Mom and Dad,
It's been another good week. The weather has been much much nicer lately.
The spring in Toyooka has been quite lovely so far. Also, the Kaiten Sushi
place next to the church opened back up. It was being enlarged and remodeled
over the past few months, but it's open again! A member took us there for lunch
the other day. I love Sushi on a conveyor belt. So much. By the way, the
protein you sent is delicious and just fine.
This last week our 15 year old investigator accepted the invitation to be
baptized. He's now a yakusokusha, he's a solid one, too. He's really a
splendid little fellow - way mature for his age. The branch loves him, and he
loves them. There is a chance his mom might be opposed, but we still don't know
for sure. He's joining seminary and going to be attending youth conference in a
week or two.
Our other yakusokusha is coming along pretty well. He's scheduled to
receive baptism this Sunday. If we're able to meet with him 2 more times this
week, we feel that he'll be prepared to make a promise with God. I have faith
in Jesus Christ the Son of God that he will make his date. It's important to
keep faith in Jesus Christ because Jesus Christ is a foundation that never
wavers. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and full of grace, love and mercy.
There is no need to worry or fear as long as our faith and confidence is in
Him.
Last Tuesday there was an All Japanese taikai (conference) in Kobe.
Because there are two Ni Hon Jin (Japanese) assistants, they had a training
meeting with all of the Japanese Elders and Sisters in the mission. Because my
companion is Ni Hon Jin, I had a chance to go on an exchange with another Elder
with a Ni Hon Jin companion over Tuesday and Wednesday. I got to work in the
Maizuru area for a day or two. It was way fun. The Elder I worked with is a
younger missionary, so it was a good chance for me to get to do some training
and to help him. We talked a lot about charity, and the importance of turning
our thoughts away from ourselves. Especially when it comes to evaluating
(lessons, contacts, etc.), we should consider how the person we were interacting
with came unto Christ. When we consider our improvement points, it should be
done in the light of "What could I have done better to help THEM?" rather than
"What could I have done better...to not feel stupid speaking Japanese etc." We
discussed how it all roots back into how much Christ-like love we hold for those
around us. If we really do have that pure love for others, then our thoughts
and actions will always turn outward rather than in.
This last week we had an excellent experience in our area. We've been
meeting with an investigator for the past few months. He first met missionaries
years ago, and due to health problems has been meeting with missionaries off and
on. He has some problems and anxieties regarding social interaction, so going
to new places can be very difficult for him. However, last Thursday, for the
first time ever, he entered the church building. We gave him a tour of our
small building and then stopped and prayed before we entered the chapel. It was
an amazing experience to see him enter the chapel. It was unmistakable that he
had felt God's Spirit. We sat down and talked with him about what he was
feeling, and along with that had a talk about God and God's love. He said he
still felt tense and nervous about being in a new place, but that the moment he
entered the chapel he felt a warmth and power inside of him. He said he knew
that the place he had entered is holy. He is a man who carries a lot of baggage
- he has gathered a lot of problems and burdens over his life. But those
problems are things he's carried with him for awhile and that he hasn't yet been
able to give up. However, because of the influence he felt at the church that
day, he accepted the invitation to begin repenting and making efforts to let
things go and allow himself to be happy. It was a powerful experience for me,
and has built my testimony of the truth of this church. There is really nothing
we could have done to make him feel what he needed to in order to overcome his
personal barriers. But, as we did all we could to not get in the way, the
Spirit of the Lord - felt more strongly in the walls of God's church - was able
to touch his heart.
I love being a missionary. It's going way too fast!
Love,
Elder Kyle Hutchings
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Yes, this is a stew-flavored ice-cream bar. Yes, it had chunks of
potato inside of it. I love Japan.
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Visited a part-member family this last week. Only the mom is a
member. One of their sons is about 9, he's a pretty zany little guy. He likes
Ultraman a lot and has a lot of the Ultraman action-figures. It was fun to play
with him a bit. He's going to come to the church and play and have a Gospel
lesson sometime soon.
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Always a pretty sunset outside of the church building.
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