71st week in Japan
12/19/2016
信仰によって奇跡がもたらす (Miracles are brought by Faith)

Dear Family and Friends,

Sometimes crazy things happen on a mission, like when you get a call 2
weeks before transfers saying that your companion is headed to a new
area in 2 days. We had some emergency transfers due to the
missionaries going home early for Christmas. Elder Johnson was
transferred to a new area called Wakayama. My new companion Elder
Zollinger came to Fukuchiyama last Thursday. He is awesome! It feels
like forever since I have seen him. We were in the same zone at the
MTC and he is one transfer behind me.

Even though it has only been a few days since Elder Zollinger got
here, we have already seen some miracles happen. One of the things
that I am sure we have  all read about often in the scriptures is how
faith brings miracles. This last week Elder Zollinger and I really had
the opportunity to experience this while we were out serving.

On Saturday we had a pretty well planned day and confirmed with
Heavenly Father for whether or not it would be effective. We were
excited to get out and work. We got to meet with the branch President
and talk about the work in the area and how we could help him achieve
the goals for next year. So we started off the day with some success.
Afterwards we decided to go visit some potential investigators and
less actives. Nobody ended up being home. Even though earlier that day
we felt like God wanted us to go visit these people, we could not
understand why nobody was home.

So we decided that we should find in the area next to one of our less
actives. We started out with a sincere prayer asking Heavenly Father
to tell us where we should go and to bless us to be able to find those
who are ready to hear the gospel according to our faith. We started
off getting rejected after the first 2 or 3 doors. Then by the next
door we met an old lady named Nakamura san. We talked about how we are
missionaries for a nearby church and she told us that she hadn't been
to church for over 60 years. So we asked her if she would like to come
again to remember what church was like. She gladly accepted to come to
church. Now to some of you this may not seem like the biggest miracle
in the world, but it is very rare that people in Japan are willing to
come to church, especially due to how busy they are. We gave thanks to
God for the miracle that he blessed us with.

Later that night, on our way home, we met a kid named Yuto in front of
the church who told us he had and his parents had interest in learning
about Christ. He had a little time to talk, so we took him into the
church, and we taught him the message of the restoration. He committed
to reading the Book of Mormon and praying to know the truth. God truly
blessed us for having faith while we served that day. I know that
Moroni was right when he said, "And now, I, Moroni, would speak
somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that
faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute
not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the
trial of your faith." I testify of this truth. I testify that it still
happens in the world we live in today. Miracles will not cease, as
long as we remain faithful. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Ponderizing Scripture: 1 Nephi 4:6

Questions:

 Did you have a ward Christmas party? 

1. We will have our ward Christmas party on the 24th.

Did you get your other Christmas package yet?

2. Yes, I did! You didn't have to send 2. Thanks so much!

When are your next transfers?

3. Well they are actually supposed to be on the 26th, which we still
will have them on that day, but we also had transfers last Thursday as
well.

 Do you know if anyone in your ward plays a musical instrument besides the piano?

4. Our Ward Mission Leader, Yokoyama kyoudai, plays the guitar.

Do you guys have any plans for Christmas besides church?  Do you think you will go caroling in your santa hats?

5. We might do some caroling I am not sure. We have a Christmas
conference on the 22nd that 1/3 of the mission will be going to. There
are 3 of them.

Will you be skyping at the church and what time?  Do you get 40 minutes again?

6. Yes, we only get 40 minutes... We will be skyping at the church. I
think that 9:00 a.m. Here and 5:00 p.m. There would work great. Is
that okay?

Happy Holidays!

Elder Hirschi