Our theme for the week provided by our obsession with Deseret Summer Playlist. Plus the fact that Sister Wells and I simply love love. And we have been seeing an outpooring of it this week from our Heavenly Father!
I guess the biggest miracle of this week would have to be Aki's Baptism!!! It went perfectly!! On Monday night she had her interview and she was absolutely perfect. Her faith is incredible and her dilligence in studying the gospel is so inspiring. Before her interview we taught her Tithing, but she had been so excited to learn about it that she looked it up on the internet and taught it to us! How am I so lucky to get to work with someone of so much faith!! She is my inspiration and I love her so much. I want to develop the kind of faith she has and am so grateful for the example she is to me. Her baptism was on Sunday and it was amazing! It was right after church and there were so many ward members there! She was simply glowing and her face when she got out of the font was priceless. You could just see the happiness that she had received from following the example of Jesus Christ. When she bore her testimony, she did it in Japanese and spoke about how she doesn't know everything, but she knows that part of being a member of this church is to constantly grow and progress. Her insights are amazing. After the service, a few of the YSA's in the ward practically asked her on dates right there on the spot. She's perfect. Oh, did I mention that she also brought a friend who wants to take lessons from the missionaries in Chiba. Aki has already become a missionary!!
Another miracle: Mari Shimai. I think I mentioned her last week but she is just incredible! She has been helping us so much in furthering the work, and has been super willing to introduce us to her friends. We're actually meeting with her friend next week to go to Gospel Choir with Jett Edwards. Yes, I am now a member of a gospel choir. No, my singing skills have not suddenly improved since I've come to Japan. But I am in a gospel choir. We are singing Go Down Moses, the Louis Armstrong arrangement. My favorite part is the instrumental.
So I've gotta be honest with you all for a minute. This week has actually been a little rough. I'm working so hard on improving myself, but I kind of felt like I was at a standstill this week and was worried that I wasn't making a difference. Which is silly because of course I am making a difference working for the Lord, and those kind of negative thoughts are for losers not winners. But, alas, it happened for a little. I can't help but admit I was a little more than pleased when I heard from an elder in my district that his cousin is reading my blog. Thank you so much Tiffany Blake for your kind words! They were inspired, and they really did help. Can't wait to see you out here in the field in May!!
Guys. I love life. Being the Lord's missionary is the single most amazing decision I ever made in my entire life. I am grateful for His Atonement, and that through it I can become the person who I want to become. It's kind of hard, but with an Eternal perspective it is completely manageable. The Lord strengthens us in all we do and He loves us so much. I am so grateful that every day I have the chance to understand my divine identity just a little bit better. I love my Savior and I love you all! The Church is True, the Book is Blue. But seriously, the Book of Mormon is incredible.
Love you all!
Sister Feist
I guess the biggest miracle of this week would have to be Aki's Baptism!!! It went perfectly!! On Monday night she had her interview and she was absolutely perfect. Her faith is incredible and her dilligence in studying the gospel is so inspiring. Before her interview we taught her Tithing, but she had been so excited to learn about it that she looked it up on the internet and taught it to us! How am I so lucky to get to work with someone of so much faith!! She is my inspiration and I love her so much. I want to develop the kind of faith she has and am so grateful for the example she is to me. Her baptism was on Sunday and it was amazing! It was right after church and there were so many ward members there! She was simply glowing and her face when she got out of the font was priceless. You could just see the happiness that she had received from following the example of Jesus Christ. When she bore her testimony, she did it in Japanese and spoke about how she doesn't know everything, but she knows that part of being a member of this church is to constantly grow and progress. Her insights are amazing. After the service, a few of the YSA's in the ward practically asked her on dates right there on the spot. She's perfect. Oh, did I mention that she also brought a friend who wants to take lessons from the missionaries in Chiba. Aki has already become a missionary!!
Another miracle: Mari Shimai. I think I mentioned her last week but she is just incredible! She has been helping us so much in furthering the work, and has been super willing to introduce us to her friends. We're actually meeting with her friend next week to go to Gospel Choir with Jett Edwards. Yes, I am now a member of a gospel choir. No, my singing skills have not suddenly improved since I've come to Japan. But I am in a gospel choir. We are singing Go Down Moses, the Louis Armstrong arrangement. My favorite part is the instrumental.
So I've gotta be honest with you all for a minute. This week has actually been a little rough. I'm working so hard on improving myself, but I kind of felt like I was at a standstill this week and was worried that I wasn't making a difference. Which is silly because of course I am making a difference working for the Lord, and those kind of negative thoughts are for losers not winners. But, alas, it happened for a little. I can't help but admit I was a little more than pleased when I heard from an elder in my district that his cousin is reading my blog. Thank you so much Tiffany Blake for your kind words! They were inspired, and they really did help. Can't wait to see you out here in the field in May!!
Guys. I love life. Being the Lord's missionary is the single most amazing decision I ever made in my entire life. I am grateful for His Atonement, and that through it I can become the person who I want to become. It's kind of hard, but with an Eternal perspective it is completely manageable. The Lord strengthens us in all we do and He loves us so much. I am so grateful that every day I have the chance to understand my divine identity just a little bit better. I love my Savior and I love you all! The Church is True, the Book is Blue. But seriously, the Book of Mormon is incredible.
Love you all!
Sister Feist