There's a million things I want to write you all....
First thank you again for the birthday wishes! More mail just kept
coming! Thank you Mom, Dad, Nicole, John, Batman, randy and Erin's
family, Rick and Christine.
This past week has been all typhoons. It's seriously windy. But I
think it's fun! On Saturday it rained on the way to eikaiwa so I
brought my rain gear, but when it was time to leave he sun was shining
and it was a million degrees. So I decided not to take it with me to
our next appointment. And after about an hour it just started
pouring... And we just kept biking... I was soaked. But it was still
warm so I was happy. :) we shared our message in the genkan and didn't
go inside their house so it was okay! and then we got to watch the
Sapporo Temple Cultural Celebration! Did you watch part of it?? It was
really cool. The dancing and whatnot was sick. They reenacted part of
when missionaries first came to Hokkaido and when they had to leave.
The struggle of the saints during the war and not having religious
freedom. It was really sad. But there were a lot of members who made
it through that time and were able to reestablish the church in that
area when missionaries were able to come back.
They also sang one song in English and sang happy birthday for
president Monson. It was cute!
Then Sunday we got to attend a broadcast of the dedication!
President Whiting (of the area presidency who spoke to us last year)
and Elder Stevenson spoke in Japanese and it was cool. Wow! The
dedication was so powerful! We've been sharing scriptures from D&C 109
and 110 with a lot of people this past week. I know there is power and
peace to be found in the house of God. I still can't wait to get to go
to the temple this transfer!!! We get to go on August 30. So guess
what!
We always get to go to the temple once every transfer (unless
you're in Niigata) right. And we always attended a sealing session.
Well this past week President Nagano sent out an email that's he
temple president wants one companionship to attend initiatories and
the session. And it is a great service opportunity, whoever mails back
first it's first come first serve.
As soon as I saw it I called and we get to go next week! Yay! I
haven't done initiatories since... America. And it's been 6 months
since I last attended the temple so I'm just exploding with excitement
for that!! :D
I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father. He lives and loves
us. He sent us everything we need to find our way back to Him. I am so
grateful for the holy temple and the power to be sealed as families
for eternity. This is it. God's work and glory. It's you! It's so that
you can come back to His presence and live with Him eternally. But
it's up to you.
We found a new investigator this week. Kikuchi. She is a super sweet
lady who wants to learn English so she can help the foreigners who
show up for the olympics when they come to Japan. We met and she asked
a million questions about church. She has a friend who has a friend
who used to meet with he missionaries and ended up getting baptized.
So she has really good expectations of what happens when you meet with
missionaries. Haha we explained the restoration really simply and gave
her the pamphlet. She's going to read it and we'll teach it in depth
on Thursday! Yay!
Also there's a girl named Noa. She has a baptismal date and then
couldn't meet for a while. Well I met her for the first time on
Saturday. She's supposed to be coming to the church now, but this
storm is pretty awful. So we'll see what happens. :( but we're going
to meet at least twice his week and see how she's doing and what she
remembers learning... :)
We got some service projects and have some appointments this week so
we will be keeping busy! I'm doing great. I hope you're all doing
absolutely wonderful. If you haven't read it in a while I would
recommend "see yourself in the temple" from last conference Elder
Cook. I loved it.
Keep living worthily, find joy in the gospel every single day. If
we're not feeling the joy and peace I don't think we're living it
right. There's going to be dark, rough days ahead, but we have hope
and faith and we can attain a reassurance that everything will turn
out for our gain. Through the gospel of Jesus Christ we don't just
change our behavior or our actions. We can change our nature. I'm
working on a lot of things, but yesterday as I was struggling with a
major mind battle, I prayed and asked for help. Because I don't want
that way of thinking to be a part of who I am. And I can't just change
it on my own. In that moment I was able to make the right choice and I
changed. I know another opportunity will come and it might be just as
hard as the first time to make the decision I want. But our destinies
are determined one thought, word, action, one choice at a time. Let's
strive to always choose in accordance with what Christ would do.
Remember you can do it! it's true!
And I love you!
LOVE,
Sister Hakes
First thank you again for the birthday wishes! More mail just kept
coming! Thank you Mom, Dad, Nicole, John, Batman, randy and Erin's
family, Rick and Christine.
This past week has been all typhoons. It's seriously windy. But I
think it's fun! On Saturday it rained on the way to eikaiwa so I
brought my rain gear, but when it was time to leave he sun was shining
and it was a million degrees. So I decided not to take it with me to
our next appointment. And after about an hour it just started
pouring... And we just kept biking... I was soaked. But it was still
warm so I was happy. :) we shared our message in the genkan and didn't
go inside their house so it was okay! and then we got to watch the
Sapporo Temple Cultural Celebration! Did you watch part of it?? It was
really cool. The dancing and whatnot was sick. They reenacted part of
when missionaries first came to Hokkaido and when they had to leave.
The struggle of the saints during the war and not having religious
freedom. It was really sad. But there were a lot of members who made
it through that time and were able to reestablish the church in that
area when missionaries were able to come back.
They also sang one song in English and sang happy birthday for
president Monson. It was cute!
Then Sunday we got to attend a broadcast of the dedication!
President Whiting (of the area presidency who spoke to us last year)
and Elder Stevenson spoke in Japanese and it was cool. Wow! The
dedication was so powerful! We've been sharing scriptures from D&C 109
and 110 with a lot of people this past week. I know there is power and
peace to be found in the house of God. I still can't wait to get to go
to the temple this transfer!!! We get to go on August 30. So guess
what!
We always get to go to the temple once every transfer (unless
you're in Niigata) right. And we always attended a sealing session.
Well this past week President Nagano sent out an email that's he
temple president wants one companionship to attend initiatories and
the session. And it is a great service opportunity, whoever mails back
first it's first come first serve.
As soon as I saw it I called and we get to go next week! Yay! I
haven't done initiatories since... America. And it's been 6 months
since I last attended the temple so I'm just exploding with excitement
for that!! :D
I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father. He lives and loves
us. He sent us everything we need to find our way back to Him. I am so
grateful for the holy temple and the power to be sealed as families
for eternity. This is it. God's work and glory. It's you! It's so that
you can come back to His presence and live with Him eternally. But
it's up to you.
We found a new investigator this week. Kikuchi. She is a super sweet
lady who wants to learn English so she can help the foreigners who
show up for the olympics when they come to Japan. We met and she asked
a million questions about church. She has a friend who has a friend
who used to meet with he missionaries and ended up getting baptized.
So she has really good expectations of what happens when you meet with
missionaries. Haha we explained the restoration really simply and gave
her the pamphlet. She's going to read it and we'll teach it in depth
on Thursday! Yay!
Also there's a girl named Noa. She has a baptismal date and then
couldn't meet for a while. Well I met her for the first time on
Saturday. She's supposed to be coming to the church now, but this
storm is pretty awful. So we'll see what happens. :( but we're going
to meet at least twice his week and see how she's doing and what she
remembers learning... :)
We got some service projects and have some appointments this week so
we will be keeping busy! I'm doing great. I hope you're all doing
absolutely wonderful. If you haven't read it in a while I would
recommend "see yourself in the temple" from last conference Elder
Cook. I loved it.
Keep living worthily, find joy in the gospel every single day. If
we're not feeling the joy and peace I don't think we're living it
right. There's going to be dark, rough days ahead, but we have hope
and faith and we can attain a reassurance that everything will turn
out for our gain. Through the gospel of Jesus Christ we don't just
change our behavior or our actions. We can change our nature. I'm
working on a lot of things, but yesterday as I was struggling with a
major mind battle, I prayed and asked for help. Because I don't want
that way of thinking to be a part of who I am. And I can't just change
it on my own. In that moment I was able to make the right choice and I
changed. I know another opportunity will come and it might be just as
hard as the first time to make the decision I want. But our destinies
are determined one thought, word, action, one choice at a time. Let's
strive to always choose in accordance with what Christ would do.
Remember you can do it! it's true!
And I love you!
LOVE,
Sister Hakes