11 New Missionaries, July 2012

Here they are!  Welcome, welcome to Elder Yoshizawa, Elder Kaminishi, Elder Matsunaga, Elder Roney,
Elder Honda, Sister Fujisawa, (Sister and President Baird), Elder Roney, Elder Matsatahti,
Elder K. Baker, Elder Harada, and Elder Kaneko.

Of course, there was the greeting.
Sister Fujisawa first.

Lots of smiles and happy hellos.
Elder Kaminishi with President Baird

There was a little bit of "getting to know you."
Elder Kaminishi, Elder Koesashi (commissarian), Elder Matsunaga,
and Elder Honda (facing right).

This is how the end of the Hoiza Shout looks.

And finally, dinner at home with 11 tired missionaries.
Elder Ellsworth, AP on left, Elder Barney and
Elder Koesashi (commissarian) on right.

The next day, we enjoyed the pleasure of a piano/cello rendition.
So much talent! (Elder Honda and Kaminishi)

Elder Matsunaga (left) with his trainer, Elder Nakanishi

Elder Subaru Matsunaga is from Tokyo, Japan.  He is very proud of his mother, 
who is deaf and uses sign language.  She is a wonderful woman.  
He likes to watch movies and make stories and videos.  He studied film making 
when he was in the US, and also studies editing and script writing.  It is both a hobby and a major.

Elder Nakanishi makes friends fast and is positive and friendly.  
He became converted to the Church when he traveled to Salt Lake City 
and attended General Conference.  

 Elder Kaminishi (left) with his trainer, Elder Sambongi

Elder Shimon Kaminishi has joined missionary lessons often, and has felt that 
missionary work is a gift from God.  He has recognized the strong 
testimony and great love and power of the spirit.  He knows missionary 
work is the work of God and that God will help us as we teach.  
Elder Kaminishi is from Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan  and has been 
preparing hard to go on a mission and go to college.

Elder Sambongi plans to be a dentist.  His greatest talent and hobby is music.  
He plays string bass and was a member of Utah Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra 
and played with Utah Symphony where he toured in Italy.

Elder Honda (left) with his trainer, Elder Soliai

Elder Takumi Honda comes from a family of eight.  He will serve  his mission at the same time as his younger brother.  Elder Honda is from  Tokyo, Japan and he and his brother have been going to the temple every  week in preparation.  He has lots of hobbies, and especially mentions reading,  sports, driving cars, drawing, travel, and piano.  His is very optimistic and has a  strong testimony of the Gospel.  He knows the Gospel makes us better.

Elder Soliai hasn't planned his future occupation, but he knows he can 

be successful if he remains obedient to the commandments.  

He is accepting, humorous and adaptable. 

Elder Harada (left) with his trainer, Elder Kuwahara

Home to Elder Yoshiharu Harada is Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.  His family loves to go camping, and they do it often.  Elder Harada loves to watch sports and play baseball.  He also enjoys puzzles.  His goals include learning English (to help him have a world view) and having an eternal family.  His strengths are trying lots of things, being patient, and having unity.

Elder Kuwahara wants to master English and travel.  He enjoys 

making people smile and has many friends.  He is also 

obedient and a good listener.

Sister Fujisawa (left) with her trainer, Sister Stott

Coming to us from Tokyo, Japan, Sister Kaho Fujisawa has a brother also serving a mission.  She says her family loves to talk together, and they work hard.  She has learned a lot through sports and hopes to do sports for a long time.

Sister Stott plans to become and educator, focusing on elementary students, 

but she also likes graphic design.  And temple marriage and motherhood 

are also in her plans.  She is a caring, but also determined person.  

Sister Stott always wanted to serve a mission, and when she found out she 

had to wait until she was 21, she cried.

Elder Kaneko (left) with his trainer, Elder Kishi

Elder Norikazu Kaneko is from Nakano, Tokyo, Japan.  His father, brother and he converted to the Church 7 years before his mission.  His mother has always been a member and was the influence to their conversion.  Elder Kaneko loves to cook and plans to go to culinary college after his mission.  He also enjoys sports, music and movies.  He likes to pray and feels it is a great blessing to be able to talk with God.

Elder Kishi has a talent for singing, cutting paper into wonderful animals 

and shapes, juggling and card tricks.  He is cheerful and positive and 

makes friends with everyone.  Children especially love it when he is around.  

He is a hard worker and has a strong testimony.

Elder Seipel (left) with his trainer, Elder Hilyard

Orem, Utah is where Elder Mckay Seipel calls home.  He is the youngest in a family of five and both of his siblings have served missions.  Elder Seipel wants to become an electrical engineer, get married, be a lake artist and a photoshop  artist.

Elder Hilyard is a hard worker and loves

to read the scriptures.  He says he is shy until he gets to know people

and is good at empathy.  He wants to get a degree in science or business

and master in Japanese Language.  He was surprised, though,

to be called to Japan.  

Elder Roney (left) with his trainer, Elder Shimohara

Elder Jarom Roney, from Heber City, Utah, is the third of six children.  Both 
of his older siblings are serving missions at the same time as him.  Elder Roney 
loved growing up in a small town, and has enjoyed travel, sports, board 
and card games with his family, but he doesn't care for hiking, hunting and fishing.  
Tennis, basketball and badminton are his favorite sports, and he loves to read.

Before his mission, Elder Shimohara was really into computers. He likes building 

and taking things apart.  In college, he was part of a team that built a small 

unmanned submarine. He says he is kind of serious, but when he loosens up, 

he is just a normal goofy guy. 

Elder Metsatahti (left) with his trainer, Elder Gish 

Only the second missionary to serve in this mission from Finland, Elder Niklas Metsatahti is from Turku in Suomi.  He is the oldest of six children and loves to read comics and draw.  He also enjoys board games.  He says he is kind and can  adapt to situations well.  He doesn't like giving up, and is normally cheerful.   He knows the Book of Mormon and its teachings are true.  He has liked Japan  for a long time, so he is looking forward to serving here.

Elder Gish would like to become a good father like his own.  He would also enjoy

coaching high school baseball or lacrosse.  He is outgoing and never nervous.

 It is easy for him to meet new people and speak in any size crowd.  He is kind

and wants to make people happy. Ever since he was a little boy,

he has wanted to serve a mission.

Elder Baker (left) with his trainer, Elder Finlinson

From Salem, Oregon, Elder Kevin Baker is interested in history, politics and 
studying religion.  He says they all help to further understanding of why we are here 
and how it relates to us today.  His other hobbies are reading and playing paino. 
 Elder Baker plans to enlist in the US Army and attend BYU when he finishes 
his mission.  He wants to make a difference in the world.

Elder Finlinson says that he thinks he has a small presence despite being tall.  

And he doesn't like to talk about himself.  He is also a fast learner.

Elder Takumi Honda comes from a family of eight.  He will serve 

his mission at the same time as his younger brother.  Elder Honda is from 

Tokyo, Japan and he and his brother have been going to the temple every 

week in preparation.  He has lots of hobbies, and especially mentions reading, 

sports, driving cars, drawing, travel, and piano.  His is very optimistic and has a 

strong testimony of the Gospel.  He knows the Gospel makes us better.

Home to Elder Yoshiharu Harada is Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.  His family
loves to go camping, and they do it often.  Elder Harada loves to watch sports
and play baseball.  He also enjoys puzzles.  His goals include learning English
(to help him have a world view) and having an eternal family.  His strengths
are trying lots of things, being patient, and having unity.  

Coming to us from Tokyo, Japan, Sister Kaho Fujisawa has a brother also

serving a mission.  She says her family loves to talk together, and they work hard. 

She has learned a lot through sports and hopes to do sports for a long time. 

Elder Norikazu Kaneko is from Nakano, Tokyo, Japan.  His father, brother and he converted to the Church 7 years before his mission.  His mother has always been a member and was the influence to their conversion.  Elder Kaneko loves to cook and plans to go to culinary college after his mission.  He also enjoys sports, music and movies.  He likes to pray and feels it is a great blessing to be able to talk with God.  

Orem, Utah is where Elder Mckay Seipel calls home.  He is the youngest in a

family of five and both of his siblings have served missions.  Elder Seipel wants to become an electrical engineer, get married, be a lake artist and a photoshop

 artist.  

Only the second missionary to serve in this mission from Finland, Elder Niklas Metsatahti is from Turku in Suomi.  He is the oldest of six children and loves to read comics and draw.  He also enjoys board games.  He says he is kind and can 

adapt to situations well.  He doesn't like giving up, and is normally cheerful.  

He knows the Book of Mormon and its teachings are true.  He has liked Japan 

for a long time, so he is looking forward to serving here.

Elder Yoshizawa (left) with his trainer, Elder Tojo

Elder Touya Yoshizawa comes to us from Sagamihara, Kanagawa,  Japan.  He and his two brothers were involved in cubscouts and scouting when  they were young, and really enjoyed that.  He also enjoys many games and the computer.  He says he has a good memory and great dexterity.  He has a   testimony  of prayer and has been blessed to always find answers  when he needs them.

Elder Tojo's favorite scripture (D & C 25:12) is about singing hymns.  
Singing hymns gives him peace.  Elder Tojo has a great smile 
and is obedient.  He is good with his hands at making things,
 like assembling furniture.  He also plays guitar.  

Elder Touya Yoshizawa comes to us from Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 

Japan.  He and his two brothers were involved in cubscouts and scouting when 

they were young, and really enjoyed that.  He also enjoys many games and the computer.  He says he has a good memory and great dexterity.  He has a 

 testimony  of prayer and has been blessed to always find answers 

when he needs them.

Heavenly Father Never Forgets

Story by Elder Carson Jessop

Soon after I arrived in Matsumoto, we received a phone call at the church.  A lady called asking about eikaiwa and said she had interest in coming.  We told her the information and hoped she would come.  She did.  She came with her daughter.  Her name is Miyuki.  Her daughter is Mio.  From that time, they came each week to eikaiwa.  They are two of the nicest people I have ever met. 

My companion and I always talked about how great they are.  One day, we were having nightly planning and were trying to figure out what to do the next day.  We both felt strongly to go to Shiojin.  We usually never go there because it is so far away.  But, we decided to go there and looked at the list of people who live there to visit.  On the list, we found a name…Miyuki.  We were shocked.   We went to Shiojin that day, but no one was home at all. 

We didn’t have time to go all the way out to their house, but we talked to them later at eikaiwa.  I asked a couple of questions to figure out where they live.  It turned out that it matched!  We did an interview with her after that and when we asked her how she heard about eikaiwa, she said there was something we should know.  She pulled out a notebook with a story written…her conversion story.  It was a miracle.  She had been away for 40 years! 

We also interview Mio.  They both agreed to lessons.  They wanted to learn.  They are now coming to church regularly.  They even sang with us in Sacrament Meeting.  Mio is the accompanist for eikaiwa.   

I will always remember the first time Miyuki came back to church.  We walked into the chapel for Sacrament Meeting and some members came and greeted her.  I went ahead, and she turned to me with watery eyes and said, “The man sitting behind us baptized me 40 years ago.”  I think about this miracle and the things still occurring and I feel so strongly that God never forgets us, especially those who have entered into covenants with Him.  I think about the timing and everything that happened with us and her, and I know for sure it was all God’s will and timing.  She has been away for a long time, but God prepared a way and a time for her. 

Elder Jessop, Elder Rust, Elder Soliai

I know that he will do so for everyone!  I know God lives and loves us all.  We are never alone, for He is there.  I know this Gospel brings us lasting happiness.  I am so grateful I was able to witness this miracle.  I feel so blessed.

Tsunami of 2011--Follow-up

The following letter is from Bro.Nozomi Watanabe, from the Tokyo Japan Mission Accounting Department.  He freely gave permission for us to share it on the blog, explaining that he wants the word to get out that there is still a great deal of help needed to recover from the Tsunami of 2011.

I finally went back to office today! I had been to Ishinomaki –city from last Wednesday to last Friday.

I would like to share the picture I took last week. It already passed more than a year from great disaster at Tohoku area.

Through looked around Tohoku area last week, I felt they still need a lot of help!

お疲れ様です。

先週参加したボランティアツアーの写真をシェアいたします。

今回は雨天のため牡蠣の種つけはキャンセルになり、急きょ石巻市にある相川小学校の瓦礫の仕分作業をしました。

First day was raining and we could not go to fishing port to help Oyster things, but we went to Aikawa Elementary school and helped to separate countless trash.

屋上まで津波で覆われたそうです。多くの生徒は先生の指示のもと裏山に避難し難を逃れたそうですが、

この日学校を案内してくれた地元のおじいさんのお孫さんをはじめ、多くの方が亡くなられたそうです。

Whole school was covered by Tsunami. Most of the students were guided to escaped to the mountain behind this school by their teacher.

However, still many citizen were dead on 3/11 at here, including a grandson of a man who guided this school to us this day.

全ての天井が抜け落ちてました。

Whole ceiling of this building were fallen down.

ところどころに相川小在学生が残していったと思われるメッセージが書かれていました。

Aikawa school students left many message on the blackboard and walls.

On the above picture`s message says “Remember 3/11”.

学校の隣にある体育館です。ひどい有様でした。

This is a gym next to school. It easy to tell that 3/11 was a great disaster.

午後にはテレビでおなじみのさんさん商店街にいきました。

牡蠣やホタテの食べ歩きができたり、地元の様々な特産品を購入することができます。

私は初めてマンボウの刺身を試食しました。意外とおいしかったです。

This shopping street is build by a citizen who lose their business and shop by Tsunami.

We ate many tasty Oysters, Scallops, fresh Seafood, and many other local food at here. I ate a Mola fish for the first time in my life at here! It was good than I expected!

かまぼこコロッケです。とてもおいしかったです。今度自分でも作ってみたいと思います。

This is fish cake fry. It was so good, and I would like to cook it by myself next time!

石巻産の生わかめが入ったロールケーキです。甘さ控えめの生クリームの味の後からほんのり磯の香りを含んだワカメの味がします。なかなかの美味でした。

Those white and green spots are not blue cheese, but fresh seaweed! It was tasty!

2日目のホテルでの夕食です。右上の赤身はクジラの刺身です。初めてクジラの刺身を食べましたが、癖もなくとてもおいしかったです。

写真には写ってませんが他にホタテの蒸し焼きがありました。次の日の朝食も大変美味でした（＾＾）。

This is what we ate at the hotel for dinner. Red meat on the right side of this picture is a whale`s raw meat. It was my first time to eat a whale`s raw meat. I love whale and hesitated to eat them, but It was so good! I wish I could eat more!

まだまだ多くの瓦礫がそこらじゅうの放置されている状態でした。

Many trash were still left all around.

よく見るとこの建物は津波によって真横に倒れています。

The building on the picture was came down right behind the ground by Tsunami.

何もない平地に見えますが、津波前は多くの家々が立ち並んでいた場所です。

今は悲しいほどに何もない平地になっています。

Looks like this picture shows any particular building but just a flat field. Sadly, many building and house were here at this place before Tsunami.

3日目に参加した布草履を制作している「うみねこハウス」です。

This is “Umineko House” where we donated our T-shirt and made “Nuno Zori”

今回は帯の部分のみの作成でした。まずはたくさんあるTシャツの中から本体にあった色の帯を作るためのTシャツを選びます。

完成姿を想像しながらTシャツを選ぶのはとても楽しかったです。選んだTシャツを細く3つに切り三編みにして帯を作成します。

このあと編んだ三編みを本体にくくりつける作業が大変な力仕事でして一日に一足作るのが限界というのもうなずけました。

教えてくれた地元のおばあさんたちはとても元気で、冗談もたくさん飛び交って作業中ずっと笑顔と笑い声が絶えませんでした。

This is what I made this day with “Senssei”. It was fun to chose T-shirt to use. To making a Nuno Zori was hard works than I expected. Even skilful person would take a day to make only one zori. People in Umineko House were filled with power. They smile always, share some jokes, and the house were filled with laugh all day. We had a great time at here.

(Yes, this is me! You finally see who you talk with on the phone!)

Facebookで「ママサポーターズ」と検索するとうみねこハウスの詳しい活動内容がみれます。

If you search by “ママサポーターズ” at Facebook, you can learn about their activity more.

お昼は近くの漁港の市場で海鮮丼をいただきました。大もりで1300円と安くておいしかったです。

We ate a lot of fresh local seafood at Ishinomaki for launch. It was so good!

帰りの佐野パーキングエリアにて。

栃木レモン１０％使用と上には書かれていますが、下のほうには無果汁と表記されています（笑）。

This is what I found at Sano Parking Area on the way back to Tokyo. On above, it says this ice contains 10% local lemon, but when I saw below, it says contains 0% fruit. Which description is right?

Inochi no Michi, June 2012

President Baird’s Message

The Book of Mormon is truly Another Testament of Jesus Christ. In my own experience of reading and marking references to Jesus Christ, I wrote the number of references at the bottom of the page. I was astonished how high it was.

It is interesting to see that many are discovering for themselves that the Book of Mormon really is Another Testament of Jesus Christ. A recent article in the Deseret News, a daily newspaper from Salt Lake City, referred to an article by Stephen H. Webb who is a professor of religion and philosophy at Wabash College. There has been a great debate in the U. S. press about whether Mormons are Christians. Mr. Webb’s conclusions are quite interesting. He writes:

                “Mormons are more Christian than many mainstream Christians who do not take seriously the astounding claim that Jesus is the Son of God.”

                “Mormonism is obsessed with Christ.”

                Webb says he reached his conclusions as a result of reading the Book of Mormon.

                “Everything that it teaches is meant to awaken, encourage and expand faith in him.”

For me, the crowning event in the Book of Mormon occurs in 3 Nephi. In 3 Nephi Christ appears personally to the Americas. After several chapters (3Nephi 11-18) of wonderful instruction the people disperse for the night with the expectation of being taught again the following day. In 3 Nephi chapter 19 verse 1 the Savior’s departure is noted. We are then treated to an amazing lesson of faith—the members don’t simply return home, they ACT! Look at verses, 2, 3 and 5.

2.            “And it was noised abroad among the people immediately, before it was yet dark, that the multitude had seen Jesus, and that he had ministered unto them and that he would also show himself on the morrow unto the multitude.

3.            “Yea, and even all the night it was noised abroad concerning Jesus and insomuch did they send forth unto the people that there were many, yea, an exceedingly great number, did labor exceedingly all that night, that they might be on the morrow in the place where Jesus should show himself unto the multitude.”

5.            “And behold the multitude was so great that they did cause that they should be separated into twelve bodies.”

That is the power of members in the work. Member influence is expansive. Member excitement is contagious in exactly the way Preach My Gospel tells us on page 160. “Association with members is important because it softens people’s hearts and often leads them to investigate the restored gospel.” When those who heard the wonderful teachings of Jesus Christ, “noised abroad” their experience, “an exceedingly great number” responded to the invitation and came to receive the word.

Not only do we see the power of member influence in the experience of Christ’s visit to America, we also learn the power of deadlines in creating urgency and persistence. The members reached out “immediately” and “before it was yet dark” and then they continued to deliver the message “all the night” long. These members were hungry to share what they had learned with all they knew. They worked quickly and persistently to invite others.

Preach My Gospel recommends a way for members to be anxiously engaged in “noising abroad” the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. On page 172 missionaries are encouraged to help members make a list of names. That is the purpose of the Fulfillment and Follow-up activity that we use so skillfully now in the Japan Nagoya Mission. The instructions on page 172 continue with the recommendation that members prayerfully select someone they would like to prepare to hear the gospel. When we conclude the first fulfillment and follow-up meeting it is essential to ask the member to pray for the people they have listed. Such an invitation to pray should be accompanied with a promise that the member will be guided by the spirit. The names came by revelation—ideas about these names will come by revelation.

The second time we meet in fulfillment and follow-up is for the follow-up meeting. During this interaction we help members to solidify plans to help prepare people on their list to receive the gospel. As a mission we still have room for improvement on this part. We can be guided by the instruction on page 220 of Preach My Gospel that suggests individuals and families would be well served by having a mission plan including goals, initiatives and activities for specific people. Goals could include a personal baptism goal.

Like all other goals, goals associated with ward, family or individual mission plans should be time bound. Again we receive wise guidance on page 172 of Preach My Gospel. As part of the follow-up meeting missionaries are encouraged to help members set a day by which they act. Action could include monthly visits with a spiritual message or it might be an invitation to participate in an activity—like Family Home Evening. Preach My Gospel reminds us, “setting a date give members a goal and helps them exercise faith.”

The activity suggested on page 172 of Preach My Gospel along with guidance to help wards, families, and individuals to have a mission plan is the essence of the Lord’s way by which we can help accomplish the prophecies made about the growth of the church in Japan. The example of the saints at the time of the Savior’s visit to America demonstrates the power. The Book of Mormon really is the key stone of our religion and gives us guidance in all things. I am grateful for this simple example of the power of members reaching out to others—immediately and persistently. May we go and do likewise is my prayer. In the name of Jesus Christ whose church we represent. Amen.

The Effects of a Baptism

What happens when one person gets baptized?  Here is a perfect description of how lives are changed.  Thank you, Sister Ana-Lisa Clark, author of this post.  

Sister Clark, left, and Sister Nishimuro

This story begins in September when my companion Sister Nishimuro and I were trying to chase down 10-year-old girl who was scheduled to be baptized a week later.  We had to finish preparing her for her interview the following morning and were a little stressed out when she didn’t answer the phone and couldn't be found at home.  Her mom told us she had gone to play at a friend's house. Sigh! Fortunately, it was only next door so we decided to go and see if we could meet her.

We knocked and to our surprise, a kind-looking , beautiful brunette woman opened the door.  “Is Yara here?” we asked apprehensively.  “Oh yeah, she’s in here playing with my son.  Come on in,” she said warmly as she let us inside.  We talked to Yara and invited her to come with us so we could prepare for the interview.  As she was getting ready to go, we started talking with the pretty brunette mother, and found out she was Brazilian and spoke good Japanese.  She had been in Japan several years and was both working and studying at a  university.

We started telling her about being missionaries and found out that she had grown up Catholic.  We explained our purpose and started talking to her about prophets.  I asked her, “What would you think if there were a real prophet on the earth today?”  She paused…”I don’t know.  There are fake prophets, too…”  She then described a man she had seen on TV--a man in Brazil who claimed he was Jesus Christ.

We gave her a restoration pamphlet, exchanged names and numbers and promised to come back.

Over the next couple of months we weren’t really able to stay in touch.  We talked on the phone a couple of times, but whenever we came to her home she was gone.  We kept checking and didn’t forget her.  

Left to right: Sisters Clark, Takatsu, and Goodale
(We haven't yet baptized the "sister" in back.)

A couple of months later we came back—this time I had two new companions, Sister Goodale and Sister Takatsu.  We were able to meet her and teach her more about the Restoration. When we asked if she wanted to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet, she answered, "Yes."  Yay!

We started bringing Brazilian members to help us teach, and that was how the miracles really started.  We first brought a 22-year-old girl (Midhore) who could translate from Portuguese to Japanese.  As we finished the lesson Mayumi suddenly asked the girl, “What’s your last name?”  “Aratake.”

“No way!  I work with your mom!  And two years ago my husband worked at the same place as your dad!”

Wow!  What a connection!  Not a coincidence.


 The next week we brought Midhore and her father, Brother Aratake with us.  He brought such a great priesthood presence.  Despite his slight build and soft voice, he invited Mayumi and her husband into the lesson and set the stage with gentle but great authority.  When he taught, he taught with power, emphasizing and expounding on our simple statements as a second witness.  We sat in awe...and then as we invited Mayumi and Andre to be baptized, he took the next step, telling us to take out our planners and invited them to commit to a date.  That night he was our hero!

Mayumi continued to progress, waking up early in the morning to read the Book of Mormon.  She even brought it to work.  We heard reports from Sister Aratake that she was talking about the church at work, and refusing to hear bad talk about it from others.  Sister Aratake was impressed.  She told us Mayumi was seeming brighter and happier.

With Aratake’s help, Mayumi attended church for the first time and found she knew other members there from past jobs.  Though it had been several years in some cases, they remembered each other and welcomed her warmly into the Brazilian members' circle.  We couldn’t believe our luck.

We continued meeting with her.  We started bringing either Brother or Sister Ashikawa, English-speaking Brazilian members who lived near Mayumi and Andre, actually in the next building over.  Mayumi read almost everything we asked her and warmly welcomed our daily calls/texts.

One Sunday, however, when we were expecting her to come to church, she didn’t show up.  After our meetings when I called her to see what happened, she said, “This morning I got up and ready to go to church on my own.  But when Jean (her 7-year-old son) saw that I was leaving he cried and said, ‘Don’t go!  You’re always leaving!’”

When I heard her say those words my heart was pricked—how could we encourage her to do something that would hurt her family?  Her precious son?

We testified the Lord wanted her and her family to come to church together—and asked if her son (and husband) could come.  She said, “Jean said, ‘I don’t want to go.’”


Sigh.  We just continued teaching and praying for her--praying for a way for her son and husband's hearts to be softened so they would go to church together.

The next Sunday, Christmas Day, she came!  Apparently my face really lit up when I saw her because she laughed and said she wanted to take a picture (of my face).

We knew it must have been a sacrifice to come on Christmas, away from family, etc., but the challenge wasn’t over.  We knew we had to figure out a way to win over her son so he would come to church with her, but we felt powerless to do so.  Before he had always seemed to like us, but for a while he hadn't been responding to us.  Perhaps he felt we were taking his mother away from him.

One evening, on our way to a lesson with Mayumi, we stopped by the Ashikarwa family as we often did—and to our surprise found that Jean was there playing with the Ashikawa children.  Sister Ashikawa explained, “Mayumi called this morning and asked if he could come here because her and her husband have to work.”

We were excited.  Mayumi and Andre trusting members like that was a really good sign. They were becoming friends.  Later at Mayumi’s house, we asked Jean, “Will you come to church with us?  Rebekah and Helaman will be there."  He looked up with big eyes and said, “I’ll go.”

Since then he accompanied his mother and the Ashikawa family to both church and our Saturday children’s Eikaiwa class. The Ashikawa family thrived as they helped Mayumi and Jean.  They started making it to church in time for sacrament meeting--quite a fete with three young children!  The Ashakawa family children were especially happy.  They love church and they were excited to have a new friend to play with there.  The Primary teachers were thrilled, too.  “Jean is such a good boy.”

Mayumi was happy when she attended Sunday School and Relief Society combined with Priesthood for Brazilians.  She was always absorbed with what was discussed and really had good comments of her own.  For example, to the question "How can we work to decrease the power of evil in the world?" she answered, "We can share the Gospel."  Wow!


A few weeks later when she was getting closer to baptism, she shared a dream she had had, with the Portuguese Sunday School Class.  (They were discussing Lehi's Dream.)  She dreamed she had been standing near the dirty river that runs by her home in Brazil.  But when she looked up at it, she realized it was clean.  Then she saw me and Sister Hunt beckoning to her, inviting her to come into the water.


The whole Ashikawa family participated in the baptismal service for Mayumi.  Sister Ashikawa prayed.  She always gave beautiful and heartfelt prayers. Rebekah and Helaman sang “I Am A Child of God” in Portuguese for the musical number.  Afterwards the Primary president came to me and said, “I have never heard Helaman sing—that was amazing!  Thank you!”

Best of all, Brother Ashikawa was able to perform the baptism.  Both he and his wife, but he especially had been strengthened as we used them to help us teach Mayumi.

Though it was no doubt challenging with three young children at home, they gave up time in the evenings to come teach with us.  And because of it, they found a new friend and renewed motivation.

The morning of the baptism was beautiful.  Sister Hunt and I were riding our bikes on our way to church when we heard a familiar sing-song voice cut through the frosty air. “Hey girls!”  It was Sister Ashikawa.  The whole family, all loaded in their van pulled up next to us.  “Today is a good day,” she said.  “It’s a wonderful day!” I answered back.  We arrived at the church together and began to prepare.  I was so impressed-- with three young children they made it to church so early.

Left to right: Mayumi, Andre, Sisters Clark and Hunt
Front: Helaman, Andre (son of Mayumi and Andre) and Rebekah

After Sister Ashikawa watched her husband baptize her new friend she came to me amidst a crowd of people, hugged me and with tear-filled eyes said, “Thank you for everything you have done for us.  I am so happy!”

Mayumi and Andre

One of the best moments ever!  Not only was one daughter of God baptized.  Two families were brought together and brought to church.  We couldn’t have helped either family without the other, and we had tried.  But God knew the way to bring them to Him, through each other.  I’m so grateful we got to be a part of this beginning of an eternal journey and friendship.

Brother and Sister Ashikawa, Mayumi and Andre, Sister Aratake

Hooray! Four Great New Missionaries, June 2012

The only thing better than getting new missionaries is watching them baptize.  We got four wonderful new missionaries this time.  Please meet:

Elder Ludlow, Elder Romero, (President and Sister Baird),
Sister Rogers and Sister Ishihara

 In case you can't read kanji, the sign at the right says this group of missionaries are all fabulous.  (Just kidding--about the sign, not the missionaries.)

Do think there are any butterflies in stomachs right now?

How can two sister missionaries who have traveled all day
 look so beautiful?

Dinner for four tired missionaries and off to bed.
Elders Kervinen and Ellsworth, AP's on left.

Next morning, they are all rested and ready to start training, but not before we get to be treated to a violin/cello rendition of "If You Could Hie to Colob."   

It was truly subarashii.

Sister Rogers and Elder Ellsworth, one of our AP's.

Sister Ishihara, left, with her new trainer, Sister Shimoji.
Notice the tissue (and if you have good eyes, you'll see a few tears
in Sister Ishihara's eyes.)
First, the spirit told President Baird to make these two companions.
Second, these two told President Baird that they were good friends.

Sister Inori Ishihara's parents and oldest brother all served missions.   She is from Okinawa, Japan and plays the French horn and flute.   She likes touching people's hearts by being bright, friendly, and optimistic.   She has received many blessings from prayer.

Sister Shimoji is a very happy, cheerful person.  Sister Shimoji listened to 
General Conference and as they talked about serving a mission, 
she felt inspired to go.  Even though she got a good job, 
she quit it to serve a mission.

Sister Inori Ishihara's parents and oldest brother all served missions.  

She is from Okinawa, Japan and plays the French horn and flute.  

She likes touching people's hearts by being bright, friendly, and optimistic.  

She has received many blessings from prayer.

Sister Rogers, left, and Sister Hunt

Sister Rogers comes to us from Brisbane, Australia and has two sisters  and six brothers.  She loves musical instruments and plays piano, violin,  guitar and sax.  She also plays basketball, soccer, and has a black belt  in Taikwando.  She will audition at the Queensland Conservatorium of  Music after her mission.

Sister Hunt loves to work. She also finds that music energizes
 her mind and spirit. And she enjoys a sincere conversation.
 While she loves to read, she finds that reading the scriptures
consistently is simply a feeling that can't be replicated
 with other literature or philosophy.

Sister Rogers comes to us from Brisbane, Australia and has two sisters

 and six brothers.  She loves musical instruments and plays piano, violin, 

guitar and sax.  She also plays basketball, soccer, and has a black belt 

in Taikwando.  She will audition at the Queensland Conservatorium of 

Music after her mission.  

Elder Ludlow, left, with Elder Schade

Thousand Oaks, California is where Elder Matthew Ludlow  calls home.  He enjoys basketball and football and loves competition.  He hopes to eventually become a chiropractor.

Notice Elder Schade's huge smile.  It makes a lot of people happy.
He loves being out of doors and also plays the piano.
He knows from experience that prayer is a powerful tool.

Thousand Oaks, California is where Elder Matthew Ludlow 

calls home.  He enjoys basketball and football and loves competition. 

He hopes to eventually become a chiropractor.  

Elder Romero, center, with his trainer Elder Dinkel on left,
and Elder Gates on right (a threesome!)

From the great city of Provo, Utah, we get to have Elder Jose Romero.
  He is the youngest of 7 children and says his mother is an
incredible woman.  Elder Romero loves to rock climb, hike, bike,
 canoe and swim.  He loves a physical challenge, but he especially
 loves getting to know people better when he spends time with
 them outdoors.  He has had many wonderful spiritual experiences
 and is grateful for leaders who have taught him great things.

Elder Dinkel has a great smile that shows his enthusiasm for 
the work.   He knows lots of words and loves to use the big ones.  
Not everyone gets to train two people at once.

At the time of this blog post, Elder Gates has only been 
in the mission for  three months.  His trainer, Elder Dinkel 
says he's already very good with his kanji, takes part 
in lessons effectively, and is willing to share his great 
musical talent.  But the best thing is he is perfectly obedient.