Kobe and Back

This past week has been incredible. Thursday, we had zone conference in Nagoya - Sunday I went with President Traveller to a very small congregation in a place called Ina while Wang Junting was confirmed and recieved the gift of the Holy Ghost. And Monday - Both the Nagoya and Kobe missions gathered in Kobe to hear from Elder David A. Bednar from the Quorum of the Twelve.

The Matsumoto branch president - President Kawabata - gave Sister Wang some very special blessings as she was confirmed a member this last sunday during sacrament meeting. I wasn`t there unfotunately, but Elder pratt that she was promised that she would marry in the temple and that she would be one of the leaders in the church in China. Quite some amazing promises - but I believe she was foreordained to great things before she came to this earth. She is amazing. And way fun.

I went down with the steak president to meet my mission president in a little place called Ina. Right now there are no missionaries in that area - and only about sevenor ten active members, but it was a spiritual meeting. Truly from small things, great things come to pass. 　Though they were few, there was a spirit of love amongst them that will attract the pure.

Everyone in the mission (about 100 missionaries) came down to Nagoya and spent the night Sunday night in the church there. We arose at 3am, got on the bus at 5am, and made it to Kobe and were in our seats at 9am. Elder Bednar came in trained us for about three hours. It was increadible. He opened it up to questions for about an hour - which was very interesting. He told us the story of his dad, who was catholic, but became a Latter-Day Saint when his son was 27. Most of Elder Bednar`s talk is actually what his article says in the upcoming September Ensign - how the two hand in hand principals of `Preaching the Gospel` and `learning by faith` work with each other. He focused a good deal of time on how we learn by faith - that faith is a principal of action and power. It was very profound. I have much to think about and much to improve, but it was overall quite motivational.

Riding back on the train this morning from Nagoya - we kept passing through tunnels and my ears kept popping. I thought about pressure. I`ve heard a little bit about the pressures at the bottom of the ocean. Also, in order to return to the surface, humans have to go through some depressurizing which takes some time. If the depressurizing isn`t performed correctly, then it can destroy our bodies.

As I thought there - I thought about heaven. I think heaven might be a little like the surface - and we`re on the ocean`s floor. We fell pretty far and are wading through deep, deep waters. However, in order to return to the surface, we need some preperation. We need to be living the laws of heaven before we enter the kingdom much like our bodies need to be adjusted the the pressure at the surface before we step out into the light. An interesting idea.

I am very tired right now. I haven`t been home in about three days and miss my shower. However, I am at peace. Peace is better than any other feeling I think - because Satan can`t fake peace and therefore it has to come from God. I pray that we may all feel that heavenly peace.

Yours,

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

Purity

It has been isogashii (busy) sugiru (too much) here in Matsumoto, Japan right now - but it`s a very, very good kind of busy. Traveling to Nagoya for a zone leader meeting with President Traveller - getting everyone together for other meetings, visiting with member, and having the amazing priveledge of helping one of God`s children be baptized.

Yesterday Wang Junting(chinese name) or Ookunte (japanese name) was baptized for the remission of sins in Matsumoto. She is twenty years old and has been in japan for about a year studying economics in college. She met my companion, Elder Pratt, about two months ago and he baptized her yesterday (sunday). It was an amazing baptismal service. Sister Glover and I sang a duet of "Did you think to pray" that went very well. Sister Wang is such an amazing and prepared person. She was so happy, and truly so pure after she came up from the water. Truly, she was born again. The Spirit was very strong and touched all of us, especially me. What an amazing blessing and example she is.

Elder Pratt, Elder Elmer and I have been working hard and meeting lots of nice people and members. It has also been pretty hot - about 40 degrees celsius whatever that means. However, the Lord has been taking care of me very well. Because of the demanding schedule we lay out - there usually isn`t a moment of rest for a whole week - but because we are indeed on the Lord`s errand, he is sustaining us. I never thought I could push myself so far.

Oh, and I sweat a lot. I drink around 3 liters of water a day - usually more. That`s always way fun.

I wish I could describe the increadible feelings and experiences I`ve had, but my English is way to bad to give justice to them. I have just felt God`s love so much. I love sharing that with others too. Being a missionary is amazing. Thank you for all your help and love. May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Yours,

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

Crazy Hotness Outside!

It is crazy hot here - oh boy. I have several different layers of tans depending on the length of my sleeve for each day - it`s pretty attractive.

Well here in Matsumoto things have been quite well. I drink probably around 2.5 liters of water a day - and sweat it all out. We got Elder Elmer all registered in Japan and set up a bank account, bought him a bike, and did a whole lot of proselyting together. It has been very fun. I see a lot of myself in him from just a year ago. He doesn`t understand hardly anything being said - and neither did I. It truly is remarkable that in only one year I can make it by myself pretty well here in Japan.

So the big news for the mission - we have Elder Bednar from the quorum of the twelve coming to visit Japan. He will be speaking in Kyoto in two weeks and so as a mission, we`re all going to take a bus down there to see him. Quite the excitement - and Kyoto will be amazing. i never thought I would be able to go there since it isn`t in our misison boundaries.

Next Sunday we will have a baptism here. Her English name is Jaty - she`s Chinese. Elder pratt and his companion found her in an international dorm about a month and a half ago and she is increadible. She loves the Bible and the Book of Mormon and she also is great friends with the members already. She is crazy smart too, studying some hard subjects in college right now. She will be a great member.

With the new responsibilities of zone leader and trainer - trainer is much, much more challenging. I think that in life - no matter what responsabilities or callings we have within the church - being a parent will always be the greatest and most challenging of responsabilities.

Things are just going so well. I`m excited to work everyday - and absolutely dead everynight - but somehow I`m able to resurrect in the morning once more. There`s no better service than preaching the good word. I pray that God`s love will be felt in your lives through his tender mercies.

Always,

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

One and Done...Transfer Fun!

Well, it`s been a month and a half here in Suwa and I`m leaving. Yeah, way too fast, and shocked me. But, as President called me this morning he assured me not to worry, because I`m staying in the same zone. Actually, I`m just moving 40 kilometers north to Matsumoto. That was quite the shock. Actually, the biggest shock is the position I`m filling. I will be the mission`s youngest and newest zone leader (meaning I co-preside over Nagano Zone which contains Nagano prefecture), and I will also be co-training a new missionary with the other zone leader.

One of my new companions will be Elder Pratt, from London. He`s a fantastic Elder and his favorite fruit is the potatoe (I don`t think there is an e on that, but I like Dan Quale`s spelling). My other companion, the brand new one from the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, I won`t find out until tomorrow. I`ll be riding the train to Nagoya today and meeting him tomorrow morning.

So there are a million things going on. President was laughing on the phone when he heard my shock. I don`t know if I`m ready for the assignment, but President Traveller assured me it was what the Lord wanted and he felt very strongly about it. Whom the Lord calls, he qualifies.

So though I haven`t head a whole lot of time in Suwa, we have seen some great things. Two of our good Brazillian friends - Erika and Washington - came to church with us this last Sunday. I seriously think I taught more lessons to Portugese speaking people this last months than Japanese. It`s just so fun teaching those whom will recieve us.

When I got to this area, the apartment was TRASHED. It was really, really, REALLY dirty. But, Elder Brough and I spent about six hours yesterday cleaning it vigourously. It was some unpleasant work, but it`s so nice now.

Last week on tuesday and wednesday, we had really, really hard days. No one at all was listening and others were just rude to us. We were quite depressed. However, thursday morning, we prayed. We prayed a lot; deep sincere prayers. We left our apartment and headed towards an area of college dorms. Somehow, we found so many very nice and humble people. All day long we taught and met amazing people. I know this short explanation can`t do justice, but the spirit was storngly felt and we returned hom rejoicing in the answers to our prayers.

Hard times keep coming, but it is because of those hard times especially that we have the gospel of Jesus Christ. Of course we need faith, but that faith is also hope. We may be alone today, but we will be with Him tomorrow. Because we know that, we can make it through today a little better. If we die, we come to God. If we live, God comes to us. That`s my testimony and I`ve felt it hundreds of times.

Thank you everyone for the love and letters you send. May God be with you `til we meet again.

Always,

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