I'm sure it's a little late, but I really do want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day! Here in Japan, we received almost a foot of snow on Valentine's Day. It hasn't snowed like this in Tokyo for the past twenty years!! It's a really nice casual way to start conversations with people though.
"Wow, is this a normal amount of snow for Japan?" "No, this is very unusual." "Oh wow, I am very surprised! I came here to be a church missionary, would you like to learn more about church?"
Throw in a little more small talk and that really is just about how much I say in real life. But as a missionary, you really do just have to try your best to make the most out of rough situations. And streeting in the snow, that's pretty rough.
Valentine's Day is surprisingly uneventful. In Japan, girls give gifts to guys on Valentine's and then in March they have White Day where guys give gifts to girls. It's brilliant, because then the guys can always make sure that their gift is more expensive and extravagant!! Japan is always thinking up great ideas.
Back in Kichijoji with Sister Wells!! Well, it's a new transfer which means a new district, and once again, I feel almost guilty for how incredible our district is. We are having a blast, and all the elders and sisters are so much fun. Not to mention, everyone is working SO HARD and we are being blessed with seeing so many miracles!!
One of our miracles is Iizawa San. She is a self-referral from Mormon.org and she is incredible!! She asked in the first lesson when she could get baptized. Her baptismal date is for March 3rd, and she is so excited! She went to church with her friends while she lived in Utah for 8 years and fell in love with the way that members of the church lived their lives. There are so many people here in Japan who are prepared to receive the gospel, we just have to be working hard enough for God to trust us to work with them.
Another amazing new investigator we are working with is Yuki San. The elders actually met her at a train station and referred her to us. We were talking in our first lesson at the beginning with her and it turns out that she is actually a full time volunteer missionary for HER church. Like, she proselytes for them and sleeps at the church. But as we were teaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, her eyes lit up, and she said that she now better understands the scriptures. When we explained about baptism she said that she'd read about it in the Bible, but had never really considered it's significance for her personally, but now after this lesson, she thinks that it really is something that she needs. At the end of the lesson we asked that as the Lord answers her prayers and she feels that this message is true, if she will follow that example of Jesus Christ and be baptized and she said yes! She said she doesn't know yet, but she said that she really wants to know if this church is true and will continue to pray and study the Book of Mormon. She really is someone looking for the truth, and has a sincere heart and real intent. I promise that as we read the Book of Mormon, with the intent to know if it really is true, and then pray and ask God, then He will answer our prayers. I can promise this because I have done it, and I have received a witness of its truthfulness.
In Relief Society this Sunday, we studied from the life of Joseph Fielding Smith. This week's lesson was about family and how we can live to bring to just to our family. I was impressed by President Smith's true devotion and selflessness when it came to his relationships with his family. His main purpose was to bring joy to others, and he looked to do it in ways that were best for them. He taught them with love, and he made sure that whenever anyone was with him, they felt like the most important person in the room. What an incredible Christ-like attribute to develop. I know that as we forget how others feel about us, and simply strive to care about them, they will feel our Savior's love. I really do believe that now is the time to love others, and to help them realize their importance in Christ's eyes. I love my Savior Jesus Christ, and I am so grateful that He has given me the chance to change my life everyday, and become a little better.
Life is good. God is good. And I know that He lives. He wants us to be happy, He wants us to succeed, and as we keep an eye single to His glory, He will allow us to see miracles. I am nothing, but with God's help, I can do GREAT things.
Love always,
Sister Feist
"Wow, is this a normal amount of snow for Japan?" "No, this is very unusual." "Oh wow, I am very surprised! I came here to be a church missionary, would you like to learn more about church?"
Throw in a little more small talk and that really is just about how much I say in real life. But as a missionary, you really do just have to try your best to make the most out of rough situations. And streeting in the snow, that's pretty rough.
Valentine's Day is surprisingly uneventful. In Japan, girls give gifts to guys on Valentine's and then in March they have White Day where guys give gifts to girls. It's brilliant, because then the guys can always make sure that their gift is more expensive and extravagant!! Japan is always thinking up great ideas.
Back in Kichijoji with Sister Wells!! Well, it's a new transfer which means a new district, and once again, I feel almost guilty for how incredible our district is. We are having a blast, and all the elders and sisters are so much fun. Not to mention, everyone is working SO HARD and we are being blessed with seeing so many miracles!!
One of our miracles is Iizawa San. She is a self-referral from Mormon.org and she is incredible!! She asked in the first lesson when she could get baptized. Her baptismal date is for March 3rd, and she is so excited! She went to church with her friends while she lived in Utah for 8 years and fell in love with the way that members of the church lived their lives. There are so many people here in Japan who are prepared to receive the gospel, we just have to be working hard enough for God to trust us to work with them.
Another amazing new investigator we are working with is Yuki San. The elders actually met her at a train station and referred her to us. We were talking in our first lesson at the beginning with her and it turns out that she is actually a full time volunteer missionary for HER church. Like, she proselytes for them and sleeps at the church. But as we were teaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, her eyes lit up, and she said that she now better understands the scriptures. When we explained about baptism she said that she'd read about it in the Bible, but had never really considered it's significance for her personally, but now after this lesson, she thinks that it really is something that she needs. At the end of the lesson we asked that as the Lord answers her prayers and she feels that this message is true, if she will follow that example of Jesus Christ and be baptized and she said yes! She said she doesn't know yet, but she said that she really wants to know if this church is true and will continue to pray and study the Book of Mormon. She really is someone looking for the truth, and has a sincere heart and real intent. I promise that as we read the Book of Mormon, with the intent to know if it really is true, and then pray and ask God, then He will answer our prayers. I can promise this because I have done it, and I have received a witness of its truthfulness.
In Relief Society this Sunday, we studied from the life of Joseph Fielding Smith. This week's lesson was about family and how we can live to bring to just to our family. I was impressed by President Smith's true devotion and selflessness when it came to his relationships with his family. His main purpose was to bring joy to others, and he looked to do it in ways that were best for them. He taught them with love, and he made sure that whenever anyone was with him, they felt like the most important person in the room. What an incredible Christ-like attribute to develop. I know that as we forget how others feel about us, and simply strive to care about them, they will feel our Savior's love. I really do believe that now is the time to love others, and to help them realize their importance in Christ's eyes. I love my Savior Jesus Christ, and I am so grateful that He has given me the chance to change my life everyday, and become a little better.
Life is good. God is good. And I know that He lives. He wants us to be happy, He wants us to succeed, and as we keep an eye single to His glory, He will allow us to see miracles. I am nothing, but with God's help, I can do GREAT things.
Love always,
Sister Feist