皆さん、こんにちは。
元気ですか？私は大丈夫です。
先週はちょっと大変ですね。先週について話しましょう。
最初は英語にスウィチしましょ😬
There
weren’t a whole lot of things that went on really this week. However, they are
things I will always remember as a part of my mission.
Tuesday
was a pretty decent day. There is a family in the ward who is trying to redo
their yard. Like a COMPLETE makeover. Therefore they called us Elders up and
asked if we could help. Well...sadly, if really I could help. My companion can
do things, but only so much before he can't do anything. Poor guy did the best
he could in helping with the work but had to sit out most of it and do the
small things.
I on
the other hand had a wonderful opportunity to get a full body workout from
around 11 o'clock that morning to 5:30 that night. We
figured since we haven't been able to do much, my companion would try and feel
better at their house so I could give them a hand. I had the opportunity of
doing MANY different things during that service project, which consisted of
digging and shoveling dirt across the yard, breaking ground and rocks with pick
axes, and lifting and moving boulders, and huge bags of gravel and such. You
already know I got freakin jacked during it all. My man Brother H brought his
truck with a crane mounted on it so that we could move the big boulders to the
places that we wanted them. At one point during the process, one of the
boulders fell off the crane and in the middle of the yard. Brother H was
FREAKING out hard core, not knowing what he was going to do to move it because
once it's off the crane, it's off and is
really hard to reconnect it apparently. I stood watching him and another guy
try and pick it up, or roll it, but for some reason they couldn't do it. I
decided to have mercy on the man and save him from his worries. I asked him, "Hey!
Where do you want this rock?" (with the biggest smile on my face). He
looked at me puzzled, and says,"well...I WAS trying to put it there
but..." Before he could finish I cut him off by squatting down and lifting
this massive rock myself and moving it to the place they wanted it.
Never,
ever, EVER have I seen such priceless faces in my LIFE! I couldn't help but see
everyone in attendance with dropped jaws. It was as if all them had just
witnessed the First Vision for themselves hahaha. I was surprised I still had
that kind of strength in me considering I haven't had a real work out in
months. I guess all those days and weeks of never skipping leg day really payed
off.
Lesson
learned here is: DONT SKIP LEG DAY
Wednesday
was a pretty rough day...considering we got a call from the mission president
notifying my companion that he will be returning home this Friday due to his
illness. Wow... All I can say is that it
hurts a lot. To see him leave, Elder Grossen is a true disciple of Jesus
Christ. His heart and his actions are pure and set him apart from the average
missionary. He out of ANYONE in the mission I know does NOT deserve this. One
thing I love about my companion, is how willing and accepting he is of the
Lords will at this time. I'll be honest if it were me, I'd be upset, kicking
and screaming doing all I can to stay. But my companion? ..Whole different
story. When we received the call, all I heard was,"yes. Mhm”. Okay I
understand,“Will do president." Tears were shed of course, but his
humbleness, and willingness to be obedient is what makes him special. He does
what's right, not just because he has to, but because he wants to. He emulates
the Savior not only in WHAT he does, but WHY he does it. THAT has been one of
the biggest blessings to see him as an example. Elder Grossen, when you read
this my brother, know I love you! I want you to look out for and continue to
find opportunities to serve those you will soon meet again, and those for the
first time. There's a reason why the Lord is allowing this to happen. Find it!
Love you buddy.
Thursday
made up for Wednesday a little bit. We had the opportunity to go with one of
our investigators, "Mr. Salt River" to the 桃山 (Momoyama) Castle. Mr. Salt River is one of my
favorite people. He's super duper cool and loves us missionaries. He has a date
to baptized on the 3rd of May. We went to the castle so that we could
just be more of a friend to him. …and because Japanese castles are frickin
sick. It was a good time walking around, seeing ancient things of Japan,
looking at beautiful cherry blossom trees, or in Japanese called, さくら🌸 (Sakura). My man Brother S came with
us as well. He and my companion talked for a while, regarding our phone call
that we received the previous day. During that time, it left me to talk with
Salt River. He and I sat down on a bench and talked for about an hour. It was
probably the longest, most head-hurting, most fun, spiritual conversation I've
had in a long time. It gave me the opportunity to bear testimony of Jesus
Christ and His gospel, about why I'm here in Japan, and even to teach him a
little bit more of the gospel. I solo taught Salt River a one hour lesson on
the bench. I say head-hurting, because I really had to work hard at my
Japanese. I'm not the BEST, but I'm getting there I feel like. I know that from
what I was able to teach him, it created an increase desire for him to follow
Jesus Christ. It went really ,really well. My companion surprisingly was able
to endure all the walking from it.
Which
brings us to Sunday! Easter! Sunday was a special day for me. All week, I have
been feeling so very overwhelmed, humbled, and my heart has been very soft. My
mission president last Wednesday not only talked to my companion, but I had the
opportunity to talk to him over the phone as well. We talked about my
companion, and some upcoming things that he wants me to prepare for. I could
nothing but feel inadequate at first. I went into the bathroom and splashed
some cold water in my face after that call, and just looked at myself for a
little bit in the mirror. It was as if I saw every weakness within me. It
humbled me. It made me want to be better.
I had
been longing all week to just feel His love through partaking of the sacrament,
starting over the week on a new note and being a great missionary. I prayed
hard that morning to be able to have a good day at church and to feel my
burdens lightened. Heavenly Father blessed me well. It was a new family's first
day in the ward, and they had a baby boy of about 1 year, and he was all over
the place. I had the opportunity to play with this boy, make him happy, let him
play with my name tag, my watch, my ring, really anything he could get his
hands on of mine haha. If any of you know me, I have a big heart for little
children ☺️ I was able to feel an
overwhelming amount of love from this little boy in showing so much interest in
me. Not only that, but also from the thanks from his mother who was struggling
to keep him quiet during sacrament. I've never had a young baby boy leave me in
such tears as this one did. Tears of joy, of happiness, and of peace. It
reminds me of one of my favorite scriptures.
Alma 26:37
"Now
my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they
may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all
the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give
thanks unto my God forever. Amen."
God
was clearly mindful of my needs during this time. Through this little boy, he
was able to help me feel love, and happiness. It's what picked me up again. Not
only was he mindful of me, but he was mindful of this little boy's mother. She
was struggling a little bit to take care of this boy and keep him reverent for
sacrament meeting. He used me to help this women out in helping her be at
comfort, be happy that her baby boy is happy and being quiet with the things he
was playing with, and it probably gave her a chance to actually listen to
sacrament for once in a while. It was a simple, everyday thing that occurs all
the time in this world, but it made the BIGGEST difference for me, and for this
mother.
Because
of this experience I had at church, I just had an increased amount of love for
those around me, and a stronger desire to do something good that day. Whether
that was for my companion, or whatever. My companion has been beginning to pack
recently for his departure. This right here is a perfect example of why my
companion is so awesome. As he was packing, he felt a prompting. He pulled out
one of his suits and said,"I'm gonna give this suit to our friend
"Mr. Wisteria Meadow"
(I'm
using the direct translations of these Japanese names, that's why I have Salt
River, and now Wisteria Meadow)
Wisteria
Meadow is the man we met earlier in my time here in Fushimi. The man I gave my
church clothes, the man we payed to go to the hospital to see his mother. We
got the suit and walked over to his apartment just around the corner. I loved
this man so much already, but from this time we visited him, I've never had so
much compassion for him. He came outside, and basically stumbled around like a
drunk man. My first thought was that he actually was drunk, but I was shortly
proven otherwise. As I have explained earlier, this man's mother is very very
sick in the hospital, and is literally on the edge. The hospital bill for his
mom is VERY expensive, but it's to keep her alive. Wisteria Meadow is putting
every he owns to his moms life. He has nearly nothing. Not even food really. He
eats one day, and fasts for two so that he can span his food out until next pay
day. It explains his stumbling and weariness. He walks 2 hours one way to get
to the hospital everyday to visit his mom. He is the most humble, pure hearted
man I've ever met. And the bravest too. He believes he was told by the spirit
to keep his mom alive, which is why he is going through all this. I've never
seen such a smile of pure happiness before. I'm sure he hasn't owned a suit for
the longest time in his life, and to see him so thankful to get it made him the
happiest man in the world. My companion and I looked at each other, and
said,"wait here!"
We
ran back to our apartment and grabbed all the food we could find and threw it
in a box for him and brought it over. To see the look on his face again was
just the first face times ten. I truly believe that God prompted my companion
to give him that suit for a reason. Had we not brought it over, and followed
the prompting, we may would have never known of what he was going through. He
may have never gotten any food.
This
here is another testament to God's love for us, and of this scripture. He uses
his faithful servants and loved ones to bless others. He truly is mindful of
everyone and their needs, their worries, and hardships. I'm just so humbled and
blessed to be used as one of His instruments in doing His work.
Our
Father in Heaven works in many mysterious ways in order to bring about His
special purposes. I testify and know that this scripture is true. I see and
experience this almost everyday here in the mission. I know, with ALL my heart
that God loves each and every single one of us. No matter who you are, whom you
were, whether you are white, black, orange, purple, or green, he loves you. "for he maketh his sun to rise on the
evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the
unjust." (Matthew 5:45).
Take
a moment, and think of a time or an experience where you have felt the greatest
amount of love in any way. Take that experience, and multiply it by infinity.
THAT, my dear brothers and sisters, is how much God loves you, me, and all of
us.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life." (John 3:16). He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, that we may be
able to have eternal life and live again with Him.
Jesus
Christ came to this earth, and lived an absolutely perfect, sinless life. He
walked the earth, wrought miracles among men, taught with love, and had
compassion for all people. He loved them even as the Father did. He came here
for a reason. And that was to fulfill the will of the Father.
Because
of his love for his Father, and every one of us, he performed the greatest
single act that changed humanity for all of time and eternity. He suffered the
absolute most exquisite pain possible in the Garden of Gethsemane, bleeding
from every pore in his body, taking upon Himself every pain, sin, and sorrow,
because He loves us. He suffered through and took the hatred, the mocking, the
spitting, because He loves us. He payed the price, and was whipped, nailed, and
hung on the cross and was crucified, because He loves us.
Though
He died upon the cross, and was layed to rest in his tomb, He rose again on the
third day, and lives. I KNOW that with all solidity of heart. Thousands of
years ago from just yesterday, was the day our Lord and Savior rose
again.
He
lives. And because He lives, and because of what He did for us, we all
have the chance to repent of our sins, and start over again. We have the chance
to be forgiven, and we have the ability to receive eternal life. Through the
power of his atoning sacrifice, we can receive the power and ability to
overcome trial, and temptation, and any hardship. Those truly mounted upon
Christ and his rock of salvation cannot be immobilized. Not any amount of
trial, hardship, sin, absolutely nothing can. Not even DEATH. He descended
below ALL things. He literally has experienced every single pain, sorrow, sin, and
feeling that you, and I, and EVERYONE have, am, and are yet to experience in
your life here on this earth. Because he rose again, we too will rise again and
be resurrected.
I
KNOW that.
This
last week was hard in some ways for me like I said. I was able to feel and see
my personal weaknesses, and feel meek, and humbled. But because of what Jesus
Christ did, we all, including myself, can become better saints, and followers
of Jesus Christ, no matter what faith we may believe in. Which brings me to one
of my favorite scriptures found in the Book of Mormon:
Ether 12:27
"And
if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men
weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that
humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have
faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."
This
scripture has never hit so home for me as it did this last week. It was purely
manifest to me in my own life. As we learn to humble ourselves, and come unto
Christ and partake of his atoning sacrifice, we can change, and become better,
become that much stronger and that much of a better person. His sacrifice has
the ability to change even the weakest and most broken things of this world
like myself, into strong faithful saints and followers of Him. I firmly and
solemnly testify as one of HIS representatives that this is true. I'm thankful
for the wonderful Easter Sunday the Lord blessed me with this year and for the
opportunity I had on this day to remember my Savior and what He did for
us.
I
pray that each of you will remember always to partake of His love and atoning
sacrifice. None of us are perfect, especially me, but that's why He did it. He
knows we aren't, so He gave us a way to try and become perfect, to try and
become like Him.
As
you carry on about your lives through this week, I would invite you to think
about the words that you all had the opportunity to hear this last weekend
during General Conference. If you didn't get the chance, I invite you to find
them online and read them! Whether you are a member of this church or not, I
know that something you read, or watch will be something you need to
hear.
I
love Japan. I love what I do. I love my Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus
Christ. I'm so thankful for what He did for me.
It's
definitely a great day to be a missionary in the Japan Kobe Mission☺️
We
just received transfer announcements and it looks like I'll be staying in
Fushimi once more. ✌️
I
love you everybody. Have a great week this week and until next time,
Elder
Preciado
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The food we gave our friend
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