I Feel Like I've Been Baptized Again

Steven Bardzinski,  August  28, 2012

After only being in Inuyama for a short time, I was surprised when I received a transfer call to serve in Numazu.  I’d heard nothing about the area, and hadn’t even heard of my new companion, Elder Hilyard.  I asked Heavenly Father many times in prayer why I had been called to this area that had practically no investigators or any relationship with the members.  I didn’t really get an answer on my knees, but it came on my first Sunday.  After Sacrament Meeting ended, I felt prompted to talk to a lady standing by herself looking quite sad.

As I began to speak to her, she began to cry as she said that people didn’t really take the time to talk to her.  Mayumi Kouchi had been less active for about 10 years and felt that God didn’t love her.  She expressed her desire to learn about her Savior Jesus Christ through the missionary lessons.  We began to teach Sister Kouchi, and watch a mighty change come upon her.

As she had already been baptized, inviting her to baptism wasn’t an option, so we decided to set a date for her to prepare to take the sacrament.  She accepted a date, and together we helped her repent and prepare to be worthy to take the sacrament.  I have never seen anyone prepare as much as Kouchi Shimai to take the sacrament.

The day came and she was ready.   As she took the bread and water, she wept as she said, “I feel like I’ve been baptized again!  I feel like I’ve been washed clean.  Thank you.”

I came to realize why I had been sent to Numazu.  I know what it means in D&C 18 when it says, “…how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me.”

Elder Hilyard, Elder Bardzinski, and Sister Kouchi

After Sister Kouchi’s reactivation, she has helped her friend return to church, her nephew became an investigator and has a baptismal date, and she has also recently referred another friend to the missionaries.

Numazu is now a thriving area with many investigators and a great relationship with the members-- dramatically different to the Numazu I transferred to.  All thanks to the love and mercy of Jesus Christ and our loving Father in Heaven.

This gospel is true and will bless the lives of ANYONE who embraces it.

More Great Finishers, August 2012

We know they have to leave, but that doesn't mean we have to like it.  Each time we have these missionaries, whom we have grown to love, leave us, it is a sad day.  But we know they can't stay forever.  After all, how else are they going to find a spouse?  So here are our warmest goodbyes to these great missionaries.

Seated from left:  Elder Ellsworth (AP), Elder Pedersen, Elder Flint, Elder Bardzinski

Elder Ito (AP), Elder Numakura, Elder Ikeda, President and Sister Baird

Can you see the high regard these two elders have for each other?
Elder Koesashi (left) says Elder Numakura is one of
his favorite missionaries.  He is "cool."  And
he is a great eating machine.  

I like this picture, taken at the same spot they first met their new trainers.  

How different do Elders Flint and Bardzinski look two years later?
See post for Oct. 2010.

Elder Bardzinski is bubbly and easy to get along with and has a sincere, strong testimony of the Gospel.
One of his former companions said he was diligent, very obedient, and managed to get him up in the morning to exercise, even thought this elder didn't like to exercise in the morning. Another missionary said he could have fun while working hard.

Elder Flint hopes to study civil engineering and become an architect.  He wants to use his degree to help out less priviliged countries and design his own home.  He is a quiet observer and has a strong testimony of prayer.  He is a very determined missionary; once he decides he will do something, he will do it.

One missionary said the following about Elder Pedersen:  "He is very thoughtful about other people.  He tries very hard to make everyone happy through the Gospel.  He is willing to sacrifice his time and his talents for people who need them.  He is always happy and positive."  Elder Pedersen wants an occupation in the field of science to help make the world and church better.  He is humble and easy going and likes to help others.  He has a resolute testimony and lots of faith.

Elder Ikeda loves basketball.  Anyone who knows him thinks basketball.  But a former companion
said that during his mission, he was the best example of how to be effective and open his mouth.
He worked very hard.  He also felt that a big part of his mission was to help less-active people,
and he had a big impact in that way.

You can take a missionary away from basketball,
but you can't take basketball out of a missionary.

Elder Numakura had a special talent for organizing paperwork.  He was a pro with the area book for the mission.  He also did a wonderful job of enduring to the end, meaning that he kept working hard right to the end of his mission, and got two new investigators in the last week.  He also worked very hard to learn English, which is exactly what Japanese missionaries are asked to do.

Final feast.  Last chance to enjoy Sister Baird's famous lasagna.

October 2010 New Missionaries

This week, we welcomed 5 very nice elders into the mission! Left to right: Elder Pedersen (Utah), Elder McClellan (California), Elder Augusto (Brazil), Sister and President Baird, Elder Flint (Australia), and Elder Bardzinski (Australia)! It was great seeing their faces and meeting them for the first time! We know they will be great!

A picture of the missionaries with their trainers in the Meito church.

Elder Augusto (right) and Elder Jorgenson- Suzuka

Elder Julio Augusto is from Curitiba, Brazil.  He is the 8th Elder Augusto in his extended family.  He enjoys singing and has a great voice.  He also likes soccer and technology.  He wants to build robots and will study mechancial engineering.  He is a happy person, a quick learning and a hard worker.

Elder Jacob Jorgensen calls Mesa, Arizona his home.  He comes from a close and loving family and has four great sisters.  Elder Jorgensen loves drawing, piano, cross country and track, and academics and he is a hard worker.  He has looked forward to serving a mission all of his life and would have chosen Japan because he has many Japanese friends.

Elder Flint (left) and Elder Valentine- Fukuroi

Elder Jake Flint is one of several great Australian missionaries, coming to us from Brisbane.  Elder Flint loves to read, play basketball, study physics and play classical music on the piano.

Elder Christopher Valentine looks forward to marriage and a great family after his mission.  He loves music and playing the saxaphone.  He likes bringing people happiness, so he knows a mission is the perfect way to do that. 

Elder McClellan (left) and Elder Warner- Ueda 

Elder Thomas McClellan has three younger brothers in his family.  He is from Los Gatos, California.  Before his mission, his favorite things to do were soccer, badminton, drawing and making memories with his brothers and friends.  He has a goal to live to 100, just to say that he did it.  While he’s living that long, he plans to build a McClellan Family castle. He also plans to send a “hello” three years and five years into the future, then see how far off he was.  He describes himself as calm and calculated, yet somehow still spontaneously fun.

Alpine, Utah is home to Elder Brett Warner and he loves to act, to show people who his is and what he can do.  Elder Warner recently lost his mom to cancer, and he hopes to serve and help others as she did. He is a very loyal friend and loves to learn.  During the trial of his mother's cancer he grew closer to the Savior and found Him as a friend.

Elder Bardzinski (left) and Elder Stachowski- Nonami

Elder Steven Bardzinski is from Werribee, Australia. Elder Bardzinski is a twin and his brother is serving in Equador.  He loves Japanese music, graphic design and photography.  He was an exchange student in Japan before his mission. One of Elder Stachowski's former companions says he is very smart.  He enjoys chess, is kind, and knows how to do what he needs to do.

Elder Pedersen (left) and Elder Jackson- Toyama

Hurricane, Utah is home to Elder Christopher Pederson, and he enjoys reading and cooking.  He loves to study the ancient world and history.  He enjoys singing and is working on becoming a public speaker. Elder Marcus Jackson has the advantage that his mother is from Japan and his father speaks Japanese.  He is from West Point, Utah but has also lived in Japan.  He enjoys calligraphy, piano, listening to music, going to the temple and making food.  .