Well it's been another transfer and we got transfer calls and I will be in Aizu! Still... :)
This means I will be in Aizu for at least 6 months. So a good
quarter of my mission. I think I will maybe be here even longer than 6
months. But who knows, we will see.
And to answer your questions, the baptism is on and ready to go more
than ever! Today me and my companion are going to clean out the font
because its been over a year since someone was baptized here in
Aizuwakamatsu. Tatsuya Fujita had his interview for baptism and passed.
We decided to move the date to the 20th so that is on Easter Sunday. President Rasmussen and his family will be coming to Aizu on
that day so we figured it would please President Rasmussen to be here.
To tell you a little bit about Tatsuya Fujita; he is 29 years old,
his family situation is a little bit rough so we are basically his
family right now. He works in Fukushima on the nuclear power plants
cleaning the Radiation. Unfortunately missionaries probably wont be
allowed back into Fukushima until the second coming. That is basically what the
first presidency has told us... But exciting News - Koriyama, a place
which is also shut off for missionaries has started the eikaiwa
program back up. We have been given permission to do Eikaiwa and go every week
and proselyte. But it probably won't be back open for actual missionary
living status for another 20 years. The church is pretty strict with it
but it is very safe right now. So no need to worry.
This week was pretty fantastic We taught Izumi Hoshi about baptism
and faith and she says that she wants to be baptized but is too worried
that her parents will kick her and her husband out of the family
basically if they converted. So we keep asking her and promising her
that if she will talk to them and make the decision to be baptized, she
will see miracles and her situation will be so much better with the
Gospel in the picture. She said that since she has been hearing our
messages things in her life have started to improve and she is
acknowledging the Blessings of the Gospel. She is very grateful for
missionaries and said that when she had first met us she thought
that missionaries were scary. She said now that I know they are not
scary that they care for people like me. I want to share what the
missionaries have taught me and introduce people to the missionaries. So
she is a great non member missionary. This last meeting we had with her
we asked her to read Alma 32 about faith, because right now she has
planted the seed, she has experimented, and has realized that the seed is
good but now she needs to nourish it and let it bloom into a full tree to
become great. A.k.a Baptism. So were hoping that by strengthening her
faith she will have the courage to talk to her parents and make the
decision to be baptized. "Miracles are not seen until after the trial
of our faith".
So I finally got to watch General conference, I really enjoyed it. I
really enjoyed one of Pres Uchtdorfs talks where he talked about Gratitude
being the catalyst of Chirst Like attributes. It's the attitude of
Gratitude. I have noticed that so much in my mission. When we are
grateful for the things that have happened and for the things we have
and have a positive outlook on every situation all other things seem to
fall in place easier. For example when you have gratitude, the urge to be
sharp with your words goes down, your thoughts change, and your ability to
show charity increases.
In Preach My Gospel I have studied Christ like attributes quite a
bit and at the back of the Chapter there is a self evaluation portion
which you can do and find out where you might be lacking and then you
can study that attribute and learn what you need to do to help improve
yourself to become more like Christ.
Speaking of PMG, dont know if you heard Elder Ballards talk when he
talked about everyone have and studying a PMG so that they can know
what their sons and daughters are teaching out in the world and also so
when the opportunity arises they can answer and be ready. Not too
mention to introduce 4 people to the Gospel.... :)
Anyways I loved conference and I can't wait to get my liahona to go
back through and read the things that I might have not picked up on and
remember a little bit more.
I've really grown to love this work. When I walk outside the door I look at the people and realize that they are all my brothers and sisters and are walking
without purpose in life. I have a special opportunity to help
bring them back to Christ and help them find happiness.
"For how great shall be your joy if ye shall bring one soul unto me in the kingdom of heaven"
Love
Elder Nebeker
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