57th week in Japan
9/12/2016
神様の導き (God's guidance)

Dear Family and Friends,

How is everyone? Another week has come and gone so quickly and my
companion and I have seen many good things happening in the area.
However, we just need to pick it up and work even harder. I am
grateful for my companion's hard work ethic. It has really been a fun
transfer so far and has been full of a lot of learning.

I would like to share an experience that my companion and I had a few
weeks ago. Towards the beginning of the week we received a lot of
referrals from a member in the ward next to ours. He said that he had
a lot of friends in our area that he would like to visit. The area
that his friends lived in was about a 2-3 hour bike ride from the
church. We also didn't know if it was even possible to get there by
bike because you have to go off a side rode that leads over a mountain
So normally we would have to take the train, but we decided to bike
about half way there and take the train to save us some money and
visit a less active that was on the way there. We took our bike bags
with us so that we could put our bikes in the bags when we got on the
train.

We then headed over to a place near Katsura called Kameoka. The bishop
lives in that area so we decided to start our day off by visiting him.
We were able to work with him and figure out some people who we could
visit in the area. We visited a bunch of referrals and didn't see to
much success, but we were able to teach many people about the true
gospel. Not many accepted to continue hearing our message, but at
least we gave them the chance. After visiting most of the referrals in
the area it was getting late. It was about 7:30, so we decided that we
would go back home. We were planning on taking our bikes back because
from Kameoka back to Katsura it is mostly downhill. However, we were
faced with a decision. We could either take the mountain pass back to
Katura, or try to take the highway back. Both seemed dangerous, but it
seemed like the mountain pass might be a better idea. So we took the
mountain pass. We looked at a map and started up this mountain. We
could not see anything due to it being dark outside and having no
lights on the mountain. All we had was our bike lights.

The mountain pass had many roads that split off from the main pass
back to Katsura. As we started scaling the mountain, we noticed that
the map on the iPad stopped working, so we couldn't track where we
were going anymore. We decided to stop and say a prayer asking
Heavenly Father what we should do. After the prayer we took a moment
to listen to the whisperings of the spirit. We felt like God wanted us
to continue on the path up the mountain even though we were not sure
where to go. As we started up the mountain we hit a fence that had
some cautions signs on it. We looked around and decided that we should
not try to keep going forward.

Headed back down the mountain I felt a little confused why God had
prompted us to keep going; however, my companion made mention of a
talk by Elder Holland that explains the answer to my question so
simply. The talk is titled "Wrong roads." Elder Holland goes on a
camping trip with his son and on the way back they come to a fork in
the road. They don't know which is the correct path to take, so they
pray and take the path on the right. It led to a dead end. Elder
Holland goes on to explain why God had him go down that path. He says
that if they decided to go down the other path, after driving down the
road for a while they would have been in confusion of whether or not
they actually took the right path. Just like Elder Holland, God had
told my companion and I to go down the wrong path, so that we could
refrain from being confused and having second thoughts about which was
actually the correct way to go.

After coming off the mountain my companion and I decided that maybe it
would be better for us to take the highway. If we were to take the
train we would make it home late. So we started heading down the
highway. After riding down the road for a while I hit a big bump in
the road. At first everything seemed to be okay, but by the time we
hit the end of the road I recognized that my bike tire had punctured.
So we the only decision we had left was to take the train back.
Luckily, because God is so merciful, after walking for about a quarter
of a mile toward the distant train station we found a bike shop and we
were able to replace the tube right before it closed. I give thanks to
God for helping us to be as close as we could to get back home on
time.

Even though a few unfortunate events happened that day, God truly
guided us back home in safety. I am grateful for his many blessings
and his guidance. God is truly a God of miracles. He loves us and
wants to help us. Through his guidance, we can one day return to live
with him again. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Ponderizing scripture: D and C 18:10

Questions:

Are you still writing in your journal everyday?  Have you given very many priesthood blessings on your mission?

1. I have written in my journal everyday. Sometimes a fall behind a
few days because we get so busy, but I am working hard to keep it up
everyday. I have given a few priesthood blessings on my mission, but
not that many.

 Do you know if they have primary programs sacrament meetings there in Japan?  Maybe not in your ward but other wards that have more kids in them? 

2. I don't think they do in this Ward, but in my first area (Okayama
Nishi) they had quite a few kids in the ward. During the time that I
was there they had a primary program. It was pretty good too.

Have you seen any missionaries lately that you haven’t seen for a while?  Any zone conferences or district meetings?

3. Actually yes! Out of the blue today while McEwan choro and I were
looking at stuff at Kiyomizudera Weakly choro came up
behind me and gave me a hug. It was so good to see him! They were
there to do some shopping before Weakly choro leaves Japan. I really
love that guy. He is a great missionary. We had zone conference this
last Wednesday. It was very inspiring and I came back to Katsura with
a lot of revelation on what I can improve.

Have there been any more festivals near you lately?  Have you seen any sumo wrestling or done any basketball or any sports lately?

4. There hasn't been many festivals that I have seen. I haven't
actually seen any sumo wrestling either, but I have seen a lot of
advertisements for it. I saw it on TV once. Just caught a glimpse of
what it is like. I haven't really been able to play any sports lately.
My companion and I played frisbee early in the morning once. I also
think that we will be doing something next week. Maybe basketball.

 How has the weather been there?  What has been your favorite season while you have been in Japan?

5. It has actually been great. It has cooled down a lot and the
typhoons that were supposed to come didn't really hit us much at all.
My favorite season is probably fall because it gets pretty cool from
the heat, but not freezing cold. I like the summer a ton more than the
winter in Japan though. The winters in Japan are freezing! Especially
in Kyoto.

Have you met any new people lately?   What is your favorite thing about teaching English class?

6. We have met quite a few people lately. I hope we can start teaching
someone named Daisuke San that we met on the street the other day. He
seemed really cool. My favorite thing about teaching English is
playing games. We played headbands the other day and it was pretty
enjoyable.

Is there anything you need or would like for your birthday coming up soon?  d.

7. I think I am good. Maybe some cheese its would be nice. I got some
slacks. They are way cheaper in Japan. So are the suits. Maybe I could
get one for Slade before I go home. I think I am good on everything
else. If I need some new shirts I will let you know and see if I can
find some cheap ones here.

Love you everyone! Thanks so much for your support and encouragement.
I love my mission. I love the gospel! Have a great week!

Elder Hirschi

More pictures at:  https://www.facebook.com/raylinda.hirschi

56th week in Japan
9/5/2016
イエス・キリストを信じる信仰 (Faith in Jesus Christ)

Dear Family and Friends,

It is so great to be able to email you on this wonderful Monday
afternoon! I am grateful for the chance that I have to tell you about
all of my experiences in Japan and I hope and pray that everyone is
doing well back at home. I am also appreciative to be able to start
this new transfer with a great companion. It is great to get to work
and to be able to learn together everyday. We have set some goals and
are striving to do what we can to accomplish them daily. One of my
biggest goals that I want to work on this transfer is found in the
gospel of Jesus Christ. The first principle in the gospel of Jesus
Christ is faith in Jesus Christ. I know that having faith in Jesus
Christ is where everything begins. He is truly the center of our
gospel and the message that we share with others.

I am constantly full of gratitude to be in the service of the Lord. It
is such a privilege to be able to share about the Savior with those
around me. Being a missionary and sharing about the Savior has really
brought me so much joy in my life. I love being able to help others
find that joy as well. Because Jesus Christ is the center of our
message, it is our responsibility as missionaries and members to help
invite others to come unto Christ. Serving in a country where those
you teach have little to no Christian background makes it a little bit
more difficult to help those around you develop faith in the Savior,
but I know that as we continually testify of him and his great
sacrifice we can help our brothers and sisters find that faith.

Towards the end of last week we had the opportunity to meet with one
of our investigators named Komori kyoudai. He is a little bit older
and seems to struggle with finding faith in the Savior. So we decided
that we should read Mosiah 14 with him. This chapter in the Book of
Mormon is about Abinadi who testifies of what Isaiah wrote about Jesus
Christ and his atonement. The words in this chapter of the Book of
Mormon are so powerful. As I have read through this chapter I have
really come to strengthen my own testimony of the Savior and what he
did for us.

Sometimes gaining faith in the Savior may not seem that easy.
Sometimes it may feel difficult to believe without being able to see;
however, I know that through doing what God has asked us to we can
strengthen our faith. We can believe and truly feel the power and
strength of the atonement of Jesus Christ. It is real. Jesus Christ is
our Savior. I know because I have felt the power of his atonement many
times on my mission and really throughout my life. Jesus Christ has
suffered for us. He went through pains beyond our comprehension. He
suffered, he was smitten and afflicted, and he died so that we could
be saved. I am truly grateful for the Savior's great sacrifice, and I
say these things in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Ponderizing Scripture: Mosiah 14:5

Questions:

What is your new companion like?  Has he been in Japan very long?

1. My new companion is great. He works hard and we get along great.
His first name is Darren. He has been in Japan for about 8 months or

so.

Are the meetings in church in Japan similar to what our meetings are like here?  Do they have young men and women’s and primary in your ward there in Katsura?

2. It is fairly similar to church in America. Of course there isn't as
many people and they don't get to do as many activities during the
week because they all live far away, but it is mostly the same. They
don't have a young womens or primary because there is nobody in this
Ward that fits that age group. There are a couple of young men though.

How do you like your apartment in your area now compared to the other areas you have been in?

3. It is great. It used to be an old sisters apartment, so it is
really nice. It is a lot cleaner as well. The only thing I really like
better about Okayama was that I had a dryer. Everything else is great here.

How is your new companion with the Japanese language?   Does he like the new area?

4. My new companion really likes the area. He is actually really good
at Japanese especially for only being a 5th transfer missionary. He is
really good at memorizing vocabulary.

Have you had to sing in church much?  Does your new companion like to sing or play piano?

5. I have not done that yet, but I gave a talk in church last Sunday
and was able to give my testimony in church yesterday. My companion
doesn't play piano, but he does like singing.

How is your bike holding up?  Any flat tires yet?  Is it easy to get around Katsura?

6. My bike is holding up great. I have a pretty crazy experience about
my tire popping last week that I didn't tell in my email though. Maybe
when I have some more time I will write to you about it. I did have to
replace one of my tires because after a year of riding on it, it was
getting pretty worn out. The rest of the bike is holding up really
well. It is pretty easy to get around in Katsura, but everyone lives
really far away so we have to travel around a bit on our bikes. Lately
we have done some pretty crazy traveling.

I love you all. Have a great week. Don't forget to always strengthen
your faith in the Savior!

Elder Hirschi

My companion gave me a haircut

55th week in Japan
8/29/2016
モルモン書 (The Book of Mormon)

Dear Family and Friends,

This past week has been a great week to kick start the new transfer.
We got transfer calls on Tuesday morning and sadly my companion Elder
Wheeler was told that he would be headed out of Katsura. He is going
to an area with the only desert in Japan called tottori. He was sad to
leave, but he was also excited to be able to experience a new area. I
remember me having the same feelings when I was a third transfer
missionary getting ready to head to my second area. My new companion
is Elder McEwan. He is from Miami, Florida. Just like Elder Wheeler he
did water polo in high school. He went to BYU for a year and wants to
study statistics when he gets back. He is a really hard working
missionary. We are both excited to set some stretching goals and see
miracles happen this transfer.

On transfer day my new companion, Elder McEwan, and I met at the Kyoto
station. We headed back to our area and immediately got to work. That
night we met with a new investigator in the area named sister
Watanabe. She is about 24 years old and is going to one of the highest
grade colleges in Japan. It is called Kyoto University. She has a lot
of interest in learning about Christianity. We were able to teach her
about the restoration and she completely understand everything that we
had to teach her. It was amazing. When we gave her the invitation to
read the Book of Mormon and pray about it, she said "Of course!" I
truly pray and hope that we can help sister Watanabe reach baptism
by the end of this transfer.

Recently when I have reflected back on that lesson I realized
something that I had not realized before. I realized the it is truly
the basic teachings of the gospel that change the hearts of the
people. This gospel is so simple. Really when it comes down to it, all
we have to know is that the Book of Mormon is true. When we come to
recognize that the Book of Mormon really is a true book from God, then
we know that this church is true. The Book of Mormon is the keystone
of our religion. Everything else about the church hangs on the fact of
whether or not the Book of Mormon is true. I love being able to share
about this book with others. It is truly the most correct of any book
written on this Earth.

I love the promise written in Moroni 10:3-5. I have so much trust in
this promise. I know that it is true because I have experienced it
myself. This is why I have so much love for the Book of Mormon. I
could read the Book of Mormon for hours on end. I am grateful that God
did not leave us without a way of knowing him. We can know God through
reading his words and striving to follow the principles written in the
Book of Mormon. It is truly a precious gift.

I love this gospel. I love being a missionary. I am grateful for the
Book of Mormon. I know that through reading the Book of Mormon our
hearts can be changed. This gospel is true. In the name of Jesus
Christ, amen.

Ponderizing Scripture: Ephesians 6:17

Questions:

What are the main things you do on P-days and what do you like to do the most on P-days?

1. I don't know if we really have a main thing that we do on P-days.
We do a lot of different things to get ready for the upcoming week. We
clean the apartment, wash and hang clothes, get groceries, and email.
I think that it is really fun when we get to go places on P-days. A
lot of times we just don't have the time to do so, but it is fun to
have that opportunity. I think this transfer we may go to a place
called Arashiyama, which has a monkey park there.

Have you met any new fun people lately?  How are the investigators in Katsura?

2. We met a few really cool people lately. The other day we met a guy
on the street named Kyosuke. He is a college student and the day we
met him he was really willing to talk and meet with us again the next
day. It will be fun to teach him. He likes snow boarding and does
Physical Therapy. Our investigators aren't doing the greatest. We
don't have that many progressing investigators. Maybe 3-4 or so, but
we are working on finding those who are actually prepared and
dropping those who are not ready for the gospel yet.

How did transfers go? Any news?

3. Wheeler choro went to tottori and my new companion is Elder McEwan.

Are there many elders that can play the piano in the areas you have been? If so, do they play very much in the wards?

4. Not many of my companions could play the piano much, but there is
quite a few people in this Ward who can play the piano. I think it
would be cool to learn more when I get back.

Have you been able to play any basketball or ping pong lately or any other games?  Do you know if the kids do wrestling at school there?

5. I haven't been able to do that much lately. I would really like to
set up a sports night or something in this Ward, but it has been a
little bit difficult to get things set up. I don't think that they do
too much wrestling, but in Uwajima I heard of a few people who do, so
they definitely have it here.

Have you been learning any new Kanji lately?  Any new funny words in Japanese?  What is something funny you like to teach in English?

6. I haven't been studying too much kanji lately, but I think that
kanji is really cool to learn to read and write. They all have a
specific meaning so that way it is easy to understand what you are
reading even when you don't know the way of reading certain kanji.
Recently I learned that the word of uncool is Dasai. Also hanpanai is
a funny word for like excellent or great. Chabudaigaeshi is a single
word for to flip a table over in anger. It is funny to try to get
people to say parallelogram in Japanese because they don't really have
the letter L or R in their language so it is hard for them to
pronounce. We have to teach them how to pronounce certain letters.

 Is there a store there that you like a lot?  Have you seen any Costcos?

7.  I have never seen a Costco in Japan, but there are quite a few
here. They are mostly in the really urban areas. I don't know if I
have a favorite store or anything, but I always think it is cool when
we travel somewhere and see old Japanese shops. There is a lot of
really interesting things in their shops.

Thank you all for your love and support. I have had such a blast on my
mission so far. I am grateful to be in the service of the Lord. The
gospel is true! Love ya,

Elder Hirschi

54th week in Japan
8/21/2016
効果的になるために何が必要？ (What does it take to be successful?)

I was able to participate in the Sapporo Japan Temple Dedication!

Dear Family and Friends,

This past week has been full of learning experiences and a recognition of need for improvement. This transfer has been a lot of fun and I am grateful that I was able to serve as the district leader in the Katsura district. These missionaries have become some of my closest friends. I will forever cherish the relationships that we have built. I am sincerely grateful for their service to the Lord. I know that he will forever bless them for working so hard. I have learned so much this transfer and one of the biggest things being that I have a lot of room for improvement.

As children of God I realize that each and every one of us are imperfect. We will all make mistakes and that is what we are here for. We came to Earth so that we could learn. God has given us the opportunity to choose for ourselves and because we all make mistakes we needed a Savior. This transfer on my mission I feel like I have worked hard, but I have not pushed myself the most that I could have. I set some okay goals; however, I did not do all in my power to achieve them. I know that I have need of repentance and continual change in order to become the best servant of the Lord that I can be.

Lately my companion and I have been teaching many of our investigators about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Within the gospel of Jesus Christ there is 5 principles that we must follow. The first step is faith. The second step is repentance. In order to make it to the step of repentance we must first have faith in Jesus Christ. I have come to realize how important having faith in the Savior is to be able to improve. We must truly believe that Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer. He truly did come to the Earth and atoned for each one of us individually. Once we come to have strong faith in the Savior we are then able to take the second step in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are able to repent and improve because we have a sincere desire to become more like Jesus Christ.

Through following the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we can reach the potential that our Heavenly Father sees in us. He sees us with the potential of one day becoming as he is. Through constantly seeking to do his will we can become successful. I know that in order to become a successful missionary and in order to have a successful life we must constantly follow the gospel of Jesus Christ until the very end. If we do so, we will one day make it back to our Father in Heaven. He loves us. He wants what is best for us. That is why he sent his son Jesus Christ to come here and atone for each one of us. Jesus Christ is our Savior. Through following his teachings and his example we have been promised blessings far greater than we can even comprehend. I know that this gospel is true, and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Ponderizing scripture: Moroni 4:3

This week I am going to try my best to become more like the Savior by following the gospel of Jesus Christ. I challenge each one of you to read, ponder, pray, and seek to gain faith in Christ this week. I promise that as you do so, you will come to feel of his love in your life.

Questions:
Do most people drive cars or ride bikes there?  Do they have baskets to hold stuff on their bikes?

1. Most people ride in cars. There are a lot of people that ride bikes, but I would say the majority of people ride in cars. Most of the bikes do have baskets on them. They are called mamacharis and they make your knees hurt really bad when you ride them.

So are you the district leader there in your area? What is the district leader training meeting like?

2. Yes I am the district leader.  The training meeting for the district leaders is really good. All the district leaders get together at the mission home and discuss how we can help our districts. President Welch and the APs give us training as well.

 How do you explain to someone that has never really heard of going to church about church and what you believe?

3. I try to do it very simply. Most people don't really have any idea of what church is like, so we explain that we meet with other people and learn more about God. We learn about the purpose of our lives and how to become better people.

How do you teach English in your class?   Do you use pictures or quizzes?

4. We sometimes do quizzes and try to make it fun. It is mostly conversation. We don't have to do as much as you would think we do. It is very easy and people mainly just go to talk and make friends.

Do you have a favorite drink that you like there? 

5. There are a lot of good drinks in Japan, and I don't know if I can say that I have a favorite. I don't drink any soda but one soda that an investigator gave us once was really good. It was like ice cream flavor or something. I also like this yogurt flavored drink that they have.

Do you ever pass out cards or any of the bookmarks or cards we sent?  Would you like us to send more?  What are your best teaching materials to use when you teach a lesson?

6. I am sorry I haven't passed out that many of them. They are all in English so most of the people probably wouldn't understand it; however, it wouldn't be a bad idea. I bet they would like it. We use a lot of pamphlets and try to give out as many Book of Mormons as we can. We mostly use scriptures because the scriptures combined with the Holy Ghost is our most powerful tool in conversion.

 Is there anything we can send you for your birthday that you would like? Did you get the package we sent yet?

7. I did get the package. Thanks so much! I think I am okay for my birthday. I don't need toothpaste or deodorant so I am okay there. If you want you could just send a packet of Alfredo sauce. You are the best. Thanks so much for everything!

I love you all. Have a great week!

Elder Hirschi
ハーシ長老

53rd week in Japan
8/15/2016
戒めを守る (Keep the commandments)

Dear Family and Friends,

I first just want to start off by saying Happy Brithday mom! Thank you so much for everything! I truly appreciate everything that you have given me and all of the sacrifices that you have made to raise me in the gospel.

This past week has been full of reflecting and learning from others along with a stronger love for the Book of Mormon. I know that if there is one thing that has changed about me since becoming a missionary it is my love for the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon has become a part of who I am. I try to apply and abide by the principles that I learn from the Book of Mormon.

Lately I have been reading from the beginning of Mosiah. As I have been reading about King Benjamin I have come to realize how humble he was. He was the king of all the people yet he was constantly in their service. He loved his people and taught them the ways of the Lord. While reading in chapter two I learned how much love God has for us. God has given us many commandments because he loves us. He knows what is best for us and he knows that through obeying his commandments we can be strengthened. Mosiah tells us how great God is and how merciful he is to us. God has made our lives so simple, as Nephi says the things that God asked him to write were plain. The purpose of coming to Earth is to learn, grow, and prepare to meet God. (Alma 34:32) I know that the prophets of old realized what their purpose was. They had such great faith in God and were willing to do what he asked them, no matter what it was. In order to prepare to meet God again, all we must do is keep the commandments.

King Benjamin talks about how much God has given us. He has created us and given us everything that we have. He has given us the opportunity to pray. He has given us our families. He gave us his son, Jesus Christ. If God has given us all of these things, how can we not continually give him thanks and have a sincere desire to do what he asks. King Benjamin goes on to say that we should "render all the thanks and praise that our souls have the power to posses."  (Mosiah 2:19-24). I am grateful that I have the opportunity to give thanks to God. After all that he has given me I cannot help but kneel down before him and praise his name.

This week I want to work on always giving thanks to God in my prayers. I would ask that each one of you would join me in doing so. Heavenly Father loves each one of us. He wants us to be happy. Through keeping his commandments we can find happiness and eternal joy (Mosiah 2:41). I know this church is true. Jesus is the Christ. And these things I say in his sacred name, amen.

Ponderizing scripture: 2 Nephi 31:10

Questions:

1. I am not sure if I can say that I have a favorite place that I have been to visit here in Japan yet, but the park that we went to by the Okayama castle in my first area was amazing. I would probably say that was my favorite place.

2. There are quite a few people that have gardens here, but not nearly as much as in Uwajima. I do get to eat sushi every once in a while. Not as much as in Uwajima though.

3. No we do not take our shoes of at church in our new area. I think that Uwajima was special. I am pretty sure that it is the only area like that where you take your shoes off at church in the mission.

4. I do learn new words every day. Learning songs doesn't seem to help me quite as much, but maybe I should try that out more. My companion is doing pretty well with the language. He is still a 3rd transfer, so it is a bit hard for him, but he is progressing well. There is a different dialect in Kyoto. They speak a lot of different words, but I remember most of them from the transfer that I was in Fushimi.

5. I haven't been able to play any basketball lately :(. It is okay though. We haven't seen any other festivals going on, but the Ward is going to do one pretty soon. A lot of people are talking about the Olympics. I really want to go to the Olympics in 2020 in Japan.

6. One of the biggest suggestions that I would have to say if you are learning a language is don't be afraid to speak. A lot of Japanese people are afraid to speak because they think that their English pronunciation is not good. I think that you can learn English the fastest through conversation because we have so many rules that we don't even understand in English.

日本語で：一番大きな進めは人と話すことを恐れないで。多くの日本人は英語の発音が上手じゃないと思うので人と話すことは怖いと思ってしまいます。わたしたちは英語を話せるのに英語のルールがわからないので会話をとして一番早めに英語を学ぶことができると思います。そして自信があれば早くに英語を学ぶことができます。

7. I love a ton of people here. The bishop is amazing. He is always willing to talk about the missionary work in the area. He is a really cool guy. Shingo kyoudai is really cool as well. He is younger and they have quite a few YSA in this Ward so it is nice to be able to talk with some people my age. I also like a lot of our investigators. Hayata kyoudai is really funny. I wish that we could help him more.

Thanks for all of your love and support everyone. I can truly feel your prayers. I love you all.

Elder Hirschi
ハーシ長老

District Leader Council