49th Week in Japan; 3rd Area. Emerging as a missionary.

03/06/2017

こんにちは [Hello}、、皆さん!  ٩( ᐛ )و [Everyone!]

We've really been able to see miracles these past few weeks!  As I have adjusted to the missionary life, I feel emerged in the ways of a missionary. I feel like all I know is missionary work!  But I've never felt more happy or joy.  Although there is many trials and stresses, I always feel God's love and the guidance of the Spirit.  Every new trial that comes, Heavenly Father helps me overcome it and I get stronger and stronger everyday.

Our teaching pool has grown in Kasukabe and we've been working with the ward [congregational area] better. Building relationships, seeing more smiles, and finding and teaching more people. 

We have one investigator who we found in our Areabook.  She was an Eikaiwa [English class] student but stopped coming because she got sick.  One day, we called her up to invite her and see how she was doing and one of the first things she said was, " I'm so glad to hear from you Sisters! When I thought of you, I thought I want to go to church and pray to God.."  Since then we haven't been able to meet her but we have taught her over the phone. Just this week, we sang Her the children's hymn:  "I am a child of God."  She was so honest with her words about her life and she said she wanted to change her life.  She has come to believe that God does exist and loves her!! Especially as she has been healing we have been trying our best to help her become stronger and learn by the Spirit.  The Spirit is so so important in order to understand and believe in Heavenly Father. 

For me as a missionary, I feel the spirit constantly. Like the Liahona, compass, that led Lehi and his family through the wilderness,  in "Alma 37: 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." 

Day by day, I feel the Spirit, I try to follow it, and I learn by the Spirit.  Same for anyone.  In order to understand that there is a high power who rules or understand things that cannot be seen that are true, needs to be understood, learned, and practiced through the Holy Spirit.

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf's words: "The Apostle Paul encourages us to seek the voice that speaks to our spirit, not just to our ears.  He taught, “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”"

It's studying and feasting upon the words written by prophets in our scriptures, praying and conversing with God, having weekly family home evenings and counsels, and thing alike attending the temple regularly that keep the Spirit in our lives to guide us and help us during this period as we prepare to meet our father in Heaven. As his ways are higher than our ways, or we don't always understand why God does things, it can only be understood by the Spirit.

Sometimes it's hard to follow the Spirit or do what's right, but God is patient with us and he promises to help us when we choose to do follow Him and His ways. I know it! Even though I mess up all the time, I am still progressing upwards as I am giving my best. I try to talk to everyone and study Japanese in order to become a missionary that God can lead and trust to do His great work. 

I'm learning everyday of the importance of this and the need for a Saviour.  Jesus Christ really is our Saviour.  Repentance, stopping what is wrong and doing what's right and what God wants us to do, lifts burdens, changes lives, and brings peace.  Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of a peacemaker, a Giver, Leader, and a brother.

Love to all!! This week, try to find something new you can improve to become more like the Saviour. :)  

Here's a picture of us with an investigator, and a member from the Koiwa Ward (she actually is from our home town in Utah!! On the right. She got back from her mission in April, she went to the Japan Kobe mission.)

Our investigator is from Vietnam, although we had a drop lesson this day, but she just isn't ready right now. :)

Here's a wonderful family from Sri Lanka. Their testimonies are so strong!!!. They really feast upon the words of Christ and want to learn everything they can. They were baptized together two years ago and we are just finishing up their A.B. Lessons.

Potetoman  (Potato-man)

Sister Parker

パーカー姉妹。[Sister Parker]

Sent from the white fields of 日本 🌅  [Nihon = Japan]

48th Week in Japan; 3rd area.

2/27/2017

Hello,

I may not write much this week.  My companion is not feeling well, but I'm going to try and write some emails at the apartment and send them at the convenience store.  However if I can't, then I will just say that this week has been good!  I am so so so so so happy about the progress in the things you wrote me about!!! I know God is too!  I love you all so much.

We had transfer calls today and we, Sister Burke and I, are both staying this transfer.  We just started transfer 9, whoop whoop!

Sister Parker

Sent from the white fields of Japan 🍲🌅

picture from internet--Japanese flowers

47th Week in Japan; 3rd area. Remembering, teaching, volunteering.

2/20/2017

Time was just kind of everywhere today, we went bowling with an investigator and the Zone missionaries, and then rain came, and then a couple members called-- one of them is so sweet, bless her heart, but that took a little bit a time.  Elder Holland came to Japan and he spoke to the Stakes [multiple congregations] of the Tokyo mission. That was so cool! And here's something I wrote kind of recently:

There is something I've been pondering about lately and that is remembering. At the missionary zone meeting we had discussions about obedience and repentance and how they are closely tied together. I am such a forgetful little もの [thing], but all humans are forgetful, if we remembered everything we did and felt and saw then we would remember the consequence of sin and not repeatedly sin. But then that would be against God's plan. It often and repeatedly says in the Book of Mormon to remember, remember how merciful God has been to our fathers. But also as we remember the moments that we have and the spiritual experiences and understanding we are getting, it keeps us having hope and joy in life. One way we can always remember Jesus Christ is remembering those experiences, especially the good ones!!, because he is central to everything and he is there with us in every step we take.

The week before this week at Zone blitz, we went to a library and asked to volunteer and we exchanged contact info. The lady we spoke with said they were interested in us reading English books to children. She asked if we could volunteer over many libraries in Saitama or just the one in Iwatsuki that we were at. We told her there are missionaries all over so they could probably help volunteer too! That was miracle!

She gave us a call a couple days ago and we set up a time to meet and talk about it more! Next transfer will be on March 15th. We are hoping that we can get mission school more sponsored by this or just give them fliers to keep!   [K-mom:  I don't know exactly what "mission school" is-- a new term to me!]

Some of the greatest miracles this week was first, when we were visiting members, there was this one less-active we were trying to meet but she seemed to be busy at the time so we were going to come back in ten minutes or so. So we pray, and go housing [looking for potential people to teach in their residential areas]  at a complex across the street. On the fourth floor (but not last door), there was a lady who answered. We introduced ourselves and she said she's sorry that she believes in Buddhism and regularly practices it, but she has always had an interest in the cross. This was pretty cool, we talked a bit about Jesus Christ and his church being restored and I felt power come through me. She was so interested in what we were saying and I could see it in her eyes. So I asked her if she would meet us next week to learn more with a time and she said no. But! I felt the Spirit testify through me. She actually is a clothing repairer so she happens to start work and will be busy all week. She does have our phone number though and we are going to try to visit again sometime.

Half-day exchanges we so fun! We went visiting less-actives with a member and one member we finally were able to talk to! We shared the area Stake [multi-congregation] plan and gave her the little brochure. It was really effective sharing this with her. She usually doesn't come to church because her body is not healthy, but when we testified and talked about the 'JOY' triangle and the loving, strengthening, increasing part we felt the Spirit [K-mom: "JOY Triangle" I assume is a teaching technique which she hasn't explained to me before]. It was simple and I felt like it was really good for her especially as a less-active [less involved/attending] member. We were able to help her feel the spirit and we were able to help her want to grow closer to God. I know that the area plan will help people find joy!! Especially as we are sharing with others our experiences as we focus on Jesus and others and then ourselves.

At the global family and friends community last night, we talked to a few people and this one lady comes right up to us and says she's looking to give a job for another English teacher. Of course we can't because we are volunteers, but she was very interested in us and church and mission school.  Everything! We gave her a chirashi [flyer] and pamphlet and said she really wants to come to church and read the pamphlet.  She also wants to come to our Toeic class (a type of English skills class) on Saturdays. She's free on the weekends. She has such a strong desire to learn so we expect to see her soon! Unfortunately, we were not able to get her phone number, but if she is ready, she has the church address and phone number so she can contact us.

I really feel the love of Jesus Christ growing in me for the people of Kasukabe. When sitting in the congregation at church, I think the Spirit told me who needs strengthening. I could see in some of the children who need more help or strength from the gospel and I think that's a blessing God has given to me to perform my calling. 

Cultural Note in response to K-Mom's question about Matcha:  Japanese Matcha is だめ [not good] for the body。In replacement of tea, the LDS members usually drink herbal tea like robust tea or mugicha (barley tea).

Bowling with the investigator and the missionaries

Love love ❤️ Love, Sister Parker

Sent from the white fields of Japan

Apology for the pause button

3/8/2017

K-Mom here:  Sorry it's been about 3 weeks since I've done a post for Sister Kirsten Parker, my daughter.  She is doing fine.  It's just mom here that is struggling with some things.  I'll post a couple of her letters soon.

46th week in Japan; 3rd area. Burying our grievances and sins; Valentines Day in Japan.

(picture is from internet)

Hello Family, friends, and blog readers:

I've been getting better at teaching English.  I feel almost like a pro! :)  When I first came to Japan, I would sweat and get nervous.  For quite a few transfers [6 week time periods] it was like that, but now it's good!

I am personally doing good.  I have been focusing my thoughts and prayers on the Ward [congregation] and Mission school.  We had a mochitsuki, and that's where we pound rice with a hammer and smooth it and stuff and then you eat it with different foods.  There are picture and videos on my companion's iPad but we couldn't send it to my iPad for some reason, so we will try again later today and see if we can get it.  

A P.I. [potential investigator] we met on the street a month ago, I've been Facebook messaging her, and she had her day off on Saturday and that's when the mochitsuki was, so she came!!  It was great!  The Ward fellowshipped her well.   After that we did missionary Zone blitz activity, so we did little companion exchanges and I went with Sister Moterzitsky (I don't know how to spell her name).  That was fun!  We have been trying to focus on smart dendou (proselyting) and so we went into a library and asked if we could volunteer and teach English.  They said, "Yes," and  that we could even read English books to children at activities!   For all of the Zone!! So that was a cool miracle!   [For those of you who don't know what Zone means, it is a geographical area in the mission with X number of missionaries assigned to it.  It is comprised of several missionary Districts, which are smaller than a Zone].  Our Zone has had had really spiritual and inspiring meetings and it's been helping me to narrow my course to Heavenly Father.

 

Something I learned in my personal study recently is in the book of Alma [in the Book of Mormon] about the Sons of Mosiah and their journeys.   They did smart dendou [proselyting] too!  When those Lamanites were converted to the Gospel, and called themselves the Anti-Nephi-Lehis, they buried their "weapons of rebellion against God, and showed that covenant to not shed blood anymore by literally burying their weapons deep in the ground.  When the bad Lamanites came to attack them, they kept their promise that they made with God.  They knew they would be saved in the Lord's Kingdom whether they were killed or not.  When the Lamanites started war and saw them not resisting, they stopped and felt sorrow for their brethren that they were attacking and killing, and many converted to God. The Lord works to save his children in ways we cannot always comprehend.  However, there were still Lamanites whose hearts were hardened and turned their anger to the Nephites.  So they kept attacking them, but sooner or later they stopped and become one with the people of God.

 

They kept the law of Moses because hey saw it as a type of the coming of Jesus Christ.  (see Alma 25.  Click here ) By repeating this Mosaic ordinance, in and of itself, it did not bring them salvation but strengthened their faith in Christ therefore keeping their hope in God.  Kept them strong in their testimony because it pointed them to the future atonement of Christ.   This chapter made me think of ordinances like baptism, the sacrament, and the Temple ordinances.  We need to prepare ourselves spiritually in order to receive rewards in heaven.  The sacrament is a weekly ordinance that reminds us of our baptismal covenant and that we will always remember Christ and follow him. It's a time to repent of our sins.  The ordinance itself does not make us clean unless we bring a contrite spirit and broken heart (godly sorrow for our sins) to church.  Therefore, we need to prepare to be able to receive that strength.  

As humans, we always forget things.  If we remembered everything we did exactly, we would probably never sin again after sinning.  But it's because we constantly forget and we are a 'fallen' people, we need to constantly focus on the Savior Jesus Christ and repent.  Through this, and ordinances restored through the priesthood of God, we are able to keep a brightness of hope and strengthen our faith in Christ.  Elder Bednar's talked about this too, in one of his talks.  His talk was focused on Mosiah 4:19,20 (click here)  I think.  It was about keeping a remission of sins, but I understand it more now.  All ordinances are important and need full spiritual preparation for them. 

We are about to go to the temple in Tokyo so I will end this letter here.

Love, 

your missionary daughter,

Sister Kirsten Parker

Sent from the white fields of Japan 🍲🌅

*******

Cultural note: 

It's Valentines' Day (February 14th) again, however it is celebrated a little differently in Japan than in the USA.  Men get the chocolate on Valentines' (as do family, friends, coworkers) and if they love back, they reciprocate to the women on White Day one month later (March 14th).

Here are a couple of links where you can read up on it if you wish:

http://us.jnto.go.jp/blog/valentines-day-white-day-in-japan/ (click here)

or

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/02/11/japan-valentines-day-white-day-chocolate/80223728/ (click here)

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.”