30th week in Japan
3/7/2016
If it is the Lord's Will, it can be done

Dear Family and Friends,

It is so good to be able to write to each of you on this beautiful Monday evening. The weather has had a drastic change and went from freezing cold one day, to hot the next. It is funny how the weather works here in Uwajima. Anyways, I hope that you are all doing very well. This afternoon my companion and I were headed over to another area next to Uwajima called Kihokucho, when we got a called from President Welch on the phone. Because of the new transfer calls, whenever someone either becomes a ZL, or becomes a trainer we get a call from President Welch. I thought for sure that my companion was going to be a zone leader in a new area. President Welch told my companion he would be transferring and then told him to hand me the phone. He told me that I would be training a new missionary here in Uwajima. I was pretty shocked when he told me that. I feel like I am still a brand new missionary. I have only been out here for a few months and am still getting used to all this missionary stuff. However, I know that with the Lord's help that it will be possible. When he told me the news I immediately thought of my trainers. I thought about how they were such good trainers for me, so I am going to be the best trainer I can for this new missionary. Because the only other elders in our district are the Matsuyama elders and Hasegawa choro ,the couple missionary, I will also be the district leader for the district. Without a doubt I will be relying on the Lord every day 24 hours a day this transfer. I know that he will provide a way for me to be able to accomplish such a great task. 1 Nephi 3:7.

This week has been full of a lot of hard work and many miracles along the way.  At the beginning of the week we had a lesson with one of our very strong progressing investigators named Ishiki san. She will be headed to Kyoto for college in a month, but she accepted the invitation to be baptized on May 1st this year. It is a miracle to see God's work moving forward in Japan. I have been amazed to see the work hastening even over the small amount of time that I have been on my mission so far. We are working hard to reach President Welch's vision of a baptism a week. I know that through relying on Christ and his atonement that this can be made possible.

We have been able to teach many people this week, and at the end of the week we went over to Matusyama for another Zone Training Meeting. We received a lot of spiritually uplifting training from our zone leaders and sister training leaders. Afterwards Elder Miyagi and I went on exchange for the day. It is crazy to know that he will be heading home here in a few days. I will sure miss that guy. It was fun playing some basketball with him and getting to know him. Saturday night we had chihobutaikai (I forgot what it is called in English, district conference or something). President Welch came and spoke to all of the people in the Matsuyama district. He is always such a powerful speaker. You can for sure tell that he has been called of God to direct the work in Kobe Japan. 

Fast Sunday was pushed to next Sunday because we had our chihobutaikai on Sunday. We heard from Sister Welch and President Welch again. We actually skyped at the church in Uwajima. It didn't work the greatest, but we were able to hear everything. It was an interesting experience. Because Elder Tanaka figured that he would be leaving he has been saying his goodbyes to everyone. We said goodbye to the Brechtefeld family on Sunday night. It is tough saying goodbye to people after you have been their friend for 6 months. Elder Tanaka liked it here in Uwajima, but 6 months is a fairly long time, so he is excited to have new experiences in a new area. 

Because this past week has been so busy, I forgot to do my ponderizing. I will have to repent and pick a new scripture for next week. Today Elder Tanaka and I went to a place called Yusu. It was a very fun P day. We had to bike about 1 and a half hours to get there, but it was a very beautiful place. I will send some pictures. Next transfer is going to be a big change. I know that as to the things of myself I am weak, but with God's help I can be made strong. We truly can receive God's strength through prayer. What a gift it is to be able to ask and receive based upon our faithfulness. If you ever need God's help he is there to help you. Heavenly Father loves each of us. I testify that to each of you from the bottom of my heart. He loves you. If you don't know or can't feel whether or not God loves you read John 3:16 and pray about it. This gospel is true. I am grateful for the joy of this gospel. The Book of Mormon is God's word. Through reading it and going to God in prayer we will be blessed. I testify these things to you in the name sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions:

1. Yes, I read very frequently from the Japanese scriptures. I love being able to read the scriptures in Japanese and English side by side. It is fairly easy to teach the English classes. It is mostly just conversation, so not that tough. It is a ton of fun too. 

2. One of the members in our ward likes to do karate. I have seen a little bit of golf here and there. Also a lot of people like to play soccer.

3. How to prepare for a mission. I could write at least a whole 5 paragraph email on just this one question haha. I think that reading scriptures and going to Heavenly Father in prayer daily is the biggest suggestion I would make. Through praying and reading the scriptures you gain so much knowledge and feel so much closer to God. (Not too much time today, but if you want more suggestions I will email you next time)

4. Yes, the missionary couple in our area are from Japan and are Japanese. Before they served they lived close to my last area, Fushimi. They don't go out finding that often, but do every now and then. They mostly drive out to far away places to teach less actives that we cannot teach because they live so far.

5. Uwajima has been the area where I have received the most referrals. We have received a referral almost once every other week this transfer. 

6. The mission president goes to zone conference and teaches us, but zone training meetings are just the missionaries.

Thank you all so much for your love and support. I can truly feel the strength of all your prayers. I did want to mention that I will be praying for Davier everyday. I hope that he will be alright. Love you all,

Elder Hirschi