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

57th Week in Japan; 4th Area. Pure love helps remove fear.

👋 Hello Everyone!

Church was great!  We had M_____i [female name, different person than last week], one of our investigators come to the international group (the English ward/congregation, except it's not that big of a group).  We were able to work with the members more and help them out and are building better relationships.  Urawa is a great ward [congregation]!  Everyone has so much of Christ's light in their faces, it makes me happy to come to church every week.  A returned missionary shared this scripture and talked about that as well 

     (Alma 5:14. This is one my favorite chapters, especially in high school).  

And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

Prophecies foretold are coming true!  Jesus Christ will be coming soon! 

[Read 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Timothy 3:1-8 regarding the last days prophecied apostacy from the truth and goodness.  Sister Parker wrote this in response to her mother's recent letter about the congregation's discussion about local youth struggling to be an example and have faith in the face of so many people not believing in God or righteous values anymore--they feel like the minority!]:   

I'm so glad that the young man in our home ward [congregation] had the courage to stand alone in his beliefs. It's so important to love and help support the youth.  The Spirit can guide them to stay pure in a world full of bad influences and temptations.

I've been thinking lately.  Well, off and on, I think about and pray about how I can talk to people and not be afraid.  But from Elder Choi's recent conference when he came to Japan, we talked a lot about  the 'Open Your Mouth' and speak concept.  The first session really was a call to repentance. And I felt that my faith was boosted after applying the things I learned.  This transfer, my theme is "Faith, Hope, and Charity." But in Moroni 8, at the end it talks about these three attributes of Christ and how essential they are to each other. They are also gifts of God.  Gifts of God that we can receive freely as long as we ask and then try to accomplish them.

So yesterday, I prayed for charity, again. I prayed that I may be filled with the love of Christ. Love for Christ, feel Christ's love, and love for his people.  And I've made a goal recently that I really felt strong about, especially during the conference, that I set goals to find 12 prepared people to be baptized and baptized within my mission.  I'm still figuring out the plans.  But I've been trying to talk to everyone on the streets and trains without fear. and really trying to show love and care for them and it's made a difference and I felt love.  This combination of faith in Jesus Christ and pure love for him and his people, through actions is what has helped me feel more happiness, more motivation to do good, and more of the Spirit being poured upon.

So like the same for the youth or anyone we are teaching, teaching with pure love and always looking to the Savior for help and guidance and trusting that he knows how to help them and yourself, is key.  I highly recommend studying the scriptures on how the Savior taught others. 

When reading scriptures, I've found that when I pray with questions and search for those answers wherever I'm reading, it helps me have an effective study and feel like I've feasted on that manna! 

We are going to take a little break and practice a musical for MLC this Thursday [K-Mom:  I don't know what MLC is].  Probably sister Nagano [the mission president's wife] will record it and you may see it on Facebook.  

Sister Parker, Kirsten.

「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

Google translation: "A perfect love removes every fear." Moroni 8: 16

Here's a video of my apartment.   Typical sister missionary apartment here in Japan:

56th Week in Japan; 4th Area. Walking and knocking.

4/25/2017

Hello family and friends, and readers,

Sister Haroldsen and I are doing great!  It was a great week.  We've been working with our investigators and the ward more. 

I remember now that Sister training leaders are newer.  So, they are like zone leaders, but mostly for the Sisters. :)  It's really great to work with the sisters.  I'm learning new things from them and often it's humbling.

We have an investigator who is 8 years old.  His name is R____ and he is from the Philippians.  I'll send a picture next week maybe if I have it.  He loves loves loves cars, just like my brother.  We saw a Ferrari, I think, yesterday before we had a lesson.  I think I've seen some Audis in Japan too.

 H______-San in particular is doing really well.  She came to F.H.E (Monday Family Home Evening) and Airi Shimai fellowshipper really well.  Afterwards we shared: 

3 Nephi 11:30 "Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away." 

In our lesson previously she asked, "If everyone believed in Jesus Christ and these things, would it really bring world peace?"  We said yes!  And when we shared this scripture and testified of Jesus Christ she said that she could feel it pierce or enter into her heart.  We walked together and she said that she loves coming to the church because she always leaves with this biiiig smile on her face.  We have high hopes for H______. I'm so glad that she is letting the Spirit teach her! :D

Also Elder Choi visited our mission and it was soooooo greaaaaaaaattt.   I will try to write next week about that, or maybe I'll send a paper letter about it. :)  he had the general conference talk this year, "Don't look around, look up." And D&C 6:36 has become my theme scripture for the rest of my mission I think.   36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

Also other quotes he said a few days ago. "If you don't like it, like it!" And then we sang "I like to sing" that's in the children's Primary music book.   We turned it into "knock" and "walk" and "run"

So it's like:

"Sing, sing, sing,

I like to sing.

I like to sing a song!

Sing, sing sing." And then we go like:

"Walk, walk, walk

I like to walk

I like to walk all day!

Walk, walk, walk." 

Or:

"Knock, knock, knock,

I like to knock.

I like to knock on doors!

Knock, knock, knock."

And different things like that. But he really helped us see everything as fun!  Missions are fun!  Even though things are hard he helped ME see more how I can enjoy everything that comes.  And it really makes me feel happier! 

Love,

Sister Parker

Sent from the white fields of Japan 🍲🌅

[Kirsten's comments about the song.. walk and knock reminded me of:

Revelation 3:20

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

From the internet.  Greg Olsen art.  "Let Him In."  Rev. 3:20