6/13/2016
英雄 (Heroes)
Being in the service of the Lord as one of his missionaries is one of the greatest opportunities I have ever been given in my life. I am full of so much gratitude to have been given this opportunity. On June 10th of this year I officially hit my one year mark on my mission in Kobe Japan. I still cannot comprehend why the time moves so much quicker on a mission. If I was to guess, I think it would have something to do with being closer to God's time. Although the time has flown by I still have many new journeys that lay ahead. It has been so great to meet all of these people. I love them dearly. I am grateful to be in here in a part of God's vineyard, even if it is only a short time.
I would like to share with everyone one of the biggest highlights that I have seen on my mission so far, and it will impact me for the rest of my entire life. When I was serving with my second trainer Elder Weakley in Okayama Nishi, my first area, I was nearing the end of the Book of Mormon in my reading. I had been pondering about the Book of Mormon often throughout each and every day. I love the stories of the prophets and I cannot even begin to describe how grateful I am for the sacrifices that they made to give us the Book of Mormon today. One day during my personal study time I had finally finished reading the entire Book of Mormon for my first time. I thought about all the stories in the Book of Mormon and I really pondered about Moroni's promise that he has given us in Moroni 10:3-5. He asks us to read the Book of Mormon and ask God with a sincerity of heart to know if it is true. I finished my reading and pondering about the book. I truly had a sincere desire to know whether or not the Book of Mormon was true for myself. So, I did what Moroni asks. I went into the other room and knelt down to ask God. In that moment I was changed. Before I could even begin to express myself in prayer I felt the spirit hit me like I was hit by a car or something. It almost hurt it was so powerful! God had told me what I had desired to know. He told me, through the power of the Holy Ghost, that the Book of Mormon is a true book. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. It is. There is no doubt in my mind. It is God's word and because of it I have been changed forever.
Lately I have been reading through the atonement challenge that President Welch has asked us to read. Right now I am reading from 1st Nephi. Nephi is one of my heroes. As I was reading in 1 Nephi 17 I recognized something that I had never really thought about before. Nephi talks about how they had been going through the wilderness with hardly any food and had many hardships for over 8 years. They had gone through much afflictions and sufferings in the wilderness. Eventually Nephi and his family make it to the land bountiful. By the time they get there they set up there tents and are very joyous to have plenty of food and a time to rest; however, soon after getting there the Lord calls Nephi up to the mountain. At this point I imagine Nephi is very tired, he just suffered many afflictions in the wilderness for over 8 years, but he does as the Lord directs and goes up into the mountain. The Lord then asks him to construct a ship. (1 Nephi 17:8) Nephi a man who has probably never even seen a ship, living in the desert in Jerusalem and after traveling through the wilderness for 8 years, which I imagine was extremely difficult, instead of saying to the Lord can't I just rest for a few days. I have been through so much already. The first thing he says is okay, where can I find some ore. He probably has no idea how to construct a ship and he is probably over exhausted from his journey, but instead of complaining he tells the Lord okay here is what I can do, let's go find some ore to make tools. Nephi is absolutely one of the most incredible men to walk the face of this Earth. I am so grateful for his obedience to keeping the Lord's commandments. He has given me an example to look up to, so that I can try to be as obedient as I can myself.
The Book of Mormon is full of so many of my heroes. I love the Book of Mormon. I am so grateful that I have the chance to read it every day, even if it is just a page or 2. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that it is the most correct book out of any book written on the earth today. Through following the things we learn from the Book of Mormon we have been promised more blessings than we can ever imagine. I know that because of the Book of Mormon that this church is true also. Joseph Smith really did see God the Father and Jesus Christ appear to him in the sacred grove. He truly did translate the Book of Mormon and restore God's true church back to the Earth today. I am grateful for my savior Jesus Christ. The Savior has a very special spot in my heart. He did atone for us. He knows us. He loves us. I know that God is our Heavenly Father. I know that one day we can return to live with him and with our families for eternity. These things I know and testify to you in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.
My Ponderizing scripture for this week was 1 Corinthians 2:4.
Questions:
1. My new companion is good. He likes to sing and do acting. He is very kind and always looking out for those around him. He is a very good missionary.
2. It is starting to feel like summer. The summers in Japan are way hot too. The weather has started to get pretty crazy lately. We just hit rainy season, so it rains almost every day right now. Some days it doesn't rain too much, but some days it pours pretty hard. It is fun though because we don't get the chance to swim as missionaries, so we can swim in the rain :). I don't see people go swimming very much. All of the schools in Japan do have swimming pools though. I hear of some kids that do that for their clubs and stuff.
3. There are a ton of gardens here. I think a lot of people like to grow gardens in Uwajima. They grow lots of different things. In Oomiya shimai's garden, the garden that we do service in every week, she grows potatoes, mint, cabbage, strawberries, cucumbers, and some other things.
4. Yes, I have gotten pretty good at using chopsticks. We use them all of the time. Almost every day for 90% of the meals. I do have a pair of chopsticks that are pretty cool that a member gave me in my last area. I use those.
5. It seems like most people work on Saturdays too. The kids don't have school on Saturdays most of the time. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they even have schoolon Sunday's, which is crazy. I am not sure what they do on Saturdays. Maybe just hang out with friends or stay home and play games or stuff like that.
6. My district hasn't changed at all except for my new companion. Our investigators are doing well. We still have to get a date set for Midori San, but I think she will get baptized this transfer. Also Mizumoto San was able to meet with us last week so that was good. The rest of our investigators aren't really progressing too well, so we may have to drop a few and start looking for new ones.
7. We also go everywhere on bikes. We hardly ever do much walking. My bike is doing very well. I am taking really good care of it. I hope I can keep it in good shape until the end of my mission. Maybe I could even send it home, I am not sure.
8. I am good on everything. Thanks so much though. I truly appreciate all of your help and support.
Thank you everyone for all of your love and support. Thank you for reading my long emails haha, sorry this one was so long. I hope that you all have a great week! Love ya,
Hirschi 長
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