Alex Fuller's Mission to Japan

Alex at MTC From June 2006 to June 2008, Alex is serving
a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints in the Japan Tokyo
South and Japan Nagoya Missions.
(click pic to enlarge)

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Japan Kobe Mission To Re-Open

Greetings from Japan on the day before I turn 20. I am excited to stop being a teenager, though I will never be older than a six-year-old at heart. I have recieved some very nice presents from our English class students already. My favorite is a giant melon, the likes of which I have never seen, which says "Happy Birthday Elder Fuller! Jan. 26 We Love the Missionaries" and then signed Emiko. Emiko is a faithful English class student who would be a member of the church if her husband did not object. So, instead, she just showers us with gifts. It`s fun, and she`s increadibly nice.

So now on the the big news. Really, really big news. Yesterday was a combined zone conference, which means all the missionaries in the Fujisawa and Shizuoka Zones (or stakes) got together at the church in Fuji. About 50 missionaries came, along with President Tucker and his wife. Combined conferences are rather rare since it takes a lot of effort to get everyone to travel so far. Nevertheless, it was great to see seven of the eleven missionaries I came to Japan with from the MTC and other friends I made. So, it started, and all of our lives began to change.

President Tucker gave an extensive history of missionary work in Japan over the last 50 years. He talked about how there used to be a Kobe mission, but it was closed in 2001 because of various difficulties. The members in Kobe and that mission felt rather discouraged, viewing it as a punishment for something they didn`t do and a step backwards in Japan. He then went on the talk about how ever since then, various proposals have been made to re-open the Kobe mission.

I started to get a little nervous as he was talking about this; the tension in the room was thick. Finally, he talked about how one day he recieved an ordinary envelope from Salt Lake that he thought very little about. He opened it and was surprised to see that it was from the First Presidency of the church. In effect it read "President Tucker, you and your wife are being transfered to preside over the newly re-opened Kobe mission."

So this is an increadible step forward for Japan, having Kobe re-opened and my mission president being the one to go and do it. However, it brings with it more change than just a new mission. The missions in the this area are all being completely changed so that the North and South Tokyo missions are now becoming one mission, the Tokyo mission, which will be the most populated mission in the world. However, the boundries for the Nagoya mission are also changing and will now include the Shizuoka zone/stake, of which I am currently serving in. The changes will all take place starting march 1st.

So here is the biggest news for me, that unless for some very extreme reason I am transfered out of Shimizu before then (which I won`t because my companion is returning home and I have to stay here) I will be serving in the Japan Nagoya mission starting March 1st. This area, and the missionaries serving here, will be absorbed.

A little surprising to all of us. However, that meeting was a very special one. The Spirit of God was burning in our hearts the entire time. No one there could not know that this was God`s plan and that His will is being fulfilled. I personally felt a very quite, and sure confirmation come over me that I am exactly where I am supposed to be and that I am supposed to be serving in Nagoya for the next year and a half.

Missionaries have a peculiar calling. They just wear their black nametags and go where they are called to go. They preach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ wherever they are. I will go and do the things the Lord has commanded me.

It will be sad because I have grown to love my mission president so much, and the ten other missionaries I came to Japan with will all most likely remain in the Tokyo mission, but I know this is right. Spiritual adventures await.

Hopefully soon a press release will be made about this, it is increadible new for the Japanese Saints.

More than ever I know that this church is true. I wasn`t called to serve in the Tokyo Japan South Mission, I was called as a missionary, with that area being my first assignment.

Monday this week we had an increadbile lesson with a young woman who`s name is Takeru. She is 18, a senior in high school, and was found through our English class. She goes to a christian high school and actually had a friend give her a Book of Mormon a while ago. She is so prepared, and the one girl in our ward who is 17, who came and helped with our lesson, is becoming her friend. Members are so important in helping others know how to live a Christian life in Japanese Society. The spirit was so strong as this 17-year-old member bore her testimony of how the Book of Mormon has helped her, and promised Takeru the same blessings.

What an amazing work this is. What an amazing time to be alive. I love life, all 20 years of it. May you feel this same thrill for life which God grants us is my prayer.

Always,
Elder Alexander Todd Fuller
Japan Tokyo South Mission (Until march 1st) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Faith Precedes The Miracle

Ohaiyoo Gozaimasu!

I learned some Samurai language the other day, really old Japanese that they only use in movies now, but it sounds cool. If I was a samurai and I wanted to say "I am Fuller" it would be "Sessha wa Fura de gozaru" which is a whole lot more fun than "Watashi wa fura desu." So there is your Japanese lesson for today. When you speak samurai, it`s a requirement to speak in low, loud, angry tones like you were a powerful king or something. I think.

So this week has been one of the best so far. Elder Olson is such a great guy and very, very motivated to go out and work hard. We even go running every morning, which none of my other companions would do. He teaches me so much by example of how the Lord would do missionary work. His flaw would perhaps be his lack of cooking skills, but thanks to last transfer of cooking with Elder Doxey, I just cook for us and everything turns out great. My favorite is that I learned how to catch food on fire and cook it faster. Kind of dangerous but sure lots of fun.

So we have been doing lots of planning for this area and lots of praying over where we should focus our attention. Last transfer was a bad time of year and we really didn`t see too much success. So elder Olson and I decided that this transfer is going to be the one where miracles happen. Monday especially we had planned to be a special day. We were going to find someone who had interest in the gospel and we weren`t going to come home until we did. We set out at noon from our apartment with plans to work straight until 9pm preaching the restored gospel to anybody and everybody that would listen. We headed out to a place called Miho which is the very small port/pinnicila in our area. We visited some inactives who werenPt home and then decided to go housing around the neighborhoods where we were at.

We went to some apartment buildings and started knocking doors. Right away we taught a great lesson, but he had no interest. Next, we found a very nice 19-year-old guy who came to the door, accepted our invitation to read and pray about the book of Mormon, and allow us to return the next day. What a blessing that was, to see our goal fulfilled so quickly. We got his information and moved on. Our faith was burning and no one could stop us. The next person we talked to had many, many questions about the resurrection versus reincarnation. We taught another great lesson and challenged him to read 2nd Nephi chapter 2 about agency and the purpose of life. He gladly did but then was unable to set up another time to meet. Well, from there we continued all day and saw some great people. Our faith was truly making things happen as we searched for those that would recieve us.

However, tuesday was a little different. We returned to our new person to teach him more about Joseph Smith and the restoration of the gospel. He acted rather weird and wouldn`t let us in his house. Undaunted, we started teaching on his doorstep again. We taught for about 45 minutes and he answered questions somewhat well. Finally, we committed him to read and pray about Joseph Smith, to which he replied "I`m really sorry, but I am Buddhist, and I just can`t listen to you teach about Jesus Christ anymore." Sadly, we gave him a challenge still to read and pray, left him with the Book of Mormon, and Elder Olson said a beautiful prayer with him blessing him and asking God to help him find truth in life. We walked away sad for him, very sad because I had come to like him, but undaughted and ready to continue.

We went back to the inactive`s house and talked to them for a bit. Their whole family were strong members about 10 or 15 years ago, but now they are "Buddhist" and don`t believe in Christ anymore. That is kind of sad too.

So that brings us to Wednesday and Kazu. Who is Kazu? He is a good friend of the missionaries. He is 26 and has already lived a full-life with the things he has done in life. We are not sure exactly what he as done in life, but he tells us he had some really bad friends. I think the Mafia might be involved, but he is a little too silly to be involved much with that I think. Anyway, he met the missionaries about June of last year and loves the missinoaries so much. He is really nice, very short, and quite funny. Until now, the missionaries have just kind of been his friend, and haven`t really taught him much at all. I tried to teach him a bit, but Elder Doxey said it was not much use trying.

Anyway, Elder Olson and I had different ideas of what to do with him. We taught him a great lesson about forgiveness and how through Christ`s atonement we can recieve that peace and security of knowing we are clean before God. It went really really well. I was worried he knew all about what were saying and then wasn`t going to do anything about it. Oh well, we tried our best, I thought.

Then, last night, we hear a knock on our apartment door. It was Kazu. He apologized for coming over, but he said that he needed a Book of Mormon, that he didn`t know where he had put the one the missionaries first gave him. We gladly gave him it and he quickly left. This was such an amazing thing. I can only assume he is actually going to read and probably pray as well. This really touched me and made me think quite a bit.

I know that God loves me so much and that He would do anything for me. Even send His beloved Son. I have felt many times His powerful and encompassing love. If He loves me that much, and is also no respector of persons, then surely He loves Kazu just as much. Kazu just isn`t a crazy friend with a shady past, he is also a son of God and entitled to just as much help as I am. He really is changing his life. I found out just recently that he had been a heavy alcoholic and simply decided to stop drinking about the same time he met the missionaries. How amazing it is when we can help others.

Sometimes our faith allows miracles to take place. Sometimes God helps even more to keep our dying faith alive.

I know there is success waiting here in Shimizu and everywhere in the world as those who would recieve the restored gospel wait, not knowing what they seek.

What a joy it is to help others. Thank you for your love and help you give me. I am happy. I am very happy and glad to be a missionary. I love Shimizu and Elder Olson and the members here.

May the Lord bless you and help you along life`s path.
Always,
Elder Alexander Todd Fuller
Japan Tokyo South Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Friday, January 12, 2007

Quick Update - New Companion in Shimizu

Hello everyone again,

So my new companion is Elder Michael Wesley Olson from Bountiful Utah. This is his last 6 weeks as a missionary and they are going to be some great ones. He is an increadibly nice, joyful, and funny guy. We get along very, very well and are ready to work our very hardest. I am excited for the miracles to begin and for the many things he will teach me. Shimizu is going to see some amazing things as we give everything we have to the Lord.

I heard something that is one of the mottos of another Japanese mission that I really like.

English-speaking missionaries learn the gospel. Spanish speaking missionaries learn the language. Japanese missionaries learn humility.

That is so very, very true. I will testify to that.
But being humbled doesn`t always have to be humilating, it can be really fun and hilarious. At least that`s how it usually is here.

I love you all and am so excited here in Japan to help people.
Always,
Elder Fuller

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Thursday, January 11, 2007

Changes in Shimizu - A New Companion

Greetings Everyone!

Well it`s transfer day and I am here in the city of Fuji awaiting my new companion. Elder Doxey is gone and I get an Elder named Elder Olson, also from Bountiful, Utah. This is his last transfer before he returns home so I will be here in Shimizu for a while -- a guarenteed 3 more months!! I am very excited to keep working here and try to help this small group of amazing members grow.

So a lot of last week was getting ready for Elder Doxey to leave for Yokohama. Packing is not a fun process. Cleaning isn`t really either, but our apartment is so small that it`s rather easy to clean.

We have been doing a lot of housing - going door to door and trying to talk to people. There are a lot of strange things that can happen when one tries to do that. Perhaps the most interesting is when people open the door several minutes after we have visted, look around, see us but don`t acknowledge our presence, and then close the door. I always laugh at that. Needless to say, not too many people are interested much at all in what we say. It`s no worries though, it`s a great opporunity to work on patience, Japanese, and having fun with my companion. Besides, we need to be tried by the Lord in order to see His power. We recieve no miracles in our lives until after the trial of our faith. And just because my faith is sure being tried, it doesn`t mean I can`t have fun along the way.

We have made a couple good friends here in Shimizu, though they just like the missionaries without realizing why they like us, which is the message we share. These friends will bring us little gifts or food several times a week. Needless to say, we are very well taken care of by everyone here.

We finished delivering cookies to the active member and the less-actives in our area. Everything went well, although each house we visited, they in turn were sure to give us a sack of food as a reciprical gift. We have a fridge completely full of fruit and a pantry packed as well.

As I prepare for another transfer, I`ve been thinking a great deal on what this area needs to progress forward. I`ve been thinking a lot what I need to become. As in all areas of the world, Shimizu needs to see a miracle. Faith proceeds the miracle. So I need a great deal of faith. My mind is often drawn to James 2:17, which says that faith without works is dead. I would submit that strong faith without hard work is meaningless. Hard work is essential because it shows the Lord our dedication and how much we trust Him. I will do my best to work my very hardest to show the Lord my dedication to this work. Hopefully I will be able to find those who are searching for the truth.

Our mission has just made a major change with our weekly schedule. Preperation day has moved from tuesday to thrusday, so my emails will be coming on thursdays now.

So not too much really happening otherwise, just working away. Thanks you for your support and prayers. Satan`s influences are strong at times when I feel so discouraged. Sometimes I wonder if anyone will ever listen to us. At those times I feel most alone, I say a prayer in my heart, and that familiar feeling of the Spirit returns assuring me of Heavenly Father`s love. He doesn`t just love me either, he loves everyone, even those who hate us. That assurance allows me to press forward. Even in the darkest hours, Christ pressed on for me and you.

May you have that same assurance of God`s love.
Always,
Elder Alexander Todd Fuller
Japan Tokyo South Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Monday, January 01, 2007

More Pictures Are Coming

All,

We talked to Alex on Christmas day. He was in excellent spirits and very much enjoying his mission! His new area is not as populated as his first area, so they aren't able to do as much "street contacting" as they had done before. Nevertheless, the new area brings with it new challenges for Alex and his companion, Elder Doxey.

Alex did mention that he has a good set of pictures coming, so I will put those here on the website as soon as I get them.

For those interested in using Google Earth to look at satellite pictures of Alex's apartment and some of the places he has been, here is a list of coordinates that can be input directly into Google Earth as shown and they will take you to that location on the planet. For example if you want to look at the beach that Alex visited on Christmas Day, you would enter the following cooridnates in the Google Earth "Search/Fly To" field exactly as they are typed here without the leading and closing quotes: "34 59.672 N 138 31.362 E" Interpreted, the coordinates stand for 34 degrees 59.672 minutes North and 138 degrees 31.362 minutes East. If you have questions about using Google Earth, post your questions here as comments and I will answer them.

Location: Google Earth Coordinates

Alex's 1st House in Hibarigaoka: 35 45.956 N 139 33.309 E

Alex's Shimizu Apartment: 35 01.042 N 138 28.357 E

Beach Alex Visited on Christmas Day: 34 59.672 N 138 31.362 E

Cool Temple: 35 02.825 N 138 30.779 E

Kusanagi Train Station: 35 00.166 N 138 26.527 E

Shimizu Train Station: 35 01.375 N 138 29.340 E

Shizuoka Train Station: 34 58.204 N 138 23.330 E

Church services at a handicapped place: 35 00.111 N 138 28.372 E

S-Pulse Plaza: 34 59.106 N 138 30.128 E

Enjoy!

-Todd

Happy New Year Japanese Style!

Happy 2007!!! They know how to celbrate new years here in Japan, that`s for sure.

So to the Japanese, Shogatsu, or New Years Day to them is what Christmas, Easter, and every other holiday are to the rest of the world. It is the one time a year when they get religious, which means going to a buddist/shinto temple, clapping your hands, bowing, and praying to grandma or grandpa. Yeah, it`s a little interesting, but if you are looking for a low-commitment religion, I`d have to recommend Shinto. 5 minutes a year and you don`t have to worry about anything.

Not wanting to lose out on any of the fun, our district went to a very nice, large shrine/temple on New Years Eve. It was an elaborate and beautiful place with lots, and lots, and LOTS of alcohol everywhere. That is just for fun I think. One thing that was partivulary interesting was that all throughout the city, above everyone`s doorway is a red and white folded piece of paper that they put up for this holiday. Some very religious people kiss it when they walk by it. It is increadibly Jewish in it`s appearance, which just brings forth more questions. Nevertheless, it was a fun night and I was able to get some nice pictures of the beautiful shrine.

One New Year`s eve I went to bed at my usual 10:30pm and didn`t even see midnight passby. However, I was woken up at 6am by very loud sirens that sounded like air raid or tornadoe sirens. They went off every half hour all day, and I`m still not sure why. There lots of weird things that happen that one tends to stop asking explanations for.

Because this is such a big holiday, everything is closed. It is a very big family time where no one wants to be distrubed at all. If we were to go out trying to contact people we would be yelled at more than ever before, so we had to do some creative missionary work. We decided to bake chocolate chip cookies. Lots of them. Around 130 of them. It took a good 5 hours, but they taste so delicious. Good ole fashion american cookies. But there`s more to this project. Our plan is to package them up, and then tie a scripture on them, Moroni 7:45 from the Book of Mormon, and then give them to the members. The plan is to give every member 2 packages, one to enjoy and one to give to a friend. There`s nothing easier than giving away delicious chocolate chip cookies, and perhaps the scripture will encourage a gospel discussion to follow. If nothing else, it shares some good food that will hopefully bring some smiles.

This project that we came up with has actually taught me a great deal. I love chocolate chip cookies, and I also love to share them with those close to me as well. I love them, so naturally I am sure those around me love them as well and I am eager to share them. If perhaps, the cookies are refused by those I offer them to - perhaps they don`t like chocolate, are not hungry, are on a diet, or just brushed their teeth - I should not be offended or discouraged by their not accepting them. It doesn`t make the cookies any less delicious, I know they are. I can always eat another to remind me how good they are. I will simply offer them to someone else who can take the ful enjoyment of them.

How similar is the gospel and our sharing it with those we love around us. The gospel, or rather the love of God, is most desirable above all things, and the most joyous to the soul. It is the best cookie that one`s spirit could ever eat, and thus I should be even more eager to share it than delisious chocolate chip cookies. With our presents we are giving out, the true question is which is of most worth, the cookies, or the word of God attached by yarn. I have learned a lot about myself in examining how I act towards each.

Lately we have been visiting lots of people that got baptized in 1980 and 1981 and then never was heard of by the church again. It`s so interesting to see people who entered this church at the age of 18 or 20 and now are 45, living at the same address, and not too much to say for the last 25 years. Spiritual growth and progresion, or the lack thereof, can not be replaced by any other experience in life. Of the scores of people we visit, no one has ever shown a small desire to return, but it is still good to always let them know there are hands waiting to embrace them if they choose to return.

It is good to know for me as well that there will always be the hands of my friends and family, wherever in the world they may be, this life or the next, waiting to embrace me. Thank you all for the love and kindess you show towards me. In any other work I would have been discouraged a long time ago, but this is the Lord`s work, and the only limiting factor to miracles is faith. I feel the Spirit many times each day and know that the Lord is walking with us. May we all walk forward with more faith and trust in Him this wonderful year is my prayer. Happy 2007!!

Always,

Elder Alexander Todd Fuller
Japan Tokyo South Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Boxing Day in Japan

Merry Christmas to everyone, unless you are in Japan with me right now and it is the day after Christmas, then Happy Boxing Day!

A really popular advertisement here reads "Happy Merry Christmas" I like that, though I don`t think they quite understand what Merry means. They try hard though.

So Christmas this year was one of the best I have had, though completely different than any before. Very surpirisingly, no one invited us over at all for dinner or anything. The members here are kind of shy I guess, so we were all alone for Christmas. However, determined to not let that be a drawback, we pressed on. We woke up at our usual 6:30 and opened presents. The mail is very slowed down lately so I had only recieved a couple presents so far. However, they were extremely entertaining. My companion and my most treasured present I recieved was from my little brother Andre. It is an item called Flarp. It is a goey substance than one can play with and make rather realistic gasticular noises. So we played around making farts for at least 45 minutes. It shows how truly immature we really were. I cried laughing it was so much fun. Elder Doxey talked to his family and then we were off for adventure.

We visited one of our investigators who is half-paralyzed and watched a church movie with him. He was glad to see us and we felt a good spirit together. After that, Elder Doxey took me to the Beach. It was absolutely gorgeous. It had black sand and you can see mt. Fuji in the distance. I`ll send some pictures, but it is hard to describe how beautiful it was. It was also very windy and freezing cold, but that just made for some nice waves.

After enjoying the sights, we headed off to the mall. Getting there, we were surprised to see a large crowd gathered around filming the news. News in Japan is a little bit different I think. It has absolutely nothing to do with events that happen but is more like a Jay leno type show with guests. In addition, the entire filming crew was dressed in Santa suits. Also, Pizza delivery men that we see driving around are dressed in Santa suits, it`s very funny. So anyway, the news was quite hilarious, mostly because we has absolutely no idea what was going on, only that some Japanese band performed. They sounded just like all the other Japanses music, but still good.

Then we returned home and ate stakes. I am not sure how we acquired stakes, the pricetag on each of them being around 20 dollars, but they were in our freezer. It was perhaps the best meal I have had in Japan thusfar.

So it doesn`t sound increadibly thrilling, but it really was a great Christmas. One of the weirdest things though was seeing eveyone out and about and having the post office open. It is not a holiday at all over here, not more than perhaps Valentine`s day. Nevertheless, we as a group of missionaries were able to do some different kind of misisonary work this week.

On Christmas Eve, 6 of us went to the Fujieda Train Station and sang Christmas Carols while handing out fliers about our English Class and our church. My favorite parts about the whole experience was singing Silent Night. Although so many people don`t know about Christ, don`t understand Christmas, or have never seen the inside of the church, somehow they all know the tune of Silent night and will hum along when we sing it. What an amazing opportunity it is to see the Spirit touch people as they walk by and feel the meaning of Silent Night.

There were about 10 members who also joined us in visiting less-active members and singing to them on Saturday night. That was a great experience getting the members involved, though our singing was at times ugly it was so bad. The people we visited appreciated it very much though.

I love being a missionary and spreading the restored gospel to these wonderful people. I laugh at a lot of the funny things about this society, but I truly love them as my own family. They are such a strong and kind people. The Light of Christ burns deeply in their soul as they search out in their own way eternal truths. There is much confusion from evil influences, a lot of confusion that we as misisonaries can do little to help, but when those precious souls see through the darkness and catch a glimpse of the light of their Redeemer, there is no greater blessing than witnessing such.

I love this work and love my family. It was so great to talk to them, though I am somewhat less homesick now..haha...and now can move on and keep striving for the cause of Christ. May the Lord bless and watch over each one of you.

Always,

Elder Alexander Todd Fuller
Japan Tokyo South Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints