24th week in Japan
1/24/2016
The Worth of Souls is Great! (D and C 18:10)

Dear Family and Friends,

I just cannot believe that my first transfer here in Fushimi is already coming to an end. There is no concept of time while serving a mission. I have had so much fun getting to know all these members and people in Fushimi. This place is absolutely amazing. I really hope that I can continue to work hard here and keep God's work moving in this area. One thing that is interesting about this transfer is that President Welch has switched a few rules about the mission. Now instead of getting transfer calls online we are going to be directly called by our zone leaders. We are actually still not sure where anyone is going yet. By my next week's email I could be halfway across the mission or still Fushimi. I will have to let you all know how it turns out. Also one other rule that he switched around is we now have no transfer points. When we transfer on public transportation we go straight to our area, even if that means we won't be going there with another missionary. When on public grounds we can go without a companion to transfer to a new area! I feel like it would be pretty scary to be riding trains to your new area without anyone to help you know where to go. I guess we will see what the new transfer has in store for us.

This past week has been a blast! I continue to keep loving these people more and more. Last Friday we had a mission tour with Elder Choi who I may have mentioned in a previous letter while I was in Okayama. He is a member of the seventy and he came to speak to our mission in 3 separate places. So on Friday the Kyoto zone went to Abeno to meet with Elder Choi, his wife, and President and Sister Welch. Elder Choi is such a bold speaker. His first language is not English, so even though he cannot communicate one hundred percent fluently he is still very powerful in his words. We learned from him that the mission is going to be changing. President Welch's vision used to be 1 baptism a transfer, but now they have worked together to set up a new vision of a baptism a week! I know that Heavenly Father loves all of his children, and in order to help them return to him we have to hasten his work. These truly are the last days. We need to help Heavenly Father's children, our brothers and sisters who do not know about the gospel, to learn about it. With faith and God's help all things are possible (Mark 10:27). We are constantly praying our hearts out for these people, so that we may see miracles and help open their hearts to hear the word.

Yesterday we had dinner with the bishop and a bunch of the youth members in the ward. We ate and talked together for a while. After eating my companion and I were able to share a message about working together with the members. Honestly, as missionaries we can do our best to find those who are prepared, but I know that members know better those who may be ready to hear about the gospel than we do. We talked about God's work (Moses 1:39). God loves all of his children and to each soul is precious in his sight (D and C 18:10). He created each of us individually, and he wants each of us to be able to live again with him someday. Just take a moment to think about what Heavenly Father thinks of his children. If only we could take just a glimpse through his eyes, our entire perspective of everyone would change. I can testify to you that I know for myself that he loves us more than we can even imagine. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) God loved us enough that he sent Jesus Christ to the Earth to suffer for each of us. I am sure that decision was not easy for him to make, but he did it because he loves us. Let us share that knowledge that we have of his love for us with those around us.

My Ponderizing scripture for last week was Mosiah 5:15. Let us become steadfast and immovable as King Benjamin desired of his people.

Questions:

1. Yes there are a lot more American missionaries. There are a few from other places like Brazil, Australia, England, but the majority is America. I would say that maybe 10-15% are Japanese missionaries.

2. Yes I did get the earmuffs, thank you so much. I was looking for some new ones. Thanks for sending the snacks too. You are the best!

3. I am very interested to see what will happen with the new way of receiving transfer calls. I think that I will stay in Fushimi, and that maybe my companion will be leaving. We are not sure though. I hope that we can find out pretty soon, just in case one of us is leaving and has to start packing up.

4. My clothes are holding up really well. I have everything I need. It is getting crazy cold here now, but I have all the clothes that I need to stay warm thanks. I am totally good on everything so I wouldn't worry about sending me anything. Thanks a bunch though :).

5. Yes, we ride bikes everyday. It is a lot of fun even though it is freezing cold now. We ride around to a bunch of different places throughout the day. I don't know if there is a very set amount of biking we do daily though. We do get rides with members every once in a long while. We also take trains or buses to go to other ares, but that is only for when we meet together with other missionaries for a meeting or something.

6. I did get sick a little bit my first transfer, but nothing bad. Nobody has been sick other than that. We got flu shots in Okayama Nishi before I left, which was nice to prevent the flu. We are doing very well.

Thank you so much everyone for all of your love and support. I love you all. I know that we are all sons and daughters of a Father in Heaven who loves us. Have a great week!

Hirschi 長老