, but head northwards and you will find fields of crops and nature in abundance. It has a lot of still undiscovered sightseeing spots, such as places with old streets and splendid nature.

The beautiful shibazakura 芝桜 (Moss Phlox flowers) of Hitsujiyama Park (羊山公園) in Chichibu (秩父市) or the area around Chichibu-hashi Bridge 秩父橋 itself, which was chosen as the location for an anime, are some examples of sightseeing places in Saitama Prefecture that have garnered attention in recent years. On the other hand, Saitama Prefecture is also known as the place for bonsai (盆栽), with many tourists from abroad visiting Ōmiya Bonsai Art Museum (さいたま市大宮盆栽美術館).

https://matcha-jp.com/en/1521

43rd Week in Japan. 3rd Area. Key to the Soul.

1/23/2017

First week with my MTC companion and I returned to Kasukabe, my area!!  Yeayeaaaa!!! :D

It was so great working with my Sister Training Leaders for a week and then to type it off, I get to dendou (do missionary work) with one of my MTC companions!!  [Sister Burke].  We are also spending our 1 year mark [since entering the MTC] together!!  I think we were meant to be together this transfer.  Because I know the area better than my companion, I'm Area Senpai (senior area missionary).  And so We've been planning together and setting goals to work with the ward [local congregation] and find new investigators.  I was worried about not being able to get to know the area as well last transfer and the members.  When returning back to the Kasukabe ward at church, I spoke at sacrament meeting.  It was an official introduction and testimony kind of talk.  I spoke about a time that I felt God change my life. There's been many instances that were sudden and big. One day in seminary when I was in high school, we had a substitute teacher.  I don't remember what the lesson was about but I remember the commitment he gave to us at the end of class.  He said to pray to God and ask him what you need to improve on and then read Alma 5*.  And that same week, I did it.  And it was amazing. The questions Alma asks in that chapter pierced my heart.


Like:
 "27 Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God?  Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed
and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?"

As he spoke about a mighty change of heart, I had a mighty change beginning in my heart. And since then I've always remembered that experience.  It felt like my soul was expanded.  I feel everyday my soul is expanded, learning new things, and God just blesses me more and more.  I've gotten better at trying, and more skilled at following.  Many times we can have changes of heart in our lives and we often need those to help us stay on the path of Jesus Christ, or get back to it, or to find it.  God loves his children.  I felt so much love for the members in Kasukabe.  Especially as I am focusing on them and working with the bishop and my companion, I feel guided by Heavenly Father.  I have had another change of heart and it's changed me to focus on the people.  I'm here on a mission for God's people and especially for his people of Japan to help guide them back to His presence.


Also:  In a few days, there will be a world wide missionary broadcast and it's going to change the missionary schedule and things a lot! I'm excited!!

Miracles to come!! Have the best week ever!! :)

Love,
Sister Parker


Sent from the white fields of Japan 🍲🌅

* (click on) Link to Alma 5  if you wish to

[K-Mom's inspired addition to this blog post today:]

Four Principles to “Part the Curtains of Heaven”  30 Sept 2015

God is speaking again to man on earth  click on this link to the talk  if you wish to.

“Earnestly listen for His voice. When His voice comes to you, act in faith on what He counsels you to do. Pursue this course, and you will grow up in Him and, in due time, become even as He is, grace for grace.” —Elder James J. Hamula of the Seventy

1.  Exercise faith in God the Father.
2.  Sincerely inquire of God.
3.  Earnestly listen for God’s voice.
4.  Act in faith on what is received.

However, the Lord does not always reveal everything at once, Elder Hamula said. “The Lord gives us line upon line, precept upon precept in order to try and prove us,” he said. “If we will faithfully act on what He gives us, we receive more. If we do not, we receive no more and indeed lose what we once had.”

42nd week. 3rd Area. Splits this week; new companion coming.

1/16/2017

Hello Again!

I hope this week has been a good week and have learned something new everyday!  For God is moving his hands in everyone's lives everyday.  This week, I've been in Naka-Urawa, with my sister training leaders.  So I have been able to go out and talk to people!! 

There truly is power in gaikokujin (foreigners).  People are more open to us and accept us more. That's one reason why people go all over the world to teach the gospel.  Of course some people don't open up easily or are nice, but in Japan people really like foreigners, especially Americans.  I really liked being with the sister training leaders.  It was so fun!  I feel like I have been able to help their companionship and with mission school we are teaching.

We also got transfer calls and my new companion is going to be Sister Burke!!  She was one of my MTC companions!! So we will both hit our year mark on January 27th together!! She called me today and said she was so excited to be companions and it made me feel good!

So last transfer I came to Kasukabe with dendou Fire (spiritual movings/enthusiasm to talk to others and teach them) and I just wanted to talk to everyone and always be productive and work hard, but we were not able to do that due to certain unfortunate circumstances.  And so, we didn't talk to many people and things like that.   So lately, I've been feeling kind of afraid to talk to everyone!  But when I have tried, I have found that God does fill my mouth with what to say.  Even if it's not perfect, or a confused jumble I know that I tried to share the gospel with people.


In D&C 68:4-6* (see asterick at the bottom of this letter), The Lord gives a promise to his missionaries:

Verse 4 And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.

5 Behold, this is the promise of the Lord unto you, O ye my servants.

6 Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with
you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus
Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am,
and that I am to come.

Also, on Sunday, Sister Solomon (MTC Senpai)** and I were on splits in Koshigaya while Sister Moffat (MTC kohai) was with a member in Naka-Urawa. There was a man on the train that talked to us afterwards and asked if we were going to church.  We said yes and that we are Mormons and he said he was a pastor for a Christian church.  He said he didn't believe that Christ came to America and that it wasn't in the Bible (although it is, if you know where to find it, but Anyways)!  We were able to give him a pamphlet and he said he'd like to talk again so we exchanged numbers.  I reevaluated what I could've said or testified. I think his real concern could've been, is the Book of Mormon the word of God?  If it is, then Christ came to America, as well to other nations. The Book of Mormon answered all questions of the soul.

I've felt really humble lately and a burning in my heart to change and repent.  I'm trying everyday to repent so that I can be a better instrument in God's hands.  I feel happy and successful when I am
giving everything I have to God.  When I consecrate myself to God's work, I can do the work and have fun!  I know that is the same for even those who are not missionaries.  In our daily lives, when we put the Lord first, we are able to be guided to make righteous decisions.  Through humble prayer and trust in the Lord we grow and become "perfected in Christ."  By following the promptings of the spirit we exercise our faith unto repentance.

Sincerely,

Sister Kirsten Parker


Sent from the white fields of Japan 🍲🌅

*  [For those of you who don't know what D&C means, it means "Doctrine and Covenants."  It is mainly a compilation of revelations given to the first organizer of our Church, Joseph Smith, who had prophetic gifts to restore truths lost in the first decades and first few centuries after the first 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ (see Acts 20:29, Luke 10:3, Matthew 7:15, 2 Thess 2:3).   The Protestant movement was a step in the right direction, but it didn't go far enough to correct what went wrong in the Roman movement, but instead it helped lay the conditions in which the Lord could restore lost truths and help further prepare this planet for his great 2nd Coming in which the righteous will be blessed (in this life or the next) and the unrepentant wicked will be destroyed, and the earth will become ready for the Lord's righteous rulership over this earth].  K-Mom.

** MTC Senpai means a missionary who was at the MTC/missionary training center a little earlier, thus a little bit like "senior/seniority"   and MTC Kohai means a missionary who was at the MTC a little later, thus a little bit like "junior."    K-Mom.

p.s.  Here are some pictures and videos -- Enjoy!!

On missionary splits, and meal time.

2 train videos.   In one of them I silently say "hello" and make some faces so as to not be loud.