70th week in Japan
12/12/2016
信仰と悔い改め (Faith and Repentance)

家族、友達の皆さんこんにちは！(Hello family and friends!)
最近すごく楽しく伝道していて恵まれています！(Lately we have been having a lot of fun and we
have been blessed!)

I hope that everyone is having a great Christmas season so far. I also
pray that we have all been able to find some good service
opportunities lately. Sometimes it is difficult to do service for
people in Japan because they don't accept help very often, but the
times that you are able to serve are very rewarding.

Last week on Tuesday we had the opportunity to go to the mission home
in Kobe for Mission Leadership Conference. I don't know how else to
describe that meeting other than full of the spirit and revelation. It
is a great opportunity to be able to hear from President and Sister
Welch. One of the coolest things that I have learned about President
Welch on my mission is that no matter what questions I may have before
a meeting or interview with him, he is able to answer them all,
regardless of if I ask him or not. It is an absolute testimony builder
for me that he has been called of God to direct us in this part of the
Lord's vineyard.

The Friday before that President Welch gave us a new Book of Mormon
challenge. He asked us to take a new Book of Mormon and look for
examples of faith and repentance, and he asked us to study the meaning
of both faith and repentance. At MLC I learned more of what it means
to repent and how to do so. I learned the importance of changing and
elevating my thoughts. Keeping my thoughts and actions in line with
God's will. I have been thinking a lot about Faith and Repentance
since I began this new challenge and it reminded me a lot of Elder
Renlund's talk in this past general conference. His talk is called
"Repentance: A Joyful Choice." From his talk we learn that changing
our attitude and behavior is only a part of repentance. However, if we
try to move on to repentance without first having faith, it will only
be miserable behavior modification.

So what does it take to find the joy through repentance that Elder
Renlund speaks of? It first starts with our faith. As Preach My Gospel
states, we gain our faith by "diligent study, prayer, dedicated
service, and obedience to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and the
commandments. Your faith in Jesus Christ grows as you become better
acquainted with Him and His teachings. As you explore the scriptures
and search them, you learn of His ways, His love for all people, and
His commandments." After we have gained this faith in Christ then we
are able to move on to the process of repentance.

I find great joy every day here in the service of the Lord. I know
that the things I have learned and will continue to learn here will
have an impact on me for the rest of my life. I know that God loves
us. He is our Father. He hears our prayers. Through faith in Christ
and repentance we can walk correctly on the straight and narrow path.
"And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait
and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you,
Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ
with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who
is mighty to save." (2 Nephi 31:19) I testify of the truth of what
Nephi has written. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Questions:

Did you put up any Christmas decorations yet?

1. I was able to put up the tree. I took a picture so I will send it.
Thanks a bunch! It is great to get into the Christmas spirit even when
it is not celebrated much here.

How are your investigators doing?

2. Our investigators are doing well. Nakajima shimai's baptism is set
up for Christmas day and she is so close! She really wants to be
baptized and has done almost everything she can do be baptized. She
just has 1 more step to take. Setsuko shimai hasn't been able to meet
with us for a while, but she is also doing pretty well. She promised
to stay up on her reading last time we met. We have a few other
investigators who are progressing, but we still have a long way to go.

  Have you or your companion had to speak in church lately?

3. I actually spoke in church yesterday. We speak in church, not every
other week, but about once every three weeks. It is fun though. I feel
like it is a privilege to be able to learn by teaching and help the
branch out.

Have you planned any basketball or ping pong or Christmas parties?

4. We have a Christmas party for the 24th which should be a lot of
fun. We haven't been able to play any basketball or ping pong lately,
but I think we might try it after this week. We are pretty busy this
week.

How did your mission leadership conference go?  Did you get to see some missionaries you had not seen for a while?

5. I don't have the words to describe it. I just love MLC. The
missionaries there are some of my best friends. I got to see my old
companion Elder Tanaka, My son Elder Philburn, and a lot of other
great missionaries.

Do they have Santa’s out ringing bells for donations anywhere there?

6. I haven't seen it at all. It doesn't seem like there is much going
on here in Fukuchiyama. They have a few lights set up here and there
but not much else.

 Do they have any different kinds of decorations for Christmas there?  Do many people put lights on their homes or Christmas decorations?

7. Very few people put lights on their homes here in Fukuchiyama. I
haven't really seen any unique decorations either. I think in a more
urban area you would see a lot more lights.

Have a great week!

Elder Hirschi