Hey family. This week was seriously insane. I've never been sooo busy
probably ever. Maybe not true. Haha but it was great.
Here are 3 main things I want to tell you about.
First let's start with number 2, shall we? Yesterday there was a
BAPTISM! Ochi San's story is seriously crazy. So he found a Book of
Mormon lying in the path near the eki and could see the picture of
Christ on the restoration pamphlet. He has been searching for the
truth for a long time and went to Protestant churches, Catholic
Churches, but when he found he Book of Mormon and read it, he
recognized hat it was he word of God. Called the missionaries. And BAM
just 4 weeks later he was baptized. It was really cool, Kiriko got to
come and see a baptism for the first time and a less active we've been
working with came too. It was precious!
Number 3 oh my gosh this is the first day of my last transfer as a
missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am so
sad. Last night I was talking to my companion and I started crying. I
love you guys. I miss you guys. But I don't want to go home. Not now,
not in six-8 weeks. Maybe not in a couple years :(
Haha but it's okay. I knew this was the deal when I started, I'm
just trying to make the most of it. So that being said I was extremely
surprised to learn that I'm transferring! What?!
I have loved Niigata and I'm going to miss all the people. And all
of the events we've been planning for the past two transfers! Wah!
BUT I am also super psyched to go to KAMAGAYA. Before I was in
Kumagaya and now I'm heading to Kamagaya. Don't worry people confuse
them all the time :P but the good news is... I will be able to go to
the temple again!! I have missed it more than probably anything these
past 5 months.
Also I am excited because I have another Japanese companion, Sister
Fukuda and I get to finish training her :) it's right between my two
past areas Narita and Kumagaya and it will be in the Matsudo Zone
which means hopefully there will be youth there! And oh goodness there
are just too many more reasons to count :P
But the worst part is now going to pack up my life again. Sorry if I
don't send out many other emails. :/ heehee.
Okay and then here's number 1. The gospel is so true! We were able to
meet with so many people this week and just see the hand of God in
everyone's life. People who don't even feel like God is there, He is
and I know that He is involved and helping them the best He can until
they decide to let Him in.
We were led by the spirit to several different people who have been
prepared to hear the gospel. Just yesterday we only had less than an
hour to go out finding between appointments and whatnot. we found two
new investigators and two people with potential. One who had met the
elders in Chiba before and he had been thinking about coming to our
church sometime but had just moved to Niigata and hadn't made it over
yet. and another lady who just really wants to come to church this
Sunday. When we exercise our faith, God works miracles. 2 Nephi 27:23
God is a God of Miracles. And those miracles will never cease. There
are miracles in our lives every day. Tender mercies, the great
goodness of God, blessings, call them what you will, all good things
come from God and He is always willing to bestow those gifts upon
us. If we just have a little faith! So ya gotta have faith! We didn't
have to go far to see miracles. But we have to listen and do our best
to follow the Lord with all our hearts.
I'm gonna miss Sister Nicholes :( I loved being her companion. She
certainly taught me a great deal about being faithful, obedient, and
grateful.
Well, that's my update. It's my testimony. And I love you oh so much!
Reporting to you from the extremely hot and humid land of Chiba next
week ;) (Niigata is more humid because it's touching the ocean and has
the two longest rivers in Japan, but he heat isn't so bad. Kamagaya...
Well it's not as hot as Kumagaya but it's looking pretty toasty! So
excited!!
LOVE,
Sister Hakes
probably ever. Maybe not true. Haha but it was great.
Here are 3 main things I want to tell you about.
First let's start with number 2, shall we? Yesterday there was a
BAPTISM! Ochi San's story is seriously crazy. So he found a Book of
Mormon lying in the path near the eki and could see the picture of
Christ on the restoration pamphlet. He has been searching for the
truth for a long time and went to Protestant churches, Catholic
Churches, but when he found he Book of Mormon and read it, he
recognized hat it was he word of God. Called the missionaries. And BAM
just 4 weeks later he was baptized. It was really cool, Kiriko got to
come and see a baptism for the first time and a less active we've been
working with came too. It was precious!
Number 3 oh my gosh this is the first day of my last transfer as a
missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am so
sad. Last night I was talking to my companion and I started crying. I
love you guys. I miss you guys. But I don't want to go home. Not now,
not in six-8 weeks. Maybe not in a couple years :(
Haha but it's okay. I knew this was the deal when I started, I'm
just trying to make the most of it. So that being said I was extremely
surprised to learn that I'm transferring! What?!
I have loved Niigata and I'm going to miss all the people. And all
of the events we've been planning for the past two transfers! Wah!
BUT I am also super psyched to go to KAMAGAYA. Before I was in
Kumagaya and now I'm heading to Kamagaya. Don't worry people confuse
them all the time :P but the good news is... I will be able to go to
the temple again!! I have missed it more than probably anything these
past 5 months.
Also I am excited because I have another Japanese companion, Sister
Fukuda and I get to finish training her :) it's right between my two
past areas Narita and Kumagaya and it will be in the Matsudo Zone
which means hopefully there will be youth there! And oh goodness there
are just too many more reasons to count :P
But the worst part is now going to pack up my life again. Sorry if I
don't send out many other emails. :/ heehee.
Okay and then here's number 1. The gospel is so true! We were able to
meet with so many people this week and just see the hand of God in
everyone's life. People who don't even feel like God is there, He is
and I know that He is involved and helping them the best He can until
they decide to let Him in.
We were led by the spirit to several different people who have been
prepared to hear the gospel. Just yesterday we only had less than an
hour to go out finding between appointments and whatnot. we found two
new investigators and two people with potential. One who had met the
elders in Chiba before and he had been thinking about coming to our
church sometime but had just moved to Niigata and hadn't made it over
yet. and another lady who just really wants to come to church this
Sunday. When we exercise our faith, God works miracles. 2 Nephi 27:23
God is a God of Miracles. And those miracles will never cease. There
are miracles in our lives every day. Tender mercies, the great
goodness of God, blessings, call them what you will, all good things
come from God and He is always willing to bestow those gifts upon
us. If we just have a little faith! So ya gotta have faith! We didn't
have to go far to see miracles. But we have to listen and do our best
to follow the Lord with all our hearts.
I'm gonna miss Sister Nicholes :( I loved being her companion. She
certainly taught me a great deal about being faithful, obedient, and
grateful.
Well, that's my update. It's my testimony. And I love you oh so much!
Reporting to you from the extremely hot and humid land of Chiba next
week ;) (Niigata is more humid because it's touching the ocean and has
the two longest rivers in Japan, but he heat isn't so bad. Kamagaya...
Well it's not as hot as Kumagaya but it's looking pretty toasty! So
excited!!
LOVE,
Sister Hakes