46th week in Japan
6/27/2016

悲喜交々 (Bittersweet)

Dear Family and Friends,

The life of a missionary is full of ups and downs. Sometimes you can feel immense joy one day and the next day be completely cut down. We are all constantly striving for improvement, but sometimes the goals that you had hoped to reach are  just unreachable. Even when you have given every last bit of energy that you have, you just can't quite reach them. I feel as though often times this is what missionary life is like. You put in all our effort, but sometimes it just doesn't turn out how you had hoped it would. My time in Uwajima has really felt like this. Amongst all the hard work and often times feeling unsuccessful, I have come to learn one of the most important things that I have ever learned in my mission and my life. Heavenly Father's will is first.

If I am being completely honest, learning to do Heavenly Father's will first sometimes is not very easy. There are often different routes that you could take, decisions that you could make in life, that are a lot easier than the choices that Heavenly Father wants you to make. Sometimes making the right decision is not easy; however, I do know that it is always worth it. I have really been learning how to submit my will to the Father's this transfer.

Heavenly Father knows what is right for us, and sometimes those things won't be easy. He may ask you to stand up in front of your ward at home and give a talk. He may ask you to walk out of a fun party with your friends. He may ask us to keep certain commandments that we don't completely understand. Even though these things may be difficult, Heavenly Father asks us to do them for a reason. It is because he knows what is best for us. He loves us. He wants us to grow, to learn, and one day to become like he is. In order to do so it may sometimes be difficult, but it will always be worth it.

Towards the beginning of the week last week we met with one of my favorite investigators in this area. Her name is Katayama Midori. I have been meeting with and teaching her since the first week that I came to Uwajima. I have developed a good relationship with her and she has become a good friend. Midori San has been taught almost all of the lessons and is completely prepared to be baptized. She has a strong testimony and has really helped me strengthen mine at times. When we met with Midori San last week we had prepared to invite her to be baptized for the last week of this transfer. I thought without a doubt that she would be able to accept and be baptized. When we extended her the invitation to follow the Savior and be baptized, she politely declined. She said that she could not be baptized yet, but that she would be able to be baptized in the month of October. I was devastated. After all the time of getting to know Midori San I thought forsure that I would be able to help her reach baptism. Even though I may not understand why she won't be able to baptized this transfer, I have come to recognize that all that matters is that she will get baptized. Heavenly Father's will is not for her to be baptized yet, and accepting that may not be easy but it is what is right.

Often times I think that it is difficult for me to accept Heavenly Father's will, but then I think back to the Savior. The Savior, Jesus Christ, lived a perfect life. He never did anything wrong, never. He did everything that he Heavenly Father wanted him to do. When it came time for the Savior to perform the atonement, he knew that it would be difficult. He suffered pains beyond comprehension. So much so that he asked Heavenly Father if there was some other way. Even though the Savior was going through an incomprehensible amount of pain, he still said to Heavenly Father, "Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done." If anyone knew how to put Heavenly Father's will above all else, it was the Savior himself. I know that often times it will be difficult to do what is right, to do Heavenly Father's will, but when those times come, we will always have someone we can look to for help.

My Ponderizing scripture for this week was 1 Nephi 20:10. "For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."

Questions:

1. Yes, we get rides with the Hasagawa couple at least once a week. We also teach quite a few lessons with them. They help us teach very often. They also help us teach our investigators who live very far away.

2. It seems like there are less pets here than in America, but quite a few people have pets. Nothing really unique though. 95% of the time they are just cats and dogs. One of the less actives in our branch does have a really cool water lizard pet though.

3. I actually never have been chased by a dog before. We still haven't done interviews with President Welch yet. I am not sure when those will happen.

4. Sumo wresting actually is really big in Japan. I have seen it on t.v. a couple of times and I have seen a few posters, but I have never been to a match before.

5. My companion lived in Japan for 5 years. He is very good at the language and helps me out a lot. I think he likes Uwajima. He has gotten used to it over the time he has been here.

6. Yes, we listen to the church music you sent a lot, thanks. My companion loves music. He actually just bought a new CD today.

7. Obviously my favorite thing here is still the people. I just love talking to people. It is pretty cool to be communicating in a different language. I love the food in Japan. Almost more than in America. I really enjoy getting to know the culture. There are quite a few unique things that they do in Japan that are completely different than we do in America. I also really enjoy participating in the festivals that they have here. They are way different than the parades in America. Learning the language is also really enjoyable.

Let's all remember to put Heavenly Father's will first in our lives. I love you all. Have a great week!

Elder Hirschi
ハーシ長老

Sunset in Uwajima

Shacks that are unattended where you can buy things.

A huge cockroach we found while cleaning