This week has
definitely been one of the most crazy weeks of my mission. So many
things happened I don't even know where to start! Here we go though!
Exchanges:
This weeks exchange was
with Sister Tada! I was pretty nervous going into the exchange because
she and I have had a really interesting history. The exchange ended up being REALLY good though! She and I talked the entire time
and really had a lot of fun. :-) She told me that lately she's been
feeling like nobody likes her... I really really did feel God's strength
getting me through the exchange. While being with her I really felt God
putting words in my mouth of what to say to her and how to help her.
It was a really good exchange and I was actually way sad when it was
over! I don't know if I'll still be over her this next transfer or not,
but I sure hope so.
Kichijoji Madness:
So, this week
I've spent all of 1 full day in Fujisawa... The rest of the week I've
been EVERYWHERE! Monday we went to the Beach. Tuesday to Wednesday was
exchanges with Sister Tada. Thursday was Mission Leadership Council.
Friday we came to Kichijoji and Sunday night we came back to Kichijoji
again! Why am I in Kichijoji you ask?
Well.
One of my companions has been having problems with
her stomach since week 2 of last transfer... I've been WAY worried about
her ever since. She hasn't been able to sleep for more than 20 minutes
a day since then because her stomach has hurt too much. I finally was
able to convince her to go to the hospital this week though... So we
spent the night Thursday night in Kichijoji and then went with Sister
Wada Friday morning to the hospital. At the hospital they did a check
up and made an appointment for today. That's actually where she is
right now... while I'm with a NEW companion! Until Thursday... Right
now I'm companions with Sister Ellingson. :-) It's been way fun here
in Kichijoji! It's waaaay 懐かしい！ (Sorry, use google translate. xP) I
got to see a few of my old investigators and I've emailed a ton of them!
:-)
I wish I could give you more details on how my companion is doing,
but I don't really know... I won't know until later tonight, so for
now... She's in the hospital... and I'm praying that she's okay. :/
Keep her in your prayers!
Thursday:
Last but not least. The
BIGGEST miracle I've seen on my mission. For the last 2 transfers or so
we've been teaching Toshiko. I've talked about her before, but just a
quick review of her... She's been meeting with missionaries off and on
for about 8 years now. She loves missionaries, but doesn't
really apply the gospel to herself. It's just sort of a nice story.
She's flat out told the missionaries over and over again that she will
not be baptized. She's apologized over and over for wasting our time.
About 3 weeks ago, President Wada had a fireside in Fujisawa for
our investigators. We invited Toshiko to come and she, very bluntly
(which is TOTALLY opposite Japanese character) said "I will not go
because he is just going to tell us to be baptized." Well, Sister Miwa
followed the prompting of the spirit and invited her a second time.
Again, Toshiko VERY bluntly told us no... but we didn't stop. We
decided to invite her a third time even though it's more than a little
rude in Japanese culture, ESPECIALLY because of how Toshiko had rejected
us. Then, to make it worse, the third time we invited her, we had
President Wada talk to her on the phone. Finally she promised to "Show
her face". :P Well, when she came she had a really good experience and
ever since then things with her went up a pace. We had a really good
lesson with her about the Priesthood and for the first time she said
that it made sense to her! There was this new light in her eye. :-)
This Thursday we had another lesson scheduled, but I had a Mission
Leadership Council to go to so my companions and I had no time to prep a
lesson for her. I told my companions to come up with a lesson plan
while I was gone and fill me in once I came back. They sat for 4 hours
trying to come up with a plan. Every plan that they made though just
didn't feel right and meanwhile the clock was ticking. When they came
to pick me up, they still had no plan.
Now for my side. :P
At Mission leadership Council we practiced teaching The Gospel of Jesus Christ using the pamphlet and I failed miserably at
it. It was WAY hard! I just couldn't do it! After the practice, I
glanced at the clock and realized that our lesson with Toshiko was
coming up and I still had no idea what I was teaching. Then I got the
strongest impression that I needed to teach The Gospel of Jesus Christ
using the pamphlet. I was like "WHAT?! You're crazy. I can't! I
just tried and failed miserably!" But the prompting came again... So
then I was like "Well, what do we commit her to?! Baptism!?" Right as I
thought that, president Wada wrote "Baptismal Commitment" on the white
board. xD Message received. :P
I filled my companions in on how to teach the lesson on the train
and we practiced and practiced until we got back. The lesson with
Toshiko went SO smoothly and was SO powerful. The spirit was there SO
strongly. At the end we invited her to be baptized and... She didn't
say no! She said "I know I need to be baptized. Baptism is the next
step. But not now.. Once I know this is true I will be baptized."
WHAT!?! :-D :-D :-D
I'm out of time! I hope you guys all
have a fantastic week! I love you all so much and I can't wait to see
you all again in just a few weeks! Talk to you again soon!
The church is true!
Love you!
Love,
Christine
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