Council, Shirts and Church

Yet another fantastic week. Tuesday Elder Pratt and I went to the mission home in Nagoya for zone leader’s council. That is by far one of the best meetings of the entire month - sitting in President Traveler’s living room (on a big, nice leather couch) and discussing the challenges and visions of missionary work in Japan. The Spirit is always present in these meetings.

Back in Matsumoto, we began to prepare for a zone meeting we had on Friday. Our motto we have come up with for the zone is the "Naga`No Fear` Zone” Elder Pratt and I tried on our artistic talents and made shirts for the zone. They look way nice - I’ll include a picture in the future. Since we were preparing for the meeting all day on Thursday, we didn’t have much time to leave the apartment. I think God saw that we were busy and so helped us accomplish a few small miracles that day.

We only had about two hours on Thursday, so we dashed off on our bikes. We ran by the apartment of a Pilipino member who had just moved to Japan to live with her Japanese husband. She told us that she was moving on Saturday, and we arranged to help her move. Next we visited another friend of ours, who is never home, but he was that night - and we arranged a time to meet. Finally, we were ready to go proselyte. I led the way and we picked a nice-looking apartment building. The first door we knocked brought someone to the door. A young lady looked excited and asked, "Are you Mormons! I love Mormons; I grew up with a great Mormon friend." Such people as these are always a pleasure to find. We taught her a great lesson and she continues to have much interest.

I traveled to Suwa, my old area, on Friday to go on exchanges with an Elder there. However, as I got off the train and walked to my bike, I realized I had left my bag of clothes on the train. Not good at all! I prayed hard in my heart as I talked to the train station manager. He asked me to come back in an hour when the train would return, and it might be there. God be praised that my prayers were answered and my stuff was returned to me without any problems! God is good.

Saturday, we helped the Takahashi couple move (the wife is Pilipino, I mentioned them above). After moving their few items, we sat down together in their new apartment and talked. Renalyn, the wife, hasn’t been to church in quite a while and asked us to teach her everything again so she can come back. The husband also said he really wants to learn about the church, and was excited to read the Morumon Sho we gave him. We meet with them tonight, and another couple who the wife is Japanese and the father is Pilipino, will be accompanying us.

Sunday was amazing. President Traveller surprised us in showing up to church. We also had an Area Seventy, Elder Ishii, come and talk. Other than that, there were 6 investigators that came on Sunday - including one who has a baptismal date.

Two weeks ago, Elder Pratt and I were knocking doors. It was my turn, but the house I went to had two doors, so I was confused. The lady who came to the door was a middle-aged, very humble woman named Yamamoto (Mountain-Origin). We taught her and arranged for the sister missionaries here in matusmoto to come teach her again. This week she set a date in which she will be baptized - Oct. 21st. That’s quite exciting that Elder Pratt and I were used in the Lord’s hands to find someone so humble and prepared.

There’s so much going on. I love it. I love being a missionary. There are hard times, and humbling times - but without those experiences, how could I grow. I am happy, and above all, I am at peace. I guess in the end, that’s what matters most.
That we all may find that same peace and success is my prayer.

Always,

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

Miracle Baptism and Other Good Things

Late saturday night. The phone rings. It`s the missionaries in Suwa, my previous area. "Elder Fuller, we had a lesson with Komatsubara. He wants to get baptized!"
"That`s fantastic, when?"
"Monday!"
"Woah..."
Yesterday Elder Pratt went down an interviewed 72 year-old Brother Komatsubara. After his second meeting the missionaries, he recognized that he needed to be baptized for a remission of his sins. As I write this email now, the service is taking place in the church I served in just two months ago.

What amazes me is how prepared this man was. What was more amazing was how well the members in that ward help to bring that to pass. Just one week ago, in Ueda, another area in my zone, a Chinese man named Brother Yoohi was baptized in a river. Amazing miracles are taking place here in Nagano Japan.

Tomorrow morning Elder Pratt and I will be taking the 7am express train to the Nagoya mission home for the zone leader meeting. Zone leader council is by far my favorite meeting we have. President sits with us in his family room and we discuss very openly how the work in our respective zones is going and recieve personal training from President Traveller. Sister Traveller always cooks an amazing luch for us as well - last time it was beef strogenoff.

Since this is Elder Pratt`s last transfer before he returns home to England, he really wants to do some special things this transfer. We`re going to try to make nagano zone shirts for the missionaries here, and try to put together a dvd as well. Most of all, we are working hard.

Lately, something very nice has being happening as we`ve gone talking to people. Somehow, we have gained better access to the hearts of those we talk to and a much smaller percentage of those we approach straight-out reject us. Lately we have been able to at least talk with them for a couple minutes before the door closes. This makes everything a lot more fun - and we meet some interesting people.

I always thought the mhardest part of being a missionary would be persection. I thought people would just yell at us - say we`re completely wrong and that they were right.

Now...that happens - but very rarely. What surprised me so much was how little people care. When we ask them questions - they just have any opinion at all. When we ask what they think about the purpose of life or life after death, they just shrug and say something along the line of `well, whatever, I`m not the kind of person that thinks about those things.`

However, there are also the people who do care. The people that take us seriously and who open their hearts and allow the Spirit to enter within. Seeing several of those a day is an experience hard to compare with anything else. Seeing people who God has prepared so well to recieve the fulness of the gospel personally reaffirms and strengthens my faith a great measure.

Ken and Enni, our two Chinese friends, continue to do well. Sister Wang went to Kyoto this weekend before her college starts in October, but she is doing well too. She gave Elder Elmer a good-bye present - she`s way fun.

Well things are just fantastic here. There is so much work to be done - and we really need the help of angels - but with faith, the miracles will come. Faith does always preceed the miracle.

That the Lord will bless you and keep you is my prayers,

Always,

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

A Week Full of Fun!

Wednesday night was our Enlgish class party. Lots of people came and we had a great time. After Ping-pong, we ate some crepes, played some games, and then had a concert. Who provided the concert? Well, the branch president here in Matsumoto owns a tenor saxophone, and though he`s just beginning, he let me borrow it. So, with Elder Elmer on the piano and me on the sax, we played "Somewhere out there" "The Pink Panther" "Somewhere over the Rainbow" in honor of Kansas, and then just a great blues which got everyone dancing and clapping and having a great time. it was a huge success - and lots of fun. I had forgotten how much I loved playing the saxohpone too.

Then came saturday night which brought the Sports Night that we had planned. We had reserved a nearby gym and have been handing out fliers for baout a month. 42 people came - with 25-30 being nonmembers and the rest less-active members. It was lots of fun - very tiring - but a great time. We have made so many friends and it was a great opportunity for everyone to makes friends with each other.

Well when we`re not partying so much with everyone - we`ve been working hard too. Teaching lots of lessons; working with members who are going through trials; just generally serving people and things like that. There`s so much to do, and so many opportuinites, but when the Spirit directs us He leads us to the most important and pressing matter. We`ve seen His hand in this work. I`ve met some very impressive people and have enjoyed very much teching them the message of the restoration.

Well today we recieved transfer calls. I am staying in Matsumoto, and so is Elder Pratt, by companion from England. However...Elder Elmer is transfering to Takayama, which is about 50 miles directly west of us. He was pretty sad - especially since this is such a good area, but he will do very well.

last week on monday we went to a national park called Kamikochi. It was so beautiful. I took some pictures - but I bought some postcards which always look better.

The work is going well. We`re trying to find some more people to teach and help those we`re currently teaching progress further. It`s good to hear from everyone back home. It`s been hard sometimes - but that`s when I`ve felt Heavenly father@s love for me the most.
Have a good week.

Yours,

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

No Time

Hey everyone,

I just wanted everyone to know that I am alive and ridicously busy - so there isn`t much time to write this week. Amazing miracles and awesome experiences - and a whole lot scheduled. I`m good and happy. The Lord is with us here in matsumoto. I`ll tell you more next tuesday - and about transfers calls too.
May the Lord be with you,

Always,

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

Blessings

Fall approaches Matsumoto and it is beautiful. Cool during the day and a little cooler at night - it is the best time of year to be here. Proselyting has been pretty good lately as well - finding many interested people. Also, Sister Wang is doing just great. We went with her and another member down to my old area of Suwa this past saturday night to see some fireworks. In Japanese, they are called `Hanabi` hana is flower and hi (which changes to bi when it comes after certain things) is fire - so fire flowers. It was good - but way slow. It took two hours to shoot off as many fireworks as a 10-minute show in America. Still fun though.

Lots of people have been coming to our free English class lately. An engaged couple from China have been coming and came to church as well. Their English names are Ken and Enni. They saw Sister Wang get baptized and have lots of really good questions about God and religion. I am excited to teach them some more. Elder Pratt and I are learning a few Chinese words. I thought japanese was hard - no way.

However, as I have been looking over the Chinese books, and as I recognize some of the characters from the Japanese I know - I wonder what it would like to serve a mission in China. It certainly would be fun - and no one would ever need the gift of tongues more I think.

I feel like I`ve finally got a hold of what it means to be a missionary and how to preach the gospel. In two days - Sept. 5th - I will have been in Japan for one year. What a milestone. It is going way to quickly.

I got a letter this past week from my good friend Elder Alex Aggen who is a missionary down in Argentina. He was telling me about the amazing time he`s having down there and the large numbers of baptisms they`re seeing. i read that and felt a lot of joy for him. However, unlike before, I felt so blessed to be in Japan instead amongst the wonderful people here. I love these people so much. They`re part of my family. The Lord knew where to send me - I love it here.

Today I was reading through James in the Bible. That is an amazing set of scripture so packed with great council. I recommend it.

The Lord has been mindful of us. He blesses those who serve Him - of that I can testify. May we all serve Him with faithfulness and long-suffering is my prayer.

Yours,

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