55th Week in Japan. 4th Area. Easter Message.

Mosiah 15:
"7 Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father.
8 And thus God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men--
9 Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of mercy; being filled with compassion towards the children of men; standing betwixt them and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and satisfied the demands of justice."

This week has been great!! One cool thing I realized about Japan is that every time you bow at someone, that person bows back to you.  Guaranteed.👌🏻 

Also, we cover the Urawa area and the Koshigaya area!!  So we are riding the train back and forth. And we are finding more and more people to teach!  I really love the people and want to help them.  It's no longer scary or a worry to think about what to do, because I know the Lord will help me!  I'm striving to do what's right and to pray with all my heart for His children.  When we focus on the Lord's vineyard, his people, we become part of a great work and it's fun and absolutely joyful!!

There's so much to do and I love it!! I really feel immersed in Heavenly father's work in spreading the joyful news of Jesus Christ.  I know that all who come unto Jesus Christ, believe him, follow him in His ways, trust him, can be healed and changed into a better self.  For he is, the Prince of Peace. He loves us, "being filled with
compassion.." and this is eternal.  He died and was resurrected after three days.  We too will conquer death because of His loving sacrifice.

On Facebook, the church posted a short video and I took a snap of it. 

Because of Jesus Christ we will be resurrected and live still after this life, like Him. But we can be resurrected now, too. "We can rise above" the world, our pains, impurities, inflictions, など [and such, etc.] , and be free from sin. It's a lifestyle and a regular pattern of living like the Savior and partaking of his free love!

I don't know much, but I do know that. I've seen it in myself and in my investigators and in other members. Trying to help people change their lives and partake of eternal salvation is such a joy. Heavenly Father does know his children and loves them. He provided a Savior to give us help and guidance as we strive to overcome this life as we wait to enter into the next, a better world, to live with Heavenly Father again. :)

The church has been restored and the priesthood authority of God is on earth again. The Lord is hastening its work and this message is spreading throughout the globe.

I'll try to write more about investigators and the wards next week! Love you all!!

Read the Book of Mormon!! Everyday! 

Love,
Sister Parker
パーカー姉妹より。

Sent from the white fields of Japan 🍲🌅

55th Week in Japan, 4th Area. New Paths.

Week one as a Sister Training Leader and I love it.  I still feel unworthy as a sister Training Leader , and by that I mean I want to become more humble and be able to follow the Spirit more in all I do.  Sister Haroldsen is my new companion and she is wonderful!!  She majored in a English and she is really funny.  She's a great example and we also have something to do.  It makes me even happier to serve the Lord.  In the white [missionary] handbook it talks about how being a leader should be viewed as opportunities to serve others, develop greater love, and learn.  And that's actually what I've been praying for. I hope to learn a lot this transfer and be a clean vessel for the Lord to use for His work.

The Lord really is hastening His work.  More people are coming to mission school and through that more people are being exposed to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

There was an Eikaiwa [English conversation class] student who came to the international ward [congregation] (we have two wards to attend in this area) and we gave her a Book of Mormon and she says she wants to come again and learn to apply the things she learned.  Also, H_____-chan [female].  H_____ is a 20 year old student we met this weekend. I took this out of my weekly letter to the mission president:

We saw amazing miracles happen this weekend. H_____-San [same person listed above] is a sweet spot of the week, and we met with her for a first lesson and she just loves the light that all the members have and the smiling faces and she wants to be happy like that.  We set really good expectations and she recognized the Spirit while we prayed and talked and asked questions and listened.  She said that she would be baptized if she knew that all the things we taught her were true.  I really felt guided by he Spirit.  Sister Haroldsen and I were both inspired and were able to help her understand some doctrine and principles. We have high hopes for H_____!

Also at the international group, an Eikaiwa student, M_____ [another female investigator], came to church.  She first got a *chirashi from her sister who got it from missionaries at a 配り会 [literal, "distribution" -- I am not sure what she is saying here.]。She came to Eikaiwa about 2 months ago and from the spiritual messages had interest in coming to church. She loved it and we gave her a Book of Mormon. She wants to apply the things she learned at church and find happiness!!  So she will probably be coming to Stake Conference [multi congregational Sunday meeting].

I also have a Japanese joke:

Hanataba ni shitemo matomaranai ohana wa naani?

What flower cannot be put into a bouquet?

Answer: bara (rose)

It's a pun. 'Barabara' means scattered.

I hope this flower joke brightened your Spring day!!

Love,

Sister Parker ❤️🤗💕

p.s. some definitions:

Chirashi, also called chirashizushi (ちらし寿司) is a Japanese meal. The word "chirashi" means "scattered," so this is basically a big bowl of rice mixed with fish, vegetables, and additional ingredients of your choice.

-chan:  Informal.  This is an endearing female honorific. While it’s most commonly used for children, it’s also used fairly widely among family and friends.

-San:  Formal.  The most common formal honorific is -san, and it translates (approximately) to Ms. and Mr..  It’s used among peers and in public settings, like offices or schools (unlike in the United States., coworkers and fellow students usually refer to each other formally). It’s also used for acquaintances.   You never use this title for yourself; it is not self designated.

For more information on Japanese Honorifics:  see http://takelessons.com/blog/japanese-honorifics-z05

p.p.s.

Pictures!  😄❤🤗 enjoy!

With a member

another member's baby (Jun-kun!)

 my new companion Sister Haroldsen

a reunion with Sister Boden, former companion (on the right)

 district lunch last transfer 

54th week in Japan. 3rd Area. Transfer calls, Easter videos.

4/9/2017

Hello Everyone!

I'm transferring to Urawa and I will become this zone's Sister Training Leader!!  I hope I can learn a lot!!  I know I will actually.  I really want to give my trust to the Lord and help bring his sheep into his fold.

There are two investigators that I know will get baptized in Kasukabe and President Nagano said I can return here for the baptism because I'll be close by.

Now, if I didn't get a baptism in my mission, it wouldn't matter.  As long as I'm giving everything to the Lord and giving my heart, mind, strength, and might to the Lord.  He is very important to me and I know he loves his children, I know he loves me and he loves you so much.  He knows your needs.  I prayed about this and I want to give as much time to the Lord as I can.  I really really love Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father and I know that blessings will be in store the more I give to the Lord.  And I know that after my mission I can continue to help people.  And I do want to help my family.  I know that it may seem like I'm not giving much attention to my family, but I'm doing the best I can when I'm writing on Mondays.   I definitely want to put priority on family when I return home, and I believe the Lord will bless my family. 

And here's a video that I watched recently that I really liked. Easter Mormon messages has a new serious

Principles of Peace: Faith #PrinceofPeace  Click here: Easter 2017 video

Many people, if they were given only 15 months to live, would sink into despair. But through her faith in Jesus Christ, Kristin found the strength to carry on. Learn how her faith helped her to trust in God’s plan for her family.    Click here: video from Mormon.org about Kristin

I really look forward to seeing you in a few transfers :)  I have many experiences to share with you, [The recent] General Conference was amazing too.  Each talk was an answer to my prayers.  It strengthened my faith.  And I know that no matter what happens in this time period, I know that when we put our trust in the Lord we will never fail and He blesses, loves, uplifts, and refines us into something more beautiful a human mind could ever imagine.

Love,

心を込めて、[wholeheartedly]

Sister Parker

パーカー姉妹より。

Sent from the white fields of Japan 🍲🌅

53rd Week in Japan; 3rd Area. Quick visit.

4/4/2017

Sorry not too much time to write.  I'm sorry I look tired in the video. :)  I have hiccups right now.

Love,
Sister Parker/Kirsten


Sent from the white fields of Japan 🍲🌅

One Year in Japan; 3rd Area. Two progressing investigators.

3/27/2017

Hello Everyone!

Japan's Sakura [cherry blossum] is suppose to start blooming next week but the Ume [plum] trees started blooming already.

Japan is good. We have been helping our investigators and helping the ward [congregation] where it needs.  We had some plans fall through during the week and were not having as much progression in the work, but I can feel the Spirit leading me and helping me do my best! I'm trying to give everything I have to the Lord so that I can be an instrument in His hands.  In fact, on Sunday, we had many things going on!   Recently, Mo____, (female) an investigator who moved from the Sendai mission area, moved here officially and came to church along with an investigator who came for the first time, Yu____ (female).  I sat with Yu____ and I remember her saying how grateful she was for the prayer that we said on the phone with her.  I had prayed that she would have the power to endure and be able to gain her health back and feel God's love and she did. She had almost no money, no food, living by herself and her illness was bad enough that she couldn't leave her house, but she has changed, gotten better and she feels happy.  She's prayed

to God and when she came to church she felt so much peace.  I gave her a Book of Mormon during sacrament reading to read a verse along with the wonderful speaker and she read the whole chapter!!  She could feel the power that was in the Book and took it home.  She had to leave
early, but she already bore her testimony to me that God lives and grants power in prayer.  She left sacrament [meeting] early, but I was so amazed by how much she has changed and grown and her circumstances have completely changed with her faith in God.  She just needs to learn more
about Jesus Christ now!  But I prayed quickly and asked Heavenly Father, "is she really going to he baptized? I believe it.." and I felt shivers go through my body and I know that she can get baptized
next month. We prayed about a date and thought of April 16th, this year.  We are going to extend it to her as soon as we can.

And Mo____-chan (same person listed near the top of this letter), she has been to church every week since she has met the missionaries in October last year.  We are going to try and talk with her tomorrow about her concerns, and fears of baptism and invite her to join Jesus Christ's church by being baptized by proper authority of God.  As missionaries, we teach repentance and baptize converts, and these next few weeks, we are going to try our best to help them convert to Jesus Christ, have faith in Him unto repentance, and prepare for the saving ordinance of baptism. Baptism is such an important ordinance because it is the only way, the covenant by that we can enter the kingdom of God, being completed by receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, as taught in the New Testament.   

I believe that when these two wonderful women join and become one with the church of God, that they will start their journey and discipleship of Jesus Christ, and thye will be "living after the manner of happiness", according to Jesus Christ's gospel. Families are a blessing from God because it is a great place to have a loving atmosphere and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I love you all very very much!!  But it does not compare to how much the Savior Jesus Christ loves for he gave himself as an offering to satisfy the demands of justice that come from the fall of Adam.

Here's a scripture that I hope may be able to brighten your day. :) this is during the time of Captain Moroni and the wars.  Helaman and his two thousand stripling warriors had been conquering back their cities from the Lamanites but they were receiving not as much help from their government [they were desperate, in dire need] and the Lamanites were attacking them often.

Alma 58:
10 Therefore we did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would
strengthen us and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, yea, and
also give us strength that we might retain our cities, and our lands,
and our possessions, for the support of our people.
11 Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with
assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak
peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause
us that we should hope for our deliverance in him.
12 And we did take courage with our small force which we had received,
and were fixed with a determination to conquer our enemies, and to
maintain our lands, and our possessions, and our wives, and our
children, and the cause of our liberty.

Remember, that the Lord is with you always. In every single step that you take in this life as you continue back to Father's presence.  We are all children of A loving Heavenly Father and we all need the Savior in order to return back to his presence clean and purified.  Seek the spirit to purify you daily in everything you do and pray for it always that you may have the strengthen to overcome temptation.

Gomen [sorry], I want to put more words in this letter to help you or lift you up but we have to leave soon. I want you to know that I love the Lord and I'm learning that my mission is not mine, it's His.  Everything I'm giving is to the Lord and I love my family, but I don't want you to feel that you're not important because you all are.  I'm just trying to do what the Lord wants me to do.  I'm really really really trying to give all my desires and hopes and talents to God because I know he loves his children and he trusts me to do it. 

It's been stressful being in Japan--trying to help people progress and receive salvation and not knowing how to do it exactly.  Although, it's good, I don't know how to do it because then I depend on the lord and seek the spirit, but anyways. In the times that I could have been upset or stressed because there's so much to do I have prayed for strength and have found peace and more love in my heart. I want to do the best good I can.

Sister Parker / Kirsten
Sent from the white fields of Japan 🍲🌅

51st week in Japan; 3rd Area. "God gives his toughest battles to His strongest soldiers."

Konnichiha Everyone!!   Happy Spring!!

"God gives his toughest battles to His strongest soldiers."

It's amazing how many great weeks I've had, but also hard days.  We've seen many miracles working in Kasukabe and helping people.  Bringing joy to other people's lives through the gospel and sharing the blessings I've been given brings happiness!!  It brings happiness and I feel God's love in abundance through the miracles Sister Burke and I have seen.  Even through the tough times, there is miracles because God is always working in our lives. :)

I'd like to share my testimony of the power and love of God by sharing sometime when I felt overburdened.

I've been having some days that are really hard to get through and it came to one day that my companion told me that I should go into the tatami room (where we sleep) and pray aloud to Heavenly Father and ask for help.  So I did. I remember when my companion left the room I could just feel a welcoming presence inviting me to pour out my heart.  I felt so much love!!  and my asked questions and I listened and I can testify that I did have a conversation with God.  I wrote down all the thoughts and impressions that came to me and I followed them. From the words of the prophets and apostles that I've been lead to study and ponder, I've truly learned that there is an enabling power that can only be received by and through the atonement of Jesus Christ.  We cannot get through this life without depending on the Lord and His strength.

Like form the Book of Mormon, in Alma 31, Alma and his brethren were to teach the Zoramites.  They were afflicted by the wickedness of the Zoramites who had fallen away from the true God and had separated themselves.  But the Lord provided for Alma and his brothers..

"and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith."

I think often, prayer may seem like something that can take away agony or circumstances or that we can be free from our trials by asking for it to go away..  But that's not always what God will do.  Because we only learn and become like the Savior as we strive to be like him during our own times of Gethsemane.  Because the Savior suffered our pains and afflictions first he is the only one who knows how to reach out to us, succor us, and strengthen us.  When we ask Heavenly Father to give us strength to conquer our lives' enemies, we can have joy. Because of Jesus Christ we can have joy even in our trials.  And I can testify of it because I've read it and I've experienced it.  And everyone has frightening or terrible or easily besetting experiences but all of them can be overcome by asking for the enabling power of the atonement of Jesus Christ to be strengthened.

“I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs. …

“And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord” (Mosiah 24:14–15)

I testify that God is an all-powerful, all-knowing being who is the Father of our spirits and loves you and knows each everyone of you you name.  He reaches out to you daily.

I invite you all to have a conversation with God and listen with your heart that you may feel His love! His love truly soothes aching hearts and fixes broken souls. It is the strongest bond in families and is the source of happiness. God's love is perfect and it lifts every soul that hangs low and raises joyful ones even higher. And all that is needed is a humble heart willing to act and ask.

I love you all!! :)

心を込めて、With all my heart

パーカー姉妹 Sister Parker

Sent from the white fields of Japan 

Life is not always serious-- here are two videos where I appear less than polished...

I was tired of doing planning meetings in this video.  I hope it's okay to show this.

HIccups...

50th Week in Japan; 3rd Area. Using the gospel to help get over heartbreak.

We are helping that one family from Sri Lanka go to the temple. They have their recommends to do baptisms now but we are just picking another day I think.

[Responding to a comment in the family letter about some workers and their behavior]  I thought of Alma 37:37

37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

Sometimes we can be spared experiences with certain people if we ask God if those particular people we could be associating with in work or business or other meaningful relationships like dating or marriage are worth having in our lives--Always thinking beforehand and asking God if what choice you're making is right, is incredibly important. God knows what we need in order to be happy and he will always guide us to what is right.

I feel that every moment that I am a missionary is important time preparing God's people for the next life.  I read a talk by Joseph Smith called "the King Follett Sermon" I think and he talked much about God's character and it enlightened my understanding.  I look at all these people and they are all preparing to meet Heavenly Father again.  It would be terrible to end this life and to realize that they didn't prepare as well as they could to meet God again.  Not perfecting or tuning themselves.. (as Jesus said that we are to be perfect like our Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:48).   I imagine it could be terrifying in a way.  There's such a need for these people to know, and more people are becoming willing to listen to the gospel.  And even if they aren't, they need to hear it and exercise their agency to accept it or not.  I say this because I love God and want to do his will. God doesn't want us to have heartbreak.  But he promises that through the atonement of Jesus Christ that our heartbreak can be healed and forgotten and lifted.   When we come unto Christ by repenting of our sins and keeping God's commandments, living according to our covenants we made, we can experience and have the joy that Jesus Christ's gospel brings.  Even when we feel bad, we can have and hold joy in our hearts because of the hope it brings.  But we don't need to feel bad or heartbroken for a longtime. Yes, it can be hard to forgive, or let go of things, but it's simple. And he is always there with open arms. 

There's an artwork picture of Jesus Christ knocking on a door with no handle.  We have to let him in, he can't come in himself without us letting us in.  I've had times where I have felt unworthy or just heartbroken or lost but when I have followed the way that Jesus Christ teaches in the scriptures, I have found peace and my burdens have been lifted.

I love this scripture because it's true. All the scriptures written by prophets of old and today are inspired and revealed by the power of the Holy Spirit. There is no deceiving.

Matthew 11: 

"28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

I know that there is a Savior for us all.  God loves you with all his heart and it is unchangeable, eternal, and always there. Whether or not you feel it or believe it. I was going through one of my studies and answering the "Why" questions to the gospel according to the pamphlets that I have. Many of them said, "Because Heavenly Father loves his children, he sent his children to earth. Because Heavenly Father loves his children, he sent his son Jesus Christ. Because God loves his children, He established families.." :) 

(Changing topics...) We have been using the ukulele a lot for fun examples in teaching. The "Lord, My Redeemer" song has some hard chords and I can't figure out the strumming pattern, but we've been playing children's song book. Speaking of teaching, I recommend studying "Teaching In the Savior's Way" book. It's great!

And I think it's great that you're visiting people at their 🏡 homes.  This ward in Kasukabe needs help.  As I've gotten older and am learning more and more how to care for other children of God, I can see who is hurting and what is going on in the ward. I want to help them the best I can. The daily miracles, or a word for evidence of the hand of the Lord guiding his children, I see is great! We have been helping strengthen the members little by little, helping them do member work, while still declaring the gospel with the angels round about us.

Thank you for your love and support!! Sister Burke is doing better by the way. :)

This is from today!! By the way Sister Griffin (on the right) is from San Diego.


(This is to her sibling:)

Have you ever eaten these Oreos?

Love,

Your missionary daughter,

Sister Parker

Sent from the white fields of Japan 🍲🌅