Some Rough Spots

Hello from overseas on the coast of Japan!

So there is a lot of Buddhism here. A real lot. And this week it has been kind of a trial. Well, it always is, but especially this week.

So one of our good, formerly progressing investigators said very firmly this week in a lesson that she will not be baptized nor join our church. She is Buddhist and her family always has been and always will be. (Well, excpet her husband is a Mormon, but anyway...) She said that all religions are good, and they are all right, but just her`s is more right. I don`t think she actually does anything except clap her hands in front of shrines, but oh well. So that was a little hard.

We have been knocking on a lot of doors lately. LOTS. And it`s all the same thing - sorry, we`re Japanese and therefore Buddhist. Nevertheless, Elder Seely and I are getting pretty good at pursuing the conversation and are teaching about one in four people we talk to. We`re pretty happy about that ratio.

FInally, we went to this smaller part of our area and actually talked to a Buddhist monk, or priest, or however it translates into English. He was perhaps the nicest man I have talked to in Japan. He had met missionaries before and had actually read the enire Book of Mormon as well. We asked him what his beliefs were and his answer was chilling. It was so close - even using the same words for most doctrine - to everything we taught except for the restoration, modern prophets, and a living Christ. I guess I know now what the difference we have to offer is.

So lots of Buddhism and philosophies of man. There is this strong cult-Buddhism that we run into all the time called Soka Gakkai. We were given tract materials even the other day.

So by Sunday, I was pretty exhausted by combating of the philosophies of men with the truth of God. I felt very much like Paul in Athens, preaching on Mars` hill about the Unknown God. That`s tireing stuff!

However, something happened Sunday that I will not soon forget. After church every fourth week, we have a missionary ward meeting that is run by the missionaries and ward mission leader. This week, we decided to show the movie from the Salt Lake Visitors` Center called "Testaments" or "Akashi" in Japanese. It just barely became available, and no one had seen it. We borrowed a projector from the Kanazawa steak center and set it up very nicely.

"Testaments" is a very, very powerful movie. Everyone in the room shed tears, Elder Seely and I included (when you cry druing a Japanese movie, that`s powerful). Then, after the movie, we played music just like at the Visitors` center and passed around a piece of paper. It asked what they felt during the movie and then who of their friends they would want to have those same feelings. Many, many names were written. Probably around 15 or 20. We will now work with the members on how to share the Joy of Christ with them.

Reinvigorated, we press forward. All of our investigators are busy or Buddhist, so we need to find some more. It`s fun though.

Mostly, as never before am i coming to understand the Gospel. In a small way, I think I know how those first apostles felt preaching to those who had hardly heard of Christ. Religion is a set of doctrine, it`s useful and real. It doesn`t just matter on Sunday, but rather it matters most the other six days.

I feel like we, as Christ`s disciples, will never be able to beat others in philisophical debates. Their teachings are probably always better. But we have the truth, and the Spirit, and that`s all that matters.

I love my Savior and am so thankful that not only has he redeemed me but allowed my the chance to feed His sheep. The Gospel`t true, and what a joy it is to share.
always,

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

New Announcement and New Friend

Coming to you from Komatsu on the interior coast of the Sea of Japan, it`s another week from Elder Fuller.

It has been a great week and we have a new, and progressing, investigator. His name is Yoshimi (meaning good look) and he is the 30ish year old father of two children and a very kind wife. His kids are 12 and 2, and they like the missionaries too.

We met Yoshimi last week as we were going house to house after meeting with our other progressing investigator. Everyone in Japan has those speaker-doorbells so they just tell you to go away usually. Sometimes they come to the door, but then they just say they`re busy. However, when we came to this normal looking house, the wife asked us to come into the entrance. She then went and got her husband and the whole family of four gathered to hear what we had to say. This kind of thing never happens. Never.

We explained a little who we were and then asked them to watch a five minute dvd we had called "finding happiness" which is sepcially made for Japan. We then said we would be back in a couple days (monday) and would talk again.

Well, coming back, the dad talked with us. He gave us back the DVD and said something along the line of, `I`m sure Christianity is great, but I just read this book by some person who lived about a hundred years ago who said that there were a lot of problems in Christian doctrine and that there a lot of unanswered questions. I don`t think...`

Well, we agreed to say the least. We then had an hour long discussion about apostacy and the restoration. He invited us back for saturday (three days ago) and invited us to eat dinner with him too. I started to really like this man.

Well on saturday we met again and watch the restoration. He asked a bunch of new questions and was so excited to know that there was a prophet alive today on Earth. We even said a kneeling prayer at the end of the lesson.

And so we have a renewed commitment and desire as the Lord has blessed us with one of His choice children and the opportunity to teach him truth. Hopefully things will continue to move forward.

We had Zone conference yesterday in Kanazawa. Big announcement - Elder Uchtdorf is coming to our mission on May 22nd to do a special conference and a special member conference as well. That will be pretty amazing, especially speaking to such a small gorup - we only have 100 missionaries in our mission right now.

I am doing quite well. I got new scriptures!!! SO exciting!! I even started to mark them today - that was hard, and I still don`t have a set marking system that I like, but here I go. It is so nice to have the word of God again.

Japanese is going well. They have this new thing I bought - all the church video`s Japanese tracks on CD - that I lsten to now on free time so that my listening can get better. Some of the translations are pretty funny. When Christ tells the sea to "be still," in Japanese he tells the sea to "shut up." I guess the sea was being rude or something.

Anyway, it`s fun adventures one after another. I love you all.

May He be with you,

always,

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

Week Two In Komatsu

Konnichiwa,

Literally translated, konnichiwa means "this day" but I`m not sure why that means hello. Maybe it`s like `g`day to you` or something. This crazy language is so much fun. I watched a movie, the restortion, in portugese the other day. I`ve seen in lots of times in Japanese, but I think I understood it better in Portugese. Go figure...

On April 14, 2007, Satake Hiromitsu (Satake is the family name, they switch names around here) was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints. What a miracle it was to find and teach him the gospel of Jesus Christ. I look forward to seeing him again either next year, or in Heaven (if I make it, hopefully). Nevertheless, he is on his way home.

The week here has been a lot of work. House after house and rain after rain. We`ve taught some pretty nice people, but in general everyone is just too busy. No worries though, we`ll find those who have time.

We started a new thing at our English class this week - Family Home Evening!! Our English class goes from 7-8:30 and then from 8:40 to about 8:55 we have a little fun/spiritual message all in Japanese. I got to do the first one. What did I pick? Dory and Job!

Okay, so I really like the Disney movie FInding Nemo, especially Dory. I recently bought a sticker book that was in Chinese (what? why?) which has good pictures of all the characters. I copied and laminated pictures of dory about the size of a credit card that you can keep in your wallet. I passed out these to everyone who came (which was actually all the students, yeah!) and explained about Dory. In English, her motto is "Just keep swimming!" In the typhoon season, I`ve found that motto to be quite applicable. I like it though. In the Japanese version, she says "Oyogimashoo" which just means "let`s swim!" Yeah...not a very good translation. However, with the help of a member, I got a good translation, "oyogi tsudzukeru no yo!" Which means "Keep Swimming!" Except it`s very, very feminine. Everyone really liked the message, especially as I brought it into realtion with the gospel.

I read Job 23:8-10 and explained about trials. So many times, we look all around and just see water. Empty water. At least for me, I feel quite alone sometimes. However, if we persevere like Job and just keep swimming like Dory, we shall one day be perfected as gold. I have found this so applicable in my life, and thouroughly enjoyed sharing it with my dear friends.

I think that is when I am the most happy here -- when I have the opportunity to share something with others that really has helped me in my life. It`s sad that people are too busy, but it`s not discouraging anymore. We have fun. We are always in high spirits. And the Lord has never left me comfortless.

I want everyone to know that I love them. Thank you for your love and support as well. May God bless you.

Always,

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

Transferred From Coast to Coast

Well Hello everyone,

So this last week was transfer week and I moved! I am now on the other side of Japan, along the Sea of Japan, in a place called Komatsu in Ishikawa prefecture. It`s even smaller than my last area, but there are a lot more members here, so that`s awesome.

My new companion is Elder Seely. Originally from Canada, but really from Utah. He`s great and I am excited to work with him during his last month here in Japan.

For all of you playing along at home, wanting to know exactly where I am by means of Google Earth, the coordinates are:

N 36 Degrees 24.508`
E 136 Degrees 26.655`

We are right next to the city hall and the church, so it`s a great location, and a rather nice apartment.

Big news for this week is that the Cherry Blossoms are blooming!! They are called Sakura and they are absolutely gorgeous. THey only last for about a week, but everywhere is pink and pretty. We are going to go to a very famous park in Kanazawa today and take some pictures. I will include a couple pictures with this email too. It`s hard to describe how beautiful it is here though. I am so blessed to be here.

This last friday was one of the happiest days so far. Nothing really happened here in Komatsu, but back in Shimizu, my dear friend Satake Hiromitsu had his interview to be baptized. He passed! This coming saturday, he will baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Chist of Latter-Day Saints. I will unfortunately be unable to be there, but I did what was needed to help him. I will include a picture of him as well. He firmly believes, and so do I, that the only reason he is still alive today is in order to join Christ`s church. On tuesday, as we had our final lesson. As I said goodbye, he took my hand and said, "I will not forget you." I will never forget him either. He is my brother that I was able to show the way to. He promised me he`d stay alive until I can visit again next year. He is one that will make it home to our Heavenly Father. My joy is full. Forever, when I read the words of Christ advising us to become as a child, I will think of my dear friend, in Shimizu, Japan, who at age 93, came unto Christ.

And so the work progresses onward. Once again, I come to an area with a lot of work ahead. I have been blessed with a great companion and everything I need to move the work forward. I am happy. I know that trails come, but why else am I here than to overcome them? With God and His angels leading me on, I will continue to see His power among these wonderful people.

May His power be with you.
Always,

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

Come Hear Me Sing!

Alas we meet again,

Last night we visited the Okitsu family`s house, a very amazing family at the church here in Shimizu, and they had Google Earth on their computer. It was fun to see my companion`s house and the historic church sites, however, I could`t remember where my house was! That was a little depressing, but it does show that one really can `lose` himself in missionary work. Eventually we figured out how to type in an address, and got to see good old Lenexa, Kansas.

So it`s transfer week! However, the schedule in the Nagoya mission is quite different. We find out tomorrow morning if we transfer or not, and then if we do, we leave wednesday. Absolutely no time! Considering I have entered into a new mission and assuming that President Stevenson will want to mix everyone up, I am prohpesying that I will be transferred. I really don`t want to leave this amazing area, but I will have to someday. Updates will come next week.

Assuming that I will probably be transfering, I told our English class that last thursday was probably my last time with them. Surprisingly, they were very sad. A couple were near tears. I don`t know why, but a few of those students formed a strong bond with me. I will miss them a good deal. This sunday I sang in church. I sang, "I`ll go where you want me to go." Two Enlgish students came to church because I was singing. What a great way to invite people to church - I hope to continue this throughout my mission.

As to how I did...not bad, actually. The piano has a auto-transpose function so I was able to bring the music quite low. The lower the better as far as my singing goes. The Spirit helped me, and it definitely was a good experience.

This last sunday was a regular fast and testimony meeting because we don`t watch conference until next week. After I sang, I gave a talk/testimony. I had prepared a great deal for it and had about two hours worth of material I wanted to share. When I got up to speak, something completely different from what I had written in my notes came out of my mouth. Japanese that I didn`t think I knew came from inspiration. The gift of tongues is real. The Spirit was strong those few moments as I looked into the eyes of those wonderful members. Maybe thirty people were there, but I know those thrity so well. I`ve been to each of their homes many times. I know their challenges and I`ve shared my love with them. Perhaps Christ will visit the small units of this church when He comes - small flocks like Shimizu.

And so the work continues. It will never stop. Just as the dream that Daniel interpretted, it is the rock cut out of the mountain without hands that will fill the world. I am glad to be part of it. I am happy.
We change places, transfer, go home, or stay where we are, but we all serve the same God. Be strong because Christ was strong.
I love you all and pray for you.
Yours,

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