4th week at the MTC

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been a long, but incredible week here at the MTC. As I told you in last weeks email I was asked to give the full lesson with our investigator a few days ago. My companion already speaks the language very well, so my teacher wanted me to do all the talking in my next lesson. I was really struggling to figure out how I was going to teach. As always the number one thing for me to do at a time like this is to say a prayer, and after read the Book of Mormon. As I was pondering about how I was going to be able to teach the whole lesson with our investigator I was reading the end of 2 Nephi. At the end of 2 Nephi, Nephi really emphasizes the importance of baptism and the Holy Ghost. As I read and pondered the spirit came to me telling me that was exactly what I should teach to my investigator. When it came time to teach I taught exactly what the spirit wanted me to teach. Our investigator was struggling with some things in her life, but what we taught, she said, was what she needed to hear. In her prayer she thanked our Heavenly Father for what we had taught her that day. I know that I won't forget the lesson that I had to give. Even though it was not easy to prepare the lesson myself, and to give the whole thing myself, I was strengthened so much by being able to teach with the spirit. My Japanese is still not good at all and even by the time we get to Japan I'm sure it won't be much better, but that day I learned that we are not teaching through the Japanese language we are going to be teaching through the language of the spirit. 

My district still continues to amaze me. The other night we came home from a devotional on Joseph Smith and the restoration. After each Tuesday devotional we gather together as a district and talk about what we have learned. Each and every one of my district has such a strong testimony. Through hearing what they had to say, my own testimony has increased dramatically. As all of you know last Sunday was fast Sunday. As a zone we all gathered together for sacrament meeting last Sunday to take the sacrament. After pondering about the sacrament, and Christ's atonement we were all given the opportunity to bare testimony. I know after hearing the testimony of others my own testimony has grown so much. I would encourage all of you to bare testimony also. When you hear the words from someone else saying that they know that this gospel is true, you can feel for yourself that it is true through the spirit. 

The 4th of July went really well here. Thank you so much for the package we had a ton of fun with it. We decorated our door, played games, had a devotional, and watched the fireworks in the parking lot. We all dressed up in our 4th of July attire (only different ties for the Elders). Our teacher took a picture with us which I will include. My companion is very patriotic, so on the 4th he shared some scriptures that had to do with America. Our teacher taught us how to say happy 4th of July, but I already forgot how haha. The devotional that night was given by sister Oaks (Dallin H. Oaks's daughter). She is a truly amazing violinist and she brought her family with her. It was cool to hear that her husband served in Kobe Japan. We were able to talk with him after, and he told us all about his experience in Japan. After the devotional we all got to go out in the parking lot and watch the fireworks together. We had a bunch of junk food, but it was all worth it ha. I have been working on losing weight while here at the MTC. I have eaten a lot less food and exercised more. My companion and I went on a couple mile run yesterday morning around the temple. I weighed myself at the fitness center and since leaving to go the MTC I have gone from being 204 lbs. to 186 lbs., almost a 20 pound difference! We try to do a little work out each night before we say our prayers and sleep. 

I have been working hard to keep my goal of reading at least one chapter from the Book of Mormon each day while out on my mission. If you would like to try to join me I would really encourage you to do so. The other night I was reading from Mosiah chapter 3. In this chapter King Benjamin is teaching to his people. I never realized before the power of his teachings. He talked about the savior and how only through him can we receive salvation. I love hearing scriptures about the savior because he is the perfect example for everyone. As missionaries we need to strive to be the best representatives of the savior that we can be. I am trying to develop more Christlike attributes each day. I would really recommend to all of you that you read this chapter. Last night I read Mosiah chapter 7-9, and I remember in detail my dad reading these chapters to me when I was a kid. I remember him teaching me about what these scriptures meant. I could picture in my head exactly what I remembered of the stories of Ammon as a kid. I just want to say thank you dad for helping me understand and teaching me about the scriptures at a young age. I miss being able to read scriptures as a family because I learned so much about what you taught me. I can vividly remember us reading together as a family, and you teaching all of us kids about what each verse meant. The Book of Mormon is true. I am grateful for Joseph Smith and what he went through to have it translated for all of us in these latter days. If you think about all that he went through for us, think of how happy he is when we read the Book of Mormon each night and learn from its teachings. I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and as Elder Condie said in our last devotional, "If you don't know whether the first vision with Joseph Smith was true or not, ask God, he was there." I can testify to all of you that I know with a surety of my heart that the first vision is true. Joseph Smith did kneel down that day in the sacred grove and prayed to God to know which church was true. Without Joseph Smith we would not be able to read from the teachings of the Book of Mormon. I am truly grateful for his sacrifice, and try to learn from the Book of Mormon each day because of what he did for us. I would encourage all of you to please do the same. I can promise you that you will learn so much more about the gospel. 

Sorry my emails are so long, but I am grateful for all of you putting up with it and reading them ha. I enjoy all of your emails, and letters so much. I would hope to continue receiving more and I will try to reply to as many of you as I can. I should probably answer those questions now. They have not told me anything about my Visa yet, but if they do I will let you know. Being a zone leader is great. It doesn't feel too much different, but I get to do interviews with the elders and learn more about everyone in our zone. I loved the stuff you sent for the 4th of July and we already did that puzzle ha. Thank you so much. I will send some pictures in another email. I haven't learned too much that is really fun to say. I guess we say "kowaii" a lot which means scary, but it's funny because "kawai" which sounds exactly like it means cute. There are a lot of funny things we do though, and inside jokes that we have. One of the days Norawong Kyodai (brother Norawong) had us do a funny meditation exercise. Also we sing a lot of funny songs, and Elder Smith always quotes the movie Elf (with Will Ferrell). I did get a picture with my teachers which I will send. I don't know if I have a favorite teacher, but Maynes Shimai (sister Maynes) is such an amazing teacher. She truly teaches us by the spirit every day.

Thank you all again for all the emails and the prayers. I look forward to the next P-day to tell more about my experiences here. I love you all and pray for you daily. 

Elder Hirschi