My dear amazing family!!
Hello from a land of adventure and miracles! The adventures of
Bellows and Orgill have continued! This week has been amazing!
Adventure Number 1: After we emailed last week we did kaimono
(shopping) and came home and... the apartment door wouldn't unlock. It's a
digital combination lock. We'd type in the code, and it'd beep but then it'd
start flashing and wouldn't unlock. So we called District Leader Captain
McClellen Choro [Elder McClellen]. He had no idea. So we called the Honbu
[mission home]. Orgill shimai [Sister Orgill] talked to a very su[r]prised
Kakura shimai [Sister Kakura] who handed the phone to a very suprised Kobayashi
choro [Elder Kobayashi] who connected us with a likewise—su[r]prised--Yamada
choro [Elder Yamada]. We called other suprised Nihongin [Japanese people] who
called US back, calling themselves the Kagi Kyukyusha--literally: The Key/Lock
Ambulence. Then we went downstairs to wait for the Key/Lock Ambulence and sat
in the flowerbed--eating bread, writing letters and possibly looking very lost.
Then up pulls a little white car 3 little Japanese men in blue jackets pop
out (calling themselves the Kagi Kyukyusha) and annou[n]ced they were there to
rescue us--which they did and fixed our door for no charge. It was so funny!!
Tuesday morning during scripture study as I was reading the
account of Jesus Christ appearing to the Nephites (3 Ne. 9:19-20, 3 Ne.
11:8-12, 18-19) I thought about what about it would've been liek to be there as
someone who KNEW and LOVED and WORSHIPPED Christ--to see him Descend out of
HEaven, proclaim his identity and divinity and then to have him minister unto
you. And then to have him call you--friend--to his side, as he did the 12
apostles. The idea overwhlemed me. It made me so happy.
I think the way we'll recognize Christ when we see him is by
becoming like him. That's how Moroni says we'll see Him as He is (Mornoi
[Moroni] 7:48) and be his children
(3 Ne. 12:44-45). The more we strive to become like Christ and to come to know
him, how great will be our joy when we meet him in the kingdom of our father.
It made me think of the song "His Love" by Jake Rau.
Every word that he said
Every tear that he shed
Stays within my mind and reminds me of the life he led
A man who taught the dumbe to speak
Who strengthened legs that on[c]e were weak
And who was betrayed with a simple kiss upon his cheek
Although his followers were few
They all knew his words were true
And there's nothing he won't do
To find a way and show you
His love
Arms that children knew so well
A smile that caused their hearts to swell
And hands that lifted up every time one of his small ones fell
A voice that called men from the dead
And eyes that saw so far ahead
Never turned away from a crown of thornes fit for His head
He knows your heart
He knows your name
And when you're hurt he's felt the pain
Forever he will sustain until you find in his arms again
His love
Jesus loved the man who could not see or understand
Just as he loves me and you
And he taught that we should love as he did
When he pleaded "Father,
Forgive them for they know not what they do"
Every precious drop of blood
And every ounce of perfect love
He so freely gave to show me to my home above
And every time he calls my name
He takes my sorrow and my shame
Doubt and fear are gone
Replaced by His holy nmae
He loves us
And His wounds will only heal
If we let them
Our open hearts would surely feel
His love.
I love being a missionary--feeling the Spirit tell me where to
go and what to say, seeing people's eyes light up with the Holy Ghost, trying
hard to learn the language so that I can teach and help them feel our Savior's
love and find people, being filled up with light as I read the scriptures--I love it.
That night we had DCS with the assistant ward mission leader
which was really good and I understood quite a bit. But the funny part was our
evening prayer that night; I was saying it (in Japanese, of course) and I
messed up so bad! It was really funny. Normally Orgill shimai is very good at keeping a straight
face but not that time! Orgill shimai has been having trouble sleeping and
she'd finally been able to get a new pillow so I was trying to say "We
thank thee for new makura (pillow)" but instead I said "We're
greatful for new maguro (tuna)." Then I
tried to say "Please help us recieve genki (health)" but instead I
said "Please help us recieve ginko (banks)." Orgill shimai couldn't help it--she busted up
laughing. Whoops. Teehee...
Wednesday, Orgill shimai was sick so while she slept I worked on
our new Area Map. I was reading the account of the Savior healing the multitude
in personal study. I learned so much and felt so much love for the Savior. And I realized that
the multitude was also filled with the Savior's pure love; when they asked Him
to tarry (3 Ne. 17:5) he commanded them to bring forth their afflicted (v. 7-8)
and they did WITH ONE ACCORD bring forth all those afflicted in any manner (v. 9)--and He did heal them, EVERY SINGLE
ONE--and then the entire multitude, healed and whole, bowed down at His feet and
worshipped Him--because THEY were filled with HIS love and HIS mercy and HIS
compassion for every person there. THAT is world peace--THAT is
compassion--that if someone healed the stranger next to you whom you had never
before met, you would be filled with so much gratitude that you would kiss the
healer's feet (v.10).
So far on my mission, I've seen people with so many diverse
afflictions, and like the Nephites my heart cries out Jesus, please
heal them! But until their day of
healing comes I know our Savior feels their wounds. And one day he will come to them with healing in his wings and
together they will fly. And every wrong will be made right. And until then I know he will provide
a way and means for them to feel His love.
It also had so much more meaning to read that when Orgill shimai
was sick. Hopefully she will start being able to sleep soon!
Then in companion study that day we read the stop smoking lesson
the mission gave us as a resource for us to possibly teach people--it was so
inspiring. I know Christ can heal that addiction too! I want to help others do
that.
Thursday, we got our new top futons from Yamada choro! (like
duvets essentially). We were very excited. We also had dinner with a lady from
our ward (Kikkawa shimai). She's super cute and it was a wonderful experience.
I felt able to communicate because of her kindness and patience and the spiritual thought we'd prepared--that
we'd intended mostly for her twin sons--seemed to actually be for her. The
Spirit was so strong. We shared Helaman 5:22-23, 28, 40-42 and 47. We talked
about how we all have times in our lives when we are overshadowed with clouds
of darkness--doubt, fear, trials, lack of faith, or hard things. The story in
these scriptures is about how those clouds can be dispersed and we can recieve
light and knowledge and peace. Lehi and Nephi were preaching adn then were
thrown into prison (v. 22-23). When that heppened, there were other people in
the prison. This is what happened to them (v.28). When they were overshadowed
by that darkness they talked to each other and one of them told them how to get
rid of the darkness (v.40-42). We're given faith and light and knowledcge and
peace after we have prayed for them sincerly. Think about a worry you have.
Will you pray to God until you feel peaceful about it? If we will this is God's
promise (v.47).
Friday, we had interviews with President and Sister Rasmussen!
While we were waiting for them at the church we called Oikawa-san to see if we
could set up an appointment. She picks up and she says (in English) "I
can't work or go to church because my legs are bad. So I am poor." So we
asked her if we could bring her anything and she said "Yes, I want bread."
So we got an appointment! The interviews were awesome! President Rasmussen is
so kind.
Then we had district meeting and then our appointment with
Oikawa. :)
Saturday, Oikawa-san forgot our appointment and wasn't home. :(
Sunday, was awesome!!
Actually, things started out poorly for Orgill shimai; she woke
up in the middle of the night really sick and wasn't sure if she could make it
to church--and Oikawa-san had promised to come. But we were able to go and bike
to the church and paced and paced--where was Oikawa-san?? She said she'd come!
We'd even called her at 8 to remind her! Chruch started. No Oikawa. The bearing
of testimonies started. No Oikawa. So we went and called her--she'd left at 8
and had gotten lost! "I lost my way many times," she said in English.
"And now I'm very hungry." So we biked to the rescue!, parked our
bikes at her apartment and walked back to the church with her in time for the
last half of gospel principles and all of combined 3rd hour--and she loved it!!
She loved the hymns and the 3rd hour was about the Book of Mormon--the
commitment she's been struggling with--so it was awesome! We walked back to her
apartment and talked for a bit and then she prayed--an aweomse prayer!--and
said seh'd been practicing praying! And while we were talking I felt like I
should tell her why reading the BOM was important--even thought I couldn't
understand what was being said and I was able to say it without many
mistakes--miracle of the Spirit!
In other words, this week has been awesome!! Thank you for all your
love and letter and great examples and support!!!!!!!!!!
It sounds like it's finally getting cold in Summerfield! Please
s[t]ay warm and safe! Sounds like the Bellows home is continuing to
celebrate--sounds fun!! Sounds like the Summerfield missionaries are doing
great! Candice, I hope your wrist feels better soon! Glad to know that Garren
is still consistently falling in the woods behind our house. ;) Yay for sister
missionaries! Our ward is thinking of starting a PMG class for the Youth/YSA
with the missionaries--I wonder how that would work in Carolina... Speaking of
slipping escapades I fell off my bike this week! Whoops! No injuries--just very
su[r]prised! :D Glad you are liking your classes Candice! Octopus is good but
I'm not yet a fan of dried squid. It's very salty. Yay for the Johnsons! Happy
birthday to Jared! Lucky kids--too cool for school I guess. ;)
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love,
Your missionary,
Bellows shimai :)
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