I really don't know where to even begin! Sister smith and i had a
great week! Lots of new friends and great miracles! There is still not
ever an easy day so there have been lots of lessons learned as well.
Even though they may not be the lessons or experiences i would wish to
have, I am realizing that Heavenly Father is giving them to me so that
I can learn, grow, and be able to return to live with Him again. This
week i learned (well still learning a lot) about patience. Something i
have never been very good at.
Last pday after emails a member picked us up for lunch and some
shopping! Shes a sweet heart and just needs someone to listen. We have
a great relationship with her and were able to help her most by just
listening. At the end of the day she asked if we would hang out with
her every day! Hahah! Then we went with the other sisters to a cool
waterfall! We took a train and a bus and then hiked though the
mountains to find it! It was beautiful! Water is such a temptation.. I
had to fight everything inside of me to not just go jumping inside the
cool water!
Tuesday we visited our friend who owns her own restaurant. Nishiyama
san is the sweetest! She was mad when we bought her treats last time
so today we decided to make her something instead. We made her
chocolate popcorn and a card which she loved! We asked if she would
come to church with us this week and she said she would think about
it. It's going to take a few more visits with treats to convince her
hahahah! Then we decided to visit a member. We stopped by just to say
hello and share a scripture with her but she welcomed us in her house.
And thank heavens because it was the hottest day ever! Our little
visit turned into quite the long lesson. She recently hasn't had much
desire to come to church because there are just too many hard things
in her life. She shared with us though that the happiest shes ever
felt was when she was studying and praying about the atonement! But
she said she has forgotten everything she learned. So we scheduled an
appointment for next week to study the atonement with her! And big
surprise, she came to church on Sunday!! She looked so happy! The
members did too! Later that night we went to endo san's english class
with the elders. Shes the one who was an investigator for 5 years, had
a church calling, and everything! She loves the church but something
must have happened because she also doesn't really like the church
hahahah.. But she lets us come to her class and help her teach. She
told us in the class she would give us 10 minutes to talk about
whatever we wanted! We didn't want to preach at her students so we
tried a question and answer thing. All the students asked basic things
about our lives like how long weve been in japan but Endo was the one
who brought up interesting gospel doctrine. Shes a very smart lady..
We all felt like we were fighting to save our lives! But it was cool
to hear all the missionaries bear testimony of the things we KNOW to
be true. Although we were all in an im comfortable situation we were
still able to feel the spirit, and i know Endo did too! There is
nothing i love more than sharing my testimony with people! I had no
idea what i would say before hand but the spirit always guides and the
words just come out! And Heavenly Father softens the hearts of all
those around and we all feel his love together. I am a happy girl when
I get the chance to testify! I think this week we will tell her its
nice that she gives us the chance to share the gospel but we should
just stick to english. If her students have interest they can talk to
us separately.
Wednesday we met our new friend Fuchie san for lunch. We met her last
week right outside our apartment and we have plans to meet with her
every week until forever hahah! She really wants to learn english and
also is interested in the church. She is the cutest thing! She cant
hardly speak any english but she tries so dang hard its adorable!
Then we had eikaiwa! Greatest thing ever... We were able to make an
appointment with Yuko!! we are going to lunch with she and a member
next week! I am so happy! i love this lady so much! so sad when she
wanted to take a break but she wants to meet again!! so happy!!! and
our new russian friend came to eikaiwa! we met her on the street last
week and she just showed up! i had been meaning to call her all day
but never got around to it so i was shocked to see her walk in the
door! so happy!!!! she said she loves christianity and would love to
come to church with us!! this is the start of a beautiful friendship!!
Thursday we went to an eikaiwa students house. As in house i mean
buddhist temple.. her house is a temple. that was fun!!! shes amazing
though! she taught us some japanese calligraphy and let us use her
blow dart gun!! hahaha! dangerous in my hands? yes! but i was pretty
good :) she took us to lunch and we talked about families. she said
that japanese are very different from americans. I had just told her
that i love my family and all i wanted was a big hug from my mom! she
said japanese people would never say that! they love their families of
course but dont express it as much. Well ill tell everyone in the
whole world just how much i love my family! no one has a better one
than me!!! i love them i love them i love them!!!!!
Friday we visited another member who is struggling a little bit. We
had lunch at her house and shared a lesson with her on the joy of the
gospel! She just started crying. All this time shes just needed
someone to come to her and tell her that she is loved. And boy did we
feel love for her! we love her and heavenly father does too! it was so
apparent in that lesson! it was such a tender moment to be with this
sweet daughter of god who remembered her worth! i am so blessed to be
surrounded by wonderful people! god loves all of his children, always
and forever!!
that night we had ping pong at the church! one of endos english
students came!! shes so cute! a college student who is basically
fluent! the turn up was great! there were at least 20 people for ping
pong!!! such a fun night with investigators!!!
Saturday we had an appointment scheduled with our friends from brazil.
Sister smith and i both had the best personal study and we were both
so filled with the spirit! we both just knew that this lesson with
them was going to be a special one! i dont know why but the spirit
just told us! well we get to the church and wait, and wait, and wait.
our friends did not show up. What??? like i said, im learning about
patience this week. Why we felt so ready for this lesson to not have
them even show up? i still dont know. but i trust in my Heavenly
Fathers timing in all things. i will keep waiting in patience to see
what he has in store. we ended up going to two different summer
festivals! our russian friend natalia called and said she would meet
us there in 5 minutes! hahaha! so we rushed to the street and walked
all through the festival with her! we love her! she wants us to come
to her house sometime soon so we can talk!! then we hurried off to
meet another friend at a different festival! when we got to their
house they asked us if we would like to wear their summer
kimonos??!!!! of course!!!!! so they dressed us all up with shoes and
everything! we went with their family all 6 of us dressed up! so
fun!!! this family are former investigators and we are not sure what
happened or why they stopped but they love us!!! we are excited to
start the lessons again soon!!!
sunday sadly we did not have any investigators at church. we have lots
of friends and so many people with so much potential but no one is
there just quite yet. but i am willing to do whatever it takes to help
my friends feel gods love and help them know that there is no better
place to feel loved then at the church!! im tired of not having
investigators at church so we are going to change that!!
today we had lunch with our older group of friends! this meaning our
group of 7 all over the age of 75!!! hahah! they are so funny! not
much interest in the church, mostly just interest in foreigners..
hahaha! but one of them, Nishiyama, we are trying to work eith and are
meeting tomorrow! so praying that that goes well!!!
so thats the week! sorry its all over the place but sometimes thats
kind of how things are hahahah! it was wonderful though! i am so happy
to be here! even when its hard and im really not so happy... there is
always something about the gospel, or being a missionary that brings
joy to my heart! i love these people! they are my best friends! i want
to help them in any way that i can! i want to help them return home to
their Heavenly Father!! i know this church is true! so grateful for
the blessings i have received from it!
love you!!!
sister christensen
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