Ellie's Mission in Japan: Week 45

Hello everyone!

This week seriously flew by, we had so many good things this week! We will just get started with the miracles.

So one day we were just walking around the park, preaching the good word, when this old man on a bike stops and asks us if we are lost because we said hello to him. Haha, we started talking to him and introduced who we were. He at first was very hesitant to talk to us, he told us how the white man is the scariest race because all we think about is ourselves. And then explained how he doesn't believe in religion, and that there is no such thing as life after death, that after this life that's it. We tried introducing the BOM but he said he couldn't read it because the font is too small (everyone's favorite excuse) but we were persistent and kept talking to him. After talking for a while he started to realize that what we believe is different than what he has heard before. He was very intrigued and asked if we could sit with him and talk. We ended up sitting for 45 minutes, taught the whole Restoration, and plan of salvation. You could tell this man's heart and mind had been opened by the spirit and it was something he needed. He told us he has been suffering from cancer and hasn't felt hope like this for a long time. He later accepted a BOM and thanked us for everything. He asked for our number and told us he would contact us when he isn't in the hospital (he was going in the next day). I'm not sure what the rest of his story will be, but I hope one day we can meet with him again. It was so cool to see his perspective and views of life change just in that conversation, so blessed! Also, he thought I was 30 years old, so that was a new thing for me haha.

On Saturday we had a great day. We had a baptism held at our church for one of the Elders baptisms serving in another area. It was really special because we were actually the first missionaries the convert had met, and we taught him his first lessons. After learning he lived in another area, we passed him to the Elders, but I was so grateful I got to be a little part of his story, and see him enter the waters of baptism! The spirit was so strong, and I just knew this gospel has blessed and will continue to bless his life!

Afterward, we had a ward Hawaiian party which was the best. We did Hula and crafts and games and had Hawaiian treats, it was awesome. We had a pretty good turn out so we were way happy about that.

Then to top it all off we went to church, and the best thing happened. We were just sitting there singing the sacrament song when some of the young men and bishopric looked pretty stressed, then one of the priests frantically brought a tray from the kitchen to the front. We then realize that they had grabbed the coconut banana bread from the fridge leftover from Hawaiian night and started preparing it for the sacrament! Everyone was seriously shaken and was trying so hard not to laugh. They kept looking at Us like we had planned it or something lol. Anyways turns out they forgot to buy bread, so thank goodness we had some leftover or else no one would've been cleansed this week. So yeah we had some delicious coconut banana bread for the sacrament ordinance Haha I don't think anyone was complaining though, the members told us we should make it for sacrament every week haha.

Sorry for this super long email but to finish it off, here's the spiritual thought.

This week I was studying in Alma 22 when Aaron was teaching the king. The king had heard many things about the prophets teachings and the things they believed. However, it frightened him because he didn't understand the reason or meaning of it.
5 Now the king said unto them: What is this that ye have said concerning the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, this is the thing which doth trouble me.
6 And also, what is this that Ammon said—If ye will repent ye shall be saved, and if ye will not repent, ye shall be cast off at the last day?
7 And Aaron answered him and said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God?
I thought it was interesting how Aaron answered him. Instead of answering what repentance is and what the Spirit of the Lord is, he asked him, "Believest thou that there is a God?". I don't think he was trying to dodge the question or explaining the doctrine. But in order to gain understanding, the King needed faith in God and who he is. Before understanding anything in our church, or Christs Gospel, we need to know who our loving Heavenly Father is and look to that knowledge when we have questions or doubts. If we have built our testimony in the core things of Christ's church, (the Godhead, Book of Mormon, Plan of Salvation, etc.) then understanding will come on other things, whether it's the word of wisdom, tithing, families, sin, or anything. For example, we have the word of wisdom because God gave us our bodies, and in order to be protected, he lovingly gave us that commandment. I hope everyone knows how much God loves them and wants us to be happy, if we focus our faith on that, then we will find so much joy in everything that is taught in Christ Church.

Love you all, hope you have a great week!

Love, Christensen 姉妹