By Small Means...

...the Lord can bring about great things.

Konnichiwa,

Have you ever had a week that was just a series of miracles and blessings? That was this past week. All the work, the hours, the sweat, and the tears are being answered with the Lord`s choicest blessings.

We`ll start with church this past week. Two investigators came - Yamanaka, who lives out of his car as he travels all through Japan to `see the world.` This was the third time in a row he has come, and he shed tears during the closing hymn in sacrament meeting. It was the Battle Hymn of the Republic. The Spirit was so strong as 35 faithful saints met in the top of an old firehouse, hidden deep within the endless streets and buildings of Shimizu.

The other investigator, the oldest I`ve ever heard of at 93 years old, loved church. Satake came with his son, the former bishop Satake, and actually heard very little in sacrament meeting, I think. His hearing is kind of going. However, as we sat in sunday school, he interrupted the lesson and said, in effect, "I like everyone here. This is a good place with good people. I feel something warm and nice here. I wouldn`t mind becoming a member of this church." I`ll take that interruption anytime. We met again later that week and talked about God and how that feeling was the influence of the Holy Ghost. He is very close to recieving baptism, it is just a slow process in teaching him. We have resolved to teach him like a child, using the `Friend` church magazine to get across the ideas. Most of all, he is humble, and recognizes the Spirit that is with this church. What a joy.

In meeting with Yamanaka later that day, he said that Satake`s words about this church were true, and he too could see himself joining in the future. Yamanaka also said some other amazing things. He also thinks that I should run for president of the US, which I laughed quite a bit at. (He thinks Pres. Bush is, according to Venezuala`s Chavez`s words, "Satan". I don`t want to talk about politics at all, so I always skirt the issue and focus on eternal principals) America has such a bad image over here. Part of it is the way the press presents everything we do. The other part is American tourists who come over here. But it`s an overcomable obstacle.

So lately I have been working on a project. We have tons of Portugese pamphlets that are very nice and have great pictures in them of the Savior and gospel scenes. We do have a few Brazilians around, but certainly not 500, so I have done something. Buying frames at the dollar store, I have been framing pictures and then giving them to members, especially less-actives. They look relaly nice, certainly not dollar-store material, so they make veyr nice presents.

Monday night, I dropped one off at a certain sister`s house who hasn`t come to church for quite some time over something she got offended about. She didn`t answer the door even though we could see she was home. We left the picture, wrapped in newspaper, in the post slot in the door, and left. When we came home that night, a message was on our answering machine. It was her. She said thank you so much, and that she would be coming to church this next week, bringing her children and mother with her.

Now the reason she`s coming back certainly isn`t because of Elder Kruger and me. It is because the Lord loves her and has been working with her for sometime. We just happened to drop by a small gift showing the ward`s love for her, and the Good Shepard is bringing her back into the fold.

More than anything, I have realized how completely this isn`t my work. It is the Lord`s and it goes forward according to his will and timing. I am confident that a large part of my mission is to simply teach me humility and patience. I obviously can`t seem to get it since I never caese to be `taught` it. Nevertheless, when something does need to be done, and the Lord stretches forth his hand to help us, it certainly happens in a powerful way.

So the work moves on. All the months of work are showing success. Slowly but surely. I have come to love this small ward so much. Our invstigators are so good, humble, and kind. I love them as well.

Thank you for your love and support. Just as there are terrorist is the world, there are likewise peacemakers. The terrorists have their supporters, and vice versa. The difference lies in who supports who. Satan leads those who do evil, and Christ surely stands at the head of this great work of peace. We don`t carry swords or guns, but the word of God. We owe all our happiness to His words, and it is such a joy to share it with others.

Always yours,
Elder Alexander Todd Fuller
Japan Nagoya Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Week of Trials and Deliverance

"The tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance"

This week we listened to David Bednar`s talk on the tender mercies of the Lord. They are real, for I have felt them as privately and powerfully as any other experience in my life. To some, they may be coincidences, but to those who recognize them, they are signs from our loving Heavenly Father assuring us that He knows and loves us.

One week ago, we had our final interviews with President Tucker before he transfers to preside over the Kobe mission. He talked with me and dropped rather heavy hints that I would indeed be staying in Nagoya. For this I am quite excited. Out in the mountains of Japan is where I think my real missionary experiences lie. As fun as the city is, those who are hidden in far away mountains would be even more fun to get to know. Of course Nagoya is a big city too, so who knows what happens. A lot of the people in the mission are worried about what mission they`ll be put in, but I am at peace, knowing the Lord`s will is being done.

Unfortunately, while traveling home from Fujieda, one of the worst things ever happened...I lost my scriptures. I have called the lost&found everyday since, but nothing yet. It had some new nametags as well as a flier with our church information on it, so were someone to find them, they could certainly return them. Mostly I am saddened because the many, many notes and marks I have made to them over the last 9 months of intesely studying them, are all gone. Maybe it's just a sign that I really need to start over and go through them all intensly once again. I`m working with the mission home to acquire more, so hopefully things will work out.

Most of all, I just feel like my most precious possession ever was lost. Having my bike break was a small problem that worried me, but losing my scriptures almost made me sick. I`ve prayed fervently, but sometimes His will is done for reasons which I don`t understand. However, as I prayed, I came to the realization that though I felt alone without the word of God, the word of God was still there and still available, I just need another copy. How grateful I am for the inspired words of prophets which we can read. Sometimes we need to lose something to see how much we appreciate it.

I got a new bike frame sent to me from the mission home fo a missionary that returned. It looks good, and we`ll see today if everything works. I am glad that my prayers over that problem have been solved.

Last night, for Valentine`s, we decided to try something new. There are several Christian churches in the area, and they usually offer free Bible classes on Wednesday night. So, seeing that we would love to make friends with those who already read the Bible, and see if they desire more light and truth, we decided to attend. We just wanted to listen, and certainly not arouse any arguments, but see what they preach in Japan.

After waiting around for a while, not seeing anyone, we finally kncocked on a door that seemed to be occupied. The minister came and somewhat surprised greeted us in English. That`s always fun. He asked if we were Latter-Day saints, and asked a few questions about how long we are here in Japan for. He remarked he had visited Utah and knew a few things about Joseph Smith. We asked if we could join in and studying the Bible together, to which he replied that we can not. He then asked us to leave.

This surprised me. Christianity has a very, very bad reputation here in Japan, and I am beginning to see why -- no one practices it. Even if we were Pharisees, I think Christ would still talk to us. Very interesting.

There is a phrase in Japanese that roughly translated means "actions speak louder than words" It`s "Fugenjikko." Indeed they truly do.

So to this point, I really haven`t touched the tender mercies of the Lord which I have felt this week. They truly were many, delivering me from the problems and trials. As I rode home last night, I shed a tear to realize how Christ must have felt when so many didn`t listen to him. So many truned away. They esteemed him as a thing of naught. How glad I am for Him that He did not shrink. Even in those darkest hours in Gethsemane and at Calvary, He pressed on.

True experience teaches us the hidden, deeper levels which the scriptures contain.

Perhaps most special of all, was a lesson we taught this last monday. A former Bishop, Brother Satake, has asked that we teach his 93-year-old father about our church. The four of us gathered together and discussed the plan of salvation. This humble, cheerful, and wise-old man told us about the two wives he has had. The first dies long ago, and the current one is copletely dehabilitated living in a nursing home.

As we bore witness and testimony that he could, and will, someday soon, stand resurrected and perfected with his wife and family, past and present, in a state of glory and happiness, he began to cry. As the truth and happiness of Christ`s gospel entered in his heart, and as the Spirit bore witness that what we were saying was indeed true, tears fell and hope ignited.

It was difficult for all of us to keep back tears as the Spirit filled our souls. God loves us. Everything is for our good. As my favorite hymn reads:
Fear not, I am with thee; oh, be not dismayed, For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

Some things in life are lost. Some times in life are hard. The Atonement makes up for it. The only thing we have to fear is sin. Terrorists and murders, theifs and liars, can do nothing that Christ`s atonement can not restore. If we live the gospel, we will be upheld.
To this I know and add my witness. Look for the tender mercies in your life. There is no greater present and no greater joy.

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

A Warm February In Shimizu

A couple of pictures to start off this week's letter. These photos were taken on February 1, 2007. Notice the mountains in the background of the group picture.



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Hello　from Shimizu Japan!

I am doing fantastic and love it here. It`s warm enough that I don`t even have to wear a coat anymore. This is the warmest winter I have ever had! The Japanese cherry roses are beginning to come out and they are gorgeous. These trees line the rivers everywhere, and when they come into full bloom, there are going to be some gorgeous scenes here.

I am am beginning to really become settled and make friends here. Slowly we are helping the ward. We have been visiting lots of less-active members and were able to have a record breaking sunday this last week. From the usual 27 or so, 35 people came! Two of those were investigators, and they both had a good time.

A former bishop who usually doesn`t come because of work schedule, came and brought his 93-year-old father father who had never been to a Chritian church. Brother Satake and his dad both enjoyed church very much and asked us to come over to teach his dad this last tuesday (yesterday). What a fantastic lesson that was. He is 93 but his healthy and happy as ever. Most of all he is very humble and loves everything we teach him. He is excited to read the Morumon Sho and come to church every week. As smart and fun as he is though, it really is a testimony to me of the Gordon B. Hinkley, who at age 96, leads the church. As fun and nice as Brother Satake`s dad is, and how well he is mentally, he still repeated himself a few times and said a few silly things. President Hinkley could never give the inspired talks he does unless he really were a prophet today. I hope I am still around when I`m 93.

Another new thing we are trying here is to go to the colleges, to their English department, and to offer ourselves as volunteers to help. We have only been to one college, but we were recieved very well and they are trying to figure out how to use us. The professors we talked to were very nice and we talked about Christianity for about a half hour with him as well. It`s fun to meet so many interesting people. However, being in a college was very weird. I am definitly not ready to go back yet.

We`ve been meeting all kinds of interesting and fun people. Making friends. The biggest news is that I totalled my bicycle. No, I didn`t get in a wreck, the crank shaft broke in such a way that the entire frame needs to be replaced. The bike man assures me that it is just a manufactor`s defect, but I think he`s saying that so I won`t feel fat for breaking it. Na, I`m not that fat. So that put me in a little pickle, but I`m probably just going to get the frame from the bike of a returning missionary and all will be well. In the meantime, I get to ride a grandma bike that the bike guy let me borrow. Oh well, It`s fun.

While visiting a member, he showed me a picture of the ward here in 1984. It was about 50 members stronger, and yet, the same few people who come everyweek and are the core of the ward, are the same few that were in it 23 years ago. Not a lot of change, just a lot younger. How interesting would it be to join the church, go faithfully to the same small ward all your days, and thenpass to the next world. Many members here do just that. They are the faithful few who teach me what faithfulness means. What an amazing example they are. I am really coming to love them so much. I shall always call Shimizu one of my homes.

I hope everyone is well. I hope we can all be faithful to Christ as these dear saints are here in Japan.

Always,
Elder Alexander Todd Fuller
Japan (Tokyo South/Nagoya) Mission
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints