Changing to the Japan Fukuoka Mission

In February of 2010, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints published this statement to let its members know of changes happening in the Mission Field. Paul's mission, the Japan Hiroshima Mission, was one of the missions affected by this change. This is another article about the change to his mission. As of the first of July 2010, he is a part of the Japan Fukuoka Mission.

*As a side note, I stumbled upon Paul's new Mission President's blog where they have pictures of their missionaries. I don't know if there are any pictures of Paul, but I thought it was neat to see his mission from a different perspective!

Monday, November 9, 2009

It's A Wonderful Life... With Miracles and More!

This last week was AMAZING! Elder Bronner and I had 47 working hours (the most I've ever had with a companion).... I'd say we worked pretty hard!

We've been encountering a lot of miraculous people, that seem golden and ready to speak with us. Recently we were challenged to try to work more with families. We found one! The mother is from the Philippines, where her brother and sisters are members and referred her about 5 years ago - but she didn't have interest at that time. Well, she kindly accepted us into their home. Her husband doesn't seem to have interest, but kindly attended the lesson as well as two of their four daughters (one's only 6 months old). The mother looks like she really wants to know. She called her sister after our first meeting, and came to church with two of her daughters on Sunday!

One of our English students from weekly Eikaiwa also came to church again, she appears to have a lot of interest too. The man from last week didn't make it, but he still seems interested.

It was amazing! For the first time in my mission experience so far, we hardly had ANY time for finding (we did maybe an hour or so on Thursday. . .) because we had SO many appointments! It felt good to have so much to do!

And on the train up to Takahashi to visit one of our Chinese potentials, our Chinese investigator came on board with two of his Chinese friends, one of whom wants to hear our message too!

We talked about this, and Elder Bronner and I think it has to do with obedience, companionship relation, our increased efforts on Book of Mormon study, and REAL faith. I felt that for a long time, every time I tried to exercise faith, it felt like part of me was still thinking "No, that can't happen, it won't work." I'm working on dispelling those thoughts. "Fear is like the clouds that veil the earth from the sun. Faith is like the morning rays that break when night is done!"

I tried making the banana cake. It was DELICIOUS! And the people I gave some of it to really enjoyed it.

Tried making the chicken spaghetti yesterday. . . DIVINE!!! But was I supposed to not drain the tomatoes/chilies? Good thing we still have leftovers. . . ;)

Hey, ask Brother Taniguchi if he has any relatives in Kurashiki. Our next-door neighbors bear the same last name. . .

Church is so colorful! The primary music director that sings opera (audible from the next room where priesthood meeting is held. . .), the Music Director during sacrament meeting who, in a couple of decades, could very well give Margaret Brown a run for her money (tee hee), the 28 year old Bishop who served a mission in Australia and taught us the Haka to perform with him during the talent show. . . This place is so great, and I love the time I'm spending here!

Well, I've got to run, but please pray for us and our investigators! Our teaching pool is larger than it's ever been and Elder Bronner and I need help knowing how best to follow up and act.

Elder Peterson
Posted by at
topics: , , , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

"Lord of the Rings" Relates to Missionary Work

J.R.R. Tolkien, in The Fellowship of the Rings, wrote this:

"The road must be trod, but it will be very
hard. And neither strength nor wisdom will
carry us far upon it. This quest may be
attempted by the weak with as much hope as
the strong. Yet it is oft the course of deeds
that move the wheels of the world: Small hands
do them because they must, while the eyes of
the great are elsewhere."


Alma 37:6 -- "Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness
in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple
things are great things brought to pass; and small means
in many instances doth confound the wise."

By small and simple efforts, the young missionaries of the
church really can "confound the wise" and help the kingdom
roll forth!